We walked through a forest world, covered in tall trees.

　The earthy ground is uneven and harder to walk on than the flat ground, such as in the city.

　But.

Sue Hur.

　Taking a deep breath, the air was delicious.

　The early morning sunshine falling through the leaves was so magical and beautiful.

　The Great Aldrian Forest of old.

　It was said that it would take three days to reach the Toggle Cliffs, the boundary between the deep layers of the forest.

Illtimina-san and the rest of the "People of Demon Blood" have the stamina, so if they keep running, they can get there in two days, but as expected of me, I can't keep up.

　If I was traveling in a hurry, it would be faster to be carried like in the past.

　But now I'm not in a hurry, so he's keeping up with my pace.

　Zach, zach.

　At a calm pace, the four of us walked together.

(Hmm...?)

　Suddenly, I smelled an odor in the wind.

　When I looked in that direction, I saw a few black shadows gathered among the distant trees.

'Evil tigers.'

　He muttered the name.

　It's a demon about one medd in length with a monkey-like body and a fox-like face.

　The three of them also look at you.

"Hmm, it's true.
..........
But there are four of us. Evildoers are basically cowards. They won't hesitate to attack us.

I see.

　I let go of my hand, which I had put on the hilt of the "fairy sword" in alarm.

　Then, Solstice suddenly remembered with a look of remembrance on her face.

'Well, was it that demon that turned Merle into a dying rag a year ago?

　He asked.

　I chuckled and nodded yes.

　Kashan.

Let's take him down.

　Illtimina-san muttered with a straight face and released the white spear wing ornament.

　Wow?

Yeah, it's fine, it was a year ago.
But...
But, come on, let's get on with it.　We've got to get to the toggle cliffs first.

　doing something forcefully and continuously

　I push the overprotective sister's back with both hands.

　Although Illtimina-san seemed a little dissatisfied, the spear wing ornament closed with a crunch again. .........Hoho.

　Kilt-san and Solstice also laugh.

　Pushing my back, I turn around and

You guys are alive.

　He spoke to the distant demons in his mind.

　Of course, the evil tigers didn't seem to understand, they just looked off at the humans walking in the forest from a distance.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Hunters also visit the Great Forest of Aldoria.

　We found one of the forest huts used by these hunters and spent the night in the forest.

　Chunch-chunch.

　The birds' calls echoed in the forest in the early morning.

　Among them.

Come on. Let's go again.
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Yeah.

　We began our second day in the forest, our second day on the move.

　After a few hours of walking, we came upon a space where the trees in the forest had fallen.

　Not just one or two.

　Dozens of large trees had fallen, creating a large empty space.

　The trees showed signs of having been forcefully snapped, some of them charred and blackened.

　There was also a collapsed forest hut nearby.

(This one...)

This is where I fought Gad the Red Fangled Dragon!

　When I notice, I scream out.

　It was dark at night, but in the daytime, the place was like this.

　The other three people were also looking at their surroundings with deep emotion.

''........If Marle hadn't brought Kirto and Sol with him at that time, I would have been killed by Gad here....

　Iltimina murmured.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'The Warriors wouldn't have made it in time without Marle.
Well, yeah.

　Solstice acknowledged it, though her lips twitched.

　I laughed.

'Even I wouldn't have made it out of the depths if it wasn't for Illtimina-san, and I'm sure I would have died in this forest if Kilt-san and Solstice hadn't found me.

　Honestly, I say.

　The four of us looked at each other.

　It was here, in the Great Ardorian Forest, that our destinies intersected, I think, with the four of us.

　And we helped each other.

　And that continues to this day.

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

　We sort of laughed at each other.

　And so the four of us adventurers started walking through the forest again.

　--I'm hoping that this relationship will continue for a long time to come.　


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　We spent the second night in the woodshed again.

(We'll be there tomorrow.)

　I think about that while being hugged from the back by Illtimina-san as a pillow in the pitch dark room.

　Gawd, squeak, squeak.

　Outside the forest hut, from deep in the forest, the occasional voice of a demon or wild animal could be heard from deep in the forest.

　...........

　What is the blessing of Yacowl-sama?

If you go there you'll understand.

　He let out a breath and closed his eyelids.

　Feeling her warmth against my back, the second night was slowly dawning on me.

　And the third day.

　The weather didn't break and we proceeded smoothly through the forest.

(Ah.....)

　Eventually, the trees in the forest broke off.

　In front of us, we could see the blue sky.

　We were on top of a very high cliff, and below us we could see the great forest that stretched beyond the horizon.

　At the end of the Great Forest, the blue mountains are visible in a haze.

　This is the Great Forest of Aldoria, the deepest part of the Great Forest.

　This huge cliff, which was over 100 meters high, was the Toggle Cliff, the boundary between the Great Forest and the Deep Forest.

　This huge cliff also extends to the end of the horizon on both sides.

　Huaoao!

　The wind blowing in the air ruffles our hair.

'So this is it.'

　Mr. Kilt muttered, his golden eyes narrowing.

　Solstice, too, peering fearfully down the cliff.

Wow....I've heard rumors about it, but it's a hell of a cliff.　

　I say, dismayed.

　Looking down from a height that sends shivers down my spine, the forest stretches for miles, seemingly no different from the forest above.

(But that's only in the daytime.)

　I know it.

　Illtimina-san, who knows as well, cupped my right hand, perhaps unconsciously.

　I look up at that profile.

''........You're back, aren't you?
Yes.

　Iltimina muttered as she looked forward.

　I nodded and looked at the view from the cliff for a while, the same way.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　After admiring the magnificent view of nature, we started to move.

"Oh, there it is!

　My little finger pointed to the left.

I could see a large collapse in the far distance of the "Toggle Cliffs", a kilometer or two away.

　A year ago, me and Mr. Illtimina had escaped the depths from there.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

Hmm. Let's head over there first.
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Okay.

　We start moving.

　After about 20 minutes of walking, we arrive at the site of the collapse.

　The collapse was about 30 meters wide.

　Vertically, there is a 50-med. cliff, with debris and sediment piled up on its underside, creating a gentle slope.

　Compared to the rest of the place, the descent seems to be only half the distance.

(Well, it's still some 50-medes.)

　The other three also peered down the cliff.

"Hmm. We can get down from here.
Yeah.

　The two adults nodded at each other.

　Solstice toddles to the very edge of the cliff, passing behind them.

'Heeeee...'

　Leaning forward, she checked below.

　A breeze blows, shaking her soft, purple hair, and the girl's white throat gurgles.

　And - that's when.

　Gakko.

(!)

　The ground beneath her feet cracked and crumbled.

''Heh........?''

　Suddenly, Solstice falls forward, looking dumb.

(And hey!　

　I was in a panic.

　firmly

It's dangerous.

　Quickly, Mr. Kilt grabbed the girl's wrist and pulled her toward him.

　Poof.

　Solstice was saved by being held in Kilt-san's chest.

　He looks a bit stunned.

''Ah ... thanks, Kirt.''

　He sounded too sudden, like he was dreaming.

　Mr. Quilts.

Hmm.

　He responded with a smile.

(Yo, good....)

　I'm so surprised, this one, my heart hurts a little bit.

　Mr. Quilts held the girl in his arms.

The rock is more fragile than I imagined. You'll have to be very careful on the way down.

　I said, looking toward the cliffs.

　Then.

How did Irna manage to climb such a fragile cliff?

　He called out to her.

　Mr. Illtimina chuckled.

'I've had a hard time of it too,'
Okay.
Especially at the end, I wouldn't have been able to make it up without Merle's help.

　After telling me that, the crimson eyes look at me gently.

　Hmmm.

(But it's really only at the end that I was useful.)

　It's a bit complicated.

　So I return the smile vaguely.

　Solstice seems to have finally calmed down, holding her own small breasts in her hands and exhaling heavily.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　Then we decided to go down the cliff with two ropes to two large trees nearby.

　The two ropes were a backup, just in case.

'First the strawberries will go,'

　With that, Mr. Quilt grabbed the rope as he lowered his pack to the ground.

　Shrill.

　He descends 50-medes high without danger, as if he were used to it.

(Great job, Mr. Kilt.)

　Eventually, when she gets off, it's time to unload all four of us in turn.

　After that, it's me and Solstice.

　With another rope wrapped around my waist as a lifeline, and with Illtimina-san holding it tightly, she descends the 50made first from me.

(By the way...)

　Every time the wind blows, it shakes quite a bit.

　I move down carefully, keeping both feet touching the wall surface as much as possible.

　Slowly and surely.....

　I told myself that.

　After a while, I successfully completed the 50made descent.

"Phew.
You did good.

　crumpled

(Wha?)

　I was patted on the head by Mr. Kilt as he praised me.

　Then it was Solstice.

''Ugh...''

　Maybe it's because of what happened earlier, or maybe it's because I'm not good at heights to begin with, or maybe it's because I'm coming down with some kind of roar.

(But go for it~)

　It's a harrowing experience to watch.

　Finally, Mr. Kilt arrives with his arms outstretched to hug his little body.

'Uhi~, no more!

　Sitting on the ground and complaining like that.

　Haha......

'Good job, Solstice.'
It's disgusting.

　pesh

　I labored and was slapped with a slap on the wrist.

　At this, Mr. Kilt chuckled.

　And finally, Mr. Illtimina.

　Shulul Ston.

　Unlike my sister, my sister had no problems and came down in about 20 seconds.

　As expected of a sister who can do anything.

'Sorry to keep you waiting,'

　What a smile there was even room to smile.

　Eventually we each put our bags back on and stood up.

It's going to be tough getting home.

　Solstice looked up at the great cliffs towering behind her with resentment and let those words slip out.

　I looked at her like that.

I'll give you a lift home.
What?

　Solstice with a scowl.

　I said.

"Because I can fly.
..........
..........
..........
..........
Then you should fly from the beginning now!　You foolish merle!

　gestalt

Aitha!

　I was suddenly kicked.

　In a hurry, Kilt-san and Illtimina-san separate us.

　While holding down the angry girl with tears in her eyes, Kilt-san says.

'Wait, wait, wait. Don't be so angry.''
Uhhh!
"We all know that Mahr can fly, but we mustn't get used to it. But we mustn't get used to it.

　A quiet, admonishing voice.

"You are young, Sol, and it is time for you to build up your experience and skills. Now is the time to build up your experience and skills. Do not always take the easy way out.
..........
"Hmm?
Okay, okay.

　Solstice nods while puffing out her cheeks.

　But when her eyes meet mine, she turns away with a "........hmmm".

　Then.

'I'm sorry, Merle. Please, please forgive Sol.　

　Illtimina-san apologizes on behalf of her sister.

(Well, Solstice's tantrums are the usual...)

　I smile.

'Yeah, I'm fine. I don't mind.

　I'll be honest.

　Iltimina smiled at me, as if she was relieved, "Thank you.　


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　Even though we've come down fifty meds, we're still fifty meds high, to the ground.

　It's high enough to look down on the trees in the forest.

"Ah.

　In that green world, I find a triangular artifact that is a head taller.

　My voice made the three of us recognize it.

Is that the tower where Merle used to live?
Yes.

　I nodded in response to Kilt's question.

''It's ... nostalgic.''

　It was only a year ago, but Illtimina-san is also narrowing her crimson eyes.

　Solstice also mutters, "Hmm.

　The reason I, who was reincarnated in another world, managed to survive is because I found that tower.

　..............

　It's a somewhat strange feeling.

　Pon.

　As I was looking at it with sentimentality, Mr. Kilt patted me on the back.

'Well, let's get going, shall we?'

　He laughs.

'Yeah!'

　I laughed too and cheerfully replied.

　So the four of us descended the crumbling dirt and sand slope and finally entered the Great Aldrian Forest, the deepest part of the forest.