When Rona returned with Aldis and introduced him as an acquaintance, Minerva and the others saw hope and bright colors on their faces.
　This is because if you're a living person, and not someone who was flown in from the duke's mansion like Minerva and the others, you might know where the human settlement is.

　However, right after that, as soon as it became clear that Ardis, like Rona and the others, didn't know where this place was, his expression rapidly became cloudy.
　It's not surprising that the single ray of light that you thought you had found was cut off in the blink of an eye, and it's not surprising.

It's no use being downhearted. It's getting dark, so why don't we find a suitable place to rest for the day?

　No one objected to such a proposal from Rona.

　The group decided on a place where dozens of trees grew densely together as a place to sleep for the night and began to prepare for the encampment.

　The atmosphere of the place is not very pleasant, due to Aldis' sloppy response to Minerva and the others without saying their names.
　There is an awkward atmosphere between the three of them and their unity.

''It's tough that I couldn't bring you some water,''

　Moore sighs as he roasts the Neduro's meat, which he retrieved as makeshift food, over the fire.
　The meat of the neduro may manage to fill his stomach, but it won't quench his thirst.

''Oh, yeah. I'm sorry. 'Yes, water.'

　As if remembering, Rona says this in a light tone, and a sphere about the size of a fist appears in front of Minerva and Moore.

''Huh?''

　Minerva rolled her eyes as she saw it floating around in a huff.

'Here, hold out your hand and take it.

　The two formed a vessel with their hands, and the sphere fell into it as if waiting for them.
　As soon as it touches your hand, it collapses and returns to its original form, which is unmistakably water.

Is this ...... water?

　Moore looks at the liquid filling his hands and confirms to Rona that he sees it.

'What do you think it looks like other than water? 'You can always tell me if it's not enough. I'll bring it out again. If I had a bowl, I wouldn't have to make a small amount, but you'll have to live with that for now.

　They took a sip of their drink, and as soon as they were sure it was safe to drink, they drank it down.

　But after that, it's not words of gratitude that come out of Moore's mouth, but an accusatory blurting out, "If you can do this, you should have served it in the first place.

'If you could do this, you should have just put it out there in the first place: ......

I don't blame you. I didn't understand the situation at all. Then I ask you, if I had created water out of the blue, would you have said it without a second thought?　Can you be sure that you didn't change the way you looked at me after that?

That's ...... for sure.

　If possible, Rona didn't want them to see who he was.

　I know that these two are not enemies of Ardis, but you never know where or how information will be communicated to you.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get the same results as I have been able to get from the main street of the capital if I find out that Rona is not just a beast, but a being who controls magic.
　It may attract people who are misled by bad ideas, and in the worst case, they may even be recognized as demons and targeted for destruction.
　That was not what Rona or Ardis wanted, because that was not what they wanted.

'I'm sorry. But then why is it now?''

What's the point in hiding my identity now?

'Oh ....... That's right.

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a conversation with them after you've shown them how to use their magic in the battle of the stream.
　It's not a good idea to just hide the magic that creates water at this point in time.

It's a good thing that you can get your own drinking water. Rona is not a servant.

　Aldis, who was watching the exchange between Rona and the others, interrupted them.
　I think he doesn't like the fact that his partner is being used as a maid.

"What?

　The bluntness of Aldis's demeanor didn't seem to help, and Moore didn't have a good impression of him.
　It was natural for him to become overly wordy.

'Don't do it, Al. It's not a choice. You two can't handle magic.

No magic?

　Frowning as if he didn't know what it meant, Aldis asked back.

'Why would someone who can't even use magic be hanging around outside the city?

'I am a swordsman. Even if I can't use magic, I'm powerful enough to fight with this sword.

　He felt insulted.
　Moore insisted as he glared at Ardis.

'If you were a swordsman, you'd have to deal with magic even more. How are you going to fight if you can't make a single scaffold?'

　Aldis counters with a dumbfounded tone.

'Scaffolding?　What's that?

　It was Rona who helped Moore, who asked back without understanding the reasoning.

I'm sure that's what the foothold is all about.

　As soon as he said that, he jumped up in a heap.
　The body, which had risen a meter or so, turned into a fall and stopped before it could reach the ground.

''Huh?　Floating: ......

　To Minerva's eyes, Rona's body would appear to be floating about fifty centimeters above the ground.

'This is the foothold. It's made with magic power.''

　Rona flies right and left, kicking in the air to the right and left so that Moore, who rolls his eyes, can see her better.
　The sight of Rona flying from one foothold to the next that Moore and the others couldn't see must have seemed like flying through the air.

'Well, could that be ....... Is that the karma used by that six-legged beast called Neduro?

It's not much of a karma. I can even use it against Neduro.

　Rona lightly replied as if it were common sense.

The fact that the person who can't even use a foothold doesn't call himself a swordsman. If you don't want to die, just put down the sword and think about living in a safe town.

　As if pouring oil on the fire, Aldis uttered a bitter complaint with a blunt expression.

'You, if I let you say--!

'Wait, wait, wait, wait!　It's a harsh thing to say, but Al is right. It's too dangerous here for your abilities.

　Rona hurriedly stops Moore from expressing his anger, but I guess he can't back down here either.

''I'm proud to say that I've risen to the rank of battalion commander with a single sword, too!　I can't keep my mouth shut after being made fun of so much!

　I'm sure Moore understands what Aldis and Rona are saying.
　Because he has seen Aldis and others overrun Neduro, who he couldn't even get his hands on.

　But still, he still has some pride as a swordsman.
　It seems that he does not have the character to remain silent after being told so much by Aldis.

It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what to expect.　What kind of country trickery is that battalion of yours?

Hey!　And don't rile Al!

　Aldis is firing up Rona's efforts to control the scene.

If you want to sell me a fight that badly, I'll buy it!　I'm going to give you a taste of that playful sword you're talking about!

　As Moore stood up and put his hand on the hilt of his sword, Rona finally lost her patience as well.

''Enough!''

　I slammed five sharply pointed ice spears into Moore's front and made him stagger with the strong wind that blew in front of him.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get it right or not.

''I wasn't going to explain it to you because it would be too much trouble, but it looks like you need to know the reality of the situation, so let me make it very clear.

　With a sullen look on her face to Moore, Rona half gave up and decided to confront him and Minerva with reality.

''It's true that you may be a battalion commander in the Kingdom of Nagras' army and have some of the best sword skills in the kingdom, but that's only within the kingdom. At least it doesn't work here.

You're not even--!

Shut up and listen!

　Rona shouts out, silencing Moore.

'This guy - his name is Neduro, you remember him, right?

...... Yeah, we just had a fight.

　Rona asked as Rona pointed with her forefoot at the lump of meat that had once been Neduro, and Moore replied with a bitter expression.

'You, do you think you can beat this?'

...... If only we hadn't been so careless.

　Moore's crumbling pride is squeezed out of his mouth.

'You're not very aware. If the first four bodies we met weren't playing, you'd have been torn to pieces long ago, wouldn't you?

"Not playing"?　What do you mean?

Neduros have a habit of playing with their prey when they can afford to, like they enjoy hurting them little by little and making them weaker and weaker. It's like they enjoy hurting their prey little by little and getting weaker and weaker. But because they're too stupid to see who's stronger, they often jump on top of their opponents and get beaten back.

　Moore is stunned by Rona's words.
　He is shocked to learn that what he thought was a fight was just a game to Neduro.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. You will be rejected by any mercenary group if you're as bad as these guys are. Even such a Neduro can use footholds and barriers, can you understand what Al means by saying that?

......

　He understood what Aldis was trying to say.
　Biting his lip, Moore fell silent.

'This is ......, where the hell are we?　The way Rona said it, it sounds like you know where we are.

　Instead, it was Minerva, who had been quietly listening to the conversation next to Moore, who opened her mouth.

'Phew. ......'

　Exhaling heavily, Rona belches.

(It's a pain in the ass.)

　After complaining only in his mind, he reminded himself that he had no choice and took on the role of commentator.
　As I put my feet down on the ground, I moved my head to guide Minerva's gaze.

''That's right. It's a bit complicated, but ....... Sky, look at it.

Empty?

　Minerva and the others look at the sky as Rona looks up.

'What about the sky?'

............ Ah!

　It was Minerva who noticed first.

'What's the matter, young lady?'

There is no ......

　The sky is dark with the dusk fading away.
　This is a normal scene in this world, but in the world over there where Minerva and her friends live, it's different.

　There, as the dusk fades, the sky begins to glow dully, and the sky, filled with tiny grains of light, is being eroded by a black sky from the east.
　It's a sight that cannot be seen in this world, a scene known as the faint sky.
　It's a natural scene for the girls, and this sky, which is darkening without the pale sky, is worthy of surprise.

'Come to think of it, ......!

Why ......?

　Above their heads, a red much brighter than the world over there was placed on one side and an all-encompassing black on the other, with a gradation of red and black decorating the space between them.
　To the girls who are accustomed to a world with a pale sky, it may appear to their eyes as an extraordinary event.

'There's no such thing as a pale sky in this world.

　They were both surprised to hear Rona's explanation in a matter-of-fact manner.

'Because the world is different from where Minerva and the others were born.

The world is ...... different?

　Minerva only responds to the parrots, whether she properly understands what Rona is saying or not.

'This is the world I was born and raised in. And Al - this is the world that Aldis grew up in.'

　It was Aldis, not Minerva and the others, who reacted first to the words.

'How did my name come up in there?'

　If you mention your name where you thought it was completely irrelevant to you, you'll usually be curious.
　Aldis holds her temples with one hand and questions the question.

'What?　Master?

Aldis?

　Minerva and Moore's were not so much concerned about it as they were about it.
　It's not a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this. It's too complicated to explain at the same time ...... and I'll explain it to Al later,

　Breaking out in a cold sweat at the pressure brought silently from Aldis, Rona turned her head to Minerva and the others.
　It couldn't be helped that the tone of her voice was slightly woozy under Aldis' stinging gaze from the side.

'Well, where was I? ....... Oh yeah, I was talking about how this world and Minerva and the others are different.'

　Removing the still argumentative Ardis from view, Rona continued to talk while feigning composure.

It seems that for some reason Al was sent to Minerva's world. I don't know what the reason is, and neither does Al, but for some reason his body has been sent to Minerva's world. For some reason, he's having a hard time getting back to Minerva's world, but he's working hard as a mercenary to find his way back. If it were just me, I would be able to travel back and forth between the two worlds by myself, but it seems to be difficult for Al. ......

　Minerva and the others were speechless at the ridiculous story that was plainly told.

It's not that Al is not a different person, but I think he's Al himself. It's like the Ardis of another world with different memories than the Ardis that you know.

"Wait a minute. I don't understand. ....... Are you saying this is the same person as your master?

I don't know if it's the same person, but I think it's the same person originally.

'You're telling me this guy's Aldis?　You're not your age at all.

'This is what Al originally looked like. The Al over there is just smaller.

'Then who is the master I know?　You think it's fake?

That one's Al. That one's Al, and this one's Al. They're both real and they're both Al.

　The questioning from the two of them comes up one after another, and Rona answers without a pause.
　Of course, Rona herself does not understand all of the situation, but at least she is better than Minerva and the others and Aldis here.

'So, the world over here. Let's see, the big difference between this world and Minerva and her friends' world is that, as you can see now, there's no pale sky. In fact, that pallid sky seems to be a more unusual phenomenon to me and Al. Both Al and I were convinced that it was a different world when we saw that.

　Minerva and the others looked up at the sky again.

　Contrary to Rona and the others, the presence or absence of the pale sky had confronted them with reality.
　That this is different from the world Minerva and Moore lived in.

'The rest you can see from me, but over here the beasts speak normally and use magic. The other thing is that there are more wars here than in this world, and things are a bit more complicated. Oh, but I feel that Minerva's world has more magic power. It's very easy to activate magic. That's the big difference.

　How well did they understand the reality that they were being confronted with incessantly?
　Minerva and the others are at a loss for words and are simply listening to Rona.

There are many small differences, but conversely there are also many similarities. Some are strong and some are weak, some are good, some are villains and some are bastards. It's a shame.

　The red-haired woman, associated with the word "bastard," comes to Rona's mind.

　A hot anger rises in her heart.
　It's a good thing that you're not going to be able to forgive the mad woman who tricked, humiliated, and defiled the woman who was a friend and loved one of Rona's dearest friends and loved ones to Ardis.

　I'm sure that even then, if he hadn't been deeply wounded, he would have participated in the defeat with Ardis.
　It's the same for Rona after seven years.
　You can only imagine how Ardis is feeling right now, dragging the regret of just seven days ago.

　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.