While Allen and Luu faced a desperate crisis—-

Charlotte was being treated with a level of hospitality that felt almost otherworldly.

“Pigi~!”

“Um… th-thank you?”

“Pippipii~”

In front of the fruit offered to her, Charlotte bowed timidly.

The slime that had brought it wobbled happily, its body undulating with joy, before bouncing away.

As she watched it leave, Charlotte glanced around.

“Where… am I, exactly?”

She stood in an enormous cylindrical space.

The walls were rough stone, completely overgrown with vines. Overhead, the ceiling opened up to a piercingly clear blue sky, sunlight pouring down generously.

Along the green walls, magical creatures like Noble Dragons had built nests.

Charlotte was at the very bottom of this place.

A lush carpet of moss and grass covered the ground, and she had awoken there without even realizing when she’d fallen asleep.

At first she was scared that the monsters would eat her, but… they showed no sign of attacking her, and instead gave her fruits and flowers one by one.

Thanks to this, Charlotte calmed down a little.

For the time being she was safe. But… there was something more worrying her.

“I hope Allen-san and Luu-chan are safe…”

{They are, of course.}

“Ah…!”

She whipped around in surprise.

At some point, a creature had appeared behind her.

It had a stocky, round body covered in brown fur. Its four legs were short, and a large X-shaped scar marked its forehead. Its dazed expression was strangely familiar.

“Ah, you are…”

She cleared her throat softly and timidly asked.

“From the petting zoo… you’re the Hell Capybara?”

{Indeed. It’s been some time, Charlotte-sama.}

The Hell Capybara bowed its head politely.

He was one of the magical beasts they had met about a month ago, during her trip with Allen.

(B-but… why is he here?)

As Charlotte stood there, dumbfounded, the capybara squinted its already narrow eyes and continued:

{That said, Hell Capybara is merely the name of our kind. My true name is Gousetsu. I would be honored if you remembered it.}

“Gousetsu-san… Did you bring me here? Is it true Allen-san and Luu-chan are okay!?”

{There is no need to worry. I shall explain everything.}

“…Okay.”

Gousetsu spoke gently.

Combined with his laid-back appearance, he gave off the aura of a kindly old man.

But despite that, Charlotte couldn’t shake a vague sense of unease.

Gosetsu walked slowly towards Charlotte. Then, right in front of her, he bowed his head.

He spoke solemnly, like a knight swearing loyalty.

{Such misfortune you’ve endured, Charlotte-sama… But you need worry no longer. I shall surely save you.}

“…Huh?”