/
After we finished breakfast, the 4 of us went by foot to the ruins for the 2nd job change.
I’ve thought it was strange since before but the air has no signs of stagnation even though it’s within the ruins and, it’s not the case that dust or grime flutters about like in an abandoned building either.
I guess someone is using an air purifier or something, no mistake.
But it seems like this ruin’s walls have natural magic crystals embedded in them as always, there’s no trouble with light either.
Un, I wonder if it’s this component?
Scholars do of course do research even in this world don’t they, if this was taken out it could at least provide energy after all.
「Alice, why are you staring at the wall? Are the ruin walls that you can find anywhere that unusual?」
「This world might be a mountain of treasures

」
It truly does seem abundant in resources doesn’t it.
Be that as it may, I wonder what the extent of this world’s scale is?
Maybe it’s as much as the Earth?
「Eclair, how is this realm called?」
Haa?
The crimson princess with the mutual love that I have faith in made a fed up face.
「By realm you mean that which is Stella Garde?」
「Stella Garde? Is that this world’s name?」
「Aah, by realm you meant that? I misunderstood. If it’s in that sense, that would be Arcanoa then.」
Seriously say that sooner okay, and Eclair put her hands on her hips.
Even if that Stella Garde is obvious, should I suppose the title of Arcanoa not all that well known?
The Eclair closing one eye and going it can’t be helped can ităƒŒ, while not seeming altogether dissatisfied as she says that while she gives me her teachings is cute.
「Speaking of Stella Garde, is that to say the continent?」
「That’s about right, the continent on which Eclair’s group is currently present is Stella Garde. It’s a massive continent with kingdom and principality, commonwealth, theocracy and empire you see.」
「HeiăƒŒă€
My interest in this other world’s matters is bubbling up.
The word Arcanoa is the identifying designation of this world then.
The things I studied in the library were matters of my own lifestyle, matters of magic, and matters of magic or the like, my time was split up into that area so I guess I forgot geography.
Maa, the map of the surrounding area was hammered into my head though.
「How many continents are there?」
「It seems scholars say there are 5 continents but, it’s not well known.」
To say the statement that there are 5 continents would naturally mean that there are oceans to divide them as well.
I feel like welcoming the age of discovery and riding out to find a new continent but, thinking of the difficulties of that era it seems dangerous doesn’t it.
「Are there no interactions with the other continents?」
「Really now, you’re a child who asks questions well aren’t youăƒŒă€
「There’s no end to a human’s desire for knowledge!」
「AhăƒŒ that so. The answer is none at all, is it not? But the reality is that when speaking of what’s behind that, Eclair doesn’t know.」
Is that so?
I’m deeply interested in the reason how it is that there might not be interactions


If it’s Kran or Maria-san they might know something.
Refreshing sky colored eyes seriously watched me, as I was lost in thought.


I unintentionally closed my eyes.
「Tha, that’s wrong you! Idiot!!」
「Oww.」
Even though I only displayed a little playfulness

my cheeks were pinched.
But the bright red Eclair is cute as always issn’t she.
「Fun

it makes me want to say I’m worried that you’ll eventually also become like your rumored ane-disciple.」
「

Nnïœžă€
That shouldn’t happen, though that’s my feeling.
I don’t know what type of personality Libra might’ve had to begin with so, I can’t say anything can I.
It’s not that the sort of possibility that her personality was cheerful and openhearted, the sort that could be liked by anyone, but lost her way, doesn’t exist.
I don’t know since Till doesn’t say anything.
「Hypothetically if I lose my way, Eclair, please correct my being. Since, there is a debt, for Eclair.」
「U

you occasionally bring that out don’t you.」
While she flinched back, Eclair soon laughed out of her nose.
「MaăƒŒ that is you know? To do something about you, surely there’s no one but this Eclair! Please leave it to me!」
「But there’s also the possibility that Lumina-chan has more abundant talent

」
「So who is this Lumina!?」
And on that note, while we were engaged in such an exchange within the ruins, there’s the sounds of a sword fight reverberating from ahead.
Just when I thought it’d become quiet for a while, I heard this voice coming.
「By the way Ilya, just how should a vanguard that doesn’t receive a bit of support from their rearguard handle things?」
「Fufu, how may that be? But oneesama, that’s a relatively common event, if it’s our party.」
「Even if it happens a lot it’s troubling issn’t it.」
Damn it, Shion-san’s favorability level dropped while I caused Eclair’s event!
I need to load!
「

You, surely you didn’t think of something rude did you?」
「Ha, haha

isn’t there no way I’d think such a thingăƒŒă€
My crimson princess-sama’s intuition has grown a little sharp of late.
◇■◇■◇
We advanced to the area in the furthest depths of the ruins, with nothing coming up after that.
It’s a route we’ve passed through once before so there wasn’t any problem at all.
And so we’re taking a short break in front of what’s called the boss room.
「Oneechan, why don’t you use that katana?」
I tried asking about the matter that has been holding my interest since a while ago.
That’s right, since entering the ruins Shion-san hasn’t even once drawn the named katana that the future Saira made.
Of course Shion-san is history’s strongest swordsman so she still fights well enough given that though.
「I’m not particularly putting on airs you know. It’s just because this katana, cuts too well

I’m scared since it feels like I’ll become reliant on the weapon.」
Lifting up the grip on the scabbard with the sword in it with her thumb, Shion-san smiled while showing just a bit of the katana’s blade.
Somehow when she tried cutting some tree branches as a test the resistance was too low so, it seems she tried cutting a log next.
No matter how you think about it cutting a log with a katana it has to be unreasonable right?
I couldn’t not think why did you think to do such a thing, my sister.
It’ll break if done poorly you know, the katana will!
The results of her full power masterwork will!
Even so, it seems

that didn’t come to be,
「It cuts with a splat like tofu you see.」
「That’s not Shion’s technique?」
Eclair pinched her lips as if she was impressed.
I also feel as such.
「I have no intention of acting humble but, I think that that is the katana’s power. After all

since there was no resistance you see.」
「

From the log?」
「Aah.」
「Wha

t did you say.」
I received an impact.
That is in short

it split?
Even if I were to swing it, wouldn’t the log split?
With a splat.
「Since you’re not swinging so?」
「It won’t be swung okay.」
「It won’t be swung.」
「

」
Could you not wait a moment?
What’s with this confident sympathy?
And furthermore I haven’t said anything yet


As I pout my lips, Shion-san strokes my head with a yosh yosh.
Fuaa


「Peaceful issn’t it.」
「It is isn’t it.」
We’re in plain sight we’re super visible.
It’s, it’s embarrassing you know oneechan!


But do it more.
◇■◇■◇
When the time was right we went toward the boss room.
「Alright we’re going everyone!」
The mood is excellent.
You should eat my new sure kill technique, Trident・Blizzard・Fire・Thunder・Attack!
This attack completely ignores the opponents defensive capabilities and, disintegrating everything it’s a sure kill among sure kill techniques!
The damage is 9999999!
The opponent dies!
「What might she be mumbling about, this child.」
「Fufu, Eclair-sama, let’s let her be.」
While exultant and dignified, mysteriously, when it’s pushed the opening door stays open.
The boss room opens along with an iron scraping noise that assaults the ears.
Everyone invades the pitch black room.
When it was decided that everyone had entered the room, the door shut automatically with another heavy sound.
「Alice.」
Shion-san placed her hand on my shoulder as I was ready to go forth.
Ah, on that note this is different from that harsh battle with the Yamata no Orochi isn’t it.
I should obediently hide behind Shion-san’s back for now.
And so I focused my attention ahead as if looking over her shoulder.
Last time the overwhelming『leader』called Maria-san was there so there wasn’t any tension or anything but, for the nonce I need to tighten my focus don’t I.
I try inspecting the pitch black boss room’s interior and, a faint green light begins to glow.
And then, the boss’s form emerged from the faint green shining magic crystal light.
――Rare Encounter――
『Alpha Omega LV99』
I couldn’t hide my surprise at the enemy status.
「Rare!?」
From what I could see of the emerging silhouette, it boasts a tough seeming defense, an ominous beast with a shell.
It’s appearance is like a turtles but, it’s a different, more sinister lifeform.
In fact the power and nimbleness sensed from that figure standing on 4 legs is not that of a turtle but like a lion.
The two fangs thrust out from its lower jaw are also around the size of a person, it reminds me of a giant monster.
「It’s because of this that you can’t lose your focus in the occupation of an adventurer isn’t it.」
Shion-san readied her broadsword and advanced forth.
Following after her Ilya also took her spear and went forth.
Eclair has already entered her chant.
Everyone’s fast aren’t they, in any case this isn’t the time for me to be out of it either.
「Thunder!」
Eclair is probably chanting『heavy』magic.
As such I suppose my role is the starter.
My responsibility is to hinder with low rank magic on top of supporting the vanguard.
Silver lightning passes by the running Shion-san’s side to stab into the shelled beast.
The brusque body covered in a shell became electrified and, that became a slight hindrance.
「Haaaaa!」
Shion-san swung a powerful vertical slash down into that gap.
A high pitch sound of the sort that hurt my ears resounded.
「As expected then! But there’s still more.」
It somehow seems her broadsword is bearing a lot of responsibility but, Shion-san is still prioritizing her own technique first.
Good good that sort of thing is!
Do it as much as you like oneechan!
「Haa!」
The chain attack like I once saw in her duel with Leoneil.
At that time I was staring without knowing why but, she appeared to be superior to Leoneil in the sense of swordsmanship.
But how is the current Shion-san’s sword?
This is just the perspective of an amateur but, there’s no turbidity in the flow of her blade streaks

it looks like that.
Even so it’s not the case that she’s recklessly relying on power to strike that shell covering its body either.
The joint sections of the legs, the gaps of the shell, she seems to aim for those sorts of areas.
But――
「Kuu――This guy!」
Even so, it seems it’s no good!
How insolent for a turtle impostor!
Shion-san released her breath having continuously done breathless exercise――Ilya advanced to the front having ascertained that moment.
「Oneesama!」
「Please do!」
The two switched out while showing excellent coordination.
「I’ll show it be received!」
Attack and defense were switched out.
Using the entire body of the shelled beast, it slammed into her.
That turtle impostor, isn’t something so large as a dragon but has a physique on level with an elephant.
I suppose those who can receive such an attack with their unassisted body are limited.
Ilya has deployed her standard green field――
「Ehh?」
――She hasn’t!
In that manner, she received it with only the magic shield that Saira made for her.
「Uu――u」
Receiving the fiendish turtle’s charge with a dainty body, bracing yourself isn’t enough anymore.
Perhaps the damage itself won’t reach Ilya with her defense 5 but, she’s energetically blown away.
The Shion-san taking a breather in the rear has fallen as if she got caught up and entangled in it.
You――u!
「――You’re in the way! Please move!!」
I stopped myself from jumping in due to Eclair’s voice.
「I’m going with a big one! Star Flare!!」
The shelled beast attempting to follow after its routed prey took a direct attack from a vivid crimson explosion and, was blown away to the wall as if in payback.
Magic of flame that can easily blow a monster with a mass on level with an elephants away, really might be fearsome


The shelled beast that took an impact sufficient to leave its vibrations within the ruins seemed to be on the verge of fainting from the explosion’s heat and impact.
We still can’t let our guard down but I’m groaning softly.
When I look at Ilya that’s around where she’s being looked after by Shion-san.


Yosh, let’s defeat the monster now!
It’s a good target being struck onto the wall!
Because of this present my super sure kill technique――
「Wait damn it! The ice magic for use in attacks isn’t inserted!」
The remaining munitions in my Caster Gloves are Lightning in the left and, Icicle・Garden in the right.
I forgot to have Till insert attack magic!
A sure kill technique that I can’t use with my own power is bothersome issn’t it!
Eei, it’s my left hand’s magic!
「Oh ancient goddess, wield that power and bring heaven’s judgement down before me! ――Ishtar・Edge!!」
――Tsu!
Seriously firing the high rank magic of my left hand, really does have something that makes the heart race


However having nothing to apologize for in it’s power, it’s one more technique to go along with Eclair’s massive strike.
The shelled beast was blown to pieces.
Melting away, the shelled beast starts to vanish.
「Fuu

」
「!? Don’t lose focus, idiot!」
What I saw when I instantly raised my face was, about where the high rank magic I just fired was reflected in its entirety.
What I saw as breaking and vanishing was mimicry.
The shelled beast that showed its face from another place like a mirage sent the overkill magic I aimed back――Will I make it in time!?
「――Fire・Wall!」
The wall of flame that Eclair created in an instant, gathered a split second of time.
Passing lightning through my body, I evade with my full power.
Truly a hair’s breath from crisis.
The cannon I myself released passed by.
「Dangerous

For I who repelled a legendary magic beast, to have been about to be taken down in kind by such a random rare monster!」
「

Somehow or other there’s plenty in reserve, you.」
Eclair looked at me with her eyes half closed.
More importantly the turtle class enemy has a mirror, that’s truly classic isn’t it.
Don’t get careless and fire off a massive spell.
Given that


「I have to discard my strange fixations.」
Shion-san stood up behind the Ilya she’d been looking after――with her hand on the katana hanging at her hips.
It’s the debut of heavenly sword, Senbonzakura Murakumo.
Though I’ve seen the scene of her doing iai in the lawn countless times, this is the first time I’ve seen it used in battle isn’t it.
「Alice, go to Ilya for me.」
「Hai.」
Switching out, I ran over to examine Ilya.
My eyes met with Ilya’s as she layed down in seeming pain.
I smiled bitterly upon seeing her apologetic seeming emerald eyes.
Let’s comfort her with the yosh yosh, Shion-san directly taught me of.
「O, ojousama

」
「Fufu, it’s fine if you don’t worry about anything.」
「Hai

」
The sort of act of stroking a girl’s head is, how to say it, it feels like my luck is in doesn’t it


Examining Ilya as she’s visibly a little blushed, I end up thinking that more and more.
「Nshouto.」
Riding the mood, I tried doing a lap pillow.
There’ve been times where I’ve had Ilya do one for me but, this is the first time I’ve done one for Ilya.
「That sort of

」
「Maa maa, since it’s okay, let’s watch the rest.」
I turned my face to the battle, once again.
Eclair is diverting it with her whip and low rank magic.
It’s not every time but, time and time again the low rank magic is reflected.
「Cast release, Icicle・Garden.」
I don’t like flying sparks so, I deploy a barrier and watch over the battle’s development.
Disliking the small skirmishes the shelled beast, pulled its body into the shell’s interior.
I thought it was truly a turtle’s defense but that wasn’t so.
Perhaps it’s using some sort of magic power, it charged at Eclair’s group while rotating furiously.
If they take that it’ll be an inevitable mincing!
And just what giant monster is this!?
「Oh heavenly sword that holds the noble pride of the sakura flower’s dance, the purpose of becoming a protector」
Shion-san went forth in contrast to the Eclair taking her distance.
Incanting words like a ritual prayer, she drew out that bright silver katana blade.
It’s not iai.
The symbols on the katana blade are shining with a sakura color.
「Sakura Blizzard.」
Just as the words implied, sakura flowers――flowers of magic power?――became a fierce blizzard and stopped the shelled beast’s movement.
Being unable to move the shelled beast raised a howl at, the sakura of magic power dancing in a coil around it like a tornado.
There’s no sign of it being reflected.
Shion-san jumped into that without hesitating.
「Flash!」
With, artistry.
The bright silver katana was swung out.
Splitting the flow of a waterfall, was it not so simple as that sort of thing.
Such a flash.
The shell which seemed like such a thing as a blade couldn’t pass through, was readily bisected as if cutting butter or the like.
The shelled beast being unable to run or hide didn’t have the time to raise a howl in the agony of death either, this time it melted away vanishing from the world.
◇■◇■◇
「It’s too incredible isn’t it, Shion.」
「It is isn’t it, it is isn’t it.」
「

Why are you making a triumphant face!」
Having safely finished Ilya’s job change we left the ruins and followed the path back toward our mansion.
As the sun is already sinking, I’m filled by a tasty seeming smell from the chimney steam drifting through the streets and striking directly at my stomach.
We did good work for the day on today as well!
We’ll also enjoy a tasty dinner, won’t we.
「The act of praising oneechan is an obvious act, in short, it’s the world’s truth. Isn’t that right?」
「You know, I want to do something about this sis-con, really

」
It’s fine whatever you say.
I’ve decided to live honestly to myself.
「But well you see, it was the katana’s power wasn’t it.」
「That so? I feel that it wouldn’t go that way even if Eclair used the katana though.」
「I suppose that’s so.」
「Noisy aren’t you idiot Alice! Even though someone like you can’t swing it either!」
「I’ve said it right? You should see how I’ve developed my wood chopping a bit!」
「Since that’s fine already.」
Why, oneechan!?
「Ojousama

I can walk so.」
Oh, I heard a small voice like a puppy’s cry from my back.
In truth I’ve been carrying Ilya this entire time since we got out of the ruins.
Of course, I’m borrowing the power of magic.
「Since it’s fine since it’s fine.」
「For such a blunder to

」
Ilya, seems to be feeling apologetic about the matter of being specially carried by me but, from my perspective I feel that entrusting Ilya to someone is wrong so there’s no problem at all.
Sensing my intent from my softening pace, Shion-san and Eclair walked ahead.
「Ilya, stop being obstinate already okay. This world’s strongest me will do a contract for you. You should be grateful!」
「Kusu

」
Ilya released a laugh that lacked power in a good sense.
「I’m tired of deceiving myself, already

Since the truth is that I also, wanted to make the contract with ojousama.」
「Ilya is my belonging so, I won’t permit the act of dying on your own or the act of becoming someone else’s belonging.」
「Fufu

Ojousama, your covetous desire is like a gentleman’s isn’t it.」
The truth is exactly as such though.
「Nee? I’ve said it before haven’t I? It seems I’m rather long lived so, if I only live normally everyone around me will pass away.」
「Hai

」
「That is, the Ilya who makes a contract with me, what would become of that?」
I knew that Ilya was smiling kindly from across my back.
「Until ojousama exhausts that life, I vow to be that which continues to give support closest by your side.」
I heard that as being like an eternal pledge.
My heart became warm.
「Fufu, I’ll be depending on you okay?」
I noticed that it seemed the hands circling from behind my back had a bit of power put in them.
Being held tightly, I could sense Ilya’s warmth.
However much I say I’m relying on the power of magic, muscle pain might be attacking from this tomorrowăƒŒ.
I should rest.
But before that, the dish made by Saira’s hand with all her might while carrying a triumphant spirit attacked us at our place of dinner.


Fully eaten!