Immediately after the edge of the war at the Dark Castle of Water Margin, Alessandro and Lorenza were in Alessandro's office, leaving Abasi in command.
　He placed Marion's hair on a drawing of what looked like an altar.

'What do you think, dear?'

'Kukuk, oh, it's more than I imagined. Even with this hair you brought back, even with this hair you brought back, I can welcome Master Azi Dahak for more than a few minutes. Considering the fact that so much power is hidden in it, you could say that the little girl has not yet awakened to her power. Although full manifestation is not possible, this will increase our presence in this country and in the world. In this country and in the world.

''Well, that's a relief, hmph. A dark night leopard and the summoning of a demon god........with this many cards in hand.

'Yes, after this, you'll have the opportunity to go back and get Orlean's daughter again.

''That's right, dear. And while we're at it, the spirit masters of Shitenji and the useless hostages left by the dead birds...

''Turn it off. Shitenji will be crushed with his forces and preparations in place. The hostage kids are meant to be an example to the rest of us. After this, you will promptly ... kill them. You must obey us and prove to everyone inside and outside that if you're of no use to us, that will be the end of it.

''Humph, pity the dead bird. You can't protect anything, even if you do everything in your power to die.... Desperately acting like the hostage was worth nothing is also hilarious now. Oh, it's funny........

Stupid guy... well, okay, it's just that he's been useless.

What do we do now, then?　We could also invite Master Azi Dahak here to join us. That way let's assume that neither the agency nor anyone else in the organization will be able to get to us so easily.

Hmm....

　It's a difficult choice, Alessandro thinks.
　Certainly, he could create the situation that Lorenza describes for the whole world, and then he would have the initiative not only for this country, but also for the world. And if that happens, he will be able to take the initiative not only in this country, but also in the world.
　But right now, as it stands, you can only summon the Demon God once.
　After you've called it, you'll have to bluff through it until you capture Marion.
　We have to make them think that they can call the Demon God at any time.
　They would also have to use the backhandedness that they had gotten for themselves.

''No, for now, we just need to kick the guys from the agencies that came here. There's no need to rush........''

'Yes ... so I'll just go out and see what's going on out there...!　This!

　At this time, a tremor like a cannon shot occurred in the office as well, and the glass on the desk on which it was placed clattered and shook.

It seems that the agency wasn't as feckless as I thought either. But it will stop soon. The leopard in the dark night should be out now. And this ward won't be so easy to break.

''Hmmm ... yes. Well then, I'm going to take the high ground with my crystal. And if it's too much trouble...

　Lorenza said, and took the forty-two chains out of her right hand and draped the recognition slips.

'Huh, as the case may be. Hey, don't use it too flamboyantly?　Lorenza. If we let the people of the Dark Night's Panther be demonized, we can't get them back. Also, it's a pain in the ass to get a bunch of people with abilities.

Yes, sir, I understand.

　Lorenza smiles at Alessandro as she turns away and opens the door to the office and walks out of the room with three(...) people.
　Those two beings, walking behind Lorenza, have been in the office from the beginning.
　But neither Alessandro nor Lorenza was aware of their presence at all, they just didn't notice them at all.

(Kurama, Kurama~. These guys look bad!　(What a brave bunch we are for remaining here patiently!
(Osa!　Tsukuba!　(I was never addicted to the western sweets in the tea cabinet that I found when I was trying to escape!
(But Kurama.) What do we do now?　Do you want to just run away?
(I've broken the spellbinding altar, all that's left to do is praise the chieftain!　Let's go home, Tsukuba!
(Oh!　Then there was no point in staying behind!　(Kurama)
(Right!　(Tsukuba)

...Yeah?

　Lorenza looks back at him suspiciously.

''........Is it my imagination.......?''

That was close, Kurama!　(Don't get too excited!)
This guy's got good instincts!　Tsukuba!　(Whew, that was a paperweight!)

　Lorenza tilted her head, but she sat down on the current desk where the large crystal ball was placed as it was.
　Lorenza, a sorcerer and fortune teller, looks through the crystal and observes the surroundings of the Water Margin's Dark Castle.

''Hmph, what's going on here?　You seem to be sticking to your guns, but you're just an agency. Let's see your face first...

　As the landscape outside was projected on the crystal's surface, the points projected gradually narrowed down in response to Lorenza's words.

'No way!　These guys!

　Lorenza is surprised to see the faces of the gifted people reflected in the crystal, who must have been sent by the agency, and she stands up with a loud voice.
　There is no way Lorenza could mistake the people who have been transferred there for the people who have been transferred there.

''Nuh-uh!　I'm licking my.......agency!　A badly wounded boy and two little girls!　It's only three people in this dark castle of the Water Margin!　And... and... and!　The little Orleanian girl we targeted for the front line?

(What?　What is it?　(Do you mind?)
(Sure, sure~)

　Kurama and Tsukuba, who were supposed to be running away just a moment ago, could not contain their curiosity and hoped to see the crystal from either side of Lorenza, who was standing there, her body trembling with hatred.

(Oh!)　Kurama. No way, no way!　(We're getting close.)
(This!　(Did you come here to praise us early by any chance?

　Seeing Yuto's reflection in the crystal, Kurama and Tsukuba exploded with joy.

''Chieftain-oh!''
I want my treat!

　Kurama and Tsukuba, who even pose and shout, wearing their okappa heads and ebony hats.

'Nah!　Who are you?!

　At the voice that arose from his immediate vicinity, Lorenza immediately jumped from the spot and released a fan loaded with magic power in the vicinity of its supposed source.

''Nowa!''
Watch out!

　Kurama and Tsukuba exchanged fans in the nick of time and dived for each of them and took a passive role.

'What's the matter!　What happened, Lorenza!

You!　Something's lurking out there!　I can't see you, but I'm pretty sure!

　Alessandro pops out of the Oval Office.

'What!　Nonsense!　I didn't feel a thing!　I didn't think there was still some kind of outsider who broke the altar of the curse!　Yuck!　It's possible that they were listening to the conversation we just had!　Lorenza, get out of the way!

　Alessandro, the alchemist, took out three vials containing a reddish-purple liquid from his chest between his fingers and slammed one of them on the floor.
　The vial was smashed and the gas containing the demonic toxin spread out.

''Aww, Kurama!　That's not good, come here!

Osa!

　Kurama leapt with an agile movement, dodging the red-black gas as he dove underneath Tsukuba.

'There!'

　I still can't see him, but I can certainly hear the conversation now.
　Alessandro throws another vial in the direction of the voice.

'Ha!'

　And with that, Lorenza cleaved her fan from behind Alessandro's back and the two men's magic power mixed, causing a red-black gaseous mixture of air to swirl violently around the area where their voices had risen.

''Geez!''
It stinks!

　A child's voice screams from the very swirl of the air.

'You did it!　Smoke that and you won't get away with it for free, even if you're a high-ranking outsider!

　That's what Alessandro breathed, but the next voice came from a different direction.

'Gee!　I said!　I've never said it before!　Tsukuba!

'Good job!　Tsukuba is going to stink, stink!　I said!　Kurama!

'What!　Where is it?!

Let's get out of here!　Under the leader!
I'm sure he'll give you a compliment, good mood!

So, all the way to the....

　The voices of two elementary school-age girls overlap as they squirm and shake their heads, still unsure of their whereabouts.

You will be able to find out more about this.　You avoid!　It's not safe!

　Lorenza felt a glimpse of the vast amount of spiritual power that was converging, and her face turned pale and she shouted out loud.


''Donggala Gashan!!!!''


　The residence and work area of Alessandro and the others on the fifth floor of the Water Margin's Dark Castle was blown up, and just now, the explosion could be seen from the Yuto and the others who had struck the dark night leopard and the dead spirit messengers on the west side.



''That's...!　Explosion...?

　After stomping out the recognition slips that the necromancers had spat out after being hit with Senki, Yuto moved his eyes to the area where the explosion seemed to have occurred.
　But almost at the same time, before Yuto had time to think about it, Mizuho's large scale earth spirit art exploded into the dark castle of the Water Margin itself.

''Yuto-san!　Great move by Mizuho!　Let's step back!

Okay....?　What a powerhouse!　It's like an anti-fortress jutsu!　Ugh, Miss Marion, come on!　The aftermath is coming!

'What?　Hey!　Yuto Hiya!

　Yuto carries Marion up on his shoulder with only his right hand and starts to run.

'I'm sorry!　Because I can't use my left hand!

　Despite the fact that he was carrying Marion, and despite the seriousness of his condition, Yuto's speed of movement didn't seem to slow down. The small communication device Marion carried on her back shook violently.
　Like a gust of wind through the dark castle of Water Margin and the forest to the west, he escapes from the aftermath of Mizuho's jutsu.
　I know that Marion would be frightened to be held by Yuto, who is moving like a gale, but as Yuto, I can't let him down here.

(I'll apologize later!)　(Mr. Marion)

　Marion's head was too upset right now to be able to think straight.
　She didn't expect that she would be carried by Yuto.

(If possible.........a princess hug.......

　Yuto puts a lot of pressure on his right arm to avoid dropping Marion with his fast movement.

(Ah.........Yuto's hand........ Not there!　I've been eating a little too much lately, no!　(After I lose more weight!)

　Marion squeezed the clothes on Yuto's back, and Yuto's running stopped as soon as he slipped out of the safety zone.



''......... Did I go a little........too far?

　Mizuho gazed at the dark castle of the Water Margin where the inclination had finally stopped.
　Since Yuto and the others had moved to the west side of the building, from Mizuho's point of view, they were on the other side of the building.

'Marion!　Marion, can you hear me?　It's okay, right?

"........Yes, yes, Mizuho-san?"

　Hearing Marion's faltering voice.......Mizuho was worried.

'Marion, are you alright!　Are you breathing hard?　No way, by my magic!　Where's Yuto?



You're not.......hurt!

"No, it's okay. More importantly........Mizuho-san."

What?

"Mizuho-san........is my best friend after all."

What?　What are you talking about........and for some reason I'm feeling incredibly uncomfortable right now......!

"The fight isn't over yet. We'll keep you posted."

Oh, come on!　Still!

　The comm was cut off.
　Mizuho's face twitched and she stared at the communicator.

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

　Then, Mizuho carried the communicator on her back with her kesa and looked towards the tilted Suikoden dark castle.

I'll join you!

　He let out a powerful voice.
　It was a decision that most of the Dark Night Leopard had been defeated and the battle had reached its final phase, and that further long-range attacks were no longer tactically meaningful.
　The only thing left to do is to defeat the biggest and final goal, Alessandro.
　If that's the case, it's more efficient to join up with Yuto and the others in terms of concentration of forces.
　No, it should be efficient.
　Yes, it must be efficient.
　Mizuho's thoughts swiftly go around and she starts running.

''Something must have happened with Yuto!　Marion!　I'll definitely make you puke!

　Ruiho was heading to the dark castle of the water margin at breakneck speed.