Noooooooooooooooo...!

　The tip of the canade's cat ears chattered against the tip of his tail.
　The hand that had struck the prison was red.

　That's just as well.
　This is a prison to keep our guilty compatriots.......the phoenix tribe locked up.
　It is not half-built, and even if you are the strongest species, it is difficult to escape from the prison.
　That's how sturdy it was made.

''Shh, numb.......''
Hey, you okay?　Mr. Kanade, is your hand swollen?
Uhhhhhh, that hurts.
"Kanade, no idea.
Ugh.

　Rifa's relentless words made Kanade look hurt.
　Chiffon thinks about following up with something, but Rifa's words are so reasonable that he can't say anything.

'Kanade, think about it some more.'
Ugh....
You couldn't do better than us, could you?
'Qualified?　........Ah!
Yeah. I'll take care of it.

　Nina spun her hand around and opened the subspace.
　A rummaging gesture as if she were exploring something.
　When she pulled her hand out somewhat, the key to the prison was in her hand.

　Although the prison is sturdy enough to prevent the strongest species from escaping, it is not a complicated enough mechanism to seal its ability.
　Even though it was a prison to lock up criminals, at most they were guilty of hurting their countrymen in a fight.......
　It's not made to be absolutely unmissable.
　Hence, Nina could use her abilities without any problems.

　Of course, it was possible for her to break out of prison immediately.
　However, since she didn't know what the situation was, if she did something poorly, there was a risk that her position would be even worse.
　Therefore, he had to stay quiet for the time being.......

''The key........is open, huh?

　Using the key she had stolen through subspace, Nina unlocked the prison.

　At about the same time, multiple footsteps were approaching.
　'I heard some noise,' a voice said, 'I'm going to go check on you.

'Canade's going to do something extra.'
I'm sorry.
Don't worry.

　Kanade looked seriously depressed as Nina comforted him.

'Anyway ... let's get out of here as soon as possible. So, we need to get to Rain-kun's place as soon as possible!
'Ra-nya!　Nina, get in.
Hmm.

　Kanade shouldered Nina.
　She starts running in that state.

　As expected of the cat spirit race, I should say.
　That leg strength is number one.
　I run with a momentum that makes Chiffon leave Rifa behind.

''Fluffy........!

　However, it seemed that the comfort of the shoulder carriage was subtle, and Nina was bobbing up and down.
　She seemed a little drunk and her face was blue.

''Hmm.......this way!　Everyone follow me!

　As they approached the fork in the road, Kanade thought for a moment before deciding on a path and getting his feet moving again.
　He does not encounter the phoenix tribe.
　He seems to have avoided the crisis with his natural good instincts.

''Kanade-san, that's amazing.......''
Yeah, wild guess.
Oh, hahaha I call it wild.
It's a cat.

　As Chiffon and Rifa exchange swallowed words, Kanade, who is leading the pack, continues to run in search of Rain.
　Cats have a better nose than people, though not as good as dogs.

　The person they look for is the one they are always with.
　And most importantly, someone they love.
　There's no way he can't find her!

　Kanade, with a strange sense of mission, desperately searched for Rain's scent and signs of her, and moved forward on her feet.

''Nyah!''
What's up, Kanade?　Stop abruptly.
Lane, did you find it?
"Hawa...
This....

　Kanade's expression becomes grim as he shoulders Nina, who turns her eyes round and round.
　She looks glaringly at the end of the dimly lit passage.

'Is that Rain-kun up ahead?'
'Nope ... no sign of Rain down the road.
Okay, then what?
I think it's a bad sign... a demon.

　Rifa's question was answered by Kanade with a tense look.
　Chiffon made a dubious expression at the answer.

''Demons?　This is still the third level, right?　Shouldn't the demons be on the fourth level and below?
'That's what I've heard, but ... what do you think?　I do have a feeling... hey, what do you think Rifa?
'Yeah, I can feel the demons too. Maybe a lower level demon took advantage of the commotion.
Meow....

　Is he okay?　And Kanade is worried.

　If it's the phoenix race, those demons won't be a threat.
　I don't know much about them, but they are one of the strongest species.
　Normally, its life would not be threatened.

　But what if they have a natural enemy like the spirit race?
　What if a child who doesn't yet have the strength to fight encounters a demon?

　There are no guarantees of absolute safety.
　There is always a way out.
　In his long life as an adventurer with Rain, Kanade had learned that firmly.

''Uh-nya........''

　Our goal is Rain.
　The safety of the Lord comes first.
　For that reason, we don't have the time or luxury to worry about anything else.

　Not that we do.
　What would Rain think if he knew that the phoenix tribe might be in harm's way and he missed it?
　He's kind.
　He won't be angry.
　But he'll hurt you for being so kind.

"Kanade.
Nina?
Shall we go?
...Yeah!

　That one word gave Kanade a push.
　Siphon and Rifa nodded emphatically as if that was fine.

　Kanade and the others changed directions and headed towards the place where there was a sign of a demon.

''What?　This is.....

　What I saw there was....