Hey.

You're really just a guy with a higher opinion.

　Ardis turns to Rona, who is approaching with a carefree tone of voice, and gives her a fuming look.

'Eh, that's not true. You were properly defending Minerva and her friends. It's just that it's so easy that you didn't even have to check up on them, so what are you saying?

　Rona, who replied without ill will, turned her gaze to the remains of the stream where the dark blue water had disappeared.

'It doesn't matter, Ardis. Look at that,

　Ardis turned his attention to it, and what he saw was a slight puddle-like circle that reflected the remaining light to the riverbed.

'It's not water......, is it?'

That's right, hey ....... If it's full of that much magic, it can't be just water, can it?

　Just as Rona had said, what appeared to be a puddle of water was a strange mirrored surface that emitted an intense magical power.
　The fact that it didn't disappear and retained its shape even after being exposed to Ardis's white flames told us that it was abnormal in itself.

That must be what the polluted water calls 'dense magic'.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

You have to hurry if you want to find out what's going on, Al. The water will be flowing again soon!

I know. Minerva and Moore need to stay away for a bit. It could be dangerous.

　Aldis replied briefly to Rona, then said that to Minerva and the others and followed his golden partner.

　What they saw as they looked into the circular mirrored surface.
　It is not an earth-colored riverbed, but a lush green tree and twigs swaying in the wind.

　A sight they couldn't possibly see was reflected behind the shimmering light.

'What do you think?'

'Hmmm, I think it's pertinent .......　It's very similar to the hole I make when I travel to and from the other side.

'It certainly seems to lead somewhere else: ....... Isn't it possible that it's an entirely different world?

Is it really that easy to connect to the world?　Given the circumstances before and after, I don't think it's entirely unrelated to what we've been sent to do.

That's true, but ......

　I've never heard of, and of course I've never come across a phenomenon like Aldis and this one.
　That's what's happening now at this time.
　It's too much of a stretch to consider it a coincidence.

　In addition, if the hole is similar to the one Rona made when she crossed the world, then the possibility that this one is connected to the other side of the world is high.

　But that doesn't mean we should jump into this world so easily or that we don't have enough information to make a decision.
　If you make the mistake of being sent back to a completely unknown world, the chances of returning to the world where the twins are waiting for you are even lower.

　When Aldis and the others were having a hard time deciding, Moore called out to them.

'Hey. What's the matter with you?　Is there something wrong with you?

Hmm, well, I think it's safe to come in here and join Minerva and the others.

　Deciding that there was no immediate danger for now, Rona invited them over.

'Whoa!　What the hell is this?

You can't understand it, but there's a lot of magic in the air. I'm wondering if it's connected to the world on the other side. ......

You can't be sure?

　Next to Moore, who had begun to think about it after hearing Rona's words, Minerva, who was looking at the trees reflected in the mirrored surface, suddenly spoke up.

'Ah, this is ......!

What's the matter with you, young lady?

I've seen these woods before!

　With those words, my gaze is focused on Minerva.

'Is that true?'

'Yes, sir. It's in the woods near the mansion. That big tree you see over there is the tree we always used to use as a landmark when we entered the woods. There's no doubt about it.

　At Minerva's words, which she says with conviction, Rona turns the water on Aldis.

'Because, Al,'

...... Some risk is inevitable, right?

　Normally I would like to spend more time contemplating this, but there are reasons why this is not possible.

　First of all, there is a difference in the flow of time between this world and the other one.
　If you spend one day in this world, about one year will pass in the other world.
　While you are thinking like this, a few hours will have passed over there.

　Another reason is that the circular mirrored surface in front of me is changing in an undesirable way.

'Isn't it getting a little smaller?

...... Sure enough, if you ask me.

　Minerva and Moore also noticed the change.
　The circular mirrored surface was shrinking in size, albeit slightly.
　At the moment it was still big enough for two people to fit through at the same time, but on closer inspection, they could see that its diameter was decreasing.

It looks like it's been captured by contaminated water for a long time.

　Ardis also agreed with Rona's speculation with just the way he was treated.

　I don't know how much magic power was lost with the disappearance of the dark blue water, but at least the magic power emitted from the mirrored surface in front of me had decreased with time.
　It's not hard to imagine that when that magic power is eventually lost completely, this mirrored surface will disappear.

''What do we do?''

　Rona presses for a decision.

'We'll have to go to .......'

　There are no other clues, and there's no guarantee that we'll be able to find the same kind of mirrored surface again after missing this opportunity.
　It's also clear that if Minerva and Moore are not returned to the other side as soon as possible, they will be in trouble.

　You can't help but jump in, knowing that it's a bit of a risk, Aldis decided.

Then I'll go first. I'm sure I'll be able to come back on my own in a pinch.

　Buying the first one, Rona jumped into the circular mirrored surface without any pretense of hesitation.

　Rona's body disappears into the mirrored surface as if it were sucked into the water's surface where the water does not splash.
　The next moment, a golden body appeared in the woods on the other side of the mirrored surface.

　Rona peers at her surroundings with a comically quick movement, then turns around and raises her forelegs in a beckoning gesture.
　The movements are also strangely quick, and it is disgusting that the flow of time is different between here and there.

''It looks like you're okay,''

Who's going to go next?

　Aldis asked Minerva, who looked relieved.

'I'll go first. The young lady can come afterwards. You don't mind Aldis being the last, do you?'

　After confirming that Ardis nodded silently, Moore jumped into the mirrored surface without showing any hesitation.

　After watching it, it's Minerva's turn.
　Aldis gently pushes her student's back and leads her to the mirrored surface.

'Are you afraid, Minerva?'

　I can feel the girl's trembling in my hands.

'...... No, I'm fine.'

　The words are obviously a lie, but it's better than being stopped in your tracks because you're afraid.
　Aldis pats Minerva on the back.

'Well then, Master, after you.'

　Minerva said as if she was ready to go, and jumped into the mirrored surface.

　Only Aldis was left.
　The circular mirrored surface was clearly becoming smaller and smaller, shrinking in size by two sizes since the first time I saw it.
　With a little more time, its diameter would be about the size of a person's ability to pass through it or not.

　Aldis was lost.

　If he could jump into this mirrored surface, perhaps he would be able to return to the world beyond.
　But that would also mean that Aldis would leave this world.

　I've been wondering for the past seven years what the outcome of the battle I challenged that female general's army to, and what happened to the comrades I fought with.
　If I remained in this world, I might be able to reunite with my surviving comrades.
　Even if there are no survivors, they will still be able to join up with those who did not participate in the defeat.

　Most importantly, the female general's army, which is an avenging enemy to Ardis, is in this world.
　They are not a mythical entity that may or may not be met, but a real person who is still leading the army.
　For seven years, this is the enemy that I have been pursuing.

　It was an irresistible urge.

　It's also seven years ago for the current Aldis, but at the same time it was only seven days ago.
　While suppressing the urge to run out of here at once, Aldis closed her eyelids.

　A decision had to be made.
　There wasn't much time left.

　If this had been six years ago, he would have been able to cut off the world on the other side with ease.
　But there are a number of images that come to Ardis' eyelids that she just can't shake off.
　Before she met the twins, before she met Nere, before she met Kirill, before she met .......
　And so it comes to mind. That world that he had no ties to, no feelings for, is now a place for Aldis to return to.

　A burning resentment and hatred tried to keep Ardis here, and Filia and Liana's faces came to mind as if to hold back the wavering heart.

　If Aldis stayed in this world, what would happen to those two?
　For what it's worth, Nere might be able to take care of them both.
　It's a good idea to be able to go back and forth between the two worlds.

　But that would be wishful thinking.
　Above all, it is Aldis himself who has decided to protect the twins.
　Trying to impose that on Nere and Rona is the height of irresponsibility.

　Nere, for some reason, looks up to Aldis as his master and follows him.
　That's why he thinks that the twins, who are protected by Ardis, should be protected at the same time.
　Then there is a possibility that Ardis will abandon the twins as soon as she disappears.

　Even for Rona, she might lend a hand on a whim from time to time, but she would not sacrifice her own life to take care of the twins.
　When it comes to Kirill, he's only hired to be an educator for the twins.
　No matter how much he owes Ardis, it's too much of a bug to expect him to take care of the twins until they come of age.
　In the first place, he shouldn't be able to afford that much money.

　In four or five years, the twins may become independent, but if they lose Ardis' protection at this time, their future will remain bleak.

　The time limit is closing in on them every second.
　Ardis unconsciously clenched her fists.

　A multitude of thoughts, hesitations, hesitations, hesitations, conflicts, and frustrations poured out endlessly.
　After wandering this world for seven days, I wanted to stay here because of the hatred that burned in my heart, and after living in the other world for seven years, I was unable to forsake the things I needed to protect.
　The words groaned out of his mouth.

''Which one ......, choose and .......''

　It was only a few tens of seconds in time.
　It seemed to Ardis that it was a long and painful process.

　Eventually he made up his mind and Aldis shook his head from side to side as if to break the unconsciousness.

'I'll come back, I promise.

　It was a pledge to himself.
　It was a covenant that could never be broken.

　Aldis looked back once, looking up at the empty sky, and then stepped towards the circular mirrored surface.
　The mirrored surface, barely big enough for one person to pass through, sucked Aldis' body into it.

　In an instant, the vision darkens.
　Surrounded by a darkness where she couldn't feel even a speck of light, Aldis felt her consciousness fading away.