I finally understood the identity of the thing approaching from beyond the Black Great Ape, raising a cloud of dust.

　--It's a ship.

　A wooden boat, about 30 meters long.

　The wooden ship is equipped with wheels, which creates a cloud of dust in the wilderness.

(But how many of them are there...?)

　It wasn't 10 or 20.

　It was a group of more than 100 ships.

　They approached at equal intervals, encircling the 'Black Great Monkeys' who were trying to escape.

　Click, click, click, click.

　Then something flashed on board the wooden ship.

　A blank for a few seconds.

　Dopah, dopah, dopah.

　Then, explosions occurred all over the land where the 700 'Black Great Monkeys' were located.

''Gah!''
"Fugi...?

　The demon's limbs were torn to shreds and its huge body was blown away.

(!?!)

　That was a magical bombardment!

　If you look hard enough, you can see that the ship is equipped with a huge spear-like object that emits light on the ship. Whenever it flashed, the magic cannonball landed on the ground where the "Black Great Monkeys" were, causing an explosion.

　A strong blast of air was reaching us from a distance.

　Then the wooden ship stopped.

　The side walls opened and many warriors descended from them.

　All of them were muscular men and women.

　They don't wear armor, the men are topless, and the women are dressed in rather racy clothes, exposing their well-trained bodies to the sun.

　In their hands are swords, spears, bows, and other weapons that seem to have been crafted from the fangs, claws, and bones of demons.

　Looking at the warriors, a Toluga girl shouted.

''Godmin-sama Da!''

　There was rapture and longing in Turkia's eyes.

　On his or their skin, a tattoo-like pattern was drawn all over their bodies in red paint.

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

　For a moment, it reminds me of the 'Tattooed Men and Women' from The Demonic Force.

　That's the 'Toluga God People'.

　There seemed to be more than ten times as many of them as we were, five thousand of them.

　In addition to the 5,000 warriors, there were also about 1,000 giant horned gray wolves that were two medians long, and about 10 humanoid metal golems that were 10 medians long.

　That's how many of them would surround the "Black Great Ape".

　Of course, for every four hundred people of our Fifth Pioneer Group.

(.................

　I unconsciously spat and gulped.

　The 'Black Great Ape' and the others were standing around the warrior group that was besieging them.

　However, with their high intelligence, they understood that they would not be able to survive if they did not break through this siege.

''Hogyaa!''

　So the swarm of demons shouted a bullhorn and rushed into the 5,000 'Toluga God People'.

(We must join the people of Toluga...!)

　Reflexively, I thought.

　But the next moment, that consciousness was blown away.

'Ah-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la!

　The 5,000 'Truga Divine People' let out an earth-shaking cry and raised their weapons.

　That tremendous pressure!

　Unconsciously, my feet took one step backwards.

　The warrior group, which emitted a tremendous fighting spirit, met the 700 'Black Great Ape' head on.

　Thud!

　The sound of the heavy collision of flesh against flesh, recognizable even from a distance.

　The earth shakes with the impact.

　The bone swords, spears, and bow arrows in the hands of the 5,000 'Toluga Divine People' sliced through the strong bodies of the 'Black Great Monkeys' one after another.

　The gray wolves' horns gouged out the demons' bellies.

　The huge fists of the metal golem crushed the gathered giant black monkeys in one fell swoop.

　The magic cannonballs released by the wooden ship further spurred their annihilation.

(.......What strength!

　I was stunned.

　Maybe it's the difference in numbers.

　However, the sight of those "Great Black Monkeys" being killed helplessly was quite shocking.

　Moreover.

(CHUCKLES)

The warriors of the Toluga God People were all laughing as they fought.

　Strength is justice.

　That's the national motto of the Toluga Empire, I had heard from Mr. Mohaini, and I thought this was the embodiment of that.

　That Mr. Kilt can't look away, either.

　His golden eyes were wide open, as if he was astonished by their strength.

　No, it wasn't just Kirt-san, but everyone here in the 'Fifth Pioneer Group', including me, was fascinated by that battle.

''....''

　The last 'Black Great Ape' was ripped open in the skull and abdomen by the bone sword and spear, killing him.

　The seven hundred demons were wiped out.

　Not a single one of them survived.

　It had only lasted about fifteen minutes.

　And then.

"Ah-la-la-la-la-la-la!

The 'Toluga divine People' thrust their weapons above their heads and sent their noble and heroic roars of victory into the skies of the wilderness in a wooden spirit.　


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Eventually, the roar that made my eardrums and soul tremble stopped.

　Gashan.

　The 5,000 warriors of the 'Toluga God People' now turn to us, the 'Fifth Pioneer Group'.

(!)

　Bubbles and all the hair on my body stood up against me.

　Tremendous pressure.

　And the warriors, more than ten times as many as us, are approaching us, trampling the carcasses of the 'Black Great Monkeys' on the ground.

　The sound of their footsteps on the ground can be felt.

(Duh, what are we going to do?)

　I looked up at Ms. Kilt next to me.

　But she remains silent.

　With her golden eyes, she is quietly staring at the approaching 'Toluga God People'.

(............Is it going to turn into a battle?

　I felt uneasy.

　I felt like the only thing that could be imagined now, after having shown so much strength, was the end of despair.

　That's when it happened.

'All members, put your weapons away!

　General Roberto shouted so loudly.

(Huh?)

　The sudden order surprised them.

　The Royal Knights seemed to have a moment's hesitation, but they quickly put away their weapons according to the general's orders.

　Kirt-san also looks back at us, waving his silver hair.

''You heard me!　Adventurers, lay down your weapons!　We must never show any intent to fight, any intent to antagonize!

(!)

　Understanding, I hurriedly sheathed the 'Fairy Sword'.

　The Temple Knights were also disarmed by the Knight Commander, Aase, "Temple Knights, disarm! I was instructed to put away the weapon in my hand with a flawless movement.

　From above, the four dragons also descended to the ground and landed.

　Zuzun.

"All dragon riders, descend!

　Leydre Kwokka, the dragon cavalry captain, also said that and descended from the saddle on the dragon's head to the ground.

　The other three dragon knights also followed the captain's lead.

　This left the 400 men of the 'Fifth Pioneer Group' completely defenseless.

(The rest depends on how they come out........)

　thump-thump

　My heartbeat is rising and I'm nervous.　

　What kind of response will the warrior group of the "Toluga God People" give to our actions?

..........

　Solstice next to me also has a strong expression on her face.

　Iltimina-san and Poe, too, are staring at the 5,000 warriors approaching from the front.

　And.

　zzzzzzzzzzz.

　The warriors stopped in their tracks when they were about two hundred meters away from us.

(!)

　The other side was still holding the weapon in its hand.

　But they didn't come any closer.

　And from that army of 5,000 men, a person who seemed to be a general and two others stepped forward.

(..............Strong.

　Even from a distance, I could see that the figure in the center of the room was emitting a tremendous 'pressure'.

　His age was maybe in his 30s?

　The figure was a muscular man with long white hair stretched down his back.

　The scars all over his body told me that he was a fierce man of the past.

　In his hand was a huge battle axe that was two meters long.

　DONG!

　They stopped as the hilt hit the ground.

　It was about a hundred meh from us, which would be right in the middle of the two armies.

(This is....)

　Illtimina-san says in my ear as I try to gauge her intentions.

'Apparently, they'll listen to you.

　Oh I see.

　I understand.

(So, I guess that means I should have a representative over there, too.)

　Our representative here is General Roberto.

　If you look, the General was talking to Mr. Kilt.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

　Then he quickly strode over to where we were.

(Huh?)

　Quilt came to me.

"Irna.

　I said to the lady next to me.

"Will you go with the General as my interpreter?

(!)

　Iltimina nodded.　

'I understand.'

　Easily undertaken, she tries to walk away with Mr. Kilt.

　Then.

I'm going to go.

　The Torga girl hissed.

(Tolkien?)

　She had a strong look of determination on her face in front of us in amazement.

　Certainly, if the discussion was going to take place from now on, it would be more heartening to have her, a fellow Tolugan, in the room.

　But this was a battlefield.

　Just before, the strength of the warrior group that had destroyed that black demon was a pressure that was accompanied by fear.

　Even we, who were used to fighting, were.

　As an ordinary person, Turkia doesn't know how much mental pressure he feels.

　Still, for us.

　This white haired girl summoned all the courage she could muster and said, 'I'm going with you.

　Mr. Kilt looks at Turkia.

''Please.''

　One short word was filled with deep gratitude.

　Turkia nodded widely.

'Gambatekune, Marl.'

　She laughed stoutly.

　Then, she went with Mr. Kilt and Ms. Illtimina to General Roberto's side.

　Then, the three of them walked forward, leaving Kilt-san behind.

　They led the warrior group of 5,000 'Toluga God People' to the midpoint of the two armies' standoff, to a meeting with the person who had annihilated the 'Black Great Ape'.

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

　The rest of us, Solstice and Poe, could only watch their backs, hoping that the discussion would end successfully.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The discussion began.

　They were too far away from us to know what the conversation was about.

　But it seemed that Turkia was trying his best to make his case with gestures, and General Robert was presenting the letter given to him by the head of the village of Mohaini, and Iltimina's interpreter was working with him to tell him where we were from, our purpose, and the situation.

　In the meantime.

"Merle.

　Solstice tugged on my sleeve.

(Hmm?)

''They're all 'Demon Blood People' after all. They all have a tremendous amount of magic power.

　I can tell you that.

　All those 5000 people.........

(I see.)

A warrior group with superhuman physical abilities using demon blood, that's why they were able to overwhelm the Black Great Ape.

　I heard that our Fifth Kaitakidan was also an elite group, and that half of them were demon blood people.

　But over there, all of us are Demon and Blood People.

The Tolga Empire is a country that can gather that much war potential.

　Solstice has a complicated expression.

　The 'demon and blood people' of this country are revered as the 'God People'.

　And as many as 5,000 people have been able to exist as warriors representing the country.

(Even though they are the same 'Demon Blood People'...)

　To Solstice, who has been living with discrimination, the 'Toluga God People' might be seen as envious.

(No, maybe all the 'Demon Blood People' in the pioneer group?)

　It seemed that way.

　And in the meantime, the discussion was going on.

The mayor and the chief of the town that was attacked by the "Black Great Ape" and the chief of the soldiers were also summoned, and they seemed to be confirming whether there were any differences in our testimonies.

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

　Looking at the expressions on the two men's faces as they spoke, it seems like they don't think of us as 'enemies'.

　Tolkien's appeal also seemed to be even more passionate.

　During this discussion, the person who seems to be the general of the "Toluga God People" didn't say anything.

　The two subordinate figures of the Toluga Divine People were the main ones to speak.

　The keen eyes of the general-like figures were looking at the exotic General Roberto and Illtimina-san as if they were assessing their wares.　　

　That gaze is also directed at us distant pioneers.

(!)

　For a moment, our gazes met.

　Just like that, there was a 'pressure' as if I was pushed backwards.

　Desperately enduring.

　Solstice also gritted her teeth and endured.

　Kilt-san said, "Ho? He let out an oddly amused voice and smiled somewhat fearfully.

　Eventually, his gaze was directed into the distance.

　Beyond that was the headless corpse of a silver-furred demon lying on the ground.

　The 'Silver Great Ape' led a thousand 'Black Great Ape'.

　The one who defeated them was General Roberto.

　The person who seemed to be the general looked at General Roberto.

　''Bwah!

(!)

　A strong 'pressure' spread.

　Turkia fell on her buttocks on the ground as if she had lost strength from her knees.

　Illtimina-san quickly supported the girl's back.

　And the Shumuria Kingdom's proud General Robert Wogan was undaunted, as if he was undaunted, and had a calm expression in that 'pressure'.　

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

　A figure who seemed to be a general smiled thinly.

　It was a smile laced with ferocity, like a hunter who has found his prey, like a strong man who has found a good enemy.

　Then he opened his mouth for the first time.

　Mr. Illtimina interpreted, and after hearing everything, General Roberto nodded.

　Seeing this, the three 'Toluga God People' returned to their own troops.

　General Roberto, Iltimina-san, and Turkia also come towards us.

　Turkia was still walking with Iltimina-san supporting her arms, as if she was still not strong enough.

　'It seems that the discussion is over,' said Kilt.

'I think the discussion is over.

　I nodded my head yes.

　I wondered what the outcome of our discussion would be, and our future would be determined by it.

　My heart trembles with anxiety.

　Taking a deep breath, I continued to wait for the three of them to return.