Rain!　What are we going to do?!

　Kanade's panicked voice flew in.

''Kook ... now we're running away!
Dahme, I can't miss.
What...?

　A voice came from close by.
　A shadow rose and it took the form of a man.

　It's Lean.
　He must have used the magic 'Shadow Seeker' to move from shadow to shadow.

''Earthbind!''

　The earth rose up and entwined itself around me like a cage.

'Arios told me that you're status quo doesn't work, right?　But how about this?
Geez...........

　I tried to get out as fast as I could, but I couldn't escape as one earthen fetters after another tangled me.

'Don't, Lean!　I didn't kill anybody!　This is some kind of mistake. So.....
'Haha, I don't care about that.'
Lean...?
I don't like you, okay? I don't like you because you're a little bit of a wastebug and you insist on telling everybody what happened in Pagos and I'm not a joke. You're insolent. You have a right to know who you think I am?　Great Wizard, Master Lean. You will be punished for disobeying me. Hahahahaha!
It's...!

　You're not driven by a cause, you're driven by personal feelings!
　This guy calling himself a hero is a joke!

"Yikes!
'Ugh!'

　I heard Sola and Luna scream.
　I looked over there in a hurry and saw that they had been caught by Aggus.

　He must have used magic to move to their side, just like Lean.
　If it was a magical battle, Sora and Luna had no enemies, but if it was a melee battle, it would be tough.
　They are unable to shake off Aggus' powerful arm.

''This........!
Don't underestimate it, man!

　Sola and Luna use magic to try to pull Aggus off...

That's enough.

　Mina said sharply.
　In her hands was Tina's figure, bound with a rope of light.

''I'm sorry, guys.......I messed up.
I'm a priest. Making a ghost disappear is a simple task.
Mina, stop!
Then surrender peacefully. You will not be resisted.

　Tina's characteristic of being a ghost allows her to be close to the most powerful species, but...
　Priests are natural enemies.
　If they are exposed to the light of purification, they will disappear in a flash.

''Hey, it's not fair to take a hostage!
'Yes!　It's still a brave party!

　Kanade and Tania glared at her, but Mina didn't get upset for an inch.

'We are doing the right thing. In other words, it is an act approved by God. Such words will not sway our hearts.
d*mn it...!

　No, no matter what I say, I can't get through to Mina.

Hmm.....

　Sneaking around, Nina was moving.
　If Nina would evacuate everyone into subspace, we could escape.
　That's what I'm hoping for...

Yes, and you'll have to be quiet, too.
'Ugh!'
Nina!

　Before I knew it, a female knight who had crept up behind me seized Nina.
　I've never seen her face before but...
　Seeing that you and Arios are working together, I wonder if you are the member who joined after I left?

Well Rain. Does it look like there was a winner?

　Arios gave a grin and a winning smile.

''Poof.''

　I bite my lip.
　I can't help but wonder if I'm going to let Arios and the others in this place.

　Me, Sora, and Luna are restricted in our movements.
　There's no way to get out of it, but.......
　However, Tina and Nina are completely trapped.
　Since they are being held hostage at the point of a weapon, they can't act poorly.
　Kanade and Tania also seem to understand this and are in a situation where they can't move.

　Arios and the others aren't the only enemies.
　The examiners have formed a circle around the other adventurers and have surrounded us.
　Each one of them has a weapon at the ready.
　Their eyes were staring at us, treating us as complete criminals.
　It would be impossible to convince them.

　What can we do to overcome this situation?
　What to do!

....

　I'm trying to think of a way to do it, but...
　I couldn't find the answer.

"...All right. I surrender.
Lane?

　Kanade exclaimed in surprise.
　Is Tania serious, too?　I have a look on my face like that.

　But I can't do anything else.
　If I'm reckless, someone will get hurt.
　I'm not going to let that happen.

　I'm not going to end up like Arios.
　I don't want to be the kind of man who can cut down his own people because that's the kind of man I want to be.

　From what I saw on that tape, it was me all along.
　I'm going to be caught, brought to justice and...
　If they charge me with a crime, I'll be the only one.
　I think we're all going to be okay.

　Of course, I'm not going to give up that easily.
　I'm going to try to find a way out of here, a way to prove my innocence and I'm going to try every way I can.
　But for now, all I can do is catch them without a fight.

"Thank you for being so smart, Rain. Have you grown up a little?
Arios, you...

　Resisting the urge to punch him, I manage to ask.

''Let me ask you one thing. Is this case........the work of Arios?
What do you mean by that?
'I'm asking if it was Arios who brought me down.
Well I have no idea what you're talking about.

　Arios........smiled.

　Joyfully.
　Gladly.
　A smile of amusement was plastered on his mouth.

　Seeing that smile, I was sure of it.
　It was Arios.
　I don't know why, but he's trying to undermine me.

　It wasn't enough for him to banish me from the party, he did this to me...
　And you're trying to take a new one.
　And if you're going to ruin my life...

　I feel an inexplicable rage.

　Like the time I was banned from the party so long ago....
　A similar emotion to that moment arose.

　And I was sure of it.

　Arios is ... the enemy.