'It's so good to see you!　I thought I'd miss you since you were gone in Lax Village!
'No, it's not!　Me and Zebi-chan are Zubi-chan's friends, so we can see each other whenever we want!

　Two beautiful women, holding each other's hands and twitching on the spot.

　The air was so harmonious that everyone gathered there relaxed.

''Um.........?
''What does this mean........?

　There were a variety of people who could understand the situation and some who couldn't.
　Those who couldn't understand stood by in confusion, and those who could understand stood by in dismay.

''What?!　........Wait, if Zebi-chan is with them, then these people aren't the bad guys!
''That's the way it is!　That's just the way it is!

　The misconceptions were dispelled.
　All the seeds of the conflict are exterminated by a single Zebiantes.

"We have come to capture Bongiorno, who is said to be deep in the forest!　Or he's here to kill you!
It's an inferno.
'It's my understanding that you and your friends are here for the same reason!　We have to work together and fight hard here!

　In contrast, Radey.........

'Of course!　That's a great duo reunion!
''We're going to do it!

　They held each other's arms tightly.
　I'm not following you anymore.

So I don't mind that we're going to fight alongside Radie and the others!
You already put it all together.

　Both agree that Zebiantes is the lone victor and that they are not hostile to each other.
　They exchange information, although they are not exaggerating.

'Drismegian.......or rather, we came here after the Inferno. If you say we have the same goal, we might be able to cooperate with each other, but what do you think?
Maybe the last time you were in the area.
Yeah?

　The heroes lose their temper at the exchange with Ida.

If that's the case, I'll say so from the beginning, that I did!
"Anyone who kicks around that loudly will think it's an invasion!
This is so annoying!

　A storm of criticism.

'What? You guys would have intercepted them without question!

　Next to the argument, a new encounter was taking place next to the argument.

''Ah, you are...?''

　Radie flinched at the sight of the familiar beauty.

''A person from the land of the Four Heavenly Kings!　My strongest...?
Didn't expect to see you again like this, my dear boy.

　As for Droyer, he was the most wary opponent in the mission of the Four Heavenly Kings, the brave man.
　It's also the one that made you wait for months at Lasperda Fortress for months so that you could attack at any time.

''Xevi-chan, has this guy come to our side too?''
"They found out! Seriously, I've become very tight with you attached to me.

　Droyer interrupts the casual small talk in a serious manner.


''It's been a long time, brave man. You haven't attacked me for a long time, so I was wondering what you were doing wandering around in the backcountry like this...!
Oh, I'm sorry. I've been training hard lately, and I haven't been able to figure out my way around.
Trained?　Then I, who was strictly guarding the fortress during that time...?

　Droyer is shocked to learn that his own exertions were meaningless.

''Huh?　Didn't you tell her, Zebi?
'You have no right to teach me! It's more convenient for me to stick to the fortress because it's more docile.

　It was Droyer who grabbed Zeviantes by the collar.

''There seems to be a story to pile up, but...''

　Each of them uttered a voice to settle their own mess.
　It was Estelica's place to do so.

'Who is it?'
I've never seen that man before...?

　As if to push through the bewilderment of the brave party, he proceeded to talk without regard.

"All of us here should agree on the goal of defeating the inferno. If that's the case, causing unnecessary confusion here is just what the enemy wants.

　They all nodded involuntarily.

''I know that we should work together here, as the ladies over there say, to reach our goal. ........How about you, Ida-sama?
'I don't care what form it takes as long as Zako is quiet. After all, I'm the only one who can have a decent fight with Drismegian.

　Ida's confident attitude...

That boy's got some nerve.
How did he grow up to be such an arrogant brat...?

　After his death, Ida, who was given the Einherjar Body by the Demon King, remains immortal and looks like a boy, even if he continues to exist for several hundred years.

''Hey, Radie-chan. Radey-chan also heard that the Red Cloak is here.
'Yes. We got an emergency call from the Center Guild and came here. There was a survivor who heard that the inferno that attacked the special prison was headed here.

　The information was the same as that possessed by Zeviantes and the others.
　Since the source is the same, it's only natural.

'Why on earth did Doris........no, Inferno head for a forest like this?　I don't think he's going to run off without a purpose.
There's a powerful monster in the Oroshi no Mori that is impossible to defeat. It's called the Mountain Goddess.

　Estelica of Ida's soliloquy replies.

The whole area has become a no-go zone because of that monster. The only thing I can think of is that the monster has some sort of purpose.
What use could a monster have to do with it?　No, what the Drismegians think is always beyond comprehension, but...?

　The discussion of their predecessors was simmering at the moment.

'May I?'

　The one who interrupted was Zester, who had become a member of the brave party.

''Actually, that's it, I had an encounter with that mountain orcid wolf just the other day.
Okay, then?
Lady Dariel, who was with me, mentioned something that bothered me.

　It was the time when the candidates took on the monsters in the A-level promotion exam.

"Lord Dariel said. 'That's a monster beast.'
What.........?

　As soon as she said it, Ida's expression changed.

It's a hexenbiest?　A hexenbiest is in here?
At least that's what Master Dariel said.

　A monster beast.
　They are a different kind of monster, far more fearsome than monsters.

　Dariel had once experienced the horror of fighting a fire monster, Salamandra.
　That's how he realized it. That's why I realized that the Mountain Wolf's real name is Wind Devil Beast Windra.

'Ida-sama...?
''It's a different story if the Drismegian sought out a demonic beast, and it's quite serious...?

　Among the forbidden curses possessed by the demon race, there are those that gain power by using demonic beasts or fusing with demonic beasts.
　Both are very uncontrollable on an individual level, and in the end, they always end up going out of control.

''The thoughts of those who have gone to hell can't be measured by common sense. They'll do whatever it takes to get it done, no matter what the danger.
Anyway, we should head underneath the hexenbiest first. The giant ones will be easier to find than those who hide in plain sight.

　The goal is set and I'm about to run off....

That's not necessary.

　Two figures appeared from the depths of the forest.
　It was as if they were blocking the path to the monster.

"There's no need to look for them. We'll take care of you two.
Tsk.

　One of them was a rather thin, wire-like man. He looked lifeless, and the two eyes that just glowed bright red were terrifying.
　They were as red as the flames of hell.

　The other man was short in stature, with a body that was tightly packed with muscles all over and thick limbs.
　However, they both had the same red eyesight.

Who are you?

　Ida, the strongest of the team, asks on behalf of the team.

'Well, there's a stranger out there. Do you understand, Radey?
No, who the hell are you...?

　I can't recognize any of them.

What a slow wreck. ...Don't you get it now?
''Ah!''

　One of the two men in the team, a short man, held up his hands.
　Several members of the team reacted to a total of ten chains extending from each of those ten fingers.

''Those chains!　I saw them in the Rasperda Fortress...?
''That's the weapon that that red-cloaked bastard was using!

　The same weapon that Inferno used.
　What it means is.........

'My name is Cernya, and this is Avos.
Keh...!

　The Apostle, with the fire of hell in his eyes, says

'We are the Inferno. We are waiting here for your hospitality, Ita.'