"Oh, I knew you were here, Rahite.

　The library is one of the few places where I can relax. I almost clucked my tongue when Arcreal appeared there, a noise that I could only assume had nothing to do with books.

"What can I do for you?
"Haha, you look so uncomfortable. Do you like reading books alone that much? You're a dark-skinned guy.
"It's not that I like to read books. I don't like to read books, I'm just uncomfortable with your presence here.
What, you don't have to read a book to know that you like to read?
That's a surprise. I'm going to have to revise one of my prejudices about you.

　What I like about this place is not that it has books, but that it's not popular. What I like about this place isn't the books, it's the lack of popularity and most importantly, the absence of people like Arcreal.

"I'm just curious how prejudiced you are. Well, I just got word from Lytal, who's on his way to Trinh. He says Solide is dead.
"......, I see.

　When Ritual came back to us once, he told us the general situation, but it turned out like this. This is a great way to make sure that you get the most out of your vacation.

You're not surprised, are you?
I've been thinking that the Solide would be no match for the Yuggra's star people when they showed up.
Are they that troublesome? I mean, even the Rituals are wary of them, but they're not really capable of fighting, are they?
Can you win a war of wits or wits against a liar?
No, I can't, but... But you can just ignore them and cut them down, right?
The assassins I sent, and probably Solide as well, were doing something similar.

　Or maybe Arcturial can break through all the clever tricks and get that sword to that man. But it's too late to try that.

Don't you think I could have done it?
I do. But if you don't. We have to accept total defeat by combat means. And that would throw a wrench in Nektohar's plans.
Don't stare at me like that. I know, I'm not going to go cutting in on my own.

　I don't want to trust you, but I know you can control yourself at least. If you were a beast that couldn't even do that, Ritual and Nektokhar would have given up on you and disposed of you long ago.

"Have you heard what happened to the bastards, Comiha and Smythos?
"They're both dead. They haven't confirmed their deaths, but they said the basement of Ts'doari was completely overrun.

　Considering Solide's character, he'll probably try to use up Komiha and Smythos. If Solide is dead and the bastards who were hiding in the basement are also captured, then they are either dead or prisoners of war.

Trinh's forces have been completely destroyed. If they've been able to examine the data in the basement, they've probably gotten wind of the hideouts in Trinh's territory, and now their path of escape has been cut off.
"You can't win if you're worried about escape routes before you even start fighting.
My winning percentage is low to begin with. It's best to be overly cautious.

　You should also consider leaving this body and prepare for your next possession. If I could possess a woman or child and assassinate them, that would be a no-brainer, but if I were to encounter that man, there's a high probability he'd see right through me.

I don't want him to die like Solide. I didn't like Solide, but he was still a friend. We should at least avenge him.
"Then why don't we just take Smyths and Komiha?
I don't know about those guys because I've had very little contact with ...... them.

　The first person to come into contact with the Nektohar was Ritual, and the next was me. Arclial and Solide were discovered around the same time as the three of us started searching for the bastard. In that sense, I guess we feel a kinship.

"Try not to die at all. I'll never avenge your death.
"Well, I'm not going to do yours either. He's a dead man. He's a dead man.
When he dies, he dies.

　There are two ways of possession. One is to use a special tool to kill yourself and send your soul to a prearranged possession. This is the safest and least stressful on the soul. The second is ...... a method that must be avoided, because in the worst case, your soul may become useless. If that happens, I will die in the true sense of the word.
　At any rate, the people of the planet Yugra will now come to Serende. In terms of strength, Arcturial's individual strength is still superior. However, even if there are pieces on the board that can never be taken away, the opponent will not alternate or follow the rules. That could be our defeat even if the piece called Arclial is still alive.

"Don't get too worked up, Rahite. You're awesome enough, and we even have Ritual who can use me to my full potential. Isn't Nektokhar pretty good too? I'll be fine!
You're too optimistic. You might even be defeated by a sword.
Not likely. As long as the opponent is human, no one can defeat me.

　There is no hesitation in this assertion. His confidence as an absolute strongman must have made him say that. Perhaps this man could have defeated even the Scarlet Witch King head-on. He is able to use that much talent with the brains of a realtor. ...... Indeed, from the enemy's point of view, it can be said to be a hopeless trump card.


　But still, I couldn't think that I was ready for that guy.

　.

　I was attacked by Solide, and when I woke up, many days had passed. Exduk told me that I had been put back into the state of mind I was in a few years ago. Solide is an annoying bastard, of all people, to bring me back when I was at my most vulnerable.
　However, with the help of me in that state, Solide was killed and all the bastards in Trinh were successfully captured. He was told by Balastus to rest for a few days because of the mental strain he must have been under, and is now being cared for in Balastus' house.
　He's almost healthy, and Marya, who was also affected, seems to be back to normal, which is good news for now. .......

......
"Hey, how long are you going to keep staring at me like that?

　I'm sure you'll be glad to hear that Marya is back to normal. I'm sure you'll be able to understand that I'm not the only one who has a problem with this.
"You're really the usual Shosho-sama, aren't you?
I'm sure you're not the only one. I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.
"Mmm ......, your sarcasm is firmly back to normal .......
The only thing I enjoy is food. The only thing we have to look forward to is food.

　Exoik and his team are currently investigating the site of the former Horstal Trading Post. It seems that by taking the key that they took from Solide, they were able to see into a basement that they had not been able to find before, and there were several children lurking in there who seemed to be bastards, though they were not capable of fighting.
　They don't seem to be resisting, so they are currently being protected at Castle Torin. In addition, in the basement, a map was found with information on temporary shelters in the territories of Trinh and the neighboring country of Quama, and Exoik and his team are working hard to acquire more information.

I'm sure you'll be able to figure out what's going on.
If the food gets cold now, you'll have to consider having the same thing happen to you.
It's terrible! Even if you're ...... a little younger, it makes a big difference.

　In the event that you've got a lot of time and energy, you'll be able to make the most of it.

It's the roughest time of my life, when I was maliciously resisting the malice of others. The position of "I" or "me" is inevitably a huge mental burden, and that position was born as a result of thinking that I should do something about it. It's not that I'm not a good person, it's just that I'm not a good person.
"Plans?
After all, it's not like you have multiple personalities. I'm not a multiple personality after all. The only thing that will remain is the awareness that I was doing it for fun, but nothing will change the outcome of what I did.

　In the end, I came to want to live a safe life, and now that I do, I don't need to be in a position where I can do evil things for fun. The existence of "I" disappeared as an ephemeral, makeshift existence.

But thanks to that position, even Shosho-sama in his rough times was able to help us, right?
...... Well, yes.

　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, it's possible that you'll be able to find it in the marketplace. Well, the values of the virtual world and the state of past memories change quite a bit, so I think I could have managed it.

"Brother Ecdysius and His Majesty said it would be fine, and they didn't even give me any advice!
"Well, I did tell Marito about me, so... Ecdysium is ...... well, it means that you are observing me very well for some reason.

　If you were to decide on a ranking of people who respect me as a person, it would be a battle between Exdoik and Wolfe for the top spot. Marito is probably the top in terms of understanding. .......

I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who would like to know more about this.
Hahahaha. ......

　It's hard to deny. It's easy to imagine that if you become friends with these people, you'll be sorry to part with them. If you had read the information I had left behind, you would have known that I was a trustworthy person.

But in that case, it's not too late for you to be pampered by me, right?
"I won't deny everything, but don't get carried away, okay?
"Ah, yes. You can make eyes like that even at a time like this. ......

　Well, I guess it's time to eat. A hot meal tastes better than a cold one, of course. You can talk to Lakra after that. So, let's eat--

"My friend! How are you feeling, my friend?
...... Not bad at all.

　So now it's a mix. ....... I'd like to tell you to eat later, but I've been pretty hard on this guy in the past. .......

I'm not complimenting you.
That's not a compliment, is it? I'm more likely to have a serious face.
Again! Compared to your friends in the past, I'm not exaggerating when I say you've been loose all day and night!
You're hurting me.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to help me.
　I'm not sure if you'll be able to find a way to make it work, but I'm sure you can. It was judged to be the easiest to create a distance between the two of them, while always staying close as a guard.
　The other candidate, Ecdysium, even if it had been the past me, would have been properly evaluated and even if I had tried to separate them, it would not have worked. Lakra's instincts are sharp, so there is a possibility that he will physically distance himself from her before he can mentally distance himself from her.

"Mixu-chan is feeling much better now.
I've been through a lot, but I've gained a lot more than that.

　It's only because I'm the one who can gauge the distance correctly that I can tell that the distance between me and Mixu is getting slightly closer. It's as if I'm hitting on him.

"Well, I'm sorry you had to go through that. Don't worry, that position won't come up again.
"No, no. In fact, I'd like to talk to you again!

　Yeah, yeah. I'm pretty sure he's telling you this. He must have told her that she's his type or something sweet like that. You spoiled me at the last minute, past "me".



"Unfortunately, the current situation is such that 'I' can't even switch to 'me'.
That's a psychological problem, isn't it?
"Because I'm trying not to realize that it was an event that literally almost killed me. I think if I remember those memories, I'll be able to stabilize, but it's ...... going to make me feel heavy. ......

　The other position, "I", is in a state of mental isolation with memories in order to contain the horrific memories of being captured by Archbishop Serraes. I have a sense of what I did, so if I can gradually recall the details, I should be able to return to my original state.
　However, if I were to immediately retrieve the memories of being tortured to the point of being unrecognizable as a person, I would surely become a cripple. I don't have the courage at the moment.

You don't have to do this! Your friend as he is now is excellent enough! In fact, as a gentleman, you're best as you are!
"Ouch.

　It's true that I behaved badly towards Mixu, even though it was me in the past. I'd like to make it up to him, but if I don't choose my actions carefully, he'll become even more distant than he already is.

You really don't have to do this. I'm quite satisfied with the way you are as a friend.

　This is it. The way Mixu looks at me sometimes makes me feel s*xy. If I talk to Marito about it, I'm sure he'll ask me to marry him.

...... You'll have a hard time being a slob.
That's part of your friend's charm!
I'm sure you'll be able to find something that will help you out. But I'm also working hard, preparing meals for you like this!
Don't say it yourself.
"Duh.

　Well, if this is the case, there's no need to follow up on it that seriously. Anyway, so many things have happened lately that I'm starting to feel a little mentally uncomfortable. After this, I'm finally going to attack Serende. I think I need to have an event to regain my energy. The food has gone cold.