Aldis crossed her legs and placed her chin on the back of her hand as she propped her elbow on it.
　I stared into Marida's eyes and ruminated over what she said.

　It was hard to believe what Marida was saying, but it was true that she knew the future.
　But you can't ignore what she says and does that can only be seen as knowing the future.

　Should I trust this woman or not? Ardis speaks of the question that will be the touchstone for this.

'The contents of the small envelope I had Kirill hold. What were the words written on that card?　How do you know about that?

　The words on the card were.

The card read: "Our swords are for victory, our hearts are for our friends. Our sword is for victory, our hearts are for our friends, let's bring glory to our banner.

　It was a word that Aldis knew well.

　It is a word that should have only been spoken by the many friends who fought and died with Ardis.
　If there are people alive who know them, it means that they have passed through the same dead ground as Ardis to get here.

　I don't know who it is. No, I don't care who it is.
　I might just want to make sure I wasn't alone.

"Who told you that?　Is he alive?　Where are you now?

　To Ardis, who asks the question with a serious gaze, Marida gives her a troubled look.

''Uh, er ......, uh ....... That word?　That was just a dream.

Dream ......?

Yes, dreams. My dreams aren't always the same. Sometimes I have the same dream in a row, but sometimes it's different from yesterday's dream. I won't be able to see this dream anymore because it's over, but I have other dreams in which Aldis appears. It's one of them, and it's something Aldis himself has said. So I'm sorry. I don't know much about it either.

　It was a far cry from the answer Aldis was looking for.
　Without revealing his inner disappointment, Aldis continued to ask the question: " How far into the future is it?

...... How far in the future is that?

'Hmm ....... Considering your appearance, Aldis, I'd say you're a little further along than a year or two, wouldn't you?　I don't think it's been a decade: ......, maybe five years?

Is there anything else you can tell me?　The scenery around you, the people you were with.

It was on top of a small hill. There were many soldiers and mercenaries around, and Aldis was giving them orders. There was a girl about seventeen or eighteen years old with Alice's blue hair, standing on the other side of the hill. The one standing on the other side was a beautiful woman a little older than that. Her hair was blonde, I think.　And then there's a swordsman with ash-blond hair, a female swordsman with a lavender ponytail, and a strong man with a solid body and a mercenary to look at.

'Yeah, or ......'

　It was an unfamiliar sight to Ardis. It wasn't information he wanted to know, of course.
　But it's not like she's bullshitting either.

　The only question is whether Aldis would trust Marida.
　It is possible that she is lying, or that there is another mastermind behind it who is passing false information to Ardis.
　However, even if the one she says she saw in her dream is a fiction, she certainly has some source of information related to Ardis.

　Then you can use them.
　Ardis arrives at a conclusion that resembles a reopening.

　There is no need to force yourself to trust them. Even if this woman had some kind of a plan, it can be said that if Aldis is the only one standing in the line of fire, anything is possible.

Okay.

　With a lot of meaning in that one word, Aldis asks one last question.

'That's the last one. You called me by some street name the other day, didn't you?

Is it called 'The Magician of a Thousand Swords'?

Yeah, that's it. What the hell is that called?

What?

　Marida tilts her head and gives a curt answer.

'Are you kidding me?'

'No, I'm sorry. I really don't know. This is just a dream I ended up having as well, but it seems like Aldis-kun was called that by the people around him. I'm sure you have more ideas about this than I do, don't you, Aldis?

I don't know. I've never been called by that name before.

Hmm. Then I guess that means we won't be named after him for a while.

　Marida murmurs to herself, not looking very interested.

'It's a useless power.'

　In the end, the only information obtained was about Marida's own abilities.
　Indeed, as a result, the basis for the treatment of Kirill and the manner in which he spoke as if he knew the future became clear.

　But the source of the words Ardis wanted to know most was still unknown.
　You're going to be able to find out if you're going to be able to get a good deal more than you'd like.

I'm sorry. But as I've said many times before, I'm going to be on your side. When I find out what you're dreaming about, I'll let you know.

'Ally, hey ....... What's in it for you to put your back into it for me?　Is that also a result of your dream?

'Yes, yes. At least if I stay on Aldis-kun's side, the Chamber of Commerce will grow and I won't have to die!

What if you turn on me?

'No, no more ....... I don't even want to remember that. ......

　Apparently, she has already experienced the future of turning Aldis against her in her dreams.
　The smile that was floating on her face was instantly erased and Marida's face turned bright blue. Her voice was also trembling somewhat.

I've seen enough of your monstrosity and horror to know that you're a monster. I'm not a doomsayer, you know.

　The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that there are a lot of people in the world who are willing to fight for you, whether they are merchants or young women, if you want to turn on them and do them harm.

　But when it comes to trying to kill you, they are not so vindictive as to drive all those who oppose them to ruin, nor do they have such a penchant for kicking the weak in the butt.
　The best that can be done is to threaten them, as Cesare did, if they are conspiring with false information.

I don't have any kind of taste in things.

No, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no, no. Even if you don't mean it, it's not good for someone to be hostile to you!

　Marida shakes her head with all her might while doing the dexterous thing of retreating on the sofa, wondering where the room she had just left behind.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

It's a very different image from the first time we met, you are a lot more shifty. It's a good thing that you're able to do that.

　Laughed at, Marida gave a huffy look and blurted out an excuse as she averted her gaze.

'It can't be helped. If you don't keep a thoughtful attitude like that, Aldis-kun always behaves in unexpected ways. ...... I wish you'd know what we're going through here at least a little.'

　I'm sure he was relieved to find out that he was able to proceed as he had sought in his dream. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you're in the marketplace.
　You'll be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's a good thing. I'm going to believe your story for the time being.

Yeah. That's enough for now. In any case, I don't expect to get full trust from the beginning with Aldis-kun.

　That's a lot to say, but that perception isn't wrong, so Aldis can't talk back either.

Is there anything else you want to ask me?

　Marida confirmed as she pasted on the merchant's smile again.

　Instead of replying, Aldis took Nere's hair, tied up with a string from the luggage compartment and placed it on the table.

'It's what I promised. As per your terms, I'll be present when you use it.'

'Yeah. It's definitely a beautiful Alice blue color! I wish I had hair like this color.

　While picking up a strand of hair, Marida spoke her personal opinion.

''But didn't I say 'Hitobusa'?　No matter how you look at it, it looks like there's enough for one human being, not just one bunch, but a bushel. ......

...... I didn't make you hang up, did I?

　It was Nere, who cut off all the hair without any hesitation, faster than Aldis could say 'just one bunch'.

'That's not a problem for a lot, I guess...'

　For some reason, Marida gives me an accusatory look.

'You let a woman get you this far, so why don't you at least buy that person an apology gift?　If you want, I can get you some affordable accessories from our store.

No, I don't want it. I don't want to be handed an item that's loaded with detection magic or something.

Wow. I don't trust you.

　Aldis looked at Marida, who was deliberately lamenting as she answered inwardly, "Of course.
　It doesn't seem to be a clear enemy for now, but that doesn't mean it's too early to declare him an ally.

''You'll have to do that kind of small talk after I leave.

You're not in a good mood.

So?　What are we going to do with this?

　Ignoring Marida's line, Aldis turned his attention to Nere's hair on the table and asked, "Shall we move to where the sword is?

I'll move to where the sword is. You can't bring the sword over here, can you?

　Gently lifting Nere's hair, Marida gets up from her seat.

　As it is, Marida took Ardis out of the parlor and moved to the basement of the building.
　The place I arrived at was a room that Ardis had stepped into last time.

　When you enter the room, the first thing you see is a pattern drawn on the floor that looks like a magic circle.
　In the center of it all is a single swing of a sword. The sword is held in place by several strands of light that extend from the magic circle.
　The same scene as last time. But Ardis felt that the light became a little thinner than when she first saw it.

The effect will wear off tomorrow or the day after. In any case, I'm glad we made it in time.''

So?　What are you going to do with that hair?

I don't know.

What?

　Marida abandoned her answer blithely.
　Ardis's voice, which sounded dumb, filled the room vainly.

I dreamed that I needed this, but it never occurred to me how to use it. If I could dream about everything so conveniently, it wouldn't be so hard to do.

'Hey. What if it's ......?

I'll just have to take my chances.

Appropriate: ......

　Despite Aldis' dismay, Marida walks up to the center of the magic circle and quietly places a lock of Alice Blue's hair by her sword.

''Oh, look, look. There's a reaction.''

　As Marida said, the sword in the center of the magic circle began to glow suspiciously in response to the hair strands.

　The red light begins to probe the surroundings as if seeking something.
　Eventually the light probed for the existence of the hair strands and began to crawl across the floor like a liquid.
　Slowly, the light arrived and expanded to cover the hair bundle, and with a movement as if in response to it, the hair bundle was untied and drawn to the sword.

''Is the sword ...... getting wrapped up?''

　As Aldis expressed, Nere's hair, which was untied and broken apart, wrapped and hid the entire sword.

"It's just like a cocoon.

　The surface of the sword, completely wrapped in his hair, reminded him of an Alice Blue cocoon.

''This is probably the right thing to do. 'It's easier to bear than to worry,' it's true.

So what's this all about, then?

What?

There you are. ......

It can't be helped. If you don't see it in your dreams, I wouldn't understand it either. If you don't have this power, you're just a little girl of a merchant family. You can't understand what you don't understand. Even if you keep worrying about the things you don't understand, it won't solve anything, right?

　Marida reopens.
　The wrinkles between Aldis' eyebrows.

''Since it looks like a cocoon, I wonder if something will be born sooner or later?

What do you mean by "what"?

What is it?　I hope it's not a demon or something: ......

　Marida, unmasked, seems to have a more lax personality than I thought.
　Although much better than her irritating first impression, her indescribably disappointing appearance made her head ache, and Aldis continued to carefully loosen it by placing a finger on her brow.