"....I can't believe it. I can already see the 'wall of sand'.


　In the saddle of Crow Solas, Katia let out a sound that was neither admiration nor astonishment. Her gaze was drawn to the widespread sandstorm that was blowing across the landscape.

　The dust that rose high in the sky literally looked like a wall, spreading on a scale reminiscent of the horizon. If we were directly hit by a sandstorm like this, even the city of Belka would be swallowed up by the sand in an instant.

　We are still a long way from the sandstorm, but I can feel a sense of oppression as if it is about to close in on us.

　It reminded me of the edge of the world.


That wall of sand often occurs in the unexplored areas. I've heard from Commander Arrows that this is the main reason why these areas are unexplored.


　I growled at Katia's words. It's true that if we were to encounter a storm like that while walking on the ground, there's nothing we can do about it. The only thing we could do was to pitch our tents and stay quiet until the sandstorm passed - no, we'd get swallowed by the sand with our tents.

　So, we'll have to step in quickly when there is no sandstorm, investigate in a minimal amount of time, and then turn back quickly. Or you could use magic or something else to create a base that can withstand a sandstorm. Well, I don't know if that's really possible.

　In that respect, we're blessed. Crow Solus can put up wind wards, so it won't get blown away if it enters a sandstorm. This was proven when we plowed through a tornado caused by an illusory species (Hydra).

　The only difference before was that there was no clear target on the other side of the storm. At that time, I was confident that the hydra was at the center of the tornado, and I could roughly guess the size of the tornado.

　But with The Wall of Sand, there was no such thing. If the depth of the sandstorm was as wide as the width of the sandstorm, even the most indigo winged beast (wyvern) would have a hard time plowing through it. Besides, it would be difficult to find out their direction in that thick fog of sand. Naturally, it was impossible to search for the Behemoth and the Silver Star.

　It would be best to invade the unexplored area on a day when there was no sandstorm, and look for them from the sky. If that gives us any clues, it would be good. If not, they will re-enter the area from another location on a different day.

　During a sandstorm, you can search outside of the unexplored areas. I'm not here to expose the mysteries of the unexplored areas. What I should be looking for is the King of Beasts (Behemoth) and the Silver Star. With that in mind, I directed my question to Katia.


''Just to be sure, the White Knight-dono was trying to get past that wall, right?''


'Yes, sir. As I said before, the Wall of Sand occurs in unexplored areas. They occur with an unnatural frequency, even for a natural sandstorm. The Commander suspected that they were some kind of boundary.


　If it is a ward, it is self-evident that there is someone who put it up. If the "Wall of Sand" is not a natural phenomenon but a man-made obstacle, then there should be a way to solve it, or to get through it - that was the idea of White Knight Arrows.

　I see, Arrow's search for the unexplored area was, at the end of the day, for the purpose of finding that means.

　...However, the fact that he continued to challenge the extremely dangerous desert on the basis of the assumption that it was some kind of boundary is still a bit strange. Based on his performance in "The Silver Star", Arrows must have been a man of great character and judgment. It is difficult to imagine that such a person would have risked his life for mere speculation.

　This feeling becomes even stronger when you look at "The Wall of Sand" from afar. There must have been some basis for challenging the Wall of Sand. He had a clear reason to risk not only his own life, but also the lives of his friends.

　Or perhaps his father left something behind, or perhaps Arrows himself discovered something while chasing his father's shadow.

　-- I suddenly wonder. I'm not sure if it's a good idea to search the unexplored areas, but it might be better to look for Arrow's house or the headquarters of the Silver Star.

　Well, as much as I think about it, someone has probably already done it.

　Thinking about this, I continued my search in the desert. But in conclusion, this day's exploration yielded nothing.

　The Catalan Desert is dotted with a number of oases. Depending on the location, these oases are more bustling than the more obscure cities, as they are a lifeline for adventurers in the desert, and are lined with shops and facilities that cater to adventurers.

　We spent the night in one of those oases, and the next day we headed back to the unexplored areas, but the Wall of Sand was still out there, so we didn't succeed in our search.

　The difference in temperature in the morning and evening is typical of the desert. The scorching sunshine that poured down on us. The dry air. A constant breeze with sand in our eyes and mouths.

　I was fed up with the weather in the Catalan Desert, so I decided to return to Belka. I didn't want to spend three or four days and nights in the desert under the current circumstances, let alone in a time of crisis. Not to mention Sparrow, Lunamaria, the forest fairy, is also struggling with the desert climate.

　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do with it.


◆◆◆


　That night - the night I returned from the Catalan Desert - I secretly left the Temple of the Law and headed for the city of Belka.

　The sun had already set and most of the shops would be closed.

　However, in a city as large as Belka, there are places that come alive at night. It's a so-called entertainment district.

　........For the record, I don't want to go out with the girls. I simply wanted to see the town of Belka with my own eyes.

　Since arriving in this city, most of the information I've seen and heard has been via the legalistic religion. The Temple of Law is outstanding in terms of the quality and quantity of information it possesses, and its authority as an organization is also high. It's a good thing that I'm a member of this organization, because that's why I went to the temple, but I couldn't avoid the bias in the information I got.

　I'm not going to be the only one who can do this.

　I'm not going to be able to get away with it because I don't want to be found out as a dragon slayer, so I also wore a proper hooded robe. In the desert at night, the temperature drops in contrast to the heat of the day, so the thick robe is also a countermeasure for that.

　So I stepped into the entertainment district and slowly made my way down the street, looking around like a lazy old man. I thought I'd go into a bar or restaurant if I could find one, but the ones open at this time of day were usually reserved for female diners. Just walking down the street like this, you can hear the sounds of charmers everywhere.

　It's not a bad idea to go into one of these establishments, but you can't do it before your tongue is dry when you say you have no intention of playing with women. Dragonslayer, I don't lie.

　Well, wandering around the city at night with no idea what to expect is also interesting.

　Thinking about this, I strolled through Belka at night. I thought it would be more interesting if someone came up to me thinking I was a sitting duck, but those kinds of people didn't interfere with my path.


"I honestly thought it would be rougher, but is it safer than I thought?


　The security of the entertainment district is one of the indicators of the current state of the city. The fact that uninformed strangers (strangers) can walk the streets for an hour or so without missing a beat is commendable.

　I've made a mental note to include Belka as a candidate for this.

　I'm planning to set up a base for the Sword of Bloodstain in addition to Ishka. Since the swordsman knows my location, this is a necessary precaution.

　Seal and Miroslav, who did not accompany Belka this time, are working from that location. In addition, the main focus of the plan is to secure a place where the remaining members can live safely when I go out of town.

　In that regard, Belka is too far away from Ishqa and I hear there are also attacks by desert monsters, so it's not a strong candidate. However, because it's so far away, it's unlikely that the Miken family will find it, so it's worth including it as a candidate.


''If there was a place with a hinoki bath, I'd make an immediate decision, but as expected, it would be tough to find one so close to the desert.


　While I was muttering about something insignificant, the smell of burnt meat and spices drifted out of the air, and my attention was drawn to it.

　The source of the smell was a shop marked "Sunagige Tei", with a tavern and restaurant on the first floor and an inn on the second floor. It was not an unusual structure for this kind of shop.

　The inside of the shop is clean and has no womanly qualities. It is not artful to return to the temple as it is, so we decided to go inside.

　As soon as the bell on the door announced the arrival of a visitor, the owner jumped out of the kitchen and approached me with a big smile on his face.

　I was shown to my seat and ordered the kushiyaki that he recommended.

　Soon after, the meat and vegetables were alternately skewered and grilled, and the meat used was from the Sandrizzard.

　The meat used is said to be from the sand lizard, which is, as the name suggests, a sand lizard.

　They are not small lizards that roam around on the ground, but rather magical beasts that can eat people, let alone livestock, when they grow up. Calling it a sand crocodile might be more appropriate.

　These sand lizards usually hide in the sand and pounce on their prey, but when they get hungry, they will crawl out of the sand to actively search for their prey. And while reptiles are notoriously susceptible to changes in temperature, sand lizards are active at night, thanks to their thick skins.

　Even novice adventurers can hunt these magical beasts if they are well-prepared, but if they are attacked in the middle of a night camp, they will be in trouble. For adventurers taking on the desert, this is the first hexenbiest you need to learn its name and habits.

　And as for this monster beast, as I mentioned above, its outer skin is so thick that it's not something that can be eaten at all. On the other hand, the meat underneath the skin was soft and fresh, and the juices would overflow in your mouth the moment you took a bite. When the restaurant's secret sauce comes into contact with it, the flavor of the meat (umami) bursts on the tongue, while the right amount of spiciness stirs the appetite - to put it simply, it's super good.

　The overall flavor was strong, but it was just right for my body, which was lacking in saltiness after returning from the desert. The food in the temple is generally light in flavor, so it was even better.

　When we ate the strong-flavored skewers like this, we felt like gulping down a large glass of barley wine (ale), but we couldn't go back to the temple with the stench of alcohol on our breath, so we resisted the urge to drink alcohol. I asked for another drink and filled my stomach.

　After a little while, I ate all the skewers I had eaten, including a second helping, and let out a breath of satisfaction.

　I might have discovered a great restaurant. I really wanted to buy some souvenirs for the sparrows, but if I did so, they would know that I had slipped out for the night. But if I did that, they would find out that I had slipped out at night, which wouldn't be a problem, but it would be awkward to let them know that I had gone to the red light district.

　Well, as for the sparrows, I'll take them to some sweet shop to make it up to them.

　With that in mind, I paid the bill and left the shop. After stretching out there, I headed back to the temple. I'll have to wait until another time to gather information.

　And so it was when we returned to the entrance of the entertainment district.


''........hmm?''


　There was something of a crowd. Something I hadn't seen when I entered the entertainment district.

　I got out my onlooker's guts and peered in to see several armed men and a black-robed figure confronting each other in the center of the human fence.

　The men's armaments looked familiar. There was no need to search my memory, that was from The Desert Eagle. And by the way, the men's faces were familiar, too. They were the ones who had teased him at the gate on the first day.

　If that's the case, the person in the robe could be the victim of the fate of the hawk in the desert.

　I send an observant glance in that direction.

　I can't make out their faces or ages because they are wearing their hoods so deeply. However, if I lower my gaze slightly, I can see the bulge that pushes the robe up from the inside. In other words, it's a woman. Lowering my gaze further, the long sword at her waist caught my eye.

　The way she stood with her back straightened is dignified and seamless, and just looking at her like this, I can tell that she is a pretty good user. If I were to use an analogy, then yes.


　--I'm not sure I'd be surprised if they said he was a Seirin bannerman.


　The reason for my decision is simple. It's also a great deal of soul. It's comparable to a Seirin bannerman, or more specifically, a mind-dresser.

　The person in the robe is a watcher sent by the swordsman, and my actions up to now have been watched every step of the way. Such suspicions crossed my mind.

　However, I quickly dismissed my own thoughts, saying that it wasn't true.

　There's certainly a possibility that there's a master of hidden forms that I can't detect in the Qinglin Hakki. However, there is no way that such a great skill would be stopped by the Desert Eagle. And moreover, there was no way he could just stand there without taking any action until a crowd of people had gathered.

　There was also the possibility that he was a four-flagged soldier whose main mission was off-island activities, but if he was a four-flagged soldier, he wouldn't be doing anything to attract attention to the Desert Eagle. In other words, that person has nothing to do with the Swords family. I have come to that conclusion.

　With that in mind, I looked at the robed woman again and saw that her soul was indeed enormous, but also extremely unstable. I had never felt a sense of danger like that of any other heart-dresser I had ever encountered.

　Just as he thought this, the angry voice of the Desert Eagle rang out in that place.


''I've said it many times!　If you have no shame in yourself, then take your robe and show your face!

I've told you already. "You're not the police and you have no right to give me orders.


　The voice that responds to the stout demands is cool and pleasant to the ears, and there is not the slightest hint of danger or instability.

　In response to the woman's voice, "Yes, yes, yes! Don't get cocky, hawk! Insolence! "Get on with it and pay the bill! Some people said that they were not happy with the situation. It seems that those who have an antipathy to the Desert Eagles are cheering for the woman who behaves resolutely against them.

　I had expected this after the incident at the castle gate, but I heard that the reputation of the Desert Hawk in the Belka is very bad.


"You guys are going to defy the Desert Eagles!


　The group of hawks were red-faced as people around them threw words of antagonism at them. Some of them had their hands on the hilt and looked like they could draw their swords at any moment.

　But even looking at those people, the robed woman didn't seem upset. That's no wonder, even if the Desert Eagles were to slash at them all, that woman would be easily twisted down.

　However, she doesn't seem to have any intention of deliberately provoking the "Desert Eagle", and she's sending a puzzled look at the surrounding crowd of people who are agitating the hawk.

　-- and that gaze grabbed me, who was in the human fence.

　As mentioned above, I'm also wearing a hood to avoid being identified as a dragon slayer as I head into the entertainment district. It's a good thing that I still do. So I'm sure they haven't seen my face either.

　One of many other onlookers. I thought there was no reason to catch their attention and that their gaze would soon drift away.

　But that was not to be the case.

　The woman who saw me shuddered so much that she could see it. A pair of amber eyes peered out of the gap in my hood, wide with astonishment.

　The woman's next reaction is a furious one. She turned quickly to me and put her hand on the sword at her side.

　Immediately afterwards, a strong battle cry came in a gust of wind.

　It was a mystery to me how I could have been struck with so much battle spirit just by glancing at it, but no matter what, there was no reason not to buy the fight that had been sold to me.

　I put my hand on the black sword at my waist, and I could see the other side quickly sink his upper body into the ground.

　Perhaps if the confrontation continued for a few more seconds, me and the woman would have joined swords together. But the clash went unexploded as someone moved faster than we did.

　The ones who moved were the 'Desert Eagles'.

　To them, the woman's current move was nothing more than an insult to themselves. After all, when I shouted at them, they suddenly turned to face the day after tomorrow. It's the equivalent of being taunted that you are not on their radar.

　The man who shouted loudly earlier, his face is red with rage and he pulls out his sword from his waistband. Then, without pause, he slashed at the woman.

　If I were to do this earlier, the woman would have easily ducked from the blow. However, the fact that she was facing me delayed the woman's reaction for a moment.

　As a result, although the tip of the "Desert Eagle" didn't reach her body, it did reach the thing she was wearing. In other words, it sliced through the hood that was covering her face.

　The slice of the hood that was torn off soared up into the sky on the wind. And the true face of the woman, which had been hidden by the hood, was revealed.


　Brown skin, silvery white hair, amber eyes.

　And I can see the long ears that remind me of bamboo leaves.