"Okay, I think this is a good place."

Rock, who was in the lead, looked at the terrain and decided.

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"This is a good place to get the herd of mountain lions to change direction.

It was impossible to make the galloping herd change direction at right angles. So, we have to make them turn around at a gentle curve. The perfect terrain for this was right in front of us.

It was a step of about 2 meters. It is not so steep as to be a cliff, nor is it a slope.

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If we could just get them to turn to the west, they would just keep going.

"Listen, the four of us have to stay close to him and lead him single file. Keep your heads up!"

Oh!

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Jin and the other four rode their golem horses toward the distant dust cloud. The distance between them is rapidly closing.

"All right, turn around!　Then ride slowly and let them catch up with you. When the deer catch up, match our speed. Then we'll move west a little at a time."

Locke's instructions were precise, as he had always wanted to be a knight.

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The herd of mountain lions catches up with them. The four of them skillfully maneuver their golem horses to match the herd's speed.

The four of them are now able to steer their golem horses and keep up with the speed of the herd.　That's it!"

The golem horses can change their speed with a single accelerator pedal, which is why they can work together so well. A real horse would need a lot of training to achieve this level of coordination.

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"That's great, Mr. Locke!"

Jin, who was in the rear of the group and was controlling the horse, was impressed. He has no intention of being second to anyone in terms of making things, but this kind of operation is not something Jin seems to be able to do.

"Push a little more to the right here!

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Locke's command made the golem horses shift their course to the right. The herd of mountain lions also shifted their course to the right.

"We'll keep going to the same place we were!"

The herd moves forward at an angle of 45 degrees to the previous step. Then the lead deer, not liking the bump, shifted further to the right.

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"Good!　Keep leading them for a while!"

We continue to lead the herd along the bumps and away from the village. When they were far enough away from the village,

"Okay, that's enough. Let's turn back!"

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The four of them return to the village of Kaina in a wide arc so as not to provoke the mountain lion. There is no longer any need to worry about the mountain lion heading back to the village.

"You're doing a great job, Mr. Locke!"

Jin says to Locke as they stand side by side,

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"That's my brother!　I didn't think it would go so well!"

"Indeed."

The other members all praised Locke in unison.

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"Come on, man, don't be a dick. It's not as if the other beasts aren't coming into the village. Let's hurry back!"

With a touch of embarrassment, Locke opened the throttle of his golem horse and headed for the village at a high speed. Jin and the others followed a step behind.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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In the end, nothing more unusual happened, and the day ended with the guards standing guard once again.

Tired from the daytime guidance, Jin soon fell asleep. Around midnight, however, he was awakened by a loud rumbling sound.

"What is it?

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I was curious, so I went outside and saw a red glow over the mountains to the north. As he looked, the light faded and eventually disappeared, but Jin had no idea what it was. Then he felt a cold sweat running down his back.

"What was that?

What the hell was that light?

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Is the mountain going to collapse?

The people who were woken up by the rumbling of the earth are also looking at the red light and muttering anxiously.

"Magic ...... explosion ......"

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Those who cannot use magic cannot feel it, but Jin sensed it clearly. Something or someone, something with powerful magical power had been defeated. The core of magic was destroyed.

The core of magic is the root of magical power that demons have. Since it controls all magical power, if it is destroyed by magic, the magical power may run out of control and cause an explosion.

"But if it is that large, how great a monster was it?

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According to Jin's assessment, this is the magical power of a demon that is not quite a dragon, but close to it. The person who could defeat such a demon ....... The current Jin probably can't compete with it.

"Can you manage it with just a blade of water jet ......?"

Even if the water jet works, Jin is the only one who can use it. If there are several opponents, I don't think he can protect the whole village.

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"Oh no. ......?"

But escape is not an option for Jin. He did not want to abandon the village that was becoming his second home.

"Shelter ......?"

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The shelter is Jin's conclusion. In case of emergency, the shelter should be built for all the villagers to escape.

"We have to get to it right away."

Not wanting to worry anyone, Jin starts to build the shelter without telling anyone. The location is a rocky area on the outskirts of the village. He calls Gon and Gen, the golems, and gives them instructions.

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Gon and Gen, dig a big hole here. It should be big enough for all the villagers to fit in.

"I've found it."

Two of them immediately started digging. The adamantite on the tips of their fingers helped them dig through the hard bedrock without difficulty.

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"Good, dig deeper!"

I wanted a depth of at least 10 meters.

The excavated rock was compacted and hardened to reinforce the interior of the hole. This allowed us to excavate efficiently without piling up earth and rocks around the hole.

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It took longer because we dug at an angle, but it will make it easier to use.

"Okay, that's good. Now let's dig the living space. The ceiling height is, let's say, 3 meters.

Jin gives instructions while reinforcing the walls. The golem is damaged by the hard work, but Jin quickly repairs it so as not to delay the work.

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Soon the dawn breaks. Jin decides to return to Martha's house. Gon and Gen let him continue working.

Good morning.

"Good morning, sweetie. ......?"

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Hannah's eyes rolled back in her head when she saw Jin.

"What's wrong, honey?　You look terrible, don't you?"

When Jin reflected his face in the water, his eyes were bright red and bloodshot, and dark circles had formed under his eyes. No wonder Hannah was surprised.

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"Oh, ah, I couldn't sleep last night. ......"

Martha came in and was just as surprised as Hannah when she saw Jin's face.

"Jin!　What's the matter with you?　What's going to happen to this village if something happens to you now?

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"What ......?"

Jin looks at Martha in surprise.

"Don't you realize what you're doing?　The scouting, the fence, and preventing the mountain lion yesterday would not have been possible without you.　You're the reason we all feel safe."

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"I'm ......?"

"Yes, you are. You're a part of the village now...you're trying to do things on your own...but you're a watery one...you know that? We share our hardships and joys together, in this village.

When Martha said this to Jin, he couldn't help but feel his eyes burning.

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"Thank you. I ......."

Martha pushed Jin's shoulder,

"You look like you haven't had enough sleep. Go ahead and get some sleep. You'll feel better after a little sleep.

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Hitoshi said again, "Thank you, sir,

"Thank you very much."

Jin thanked her again and fell into his own bed.

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"Onii-chan ......"

Martha looked at Hannah with concern,

"Let her sleep for now. When she wakes up, I'll give her some warm porridge.

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With these words, Martha took Hannah outside.

After sleeping soundly for five hours, Jin eats his breakfast and lunch and rushes back to the shelter he is digging. He is half embarrassed.

"It's pretty much done. ......"

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Gon and Gen were running somewhat poorly now that Jin had left. Jin quickly repairs them and inspects the inside. It looks like 80% of the work is done.

"Okay, I think we can make it in time.

But there comes a time when Jin's efforts will be in vain.

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"Jin!　There you are!　Heaven!"

Locke came flying in, gasping for breath.

"Mr. Locke?　What's wrong?

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"Well, it's, it's from the North Mountain ......"

"From the North Mountain?"

"......, you're not going to believe what's coming. ......"

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What?　What?

It's a monster. Or a giant monster.

Anyway, you'll have to see for yourself ......."

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So the shelter stops for a while, and Jin, accompanied by Gon and Gen, goes to the north of the village to the protective fence.

"Oh, Jin. What does that look like?"

Tom, who was standing guard, points in the direction of the fence.

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"...... what?"

A girl in a light blue dress with a white apron. Her silky black hair is flowing down her back.

"That's ......."

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The girl spots Jin in the distance, and for a moment her image blurs,

"Father!"

The next moment she was hugging Jin.

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And then...

"Father!

The voices of everyone present faded into the sky.

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