[……………………]

————Now then.

When should I tell Seras?

▽

That evening……

[Touka, may I have a moment?]

The one who came to my room was Thesis.

At the moment, I’m borrowing a room inside the castle.

There are two beds, and Seras is sharing the room with me.

Pigimaru and Slei are technically sharing it with us too, but……

During the day, those two stay with Nyaki and Munin.

Apparently, they’ve gotten quite friendly with Fugi as well.

Well, during the day I’m busy helping with the post-Arion cleanup anyway.

Since I can’t keep them company, I’m actually grateful to Nyaki and the others.

As for Seras, she’d been with Cattleya since morning today.

So we only all gather at night.

Even now, we’ve just returned to the room after finishing an early dinner together.

[What is it, Thesis-sama?]

[In truth, I spoke with Hijiri this afternoon.]

[With Hijiri?]

[She said the traitorous hero frozen by your skill is currently being transported here.]

[Ahhh———- Kirihara, you mean. Yes, since he’s being moved from a distant country, it will likely take some time before he arrives.]

On the other hand, it seems the White Wolf King may arrive soon.

That was the message sent via magical war pigeon.

Since they’re using a rare steed known as a magic horse, their travel is faster.

[Although I can correct the distortions that arise, considering the situation and my position in Heaven, I cannot remain here for too long. Second Ragnarok has been resolved, so there is no immediate crisis, but it would still be problematic for me, the second in the hierarchy, to remain absent for an extended period. However, I do intend to stay until the ceremony to return the heroes.]

She’s staying because Loqierra’s power as a Deity has been impaired huh.

[Thank you. If you’re present, I’ll feel reassured as well. So——— does this concern Kirihara?]

[Yes. Regarding that traitorous hero who is frozen…… it may be possible to transport him here sooner than expected.]

▽

I had brought Thesis to a certain place, accompanied by Seras.

It was inside the castle, the spot where Takao Hijiri had inscribed the magic circle for the teleportation stone.

Originally, Hijiri had drawn it with a Skill in order to teleport Fugi into the castle.

I had heard the location from Hijiri.

The carved teleportation circle still remained on the floor.

However, the corresponding teleportation stone had already been used.

So it should no longer serve any purpose, but……

[Fumu…… it looks possible.]

Thesis, crouching and running a hand over the floor engraved with the formula, spoke in a tone close to certainty.

[By possible, you mean?]

[I did not wish to raise your hopes prematurely, so I had not mentioned it yet, but with this teleportation circle and your existence, it should be possible to perform a teleportation through passage. Of course, even without a corresponding teleportation stone.]

[……Even with Kirihara in a “Frozen” state?]

[Yes. However, this is the destination circle———– could you also guide me to the sending circle?]

I guided her there as well.

After checking again……

[Good.]

Thesis responded with even greater certainty.

[Then, Touka, please display the Skill section of your status. The one for <Freeze>.]

As instructed, I displayed the <Freeze> entry.

Light gathered at Thesis’ fingertip, and she traced the displayed portion of <Freeze>.

As though she were analyzing it.

[……Thank goodness. I cannot interfere with Skill effects that have already been activated, but this seems to be fine.]

[What was that just now?]

[If we can share an image of the location, it becomes easier to teleport there. However, you do not know the traitorous hero’s exact current position, correct?]

[That’s true…… it’s as you say.]

[Therefore, by touching the concept of the corresponding Skill like this, I searched for the location where that <Freeze> is currently active. Just to be sure…… it isn’t the other, smaller presence, is it?]

[That one should belong to the insect on which I tested <Freeze> on.]

[In that case, there should be no problem if we teleport to the other presence.]

Incidentally, when Thesis checked, Ars had indeed already been extinguished.

So one slot for <Freeze> was now open.

Well, it didn’t look like I would be using it anytime soon.

[What shall we do? The sun has already set, shall we leave it for tomorrow?]

[Yes, tomorrow would be best.]

[Understood.]

[……………………]

[……………………]

[……Um, Thesis-sama? Is there something else?]

I wonder why?

Thesis had placed her hands behind her back and wasn’t moving.

No…… her body was swaying slightly.

The staff she held behind her was wobbling a little as well.

[Touka…… There’s something important we need to talk about.]

[What is it?]

[In your world, there are foods and drinks———- apparently there exists a Hero’s special auxiliary item that can transfer them. Moreover, they are said to be very, very delicious…… very delicious…… I heard this, but……]

[Did you hear about this from Hijiri?]

Wait…… what did she even go there to talk about?

[If I showed a cooperative attitude toward Touka, then as repayment…… I might be offered food and drink transferred from your magic leather pouch——— that is what Hijiri told me…… told me, but……?]

No……

Hearing a line like that delivered with such a serious expression……

It was somehow surreal.

……Come to think of it.

I had thought Thesis offered this cooperation out of kindness, but———-

Hijiri.

She baited her huh.

A Deity ranked second in hierarchy.

Using my magic leather pouch as the lure.

More importantly……

Where did she even learn that Thesis is a glutton?

▽

In the end, that night I treated Thesis to food and drink from my original world.

Incidentally, Loqierra was present as well.

And……

Loqierra was somewhat taken aback by how excited Thesis became.

Still, one could say it was reassuring that the “reason” for her cooperation was clear.

They do say nothing is more expensive than what’s free after all.

Also, Loqierra showed extremely strong interest in the magic leather pouch.

[This is actually a very rare type of special auxiliary item…… Wait, I seriously can’t figure out the principle at all. And structurally, it doesn’t even look like it can be studied…… Ehhh…… I’ve never seen an auxiliary item like this before…… Thesis-sama, what do you think?]

[Munch munch…… It’s very delicious, so I don’t really care.]

[Yes, exactly——— ……Wait, what!? No, hold on a second! It’s not something you can just not care about, right!? The transferred contents of this pouch! No matter how you look at it! They’re crossing the axis of dimensions! They’re being transferred, aren’t they!?]

[I did analyze it, but it doesn’t seem to be dangerous. No distortion occurs when it’s used, and besides———– it’s this delicious. Also, special auxiliary items eventually disappear naturally anyway.]

[No, that’s exactly why it’s strange there’s no distortion, right!? It’s crossing dimensional axes! And it’s not during a summoning ritual or a return ritual!]

[However…… munch, munch…… if neither my interference analysis nor Loqierra’s analysis can determine the structure, then further structural analysis likely won’t progress, will it?]

[T- That’s true, but…… this is something incredible! Don’t you have any thoughts about it at all!?]

At that moment, Thesis suddenly panicked and sprang halfway out of her chair with a clatter.

[———This is delicious too. Delicious.]

[M- My superior is hopeless……]

How should I put it……

When “Thesis-sama” goes completely switch-off, she really is in full energy-saving mode……

▽

The next morning, as planned, Thesis carried out the teleportation.

If the intended target was moving, the accuracy might decrease.

In that case, fewer people meant higher precision.

So only Thesis would teleport.

Just in case, Zine and I recorded a video with a smartphone.

For example, if Thesis were to suddenly appear out of nowhere and tell the Mira soldiers transporting him————

“I am a Deity.”

It would be highly doubtful they would believe her.

However, with a message accompanied by footage of the current Emperor of Mira, they would surely trust it.

As for me———– Fly King Belzegia, I was merely an added extra, just in case.

Thesis reactivated the teleportation circle, was enveloped in a pale blue light, and vanished.

Then———- Thesis returned sooner than expected.

In terms of time, perhaps not even 30 minutes had passed.

As the pale blue light faded……

[I have returned.]

Thesis spoke casually, showing no signs of fatigue.

“I do not believe it will take much time.”

She had said that beforehand, but……

It was a return so swift it almost distorted one’s sense of time.

Yeah, it’s like that.

This was exactly what people meant by something being “too much of a cheat”.

And then……

[Somehow…… It feels like it’s been an awfully long time since I last laid eyes on that face.]

Just as he had been back then.

Yes———- after falling asleep under <Sleep>, and then being subjected to <Freeze>.

In a state where time seemed to have stopped while he remained asleep———– Kirihara Takuto.

Good for you huh, Kirihara.

[After all the trouble you caused, depending on how things go, it seems you might return to your original world with all your limbs intact.]

And the next day———- Magnar’s White Wolf King arrived at the royal capital, Enoh.

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