The obstructive ice dome disappears, and warm air flows in as the cold air floods in.

　The spines, hardened with blood and dirt, crumble, and the corpse of the Norzuri falls to the ground.

　The sounds of battle have not yet ceased, and the sparks of fire from the landed flame bombs drift through the air.

　I look around with my body exhausted to the extreme.

　For some reason, we were surrounded by knights and soldiers with weapons and civil engineering tools in a circle and in the distance.

　-- Oh, no, no.
　They were struggling to destroy the ice dome.

'Lu, Mr. Luke!'
'Thank God!　Are you okay!
Where is that dark elf: ......
'Wait!　Look at that!　The leaders of the Demon King's army are dead!

　The bewilderment soon turns to astonishment, and the shouts of delight and admiration are high.

　However, the current me doesn't even have the energy left to respond to it.

　It's all I can do to keep standing with all the strength in my legs while continuing to [repair] the damage I've suffered sporadically.

''Luke-dono!''

　Sakura, freed from the ice wall, rushes over to me.

'I'm sorry, it's as if I can't help you: ......
What are you talking about? If it weren't for Sakura, I'd be dead in a heartbeat.

　As I looked down at Norzuri's corpse, I thought back to the battle I had just fought.

　Originally, I had been killed by him at least three times.

　The first time was right after the fight started.
　If Sakura hadn't bought me time, I would have definitely been choked out before I took out the scroll.

　The second time was when the operation with the scrolls was defeated and an unseen fist was slammed into him.
　If Nagi hadn't crushed one of Norzuri's eyes just before the battle, the blow would have crushed his heart and killed him instantly.

　The third time was after the impromptu ice barrier was broken and he was seriously injured.
　If Norzuri hadn't thought about wielding his garnet and had tried to finish me off as it was, I'm sure he would have been killed without any resistance.

　Furthermore, if you include the moments before the ice dome was deployed, the number of times I could have died would have been more than three.

　It was like stepping on thin ice.
　So much so that I would never want to experience it again if I could.

'Sakura, take care of Garnett. Carry her to safety.
...... I get it.

　I don't know if there is such a thing as a safe place in the camp, but it's still better than leaving the unconscious garnet in place.

''All of you!　Tell everyone that we have defeated the Norseultur!　Raise the morale of your allies and break the morale of the enemy!

　Under someone's command, the knights and soldiers scattered to various parts of the camp.

　Probably, but the moment this information spread out, the siege and defense battle over the camp should be settled.

　Norzuri was undoubtedly the strongest fighting force on the demon side in this battle.

　If that is defeated and reinforcements from the Hollow Bottom Fortress are imminent, the continuation of the battle can only result in useless losses.

　--You will be able to find a lot more information on the subject.

''Looks like the other side is settled too: ......

　That was the attack that released Dustin's two demonic spears, one half of which he held.

　That was the last time I heard the sound of battle, in other words, I guess that's what it means.

''Sorry to the (...... base chief, but ...... I have my limits too ......)''

　The wounds were [repaired], but I couldn't bring back the depleted strength or even the blood I lost.

　While apologizing inwardly for not being able to complete the [Repair] of the position equipment and defensive wall to the end, I let go of my consciousness as I fell to the ground.










　It wasn't long after I regained consciousness that I learned of the outcome of the battle.

　The Demon King's army began to retreat shortly after that.

　The human side's position was able to escape the crisis without further damage.

　Apparently, the remnants of the siege golem and the corpse of the Norzuri were brought to the Hollow Bottom Fortress to be examined and analyzed by experts.

　Aside from the golem, is there a need to analyze the Norzuri, a living organism?　When I asked him, he replied that he wanted to find out if some special enhancement technique had been applied.

　If you ask me, the Demon King's Army is the people who remade the brave Falcon into a chimera with a dragon.

　It wouldn't be surprising if there was a secret to Norzuri's strength.

　-- but what was conveyed was not only a convenient report.

　That camp was going to be used as a base of operations to control the demon tribe's mines.

　Although the main objective of the operation was to cut off the demon tribe's resource supply, several other objectives were to be fulfilled at the same time.

''We will investigate what kind of resources were being mined and determine the skill level of the Demon King's army based on their use.''
"We will use the dwarves forced into slave labor in the mines as an ally in the gathering of further information.
"At the very least, I will own the mine and exploit its resources.

　All of these were things that, if successful, would definitely help the war effort.

　However, when they immediately sent a reconnaissance team to the base, the mine had been blown up over a wide area.

　The related facilities of the mine were destroyed, leaving no clues behind.
　The bodies of the murdered dwarves were said to be piled up in a pile at the bottom of a small valley a short distance away.

　There was no longer any doubt that it was a scorched earth operation - if it was to be taken and used, it should be crushed.

　It was a strategy that was not uncommon even in wars between humans.

　If the enemy was about to take a village with a wheat field, they would burn the field down and not give the enemy any wheat before they could take it.

　This was a common practice in war.

　In addition to that, this time a thorough destruction of evidence and silencing of the evidence had been carried out.

　The slaughter of the mine slave dwarves must have been because they knew what they shouldn't have known.

　Once again, they were reminded of the viciousness of the Demon King's army--










　--It was on the night of the end of the battle that I received a report from the Golden Fang Knights that said, "I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

　The knights praised the work of this battle without reservation, and it became a big conversation about a favor or reward.

　He said he couldn't say anything about that specific decision just yet today, as he had to wait for the Knights' headquarters to contact him.

''We're going to hold a feast to celebrate our victory now, how about Luke-dono too?
'No, sir, I appreciate the offer. My companions have been sent back to earth ahead of me, and I've ordered dinner from the Spring Wakatei.
Then I'll come back another time. But by the way, Wakaba-tei in spring is a good restaurant. The food is good, the hostess is cute and the ...... excuse me, as a knight I misspoke.

　We leave Fort Hollow Bottom and return to Green Hollow Town.

　Along the way, at the slope leading to the fourth level of the 'Sundial Forest', Garnett was waiting for me alone.

''What? I told you you could go home first.
"I'm your bodyguard. ...... That's not a very nice thing to say. Sakura told me all about it. I've heard that you've been protecting me by passing out in the cold.

　Garnett's expression was dark and his voice was more somber than I'd ever heard it.

It's not a good thing. It's not a good idea for a guy who doesn't know how to fight to fall behind in battle.

　I don't think she's really crying - I looked into her face impatiently, and Garnett looked back at me with dry eyes.

'What?'
...... I don't mean to console you, but even brave men get beaten up when they're supposed to. This time, you drew a bad eye and I drew a good eye. That's all there is to it.
So ......?

　I involuntarily grabbed a handful of Garnet's golden hair and ruffled it.

"Oh my God!　What are you doing?
'I'm the one who's in trouble when you look this screwed up. I'll always have you around to make me feel better about my actions, for whatever reason.
...... I'll tell you what. You tried to leave me there today.
I have to admit, I was pretty nervous about that one too, you know?

　He takes his hand off Garnett's head and starts walking uphill towards the ground.

'I can't wait to get home for dinner. I've asked Sylvia to come over tonight, so it should be opulent.
...... oops.

　All the way back to the White Wolf Store, Garnett kept walking right behind me.

　It was as if he didn't want me to see his face now.