In a hanging garden full of life-giving green trees and beautiful flowers, a pure white gazebo was built.

　The father and daughter of the family leading the Kingdom of Shumuria sat down on chairs there.

　We were seated in the lower level of the garden.

"We weren't expecting the king to be there.

　Seeing that they had calmed down, the Golden Mark Demon Hunter opened his mouth.

　Princess Reclear held her mouth and smiled gracefully.

''Hmph, since your father insists on meeting you.
Are you on my left?

　Mr. Kilt glances at me.

(You want to see ... me?)

　When I understood that, I felt a strange sense of urgency.

　It was the first time I had ever seen King Schubert up close and personal.

　His dignified face and beard, the sharpness of his eyes, and his majestic appearance are the ideal image that everyone would think of when they hear the word "king".

　That's how kingly he is.

　His Majesty, the Emperor of the Arun Divine Kingdom, was divine.

　But the King of the Kingdom of Shumuria was majestic and oppressive, like a king in a warrior kingdom.

(As if he was in a serious contest.)

　Such tension.

　Shaking his platinum hair, which was beginning to mingle with his gray, King Schubert looked around at us.

'Gentlemen, this trip to Arun has been a great one.

　A stern voice.　

　A low, thick, but streetwise voice with a dependability that could be called 'Father of the Kingdom'.

'Ha,'

　Kilt-san bowed his head.

　The three of us hurriedly followed suit.

　The King continues.

'I have been informed of everything that happened in Arun. I have been informed of everything that has happened in Arun, and what you have done. But it's all in writing.
..........
Today, I want to see it in person, with my own eyes.

　A glowering gaze.

　There was not an ounce of atmosphere in his words that could be said to be a denial.

'Yes, sir.'

　Mr. Kilt nods and looks at me.

(Huh?)

"Mahr, King Schubert has asked me to show you your 'divine power'.

　Ah, I see.

　The purpose of this trip to the Arun Divine Kingdom is to liberate the power of my "Divine Dog" and to receive the loan or gift of "Divine Armor".

　We have successfully accomplished both of those things.

(We'll just have to show it to you, won't we?)

　I nodded and took a step forward.

　Ms. Illtimina is looking at me with some concern. It's like a mother watching over her son as he makes a presentation at a class visit.

　Soltis doesn't know.
　Even if Marle fails, I feel like I'm irrelevant.

　Only Mr. Kilt seems to have calmed down.

　On the other hand, our client, Princess Reclear, is leaning forward with a curious look on her face, her beautiful odd-eyed eyes shining.

　And King Schubert, cross-legged, with one elbow on the table and his cheekbones propped up, is staring at me with a piercing gaze. He had the air of an examiner passing a cold judgment.

　I took a deep breath and

...divine energy...

　Geez.

　The faucet of power in his body is opened and a great power is poured into his body.

　Beast ears sprout and a long, fluffy tail grows out.

　White sparks of divine Qi burst around him.

(.........Divine Armor (Kolo)!

　In response to my mind's voice, the iridescent sphere that had been housed in my pocket shattered and swirled around me as a particle of light.

　Eventually, it formed iridescent metal wings on my back, shining with rainbow colors.

　Ooh!

The waves in "God Body Mode" spread in concentric circles and shook the flowers and plants in the garden.

　A boy with wings of a divine dog.

　The figure appeared in the air garden.

Well!

　Princess Reclear clasped her hands in front of her face and exclaimed in admiration.

''..........''

　But King Schubert was silent.

　No, on the contrary, his brow was creased tightly in an uncomfortable crease.
　His gaze grew sharper.

''.........this much?''

　There was a strong irritation in his tone of voice.　

(.........what?)

　His gaze is bumped and I'm puzzled.

''With this, the human Kirto Amandes is probably superior to you. Is a 'divine dog' a being with only this level of power?
!

　The moment I received that point, I went rigid.

　Along with the words, with a strong fighting spirit in his eyes, a tremendous "pressure" was slammed into me. This is a level of awesomeness that is comparable to that Golden Mark demon hunter, Kirto Amandes.

(Ugh, ah....)

　King Schubert Greig ad Shumria was a warrior.
　A human warrior with the blood of the goddess Shrien in his veins.

　The pressure he exerted made me feel like a frog staring at a snake.

''Father,''

　Princess LeClear calls out for her father, as if to chide him.

"Hmm,

　The king gave a small snort and put away the 'pressure'.

　Dokundo-kun.

　My heart is beating fast.

'I was told that once, the seven hounds in the service of the goddess Yacowl had bitten even some demons to death. Either the lore was frowned upon, or this is the price of an incomplete summons... Either way, this doesn't help. Disappointing.

　A ruthless voice.
　There is a frivolity in it, as if he had lost interest.

'With all due respect, O king. Without this Mahr, none of us here, including the straw man, would have returned alive to Shumuria.

　Mr. Kilt opened his mouth.
　Princess Reclear nodded, too, with a flattering nod.

And I'm also told that he was the one who defeated the new Devil's Piece that was born in Cocudo.

　He adds so.

　Finally, Mr. Kildt looked back at King Schubert's keen eyes, squarely in front of him, and announced: 'The real value of Marl is not his fighting ability.

"And Marr's true worth does not lie in his ability to fight.
Then what?

　To the king's words, Mr. Kilt replied.

'It is in the power of connecting people to each other.

　..................

(The power to connect people.................?)

　I stare at the silver-haired beauty's profile, not knowing what it means.

　But King Schubert didn't change his grim expression.

Whatever it is, it's not what I want right now.
..........
''The 'Divine Family' and the 'Demon Family'.......I may have overestimated both of them. I'll have to revise my thinking about them in the future.

　Then he stands up.

"King Schubert.

　The king-sama interrupted Kirto's call with one hand raised.

''If you see the value of the original stone in this one, then let's see if you can forge it to a level where its brilliance can live up to my expectations, Kirt Amandes, the Golden Mark Demon Hunter.
...Haha!

　Mr. Kilt nodded his head deeply.

　King Schubert's blue eyes looked around at us slowly.

"I will admit that this expedition has made some progress, but you will have to rest for the time being. But from now on, you may take some time to rest and recuperate.
..........
I've seen it with my own eyes, and I know enough to fight without you.

　As he announced this, he looked up at the blue sky above him.

''Our nation's proud Shumurian Dragon Cavalry, and the Temple Knights of the St. Shulian Faith... there are many people who are as good as you who can fight as well as you, you know.

　Basaaaaaah!

　Just then, a huge flying dragon danced above their heads.

(Ah.........)

　A saddle is trussed to the head of the dragon, and a knight is seated there.

　--The Shumurian Dragon Cavalry.

　Eight knights riding a flying dragon, called the strongest in the Kingdom of Shumuria.

　Their large wings block out the sunlight and cast a shadow on us in the garden.

　The flying dragon of the Shumurian dragon cavalry, as if it had accidentally flown off on a mission, passed over the head of the royal castle and flew at an amazing speed to the sky in the far distance.

　The light returned.

''No more words are needed. Now, show me the rest with the results.''

　Zachariah.

　Flipping his gorgeous cloak embroidered with the national emblem, King Schubert walks away, leaving us to our own devices.　

'...................
..........
..........

　We didn't say anything.

　Just one person.

And then you'll wish you hadn't looked so hard in the eyes.

　Quietly announcing, the Silver Seal Demon Hunter.

　The king-sama stopped in his tracks.

''I, Illtimina-san........!

　Speaking of impoliteness, the manner in which it was spoken was so impolite that not only I, but also Mr. Kilt's complexion turned pale.

　King Schubert's eyes caught hers.

''..........''
..........

　Without stepping back, Iltimina Wong's crimson eyes met the gaze of her country's king and stared back to pierce the opposite direction.

''You are Iltimina Wong?''

　The King muttered.

'I see, you have good eyes. Not only the famous general of Arun, Adobald Dardios, but even the Emperor Azanad has written to him, which is why this Kirto Amandes recommends him.

(...letter?　(Recommendation?)

　What are you talking about?

　But he was in no mood to ask the question, and the king smiled thinly for the first time since his arrival.

You seem to be competent enough. Very well.
...What are you talking about?

　Illtimina frowned dubiously.

'Ask Kilt.

　King Schubert changed his expression and said so, and this time he left the hanging garden.

　...........

　The moment he disappeared, the air eased and a breeze began to flow out.

(Huh, ugh........)

　I let out a breath that had stopped.

　So that's the king of the Kingdom of Shumuria.......
　He was even more kingly than I had imagined, a king-like king, and it was almost scary.

　When I looked over, I saw that Solstice was also breathing heavily.

　If our eyes met, we would have a conversation with each other's gaze, saying something like, 'That was bad~'.

　And the adults.

I'm chilling, Irna. You need to be a little more careful about what you say and do.
I'm just telling you the truth, that's all.

　Mr. Kilt scolded in a whisper, and Mr. Illtimina listened with a clear face.

　And then

"Couscous.

　A cool, bell-rolling laugh drifted through the hanging gardens.　

　It was Princess Reclear.

　We were so overwhelmed by the king's pressure that we had almost forgotten her presence.
　We panicked and knelt down.

''Pardon me, Princess.

　Mr. Kilt apologizes.
　Princess Reclear shook her light blue hair and shook her head from side to side, 'No,' she said.

'Please forgive him for his father. He's a petty one, so I couldn't help but have high expectations of Mahr-sama.'

Petty.......with that?

　She laughed again at my complicated expression.

As far as I'm concerned, Marle-sama has lived up to your expectations. You have really grown up in such a short period of time.
Hi. Hi.

　It's a bit embarrassing to be praised honestly.
　

　Tons.

　Princess Lekria came down the steps of the gazebo and came in front of me, wrapping her hands around mine as if she were wrapping them around me.　

Thank you for your hard work. Thank you for doing what I asked of you, Mahr.
Princess Reclear....
You've all done a great job.

　She sends the other three a beautiful smile, like a large flower, as well.

　The three of them bowed their heads, ''Haha.

''I'm sure the fatigue of the long journey has accumulated, and since your father said so, please take it easy for a while.
Yes, sir.
If I need you, I'll call on you. In the meantime, please be at your disposal.

　Princess Reclear would tell me that.

　Sure, it had been a series of days of battles in Arun, so I thought it would be nice to take it easy.

　But.

Uh, Your Highness?
Yes?
''Well, I think we've been contacted, but have you found the fourth 'Divine Consort'?''

　I ask something that has been bothering me for a long time.

　It's a strange dream that not only I, but also Rapt and Recto Alice, have seen.
　According to the dream, the fourth "Divine Attendant" has already been summoned in the Kingdom of Shumuria.

　I've been asking Princess Reclear to search for it while we were in Arun.

Unfortunately,

　She shook her head from side to side.

'We've searched the entire 100,000-medium area around King's Landing, but we haven't found anyone who looks like it.

　100,000 maids, that's about 100 kilometers.
　Quite a search area.

　According to the princess, they spend quite a bit of time and manpower searching all the land, not only in towns and villages, but also in some cases where they're summoned to unpopular places like me.

(But that's like finding one grain of sand on a beach.)

　We are not visually recognizable as the Household of God at first glance.

I can't even see into the Eye of Shrean yet.

　Princess Reclear closes her right eye and turns only her golden left eye to us.

We will continue our search.
Yes, sir.
It's just that I have a feeling there's a reason you can't see into these eyes as well.

　The reason?

That 'Household of God' itself does not want us to find it.
..........
..........
..........
..........

　All four of us were silent.

　The betrayal of three hundred years ago had also troubled Rapt and Lectoris, who were also troubled by the human allies.

(Maybe even the fourth?)

　Princess Reclear's soft voice comes to my ears as I think about it.

''That's why I have a feeling you'll be able to find me, Merle-sama.
What?
You have this ability to relate to people, don't you?

　She smiled graciously.

　Kilt-san was surprised, and Iltimina nodded widely. Solstice, as usual, has a look on her face that says, I don't know~.

(Ki, I don't know what to expect.)

I'll ask Master Marle and the others to explore the fourth one for a while while while you rest from your travels.
Yes.
Don't look at me like that.

　snappingly

　She patted my arm, softly.

'I'll try to work out the details of what Lady Marl and the others have heard about the 'dark child' plan and all that.
..........
Although, as far as we humans are concerned, any plan that the Demon Family, which hates humans, is a far cry from being a good idea.

　Placing a finger on her shapely chin, Princess Reclear mutters softly.

(Yeah, sure.)

We have a lot of work to do. But we have a lot of people on our side. Why don't we all pitch in and do our part?
Yes, sir.

　Yes, I'm not fighting alone.

　Just when I thought that, I suddenly realized that I'm not alone.

(Even without us, it's enough to fight........was that what the king's words meant, too?

　Maybe I was getting too worked up about it.

"Huh.

　Suddenly Princess Reclear laughed at me.　

'You're prettier when you have such a relaxed look on your face, Marle-sama.

(...what?)

　Behind me, Illtimina-san is nodding loudly, 'Yeah, yeah.

　''S-, is that so?
　He couldn't help but rub his own cheek with his hand.

　Kilt-san chuckled and Solstice cowered her shoulders.

　Then, Princess Reclear changed her expression and looked straight at us with her beautiful odd-eyed eyes.

''Our expedition to the Dark Continent is also coming up in seven months.
..........
I wish you all the best of luck. And please make the most of every day that passes.

　....................

　The four of us nodded widely.

　Above us, looking up, the blue sky spread out above us.

　Our life in the Kingdom of Shumuria, the first time in five months since we returned from the Arun Divine Kingdom, was about to begin again.