Tania invited Kanade and the others to join the guild and...
　That's where Rain's instructions came from.

　Kanade, Tania, Tina and Rifa intercepted the demon as it was.
　Nina was told to go after Sora and Luna and bring them back immediately.
　It was probably determined that Nina, who could move through subspace, would be the fastest.

　Since the other day's awakening........
　Nina's strength had increased even though she was small, and if she was alone, she could jump a great distance.
　It would be possible to interrupt her from subspace and go straight to the village of the spirit race.

　And Rain.........

I'll bring reinforcements.

　And then he walked out of the city from the west side and disappeared somewhere else.

　What kind of reinforcements would they be?
　Isn't it great that we can have enough people ready to face the Stampede at a moment's notice?

　Rifa had been thinking about that, but...
　Two hours passed and Rain did not return.

'........escaped?

　Rifa couldn't help but be suspicious of Rain.
　However, it can't be helped.
　Although he has said so confidently, he doesn't seem to be coming back.

　What is going to happen from now on is a disaster called Stampede.
　There is only the future of being overrun by a horde of demons.
　It's no wonder that they are so frightened by it that they flee.

　Rifa comes to such a conclusion, but........
　Suddenly, I wonder.

"Hey, Kanade. Why are you doing sit-ups and push-ups from now on?
'We're going to have to move a lot now. I need to unwind.
That said, there are limits. You restless, flippant cat.
'You don't think anything is okay if you put "cat" on the end!
Don't expect it.
Tina answered!

　What is this lack of tension?

　Rifa was puzzled by the fact that Kanade and the others looked the same as usual.
　Even though the Stampede was happening...
　The Lord has escaped and now....
　Why are you smiling?

Why?
Meow?
Why are you smiling?

　Finally unable to hold back, Rifa asked straight away.

'The Stampede is right in front of us. Your master has escaped too. So how can you laugh at it?
That's not true.
What?

　Although Rain is said to have escaped, Kanade is not angry, but rather calmly tells her off.
　Kanade's attitude fills Rifa's mind with more and more questions.

'Rain didn't run away,'
But he didn't come back.
'Hmmm, I guess we have a lot of work to do, don't we?　Maybe I feel like I'm being reckless and I can't blame you for being a little late.
Well, we'll just have to keep up our game until Lane comes back.
Hmmm... I'll do my best.

　Even at a time like this.
　After all this.
　None of them doubted Rain.
　Rifa was a little envious of Kanade and the others, as they must have a bond so tight that she couldn't even imagine it.

　Rifa was close to her family.
　Her parents and sister love her.

　She had a good relationship with her neighbors.
　They greet each other with smiles and occasionally send them extra food and other treats.
　That's the kind of relationship I have with them.

　But there is no one to call a friend.
　Because Rifa is a bit young, and because she is doted upon, she has never fought side by side with anyone.
　This time, the role of calling for reinforcements was also a measure to keep her away from the front lines as much as possible.

　Such as it was, Rifa longed to fight alongside someone else, shoulder to shoulder.
　If they were kept away from the scene of the crime, they would be interested in the opposite.

''Rain........come?''
Here it comes.

　At Rifa's question, Kanade nodded without hesitation.
　Everyone else nodded as well.

　Looking at them, the adventurers and guild staff didn't seem to be doubting Rain either.
　They were determined to hold on until Rain returned, and they were definitely determined to hold on.
　There was no sadness there as before.
　Rain would take care of it.
　I had that kind of faith.

''It's ... weird.''

　From Rifa's point of view, it's an incomprehensible behavior.
　I don't understand what people here are going through.

　It's just....

Yeah, we'll try.

　Strangely enough, I was motivated.



----------



　....30 minutes later.

'Here they come!

　One of the adventurers, who had been out scouting, ran into the guild, dripping with sweat.
　At the same time, a bell was rung to announce a state of emergency in the city.

　Perhaps because the knights were scrambling to contain the unrest, there was no terrible confusion.
　The townspeople go into their homes and pray to God.

　Those who can fight take up arms.
　Their hips are hunched over, but they never try to escape.
　They move to the battlefield, determined to fight to protect their families, their friends, their neighbors....their loved ones.

'This time, I'm going to take command!

　Stella shouted loudly at the high command post set up near the east gate.
　With that, the adventurers and knights gathered at the east gate picked up their respective weapons.

　Those that handle melee weapons in the vanguard.
　And in the rear guard, those that mainly handle bows and those that mainly handle magic are lined up.

''Close the gate!''

　The guarded adventurers are stowed away in the city and the eastern gate is closed.
　On top of that, a ward is deployed by some wizards.
　They would not be able to break through without bringing out siege weapons.

　However, this is limited to how long the magic power of the wizards can be maintained.

The first wave of the enemy is coming!

　The knight on guard standing on top of the gate let out a scream-like cry.

　Immediately after that, a gong!　And the gates trembled.
　A large number of demons rushed in like a tsunami and crashed into it.
　It was as if the earth trembled from the power of the event.

''Kuh........the gate!
That's all right!　It's partly because of the magic that makes it bearable!
'Then fight back!　Whoever has the means to attack at long range must reap the swarm of demons from the top of the gate!

　At Stella's signal, the adventurers and knights who had moved onto the gate beforehand held their weapons.
　Bows, spears, staffs, magic books.......with various weapons in hand, they stared at the swarm of demons that were rushing in.

''Utete!

　At Stella's signal, the attacks began at once.
　An arrow shot through the demon's head........
　Magic cleaves the swarm away.
　The demons that were trying to attach themselves to the gate were knocked down by those with spears and other mid-range weapons.

''Ooh, that's good.''
That should work out rather well, don't you think?

　Kanade and Tania, who were watching the battle situation from the same place as Stella, spilled such impressions.
　Stella's slightly grim expression had softened as well.

　However, Rifa is different.
　With a stern look on her face........
　I'm rather more difficult to make a face than I initially was.

''No ... no.''
Meow?　What do you mean?
We can't keep this up.
Hm?　What does that mean?

　Stella gave her a strange look and asked Rifa what she meant by her statement.
　Although the two have never met before, Stella trusts Kanade and the others.
　Therefore, she also trusts the Rifa that Kanade and the others brought with them.
　If you have any problems, I would like your advice.

"The Stampede is full of demons.
Hmm, yeah.
'We'll be fighting for hours. The way he fights, he won't last an hour.

　Rifa's words were to come true like a prophecy...

　An hour later.
　The battle lines were beginning to disintegrate.