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Before I noticed it, I had beco 12 years old.
I realized it when I suddenly looked at my adventurer's card.
The number in the age column had beco 12.
I wonder when my birthday passed.
While we were traveling my sense of ti had deviated.
Nevertheless, it's already been two years since the teleport.
How ti flies.
Conversely, you could say that it cost us a whole two years.
After spending two years, you can say that we've finally been able to return to the Central Continent.
If we've made it this far, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that Asura Kingdom is right in front of us.
When I think about the things that happened on the way to the Milis Continent, it seems like the journey from here on will be easy.
We have the money and the ans to travel.
If I had any worries, it would just be the fact that my family is still missing... but Paul is searching together with an organization; however, even with that, no one has been found yet.
I believe that they are still alive.
However, even if I were to put in my best effort, at this point it's not like they would suddenly be found.
Currently, we're at the Dragon King Kingdom's most eastern point, the port city, East Port.
It's the sa as West Port, a town filled with marine products and transported goods.
After we found an inn we held an operations eting.
It's the sa as usual with all three of us surrounding a map facing each other.
"Now then, let's talk about things from now on."
The two were looking at the map with serious faces.
It's sothing we've done many number of tis, so you'd think we would get bored of it, but for Eris who is bad with the difficult talks, this is the only ti when she listens with a serious face.
"In order to get from here to Asura Kingdom there are three routes."[1]
Just like that I pointed my finger at the map we just bought and started explaining.
It's a simple map that only marks out roughly the locations of villages and the forests.
Creating and selling detailed maps is severely forbidden in this kingdom and against its laws.
It seems they're afraid of other kingdoms acquiring one.
Well, it's fine as long as we understand the general terrain.
"The first route is the general one used by rchants for trade purposes."
Then I followed along the map with my finger.
It's a roundabout route that follows a path around the Eastern side of the Dragon King Mountain Range.
"It's the safest route of them all. With our movent speed, it should take around 10 months to arrive."
It's the one that costs the most ti, but since it's the road that has the most maintenance done to it, it's also the safest.
"Why is it bad if we don't take the roundabout way?"
Then Eris raised an obvious question.
No matter what the ti is she will co out with obvious questions.
Since she's honest, they're easy to explain.
"The route that circles around West is covered in a forest."
I pointed my finger to the Western side of the Dragon King Mountain Range while answering that question.
To the West of the Dragon King Kingdom, there's a large dense forest area spread out.
Essentially, you cannot pass through it with a carriage.
However, if you have soone who knows the details about that path, you can cut your movent ti by several months.
The prerequisites include horse riding skills as well.
Eris and I cannot ride a horse.
Ruijerd can probably do it.
However, no matter how small we are, it's impossible to fit three people on a single horse.
Since that's the case, we would have to pass this route on foot.
In the case of going on foot, we have no idea how many days it will take us to get there.
It seems practically everyone chooses the safe Eastern roundabout route.
It might not be all that big of a difference in ti, or the Eastern route might even be faster.
If you're in a hurry, going around is the way to go.
That more or less summarizes the explanation.
"I see, then West is no good."
Eris seems to have accepted it.
"Then, the third route is..."
While saying that I pointed my finger to the final route.
Get on a boat and cross over into Begaritto Continent, we can search as we go and pass straight through into Asura.
I don't know how many days this would take.
"Although, this route is already rejected."
"Why?"
"Because it's dangerous."
Begaritto Continent is said to have a stronger flow of magic power than the Magic Continent.
If you look at it, the average monsters are equal in strength to those of Magic Continent, but in addition, there are a large number of labyrinths that exist underground and above ground strange weather phenona often appear.
That climate can be explained in a single word.
Desert.
The continent is covered in sand.
And then, there are giant scorpions of the sa size as the Great Land Turtles, and giant worms that eat those scorpions as their staple food are prevalent.
In the afternoon it's scorching heat, at night it's mid-winter.
There's almost no oasis, you can't take any breaks.
Also, if you head even further into the center of it, the sand disappears and for a while it turns into a snow-covered tundra.
From a desert it suddenly turns into a land covered in ice.
If you make it that far then monsters that you can eat almost entirely stop appearing.
Going to that sort of place to search and cut through... it's not realistic at all.
"Since that's the reason, we're going to take the route that goes around to the East."
"Rudeus is a coward, as usual."
"I am a person of many fears after all."
"I think it would be all right if it was us though?"
It seems like Eris wants to go to the Begaritto Continent.
Her eyes are sparkling.
However, the distance to go through the Begaritto Continent, it can't even be compared to the distance of going from Milis to the Central Continent.
"We would have to take a long boat trip, Eris are you alright with that?"
"Let's not go with Begaritto."
Since that's the case, we decided to go with passing the Eastern route.
I'm in a white room.
This feeling of sothing rising up from within my body.
It's a sensation which I'll never get used to no matter how many tis, I'll sum it up in a single word.
Shit.
"Suddenly going with shit, as always, you're vulgar."
A mosaic. It's Hitogami.
Cheh... what do you an sa as always.
I was finally starting to forget and then you appear again.
"It's been a year hasn't it."
Yeah, it's been a year.
It's been a fairly long ti.
Could it be you can only show your face once a year?
If that's the case, then I would be able to feel a bit relieved in my heart.
"That's not the case."
I thought so.
The first ti it wasn't even a week before you showed your face again after all.
"In any case, as always, you're so cold to . Even though you managed to get your hands on a demon eye thanks to ."
I didn't ask for it.
These are things which wouldn't really change whether or not I had them, and I'd rather have an essential person that would have helped us on our voyage.
If I'd gotten that, I wouldn't have been thrown into a prison and I might not have ended up missing the information that got into a fight with Paul.
I am sure it must have been quite amusing to you.
Without acquiring the correct information I got into a fight with Paul, got depressed, received so comfort, then sohow or other we discussed and reconciled; it must have been fun to watch!
"That really was quite enjoyable. However, isn't it fine?"
Fine?
What's fine?
"Well, thinking of it all as my fault."
Cheh...
...Shit.
When I'm in this room, I feel like I returned to the past.
The ti when I would always bla everything on others.
I reflected on it.
Reflected...Yeah, shit, I can't rember what kind of reflecting I did.
Why? Shit... damn it...
"Well, that is your flavor as well. After just reflecting on it a bit, you won't be able to advance forward at all."
Cheh, alright.
Just for now.
When I open my eyes I'll rember. I'll be able to reflect.
That's why I'm going to get serious and accept it.
I'm going to get serious and listen to what you say.
"Listen? Ohhh, this ti unusually you're going to honestly listen to my advice?"
Yeah, that's right.
However, you know, there's one bit of advice I want to know.
"What is it? If it's sothing that I know, it's fine if I answer it for you."
I'd like you to tell the location of my family.
"Isn't your family in a different world?"
Don't make fun of , Zenith, Lilia, Aisha, those three.
If possible I'd also like to know where Sylphy, Ghyslaine, Philip, and Sauros are as well.
"Hmm."
What is it?
If a person is lowering their head and asking like this.
Quickly tell .
"I wonder what I should do."
Why do you always take that viewpoint from above?
Just peeping into soone's life, a peeping tom- bastards like that.
What are you?
Do you only tell things that are convenient for you?
Even though you'll let et the Great Demon Emperor, you won't let et my family?
"Yeah yeah, sorry sorry. I was going a bit overboard."
It's fine if you understand.
"However, is it okay? This ti, I might lie you know?"
Oh, a lie!
Finally I get to hear that kind of talk from you.
That's right, you are the type to lie aren't you.
"No, it's not really about whether I lie or not. I'm asking if you're willing to believe in my words."
No, I won't believe them.
Since right now is an ergency situation I'll move according to what you say, but if you were to lie even once, I would never listen to your advice again?
"Then, I'd like you to make a promise with ."
What kind?
"If in the case that you reunite with your family following my next advice, I'd like you to believe in from now on."
...
Believe in you, and beco a puppet on strings you an?
Listen to what you say and with a yes-yes, and serve you like a manservant?
"Nope, it's just, each and every ti, you're belligerent like this and it's a bit tiring isn't it."
Even if I wasn't belligerent it's pretty tiring.
Don't you get it?
If possible I want to forget the sensation of being dragged back into the past that I wish I could fix. I reflect on it and mory that started to fade becos fresh in my mind. Then, when I wake up in the morning there's this amazingly degrading feeling and I start to feel depressed.
"That true? I've done sothing bad. Then, do you want to decide on a rule? For example, only getting my advice on a certain day next ti."
Yeah, that's a good idea!
How about if we make the next ti you appear 100 years later?
"In that case, you would be dead by then."
Never show up again is what I'm saying.
"Hah... Well, I figured you would say that. Then, is it fine? Going without any advice this ti."
...No, wait just a second.
I'm sorry about that.
I'll compromise as well.
If by following this advice I successfully manage to reunite with soone from my family, I'll stop being belligerent when I talk to you.
"Will you trust ?"
No, I can't go that far, but at the very least I'll stop with repeating the pointless "will I or will I not" dialogue.
"How positive of you."
That's why you should compromise as well.
Just like this ti, don't just suddenly show your face.
Give so ti to prepare myself.
Otherwise enter so other guy's dreams and send a letter.
"That is difficult. In order to appear in dreams, there are actually so conditions."
Hmmm?
Conditions?
In other words, it's not like you can just show your face whenever you want?
"That's exactly what it ans. Appearing in their dreams won't work unless our wavelengths match up. It's considerably uncommon. People who can match up with the timing to receive my advice. You're pretty lucky."
Yeah, I'm so happy that I feel like I'll shed tears.
To the point where I want to let others feel this happiness.
Like those trash bugs around there or so...
But, hmm, is that how it is?
So there are conditions.
Incidentally, what are those conditions?
"Well, I don't really understand them myself. I just think, 'Ah, will it work with this guy on this day' and then it connects."
Oh~.
In other words, that ans you can't control it.
Then, we'll have to give up on rules.
We'll have to go with sothing different.
That's alright I guess.
I'd like if you'd at least give a bit more details in your advice.
Go over here and then co over there, without knowing what it would be good to do, it confuses .
It feels like I'm dancing on top of your palm and being played with, which is irritating as well.
"Okay, details. I get it, let's go with that."
Alright, then, I'm depending on you.
"[Cough] Now then, I'll give you this ti's advice."
---
In the next instant, a vision flowed into my demon eye.
It was so blurred that I couldn't even tell where the silhouette was.
What is this?
"Hnn? That red hair over there is Eris Boreas Greyrat, huh. The other one is... Who? Well, it's fine. I see, I've seen it Ruijerd Superdia. For soone who likes children as much as you, you've co this far bringing these two, who were thrown to the Magic Continent in that teleport incident, back ho."
Eris yelled in a surprised voice at the man who nodded with a face that appears to know everything.
"Wh-why do you know my na?"
Eris' words brought even further into confusion.
Is it soone you don't know?
Is it your first eting?
No, it's Eris, it wouldn't be strange for her to have forgotten.
Even though I say that, in this world I've almost never seen anyone with silver hair.
Those characteristic-like Sanpaku eyes and it seems like only Eris and Ruijerd are feeling so kind of bizarre sensation.
If they've already t once, then as expected you would usually rember.
"Who are you? How do you know my na?"
Ruijerd thrust his spear at the man.
It seems it's not an acquaintance of Ruijerd as well.
Eris and Ruijerd say they don't know the man.
I don't know the man.
The man doesn't know .
However, the man knows Eris and Ruijerd.
Well, that's fine on its own.
Ruijerd is famous.
His na isn't all that well known on the Central Continent, but if you were to go to the Magic Continent generally everyone would know his na and face.
In regards to Eris I don't really know, but if you were to speak of a Red Haired Bishoujo Swordsman, then you could probably hit it with so guesswork.
But, what's strange isn't that.
The obviously strange point isn't that kind of thing.
It's the behavior.
The atmosphere if you could call it that.
The difference in behavior between the man and these two is far too different.
The man's behavior is extrely friendly.
His tone of voice as well, if you were to ask which way, it has so happiness mixed in as if one t an old friend in an unexpected place.
In contrast to Ruijerd, it seems like he's about ready to attack at any mont.
However, he's not moving his hands.
He's clearly looking at him with hostility, but he's not comncing his attack.
I don't understand the reason.
Even Eris who is always trying to take the first move isn't moving a bit.
I can't imagine it's just because Ruijerd told us not to move.
"This is a strange place to et but... It seems like you're doing well. Then it's fine."
The man took a good look at Ruijerd who was holding the spear towards him, but soon after, he laughed to himself, and took one step backwards.
After seeing that, the girl wearing the mask let out a small whisper.
"Is it fine?"
"It can't be helped at the current point in ti."
I couldn't comprehend it, shortly after the conversation excluding the subject,
"I've been a hindrance to you."
The man slowly started to walk just to our side.
The black haired girl followed afterwards.
Ruijerd never took his eyes off.
Of course, Eris as well.
"About ... eventually, you'll understand."
In the end he quietly said that.
A profound aning.
This man knows sothing.
I thought that intuitively.
I'm getting a similar feeling to the Hitogami from this man.
"Please wait a minute!"
Before I realized it I had called out to him.
The man turned around.
It was a surprised face.
And then, Eris and Ruijerd as well were looking at with surprised faces.
"What is it? Who are you?"
"Ah, excuse . I'm Rudeus Greyrat."
"It's a na I've never heard before."
Well it is our first eting after all.
"No, Greyrat, huh. What's your parent's na?"
"Rather than that, won't you na yourself?"
"Hmmm... Well, I don't mind I guess. I'm Orsted."
Orsted.
A na I have no mory of hearing.
I don't know it to the point that I'm the sa as the people who died and are apologizing in the other world.
After looking at Ruijerd, it seems like he doesn't know either.
"Ummm, are you an acquaintance of these two?"
"No, we haven't beco acquaintances yet."
"Yet? What do you an?"
"It's fine if you don't know. Then your parents?"
They were words that were bluntly refused.
Even though I answered your question, you should answer my question as well, huh.
Well fine.
I wouldn't be bothered over sothing to that degree.
"It's Paul Greyrat."
"...Hmmm? Paul shouldn't have a son. He should only have two daughters."
How rude.
He does you know, my father has a single son that looks quite similar to him.
An idiot son who left ho and went all the way to Magic Continent to work.
"...Hnnn?"
There Orsted leaned his head like he realized sothing.
He slowly took steps towards .
"Don't get any closer than that!"
"Yeah, I understand."
However he was threatened by Ruijerd and maintained his distance.
While closing a bit of the distance, he was taking a good look at my face.
I caught that gaze from the front.
"You don't avoid eye contact, do you?"
"Since the look in your eyes is scary, it feels like I might turn away any mont now."
"Hmmm, in other words, you aren't feeling any fear."
The man's brow dropped.
"Hmmm. That's strange. I have no mory of eting you."
I don't either.
It's our first eting.
I don't know a na like Orsted.
I have no recollection of his appearance either.
Not to ntion he just keeps saying things that I have no idea what they are about.
Next, he finally said so words I could comprehend.
"You, could it be, you have heard of the words Human God, Hitogami before?"
That is right, finally.
Finally, that na.
Finally sothing that I could understand ca out.
I'll say it clearly.
I was letting my guard down.
Even though it was sothing that no one had said until now.
Suddenly hearing it from another person's mouth, not to ntion the fact that it was from the mouth of this man who keeps talking about things I can't understand.
There were no common points in the language to connect our conversation, so I thought, ah, if it's that even I understand.
With just that kind of light feeling about it.
I said it.
"I do, the one known as Hitogami cos out in my dreams..."
I suddenly saw a vision.
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