At last, the day of the parade arrived.

I left everything afterward to Rebecca-san and returned to Japan once more. It was to attend the memorial service.

Honestly, I didn't want to participate in something like that at all, but it couldn't be helped. Even if I told my parents I had business, I couldn't come up with a convincing excuse.

I was planning to leave home soon anyway, so it was better to clear this hurdle safely. Even if I attended the service, I'd still make it back in time for the parade.

Besides, this wasn't Japan—time wasn't managed that strictly. For that matter, there weren't even precise clocks.

The service went off without a hitch. We ate the catered meal and then disbanded. During the banquet, it was the usual routine: relatives pestering me with "How's the job hunt going?" and other jabs, but I didn't pay them much mind. I have things far more important than a job hunt!

Once the service ended, I grew impatient with my mother, who started chatting with relatives and showed no sign of wanting to leave, but I eventually managed to rush back home. I changed quickly, slipped through the mirror, and spurred my horse toward Erishe.

It was currently 1:30 PM. I was running quite late.

I shouldn't have stayed for the catered food, but it wasn't the kind of atmosphere where I could just slip away midway.

"Hurry, hurry...!"

From the mansion to Erishe, riding hard would take about ten to fifteen minutes.

I'd be in time for the parade, and I'd at least be able to give everyone a quick shout-out. After that, I'd have to get ahead of them to prepare for my role as the MC at the venue.

Well, the physical preparations were mostly done, so it was mainly mental preparation. I also wanted to have a final check-in with Milkpearl-san, even though we'd already discussed the general schedule.

"Ya~ ya~ got a minute?"

Just as the entrance to Erishe came into view, a flashy-looking man I recognized called out to me.

The scent of musk that I couldn't forget even if I wanted to. A merchant characterized by a pudgy build and a smirk that looked as if it were plastered onto his face.

It was Dida Barbacro.

I had noticed him from a distance earlier.

I considered taking a detour, but time was tight. I also thought about just ignoring him and riding past, but it seemed the "pudgy merchant" Dida wasn't accompanied by his usual boastful slave warriors; he was alone.

According to Hetty-san, if he were to try something, he'd likely use underhanded methods... so what was this?

"Well, well, it's been a while. Do you remember me?"

The pudgy man spoke with a seemingly friendly tone.

What on earth did he want? I hadn't expected him to be waiting here alone, so directly. Hetty-san said he might use a "back-door" approach... but even so, his objective was a mystery.

Originally, the Solo family was supporting "Diana's Guidance" to obtain the "Elven Treasure"—I think it was called the "Morning Star of Advent: G-Alchemy." I didn't know how deep this merchant's ties with the Solo family went, but wasn't the story that he had volunteered as Diana's support liaison?

So, did he come to talk about that? No, Hetty-san went out of her way to warn us; he was definitely up to something sinister.

Still, regardless of his business, this was the entrance to the city of Erishe. There were plenty of people passing by. It wasn't the place for a long chat, but surely even he wouldn't attack me in broad daylight here.

And even if he did, I had the Demon Sword. I wouldn't go down easily.

I could spare about thirty minutes. In fact, skipping past him now felt like it would be scarier later.

"Long time no see, Dida-san. What brings you here?"

"Nn-nnh! Actually, I heard about the parade. I saw the knights on standby earlier... I must say, that dragon was quite a shock."

"Ah, so you saw them, huh? But surely you didn't come all this way just to watch a parade?"

So he'd already seen the knights.

Ion and Hetty-san were wearing their iron masks to hide their faces. Judging by Dida's demeanor, he didn't seem to have recognized them. Ion had even dyed her hair black, so she should be perfectly safe. Someone in the squad likely noticed Dida's presence; even if he had a separate unit lurking somewhere, they'd be on guard.

"Of course, I came because I have business with you."

"With me?"

With me? In that case, maybe it was a good idea to keep him occupied while the parade was happening?

Considering the stories from Ion, the thought of capturing or killing him right here flickered through my mind, but I knew I couldn't do it.

"There were some unpleasantries before, but after seeing your Knight Order today, I've had a change of heart. I am a merchant, after all. You're going to be a big player in the merchant world soon. I figured it would be best to get on your good side early. It seems you're getting along quite well with Princess Diana, too."

An unexpected about-face? Had he decided to prioritize his interests as a merchant?

"...You're not plotting something, are you?"

I dismounted from my horse. Even if he was lying, it was poor form to talk down to someone from horseback when they were trying to reconcile. I didn't drop my guard, of course.

"Heavens, no. I am the head of the Barbacro Great Merchant Association. I wouldn't stoop to such petty tricks. I even left my slave guards behind on purpose, and... as a token of our new friendship, I brought one of our products for you."

"A product?"

According to Hetty-san, Dida is a weapons dealer. He partnered with the Solo family and made a fortune from the war. Whatever he brought was likely a weapon.

Was he going to suddenly stab me with it?

...Yeah. Not trustworthy at all.

I readied myself just in case.

"Yes, it's something I happened to acquire. Well, just take a look."

With that, he placed a large suitcase on the ground and opened it. Inside was a beautiful girl with light blue hair—

"Eeek! Kidnapping a minor!"

"Calm yourself. This is a relic from the age of the Ancient Spirit Civilization. An automaton. A doll."

"A doll...?"

Indeed, the joints were ball-shaped. Her face was as beautiful as a work of art, but it really was artificial. Currently, she was folded at the knees, sleeping. Or rather, since she was a doll, maybe "sleeping" was the wrong word. Either way, she wasn't moving. She was about 120 centimeters tall—smaller than Etowa.

"You're giving this to me? As a token of friendship? I can't accept something like this."

An artifact from the Spirit Civilization meant it was a thousand years old. A doll of this quality would likely be a national treasure. It was far too valuable for a mere "token of friendship." There's definitely a catch!

"Hmm. You might think it's too expensive for a gift, but you should value yourself more, my boy. A High Elf, a Demon, a dragon, and the monster Juggernaut... there aren't many who have gathered such power under their wing. Especially in such a short time. We've had our scuffles, and if this is what it takes to mend them, it's a small price to pay. Anyway, let's activate her. You'll change your mind once you see this Automaton move."

I see. To mend a relationship, perhaps it did take a gift of this magnitude to sway someone like me. Was this just standard procedure for a veteran merchant? Was he showing up alone as a gesture of sincerity?

That would mean if I accepted this, I'd have to let bygones be bygones. My desire for cool things was definitely being poked, but I really didn't think I could ever trust Dida. Between Ion and everything else, I knew too much about what kind of man he was.

But still, even to a major merchant from the Imperial Capital, our Knight Order was considered "outside the norm." Fortunately, Dida hadn't noticed that we had a "General" and "Paladin" former princess, nor "Reaper Hetty." I'd thought we were just aiming for a bit of an impact, but maybe the influence was bigger than I expected.

"The power source for an Automaton is Magic Crystals and Spirit Stones; this alone will keep her running for a month. A man like you should be able to provide those easily."

As he spoke, Dida pulled a Spirit Stone and a Magic Crystal from his pocket, opened a hatch on the Automaton's back, and inserted them. The Automaton girl slowly opened her eyes. They were red, glowing with a mysterious light.

"Now, we just need to make her recognize her master. Give me a strand of your hair."

I was momentarily distracted by the Automaton's undeniable cuteness as she opened her eyes. Dida, with a speed that defied his bulk, reached out and plucked several hairs from my head.

By the time I snapped out of it, it was too late. I hadn't let my guard down exactly, but for a split second, the Automaton had captured my attention. She was looking at me vacantly with those glowing red eyes. She was cute.

"This Automaton won't move in this state. By feeding her the hair of her prospective master, she recognizes that person and protects them. In other words, she's a Guardian Doll. She's charming, isn't she?"

"Well, she is cute, but..."

If he's giving her away, I want her. But the trade-off felt too big. Still, this bastard. He brought exactly what I'd be interested in.

Is this the legendary skill of a seasoned merchant?

I won't take it, though.

"Furthermore, this girl is strong. As expected of an artifact from the Spirit Civilization. She even possesses the power to nullify Spirit Protection. In other words, she can ignore all buff effects granted by Spirit Stones."

"Wait, I didn't hear about that! I told you, I'm not planning to—"

As I spoke, Dida's face twisted into an ugly grimace.

"Hyahahahahahahahaha!"

A high-pitched laughter leaked from the corners of his upturned mouth.

"Heh... hehehe. Honestly. As if I'd give something that good to someone like you."

Dida's attitude and atmosphere shifted violently.

The soft, almost friendly aura from a moment ago vanished, replaced by a man whose eyes held a cold, ruthless light.

"Heh... heh. But you truly surprise me. A Knight Order? A female Knight Order?! My slaves aren't bad, but they lack elegance. Your Order is truly refined. It's frustrating, but I have to admit it. And where on earth did you get a dragon? Did you get that from the Elven village as well? Not to mention that monster... the skill to tame Shello Roth, the vice-commander of the legendary mercenary group 'Scarlet Wedge' To be honest, I was shocked. And—"

"W-What are you talking about...? You..."

"Hehe, didn't I tell you before? Maybe I didn't, but it doesn't matter. Everything you've managed to get is thanks to the High Elf and the Elven village, isn't it? I'm going to take all of that for myself. Don't worry, I won't mistreat that High Elf. I might even make her my mistress. Oh, I don't need that Tark girl, so I'll send her after you shortly. Honestly, I tried to get rid of you once before, and though it failed that time—"

Dida smiled evilly. His face was flushed with ambition, and a sound that was somewhere between a breath and a laugh leaked hideously from his mouth.

"Before... what do you mean?"

"Hmm? Ah, I hired some street thugs. I had them attack you. It didn't seem to go well. Hehe, it seems I'm just not very good at using people."

"The thugs..."

A long time ago, I was attacked by a trio of punks.

So he was the one pulling the strings behind that...?

"You won't get away with this on a busy road like this..."

"Nn-nnh? Busy road? Where?"

"Wha...?!"

I looked around.

Indeed, there was no one there.

Even though this was the highway near the entrance to Erishe, where people were usually constantly coming and going. Dida was alone. The slaves who were usually by his side were nowhere to be seen.

In other words—

"Well, dead men tell no tales. I took the liberty of clearing the area."

Dida brought my hair to the Automaton's mouth.

The girl, who had been staring straight ahead with vacant red eyes, stuck out her tongue and ate it. She chewed it cutely, and the focus of her crimson eyes fixed on me. Then, she stood up slowly and silently.

"I said earlier that she recognizes the person whose hair she eats as her master. That was a lie. In truth, it's to identify the 'Elimination Target.' Hehe, it would have been a bit troublesome if you had guards, but I'm glad you're an idiot. Farewell."

The Automaton moved faster than I could brace myself. Without me noticing, a glowing sword was gripped in her hand.

I could barely react. The movement was so sudden, so devoid of warning. I had also let my guard down because of how the Automaton looked. If anything, my attempt to use the [Mirror of Truth] to appraise her had backfired.

The Automaton's lethal blade plunged deep into my body, as if she were slamming into me without hesitation. She just stared straight ahead.

"Urgh...!"

My chest, where the strike landed, felt searingly hot. I shoved the Automaton off me and kicked her away. The girl was surprisingly light, tumbling across the ground.

The Automaton's white dress was stained bright red.

"Hahahaha! This girl's weapon is special. Made for assassination. It leaves no trace. I'll leave the rest to her; please, sleep well. Hahahaha!"

Dida turned to walk away.

"...W-Wait...!"

The words I intended to shout came out as nothing more than a raspy whisper. I couldn't put any strength into my limbs, as if they weren't part of my body anymore.

A hot, red liquid poured ceaselessly from my chest. I felt a crushing realization that my very life was draining out of me, second by precious second.

I can't die in a place like this. I haven't even seen the parade yet.

Despite those feelings, the heat was rapidly leaving my body.

"No... way..."

I lost my strength, unable even to stand, and collapsed to the ground.

Unable to resist the absolute something overtaking me, I surrendered myself to the earth.

The Automaton watched me with vacant eyes, seemingly uninterested.

She appeared intent on observing until her target was completely dead.

What admirable professionalism... damn it.

...Am I going to die?

* * *

How much time had passed?

It felt like only a few seconds, yet also like several hours.

My left arm was burning hot.

I could feel that heat coursing through my entire body, wrapping around me in a gentle embrace.

Warmth began to flow back into my blood and my limbs. Along with that warmth, my consciousness snapped back into focus. I didn't know exactly what had happened, but my body could move.

Tentatively opening my eyes, I found myself staring at a trembling, horrified Dida and the Automaton, who was observing me with a look of pure curiosity. It seemed that hardly any time had passed at all.

Wasn't I dead?

The Automaton's blade should have pierced my heart with surgical precision.

"Heh... hehehe...!? No way, it can't be!"

Dida pressed a hand to his forehead, shaking his head in disbelief.

"The Bracelet of Resurrection?! A treasure among treasures from the ancient Spirit Civilization... To think you possess such a thing! Now I want it even more!"

Dida shrieked.

A Bracelet of Resurrection? Did I have something like that—

'—This is for you. A charm to give you energy.'

'—This bracelet has been passed down in my family for generations. It's an amulet said to protect the health of the wearer.'

Ah, that's right. It's the charm I received from Diana. I'd taken one of her bangles.

Diana had told me that if she explained the effect, the "blessing" would disappear, so I'd just worn it as a simple accessory. If Dida was this shocked, it must be an incredibly rare item.

Protecting the owner's health—well, it certainly did that.

"Automaton! Kill him for real this time!"

Dida barked a new command.

The Automaton, which had been tilting its head and staring at me inquisitively, manifested a new, glowing sword in its hand.

"I'm not letting you kill me twice!"

I scrambled to my feet and drew my sword.

My body felt surprisingly perfect. The wound where I'd been stabbed was already closed. It was likely a form of Spirit Magic similar to Diana's. Earlier, I'd been caught off guard by the suddenness of the attack, but I wouldn't go down so easily now. This was a life Diana had saved. I wouldn't waste it!

The Automaton's eyes glowed a fierce, hungry crimson. It gave its twin light-swords a brief flourish, then leaped toward me. I had the advantage in reach, but the Automaton used its small stature to its benefit, launching a barrage of swift, high-volume attacks without any regard for its own safety.

"Damn, it's strong!"

It was a relentless flurry of offense and defense—the movements of an entity that knew exactly how to fight humans, who slow down after even the slightest injury. A human body is nothing but a collection of weak points; a wound anywhere can be fatal.

Furthermore, my opponent knew no fatigue and felt no pain. Since it ran on Magic Crystals and Spirit Stones, its mechanism was likely similar to a monster's.

Monsters naturally gravitate toward nearby mana. By having the doll eat my hair, Dida had essentially "targeted" that instinct toward me. Honestly, this was a terrible matchup. Against an inorganic Automaton, my Demon Sword offered almost no advantage.

"Take this!"

I managed to weather the storm of strikes and delivered a heavy kick.

One of the Automaton's weaknesses was its weight—or lack thereof. Even a kick from someone like me sent it flying several meters.

I used that opening to start running. I had to get out of here. Perhaps because I'd actually undergone combat training, I could tell after just a few exchanges whether I could win. And I knew: with my current skill and my current sword, I couldn't defeat this Automaton.

But where could I run? Where was the safest place?

Running to the others was out of the question. They were in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime parade. I couldn't interfere. I'd ruin the mood, and I didn't even know if they could defeat this thing.

Well, Hetty-san or Shello-san probably could, but I couldn't count on things going that smoothly. Besides, the Knight Order was surrounded by crowds right now. Seeking help from them was impossible. It would cause a panic and ruin the Order's reputation.

With the single-minded thought that I had to go somewhere, I started running toward the mansion.

I left the horse behind. With my riding skills, I was actually faster on my own two feet, and there was no risk of falling off.

Shello-san's acquaintance was supposed to be at the house monitoring monsters, but I'd heard he was just an ordinary hunter; I couldn't rely on him. Reaching the mansion was my best bet.

The mansion had a barrier. Monsters couldn't enter. It was about two kilometers away, but if I could just reach it, I'd win.

Since this Automaton seemed to be targeting only me, I just had to hide until its fuel ran out. Or, since I was the only target, I could just call for help once I was safe. As long as the signal was good, I could use the walkie-talkie to contact the others from the house.

"Hah... hah...! It's so persistent...!"

I looked back while running at a near-sprint. Naturally, the Automaton was in pursuit.

Dida didn't seem to be following, luckily. I was worried about what he might do at the parade, but I didn't have the luxury of worrying about that now. I had to trust the others.

Even though the Automaton was fast, it had the build of a child. It didn't seem to have a high top speed; at this pace, I could make it. Yes, once I'm inside the mansion...!

The mansion came into view. I glanced back; the Automaton was dozens of meters behind.

I could make it!

I burst from the forest and practically collapsed across the boundary of the mansion's grounds, entering the barrier.

The Automaton didn't follow... It seemed... I had escaped.

Crawling my way into the garden, I slumped down. Sprinting that distance at full speed was brutal; my heart felt like it was going to explode.

Wait—I just realized I could have used the Clan Ring to teleport once I was on the grounds. Dammit, I was panicking so much I only remembered it now.

...No, teleporting takes a significant amount of time to charge. It probably wouldn't have worked anyway.

But that Dida... to think he was hiding that much ambition.

He's already rich, yet his greed knows no bounds. I wonder what he's actually seeking in life...

As I sat there resting and thinking, the ground suddenly shook. I heard the clanging of something hard striking something equally hard.

Then, with a sharp crack, something shattered.

I felt the sensation of something precious being destroyed. The very air against my skin transformed into something different.

And then, the culprit who had destroyed that invisible shield appeared.

Click, click, click. The blue-haired girl—the Automaton—fixed her crimson eyes on me once more.

"Are you kidding me?! It broke the barrier?!"

I screamed, scrambled to my feet, and bolted into the house.

I never expected the barrier to be broken... Diana had said that because the "People-Warding Barrier" was difficult to even perceive, the chances of it being destroyed were low.

Did that mean it was actually easy to break once it was perceived? Or was this Automaton just that much of an anomaly?

I had fled here counting on that barrier, but now it felt like I'd just run myself into a dead end. A cold sweat ran down my spine. This thing had already killed me once. Those red eyes, which almost looked cute, never stopped tracking me.

—My only option now was to flee through the mirror. Surely it couldn't follow me through there.

If my pursuer were a human, I would never reveal the mirror, but to an Automaton, I would simply look like I had vanished. If I disappeared from this world, it should conclude that its target was gone.

The problem was how I'd get back to the other world later if the Automaton was just frozen in front of the mirror, but I didn't have time to worry about that.

"Damn it! Stop following me!" I cursed.

The Automaton, with its expressionless eyes, came straight for me with the singular intent to kill. I had no more bracelets to act as a substitute.

After rushing into the house, I frantically slammed the front door shut. That should buy me a little time.

But immediately, I heard the crashing sound of a nearby window breaking. The Automaton had leaped through a window to enter the house.

I heard the clack, clack of its hard footsteps.

Fortunately, the window it broke was in the opposite direction of the basement. I sprinted down the stairs. The wooden door was heavy, and with the Automaton so close, I didn't have time to close it behind me. But I just had to get into the mirror.

Three meters. Two meters. One meter.

"I'm gonna make it...!"

I dove into the mirror at almost the exact same moment the pursuing Automaton threw its glowing sword.

I tumbled from the mirror into my room in Japan and instinctively spun around.

The glowing sword was closing in.

Objects could travel between the worlds. But what about this light-sword?

I didn't know. In a desperate move to defend myself, I grabbed a bedsheet intended for sale that was lying nearby and held it up.

'—Furthermore, this girl is strong. As expected of an artifact from the Spirit Civilization.'

'—She even possesses the power to nullify Spirit Protection.'

'—In other words, she can ignore all buff effects granted by Spirit Stones.'

CRASH.

From behind the cover of the sheet—I heard the sound of my world ending.

"......Wha?"

My brain couldn't process the scene in front of me.

The mirror was gone, leaving only the frame behind.

It lay in a thousand jagged pieces, shattered and crushed.

The one and only, unique, magical mirror that allowed me to travel to the other world.

"Ah..."

A hollow breath escaped my lips.

The faces of everyone back there flashed through my mind and vanished.

I was in my own room.

Just me.

On Earth, in Japan, in my room.

"No way..."

The mirror just sat there. Broken. Crumbled.

It didn't magically put itself back together.

"N-No... t-this can't be happening..."

I accidentally cut my finger on a shard of the glass, and blood began to drip.

It was real.

The mirror was broken.

Completely broken.