38 37.21 layer.txt (2/2)

Hmm. I knew it would be better for Maria to wait at home, right?

...... Maria is one of us. It doesn't work that way.

'It can't be that way?　Christ, really?

............

I'm stuck for a reply.

I know, I know .......

If only Maria wasn't there, that would be just the right enemy.

I also know that if the goal is to attack the labyrinth, it's right for you and Rustyala to try the 21 levels here .......

So, unable to answer that question, I fell silent.

Behind me, Maria has a frustrated look on her face. It's a small voice, but I can hear it clearly.

''Le, you've been leveled up, but ....... You're almost on the same level as your master, and yet you can't do anything .......

Maria is growing rapidly at a rate that would normally be impossible to achieve.

In just a few days, she has risen to the level of the highest class of explorer. But that's within the category of ordinary people - far from being substandard like me and Rustyala.

I can't reach it.

There is a clear gulf.

We're almost on the same level, but we can't even participate in battle.

This is the difference in talent.

The difference between the 'qualities' of those who are blessed and those who are not.

Unable to look at Maria like that, I put down Rustyala and call out to her to follow up.

''Maria, don't worry about it ....... If your level goes up, even Maria will be able to fight--

Yeah, that's right. If only we could get to the level, the level--

It's the other way around.

But Rustyala interrupts me and Maria's conversation.

She continues to speak as if she can't watch us.

'The higher you go up the higher the level, the harder it will be for Maria to keep up with you. For the rest of your life, Maria won't be able to keep up with us.

Rustyala assured me.

I tell Maria the fact that I was dimly aware of it, but hadn't put it into words.

'--What?'

Maria didn't seem to swallow the meaning of the words right away.

'There's a huge difference in the level of growth between Maria and us ....... So, as the level goes up, we'll only grow apart. There will never be a scene where Mary can help Christ forever. On the contrary, she'll be dragging her feet and putting Christ's life in danger, too.

Rustyala folds Maria, who is confused.

I can't look at her and interrupt her.

'Rustyala, wait a minute!

I won't wait.

Little by little, Maria is getting stronger and the right person in the right place at the right time--

'I thought it would be possible to watch the tragic scene of Mary while looking at the Christ who is so deluding himself, but ...... I knew I didn't want to. I guess I like Mary a lot more than I thought I would.

Am I fooling myself?

That's not what I'm talking about: .......

I don't want to admit it.

But Rastiara's serious eyes won't allow me to do so.

''That's not ....... That's not true .......''

'You see Mary's 'qualities' in Christ, too. If it's low, there's nothing you can do about it. No matter what, the basic rate of increase in power is different. And yet, it's insane to take Maria-chan around in the labyrinth. Why do you do it? Do you know what you're doing?

It's .......

I know.

I've noticed that ”predisposition” is related to the increase in status.

It would be obvious if I compared myself and Dia's growth with Maria's growth. Maria absolutely lacks 'qualities'.

Even so, the reason I took Maria around--

'That's enough ....... Anything more than that is fine .......

Before I could say everything, Maria stopped her.

Her expression was pale.

It's an expression that understands where I'm going with my words.

I knew this too (・・・・・・・・・).

When Maria saw the fight in Lastiara, when she saw me fighting - she understood that she was no longer useful. I had been pretending not to notice that for a long time. Rustyala was right, I had been fooling myself.

Maria turned her face down, dejectedly.

Her eyes are as dark as the bottom of the ocean.

Her eyes are as empty as they were one day.

Oh .......

Please don't .......

It's a trauma.

I don't want to remember that someday (・・・・・・).

That's probably why I've always been favoring Maria (...). I was selfishly and self-satisfied again. That too, this time, while unconsciously deceiving myself: .......

I'm really cowardly, stupid and disgusting .......

'Hmph, ugh, ugh ....... Hmmm, I see. Yeah, I like that. You two are so nice. I'm so jealous of you ....... Hmmm.

As me and Maria are overcome by the answers I've arrived at, Lastiara begins to envy it with excitement.

It's the same innocent and merciless eyes that she had one day.

It's the same innocent and merciless eyes as when I was a kid, and it's the same inorganic eyes that an ordinary person wouldn't be able to understand.

With those eyes, I look at Maria and I, and while I envy her - I love her.

...... It's really in bad taste, isn't it? You.

'It's your fault, both of you. It's bad that you're living such an interesting life on the edge.

'I'm sorry ....... Just in the nick of time. ......

'But it's good (...) We're both very good at fooling ourselves, so we'll still have fun. But don't worry. I'll be watching you from the side to make sure you don't die or fall apart!

Rustyala smiles at us with a mixture of madness in his eyes.

I thought I was starting to understand what Rustyala was thinking these days, but it seems I'm not quite there yet. However, I'm getting a little more used to the madness, so I answer with a sigh.

'There's no way I'm going to feel safe: ......

...... Mr. Rustyala, please weigh in a little more.

Maria next to me responds with a similar expression as I do.

Although she was shocked by the fact that she was confronted with the fact, she seemed to have enough energy to talk back to Rustyala's sidelong argument.

''Haha. Yeah, good, good, good. As long as you two can swear, you're still good to go: ......!　I mean, if it had stayed that way, I'm sure it would have been worse later on!　Rather, we'll both be more grateful to me for my party experience, thanks to reading the adventure stories!

Rastiara laughs heartily, taking no notice of our words.

'How could I possibly be grateful?' ......

I can't thank you for the quicksilver: ......

Me and Maria talk back at the same time.

There was not only disappointment, but also a bitter smile that passed for dismay.

Maybe it's Rastiara's merciless yet innocent cheerfulness that pulls this little smile out of me.

I was in despair thanks to Rustyala, but I was sure that Rustyala was helping me to recover.

I chuckled and continued to speak, trying to keep this slight brightness from fading.

'Huh, totally ....... You're still a scary guy, .......

What, am I scary?

'It's so uncommon, so outlandish, so unreserved, it's incredibly scary to me. Hey, Maria.

I give a small smile and pass the story around to Maria in a light-hearted way.

'Yeah, yeah ....... You never know what you're going to do, Rustyala, so I always get chilled out.

Yeah. Maria, too.

Somehow, Maria seemed to match my light-heartedness, too.

The atmosphere between the three of us gradually brightens as we clap lightly to each other, even if it's in an empty spirit. Although there is a pile of problems, I'm starting to feel better and better.

''--Let's go home then. Rastiara can stay behind if he wants to, though.

No, you're no longer on your own!　I'm going home!

''Hmph. Rastiara-san is strong, but she's strangely lonely, isn't she?

After that, we successfully turned our depressed feelings around by continuing to use Rastiara as a story.

Thus, we laughed at least formally at each other as we passed through the 20 layers of magic, the Connection, and returned home safely.