The next day, the 10 of us were brought to the 'arena' in the Imperial Capital Leda.

(Wow ... it's huge.)

　The circular arena was an atrium with an overhead section.

　It was surrounded by a ten-medium wall, and on the outside of it was a seating area that could hold a hundred thousand people.

　Underneath is hardened earth.

　The darkened areas may be the remains of the blood of those who fought here.

　There is also a noble seat with a roof over the bleachers.

　At the highest place with a good view, Her Majesty Empress Ameldas and her entourage were seated.

　Ten of us were seated right next to them.

　If I looked around, I could see the other 400 or so members of the Fifth Pioneer Group in one corner of the auditorium.

　And the rest of the seats.

"Upa, Ameldaus!　Upa, Toluga!

　The 100,000 or so warriors of the loud 'Toruga Divine People' filled the room.

　It was like a rumbling of the earth.

　Their skin was chattering and trembling at the roar they were giving.

　The meaning of that cry was, 'Great Empress Ameldus! The Great Trueger Empire! It's a sign of loyalty and patriotism that says, "I'm going to be a loyal and patriotic person.

(Great power.)

　Why are we in this 'arena'?

　It was because of the Three Trials presented by the Empress Ameldas.

　The three trials she presented were that in the arena, the chosen warriors of the Toluuga Divine People and the warriors chosen from the Fifth Settlers would fight three times in this arena.

''It's the easiest way to find out how 'strong' you are.'''

　His Majesty the Empress Ameldas smiled so beautifully.

　Of course, we couldn't refuse the ordeal.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The atmosphere in the 'arena' where the Truga warriors gathered was one of tremendous heat.

　What's about to take place is, in a sense, a battle between nations.

　A microcosm of war.

　The Shumuria Kingdom and the Toluga Empire, both must challenge each other with national pride on the line.　　　　

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

　Just the thought of that heavy responsibility makes me nervous.

　Soon, a loud gong sounded in the arena.

　D'ong.

　An iron grate on the wall opened and a warrior of the Toruga God People advanced out of it into the center of the arena.

　He was a warrior wearing a wolf's fur on his head.

　The fur obscures his face and makes him look like a werewolf. In his hand, he held a curved sword crafted from the fangs of a giant beast.

　Beside him is a gray wolf with four horns.

　He is the general of the 'wolf messenger'.

It is said that he is a toluga warrior who can command and control the gray wolves called 'Senju' at will.

(.........He's strong.)

　You can sense a definite 'pressure' from the way he stands.

　He's quite skilled.

　The horned gray wolves beside him were also about two meds in length and looked very strong.

　At that moment, his appearance made the cheers of the 100,000 people louder.

(Whoa?)

　Tremendous pressure.

　The loudness of the sound made my eardrums go numb.

　It's as if I feel as if I have to fight not only the 'wolf user warrior' but also these 100,000 warriors.

　Solstice and Torkia, who were nearby, also have blue faces.

(Fighting under these circumstances?)

　Not very much, but honestly, I don't want to fight.

It hadn't yet been decided who from the Fifth Pioneer Group would be competing in the Battle of the Trial.

　I look at the other nine.

　Kilt-san, General Roberto, Reidl-san, Aase-san, Illtimina-san, Amyukel-san, Poe, and probably one of these seven.

(Who's going to be out?)

　I looked at each of them.

　All seven of them had a calm expression even though they were in such a completely hostile area.

(Guys, great........)

　Mr. Kilt asks General Robert.

'What do we do now, General?'
"Hmm.

　General Roberto pondered.

　Reidl-san laughed, "He looks strong," and his subordinate, Amieukel-san, muttered dismissively, "Captain, there's plenty of room.

　Illtimina-san and Poe remained silent.

　And His Majesty the Empress Ameldas, who was seated on the highest seat, was looking down at us with some amusement.

　Gasp!

　Just then, with a clink of beautiful silver armor, one of the female knights rose from her chair.

'I'll go.'

　Aase Mudelka, the head of the Temple Knights.

　She announced in a dignified voice, she became the spearhead of the warriors representing our Shumurian Kingdom.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The iron bars at the entrance opened and Aase-san entered the 'arena'.

　Behind him were followed by four Temple Knights.

　This was to match the number of combatants since the 'Wolfhandler Warrior' was accompanied by four 'War Beasts'.
　Of course, His Majesty the Empress Ameldas had already agreed to this.

"Auraaraa!

　Dang, dang.

　A hundred thousand Tolga warriors scream and stomp their feet in hostility as Mr. Arse and the others enter.

　It's a roar that delegates the enemy and inspires their allies.

(Ku.........)

　The seat vibrated and shook me to the core.

　I grit my teeth desperately trying not to be swallowed.

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

　Aase-san was hit with such 100,000 hostility, but he didn't seem upset though.

　Hidden behind his helmet, his expression was invisible.

　But the usual serene atmosphere remained unchanged.

　And.

Come on, let's get started.

　The order to begin came from the mouth of the Empress Ameldus.

　D'ong.

　A gong rang.

The 'Wolf User Warrior', the four 'War Beasts', the Temple Knight Commander Aase Mudelka, and the four Temple Knights confronted each other at a distance of about 20 meadows.

　Hyun.

The 'wolf-user warrior' swung a curved sword made of fangs.

　At that moment, the horned gray wolves attacked Aase and the others at once.

　At the same time.

　clash

　Four temple knights equipped with shields step forward in a single, unbroken movement.

　Gagiiiiin.

　Sharp horns and shields collided with each other, and violent sparks flew.

　Although they were defending themselves, the four temple knights were flung backwards.

(!)

　Fast!

　I was watching from a distance and for a moment, the movements of those 'war beasts' seemed to disappear from my vision.

　What the hell, those wolves!

　tatin

　Leaving behind an afterimage, the horned gray wolf pounced on the temple knights again.

　Gakin, Gigiin.

　The sparks fly again.

　At the same time, the four Temple Knights dropped backwards.

　The 100,000 spectators were cheering loudly with each blow from the 'War Beasts'.

　Mr. Reidl muttered.

''That's quite a feat, that wolf.''

　Mr. Kilt nodded, "Mm.

　Mr. Illtimina, too.

Even I might have a hard time matching the counter to that move.

　I said.

(So much...?)

　I was stunned by the words of the three people representing Shumuria.

　Looking at them, the four temple knights were holding their shields in four directions with Aase-san at the center.

　It's a perfect defensive formation.

　The temple knights are also equipped with swords and staffs on their backs, but they don't even hold them up.　

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

　And Mr. Aase, in the center of the four of them, without even holding a shield, took the Bible that was hanging from his neck by a chain and opened it.

　He read the "Teachings of the Goddess Shrien" written there.

(Aase-san?)

　In a unique rhyme scheme, the Temple Knight Commander spins a congratulatory note.

　Gangs, gagging.

　Around them, the four temple knights were desperately defending themselves.

　The shields they were holding up were deformed.

　That's how powerful the attacks of those 'war beasts' are, and that's where you can tell how powerful they are.

(If this continues, it's not good, okay?)

　No amount of defense will be enough to withstand it.

　Eventually, the defenses would be broken through and they would be beaten.

　And yet, Aase-san did nothing but continue to read the Bible and let the four temple knights defend him.

　I don't know what that means.

'Rebaq!'

　Whew.

The 'wolf-user warrior' shouted and swung his sword.

　As if the sound was a signal, the four horned gray wolves leapt backwards.

　An even bigger pause than before.

(!)

　They must have been willing to end the situation, too, because it's an aiding pause for a stronger attack to deliver the final blow.

　Not good!

Mr. Aase!

　I involuntarily got up from my seat and shouted.

　At that moment, as if that was the signal, the "warrior beasts" rushed forward at divine speed.

　Crash!

　At the same time, the four temple knights threw away their shields.

(Huh?)

　Thud. Thud, thud, thud.　　

　In front of my startled eyes, the four temple knights are pierced through their flesh by the horns of the gray wolves that pierced their armor one after another.

　Fresh blood spurts out, dyeing the soil of the 'arena' red.

''Wooaaaah!''

　A hundred thousand Toluga warriors cheered.

　But in the next moment, the temple knights, whose abdomen had been pierced to their backs, all at once drew their swords from their backs and thrust them into the necks and hearts of the gray wolves.

　Zashshhhh.

The huge bodies of the "war beasts" convulsed and then collapsed.

(.........What?)

　All four bodies were dead.

　And the four temple knights were standing there with blood pouring from their abdomens.

　................

　The cheers stopped.

　The only sound in the arena was the beautiful voice of Arse-san reading the Bible.

(Huh?　(Huh?)

　I can't keep up with my thoughts.

　The only thing I've learned is that

Is he going for a fight?

　That's all.

　Ms. Illtimina, Solstice, and Poe looked at the end of it as well, surprised.

　Ms. Kilt was.

They're quite formidable.　

　I said bitterly.

　Mr. Reidle chuckled at our confusion.

''Arse's celebration is a special magic called 'Divine Martial Magic' that can only be used by temple knights. It raises the life force of your allies and allows them to withstand fatal wounds for a few seconds.

　He told me.

(...such magic?)

　That's why it's a shofar battle method.

　Using himself as a decoy to block the movement of the divine speed, the very embodiment of cutting flesh and cutting bones, the result of which is one man one kill.

(.........but)

　Looking at them, the four temple knights were equipped with wands and were casting a recovery spell on themselves.

　However, there was a large amount of blood at their feet.

(It's not that simple, is it?)

　Even if you can withstand a fatal wound for a few seconds, that doesn't make the pain go away. In the unlikely event of an eventuality, there was a chance that you might actually die.

　And yet, the courage to carry out a counterattack.

　And then the determination.　

This is the Temple Knight.

　I muttered with great awe.

The 'wolf-user warrior' was staring in amazement at the four 'war beasts' that had been defeated by the horrible warfare methods.

　Arse-san's congratulations stopped.

　''Patan.''

　The Bible was closed.

　The lips, visible under the helmet, opened.

"The pain of death is not to be feared. Though we are in a foreign land, our faith in the great goddess of war, Shrean, will never be shaken.

　The quiet words spill out.

　And.

　shrimp

　She drew the sword from her back.　

　Beside such a beautiful temple knight leader, four temple knights who were true followers lined up beside her.

''Come on, let's pass the first test!

　sploosh

　Then they stepped forward, all at once.