Mr. Arvinka showed me to the reception room.

　Probably a room for high value customers.

　The walls seemed to be soundproofed and soundproofed well.

'Well, all you wanted was some fairy iron.

　As she sat down on the couch and the drinks were placed on the table in front of us, she opened the conversation with.

'My dad introduced me to you, and I've seen Merle's skills, so I think I'll take it.
Okay.

　Mr. Kilt let out a breath of relief.

(Thank goodness.)

　I look at Illtimina and laugh, too.

'However,'

　But Mr. Arvinka raised one hand.

　We scowl at the way he shows us his hand.

I'd like to. I'd like to, but would you do me a favor and do me a favor in return?

(What...?

What do you mean?

　To the Golden Mark demon hunter who asked, Arvinka-san seemed to have some difficulty in saying, and continued.

''As a price for the fairy iron, I would like to ask the Demon Princesses of Shumuria to defeat the demons.

　And.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


You guys know they're stopping the export of fairy iron, don't you?

　We nodded at Arvinka's words.

　Fairy iron is only produced in the fairyland of the Teteto Confederacy.

　We heard that the amount of that ore is decreasing, so we stopped exporting it three months ago.

　That's why we have to travel from the Kingdom of Shumuria to the Teteto Confederacy to buy directly from them," he said.

The reason for that is the demons.
"Huh?

　That's a new one.

"Inside the tunnels of Fairyland, a monster called a giant ant has taken up residence.

　Giant ants?

　As for its true identity, Illtimina told me about it.

　She said it's a giant ant, just like its name suggests.

　But its body length is 1 to 2 meds.

　When it comes to the queen ants, they can reach three to five meters in length.

　But each one of them isn't that much of a threat.

　But giant ants form groups.

　There are between 100 and 1000 of them.

　In the past, more than 10,000 swarms were found and two cities were wiped out.

(...horrible.)

Basically, they are demons that spread their nests underground. It seems that sometimes they reach old underground ruins and turn the entire ruins into a nest. This time, that nest must have reached the tunnels of the Fairyland.

　Irtymina nodded at Irvinka's explanation.

'In a manner of speaking, the Tetet adventurers are exterminating them. There are so many of them, after all, that we haven't been able to keep up with them.''
I'm sure you do.

　Mr. Kilt folds his arms with a difficult look on his face.

'Because giant ants will continue to be born as long as they don't kill the queen ant.

　Mmm, an infinite amount of bubbles.

(That's one hell of a monster.)

We can't afford not to get any more fairy iron for a long time. What do you say, will you do it?

　Mr. Arvinka leaned forward.

'If you take it on, I'll colour in the fairy iron you give me?
"Hmm.

　Mr. Kilt looked at us, his party mates, as if to check us out.

　I nodded.

'Let's do it.'

　We can't get fairy iron until we get rid of those giant ants.

(And that's a lot of people in trouble.)

　If I could help them, even without the fairy iron, I wanted to help them.

　Illtimina laughed.

'If Marle wants to, I'm all for it.
It's all right.

　My sister agreed, cowering her shoulders.

'I see,'

　Our leader, a woman, shook her silver hair and nodded widely.

　She looked at the dwarven blacksmith with her golden eyes.

Okay, Irvinka. I'll take the assignment in the name of Kirto Amandes here.

　He declared so emphatically.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Once the decision was made, we were going to "Fairyland".

　Before we left, Kirto and Arvinka had written a number of documents over and over.

(What documents?)

　That's what I thought.

'We're expatriate adventurers, you see. We have to go through a lot of hoops to operate.

　He said.

　To be more precise, the blacksmithing guild to which Arvinka belongs has agreed to back us up and guarantee our identities.

　The Teteto Confederacy government will no longer complain about us.

(It's a lot of work...)

I thought adventurers were supposed to be more free.

　When I say that honestly.

It can't be helped. Freedom has a price to pay in terms of responsibility.

　Iltimina chuckled at that.

　I knew she was an adult, I thought.

''Well, I'll ask.''
"Mm.

　We shook hands with each other and left the town of Tupet again in the carriage.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


The distance to Fairyland is about 3 days.

　Along the way, I was given a detailed explanation about the Fairyland.

In short, it's just a bunch of ruins.

　is Solstice, the erudite girl.

　In the rocking car, she says.

'The ruins of a mountain range in the northeast of the Teteto Confederacy's Cottolt territory. A lot of fairies were seen in that mountain range until about a hundred years ago. That's why the ruins were also called 'Fairyland'.

(Heh?)

You said it was a hundred years ago. Why aren't there any fairies now?
He's not here.
Why?
"Because that's where they found the 'fairy iron' and the humans and dwarves started mining it.
..........
I mean, they took away the home of the elves for the money.

(...wow...)

　What a piece of work.

What's with the face?
Because.....
Merle has been using your 'fairy iron equipment'.
..........
I mean, it's not like it's so unusual for us to destroy the habitat of other creatures for our own good, is it?

　........well, maybe.

Even demons destroy human villages and towns, so it's mutual.

　Solstice says with a mature look on her face.

　Weak and strong.

　That seems to be more prevalent in this world than it was in the last world.

　Nudge.

(Uh.....)

　Iltimina, sitting next to me, pats my head comfortingly, with a gentle expression on her face.

''I like that kind of sensitivity on Marle's part.

　That's what he said.

(...yes...)

　I was kind of happy.

　Solstice looked at her sister in frustration.

　Kilt-san looked at us with a small chuckle, wondering if she could understand either of our thoughts.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


Fairy iron is a metal that has been magically altered.

　Solstice's study session continues.

'Due to the fairies living there for so many years, a strong magical power has built up in 'Fairyland'. To be more precise, the dead fairies are buried in the ground, their bodies and magic power breaking down, affecting the surrounding soil.
"Hmm.
It's said that fairies have existed in Fairyland since before the Divine Demon War, a rare metal that has been under the influence for over a thousand years, or even ten thousand years.

　...........

(Again, that's awesome.)

　I stare at the 'fairy sword' in my hand.

　A pale, translucent blade.

　It's light as a feather, yet it's a metal that's much harder than steel.

　And here, Kilt-san interrupted me.

''Fairy iron is basically expensive.
..........
That's why they choose their suppliers. Such as the great merchants and the nobility.

　Mmm-hmm?

The Tet Tet Tethe Confederacy has kept in touch with its trading partners by exporting its fairy iron. In short, they have used it as a stabilizer to keep their country going.
..........
And now you're under duress.

　...Is that actually important?

It's important.
..........
Teteto is the smallest country on the Albac continent. If we are not careful, it will lead to a war of aggression.

　.......................

''Also Tetet itself is a confederacy. By calculating the fairy iron, the Cottolte territory has created the value of its own territory. If it is lost, the other fiefdoms may invade it. In short, it's an internal conflict.

　What's that?



　Ms. Illtimina muttered as if to represent my sentiments.

'It was supposed to be a light shopping trip, but you've gotten yourself into one hell of a ruckus.

　Totally.

　Rattling.

　Mr. Kilt chuckles as the car shakes.

　As it was, he propped his elbows on the window sill.

I'm afraid I'll be late again and Mumpa will be very angry with me.

　I sighed that at the snowy landscape behind the glass.　


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Three days have passed since we left Tupet.

　After staying in villages and towns along the way, we finally reach the mountain range where the 'Fairy Land' is located.

(.........it's all white.)

　It was a snowy mountain, of course.

　As we continued up the snowy mountain road, we came to a checkpoint-like place.

　Men dressed in furs and holding huge single-edged spears were standing there.

(No way, bandits!)

　I was surprised.

That's a Tetetho Confederate soldier.

　Kilt told me.

　That being said, I think I look like the soldiers I saw at the border in their furry clothes.

'Halt. This is a no-go zone.

　The bearded soldier says.

　The carriage comes to a stop and Mr. Kilt opens the door and goes down outside the carriage.

　They are having a conversation.

　He hands him papers.

　He shows them the golden emblem on his right hand.

　The soldiers are amazed.

　Another soldier, in another great position, comes in.

　Finally, after about 15 minutes, Mr. Kilt comes back.

We've talked it over. We're going into Fairyland.

　Then the carriage began to move again.

　A few hundred yards down the road.

　Trees lined the perimeter, lined with ice-formed trees.

　But some of the trees were broken.

'It seems there was a battle here with giant ants.

　Illtimina-san, who was staring at him with crimson eyes, muttered that.

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

　gulping sound

　I gulp down a spit.

　The tree that was broken was quite thick.

　It felt like it had been forcefully snapped off.

　The giant ants seem to have a lot of power.

　There are also some red bloodstains in the snow.

(I wonder if the Tetet adventurers were hit?)

　The carriage proceeded with me, with me being nervous.

　Eventually, we arrived at a large square.

　There are a lot of big stones lined up in a strange way.

(It's a stone circle.)

Apparently, this is the heart of Fairyland.

　The smaller stones were about half my size.

　The larger stones were about 30 meters high.

　Some of the stones were not only lined up, but also leaned against each other, or were combined, or were in a tunnel-like pattern.

　The snow piled up on top of them looks like a fantastic sight.

　It was as if I had wandered into a sea of white boulders.

(I guess this is where the fairies used to be 100 years ago.

　It's a strange feeling.

I'm coming down.

　At Mr. Kilt's command, we got out of the carriage.

(Ugh ... it's cold.)

　The air is colder outside than in the car, and I put my winter robe back on.

　In the snow square, there are not only Tetet soldiers, but also people who seem to be adventurers, gathered by the fire.

　A furry soldier, who looks like a captain, introduces us to all of us.

'That gold-marked Kilt Amandes!
This woman?
The Demon Princess of Shumuria.
I guess I'm shorter than I thought.

　Everyone was surprised.

　However, Illtimina-san doesn't seem to know that she's the "Golden Mark Demon Hunter" either.

(Well, she just took office about 20 days ago.)

　It doesn't help that the exotic countries don't recognize us yet.

　After that, we heard about the situation.

　Three months ago, there was a sighting of giant ants in the tunnels dug in "Fairyland".

　The miners were affected, and the Blacksmith's Guild sent a request to the Adventurer's Guild.

　They wanted to exterminate the ants before they built a nest.

　Ten of the 'White Mark Demon Hunters' were sent out.

　Of the men who entered the tunnels, however, only three survived.

　Seven of them died.

''It was an estimated 300 of them, and there was already a massive nest inside the tunnels.

　That's what the survivors told us.

　Next, four "Silver Mark Adventurers" and 30 "White Mark Adventurers" dived into the tunnels.

　The result was a failure.

　Overwhelmed by the overwhelming numbers, 1 "Silver Marked Demon Hunter" and 12 "White Marked Demon Hunters" were killed.

　It was only last month that the king of the Tet Teteto Confederacy's Cottolt territory received word that 100 soldiers had arrived.

　Since then, we have been trying to enter the tunnels, but we are blocked by a large number of giant ants.

　The soldiers and adventurers are trying to get rid of the giant ants that are pouring out of the tunnels, and it's all they can do to prevent any further damage from spreading to the outside world.

Teteto also has a Gold Mark Demon Hunter.

　Currently, we are waiting for that person to arrive.

　But he's working on another case, so he won't be able to get here until the end of next month.

(It's a pretty serious situation.)

　Mr. Kilt had a difficult look on his face and nodded, "I see.

　He showed us a drawing of the tunnel and it was quite large.

　It looked like it was about ten kilometers long.

　Had giant ants gotten in here and built a nest?

Do we know where the queen ants are?
No, not yet.

　The captain shook his head at Mr. Kilt's question.

'But there's an expected point. It's here. The queen needs space to spawn, you know.

　They showed me a slightly larger area.

　Apparently, it's where they keep the mined materials.

(Hmmm?)

'I see. How far is it from the entrance?
That's roughly 2,000 maids.

　Two kilometers.

But the road is crowded with ants, and the ants are huge. It's not going to be easy to get through.
"Hmm.

　What do I have to go two miles forward while fighting giant ants?

(And as long as you don't defeat the queen ants, they'll spring up indefinitely...?)

　I think I can see why the Tet Tetes are struggling so much.

　Solstice, too.

Don't you think that's a bit harsh?

　He blurted out.

　She can't use powerful magic again, especially since she's in a small tunnel.

　Illtimina-san is also clouding her white beauty.

　Is she unconscious?

　Her hand was stroking my hair at my side, as if to calm herself down.

　........Well, it feels good, so it's good.

　I asked her what was suddenly on my mind.

　With my little fingers, I pointed at the drawing.

What are these vertical holes?

　It stretches straight to the ground from the point where the Queen is, and from other places as well.

It's an air hole.

　The captain will tell you.

　Ah, I see.

(So you're doing mine ventilation so the miners don't run out of acid.)

　It's going to be about 200 meadows long.

　..........

　200 medals.

"Merle?

　Noticing my thoughtful expression, Illtimina-san calls out to me.

　I'm trying to answer her.

There it is!
Giant ants!　From the entrance of the tunnel, three!
Don't let it get out!
Hurry up, hurry up!

　Suddenly, I heard such a cry.

　The captain, soldiers, and adventurers who were nearby ran toward the direction of the voice.

　The four of us nodded to each other and followed.

(There they were!)

　Three giant ants with glistening black exoskeletons writhe in the snow-covered silver world.

　They are one to two meds in length.

　They seemed to have emerged from the entrance to the tunnel seen in the back, which was wrapped in a wooden frame.

　The wooden panel that seemed to have blocked the entrance was broken, and pieces of it could be seen scattered on the snow.

　Normally, these ants are about the size of a fingertip.

　Seeing them like this, at the same size as me, it's very creepy, even intimidating.

'Marl, Irna, Sol, let's go!

　Our leader readied his 'Great Sword of Thunder' with a spirited voice and started running through the snow.

''Yes!''
Yes!
Yes!

　I pulled my 'fairy sword' out of its sheath and my sisters held their own weapons.

　I immediately went after Kirt-san.

　Thus, in the snowy world, the battle between us and the giant ants had begun.