A silent darkness where nothing could be seen and nothing could be heard.
　Through Erion's magic, Aldis drifted with an unearthly sensation as an offering.

　She didn't even know if she had her eyes open or closed.
　His sense of equilibrium is gone, and he can no longer tell whether he is standing or falling.

　But that inexplicable state did not last long.
　Suddenly, the sensation of being torn apart causes an inaudible scream in the silence, and Ardis gets only a sense of loss, not knowing what it is that is being lost.

　Eventually, a blur of color begins to appear in the darkened vision.
　She regains her sense of up and down, and gradually the sounds begin to assert their presence.
　Aldis's eyes catch a glimpse of dry, reddish-brown soil.

'This, this is ......?'

　As his vision recovered, Aldis found himself lying on the ground.
　Slowly picking herself up from her aching body, she looked around.

　Dirt and rocks spread out all around them.
　Only sparse grasses could be seen on the slightly reddish earth.
　It wasn't the smell of grass that stimulated my sense of smell, but the smell of the earth.

　Aldis is stunned by the scene that goes on as far as the eye can see.
　This was not near the citadel they had been fighting earlier, nor was it near the town where the mercenary group was based.
　At least Aldis didn't recognize such a land.

(Transition magic--?)

　Aldis guesses, remembering the situation before he passed out.

'The Erion one: ......'

　The art of transference, which no one has succeeded in yet.
　The genius who made it happen all by himself used the technique not for his own survival or that of his brother, but for the sake of Ardis.
　You have to leave the rest to Ardis.

'You idiot. ......'

　Weak cursing came out of Aldis' mouth.
　There were no tears.

　Perhaps neither Sark nor Erion would live.

(And probably the others: ......)

　The female general's army was clearly waiting for Aldis and the others.
　The raid, which was supposed to be a complete surprise attack, turned out to be a tube of information, and all of it was just dancing in the palm of the enemy's hand.

　I was the only one who survived.
　I had lost my beloved and irreplaceable loved ones, my predecessors, my followers, and my comrades in arms who had trusted me with their lives, and I was the only survivor.
　It is more bitterness than grief that envelops Ardis.

　I hate that woman.
　I can't forgive her, that woman.
　I want to kill her, that woman.
　I will throw everything from the tips of my fingernails to the tips of my hair, and I will stop her from breathing.
　Even if I had to spend all of my remaining life, even if I had to pay the price for my entire future, I would make sure that she gets her just retribution.

　That's why I'm going to live.
　That's why I can't die yet.

　Water.
　Food.
　Roads.

　--for a start, we'll survive.

　Homes.
　Locations.
　Money.
　Information.

　--Endure the time of the lair.

　Weapons.
　Troops.
　Command.

　--We'll get the power.

　One at a time.
　It's going to take some time.
　The result of our hasty efforts was this.
　That's why I'm going to have to suppress my desire to lose control, but I'm going to have to take it one step at a time.

　All of this will lead to a move to hunt down that woman.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.





　How much time had passed since then?
　In a blur of thoughts, as if her sense of time had been numbed, Aldis continued to walk.

　The sun had set seven degrees and the same number of sunrises had risen.
　Through the dirt and rocky land, through the forest and into the grasslands as far as the eye could see, there was not even a human village, let alone a soul in sight.

　We were attacked by the beasts many times along the way, and returned each time.
　I can't remember what I fought against.

　When I tried to remember, it was unclear, as if a blur had settled over my consciousness.
　The only thing smoldering in the depths of my heart is the frustration of not being able to hurry and the hatred for that woman.
　Pushing back against those two, I walked silently, fought off the beast, and walked again.

　When was the last time I drank water?
　When was the last time you took a bite of food?
　When was the last time you fought off a beast?

　My sense of time was weird.

(I'm ......, when did you sleep?)

　Looking back, I don't think I've had any sleep at all in the seven days since the transference surgery sent me away.
　But on the other hand, there are many hours of vague memory.
　I can't remember everything about the day, and if that's the case, it's possible I've fallen asleep without even knowing it.

　When I try to think about it, my thoughts are blurred and what arises is hatred and impatience.
　A deep sense of regret and sadness oozes from your heart.

　Hurry, my heart urges.
　I will not forgive you," my soul roars.
　I will kill you," the inner voice wails.
　Moved by the hollow thoughts and emotions that lodged in his mind, Aldis' body is rushed like a puppet.

(Where am I going?)

　I don't know what I'm doing, but I just keep walking, slaying the beast, and walking again.

(I have to get back to the group's base.)

　In the next moment, when I thought that strongly in my mind, I felt as if my consciousness did not belong to me again.

　Two children with shallow green eyes look up at me.

(Hallucination ......?)

　A woman with Alice Blue hair, a strong swordsman, a child-faced archer, a hooded sorcerer, a white-haired boy .......
　One by one, familiar and unfamiliar faces come and go in my brain.

(Is this ......, or is it a dream?)

　With no sense of reality, Aldis enters the battle for what seems like the umpteenth time.

　Her opponent is a six-legged beast.
　It's a carnivorous beast called Neduro.
　They must have come across a herd from somewhere. There are many of them.

　Ardis pulls a sword with a mangled blade tip from its sheath and holds it up.
　A number of neduros slowly begin to surround him.

　Hate.
　Hate.
　I hate that woman.
　If we hunt them all down, will that woman be able to reach the tip of my sword?

　In that case, hurry.
　Don't hesitate.
　Kill them all.
　I've been in a daze, Ardis kicked in the air to lay waste to Neduro.

　It's not just a matter of time before you're ready for the next one.
　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Normally, Neduro is an insignificant opponent for Ardis.
　He could have just chased them away with his flying sword, but he went out of his way to swing his sword and strike them down one by one.

　It was just unfortunate for Neduro, who had been directed to the brunt of his anger.
　While he has a natural fighting instinct, his intelligence is so low that he has attacked and retaliated against an opponent he could not possibly defeat, reckoning that he was just one person.

　Almost unconsciously, Ardis, who was killing Neduro while moving his body and flying through the air, suddenly noticed the presence of a human being at a little distance.

(Person?　(Two and ......, is that a beast by your side?)

　He glances at it.
　When he finds a familiar golden body beyond, he decides that there is no need to be vigilant and returns his attention to the destruction of the Neduros.

　Eventually, having killed all the Neduros, Aldis slowly slowed down and landed on the ground.
　As if he was waiting for it, he turned to the golden-colored beast that was staring at him and said a short word as if to make sure.

'Rona?'

　He was the partner I fought with for many years.
　There's no way you could mistake that other person for the one you're fighting with.

　It's not so much a confirmation as it is a conversation starter, and a strange-looking Rona asks about those words.

'What are you doing here, Al?'

　At that moment, the flames of anger that had been smoldering within Ardis burned fiercely.

　While taking them by surprise, they were intercepted by the full preparedness of their comrades and scattered their lives here and there.
　The commander of the group was wounded, but he took on many enemy soldiers and cleared the way for them.
　The scornful eyes of the female general's troops and the abominable mouth that forms a sneer.
　The back of Sark, who defended himself despite his deep wounds.
　The smile of Erion, who was engulfed in flames as he pinned his hopes on Ardis.

　Ardis's heart is burned by his own cowardice, which he could not do anything about.
　The resentment that was bubbling up had nowhere to go and was spat out.

'What do you mean, what are you doing?

Hi!

　Rona naturally knew that Aldis and the others were headed to defeat the female general's army.
　If he hadn't been deeply wounded right before, Rona would have been working with Ardis without a doubt.

　Then it is impossible for the intelligent Rona not to understand why Ardis is alone with her hand injury like this.
　It's not as if she doesn't understand the situation, but Ardis can't contain her anger.

　Do you think they've forgotten what that woman did to them for the way they were treated?
　You're going to be able to find out if the words you swore to take revenge on the female general's army were a lie?

Of course we lost, of course we lost!　I'm fighting alone, in the middle of nowhere, looking this disgusting!　Do you think this looks like a battle cry for that woman!　You say it looks like we're celebrating!

　He slammed the words with emotion towards Rona, who shrugged.

'Our moves were through the tubes!　She's dragging us in!　It's all in your hand!　Joanne, Darwat, and Lexi all got beaten up!　Even Grace has that wound: ......!　At least that's what I thought of that woman: ......!　But I can't reach it. I can't reach it!　I'm the only one, saved by Erion and Sark, and congratulations to you here: ......!

　Anger swirled in his mind, and a sense of helplessness spread as it seeped into the gap between the two sides.
　It's not just the head, it's the fact that he's not even able to take the head, let alone hurl a single sword at her, despite her careful preparation and planning in challenging him to a battle of all kinds.
　The reality of this reality never ceases to pierce Ardis' heart.

　It's not enough.
　It is still not enough for Ardis' strength.

　I'm sure that even if you didn't insist on a frontal fight, even if you did a surprise attack or a deceitful attack, you probably wouldn't be able to defeat that woman with Ardis's skill level.
　Even though the hatred and anger swirled around him to the point that his vision was red, his years of experience fighting as a warrior mercilessly told him so.

　The female general's army is strong.
　Both as individuals and as commanders of armies.

　Then you have to be stronger than that.
　Either acquire strength as an overwhelming individual, or raise a unit that can push through in numbers.

　Either way, it won't be an easy road.
　We don't know how long it will take.
　Until then, can we keep this hatred and resentment burning?

　My hatred of the female general's army had not diminished over the past few years.
　For years to come, I am sure that Ardis will continue to hate the landlady's army in the same way.
　So what about the next twenty years?　Thirty years from now?

　Aldis feared.
　The possibility that these feelings would fade with time.
　The possibility that the pain of losing her beloved would heal with age.

　--Not possible.

　A part of me refuses to believe that.

　--but what if it does.

　On the other hand, there was a part of me that feared it.
　The hesitation makes Ardis regain her composure.

　When she looks over, she sees Rona's figure shrinking with her tail between her legs.
　Seeing that figure, Aldis finally regained her senses.

Sorry about ....... I don't blame you.

　I apologize for taking it out on him and ask him the question I was going to ask first when I met someone.

"Rona, do you know where you are? Do you have any idea where you are?

I don't know. I'm just trying to find my way home, too. Don't you know where to find ...... and Al?

　Rona answered back, showing fear at the after-effects of Ardis' furious reaction.

...... I don't know. I've been walking around for seven days now. I heard that Erion skipped me, but ......

　My consciousness is not clear, but I have to scrape together some vague memories to come up with the information about the seventh day.

　What is clear is that he has no idea where he is.
　There is no way for Ardis, who was transported by something resembling a transposition technique, to know.
　It may be that Erion himself, who used the magic, may be able to understand, but of course he couldn't ask someone who wasn't here.

The first thing you need to do is to fly me to that woman from the beginning if you have a trump card like that: ......

　At the same time, feelings of resentment towards Erion also emerge.
　If there is a way to transfer others, if there is a way to transfer others, then even if you don't bother to attack the citadel in large numbers, if you send a few assassins to the private quarters of the female general's army, wouldn't that have a higher success rate?

　Of course, the sent assassins would not be able to return home alive, so you can't force anyone to do it.
　But even if they knew they wouldn't make it back alive, if there was such a method, Ardis would definitely have volunteered for it.

　As a warrior, it was never a laudable means.
　He might be accused of being a coward and deflected.
　But what does it matter?
　It's a good thing that you're not going to have to worry about the fact that you're not going to be able to get your hands on any of these things.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

'Hey Al. Do you remember the name Nere?

　Rona's voice interrupts the stagnant, dirty, swirling thoughts.
　The sound of an unfamiliar, yet strangely haunting name makes Aldis ask back.

'Who's that?'

Ever heard of Phylicia or Liana or Cyril?

　Aldis twisted her head at a name she had heard somewhere, but had never heard before.
　The pain in her chest seemed to ease a little.

'Is that a new name?　I'm sorry, but I didn't know much about it until the new guy. I couldn't afford it, and I didn't take any of the younger guys with me on this one, either.

　There are about two hundred people in the mercenary group to which Aldis belongs.
　Ardis, who had been out of the group for a while, returned a month ago.
　Naturally, he has met the comrades with whom he has shared operational activities, but he has never exchanged a few words with the youngsters and newcomers who were not allowed to participate in the defeats.
　There are probably ten or twenty people whose names Aldis does not know.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.