A Black Knights slave has been pulled out by the White Adventurer Guild to S-rank.

Fifteen.

A month has passed since the war in the Waila Empire.

In the meantime, the aftermath of the war was brought to an end.

It was too large a war, but it ended lightly with the killing and disengagement of key members of the "Astorians".

Nevertheless, there are sparks of war everywhere due to the deterioration of relations between nations and the dissatisfaction that boils down everywhere.

Especially the young girl on the side of the winner of this war - the guildmaster's riff was busy with the necessary documents.

"Guildmaster, you have a visitor."

"Who's busy like this?"

A magic item for communication that is connected to the lower floor.

There was a woman at the reception.

The receptionist looks troubled.

"That's... Ray, Nice and..."

Rif's arm stopped.

Ray Nice

Few people will not know.

A legendary being called the first champion.

Isn't that a prank?

"I thought so, too, but I was given an ancient gem... and it was pure first-class authenticity."

There are many indicators of the value of a gemstone. It varies depending on the country and organization, but pure first-class connections can be made wherever they go.

It is the finest thing on the continent that can only be counted with your fingers.

"Hmm..."

The riff puts its hand on my chin.

It's too much of a prank.

I suspect an assassination is coming from the front.

Why do you call yourself Raines, even if you come by any chance?

Riff's own arm was quite strong.

In addition, there was a protective barrier in the guildmaster room.

"... is there only one Raines?"

"Looks like it."

Riff nodded at the receptionist's answer.

In that case, it was decided that it was possible to deal with whatever happened.

"All right, let's go."

Yes, I understand.

The receptionist didn't think she would get through, but she nodded after showing a slightly surprised reaction.

After a while, the door of the room is knocked on.

When Riff gave permission to enter, an old man came in.

Raines?

Hmm. I'm sure it's the riff you defeated the [Astaire]?

Your master is a second-generation brave Ray Nice, right?

Huh, let's hurry up where we can see each other.

Raines sits in a chair.

"Hurrying is...... mu"

The riff stared at him.

What was most obvious about the magic was that Raines' skin was peeling.

"Do you understand? I've lived a long time." It won't be long. "

“So, what are you going to tell me?”

There was an irritated voice on the riff.

Raines was a brave man.

And my people died in the course of the Demon King's defeat.

In other words, Raines...

"There is always a processing team at the Brave Party." Manage those who have grown too strong. As you can imagine, Tsubaki is the first traitor. "

Riff knew a hundred things.

She is a victim and a living avenger.

"Why are you going to talk to me now?"

“Well, maybe it's the fear of death or the desire to go to heaven.”

"I don't think I have time for jokes."

”... maybe not”

Ray Nice's one arm falls.

It becomes dust far from the prototype.

There was no upset with each other.

Rif also seemed to know the magic Raines was using.

And that's how it ends.

“I met Zed. She's Astaire's greatest masterpiece."

"Astaire? The best?"

Riff tilts his head to Ray Nice's words.

Raines went on, wondering if he hadn't been able to pick up the scene.

“Hmm. But perhaps that's why Astaire is the only one left.”

“I don't know. Explain it more clearly.”

Riff shook his head.

Reynis stroked her chin and calmed her down, so she refreshed herself that she had rushed too far.

"Hmm. Let's start with that." Goddess Astaire is real. "

"I guess it's not Yota's story..."

"The 'traitor' of the Brave Party has heard his voice since he was a child. In the beautiful voice of a woman, she calls herself Astaire. They give us all kinds of orders. How to get stronger, when and where to meet good soldiers, and the crisis.”

"I don't think you're going to say that you killed the party with that voice."

I can't believe it.

Riff slammed his little fist into his desk.

The body that was not enhanced by magic was fragile, but it was still strong enough for the paper to dance in the air in a recoil.

"If you believed that story, why did the Lord come here? You said Zed was going to beat the Astaire. Are you going to kill the goddess?"

"It's not like I don't have a conscience." I don't want to hang up with my fellow travellers..... "

"I'm not a Sister." I'm not going to listen to confessions, am I? "

The riff thrusts out coldly.

"That's right. I'm sorry.... but it took me a long time to get to Astaire. I don't beg for forgiveness. There are no more beggars. By this hand. So at least I want to avenge you. I want to tell you that."

One of Raines' legs rolled to the ground and became dust.

The goddess Astaire is in the 'Spirit World'.

Is it a spirit?

"No, I don't think so." I figured it out because Astaire is real and I'm in the spirit world. "

”But you can only summon those creatures, such as the art of going to the Spirit Realm”

"I spent half my life regretting it. A quarter was spent on escape. Some of them already... this is the only thing I could know. I was afraid Astaire would kill me."

Raines' feet became dust.

Lose the axis and lean on the chair.

Half of the face is dusty.

"--" The Astheist "is nothing but a machine. Astea's....."

The weak voice couldn't reach the riff.

But all I could hear was the last voice I heard.

"... finally... once again... I wanted to see Zide... in the smoke of the flag..."

Leaving that aside, Raines turned into dust.

Riff looks at things with a soul that are more painful and finer than grains of sand.

"... I'll tell you what to do."

Well, that's what it is.

Are you referring to the fact that the traitor had a heart, too?

Or is it referring to the goddess Astaire?

Either way, the former was the past, and it was certain that the only future to be advanced was the latter.

◆

The sudden disappearance of the god capital, Astaire, has shocked the entire continent.

There were rumors of natural disasters and being taken away by goddess Astaire, but the authenticity was not certain.

Anxiety and fear were widespread in that the results of investigations by the state and various third parties were also "unknown".

There were five shadows in such a place.

Isn't Luina coming today?

……

"You must be busy cleaning up after the war. Not even Riff-sama came. Best of all, we're not going to make it to this place. Even I feel so nauseous. Master Tholia, don't push yourself. If you need anything, let's go.”

"No, no, I'm fine. We need to find Mr. Zid. How could you let me go missing for a month..."

"I'm sure Zed will be safe!"

Quena, Yui, Phil, Soria, Sheila.

Each of them came to Astaire, the old city of God, with the same purpose. There are no marks on the skin. There were no buildings or creatures.

There were only signs of death, and most of the organizations and units we investigated earlier were refusing entry due to vomiting and incontinence.

“I, too, believe in Mr. Zeed. Reuters is still in the news, so they should be winning. But why are you missing...?"

……

Yui walked forward one step at a time.

My thoughts are overflowing and my legs are running faster.

They looked at each other and followed Yui.

Yui stayed in an unnatural place. Where there is an unnatural shadow.

"Is this...?"