It's awful, Master Keogh, ...... that there is such a thing as me and yet I only dance with other people ......

"Wow, okay, okay. I'm sorry, so can you please stop repeating that: ......

　We were on our way to the Arabian kingdom, swinging in the carriage that Shin had prepared for us.
　Along the way, Phytis complained so many times that I'm beginning to feel incomprehensible guilt.
　Should I make it up to you with something next time?

　While I was thinking about this, the carriage that was supposed to be swinging suddenly stopped and the door was opened.

We're here. Kyou-san, please get off.

"Huh?　Are we there yet?

　You are surprised at how fast it is.
　I've only been in the carriage for a little over an hour.

"No, it's still a little while before we reach the kingdom of the Arabian. We'll have to change rides from here.

　What does that mean?
　Without understanding, Ole, Fitis, Jack and Locke, who had been riding in the carriage, were getting out.
　Then I saw the scene in front of me and understood.

"Well, well, this is a beautiful desert.

　The vastness of the desert spread out all at once.
　It was as if the landscape was cut in two halfway through the journey, and what had been an overgrown wasteland turned into a sandy landscape beyond the border line.

"Carriages aren't the best way to cross the desert, you know. From here, we'll take a Kobda.

"Kobda?

　I couldn't help but ask back at the strange name Shin had given me, but I was soon convinced when I saw the demon that Shin's attendant had prepared for me.
　It had two large bumps on its back, a round head at the end of a long, slender neck, and legs that were long and solid like an ostrich.
　In general, the body was like a camel with a head, neck and legs like an ostrich.

Then you can ride it.

　Then he hands me, Phytis, and Jack a cobbler each.

"Shin, is this a safe monster for people to ride on?

"Yes, it's okay. Cobbler is by nature a quiet demon, and it is easy to get used to people. Cobbler here is willing to listen to new riders.

　As Shin said, the cobbler was right, and it was bending its long neck as it approached my face and rubbed its cheek in a friendly manner.
　After that, she pointed between the two bumps on her back with her neck and appealed to me to get on her.

"Well, I guess I'll have to take you up on that. Rock is with me.

"Yes!

　I was riding Kobda with Locke.
　On the other hand, Fitis and Jack were also on the coboda.

Then we'll start again. It's just an hour's drive from here.

　At Shin's call, all the cobbler's were on the move.
　They were faster than I had expected, moving their long, thin legs and running through the desert one after another.

"Wow, this guy is surprisingly fast!

　It's true that I can run quite a distance in an hour.
　While thinking that, I'm watching the changing scenery.
　Of course we don't just look at it. I want to see some information about the desert here.

"Sin. How many demons are there in the desert that can be taken mainly for food?

　While maneuvering Kobda into a gallop, I moved next to Shin and asked him, "Well, first of all, is the cactus ball the main edible monster?

"Well, the main edible demon is the cactus ball. It is a fleshy demon and can take a lot of water. The other is the killer scorpion. It's also a demon with a carapace full of meat inside, which can only be found in the desert. There's also a basilisk, the upper species of cockatrice. There's also the catoblepuss and spinks.

"Spinks?

　You can't help but listen back to that word.
　Because it's the Sphinx, right?
　And I knew a friend of mine who was a four-tenth of the Sphinx, and he was a mess of human shape, but can you eat that?

Spinx was a demon before it evolved into the Sphinx. The body is a lion with wings and only the face is human. Other than the face, it's a very tasty demon, a very valuable demon, right?　However, it is a dangerous grade A demon, so it is difficult to kill it unless you are an advanced adventurer. By the way, the sphinx will be completely humanoid after it evolves, so you can't eat it.

　I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to go to the beach or not. ...... As it evolves, its rank and strength increase, but it loses its value as a foodstuff ...... That's some pretty deep stuff.

I'm sure there are a few others, but their numbers have decreased significantly in recent years. It would be great if Kyou-san could cultivate these monsters. ......

　I was listening to Shin's story as I ran through the desert, but the number of monsters on the landscape is certainly much smaller than the plains and forests that I know.

　I'm sure there are occasional cacti that look like that, but it's tasteless not to be attacked by any demons.

But what kind of monster should we grow first: ......

　You need the seeds to grow them. Should I hunt those demons Shin mentioned earlier to find the seeds?
　Or can I grow some other monsters here?
　Hmm. There are many possibilities, but let's wait until we get to the arabial and see what happens.

-------

"Huh?

　A moment later, I stopped Cobbler, who was sprinting.


　I'm not sure if Shin, Fitis and the others who have been disappearing around me noticed something wrong with me, and they stopped it.

What's wrong?　Kyou-sama.

"...... No.

　Now, for a moment, I heard something that sounded like a call.
　No, not so much a call as an ominous yell. I'm not sure, but it was something that tingled in my soul anyway.
　You can see that Rock, sitting in front of me, also sensed something and trembled a little.

Rock ...... did you understand that?

"...... yeah

　As Locke nodded softly in agreement with me, I searched for the reason for the strange feeling I had just felt.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find something that looks like a desolate ruin when you move your cobbler to the left and look far out to the horizon.

...... Shin, what's that thing over there?

　Shin stood next to me and muttered to himself as he looked in the direction I was pointing.

"The ruins of the ancient civilization Ishtar.

"Ancient Civilization Ishtar?

　It's the first name you've ever heard.

It was the name of the kingdom that once ruled this land. It is said that this ancient civilization had technology and power more advanced than ours, and at one time it was even in control of the world. But that is why we hear that it was destroyed in a single night by an entity that caught our attention.

"One civilization in one night?

　How is that possible?　What the heck kind of entity is that?
　When I asked him that question, Shin's answer was unexpected.

I'm a demon king.

"Huh?

　Demon King?　I mean, my mom?
　That's ridiculous. ....... Even though that mother is a demon king, she's going to destroy a civilization?
　I've only known my mother since she came to this world, but she was a person who was against taking lives unnecessarily.
　On the contrary, she was someone who would avoid conflict if she could.
　I can't believe that she would destroy civilization.
　As I was thinking this, Shin noticed something and muttered as if to supplement it.

"He's not the current demon king. I'm talking about the worst demon king that existed in the past.

"Huh?

"The demon king of the beginning, Fraeswerg. That demon king is said to have fallen together with that ancient civilization Ishtar.

　Demon Kings that existed in the past. The Frace Varg.
　Hearing the name, Rock and I seemed to feel inexplicable anxiety and fear.