268 - - the point at which a wing

"Can you show me something?"

Thor puts his hand on Chita's shoulder as if he is trying to help her.

However, as soon as he saw the skill tree, his brow furrowed.

All the efforts of the woman who had been an excellent bowman and windman had vanished in a spectacular manner.

All that remained were a few short lower branch skills and a nearly empty water bottle.

All the root characteristics she had gained in the ant's nest were gone.

The loss of memory was not only the skills he had cultivated for a long time, such as the way he drew his bow, his body movements, and his understanding of the timing and effects of magic, but also his fundamental martial arts and magic skills.

Chita's experience as an adventurer itself had been stripped from him.

All that was left was a man who had only grown older.

"What can we do?

"...... can't do it."

Thor shook his head in response to Sola's desperate question.

Originally, could not interfere with people's memories.

And in the case of the skill tree, it can only play with the current state of the tree, but it is impossible to restore lost skill points.

"That's why I don't trust relics.

Kikiriri, who has revealed his feelings of disgust, glares at Thor for some reason.

It is a valid point, but now is not the time to argue.

Thor quietly asks his brother Chiru, who has remained silent.

"What are you going to do now?"

It is no longer possible for Chita to challenge this labyrinth as an adventurer of the vigorous class.

The man who had led the Tengoku Alliance replied to Thor's words with a small exhale.

"Having completed our role, we will have no choice but to retire anyway. After that, we will either be sent back to our countries or work as servants in the trading temples. Well, it would be best to start over from scratch in a place where the Tokiwa family doesn't breathe. ......"

Chiru's words are filled with power as he touches his sister's head softly.

"She is a better archer and wind wielder than I ever was. If he gets the hang of it, he will be strong again soon. A little age will not hinder him. And it's never too late to start adventuring, as Mud-Breaker-dono has shown us."

When he looked up, the archer's eyes were back to their usual sharpness.

Chiru, who looked around at Thor and the others with that look, lowered his voice a little to get their attention.

"But there's a rather tricky problem with that. I want you to take a look at this.

Saying this, Chiru suddenly removes the hat her sister was wearing.

What appeared from under it was a strangely shaped flower.

Windmill-shaped petals were floating in the empty air.

Even stranger, the roots of the flower, below the stem, were buried in Chita's hair.

Thor and the others were all wide-eyed at the sight of what appeared to be a flower growing directly from a human head.

Nodding at their reactions, Chiru began to explain.

"This is the 'remembrance grass' I was telling you about earlier. As long as this relic remains, the Tokiwa family will not let it go. But on the other hand, it can be said that as long as this relic remains in their possession, they will not pry deeply into it. So I have a little favor to ask of you.

Chiru's tone suddenly became polite, and he turned his gaze not to Thor but to Uriel, who had been silent throughout the meeting.

"Please, could you cross over to Mr. Aurindor?　Lord Euralir of the Frozen White."

"............Yes, I understand. I'm sure Odle will be happy to help you if you tell him what's going on.

Euril is suddenly called by his old second name, but he responds in a nonchalant manner, showing no signs of agitation.

Aurindor, whose name suddenly came up, is a medicine man belonging to the Temple of Dadaan's Quest, and a woman who is an old acquaintance of Euril's. She is a woman who has been in the same position as Euril for many years.

However, to Thor and the others who were puzzling over the relevance of the situation, the ash-eared woman explained the reason with a familiar smile.

Audre is a well-known researcher in the field of relics belonging to plants. But you have done a lot of research on me as well, haven't you?

"We don't have long ears to hear well, but we have good wings, too."

Relieved at the prospect, Chiru smiled wanly and spoke lightly.

The relics are the most important secrets in each temple.

I believe that the reason why they were so generous in revealing them to outsiders was partly out of defiance of the temples, but I also think that their main goal was to draw Thor and the others into their situation while also inviting their sympathies.

The fact that he has been obsessed with Yuril for a long time suggests that he was anticipating this situation and trying to make a move.

Despite his devious ways, Chiru's eyes were soft as if he were looking at his sister in a different way and Thor only scratched quietly under his chin.

"By the way, I was wondering, you said that you have released, or purified, the master of the labyrinth.

"What's wrong with that?　Mr. Yuril."

When Thor interrupted him in a somewhat reproachful tone, Yuril moved the tips of his ears slightly in annoyance.

"Yes, the influence of the relics is very great, Thor. It is possible, perhaps, that there will be no new labyrinth owners for months or years to come."

"Hmm, I'm surprised you noticed that in the middle of all this, dear. Well, let's negotiate that later.　It's just so depressing in here."

It was Kikiriri, who for some reason was still lying down, who forcefully interrupted and concluded the conversation.

But he had a point, so Thor and the others decided to retreat from the labyrinth they had just come from.

They reached the fortress on the shore of the swamp, but of course, the dragon boat had not yet arrived to pick them up.

The dragon that Chita and the others had ridden was there, but it was impossible to control it now.

"It is only after living with a flying dragon for a long time that you learn its true name and are allowed to ride on its back.

"It's a lot of work, isn't it? Well, it's terrible to think about it again. I can't believe I'm going to lose ten years of my life. ......"

"Yeah, I really think so, too."

Letting out a sigh, Chiru forced a smile while closing one eye.

"So I hope you'll forgive me if I'm a bit of a coward. Could you tell Chita the dragon's true name, Mr. Mu?"

"Name?　It's RYUSUKE!

"I have a feeling that's not quite right!"

"Ew. That's a nice name.

The child, his cheeks puffed out lightly, rubbed his ear against Chita's ear.

"Yes, thank you again. Thanks again, Moo-chan."

"You're welcome. Oh, no."

A few days passed.

It seems that Odle's treatment was successful, and the relic of remembrance was safely returned to the trading temple.

Negotiations with the Tokiwa family have been completed, and Chiru and his family have decided to abandon their family name and start over in a land free from interference.

With this and their traditional skills, they are already able to ride a flying dragon for a distance of not too far.

On the day of their departure, Thor and his family go to the landing place of the flying dragon on the outskirts of the city to see them off.

Because they were leaving Dhadan without much publicity, the only other acquaintances were three former members of the Tengran Alliance.

"Take care, Chita-san, Chiru-san!"

"I look forward to seeing you again someday, somewhere."

"See you on the Hiryu, Hane-ne-chan!"

Beside the women who are saying their goodbyes, Thor reaches out his hand to give them parting gifts.

"Hmmm, this is about right."

"Oh my God!"

Standing there was Chita, rejuvenated into a teenager.

He had been restored to a body appropriate for his age by , in accordance with his lost memories.

Chiru's eyes widen as if they are about to pop out at the sight of his younger sister restored to her youth.

At the same time, she realizes her own change.

"Oh, even my body. ......"

"Well, it's a nice touch."

"Pfft, pfft, really ...... is really a tremendous magic trick. Yeah, I'm really surprised. No, it is truly rejuvenating."

"Now you can start your new life without any worries. If you don't like it, you can take it back."

"No, how can I thank you ....... Just thank you from the bottom of my heart."

After a pause, Chiru spun the words with a sharp look in his eyes.

"Mister Thor, I once asked you to remember the scene you saw with this guy."

"I remember it well. How could I forget?

"He was unusually excited that day. He said that one day you guys might be able to get to that place and do something about that big hole.

Turning his back on Thor and the others, the departing man mutters one last word.

"That's what I'm thinking right now, too. "Hero of the mud-breakers."