《Demon’s Bridge》

「He~ey, we’ve finally arrived. Let’s take a break-」

「Haa…… Haa…… . Y-You’ve……finally said it……」

「…… It’s because my 《Magic Power》 has been restrained that I have also started to feel tired……」

The large cliff in front of them was split in two, creating a chasm so deep you could not to see the bottom.
Once  we have crossed this large magic-infused rock bridge, we will have arrived in demon territory.

「So untidy-. Both of you-」

「Says the criminal!!」

「It’s because Kazuha put me in a《Bind》!!」

…… They strongly retorted…… .

Ah, Tao-san?
You were previously a criminal too, right?
A member of a household that boasted an army of thieves.

And Ruru-san?

………… FORGIVE ME!

「Well, well… It’s because everyone is hungry, that’s why they’re all irritated. I get it, really. So shall we eat? Yeah, let’s eat.」

I took the bento Tao made this morning out of the item bag.

「Haa…… Good grief…… . Getting mad at Kazuha about petty things is just foolish, right……」

「Agreed, Tao-san.」

After saying this, they both sat down across from me and we surrounded the bento.

「I made a highly nutritious bento because we were climbing a mountain. 」

Tao removed the lid and revealed『Twice Cooked Pork,』『Small imperial wrap,』 『Peking Duck,』and more tightly packed entrees within, along with numerous other meat and vegetable dishes.

「Wow~, looks delish~!!」

「Surely it is delicious, but isn’t the amount too much…」

「…… I-is that so…….」

We ate the bento while engaging in idle chatter.

「Ah~, I’m full~. I’m satiate~d」

With that, I flopped down onto the ground.

「…… Even so, what do you plan on doing?」

Asked Tao while cleaning the now empty bento.

「Un? About what~?」

「Not 『About what~』……. About Ruru-chan!」

「Ah~」

Across from me is a person who’s had her fill and is now silently sleeping.

「After seeing her like this, I can only see her as a little girl…….」

Tao said while stroking Ruru’s silver hair after cleaning up the bento and sitting next to her.

「Rightio~. But why is Ruru acting like a 《Spirit,》huh-」

「? What do you mean?」

「Huh?  Ah, it’s just that, if the magic power of a 《Spirit》is sealed, then at that time she won’t be any different than us, right?」

「…Although I don’t want to be grouped with you.」

「Hey. Now’s not the time for that… So, I thought maybe Ruru doesn’t really want to continue being a 《Spirit.》」

「Haa? What are you saying…….」

I, also, am no different.
When I was in the other world, I was attacked while I was still attending school.
The next thing I knew, I was lying on my 『bed』 and had just been woken up by an unknown obaa-san who had become my 『okaa-san.』

This led to me becoming a 『hero.』
Without my consent.
And, on top of that, I was caught up in the conflict between the humans and demons.

「…… Tao is……」

「Huh? What is it?」

Tao chose to lie down just like us(Ruru and I).

「…… Have you ever wondered whether other『worlds』exist?」

What am I asking?
I also don’t know.

「…… That there’s a different 『world』 where Ruru-chan came from, is that what you mean?」

I can’t answer…

「Ye-ah…… . It’s unbelievable but…… . Even so, according to folklore 『The《Spirit》 is a messenger of G.o.d, an existence who was summoned from a different world』 or so it goes? …….I’ve heard those kind of things, but……」

「Hee…… . Is that perhaps from the archives of the 《Ancient Library》in《Amseria》?」

「Has Kazuha already gone to 《Amseria》?」

「N…… Sorta. I spent a little bit of time there, before…」

If you travel east from the arena in 《Etherclan,》 you’ll arrive in a port city.
From there, you can ride a boat further east for about 3000 UL, there lies an ancient city in the《Rakshadia Republic.》
Currently, the city is being restored, although some places have been left with large relics.

There, in the heart of the city, stands an《Ancient Library.》
I think I was in a party with Graham and Lily at that time.
During 『my second time,』 there was already a bridge leading to there.
In short, I’ve already 『experienced numerous years,』 and for me several years have already pa.s.sed, huh…….

「My ancestors came from a town in the southern tip of the《Rakshadia Republic,》『Houhan』」[j.a.pan and China]

「Hee…… From there, huh…….」

「Have you also been there before?」

I see.
That’s why she’s from a 『former bandit house』……

「Ah, it’s nothing」

I remembered something funny and smiled.
A 『former member』 probably chose to go there, right.

「N…….nn……」

「Ah, my bad. I woke you up.」

Ruru rubbed her eyes as she woke up.

「Aah, sorry. Were we noisy?」

「…… Fuwaa…… Ah, you weren’t…………Don’t we need to depart soon?」

「Aah. Do you think so.」

「Right. We even took an extra break after eating.」

We picked up our baggage and stood up.

「Well then, I must once again apply enchant.」

「Yeah. I’m counting on you, Thieving Cat」

「…… She again gave you a mean nickname, right Tao-san……」

「……It’s annoying that I can’t fairly retort……」

Then we crossed the『Demon’s bridge』 and proceeded towards the demon lord’s place―――.