158 157. Shea Legacy Party.txt (2/2)

''Heh. This customer is a hero.''

I answer before Ryner does.

'Don't be a hero, Ryner. ...... Um, I'm Aikawa Uzumi, a searcher. I'm not a hero or anything, just a regular guy.

He introduced himself to the girls while denying it.

But the girls did not take up the denial.

'No, Rouge and the others can do it in their own way, so I can at least understand the competence of our guests. You do quite well, Aikawa Kanami-san. Hmm, I've never seen a hero or anything like that in person before. The red one is a rouge and the black one is a noir. I'm trying to make it as easy to tell them apart as possible, so please judge by the color.

Yo, nice to meet you. ......, Mr. Hero.

I glare at Ryner as they both bow to their heroic existence.

'It's Ryner's fault!'

I'm just telling the truth, so it's not my fault.

Ryner smiled nastily.

I'd like to get back at him in some way later. Fortunately, he had a funny sister, so he could play around with that as much as he could with the story.

As soon as he finished his greeting, Rouge immediately left his seat.

''That's right. Since Hero-sama is here to play, I'll invite Dr. Ayde as well. It's rare, so I'm sure he'll be happy to see you!

'Oh, wait, Rouge. I'm coming with you.

Shea's party seems to be a big one. They still have friends.

Catching on, Noir got up and walked out of the room with them.

Their close friendship is like sisters.

''Those two are twins?''

I ask Rainer about the girls who left.

'They're not twins. They just have similar 'ingredients'.

But the words that came back from him were very cold.

The word 'material' indicates that they are 'Jewelcrus'.

...... So that's what it means.

'I took her out of the Institute. Mr. Heili said it was because he was just like me, so I had no choice.

''Materials,'' ''Demon Stone Man (Jewelcrust),'' ''Research Institute,'' and ''Same as Hailey.''

Those cold words can only conjure up a bad image. It shows that the country's research into the Jewelculus is inhumane.

When I was about to burn with righteous indignation, Ryner shook his head.

''I don't need to remember their faces. They'll be gone soon enough anyway. It's just that there are fewer of them.

And it tells me that there's nothing more I can do about it.

I can tell by the look on Ryner's face that he's taken care of some deaths.

All at once, the air in the room becomes heavy and quiet.

Still, I try to talk to Ryner. But again, I'm interrupted by a visitor.

'Hey, boy,'

Unlike the girls ahead, the door was gently opened.

The one who appeared from beyond was the white girl, Hailey. And it was Shea. Sia next to her, lending her shoulder to Heili.

Then Shea seated Heili in a nearby chair. Slowly, as if dealing with a sick person.

'I'm sorry, Shea. I've been so unreliable.

No, it's just this much. Oh, Kanami-san, here's a letter. I've already read it, so you can take it with you.

'Oh, oh, thank you ......'

Shea puts the letter on the table. As I take it, I'm puzzled.

I didn't expect Hailey to look like a sick man. The Lastiara's treatment should have brought her back to normal, but her symptoms are getting worse again.

Reiner is worried about Heili when she appears and yells at her.

'Wait, wait, what are you going to do? Heili, please take it easy!

'I can't stay in bed when I hear the boy is here, you know.

Hailey replies as a matter of course.

''No, Ryner's right, you shouldn't worry about it, you should just go to sleep, right?

I agree with Ryner.

But Heili just smiles thinly and continues to talk without reflecting on his condition.

''Boy, you've already arrived on the mainland, haven't you? Hmph, I'm ashamed to show you your disgusting appearance.

'I really don't want you to push yourself. Obviously, you're worse off than you were before: ......?

Not so fast. Watching the boy is my hobby.

Stubbornly, Heili doesn't want to leave the room. Apparently, she has no intention of moving, no matter what is said.

Then she 'gazes' at me with both of her hard-willed eyes.

'...... I see. You seem to have gotten stronger again since then. The level has gone up (...).

I realize that Heili has read my status from those words.

However, I sense a sarcastic nuance from her words and I return the sarcasm.

'I've dived into the labyrinth a few times since then, you know. But from Hailey's point of view, it doesn't look like you've grown up, does it?

'Yes, I do. ...... Does the boy still care about that word?

Those parting words have stuck in my mind like a wedge.

Because of that, my mind is restless. I think about things I don't want to think about.

'Yes, I do. I'm curious. I'm finally at the 20th level and I feel drained because of what he said to me.

'I'm sorry about that. But if that's what you're worried about, it means the boy can't stay 'as is' either. From the looks of it, he's still fine. ......

Heili spins meaningful words.

I ask Heili again to clarify the meaning.

What do you mean by 'still okay'?　Does this have anything to do with the fact that you looked at me and Dia before and said it might be 'as is'?

'Did you notice ....... It's scary, how they could see through even that momentary flicker in your eyes.

I remember Heili was worried about me and Dia.

Yes, that's right. You two are the only ones out there who are unstable.

'Me and Dia are unstable ......?　Not Maria or Las Tiaras or something like that: ......?

'Both the young lady and the half guardian (half guardian) girl are stable thanks to you. There is no doubt about that. That's why I'm worried about the collapse of the two of you remaining.

Me and Dia, collapsing ......?

The word is so disturbing that I'm speechless.

I wish I could reach the depths. It would be a fleeting dream. I would like to believe it. But both of you will be like me. You'll be like me--and--

Hailey's face flushes as she speaks.

Her body trembles and her exhaled breath grows ragged.

'Kuh-uh--, so boy--, you're not like me--!

At last, Hailey begins to suffer with her head in her hands.

Shea, right next to her, looks around in a panic and calls for help.

''Well, this is bad!　Isn't this getting worse again?　I guess we'd better call Dr. Eid soon!

'No, those rouge guys must be out calling for you!　I'm sure they'll be here soon--!

At the unusual sight, Ryner also stands up.

And he immediately starts chanting sacred magic.

Ryner's light tries to envelop Hailey's body. However, another magic interrupts from the side of that magic.

A bright green magical light was emitted from beyond the door of the guest room.

''I'm already here. Leave the healing to yourself, Ryner-sama.''

A tall man appeared from the doorway.

Wire-thin limbs and white hair that stretched to his chest. His characteristic narrow eyes and bloodless lips.

He wore a white robe like a researcher and wore glasses above his nose that were not appropriate for the other world.

A gentle magical light that resembles the light of fireflies emitted by the man surrounds Heili. Then, visibly, Heili's breathing became better. Her expression of anguish eased and her sweating stopped.

Seeing that they were out of danger, everyone in the room sighed with relief.

''Mm, it looks like our party is all here.

After finishing his treatment, the man looked around the drawing room and said all of them.

Here they are--.

Shea Legacy.

Hailey Weisprope.

Rainer Helvirshine.

Rouge and Noir.

And you know what?

I 'watch'. I had no choice but to do it.

To that extent, the green magic that this man released was different. It's clearly a density of magic power that is out of the ordinary.

The last person in Shea Legacy's party that appeared.

That man's name was--.

--Monster

Forty Guardians, the ones who steal the logic of the trees.

Rank: Forty Guardians--

The Guardian of the 40th layer that Heili and the others released.

It was the one who stole the logic of the tree.

Now we should be okay for now. Now, as for our guests--

And then my eyes meet with the one that steals the logic of the tree.

Its brown eyes, full of intelligence, capture my image.

'Nah, ah, eh--?'

The one who steals the logic of the tree has the color of surprise in his eyes.

It makes my eyes widen, and then fills them with magical power with the will to fight.

I, too, hurriedly reached for my possessions and grabbed my sword.

I grabbed it - but I didn't think to pull it out.

This is because the one that steals the logic of the tree was trembling when it saw me.

The boss monster, with its extra-human power, was frightened as if it had met a 'monster'.

There was no way he could pull out his sword.

''Could it be 'Aikawa Uzumi-sama?' ......?　No, no, it's strange for that. You don't mean 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Water' ......?

'That which steals the reason of the tree' called my name, and the word 'that which steals the reason of the water' leaked out.