-- A short while later, when Garnett and I returned to the hall of the dwelling where we were hiding, there was something about the Golden Fang knights trying to rush out.

''What's going on?''

　I ask Captain Hazel, who seems to remain in the building, what's going on.

　If there was an emergency, there's no way we wouldn't be approached at any cost, so at least we're not in danger.

''As a matter of fact, sir, there was a reaction to the magic tool I told you about earlier.
The story goes that Nagi reacts to the approach of ......?
Yes, sir. So I've just sent my man out to lead him here.

　No wonder Melissa is fidgety.

　Melissa and Nagi have been partners since before we got to know each other, and at least Melissa's side of the relationship seems to have romantic feelings for the other.

　It's no wonder that they are so buoyant, since they are engaged in a dangerous mission and can finally confirm their safety with their own eyes.

''I'm sure my men will be back soon. Please wait here for a while.

　As I waited in the hall as I was prompted, within a few minutes, the sound of footsteps in metal armor approached and a group of people, one more than when I left, returned.

　Of course, that one person was a small Eastern adventurer who had infiltrated the Demon King's Castle.

''Thank God!　Nagy!

　Melissa tried to jump on Nagi, looking like she couldn't resist.

　It's a good idea to make sure that you're not going to have to worry about your own safety.

...... Hey, Melissa. Why are you in this place? Didn't I tell you not to follow me?
No, no, no!　Because this time they just hired me as a regular guy!　As an asset!　Hey, Captain Hazel!

　Melissa shook her head and hands at the same time, with Nagi supporting her in a position where she was about to fall over.

　Captain Hazel, who was suddenly turned to the point of conversation, coughed lightly while receiving a half-hearted look from Nagi, and then began to explain the situation.

''She's an excellent elemental magic user, so I requested her cooperation as a counter to the four demon generals' attribute attacks. In fact, she even managed to catch the Storm Austri's attacks.
Well, I really thought I'd be lucky to have ......
...... totally.

　Nagi made Melissa stand up properly and then turned to me again.

''I heard about what happened from the Golden Fang Knights. We were indeed unable to ascertain the whereabouts of the four demon generals who had just returned, but I didn't expect them to be hiding in the underground canal.
I didn't see that coming. Are there any other routes you could use?

　No small talk, but immediately cut to the chase.

　There's no guarantee that this place will be a safe zone forever.
　Rather, we will have to act on the premise that sooner or later we will be discovered by the Demon King's army.

　Nagi seemed to be aware of this, of course, and immediately proposed an alternative plan.

''We've only grasped about thirty percent of the Demon King's Castle so far, but I can offer two alternative escape routes.
Quicksilver. What route is this?
There are two routes: one where the likelihood of exposure is low, but the escape itself is more difficult, and one where you're sure to find it, but what you do is simple.

　The underground canal route that had failed earlier was an easy escape route that was difficult to find, if only the appearance of the storm Austri hadn't been present.

　The other options still seemed to be more risky in comparison.

''The least likely escape route to be discovered is the one over the ramparts on the opposite side of the city wall from this location. The other side of the wall is a deep cliff, and since no siege has been deployed, the security is also lacking at a near-nothing level.
Hey, wait a minute.

　Quickly, Garnett interrupted.

"The castle wall is just a hole in the wall, but how are we going to escape from it to the safe zone? We can't even fly in the sky!
"There's a narrow strip of ground between the cliff and the ramparts. It's a little tough to walk normally, but if you do it right, you should be able to escape without falling.

　According to the simple diagram Nagi had drawn on the paper at hand, there was a normal distance of two or three minutes on foot from the point where they could reliably approach the city walls unnoticed to the end of the narrow path.

　If they tried to approach the ramparts closer than that, the soldiers in the rear of the defending troops might find them and fail.

　If it was a normal two or three minutes of walking, it would be several times that if you proceeded cautiously on the narrow foothold - indeed, this is a difficult escape route.

"Kirigakure. There's one more problem. The presence of brave men.

　Now Sakura added pointedly.

'If he cooperates with our escape, our success rate will increase, but if he doesn't, it's tricky. Even if we manage to get him comatose and carry him away, it won't be a path we can pass through carrying such a large load.
'I'm aware of that. In the first place, it's a path I mended before I knew the brave Falcon had shown up.

　Nagi had only learned of the Falcon's appearance just a few moments ago, no matter how quickly.

　There shouldn't have been any time at all to consider a pathway with that in mind.

'The other idea is a frontal breakthrough. Our plan is to break through the thin defensive net from the inside, cut a hole in the city wall and join the siege force.
'You'll find it for sure, but what you have to do is simple: ...... You're definitely right.

　I couldn't help but let out a voice of approval.

　The idea is the same as the actions of the four demon generals of the Demon King's army who launched a surprise attack before I was taken to the Demon King's castle.

　After they finished their attack, they attacked the troops of the knights besieging the Demon King's Castle from behind, coordinated with the defending troops on the castle side to break through and successfully return to the Demon King's Castle.

　In short, Nagi's second suggestion was to do this in the opposite direction.

''At first, there were only three of us, you know. We couldn't very well take that kind of hardball move, but ......
'We're here now, too!　We have a full complement of forces.

　What I was about to say, Alexia interrupts me from the side and speaks instead.

　If the Golden Fang Knights' troops are included, the number of people that can be counted as a fighting force has increased by about three times.

　This would allow them to take on a somewhat risky mission.

''If things go well, we might be able to blow a huge hole in the city walls from the inside and proceed with the siege operation at once.
Hey, White Wolf. Don't get all s*xualized, okay? It's a good idea to get you out of harm's way, you know. For that reason, leaving a brave man behind is an option.
...... Garnett: ......

　He couldn't ask if he was really allowed to do that.

　Garnett was hiding his identity as a knight of the Silver Wing, and even if he wasn't, the intensity of his gaze clearly told him he was serious.

'Anyway, ...... whichever way you choose to go, the question is how to handle the brave Falcon.

　It was unlikely that they would come up with any other plan for an escape route.
　The only thing left to decide was which one to employ as the next strategy, and the handling of the Falcon was an unavoidable problem.

'I'd like to bring him back as living proof if possible, but it's too much trouble to wait for him to wake up and be ramped up, but even so, what do you guys think we should do about it while we're carrying him ......?'

　Just as he was about to solicit opinions first - a strange laugh echoed through the hall.

''Kukuku ...... kuhaha ...... hahaha ......''

　Reflexively, he looked back to the corner of the hall.

　The brave Falcon, who should have been lying there while bound, had somehow risen and was sitting in the corner of the room with Arikado's back resting on it.