An outcast dropout, surviving on the frontier and rising to become an S-ranked counter-magician.

The inorganic sound of beeping beeps echoed through the room.

''Hmm........Morning.......''

When I looked at the clock, it was 4:30 in the morning. Today, we will meet at 6:00 am and head to the First Boundary City via twilight. The Seventh Warding City and the First Warding City here are the furthest apart. The northernmost one is the Seventh Boundary City and the southernmost one is the First Boundary City. The distance is quite a bit, so it would probably take several days to get there, even with a carriage. They're going to have to go through the other warded cities to resupply again. I don't know where they're going, but maybe.......there's a possibility that they could go to the Third Boundary City.

Dan, Rebecca, and Aria. Are those three still alive and enjoying life at the academy? I wonder if they don't feel any guilt for sacrificing me?

''........No, don't worry about it now.''

I tell myself, and I start to get ready. Let's cut out the past. I'm not the Julia of my time anymore. I'm sure I'll never see them again. But fate is a fickle thing and I would later find out.

'Hey. Shelly, are you awake?

Knock on the door with a bang. It's now five o'clock. We'd better get to the meeting place by now. It's better to be at least 15 minutes early. But I haven't heard any answer from inside.

What should we do?　You coming in?

In fact, I was given a duplicate key to this room the day before. He said, "I'm a weak morning person, so if you don't answer, come in and wake me up. I'm counting on you.

'I'm sorry to bother you.'

Then I walked into her room for the first time in a few days. When I went to the back, I found Shelly squirming in bed.

'Shelly, I'm going. It's time to go.

Hmm. Five minutes.

It's the one that goes on forever...

It can't be helped, I think, and I open all the curtains and turn on all the lights in the room.

''Ummm ... it's so bright ...''

You're up... and...?

He forced himself to strip the covers off. Then, what appears is Shelly's naked body. No, technically speaking, she has her shorts on. But she doesn't seem to be wearing a bra, and she's completely liberated. An overwhelming mass unlike the Princess Liane I saw yesterday.

'Hey ... what are you looking at?'

Ha... ha!

Time was flying. I was completely in a world of nothingness. My eyes were drawn to the artistic work in front of me. Yes, but it can't be helped. I am a man. It's an instinctive interest, it's not about me. I tried to explain that to her, but looking at her face, I decide that it's already too late.

''You........get out!

It's terrible. We did our best to wake you up, but.....

Hey, what's up, Yulia? You don't need to put red leaves on your face.

"Sofia, listen...

And just as I'm waiting in front of Shelly's room, Sophia comes in. And I explain the situation, but she starts nodding yes.

'That's Julia's fault. You shouldn't stare at her.

'I see.... It would be uncomfortable if a guy you don't like saw you....

'No, probably more embarrassed than uncomfortable,'

Huh........I did it........

Sophia's voice hadn't been heard. It's sad that we're probably going to be together for a week or more from now on, and it's awkward to be awkward about something like this. I think we've gotten along reasonably well, but I didn't expect him to do it here. It's not my lucky day either.

'Sorry to keep you waiting,'

It's a little late for that, Shelly.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry.

....

Julia, I mean thank you for waking me up.

Shelly says that as she blushes. Apparently it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. Then we head to the gate, the meeting place.

◇

It's nice to meet you.

Princess Liane bows her head with a smile. Currently the three of us and Silas-san are here. The rest are first class anti-magicians. It seems that we will be heading to the first ward city with this.

''Then I'll lead the way, I'll leave her in charge of Yuria-kun and the others.

I understand.

After being told that, we get into the carriage. The seats are just for four people, but as soon as I sit down first, Princess Liane sits next to me.

''Uh.........''

What is it?

No, no.

He's smiling and smiling. What on earth is it........

'How are you doing, Julia-san?

No problem. And thank you for what you did yesterday.

No.

As I did so, Sherry and Sophia also came in and stared at us.

''We're kind of close, Julia........''

Shelly stares at me and says that, and I hurriedly deny it.

'No, it's not!　I'll do my duty to make sure the princess is safe!

'What?　You're so dull, Julia....

Shelly and Sophia were scowling at the unusual atmosphere, but after that, we were to leave without much chatter.

To the twilight for the first time in a long time.

Inside the swaying carriage, I stared at the scenery outside in a daze. It feels like it's been a long time since I've seen anything like it. I'm in this endlessly dense twilight. By the way, we are wearing anti-dusk clothes in preparation for the twilight. It seems to be a special fiber woven into our usual uniform. It looks the same. However, the harm of dusk varies from person to person; some people are not affected at all, while others become worse after only a few hours.

This outfit was only as effective as a so-called insurance policy, but it was still better than nothing.

'It's been a long time since I've been out in the twilight, hasn't it?

'Come to think of it, yes. But wasn't Sherry rather alone in the house?

'Hmm. I've been through a lot lately, you know?

She looks at me and looks like she wants to say something.

No, I don't want you to look at me with such accusing eyes...........................As I was thinking that, Princess Liane speaks to me.

''Yulia-san has been in the twilight for two years, right?

Yeah, it's been a long time.

We're still within safe distance, but I think you said farther east.

Interestingly, Sheri and Sophia are also looking at me. It's not that I'm hiding anything from them, and Silas-san has asked me to report further details when I go to the First Boundary City. Besides, it's not like I'm going to tell the three of us here.

''I made it to the Far East within a year. I don't remember much about it because I was struggling to survive at the time, but I kept going and going and going.

Have you fought demons and demonkind as well?

We fought mainly when we didn't have food, and when we were attacked by it, when we had to. But basically, the priority was to escape. Some of the things we encountered were demons that I still don't think we can win, large spiders over 10 meters tall, and fire-breathing dragons. Even I still don't understand the ecology of twilight, even I still don't understand it well. But........above all else, it's a world of the weak and the strong and harsh. It was a place where one moment of carelessness could lead to death.... But there was a good thing too. Actually, there was an ogre village to the east...

As he speaks, the carriage suddenly stops. At the same time, I hear a loud voice from outside.

''Enemy attack!　A demon has appeared!

I thought it would come one day, but it's too soon........ Thinking that, I jumped out of the carriage and found a demon called the giant spider 《Huge Spider》 there. It's a danger level B demon, a nasty one in its own way. By the way, demons and demonkind are divided into levels of danger, E→D→C→B→A→S. The B rank is considered to be something that can only be dealt with by a 2nd level anti-magician or higher.

But it's strange. This demon shouldn't be in the safe zone. I'm pretty sure it was inhabiting the far east. Why is it here?　What's happening to the ecosystem?　Or......

But for now, we need to get it out of the way for now. There are a lot of them. But there's nothing we can't do.

Julia-kun, can we go?

Yes, sir.

Silas-san comes over to me and stands in front of the giant spider, the Huge Spider, as if the two of us were confronting it.

''We'll take care of this part. The rest of you will be guarding the princess.......

And we would start fighting in the twilight.