Jin was surprised when Netros asked to have his memory erased.

"Yours?"

"Yes. I know ...... what Istaris went through. If Master Istaris doesn't have those memories anymore, I probably shouldn't have them either."

"I guess that's the way it is. ...... but memory is experience. You're an escort, right?　It's bad enough that you can't learn a lesson from this, isn't it?"

"That's true, but ......."

If you erase the memory of this time, it is quite possible that you will make the same mistake.

"In ......."

After thinking for a moment, Netros opened his mouth again.

"It was me who was hurt first. Since I didn't tell them anything, they can ...... me to erase the memory of what Istaris did to him."

"Hmmm... ......."

Jin then offered his opinion, but Netros would not back down any further.

Jin did not fully agree, but he understood how Netros felt about his master, Istaris.

"I'm going to ask you one last time. Are you sure?"

"Yes. Yes, by all means.

"I understand. If that's what you want.

Thank you.

So he instructed Reiko to paralyze Netros and put him on a stretcher carried by Nurse Alpha and Beta again, and Jin returned to Horai Island.

"So, please take care of him, old man.

>.

The old man welcomed this procedure because it would provide him with more data on the magical frequency of the demon tribe.

After measuring the magic frequency and confirming the memory, the memory was erased and then confirmed.

>.

Thanks for your help. I don't like to do this process too much. If I tell you to do something, do not accept it the first time. Always listen to the reason, make your own judgment, and reconfirm it if you feel something is not right."

Jin instinctively felt aversion to the act of erasing someone's memory.

"A memory is a proof of a person's life. It's not something that others should feel free to play with. ......"

The old man caught and memorized those words.

By the way, when he checked his memory, he had a general idea of how they were treated and what they said to each other.

(It's a relief that they didn't do anything to trample on women's dignity. ...... for both sides)

I should add that "for both sides" means, of course, for Istaris, but also for Jin's retaliatory measures against the Kingdom of Franz in case he finds out about it.

* * * *

Netros also returned to Nido Castle, and the only thing left to do now was to wait for him to notice.

Zion looks at the two of them with a frown and anxious look on his face.

And then .......

Half an hour passes, and Istaris' eyelids quiver and her eyes open.

"Sister?"

"Sio ......?　Is that you?

"Yes sister, it's me!　Are you all right?

Istaris' eyes fluttered as he lay there.

"Yes, I think I felt sick after eating, my arms and legs went numb ...... and I don't remember the rest."

"You were tricked and poisoned, my sister. She was caught with Netros and ...... but she's all right now."

Jin stands by and watches Istaris. So far, he shows no signs of panic. It seems to have worked. Jin patted his chest.

"You saved me?"

"Yes. I mean, the one I asked for..."

Zion introduced Jin.

"This is Jin Nido. He is a Magecraft Meister and he helped me. And when I heard that your sisters had been captured, I asked him to help me.

"I am Jin Nido, the second generation of the Magecraft Meister."

Jin Nido bows lightly and introduces himself.

"Well, you are a Magecraftsman, aren't you?"

Istaris looks at Jin with respect when he hears that he is a Magecraft Meister.

I was a little curious about what had happened between the previous generation and the demons, but I was still somewhat hesitant to ask.

Besides, Istaris herself did not seem to have regained her strength yet.

"Sister, you mustn't exert yourself yet. You should lie down a little longer."

"......Yes, I understand."

Hearing Theon's words, Istaris smiled a little and closed her eyes again.

In the end, she recovered enough to talk to Jin later that evening.

Netros was also aware of this, and when he saw that both of them were able to get up on the futon, Jin decided to listen to what they had to say.

Thank you very much for your help.

"Thank you very much for your help."

On the futon, Istaris bowed to Jin.

"My name is Istaris of Morura, sister of Zion. Theon has told me all the details. I am very sorry for the trouble I have caused you.

Istaris looks as ladylike as Zion when we first met. Jin wondered if this was the land.

Jin-sama, is that correct?　You are the Magecraft Meister, right? I believe you already know our situation. Please help us.

Netros, who was standing next to me, opens his mouth. He, too, is still on the futon.

"......Mr. Istaris, this is Netros, your escort. I'm asking you for a favor. Please help me.

Since he has erased his memory since August 5, he does not remember the exchange with Jin, so Netros greets him again.

Unlike Lucas, Netros was polite.

"That's the plan from the beginning, but is there anything else you can tell me other than what Zion told me?"

At Jin's words, Istaris thought for a moment, but then seemed to make up his mind.

"It's not reasonable to ask for ...... assistance and not tell you how many people we have."

"Sister!"

"...... It's all right, Theon. If you are going to help us with food, it is something we will have to talk about at some point.

Istaris quieted the flustered Zion, who looked straight into Jin's eyes and answered.

It is only natural if we are going to ask for help. We can't make a plan if we don't know how much we will need.

"...... Our clan is about fifty people. The whole demon tribe has a little more than a thousand people.

"That few?"

Jin was surprised. Indeed, this may be the best-kept secret in the tribe.

"Yes. "Yes. Originally, there were not so many of them. It was said to be 20,000 before the as you call them.

The Aether Stampede took the lives of that many demons.

I was also able to ask him about the food situation in detail.

Last year's wheat harvest was 60% of the normal year's crop, and this year it is expected to be less than half.

"No matter how much we save, our reserves will run out by the end of September. And this year's crop is not going to last the winter.

Whether this is considered an impending crisis or a surplus is a matter of judgment.

However, for the demon tribe concerned, it was definitely a desperate situation.

After all, there was no way to replenish the food supply after it ran out.

It can be said that they tried to make a plan while they still had food.

"We know about the conflict between us and the human race. But right now, we want to bring back good news at any cost. ......"

"Hmmm... ......."

Jin folded his arms and thought. Istaris saw this and looked worried.

"Um, Jin-sama?　Are you thinking of stopping your assistance or something ......?"

Jin stopped thinking and turned to Istaris.

"Oh, no, it's not that. I'm just wondering. ......"

"Strange?"

"Yeah, I guess so. ......Hey, Istaris, it's okay that you and Zion split up, because you'll have a better chance of getting things done if you negotiate in two places."

"Yes."

Istaris, or rather Zion, looked at Jin with a puzzled look on his face, not understanding what he was saying.

"But, aren't you crazy to suddenly call yourself a ?"

"What?"

"Really?"

Istaris and Zion both looked stunned.

"Well, I was the one who asked you about Zion's case, but Istaris told you herself that she was a demoness, didn't she?"

"Yes, he did.

"Why would he suddenly say such a thing if he didn't know about his past of hostility with the humans?　I don't know much about diplomacy, but I wouldn't do something like that."

"That's what my grandfather ......, the clan chief, told me, that you must not lie when negotiating."

"Not to lie or anything, but didn't you think it was dangerous to do that?"

Jin was a little taken aback. He even wondered what the moderate clan leader was thinking.

"In fact, they were being robbed of their belongings, poisoned, and almost taken to ...... prison, right?"

Jin said a little harshly, and Istaris looked down.

"I thought ...... that was a little strange, too. But it was my grandfather's idea. ......"

"No, I'm not asking you to lie. It's just that I thought it would have been better to tell you later that I'm a demon."

"......"

Istaris looked down further.