She is a mysterious girl.

　She has a ladylike vibe and is polite.
　She has a bit of a devilish quality to her, but considering her age, that's not too bad for a girl of her age.

　At first glance, she looks like a young lady of some kind.
　A nobleman's daughter, if you call her a nobleman's daughter, it makes sense.

　But that's not all........
　There is something alien about it.
　A strange feeling, like a vicious beast wearing a human skin.
　Isn't the aura that overflows out of him not an ordinary person?　It makes you think.

'Oh my God, what's going on?'
'Well...'

　I couldn't help but stare at the girl, trapped by her strange senses.
　I'm curious about the girl's identity, but...
　As you can imagine, staring at someone you've never met before is not a good idea.

'I'm sorry. It's nothing.
'Hmmm.......if it wasn't for my ego, you'd be interested in me, wouldn't you?
It's...
If they see you as passionate as that, they might be inclined to do so.
Don't you dare make fun of me.

　For a moment, I got a creeping sensation.
　Like a frog being stared at by a snake...
　It's like facing an absolute powerhouse, such fear.

　Are you afraid of this girl?

　No way........but there are many people in the world that common sense does not apply to.
　For example, everyone at our party.

　They don't seem to do any harm........
　But maybe I should be careful.
　Right now, I'd rather rely on my gut feeling than common sense.

'How can I help you?'
Well, it's nothing.
'Oh, I see. Hmmm.
Where's home, by the way?　It's about this time of day, and it's not like we won't run into those guys again, so I'll drop you off.
Oh, I'm so glad. I feel so much safer with Miss Lane as your escort.
'If I may say so, I don't know if I would trust someone I just met that much, but...'
Hmmm... it's no problem. I don't trust you, you know.

　What does that ... mean?
　If they don't trust you, why are they being so open with you?

　Is there still something to it?
　It makes me more wary of girls.

　If it's true, maybe I should just leave here.
　But what if I'm wrong about all of this?
　What if the girl is just a normal girl who is everywhere and has nothing to hide?

　Considering that possibility, I couldn't just say goodbye here.

''Well, since you're here, please.
I'm on a mission.

　I walked alongside Iris at night in the city.

　It was a quiet night.
　There was a quietness in the air that gave me the illusion that we were the only two people in the world, Iris and I.
　It was never pleasant...
　It was somewhat of an eerie silence.

'What are you doing, Master Lane?'
I'm an adventurer.
'Oh, is that so?　With all due respect, it didn't look like it.
You're very specific.

　I can't help but chuckle.

'Operating in this city?'
No. We're based in a city in the Central Continent. I'm here to take on a small request and on the way there I'm stopping for a supply run.
I see.
Is Iris from this city?
No. I'm traveling as well.
Is that so?
Yes. I'm just looking for something I've been going from one city to the next.
Are you by yourself?
Yes, I do.
Isn't that ... dangerous?

　Demons, bandits, and a lot of danger outside the city.
　Judging by appearances, it doesn't look like Iris is capable of traveling alone...

I may look like this, but I'm a very powerful man.
Is that so?
Yes. He's very strong, you know?

　Giggling, Iris laughs.

　Somehow....
　Looking at that fearless smile, I thought it must be true.
　They say that people are not always what they seem...
　Iris must be strong enough to travel on her own.

''I see.......sorry. I don't know what to say to you to make you feel insulted.
No, I don't mind.
'But let me just say on top of that... if you can afford it, you might as well hire an adventurer.
Oh, dear. I knew you wouldn't believe me.
'Nope. That's not what I'm talking about, I guess that's my rule of thumb. No matter how strong Iris is, it's pretty tough to go it alone. I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to help you in your time of need, and I thought it would be a good idea to create a 'friend' to share the pain and suffering with.

　Iris rolled her eyes.
　Simply, she seems surprised.

　Slightly, he chuckles happily.

''Hmm ... I've never heard anyone say that to me before.
Is that so?
Once people get to know me, they won't think that way.
I don't know Iris very well either, so I guess it's partly because I don't know her that I can say things like I just did.
Well. I'm sure Master Rayne would say the same thing if he were to find out about me.
Is that right?
Yes. Well, that's just a hunch I've got.

　Iris stopped walking and gingerly pulled herself closer to us.
　As it was, she looked into our face.

''........''
What, Iris?
You are a mysterious person, Miss Lane. Even though he's human he doesn't have a bad smell. It's strange, I feel like I'm losing my mind.
'Well...?　Is that a compliment?
That's a compliment of the highest order.

　Smiling, Iris laughs.
　It's an innocent smile.

　But ... is it my imagination?
　What is it about the innocence that seems to hide something so brutal that children sometimes show?

What?

　Suddenly, Iris looked in the direction of the day after tomorrow.
　That's the road we just walked down.

"....
Iris?　What's wrong with you?
Well that's enough of a send-off. Thank you very much.
You live near here?
Yes. So, I guess we'll leave you here.
I see. Okay.

　I'm being lied to.
　Intuitively, I thought so, but it's not quite right to bite back here.
　Rather than saying that I don't want to be with me.................it would be more accurate to say that I don't want to be with you.

　The one I'm interested in....
　I don't want to go out of my way to expose what I'm trying to hide, without any evidence to back it up.

'All right. Well, here then.
Thank you very much. Hmmm........I hope to see you again.
'Right. Then we can take a leisurely stroll around town.
Yes. I promise.

　Iris waved her hand and...
　With that, I left the scene.



----------



　The rough breathing of men spilled out into the alleyway at night.
　A woman is being held down by these men.
　Her clothes are disheveled and she is trying desperately to resist with tears in her eyes.
　But with the men holding her body firmly in place and blocking her mouth...there was nothing she could do.

'Hey, get on with it.'
I know. I'll save some for you, just don't rush.
Since you failed to do so earlier... heh, let me have some fun, okay?

　The men smiled a lowly smile and reached down to pull down their pants...

　At that moment, something ran through the place.

　There was a whistling sound of wind....
　Then, after a pause, something fell.
　The man who had been trying to lean on the woman looked at her.

　His arm had fallen off.

'....Huh?

　The man spilled out a dumbfounded voice and...
　Then I finally realized that my arm was gone.

'Huh?　Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!

　Blood spurted out of the man's arm with great force.
　The man rolled on the spot and a pool of blood quickly formed.

''Hee!''

　While the men's restraints were loosened, the woman ran away at once.

　As if to replace it, a new figure appears.

''Hmph.''
You're the one who said...

　Iris, who appeared in front of the men, had a wry smile on her face.
　However, her expression was cold.
　The eyes looking at the men were inorganic..............................not feeling any emotion.

''I heard a little voice, so I came to check on you....as I thought, it was you guys. It's a very clear picture of you trying to take out on others what you've been unable to release on me.
This guy....
After all, garbage is garbage. It's a nuisance to be bothered by insects, so you have to clean it up properly. Well since that's the case, it's time to clean up.

　Iris chuckled...........and from his back, he grew wings.