The next morning I woke up before the sun had risen.

　Mr. Kilt, Solstice, Poe, and Torkia, who were in the same cabin, were still asleep.

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

　I slipped out of the cabin, killing the signs to avoid waking everyone up.

　............

　The early morning 'Toluuga Army and Base' was still in darkness.

　Only the sky in the east was a little white.

　I moved through the midst of it and headed for the 'rescue tent' where Illtimina-san was.

　I entered the tent.

　Immediately I smelled disinfectant and blood, and I heard moans of excruciating pain coming from everywhere.

　I tightened my mind and walked through it.

　As I approached Mr. Illtimina's bed.

"Merle?

　To my surprise, she's already awake, rolling her red eyes when she finds me.

　But she immediately smiled happily.

(Ah.....)

　It softened my heart as well.

　I gave a small smile and sat down on the wooden chair by the bed.

　Ms. Illtimina was propped up on the bed.

'Are you here to visit me?
Yes.

　I nodded in response to her question.

　Illtimina's crimson eyes narrowed in happiness.

　I said.

''I'm sorry, this early in the morning. ........But I can't help but wonder about Illtimina-san.......

　I slump my shoulders in a daze.

　The truth is, I know I need to take my time resting.

　But I couldn't sleep at night, and when morning came, I just couldn't stay up anymore.

　I came here just to watch Miss Illtimina sleep.

(I didn't think you'd be awake.)

　Illtimina laughed softly at me, depressed with guilt.

'I'm glad,'
Miss Illtimina.

　Her arms hugged my head to her own chest.

　Gyu.

　A soft elasticity surrounds my face.

　I can also smell the sweet scent of her own.

　I'm a little flustered, and she pulls her lips up to my ear.

I didn't sleep well last night either.
Really?
'Yes.

　Finally, he whispers mischievously.

　Haha.....

　I have mixed feelings, both happy and embarrassed.

　To my hair, Illtimina-san sinks her nose into my hair and takes a deep breath slowly.

　Then she drops a pecking kiss to that hair.

Oh it's a relief to know that Merle is here.

　That's what he said.

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

　Yeah, I feel the same way.

　And so me and Illtimina-san held each other for a while, as if to confirm each other's existence.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Then Illtimina asked for some air, so we left the 'first aid tent' together.

　I walked closely to her right side, lending her my shoulder.

(Warm....)

　The warmth of their touch was comforting.

'I'm sorry, Merle,'
Nope.

　I laughed and shook my head at Illtimina-san who apologized.

　In Illtimina-san's left hand was the 'White Winged Spear', which was now acting as a crutch.

　Hyoko, Hyoko.

　The way he was walking was still awkward.

　My right leg is moving, but it's still not strong enough.

　Eventually we reached the top of a hill where we could look down on the entire base.

　The wind blowing in the air ruffles her long hair.

　From the eastern sky, the sun finally came out of the sky, and its radiance illuminated Illtimina-san's beauty.

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

　........................She's really, really beautiful.

　In her profile, I thought that again.

　Somehow, I felt like I wanted to stay close to her like this for a long time.

　Her beautiful face suddenly turned to me.

'Excuse me, Marle. Could you please stay away from me for a moment?

　Huh?

Uh-huh.

　I nodded, surprised.

　Carefully, I let go of her lent shoulder so that she wouldn't lose her balance.

　Using the white spear as a staff, Illtimina-san lightly lifted her newly regenerated right leg and stood on her left leg alone.

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

　Her crimson eyes narrowed and a serious light lit up.

　The 'White-winged Spear' that she was using as a staff also left the ground, yet her posture was still stable.

　As it was, she held the spear in place.

(Amazing sense of balance........)

　I couldn't help but be blindsided.

　And then, she launched the 'White Winged Spear' forward as it was.

　Huubok!

　A sharp sound, ripping through the air.

　It was a brilliant attack, using his left leg as an axis, rotating his entire body.

　Humph, huong.

　She drew her spear and spun it around.

　From there, she repeated the movements of thrusting, paying off, receiving, etc.

(.........wow)

　It's a beautiful, effortless move that I can't believe is one-legged.

　Crap.

　When she thought that, this time she poked the ground with the stone-piercing part of her spear and leapt about two meds in reaction.

　As it was, she landed on one foot.

(She can even move!)　

　In front of my astonished face, Illtimina-san repeated her leap and added more attacking and defensive moves with her spear.

　What a person.

　Does it matter to Mr. Illtimina-san that he can't move one of his legs?

　It was a move that gave the illusion of that.

　But.

.....

　Immediately after attacking and leaping, she lost her balance on the landing.

　Illtimina hurriedly tried to support her body with her white spear, but it was an impossible position to hold, so she failed to do so as well.

　Zdan.

Mr. Illtimina?

　She fell to the ground and I rushed over to her as she fell to the ground.

　Ms. Illtimina was staring at her right leg in frustration.

　Her beauty was covered in sweat, and her breathing was greatly disturbed.

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

　The amount of wear and tear I would normally not expect.

　I realized now how much concentration she needed to have in order to make that many movements.

''As I thought........it's no good.

　A voice that seemed to squeeze out.

'I was hoping I could do a little more, but it's like I can't move like I want to.'
..........

　I couldn't say anything.

　Ms. Illtimina reaches out to me.

　I stepped closer.

　Geez.

(What?)

　He pulled my head in and held me in place.

''I was going to force myself to follow you into today's battle as well. But this is not going to slow us down. I don't want to protect Merle, I'm putting him in danger.

　His voice was a little shaky.

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

　My sister, who had always protected me, looked like she was about to cry.

'I'm sorry, Marle. I can't be with you in the upcoming battle. ........I'm so, so sorry.
..........

　chow (mahjong)

　My hands, holding me, were filled with strength.

　Illtimina was worried about me, even though she was having a harder time with one leg than I was with the other.

　She was thinking about me.

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

　I put my strength into the hands I had put behind her back.

　And I say, "It's okay.

"Don't worry. I will definitely come back to you, Illtimina.

　She looks at me.

　I smile, trying not to worry her.

"I promise.
"........... Yes.

　Illtimina forced herself to smile at me, though she was still on the verge of tears.

　Then we hugged each other again.

　The light of the newborn sun this morning shines on both of us like that.

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

　I suddenly looked up as we embraced each other.

　Beyond that, the Demertas Mountains, where we were going to be heading today, loomed silently in the distance, looking down at us in a black shadow.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


All troops forward.

　At the command of His Majesty the Empress Ameldas in Tolga, an army of 80,000 men began to move.

　A thousand wooden ships advance through the wilderness.

　I was in the 'Empress's Ship' with Kilt-san, Soltis, Poe, and Turkia.

　Looking back, I could see the "Toluga Army and Base" behind us.

　There are about 10,000 wounded soldiers, medics, and their guards left there.

　In front of the base, movable soldiers had gathered to see off the departing 'Toluga Wooden Fleet'.

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

　There, she was also standing there, holding a white spear in her hand.

　I found the figure strange in the midst of the multitude.

　My heart ached.

　The emotions I didn't want to leave and the reasoning behind not letting them fight clashed in my mind.

　I swallowed it all down.

I'm off.

　I finally spill the words.

　I turned my gaze in the direction of my path.

　Beyond the wilderness was a forest, and beyond that was the Demertus Mountains.

　A 'magical bombardment' was launched from a thousand wooden ships, ripping down the trees in the forest and forcing their way through.

　The wheels of the wooden ships trample down the fallen trees as they proceed.

　The corpses of the 'Black Great Monkeys' were also mixed in, as if they were lurking in the forest and got caught up in it.

　What the hell?

　Soon, the slope of the forest became so severe that the wheels were spinning and even the wooden ships could not climb it.

'All troops, surrender!'

　The Empress will give you instructions.

　From here, we will be on foot.

　I will walk up the Demertus Mountains on my own, aiming for the summit where the Monkey King is likely to be.

　Our goal was to defeat the Monkey King, seize control of the mountain, and then search for and obtain the Sparkle Stone.

　But the enemy is 250,000 Black Giant Monkeys.

　It will be a tough battle.

''I won't lose.

　I remembered her smile and the promise I had made to her, and I drew the "Fairy Sword" from its sheath.

　Everyone else is beside me, too.

(Come on, let's go!)

　Determined, I stepped forward, heading into the forest ahead of me.