Li...
"Hmm.

　I was just about to call out to Rifa when a bewitching laugh sounded.
　I turned around while reflexively holding up my Kamui and saw Monica.

''You........!
I might be pissed off too.

　Monica speaks of such things, but the smile on her mouth does not disappear.
　Rather, it becomes a deeper, more distorted smile.

It's not a good idea to have a good time.
Mmmm I'm sorry I can't stop it.

　Behind Monica, Kanade and Luna were sitting flat on the floor with their backs to each other, spilling out a rough breath.
　They were sweating profusely and felt exhausted.

　Unharmed against those two.
　And to be tossed around like that........
　Are you sure it's a person?
　I can't underestimate that.

　I set up my Kamui and shift into a combat stance, but Monica sheathes her sword.

''...What do you mean?''
Thankfully, since Master Weiss has been defeated, there's no reason to fight Mr. Lane and the others here and now.
Will you not avenge the Lord?
'My Lord is a different one. I'm only here as a reinforcement.
....
'Master Weiss has been defeated and we can no longer cause the stampede. Our purpose will not be fulfilled either. I would like to get even, but it's still pointless. It's not a good idea to act emotionally, even if it was planned from the beginning. So I'm going to stop here.
Unlike Weiss, you're a talker.
"Hmm.

　I have no idea what Monica is thinking.
　However, it seems to be the word of truth that she has no intention of fighting.
　She seemed to be making small talk, and I couldn't sense any fighting spirit in her.

　But that's no reason for me to break my fighting stance either.
　If you've got a good idea of what the demon tribe wanted to do in this case, you should be able to find out.
　We're not going to let her get away that easy.

''You look like you have no intention of letting her off easy.
You can read minds?
Mr. Lane is very straightforward.

　I've been told that often, but I didn't expect to hear it from Monica as well.
　I'm not sure how to describe it, but it's a complicated feeling.

　We're supposed to be enemies, and yet Monica's attitude is so friendly, even friendly.
　Are we really enemies?
　When I do this, sometimes I'm tempted to doubt it.

'Well, I'll let you get away with it. I can't be caught here.
Are you expecting me to just admit it?
You don't need Mr. Lane's permission. Besides ... my body is not here.
"?　.........!

　A thought occurred to me and I ejected the Narkami needle.
　I should have been able to see it, but Monica didn't try to avoid it.

　The needle stabbed into Monica's leg........but slipped through.

'An illusion....?'
Rain that guy was using a hallucination spell...
I think the body is somewhere else...

　Kanade and Luna, who looked exhausted, told me that.

'I didn't think you could do that to someone...'
I'm a little different.
Who the hell are you?　What are you up to?
Hmmm, that's a secret.

　Monica plastered a smile on her mouth like a child would.

'It's just...........................goodbye to this. Since we're here, how about we make a deal with one?
"Deal?
'We ask each other one question. And to that question, I'll answer it honestly how about...?

　I have a lot of doubts about whether Monica will answer honestly.
　And I have concerns about what kind of questions she'll ask, and that's where I'm concerned.

　But it's also an opportunity.
　Monica was with Arios.
　So it's possible that they are still together.

　It could be an opportunity to get a clue to Arios on the run and....
　I dare to take you up on your offer here.

Okay. I'll take the deal.
Thank you. Now, may I begin?
Yeah. Go ahead.
So ... Mr. Lane, are you going to be the next brave?
No.

　After a bit of hesitation, I decided to answer honestly.
　Monica was in a deep part of the country, so she seems to have some information about the brave men.
　She probably knows about the branch family as well.

　If that's the case, there's no point in cheating poorly, so I said my true intentions in order to seal the deal.

''Really?''
I've been told that before. But I'm not a character. When push comes to shove, I'm willing to fight, but for now, I'm going to be a regular adventurer.
Thank you for taking the deal properly.

　Monica still smiled and bowed her head lightly.
　Really, it's a disruptive opponent for the pace.

''Next time it's my turn, okay?''
'Yes, go ahead. Mr. Lane has spoken the truth and the deal is done. I promise to tell you the truth without lying to you, too. However, there is only one question, okay?　What would you like to hear?
'Well...'

　It's a pretty important question.
　I can't ask the question right away, and I think carefully about the question.

　Monica said that she was sent as a reinforcement for Weiss.
　In other words, she was in touch with the demon race.
　Perhaps the Lord is also a demon tribe.

　If that's the case........
　Is Arios also involved with the demon race?

'You can ask me anything you want, although I'm not going to be able to think about it for a few minutes.
Okay. I've decided.

　My question is....

What are you going to do with Arios?

　He asked.

　Probably, Monica did a handout and let Arios off the hook.
　I've heard that story from Sarya-sama.

　After all that has been done, Arios is not going to be able to regain his bravery.
　And it's unlikely that anyone would swear an oath of loyalty to Arios like that.
　We have to assume that they are helping him for a purpose.

　And what is that purpose?
　I had a hunch, but I felt it was very important, so I put it to the question.

''.....

　Monica's eyes widened in surprise.

'What's wrong?'　Can't you answer that?
''No ... my apologies. I didn't expect you to ask me about Arios-sama, so I was inexplicably surprised. This might be something Rain-sama can't underestimate.......
What's the answer to your question?
''Yes, I'll answer that right now. As for Arios-sama, well, there's a lot going on, so I can't say a single word, but still, if I had to describe it...

　Monica smiles and utters her purpose with an extreme smile.

'I thought I'd have you be the seed for a new war.
The war...?
Of course, I mean the war between the demon race and humans....
'What?　But that's ... no.

　I'd like to think it's a lie, but unfortunately, there's no indication that he's lying to Monica.
　She is using Arios to provoke another war between demons and humans.
　He must be serious about such a plan.

　The question is how to use Arios, though...

Well you couldn't have asked for a better service.

　Monica was gone, as if to say her duty was done.

　Monica's smile was burned into my brain, and a bad premonition swelled in my mind.
　It's ... a new sense of warfare.