Arnold gave me permission to explore.

　That night, while Solstice was in the bath, Mr. Kilt reported that to me.

　After leaving Natalia the elf, we returned to the palace and discussed the situation with Kirto.

　This is the Kingdom of Vega.

　If it were the Kingdom of Shumuria, it wouldn't be a problem, but Shumurian adventurers may have a problem exploring unexcavated ruins in a foreign country without permission, according to the report.

　So, Kirt-san went to ask the prince of this country to help me.

　The result is Kirt-san's report now.

'We made it.'
Yes, sir.

　Me and Illtimina-san panned and clasped our hands together.

　Kirt-san looked at the two of us with his arms folded and smiled bitterly.

''I'm telling you, don't destroy the ruins, okay?　Because it might be a valuable historical document.
Yes.
Yes, sir.

　We nodded.

'I'm not a professional 'true treasure house' of the ruins either. There's also Marle, and I plan to keep my search to shallow levels only.

The sister of the 'Demon Hunter' added.

　Kilt-san nodded.

''It's better that way.''
Yes, sir.

　The two sisters nodded at each other.

(Hmmm?　(Is it only a shallow hierarchy?)

　But it can't be helped.

　We are going to go to an 'unexcavated' site.

　Naturally, we don't even know the size of the inside.

(As expected, I don't think it's as large as the 'Great Labyrinth' in the Arun Divine Kingdom, but...)

　It's dangerous to go too deep underground, even with Illtimina-san around.

　Even with the Dior Ruins, which only have four levels, it was difficult,

　Kirto said.

Arnold said, "I heard that he's going to prepare a beast wheel for us as well. I suggest you take it to the ruins.

　Oh, nothing but the best.

'They'll be waiting for us near the ruins until evening. On the other hand, if you don't return by then, they will assume that something has happened and send out a search party.
Yes.
'I understand. --but are you sure you want to go that far?
It's a proposal from them. Just take it in stride.

　And then.

A warrior needs to be prepared for that, too.

　I laughed.

(If you're going to go that far, I'll take it gratefully.)

　I would agree.

　Then it occurred to me to ask.

"Would you like to come with me, Mr. Quilt?

　And.

　Mr. Kilt chuckled in annoyance.

I'd like to come, but I've got a lot of things I need to talk to Arnold about for future reference.
Hmm?

　Yeah.

　...........

"Mr. Kilt has been spending a lot of time with Mr. Arnold lately, hasn't he?

　I muttered.

　The only time he's with us is when we're eating, otherwise he's usually at Mr. Arnold's.

'Hm?'

　Mr. Kilt rolled his golden eyes.

　Ms. Illtimina nodded.

'Well, Kilt is a woman of her age, too. That's the way it goes.

　He strokes my hair as if to comfort me.

(Yeah...)

　But I'm kind of sad,

　Mr. Kilt pouted and said quickly, as if in a panic.

'Wait, wait, wait!　Then don't get any funny ideas.

　Miss Illtimina has a very clear face.

'It's fine. I won't say or hear anything wild.
Listen.

　A little awesome, silver-haired lady.

"I'm telling you, we're not talking about work, okay? Nothing in private, okay?

　Really?

　Illtimina and I look at each other suspiciously.

'If you doubt me, I'll tell you what we talked about, right?

　Mr. Kilt says.

'Yes.'
Okay, just in case.

　Since we're here, we decided to listen to it.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The other day, the content of the discussion was about the Battle of the Sacred God Tree.

　At that time, the Child of Darkness only brought two 'Darkness Attendants' with him.

''Do you know why?''

　And Mr. Kilt.

(Reason?)

　He said it was to avoid provoking us....

That's not true. I didn't do that to hurt my own people.

　Huh?

We prevented you from using our magic to turn people back into men by giving you only two men to fight in the field.

　Ah!

(I see.)

　Mr. Kilts nodded.

On the other hand, the magic that brings us back to our people still works.
I see.

　That's useful information for us.

But the guy's so disposable, he blew himself up.
..........

　Mr. Kilt says in a slightly scary voice.

He is attached to his people. But he's attached to them as his own property. Not as life.

　............

(You warned me before, Renu, about something similar.)

We may speak the language, but we don't have the same values.
..........
Arnold and I agreed that a ceasefire and a fight with him was a risk.

　Hmm.

I've also asked you to find out what happened to him after that. I've given them the information I have.

　Mr. Kilt said, and made a gesture of holding something in his hand.

　With a small smile.

Well, we can talk about that over a few drinks.

　QUIET.

　He imitates stirring up a drink.

(So the booze is the real deal!)

　I was stunned.

"Therefore, there is nothing for you to suspect.

　Demon Princess-sama stretched out her chest.

　As she looked at it, Illtimina-san muttered.

''That's what it means to be a woman of your age, isn't it?''
..........
..........

　click

　At that moment, the door to the guest room opened and Solstice returned.

'I'm back~. Ahhh, that was a nice bath.

　He walks into the room, rubbing his wet hair with a towel, and notices us.

'Hmm?　What's wrong?
Nope.
It's nothing.
Yeah?

　Solstice tilts her narrow neck.

　His gaze turns to Kilt-san.

''........Kirt?''
..........
Solstice, leave her alone for now.

　I said.

"?

　Solstice nodded yes, though it seemed strange.

　Tonight, Kilt-san was kind of dreary and a bit quiet.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　The next morning, Illtimina and I woke up before sunrise.

'Let's go,'
Yes.

　The room is dimly lit.

　I was careful not to wake up Solstice and Kilt-san, who were still sleeping, and set up my equipment.

''Hmnga~''

　.....

　The girl is making a vigorous snore.

　I chuckled and laughed.

Okay, I'm out of here.

　I called out to him in my mind and quietly left the room.

　I got into the beast car that I had been asked to wait in front of the royal palace and proceeded through the city of Karanka.

　Even though it was still dimly lit early in the morning, it was only the capital city, so there were many people in the city.

　Garang Garang.

　With the sound of bells, the beast car proceeded through it and eventually left the 'Pure White Golden City'.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We left the city of Karanka for three hours.

　As we continued through the grasslands and eventually left the city road, we dropped off in front of a forest.

'Right back here,'
Yes.

　Illtimina and I will check the map with you.

(It's about a 30-minute walk, I think.)

Then let's go.
Yes.

　We nodded to each other and walked into the forest.

　The forest was kind of magical in the early morning, with the sun shining through the trees, which made the drops of water on the leaves glisten in the morning mist.

(Beautiful.)

　I walk away with that in mind.

　And.

Hmmm, this is kind of nostalgic.

　Illtimina laughed wryly.

(Huh?)

'I remember when I first met Marle. We walked through the Great Aldrian Forest together that time.

　Oh, by the way...

　We met in the woods.

　It hadn't even been a year yet, but I felt very nostalgic for those days.

'Yeah, I guess so.'

　I smiled and nodded.

　It's been a long time since we've been alone in the forest like we were back then.

　Illtimina nodded.

Um, Merle?　Can I ask one favor?

　I said.

'Please?'
'Yes. Well could you let me hold Merle again like you did back then?

　Ew!

　I'm taken aback by the sudden request.

'W-why?'
'No, well, that hasn't happened for a while now, and it's been a while since I've tried it...'
..........
No?

　Illtimina-san's beautiful crimson eyes peer upward at my face.

　Sneaky, kind of cute.

　I let out a breath, "Huh.

　It was sad to see a boy's pride, but I hated it even more to make someone I loved sad.

'Hmm.'

　He spread his arms out to show that he was at the mercy of them.

　Iltimina's expression lit up with a puff.

'Thank you, Merle!

　He says happily and extends his left hand to me.

　Hyoi.

　I have all sorts of baggage and equipment, and yet I'm held up lightly.

(Wow!)

　She shakes and I can't help but put my hand around her white neck.

'Hmph.'

　Illtimina looks happy.

　She moved up and down lightly, as if to check my weight.

It's getting heavy, isn't it?
Yeah?
'Yes. I can feel Merle's growth since then.

　Her crimson eyes narrowed gently.

(Hmm?)

　I thought it was simply the baggage and equipment, but she seemed to sense something else, too.

　Illtimina-san presses her face against my neck.

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

　His breath tickled a little.

　He did so for a moment, then looked up.

　With a satisfied smile on his face.

Well, shall we go?

　bang

　Too soon to say, those healthy legs kicked the earth.　

(What?)

　I panic and cling to her head.

　Illtimina's beautiful hair crumples up in her tiny hands.

''Hmph.''

　Illtimina seemed to be enjoying herself.

　Her running felt like it hadn't been done in a long time.

　She couldn't feel the unevenness of the ground, and the scenery of the forest flowed backwards in no time at a speed as if she was running on flat ground.

(As usual, great yah.)

　And I miss her a bit.

　I remember being in her arms like this all day long, even when we were going through the Great Forest of Aldoria.

　Huow.

　The wind pressure ruffled our hair.

　As I looked at her joyful face, I suddenly met her gaze.

''Hmph.''
"Ha-ha.

　We laughed at each other.

　In the middle of the fantastic forest, a beautiful woman holding a white spear and a child ran through the trees at an amazing speed.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The distance that seemed to take half an hour to traverse was trudged through in ten minutes, thanks to Mr. Illtimina.

'It's here, isn't it?'

　In front of us is a small cliff.

　The cliff was undergoing a landslide, revealing scraped ground and upturned tree roots.

　In the middle of it were the remains of a broken pillar and a hole in the ground that looked like a black crack.

(Just like Natalia's painting.)

Miss Illtimina.
Yes, sir.

　I called out to him and asked him to lower his little body to the ground.

　Together, the two of us approached the hole.

''There is a possibility that a demon may come out of it. Don't peek too much.
Yes.

　I nodded at the warning.

　Illtimina-san took out a lantern from her backpack and lit it. She hooked it to the tip of the white spear and slowly put the spear tip into the hole.

　Basa-sa.

(!)

　There was a lot of black stuff popping up.

(Bat!)

　It wasn't a demon, but the light startled me, and a bunch of bats jumped out at me.

　I was a bit surprised.

　Illtimina-san also looked up at the figure fleeing into the sky, and eventually, without a care in the world, she approached the hole once more.

　I watched its back with bated breath.

　.............

''Looks like he's gone.

　She checked for a moment and then said so.

　Then she looked back at me.

So, Marle, we will now begin our search for these ruins.

　I smiled.

'I'm here so you don't have to worry about anything, but don't get distracted, okay?　From here, follow my instructions and follow behind me.
Yeah, I understand.

　Today's leader is Illtimina-san.

　I nodded at her, and she nodded with satisfaction.

　I patted my head with one white hand.

Okay, let's go inside.

　The beautiful 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter' said that and entered that crackling hole before me.