When he returned to where Nea and the others were, he had finished guarding the perimeter, and his returning men were preparing to camp.

As expected, after a few days, the work seems to be getting better, and Mr./Ms. and the others seem to be doing the setup quickly without me having to help.

 

"Amako, I'll hear from Nea and Hannah Mr./Ms., so you can tell Nagi Mr./Ms. and Koga that there is a river."

"Yes, I understand."

 

After parting ways with Amako, he sees his men using magic to fortify the base around the camp.

Mr./Ms. Wal uses rock magic to build a wall around the planned camp site to prevent monsters from entering, and then Mr./Ms. Kevin reinforces it with wooden magic to make it a barricade.

At the end, Mr./Ms. Thane turns the soil around the barricades into mud to prevent monster attacks.

It's simple, but it's also a solid defense.

With that in mind, I give words of encouragement to my subordinates.

 

"Rest when you're done, I'll cast a healing spell on you later."

"'Ha!'"

"Ryokai"

"I understand."

 

Nodding at the replies of his subordinates, he looks at Mr./Ms. Veena who has been searching for enemies with magic sensing from earlier.

 

"Can I take a break Mr./Ms. too?"

"No, I can still do my best, a devil like me ——— be forgiven for using it more."

"......, are you going to disobey the orders of your superiors?"

"Hey, I'll obey......"

 

What's that. The more I learn how to handle this person, the more I feel like I'm becoming like a power harassment boss.

Not at all.

With a sigh, I approached the ruins that Nea and Hannah Mr./Ms. were investigating, and Hannah Mr./Ms. was looking at the walls of the ruins and twisting her neck.

 

"Mr./Ms. Hannah? What's wrong?"

"Oh, yes, Usato-kun, there's something a little interesting ......."

 

Interesting thing?

Tilting her head, she peered into what she was looking at, and there was only an old wall that had not changed.

 

"Well, what's interesting?"

"It's the way this building is built."

 

Makeup?

If you look closely, you can see that the structure of this visible part of the ruins is similar to that of brickwork.

That's all I know.

 

「???」

"Huh...... I'll explain it to you in a way that the silly Usato-kun can understand. I really can't help it."

 

I was reacted to in a way that said "Oh my God."

 

"The structure of this ruin is the ...... of the Demon Lord's Domain. It's pretty close to what we demon do."

"And this means that it was made by the Demon Tribe?"

"If you think about it normally, that's true, but this incorporates a different architectural method than the architecture of the Demon Tribe."

"Another?"

"Look up"

 

As Hannah Mr./Ms. said, she looked up and ——— surprised.

After all, on top of the ruins that were built adjacent to this large tree, there were remnants of another building that looked like a tree house.

It's almost completely destroyed, so you can't notice it unless you look closely, but there is certainly a house in the form of an extension to the tree.

 

"Demons rarely build houses on trees."

"Did you build it to live in this environment?"

"It's not out of the realm of possibility, but creating an environment where you live on top of this tree is similar to that of an elf...... That's where the snag comes in."

"Elf?"

 

…… I'm sure the Demon King said that the elves went deep into the forest to avoid the damage of war.

 

"The elves are subhumans who live in deep forests, and it is said that their settlements are built on trees rather than on the ground, and they live while protecting themselves from the attacks of demons. …… Or rather, you know Usato-kun, right?"

"Yes, she has the same magic as Mr./Ms., and she is also an elf."

 

The elf I know is Mr./Ms. Flana.

I met Mr./Ms. Frana's father a while Mr./Ms. while ago.

 

"You had the same illusion magic, didn't you?"

"Another thing I would like to say is the only daughter of the chieftain."

"Why did the chieftain's only daughter ...... on the battlefield of the Ringle Kingdom?"

 

…… No, wait, why are demons here, let alone elves?

At that time, the Demon King's army led by the Demon King must have been quite dangerous.

So why build a building steeped in communal architecture?

 

"How long has this building been built?"

"According to Mr./Ms. who is in the ruins, it was built about 100 to 200 years ago."

「……」

 

…… Was it created hundreds of years after the end of the battle between the Demon King and Mr./Ms.?

I don't know what it means.

What? Did demons and elves coexist in this demon realm?

 

"Usato-kun"

"Yes?"

 

Mr./Ms. calls out while taking a sketch in her notebook.

…… Aren't Mr./Ms.'s eyes lively because she always looks tired of life?

 

"I'm in the middle of an important mission...... I'm a little excited."

"What?"

 

Kira lets out a voice that is taken aback by Mr./Ms.'s words.

I see, the strange relationship between the demon tribe and the elven tribe that should never intersect with the mysterious ruins found during the expedition...... Or?

 

"I understand."

"What!?"

 

It's strange not to be interested in such a mystery ......!

It's a shame that there are no seniors here......!! I'm sure he would have been excited at a level that wasn't exciting.

 

"Now, Mr./Ms. Hannah, please continue your investigation."

"Okay, leave it to me."

"Okay...... Mr./Ms. Hannah, is Nair in ruins?"

"Well, I think you should talk to her. It's like he was discovering something different than I was."

 

Another find? Then I should go and listen to what they have to say.

Away from Mr./Ms., he steps into the ruins through a half-destroyed entrance.

The ceiling had collapsed to the point where it was barely functional, and Nea was in a place big enough to barely find a place to sleep.

 

Have you found the river?"

"Oh, it was a fairly wide river with a gentle current, so you can bathe in it."

"That's the best news of the day."

"Did you find anything there?"

"For the time being."

 

It seems that there was a harvest even in this short time.

Nea, who was already in the form of a dark-haired, red-eyed girl, pointed to the ground with a wooden stick in her hand.

 

"Look at this."

「…… It's the remains of a bonfire."

 

Scorched tree branches on the blackened ground.

If it's a fire, there will be traces of fire spreading around it, and it's still new after this bonfire in the first place.

 

"It's more than three days old."

"Is it that new?"

"Yes, there has definitely been somebody resting here lately, just like us. And ———."

 

Nea showed me what looked like a piece of cloth about the size of a handkerchief that she was holding in her hand.

 

"Is this the packet used for preserved food in the Demon Lord's Domain?"

"Let's check it out, Keira, can you get me some preserved food in my cloak?"

"Of course!"

 

As soon as she does so, Kira pulls out a rectangular piece of preserved food from her cloak.

When I touched it and compared it with Nea's possession, I found that the material of the cloth was almost the same.

 

I gave Shea Mr./Ms.Mr./Ms. a Mr./Ms. of preserved food and blankets, so I think she probably ate here!"

 

I am relieved that the food is still passing through my throat.

It would be difficult for Shea to procure food in a place like this, so it wasn't the right thing for Kira to give her food.

 

"I don't think I'm being so optimistic."

"What?"

"Why?"

"There's a lot of rubble around this fire, it's just a good place to sit on."

 

Rubble large enough to sit on, which Shea would have prepared.

Two of them are lined up across the bonfire.

The other debris is scattered against the wall, indicating that these two pieces were intentionally left behind.

 

"Shea is here with someone...... Were you?"

"I have no idea who he is, but you see, the footprints are different."

 

One is shoes, the other is ...... Barefoot? No, I look barefoot, but I wonder if I'm wearing something.

I can tell that the shoes belong to Shea, but the other one is about the same size as hers.

 

"Is it a child or a woman who is with Shea?"

"It's very likely...... It's just a prediction from here, but the fact that you've eaten food here can be said to be someone who has let their guard down in a certain way, isn't it?"

 

I'd like to think that there was someone who could help Shea.

Maybe the guy who was observing us in the river earlier...... No, no way.

But for now, I'll tell Nair about it.

 

"I just went to the river when I felt someone's staring at me."

"Hey, so what's going on?"

"For the time being, I threw a healing diffusion bullet into the sky and indiscriminately sensed the healing to find out what it was."

 

When I said that, Nea silently punched me in the chest.

Perhaps the hand that punched my pectoral muscle hurt, but I cast a healing spell on her as she held her wrist with tears in her eyes.

 

"Nea, the Healing Diffusion Bullet was a spontaneous technique, and I didn't hide it from you, so don't be so angry. It was my fault."

"You don't perfectly understand the cause of my anger! And you know how to apologize!"

 

Such a reckless .......

I can't help it because I've done it.

Well, I can see that Nea isn't really angry either, so I'll explain what follows.

 

"In the end, there was somebody...... But soon he stopped being a person and ran away somewhere."

「…… What does it mean to stop being a person?"

"I mean, I can't say exactly because I'm a healer too, but I feel like I've become a different creature as if I'm swelling?"

"Are you a humanoid demon like me? The fact that he was observing it means that he was waiting for an opportunity to attack."

 

To be honest, the only information we have now is that there is someone who is aware of our existence.

If they're not enemies, that's fine, but if they're attacking you, you'll have to deal with them too.

 

"I'm going to keep everyone informed about this."

"That's better, and if you look around, you might find some traces of where Shea went, so I'll have to look for that too."

"Let's do that tomorrow."

 

At night, the monster's movements become more active, so you can't move.

We'll have to get a good rest until the next move.

 

●

 

"Is it true that the captain is from another world?"

 

Before nightfall.

While the women took turns bathing, one of my subordinates, Mr./Ms. Kevin, asked me this question as I rested with my back to Bulllyn in the camp.

Wal Mr./Ms., a large demon tribe with only men in the room right now, was silently stirring the soup that was today's dinner, and Koga was idle around the bonfire just like me.

 

"What, Captain, are you from another world!?"

 

The person who was surprised by that question was Mr./Ms. Thane, who was almost a new member of the group.

Unlike the others, he seems to be from the countryside that has nothing to do with the Demon King's army, so he doesn't seem to know the word "otherworldly" itself.

 

"That's right, and the captain is not me, but Koga."

"Tell me more, Usato......"

 

In the case of me and Koga, it seems that the position of captain and vice-captain has little to do with it.

 

"Are all people from other worlds as strong as you?"

"No, no, I was completely normal, it's more like I am who I am today because I trained here."

"How long has it been since you first fought me?"

 

Well let's see.

I ...... because the journey to deliver letters is about three months.

 

"It's been less than six months."

"It's too ugly."

"Well...... I've been through so much hell......

 

I only have fragmentary memories.

Perhaps he was forced to move more than he could at all times.

After all, Rose's extreme training is the ultimate in such recklessness.

 

"But the two heroes who are from the other world were also ridiculous people, and isn't it natural to think that the aliens themselves have some kind of background?"

"They were really looking for what it takes to be a hero...... I was just a student with the ability to heal magic."

"Kevin, this guy doesn't have any talent for magic or anything."

 

Koga says with a laugh.

I wonder if they will follow me in any way?

 

"It's dangerous to ——— you're just crazy!?"

 

He didn't hesitate to fire a healing finger bullet at the guy who wanted to do such a thing, but it was avoided.

 

"What's wrong with me, this bastard!"

"Don't you realize it, this bastard! Have you forgotten what you usually do to me!?"

 

Deed......?

There are so many things that I can think of that I can't remember them!

 

"This is the line! How many times have I thought I was bothered by your attack! This is it!! I was stabbed twice!! If I were a normal person, I would be dead!!"

"You used me as a weapon to swing around and do weird tricks, didn't you?!" You're not an ordinary person in the first place!!"

 

What the hell is this bastard!

 

"I have nothing to hold back against you!"

"I'm not talking about it in a good way!!"

 

Me and Koga grab each other's chests and glare at each other.

 

"Wal, Thane, I knew they were two alike......

"Consent"

"I'm ...... to what you're saying, including the messy part."

 

To be honest, I'm aware that it's both of them, so I sigh at each other and return to my original position.

 

"It's barren."

"Oh, let's wash away the past."

 

There was a kind of rotten relationship, but that changed after the battle.

Now this guy may be positioned as a bad friend.

 

"So, Usato. What to do tomorrow? Do you want to continue exploring?"

"I want to follow Sia's trace, if Xia's purpose is a fragment of the Demon King's power, then following her may be able to fulfill one of our objectives."

 

I ...... that the annoying product of the Demon King's power fragments must be recovered.

 

"But," he said, "can you follow the trail?"

"We'll just have to find the footprints and go in that direction, and then we'll ......."

 

He pats the back of the bulllin that he is entrusting himself to.

 

"It's the turn of this guy's nose."

"Guru ......"

"I see, the sense of smell of a blue grizzly."

 

It's been days and I don't know if I'll be able to track it, but I might be able to track it to some extent with Bulllin's nose.

In the first place, Bulllin's sense of smell can distinguish the smell of magic itself in addition to ordinary odors.

 

"I've finally found a clue, I need to find her as soon as ......."

 

We had a lot to harvest today, but what bothers me is who was observing us.

…… The next time you notice it, you should go for contact without hesitation.

____________________________________________________

From here, we will gradually move the situation.

It was Usato, who was as reserved for Koga as he was for his tough opponents.