Three hours later, we made it through the "Valley of the Demon Beasts" without incident.

　Fortunately, that was the only time we encountered a chimera.

The Valley of Monsters is about the size of the prehistoric province, so the encounter rate wasn't as high as it should have been.

　But I'm glad to hear it.

(Those guys were really strong...)

　Honestly, I don't want to fight again.

　What if there weren't three 'Golden Mark adventurers' over here?

　What if more than three chimeras had appeared at that time?

　I hate just imagining it.

　So, as we drove through the rocky canyons and invaded the prairie land

Okay, we're through the Valley of the Beasts!　We've come this far, we're good to go.

　Arnold-san's words reassured me, from the bottom of my heart.

(Sigh ... thank goodness.)

　Solstice also exhaled heavily.

　Iltimina-san also closed the white spear wing ornament in her hand with a cascade and broke her battle stance.

　Mr. Colontude's sleepy eyes and Poe's vague eyes turned to the distant ravine.　

　Mr. Kilt, too, removed his hand from the hilt of his great sword.

Hmm. I think it's time for me to rest for the night.

　I muttered to myself.

　Before we knew it, the sky in the west was tinted red by the setting sun.

　We decided to camp out at the base of a tree that was growing in a grassy field with a good view away from the Valley of Monsters.


　◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


You guys were really strong. I'll be d*mned!

　In the evening, while we were eating dinner, Mr. Arnold praised us so.

　His lion's eyes twinkled like a child's in the light of the fire.

　Mog.

　I looked over at him as I ate the meat and vegetable stew that Mr. Illtimina had made for me.

　He says.

'Honestly, when those two chimeras showed up, I didn't know what to do.
..........
'But you guys took it down unscathed. I never imagined it would be as strong as this!

　He sounds excited.

　Solstice cowers her tiny shoulders.

'We're here to slay a demon, remember?　There's no way I'm going to lose to a chimera.

　With that, I eat my seventh cup of stew of the day.

'Yes,'

　Mr. Arnold nodded.

'In my head, I thought I knew what was going on. But it's amazing to see it with my own eyes.'
Yes.
Oh that's really a big deal.

　He says sullenly.

　Solstice seemed happy, but maybe it was because she was so honestly admired, but she hid it and feigned a blank expression.

(Haha, but her cheeks are twitching, right?)

　I struggled to bite back a laugh, too.

　And.

You're not so bad yourself, Arnold.

　This time Mr. Kilt praised him so.

　He looked back at her with a scowl.

　Mr. Kilt tipped his thirty-centimeter wooden cup, sipping his drink.

"It was brave of you to keep the wagon going despite the chimera's attack. The guts, the control of the wagon, was truly remarkable.

(Uh.....)

　If you ask me, that's for sure.

　The chimera came so close and attacked me, and yet it didn't even slow down once.

(Even though it wasn't a funny situation to be surprised or frightened by.)

　Our gaze was drawn to him.

　Mr. Arnold scratched the lion's head with his beastly hand.

'Well, I've always trusted you guys.

　I said.

　His eyes stared back at the six of us.

I chose to believe in you. Then why shouldn't I trust you with my life to the end?

　.....................

　What is it?　It was a bit of a zing in my chest.

　Everyone else seemed to feel the same way.

...Ano-chan, you're a nice guy.

　Mr. Colontude assessed that, calling Mr. Arnold oddly.

　He chuckled, showing his lion's fangs.

'Nice guy, huh?'

　And then, looking up at the starry night sky.

'This was still an untouchable bad boy when I was young.　

　I blurted out.

(Bad boy...?　(Mr. Arnold?)

　I can't help but stare at them.

　Noticing my blue eyes on him, Arnold told me with a laugh.

　He's a prince of Vega Country.

　From birth, he was obliged to carry this country on his back for the rest of his life.

　Therefore, he was given a gifted education from an early age.

But it's a tight fit.

　In reaction to this, by the time he was fifteen years old, he had slipped out of the King's Palace and spent the night playing with his bad friends.

　Tons.

　He places his hair-covered fist lightly against my chest.

'Not as strong as you guys, but even with this, I was a strong guy too.

　He laughs.

　He said that his gifted education included combat skills.

　Maybe that's why there was no one to stop him, and before he knew it, he was like a general to the bad boys.

　Soltis asked, as he ate his eighth cup of stew.

'How did that delinquent prince get back to the Royal Palace?

　He replied.

'Your mother is dead.'

　..................

　Everyone was at a loss for words.

'He was a sickly man to begin with. Because of all the trouble I put him through, he died of illness. When I took care of him, I promised him that I would be a great protector of the land.
..........
I'm still in the process of fulfilling that vow every day.

　He said as he stared up at the starry sky.

　Then he noticed our gaze.

No, well, that's a lame reason.

　He laughed deceptively.

　I stared at him.

No, it's not that bad.
..........
It's an important cause. I think Mr. Arnold is doing a fine job.

　He looks surprised.

'I'm sure Mr. Arnold's mother would be happy to see him now, looking after him.

　I told them in no uncertain terms and then smiled.

　Everyone else nodded.

　Mr. Arnold looked back at us in surprise.

"....I see. I hope so.　

　He muttered as he chewed.

　Kilt-san pushed the empty large cup to Arnold-san.

　Tocktock.

　I tipped the bottle of liquor there.

'Drink.'
..... Yeah, I'm sorry.

　He laughed, showing his white fangs.

　Gwiw.

　Take a big gulp.

　Let out a hot breath with a puff.

I'm just lucky to be traveling with you guys on this trip.

　He laughed again.

　Little drops hovered in the corners of his eyes.

　A cool night breeze blew across the meadow and into the night sky.

　That night the six of us and Mr. Arnold spent a pleasant dinner time around the fire.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　So we took the dangerous shortcut, and two days later we arrived at our destination.

Here we are. That's the 'Holy God Tree'.

　Mr. Arnold announced and the beast car stopped.

(It's...)

　The eyes of the six of us were glued to the beauty of the place.

　It was a mortar-shaped depression in the middle of the forest.

　In the center of the hollow grew a huge tree, five hundred meters high, made of shimmering crystals like a rainbow.

　The trunk of the tree must have been 200 to 300 meters in diameter.

　A root-like spread pierced the earth, while above, beautiful branches made of crystals stretched out horizontally.

''Beautiful....''

　Solstice muttered.

　It's certainly very beautiful.

　But.........I felt fear at the same time.

(In there........something terrible is there!)

　I feel that strongly.

　It's like there's some kind of huge malice standing in the unseen darkness, hiding behind that beauty.

'Merle?'

　Illtimina-san, who noticed, asks me a question.

''........Poe?''

　Mr. Colon-Tude also made a strange sound.

　The little Shenlong girl was also staring at the 'Sacred God Tree' as I was, staring at it and clenching her little fist.

　The two of us could feel it.

''...There's no doubt about it. There's a demon in there.''

　I muttered.

　Everyone gasped.

　Eventually, Mr. Kilt looked at the "Holy God Tree" again.

Okay.

　He replied shortly in an iron-like voice.

　For a while, we all stared at the beautiful 'sealing crystals' at the bottom of that depression.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　A lot of scaffolding had been built around the beautiful giant rainbow-colored tree.

　Perhaps it was a cutting site.

　It looked like a building construction site from a previous life, and it had been built to about 70% of the height of the Sacred God Tree.

　There were many trolleys and railroad tracks at the base of it.

　At the end of the railroad tracks was a small town.

　It looked like a building that was used to process the crystals of the "Sacred God Tree" that had been shaved into magical stones.

　The rest of the buildings were probably the residences of the workers and their families.

　And now, a wire fence has been set up around the 'Holy God Tree' to prevent people from entering.

　In front of it, there were many people demonstrating.

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

　You mean the evacuation isn't over yet?

　Those protesters were probably from the town.

　They gathered in front of the wire fence, shouting and glaring at the soldiers who were stopping them.

　We were stunned.

''........d*mn, those idiots.

　Mr. Arnold clicks his tongue.

　And our beast car went down the hollow to the site.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


Daraga!
Bao!
Daela, gakka, daola!

　People shouting with placards and banners in their hands.

　Immediately in front of us was a huge, beautiful, huge crystalline tree.

　Our beast car slipped between the protesters and the soldiers who were stopping them.

'Degga, vamoose!'

　Mr. Arnold climbed onto the roof of the beast car and shouted.

　For a moment, silence fell.

　The sudden appearance of the Prince of Vega Country seemed to have startled the demonstrators.

　Arnold-san spoke to them as if he was trying to convince them.

　I don't know the official language of the dollar continent.

　But even though I didn't understand the language, I could sense that he was trying his best to convey the danger to them.

　And yet.

Bago!
Tortia, Gavin!

　The protesters were not listening.

　They screamed like angry people and threw rocks at us.

(Wha?)

　Gung, gung, gung, gung.

　The walls of the beast car make a loud noise.

　Gasp.

Oh...!

　One of the stones hit Mr. Arnold.

　Blood flowed from his forehead, wetting his lion's hair.

　Ah, Mr. Arnold!

　I was about to jump out of the way, but Mr. Illtimina hurriedly held me down.

　Even the protesters were a bit surprised when the prince bled. Maybe he really didn't mean to hit me.

　But now the soldiers were freaked out.

　Mr. Arnold restrained them.

　But the excited atmosphere had left both the protesters and the soldiers in a state of shock.

　If something happened, it would quickly escalate into a riot.

　That's when.

''Hahahahaha!　Humans are so stupid, aren't they?

　A child's laughter, which seemed to shatter the air in the place, echoed high into the space and laughed.

　Creepy.

　A shiver ran down my spine.

　I looked up in astonishment and saw A(y)yi(y)ts.

　On the roof of a watchtower near a wire fence that was off-limits, a child was sitting there.

　Black hair.

　Dark skin.

　A red mouth that smiles like a crescent moon.

　My blue eyes are open to the limit.

'Hey, I've been waiting for you, Merle.

　That "Child of Darkness" is smiling at me bewitchingly--


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


You.....

　The six of us jumped out of the beast car.

　--In front of us, that "Child of Darkness" is there.

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

　I glared at him, suppressing the hostility that was bubbling up.

　Po-chan, the Shinryu who was beside me, unintentionally lowered her posture and was in a position to pounce on me at any time.

　Zazu.

　Soon, Illtimina-san and Kilt-san stand in a position to protect me.

The 'Child of Darkness' chuckled.

　On either side of him were two beastmen standing on either side of him.

　One was a large man.

　He was muscular, with goat-like curled horns sprouting from his short hair.

　His eyes were muddy and his expression was blank.

　The other was a woman.

　She had soft white hair, with long, rabbit-like ears growing out of it.

　Her red eyes were filled with emptiness, and she was still expressionless.

　Both of them are shabbily dressed, wearing only a tattered cloak.

　However, their visible faces are carved with an unmistakable tattoo of Thanatos magic letters.

(Demon Attendants...)

　They look like they are just standing there powerless, but I feel a great power.

　It seemed like those two were not just anyone.

　And.

Qui-Ga?　Warnack?

　Mr. Arnold muttered dumbly as he stared at the two of them, as if he had forgotten his own injuries.

　No, he wasn't the only one.

　The protesters and the soldiers also looked at the two men as if they had forgotten everything.

　Zawa Zawa.

　I can hear the buzzing.

'....What the hell?
No way.
Are you kidding me?

　Kilt-san, Illtimina-san, and Solstice, who could understand the language of the dollar continent, looked surprised.

　''Eh?　Huh?

　When I was confused, Illtimina-san tells me as if she was lost.

'Those two........apparently they are the 'Golden Mark Adventurers' of the Vega Country who have been missing.

　.............

(Huh?)

　Huh?　Those two beastmen?

　It means that two people with the title of 'Golden Seal', the highest of adventurers, have become the companions of the 'Children of Darkness'!

　The horror of its meaning made me dizzy.

　Mr. Kilt was also staring at them with an awful, murderous gaze and was on guard.

　In the midst of all this

People are so stupid, aren't they?

　The child of darkness laughed at that.

'Forgetting the bounty of the gods that protected them, they go to their own destruction as they desire.
..........
Hey, Merle?

　His eyes, tinted in black, look at me.

''Is an entity like this really worth the risk of your life to protect it?''

　...................

　It was a fearless voice.

　It felt as if a bug was crawling around in my heart.

　He looked down at the assembled protesters.

This ignorance, however ignorant it may be, is worth a thousand deaths.

　A cold voice announced.

　At the same time, the two 'Golden Mark' beastmen tried to move.

''Stop!''

　I screamed.

　Pitter.

　The movement stops and the eyes of the 'dark child' look at me.

　I said.

'We have a deal, right?'
..........
If you fight with us, don't hurt the people here.

　If you said no.........

　Chach.

　My right hand is attached to the hilt of the 'fairy sword'.

''........Okay.''

　He cowered his shoulders with an exaggerated gesture.

　The two 'Golden Mark' beastmen calmed the killing intent they were trying to unleash.

　Zawa Zawa.

　The protesters were confused.

　Even if they were amateurs, they knew that the other party was the 'Golden Mark Adventurer' and the clear killing intent that was directed from there.

''But?''

The Child of Darkness chuckled.

''I may be good, but Mukou(⋅) won't forgive me, will he?

　As he says this, a black, young finger is pointed at him.

　Beyond that is the 'Holy God Tree'.

The charisma of the "Child of Darkness", or perhaps it's not just us, but the gazes of the people at the demonstration, Mr. Arnold, and even the soldiers turned to that direction.

　At that moment.

　slurring

　Within the beautiful crystal, I saw a huge black 'What(s)?' stirring.

(----)

　I went rigid.

　My limbs started to tremble on their own.

　It was behind the shimmering rainbow colors, so I couldn't see it clearly.

　But I was definitely inside the crystal of the "Sacred God Tree".

　Everyone in the place witnessed it.

　The air was frozen.

(--Demons)

　The more I could see that sealed figure, the thinner the sealing crystals became.

　I understood that.

　And I wasn't the only one who understood.

　The protesters seemed to understand something in their biological instincts, too.

　What they'd done.

　That there is something in there.

　And that it's not very good.

　And.

Uh-oh, woaah!
Hi!
Da-da-lo-o!

　He started to run away at a terrifying pace.

　He pushed the opponent in front of him, stomped on the one who had fallen down, and ran with the appearance of scattering spiderlings.

　Gasp!

　Depression.

　I was speechless at the sight of it all.

"Ha-ha-ha!

　Only the sound of dark laughter could be heard.

　While holding his bleeding forehead, Arnold-san stood up.

''Is that........the devil?''

　A trembling voice.

　But I haven't lost my fighting spirit.

　It awakens my reasoning.

'Mr. Arnold, are you okay?'

　I rush over to him.

　He laughed, controlled it with his hand and looked back at the six of us.

'I'm sorry, but this is as far as I have to go.

　....What?

The thing is, it's pretty obvious. I'm not going to be able to stay here. I'm an impediment.
..........
It's up to you guys.

　His voice was filled with frustration and determination.

　...........

''Yes. It was entrusted to me.

　I nodded.

　I held out my little fist.

　He noticed and was a little surprised, then laughed and extended his lion-haired fist.

　Cotto.

　They clasped their fists lightly against each other.

'Mr. Arnold, you should work with the soldiers here to guide the evacuation of those people.
Yeah, I know.

　He nodded.

　The soldier quickly bandaged the wound on his forehead.

　Mr. Arnold returned to the beast car.

　Galang, Galang.

I'll come for you when the fight is over.
Yes.
"May the holy beast gods bless you for your courage and kindness!

　He announced in a powerful voice and saluted.

　The soldiers followed suit.

　We responded with a look and a nod.

　Then Arnold and the soldiers left, heading in the same direction as the fleeing demonstrators.

　Only the six of us, the 'Child of Darkness' and the two beastmen were left behind.

(No ... one more.)

　I look up at the sacred tree.

　Zulu ... Zulli.

　Something stirring is visible behind the beautiful crystals.

'Oh dear, I wonder if it feels my presence and is glad to be free of me?

'Child of Darkness' chuckled.

　And.

You're an idiot. You're going to kill yourself from now on.

　So turns into a cruel smile.

　............

　My blue eyes turn to the two beastmen who were 'Adventurers of the Golden Mark' on either side of such a guy.

　Their bodies stained with tattoos.

　Noticing this, the 'Child of Darkness' said.

I'll tell you what, I haven't broken my promise of a truce. I made them my own people before I met you on that snowy white earth.
..........

　I know, I've heard it's been over three months since he disappeared.

　But.

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

　Solstice had the great wand of magic ready to be used at any time.

'Don't do it,'

　With a small killing intent, he towed the girl away.

　Bick.

　Solstice shuddered.

'The real battle is about to begin. I hope we don't crush our precious forces before then.'
..........

The 'Child of Darkness''s small hands touch the arms of the beastmen on either side.

''They're quite strong.
..........
"The Golden Mark Adventurer," you say?　It was a great force. And then they added a demon's power to it. I'm the most powerful among my own people.

　And he smiles happily, like a child who is proud of his toys.

　....................

　I bite my lip.

(Now bear with me, Merle.)

　The primary goal is to deal with the demons that are about to be resurrected here.

　Getting them back can be done after that.

　Gyu.......................

　He clenched his fists desperately and suppressed his emotions.

'The red-haired man I found in Shumria before, I killed him before I could get my hands on him. What a waste.''

I'm not sure...

　The red-haired man.

　Is that that Mr. Eldorado Rogue, the fiery lion?

　Kilt-san's killing intent swelled.

　Blood seeped from my grasped hands as well, as if the skin had been torn by my nails.

'Actually, I wanted you to have one too, you know?

　He turned his disgusting smile and gaze to the silver-haired beauty who was the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter'.

　Mr. Kilt said shortly.

'The strawberries are already in Marl's family.
Okay.

　He laughed, "Too bad.

　And now his dark gaze turned to the little blonde girl.

What?　Isn't that the 'God's Attendant' there who used that red-haired man as bait to escape?

　...........

What a surprise. You ran away from the humans and now you're going to fight to protect them again?
..........

　Poe doesn't answer.

　But her blurry, light blue eyes stare at the dark being in front of her without blinking.

'Marle's awesome too,'
..........
I just can't believe you're letting her join you in abandoning the people you were trying to protect.

　Yeah, what do I do?

I'm not going to be able to resist.

　Mr. Kilt said as he took my place.

'I won't allow any more insults to be directed at Poe or Elle.
Hmm?
If you pile on any more, I'll have to break the ceasefire and the agreement to fight together.

　squeak

He takes the hilt of the "Great Sword of Thunder" in his hand and announces it with a ready to pull out at any time.

　--Serious.

　A serious "pressure" is being unleashed from Kirt-san.

　The pressure was so great that even the two "Golden Seal" beastmen could no longer move as quickly as they could.

　However.

All right.

　In the midst of it all, the 'Child of Darkness' laughed flatly.

''I'm sorry, is it the s*x that is the 'Devil's Piece'?　I can't help but want to touch people's hearts.

...the disgusting s*x.

　In one apology, Mr. Kilt also contradicts himself.

　Still, we can't let our guard down.

　Renu-san also said.

You can't let the "Children of Darkness" have a heart.

　He chuckles at the tight gaze of the six of us.

　Then he lets out a deep breath.

Now, then, it's time to start 'defeating the devil'.

　He said in a cheerful tone.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　And the 'Child of Darkness' stuck out his little black hand.

　'Kyin'

　Then a small purple sphere is born.

(!?!)

　Tremendous pressure.

d*mn ... what a magical force.

　Kilt's astonishment.

　The sphere, which is about an inch in diameter, is producing a purple discharge.

(That's an aura of darkness!)

　In other words, demonic magic, which is condensed at a terrifying rate.

''Yo.''

　He let out a light voice.

　Pshaw.

　Instantly, the purple light ball was shot out to the 'Holy God Tree', leaving a long and narrow afterglow like a 'line'.

　Dpaaaan!

　A direct hit.

　A tremendous explosion occurred, and purple flames danced around.

''Nuh-uh!''
Huh.
'Whoa!
Kyah!
...Oh.
..........

　As the blast tries to blow us away, Illtimina hurriedly grabs me and Solstice, and Colon-Tude grabs Poe to keep us from being blown away.

　Beyond that blast of fire.

　Gong, bang.

　Beautiful crystals were shattered.

　Branches of dozens of mades fell, and beautiful iridescent trunks shattered and poured down to the earth.

　Scaffolding was broken and tracks and trolleys were crushed.

　Eventually, after the explosions disappeared, what was there was the 'Holy God Tree' with a large gouge in the trunk.

　Only there, it was about two-thirds as thick as it was.

(What power!)

　How dare they destroy that giant crystal so much!

　Once again, I can't help but feel threatened by the 'child of darkness' in front of me.

　And.

Come on, I'm coming out.

　A voice in the darkness announced with amusement.

　Bish, bikiki, bikiki.　

　Something huge and black wriggled on the other side of the faded crystals.

　The crystal intensified its iridescent glow.

　Hiiiiiiin.

　It seemed that the 'Seal of the Gods' was exerting its power to keep the demons inside out.

　Zuzun, Zuzun.

　The earth resounds.

　In the seal, the demons are being tormented by the power of the gods.

　A demon that has been consumed by four hundred years.

　Even though he knows he'll die if he doesn't, his craving for the outside world doesn't stop.

　Zuzun, zuzun.

　Within the iridescent crystals, the demon rampages.

　Bikikikikik.

　The cracks in its surface grew larger and wider.

　We gulped hard.

　It lasted about 10 to 20 seconds.

　To us, it felt like a lot longer.

　And the next moment.

　bakhiyin.

　The cracked surface shattered and a black 'something' flew out.

　A finger (...).

　Only one finger, which was a huge knot with distorted claws, was sticking out of the seal.

　It was trembling with a tremor.

　A tremor of demise.

　The glow of the seal grew stronger and the protruding finger was shredded as if it were melting from the base.

　--out of the seal.

The "Devil's Finger" fell.

　It was born.

　Just as I expected.

　That.........that piece of the devil turns into the Son of Darkness.

　We are going to defeat it.

(-- Okay, let's go.)

　We had already made up our minds.

　We are going to defeat that "Son of Darkness" before it can show its true colors.

　That's when.

　Zlun.

　Another trembling finger popped out of the cracked gap.

(What...?)

　That deformed finger fell off, just like before, with its roots melting away.

　--out of the seal, again.

(Huh?)　(Huh?)

　I was stunned.

　Zuzun.

　Immediately afterwards, the main body of the demon that was inside the seal died out, or the overflowing disasterous pressure disappeared.

　A giant shadow could be seen behind the crystals.

　But it didn't move anymore.

　The demon is dead.

　However, there were two "demon fingers" lying on the ground.

　Terrible magic power is flowing out of them.

　Gunari.

　My fingers are twisted.

The metamorphosis into Child of Darkness has begun.

　Both of them.

　We couldn't accept that reality.

'This is unexpected. "This is unexpected.

　Even that 'Child of Darkness' voice had lost its spare sound.

　The Devil's Piece was born at last.

The threat of the fourth Son of Darkness, which appeared in Vega Country, exceeded our expectations, and two more bodies emerged...