As I left Rapt and Recto Alice's guest room, I was ushered into the reception room by the butler who was waiting for me at the end of that hallway.

　Inside, everyone was there.

　Illtimina-san, Kilt-san, Soltis, General Dardios, and Frederica-san - the five of them were seated on a plush sofa, sitting around a long, narrow table.
　And with the opening and closing of the door, all five of them turned their gazes towards us.

''Merle!''

　Before anyone else, Illtimina-san stands up and runs over to me.

　Mugh.

　The usual hugs.

(...Oh, I'm so glad I did.)

　The warmth of it, the smell of it, everything about this person I love, I could feel it all over my body. It was so comforting and reassuring.

　My hands were, unconsciously, around her back.
　The more I held her in my arms, the closer I felt.

'I'm home, Miss Illtimina,'
Welcome back, Merle.

　A sweet voice whispered into my ear and white fingers gently stroked my hair.
　........Happy.

　Over Illtimina-san's shoulder, I could see the faces of the other two companions.

　Solstice was looking at us.
　But his cheeks were puffed up like a squirrel's and he was moving muggy. On the table in front of them was a plate of cake that was in the process of being eaten and several stacks of cakes.

　Goggle.

　Her throat moved loudly and her cheeks returned to normal.

'Welcome back - you're long overdue, aren't you?'
I'm home.

　You're really the same, aren't you?

　I couldn't help but chuckle.

　Even Kilt-san was laughing at that.
　But he quickly changed his expression.

Good evening, Merle.

　He looked at me and gave me a labored look.
　I gave a small smile.

'Yeah. Actually, I'm a little tired.
Okay.

　Mr. Kilt gets a worried look on his face.
　General Dardios, who was as big as a bear, gave us a taut voice that showed no signs of age.

'So, Jingu-dono?　How did that work out for you?

　The dialogue with the same 'Divine Consort', and the results of that dialogue are probably being questioned.

　Frederica-san, although not in words, seems to be concerned about the same thing in her expression. No, maybe Kilt-san and Solstice are the same as usual on the surface, but inside they are different.

(That's why we've come to this Arun Divine Empire, right?)

　It took a month and a half.

　I let go of Mr. Illtimina's body.

'Is she all right?　If you're tired, we can talk about it later...

　She's the only one who puts my health first.

(Thanks, Iltimina.)

　It warmed my heart and blew away my exhaustion; on the contrary, I felt invigorated.

　I laughed and turned to everyone, saying 'it's okay'.
　Then I decided to tell everyone what I had talked to the two 'God Fangirls' about--.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　After an hour or so of talking, no one opened their mouths for a while.

　Eventually, Frederica-san said with a pout.

"...I never thought that 300 years ago, we humans would have been so stupid.
Um....

　General Dardios also crossed his thick arms and closed his eyes.

"The way he was acting, the way he was acting like a puppet, the way he wasn't looking at us, the way he was looking at us, I can see why.......

　A very bitter voice.

　There must have been more than a few parts of Shogun's mind that felt a lot of things about the attitude of those two 'Divine Relatives' towards them. However, now that he knew the reason, that part of him seemed to have melted away, just a little bit.

　Kilt-san and Solstice are also difficult faces.

　Iltimina-san's crimson eyes, sitting on the sofa next to her, were also looking at me, who must have been subjected to the same thing once, with pain. Her white hand slowly strokes my hair as if she is laboring.

　The warmth of their hands supported me as I said, "Still, we are both human beings.

'But they still promised to help us humans.
Okay.

　General Dardios nodded.

'I must thank Lord Marr for interceding.
Nope.

　I shook my head.

'But even though I can say that, I don't think I've got my emotions in order yet. I think it will take a little more time to sort out some of the issues. So please, everyone, when you're dealing with those two, please keep a little more open-mindedness in your dealings with them.

　Then he bowed to everyone.

'No, no. Lord Merle doesn't have to bow.

　Miss Frederica was in a hurry.

　Meanwhile, Kilt and the others nodded widely.

'Alright. Let's do what Marle says and be careful.
Yes, sir.
Hey, it's no use.

　Solstice says, as if she doesn't want to talk about it.

(But she's got a soft spot in her heart, so it's okay.)

　I laughed, relieved at everyone's answers.

"Thanks, guys.
We're the ones who owe you thanks, don't we?

　General Dardios said in a troubled tone, "If you were here, the relationship between the Divine Family and humanity would be more broken.

If it weren't for you, the relationship between the Divine Family and humanity would be even more broken. ...Perhaps it is because of you, Mahr, that we humans are left with hope.

　You're exaggerating again.....
　Frederica-san, you know, she would take her father's joke seriously and nod her head with a serious expression.

　I laughed appropriately and passed it off.

''For now, I think we can both cooperate in diving into the 'Great Labyrinth' in search of the 'Divine Armament'.
"Mm.

　The General nodded.
　And there, Frederica-san frowned at her beautiful face.

''However, I didn't know that the act of excavating and collecting the 'Divine Armor' left behind by the gods from the ruins of Arun for many years in order to carefully preserve them was an act against the will of the gods....... Honestly, I am afraid of our ignorance...

　Yeah.

(I know, it backfired on me, as I thought it would.)

　Although it was done out of faith and good intentions, the 'divine armor' died as a result and is now a blow to humanity.
　Is it true that ignorance is a sin?

　Solstice blurts out.

''I hope the 'Great Maze' finds a living 'Divine Armor'.
Yes.

　I nodded, too.
　I could only pray for that now.

　It was kind of quiet in the room.

　Hmmm?

(Right. I've got to report a bit of cheerfulness, too.)

　I decide.

Yeah, yeah. There's just one more thing I want to tell you guys.
Is that what you want to tell me?

　A curious-looking Illtimina.

'Yes.'

　Nodding, I pivot and get up from the couch.
　As it was, I stood in front of everyone.

Actually, I've kind of gotten my 'Godgu' powers back.
...What?
What?
What?

　Five surprised people.

　I stare back at them all, and I smile a bit mischievously.

　Then, I open the 'divine faucet' inside my body a little.

　Gyuosh.

　Oh, hot, hot!

　The force of lava running through my body is as strong as magma.

　My head and ass are aching.

(Are we done?)

　I immediately turn off the faucet.

　Then, in front of everyone's astonished eyes, there was me, with dog ears and a tail, standing in front of them. Perhaps because I flushed more than before, my whole body is glowing a bit.

''Ma, Maar!
What's that look...?
What the hell is that?

　All three of them reacted well.
　General Dardios and Ms. Frederica also stare at me with their father and son eyes wide open with the same color.

'Well?'

　I am proud of myself.

"Actually, I had Rapt and Recto Alice release the 'divine energy' that was dormant in me.
Huh?

　Mr. Kilt's golden eyes narrowed.

'I see you've gained a lot of power, haven't you?
Yes.

　I clench my fists tightly.

　Crunch, crunch, crunch.

　Around his hand, the 'divine Qi' that was being released popped and sent out small sparks.

　Seeing this, Kirt-san laughed.

I see. I see.
..........

　Oh.........
　The look on Kilt's face right now was a bit frightening, like he was looking at his prey.

(Ooh, go easy on him, right?)

　I'll appeal to you in my mind.

　And Solstice, the bespectacled girl, approached us with a curious look on her face. The red eyes behind the glasses glittered with curiosity.

''Heh~?　Merle, did you grow ears and a tail?
Yes.
You know?　Can I touch it?

　Of course.
　When I allow it, she's happy to say, "Yes!

　I'm relieved, too.

　And then I thought.

Wow!

　Ouch!

　Suddenly, I'm screamed at near dog-ears.

　I scream.
　My tail goes between my inner thighs with a twirl.

　Everyone's faces are startled.

"Hmph?　Can you hear me properly, my ear?
..........

　Solstice made a natural face and wrote something on the note in her hand.　
　Eh, yeah?

(Are you suddenly doing research?)

　That's a genius girl.

　Geez.

'Huh?　Ouch, ouch, ouch!

　She grabbed me by the tail with all her might.

Oh, so it's all connected to the nervous system. But what's more than just pain?
No, no, no!

　Please, be more gentle with me.

　As my tail is roughly pulled, I pull it out of the girl's hand with tears in my eyes and take refuge in a great hurry on Illtimina-san's back.
　Solstice has a very dissatisfied look on her face.

''Hey~. Let me check it out later, okay?
..........

　Solstice, horrible girl.
　I shuddered and watched the girl return to the couch, taking notes.

(Ho~)

　When I was relieved, I suddenly noticed Illtimina-san's gaze as she hugged me.
　Hmm?

　The crimson eyes looking down at me are moist, as if they were somehow buoyed by heat, and a strange light is lit.

''.........''
?

　Miss Illtimina?

　She spills out a shaky voice as she wonders.

'Marl how pretty are you going to be?　........Are you testing my patience, perhaps?

　...........
　Eh.

　I felt some kind of strange power and let go of myself.
　Illtimina-san's hands were clasped tightly together, and her whole body was trembling slightly, as if she was enduring something.

''.........Your appearance is very dangerous, Marle?　Please be careful when you stand before me.
Uh-huh.

　His suppressed, low voice sent shivers down my spine.

　And.

　Shhhhhh....

　With time running out, the dog ears and tail disappeared in a puff of smoke.

(Oh ... good.)

　That's a relief.

'What, has it gone?'
Uh-huh.

　I nodded to Kirt, who had a beatific face.

''I'm in a very human body now, so I'm told that the limit for me to be in the form of a 'divine dog' is three minutes. If you exceed that, your body might collapse.

　I explain that.

　Ms. Soltis, immediately says, "Heh~, I see," and runs a brush across the notepaper.

　The beautiful Frederica-san, dressed as a man, looks terribly disappointed with me, who has returned to her original appearance.
　One of the white gloves on her military uniform is off, and somehow, her hand is almost half-extended on this side, perhaps she wanted to touch my ears and tail.

　The father next to him, General Dardios, nodded widely.

''Apparently, there was something that the 'Godgu' lord could gain from this encounter. ''Fine, fine!　We can expect a great deal from the upcoming "Quest for the Great Labyrinth", can't we? Hahaha!

　He smiled broadly, satisfied.
　Mr. Kilt put a hand to his chin and nodded, "Hmm.

'General?　When will this 'Great Labyrinth Exploration' thing take place?
Mm, the plan is half a month from now.

　Half a month away?

From the Order of the Knights of Arun, 300 of my best men have been selected to join you in your quest for the Great Maze. We intend to join you in your quest for the Great Maze.
Oh, you're preparing for it.
Yeah. Of course you'll be joining me and Fiddy.

　Mr. Kilt looked over at all of them.

'As far as I'm concerned, I'd prefer to go with just the four of us who are used to it, if possible.

　Me, Illtimina, look at Solstice's face and say so.

(...kind of happy.)

　I was honestly happy to be able to reaffirm the fact that the Golden Mark demon hunter had recognized me as one of his friends. The sisters were also somewhat proud of themselves.

　General Dardios also nodded.

''We'll think about what we want to organize.
"Mm.
'But the Great Maze is too deep and dangerous. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get some exposure with our knights. I'm not going to be able to tell you what to do, but I'm going to tell you what to do.
Well, all right.

　Mr. Kilt agreed.
　Mr. General, the most powerful and renowned general in the Arun Divine Empire, grimaced with a stern face.

This thing is for the survival of humanity. We can't afford to fail.

　............
　The four of us and Frederica-san nodded silently to each of us, under the pressure of our responsibility to the world.

　And the General's craggy face broke out.

''Well, that's enough of the hard talk!　We still have a few more days until the Great Maze is explored. Until then, you will spend your time in my house!

　pashin

　He slaps his knees and declares so loudly.
　Then his keen eyes went to the Golden Mark demon hunter.

'Sometimes, Kilt Amandes?　Tonight, you and I are going to have a drink with me and I'm going to give you a reprieve for the night I had to leave you seven years ago!
Hmm?

　Mr. Quilt was surprised.
　He immediately grinned.

'Very well, General. I'll take it.'

　The two of us bash each other's ferocious smiles like animals.
　We are a bit stunned.

　Frederica sighed at the sight of her father, and then turned to us again.

It's like that. We have prepared a light banquet tonight at the house. I hope that you will take your time to restore your spirit until the day the battle begins.
Uh-huh.
Okay.
Yay, I'm in for a treat!

　Me and Illtimina-san nodding, Soltis rejoicing.

　Even Frederica-san's gritty beauty laughed serenely at the happy girl's appearance.

　-- and so we were to live in this General Dardios's mansion for a while, for a brief period of peace and quiet.