The transition gate led into the forest.
　It was a place similar to the Lost Forest, with trees growing deep.
　Al-san explained to me that the spirit race likes nature, so they install the transition gate in such a place....

''Light!''

　Sola and Luna magically created lights to illuminate our feet and where we were going.
　I took the lead and pushed my way through the ivy and bushes, pushing my way along the beast path, making the walk a little easier for everyone else who was following.

　And so we walked for about half an hour.
　Soon we reached the forest path.
　The path was neatly laid out and there was no difficulty in walking.

'Um, right or left...'
It's this way.

　I took out the map and was about to check the location when Al pointed to the left without hesitation.

'You know it?'
Hmm. I've been to Krios several times.
That's unusual.
'Mmm. Do you, like Luna, want to call your mistress a lazy, helpless, lazy mother who is a reclusive, useless nitwit?
'I don't think Luna said that much either... no, I didn't mean that. I just thought it was unusual for a spirit race to go to a human city.
Oh, I see. Oh, I see. I have no use for human cities. But Krios is another example. That's where the demons are, too. There are also demon tribe acquaintances, and I occasionally show my face there.
I see.

　As we walked, we passed through the forest road in about 20 minutes.
　By the time we exited the forest road, the sky was beginning to brighten and our vision quickly expanded.

''Is that........''

　We saw a huge lake in the distance.
　It was so huge that it could be mistaken for an ocean.

　The buildings were lined up on such a lake.
　It's a city.
　The city is built on top of a giant pillar.


'Krios was a city built on a lake...'

　Everyone seemed to be surprised, and they all rolled their eyes.

'Krios is a special city. "Krios is a special city, and in order to protect itself from demons and beasts, it built a city on the lake and obtained a natural fortress.
'How did you know that, Al?'
The Spirituals were instrumental in its construction.
What?
I've never heard of such a thing.

　The two daughters didn't seem to know and were surprised again.

'Why would the spirit race be lending their power to the humans?　It doesn't make sense.
Krios was created a long time ago. At that time, concubines and other spirit people had a good relationship with humans.
'Does that mean the city has been around for over a hundred years?　Ho-ho-ho, it's amazing.
"Hmmm, my mistress has done a lot of work on this project. You must admire her more.

　Mr. Al looks good at it, but....
　This guy is really involved in a lot of places.
　It's hard to believe that he's a spirit race, he's very facetious.

''Well ... how shall we get to the city?''

　Once we need to check the situation, we need to move into the city and hear from the representatives.

　Although the bridges extending from the north and south of the city connect to the edge of the lake respectively...
　That's where the demons were gathering.
　It's too many to count.
　Due to the influence of the Stampede, they must be in the middle of a battle right now.

　I don't think it will reach 10,000, so it's not impossible to force our way through, but....
　Our goal is not to subdue the stampede, but to defeat whatever is causing it.
　We don't want to use unnecessary power here and get exhausted.

''Neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Is there any better way?
Well......
Don't worry. Leave it to the mistress.

　I was trying to figure out how to move into the city when Al stepped forward.
　As it was, he threw out his chest confidently.

'What are we going to do, Mother?'
You are to do this.

　Al-san snapped his fingers, and a magic circle unfolded as if to envelop us.
　As it was, we were swallowed by the light...
　I noticed that the landscape around me had changed dramatically.

　I should have been far away from the lake, but suddenly I was in the city.
　Perhaps it was Krios.

''Is this........transition magic?''
But all our men at once and without chanting your mother is still a monster.
You should admire them for their brilliance, ha ha ha!

　Mr. Al is smiling like he's good at it, but....

Oh, hey. What the hell are they...
He just came out of nowhere, didn't he?
Are you a demon...?

　The people around us were wary of our sudden appearance.
　It's natural.
　

　Well, maybe there wasn't a better way to do it, but.......
　I wish you had at least said a few words to me, Al.

'Well, we're...'
Rifa!

　I was about to explain that it wasn't anyone suspicious when a loud voice rang out from the crowd.
　The one who emerged through the crowd was a woman with horns, just like Rifa.

　She was shorter than me, but not small considering she was a woman.
　Her face looks a lot like Rifa's.
　I wonder what Rifa will look like in 10 years time?
　She's very beautiful.

　No, I mean beautiful and ... handsome?
　I am very aware that it is disrespectful to have these impressions about women.
　But it is true that I had such impressions.

　Her nose was slender and her eyes were crisp.
　He had a dignified expression on his face, and I could sense his strong will.

''Oooh, you've returned safely!
I'm back.

　Rifa steps forward and embraces the woman.

　They knew each other........or perhaps they were family.
　Rifa had a calm and gentle face that only family members would see.
　And from the pattern so far........

'You're the ones who drove Rifa to this point?　Thanks!　My name is Rezona, Rifa's mother. Nice to meet you!

　I knew it, or rather, it was Rifa's mother.

Nice to meet you. I'm Rain Shroud. And this is....

　I'm going to introduce you all to....

Long time no see, Rezona.

　I was about to introduce Al-san to her, when Al-san grinned wryly.
　Seemingly noticing such Al-san, Rezona-san gave a friendly smile.

''Ooooooh!　Just when you think you look like you've seen one, it's Al!　You're alive?
We're alive!　You do not kill a mistress without permission, my lord.
'Haha, sorry, I'm sorry. It's been decades since we last met, right?　He never showed his face, so I guess he's just sitting out in the woods," he said.
Don't talk about her like she's dried up, at all...

　As expected, he couldn't stand to be treated like a dried-up person, and Al-san became puffy.
　But since appearances are appearances, it seems like the kid is just sulking.

'Oh, good, good, sorry about that.'
Don't pat my concubine on the head!

　Rezona patted Al's head.
　In this way, they are an adult and a child.
　It's hard to believe they are the same mother.

'So, why is Al here?　Are you lost?
There's no way!　We have come to your rescue!
'Oh, really?　If Al can help, it's a hundred men!　Rifa, you did a great job. I didn't expect you to bring Al along as a helper.
No.
Hmm?　What's the difference?
I brought my helper with me, Lane. Al is a bonus.
Oh, as an added bonus...

　Al-san was soberly shocked by Rifa's unconscious venomous tongue.

'Rain, come here.'
Oh, yeah.

　While I was concerned about Al-san, I left her alone for the moment and stood in front of Rezona-san as Rifa called me.

''Rain is my helper.
'Hmm?　This person?　Seriously, it's this guy?
Hmm. Seriously.
You don't look so strong...
Lane's strong. I know she's strong.
"Law.

　Hearing Rifa's words, Rezona-san's mouth formed a smile.
　Then she stared at me.

　Our gazes cross.
　I felt a strange pressure, but I felt it was rude to look away, so I looked straight back at her.

　Soon after, Rezona nodded in satisfaction.

'Good!　Good. I trust you. I mean, it's not every day you hear your daughter say this but no, it's not polite to talk like that. I'm sorry, my friend. Please help us help the city!
What, no...

　Rezona bowed her head.
　I'm flustered by her sudden action.

　But what I should be doing is not scowling...
　You must respond well to Mr. Resona, who has gone so far as to show proper sincerity.

I will do my best.
Thank you!

　Rezona smiled and held out her hand to me...
　I smiled too and squeezed his hand back.