'Merle!　Don't get too far away from me!

　gasp

　As she said it, Illtimina-san's white spear cut both sides of the black demon's abdomen that was approaching.

''Uh-uh!''

　As I replied, I re-holstered my 'fairy sword'.

　In front of us, five black demons were gathered in front of us.

　And in the opposite direction, on our backside, we could see the injured Kingdom Knight and Solstice who was healing them.

　We had come to the place where the luminescent signal bullet had gone up.

　There were the injured Kingdom Knights and a group of black demons that were about to attack them there.

　They immediately joined them.

　Some of them were so badly wounded that they couldn't move, so Solstice used her recovery magic, while we all set up a defensive net to protect them.

''Nuh-uh!''

　Bazillion. Bazillion.

　Kilt's 'Great Sword of Thunder' intercepted the black beast that jumped at him and smashed its head.

(This is the fourth one!)

　There are more of them than I expected.

　With Kilt-san and Illtimina-san's efforts, I was able to defeat four of them.

　But I wasn't good enough, so I was only trying to keep them in check.

''Shhhh!''

　sound of a sharp blow

　Illtimina-san's white spear pierced the black demon that jumped from the tree branch above her head in the opposite direction.

　Spitting blood, the black demon fell to the ground.

''I won't let Marle get close to it!

　The sister who exhales.

　Apparently, she seems to be concerned about the fact that she put me in danger in the battle earlier.

　It's supposed to be Solstice who's protecting her, but for some reason, she won't let the demons get close to me either.

　I'm happy for them, but I don't know what to say.......I'm a bit troubled.

　And the three remaining bodies all pounced on Kilt-san at once.

''Mwah!''

The Great Sword of Thunder ran a blue lightning bolt and intercepted it.

　However, one of the black demons dodged the sword and jumped towards us.

(Here it comes!)

　I hold up my "fairy sword".

　And then a young blonde girl interrupted me.

　Huh.

　I lightly push the arm of the black monster's grasping arm with my left hand to shift its course.

　As it is, the empty side.

Poohhhh!

　with a bang

　A small right hand palm-bottom strike was shot in.

　The demon's abdomen expands backwards in a big way.

　This is not a mere blow. It's a terrifying technique that strikes the body it touches with "divine energy" and destroys the internal organs.

"Gaff.........

　The black demon fell to the ground spitting out blood, spasming and expiring.

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

　vigorously

　Poe sets up in a stylish way.

　Now the demons are all destroyed.

　..........

(I'm the only one who hasn't done anything useful.)

　Kind of sad.

　And.

Okay, it's done.

　Solstice exhaled heavily while wiping the sweat from her forehead.

　Looking at it, the connection of the kingdom knight-san's legs that had been torn off had been finished.

(As expected!)

　The newly healed Kingdom Knight is carried by another Kingdom Knight.

''Alright, you guys go back to your base.

　Mr. Kilt gave instructions to the Kingdom Knights.

　They bowed their heads.

'I'm sorry. Thank you for your help!

　And so they left into the depths of the forest.

　As soon as we saw them off, Mr. Kilt's expression tightened and he said to us.

'Alright, let's head to the next signal bullet up!
Yeah!
Yes, sir.
Okay!
.......................

　And we too ran off into the forest in a different direction from the kingdom knights.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　When they reached the second point, it was a melee.

(Ugh, wow...!)

　It seems that about twenty of the Royal Knights and the Adventurers had gathered before us when they saw the luminous signal bullets.

　The number of black demons against them was also 20 to 30.

　A fierce battle was taking place, with both sides getting mixed up.

''Nuh!''

　Mr. Kilt groans.

　And.

"Sol, you must tend to your wounded, you three must guard Sol. You are not accustomed to fighting in conflicts. Take it easy, and deal only with the enemy at hand!
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Yes!
Poe knows.

　And so we begin to move.

　If we don't receive any surprises or ambushes, as expected of the chosen kingdom knights and adventurers, we are able to fight more than evenly with the black demons.

　Still, there are many enemies.

(There are quite a few wounded as well.)

　There are people who can use recovery magic, and it looks like they are being treated.

　Still, the number of people who are injured outweighs the number of people who are injured.

''I'll help!''
Thank you for that, sweetheart!

　Solstice rushes over and joins in on the treatment as soon as she can.

(Please, Solstice!)

　Good luck!

　For the sake of this girl, I, too, will never allow the demons to get close to me - so with that resolve, I hold the 'Fairy Sword'.

(!　(They're here!)

　One of the black demons rushes at us.

　Illtimina-san and Po-chan are each dealing with a different black demon.

　In other words, this one's opponent is me!

You're not getting past this point!

　I lowered my posture and attacked from me as well.

''Gah!''
Oh, oh!

　They approach each other, yelling at each other.

　Buuuuut.

　A black hand is being stretched out.

(Counter!)

　zacky

　It slashed its fingers.

　There, in time, the other black hand was thrust out.

(I've been through that already!)

　It screamed with its mind and dodged its arms while spinning around with a twirl.

　At the same time, it jumped into the demon's bosom and unleashed a slash with centrifugal force into its opponent's abdomen.

　Dakyun.

　The response of ripping skin, slashing flesh, and gutting organs.

(Not yet!)

　I'm not going to let my guard down.

　While reversing, I set up the upper level and swing down at the black demon that has stopped moving.

　Hu Kong.

　With each black arm that he reflexively tried to prevent, he slashed the face of the human face.

　A human-shaped face that seemed to be astonished.

　Its left and right sides shifted, and the black giant body slowly fell to the ground.

　Zuzun.

(Yes!)

　It worked out better than I thought it would, and we took it down.

　Relief and joy.

　Those are two emotions that are bubbling up in my chest.

　But.

I don't like it.

　Mr. Kilt's low voice came.

　I couldn't help but look up at his profile

Their numbers are increasing. We will be swamped.
Eh....

　When I looked at it in a hurry, sure enough, the number of demons that should have been about 20 to 30 were doubled to about 50.

　This, this might indeed be bad........

　Kirt-san made a decision and raised his voice.

''Let's retreat!　All those who can move, fall back to the rear, escorting the wounded!　This demon princess will take care of the Lord (Shingari)!　

　Mr. Kilt!

　I was astonished.

　Then Kirt's hand is placed on my head.

　Squishy.

Don't worry. Now, get back.
But...
Can't you believe this demon princess?
No!

　I buzz around and shake my head.

　But, but....

　The black demons are a formidable foe.

　I didn't think it would be wise for me to take on the challenge of dealing with them all by myself as a lord.

What do you think, Male?

　I believe in Ms. Kilt.

　But I was kind of scared to leave her alone here.

'Irna, take Merle with you.

　Ah.........

　I noticed that Illtimina-san was holding my arm.


Of course.
Merle, let's go.

　quickly

(b) Mr. Illtimina.

　He pulls me by the arm and I start to walk away.

　Mr. Kilt laughed.

'I'll see you later.'

　He says it in a light tone, like it's nothing.

　......................

　I bite my lip.

　And that's when.

　Bwaaah.

　There was a gust of wind in the woods.

(What?!)

　At the same time, from overhead.

"Goooooooooooooooooooooong!

　A loud yell resounds.

　Gobaaan.

　With that, tremendous flames fell from the sky towards the black demons.

''Ah........!

Dragonriders!

　We couldn't help but shout.

　In the sky we looked up at, there was a huge 'dragon' of the 'Dragon Horsemen' flying low in the sky.

　Gobaaan.

　Flames were blown out again.

　Even the black demons were surprised by the sudden attack of the giant dragon, and they were running away.

(Yo, good.)

　This is how we can hold the line.

　The battlefield has been pushed back to five minutes.

　Or so we thought.

　However.

"Gioia!
GOOAH!
"Cagioa!

　The black demons opened their human-faced mouths distorted and wide, and spat out black flames from them.

　Dpaaaan.

　The red flames of the dragon clashed with the black flames of the demon.

　The impact shook the atmosphere and made the trees in the forest creak.

''Uh, wha!''

　The blast knocked me over, and Illtimina helped me up in a hurry.

'Nuh-uh!'

　The swarm of black demons faltered for a moment, but they didn't even take a step back against the dragon, and they were ready to fight it out thoroughly.

　What a bunch of bastards!

''We're pulling back while we can, Kirto Amandes!

　The dragon knight shouts.

　Or rather, it's Mr. Amukel.

'There's another herd, and Captain Raydor and his men are holding them back!　While we're at it, we're heading across the river to our base!

　While screaming, the dragon spits flames and keeps the black demons in check.

　Kilt-san took a glance at the group of black demons.

　He immediately turned to Mr. Amukel and nodded at him.

''Alright. I'm sorry, but I'll leave it to you.''
That's fine. It's our job!

　Even as he answered, he gloriously dodged the black flames that were spat out, and then spat out another dragon fire.

　Mr. Kilt looked at us.

'Alright, let's go.'
Yeah!

　sizzling sound

　I grabbed Mr. Kilt's hand tightly.

　Mr. Kilt said, "Oh? I make a face.

　Then he chuckled, but without saying a word, he started running, holding hands with me.

　-- I left the battlefield, holding hands with Illtimina-san and Kilt-san.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　We ran through the forest and reached the river and headed for the 'suspension bridge'.

(Quick, quick!)

A number of knights and adventurers from the Royal Order and the Adventurer's Guild were about to cross the suspension bridge.

　The five of us, the last of the group, finally put our feet on the suspension bridge.

　Yup, it shakes.

　Hurry, but be careful not to fall off.

　With conflicting hearts, we desperately cross the suspension bridge.

　A lot of "pressure" is coming from the forest behind us.

　Soon, before we could cross the suspension bridge, dozens of black demons emerged from the forest.

''Ki, they're here!''
Don't you dare push me, stupid Merle!

　Solstice and Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

　Most of the black demons had stopped at the riverside.

　But three of them climbed up the 'suspension bridge' we were crossing and were coming at us with terrifying speed.

'Nuh!'

　Mr. Kilt, the Lord's Kilt, puts his hand on the hilt of the 'Great Sword of Thunder'.

　But before he can

"Temple Knights, tee-hee!

　With a sharp cry, a large number of magical light arrows struck at the black demon over our heads.

　Dopadopan.

　Magic arrows are shot and the three black demons lose their balance and fall into the river.

(Huh?)

　If you look at it, at the riverside on the side where our base is located, Aase and the rest of the Temple Knights were gathered at the side of the river where we were headed.

　Twenty of them were equipped with magic wands.

''Come on, it's now, Marle-sama!

　Smiling Aase.

(Uh-huh.)

　I crossed the last distance in one fell swoop, supported by Illtimina-san.

　Looking back, the black demon that fell into the river was attacked by a huge fish in the water, blowing bubbles and drowning while leaking a lot of blood.

　...........

　We're really glad we didn't fall into the river.

　The swarm of black demons, which must have realized that they were preparing to intercept us on this side, did not try to cross the 'suspension bridge' any further.

　The standoff with the humanity side continued for a while.

　Soon, the 'Dragon Horsemen' also returned.　

　Above our heads, the sound of the dragons' flapping wings could be heard resounding.

"Coguioo!

　The black demon with the largest body size in the world let out a loud voice.

　Then the swarm of black demons turned themselves around all at once and went back into the forest without a sound.

　..........

(Phew!)

　I let out a big breath of relief.

　Thus, our search on the fourth day of the Dark Continent ends in failure, and we return to the "Pioneer Village and Base".