Ha, ha, ha, ha.

　I ran desperately through the forest.

　I'm aiming for the top of the mountain.

　Panting and scarred, I just kept my eyes on the road ahead.

　The sounds of battle continue to come from around me.

　The sounds of sword fights, angry shouts, screams, demon screams, and various other things could be heard.

(Hurry, hurry!)

　There were also the corpses of the "Black Great Ape" and the Toluga warriors lying around at the end of my run.

　In the midst of this death-filled battlefield, I kept moving my feet as hard as I could.

　I encountered the Black Great Ape many times while I was running.

　Each time, I didn't fight it properly, I just ran past it in a frightened moment, wounded and frightened, and I just kept on going.

　But.

"Hogya!
"Yikes!

　From behind me, there were several "Black Great Monkeys" chasing me.

　Huboosh!

　A stone thrown by the demon snapped the trunk of a tree, passing right by my face.

(Huh.)

　Had it been off even slightly, it would have hit him in the back of the head.

　Fear of death.

　I desperately suppressed it and headed for the summit without looking back.

　--I would defeat "Mujarna the Monkey King" as soon as possible.

　That was the only way to end this "war between man and monster" and save more lives.

　It was that time.

''Gah!''

!

　A group of about ten 'Black Great Monkeys' emerged from the trees ahead of us.

(Not good!)

　I decided to change my course.

　But before I could do that, the 'Black Great Monkeys' had discovered a human child running alone.

　The human face twisted into a brutal smile.

　Then they attacked me in unison.

(That's it!)

　I was prepared to die.

　At the same time.

　Gigi, Gigi, Gigaaaaaaah.

　The 'silvery white cuirass' on my left arm shone, and a beautiful 'silvery white spirit beast' flew out of it.

''!''

　The Silver White Spiritual Beast in the form of a wolf bit the neck of the Black Great Ape at the head of the pack and snapped his shin bone.

　The Black Giant Monkeys following him stepped on the tatara at the sudden intruder.

　Jigaaa!

　Aiming at those demons, the 'White Silver Wolf' threw the corpses of the demons he was holding in his mouth.

　Some of them were blown away, and some of them were avoided in a hurry.

　In an instant, the 'Silver White Wolf' took my body in its mouth and ran through that open space with great speed.

　The figures of the demons disappeared backwards in an instant.

　The landscape of the forest flowed away at a terrifying speed.

''Spirit-san........''

　I touched the tip of my nose, hard as ore.

　Jeez, jeez.

　Spirit-san gently narrows her crimson eyes and conveys her intention of 'it's okay'.

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

　I laughed too.

　And so the 'White Silver Spiritual Beast' and I ran through the deadly battlefield towards the summit of the Demertus Mountains.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇　


　Has about half an hour passed?

　The landscape around us had changed from a thick forest of trees to a rocky, boulder-strewn crag.

　There were a lot of strange rocks, about 5 to 10 meters in diameter, lying around.

　We were at the eighth station.

　The summit of the Demertas Mountains was already just a stone's throw away.

　Jeez, Jeeziga........

　At that moment, the spirit who had been carrying me here collapsed, making my legs tangle.

(Wha?)

　My body is thrown to the ground.

　I jump up and down.

Genie!

　I hurriedly rushed to the bottom of that beautiful genie-san.

　........Spirit-san was a wreck.

　On the way here, I encountered the 'Black Great Ape' many times.

The White Silver Spirit Beast's beautiful ore body had been chipped and cracked in many places by their stone throws and attacks.

　One of its three tails was shattered, and its right paw was also gone.

　Even so, the genie was still protecting me and desperately running through to this point.

''Genie-san........''

　I stroked its body.

　The spirits closed their eyes as if they were comfortable.

　Ji, Jiji.........

　When the figure shines, it disappears as if it were sucked into the magic stone of The White Silver Armor.

　I watched it happen.

Thank you.

　I uttered a sincere thanks.

　After that much wear and tear, the genie won't be able to show up for a while longer.

(From here on out, it's really just me.)　

　I chewed on that fact.

　After stroking the last 'silvery white cuirass' laboriously, I stand up.

　I look up.

　There, against the blue sky, I could see the craggy peaks of the Demertas Mountains.

　My blue eyes stared there for a moment.

'We're almost there,'

　I muttered to myself and started walking in the direction of the summit.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　I was the first to arrive in this rocky area, or maybe I was the first to arrive, but there were no other people in the area.

　I turned my gaze downward.

　From the forest beyond the rocky area, I could still hear the sounds of a large number of warriors and demons fighting.

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

　Are all the 'Black Great Apes' all gathered in the forest to intercept the Tolga warriors?

　There was no sign of demons around.

　It's eerily quiet.

　Maybe I'm dead before I know it, and I'm lost in the afterlife...it was almost as if I was under the delusion that I had wandered into the afterlife.

　No, I didn't think so.

　There is pain all over my body.

　When I touched it, the blood flowing from the wound was hot, and it was staining my fingers red.

　It's a pain that only comes from being alive.

Yes.

　I clench my blood-soaked fingers.

　The summit of the mountain is just around the corner.

The Monkey King Mjaruna is just around the corner.

(I have to brace myself.)

　That's what I told myself, and I changed my mind.

　It was then.

　From behind a large rock in front of me, I heard the presence of 'something'.

'!

　I held up my 'fairy sword'.

　..........

　The sign didn't move.

　I made up my mind and stepped all at once to the other side of the large rock that was in my blind spot.

(!?!)

　The figure of the Empress Ameldus is there, trying to swing the sword in her hand at me.

　When His Majesty saw me, she also stopped her sword with a surprised look on her face.

''Marle?''
Yes, sir.

　I panicked and hid my sword behind my back.

　I was startled.

　His Majesty Ameldas seemed to have the same sentiment.

I didn't think you'd get this far. It's as good as being a 'candidate for Shumurian hero'.
..........

　At His Majesty's feet as he said this, a single horned gray wolf lay at his feet.

　It is alive, but it is the breath of an insect.

　Its abdomen had been ripped open and a great deal of blood was spreading on the rocky ground at its feet.

　Noticing my gaze, His Majesty Ameldus

"My bodyguard warriors opened up avenues of blood to deliver me to the Monkey King, and this 'warrior beast' has brought me here.

　He told me so.

(...were you like me?)

　His Majesty Ameldas looks at the wounded 'warbeast'.

　And.

You've made it this far. I'm going to put you out of that misery now.

　zzzzzzz.

　He split the head of the no longer-supported War Beast with his sword and killed it.

(!)

　My heart tightened.

　But when I found the sadness in His Majesty Ameldas' eyes and the light of determination in his eyes, I couldn't say anything.

　Upon closer inspection, His Majesty's entire body had quite a few wounds.

　Especially his left arm.

　The lacerations were so severe that it seemed painful to move that left arm.

(Ah, that's right.)

　I hurriedly drew Thanatos magic letters in the air, with the tip of my 'fairy sword' sword.

　The magic stone on the bracelet glowed.

　I touched her left arm after saying a single word, "Your Majesty, excuse me," and then touched her left arm.

"Make the pain go away. --Hilio!

　poise

　A green recovery light enveloped the wound.

　The wound closed up a bit.

'.........ho?

　His Majesty Ameldus let out a voice that sounded impressed.

　Although it can't be completely healed, this should make you feel a little better.

(All that's left is some ointment and bandages...)

　I took out the medical supplies from my backpack and treated him as best I could.

　That's it.........

"Phew.

　I exhale and wipe the sweat off my forehead with my arm.

　His Majesty Ameldas moves his left arm as if to make sure.

(Yes, it looks fine.)

　She nodded.

'Thank you for your help, Merle.

　That's what he told me.

　I couldn't help but smile because I was happy that I was able to cure him and also because I was happy to hear those words.

　His Majesty's red eyes stared at my face.

　And.

"Merle, who are you?

　I said.

(Huh?)

I don't know what it is. But I sense something in you that is different from the others.

　I was puzzled by the unexpected words.

(Could it be that they've noticed I'm a 'divine dog'?)

　Did this Empress who ruled the Truga Empire sense it instinctively?

　............

　I was at a loss as to how to respond.

　But when I saw my face.

No, no.

　His Majesty Ameldus softened his expression.

'Now is not the time to pry into it, I suppose. At least you don't seem to be in any way harmful to us.
..........
"Now it's time to take down 'Mujarna the Monkey King'.
Yes, sir.

　I nodded broadly.

　His Majesty's Empress Ameldas smiled at me with a satisfied smile.

''Let's go,''

　With that, she starts to walk away, sword in hand.

　I followed soon after.

　And so Her Majesty the Empress of the Toluga Empire and I began to walk together on the road to the summit.