A man turned into a demon?
Impossible.... I've never seen or heard of anything like that before!

　Solstice shakes her head, as if she doesn't want to admit reality beside me, who is stunned.
　In front of us, the nightmare continues.

''Huh... let's get started, shall we?

　The man-eating demon (Ogre), the symbol of nightmares, smoke billowing from his dark skin, a smile on his ugly face and a muddled human language of pronunciation.
　Mr. Kilt frowned uncomfortably.

'What is it with you, my dear?'
Now, what's this all about?

　phone

''Nah,'' the huge body of the ogre suddenly disappeared.
　The remaining earth caves in, and then Kirt-san raises his greatsword with extraordinary speed.

　Gagiiin.

"Oh?

　The ogre, which attacked forcefully from above, made a startled face.
　Underneath the black behemoth, Kirt-san's great sword served as a shield to protect the huge fist that the ogre unleashed. With the impact, the red cloth that covered the sword's body popped off, exposing the great sword with lightning in it.

''Mmmm.''

　buzz

　The great sword was swung out and the giant ogre on top of it was thrown away.
　The monster spun lightly in the air and landed with a cloud of dust.

''Really...?　You're strong, aren't you?

　His bloody eyeballs opened in a dazed manner.
　Mr. Kilt took a step forward on his left foot, half-heartedly, in silence.
　He holds the great sword right beside him.

'Kilt,'
It's nothing to do with you.

　Behind her, she replies to Illtimina-san, who is holding a white spear, without turning around.

''More importantly, you must protect the dragon car.
What?

(Huh?)

　We were surprised, and then we realized.
　As soon as Kirt-san started fighting the ogre, the remaining wild thieves began to move without a sound.

''Wha.......Mazu!

　Solstice makes an impatient sound.

　With the appearance of the ogre, our forces were focused on the second carriage.　
　It's not just the two demon hunters. Because of Clay-san's serious injuries, all of his companions have also gathered by his side.

　In other words.

(Us and Mr. Pilgrim's dragon car are completely unprotected!

　It was.

It's now!
Kill them all!
Oh, no!

　With a bloodcurdling cry, the wild thieves rushed into the three vehicles.

　Mr. Illtimina was lost for a moment.
　There were three targets to protect.
　But she only had one.

　But she quickly looked at me.

'Merle!'

　When I see him trying to run over here, I yell out in a panic.

'No!'
!
'Miss Illtimina, guard the pilgrim's dragon car!　We've got Solstice over here!

　And near the second carriage is Mr. Clay's companion.

(For strength, this distribution should be the best in the war!)

　Solstice is stunned by my words, and Illtimina-san shows a look of surprise and hesitation.
　But Kilt-san, with her gaze keeping the ogre in check.

I know what I'm talking about, Merle!　--That boy is right, Irna. Go to the dragon car in the back!

　Ms. Illtimina bit her lip for a moment.
　She looks at me, and I nodded widely.

'Yes, Marle.'

　Answering in a small way, she turned herself around.
　Her beautiful hair fluttered, and she became a gale, heading for the pilgrims' dragon car.

(Good.)

　I'm relieved, but with a snap, Solstice hits me on the head.
　Ow, that hurts.

"I don't appreciate you telling me what to do...　
I'm sorry.

　I apologize to the girl for having to protect the dragon car over here.
　But I figured it was for the best.

　Solstice stares at my face for a moment, and eventually exhales heavily.

'Well, it can't be helped. As it stands, it's the best way to go.'

　Then Solstice put her hand on the doorknob of the dragon car.
　Feeling responsible, I called out my name.

"Solstice.
It's okay. Don't you ever come out, rags?　--You stay here and stay put. All right?

　They stared at me, and then warned the trembling Gosha-san as well.
　Gosha-san and the others nodded coyly.

　Then she opened the door and stepped out of the dragon car.

　I quickly stuck to the window.

(Three of them are here!)

　Three strong adults with curved swords were running towards us.
　In contrast, there was one girl with such a small back.

　I believe in that girl's strength, and I think she'll be fine.......but the anxiety doesn't go away from my mind.

(No, I'm fine!)　(Soltis is that Illtimina's sister, you know?

　I tell her desperately.

　Then, the white marked demon hunter girl moves the large staff in her hand and draws magic letters in the air.

　Bass.

!

　Solstice hurriedly evaded the flying arrows, interrupting the magic and avoiding them in a hurry.
　As soon as I saw Solstice's magic chanting, one of the three wild thieves had switched weapons to a bow.

　The two remaining wild thieves flesh out at her as the magic stops.
　The one who reached her first brought down his curved sword.

''Urryah!''
Huh.

　kid

　Barely, the large cane catches it.
　But the large wooden staff was shaved off a bit by the blade of the metal curved sword.

　Solstice desperately twisted around to avoid the other attacker who attacked her from the side.

''Konno!''

　wham!

　The wild thief's abdomen, kicked away.
　The blown up wild thief man collided with the other man, and in the meantime, Solstice tried to activate his magic again.

　Bass, bass, bass.

d*mn ... you're persistent!

　An arrow was shot and Solstice hurriedly avoided it.
　The magic was interrupted again.
　In the meantime, the two fallen thugs also regained their positions and attacked the beautiful girl again.

(So, Solstice...?)

　At this point, I realized how shallow I was.

　--Sortis was a 'wizard'.

　And in order to use magic, you had to have 'tamé', and for that, you had to have someone to earn the time.
　Normally, it would be the two older demon hunters who would do that.

　No, if it was just her alone, she could have used that leaping power to get away from them in one go and hide in the shadows and use her magic.
　But there were me and Gosha-san two here.
　That's why Solstice can't leave the side of this dragon car.

　Normally, three wild thieves are not enemies, but Solstice's characteristics as a 'magician' are very unsuited to the role of 'protection'.

(Duh, what should I do?)

　I felt my blood boil.

　Even to the untrained eye, Solstice's close-quarters combat was poor and dangerous.
　It felt like he was blocking two curved swords from the thieves with just his superior physical abilities and reflexes.

(Someone help me...)

　I stuck to the other window and watched the other battles.

　Ms. Kilt was fighting an ogre.
　Against the huge body that was attacking her, leaving behind an afterimage, she was playing back all of her attacks while staying on her feet.

　Guinn, guinn, bachi-yin.

　Every time their fists and great swords collided, a blue lightning bolt dyed the world.

　Very, very, very little room for her to come this way.
　No, I'd rather have her keep that monster in check, or else the war situation will be even worse.

(Illtimina-san...?)

　She, too, was struggling.
　The pilgrims' dragon car was swarming with the most number of wild thieves. It's a bigger dragon car than the other two, so maybe they're being targeted even more.

　Her white spear is gradually reducing the number of wild thieves.
　But Solstice was going to be hit before the wild thieves were wiped out.

　Ms. Clay's companions couldn't rely on more.

　An old man in a robe continued to cast a desperate recovery spell on Clay-san, who had lost his right arm. He seems to be controlling the bleeding from the wound.
　But that's why he can't move.
　With the other three remaining people, it was going to be very difficult to protect these two and the carriage.
　Shakra-san also pulled out the rapier at her waist and was desperately trying to cut down the wild thieves while being bathed in return blood.

(No.........!)

　No one seems to be able to help me.

　In my impatient ears.

Yikes!

　I heard a small scream from Solstice.

(Solstice!?!?)

　I panicked and stuck to the first window.
　And I stiffened.

　Fresh blood was dripping from the white arm of Solstice, who was holding a large cane. There is something red on the curved sword of the wild thief in front of me.

I'm not going to be able to get a good look at you guys.

　Solstice laughs, as if in defeat.
　But his breathing was ragged with pain, and his little shoulders were bobbing up and down in a big way.

　The men in the wilderness were laughing lowly.
　Showing off their horrible curved swords, they slowly approach the beautiful, wounded girl.

(They're enjoying themselves...)

　I hurt Solstice and laughed at her.
　He laughed at that girl, who was desperately trying to be strong.
　And then he was deliberately moving slowly closer to her to scare her into hurting her even more.

'---'

　Something snapped inside me.

"Oh, hey, little man?
..........

　Ignoring the young Gosha's voice, I turn the doorknob of the dragon car.
　Then I stepped outside.

　Ta-ta-tah.

　As soon as he got out, he started running and pulled out a single-edged dagger from behind his waistbelt - The Fang of Marl - and released it.
　One of the viciousnesses approaching Solstice, fleshing out from behind.

Hey, look out!

　A wildling with a bow warns his companions.
　But it's too late.

　I thrust 'Marl's Fang' into the wild thief's flank, as if to strike the man who was about to turn around, as if to strike his body.

　Thud.

What?

　The feeling of tearing flesh is transferred from the handle to my palm.
　At my interruption, Solstice says, "Rags and rags! He looked surprised.

'What the hell, man?

　wham!

　The other burglar beside me kicks me away.
　My light body easily flies through the air and falls to the ground and rolls around in a rumble.

　But it was less painful.

(Thanks to the travel clothes Iltimina bought me.)

　These clothes have a buffer sewn into them.
　Of course you can feel the impact.
　But no damage was done.

'Ha, ha.'

　I stood up, holding my blood soaked 'Marl's Fang' at the ready.

''Ow ... you little shit!

　The man who had been stabbed approached me in a form of rage, holding his side.

　It wasn't a man, I thought.
　That face looked like a demon.

I'm going to kill you' - I can feel a strong malice from the man of the wildlife.

　That's why I don't feel any guilt for stabbing him.

　Ethics, an emotion that does not help me, has disappeared somewhere. I don't even feel the prohibition against killing people anymore.

　So, from my low stance, I attacked him like an animal.

''Uhhhh!''

　He roared and approached.
　Aiming at me, he swung his curved sword down.

　Gagging.

He caught it with his 'Marl's Fangs' and pushed back with his whole body, keeping the momentum of the rush. A single-edged dagger with sparks was thrust into his thigh and collided with his head.

''Gah!

　He mooed and rolled to the ground with me.
　I got up a step ahead of him, mounted him and swung 'Marl's Fang' down messily.

　Gah, zach, gah, zach.

　The black leather armor prevented some of the slashes, but some of the slashes pierced his flesh.
　Behind his eyes, he saw fear.

　I can kill him like this - I thought.

　Basuuuut.

What...?

　Suddenly, there was a shock in my back.
　Hot.
　No, it hurts........!

　Out of the corner of my eye as I looked back, about 10 meters away, stood a wild man with a bow at the ready.

(Could this be an arrow stuck in me?)

　I can't see it on my back.
　But the place where I was stabbed is hot and it hurts.
　Ouch, ouch, ouch.......!

"Merle!

　I heard Solstice scream and huffed back to myself.

(Yes, what I should be doing...)

　Remembering my role, I abandon the man who slashed me and get up.
　In front of Solstice, there's another burglar. But she should be able to manage it, one on one.

　Believing that, I set my sights on the bow burglar and attack him.

''Don't lick it, kid!

　As I approached, the wild man threw away his bow and drew his curved sword from his waist.

''Uraa!''

　An unavoidable blow.
　But I had no intention of avoiding it either.

　Swinging my left arm like a shield, I took it. The curved blade of the curved sword ripped through flesh and stopped as it hit bone.

　Before I could feel the pain, I just hit my body.　

　Dogon.

(Sigh)

　I was going to just pull him down.
　But the body of a strong adult accepts my light thrust with ease. The hilt of the curved sword is swung down on its back.

　Clunk!

"Iggy!

　Combined with the arrow wound, my vision flickers with pain.
　But I don't let go of my hand.

'What the hell, dude?　Get off me!　Get off me!　Get off!

　Gasp, gasp, gasp, gasp!

　The continuous, intense pain burns through my head, and I replace the Fang of Marl with my backhand.
　I thrust it desperately through the cracks in my armor.

　Zubu.

What?

　A moment later, a tremendous knee kick pierces my stomach and both of my feet lift off the ground.

　I could feel my insides twisted.

　Unable to bear it, I let go of my hand and rolled on the ground, vomiting.
　There was also red blood in the liquid I vomited.

''I won't allow it anymore!　I'm going to cut you limb from limb while you're still alive and kill you, you little shit!

　Holding his back, the man in the field yells angrily.
　The man who had fallen to the ground after being cut by me had also gotten up, holding a curved sword in his hand.

''I'll definitely kill you'' - the two men's expressions spoke eloquently.

(I'm still weak, I am........)

　The muscles of a child could not inflict a mortal wound on these strong, brawny men.
　But I think it did its job.

　Boom, Zsa Zsa.

　Between me and the two burglars, who fell to the ground like that, another burglar rolled in between me and the two burglars. There was a distinct shoe print on its face, and that's when the two wild thieves finally realized the blunder they had committed.

　They hurriedly turned around and looked at a beautiful demon hunter girl holding a large staff in front of them.

''Well done, Marle.''

　The magic stones of the great staff glowed blue.

　Their expressions turned pale.

　Solstice's voice told them to sing.

It's a good thing that you're not the only one. --Uro Boulouse.

　The blue light of the magic stone drew out magical letters.
　The magic letters condensed as they rotated and changed into a sphere made of water.

''What's that?''

　All the men in the place, including me, thought.
　In the next moment, a sphere of water floated in the air, leaving a long tail behind, and attacked the burglars.
　Reflexively, the curved sword was swung.

　But the opponent is water.

　The blade passes through the water, and two of the wild thieves' men are swallowed whole in the water - or rather, in a giant snake made of water.

''~~~~''
"~~~~

　I can't breathe and writhe violently.
　But he cannot get out of the giant water snake, and a large amount of air bubbles bobbing and leaking from its mouth and nose.
　Eventually, the movement of its limbs slows down.

　The life energy disappeared from its eyes.

(............)

　Beneath the blue belly of the giant water snakes, I watched them all.

　Their water-dead faces were filled with terrible suffering.

''Hiiii!''

　The only surviving wild man, the only surviving wild man, threw away his curved sword and ran away.
　The tip of Solstice's great staff marks his back.

''Eat, snake of the water general.''

　A short word.
　In response to the command, the water serpent wiggled its huge blue body and with tremendous speed, caught up to the fleeing wild man and swallowed him whole from the head. Its face, desperately flailing in the water, was twisted in despair.

　Reflexively, I look away.
　But I quickly turned my face back to it.

(I have to see it through...)

　I was going to kill them.
　So I knew I couldn't run from that death. I had to remember the meaning of that, even if it hurts.

　Thump.

(Ouch!)

　Suddenly, a pain shot through the back of my head.

'Stupid Marle, don't do it,'

　I turn around and see Solstice hitting me with her large, green-glowing cane.
　Her lips twitched and she said

'When you take someone else's pain and make it all about you, then you'll break down. Empathy is important, but you have to make sure you have closure.
Yes.

　For some reason, Solstice looked like Illtimina-san right now, even though her expression was so different.
　Maybe that's why, I nod my head honestly.

　And then I suddenly realize.

(Huh........body pain?)

　It was gone.
　Even the arrow that had been stuck in her back had fallen to the ground behind her before she knew it.

　I looked up and noticed that the magic stone on her great staff was glowing green.
　Twice now, that glow has soothed me.

(But I wish you wouldn't have to hit me to heal it.)

　I chuckle a bit.

'Thanks, Solstice.'
Hmm.

　The girl turned away, shaking her soft purple hair and using her recovery magic.
　But with only her crimson eyes turned towards us.

You've done well. I'm going to give you credit, Merle.
"Ha-ha.

　The pompous manner in which she speaks is typical of Solstice.
　But she frowned at her young beauty and said

"But you can't do something like that again. What will you do if you die?
I'll be fine.

　I pompously slapped myself on the chest.　

'One more time and I wouldn't mind dying.'

　Yeah, of course, but if it weren't for The Bright Stone of Life, I wouldn't do something this reckless either.
　Or rather, I can't.

''Hey, anta.''
And it's a lot better than Solstice dying. I don't hate you.
..........

　Solstice, he suddenly froze.

(?)

　Eventually, he exhales heavily, as if to take the heat out of something.

''This is how you've tucked my sister Irna in.......''
What are you talking about?
No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. I'm fine. I'm fine. I know. I'm fine.

　?
　She looked away from me, scowling, as if to escape.

It's not over yet. Everyone else is still fighting. I'm going to help. --Can you move?
Uh-huh.

　I nodded, and she held out her white hand to me.
　I stared at it for a moment.

　sizzling sound

　I take his hand in mine.

　Her small, young hands are small, but they cause me to be incredibly strong. Immediately, she lets go of my hand.

'Let's go, rags and tatters.'
Yes.

　Solstice carried the great staff and ran, and I followed.

　The battlefield, dyed red, still echoes the tone of battle, and is not yet at the end of its life - the battlefield is not yet at the end of its life.