"..........


When I woke up, I don't know how many days had passed since then, but it was pitch black outside.
If I thought the room looked familiar, it was one of the rooms in Crow's house where I had been allowed to sleep when I had depleted my magic power with 'shadow magic'.
From the next room, I could hear Amelia and Crow's voice at night.
It's a relief to hear Amelia's healthy voice.



After that we left the labyrinth and dragged our battered bodies to Crow's house.
I haven't even confirmed that Mahiro and Aurum have left the labyrinth.
But they are probably gone now.


'Well, first you need to eat and sleep. We'll talk afterwards.


As soon as we arrived home, Crowe said that and offered us fruit and bread.
I don't know how many hours it took to fight the two demons, but I was hungry, so I was grateful for the food.
However, I don't remember anything from there.
I don't even remember getting into the futon, so someone must have carried it for me.
I was so tired that I fell asleep in the middle of my meal.
It's always like this when you use 'shadow magic'.


...... I see your master is awake.


Crow says in the next room.
There's a slamming sound and Amelia and Night enter the room.
I squint at the bright light in the next room.


'Akira!'

"Lord!


My eyes aren't accustomed to the light, and I return to the futon in a daze when he jumps on me.
It looks like I'm still not fully recovered.


'Akira, I ...... me!'


I rub my face against my chest and stroke Amelia's head, my voice quivering.
Unfortunately, I can't find the words to say them.
I know I didn't mean to, but I almost died.
If the 'shadow magic' hadn't healed me, I would have been in the dirt by now.
I have a feeling Amelia will blame herself no matter what I say.
We'll just have to wait for time to heal this one.


'How much sleep did I get at night?'


When I asked Night, who quickly jumped on my shoulder as if it were a fixed position, Night shook her head in relief.
The gesture is kind of annoying.


It's just a day this time. I'm sure you've been exhausted because you haven't been exhausted as much as last time. But the Amelia and I woke up in a few hours, and it's a shameful thing.


I know I'm saying this on purpose to get rid of Amelia's doldrums, but it pisses me off.
Oh, pissed off.
I suppress that feeling and somehow lower my fist.


"So, what's going on?


There would be no such thing as a whole day of nothing.
When I asked, Amelia and Night's faces grew tighter with a huff.


'Talk about it over here. We have a visitor for you.


I turn my head at the sound of Crowe's voice and see someone I didn't expect to see in the doorway.
I startled and flung off the covers I was wearing.
The impact caused the night to fall off my shoulders.
Normally I'd pick him up, but right now I can't do that.


'Deputy Commander Giel!

Yeah, it's been a while.


When I ran up to him, the deputy commander of Ziel, who still had the same struggling look on his face, chuckled.
He wasn't in knight's armor like I'd last seen him in, but he was definitely the Deputy Knight Commander of the Leytis Nation, Ziel.
Then I looked from my shoulder to Amelia and Night.
Night was complaining about being dropped from my shoulder and Amelia was comforting her.
Deputy Commander Ziel smiled gently.


'Looks like you've found some good company.


I cover my cheeks in embarrassment.
What can I say, I can't hide anything from Deputy Commander Ziel.
He's even more of an esper than Commander Saran.


''Well, yes.''


He laughs more and more at my response, which is not clear.
Night is on my shoulder again, and she looks into my face with a grin.


'Why don't you honestly tell him you're a good friend? The "Lord


I'm still pissed off.
I grabbed Night by the scruff of the neck and threw him under the covers.
Let's let go of the cat that's screaming gawking.
I hold out my hand to Amelia.


'Amelia, let's go.'

Uh-huh.


Amelia takes my hand fearfully.
It's a little awkward, but her hand is warm as always.

I'm even more surprised when I walk into the next room.
Deputy Commander Giel wasn't the only visitor.
My eyes widen when I see the figure sitting in the chair.


'Yo, Akira,'

Kyosuke: ......


Seven of my classmates that I left behind at Leitis Castle were there.
Sato, the brave one, Kyousuke and ...... the rest I don't know.
I remembered my classmates' names and occupations when I was summoned, but a lot of things happened and I forgot all of them not that long ago.
My classmates are more interested in Amelia's hand that is connected to mine than my face.


'Why are you here?'


I listen as I sit down across from Kyousuke.
I'm not in the nature to answer my classmates' questions without being asked, unfortunately.


'My skill 'intuition' told me that Akira was here. That, and because I met Ziel-san on the boat crossing to Ur to visit a skilled blacksmith.


Deputy Commander Ziel knew Crow and was apparently just on his way here.
He must have come with Kyousuke and the others who were aiming for this place there.
Aside from his personality, Crow is definitely a skilled blacksmith.


''Is it safe for Deputy Commander Ziel to leave the castle?


I then asked, and Deputy Commander Ziel shook himself uncomfortably.


''Ah, about that, but please don't call me Deputy Commander anymore. I'm out of knighthood, you know.''


I said in shock.
I blink my eyes.
Yes, I thought his tone was softer than before, but I didn't think he had quit being a knight.


I'm not so much resigned as made to quit. It seems that the king was in the way of our knights.


I nodded my head, "I see.
I figured that now that Commander Saran was dead, the strongest person in the castle was Vice Commander Ziel, so I would have to stay in the castle, but I didn't seem to have to worry.


'So, Crowe. Why are you all here in such great numbers?


It would be too good to be a coincidence.
I look at him and Crow frowns.


'I don't know. The only person I called for was Jir-boy. The kids over there followed on their own.


Is Mr. Gilles called "Gilles Boy" by Crowe?
It may be because there doesn't seem to be much of a difference between the two, but it's a terribly strange feeling.


The other six people aside, I came to meet up with Akira. Akira, do you mind if I go with you?


Night jumps on my shoulder.


'Like I said before, no! I'm the only buddy of the Lord! I don't know where the bones are, but I'm not going to give them up that easily!


Apparently this was the reason for the night's voice that could be heard in the next room.
So Amelia's voice was to quiet the night.
I know exactly which horse's bones Kyousuke is, though.
If anything, I feel like I don't know which horse's bone is Night's.


'I'm asking Akira. I'm sorry, but I need you to keep your mouth shut on the night.

"Don't call me names so casually!


Where is the majesty of the demon feared as "Adrea's Nightmare"?
And where has Kyousuke's quiet demeanor gone?
He's so talkative that his classmates are looking at Kyousuke with black and white eyes.
At any rate, it was loud in my ear, so I grabbed him by the neck again and dropped him on the table.


'I'm sorry, but take your arguing outside. I just woke up and my voice is ringing in my head.


It's just the sound of a crane.
Just like that, the arguing ceased with a bang.
Amelia looked at me as if impressed.


You're not going to be able to get away with it? Crystal.


Then, for the first time, the brave man who had tried not to look at her before opened his mouth.