The 26th day of the water month. The day after I returned from the demon world, I ended up heading for Alice's grocery store with the souvenirs I had bought.
　I figured I'd be spending some money again anyway, so I bought a lot of wyvern meat instead of scones.
　I think I'm a bit naive myself, but I still can't leave it alone for whatever reason.
　I couldn't help but giggle as I pictured Alice's eyes sparkling at the sight of the souvenirs and her tiny body eating them with an unimaginable gusto.

　
　........No, wait. Isn't it funny?　It's 10 o'clock right now, not the kind of time when the morning fog would appear, and the fog is too thick to begin with.
　Symphonia's royal capital is prone to fog........I wouldn't say that. I've been living here for at least nearly two months, and I've never seen a scene like this before.

　The strange scene gives me an eerie feeling and stops me in my tracks.
　Even though it's just before noon, the silence dominates my surroundings and fuels the anxiety in my mind.

　And around my body, which is wary of its surroundings, something like a glowing ring suddenly appears... and immediately afterwards, it shatters with a sound like broken glass.

''What's that?　It's not just magic, but also restraint magic doesn't work either.......amazing. Kite,
Alice?
Yes? It's Alice. Welcome home, Kite. We've missed you.

　With a familiar voice, Alice appears from the fog.
　The figure wasn't dressed in the familiar work clothes, but was wearing a black cloak to hide her body, and the atmosphere was somehow different from the usual.

''........Why are you here?''
When I came out to see if I could meet Kite, it was a donkey. No~ I felt fate, didn't I?
....

　What is it.........Alice's tone is the same as usual, but it sounds somehow chilling.......and terribly creepy.

Now, before Kite's strong bodyguard arrives, let's move on................Kite, would you like to get kidnapped by me for a moment?
"...What?　What the hell are you...?
Actually, I can't make a living just by selling groceries, so I also have a side job. What can I call it, an everything store in the back?　Or something like that. And the other day I received a very tasty request to kidnap you.
What?

　Immediately after I told her that, Alice had approached in front of me before I knew it, and she was holding the knife to my neck.
　The perfect distance between touching or not touching my neck and the dull sheen emitted by the knife, combined with the dull sheen of the knife, makes me feel a tension similar to breathlessness.

'So, Mr. Kite ... get kidnapped for my allowance.
......
........There's even a defensive magic that automatically activates against malicious attacks?
What?

　When I looked at my body in response to those words, before Alice's knife......a pale black film-like substance had appeared around my body before I knew it.
　Come to think of it, I think Lilia-san said that Black's pendant was filled with protective magic.

''Gah!

　A magic that automatically defends against malicious attacks, the moment I felt a little relief to know that there is a magic, a magic that automatically defends against malicious attacks, I felt a strong shock to the back of my neck and my body lost its power regardless of my intentions.

''Well, in that case, I don't need to use magic, I just need to make the malice disappear and stun it~''
...a...squirrel.
Good night, Miss Kite. Don't worry, I'll carry you gently.

　The voice she heard at the moment of her unconsciousness was so disproportionate to the situation...gentle and calm.
































　Carrying the unconscious Kaito lightly by her side, Alice jumped up to the roof of a nearby building.



　The moment Alice muttered that, a flash of light pierces the thick fog.
　After dodging it, which is like a beam of light, by moving her face slightly to the side, Alice lets out a light sigh.

　It's not that easy........as if to affirm her words, a strong wind blows around her, blowing away the fog that had covered her vision.
　And when the fog cleared, there were six shadows around the roof where Alice stood.

''........That was faster than I thought. I see, it's a magic tool that sends an emergency signal........
"Let go of your master, you rude bastard!
'Whoa!　Scary....

　Lilia, Lunamaria, Zeke, Anima, Eta, and Theta, standing a few meters away from each other as they surrounded Alice... The six of them rushed to the scene with a sharp gaze after the activation of the magic tool that sent an emergency signal that Zeke used right after he lost sight of Kaito in the fog. He glares at Alice.
　However, Alice doesn't seem particularly upset, even though she says she's scared with her mouth.

''Why are you not a friend of Kaito-san........?''
'We're friends. I like you, Kite, and I like you... but that's not the same thing as working.

　Seeing Alice, who doesn't lose her aloofness in response to the words she quietly announced, Lilia makes an irritated expression.

''..........................It's quite generous, isn't it?　You don't think you can get away with it?
I don't know~

　You will be able to find out the best way to get the most out of your own personal life.
　But as long as Alice has Kaito, a powerful attack will hurt Kaito, so she can't bypass the attack.
　And ironically, Eta, who is good at pinpointing attacks, had damaged her weapon in the fight with Zeke before, and the spear she brought out of Lilia's mansion couldn't fully show her strength, and she was easily evaded by Alice just now as well.

　In the silence that seemed to sting the skin, the six people who were stiffening and one.......the one who broke the silence was Alice.

''Twenty pieces of white gold.''
...What?
'....18, 25, 43....
What the hell are you...

　Alice, who goes to tell Lilia and the others while pointing at them in turn, asks with a dubious expression on her face.

The actuality of this is that I have a habit of putting a price on people. This time I judged them on the basis of their combat prowess alone, but you guys are a big deal~ It's pretty rare for me to put a value on a unit of white gold coins.
I'm not happy about it.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what I mean by that.
　While being exposed to such a stinging gaze, Alice does not seem to be fazed and continues to speak with no indication that she is unfazed.

''........There are two conditions for me to accept the job. One is that my mood must ride. The second is ... that I am offered a reward that exceeds the value I have attached to the subject.
What do you mean by that?
''No. That's why it's not worth it for me to fight with you guys in terms of the fee for this request.
Is that what it means to surrender?
No, sir. It's a shame for all of you that my interests and yours are not aligned, that's all, by the way!
" " " " " " "

　Immediately after saying that, Alice let go of the hand that was holding Kaito.
　The place where Alice is standing is the roof of a two-story house, and if Kaijin, who is unconscious, is knocked to the ground, he will not be safe.
　That's why the six of them are momentarily unconscious. They turned their gaze to the falling Kaijin and removed Alice from their sight.

　Immediately afterwards, Alice's figure disappeared and the bodies of the six people were flung wide apart.
　But the six of them are also quite capable beings, and they succeeded in defending against Alice's attack in a flash.

　And then Alice spins around faster than Kaito falls to the ground and smiles after catching his body.

'No~Excellent. I didn't know you could react to that thing as well........................But, distance, you've gone away.
'What?　Tasteless!　I'm going to run away!

　

''........It's impossible. You guys who couldn't follow my movements earlier can't catch up to me.
Huh?
I told you.　 So, I'm going to let you run away.
Wait--what?

　Alice tells her nonchalantly and smiles in front of Eta, who tries to chase her away, and shortly afterwards, Alice's figure blurs and increases to ten.

''Illusionary magic!''
Well, I'll see you later~

　The alter egos created by the illusionary magic all speak at once and escape at high speed in different directions.
　But Lilia and the others can't let Alice escape without a word.
　As they are warriors of the past, they each exchange only eye contact and immediately split up to pursue Alice.

　The fast Lilia, Sieg, Lunamaria, and Eta chased two of each, while the slightly slower Anima and Theta chased one Alice each.
　To recapture Kaito at all costs........

　And after the six of them started tracking in their respective directions............the 'real' Alice appeared.

''........You're too honest. Well, deception is my domain.

　Muttering that to himself, Alice disappeared again like smoke.
































　When I opened my eyes to the faint light I felt, I found myself in a completely unfamiliar place.
　The stone room was like a prison, and there were about ten robed people in the room.
　To be honest, it didn't seem like a good situation........but it seems that their bodies are tied to a chair and they can't move.

''Oh?　Mr. Kite. Are you awake?
Alice what is this place?
This is my client's place of business.

　Alice, who appeared from behind the black-robed figure, spoke to me in her usual tone of voice, with no signs of nervousness.
　

Nice to meet you, Miyama Kite but I'd like to get to know you better.
"...Then I'd like to see your face at least...
I wish I could, but I've got my own issues to deal with and I can't afford to show my face too much.

　One of the people in robes a man, by the sound of his voice, spoke to me, but I'm not so easy-headed as to be able to reply that we should be friends in this situation.
　But the one at an overwhelming disadvantage in terms of the situation is this one........I can't say anything strangely provocative.

Now let's get right to the point. I'm sure you've already guessed it, but we're going to take you to - "Ahhh, can I have a minute? --What is it?

　The man who was about to announce his purpose by speaking in some kind of big shot manner is interrupted in the middle by Alice.
　This guy really doesn't read the air........

'As soon as you bring Kite-san here, my work is done, right?　Then I'd like to get paid quickly?
"...Yeah, yeah, yeah. Here's the thirty white gold coins I promised you.
'Yes, yes ... which one ... yes, indeed.'

　Apparently, the reward that Alice gets for kidnapping me is 30 white gold coins.
　I don't know if it's high or low, but that seems to be my price to Alice.
　I'm not sure if she saw through my complicated feelings, but she turned to me and lightly waved her hand.

'Kite, it's not your place to hold a grudge. This is just my job. And besides, you and I are just friends.........not family or lovers, that's the extent of our relationship.
"...Yeah, well....
Well, I'll be leaving then.

　After saying the dry words, Alice turns her back to me and walks towards the only door in the room.
　........I have a hard feeling. But it certainly won't help if I complain to Alice.
　I scolded Alice for a lot of things, I even hit her.......I thought she was an uncomfortable friend......someone I was comfortable with, someone I could trust, but that's just my impression.
　To Alice, I'm just a nagging friend.....

Alice.
What's up?
Don't waste it all this time.
I'll think about it.

　With that announcement, Alice closed the door.
　It's hard ... but I can't just think about it. It's not about that, it's about this situation right now.

This room is made of a special ore that keeps the magic power from leaking out. Besides, this place is so far from the city there's no one to come to your aid.
....

　What's going to happen to me?　Will they torture me or something?
　I don't want to be in pain.....

　A despair similar to resignation crawls into my mind and my body begins to tremble slightly.
　I imagine myself in the future and almost close my eyes involuntarily when........the door to my room is destroyed with a roar.

''Nah!''

　The man and those in robes also looked astonished and turned toward the door, and as I turned my gaze in that direction, an unexpected person appeared from the dust cloud.

''That's why........I'm here to help you!　Mr. Kite!
...What?

　I made a pose that looked like it was going to make a bleep, and Alice, who was supposed to have walked out the door a moment ago and said so, appeared.
　For some reason, she said she was here to save me or something...

What... what do you think you're doing?
I was thinking of going out for dinner with Kite, who is usually very helpful to me. And then, lo and behold!　You said that Mr. Kite was kidnapped by a bad guy!　That's why I came in a mad dash to save Kite-san!
...what?
Now brace yourselves, kidnappers!　I'm going to make you regret kidnapping Mr. Kite!

　No, you're the one who took the kidnapper...

　Dear Mom, Dad - Misfortune is a sudden occurrence and I've been kidnapped. It was supposed to be a close call, but it was reluctantly, truly reluctantly, but now me and my kidnappers are united - what's this guy talking about?