"Da Vinci, those children..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka looked at Leonardo da Vinci with a trace of reluctance in his eyes.
Leonardo da Vinci sat in her chair and sighed.
"I know. You're probably worried about those children. But since things have already developed to this point, my advice is not to keep interacting with them."
"...Sorry. I know this is hard for you too, but..."
Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash exchanged a glance.
Neither of them could bear it.
They had clearly made a promise with Gerda that morning.
Yet breaking that promise now seemed inevitable.
After all, they were from [Proper Human History], while Gerda and those children belonged to the [Lostbelt].
Their existence was, to the Lostbelt—
"I understand."
"...At least, I believe I understand."
Mash turned her head away.
She said nothing more.
This was—cruel.
But it was also inevitable.
As long as they kept moving forward—
Things like this would keep happening.
This was only the first time.
There would be more. More and more.
"There is something I would like to ask your opinion on, Mr. Broll."
Avicebron stood before Norla, his tone calm, though Norla could hear the seriousness in it.
However—
"M-Mr. Broll?"
Norla blushed slightly and scratched his head with his disproportionately enormous claws.
This was the first time someone had addressed him so seriously.
It felt... a little embarrassing.
"Do you remember what you said before?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah."
"I remember."
Norla's expression finally turned serious again.
"If things continue like this, I won't be able to help much."
"Unless..."
Break it down, then rebuild it.
Abandon his very foundation completely—just like he had done once before.
The Norla Broll of the past had merely been an ordinary British boy.
Then he met Selim Zolgen.
It was by no means a pleasant memory,