I looked around for Sheila in my waiter's clothes.
　She's not even in the hall.
　She wasn't in the kitchen, nor was she in the dressing room or changing rooms where the musicians were waiting.

　I wondered if something had happened.

　Feeling a little uneasy, I activate my magic.

　[Reverse Detection]

　Explore Sheila's magical waveforms.

I found it.

　It's behind the Royal Palace.
　I wondered what they were doing here.
　Anyway, I headed out.

　Unlike the glamorous after-night party, I proceeded down a dimly lit corridor.
　A bonfire was lit for the security of the palace, but the view was dyed black.

　Sheila was there.
　The back door where servants come and go.
　She is sitting in that stairway, as if she were crouching down.
　She was wearing a maid's outfit with a calm long skirt.

　I thought she might have been injured in some way, but it wasn't.
　There was no sign of being magically manipulated.
　But perhaps it was the darkness, and her blonde hair looked duller than usual.

'Sheila,'

　When I called out to her, my sister freaked out and shook her shoulders.
　She slowly looked up.
　There was something uncharacteristically unchallenged in her voice, "Brother.

'What's wrong?　Is there something wrong with you?

'A bit..... I'm still not very good in crowded places.

　Sheila was still not completely free from the brainwashing that Ravench had put on her.
　【Brainwashing】 is a magic that pressurizes the brain with layers of information (sound) and eventually fills it with information.
　When I'm fighting, I don't seem to care about it because I'm concentrating on it, but inevitably, in a place where there are many people, the voices seem to bother me.

'Can I sit beside you?'

Yes, sir.

　Leaning a little to the side, Sheila vacated the one next to her.
　When I sat down, the stone stairs were quite cold.
　I don't say anything, but I hug my sister's shoulder.
　Warm.........
　I can feel Sheila's body heat softly.
　When I looked at her, she was also snuggled up to me and gave me a little smile.

''Brother......... Very warm.........''

Yeah. And Sheila.

Maybe I was unwarranted.

Was there something on your mind?

　Then Sheila twitched.
　When she gently moved away from me, a sad expression appeared on her face.

''Brother, may I ask you one question?''

I don't mind.

　Sheila took a deep breath once.
　She looks up and chews her back teeth gingerly as if to rouse herself.
　Eventually, he opens his mouth.


　Is your brother really your brother...?


　----ck!

　It took my breath away.
　I am a wise man who aims to be the strongest.
　Therefore, I don't neglect to train my mind.
　But Sheila's question shook me violently.

　My turmoil lasted only a few moments.
　Slowly I asked my sister, as if to remind her.

'Let me ask you first. How did that question come about?

　Sheila didn't answer right away.
　She began to speak carefully, clearly uncomfortable saying it, and not wanting to hurt her brother.

"It was that 'demon'

'You mean the Volfot...'

　Sheila nodded.

　Sheila had never had any doubts about me until now, she said.
　In the past, my brother was a normal [villager].
　But now it's different.
　He has become so strong and wise like a different person that it's impossible to get rid of him with a single word: rapid growth.
　Even so, Sheila still adored and admired her brother.

　However, when she heard that the [villager] named Volfot was a demon, she became afraid.
　She wondered if her brother might also be a demon....
　I began to be tormented by such questions.

'I shook it off in my head over and over again. But no..... Inevitably, it flickers. I was afraid that one day my brother would turn into that monster.

　Polopolo and Sheila begin to cry.
　It should only be a guess on my part.
　Sheila scoffs to herself, saying she's foolish for almost believing it.

　I gently hug my sobbing sister again.
　She strokes her beautiful blonde hair, soft and beautiful as a baby.

　I mutter to myself as I look at the moon that has appeared over the walls of the royal palace.

'Maybe I should talk to Sheila about it.

...Is there still something going on?

　Sheila's tears stopped.

'First of all, let me tell you one thing: I'm not a demon. And this strength is simply gained through training. I can swear that's definitely true.

'Yes. If that's the case with your brother, I believe it.

'Just Sheila.... I know this may be hard for you, but I'm not exactly Lasser Singh Stark.

　And I told my sister the truth.

　That I am the reincarnation of the wise man who defeated the Demon King three hundred years ago - a heroic reincarnation, as they say.
　That I have experienced all professions, and that I realized that being a [villager] was an all-round job.
　That by reincarnating and manifesting as consciousness at the age of six, the previous Lacelle Singh Stark had almost disappeared.

　I didn't cover it up, I told him everything.
　I don't want you to believe me.
　Nor do I want you to accept it.
　I was even willing to go away if Sheila wouldn't believe me.

　Preparing for all of this, I waited for my sister's mouth to judge me.
　Eventually Sheila said.

'It's hard to believe everything now, though.

Yeah. I don't want that either.

'I understand that your brother is telling you the truth,'

Thank you.

　I narrow my eyes and thank him.
　To be honest, I'm relieved.

'But I want you to know this. The man who saved your life was, without a doubt, the Lacel Singh Stark you know.

　The moment I broke Sheila's brainwashing.
　I heard another human voice.
　That would definitely be the residue of Lacel Singh Stark.

　It was Lacelle who had saved her sister before she was six years old.

　Then Sheila shook her head.

''No..... To me, your brother is still the same as he was to me. Strong and gentle......... And isn't it amazing that your brother is so strong and kind. I can't believe your brother is the hero who defeated the Demon King.

　Sheila gently takes my hand.
　She's excited.
　It was so warm.

　She laughs softly.
　The glow of her hair had returned to her mind, and her usual angelic circle was floating in the air.

'That's my brother, indeed,'

　She was back to her former sister.

　Then I hear the gorgeous music.
　It's from the after-party.
　I hear that the dancing is still going on, as usual.

"We should dance too.

'What?　But....

I mean, what's the point of being here?　No one is watching.

　All we have here is darkness.
　No waiters, no guards.
　All you see is the moon peeking out from the ramparts.

"Could you entertain me?

　I prod my knees.
　Gently, I hold out my hand towards my sister.

　Sheila smiles.
　Like a moon goddess.

'Yes. 'With pleasure.'

　I take my hand.
　Instantly, Sheila's face gets cloudy.

"It's just--

"Just?

'Dancing..... I've never danced before...

　It's not unreasonable.
　Sheila was separated from her parents when she was three years old.
　I learned it from Luxor, but that must have been around the time her sister was studying hard at military school.

"Well, I'll teach her.

Take it easy on me, brother.

　With a relaxing nocturne in the background, my siblings and I began to dance.
　Lightly and gracefully.........
　-- it wasn't, but my sister and I were both enjoying it.

　We even wished this time could go on forever.

　I've been working a little too hard lately.
　Slowing down the pace might not be a bad idea.

　To be the best in the world.
　There's no blurring there.
　But resting is also important to be strong.

　I look at the moon and hope.
　I wish this nocturne would be a little slower.