In the rain, the five of us came to the 'Ruined City, West Section'.

　In the west section, there were cracks in the ground, probably due to the impact of the city collapsing, and there were some places where there were 5 to 10-medium steps.

　Many of the buildings had collapsed as well.

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

　Perhaps because of the rain, it appears to be more abandoned.

　Eventually, the three Kingdom Knights led us to the quay, the westernmost part of the western section.

　There are about 20 Kingdom Knights gathered in the street.

　And.

"Gluon.

　What a surprise, one of the dragons from the 'Dragon Horsemen' was also sitting near the pyramid-shaped building.

(Oh.........)

　Dragons in the city are kind of cool.

　Among the Royal Knights gathered was General Roberto, who had a scar on the right eye area of his face.

　By his side, the dragon knight captain Raydor-san.

(..........Arse-san isn't there.

　The Temple Knight Commander was not here.

　Perhaps she was the only one left in the 'Rock Zone and Base' for the defense of the base.

''General, Raidle.''

　Mr. Kilt called out.

　General Roberto and the others noticed and looked back at us.

'You're here, Kilt Amandes,'

　A hard look.

　Mr. Kilt frowns dubiously.

'What the hell is wrong with you?'
'I have something for you guys to see. Come with me.

　It was a voice that didn't allow for rejection.

(Hmm...?)

　I didn't notice it until I got closer because of the rain and poor visibility, but there was a large crack in the cliff face behind General Roberto and his men.

　It was at least thirty meds in size.

'I'll stay here and keep a lookout for the perimeter,'
Please.

　The General nodded at Mr. Reidle's words.

　Then he starts walking in the direction of the crack.

　Mr. Kilt looks at Mr. Reidle.

　Noticing that.

It's quicker to get them to look at it than it is to explain it.
Okay.

　At the dragon knight captain's answer, Kilt-san nodded.

　Raidle-san nodded back, and he headed towards the waiting love dragon.

　We followed General Roberto.

　There were two kingdom knights standing in front of the crack, and we passed between them and entered the interior of the crack.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Remove the hood of the waterproof robe.

　Pop, pop, pop.

　Water droplets fell to the ground.

　Inside the fissure, torches were set up on the walls, and it was brighter than I expected.

　General Roberto went straight to the back.

(That's pretty big.)

　The 30-medium crack widened the further back they went, making it look like a huge cave.

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

　Following General Roberto, the five of us continue walking without a word.

　I wonder if we walked about two hundred yards?

　clunk

　General Roberto stopped in his tracks.

　There were no torches set up on the walls from here, and the back of the cave was completely dark.

　...........

　What is it?

　My chest is painful.

　I'm breathing in and out, but I feel like I'm struggling to breathe.

"General?

　Mr. Kilt asks.

'We shouldn't get any closer. From here, you can check it out with the magic light.

　General Roberto said as he stared into the darkness ahead.

　We looked at each other.

　Solstice nodded and raised her great staff.

'Well then ... glow bird, light your surroundings!　--Lightum Vadoo!

　piiiiin

　A 'bird of light' flew out of the magic stone of the great staff.

　It spun around above our heads.

　Solstice looked at Kilt-san.

　Kirt-san nodded.

　After confirming this, Soltis pointed his great staff into the darkness of the cave ahead.

　Piiin'

The Light Bird flies away.

　The magical light dispels the darkness.

　Five mades.

　10made.

　20made.

　And then, when the light reaches 30methods away, Solé flies into our field of vision.

!

　A shiver went through me.

　They all gasped and forgot to even hold their weapons.

　--a giant.

　There was a desiccated-looking giant corpse lying there, filling the interior of the cave, which was about fifty meters in diameter.

　An enormous hand was extended towards us, as if seeking salvation.

''What the hell is this...?''

　Solstice's voice was trembling.

　I held my chest tightly in my hand.

　Suffering.

　No wonder I was in pain.

　As I wobbled, Illtimina-san said, "Marl! He hurried to support me.

　Poe, too, frowned at her young face and looked pained.

　Gillian.

　My biting teeth snapped.

　Feeling like I'm going to cry, I say.

'I'm sure ... this is ... 'The Devil's Corpse'.

　His voice disappeared as if he was sucked into the darkness of the dark cave.



　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We climbed out of the crack in the cliff.

　Zaaaahhhhh.

　The rain falling from the sky was increasing in intensity.

　We moved to a pyramid-shaped dwelling nearby.

　Two knights from the kingdom stand in the doorway.

　We sat down at a table and chairs that had been brought in.

''Yes, tea, sir.''

　Illtimina says and hands me a cup.

'Oh, thanks,'

　I thanked her and accepted it.

　Illtimina smiling.

　Zzzzz.

Warm...

　Before I knew it, my body had cooled down and that hot tea was very good.

　It calmed my shivering heart.

　Everyone else was drinking the tea and spilling their breaths as well.

　Soon, General Roberto said.

'I knew it was the 'Devil's Corpse'.

　A heavy voice.

　General Robert hadn't seen The Devil's Corpse yet, so he called us in to check it out.

(But why?)

　I stare at my cup of tea and think, "Why is there a 'Devil's Corpse' here?

"Why is there a 'demon corpse' in here?

　That's what I said.

　Everyone looks at me.

　Solstice holds the cup of tea in both hands, lips pursed.

''So... just like the rumors said, this Dark Continent had a 'demon' sealed in it as well, right?

　I said disgustedly.

　I bit my lip.

''Well then, does that mean there are 'demon shards' in here too?'''
..........
..........
..........
..........

　No one could answer.

　Perhaps there might be a 'devil's piece' in this land.

　And it's not just in a weak state of freshly resurrected weakness, but in a perfect state where it has regained its power....

(If that's true, that sucks.)

Even if one "Child of Darkness" is in trouble, the existence of another "Devil's Piece"?

　Everyone was silent at the thought.

　Eventually, Kirt-san let out a breath.

''Not necessarily.''

　....What?

"It's not impossible that the Demon simply wasted away in the seal and died. The Devil's Piece is not always present.
'Oh....'

　Okay.

(It's possible.)

　General Roberto looks at Mr. Kilt for making such a statement.

'Still, I can't help but assume the worst, can I?
Well.

　Mr. Kilt admitted.

'But I can't see it at present. We can't stop moving because we're worried about an invisible entity. For now, we should continue to search for the 'divine Spirit Stone' as we have.

　Then he ruffled his damp silver bangs with his hand.

　'Hmm,' snorted General Roberto.

''Indeed. Obtaining the 'Divine Spirit Stone' is a matter that should be a top priority.''

　I nodded.

(Yeah, right.)

If you obtain the 'Divine Spirit Stone', the 'gods' will descend from the divine world.

　Then, it doesn't matter if there are children of darkness in this land. He will surely defeat them.

　General Robert let out a breath.

I will inform my colleagues to proceed with the search with extreme caution, assuming the threat exists.

　I said.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'Mm, do that,'

　Then I take a sip of my lukewarm tea.

'The strawberries are back to exploring the northern section. We got more than we expected.
Okay.

　General Roberto nodded.

'I want you back at your base by nightfall. We'll examine the information we've gathered there and formulate a course of action for the future.
Um, okay.

　With approval, Mr. Kilt stands up.

　We stood up too.

　Then, as Mr. Illtimina suddenly remembered.

'Come to think of it, according to the Voyage Journal, there is a 'giant snake' in this 'ruined city', isn't there? Could it be that it's the 'Devil's Piece'?

　I muttered.

('A giant snake'.......)

　Mr. Kilt cowered his shoulders.

'How so?'
Excuse me. I guess no one knows the answer to that question.

　Ms. Illtimina's crimson eyes lowered, as if she was ashamed of her own statement.

　Kilt-san laughed, "No matter.

　Pong.

　Poe patted Iltimina's back, as if to encourage her.

　We all laughed at that.

　And so we walked out of the building.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The rain is still the same and continues to fall hard.

　Zaaaah.....

　Lots of raindrops are pounding our waterproof robes.

'Okay, let's go.'

　At Kirto's command, we were about to head for the northern compartment, with General Robert seeing us off.

　That's when.

(Hmm...?)

　Across the stepped city streets, beyond the curtain of raindrops, I saw a moving shadow.

'Huh?'

　I stop.

(...a shadow.)

"Merle?

　Noticing me, everyone stopped in their tracks as well.

　Gagaan.

　Suddenly, the world glowed white.

　Lightning.

　A pale lightning bolt ran through the black rain clouds in the sky.

　In the light of that light, the figure was clearly visible.

　--a woman.

　There was a figure of a woman clad in rags, with a strange hair color of green, red and white.

　Its eyeballs glowed in the dimness.

''Mm?''

　Kilt-san and the others also noticed.

　General Roberto and the people of the Kingdom Knights who were nearby also seemed to have identified the figure.

　Everyone in the place stared at the woman with surprise and alarm.

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

　The distance between him and me is about 50 meters.

(Duh, who?)

　My blue eyes also stared straight at the woman.

　That's the moment.

　Coo-ooh-oh.

　A white light flooded from the pouch tucked into my waistband.

(Huh?)

　He hurriedly opens the lid.

'Ah.'

　There was a 'Exploration Stone Disk' that dazzled the magic stone in the center.

　I hurriedly took it out.

　The light was so strong that it brightened the rain-darkened world.

　I've never seen such a reaction before.

　There's no doubt about it.

(There's a 'divine spirit stone' nearby!)

　The fact that this was the case made my heart tremble.

　All of them were dazzled by the brilliance, and then looked at the mysterious woman who appeared almost simultaneously.

''Who are you?''

　Mr. Kilt asks lowly.

　She does not answer.

　.................

　At will, I stepped out towards the woman.

　Poof!

　It was the moment I stepped out.

　Goggle, goggle, goggle.

　The ground beneath his feet shook as he stepped out.

　No, the whole area around me was shaking.

　An earthquake.

"!

　Instantly, the woman gave a huff.

　She fluttered her long tricolored hair and flipped herself around.

(Ah.)

Wait, wait!

　I tried to rush after him.

　Just as I was about to do so.

Watch out, Male!

　Mr. Illtimina took me in her arms and bounced to the side.
　Huh?

　Dogon

(What?!)

　A nearby pillar had collapsed and fallen to where I had been just before.

　The cobblestone floor was shattered.

　Oh, that was a close one.....

''Oh, thanks, Illtimina-san.
No. Thank God you're okay, Merle.

　Iltimina smiled sweetly at me, dripping water from her wet bangs.

　I look up.

　The woman across the street was gone.

　Only a curtain of raindrops was left behind.

　Cuau.........

(Uh.....)

The light of the magic stone in the center of the Exploration Stone Disk disappeared.

　It reverts to colorless and transparent.

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

　We stared at it in silence.

　As expected, there seems to be some kind of relationship between the woman who just came in and the "divine spirit stone".

(Who the hell is that?)

　Doubts swirled in my young heart.

　Zaaaah.....

　The rain falling from the gray sky was hitting all of us standing there, forever and ever - forever and ever.