The endless winter deepened. From somewhere far off, the sound of many overlapping bells could be heard again today. With that sound, the cold air passed through my ears, into my skull, and a thin film of ice clung to my brain.
My thoughts grated.
But no matter how much my mind froze, the world I could see only expanded. Thanks to Hidaki’s leveling, my Dimension was being sharpened day by day.
As if to paint over my vision, my magical perception grew. It wavered and blurred countless times, seeping and spreading like drops of water on a painting. Infinitely, endlessly.
The overlapping worlds I could see were truly diverse.
The scene where I killed a girl who looked exactly like me on the top floor of Fuziaze Castle on the Mainland.
The scene where I was chatting with Apostles in the garden of Fuziaze Castle a thousand years ago.
The scene where I was walking hand-in-hand with my sister through the peaceful townscape of Fuziaze Country a thousand years later.
The scene where my companion Dia and I were fighting in the Frontier as the Allied Nations were swallowed by an ice age.
By the way, the world I could see most closely now was the scene of fighting monsters on the eighty-fifth floor of the Labyrinth.
Honestly, it felt like my head was being put through a snow cone machine.
Past, present, and future were all mixed up, and I had no idea what time it was, where I was, or what I was doing—it was utterly disorienting.
If this was the ultimate domain a Dimensional Mage could reach, then I felt it was too soon for me.
However, the expansion of my perception never stopped.
I desperately tried to make my mind work to confirm my true time and place—but with a brain frozen to the core, it was impossible.
It was a failure.
But I accepted it with a familiar feeling, thinking, “Ah, I’m being interfered with again.”
Then, I chose to acknowledge myself, running through the Labyrinth, as my current time and place.
The time was a few days after I had seen Dia off a short while ago.
The place was the eighty-fifth floor of the Labyrinth.
In that illusory world, Hidaki was, of course, by my side.
My sister and I had continued our exploration from the eightieth floor, which we had reached previously, and had been progressing through the eighty-first and eighty-second floors, leveling up steadily—a thoroughly smooth exploration.
The corridor of the eighty-fifth floor of the Labyrinth resembled a giant version of the ruins on the eighty-first floor, transformed into a stone jungle by countless decaying structures.
In that corridor, multiple giant, red snakes writhed.
The snakes’ bodies easily exceeded a hundred meters in length. Their scales lacked substance, shimmering and radiating heat, melting the surrounding stone. They were monsters that could only be called Giant Flame Serpents.
However, they were not enemies.
Though their appearance suggested they were human enemies, they were undoubtedly allies. This was proven by the monsters continuously burning within the Giant Flame Serpents.
Diverse monsters such as Golem-type, Gargoyle-type, and Elemental-type monsters roamed the ruins. All of them were being devoured by the Giant Flame Serpents, their durability ignored as they were digested in their stomachs.
And then, the Giant Flame Serpents, having fulfilled their duty, crawled slowly, breaking the ruins, and returned to their master. Maria, now the strongest fire mage in the world, spoke to the Giant Flame Serpents.
“Good work. —Midgard’s Blaze.”
She praised them along with the spell’s name. However, the Giant Flame Serpents did not disappear and remained on standby around Maria, like knights protecting their master. Even after devouring all the monsters on the eighty-fifth floor, the magic’s power showed no signs of waning.
I gasped at the perfection of the magic.
“Amazing… This is Maria’s full power now…”
Then, Maria’s cautious expression softened slightly, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. With a hint of pride, she reached out to the surrounding Flame Serpents and tickled their throats.
Touched by their master, the Giant Flame Serpents stirred as if alive. What I admired most was their movement. Maria’s fire magic, Midgard’s Blaze, which had evolved repeatedly, seemed to possess an independent consciousness. The Giant Flame Serpents released during the exploration of the eighty-fifth floor had detached from Maria, their caster, and automatically explored the surrounding corridors, devouring monsters.
I couldn’t help but wonder if they were truly acting independently. However, when I asked Maria, she replied, “They’re snakes, so it’s natural for them to move accordingly,” in a very intuitive manner.
Honestly, it was highly probable that Maria was unconsciously making the Giant Flame Serpents act like snakes.
But perhaps…
Perhaps Maria had truly reached the point of creating magical life.
Just like Primordial Kanami of old.
I watched the Giant Flame Serpents, who (appeared to be) delighted by Maria’s caresses, as I walked through the Labyrinth. Beside me, my sister Hidaki was talking amicably with Maria.
“…But it was fortunate that Maria could join the exploration just when she did. My brother and I don’t have many countermeasures for mass warfare. Honestly, we couldn’t handle the sheer number of monsters on the eighty-fifth floor.”
“Hitaki, just like Kanami, you specialize in one-on-one combat. It’s good that I had business in Fuziaze.”
“Yes, I truly think it was a miracle of good fortune. As expected of the ‘Bearer of Sacred Flame’ of the Valenz continent. You’re as adept at miracles as you are at magic.”
“Ugh, Hitaki… Please stop that… It’s so embarrassing.”
“Fufufu. I won’t. If the roles were reversed, would Maria stop? For example, if you had the chance to tease my older brother.”
However, their closeness was truly a threat to me. Maria heard Hidaki’s example and nodded deeply, her lips curving into an agreement.
“Ah, that… Yes. I’m confident I wouldn’t stop. Of course.”
“That’s right. Therefore, let’s give up this time and accept being teased by me. ‘Bearer of Sacred Flame’?”
“Ugh, ah, mo… Sigh, I can’t help it. I’ll accept it this time. So that I can tease Kanami from now on, only this once.”
“A wise decision. Titles and epithets, I will probably have the most of them. For the sake of future enjoyment, you must endure this, Maria.”
They always chatted amicably—and somehow, their conversations always ended up with me.
And this time, they had made a promise to jointly tease my epithets in the future. Faced with that unreasonable progression, I groaned.
“Eeeeh…”
They were both the type of people who would do what they said they would. I could already imagine them coming alive when new epithets were added to that ridiculous name, “Aikawa Kanami Christ Eurasia Valt Fuziaze Von Walker.”
“Fufufu.”
Hidaki and Maria looked at each other and their laughter overlapped. The two, facing each other as they talked, looked more alike the more I watched them. Perhaps it was because their voices had a similar timbre, but for a moment, it felt like only one person was laughing. Their matching black hair was truly like that of sisters. Considering the circumstances under which Maria was taken in, it was natural, but they were truly in perfect sync. During this Labyrinth exploration, they had been talking endlessly with each other, leaving me alone.
“—Oh, really? And then my brother immediately went into the Labyrinth? And carrying Maria on his back?”
“Yes. He was carrying me on his back, on his back. I can’t believe it.”
Today, Maria seemed to be recounting the story of when she first met me. When we had challenged the Labyrinth as a two-person party for the first time, my strategy of ‘carrying Maria and Full Dash through the Labyrinth’ for her safety, as a low-level Maria, had been revealed to my sister.
I looked at Hidaki’s face, feeling like I was being graded on a test. She had a look of exasperation, with her sister saying, “That can’t be right.” Before she could add any more barbs, I quickly averted my eyes and looked at Maria, who was reminiscing about the past.
“Back then, I was alone in the Allied Nations… I didn’t understand anything and felt so lost… Yet, Kanami-san abandoned me alone in the Labyrinth. That was truly terrifying.”
Further statements that might have made Hidaki’s face darken were made, so I tried to defend myself.
“N-Now, Maria, you understand now, right…? That was because of my confidence in my Dimension.”
“Yes. But you could have explained a little better, couldn’t you? At that time, Kanami-san left me, who couldn’t fight, at the Magic Stone Line without any proper explanation.”
“…I’m sorry about that time.”
I chose the option of apologizing instantly. Maria gave a wry smile and looked into the distance for a moment.
“It’s nostalgic, isn’t it… Truly…”
“…It is. Back then, unlike now, exploring the Labyrinth was a struggle. We didn’t have the luxury of casual conversation like we do now.”
Maria, who used to be defeated by a few blasts of Midgard’s Blaze, now commanded Giant Flame Serpents unconsciously, without breaking a sweat. As Maria and I thought back on our shared past, Hidaki, looking a little sulky, changed the subject.
“Yes. From what I hear, your mental state was truly on the edge back then… I can’t believe that less than a week after starting your new life, you bought a girl for your own slave… You know, my brother, hearing Maria’s story now, I was utterly disgusted as your sister.”
“A girl for myself…?! No, I didn’t buy Maria with any impure feelings! Really, I didn’t!”
“Is that true? For example… taking advantage of my absence to do various things, or maybe not?”
“I didn’t! Right, Maria!!”
Hidaki was merciless in her attempts to change the subject.
Immediately, I sought help from Maria herself to protect my dignity. However, Maria was there, letting out an even deeper sigh than Hidaki.
“If you were that kind of person, things would have been much easier… But since you’re not, we’ve had to go through so much…”
“Heh heh, I understand. I knew exactly how you felt, Maria.”
After teasing me to her heart’s content, Hidaki quickly found herself agreeing with Maria.
“Thank you, Hitaki-san. As thanks, I’ll recall as much as possible of Kanami-san’s lines from back then and tell you about them. Truly, Kanami-san was terrible back then. He even went by the alias ‘Christ Eurasia,’ and he was full of lies…”
“Hmph—heh heh heh. No matter how many times I hear it, that alias is still hilarious. So like Older Brother, and utterly unique. ‘Christ’ and ‘Eurasia’… It’s so fitting, I can’t stop laughing.”
With Hidaki, someone who understood her, present, Maria uncharacteristically continued to vent her grievances.
However, for me, those grievances were incredibly embarrassing, a black history I’d rather forget. The more Hidaki learned, the more material she’d have to tease me with. I desperately tried to interrupt their conversation.
“Can we please stop talking about that time?! I don’t think that’s a good thing to bring up! I was in a very special state back then!! And you weren’t exactly normal either, Maria!!”
“Hmm, well, yes. It’s true, we weren’t normal. Back then, I was often with Arti-san, and I ended up burning things with the ‘Incantation’ she taught me…”
One of the reasons mentioned was the name of Arti, ‘The One Who Steals the Logic of Fire.’
When I thought about it, the first cause that came to mind was Palinkron, the second-generation ‘Thief of Principles of Darkness,’ but it seemed Maria saw it differently.
At that time, Arti had the greatest influence on her—and because of that, her expression clearly conveyed that she considered Arti her best ‘friend.’
Hidaki, sensing this as well, repeated the name with seriousness, not to egg them on.
“Arti… You mean ‘The One Who Steals the Logic of Fire’?”
The lighthearted chat came to a temporary halt.
Matching the slightly heavier atmosphere, I also began to seriously consider things.
Maria just said that she learned ‘Incantation’ from Arti. This means that it’s highly possible that Arti from a thousand years ago met me, the originator of ‘Incantation.’ In my recent ‘Past Sight,’ the vision stopped just before I went to meet the ‘Thieves of Principles of Fire.’ After that, did I meet Arti and teach her ‘Incantation’…? If we met a thousand years ago, why did Arti continue to call me ‘Christ’…?
I started to become curious about the girl named Arti.
“Hey, Maria. Is Arti still here now?”
When we parted ways, Arti had said, “I’ve been watching you all along.”
I wanted to understand the full meaning of those words.
“…If you ask whether she’s here or not, the answer is I don’t know.”
Maria slowly shook her head.
Seeing a hint of disappointment on my face, she quickly continued.
“I’m sorry. But it’s a feeling that I can’t quite say she’s here or not here… Inside my chest, there’s something warm, something that feels fuzzy and has been protecting me… It feels like that.”
“…I see. Then, it’s fine.”
It was a very abstract explanation, but it easily settled in my throat.
Not here, yet here. Always protecting me. Along with my soul.
Perhaps it was because I felt something similar.
“Heh heh, Arti? Honestly, that name brings back a bit of nostalgia for me too.”
As Maria and I were lost in thought, Hidaki unexpectedly continued the conversation.
“She had a truly unfortunate life… I spoke with her briefly.”
“…?!” Hitaki-san, you know of Arti-san?!”
“What I said was just a very brief conversation. A thousand years ago, it was Older Brother who was in charge of persuading ‘The One Who Steals the Logic of Fire,’ not me.”
Hidaki looked at me meaningfully. Following suit, Maria’s eyes turned to me as well. However, I couldn’t fulfill Maria’s request.
“…Sorry. I don’t remember that far back yet.”
“Hmm… Then, Older Brother. If you get another chance, perhaps using ‘Past Sight’ on Arti would be a good idea. Fortunately, with Maria here, we have more than enough related items.”
Indeed, with Maria, who possessed Arti’s Magic Stone, tracing the past wouldn’t be difficult. I agreed with Hidaki’s suggestion and made a promise to Maria.
“…I will. Maria, please wait to hear more about Arti until then.”
Upon hearing this, Maria smiled and replied, “Thank you, Kanami-san,” before turning to Hidaki.
“Um, Hidaki-san… Even if it’s just a little. Could you please tell me about Arti-san now? I want to know as much as possible, as soon as possible, about my ‘best friend’.”
“Yes, of course. If it’s just a little of what I know. …So, shall we start by talking about our first meeting at Fuziaze Castle?”
Despite being in a labyrinth, the two of them began to focus on their conversation again.
I watched them nearby.
While eavesdropping, I recalled her face.
“Arti, huh…”
In the end, Arti could no longer maintain her flame-like body and disappeared.
At that time, she must have fulfilled her ‘Lingering Desire’ and lost her power. In the words of Diplakla, she had repaired the cracks in her soul’s vessel and completed her role as a ‘vessel capable of adapting to Demonic Poison’—or something to that effect.
I recall Arti’s last words were, “I tried my best.”
What was she aiming for? What did she work so hard for…?
Arti had stated her ‘Lingering Desire’ as ‘fulfilling a tragic love.’ However, I felt that was not entirely accurate. At the same time, I couldn’t clearly predict the details of her ‘Lingering Desire.’ To know for sure about her ‘Lingering Desire,’ I would have to look back a thousand years.
As Hidaki said, ‘Past Sight’ using Maria would be the best way. Verifying with books from the Allied Nations was somewhat unreliable. Even Titty, ‘One Who Steals the Logic of the Wind,’ one of the kings at the time, said that the history and documents remaining in this world were full of falsehoods.
—As I pondered these thoughts about Arti, our dungeon exploration reached a temporary pause.
Standing before a new staircase, I took a breath and confirmed with my party.
“—Alright, with this, we’ve cleared the eighty-fifth floor as planned. The mapping is also done neatly. Shall we head back soon?”
Since there was no particular urgency to press onward, I proposed a retreat while still having ample MP. No one objected, and near the stairs, Hidaki began to construct a spell.
“Yes. Then, I’ll prepare the 《Connection》. Should the destination be Laura Via, the headquarters of the ‘Epic Seeker’? I believe Maria said she had business there today, right?”
The connection was not to Fuziaze or Valt, but to Laura Via, located in the southwest of the Allied Nations.
Hidaki was being considerate, trying to shorten Maria’s travel time. However, Maria’s expression was not good.
“Yes. It would be very helpful to be taken to the ‘Epic Seeker.’ However…”
Not understanding the reason, I asked.
“Maria, is there a problem?”
“No, it’s just that Seri-chan and Agnes-san were at the Guild today, so… um…”
“Ah, ah. Those two, huh…”
It took me a moment to recall. Even among the already eccentric members of the ‘Epic Seeker,’ they were particularly boisterous girls. Seri-chan, the warrior I fought in my first match when I entered the Guild, and Agnes-chan, whom I fought in the second round of the ‘Dance Battle Tournament,’ a former academy student. Both of them, after losing to me, had become strangely attached to me.
“I see. My victims, Older Brother?”
“Victims… Yes, Hidaki-san. That’s exactly right.”
“Sigh. You’re seducing women behind my back again…”
“It’s truly troublesome.”
For some reason, it had turned into a scenario where I was trying to seduce two girls. Maria, who knew the truth of the situation, didn’t deny it, and instead joined Hidaki’s sigh of exasperation.
“Hmph… ………..”
Although I felt deeply wronged, I said nothing in response. Even if we argued, I felt there was no way I could win against those two. And, taking advantage of my silence, they continued to speak as they pleased.
I had thought for a while now that the “Epic Seeker” also functions as a sort of fan club for Older Brother, right?
It does. In fact, lately, it’s gone beyond just a fan club and is starting to develop into something religious.
Whoa… A religion for Older Brother? Considering what happened a thousand years ago, it’s terrifying that it’s not entirely out of the question. It… reminds me of the many religions in our original world. It’s fitting that Older Brother uses fake names and has multiple identities.
Oh? Religions were also prevalent in your world? That sounds quite interesting.
This world is almost identical to mine. When you talk about science or magic, in the end, everything we do is the same. Yes, exactly the same. It’s an interesting coincidence.
As we chatted, Hitaki’s Connection was completed.
I, who had been watching quietly, made a suggestion before crossing over. It was a topic I didn’t want to dwell on for too long, so I decided to cut it short somewhat forcefully.
Right, the Connection is already made! …Well then, after we send Maria off, let’s hurry back to the inn before anyone finds us, okay?
Let’s do that. Older Brother, the winner of the Dance Battle Tournament, would attract too much attention in Laura Via—
The three of us nodded to each other—and then, with very light hearts, we stepped through the Connection.
Beyond that magical door lay one of the guest rooms in the expanded Epic Seeker headquarters, which had been added onto over the past year.
A sturdy, practical table and chair were placed in each room, and furnishings lined the walls. Basically, Epic Seeker doesn’t spend money on appearances.
We emerged from the Connection in the corner of that plain room—
—!? Was that Kanami’s voice just now!?
At that moment, a woman’s voice echoed from the furnishings lining the guest room.
Maria, who was at the very back, spoke the name of the voice’s owner.
Is that Snow? …Is that your Vibration magic? Snow, you’re back too. Has your ‘Pioneer Mission’ ended already?
Maria said this casually, but my jaw dropped.
After all, we had only talked for about a second while passing through the Connection.
In just that short time, Snow, who was in another room far away, had noticed my arrival.
No, isn’t Snow’s reaction too fast…? It feels strange, really…
Lately, Snow has been constantly on alert with Vibration magic. Since her position has become more important, she seems to have a lot of troublesome visitors.
Ah, I see… No, even so, it’s too fast… Out of all the voices you hear, how can she pick out only my voice so accurately? Did she perhaps employ a special enchantment?
That’s Snow we’re talking about. Maybe she managed it through sheer willpower rather than some enchantment?
…R-Right. —Dimensional Magic.
I cast my specialty, Dimensional Magic, trying not to think too deeply about it.
The voice I just heard was Snow’s magic, using a magic stone imbued with magical power for long-distance communication. I pinpointed that she was somewhere in this building and began searching for the source of the magic.
And then, I quickly found Snow.
She was in the office at the summit of the Epic Seeker headquarters.
Several familiar faces were also there.
Geh, the head of the Walker family is in the same place…
The head of the Walker family. In other words, the representative of the Four Great Noble Families, one of the top five influential figures in the Allied Nations, and Snow’s stepmother.
That head and Snow were facing each other, talking.
From the people and the location, I could infer they were in an important meeting. However, Snow was excited, her eyes shining, and she stood up from her seat, making a fuss like a child.
Step Mother! Maria-chan just returned! And Kanami too!!
Snow, let’s calm down. We’re having a very serious conversation right now—
But it’s Kanami! It’s Kanami, Kanami!!
…Sigh. Well, it’s fine. But while Maria is fine, that child is here too? Here at Epic Seeker?
The head gave up on trying to calm Snow down and asked about me with a sigh, sounding exasperated.
Yes, they’re here! Kanami, the Guild Master here and a hero of the Allied Nations!
Sigh… Snow, my relationship with him, to be honest—
I’ll go bring him right over!!
Snow didn’t listen to the end of the head’s sentence.
My siblings and I, who had been watching the entire scene unfold with Dimensional Magic, exchanged glances.
Ah, this is… If we leave now, it’ll look like we’re avoiding the head of the Walker family… We should at least offer our greetings…
Yeah, you’re right. But I don’t really like that person…
After all, the last time I met the head was when I forcefully abducted Snow, his adopted daughter.
I remember fighting back then, unusually so, and declaring war on the head head-on.
I can hear you, you insolent child. Come here quickly.
The head’s voice echoed from the furnishings.
It seemed that Snow’s communication magic was still active.
…Yes. I’m coming now.
I replied to the furnishings and began to hurry over, not wanting to keep the head waiting.
I left the guest room, walked straight towards the office, and met Snow along the way.
Kanami!!
Snow, running down the corridor, didn’t stop her momentum and lunged at me, hugging me.
I caught the tackle, which would have shattered the bones of an ordinary person, with both my arms spread wide, trying to skillfully redirect the force backward. However, because I felt it would be cruel to just hurl her backward, I firmly gripped her under her arms and rotated a few times to negate the force of her charge.
The momentum of the tackle gradually diminished due to the rotation, and Snow’s suspended feet touched the floor.
At a distance where our lips were about to touch, she spoke.
Kanami, I’m so happy you came to see me…
Snow’s bangs fluttered gently in the wind.
At the same time, her eyes, which had been capturing my face, welled up and trembled.
The heat from her cheeks conveyed how much Snow had been longing to see me. Faced with a warmth greater than I had anticipated, my heart stirred. I was sure that in reality, she was also longing to see me like this. Even more than the beautiful snowy landscape outside, Snow, with her captivating face, buried her face in my chest.
At that moment, I suddenly realized and checked behind me with Dimensional Magic.
Sigh.
It’s this, isn’t it.
Hitaki and Maria were standing side-by-side, glaring at me.
I blamed myself for my own bad habit.
I had originally planned to return immediately, but I ended up giving an “Ideal” response, as if I had come all this way just for Snow, matching her words.
However, there was no way to correct it anymore. After burying her face in my chest sufficiently, Snow revealed a beaming smile that seemed capable of melting away all the snow outside.
Hehehe…
There was no way I could erase that smile.
Without retracting my statement, I urged Snow to move.
L-Let’s go, Snow. The head is waiting.
Okay…!
The gazes of the two behind me were painful, but I walked towards the office alongside Snow.
Along the way, Snow hugged me from the side and pulled on my arm.
As I was led along, I entered the office.
It was a slightly more luxurious room, similar in direction to the guest room. Two familiar faces were there, glaring at me as I entered.
You’ve arrived… Even though Snow-san has grown and returned, your appearance ruins everything… Truly detestable…
Ugh…! Because of that perverted man, the gallant Snow-sama has been reduced in an instant…!!
The head and a young woman stood there. From their words, I was certain it was Chloe Siddharuku. Unlike her previous military uniform, she was lightly dressed, so I took a moment to recognize her.
It seemed that due to her past experience assisting Snow, who was the acting commander, she had many opportunities to act together. Chloe-san was deeply devoted to Snow, and she always showed an unpleasant expression when I appeared. As the head said, Snow let her guard down when I was present and stopped acting like a heroic figure.
Putting aside the unpleasant child… Maria, Hitaki. Welcome.
The head ignored me and greeted the two who appeared next.
Hitaki simply replied with a slight, “It’s been a while.” Maria, however, stepped forward and bowed deeply.
Yes, Stepmother. It has been a while. Snow-onee-sama, too.
And then, Maria addressed the head as Mother.
…
Stepmother?
Surprised, I dug through my memories.
Then, quite easily, I found memories that confirmed the scene before me.
When all the battles on the Mainland ended and I returned to these Allied Nations—Maria was welcomed as a hero who saved the Great Holy Capital Fuziaze.
At that time, I discovered that Maria was completely alone, and just like me before, she had become entangled in power struggles among nobles. So, with Snow’s strong encouragement, we decided to come under the Walker family’s protection.
I have such a memory.
…
…It’s unexpected.
Is this the “ideal” future for Maria?
I know that Hidaki’s predictive ability regarding the future is infallible, but unlike with Dia, I watch over Maria with a hint of doubt.
“Maria is truly adorable… It brings back a bit of nostalgia. Snow was also this small back then…”
The family head approached Maria, who was greeting her, with a gentle smile and extended her hand.
Maria didn’t avoid it, accepting the touch as her black hair was stroked.
“Fufufu… However, even though the size is the same, Maria’s power surpasses that of Snow in the past… With that small body, she possesses the power to turn the Allied Nations into wasteland… And that Maria is my daughter-in-law… Fufufu, fufufufu…”
The family head uttered rather dangerous words right in front of her.
“The detestable mainland ‘Senate’ is gone… With Maria joining and Snow returning, the Walker family is now among the Four Great Noble Families and is the ‘Strongest’… Undoubtedly, the ‘Strongest’… Fufu, fufufufu—”
“That’s enough, Mother-in-law. I am here precisely to prevent you from going off the rails like this.”
In response, Maria, cloaked in an even more perilous flame, confronted the family head.
There was a resolve to show no mercy, even to her mother-in-law, if she plotted something nefarious using them.
However, upon seeing the erupting flames, the family head’s smile deepened. With a blissful expression, she continued to dote on and praise Maria.
“Furthermore, unlike Snow, who is a bit… out of it, Maria is intelligent.”
“No, are you even listening to me!? And you’re touching me too much. It must be hot…!”
“Do you think I would withdraw my hand for such a thing? From my precious, precious Maria? Absolutely not.”
“…Then I’ll increase the heat until you withdraw your hand.”
Maria mercilessly intensified her flames, but the family head continued to reach out even as she was being scorched.
Observing this peculiar scene, Snow next to them offered a subdued cheer.
“Go, Maria, my sister-in-law! Be loved more by Mother-in-law than I am! Take all of Mother-in-law’s affection!”
It was a scene that offered a glimpse into the current relationship of the three.
Seeing this, I—
Indeed, the balance wasn’t bad.
I thought.
To be honest, even though Maria, who had become a semi-guardian, was being treated as a hero now, she would eventually be treated as a dangerous substance and persecuted. However, this highly influential Walker family head had a premonition that she could protect Maria while making effective use of her. And, Fuziaze was also apparently getting help with various things.
While thinking that this future wasn’t so bad, I watched Maria and the others… and one question arose.
If this dream world is one of the “ideal” futures—
Something is missing.
I thought.
I had a strong sense of unease for a while now.
It was a beautiful scene, but it felt like looking at a completed jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.
There was someone who should have been here, but wasn’t.
As I pondered the reason, the family head, having finished her family interactions, called out to me.
“—And you, you snarky child.”
“Ah, yes. It’s been a while, Walker family head.”
Although the family head had a severe burn on her right hand, she approached as if there were no wound and gracefully extended her hand.
I wondered if it didn’t hurt…
As I tensed up with worry, the family head’s tone softened.
“Snarky child, there’s no need to be so formal. As I said before, I don’t dislike you, the heroic one… I have no intention of doing anything to you since you are on good terms with the Aleis family, Helvirshine family, and Siddharuku family, who are among the Four Great Noble Families. If I were to lay a hand on you, even I would find it a bit troublesome.”
She responded with adult composure, acknowledging the past discord without being bound by it, and my tension gradually eased. Seeing me relax my posture, the family head beckoned me gently.
“Over here.”
As I approached as instructed, the family head grabbed my hand with her burned one and pulled me closer. I couldn’t resist without causing her pain if I tried to break free.
And then, I was patted on the head just like Maria.
“Um, what…?”
“There are things you need to get used to, as you will soon become my son-in-law.”
“Huh? No, unlike Maria, I don’t need a backing or anything… I don’t think that’s the case…”
Unlike Maria, dimensional mages are specialized in evasion and concealment. I don’t have trouble finding a base, and it’s easy to shake off bothersome pursuers.
Having ended all my battles, I am free now.
The only remaining objective, if any, would be my sister, Hidaki, who is behind me.
I showed a strong negation on my face, but the family head denied it.l
“Is that so? Even if you don’t think so, everyone in the Allied Nations does. They are all wondering when you and Snow will fulfill that marriage promise… Such currents of public opinion hold great power. Even someone like you—no, especially those with strong powers like yours cannot go against the will of the people.”
She brought up the engagement to Snow that had been advertised at the Dance Battle Tournament.
The story is that it’s still valid, but that’s a bit strange.
The rumors should have already faded and transformed into something else.
After all, I—at the Eleventh Crossroads in Fuziaze, in front of everyone—
With ‘She’?
…
Conspicuously, my memories were missing again.
The feeling of missing pieces from earlier returned.
This time, it was much stronger. If this were a jigsaw puzzle of blue sky scenery, it would feel like the pieces representing the sun had been completely removed.
However, regaining that lost information would not be so easy.
Resignedly, I continued to deny her with only the information I currently possessed.
“Ah, ah. That engagement talk…? However, surely most people were made aware through the Dance Battle Tournament that it was a falsehood…”
“That much is futile. I took various measures to ensure the engagement was real. I did so immediately after that Dance Battle Tournament. I put my all into it.”
“Eh…”
I groaned, realizing the family head had been working behind the scenes without my knowledge.
She hasn’t changed, completely disregarding the will of others.
I looked to Maria, who was close by, for help. But the family head, seeing this, offered a completely misguided concern.
“One wife is fine, but I can provide any number of beautiful daughters from my side. However, if an exceptional child is born, they will have to take the Walker surname.”
I wanted to exclaim that it wasn’t about that and explain it thoroughly, but I knew it would never get through.
I could tell from her expression and demeanor that the family head was speaking to me with genuine sincerity, albeit from a ‘noble’ standpoint. And that ‘noble’ perspective would absolutely never reach me.
Disappointed that we couldn’t understand each other, I continued the conversation calmly.
“In any case, Madam Family Head, I have no such plans. Even if you speak of public opinion, I have no intention of complying.”
“…I see. Well, I expected you to answer that way.”
The family head accepted my denial softly.
It seemed she also understood the difference in our values well with her keen observation. However, she persisted.
“However, legend has it that I have a poor tendency to give up and a sticky personality. One day, I will surely make you my son-in-law… You know, Snow?”
At this point, the family head turned to Snow.
All eyes were on Snow, and she looked back and forth between me and her mother-in-law, speaking hesitantly.
“Huh? Ah, yes. Uhm, but I don’t want Kanami to dislike me… Forcing a marriage feels too soon… I feel like things are good as they are right now…”
“…As always, you’re lukewarm outside of work. That’s why you always fail, regret, and end up crying, aren’t you?”
“Ugh… Yes, I’m sorry…”
Snow drooped dejectedly, and the family head looked at her with a stern gaze.
There was no harsh animosity as when we first met. It wasn’t a forceful restraint, but a warm, family-like communication, however slight.
Time had passed since that Dance Battle Tournament, and with Maria now involved, reconciliation seemed to have been achieved. Seeing this, I took a step back from the Walker family.
I returned to the side of Hidaki, who had been quiet all along, and reconsidered my position.
—My place.
As I began to ponder this, a new visitor appeared in the office.
The door burst open with a soprano cry, and the two girls I had feared in the labyrinth tumbled in as if swept by an avalanche.
It was Seri, the youngest swordswoman of the guild “Epic Seeker,” and Agnes, a newcomer and former academy student. They approached me with excited expressions, grasping my hands.
“Master, you’re finally back! Please, spar with me again, just like that time! I’ve gotten incredibly strong since then, and I want you to see it!”
“Kanami-sama! Do you remember me!? I’m Agnes! Agnes Cruener! We fought in the Dance Battle Tournament! I’ve joined the guild!!”
Behind the two girls, a giant warrior was reaching out from the doorway.
“Ah, damn it! Can’t you two hold it in for a moment!!”
It was Volzak, one of the three sub-masters of “Epic Seeker.” Several guild members were waiting behind him. As familiar faces gathered, the two by my side continued their clamor.
“Uh, could I have a handshake…!”
“Huh? A handshake…?”
I was slightly bewildered but returned the offered hand. Compared to the hand of the family head from earlier, it was many times easier to hold.
“…! I-I-I-I did it…! Ah, if possible, could I get your autograph on this?!!”
As Agnes shook my hand, she skillfully pulled out a thick book and a quill pen from her pocket. First, I was surprised if there was a culture of celebrity autographs, then recalling my past “Past Sight” memories, I accepted that it was plausible, but upon seeing the book’s title, I was surprised again.
The thick leather cover was embroidered with the large words: “Valfala Theatrical Script: Hero Aikawa Kanami Christ Eurasia Valt Fuziaze Von Walker, Path of the Sword Saint.”
My face twitched, but I managed to hide my agitation and wrote my name on a blank page of the book with the ink Agnes had prepared. It was an autograph using the Allied Nations’ script. This much didn’t require the use of “Dimension.”
Once I finished signing, the two girls cheered joyfully.
“Ah, nice! Agnes-san! I want one too!”
“Sure, Seri. That’s what happens when you don’t prepare for autographs. Hehehe, I can brag about this for life…! I’ll show it off at the academy!”
Just as I was hoping they would leave satisfied, Volzak, who had been looking troubled from the back, entered the office. He, a calm adult, bowed deeply to the guests already present.
“I am truly sorry… We will accept any punishment for these two…”
The family head responded with a smile. He seemed to be in good spirits.
“No, it’s fine. All the necessary procedures here are already completed. The only remaining tasks were inviting him to tea parties or gatherings… but I know this spiteful child would never agree. Frankly, I was struggling with how to end this conversation with this spiteful child.”
“We’re relieved to hear you say that…”
These were clearly words meant to considerate of “Epic Seeker.” It conveyed the family head’s desire to maintain a good relationship with the guild.
“I will be returning to the Walker family now. If I stay, this spiteful child won’t be able to manage ‘Epic Seeker’ calmly.”
With a leisurely movement, the family head exited the room. Chloe Siddharuku followed behind him.
“Well then, see you again, Kanami-san.”
I hurriedly bowed deeply and saw them off. Nearby, Snow and Maria waved and spoke to each other.
“Huh? Snow-san isn’t coming?”
“Yeah, Maria-chan. My work is already done.”
“As expected, Snow-san. You finished that mission in about half the estimated time.”
“It was easy, just blowing away monsters.”
Before coming here, Maria had mentioned that Snow was assigned to an “Pioneering Mission.” From their conversation, I could infer that she was clearing monsters around the Allied Nations to expand their living space. Snow, once a proxy commander during wartime, seemed to be assigned mundane tasks in peacetime. Or rather, given her personality, it was more likely she chose a job she would find easy.
I waited with my head bowed for the family head to depart. After a sufficient amount of time had passed, Hidaki, who had remained silent, spoke.
“The greetings went more smoothly than I expected, Older Brother. Personally, I don’t dislike the Walker family head.”
“I bet… You two clearly hit it off.”
“So, what do you plan to do now?”
“That is—”
The answer was decided by further entrants before I could even finish my sentence. A woman in a long-sleeved magi-robe and a stern man covered in scars. The remaining two sub-masters of “Epic Seeker,” Teiri and Rail.
“Kanami-kun, you came!”
“Boy, it’s been a while.”
Then, more guild members followed. They must have gathered upon hearing of my visit. With the departure of the distinguished guest, the family head, they rushed in like a broken levee.
“It’s Master! We always hear you leave right away! We won’t let you get away today!”
“Hehehe, I promised Master a rematch in the Dance Battle Tournament, you know. This time, I’ll give you at least a scratch.”
“The Dance Battle Tournament, how nostalgic! Haha, Master’s appearance then was truly our vow! Show us one more time! Please, about once a year!”
Familiar faces surrounded me, throwing out nostalgic remarks. Of course, there were also unfamiliar faces. These were the new guild members who had previously suspected me of being a spy. They seized the opportunity to bow deeply.
“Guild Master! I’m very sorry about before!!”
“Your appearance was quite different from the one I saw in the play, so I didn’t recognize you… Um, I’m truly sorry!!”
“We’ll be more careful from now on!!”
I quickly shook my head, indicating I didn’t mind, but their behavior, like new employees cowering before the CEO, didn’t change. Unlike the old, eccentric members, the newcomers were genuinely decent and serious.
Upon reflection, the entrance interviews had shifted from Palinkron to the common-sense sub-masters. This might be a natural change.
As I offered a wry smile, I spotted a man I was particularly close to in “Epic Seeker” a little further away. It was Alivers, the blacksmith, whom I encountered most often due to my focus on labyrinth exploration.
Alivers, from a distance, gave me a slight wave in greeting. I heard he was the most successful among the current “Epic Seeker” members. After seeing a bit of my “Divine Metal Blacksmithing,” he had steadily improved his skills, expanded his workshop, and was now on the cusp of becoming the best blacksmith in the Allied Nations.
Alivers, seemingly giving up on reaching me (as the barrier to get to me was too thick), began talking to Maria nearby.
“Hey, Maria. Glad you could meet Master… Speaking of which, your new equipment is ready. I’ll bring it to you later.”
“Alivers-san, thank you always. For taking care of me, a newcomer…”
“Nah, even if you’re new. You’re Master’s companion and the guild’s strongest. I also benefit from you procuring rare minerals from dangerous areas. It would be strange not to show you favor.”
Alivers spoke to Maria with incredibly kind eyes. The guild members who seemed to be his blacksmithing apprentices followed suit.
“That’s right, Maria-chan. Don’t be so distant.”
“We’re always helped by Maria-chan’s flames. Also, you’re naturally good at commanding the whole group. Honestly, I think your personality is more suited to the Guild Master than Rail-san and the others.”
“Come with us next time we go into a labyrinth.”
It seemed Maria had deepened her connections with “Epic Seeker” in my absence. When we had stayed together in the past, she was a “poor girl who lost her sight in a fire,” but now, her abilities were recognized, and she was acknowledged as a member of the guild.
Thus, the office was filled with guild members. Talk of a welcome party for Snow and me, who had returned after a long time, began to emerge, and we completely missed our chance to leave.
Hidaki looked at the scene with apparent enjoyment, sighing with resignation.
“It’s hopeless. Older Brother, let’s give up.”
“Let’s do that… We don’t have any urgent business anyway…”
“Yes. There’s nothing that requires us to rush anymore.”
Actually, there was something. But I agreed to Hidaki’s suggestion. Led by Snow, laughing with the members including Maria—while contemplating Hidaki’s intent in showing me this—we accepted the boisterous welcome of “Epic Seeker.”
