Running in top of the ocean's surface while looking into the distance.

That's me pondering about something.

Does En remember our meeting?

Probably not, right?

I forgot to ask him whether he remembers when time goes back...

Well, no matter...

I can just tell him about everything once we meet again.

As I thought about these things, something appeared on the horizon.

It was the top of a gigantic tortoise shell.

Only a moment after that did I start seeing buildings and docked ships.

"I'm back here, huh...

What a coincidence."

As I got closer and closer, I noticed something was happening at the docks.

People were running around in panic and cowering.

What's happening?

My question was answered as soon as I jumped and landed on the docks.

The people around fell on their back with pale expressions.

It was me...

They were afraid of me.

...

I guess that should have been obvious...

Even though I thought people wouldn't fear me anymore after my soul has been mended.

...

Perhaps it has been reversed after all?

No way...

"Y-you...

You can't be..."

Breaking my train of thought was a familiar man.

Brown hair and beard and looking a bit nervous.

Oh...

I know this one.

Hmm, what was his name...

Wasn't it...

"Feldo?"

He seemed astonished when I said that name.

As if he couldn't belive it.

"R-reiza?

Is that you?"

"Yeah...?"

What kind of question is that?

...

Oh...

At that moment, I remembered that I changed quite a bit since the last time he saw me.

I waved my tail around and looked at my arms covered in black fur.

Dark mana was still seeping out of me like crazy.

Hmm...

That would be pretty scary to others, huh?

...

Looking at Feldo's face, the answer seems to be 'yes'...

But still...

Why weren't the people in En's town afraid?

This just doesn't make sense.

"W-what happened to you...?"

What indeed.

A lot has happened since I last saw this guy.

But my appearance is probably what he is asking about.

"I evolved."

"Huh...?"

...

Why does it feel so awkward all of the sudden?

I thought meeting old friends would be a little more cheery than this.

In a second, I noticed yet another familiar face among the crowds of people running around.

Unlike everyone else, this one was coming closer to me instead of trying to get away.

This man, I also recognized.

"Phil..."

Even though it was something I muttered to myself, he seemed to have heard me even through the crowds of people.

In a short moment, he stopped by Feldo's side and looked at me in disbelief.

An awkward silence followed...

He seemed to be trying to say something, but he continued standing there while sweat drops fell off of his forehead.

Something about this reminds me of the first time I met these guys...

I guess I should first assure them I don't plan on destroying this place like last time...?

|= A bit of calming down and explaining later =|

"Sorry, I just...

Didn't expect you to return so soon...

Much less looking so different..."

Feldo makes an awkward smile as he tries to make excuses.

They really don't need to be so apologetic about this...

It makes it even more awkward for me...

But... right...

It hasn't been that long for them, has it?

I, on the other hand, lived through years of fighting and whatnot...

"I'm just glad you didn't become our enemy..."

I wonder if I would have, had I not met En.

Probably not...

But I wouldn't remember these guys at all, so they would have to reintroduce themselves.

"Anyway..."

Phil's expression turned serious once again.

"As you probably know, we are currently at war with demons.

I know you have things to do yourself...

But would you consider helping us...?"

...

Ah right...

The war with demons.

I remember something like that being mentioned back in the day.

...

Actually, I even helped with summoning the hero, didn't I?

I guess I could help out while I'm at it.

It's not like this will be that big of a deal after all...

The demon lord didn't even show up on the list of the highest level people in the world.

He can't be stronger than that squid, right...?

"I'll help."

Astonishment on their faces was followed by a sigh of relief.

What was that about?

Did they not expect me to help them?

"...thank you."

With that, I closed my eyes and searched for Dan.

After finding him, I stood up and got ready to leave.

"I'm going then."

"W-wait!

Do you even know which way the battles are at?"

Stopping me from behind was Feldo's voice.

"I know where the hero is.

I'll just go there."

"How do you... nevermind."

And with that, I left the guildmaster's room and walked downstairs.

It was awfully silent despite the crowds of people everywhere.

But since I knew the reason for it, I kept walking and left the building completely.

Once I entered the street, I couldn't hold it any longer and let out a sigh.

My eyes squinted as I looked into the distance where the hero is.

I've unconsciously ignored this for quite some time...

But she is there as well, isn't she?

I can feel it.

It's the same as that explosion I felt back when I just got back from alpha plane.

That has to be that girl...

The 'target' the god told me to kill.

She is in that direction as well.

I still hope I can somehow talk to her...

But I can't bet on it.

I have to be ready for anything.

Even with my uneasiness, I stepped forward and started running.

In a few seconds, I kicked the ground and jumped over the city's entrance.

Then, I landed outside and continued running.

As I traversed through the trees and hills, I could feel the presence growing stronger.

It's been a long time since I've genuinely been afraid of something...

Even when it came to that squid, it thought of it as a mere obstacle in my way.

A really difficult one, sure.

But not a serious threat.

Sigh...

I vowed to myself I wouldn't die again, but I can't just run away from danger either.

It's something I have to face head on...

...

I mean, if I get lucky, I might not have to fight her, right?

I don't know who she is or what her goal is...

But if a guy as carefree as that god is wary of her, she has to be a big deal.

And if she is actually strong enough to oppose that god... I could join her.

...

Such thoughts bounced inside my head as I slowly approached what seemed to be the battlefield.

I could see thousands of dots moving around in the distance.

Obviously, those were humans and demons fighting it out.

These weren't really important here though.

The only relevant person was the demon lord.

Defeating him would quickly end the war... or so I was told.

I'm heading to where the hero is, but I was told he would inevitably clash with the demon lord at some point.

If I get lucky, I will find both of them right then and there.

As I got closer to the battlefield, I noticed yet another familiar face on the human side.

A tall woman with blond hair, I recognized her instantly.

I thought about stopping and talking a bit, but I realized just how close 'her' presence was getting.

I had to hurry up and defeat the demon lord before I have to confront 'her'.

And with that, I rushed right through the middle of the combat zone, startling both sides.

While passing by, I gave a quick glance to the person I recognized and realized that she, in turn, probably didn't recognize me.

But I didn't mind it and kept going forward.

I soon left the combat zone, only to enter another one right after that.

It seems that there are many battlefronts in this war...

Good thing I have the database, otherwise it would be difficult to find him.

After a few minutes, I could finally see what looked like to be the hero in the distance.

And as luck would have it, he was confronting with one of the demons.

One that felt a bit different from the others.

But rather than fighting, it seems like they were talking to each other.

Why, I wonder?

"I told you to shut up!"

I could hear the demon scream that moments before I landed on the ground near the two of them.

Their argument instantly stopped when I entered the scene.

I quickly glanced at the hero before looking straight at the demon.

After confirming her appearance and the amount of mana she had, it made me wonder...

"So, you are the demon lord?"

It was a girl, so 'lord' wouldn't really be appropriate...

But I could feel she was stronger than all the other demons I passed by on the way here.

So she has to be the one, right?

Unfortunately, my question went unanswered.

Instead, the hero spoke.

"Y-you..."

As I heard his confused voice, I glanced at him.

"Hey, long time no see."

...

And then he fell silent for a few seconds with his mouth agape.

...

"Reiza...?"

"That's me.

I'm here to kill the demon lord."

As I said that, I looked at her.

She didn't seem to be any less afraid of me than any of the other demons were.

And after I declared I will kill her, it only got worse.

"W-wait!

Don't do that!"

"...huh?"

Baffled by what the hero just said, I looked back at him, expecting answers.

"She's... my sister!

Please don't kill her!"

And what he said made even less sense.

Wasn't he summoned from another world?

How can the demon lord here be his sister?

That just doesn't add up.

"Don't call me your sister..."

Gritting her teeth, she silently said that as her eyes kept switching between me and Dan.

This looks like a difficult situation...

What should I do?

Should I just kill her anyway?

"Come on, Miranda!

I know it's you!

You can stop pretending!"

"I told you to shut up you filthy imposter!"

Damn...

'Her' presence is getting really close as well.

I need to wrap this up as soon as I can.

That's what I intended...

But as I watched sparks fly between those two, wondering what to do, 'she' suddenly accelerated.

'Her' presence was getting closer to us much faster than just a second ago.

Reacting to that, I jumped over those two and readied my stance, looking at the forest in front of me.

"Both of you shut up and stay back now."

I didn't see their expressions, but they both suddenly went quiet.

It might have been because I started gathering a whole lot of mana to prepare for the confrontation.

At that moment, I completely forgot about the option of diplomacy I thought about earlier...

Then, I stood there as I felt an increased pressure from what was approaching.

Every second felt like an eternity.

Soon, I didn't only feel the same kind of power as that explosion, but also mana.

The mana in the air all around me was moving erratically.

It's something I have never experienced before.

In a moment, something flew out of the trees and I pierced my chest.

It was all too quick for me to even react.

I felt something reaching into my very soul and doing something to it.

In an instant, I found myself lying down without being able to even make a sound.

"Come here!"

Over my head, I heard a girl's voice moments before I heard two thuds on the ground next to me.

I could already guess what caused them.

After that, I tried to get up and expected it to be difficult...

But surprisingly, I didn't feel any pain where my chest should have been pierced.

Moreover... I felt the same thing from my soul as I did from 'her' now.

After glancing over the collapsed hero and demon lord, I looked at the culprit of all of these consecutive events.

It was a tiny human girl with black hair looking at us.

But rather than feeling fear from her, I felt respect... and a whole lot of confusion.

After a few seconds, she let out a very deep sigh.

Which then turned into a maniacal laughter.

"Haha..haHA HAHAHAHA!

FINALLY!

I GOT IT!

I'M COMING FOR YOU, YOU PIECE OF SHIT!"

She yelled these words at the sky while spreading her arms.

I had no idea what was going on.

Bonus:

"I made a mistake..."

Did you, now?

"I underestimated her.

She might actually be a threat now..."

Just 'a threat', huh?

Not like a real danger or anything?

"What?

Noooo...

Her divinity is still an entire tier below mine.

What can she possibly do?"

...

Are you really raising another death flag...?