Since then, I've strolled around the foggy city and talked to Nina, Tina and Rifa.
　All three of them seemed uncomfortable, though they were still trapped in their dreams, but they all seemed to be feeling uncomfortable.
　If there was some kind of trigger, they might be able to get themselves back.

　However, finding that trigger is difficult.
　What words would trigger it?
　Or is it actions instead of words?
　Or it has to be in a completely unexpected and unthinkable way.
　We don't have all the ingredients to determine that yet.

　If I could, I would keep everyone awake, but....
　While the situation has changed, I can't say too much longer.

　Perhaps, but it turned out that there was a third force that was different from Alpha-san.
　That person would be able to do things like unleash demons on the city without a care in the world.
　It would be dangerous if left unattended.

　So.........

''I'm going to leave Alpha-san temporarily unattended and look for someone who is controlling a demon, or who is doing something related to it.

　Iris says in a dumbfounded way.

　From Iris's point of view, I guess it's ridiculous that I'm scrambling for someone who has nothing to do with it.
　I don't blame her for thinking that way.

Well, how should I put it, because this is who I am.
Other than that, it would be more efficient to pretend you don't see it?
'Maybe, but I don't want to. But I don't like it.

　We can't help everyone and everything in need in the world.
　I can't even be arrogant enough to help them.

　But.

　What if there are people in need within your reach?
　What if there's someone I could help by moving?

　In those cases, you want to do something about it.
　Otherwise, you might end up regretting what you should have done back then.
　I don't want to do that.

Well it's just my complacency to say it.
Yes, it's all very self-congratulatory.
Ugh.....
But.........well, I don't hate you like that, Miss Lane.

　Iris laughs, as if she has no choice but to go out with me.

　After all, Iris seems to have changed.
　Thus, showing a pure smile has happened before.
　But it was only for a little while.

　But now it's different.
　As if doing so was natural, she smiled innocently every so often.
　What kind of change of heart it was, I don't know...
　Iris looked so beautiful now.

''But, Lady Rain. How will you seek out the third force?　You used your dog earlier and didn't find anything, did you?

　It's quite tricky when it comes to someone who escapes a dog's ability to detect you.
　There's a good chance he's using magic or some other special ability to hide.

I'm going to need some help from Iris.
Me?
Can you use Iris's summoning magic to summon a bee called Earlby?
Bees...?　Yeah, yeah. It's possible, but what's the point of doing that?
Well, we'll see.
'Huh...'

　Iris seemed to be unrepentant, but she exercised her summoning magic as she was asked.
　The magic circle unfolded in the air and a bee appeared from it.

　He quickly made a quick tentative contract before he flew off somewhere else.

''That's it,''
What are you going to do with those bees, sir?　I'll have those bees look for you?
Half right.

　Bees don't have the amazing detection abilities of dogs, but....
　But you can fly.
　Change from a flat search to a three-dimensional search.
　If you do that, you'll discover something new.　So I thought.

Nice to meet you.

　At my signal, the bees take off into the sky.
　Its speed is quite impressive and it disappears from sight in a matter of seconds.

'Now all we have to do is wait?'
No. I'd like to make one more move to fit it in.



----------



　A back alley in an unpopular back alley.
　Then there was Leanne and Monica.

　They are sneaking around like they are trying to sneak out of the public eye.
　It's suspicious from all angles, but no one pays attention to it.
　Or rather, there is no one else.
　This is because the area is undeveloped and seldom visited by people.

　They walked into a house while keeping an eye on their surroundings.
　The house was so dilapidated that it could not be described by any other word than "abandoned".
　The walls were leaning, the windows were cracked and there was a huge hole in the door.

　As they moved into such an abandoned house, they let out a single breath.
　Catching their breath....
　Then, I focus my magic power on my hand.

　Reacting to that magical power, something like a vortex is created in space.
　It connects with another space and forms a single hole.
　What overflows out of it........are demons.

　One, two, three........
　Magic power was being concocted and one demon after another was being born.

　Seeing this scene, Lean pasted a grin and a vicious smile on her mouth........

Come on. Otherworldly fire.

　Such a voice sounded.
　Immediately after, gosh!　The abandoned house is blown away along with the demons with a roaring sound of.



----------



　My cheeks tug at my cheeks as I look at the crumbling abandoned house in front of me.
　Iris, in contrast, smiles with a satisfied smile.

''Hey, Iris.......wasn't it too much to blow up all of a sudden?''
Oh my. You don't need to be shy when it comes to spawning demons.
Well, maybe so, but ... hmmm.

　I feel like a villain, and it's a bit complicated.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. It's amazing how easily you found the enemy like this.
I couldn't have done it without the help of Iris.

　The other plan is a very simple one.
　I'm going to cast a physical enhancement spell on Iris and then ask her to search for signs.

　I'm going to detect Earlby and........
　By superimposing the information obtained from Iris's detection of the enemy, the location of the enemy has been derived.
　It's a haphazard way of searching the entire city, but...
　Iris's basic abilities were too good, so we were able to get to the answer fairly quickly without taking too long.

Without Iris' help, it would have taken much longer, and I don't think we would have been able to find it before then.
Well, I won't deny that, but it was Rain-sama who thought of such a plan. I think you deserve some credit for that.
Anyway, without further ado let's get down to business.

　We have confirmed that someone who looks like the enemy is creating demons in an abandoned house.
　However, I didn't confirm its detailed appearance.

　Who is this person from where?
　What is the purpose of this?
　We need to make sure we're in the right place.

　Me and Iris brace ourselves firmly so that we can move at any time.
　In that state, we gradually approach the crumbling abandoned house.

　The enemy is an opponent that uses magic power to create demons.
　It's hard to believe that he fell with the current blow.

''........''

　I don't think he's fallen down, but for some reason he doesn't show up.

　Maybe he got away?
　Nope.
　The perimeter is surrounded by tamed insects and animals that have formed a siege.
　Even if they were able to escape, they would be reported immediately.

　If they didn't, then ... the earlier blow killed them?
　Buried in the rubble of an abandoned house?

　I don't think it's that simple.
　That figure I've seen before.
　I think the two people I know - Monica and Leanne - are the ones who have survived.

"Hmm.

　Iris takes a step forward.
　She pointed her right hand toward the ruins of the abandoned house and deployed some kind of magic circle.
　Like the magic of Sora and Luna, she seems to be searching for something.

''...I see.''
What have you got?
The enemy seems to have escaped. There's a slight magical reaction. He probably used some kind of magic.
Magic....

　The Lean I know hasn't learned any escape magic.
　It's just that it's been quite some time since we broke up, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's acquired some new powers.
　We need to be vigilant.

"Mr. Rayne, do you have any idea what the third force is?
Yeah. I can't say for sure because it could be a misleading trap, but it's probably one of Arios' friends.