Our days on the run continue.

While running through the Reddish Brown Wilderness, we were fighting all the enemies except the Black Hand.

"Hey!

　Guinn.

　The outer skin of the wielded 'Fairy Sword' and the 'Great Hundred Foot' sparked.

(Crap.)

　The blade didn't go into the knot at the critical point.

　Around us, many of the 'Great Hundred Legs' were currently gathering around us.

　The Royal Knights and Adventurers were also fighting desperately against the demons that were attacking them in packs.

　Gan Gigiin'

　With the tip of the sword, sparks fly repeatedly.

　...Lack of sleep and fatigue make the sword's trajectory unsteady. The blade doesn't run to the point of aim.

(I need to concentrate more!)

　Otherwise, you can't beat the Big Hundred Foot.

　Zugan.

Ugh.....

　Despite my impatience, I was pushed down by the 'Great Hundred Foot' that had come in contact with my body.

　Not good!

　The moment he turned pale at the approaching hundred-foot head

　zakyuu

　A white sword flash ran through and blew its head off.

'Are you safe, Marl!

　When I looked up, I saw Illtimina-san standing there in a posture with a white spear drawn.

　Huoosh, zash!

　She wielded her spear to exterminate the 'Great Hundred Foot' around her.

　In the meantime, I managed to stand up.

''I'm sorry. Thanks, Illtimina-san.
No.

　She smiled.

　Then we turned back to face the 'Great Hundred Foot' and the others, back to back.

''Demon Sword, Thunderbolt Slash!''

　Zugaaan.

　Some distance away from us, Kirt-san was knocking down a giant centipede that was up to five meters long with a blue lightning bolt.

　Nearby, Solstice was creating the Flame Butterfly, and Poe was swinging his glowing fist.

　Everyone was desperate.

(Hurry, we have to defeat these guys...!)

　That was when I thought that.

　Gogo.........

An earthquake hit the "Reddish brown wilderness".

"!

　It had caught up with me.

　The moment I thought that, countless numbers of those 'black hands' grew out of the red clay ground.

　Kash!

　It also pierced through the hard outer skin of the 'Great Hundred Foot' and easily killed them.

''Marl!''

　in one go

　Illtimina-san hurriedly pulled me along.

　Immediately afterwards, a 'black hand' extended to the sky from the ground I had been on until now.

''Kuu.''

　Kilt-san is abominably dodging the attack of the 'Black Hand' while cutting down the 'Great Hundred Foot'.

''Well, here we go again!''

　Solstice laments with a face that says, 'I don't want to do this anymore.

　The two of them run, with Poe pulling on the girl's arm.

'We'll go too,'
Yes.

　Me and Illtimina-san also started running, holding hands.

　Anyway, we have to escape to the east.

　The 'black hands' sprouting from the ground one after another were attacking both people and demons.

　Thanks to this, the battlefield is in chaos.

　In the sky above, three 'dragon horsemen' are flying.

　''Gobaaan.

　The flames burned away the demons of the Hundred Legs and the Giant Hundred Legs on the ground.

Everybody, let's get out of here!

　They are desperately trying to cover our escape.

　But still, there were casualties.

Gawd.....

　Even now, the adventurer who was running right beside us was pierced and killed by the 'black hand'.

　............

''Don't look back!　Just look ahead, Merle!

　quickly

　Illtimina said, pulling my hand tightly.

　I nodded and continued running frantically.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


　At night, we built a bonfire in the wilderness land and we had a brief respite.

　Ghazi Ghazi.

　Chewing on hard preserved meat.

　I was very tired and didn't have much of an appetite, but I knew that if I didn't get something in my stomach, I wouldn't be able to carry on.

　Mr. Kilt was elsewhere on guard, and there were just the four of us here.

'Supi~, Kuka~'

　Solstice was already asleep.

　Poe was lying on his side with the girl's belly as a pillow.

　A bit smiling.

　Watching the two of them.

"Yes, Merle.

　Iltimina held out a cup of tea to me.

'Oh, thanks.'

　I laugh and try to take it in.

　Hurrah.

　At that moment, Illtimina-san's body shook and fell over.

(Wha?)

　Hurriedly, I hold her close.

　It was soft and smelled good.

　And her skin was so hot.

'I'm sorry,'

　Illtimina-san immediately raised her body.

　Her face was a little red due to the sudden close contact.

(No........is that all?)

　When I stare at you.

'I've stumbled a bit. I'll have a new cup of tea ready for you in a minute.

　Then he turns to leave.

　Cukh.

　I caught his wrist.

"Merle?

　Ms. Illtimina looks at me curiously.

　I said.

'You've got a fever, haven't you, Ms. Illtimina?'
!

　I reach out with my other hand and touch her forehead behind her beautiful bangs, and it's still very hot.

　I stared at his face.

　Ms. Illtimina let out a breath and

Yes.

　I confessed.

　But she laughed like she was in trouble.

But we can't be resting on our laurels, can we?

　It's...

　I was at a loss for words.

It's okay. I can still move around.
..........
'Thank you for worrying about me, Merle. I'm sorry I made you feel uncomfortable.

　She smiled apologetically and slowly stroked my hair, with her fingers.

(..........Illtimina-san.)

　Even at times like this, she acts stoutly.

　I reached out my hand and gently placed it on Illtimina-san's cheek.

　She has a surprised look on her face.

As long as you're not feeling well, I'll take care of you, Illtimina-san.

　I said.

　Illtimina rolled her crimson eyes.

　Then.

Yes, sir.

　She giggles happily.

　She sweetly lays her hand on mine, which she accompanied, and her crimson eyes are down.

　--It was just a brief moment of peace in the midst of exhaustion from the escape.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　A few days have passed.

　I don't remember the details anymore.

It didn't matter if it was day or night, and I wasn't sure when I was asleep and when I was awake.

　Every day, someone died.

　Fighting demons, fearing the 'black hand' and staring at the death of my friends.

(............)

　The only reason I was able to keep my sanity was because of Illtimina-san and the others.

　I held hands with Illtimina-san, who was weakened by the fever, and kept moving frantically.

　Her presence, transmitted through the palms of my hands, was keeping me energized.

　I told Kilt-san about Illtimina-san's physical condition, but she couldn't fix it either, and she told me that I had to let Illtimina-san herself do her best to get her teeth in gear.

''Ha, ha, ha,''

　Ms. Illtimina's condition seemed to be slowly deteriorating.

　Sometimes she walked in a daze.

　Meanwhile, I kept pulling her hand desperately, feeling like I was going to cry.

　The next thing I knew, we had reached the 'Great Marshlands'.

　Large drops of rain were falling from the sky.

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

　Looking back, I saw 'black water' on the distant horizon.

　There's more erosion going on underneath the ground that we can't see.

　It had become a 'black hand' that was attacking us.

　With his fingers on the hood of his waterproof robe, Kirt looked ahead and said, "We've got ten days.

'Ten days to go,'
..........
We'll reach the settlement in ten days. Almost there.

　........I couldn't respond.

(Can I stand ten more days, I wonder?)

　Honestly, I was at the end of my rope.

　But with the heat of that man's palm as we connected, I couldn't give up.

'Yes.'

　I answered desperately and nodded.

　But Solstice didn't reply.

　Poe-chan has been staying close to such a girl these days.

　Iltimina-san looked like she was having a hard time standing.

　Ms. Kilt, too, looked around at us with a look of exhaustion on her face.

　She bit her lip and

Let's go.

　He started to walk away, announcing in an iron-like voice.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　This is what selflessness might look like.

I use my magic to blow away the mud golems that emerge from the swamp in the Great Marshlands and destroy the weak point, the black core, with my sword.

　Perhaps because of the rain, the rate of demons is high.

(Defeat it, defeat it, defeat it.)

　In a daze, I wield the 'fairy sword'.

　Iltimina-san is holding her white spear, but she was no longer in a position to move.

　Solstice, too, has run out of magic power and is sitting down.

　As if to protect such sisters, me, Kirt-san and Poe have been fighting the whole time.

''Demon Sword, Thunderbolt Renzang!

　Zgagaan.

　Kilt-san's desperate sword was unleashed and the world was enveloped in a blue-white light.

''Pooh!''

　with a clatter

　Po-chan's fist, however, had lost its light, as if his 'divine Qi' had been depleted.

''O flaming butterfly!　--Fraim Batfin!

　bang

　Seeing that, I panicked and blasted the 'mud golem' that was approaching Poe with magic.

(Nuke........destruction.)

　Huccotkin.

　The 'black core' in the air is cut off.

　It's a strange thing, maybe because I'm too fatigued to put any extra force into it, but the sword is now able to run as it's intended.

　Guccia.

　The mud demons just crumble into mud.

'Alright, let's go.'

　Kilt's hand stroked my wet hair.

　I nodded silently.

　Feeling dizzy, I held Illtimina-san's hand.

　It was a cold hand.

''........Merle.

　Ms. Illtimina was staring at me with eyes that seemed to be buoyed by heat.

　I laughed.

''It's okay. .... I'll protect you, Iltimina-san.

　Then I pulled her hand away and walked away.

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

　Even the next day, the rain did not stop.

The battle with the 'Mud Golem' was still going on today.

　Even in the surroundings, other 'pioneer group members' could be seen fighting.

(.........haha, haha)

　Somehow, I managed to annihilate the demons.

　But I somehow knew.

　I knew I couldn't last another nine days....

　My legs are heavy.

　I can't lift my hands.

　Still, I go to hold hands with Illtimina-san, even though I'm dizzy.

"..........
..........

　We don't even talk to each other anymore.

　There was no room for each of us.

　But we only clasped our hands tightly together.

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

　Mr. Kilt didn't say anything either and started walking onward.

　Dragged along by Poe, Solstice also starts walking.

　Betcha.

　At that moment, Solstice fell forward from her face.

　He didn't move.

(What...?)

　My consciousness wakes up for a moment.

　Mr. Kilt approached in a hurry.

　When I pulled off his hood, Solstice had passed out.

　She was extremely tired and had reached her limit.

'....Sol...'

　Unusually for Mr. Kilt, he looked like he was about to cry.

　Immediately, the expression disappeared and Mr. Kilt carried the girl on his back.

　Its feet shook.

　This might be the first time I've ever seen Mr. Quilt-san wobble. That Mr. Kilt-san is at the end of his rope.

　It was that time.

　Go, gogo.........

　Earthquake.

　And a "black hand" grows out of the ground.

　Oh, here we go again.

　I stare at that dark palm with a feeling of wanting to cry and laugh.

　Thud.

　The kingdom knight who was nearby was killed.

(Oh........)

　Sad.

　But I couldn't help it.

　I pull Miss Illtimina to her feet, force her shaking legs to move and start walking.

　And then.

G.....

　From the side, I heard Mr. Kilt scream.

(Huh?)

　If you look, a 'black hand' had penetrated Kirt's right thigh.

　Fresh blood splattered.

　With the girl on her back, Kirt-san fell to the muddy earth.

(Kirt-san!?!?)

　Poe immediately went to lend his shoulder, but Mr. Kilt was unable to get up, as if his right leg had completely stopped working.

'Take Sol and go ahead!

　She shouted as she pushed the girl on her back towards Poe.

　...........

　It was like she was having a nightmare.

　Po-chan was lost.

　Me and Illtimina-san had also stopped in their tracks.

　Just a few seconds of stagnation.

　But then I realized that the 'black hands' were all around us, and there was no way to escape.

(Ah.........)

　I finally realize what that means.

　Wait, not yet.

　If I spread my wings with my 'divine armor' from now on and fly with everyone........

　I don't know if that's possible with the remaining 'divine Qi'.

(But I have to do it, everyone...!

　I tried to muster up the last of my energy.

　I look up.

　And then I saw it.

　On the far distant horizon, the 'black water' was spreading out like an ocean.

　It gathered and rose up.

　A group of black giants, some 200 meters long, were born there.

　How many dozens, how many hundreds of them could there be?

　They are lined up at the edge of the horizon.

　They are walking in the direction of where we are.

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

　Oh there's no way we can win.

　I could feel the last of my energy disappearing.

　The resurrected 'Devil's Piece'.

　I was once again reminded of just how much of a threat it was.

(A human country can be easily destroyed...)

　How stupid was I to try to fight something like that?

　I cried.

　Around me, the Black Hands were dancing.

　From the distance, the Black Giants were approaching from the distance.

　I can't help it.

　I couldn't do anything about it.

　Catching the raindrops, I shed a tear or two.

　Then.....

...Are you crying?

　Suddenly, Illtimina-san muttered.

　Her crimson eyes, buoyed by heat and unable to fix her gaze, are staring at me.

　Only the hand we held together was warm.

　I am.

'I'm sorry I couldn't protect you...'

　I apologized.

　Ms. Illtimina nodded her head.

　Her long, wet, dark green hair swayed heavily.

'It's my job to protect you ...'

　She muttered.

　At that moment, Illtimina-san's entire body was engulfed in pure white flames.

　Bow.

　What?

　She thought she was dreaming.

　But the pure white flames that seemed to blow out of Ms. Illtimina's insides flickered through her hair, covering her flesh.

　Her hands, which are still linked together, are also in white flames.

　But it's not hot.

　Both Kilt-san and Poe's eyes are wide open.

　Ms. Illtimina looked at herself with a somewhat sleepy expression.

　And.

'Oh... .........Was this the reason why Lord Yacour gave you the 'blessing' before you crossed over to this land......

　I murmured dreamily to myself.

　Then she looks at me.

'It's okay, Merle.'

　Her usual gentle smile.

　Then she swung the white spear in her right hand in a wide, sideways swipe.

　Von.

　As it moved, white flames erupted in an overflowing stream.

　It consumed the Black Hand beside it, and reached the Black Giants at the far end of the horizon, igniting them as well.

　It burns.

　It burns.　

　The pure white flames spread to all the Black Giants on the horizon on a scale that felt as if the world was about to burn down.

The Black Giants struggled, collapsed, and disappeared in the white flames.

　Cracks appeared in the ground and white flames erupted from the earth.

All of the 'black hands' were burned by the 'pure white flame' and disappeared.

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

　I couldn't even speak in that horrific scene.

　It was like an act of God.

　A 'divine flame' that could purify that horrible 'devil piece'.

(Ah.........)

　I understand now.

I knew the horror of the Devil's Piece, but the power of the Gods surpasses even that.

　We are the relatives of the gods.

　And I realized that following their will is the salvation of mankind.

　Kilt and Poe gazed at the woman who had become the starting point of their power without a voice.

　The white flame had disappeared from Illtimina-san's body like that.

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

　I just stared blankly at the events in front of me.

　Then she looked at me.

''Oh I'm so glad you're okay, Marle...''

　I mutter with a look of accomplishment that I did, and then close my eyes.

　Hurrah.

　As it was, he fell toward me.

　I tried to catch it in a hurry, but I couldn't take the strength, and we fell to the ground together.

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

　Ms. Illtimina was on top of me on my back.

　She had fainted.

　I let my hand touch her back.

　I looked up at the sky, and the rain had stopped.

　There was a break in the clouds and a ray of light shone through it.

　It shone on me and Mr. Illtimina, signaling the end of the miracle and that we had survived.