Published: January 24, 2026
◇
Led by Ms. Telshe, we ventured deeper into the building.
We arrived at a room where a magic circle was drawn on the floor.
"Is this the teleportation magic circle?"
Since I also develop magic, I've seen many magic circles before.
Still, the one before my eyes was so intricate that I couldn't understand it at a glance.
It was almost like the techniques inscribed on the magical tools my grandfather used to make.
"That is correct. I will now activate the teleportation magic. Please stand on the magic circle."
As we moved onto the magic circle, it began to glow.
Immediately, my vision distorted for a moment.
"We have arrived."
"Eh, already...?"
Because only my vision distorted and the shape of the room didn’t change, I didn’t quite grasp what Ms. Telshe meant.
Seeing my reaction, she gave a wry smile.
"It is a bit anticlimactic, isn’t it? But this is truly the Downing Trading Company Main Store in Celeste, the capital of the Principality of Hitia. Now, allow me to guide you to the head of the trading company. Please bear with me just a little longer."
Exiting the room with the teleportation magic circle, it was indeed different from the place we had just passed through.
Following behind Ms. Telshe again, Fuuka unusually spoke up on the way.
"Will Telshe be joining us for the meeting with Chris?"
"Yes. I wish to accompany you to that place, so I would like to be present."
"Orun, is that okay with you?"
After hearing Ms. Telshe’s response, Fuuka nodded once and sought my permission to join.
Though I thought my permission wasn’t really necessary...
"Yeah. If Fuuka and Mr. Haruto don’t have any issues, then I’m fine with it too."
"Thank you very much, Orun-sama."
"No... By the way, Ms. Telshe, you can be more casual with me. It’s a little awkward to have such a formal attitude toward someone older."
Since Ms. Telshe could be so sharp with Mr. Haruto, her attitude toward him was probably closer to her true self than the polite one she showed me and Fuuka.
However, Ms. Telshe shook her head at my offer.
"I intend to accommodate your requests as much as possible, Orun-sama, but I’m sorry, I cannot comply with that particular request."
"I see."
There was an unwavering resolve in her voice, and I hesitated to press the matter.
I felt a bit uncomfortable, but there was no particular problem, so I’d let her be.
Still, hearing her voice repeatedly stirred a strange sense of nostalgia within me.
Could it be that I had met Ms. Telshe in the past...?
Just as I was about to fall into the abyss of unanswered thoughts again, Ms. Telshe, who was walking ahead, stopped in front of a door and turned around.
"The head of the trading company is waiting in this room."
"Thank you for the guidance, Telshe."
Fuuka thanked Ms. Telshe, then placed her hand on the door and opened it without hesitation.
Watching Fuuka enter, I was called from behind by Mr. Haruto, "Come on, let’s go in too," and we stepped into the room.
◇
The room was an office, where a man in his late twenties with a gentle aura sat wearing a monocle.
Like the glasses Mr. Haruto and Ms. Telshe wore, the monocle’s lens was imbued with a large amount of mana.
Upon seeing us, the man’s face broke into a smile.
"Long time no see, Fuuka, Haruto, and... Orun."
Fuuka and Mr. Haruto responded to his greeting.
As for me, I took a moment to process his words and spoke a beat later than them.
"...That way of putting it... so I did meet you in the past, didn't I, Christopher Downing, head of the Downing Trading Company?"
Christopher, the man with the monocle, widened his eyes slightly at my words.
But he soon softened his expression.
"I must say, impressive. Fuuka and Haruto didn’t tell you beforehand, did they?"
Christopher murmured in admiration, then shifted his gaze to Mr. Haruto.
"Ah, I didn’t say anything specific. But I think Orun might know more than we thought."
Christopher nodded thoughtfully, then seemed to contemplate deeply.
Finally, I was about to confront my true memories.
We made the pretext of going to the Principality of Hitia, hiding it as a secret mission from the princess.