I think we should go somewhere together sometime, you know.

"Let's go see the ocean and stuff.

"There's nothing but woodland, and as for food, I'm afraid of many things...

"Mm, don't be a picky eater, I'll eat the fish of the sea.

"Ugh, I don't want to smell the flesh...

　I thought about the departure of the two of us coming together someday.
　It was a small promise that could not be fulfilled.

　Lulu, who was a spirit born from the World Tree, would not be able to maintain her substance once she left the forest.
　There is no other way to take Lulu out of such a place other than for Olivier, who made a contract with Lulu, to continuously pour his magic power into her.

　If it wasn't for the events of that day, surely they would have pushed everything to Floria by now, and the two of them would have been traveling together.
　But it's not that I have any unresolved feelings about the past that could not be fulfilled now.
　Rather, I'm even excited that now, like this, the scene I had dreamed of is about to become a reality.

(-- I'm looking forward to it.)

　A voice from deep inside me.

Aye!

　Shtel said with a radiant smile.






◇






　Humming, which would not have been flattering, Shtel was in an unusually good mood as he flailed around on Nacht's shoulder.

'You look like you're having fun, Shtel,'

Hey!　Mom and Dad are out!　I'm looking forward to it!

If you get too carried away, Stern, you'll get tired very quickly.

Aye!

　He shook his body while replying to Aisha's advice to pass on such advice.
　For Shtel, this is his first outing in over two thousand years. He couldn't help but feel excited.
　The elder elves who had come to see him off, Urs, and Silphy were also looking at Shtel with a smile on their faces.

　Although it was Nacht's decision to take Shtel with him, there was some persistent opposition in the village. Most of them were persuaded by Nacht, but there were naturally those who stubbornly opposed it.
　Grace's words summed up the opinions of the village.

We have been supported by the chief for a long time. But we can't stay here forever. But we can't stay here forever.　You're pathetically begging me to lead you all!　Let's stop now. We mustn't do anything to tie him up.

　I never heard any opposition from then on.

'Don't you miss it, Shtel?

　Aisha asks Shtel that.
　The village of the elves would be an irreplaceable place for Shtel to spend a long time. That's why Aisha was a little nervous.

'It's okay, my mom and dad are here!　But a lot more than that, yee-hawks!　You know, you know, I'd love to see the ocean and the mountains and all that!

'Yes, then we'll travel a lot and see a lot of things. It will be an absolute pleasure to have Nacht-sama and Shtel with us.

Aye!

　Along with a peaceful family chat, they walked through the world tree and walked through the scarred battlefield.
　Eventually, we arrived at the doorway, and around the doorway, there was a small, neat and tidy stone building that had been used as a fort by the demon tribe.

　At first glance, it looks like a temple.
　However, it was not a god that was enshrined, but a huge doorway.

　It has a silvery metallic sheen that is so raw that it would be out of place in a world that could be described as a fantasy. A large number of magic formulae carved into the complex and bizarre circuitry.
　Everyone's first impression is that it's uncanny.

　It's a machine that looks like something a person would create, but in fact, the techniques involved are not those of a person at all, but of a god, and one feels a creepy feeling crawling down one's spine at the sight of its style.
　On the other hand, it is also true that they are overwhelmed. The elaborate work of art, formed around the overlapping circles, is already an art form. That's why my voice leaks out in admiration that fills my heart with fear at the same time.

'It's amazing--'

　There were unknowns there that Nacht had never seen or heard of, including in his gaming days.
　It wasn't like a sky gate that held the power of a god or a hole of nothingness pried open by a demon.
　Obviously, as a technology, it was a single door that connected space.
　It seemed to Nahat that it was like a warp gate in science fiction.

''Nacht-sama doesn't know about this door either?''
　I was rather surprised at that, and Aisha's face told the story.

'Ha, there are countless things I don't know, Aisha.

　It appears to be a product of alchemy, but even in the alchemy capital of Magastia, Nacht has never seen the door.

'I suppose it's a large transitional gate (transport gate), or at least technology for transporting people and similar objects.

　From the size of the door, no matter how huge it is, it is not something that something as large as an aircraft or a battleship could pass through. Even if you can get through, a car or truck would be a good place to do so.
　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

Then, shall we go?

　With those words, Aisha shook Shtel's hand.
　Sylphy, who had come to see them off, called out to them.

The following is a list of the most important things you can do. You guys would be welcome in the village at any time, next time you can come back without the master there.

　When casually spitting venom at Nacht, Silphy was in his usual form.

'Meh!　Don't talk to your mother like that!　Sis!

Ugh I'm sorry, Master Shtel.

　Sylvie apologizes for Shtel's words in an awkward manner.

''Nacht-dono, please take care of the two of you.

　Nacht nodded at Grace's words.

'Yeah, no need to be told.'

　It was only a few weeks' stay in the elven village, but the days were truly rich and full of life.
　As if to say goodbye to such a village, I touch the door.
　I hold out my hand to the elaborate magic circle carved into the crimson crystal and pour my magic power into it.

''What do you think...?　Can you handle it...?

　Filnelia, the person I appointed to guide me, asks me.

'Ha, nothing is impossible for Nacht-chan,'

　When I spoke out loudly and gave it more magic power, a number of gears wriggled with the magic formula, and mechanical sounds rang out strongly.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good time with your friends.
　The amount of magic power required to connect the space was tremendous.
　Sensibly, it demanded a level of magic power equal to the Dragon Shooting Magic Method.
　At the very least, it's not something one can do anything about.
　However, in Nacht's hands, it can be said to be easy to activate.

But it's certainly not something that can be used with impunity.................

　And after starting up to that point, Nacht realized.

''Hey, hey, what's that ominous feeling........''

''No, I just noticed that this door, there are two mechanisms for pouring magic power. This is probably because if you pour into one of them, one of them will close, which is why this is the one that connects the two points--

What do you mean by that?
　Aisha asks Nacht, who is buried in her thoughts.

''So there are two points where the doors lead to. Do you know which one goes to the Demon Continent, O Filneria?

'How can I know... I can't use it and I've never touched it because I can't use it... and the magic circle is so messed up and unintelligible...'

But what can I do?

It's a one in two chance chance. We'll just have to trust what we do every day.

How out of touch is that?

　In the meantime, a door filled with an enormous amount of magical power connects the space.
　A hole where the light, the light, seemed to be sucked in, was now opened in front of me.

''Nahat-sama........''

Mom.....

　The two of them sound a little anxious.
　Nacht has experienced a spatial transition similar to this in his gaming days, so he's not so anxious, but it definitely takes courage to jump into this hole for the first time.

　Nacht smiles and interrupts between the two people holding hands.
　Then he takes each of their warm, soft hands and connects them together.

'Well, now we're together. So don't worry about anything, I won't let you go, no matter what.

'Well then I really don't want to, but I'm going to lead the way, even though the move is really only for a moment. ...

　Filnelia steps out and the figure disappears.
　Nacht looks at Aisha and Shtel with their hands clasped together.
　And then.

I'm ready to go...

　He called to each other in good humor and stepped behind the door with them.







◇







　For a fraction of a second, less than a tenth of a second, darkness descends.
　And in an instant, the darkness cleared and light shone in.
　Truly, without a moment's hesitation, Nacht and the others passed through the door.

　They confirmed the feel of warm hands on both arms and widened their vision to find a spacious, well-appointed space.
　On either side were Aisha and Shtel, and in front of them was Filnelia.
　Just when Nacht and the others were wondering if they had arrived safely

...Where is this...?

　And mercilessly, Filnelia told her the reality.
　Faster than a stunned Aisha could complain.

"Ohhhhhh, meet, meet, meet!

　A loud, booming voice rang out.
　Men with knives surrounded Nacht's arrival as if to welcome him.

'Hmm, that's strange. I'm sure you're doing well on a daily basis, but--

　When Nacht tilted his head, Aisha's patience was already at an end.

''Nahat-sama's, bakaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!