Hey, Mako. Do we really need to listen to the Pope's request for the Church of the Goddess?
'Yes!　The one who tried to do something terrible to Fu-chan!　Like an erotic douchebag!
...What is an erotic doujin?
'Ah!　I know! It's called 'kukkoro', right?
'Ru-chan..., where did you get that knowledge...?　I wonder if the kukurumi suits Saki-chan.
'I have no idea what you two are talking about...'
　Lucy, Sa-san and Friae are talking fornicately.

　Currently, we've come to an abandoned village, a short distance from the royal capital of the Land of the Sun (Highland).
　It seems that the village was destroyed by a stampede of demons that occurred a few decades ago.
　It had been uninhabited for a while, but recently, there are rumors that the "Order of the Snake" is using it as a hideout.

　We came here to confirm the truth.
　The purpose is to investigate the remnants of the "Order of the Snake" at the request of the Pope.

I didn't have much choice. Princess Sophia was in trouble.
　I answered Lucy's question.

　There are not many Temple Knights in the Water Country (Roses).
　The Temple Knights in this world play the role of policemen.
　They are indispensable to maintain security.

　Temple Knights belong to the Goddess Church, and the shortage of human resources in the Water Kingdom (Roses) is compensated for by knights dispatched from the Sun Kingdom.
　In other words, if the Pope, who is the head of the Goddess Church, were to say, "In preparation for the defeat of the Great Demon King, the Temple Knights (Templar Knights) of the Water Country (Roses) will be withdrawn," it would be very embarrassing.

　Of course, normally they wouldn't do such a thing, but it's also possible that they would demand the custody of the Moon Priestess (Friae-san) as an excuse for refusing.
　I decided to listen to what he said quietly.

''So, is there a snake cult?''
　Furiae-san is holding onto Sa-san's clothes sleeve while scurrying around.
　Originally, it was my role as a guardian knight, but I decided to have him stay close to Sa-san, who is the safest.


　--'Searching' skill.


　I walk through the abandoned village, looking for signs of the enemy.
　However, they didn't hit at all.
　My 'search' range is about 100 meters in radius....
　But there is a companion more suited to searching for the enemy than me.

How's Lucy?
Hmm, no. I don't hear anything.
　Lucy's hearing, which has a wider range and higher accuracy than my 'spotting' skill.
　And yet, if you can't hear anything.......

False information.
What are we going to do?　Takatsuki-kun. Do you want to go home?
Ummm....
　If no one's here, there's nothing to do.
　Maybe I'm just out and about.
　Let's try to stick it out a bit.

"Let's wait a while, and if it still doesn't come, let's go home.
Yes, sir.
Hmm, I came all the way down here.
That said, it's better to be safe than sorry, Hooley.
　The tension faded somewhat and we decided to stay in the shadows.

　There's no response to my 'searching' skills.
　Lucy has been alerted to it as well.
　It's unlikely that we'll be ambushed.



　◇



　It had been about half an hour since we arrived at the abandoned village.

　A voice echoed in my head.

(First.........Mako.......!　Let go....
　Mr. Noah?
　You're talking too far away.
　Mr. Noah?　What's going on?　

.................　
　It's not responding.
　What is it?

　It was then.



　--Schutta!



　And with a small sound, someone landed on the ground.
　It must have come with flight magic.
　At the approach, I didn't notice it at all.
　The approach was terrifyingly quiet and quick.



　--Thrill, I felt goosebumps.



　The man standing in front of me was wearing white armor and a goddess emblem.
　He's a Temple Knight (Templar Knights).

　And yet........why is the 'Search(──)enemy(──)' skill reacting?　

　The person there was Alexandre, the 'Brave Man of the Sun' whom I had just met the other day.

''Hey, it's a coincidence.''
　White, the man announced.
　The expression on his face was a thin smile.

　........Coincidence?
　I guess there are no coincidences in bumping into anyone(s) in an abandoned village like this.

"..........
　I silently held my dagger at the ready.
　Lucy raised her staff and Sa-san stood in front of Friae-san.
　Furiae-san stared quizzically at the brave man of the sun.

　The man in front of him grinned and announced.

'Shall I ask you to hand over that moon maiden over there?
"No.
　Without pause, I responded.
　I guess that answer was to be expected.
　He doesn't seem particularly surprised.

'No, no, you guys don't have veto power,'
　The Sun Brave (Alexandre) shrugged.

'The Pope's orders?'
No, it's just me, that's all. The Pope has nothing to do with it.
　The brave man of the sun smiles with a spare smile and even talks about something unnecessary.
　Apparently, it was a trap for the Pope.

　........Was it a mistake to come?

''Sa-san.
'Yes!　I'll protect Fu-chan!
　I decided to let Sa-san take charge of Friaree-san.
　I call out to the spirits and Lucy increases her magic power so that she can use her magic at any time.

　But the hero of the sun in front of me only grins and doesn't do anything.

'Hey, hey, resistance is pointless, okay?　You'd better give it to him before he gets hurt, huh?
　It seems that he's determined to take Friae away.
　And it looks like he's planning to force things forward.

Huh.........I don't enjoy torturing the weak, but.......hmm?
　The sun brave was about to say something, cut off mid-sentence and looked up at the sky.
　When I looked over there, I saw something coming towards us at high speed.

''Friae!''
"Takatsuki-kun!　Aya!
　It was Mr. Yokoyama and Mr. Sakurai who appeared on the Pegasus.
　Sakurai jumped down from the Pegasus and stood in front of us.

　I'm glad to hear that.
　If you've come to see me, I'll be relieved.

I heard from Princess Noel. That the High Priestess was planning to abduct Freyae.
"Oh, I didn't know we've reached the brave men of light....... I've been told by you not to let you get hurt, though.
　Even with Sakurai-kun's arrival, the brave man of the sun didn't lose his spare smile.

　When I glanced at the sky, it was clear, despite some clouds.
　It's different from the Demon King's battle from some time ago.
　He's the all-important brave man of light.
　So why are you so comfortable with that...?

Move, brave man of light.
　The brave man of the sun told him arrogantly.

'I refuse.'
　Sakurai-kun drew his sword and held it ready.

　Me, Lucy, and Yokoyama-san also prepare to support him.
　Compared to the tension on this side, the hero of the sun doesn't seem overawed.

''Huh ... it's so cumbersome!

　The brave man of the sun sighed heavily.
　Next moment.


　--Gow!


　And a gust of wind blew.
　A vast amount of battle spirit (aura) raged from the brave men of the sun.
　A warm light envelops the area as if to protect us from that violent aura.

　Sakurai-kun's body and sword blade shine faintly as he holds his magic sword at the ready.
　It's quiet, but this one also has an enormous fighting spirit (aura) that is on par with the Hero of the Sun.

The Sun Brave Alec. I'm not sure if this is the right time for us to be fighting. Pull!
Of course. I don't want any trouble with you.
Well.....
If only we could get that Moon Priestess in custody.
I can't do that.
I guess that's a deal breaker.
　I'm not negotiating with you!

　Stating a one-sided request, the brave man of the sun slowly walks towards us.

'Don't come any closer.'
　Sakurai-kun's voice is hard.

''Ryousuke........''
　I heard Friae's anxious muttering.　

　The brave men of light are supposed to be the strongest.
　It's okay........right?

　The brave man of the sun never stops walking and smiling.
　He approaches us with a grin on his face.

'I'll add or subtract. Don't feel bad about it.''
　As Sakurai-kun said, he swung his sword and slammed the 'back of the blade' into the hero of the sun.
　Mine strike.

　With a snap, the Sun Hero grabbed Sakurai-kun's magic sword in his hand.

"That's it!
　Yokoyama-san shouted in astonishment.

''Oh come on, what are you going to do with such blunt pretenses?''
　The opposite hand that grabbed the sword clenched its fist.
　A thrust like a flash of light grazed near Sakurai-kun's face.

''Kuch!''
　Sakurai-kun takes the distance.

Oh, you're ducking. I'm sure I was too easy on him. I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.
　The brave man of the sun is still smiling wryly.

''All right, I'll get serious next time.''
　Sakurai-kun's body and magic sword shone like the time he defeated the King of Beasts.
　The figure of Sakurai-kun with his sword at the ready has disappeared.


　--The Sword of Light, Sen.


　I heard those voices.
　There was a small explosion and a flash of light.
　Next, a storm blew up and dust flew in the air.

　I saw something, flying away.
　It appeared to be a human figure.


　I heard someone's stunned muttering.

　-- The one who was blown away was an unconscious Sakurai-kun.