We rode north on a pudgy and upbeat Clow Solas.

　On the way, three defensive walls passed by below us. This is the quadruple bulwark that was built to protect Ishka during the Stampede.

　It seems that only the fourth defense wall, which we are about to head to, was never used, but the other three seemed to be operating at a minimum, as we could see a few human figures here and there. Perhaps this is in light of the disturbing situation in the Titis Forest.

　Soon after, the fourth barrier is projected in my field of vision. This is the front line in the Stampede. While I was fighting Hydra, Kuria and the others were holding off the monsters here.

　It seems that this fourth wall is the base of operations for the defeat of these monsters as well, and there are many more people coming in and out of this wall than the other three.

　Naturally, most of them are armed, but they don't seem to be too eager to kill. There are queues of people queuing up at stalls that seem to be selling food, and adventurers are seen in the middle of the day with their drinking cups in their hands. And the canary soldiers on patrol do not blame them.

　This lack of tension was never seen during the previous Stampede. In other words, they must have that much leeway in the situation. What's the matter, there's no need to come here in a hurry--Hmmmm.

　As I was thinking about this, I saw some people who had noticed the indigo winged beast (wyvern) pointing at me and raising their voices as if they were excited about something. Others who noticed this were also raising their voices in the same manner - and so the commotion was spreading.

　The indigo-scaled winged beast (wyvern) is still very noticeable. I didn't intend for the dragon slayer to be here, so I put Crow Solas down at a position somewhat away from the defensive wall. I didn't want to make a lot of noise and provoke the defenders.

　So once again, I headed to the defensive wall on my own feet. I was prepared for some agony for approaching with my wyvern without warning, but the canary soldiers guarding the gate were polite enough to let me through, even if they didn't salute me.

　Apparently, he mistook me for a reinforcement force or something. There was no need to go to the trouble of clearing up the misunderstanding, so I stood up straight and walked through the gate, trying to be as dependable as possible in my surroundings.

　Now, where are the seals and sparrows? The word "barricade" is a bit of a mouthful, but in reality it's the same as a fort, with barracks, turrets, stables and command posts. You won't be able to find the person you're looking for by just walking around.

　The people around me are all crowded around me, and they are all buzzing around me. I felt like a rare animal.

　I don't know what to do, so I'll just go back to the gate and ask the soldiers. The presence of the beastman (seal), but the presence of the ogre (sparrow) is conspicuous, so there is no way they are working in the same place and do not know about it. Oh, but if the sparrows are still wearing their hats, it's possible that the people around them don't know they're demons. We should be careful not to say anything careless.

　Then, as I was about to turn on my heel, two familiar figures jumped out of a nearby building - what I judged to be the command center - with great vigor. Then, recognizing me, they gasp and run up to me.

　Of course, it was Sparrow and Seal.


'Sora-san, welcome back!　I see you're already back!

Welcome home!


　Cheerfully, Seal, followed by Sparrow, greeted me.

　I casually observed the girls while responding to them as I greeted them as I was back. It's a good idea to have a good time with them. They also don't seem to have dark circles around their eyes due to the fatigue from the ongoing battle. The appearance of the monsters is much slower than during the Stampede, I guess.

　I'm relieved inwardly, I asked the two of them a question.


I'm glad to see that both of you are looking well. So, I heard from the priest Sela that Lunamaria and Miroslav are also coming here, are they also safe?

'Yes, of course you're safe!　He's in the woods now, though, so he's not here.


　Seal nodded vigorously in response to my question.

　Hearing that, I was dubious and repeated my question.


'Are you in the woods?　I heard that you've been asked to take out the demons that came out of the forest, are you stepping in here and killing the demons?


　That would make the danger level much higher. Of course, they wouldn't be reaching into the deepest area, much less the deepest part of the forest, but the aftermath of the emergence of the Hydra in the current Titis Forest has made the traditional division of the forest into outer, deep, and deepest areas meaningless. It has become. It's not surprising that the demons of the deep region could suddenly appear on the periphery.

　In response to my question, Seal and Sparrow look at each other. It's not a look of confusion, but rather a look of consultation as to which of them will answer.

　Slightly later, Sparrow opens her mouth.


'The two of you entered the forest not to defeat them, but to guide them. The people from the Temple of Law asked me to have someone familiar with the Forest of Titis to guide us...''


　When I heard Sparrow's answer, a hatchet mark fluttered in my head. Why would the Temple of the Law ask me to guide them through the forest of Titis again?

　I was about to ask more questions, but I looked at their troubled faces and kept my mouth shut in a hurry. It's not good that I'm blaming the two of them for asking so many questions. In fact, if I asked the two of them about the intent and purpose of the legalistic religion, I wouldn't be able to answer them.

　As long as Lunamaria and Miroslav accepted the request of their own volition, I can only assume that they had a reason to venture into the forest at this time of year. It's no use me arguing about this and that here.

　Rather than that right now, I have to praise the two of them for risking their lives for the sake of the clan to join this request.

　I was about to open my mouth with that thought, but when I saw the person who came out of the command center to follow the sparrows here, I had to keep my mouth shut again.


''It's been a while, Dragon Slayer (Dragon Slayer).


　The one who bowed his head with a hard expression was Lidel, the receptionist of the Adventurer's Guild.

　This was the first time they had met face to face in this way since the battle against Hydra, when I invited Lidel to my house at her request. To put it another way, it was the first time since I sent Liddell home for nothing, when he wanted to give himself up for Elgato.

　I don't know how the internal confusion within the guild has been resolved since then, but the fact that Liddell is still on the staff suggests that Elgato has managed to keep his position as guild master.

　That's okay. What I don't understand is why Liddell went out of his way to talk to me. It's not like he came to say something like, "Thank you for sending me home without doing anything that time.

　It's no coincidence that he came out right after Seal and Sparrow. If Liddell was talking to the two of them, I can't help but listen to what he said.

　Perhaps sensing our vigilance, Liddell was clearly nervous. But that's not because there's a darker side to it, but because he was worried that his presence might offend me.

　As evidence of this, he looked visibly relieved when I returned the greeting briefly. He bowed politely once more before ushering the three of us into a room in the command center. There I was told the details of the request.



　According to Liddell, the 'people of the Temple of Law' that Sparrow had mentioned just before was an advance team sent by the Holy Kingdom. Their purpose was to set up a base point for warding magic prior to the Pope's arrival.

　This time, the request to defeat the demons brought to the Sword of Blood Smoke was said to be linked to this as well.

　It is said that some priests of a very high rank are among the advance team, indicating that the Hokage and the Holy Kingdom are serious about this matter.

　The Canary Kingdom is home to a large number of legalistic priests such as Sailor Priest and Ilia. Besides, if the turmoil in the Canary Kingdom is prolonged, it will also affect the neighboring Holy Kingdom. With that in mind, the Pope must have decided that he couldn't sit on his hands and watch the current situation.

　Considering that, it's no wonder that the Pope arrived in Canaria so quickly with the matter of Crown Prince Azar and Princess Sakuya's wedding ceremony. So, in addition to the wedding ceremony, the Pope's timetable also included the construction of a ward magic.

　However, I heard that the horns of the King of Beasts (Behemoth) were needed for the warding, but I wonder what's going on with that. Maybe they had a reserve in the Holy Kingdom? Or is it that the horns of the King of Beasts (Behemoth) are needed to maintain the warding for the long term, but if it's only for the short term, human magic power will work.

　Anyway, I would like to honestly respect the Pope's decision to work hard for the sake of other countries. Aside from myself, poison is a threat to the people around me, especially the children. Even if we can prepare an antidote to the poison, we should not be affected by it in the first place.

　Liddell, after he had given us all the information we needed, said the last thing we expected him to say.


The knowledge that you have about the Titis Forest, especially the areas deeper than the depths, is one of the best in Ishqa. Will you please help me?


　For the umpteenth time, the receptionist bows her head deeply. That's when I was about to reply to her.


　Kang-kang-kang!　and the high-pitched ringing of bells rang out around us.


　Peering out of the window, I see a soldier from the watchtower pointing in the direction of Titis, banging the bell wildly.

　Slightly later, the words "raid" and "demon" come crashing into the room. Seeing me raise an eyebrow, Liddell said with a calm face.


'It's probably a raid that happens several times a day. We have all the forces in place, so I'm sure it won't be a problem.

That's good, but I think the seals and sparrows need to be out.

You are off-duty, so you are not obligated to compete today. Don't worry.


　This was another calm answer. It's tempting to frown in a different way, saying, "Why are you answering me and not the two of us?" but aside from that, it's true that a defensive position of this size wouldn't be fazed by a slight attack.

　I'm not sure if it's a stampede level attack, but before I could finish that thought, a deafening scream hit my earlobe.

　There was more than one. Two, three, four, five...it went on and on. It hasn't stopped yet. It was clear from the surprise and tension on Liddell's face that there was an emergency.

　As he did so, a high-pitched scream went up. The owner of the scream was the soldier from the watchtower I had just seen.

　A black shadow seemed to be covering the soldier's body.

　I was about to unleash my power technique from this room, but I knew it was too late when the scream broke off.

　The body of the dead man, whose neck was ripped open, fell from the watchtower. What was left was a black monster that stood on two legs, moved two hands, and bared its fangs, biting the soldier's neck open.


'A food corpse (ghoul) - no, a black corpse (al Ghul)!　Why is there an undead monster here!


　The name of the attacker comes out of Liddell's mouth with a start.

　Ghouls, which eat human corpses, are often equated with zombies, but in terms of strength, they far surpass them. The black ghouls are the most powerful undead in the world.

　There are many demons and monsters in the forest of Titis, but there are no undead monsters in the forest. At least, I've never seen one.

　Of course, I can't say for sure that no unlucky adventurer has ever ended up undead in the forest, but if ten or twenty undead monsters were to attack you, I'd be willing to bet that this is not a natural phenomenon, but a man-made plan.

　A necromancer.

　The moment I guessed the enemy's identity, the face of Jijinbo, the man I slayed the other day, flashed through my mind. The Gokenshi (Kishi), the swordsman who used undead monsters to attack the royal capital Horus and the Dragnaut Duke's residence.

　But, well, as expected, it's not as if the Gokens family has moved. It was only a short while ago that I took on the demon god. You know that even if there were hundreds of Ghouls and Black Ghosts to take down me now, they would be useless.

　The purpose of this attack is not me. Then who is it?

　The natural enemies of the necromancers (necromancers) are the gods and the clerics who serve the gods. If that's the case, their aim would be the Holy Kingdom's advance team that was mentioned earlier.

　While gathering my thoughts in my head, I draw the sword from my waistband and release it.

　If I'm wrong, that's fine with me. But if I was right, Lunamaria and others working with the advance team would be involved.

　I had no intention of letting a stranger from nowhere harm my precious soul supplier.