Even if you succeed in jobless reincarnation and time magic, you must live life to the fullest.

“Luke…”

He spoke gently to me.

"Don't you think it's weird?"

where?

What's strange about it?

"Why did things become so bad as soon as that guy named Rudius arrived?"

Damn...

How would I know such a thing?

"...Perhaps he really does have a problem?"

I did have my doubts about him.

But there is absolutely no basis for this.

"Perhaps... Notos did not betray us..."

I will verify this myself.

"What if it's too late?"

Too late?

What do you mean?

"Very soon...very soon..."

Hey!

What exactly is too late?

Explain yourself clearly before you leave!

"A spy... baring... fangs..."

He left behind a faint, ethereal voice.

Then it disappeared from my sight.

……

I woke up with a start.

"I can't believe I'm having nightmares..."

I stood up with a smile.

It was only then that I realized I was covered in a cold sweat.

Rudeus...

That guy is someone we need to be wary of.

With that thought in mind, I got dressed and left the room.

A new day has begun.

……

last night.

Hilfi returned very late.

She seemed to have something on her mind.

Hopefully, Rudius won't affect her performance.

I thought so.

then.

During breakfast.

Suddenly, as if summoning her courage, Hilfi spoke to the princess.

"Um... Your Highness, I have a request."

The princess was not surprised by this.

She put down her cutlery and sat up straight.

"Silphie, are you planning to resign from your position as my attendant?"

"Huh? I have no such intention!"

"I can't believe it," Hilfi said in a panic.

"Furthermore, even if I weren't the princess's attendant, I would still protect her!"

"So what do you want to say?"

"Your Highness asked."

"I……"

Hilfi took a deep breath.

See this scene.

I had a bad feeling.

as predicted.

next moment.

Hilfi said something I couldn't believe:

"I want to go with Rudius to rescue his mother."

Boom——

The moment those words were spoken.

I felt like I'd been struck by lightning.

All of a sudden.

I understand.

I gradually came to understand everything.

Rudeus...

It turns out I've been wrong all along.

Notos may have truly betrayed the princess.

Then Rudius joined his father and his followers.

That's why he came here.

It wasn't about any strategy guide for navigating the maze.

He has only one goal.

That is to weaken the forces around the princess.

It was clearly at such a critical juncture.

But he wants to take Sylphie away from the princess!

This is simply...

"Can't!"

I couldn't hold back and blurted it out.

Princess and Sylphie both looked at me.

I clenched my fists.

"Your Highness, our situation is very dire..."

"If we lose more manpower, it will be too dangerous!"

The princess nodded slightly.

Then, she turned to look at Hilfi.

"Silphie, do you have a compelling reason to go?"

"……No."

"But you still made a request to me."

"I don't know why, but... I have a feeling..."

Hilfi gritted her teeth, her clenched hands trembling slightly.

“If I don’t go… Rudy… will die on the continent of Becarit…”

"Once I considered this possibility, I couldn't just sit idly by."

"That's what Hilfi said."

I couldn't help but sneer.

It’s ridiculous.

How utterly unbelievable!

Just because of this baseless reason.

Do I have to leave the princess for more than a year?

"Silphie, do you even have the sense of responsibility of being a princess's attendant?!"

I shouted the question.

"I'm asking you! If both the princess and Rudeus were facing a crisis, which one would you choose!"

Hilfi stared at me in astonishment.