Since then, all of the 5th Settlers have returned to the rocky area and base.

　I'm at the edge of the base now.

　From here, I can see the entirety of the 'ruined city' that fell to the bottom of a huge valley.

"..........

　In the middle of the city, there is a huge snake.

　It's a non-standard size that looks like it's 1000 meters long.

　It has four orange eyeballs.

　It has a green body color with a red and white pattern running through it.

　Zuzun.

　The pyramidal buildings around them collapsed with the mothballing and movement of the building.

　--It's like a natural disaster.

　This is the true form of the "serpentine man" who ate and killed the "dragon knight" and "dragon".

　That's not all.

　Countless large snakes were writhing around the giant snake.

　They numbered in the hundreds, maybe thousands... they filled the streets between the buildings, their scales shining as if they were wet from the sunlight.

　One of them alone is ten-medium in size.

　All of them were created by the 'Serpent Godman'.

　Jurun.

　See, even now.

　Those dozens of mades tumbled through a gap in the scales where the new serpent was tumbling to the ground.

(A real monster....)

　I had defeated a huge 30-medium sandworm in the Kera Desert before, but even that seemed like a worm compared to the 'Snake Godman' in front of me.

　............

''There you are, Marle?

　Suddenly, I heard a voice from my back.

　When I turned around, there was that person standing there with his usual gentle smile on his face.

''Illtimina-san........''
Can you come in next door?
Yes.

　I nodded at the whispered question.

'Thank you.'

　She smiled at him, her crimson eyes downcast.

　Fluffy.

　He sat down next to me as if it was a soft breeze.

　Perhaps out of concern for me, he didn't stroke my hair as he usually did.

　His gaze reflects the giant snake below him.

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

　Neither Mr. Illtimina nor I said anything for a while.

　Eventually.

''........The time will come for those inner feelings to hit that giant demon one day. Until then, please keep them safe and tuck them away.

　That's what he said.

(!)

　I was shocked.

　It was as if he could see through me now.

　Bob was killed in action.

　I remember the look on Mr. Amieukel's face when I reported that to him.

　He was holding back tears and resolutely telling the captain, Mr. Reidl.

　I'll never forget that expression.

　Reidl-san's frustrated face as she received it, and Rana-san's sad face behind her, were both left behind my eyelids.

　.............

　I want to attack that 'snake godman' right now.

　But .........

(It's not now.)

　That's what I was telling myself.

　I looked at Illtimina.

　She looked at me, too.

　In those beautiful crimson eyes, I could see a strong emotion burning inside.

(It's the same as mine...)　

　I understand that.

　Illtimina-san, I'm sure Amieukel-san, Reidl-san, and the other 'pioneer members' have the same feeling in their hearts.

　I nodded.

''Yes.''

　Iltimina-san nodded back firmly as she looked into my blue eyes.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　When I returned to the simple tent with Illtimina-san, I found Solstice inside staring at a lot of materials.

　Poe is silently rubbing the girl's shoulder impatiently.

　It seems that Kilt-san isn't here.

　They must be attending a representative meeting.

''Ah, welcome back~''

　Solstice, noticing, said as she took off her glasses.

'I'm home,'
I'm home.

　We sit on our own beds as we answer.

'Huh~'

　The girl let out a breath as she looked up at the ceiling.

　Her purple hair swayed, reaching below her shoulders.

　And then.

There's no doubt about it. That's the very species that is supposed to be extinct, the Great King.

　I said.

(The great royal species....)

　Does this mean that the life forms that competed with the human race for supremacy on earth in the past have risen back to life in the present day as the 'Snake God Man'?

That's an outrageous story.

　I have no choice but to answer that.

　The girl mutters, "It's a terrible story~".

　Then I look at the material.

Maybe the reason that thing came at us is because it still has some defensive capabilities as a weapon.
Defense function?
Yeah. You mean, they were trying to get rid of an intruder in the city.

　Okay, then.

If we don't go into the city, we won't get attacked again?
Maybe.

　Soltis admitted.

'But it's a faulty weapon to begin with. It's a hunting instinct that could potentially get us on the run.
..........

　She chuckled.

I mean, we can't run away, can we?
Yes.

　I nodded.

　He has the 'Divine Spirit Stone'.

　Then we can't escape until we get it.

　Illtimina-san opened her mouth.

''Even when it was in human form, that one didn't have anything in its body. If that is the case, does it still have a 'divine Spirit Stone' in its body?
Maybe.

　At her sister's words, she opened her mouth wide with an ah-hah and stuck her finger in it.

　Gokun.

　The girl's white throat moves.

''So, I really need to defeat him and take out the 'divine Spirit Stone' from its body.

　Yeah.

　We nodded.

"Well it's just that...

　Solstice ran her fingers through her hair.

'We don't know what the time lag was before that guy attacked us,'
Time lag?
'You weren't attacked for the first few days after we entered the city. We didn't see him anywhere for a few days after we saw him.
..........
'Hiding?　Why?　Are you... are you worried about something?　What?

　His voice became a soliloquy, and finally, "Uh~! He ruffled his hair as he said it.

　Bassa.

　Throwing the material aside, the girl fell onto her back on the bed.

'No, I don't understand~'

　He grunts, holding his face in his hands.

　Pom Pom.

　Poe slapped that thigh for comfort.

　Me and Ms. Illtimina looked at each other.

　Then I said.

''It can't be helped if you don't understand. For now, let's just figure out how to deal with that 'snake godman'?
Well, yeah.

　Solstice nodded and raised her upper body.

　He looked towards the doorway of the tent.

'You've got the quilts thinking about that. Shouldn't they be back by now?

　I said.

　We looked in that direction too.

　Eventually, it was half an hour later that Kirto-san came back.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


I'm back.

　With a shake of her silver hair, Kilt-san walks into the simple tent.

　'Welcome back - I was about to call out to her that, but I lost my timing when I spotted a man in armour coming in behind her.

'You're in my way,'

　It was General Roberto Wogan.

　We were astonished, and Kirto chuckled.

He said he wanted to tell us directly from his own mouth. That's why I wished you good luck.

　Do you want to tell him directly?　

　He looked at us and said in a quiet tone.

From now on, we, the Fifth Settlers, are planning to launch an all-out attack on the "Serpent Goddess".

　And.

(!)

　We stiffen.

　As he sits us down on the bed, General Roberto tells us the plan of action to be taken.

　Two Dragon Cavalry.

　Fifty Temple Knights.

　Royal Knights 269.

　45 adventurers' corps.

　With this total strength, we will defeat that 'Snake God Man'.

　However, there are a large number of giant snakes in the City of Ruins, so we must first pave the way for the 'Snake God Man' to get to the main body while defeating them.

And that's what we'll do with everyone except you.
What...?

　Everyone else.....

　In other words, we're the only ones who will fight the 'Snake Godman'.

''This is also a proposal from Warawa.

　And, Kilt.

　In a battle with demons, more people is not always better.

　Problems with coordination and the risk of fighting each other also arise.

"If there are too many people nearby, the warrior will not be able to unleash the Demon God Sword Zekijan with all his might.

　...I see.

　This is a different world, and it's different from the previous life.

　So if your personal firepower is abnormally high, there's a phase like that.

''However, it's definitely a dangerous role.

　General Roberto looked at us.

He looked at us and said, "I also leave the fate of this war in your hands. It will also place the responsibility and commitment on you. I know it's a heavy duty, but will you still be willing to accept this proposal?

　I exhale.

　We looked at each other and checked each other's faces.

(...yeah.)　

　We looked over at General Robert.

"Yes.

　I replied, as if to represent him.

　He stared straight into my blue eyes.

　There was a pause for a few seconds.

'Okay.'

　Shumuria's proud general nodded gravely.

''I promise that we will do our best to blaze a trail for ourselves so that you guys can reach the 'Serpent Godman' unharmed. Please, please defeat that giant demon.

　Then he bowed his head deeply.

(Yeah, I'll beat you for sure!)

　I nodded widely and took that resolve to heart.

　And then, as Mr. Illtimina suddenly reminded me.

''Speaking of which, I heard that the dragon cavalry has two horsemen, what does that mean?''

　I asked.

(...speaking of which...)

　If I'm not mishearing, the dragon cavalry will have one extra rider,

　Mr. Kilt replied.

''It's just a precaution, just in case.''
Ready?

　I ask back.

　Mr. Kilt's golden eyes are down.

If the mission fails and the warriors are wiped out.

　He said, "We must contact the 'frontier ships' that are on standby and have one of them return to the home country.

'We must contact the 'frontier ships' we have waiting, and one of them must return to the home country at all costs. We are to pass on information here.
..........

　Oh, I see.

　Of course, I'm thinking about that possibility, too.

　General Robert nodded.

That's why I've had the dragon knight Amukel Roth removed from this mission.

　He told me.

(Mr. Mueckel?)

'She is the youngest of this 'Fifth Pioneer Squad', except for you, and has a lot of future left in her. So was advised by our captain, Leydle Kwokka.
Okay.
Well, she didn't like it too much.

　I chuckle so.

　.........I guess so.

　Considering Amieukel-san's character, I can imagine how angry and sad she was when she was told that.

　Reidl-san wouldn't have been easy to persuade, either.

　Iltimina-san also exhaled.

''Sometimes it's harder to survive without fighting than it is to fight and scatter, you know?
Yeah.

　General Robert admitted.

'But it's a role that someone must strive for. I know it's not easy for her, but she'll do it.

　We nodded.

　In the end, we all had to do our part and go into battle.

　General Roberto looked around at us.

I know you are ready for this. We'll now gather all the pioneers and inform them of our plan.

　With that, he got up and left the tent.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Fifteen minutes later, all the members of the group were gathered in a corner of the rocky area and the four representatives explained the plan to us.

There were five of us to take on the "Snake God Man".

　Other than that, everyone else will serve as a dewdrop.

　As soon as we heard that, all eyes turned to the five of us.

　Gazes mixed with various emotions are hurled at us.

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

　But I didn't look away from my blue eyes and took it all in. I knew I had to do it.

　In the end, there was no opposition.

　In our party, there are two experts in defeating demons, the pinnacle of which is the 'Golden Mark Demon Hunter'.

There is no other party in the 'Pioneer Group' that can match their abilities.

　All of them knew that.

　And although the other three besides the Golden Mark, although they were young in years, they were also

　A disciple of Kirt Amandes.

　Iltimina Wong's own sister.

　Daughter-in-law of Columbudo Resta.

　What.

　All of them are adventurers with a talent for the Golden Mark.

　There was an unspoken agreement that of all the members of the pioneer group, there was no party more suited to the task than us.

　General Robert checked everyone's condition and said

We, the Fifth Settlers, came to this distant continent in order to obtain the Spirit Stone and to protect the people from the oracle's evil," he said. Think of your family and friends back home. To protect them, fight for your honor, for your faith, and for the precious thoughts in your hearts!

　with a thud

　His fist pounded hard on the chest of his own armor.

''After defeating that giant snake monster and obtaining the holy 'divine Spirit Stone', we will return as heroes!

　My eardrums tremble and my voice is loud enough to echo down to my lower abdomen.

　The core of my body goes numb with a zing.

''Oh!''

　They all pumped their fists up to the heavens.

　I raised my clenched hands above my head, shouting as hard as I could, too.

　Suddenly, out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mr. Amieukel standing next to a tree, out of the corner of my eye, out of the way of everyone else.

　He looks at us in frustration.

　Blood was seeping from his clenched fists.

　Rana called out to him, "I'm fine! He seemed to be sounding victorious.



　Those red eyes reflect all of us.

　As if trying to burn this scene firmly into my own brain, to tell them not to forget everything if it happens.

　...........

　Sixty-one days after we reached the Dark Continent, we were ready for our final battle.