55 54.Would you give up your eyes to fly?.txt (1/2)

When I got home, the first thing I worried about was Maria.

Because of my impulsive preparations for the operation to kidnap Rustyala, I had left her at home. Just--.

Welcome back. Master.

Contrary to my expectations, Maria seemed to be the same as usual.

We ate together, chatting casually as we prepared dinner.

'............'

I discourage myself from trying to find out what's on Maria's mind.

If possible, I'd like to postpone Maria's problem until Rastiara returns.

Unlike Rastiara's problem, it was not a matter of death right now. There was a clear difference in urgency.

I decide to keep my head down for now and focus on the operation to take Rastiara.

And that night, I'm going to stay in my bedroom and spend my time endlessly practicing the new magic of the example. Sparing no time to eat, I continue to practice by trial and error until my MP is exhausted.

At the end of it all, I'm exhausted and fall asleep like mud.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

--The day of the Nativity.

Early in the morning, before the sun has even risen, I wake up.

It's partly due to my body's habit, but it seems that my nerves have woken me up.

By the way, I plan to leave the house at the same time the sun rises.

According to what Dia told me, the ceremony will end in the morning and the saint's tiara will be unveiled to the people at noon. So we'll start early in the morning to coincide with that.

In the last hour, I go to the living room to have a light breakfast.

--I'm not going to be able to get a good deal more than just a few minutes.

I'm surprised.

I'm still saying ”no thanks” to Maria. And yet, I didn't expect to see her at this time. I had hoped to bring Rustiala back before she woke up.

Maria looks at me with an expressionless face and spills out a few words.

''I knew you were going ....... Master .......

He seemed to know everything.

He must have been waiting for me at this time, reading my actions and thoughts. I couldn't come here and not talk about anything, so I instructed Maria.

'...... I'll be back with Rustyala soon. So, Maria, wait here.

Maria takes it with a blank expression.

She doesn't say anything at all.

'After that, I'm supposed to run away to a different country. Maria is--

--What do we do?

I'm about to ask, but then I reconsider.

That would be like saying that Maria doesn't have to follow me.

It would definitely stimulate Maria's complex, and most importantly, considering her feelings, I asked her what she would do here. It is too thin-skinned to ask.

I have to tell you that we need Maria strongly here.

'-- Maria will go with you. Let the three of us run away together.

I said it loud and clear.

We should stay together.

But Maria's expressionless face remains the same.

With a blank expression, she moves her mouth.

'Escape ......?　Then this house is ......?

Home ......?

I didn't think the subject of home would come up here.

For me, I have no hesitation in abandoning this house, which is only a stopgap measure. I wonder if Maria is different.

I'm sorry, but I have no choice but to get rid of this house ....... It's a waste, though .......

I assure her I'm going to throw it away.

Finally, there, Maria's expression changes.

'...... I don't want to.'

He was shaking.

Shaking and looking terribly sad.

'What?'

I thought we were having a conversation that didn't provoke Maria. However, my response was hollow, and Maria's emotions were running rampant.

'Please don't go, master ....... Please. Please, please don't go .......

Then Maria twists her face into a plea.

It was the first time she had ever interfered with my actions in this way.

'Maria ......?　What the hell is wrong with you, ......?

'If you go, you'll never reach ...... again. You'll be left behind .......

Maria's expression continues to worsen, eventually revealing an unfathomable insanity like Rustyala's sometime ago.

I panic and try to calm her down with a gentle voice.

''No, that's why I said I'm going with you. I will never leave you. I promise. There's no way I'm going to leave Maria behind, is there?

'It's a lie. Even if the three of us ran away, I'm sure I wouldn't be there ....... Whether I'm there or not, I'm still the same ....... I don't want to be like that!

......!

It was the kind of conversation I would have had if I were dealing with a high Rastiala. The language was a leap of faith and the conversation was not catching up.

I am convinced that Maria is not normal and I ponder the cause of this.

All the while, she continues to speak.

'Why ......?　Why are you helping Mr. Rastiara?　You don't like it or anything, do you ......?

Maria questions my fondness for Rustyala.

In other words, is this a result of jealousy?

But Maria is a calm and patient person. It's uncomfortable for her to explode on everything like this here.

Maybe it was because of my behavioral problems that he exploded. However, neither Rustyala nor Arti, who had seen through Maria's love interest, spoke of it as being in such a state of urgency.

Even though it was a love affair, everyone was aware that it was a small one.

'Why? ....... Rastiara is one of us, right?　He's the kind of guy we're going to need to explore the labyrinth from now on.

'For future labyrinth explorations ......?　From now on, where are you going to be!

I replied to appease her, but Maria finally raised her voice and crowded me.

'If you go, I'm sure Mr. Rustyala will be saved!　If that happens, I'll see you at ......!　Same thing again!　I don't want to go deep into the maze!　You don't have to go!　If only I could live peacefully in this house, that's all I need!

And then Maria spits out the complaints that she has been accumulating.

But I can't admit to that. But I can't admit that to myself, because this is related to the purpose and meaning of my life. I'm going to show my intentions by appeasing her.

'Maria, calm down ......!　The only thing I can't change is that I'm going deeper into the labyrinth: ......

'Greedy!　You don't have to go to the back, as long as you're making money safely in about 10 layers, usually!　You will live happily ever after!　I like that!　You don't have to have Mr. Rustyala for that!

Maria is loud and rambunctious.

Clearly, this is not the usual Maria.

I willfully walk up to Maria and clasp her shoulders with both hands. Gripping them firmly, I make eye to eye contact with her and bring back the off-topic conversation.

'We're not talking about that right now, are we?　Right now, I'm talking about saving Lastiara because if we don't do this, Lastiara is going to die and I'm going to save her. Is Maria willing to let Lastiara die ......?

Both of Maria's eyes were moist.

She was staring at me, tears pooling in her eyes.

But perhaps my best efforts of persuasion have worked, and the strength that comes through my hands gradually fades.

Then he weakly lowers his eyes and returns the words.

' ...... Rastiara-san is a good man. I don't want ...... you to die.

I know. Maria, calm down ....... We have to help Rastiala. ...... He's one of us.

I can feel the strength leaving Maria's body.

Now, finally, Maria is able to calm down and--

'Fellow (...) ......?　Because we're friends (・・・・・)?　Is your master willing to risk his life to save you just for that?

'Oh, ah, ......'

The moment I affirm it, I feel an odd pressure from Maria's body.

I have a hunch that its true identity is magical power, and I back away only half a step.

''It's not like we're friends. ...... It's a lie. I'm not going to risk my life for that reason alone, that's ridiculous. That's ...... right. It's crazy. The master wants to make a good point, doesn't he?　For him!　Master wants to look good in front of Mr. Rustyala, not me!　When he wasn't there, he was dressing up for me!

Flames erupted from Maria's body as she screamed.

I quickly retreat back and cross my arms, protecting my face from the flames.

Through the gap between those crossed arms, I see Maria constructing a sword of fire.

I'm confused as I see the obvious battle magic.

'............!

Maria, carrying a sword of fire, wavering, approaches us.

-- it's going to be a battle.

It's a gut feeling, but that's what I know.

However, without taking out the sword from my ”possessions,” I greet her with my bare hands.

I'm sure you'll find that your thoughts are not up to speed with Maria's sudden change. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world.

As I deploy my magic, I go for Maria's wrist.

In order to hold her down, I need to neutralize the hand holding the sword.

''-- Magic 《Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradiate), Magic 《Freeze》!

I approached Maria while using magic 《Freeze》 to diminish the flames in the room.

With that, Maria swings the sword of fire down from above.

I half dodge the sword of fire and go to grab the hand holding the sword of fire. However, Maria's 'eyes' were fully anticipating it.

Immediately, she reaches out her other hand, which is covered in flames, and grabs my hand to block it.

The flames burn my hand and I go rigid.

''--Heat!

Taking advantage of the gap in her rigidity, Maria tries to slash up the flaming sword.

However, it slashes through the air without a second thought.