He peered at the ground through the wind.
　The railgun had definitely crushed the red heart of the Nolanga Demon Race.
　But that doesn't mean I'm not going to let my guard down.
　In addition to the wind exploration magic, I will use earth exploration magic together to thoroughly explore the surroundings.

''Looks like ... there's no problem.''

I can definitely say that I was able to defeat that demon race.
　I exhale and release my focus.
　Just to be sure, I should also check to see if the demon statue in the sanctuary was shattered, just like after defeating the lion demon race.
　Just in case, I can't miss the demon tribe that could drag an entire city into the ground in an instant.
　And there's one thing that's troubling.

''This surge of power, it looks like.......it's been completed.

He could feel an extraordinary power from underneath the ice-covered surface of the water.
　It was emitting a jade-colored light.
　The moment it was completed just before the railgun was to be fired, the souls of those around it that had been sucked in little by little were uprooted and taken away.
　I even felt that I was in danger. If I hadn't protected it with my magic, it would have taken my soul.

...that thing's true identity is only one.
　The key item for the resurrection of the Demon King, the 【Fruit of Life】 that the demons create with more than ten thousand human souls.
　That lumbering demon tribe had destroyed the underground dragon that served as their armor, and tried to abandon the completion of this thing and run away.
　However, ironically, it was only because Tart and Dia stopped them that they were able to complete the [Fruit of Life].

''Really, it's a good thing we have an information network. Without it, we wouldn't have even been able to fight.''

If it weren't for the information network and the improved hang glider, the [Fruit of Life] would have been completed before we arrived and the ground dragon would have disappeared.
　No matter how strong we become, it's useless if we don't have the eyes and ears to quickly spot the enemy and the legs to be fast enough to get there in time.
　........Depending on the situation, it was even possible that the Demon King would not be able to catch up with this demon race even once, and the Demon King could even be revived.

''What should we do with the [Fruit of Life]

While saying that, I use magic.
　First, after shattering the ice, I use wind magic to take out the [Fruit of Life] from the water and make it float in the air.
　It's a jade-colored gemstone, and despite its mineral-like appearance, it pulsates like a living thing. Beauty and eeriness coexist.
　But there was an impression that went further than those impressions.

''It looks delicious.''

Drool poured from his mouth.
　Never before had my appetite been stimulated to this extent, no matter how hungry I was when I saw any feast, no matter how hungry I was.

Every cell in my body is screaming for me to eat that thing.
　I mobilize all my reasoning to stop that urge.
　........Not just eating it, but even touching it is quite dangerous.

However, there's something about that thing that can drive even me, an assassin who has mastered the art of controlling my emotions and acting by reason, crazy.
　I shake off my reason and reach for it.

I pull out the knife and stab him in the thigh.
　Blood spurts out, and the pain is so intense that it distracts me a bit.
　But I can't hold it for long.

Targeting the [Fruit of Life] that is floating in the air, I use earth magic.
　I wrap the surrounding area with aluminum alloy.
　Strangely enough, aluminum mixed with silver has the effect of blocking magic power, so I use this when I carry my magic tools.
　Surrounding it thickly made it much easier for my appetite to subside.
　In that state, I store it in the 【Crane Skin Bag】.
　After going that far, the temptation of the 【Life Fruit】 finally disappeared.

''Dangerous, dangerous. If I made a mistake, the [Fruit of Life] would be in my stomach right now.

If I ate a substitute that used tens of thousands of human souls, which is necessary for the resurrection of the Demon King, I would probably have burst or turned into a monster.
　........but I have my doubts.
　In fact, human instincts are excellent in their own right.

Acting in accordance with instincts is often roughly correct if you ignore ethics.
　We can usually eat what we want to eat. Because what my body wants is what I instinctively feel the need to eat.

If my instincts demanded it, then there was a possibility that eating [Fruit of Life] was a plus.
　However, I couldn't imitate betting on such a possibility.
　After all, if you lose the bet, you'll die or be a monster.
　It's no joke. It's too big a risk.

It's also difficult to conduct human experiments on other people.
The moment we give them the [Fruit of Life], they might turn into uncontrollable, unstandardized monsters.
　In the first place, there are many uses for this. By looking into it, one could learn more about the Demon Race and the Demon King's ecology. It could also be used as a bargaining chip with the snake demon Meena.
　Or it could be used to destroy them.
　In any case, we shouldn't make a quick decision, and the right thing to do at this point in time is to take it back... in other words, only withhold it.

Let's go up first.

The wind told me that Tart and Dear were rushing toward the hole.

Rejoicing in victory with the girls is the top priority.
　For now, we were able to seal the [Fruit of Life] in the [Crane Leather Bag]

◇

When I went up to the ground, Tart and Dia jumped into my chest.
　Aside from Dia, the fact that Tart didn't hesitate to be embarrassed by this kind of thing is probably a side effect of [Beastification].
　I'm relieved that both of them seem to be unharmed.

''Thank you for your efforts. Rougu-sama.''
The plan worked really well this time, didn't it?
Yeah, everyone did their part. It's a team win.

It worked perfectly in a situation where if any one of us failed, we were done.
　We're arguably the best team in the world.
　We hug each other and leave each other happy that we're safe.
　Then Dia's eyes narrowed.

''Well it's kind of weird. There's some strange magic entangled in the rogue.
But I've managed to complete the Fruits of Life. I got a lot of guesses when I was retrieving it.

I didn't eat it.
　However, just by being near it, I was hit by the vibrations released by the [Fruit of Life].
Even though no power has leaked out at all since I put it in the 【Crane Leather Bag】, I'm still worried about what's going to happen to the contents of the 【Crane Leather Bag】.
　Even though I knew that risk, I couldn't leave the [Fruit of Life] behind, but I couldn't carry it hand-held, either.

''Is that okay?''
''If it's like this, it will dissipate if we let it go. ........However, we can't let anything happen to you two. It's best you're away from me for a while. Tart, take Dia in your hang-glider and leave first.

I say, but they don't leave.

'If something might be going on with the rogue, you need someone nearby to do something about it, don't you?　I'm not leaving you.
'I'll be with you. Besides, if Master Lug said it's okay, it's okay.
Thanks for that.

One of them. It's not exactly rational, but with these two, it seems like it would be okay.

'Tart, Dear, stay away from me.

He shielded them behind his back.
　There was a reaction to the exploration magic that I always have at the ready. You turn your body in the direction of the reaction and reach for the gun on your chest.

''You've always been a spectator, and now you're here after all this time.......Noish.

There was my friend, the man who quit being a human to obtain his power at the hands of Meena, the snake demon race, there.
　He is even more enhanced than when I met him before.
　It was nothing short of being more irreversible.

'I wanted to fight too, but Lady Meena ordered me to.

You're Meena.
　In the past, Neusch has always treated Meena as an equal.
　But now it's an arrangement.
　He even controls her mind. ........However, in a manner of speaking, I still have the awareness that I want to fight for humanity. That's why I can say that I wanted to fight against the demon race.

'I see. Get to the point quickly. It's only now that I'm getting out. You wanted to talk to us, right?
I want you to follow me. Lady Meena is waiting for you.

As Neusch said this, a large snake appears from the ground that Neusch pointed to.
　Neusch gets on top of its head and beckons it to him. The size of a joke that not only Neusch can get on top of its head, but the three of us as well.

'And if I say no?'
I'm going to have to fight you.

Noish pulled out his magic sword.
　........Even though Noish was stronger than before, he could still win.
　But it has been strengthened to the point that it is impossible to win handily, and if he fights, he will kill Noish.

I consider him a friend, and I don't want to do that.
　Besides, I've just been wanting to talk to Meena.

All right, let's go. First time I've ever traveled by snake. ...Tart, Dear, stay with me.
You don't have to tell me. I'm not good with snakes.
It's a bit scary, isn't it?

Two of them grabbed my hem and the three of us climbed onto the snake's head.
　I thought I was going to slip on the snake's head, but surprisingly, there was a solid foothold and several easy to grab horns to hold onto.

When we all got on, Neusch said something to me.
　It was not in human language.
　The giant snake reacted and started off at a speed that was incomparable to carriages and other vehicles.

.........Perhaps the destination is Meena's base as a demon race.
　There is no way I would let such a large snake ride in the city where she lives in human skin.

''Meena definitely knew the movements of the Underground Dragon, no, the Noppet Demon Race.''

And yet you didn't dare give me any information.

We need to hear the reasons for this, and we need to hear them clearly.
　Depending on the circumstances, the cooperation with Meena would be broken.
　........And if that happens, it's going to be a struggle to get out of her nest alive. Let's prepare for that now, too.
　Assume the worst. That's what an assassin is.
　He peered at the ground through the wind.
　The railgun had definitely crushed the red heart of the Nolanga Demon Race.
　But that doesn't mean I'm not going to let my guard down.
　In addition to the wind exploration magic, I will use earth exploration magic together to thoroughly explore the surroundings.

''Looks like ... there's no problem.''

I can definitely say that I was able to defeat that demon race.
　I exhale and release my focus.
　Just to be sure, I should also check to see if the demon statue in the sanctuary was shattered, just like after defeating the lion demon race.
　Just in case, I can't miss the demon tribe that could drag an entire city into the ground in an instant.
　And there's one thing that's troubling.

''This surge of power, it looks like.......it's been completed.

He could feel an extraordinary power from underneath the ice-covered surface of the water.
　It was emitting a jade-colored light.
　The moment it was completed just before the railgun was to be fired, the souls of those around it that had been sucked in little by little were uprooted and taken away.
　I even felt that I was in danger. If I hadn't protected it with my magic, it would have taken my soul.

...that thing's true identity is only one.
　The key item for the resurrection of the Demon King, the 【Fruit of Life】 that the demons create with more than ten thousand human souls.
　That lumbering demon tribe had destroyed the underground dragon that served as their armor, and tried to abandon the completion of this thing and run away.
　However, ironically, it was only because Tart and Dia stopped them that they were able to complete the [Fruit of Life].

''Really, it's a good thing we have an information network. Without it, we wouldn't have even been able to fight.''

If it weren't for the information network and the improved hang glider, the [Fruit of Life] would have been completed before we arrived and the ground dragon would have disappeared.
　No matter how strong we become, it's useless if we don't have the eyes and ears to quickly spot the enemy and the legs to be fast enough to get there in time.
　........Depending on the situation, it was even possible that the Demon King would not be able to catch up with this demon race even once, and the Demon King could even be revived.

''What should we do with the [Fruit of Life]

While saying that, I use magic.
　First, after shattering the ice, I use wind magic to take out the [Fruit of Life] from the water and make it float in the air.
　It's a jade-colored gemstone, and despite its mineral-like appearance, it pulsates like a living thing. Beauty and eeriness coexist.
　But there was an impression that went further than those impressions.

''It looks delicious.''

Drool poured from his mouth.
　Never before had my appetite been stimulated to this extent, no matter how hungry I was when I saw any feast, no matter how hungry I was.

Every cell in my body is screaming for me to eat that thing.
　I mobilize all my reasoning to stop that urge.
　........Not just eating it, but even touching it is quite dangerous.

However, there's something about that thing that can drive even me, an assassin who has mastered the art of controlling my emotions and acting by reason, crazy.
　I shake off my reason and reach for it.

I pull out the knife and stab him in the thigh.
　Blood spurts out, and the pain is so intense that it distracts me a bit.
　But I can't hold it for long.

Targeting the [Fruit of Life] that is floating in the air, I use earth magic.
　I wrap the surrounding area with aluminum alloy.
　Strangely enough, aluminum mixed with silver has the effect of blocking magic power, so I use this when I carry my magic tools.
　Surrounding it thickly made it much easier for my appetite to subside.
　In that state, I store it in the 【Crane Skin Bag】.
　After going that far, the temptation of the 【Life Fruit】 finally disappeared.

''Dangerous, dangerous. If I made a mistake, the [Fruit of Life] would be in my stomach right now.

If I ate a substitute that used tens of thousands of human souls, which is necessary for the resurrection of the Demon King, I would probably have burst or turned into a monster.
　........but I have my doubts.
　In fact, human instincts are excellent in their own right.

Acting in accordance with instincts is often roughly correct if you ignore ethics.
　We can usually eat what we want to eat. Because what my body wants is what I instinctively feel the need to eat.

If my instincts demanded it, then there was a possibility that eating [Fruit of Life] was a plus.
　However, I couldn't imitate betting on such a possibility.
　After all, if you lose the bet, you'll die or be a monster.
　It's no joke. It's too big a risk.

It's also difficult to conduct human experiments on other people.
The moment we give them the [Fruit of Life], they might turn into uncontrollable, unstandardized monsters.
　In the first place, there are many uses for this. By looking into it, one could learn more about the Demon Race and the Demon King's ecology. It could also be used as a bargaining chip with the snake demon Meena.
　Or it could be used to destroy them.
　In any case, we shouldn't make a quick decision, and the right thing to do at this point in time is to take it back... in other words, only withhold it.

Let's go up first.

The wind told me that Tart and Dear were rushing toward the hole.

Rejoicing in victory with the girls is the top priority.
　For now, we were able to seal the [Fruit of Life] in the [Crane Leather Bag]

◇

When I went up to the ground, Tart and Dia jumped into my chest.
　Aside from Dia, the fact that Tart didn't hesitate to be embarrassed by this kind of thing is probably a side effect of [Beastification].
　I'm relieved that both of them seem to be unharmed.

''Thank you for your efforts. Rougu-sama.''
The plan worked really well this time, didn't it?
Yeah, everyone did their part. It's a team win.

It worked perfectly in a situation where if any one of us failed, we were done.
　We're arguably the best team in the world.
　We hug each other and leave each other happy that we're safe.
　Then Dia's eyes narrowed.

''Well it's kind of weird. There's some strange magic entangled in the rogue.
But I've managed to complete the Fruits of Life. I got a lot of guesses when I was retrieving it.

I didn't eat it.
　However, just by being near it, I was hit by the vibrations released by the [Fruit of Life].
Even though no power has leaked out at all since I put it in the 【Crane Leather Bag】, I'm still worried about what's going to happen to the contents of the 【Crane Leather Bag】.
　Even though I knew that risk, I couldn't leave the [Fruit of Life] behind, but I couldn't carry it hand-held, either.

''Is that okay?''
''If it's like this, it will dissipate if we let it go. ........However, we can't let anything happen to you two. It's best you're away from me for a while. Tart, take Dia in your hang-glider and leave first.

I say, but they don't leave.

'If something might be going on with the rogue, you need someone nearby to do something about it, don't you?　I'm not leaving you.
'I'll be with you. Besides, if Master Lug said it's okay, it's okay.
Thanks for that.

One of them. It's not exactly rational, but with these two, it seems like it would be okay.

'Tart, Dear, stay away from me.

He shielded them behind his back.
　There was a reaction to the exploration magic that I always have at the ready. You turn your body in the direction of the reaction and reach for the gun on your chest.

''You've always been a spectator, and now you're here after all this time.......Noish.

There was my friend, the man who quit being a human to obtain his power at the hands of Meena, the snake demon race, there.
　He is even more enhanced than when I met him before.
　It was nothing short of being more irreversible.

'I wanted to fight too, but Lady Meena ordered me to.

You're Meena.
　In the past, Neusch has always treated Meena as an equal.
　But now it's an arrangement.
　He even controls her mind. ........However, in a manner of speaking, I still have the awareness that I want to fight for humanity. That's why I can say that I wanted to fight against the demon race.

'I see. Get to the point quickly. It's only now that I'm getting out. You wanted to talk to us, right?
I want you to follow me. Lady Meena is waiting for you.

As Neusch said this, a large snake appears from the ground that Neusch pointed to.
　Neusch gets on top of its head and beckons it to him. The size of a joke that not only Neusch can get on top of its head, but the three of us as well.

'And if I say no?'
I'm going to have to fight you.

Noish pulled out his magic sword.
　........Even though Noish was stronger than before, he could still win.
　But it has been strengthened to the point that it is impossible to win handily, and if he fights, he will kill Noish.

I consider him a friend, and I don't want to do that.
　Besides, I've just been wanting to talk to Meena.

All right, let's go. First time I've ever traveled by snake. ...Tart, Dear, stay with me.
You don't have to tell me. I'm not good with snakes.
It's a bit scary, isn't it?

Two of them grabbed my hem and the three of us climbed onto the snake's head.
　I thought I was going to slip on the snake's head, but surprisingly, there was a solid foothold and several easy to grab horns to hold onto.

When we all got on, Neusch said something to me.
　It was not in human language.
　The giant snake reacted and started off at a speed that was incomparable to carriages and other vehicles.

.........Perhaps the destination is Meena's base as a demon race.
　There is no way I would let such a large snake ride in the city where she lives in human skin.

''Meena definitely knew the movements of the Underground Dragon, no, the Noppet Demon Race.''

And yet you didn't dare give me any information.

We need to hear the reasons for this, and we need to hear them clearly.
　Depending on the circumstances, the cooperation with Meena would be broken.
　........And if that happens, it's going to be a struggle to get out of her nest alive. Let's prepare for that now, too.
　Assume the worst. That's what an assassin is.