"...why would you do that?

　I was told to dissolve the party out of the blue, and as expected, I was upset.

　However, Yuki just looks so serious...
　I quelled my upset when I realized I hadn't said that in jest or harassment.

　This is a very important story.
　So I have to be firm...........I have to listen to him with a firm attitude.
　With that in mind, I faced Yuki straight away.

''The reason is simple. It's because I'm Sora and Luna's friend.''
What do you mean...?
You're putting Sora and Luna in danger by being with you!

　Those words were sharp as arrows and pierced my heart.

''Those two were reckless enough to leave the village and I was against them leaving the village. Because it's not. The world out there is full of danger. There's no reason for us to jump into danger when we could just stay in the safety of the village.
It's...
'Al-sama said he'd leave it up to Sora and Luna to decide, but this isn't the result of that. The humans did a terrible thing to me.

　I'm not going to say anything.

'Can we just leave Sora and Luna out in the open?　It's not okay. The two of you should be returned to the village now.
So you want me to break up the party?
Yeah. Yes. They were so stubborn. They won't listen to me. I don't know what I'm going to tell them. But if you say you're going to break up the party, that's the end of the matter.
'Maybe so, but...'
If we don't, it could hurt Sora and Luna again, you know?
What?

　His words are above all heavy and sharp...
　It cut deep into my mind.

'If you really care about Sora and Luna, dissolve the party. Send them both back to their villages.
I'm....
As expected, I'm not so much a demon as I am a demon that I want answers right now.

　Yuki takes a step back.

'You're going to convince Al-sama and the others, right?　I don't know how it's going to turn out, but it's going to take a few days to get your thoughts together and give me your answer.
Okay, all right. I'll think about it.
You're human but I can tell you care about Sola and Luna, and I can tell you care about them. I know that Sola and Luna care for you, too. I'm going to know that much.
I see.
'But at the end of the day, Thora and Luna are hurting. Don't forget that.

　Yuki turned her back on me and...
　He left the room without once looking back.

　I could only watch his back and couldn't call out to him any more...
　I was nodding to myself.



----------



　The next thing I knew, it was morning.
　It was as if he couldn't remember when he went to bed or when he slept.
　He just didn't get much sleep, apparently.
　His head was heavy and the sleepiness was clinging to him.

'Phew.'

　Anyway, I can't keep this up.
　I wash my face with cold water and shake off the sleepiness alone.

''Well what am I going to do about it?''

　Washed face intact, no water to wipe off....
　I've been thinking.
　I kept thinking about it.

　Should I break up the party for the sake of Sora and Luna?
　Same goes for everyone else, if that's what you're saying in the first place.
　Don't make me go along with this adventurer thing...
　Each of you should stay quietly in your villages.
　Nina and Tina don't have a village to return to, but if you tell them, someone will be happy to accept them.

　But the thought of losing another companion...

No, no. Don't think about all the bad things.

　Once I'm aware of Yuki's words, I can't do it anymore...
　Shouldn't we get rid of the party?　That's all I can think about over and over again.

　But I don't want to do that, so....

It may not be fair, but let's hold off on that for now.

　Fortunately, or perhaps I should say, Yuki has given me a bit of a reprieve.

　There is no rule that says you have to follow what she says.
　If anything, it's Yuki who is the outsider.

　It's just.....

　I don't want to ignore Yuki's words as she is thinking about Sora and Luna so straightforwardly.
　I don't know what will happen, but I want to give you a proper answer.
　I want to think a lot ... a lot ... a lot.

'Good.'

　I toweled my face, dripping water, and I walked out.



----------



　After breakfast and a quick break....
　Once again, Mr. Al and his team will be persuaded.

　Al-san and the others' arguments will not change.
　Arios was the cause of the outburst, and the knights and adventurers who received the order are not to blame.

　However, the king who appointed Arios as a brave man is responsible.
　It's the responsibility of the person who stands at the top to bear this responsibility as a matter of course.
　Without a proper apology and reparations, he would never be able to satisfy himself....
　That's what I was told.

　Unlike yesterday, I will destroy them without question!　My opinion of the situation was smaller.
　Maybe seeing my daughters made me feel a little cooler.

　Maybe this could be resolved if things went well.
　I came up with a plan, and after the discussion with Al and the others was over, I headed to the chief.



----------



　I was just telling the chief about a plan.
　I asked Sora and Luna to help me out a bit.
　Now if we can make good time and things go the way I think they should, we'll be able to stop Mr. Al and the others from running amok.

　Please, I beg you, let it work.
　I don't want to see an all-out war between the most powerful species and humans.

'Well...'

　It's going to take time to see the results of my plan.
　So all I can do now is buy myself some time.
　I have to somehow placate Al and the others so they don't explode and buy us some time.

　Apart from that, I have some other things I need to do.

　While we were preparing for this and that and discussing it, the day was slipping away.
　The time passed surprisingly quickly.
　Is that how busy we are?

'Mr. Al,'
Hmm?　What is it, Rain?

　I knocked on the door of Al's house.
　Al-san appeared at the door.

　I heard that Suz and Milua are staying at Al-san's house.
　I glanced behind the door and saw no one in sight.

'Are you alone now?'
Hmm. Tin and Milua are at the chief's.
To the chief?　And why is that again?

　Don't tell me you're trying to secretly convince the chief to be on your side...?
　I have such fears, but I know it is only a concern.

"Both Suzu and Milua are the second most important people in their respective villages. I have to say hello and everything.
I see.
So, what happened to Rain?　What do you want, mistress?
I need to talk to you. Is this a good time?
"Hmm.

　Mr. Al stared at me.

'I hear it's a different story than this one?　And I saw it as serious in its own right.
How do you know?
I've lived a long time. I can tell from the look on your face what a little boy of Rayne's age is thinking.

　I can't compete.

"Hmm.
So are you okay?
Yes, that's fine. There is one condition, though.
What is it?
"Take a bath with your mistress.

　After a full 30 seconds of freezing thoughts.

What?

　I would spill out a voice that was outrageously goofy.