It was noon on the day I arrived at the base.

After reuniting with Rose, I was next to meet a tough guy.

They still had horrible faces, but I was inwardly relieved that none of them had survived.

…… Well, after that, they almost got into a fight and were kicked out of the tent by Rose, but that's a familiar sight in the rescue team, so it's not an unusual sight.

After exchanging greetings with all the members of the group, I was then called by Mr./Ms. Sigurd to the conference tent in the center of the base.

When I passed through the banner, there were four people in the tent: Mr./Ms. Sigurd, Senpai, Kazuki, and Leona Mr./Ms..

 

"Alright, Usato-sama has arrived, so let's start talking."

 

The reason why the four of us have gathered here this time is to discuss the fact that we will enter the Demon King Territory tomorrow.

The general plan was done in the Lingle Kingdom, but this base will discuss other issues in entering the Demon Lord's Realm.

 

"The main problem is the great river that flows in a way that divides the Demon Realm from the Human Realm......

"Oh, we already have a solution for this."

"Really?"

 

The senior responds to Mr./Ms.'s words.

 

"Leona Mr./Ms. the hero of Miarak, uses magic to build a makeshift bridge, and Usato, who has assimilated with Ferm, reinforces the bridge with black magic, and Nea applies resistance with magic on top of it. Now we should be able to build a bridge big enough for us to cross."

 

Honestly, I'm not sure if I need to assimilate with Ferm.

No, if you're going to focus on the combination of Nair and Ferm, should I be there?

 

"Actually, I wish I could have helped."

"I can't help it, because my and Kazuki-kun's magic is specialized in attacking."

 

Kazuki is a light system that makes anything it touches disappear.

Senpai is an electric shock system that controls powerful lightning.

Both are powerful magics, but they are not suitable for building bridges.

 

"Hmm, I understand the theory, but is it possible? I would like to ask Leona's opinion."

 

Sigurd Mr./Ms. put his hand to his chin and asked Leona Mr./Ms..

 

"We have confirmed the width of the river itself, so I don't think it's impossible, and if possible, I'd like to see with my own eyes the right place to build a bridge......

"So, do you want to go and see the taiga today?" From now on, we will be able to get home before nightfall."

 

At Sigurd Mr./Ms.'s suggestion, Leona Mr./Ms. seems to be troubled for a while.

She nodded to Mr./Ms. Sigurd.

 

"Well, I think I should go check it myself. Can I borrow a horse?"

"Absolutely."

 

…… Is Mr./Ms. going to Taiga now to find a point to build a bridge?

So, I'm going to be involved in building the bridge, so I'd better check it out.

He raises his hand and speaks to Mr./Ms., who is instructing his subordinate knight Mr./Ms. to arrange a horse.

 

"Sigurd Mr./Ms. may I follow Mr./Ms. Leona? I also want to check the taiga."

"What?"

"Okay, let's get Usato-sama's horse ready."

 

For some reason, Leona Mr./Ms. was surprised, but she was even more surprised that I would be provided with a horse.

…… No, wait a minute.

I've never ridden a horse.

 

"Oh, the horses are good!! I can't ride a horse!!"

"Hmm? Then, leave the reins to your subordinates and go back--"

"No!"

 

As expected, I can't bother Mr./Ms. the knight.

Besides, it shouldn't be too far from here to the taiga.

 

"I'm going to run, so it's okay!"

 

At that moment, the expressions of Sigurd Mr./Ms. and his Mr./Ms. of knights hardened.

And the next time, he had an enlightened expression that said, "Oh, I see."

 

●

 

Plains zone.

In front of the wooden barrier, battered after the battle, Mr./Ms. and I were getting ready to leave.

 

"I didn't think you'd follow me."

"If it's for tomorrow, I should go too."

 

Nea, who is perched on her shoulder in the state of an owl, is in a good mood.

While she was doing preparatory exercises with a wry smile on her face, Leona Mr./Ms., who had finished preparing earlier, approached her on horseback.

 

"Usato, you can go here anytime."

"Oh, I'm ready, too."

"I know you're physically capable...... It's a strange feeling."

 

Mr./Ms. says such a thing with an indescribable expression.

 

"You'd better get used to it quickly, he's going to do even more weird things than he did when he was in Mearark."

"Uh, yes?"

"When you're in the Beast Country, if you take your eyes off it for a moment, you're going to have to come up with insane tricks, and it's going to be hard."

 

This owl. What do you say to Mr./Ms. Leona?

To Nea's advice, Leona Mr./Ms. responds vaguely, worrying about me.

I don't know how much I don't trust them.

…… I'm going to hide the healing explosion a little more from Nea.

 

"Mr./Ms., it's time to leave."

"What? Ahh

 

Let's go quickly before anything more is said.

As soon as Mr./Ms.'s horse starts running, I also jump forward.

 

『……? …… Whew!?'

 

Mr./Ms.'s horse makes a strange noise when she sees me running alongside me.

 

"You're a monster when you have someone to compare it to, aren't you?

「…… I'm going to bite my tongue!"

 

Nea looks at Leona Mr./Ms.'s horse and me running side by side and mutters something like that.

Listening to her words, I ran across the plain with my horse.

 

 

The plains where the battle took place were in a terrible state.

The corpses of the demons had been cleared away, but the wounds inflicted on the ground by the Demon King's last attack from the sky were extensive.

The worst part was that it was burned to the ground, so much so that it was not even known that it was originally a grassland, and it was a reminder of how powerful the Demon King's attack was.

From the plains where the effects of the battle remained strong, we passed through a forest of trees, and soon reached our destination, the great river.

 

「…… This is the place, isn't it?"

"Ah, have you ever seen a similar river when you were on a boat?"

"At that time, I hadn't come this far when I met Suzune on the way."

 

A river flows under the cliffs, which are of considerable height.

Looking down at the wide, fast-flowing river, I talk to Mr./Ms..

 

"Did you find a good place?"

「…… With this level of flow, it would be okay to put up a strut with ice. The question is where to hang it...... The footing here is unstable. Let's move places."

"I understand."

 

I follow her as she dismounts from her horse.

You have to be careful with your footing so you don't accidentally fall.

 

「…… Now that I think about it, it's strange."

"What is it?"

"Remember the first time I met you, though it wasn't on a river, but on a frozen lake."

 

The first time we met was the first time we fought the runaway Charon Mr./Ms..

At that time, I ...... mistook Leona's Mr./Ms. for a man.

Now that I think about it, I did something really rude.

 

"At that time, I didn't even have a gauntlet yet, and I was just an ogre with a mental tolerance."

"You're not an ogre, are you?"

「…… Oh, before that, I just hit the ogre with one punch and it knocked me into a stupor, so I'm not an ogre. I'm sorry."

 

Huh? I was apologized for, but I don't feel like I've been apologized for.

He seems really sorry, but for some reason his words don't mesh.

 

"You guys are as good friends as ever."

"Of course, because I'm his familiar. In fact, there's no other familiar who can deal with this nonsense, except me."

"Do you want to say that?"

 

In a good mood, Nea slaps my cheek with her wings.

No, I'm sure he's been with me many times, but I don't think it's something to brag about .......

As she bothered by the tickling sensation on her cheeks, she noticed that Mr./Ms. Leona was giggling and laughing happily as she walked with her horse in tow.

 

"Leona Mr./Ms.......?"

"It's fun to talk to you guys."

"What? It's fun......

"It's refreshing for me to have this kind of informal interaction."

 

I don't think I'm saying anything that interesting...... From the sidelines, it may be quite a pleasant sight.

I think it's surreal to see an owl in a good mood on your shoulder endlessly frustrating your cheeks.

 

"I participated in this journey as a hero, but it was because of you that I was able to make that decision."

"Me...... Is it?"

 

When she tilted her head at those words, Mr./Ms. stopped in her tracks and let out a "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

She turned to me, a little flustered, and opened her mouth as she moved her hand warmly.

 

"No, no, it doesn't have a deep meaning, it's reassuring to have you who fought with you, or something like that......"

"Well, do you mean it's reassuring to have me, a healing wizard?"

「…… That's not true. I didn't make this decision because you're a healing wizard. I can't say it well, but I assure you of it."

"Yes......

 

He is pressured by Mr./Ms., who seems to be fierce and corrects misunderstandings.

Is it okay to assume that I participated because I am an individual, not as a healing wizard...... I wonder?

Either Leona Mr./Ms. trusts her that much, or she's terribly worried...... If you think about your own actions, there is a high possibility that you are worried about them...... Yeah.

 

"Thank you, for my part...... I'm happy."

"Oh, yes! I'm relieved that you think so!"

 

Mr./Ms., whose expression brightened from her anxious appearance, turned forward.

 

"Oh, you've stopped in your tracks, it's time to move on!"

"That's right......

"Well, this hard-nosed hero and this training idiot, both of them are clumsy and don't mesh well."

 

Seeing me and Mr./Ms. nodding to each other and starting to walk, Nea muttered something rude in a low voice.

What does it mean that it doesn't mesh, ......?

Wondering about such things, I follow Mr./Ms..

 

「…… This looks good. Usato, can you hold the reins?"

"Got it."

 

Then, Mr./Ms. stopped and handed me the reins of the horse.

When I take the reins, a little frightened, Mr./Ms. crouches down and puts her hands on the ground.

 

"Yes, there seems to be no problem with scaffolding here. If it doesn't rain today, we'll build a bridge here tomorrow."

"Do you want to put a marker or something?"

"I ...... a landmark, yes, let's do that."

 

Nodding at my words, Leona stood up Mr./Ms. cold air in her palms.

What the hell ......? For a moment, the color of the magic emanating from her hand darkened, and its shape changed to a stick-like thing.

 

"——Strengthening the Grid"

 

As she muttered, an ice spear formed in the air and plunged into the ground.

…… He is a better user than me, and when you see him up close, the process of strengthening the system is extremely meticulous.

 

"Alright, I'll be able to find this in no time."

 

Mr./Ms., who wrapped a cloth as a marker around the ice spear that was cloaking in a white mist, turned to face her.

 

"Doesn't it melt?"

"It's due to the strengthening of the system, so we'll keep it until tomorrow morning."

"Hey, if you're wearing this much cold, you won't be able to touch the monsters, so you won't have to worry about being defeated."

 

I've decided where to build the bridge, and all I have to do is go home.

Before I do that, I'll also look at the other side of the river from the point where the flag is, with a spear wrapped around a cloth.

Let's check how far away it is, albeit visually.

 

"When I look at it again, it's quite far away...... Hmm?"

"What's wrong?"

"No, I heard the roar of a beast from the opposite ......."

 

Nea, who has a suspicious expression, listens in the same way as I do, and I can certainly hear some kind of cry from the opposite bank.

The voice of a beast that is neither human nor demonic.

And quite a few.

 

「…… It's the voice of a demon."

"All of that!?"

"There may be an increase in the movement of monsters due to the war, and if you go to the other side of the river like this, you may be attacked."

"So, should we change places?"

 

Nea shakes her head at Mr./Ms.'s words.

 

"If that's the case here, it's the same everywhere else, so it's better to prioritize crossing safely."

 

Tomorrow we will have to pay attention to the situation on the other side.

Luckily, we have a reliable companion named Bulllin, so if we let him cross first, he will drive away the monsters.

…… But the fact that the demons are making noise over there means that they are also affected by the war.

 

"Usato, we've decided where to build the bridge, so let's go back to the base. I also have to report on the monsters on the other side."

"That's right."

 

While handing the reins of the horse to Mr./Ms., she turns her back to the taiga and starts walking.

Tomorrow, we will cross here and invade the Demon Lord's Territory.

It's not a letter-giving journey, it's a journey with a mission to defeat the opponent directly. There is no way I can proceed with the naïve thoughts that I have been thinking so far.

We've got to brace ourselves.

 

"It's time to cross tomorrow, maybe we should let Usato go first."

"Hmm, why?"

"Demon amulet, monsters are basically not going to attack your clanmates who are more powerful."

"You don't treat me like a monster naturally."

 

- When I reply with a sullen feeling, she apologizes in a light tone, probably because she thought it was bad.

 

"I'm sorry, don't be so upset...... But now that you've assimilated with Ferm, you're almost like a monster. That figure, in the way it is, is as close to Charon as it can be in a runaway state, isn't it?"

"Well, don't say anything scary......"

 

I'm usually scared when people say that.

Is that it? If I continue to assimilate with Ferm, one day my body will cease to be human, right?

Well, it's just that it's close, so it won't be that dangerous.

________________________________________________________________________________

The idea is that I can't ride a horse, but it's not a problem because I'm faster than a horse.

This is a brain muscle .......