Turkia, do you speak our language?

　I check in on the white haired girl in front of me, surprised.

　Turkia laughs.

'Less sida kene.'

　The shy voice was a bit of a habit, but it was definitely the common language of Albac.

　This surprised even Mr. Kilt and the others behind him.

'Why?'

　I asked.

　Turkia.

My grandfather taught me. Your grandfather crossed the North Sea 30 years ago to meet the Seafarer.

　He told me that.



　I looked back at Mr. Kilt.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'Torchia.'

　The silver-haired beauty stepped out beside me.

　I crouched down a little and was at eye level with Torchia.

Can't I see your grandfather from now on?

　I asked.

　Turkia looks slowly at the five of us.

　A large earring, carved from animal bones, swayed with the movement of his neck.

　And finally, he looked at me.

'Iyo.'

　He said.

He said, "Merle, I'm here to help you. I'd like to meet you, Dad.

　She continues.

(Turkia....)

　Noticing my gaze, she laughed softly.

　And then.

Ojichan, you're in a village. I'll show you the way.

　squeak

(Huh?)

　Suddenly, she took my hand in hers.

'Jaah, koukou.'
Uh-huh.

　Torkia starts to walk away, pulling on my surprised hand.

　In a hurry, I follow her.

　Staring at our backs, Illtimina-san's crimson eyes narrow slightly.

　The other three of us look at each other.

　Immediately, all four of them start walking after us.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The village of Turkia is about half a day away from here.

　We walked along the road along the river that flows into the forest.

　As we walked, Turkia told us many things.

　Her real name is Turkia Baja, and she is 14 years old.

　She is 14 years old.

　She is the same age as Solstice and I. She lives in a small village.

　She told us she lived in a small village.

　Before she met us, Turkia had come here to gather nuts, edible grasses and mushrooms for the village.　

　But then he encountered the Great Black Monkey.

'Itumo, hainai nai ni hainai no ni,'

　Tolkien nodded his head in wonderment as he did so.

　............

(Could it be that since we 'pioneers' walked through the forest, the demons were driven out and moved away?

　I was a little worried.

　And it seems that I was the one who saved Turkia from being attacked.

　Incidentally, I heard that he threw away the backpack that held the things he collected when he was escaping from the 'Black Great Ape'.

"Sekkakusu metanoi...

　Turkia is slumped.

　I chuckle.

But I'm glad to know that I made it, too.
Unh, sone.

　Torchia nodded.

Merle, you're really strong. You're going to be a great help.

　He smiled happily.

　She's surprisingly expressive, I thought.

　By the way, when I deactivated the divine body mode, the beast ears and tail disappeared, and Turkia was surprised. ''Do, doushite?'' And then I let him ruffle my hair.

　Then I asked him about the ruins of the forest.

The Grave of the Heroes?

　Turkia said.

(The Tomb of the Heroes?)

A long time ago, when the invaders were defeated by the sea, the heroes who defended the Empire were buried in a tomb.

　He tells me.

(Hmm, that was the grave of a hero on this continent?)

　As for the flowers that were offered.

We have to go once a month, but we can't miss it.

　He said.

　Turkia asked from behind him, "What is an empire?

What is an empire?

　Turkia turns around, shaking her white hair.

'I live in Tachino, Kono 'Toluga Empire' nokotyo.

　The Truga Empire?

　I look at the ground beneath my feet.

　Then I look at Turkia.

"Is this 'Tolkien Empire' too?
Un.

　She nodded.

　I couldn't help but look at the other four.

　In this dark continent, there was a nation called 'Toluuga Empire'.

　And Turkia is a Turuga people.

　Including those pyramid ruins, what is spreading on this continent is something like the 'Toluga Civilization'.

(Wow...)

　We are now in touch with a civilization and nation unknown to anyone in the Kingdom of Shumuria....

　I'm getting a little thrilled.

　The Toluga girl was nodding her head curiously at our situation.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The sun was heading west.

　By this time, the trees in the forest have diminished and the landscape has changed to rocky terrain instead.

　To the right of our walking path is a large mountain range.

(That's... that's the mountain range that was visible to the south of the "Pioneer Village and Base")

　Apparently we had gone a long way south, and we had reached the east side of that mountain range.

Hey, are we there yet?

　Tired, Solstice blurted out.

　The gentle Poe is doing the heavy-footed girl a favor by pushing her back.

　Torkia looked at it.

"Mowthug.

　I laugh.

　About half an hour later, we entered a rocky valley.

　On either side are sheer cliffs.

　The cliffs are about 20 meters high.

(In this place?)

　Just as I was wondering, Tolkien's expression brightened and he pointed forward.

'Hola, look etequita!

　Huh?

　If you followed her fingers, you could see a log fence built to block the cliff.

　Behind the fence, we could also see a lookout tower.

　Turkia looked back at us in amazement.

We're in the graveyard of the gravediggers!

　I laughed.