"Then, Telche, I'm leaving things here in your hands while I'm away."
"Yes, please leave it to me. Shion-sama, go ahead and do as you please."
"Mm, I'll be off."
Some time had passed since I fought alongside Orun and Felix in the northern Reglif territory of the Nohitant Kingdom to wipe out those dragons. Now, I had returned to the Hitia Duchy, where "Amuntsāsu" has its headquarters.
On the way back, the Fairy Queen Titania—who had become our ally—shared the locations of the Cyclamen Order's bases that she knew about, along with their troop numbers. So after returning, I spent some time verifying that information.
Once we confirmed Titania's intel was accurate, we finished selecting the members to crush those bases and finally began moving to execute the operation.
As a side note, "Amuntsāsu" possesses two Spirit Eyes in addition to the one fused with my right eye.
One of them has been processed into multiple lenses for glasses, so communication with fairies is possible even when I'm not around.
The other one was apparently transported to a different location recently, but I haven't heard where it went.
And right now, to destroy one of the Order's bases, I boarded a carriage headed for the destination while being seen off by Telche.
Our group and the Order have clashed several times before, but this time we're launching simultaneous strikes across the continent, making it a large-scale operation.
Up until now, since both sides had public faces as organizations with influence across the entire continent, we could cover things up by disguising them as accidents or other incidents. But I don't think this battle will be so easily swept under the rug.
Given that the Order has begun taking over the empire and has even conquered the western great labyrinth, there's no doubt they're moving in earnest now.
A full-scale war between "Amuntsāsu" and the Cyclamen Order probably isn't far off.
And I predict this battle has a high chance of becoming the prelude to that war.
"All right, let's do a final check."
Once the carriage started moving and I confirmed no one was around, I spoke to Titania—who was drifting nearby—through the Spirit Eye fused with my right eye.
『Yes.』
"The place we're heading to is the Minagania Kingdom, a vassal state of the empire bordering its northeastern region. Our objective is to destroy the base they call 'Farm' there."
From what Titania knows, Farm is the most heavily prioritized base among the Order's known locations.
The name alone doesn't give a good impression, but after hearing what goes on there, my honest impression is that it's a place where the Order's madness has been condensed to its purest form.
『As I mentioned before, ever since the "Doctor"—Ozwald McLeod—started coming and going at Farm, its innermost area has become an unknown territory... I know how capable you are, and you'll probably handle most situations, but don't let your guard down.』
"I know. A place even you—who can see into the future—can't peer into? That's reason enough to stay maximally alert."
『There's a lot even we don't understand. And even though I can see the future, it's only possibilities. I can't see your future, Shion, since you have an ability that interferes with time.』
"Hehe♪ My future is something I'll seize with my own hands, so I don't need Titania's advice!"
After finishing the final check with Titania, I acted cheerful to blow away my own anxiety.
『How reassuring. Truly.』
That's right—I'll seize the future I want with my own hands.
A real possibility has appeared for me to fight alongside Orun in the truest sense.
I have zero intention of dying in a place like this.
...But even if Orun regains everything he's lost, would he really take this bloodstained hand that's ended so many lives...?
No, stop.
Thinking about it won't help.
I've walked this path convinced and by my own decision.
If that results in Orun rejecting me, that's just how it is.
I have no intention of denying my past.
...Though I do have some regrets, of course.
◇
Several days passed, and on the day before the operation, I was inside a building in the Minagania Kingdom's capital that we use as our base, getting a more detailed rundown of Farm's surrounding terrain and situation from my comrades.
"So there's a permanent garrison of the kingdom's army around Farm, huh. That's blatantly suspicious~"
Muttering my thoughts while popping one of the bite-sized baked sweets that had just been served into my mouth.
Oh, this is good. We make our living selling magical tools, but something like this could keep for a while and probably sell well normally. Wait, that's not what I should be thinking about right now.
"Yes. Officially, they claim it's a military training ground, but according to our infiltrators' reports, no training exercises have ever actually taken place there. Also, the stationed soldiers seem to be forbidden from entering the central area, and they don't know what's inside."
"The Order is probably issuing orders to the kingdom through the empire without giving details. There's a chance the kingdom's upper echelons know, but that's probably beyond our reach for now."
"I'm sorry. We haven't penetrated the kingdom's upper levels yet."
"Ah, I'm not blaming you. Word is that troublesome woman has returned to the empire, so we can't afford to have information leaked here right now."
"Thank you for your consideration. That said, Philly Carpenter really is a troublesome existence. Her information is always contradictory, and we can't even pin down her location."
"Yeah. Sorry to Oliver, but I wish he'd just kept her in the hero party like that. Well, no point complaining. Let's get back on topic."
"Yes."
"If they're calling it a training ground publicly, even if the whole area suddenly freezes over, they could probably pass it off as a training accident. If that happens, I'll leave information control to you. If we spread the rumor from our side, the kingdom's higher-ups will probably jump on it too."
"Yes, leave it to me, Shion-sama."
"Mm. All right, serious talk over for now! I want to take a walk around here for a change of pace—any recommended spots?"
Once the discussion wrapped up, I clapped my hands together and asked my comrades.
At my gesture, their expressions softened, and each suggested places they liked.
After that, I wandered the spots they'd recommended to calm my mind.
◇
"We've been waiting, Shion-sama. The route to the target location is secured. This way, please."
The next day, to infiltrate Farm, I made contact with a comrade embedded in the stationed army.
Then I followed his lead as we advanced.
As we went, the vegetation gradually grew thicker.
(It should be winter right now, but are the plants growing here cold-resistant? Or maybe...)
"Shion-sama, we've arrived."
While I was pondering the environment here, my guide spoke up.
Following his gaze, I saw something that looked like a labyrinth entrance, though it was partially concealed by the overgrown plants.
"Thanks for guiding me. I can handle it from here alone, so head back."
"Understood. Shion-sama, may fortune favor you!"
Feeling him depart behind me, I stopped a few steps from the entrance.
『Shion, there are people around.』
Titania's voice echoed in my mind.
"Mm, I know. Three... no, four."
While sensing the presences hidden in the surrounding foliage watching me, I began constructing a spell formula in my mind.
(Sorry. You don't seem hostile, but I have to eliminate uncertain factors.)
Apologizing inwardly to those around me, I activated [Time Regression].
By overwriting a pre-constructed formula with one from the future... one where mana infusion is already complete, I skip the mana infusion process and trigger the magic instantly.
"[Freeze Gale]"
An ultra-low-temperature wind of dozens of degrees below zero swirled around me.
Exposed to a wind that causes frostbite on contact, childlike screams rang out from four locations.
At those scream origins, I activated another spell I'd prepared in parallel.
"[Stillness of Eternity]"
In the next instant, the four presences were encased in blocks of ice.
This is an original magic combining my ability—simulating a temporary halt to time within the ice.
Something like cold sleep?
This spell can neutralize people without killing them.
『As always, the mana flow in your magic is bizarre. That guy... never did it this way.』
"Humans pass on what they've built to the next generation and evolve by repeating that process. So it's not strange that I can do things he couldn't, right?"
『Passing it on to the next generation, huh. That's a sensation we'll probably never understand.』
"Of course—humans and fairies are just too different in nature."
While conversing with Titania, I approached the ice blocks I'd created.
Inside the ice were children who hadn't even reached ten years old.
"...Seriously, this makes me feel the absolute worst."
The Cyclamen Order—one of the world's two greatest criminal organizations.
They're said to commit every crime imaginable.
Among them, human trafficking and kidnapping are especially frequent, and they've even dabbled in human experimentation.
We in "Amuntsāsu"—who've kept killing high-ranking explorers who drive the economy—aren't exactly in a position to talk, but the Order is the lowest of the low.
『Shion...』
"Mm, I'm fine. I came prepared. —All right, let's go. Into this world's hell."