Silence.

My face flushed as I looked down at the Record Keeper, my arms flailing in confusion. She clung to me without warning, after an abrupt… confession?

She surely knew I wasn’t the original “Raedan Tanten.”

“Hold on! I’m not the ‘Raedan Tanten’ you used to know!”

“Hmm. That’s right. You’re not. But you also are.”

As she spoke, she gently stroked my back with her hand.

Seriously.

Why are all these Foreign Entities—well, except for the Inquisitor—so eager to express their affection for me?

I haven’t done anything!

…It would be one thing if I were in my uncensored form, but being in this altered appearance from Coward Mode makes it even more awkward.

“...Isn’t it strange for you, of all Foreign Entities, to feel this way about a mere human?”

“Is it? I wouldn’t know.”

With that, the Record Keeper finally stepped back from me.

Does she even understand embarrassment? Her expression didn’t change at all.

“I don’t really understand the standards you all speak of.”

Or maybe it’s just her attitude.

It feels like she’s not actually experiencing these feelings but is imitating them instead.

“There’s one more thing I’d like to ask.”

“Ask as many as you want.”

“Huh? …Aren’t you busy?”

“Does it matter?”

She just casually declared that she could bring about the end of the world!

Maintaining the world through recording powers.

So if she stopped recording, the world would cease to exist!

Terrifying!

If this isn’t cosmic horror, then what is?

“No! If that happens, I’ll disappear too!”

“Oops.”

She seemed to realize how shocking her statement was.

Does she even think at all?

“Don’t worry. When that time comes, I’ll take you with me.”

“Do your job! That way, you won’t have to end everything!”

It was exhausting trying to argue with her nonsense.

She was as exasperating as Agartha in some ways.

Ah, right.

This wasn’t what I wanted to ask.

“Have you… ever heard of a Foreign Entity called the Observer?”

The Record Keeper’s eyes widened slightly at my question.

I wasn’t sure what that reaction implied.

She soon returned to her usual expression, mumbling and nodding as she replied.

“You’ll find out eventually.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I only record stories. I don’t interfere. No Foreign Entity can do such a thing.”

…She’s being cryptic again.

It felt unsatisfying, but I couldn’t keep begging for answers from someone who didn’t want to talk.

I nodded in reluctant acceptance.

“Fine, then. I’ll just hope you’ll ‘make a typo’ for me.”

“Yes.”

With that, I turned and began walking back to the headquarters.

Step, step.

Step, step.

For some reason, I heard footsteps following mine in tandem.

Thinking it was just my imagination, I walked again.

Step, step.

Step, step.

When I deliberately sped up, the footsteps followed.

I turned around, bewildered, to find the cause.

“Um.”

“Yes?”

“Why are you following me?”

“We had a meeting, didn’t we?”

What?

“We met, didn’t we?”

“I never said I’d just meet and leave.”

“What are you talking about?”

The Record Keeper simply looked at me with a question mark over her head.

No, I’m the one feeling confused here!

Considering how she can control her aura so easily while inscribing, it seemed she could follow me if she kept her energy down.

“Well, you can follow, but only if you tone it down.”

“I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“...Because it’s embarrassing?”

You’re driving me crazy.

Fine.

There is a way to manage this.

“Alright, how about entering through the party whistle’s summoned space?”

“...They probably won’t like me there.”

Don’t like her?

They won’t like her...

「Woof! Record Keeper is fun!」

Belle was just barking in excitement.

It must be because she said she’s in love with me.

The other three Foreign Entities, however, were radiating a sense of wariness.

“Um.”

On second thought, I needed to bring the Record Keeper along.

If she’s going to help me, she has to watch the situation.

Although she could observe from afar, judging by what she’d said, her job was to record every element of the world to maintain its order.

The fact that she casually dismisses the idea of the universe’s collapse only makes it scarier!

Is this what a conceptual Foreign Entity is like?

「You’d better keep your word.」

The Gardener’s low voice echoed.

…Was she referring to my promise?

Even though they could travel the vast world, they chose to stick with me despite the chance of being bound by a human.

I mean, I did help them with their traumas and listen to their stories, but still...

…Wait a minute.

“...If you’re saying that much, I’ll give it a try.”

“Uh, sure.”

It should work out somehow.

With the Record Keeper’s support secured, I didn’t feel as powerless as before.

I raised the party whistle and looked at the Record Keeper before blowing it.

As I did, her body seemed to become transparent, and I felt a sense of expansion in my mind.

It felt like an enormous space was forming, quite different from the other Foreign Entities.

…Hopefully, there’s no limit to this capacity.

Would my head explode if I took in too much?

「Hello.」

「You’re here.」

「I enjoyed the meal from last time.」

「Oh, no problem.」

...Despite saying it might not work out, she’s already getting along with them as if she’s done this before.

Maybe knowing the workings of the world helps her anticipate that they won’t dislike her.

If she could make even the Chef warm up to her quickly, the Dragon Slayer and Gardener would soon follow.

Somehow, the heavy mood I had felt lifted.

I seemed to have been overwhelmed by the presence of this imposing figure at first.

I slapped my cheeks lightly with both hands.

Focus.

First, I’ll retrieve my sword from Simtol.

Then, with the Record Keeper’s help, I’ll have a fighting chance against the Inquisitor if things get critical.

After getting the sword.

It’s time to see White Mask.

“Here, take it.”

“Thank you.”

Simtol practically threw the sword at me, then turned away without a second thought.

We’d been through quite a bit together, uncovering some of his secrets, yet he still acted so cold.

Well, he did make the sword, after all.

I was about to leave the forge, thinking that.

“You look worn out. Maybe take a break.”

Surprised, I turned to see Simtol pretending to work on a weapon as if he hadn’t said a thing.

Worn out, huh?

Yeah, I’d been feeling hopeless until recently, so it was probably showing on my face.

Just knowing someone noticed made me feel a little better.

“Thank you. I’ll use the sword you made wisely.”

“Do what you want.”

This guy’s such a tsundere.

The more we talk, the more I find myself liking him.

After getting the sword, I headed to the train station.

The Londan station.

White Mask usually spent most of his time here.

I figured he’d be brooding, sitting alone over the fact that he had to destroy the train with his own hands.

Thinking this, I opened the door to the room.

“Oh.”

“...Hm?”

I saw White Mask, without his mask, looking into the mirror.

“Master.”

“...You’ve got quite the tolerance. To look at this hideous face and not flinch. Well, considering how you didn’t react to the Inquisitor earlier, I suppose it makes sense.”

White Mask said this, raising his mask as if to put it on, then tossed it onto the table instead.

“My subordinates said it’s fine, so I’m taking a break from it. Keeping it on while I’m this sweaty is unbearable.”

“No, it’s alright, be comfortable.”

I meant it.

To me, he looked beautiful enough to rival any princess from a fairy tale.

“So, what brings you here? This is the first time you’ve come here directly.”

“Please teach me the sword, Master.”

White Mask’s eyes widened at my request.

It must have been a sudden proposal, which caught him off guard.

But he soon smiled with satisfaction.

“...It’s true. I’ve failed as a teacher by not doing my duty until now.”

“Through my clash with the Inquisitor, I realized I must grow stronger. I want to become powerful enough to protect Londan, no, this entire world.”

White Mask twisted his lips, nodding slowly.

It felt like he was thinking, ‘I was going to teach you anyway, but what a convoluted reason,’ which stung a little.

“Fine. How about starting right now?”

“Good.”

White Mask picked up a wooden sword, giving a wicked grin.

“Alright, then. Let’s see what you’ve got.”