Oaken was running between the trees without taking any notice. He had escaped while the demon god and Sora were fighting.

　It was a terrible sight.

　His right arm, which had been hit by Sora's slash, was gone from the shoulder down. The white robe of the Light God religion was dyed dark red by the blood pouring out of the wound, and distorted red lines were drawn on the ground.

　Auken had no choice but to leave the obvious evidence of his escape route. You can't stop the bleeding with a single left hand, and you don't have the energy to cast a recovery spell. He had even less time to pour dirt on the dripping blood.

　If he did that, his pursuers would immediately catch up with him - that human!


"Huh....huh...huh...what does it mean...what does it mean? ...!


　Auken's greatest trump card, wind magic, was slashed away as if it were a gentle breeze or something, slicing through the strong love child's body like paper.

　Not only that, he also fought head-on against the demon gods that had descended using the demon's body as a retainer, not retreating even a single step.

　The strength of the descended demigod was proportional to the vessel of the relying party. In that sense, the demon deity that was revealed through Isagi was not as strong as he should have been.

　Although Isagi, the leader of Kazan's Sixteen Spears, had outstanding strength even among the demons, he was still a human being in his own right. He is too small to be able to tolerate a god.

　But they are too small to tolerate God. But even if they can't reach their true power, they are demon gods. He is not an existence that a mere mortal man can handle. And yet.

　The scene from the previous day came back to Auken's mind. The figure of Sora, who had met the stormy demon god's attack head-on, repelled it, and finally delivered a fatal slash.

　It is a good thing that you have a good idea of what to do, because it will help you to get the best results.


''A wielder like that, it can't be unknown...!　


　Groaning as he piles on the words, Auken continues to move his feet. He must return to Nakayama as soon as possible and report what happened on this d*mned island to the upper echelons of the Light God Sect.

　However, the figure-hiding divine artifacts needed to pass through the demon gate are missing, along with his right arm. Isagi and the rest of his compatriots who came to this land with him were killed by the hand of the Gokens, and all of Taishan's men were also wiped out. The current Auken has no way to get through the gate. On the contrary, he can't even hold on to his own life as it is.

　I'm sure you've heard the scripture, but it doesn't show any signs of stopping, no matter how many times you chant it. If the blood flowed this much, his body should be lighter, but his legs only grew heavier like lead.


It's a good idea to be able to have a good time.


　He couldn't stand the nausea that was rising from the back of his throat and opened his mouth. Then a surprisingly large amount of blood poured out of his chest, and Auken couldn't help but fall to his knees.

　The blood that continued to be thrown up quickly created a pool of blood on the ground.

　With blood pouring from his mouth and nose, Auken struggled to stand up, but something had been cut off by his kneeling, and his body didn't move as if it were rusty.

　My vision has been swirling since a moment ago. The next moment, the pain was so intense that it felt as if a cone had pierced his skull, and Auken couldn't help but fall to the ground.

　A splash of red liquid splashed around him. I'm not going to be able to get out of it," he said, as he bit his teeth in humiliation and fear, covered in his own vomit.


I've been beaten badly by your hands, Oken.


　A quiet voice descends from above us. The owner of the voice was reflected in Auken's field of vision as he managed to move his face, frightened that his pursuers had arrived sooner or later.

　It was a young demon Kagari with disheveled hair.

　As soon as he realized that, Auken's painfully twisted face lit up with joy.




To help?　What is wrong with you?

...Kagari, sir?


　The low, uncharacteristic voice of Cagalli, who is always strutting and jovial, made Auken's eardrums tremble with an ominous sound similar to a distant thunderstorm. The voice shook Auken's eardrums with an ominousness similar to the roar of distant thunder.

　A sense of disquiet washed over Cagali's slim figure. Unwillingly, Oken gulped down a mouthful of spit.


I'm an observer in this battle. I saw Kif's death, I saw Isagi's end, I saw you in action," said Oken.

It's not...

My brother Hakuro told me to be extra careful with you. Thanks to him I heard some interesting things. Some people detest the blessings of the great Chi You as a curse, wasn't it?　It's drunkenness for a demon man to throw away his demon status.


　Hearing that, Auken's face became grim. In the middle of the fight with Sora, Auken had unintentionally let out his true feelings when he was hit by the blade against his neck. Kagari had heard it exactly.


You saw that, didn't you?

Don't ask me why I didn't help. The watchman's duty is to witness the battle and bring back the information he receives without delay. My brother Azuma forbids me from fighting, so that nothing happens to me. You knew that as well.


　Cagali gave a small sigh.


'I didn't even want to help them in the first place. It would have been more refreshing if the enemy had killed the man who laughs merrily at women and children,

Lady Kagari.

"Well, looking at it this way, it looks like I've had enough of the despicable retribution, and if that was the only problem, I could have taken him back to Nakayama. But--


　Here, for the first time, irritation appeared on Kagari's face.

　The same kind of emotion oozed in his voice.


'Back then, you said. You told me that you didn't want to die like your father and that's why you wanted to break Chi You's curse by joining the god of light. What does he mean by that?

How can I say...

"A demon human being is an ogre even if he takes refuge in the light religion can't break the link between him and Chi You. But if you're right, Shintoism - humans have a way to break the link between Chi You and the demons. I won't let you get away with this.


　Or is the real goal of Shintoism the annihilation of Chi You, Kagari wonders. If the god-killer is fulfilled, it's a way to break the god's curse, be it a blessing or a curse.

　Either way, it is clear that the Light God Religion has a thing in its stomach.

　There was much that was suspicious in Auken's words and actions, but the source of that suspicion was the Light Shinto religion. That was already a certainty to Cagali.

　Kagari's jingoistic gaze shot through Auken. The reason why Auken's face was down was because he was pressured by the sharpness of his gaze, or was it because he couldn't read his expression?


''Auken. Brother Azuma was aware that your loyalty was not to the Nakayama Royal Family, but to the Koushin religion. Even so, Brother Azuma would have paid tribute to you and the Taishan Royal Family, and he would have treated you well by hiding you from Lord Taishan. If you don't even repay his kindness, and instead you decide to take advantage of the gods of light to plot against the demons by biting your teeth to the great Chi You, you're nothing more than a worm in a lion's body. You think I, the royal brother of Zhongshan, will help you?

"Kagari-sama, I'm afraid there's been a misunderstanding.......please listen to me.......

If you're going to tell me everything honestly, I'm willing to listen, but-- too bad we're out of time.

........what?


　Cagali lightly shrugged her shoulders and Ouken made a puzzled sound.

　At that moment, there was a zap, the sound of a powerful stomping on the ground. For Kagari, it was from the front. For Oken, it was from behind him.

　The black haired, black-eyed black swordsman who had been fighting just a few moments ago - Sora - was standing at the end of Auken's gaze as he looked back with trepidation.

　I'm not going to be able to get it right," said Auken with a short scream.

　I'm not going to be able to get the same kind of results as the others.

　After a short time, his mouth slowly opens.


You're meeting in a strange place - or maybe not so strange. So, is it correct to say that you're the next one, Kagari?

No, we don't have a problem with that, Sky.


　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who can do this," he said, smiling at his opponent.


"To be honest, I'd love to fight you, but my brother Azuma has given me strict orders not to fight you.

I don't know what it is you're up to, but I don't care if we don't have to fight, but I'm gonna kill that guy.


　Sora then glares at Auken with a guileless stare. Auken squirmed and backed away, covered in blood and mud.

　Kagari responded by lightly raising her hands in the air.


'I watched you and Auken fight. The loser's right to live or die is in the hands of the winner. It is no different for humans and demons.

Lady Kagari!


　A scream came from Auken's mouth.

　The legitimate son of the Taishan Royal Family, who once ruled one of the five mountains, hung on to Cagali in a pitiful voice.


''Please, please have mercy on me.......if you help me, I will tell you everything I know......!

I told you, Oken. A watchman can only do his duty when he comes back alive. I can't risk it to save you.


　Kagari shook off Auken's hand when he tried to hang on to her.

　The Shinto religion is an organization that has existed for three hundred years within the gates of the demons. I don't think it's possible for them to reveal their cardinal points to someone like Auken, who would easily speak out if pressed for his life. If it was such a weak-sided organization, it would have shown its mettle much earlier.

　In that sense, Kagari did not put much weight on the information that Auken held. The Light God Religion is planning something - perhaps something related to the demon gods. Just finding that out was more than enough of an achievement. Leave it to the third brother, Hakuro, to find out what happens next.

　--It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on.

　It's a good idea to have a good time with them.

　Auken, noticing that Nakayama's royal brother was about to leave the place, opened his mouth again and tried to beg for mercy.

　But before his mouth can completely open, Sora's black sword flashes out.

　-Crunch, and blood burst on the soil. A few moments later, the body of the demon man, whose horns were cut in half, somehow fell to the ground.

　That was Auken's end.