On a small hill in a lush green meadow, a parasol and a white table were placed.

A clear blue sky, and a gentle breeze stirring black hair. Before he knew it, he found himself seated, and across the white table, a girl clothed in white and black was savoring tea. The teacup emitted warm steam, yet the scent was absent—as if only the outer shell of what constituted tea had been skillfully replicated, a mere façade. Such was the deceitful impression given by his counterpart.

"What has happened to me?"

A question. It sought an answer to the confusion he had been feeling just moments before.

"Don't you already have an understanding of that yourself?"

An answer. Yet it could hardly be called an answer to the confusion he had been feeling just moments before.

With all his might, he restrained himself from venting his frustration at the evasive feeling and dissatisfaction with the unfolding events toward the girl before him. And included in this was a small pinch of perspective as an observer of his own.

"Echidna! Get me out of here right now!"

Urged by a mix of anxiety and impulse, which he deliberately mistook for courage to drive the conversation forward. On the green hill, he confronted the girl who called herself the "Witch," only to once again encounter an inexplicable sensation. Yes, once again.

Time after time, over and over again, things were like this. Always, no matter the situation, all events were an unending sequence of bewilderment and absurdity. He gritted his teeth against all of them, valiantly raised his head, and continued to fight.

He had continued to fight.

"Try it, if you want."

—Please, stop. —Please, I beg you, don't make me say it.

"The act of taking action to achieve the desired outcome is noble. That belief hasn't changed. And I believe that there is value in living for those who take that action."

—Please, stop. Please, stop. Please, I beg you, stop. —Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop, stop.

—Stop.

"Echidna. I have 'returned by death.'"

—Ah, ah, ah, please.

――Please, don't suffer.
――Please, don't cry.
――Please, don't get hurt.
――Please, don't be afraid.
――Please, don't laugh.
――Please, don't forgive.

"With your 'why' as your qualification, the door to the tea party was opened. And by drinking the tea offered by the witch, you became a respectable participant. As the host of the tea party, I am obliged to welcome you. ――Now, go ahead and speak."

――Please, please, please, please, please, please, please, I beg you.
――I beg you, stop.

"Even the distress of contemplating the answer brings bliss to me."

――I beg you, please don't save this person.

△▼△▼△▼△

――The troublesome thing about mental exhaustion is that, unlike physical fatigue, it is invisible.

Of course, there are understandable signs like your mind not working properly, your nerves being overly stimulated, or having deep, dark circles under your eyes, darker than a bottomless swamp.
However, according to Aldebaran's conclusion, these visible signs are physical changes, and ultimately, not much different from physical fatigue.

The true mental exhaustion, in the real sense, cannot be touched to relieve, nor can it be healed with magic. It is such a thing.
And what is needed to restore that worn-out spirit is neither words nor bonds. As unvarnished as it sounds, what is needed is time.
Only time possesses the compassion to smooth out the jagged edges of a worn-out spirit.
Therefore――,

"――Territory re-expansion, matrix redefinition."

Muttering quietly, Aldebaran updated the matrix as he finally calmed down.
In rough terms, this was the first matrix update in six hours―― A crucial advantage of Aldebaran's power is that he can infinitely extend his subjective perception of time, where real-time does not progress.
Within the set territory, he could repeatedly experience a designated time by drinking poison, generating time to smooth his spirit. Even in the battle with Reinhard, he utilized this advantage to the fullest for minor adjustments to draw him into the prepared plan.

"Well, almost all of it got nullified, though..."

Ultimately, it was a settlement that forced him to play a hand he didn’t want to, so from Aldebaran’s perspective, it was hard to say he won. At best, it was a draw. To put it more bluntly, both lost. At any rate, the less-than-fully functional mind and the heightened nerves were somewhat alleviated. Unfortunately, he didn't know the state of the dark circles under his eyes, but lacking time to conceal them with makeup, he improvised with a black and rugged helmet that suited his battered body and soul.

In reality, although he said his body and soul were battered, his physical condition was excellent. While it might be an exaggeration to call it inexhaustible, he was in a state where he could use the vast mana of the strongest super lifeform, the 'Dragon,' without restraint. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Aldebaran, the strongest he’s been since his birth, was there, with healing water magic and an abundance of buffs from light magic.

"That being said, it’s like the story of an ant with a hundred times the power, no matter how many buffs I stack, I can't beat a human..."

Moreover, compared by those standards, the opponent wasn’t human but an elephant or a lion. Sadly, as he is inherently defeated by the specs of his vessel, even the strongest Aldebaran in Aldebaran's history couldn't be anything other than a punching bag in a straightforward confrontation. That sad self-assessment aside—

"—Seven days."

With one knee up and leaning against the dirty wooden wall, Aldebaran counts the days. This resting spot was a hunting cabin in the woods that Yae found for him. Fortunately, maybe out of season or the owner was away, so they helped themselves and used it. While luxurious amenities like a fluffy bed or an open-air bath couldn't be hoped for, the fact that it was away from anyone's eyes was, for current Aldebaran, a condition as good as a suite class. From here on, he must avoid any battles he can and pass by events unnoticed to the extent possible.

The behavior in Mirula, the closest town to the Augria Sand Dunes, was an exception. It was a rendezvous point with allies, and he genuinely couldn't resist the urge to drink milk. More importantly, it was necessary to make the townspeople aware of the extraordinary nature of what was happening and the absence of something to save them from it.

After all, the ultimate battle on Earth is happening just a few dozen kilometers away. Reinhard must be desperately trying to stop the "Witch of Envy" whom Aldebaran's strategy has lured out. However, there is no guarantee that the repercussions won't reach beyond the desert sea. Though it's impossible to stay calm when the sky is constantly flashing, evacuation is mandatory.

Also, the seven-day deadline set by Aldebaran is not unrelated to that battle. Rather, it is closely connected.

As far as Aldebaran knows, the "Sword Saint" and the "Witch of Envy" are evenly matched. Their battle is a stalemate, with the back-and-forth struggle showing no signs of resolution. But that's a matter specifically between the "Sword Saint" and the "Witch of Envy." Now that Aldebaran's scheming has brought their battle to reality, whether it actually lasts a thousand days remains doubtful.

Because—

"Before those guys settle their score, the world itself will fall apart. If that happens, it's game over."

There's a need to put an end to that battle before such a world-ending scenario occurs. In that sense, despite orchestrating the matchup himself, the ultimate showdown itself could lead to the end of the world, making it one of the things Aldebaran declared he would eliminate.

"So many things to do... so many things to do..."

With a hand on his helmeted forehead, Aldebaran lets out a long, heavy sigh. Thanks to his authority, mental exhaustion is kept at bay, and physical fatigue is forcibly recovered with water and sun magic, but he's on the verge of a capacity overload due to the weight of his thoughts and burdens.

Of course, from the time he started this, whining to anyone was never an option—

"—Instead of stubbornly holding onto such petty pride, isn't leaning on someone and relaxing a viable option too?"

"Yae, is it?"

"Yes, yes, yes, it's me, Yae, the ever-reliable Shinobi Maid of Lord Al~!"

With no presence or footsteps, the girl Yae appears, as if she had grown out from the shadows themselves, cracking a lighthearted joke with a smile. As she approaches with her hands clasped behind her back, Aldebaran shrugs.

"Putting aside being versatile and handy, 'Shinobi Maid' is overloading your attributes, don't you think?"

"Is that so? Even with that, I reluctantly removed words like beautiful girl, lovely, and adorable. So, so, how would Lord Al rate me?"

"…A feline-type submissive shinobi maid?"

"Wow, that's a thought that doesn't seem to get girls' attention. Plus, you included shinobi maid."

With a genuinely contemptuous look, Aldebaran clicked his tongue and said, "Shut up."

He was in the middle of facing a serious task that required deep thought. He didn't want to waste time on frivolous banter with an ally he didn't need to appease.

"I told you to keep an eye on the father, right? Also, check the shortcuts in the forest, be cautious around the hut, and prepare the meals."

"When you say that, don’t you think 'super black'? Isn’t that Al-sama’s lingo for overworking? It's super black right now."

"You're supposed to be an all-around useful shinobi maid. Live up to your name."

"Really, Lord Al, you combine ogre and brute to make brute ogre."

Sticking her tongue out, Yae retorted visibly dissatisfied. When Aldebaran glared sharply at her, she raised her finger and said,

"The meal preparation is complete. It's shinobi rations, though. The vigilance around the hut is done. It's surprising that there are magical beasts even in a forest like this. As for the forest, I've found a path that's not difficult to traverse. You should work on strengthening your legs and waist. And about Lord Heinkel…"

"And?"

"He's a burden even if left alive, so to use as bait for magical beasts... Come on, don't make that face, I'm joking."

"My face isn't visible, is it?"

"I can see your aura. Lord Al is quite noisy."

Saying something ambiguous, Yae turned her face away in a huff. But Aldebaran did not avert his eyes and continued to glare at her profile.

Eventually, as if giving in, she took a deep breath and sighed,

"I have him tied up. When he wakes up, he'll recognize me, and if he recklessly tries to escape, he'll find his limbs separated."

"Separated, huh. Can you do that to his father?"

"Even though it's sturdy, it's not like it's made of steel, so there are fragile parts. My technique targets those parts. Generally, even if they say I can do it, they get angry if I actually do it, right?"

"That's true."

"Then, I won't do it. There's no benefit for me in making Al-sama angry, is there?"

Yae raised both hands in surrender, signaling harmlessness, which eased the tension in his shoulders. Her tone was light and playful, but there was no lie in Yae's words. Aldebaran had treated Yae so harshly that there was no point in plotting something here. He thoroughly, relentlessly broke her rebellious spirit—no, her heart.

Now, Yae Tenzen cooperates with Aldebaran as a result of that.

—Yae Tenzen was an assassin sent to target the life of Priscilla Barielle.

With the declaration of her participation in the royal selection, Priscilla Barielle became known in the Vollachia Empire as well, and it was only a matter of time before someone realized that she was Prisca Benedict, who escaped the imperial succession ritual 'Selection of the Emperor' and survived in another country. Yae was the assassin sent by the Empire's 'Nine Divine Generals' Chisha Gold to douse the flames represented by Priscilla, who had begun to make waves in such a kingdom.

In fact, her infiltration as a shinobi was remarkable, and employed as one of Priscilla's attendants, she worked diligently as a maid in the Barielle territory, winning favor with Priscilla and being adored by Schult. Aldebaran also thought of her as a friendly colleague. However, Yae did not forget her original purpose and aimed for Priscilla's life. Therefore—

"The Al-sama from that day was terrifying. In the guise of village training, I experienced many harsh things in this world, but... it was the first time I was so scared."

"...That's a painful story that makes my chest ache."

"Please experience at least a fraction of the heartache. Since that day, being forced to be the loyal servant of such a scary Al-sama, I can't bear it if you imagine my feelings. Being kept away from my mistress and Schult-chan... having to obey Al-sama and... use this body however you please..."

"I haven't laid a finger on you!"

He argued against Yae's coy voice, which seemed to seek sympathy by hugging her slender shoulders. Her words were extremely misleading, of course, and the fact that she said them where no one else could hear was likely meant to harass or check Aldebaran.

But when Yae sent a sidelong glance at Aldebaran with that awareness, she said,

"...Would you like to touch me more, not just with a finger? You seem quite tired, and I don't mind comforting such a weakened Al-sama?"

"――――"

"Oh? Oh dear~? Does your silence mean that option crossed your mind? In that case, let me prepare a bed before you change your mind..."

"No, I was just wondering what to say to shut you up. First of all, you..."

"What is it?"

"You said yourself there's no point in having that kind of relationship with me, right?"

Aldebaran pointed at the sultry-looking Yae and questioned her true intention. Unfortunately, no matter how seductive Yae's words might be, Aldebaran was not going to fall for it. After all, Aldebaran had spent over ten years as a sword slave on the most lawless isolated island. He had heard this kind of sales talk enough to be sick of it.

Moreover, this wasn't the first time Yae had attempted to entice Aldebaran. Therefore, refusing her was not a first either, and Yae, looking regretful, caressed her body,

"It's supposed to be a shinobi's weapon too, so getting rejected hurts, you know?"

"Don't cling to a weapon that won't work. If you mistake means for an end, nothing good will come of it."

"Well, that is a very reasonable piece of advice. --The hope that my future would be secured if I received Al-sama's affection disappeared when the Madam passed away."

"――――"

"I can see you're making a scary face?"

Yae's words, with her head slightly tilted, cut Aldebaran's heart like a sharp blade. There was certainly malice in them. Yae fully intended to hurt Aldebaran, and Aldebaran accepted that blade willingly. Though neither had stated it explicitly, Aldebaran had intended to protect Priscilla's life, and Yae believed the Madam—Priscilla's life would be protected.

Now that the unspoken understanding had been broken, Yae's reproach was a natural punishment.

"The situation is different from what I expected, but I'm not saying that you lied. I never confirmed it aloud, after all. However, Lord Al, you loved the madam, so I naturally thought you would protect her no matter what."

As he touched his own lips, the words spun by Yae cut Aldebaran to pieces. Silently, as he savored the sharpness of those words, Aldebaran listened to what came next. It was a clear punishment he deserved—

"—Don't misunderstand me. I'm not blaming you for not being able to protect the madam, alright?"

"Huh?"

"I liked her. I tried to kill her because it was my order. She was noble, wise, beautiful, and unexpectedly kind. But if she's dead, it can't be helped. The dead don't come back. Although, it seems like in the Empire, they were on the verge of bringing back the dead."

Yae brought up the topic of the 'Great Calamity,' even though the details of the events in the Empire hadn't been shared. However, Aldebaran's attention was more on Yae's inscrutable conversation than on the source of the information.

If Yae didn't intend to blame Aldebaran, what was the purpose of bringing up Priscilla's death and using it to verbally attack him like this?

"My words are just words, you know? It's just that Lord Al is getting hurt by his own choice. I'm merely fulfilling my duty to explain."

"Duty to explain, huh?"

"Aren't you the one who asked about it? Why am I trying to comfort Lord Al... well, maybe I worded it a bit too loosely?"

"――――"

"Previously, it was to protect myself by gaining Lord Al's affection. But now I know that isn't guaranteed, so it’s not for the same purpose anymore."

As she spoke, Yae slowly positioned herself right in front of Aldebaran, folding her knees. She maintained eye contact with him as he sat on the filthy floor and said,

"The proposal to comfort you now is not a seduction. If I had to say, it's insurance."

"Insurance..."

"Lord Al, you've already started, haven't you? You've betrayed those who treated you well, stalled the 'Sword Saint,' and even unleashed the 'Witch of Jealousy'... You can't stop; it would be a problem even if you did stop, and failure is simply not an option. That's why—"

At that point, she paused, and Yae gently extended her white fingers to touch Aldebaran’s neck. While tickling his neck with her short-nailed fingertips, Yae brought her lips close to his ear and whispered,

"Please, fulfill your purpose, Al-sama. For that, use my body, my abilities, my skills, anything. It will serve as a comfort, either as solace or as a means to vent your frustrations."

Her breath was passionate, and there was no falsehood in the voice pleading to offer her entire being. Yae continued, showing a glimpse of a fang with her lips.

"It’s...— so once you achieve your goal, please make sure to die properly. If Al-sama doesn’t die, I don’t think I can ever feel at ease for the rest of my life."

Saying this in the most chillingly seductive tone she had used so far, Yae smiled. This was the reason Yae Tenzen would side with Aldebaran even if it meant opposing the entire world. —And it was an end that Aldebaran himself had come to terms with.

It was understood from the beginning. Even if Aldebaran accomplished his goal, it wouldn’t mean that his past deeds would be forgiven or that he would be absolved. Much less would they be acknowledged or understood. Nor did he wish to be understood or forgiven. Please, whatever happens, do not forgive him.

Once everything was over, Aldebaran would inevitably end up burnt at the stake.

That ending of being burnt at the stake was Yae Tenzen’s wish—no, it was Aldebaran's wish as well. If it was after fulfilling his purpose, then he would gladly face being burnt. Just like the one who had saved her homeland by burning herself, Aldebaran too would turn to ashes.

—Only then would Aldebaran be able to dissolve the domain and discard the Matrix.

"——"

Both fell silent, staring at each other from a breath’s distance, Aldebaran and Yae. There was no semblance of romance between a man and a woman, only the dry misery of a pitiable girl whose life was chained by a monster, and a foolish clown eagerly playing the part of the monster. The exchange of gazes continued for a while—

"—Guaaaaah! Wh-what's happening!? What's going... Guaaaah!?"

Suddenly, the voice of a third party, neither Aldebaran nor Yae, rudely interrupted their space. It seemed to be the scream of Heinkel, who had apparently awoken. If Yae's earlier report was true, he might end up falling apart if not properly handled.

"...Go untie him before the father falls apart."

"Are you trying to cover it up? It doesn't matter if someone like Lord Heinkel falls apart, does it?"

"It's not okay. I promised the father. Once everything is settled, I'll prepare the 'Dragon's Blood.' I keep my promises... because promises are important."

"A promise... then will you make a promise with me too?"

"――――"

"If you'll promise and keep it, fine. I'll step aside. I won't let Lord Heinkel fall apart. Yae is your loyal servant."

Yae asked, revealing a bit of her red tongue and hiding murderous intent in her narrowed eyes. At her words, Aldebaran closed his eyes inside his helmet, then slowly lifted his right hand, raising his pinky finger. Seeing this, Yae made a face like a girl her age, startled. He remembered when he had shown the same raised pinky to Priscilla before, and she was similarly caught off guard. Remembering that,

"My ritual for promises is intertwining pinkies in a pinky swear."

"Intertwining pinkies... how naughty~"

"It's not naughty. If you don't want to do it, that's fine."

"I'll do it, I'll do it. Look, see, Yae-chan's pinky is intertwined with Al-sama's pinky."

The way she said it was suggestive, but Aldebaran no longer said anything about it. They simply shook their intertwined pinky fingers up and down,

"Pinky swear, if you lie, you'll swallow a thousand needles. —We cut our pinky."

Thus, he finished the pinky swear that promised his end. Yae was overjoyed by this, which was complicated for Aldebaran, who was fated to die, but he thought she was indeed a Shinobi maid who fit the description of being abbreviated, charming, and lovable.

"Is there anyone, anyone who can help? Gah, ah! Gwaaaaah!!"

Heinkel's painful cries, still neglected, echoed high in the forest.

△▼△▼△▼△

"Remember this, damn maid..."

"Please don't use such foul language, Lord Heinkel. As you can see, we're isolated and short-handed, so we can't afford to waste personnel on guarding you."

"Then you should just let me sleep in peace! No need to tie me up and hang me unnecessarily..."

"I thought you'd calm down if you saw a little blood. Isn't it a cute survival strategy to prevent delicate Yae from destroying this camp?"

"You...!"

Heinkel rubbed the red line on his neck—the one stained with blood—and was infuriated by Yae's endless prattle, prompting him to reach for the sword at his waist. But at the same time, seeing the dangerous glint in Yae's eyes, Aldebaran was compelled to intervene in their exchange by saying, "Wait."

"Yae, don't provoke. Old man, considering that Yae is this kind of person..."

"I don't know! She was already not in the mansion when I got there."

"Exactly, Lord Heinkel and I just missed each other at the mansion. Schult must have been shocked to replace beautiful and capable Yae with Lord Heinkel, don't you think?"

"Surprisingly, Schult got along pretty well with the old man."

"Oh, that's really surprising. He doesn't get along at all with his own son, right?"

"You...!"

"Yae."

Again, Aldebaran shot a stern look at Yae, who was deliberately getting on Heinkel's nerves, but all she did was make a gesture of apology. It was the first time they had confronted each other, with Heinkel having been sent ahead to the imperial capital to meet Yae. Their compatibility was worse than expected. Not only did Heinkel dislike Yae, but Yae also seemed to have a considerable dislike for Heinkel.

Honestly, it was unusually clear and out of character for Yae to show such animosity towards Heinkel.

"I'm sorry, old man. But both you and Yae have indispensable roles from here on out. I won't ask you to get along; just work well together."

Therefore, Aldebaran gave up on trying to change Yae's attitude and decided to request a compromise from Heinkel. Although it wasn't ideal for Heinkel, as long as he desired the "Dragon's Blood," he couldn't go against Aldebaran's policies or opinions. He would have to quietly accept being used.

Contrary to Aldebaran's expectation that there would be resistance, Heinkel briefly said, "I understand," and then asked,

"More importantly, is it true? That you intend to resolve this in seven days?"

"Yeah, it's true, or rather, I'm serious. I seriously intend to settle it in seven days."

"After that, you will hand over Volcanica's 'Dragon's Blood' to me. Do not break that promise. And what about the 'Witch of Envy'?"

"I have a plan to deal with that too. Before your son gets tangled up in the fight with the 'Witch of Envy.' Don't worry about it."

"Worrying...!"

"――――"

"Worrying about it..."

Heinkel's face remained clouded with bitterness, unable to say more. After silently watching Heinkel, Aldebaran turned to face forward.

Following Yae's lead, Aldebaran and the others were heading out of the forest where they had been hiding. As mentioned before, having overcome the unavoidable clash with the 'Sword Saint,' Aldebaran and the others now had to aim for their destination while avoiding any possible trouble.

To achieve this, they had to cross through the Kingdom of Lugunica, continuously advancing westward.

"But, will it really go so smoothly without any interference? I mean, there's a high chance that what Al-sama did has already been found out by the 'Sword Saint's' associates, right?"

"Don't call it 'messed up.' ... There's no doubt my betrayal is known. When Miss Flam contacted her sister, I don't think the 'Sword Saint' was alone, and she couldn't have gone out without telling anyone. So, we'll turn that to our advantage."

"When you say 'turn to advantage,' do you mean the 'Divine Dragon'?"

"That's right."

While answering Yae's question, Aldebaran pointed to the sky obscured by the trees of the forest.

As they moved through the forest, "Aldebaran" did not accompany Aldebaran and his group. Of course, it's partly because its large figure is extremely noticeable, but also because they wanted it to use that conspicuous figure and its fame for a different purpose.

"For now, we've had the 'Divine Dragon' fly in a direction different from ours, to the north. There, it'll draw a lot of attention and distract from us."

Although the accuracy of Flam's 'Telepathic Blessing' isn't clear, if, in addition to Aldebaran's betrayal, the hostility of the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica has also been communicated as information, the presence of Volcanica being witnessed could become a threat to the entire kingdom, drawing significant attention. Without Reinhard, they'd likely assume that without mobilizing knight-level forces, they can't even sit at the negotiation table with Volcanica.

And then—

"As obvious as it is, the assumption is that I'm with our strongest ally."

No one would think of deliberately breaking away from the allied 'Divine Dragon'. However, from Aldebaran's perspective, standing out unnecessarily is meaningless, and 'Aldebaran', who inevitably stands out, should be excluded from group actions.

'Aldebaran', who has read Aldebaran's 'Book of the Dead' and shares his goals and plans, will skillfully fulfill the role assigned to him. In the meantime, Aldebaran and his group will successfully close the physical distance to their objective. For that purpose, Yae's skills as a shinobi are greatly advantageous—

"—Chief Al, there's a problem."

Suddenly stopping, Yae said this, causing Aldebaran to hold his breath.

Heinkel, who was walking at the very back, also stopped and called out to Yae with, "Hey." She didn't respond to the call, instead quietly directing her gaze beyond the forest trees—outside the forest.

"It's the worst combination of all, but we've been ambushed."

"What—?"

"What the hell?! An ambush? How could this happen? What's going on with the 'Dragon' distraction?"

Upon being reported of the unexpected situation, Aldebaran stiffened his cheeks, while Heinkel raised his voice. Although Heinkel was more flustered than angry, Aldebaran silently agreed with him. Being ambushed was not something they had anticipated. The presence of the "Divine Dragon" Volcanica could not be ignored. Unless one could focus on matters other than the strength of the "Divine Dragon" Volcanica—,

"Hey! You can hear me, right? I know you're there, Helmet Guy!"

"――――"

The voice was thrown at the exact moment when they were about to catch their breath. But that was not it. It wasn't waiting for the timing. Unlike those without, those who have never miss the timing in situations like this.

Priscilla Barielle, the 'Sun Princess', was like that. Hence, it was only natural that the same miracle resided within her, who shared the same title as Priscilla Barielle and competed for the same seat at the pinnacle of the kingdom.

The return of the 'Golden Lion' awaited Aldebaran and the others outside the forest—

"It seems my useless knight was under your care. I'll wipe it for you since I have no choice. He's not used to being wiped by others, that guy's ass, so I'll do it."