307 304. Friends.txt (1/2)

Once we survived Nosfi's ruse, we moved on to find the remaining roof of the building to treat Rastiara.

Since the others, including me, were not unscathed, we made time to rest, including to recover our MP.

Unlike the mansion that disappeared, the house that stands quietly in a corner of the underground mall - I chose that as my temporary base of operations.

This time, he carefully checked for hiders and firmly rejected the intruders with Maria's wall of fire.

Undoubtedly, I would be able to rest in peace here.

I sit alone on the roof of a house, taking a breath and taking in the scenery of the underground city. Unlike last night, the breeze is a little warmer due to the fire being lit below, but it's pleasant enough.

I'm sitting here in the name of taking up position on the roof and preparing for an unexpected attack with my eyes and 'senses', but I'm a little relaxed, not expecting Nosfi and the others to leave the castle.

I sit down and hug my arms around my knees and stare blankly at the cityscape that has collapsed because of us.

I don't have to count them, but I count the houses that have collapsed and try to account for the total damage. In my own world, it would be more than two hundred million dollars in terms of money. If I had to pay for this, it would be a difficult task with our current resources. I might have to accept the Senate's offer of 10,000 sacred gold coins.

With a wry smile, I then try to calculate the cost of repairing the melted road.

But that modest hobby is interrupted by a new visitor who appears on the roof.

Oh, you're Kanami's brother. There you are!

Ragnae came flying in from underneath me, walking carefully on the unsteady stone roof to my side.

'It's a little hard to stay inside ....... I've been through a lot of shocks today, too, so ......

I answer honestly why.

After all, guarding is just a construct, and I just didn't have a face to show Rustyala and the others.

Lagne must have sensed that.

She nods, smiles, and slowly sits down next to me. Then she agrees, looking at the collapsed cityscape as I do.

'That's right ....... I didn't expect the young lady to go that far, either. I thought she had become more cautious since the incident when Kanami's brother kidnapped her, ....... I still can't believe that he would risk his life like that. ......

'No, Ragne, ....... Maybe Rastiara wasn't throwing his life away earlier.

We've gotten to know each other better over the past few days, and we don't hesitate to speak our minds.

We make the answers we can give each other because we both know we are similar.

That's the look on my face that convinced me of the bond I had with my friends and thought, 'I'm not going to die here.' Even if your limbs are blown off or your body is burned to ashes, somehow, in the end, you'll still be able to get to know everyone ...... It was a face that believed that in the end, we'll all have a happy ending together.

...... Oh, sure. You had that look on your face, didn't you? ...... Huh, I don't understand.

In the face of Rastiara's strong and too powerful courage, Ragne-chan expresses the same impression as I do.

Yes.

We, who care too much about risk management, still don't fully understand her success when we see it.

Despite that nature, we're a little disgusted by our own negativity.

We both let out a big sigh, ”Huh ......,” and turn our faces down at the same time.

But I can't stay depressed.

I immediately think about the purpose of Lagne-chan's visit next to me, and I cut her off.

''Lagne-chan ....... How long do you think that scar on your cheek will last?

I point to her cheek, which is wrapped in a cloth.

Undoubtedly, Ragne must have come for this. In the course of events, I asked Dia and Snow, who had finished treating Rustyala, but after all, the wound didn't close up, and they came here as a last resort - that's how it should be.

'Hmm, will I be unable to move in another day or so?　I've been stitched up with thread and given Sith-sama's amazing recovery spell, so it's a little better now. I'm still bleeding a little bit, and to be honest, it's not good if it continues like this.

Just like me, Ragne answers honestly with her inner feelings.

She puts her hand on her cheek and looks at me with a troubled face.

And then, without any mending at all, she asks me to get down to business.

''-- So, can I hurry it up a bit?

She's really quick to talk with her.

Ragne takes something out of her pocket.

''Could that be ......?''

In the palm of her hand was a tuft of chestnut-colored hair in a clump.

When I look at it, I understand all the meaning of the words.

''With this Nosfi-san's hair, let's see everything right now. With Kanami's brother's real 'magic (...)' or something like that--

It's a solution to everything.

But it's an option I've been putting off for a long time.

When will you get her hair ......?

I borrowed some from the back when we met. Oh, is that not enough for you?

'You won't know if it's not enough until you do it: ....... No, I'm more surprised than that. As usual, you're good at that kind of thing: ......

Probably when he is in custody. If so, it's not impossible.

However, if he had tried to cut his hair, he wouldn't have been silent, even with Nosfy. If he succeeded without being noticed at all, I'm amazed at Ragne's ability.

I was handed Nosphy's hair and stared at a tuft of it.

If I perform 'past vision' on it, I'll be able to find out a part of Nosfi's life. I've had the experience of looking at the land of the city before and confirming Maria's movements with my 'past vision'.

I'm not confident that I can say it's perfect, but I should be able to do it even from this small amount of hair.

However, I can't concoct the magic power to use the magic of 'past vision'.

I simply don't feel like doing it .......

As I stare and don't move, Ragne continues to talk with a serious expression on her face.

''Maybe Nosfi-san is just waiting for Kanami-san. I have a feeling that I'm not the enemy.

'That's what Rustyala told me: ....... But Nosfi and I really f*cked each other once in the labyrinth. We risked our lives for each other, seriously .......

I make a bunch of excuses.

To that, Ragune-chan shows a dumbfounded smile and repeats the morning's words as if she was soothing a child who was making up a silly story.

''I'm going to watch it to confirm the meaning of that battle. Kanami's brother, this is also a lesson three to know the heart of a woman, so I'll definitely do it.

'Oh, that's still going on: ......'

Yes, it's still going on. But it's a hassle and we don't have much time, so let's just use a quick trick. I heard from Reiner. Kanami brother says that his best magic is 'future vision' and 'past vision' ....... Why don't you do it?　The current Kanami brother has a spell that can be called a guardian's spell. The magic of 'past vision' is a magic that was created for this kind of situation, right?

Thoroughly, Ragne continues to say the right thing.

There is one reason why that magic was created.

It's because I thought the best way to fight the guardian (Guardian) is to know the guardian (Guardian). Knowing your opponent leads to ”regrets”, and ”regrets” leads to overcoming them.

This is exactly the magic dedicated to erasing the guardians (guardians).

You'll need to use that magic to erase Nosfi, take away the scripture, and heal the wound on your cheek.

I'm rushing you to get on with it, Ragne-chan said I was rushing you.

''That's right, but ....... But that's great magic, so ....... If you use it, it could break the wards of this country .......

Let's break it down. I'm done worrying about it, aren't I?

Ragne takes a swing at it.

She's a tough girl.

Lately, my friends have been lenient with me, which makes their severity all the more remarkable.

'I'll tell you something, I know you won't like it. I don't mean to be picky,” he says. I'm not as nice as you guys.

Lagne doesn't lose her seriousness and moves slightly to face me.

I can feel the wariness from Ragne-chan, even though we're just sitting down and discussing each other in the safety zone.

Now she's not letting her guard down, she's filled with magic, and she's always ready to fight.

The eyes of a challenger.

It's the eyes of a challenger, the same eyes I use when I challenge those who steal the logic.

It's the same eyes that I have when I challenge those who steal the logic of the dimension, that is, I am trying to compete with those who steal the logic of the dimension with my true feelings.

...... To be honest, I'm a little surprised.

It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you'll be able to see that the only person who can defeat me is my exact opposite, Rustyala. I thought so selfishly, but in reality, Lagune, who is just as timid and calculating as I am, is in front of me as a challenger.

Facing her, I feel like I'm looking in a mirror for a bit.

On the other end of that mirror, the girl lightly pokes me to my core.

'Kanami's brother doesn't want to hate himself any more after seeing ...... Nosfi-san's past, does he?

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

I'm hit with a big target, and I contort my face and turn over.

I continue to be silent but my expression shows my affirmation, and Ragne continues to speak relentlessly.

It's just that Nosfi-san's past is ...... just a past where Nosfi Fuzzya's is right and Aikawa Kanami is wrong. I'm sure you'll hate yourself if you see it.

I guess it's ....... I kind of know what you mean, too. According to Ragne, the three of us are very similar.

And now I can understand what those mistakes were in the past.

I, who fought against Ryner earlier when my head was in a bloody rage, is a good example.

Probably, it's a story about Kanami, the founder of the ”One who steals the logic of the dimension”, who was too focused on ”The One and Only Destiny”, taking a wrong turn and causing trouble for many people. To be honest, I don't need to see it anymore to get the general idea.

I answer the question in surrender.

I don't have to mend anymore, so this is a relief.

'I've seen quite a few bits and pieces already, so I have a pretty good idea of what the whole thing is about. I'm just afraid to revisit it. If I'm going to look at my mistakes that I don't remember from now on, it's a bit: ....... It's just too much of a bummer.

”...... ha, mo. Kanami's brother is really a small man, isn't he? Admit it!

'If I could do that, I wouldn't have a hard time. ...... I'm that kind of guy. I'm a vain, perfectionist, reasoning person and a coward. I want Rastiara to think I'm cool, so I always pretend to be a good girl and only think about justifying myself. ...... haha.

Maybe it's because I reviewed myself earlier in the fight with Ryner. My bad habits come out of my mouth easily.

I can't help but want to be seen as a good person by others.

That's why I strive to be a respected and admirable person.

I've lived my life trying to respect morality, stand up for justice, and protect the weak.

I think I've done a pretty good ...... job at this, too. I think I've tried to live up to my childhood aspirations, and I've tried to get closer to my ideal self.

But it's hard to admit that I'm actually a bad guy, an evil that needs to be defeated.

''--I understand. Kanami's brother wanted to be a good boy who was adored by everyone. The 'only man of destiny' thing is just because it's not cool to be a man if you get swept along with the surroundings and start a polygamous marriage (harem), isn't it?

Ragne sarcastically points out my eight-sided beauty.

'Probably something like that ....... I don't know much about myself these days, but if Lagne-chan says so, I guess it's true .......

Ragne's words really come easily to my mind.

It's not magic or skill. It's simple empathy that makes me honest.

I haven't had this feeling of being able to say everything in my mind since I fought the Palinkron guy. No, Lagne is much, much closer to me than the Palinkron guy.

I guess it's because I don't feel as much talent or threat from Lagne-chan as I do from the Palinclone guy.

She uses a lot of small moves and talk, and she fights in a timid and calculating way.

And it makes me feel very close and secure.

I think.

If you exclude all the privileges of this other world from me - the power of the 'Stealers of Reason', the legacy of a thousand years ago, and growth due to a blessed environment - I'm sure my status qualities value is the same as hers, around 1.12. It's the same as hers, around 1.12.

Although I'm a bit better off than others, the advantage I had when I was a child will soon disappear, and I'll never be able to compete with the real geniuses. That's about the extent of my true self.

The reason why I have the mighty power as the 'one who steals the reason of dimension' now is because I am paying a 'price' of some kind. It's a cheat reinforcement for illegal acquisition.

The ”price” of ”chanting” is the pattern of unconsciously rewriting one's personality, of which the person in question is completely unaware. Maybe I'm one of them.

The fight just now, when I thought Rastiara was going to die.

All I could think about was fear. My chest grew heavy as if there was a lead ball in the middle of my heart. An unusually sticky brain. My thoughts slowed down and my whole body felt heavy. And I could only think of one thing. The one thing to protect is 'the one and only destiny'. That's all.

It's strange to think about it calmly.

It's not normal to lose perspective like that.

Once, the skill '??' The ”confusion” that I had inflated in my mind has disappeared and the state of affairs is completely blank - so there is no more abnormality in my mind - it was a trap to think that.

I was able to successfully exploit the gaps in my thinking.

With a laugh in my heart, I check my 'status'.

【Status】

Name: Aikawa Uzumi HP543/543 MP1514/1514 Class: explorer

Level 36.

Strength 19.21 Strength 21.11 Skill 27.89 Speed 37.45 Cleverness 28.45 Magic 72.32 Element 6.21

[Skill]

Inherent skill: swordsmanship 4.98

Acquired skills: body arts 2.02 Sublime body arts 1.03 Dimensional magic 5.82+0.70 Magical combat 1.01

Spellcraft 5.51 Sensory 3.62 Command 0.91 Rearguard Technology 1.01 Sewing 1.02

Knitting 1.15 Deception 1.72 Blacksmithing 1.04 Divine Iron Forge 0.57