It was something strange but my senses were honed, by walking on as the forests, mountains and valleys stretched out .

My vision opened up as if my senses naturally connected, my hearing improved .

There’s absolutely no way that that was what’s called a case of the imagination or such .

Walking the woodland path I became able to detect the dangers of my surroundings a moment faster .

Preferring to avoid futile killing, when I thought that beasts had taken interest in our location, we purposefully detoured .

When I thought monsters were lying in wait, that couldn’t be helped so I attacked preemptively .

Even without relying on magic, that which is called a person’s limit might be very high .

「Alice-san?」

「Saira, the current me could beat Till with one fingertip . 」

「That’s your imagination nya, more importantly Alice-san . 」

Eh?

「Ah, hai . 」

「We’ll arrive at the royal capital soon nya . Are we going to stay here for a while?」

A branching road, as Saira pointed toward the sign there her eyes faced toward me filled with expectation .

Naturally, she’s enthusiastic since she can study blacksmithing I suppose .

「Of course, we’ll stay with the determination to not leave until you grasp the trick for katana practice . It’s all up to Saira okay . 」

「I’ll do my best! My arms cry out nya!」

「Fufu, I’ll be holding expectations . 」

「Hai desu!」

And so I was a little injured .

Occasionally she’s someone that comes to harsh judgments, speaking of Saira .

Issn’t she? Kyuu?

「Kyu～i」

Why do you avert your face, Kyuu?

I grasped Kyuu from the top of my head with both hands and brought our faces together and, that face was abruptly averted .

You, definitely read my heart didn’t you?

That’s so isn’t it?

「Alice-sa～n, over here over here!」

「Over here～!」

We advanced down the road to the royal capital while I and Kyuu began a pointless fight and, we called out to by Makina and Rin-chan who were stopped before the branching path’s sign .

Oya, and I turned around while my face met with Saira’s .

「Is the royal capital not this way?」

「That’s so but, there’s a renowned blacksmith on this path to be sure . 」

「To be sure . 」

Rin-chan’s body is jumping with her hands waving as she’s matching her voice like an echo at Makina’s feet .

At some point they came to get along, Makina and Rin-chan .

Maa since Rin-chan is a child who doesn’t do things like dislike people isn’t she .

……And so the destination was postponed, Kyuu!

「Kyui!」

Making one cry, Kyuu went up my arm and rode on my head again .

The fluffy warmth of that soft stomach, seems like it could become a habit doesn’t it……

「……Here?」

We’ve come to a stop .

The place we arrived at via Makina’s guidance .

After the matter of enjoying hiking again for a bit, we brought our feet to a halt and gathered having climbed along a mountain stream .

I, Saira and Rin-chan, looked up to the vast heavens in one group .

「Huge isn’t it nyaa……」

「Huge!」

「……」

I held back my impression .

Before us as such the unexpected figure showing itself is, a waterfall .

The water raising its rumbling groans fell into the basin below and, a white mist is rising up .

Perhaps carried by water droplets turning to mist, I felt

that chilly damp air with my body .

「It’s a superb view, but . 」

Makinsa～n?

At my gaze that’s asking just what sort of thing she’s demanding, Makina nodded with an innocent smile .

「We’ve taken the wrong path!」

「Hate the sin and don’t hate the person……」

「It’s～ a joke! Since there really is a swordsmith-san’s workshop here . 」

Even if you say that, there isn’t something like a residence to be found in this place surrounded by green forest .

The droplets rising up from the fall’s basin drew a rainbow and it’s something beautiful though .

「Where where!」

Rin-chan created a visor with her hand and looked over her surroundings but, it seems that her results weren’t satisfactory .

Fumu, so that’s how it is right……

「As a conjecture, is the workshop beyond this waterfall?」

She cleanly stabbed her finger toward the waterfall .

「Correct! Sharp, Alice-san!」

「Fufu, I might look like this but my imagination is abundant . Something like the rear of a waterfall, isn’t that the fundamentals of an adventure!」

Don’t underestimate a love of fantasy .

「Is it excalibur?」

「Ekusu?」

「Only that sword, I want to equip it……」

There is becoming a knight and, having Saira make it for me I suppose……

Though in reality I don’t even have an iron sword .

「I don’t understand well but, while we were engrossed in conversation Rin went ahead you know?」

Makina complained to me with her gaze .

Rin-chan quickly approached the large quant.i.ty of water gouging the earth and flowing down the waterfall, using the mountain stream’s rocks as footholds .

「Koraa! Danger management!!」

「Kyahaa, des.h.i.+, it’s okay～!」

It’s not okay!

It hurts, water!

「――Cast release, Blizzard!!」

The spear of ice that Makina released, pierced the core of the waterfall .

The flow of water split vertically into two equal parts .

I basically couldn’t see any signs of that ice losing to that extravagant waterfall’s water flow and breaking .

「That’s excellent magic, your ice magic?」

「Not at all, I just borrowed it . 」

Makina hit her glove with two claps .

「Des.h.i.+～, a path was made! It’s fine to go through!?」

「Saira . 」

「Hai desu nya . 」

I also gave Kyuu over to Saira from the top of my head while I was at it .

Having made various conjectures Saira held Kyuu to her breast and, went into the waterfall’s cave with Rin-chan .

Without the event of the sound of the waterfall cutting off it became echoes and reverberates .

And so the 2 people left behind, entered a face off posture as if they were going to do a duel or such .

……There’s no mistake that that’s not entirely wrong though .

「You really do force your way forward come to face your doubts from the front don’t you, Alice-san . 」

「Makina, please show me your status . 」

「Eh～」

There’s no need to go along with Makina as she points her lips frivolously .

「Makina . 」

「I don’t want to . 」

「As your employer, I order you to reveal it . 」

「What’s this, isn’t that something proper . 」

Put her hands together behind her head, going ya～ how troublesome, Makina’s feigning indifference .

「Why does that bother you?」

「Well that is……」

I suppose there are a number of reasons for, not being able to register at the guild .

To start with slaves, Ilya also isn’t able to freely register .

Next is red

red card .

In the case where it’s spread through the guild that someone’s wanted internationally .

――And beyond that, ident.i.ty fraud .

「I’ll allow you to show just your name . 」

「Hahahaa, you occasionally become serious don’t you, Alice-san . 」

「Relying on the power of others to determine my destiny, being held by others doesn’t match my nature . Knowing what I need to know and, enacting the proper resolution . Is the matter of devoting yourself to other people’s problems confusing?」

For example even if Makina came to act for our sake from the bottom of her heart, I wouldn’t like it even then .

「Really, a strong person, to the extent that it’s blinding isn’t she……」

Makina released her joined arms and, turned her face down .

――And then she raised it .

「I refuse . I am moving on my convictions . If you want to bend that――」

Makina’s gaze became sharp .

In a natural posture, she readied her lower body .

「Show me that level of resolution . 」

A level of pressure that made it difficult to breath .

That’s Makina’s hostility .

But to whatever extent the troublesome matter awaiting us after this is, I want the data to cut through that .

「……That’s, just fine . 」

This body is already prepared for battle .

My senses are honed .

To be sure the sound of the waterfall is crus.h.i.+ng one of the five senses .

Sound, I well understand that the condition of such as that being blocked is fairly important .

――Kick the earth .

Our acknowledgements are both finished .

To request more than this, words that only sc.r.a.pe the surface are unneeded .

Lowering myself I enter Makina’s breast .

I thrust my lower palm .

However this missed .

It’s the true power the opponent displayed in close combat with s.h.i.+on-san, I think it’s a cla.s.s above my own .

From the beginning my first strike was a preliminary test, I released my power and jumped .

Pulling back my released left, and without releasing my momentum I release my right lower palm into her at the same time .

One two .

In the s.p.a.ce of an instant, a lightning fast combo attack that didn’t allow the opponent to act .

――Be that as it may, Makina showed she could endure even that .

Acting so as to throw off my arms, my attack was diverted to the outside .

Turning it aside like a willow――this fighting form!

Till!!?

An instant change in perspective .

Those obsidian eyes that lacked temperature to an extent that they make me shudder .

Conviction, is it .

「――」

Makina murmured softly .

Most likely a chant .

That girl’s counterattack is coming!

Being cautious I backstep .

Take distance .

Reset my posture――

「Slow . 」

「nNa!?」

I used lightning and, took distance at my top speed .

Even so, Makina is right in front of my eyes as if it’s entirely natural .

Speed at the same level as my own!?

「――Ice・Impact . 」

Taking Makina’s attack with my arms a moment later――I couldn’t do anything but take it .

Attacking into my opening, I couldn’t avoid it cleanly .

With a motion at a level where I could see it easily Makina reached out her fist and struck .

At the moment of contact, ice exploded――

「Kuuu . 」

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. 」

My view shook .

I was blown away by an incredible impact .

Righting my body after it was sent flying, I somehow brought myself to a halt .

Magic attack?

Physical attack?

My arms feel heavy .

Thanks to the Regenerate Robe, I’m gradually recovering though .

……Am I superior, in pure magic?

It was quite the technique but it wasn’t at the level where in receiving it I couldn’t receive it completely, that’s if it’s her magic .

But if it were a person without magic power, that just now would’ve dealt decisive damage I suppose .

「――」

Still more is there!

She naturally isn’t going to wait for something like this side’s regeneration .

In continuation Makina murmured softly .

Looking her over from the front, I defended strictly――――a presence came from directly behind me .

「――Flare・Impact . 」

「Tsu!?」

She shouldn’t have escaped me, what is this!!?

My view wasn’t cut!

Even though she was there, she disappeared!

After thinking, I forcibly jumped using my lightning reflexes .

I somehow avoided the direct hit itself but, it wasn’t a clean dodge .

The flame’s blast wave .

Blown away, rolling across the ground, I plunged into the waterfall’s basin as such .

The sound of the water struck my ears .

Drawn in by the muddied flow I was pulled deeper and deeper .

「Goboo . 」

Even though I had no intention of drinking it the water entered my body .

……As if I’d let myself be finished here!

My mouth squeezed out just one symbol .

Going against the flow, after having fallen to the bottom of the waterfall’s basin once, I used magic and jumped off the bottom in one burst .

I pa.s.s through the water surface .

The noise in my ears is harsh…… 

Frankly, the damage is also harsh .

But it’s still not enough to knock me out .

Makina’s standing on the earth and looking me over again .

Her hair has become soaked in water and was brushed away behind her .

「Next is, Light・Impact . But let’s stop Alice-san . With this next one Alice-san――will die you know . 」

She’s not a child who would do something uninteresting like, intimidation .

「Even though in magic power, I seem to be superior?」

「That’s completely unrelated isn’t it . You’ll break you know . 」

……That sort of technique is it .

Though it’s a vague theory or rather, I know that technique’s atmosphere .

Ice, flame, and then shattering lightning .

In fact, even in my current state having eaten two magics I’m bearing enough damage to feel like vomiting .

I suppose I can’t allow myself to take a finis.h.i.+ng attack, even if it’s simple damage .

「……I understand . 」

「……Fuu, if you’ve come to understand then――」

「――I’ll also, be completely serious . 」

「……I forgot . 」

I hate losing enough to die you know .

Receiving my gaze’s fixed glare, I noticed that Makina seemed to be smiling softly .

Though it’s unrelated .

「Lightning・Field!」

「……Ma, that’s what it becomes isn’t it . But, that’s pointless . 」

She knows my fighting style, such an appearance .

To start with if I don’t catch the overly elusive Makina this won’t become a match .

Read ahead into Makina’s movements .

I don’t need force .

More importantly my magic is superior .

It’s fine to do it lightly!

「Thunder!」

Conduct, respiration, gaze,

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Conduct, respiration, gaze, sensing that with my skin I read Makina’s attack in advance .

――Even so I didn’t hit .

「I, excel at everything you know, as you can see . 」

Once again, her gaze and voice has no temperature .

I turned to Makina after she appeared and, slowly refaced my body .

「……Is it just my imagination then, I sensed that just now you――seemed to have disappeared though?」

「It’s regrettable but, there’s neither trick nor contraption . 」

It’s not Libra’s teleportation is it .

Up until now that hasn’t been the sort of magic that’s used in battle I suppose .

That’s, this child’s combat style is it .

Frankly I don’t understand .

Her attacks are composite attacks with magic and physics .

Furthermore I can feel her considerable sense but, more importantly what’s troublesome is that method of teleportation……

I really don’t understand that .

But I can comprehend it .

Certainly just as Makina said, this barrier is no good .

I won’t catch that girl at the level of reading just a bit ahead――as long as I don’t dominate s.p.a.ce itself .

「――!? This is……Alice-san’s……? I can feel enough magic power that’s it’s scary……Haha, really really such a thing iss……really, incredible . 」

For example even supposing that the fight is a clash of obstinacy, I have no intention of losing .

For the first time Makina’s expression changed into something that didn’t have room to spare .

If you’re going to interfere it’s fine if you do .

I concentrate my honed senses .

It’s fine just so long as I don’t receive a fatal injury, with an instinct like kurozuk.u.me’s――discard my defense!

「From my right hand is the ancient G.o.ddess’s breath . 」

The upper cla.s.s magic born forth from my right hand, go forth as intended……!

It’s from here!!

「From my left hand is the heaven’s eye of wisdom which oversees all . 」

I grind my teeth .

Without releasing my magic power, I bring the palms of my hands to the front of my breast .

I combine the magic powers repulsing eachother in front of my breast and cause it to sublimate .

You’re going to relaxedly observe that opening are you, Makina .

That arrogance――I will break it!!

「Manifest――」

「Des.h.i.+～, still～?」

I couldn’t do it .

「Ah……」

「……Ri～n～, mou, even though it’d become extremely exciting haadn’t it……regrettable . 」

……I as well .

For some reason she regretted it more than me and, Makina reproached Rin-chan .

As it’s the case that with us as such our inner thoughts aren’t something Rin-chan knows, Rin-chan waved her hand from the waterfall’s cave and called out come～ on .

「……Haai, I’m coming now, Rin-chan . 」

Fuu, we both relaxed the power in our shoulders .

And so Makina faced me with reproachful eyes to an extent that even I could tell .

「I’ll give you the match . 」

「Haha, I’m……I don’t want to fight Alice-san though . 」

「N～o! You drove me to bewilderment!」

「It’s fine with my loss though . 」

「Ha? Haa!? That’s not okay!」

「Our methods and objectives have already been switched out though haaven’t they……」

I won’t let you escape, Makina!

「De～s.h.i.+～? Huh? Des.h.i.+, soaked!」

We entered the waterfall’s cave while exchanging a heated debated and, Rin-chan’s eyes went round .

Un……even my underwear was done in wasn’t it .

「……That’s strange issn’t it . 」

Looking at me drip with water, Rin-chan tilted her head .