(What was that voice...?)

　I look at the 'fairy sword' in my right hand with surprise.

　Its beautiful blue-white, translucent blade was repeatedly flickering with blue light, as if it was resonating with the presence of something.

(What on earth is going on!

　And the next thing you know.

　pop

　A single blue point of light lit up the darkness of the treeline around me and the snow basilisk.

　Popo popo........

　The brilliance was born, one after another, and the inside of the tree line was enveloped by an immense blue-white light.

''What the hell is this?''

　Hurriedly, I look around.

　From behind the trees.

　Through the cracks of broken houses.

　Through the snow.

　From the branches and among the leaves.

　The blue light was shining all around us in 360 degrees, enveloping us.

(Ah....)

　And then you notice.

　That in the center of each of these blue lights, there is a small humanoid figure.

　Its back, which exposes its naked body, has tiny wings, cotton-wool-like touches sprouting from its forehead, and tiny ears that are pointed.

　--A fairy?

　That name popped into my mind.

　Hing, hing, hing.

　He and his girlfriends, glowing and glowing, were staring at me and the snow basilisk, surrounding me and the snow basilisk in the distance.

　The shimmering blue world was so magical.

Now.

　A voiceless voice echoed in my head.

(What?　........Oh!)

　I notice it in his voice.

　Just as I'm stunned, the giant evil-eating monster in front of me is also dumbfounded and distracted by the swarm of lights that suddenly appeared around me.

　If you look closely, even Renu herself, who was being sucked into the mouth of the monster, was also stunned.

(Now's your chance!)

　I kicked the earth with all my strength with the leg power of the 'divine dog'.

　Don't.

　The wings on my back, which had been dissolved by the strong acid, were almost repaired.

　With a scattering of rainbow-colored light, I was pouncing on the snow basilisk like a hound.

''

　He knows.

　But he's too late!

　Gakiin.

　I jumped into his huge mouth and pushed the upper and lower fangs apart with my metal wings, severing the pink tongue that was holding Renu-san in place with my left hand, 'Fang of Marle, No. 2'.

　Purple fresh blood dissipates and Renu-san's body is freed.

''Hold on!''
...Merle-san!

　Renu with a crying face.

　His brown arms are soon entangled in my neck.

(Good!)

　bang

　After just three seconds of successful rescue, I kicked him in the mouth and ran out at once.

　Gatchin'

　Immediately after, his mouth closes and our fangs collide violently with each other.

　By that time, we had already escaped into the skies above the snow basilisk.

　Huioh.

　My blue eyes stared down at him as he stayed in the air.

　His huge eyeballs were staring at me in frustration.　

　Hing, hing, hing.

　From around us, the blue fairies are watching our battle.

'Mr. Marl.....

　Renu's trembling voice.

　I looked back at you.

You'll be fine. Hold on tight.

　I almost laughed at him.

　Mr. Renu looked straight at me with a tear-stained face.

Yes, sir.

　He nodded firmly.

　Alright.

　I took a deep breath and looked down at the giant demon once again.

　Despite the lacerations on its head, the malevolent monster Snow Basilisk scorched itself in the flames of revenge against me.

(Come on, let's settle this.)

　Taking that killing intent head on, I take a deep breath.

　The 'Fairy Sword' in my right hand.

　Marl's Fang, No. 2 in my left hand.

　With those two swords in my hand.

Let's go!

　He shouted sharply and let the wings on his back flap wide.

　Bahuun.

　While carrying Renu-san on his back, he slashed through the atmosphere and plummeted.

''Gyu-oa!''

　In response, the snow basilisk opens its huge mouth and shoots out that strong acid bombardment.

　Thump, thump, thump.

　I aim at that barrage and charge in.

　-extreme concentration!

　In a world of black and white, I avoid the myriad of strong acids that are approaching me with a single piece of paper.

　Huubok!

　As it is, he snatches the tip of his nose and spreads his large metal wings just above the ground and stops suddenly.

　Bobaang.

　An explosion of curling snow smoke hides us from his view.

　Losing sight of its prey, the hulking creature's movements stopped for a moment.

　The wings on its back glowed with rainbow colors, and I surged up from it in a V-shape.

　I crossed my swords on either side and held them in front of my face.

　And then.

No!

　With the spirit of the cleaver, he swung his two swords wide left and right, aiming at the thick throat whistle of the snow basilisk that appeared behind the snow smoke.

　Zahun.

　Two sword flashes shimmer.

　The huge head and torso part, and the winged 'divine dog' passes through the space between them and stops in mid-air.

　Bafu.

　His wings swelled wide, splashing through the atmosphere.

　Below, a beat later, a geyser of purple blood spurted from the headless torso like a geyser.

　''Don Dung.''

　The head falls to the snowy earth, and belatedly, the massive torso also loses its power and sinks down with a sound.

　The light of rage that was in the eyeballs of the raw head slowly disappeared.

　The snow smoke that rose up was quickly swept away by the night wind.

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

　Me and Renu watched the end of that horrible white demon from above.

　It doesn't pretend to be dead anymore, nor does it get up.

(We did ... this time, we did it.)

　In my mind, I breathe a breath of relief.

　Shhhhhh....

　At the same time, my beast ears and tail disappeared in a puff of white smoke, as if my time was up.

　The night breeze in the forest gently caressed our skin.

　In the snowy sea of trees, the flickering lights of the blue lights continue to shine and dance beautifully, as if to bless us.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


Doesn't it hurt, Miss Merle?

　With a worried look on his face, Renu puts a poultice from his treatment kit on my burns.

　I smiled.

'Yeah, I'm good. Thanks, Renu.

　This burn was caused by an explosion of his own magic.

　The magic didn't hit me directly, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.

(Well, it might leave a few scars.)

　That's a boy's medal there.

　If we actually went into 'Ultimate God Body Mode', we could have defeated that snow basilisk in an instant, but that was impossible because the divine qi was too exhausted and we wouldn't have enough divine qi for the flight home.

　Everyone will be waiting for us, so we have to get home properly by tomorrow.

(I wonder how you're doing, Illtimina-san?)

　When I think of her, my heart is softly warmed.

　Renu smiles a small smile at me, and puts the treatment kit away in my backpack.

　Then I look around.

　We were standing in front of the grave where Renu's family and other villagers were buried.

　The light from the campfire illuminates the darkness around us.　

　But there are hundreds, maybe even a thousand or more blue lights standing around us.

　Hing, hing, hing.

　Fairies.

　Even after the battle with the snow basilisk was over, these little fairies kept appearing in front of us.

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

　Renu-san has an indescribable look on her face.

　In fact, even while I was treating her, some of the fairies were peeking at Renu-san's hand in a curious manner.

　Even now, they are touching the ends of Renu-san's long hair, climbing up my clothes and sitting on my shoulders.

(Hmmm?　(Fairies are so much friendlier than I thought.)

　I'm a bit surprised to see me.　

　If I look far enough away, I see a lot of blue lights gathering around the corpse of a fallen snow basilisk in the treeline land outside the village.

　He seems to be quite curious, too.

(But why did they help me?)

　The fairies were on our side, warning us of the approaching snow basilisk, and they all showed up to help Renu.

　But I don't know why.

　According to what Solstice told me, the existence of fairies was once driven out of the 'Fairy Land' by humans.

　It's only because they hated us, but I don't think it's the other way around....

　Renu said to me, who was worried about this.

''Perhaps you thought Marle-san was one of us, didn't you?
What?

　Partners?　Me?

　Renu-san's lapis lazuli eyes stare at my face, then turn to the 'fairy sword' in her hand.

''I've heard that fairy iron is a metal that has been transformed by the magic of the fairies.
Oh.

　I huffed.

　Renu nodded yes.

''Maybe I can feel that magic from Marle's 'fairy sword'. Maybe that's why........

　I see.

(Come to think of it, this sword also glowed like it resonated with something.)

　Somehow, I pull it out of its scabbard.

　Hing.

　The beautiful, translucent blade glowed with a blue light.

　A number of fairies approached as if invited by the light, and flattened their small hands against the blade's blade.

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

　I looked at him and said.

'Thank you, fairy. For helping us.

..........
..........
..........

　The little faces looked back at me curiously.

　And then one of them moved its wings and flew up to my face with a flutter.

'Okay - I don't mind.

　spreading out

　A small hand tapped at my nose.

　There was an innocent smile on his face, like a child.

(Oh ... is that so?)

　Maybe the race of fairies is a very generous race that doesn't think about difficult things.

　I heard they're a kind of demon, though.

　I'm a demon hunter, but I don't want to hunt these fairies.

　I couldn't help but smile.

　The fairies are smiling too.

　Renu is watching me laughing with the fairy with an expression that seems to be dazzling.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Some time later, we left Renu's village.

　Huio.

　With iridescent metal wings sprouting on its back, it stagnates above the village.

　Below me, I can see a village in a sea of trees surrounded by blue light.

　It's a very magical landscape.

　Gaze at it.

It's strange.

　I muttered.

　Renu, with her arms around my neck and on her back, said, "? He looks at me.

'The village that was abandoned when the humans were gone, and now there are fairies who have been forced to leave their homes by the humans, you know?
..........
There's no place for anyone anymore, but now there's a new place for me.
..........
'I wonder if this will one day be the second 'Fairyland'?'

　I have such fantasies.

　Geez.

　Renu's arm felt a little stronger.

　In a faint, trembling voice.

"...Will I be able to find a new place to live after I've lost everything?

　I nodded, "Yeah.

'If you want to, Renu, you'll find it.'

　Renu didn't say anything in response.

　He just nuzzled his own face into my neck and stayed still for a while.

　A hot breath splashed on my neck.

　Eventually, she slowly pulled her face away.

'Miss Merle,'

　A little stiffly, he calls out to me.

"Hmm?
Never let the 'children of darkness' get to you.

　That's what I said.

(Huh?)

　I couldn't help but look back at her at close range.

　She stared straight at me and piled on the words.

'It's not a person.
..........
'They imitate the human form, but their essence is very different. Think of it as a mimicry of human appearance, gestures, and conversation, all of which are mimicry.

　Take a short breath.

It's a demon.

　Mr. Renu warned.

'Neither the ceasefire nor the co-operative fight should be taken at its word.
..........
In its essence, it is a demon itself, a mixture of destructive impulses and an overgrown ego. Never allow its presence to dissuade you.

　There was fear in her voice.

That she had lived so close to the Child of Darkness all her life that she saw it for what it was.

　I nodded.

'I get it. I'll never forgive your heart.

　I promise you that.

　Renu-san nodded yes.

(But........why did he suddenly decide to warn me?)

　I was a little surprised.

　The emotions were evident in her expression, and Renu gave a small laugh, as if mocking herself.

'I thought I'd get a new place to..........'
Hmm?
'I know I've done things I'm not allowed to do. But even so... I'm going to do the best I can right now... because I'm going to do something that will help people, Marl-san...

　Well, I'll be d*mned.

"Thank you, Mr. Renu.

　I thanked her sincerely.

　Renu smiled fleetingly and shook her head.

　Then, her gaze went to the ground again.

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

　The home village where Renu was born and raised and lost with her dear family.

　A village in a snowy sea of trees.

　In that sea of trees and abandoned village, there are now shimmering blue lights hiding and living.

Goodbye.

　Renu announced shortly.

　Her beautiful eyes had a light that looked to the future along with the color of sadness in them.

　I let the wings on my back flap wide.

　Bafu.

　After circling around in a circle over the village, they take a course towards the town of Tupet, where Illtimina and the others are located.

　Huoao.

　They split the wind and took flight.

　With the red and white moon and the glittering stars watching over us, we were driven backwards in an instant through the land where the blue fairy light was gathered.