It should have only been a few dozen minutes since the battle began…… but I wonder how many exchanges had happened in such a short time?

  My eyesight could barely make out most of the details…… but I had a vague understanding of the current situation.

  ……We’re one move short. That goes for us, and for Sechs-san’s side as well.

  Lilia-san has had a tremendous battle with the First Hero Neun-san, and is on par with her. She was someone who’s considered a legend, but it doesn’t seem like she had dealt a decisive blow yet.

  Shea-san took on many Baron-level, High-ranking Demons, and had already incapacitated nearly half of them but…… Regarding the 5 Earl-level Demons, whose magic powers were clearly a cut above the rest, she still held an advantage over them, but she hasn’t been able to reduce their numbers yet.

  Raz-san, Acht and Eva seemed to have the upper hand against the non-peerage holder Demons, but they were still being outnumbered by their opponents and had to repeatedly attack and retreat.

  Our side seems to have the upper hand when it comes to battle, but our attacks haven’t reached Sechs-san, the one who placed this ward.

  However, Sechs-san and the others would also collapse if they weren’t careful, they also aren’t as composed as they were in the beginning.

  We are one step short of being able to attack, and they’re one step short of being able to hold us off…… In a sense, it can be said that the situation had reached a standstill.

  As I was pondering this, Shea and the others once again distanced themselves from the person they were fighting and came back to me.

  [……Tsk, having to fight a powerful escaping person is really troublesome.]

  Shea-san clicked her tongue in frustration at the situation. She couldn’t reach Sechs-san even after forcibly charging forward.

  Just as I was about to call out to her, I heard ragged breathing from another direction.

  [……Haahhh…… Haahhh……]

  [Lilia-san!? You’re sweating like crazy…… Are you alright!?]

  [……No matter how large your magic power reserves are, you’re still exercising a part of the power of the God of Time and Space. You don’t have much magic power or strength left, do you?]

  [……Haahhh…… Yes…… She’s really…… amazing……]

  Using her greatsword to support her body, Lilia-san was struggling to hold herself up. It was quite clear that she was exhausted.

  On the other hand, Neun-san had noticeable damage…… but she was still standing firmly on both feet, making me once again realize how strong she is.

  Anyway, I thought that I should help Lilia-san recover from her exhaustion, so I took out a drink with a straw from my magic box.

  [Lilia-san, please drink this!]

  [……Ah, yes. Thank you very much…… This is delicious. Wait, eh? This…… just recovered my magic power and strength…… Is this actually some expensive potion……]

  [Ah, errr…… That’s “Fruit Juice of the World Tree”.]

  [Bfuuuhh!?]

  Incidentally, it’s 100% fruit juice. Alice made it for me, so it should taste great but…… I haven’t really tasted it yet……


  [W- W- W- What kind of outrageous thing are you making me drink!? Or rather, rumor has it that if you process it badly, the healing effect would be weakened, so why the heck would you make a drink out of the Fruit of the World Tree…… Hah!? Don’t tell me you asked for Phantasmal King-sama’s help just because you wanted to feed this to Lynn?]

  [……I- I dunno! A- Anyway, what should we do now!?]

  [……After we go back to the mansion, how about we go talk about some things again, Kaito-san?]

  She immediately found out who I wanted to give it to…… I’m scared about what will happen later.

  A- Anyhow, Lilia-san’s strength is now back…… but still, I don’t think she can get past Neun-san.

  Lilia-san and Shea-san seemed to be thinking the same way, as they were staring at Sechs-san and the others without moving.

  It’s the lack of a decisive factor that makes it impossible for them to carelessly return to battle.

  I don’t know how much time we have left but…… I don’t think the situation is good.

  As I feel the frustration scorching the back of my neck, Neun-san looks at me and speaks.

  [……Kaito-san, isn’t this enough?]

  [……What do you mean?]

  [I’m begging you. Please pull back already.]

  [……………….]

  It was persuasion…… no, a plea.

  As Neun-san was trying to tell me to pull back while she was looking like she’s about to cry, I don’t deny or affirm.

  I haven’t just been loitering around for the past dozens of minutes. Because I couldn’t participate in the battle, I was thinking instead. I was thinking about Neun-san and the others’ feelings and wishes…… That’s because I’m sure that she is……


  [I’m sure that what you claim is right. I’m also sure that Vier knows it too…… So, please leave her alone.]

  [………………..]

  [If so, I’m sure that “someday”…… Vier and Kuromu-sama will make up with each other……]

  [……And when…… is this someday?]

  [……Eh?]

  [T- That is……]

  In a slow and calm voice, I asked Neun-san without raising my voice.

  [Neun-san, this is just a guess but…… in the beginning…… you were trying to get Dr. Vier and Kuro together, weren’t you?]

  [Wha……]

  [But perhaps…… I may not know much about the world but…… I think you couldn’t move easily because you felt guilty about how you were being admired while Dr. Vier was being spoken ill of…… and in the end, time just flew by. You gave up half-way.]

  [……That’s…… That’s not it…… I just……]

  It’s just a guess, but for Neun-san, Dr. Vier isn’t some evil lord of Demons…… I think she’s someone Neun-san respected as “an opponent who she fought against to protect what was important to each of them”.

  That’s why she felt guilty about Dr. Vier. It may not be Neun-san’s fault that she felt such a thing, but with her personality, such a thing was possible.

  In fact, Neun-san looked quite shaken when she heard what I said.

  [……Isn’t that what you thought at first? That there’s no need to rush. You can just take your time and convince Dr. Vier……]

  [……That’s not it.]

  [……After more time has passed, after the wounds in her heart have healed, when the next opportunity comes…… Thinking about such things, in the end, time has passed without you being able to do anything.]

  [……That…… is…… That is not……]

  It’s not that I’m condemning Neun-san for that. In fact, I knew exactly how she felt.

  Because despite our age difference, the emotions that she holds are the same as what “I used to have”……


  [I’ve been there myself. I’ll do my best someday, let’s do it ourselves next time, let’s do our best tomorrow…… While I was making excuses to myself like that, the walls I had to overcome to take a step forward became bigger and bigger…… and before I knew it, I was stuck.]

  [Uuuuuu……]

  [So, knowing full well that it’s not something I can say, I’m going to put myself on the track and say it…… It won’t come……]

  [………………]

  [If you don’t move now…… that “someday” will never come!!!]

  [Uuuuu, a- aaahhh……]

  [That’s why I’m not stopping. You can think of me as an outsider doing something unnecessary. Despise me if you want…… but Neun-san…… Seriously…… Do you really think it’s okay for the situation to stay like this!?]

  [!? ]

  The words I strongly said…… weren’t even a sermon, but more of an insistence of my selfishness. However, Neun-san took a step back as if she was shocked. I could also see that her eyes were greatly trembling.

  When I tried to approach Neun-san, Sechs-san and the others stood as if to protect her…… Sechs-san was about to speak out in defense of Neun-san….. but before he could, I heard a voice that seemed to tear up the atmosphere.

  [Well said!!!]

  [……Ehh?]

  [As I thought, youths should at least have this much recklessness…… That’s good, just the way I like it!]

  [This…… voice…… could it be!?]

  Responding to the voice that suddenly resounded, Neun-san’s expression changed to one of astonishment.

  [Umu, push on, young man! Whether your choice is the right or wrong, it will all be decided later! All obstacles in your decision should be smashed away! ……Even so, umu…… You lack enough blades huh? In that case, I will lend you my strength!!!]

  Immediately afterwards, a huge spear with a handle of more than two meters long thunderously pierced the space between me and Sechs-san’s group.

  And then, a person appeared following the spear.

  Short marine blue bob cut hair, ears resembling fish fins, and white and blue clothing that resembled a sailor’s uniform…… Despite her small stature of less than 150 cm, she pulled out the spear and imposingly carried it on her shoulder.

  [Don’t worry, you can count on my strength. I’d like to get rid of my title as a King as soon as possible but…… I have no intention of abandoning the title of being the “Strongest in the Human Realm”!]

  [……Laguna…… W- Why are you here!?]

  [Don’t worry, it’s the duty of a friend to correct a comrade when she is on the wrong path…… Well, you should know about it yourself already…… but don’t mind it if I become a bit rough about doing that.]

  In the battle that had been stuck in place for the lack of one more…… Another one who was stuck in the past…… The “last piece to save Neun-san” abruptly…… but in superb timing, appeared.

  **********