Arichto...!
"Oh my God you're Madoka too. I'm fine, thanks to Madoka's use of the recovery potion.
'Good I didn't know it would work like that but I still wanted to do something for my brother...'

　Madoka spills big tears in a raggedy way - it still seems unbearable to always take such a gentle child into a harsh battle.

　But for now, I have nothing but gratitude. Thanks to Madoka's courage, I survived - it's a great reminder that I, the leader of the group, have a tendency to go too deep just because I can get a big harvest.

I'll be cautious, but bold.......... I don't think we don't understand you at all, brother Arihito.
The rush to protect you all is a frightening experience. But I have to admit, I've had the same thought. You're the kind of man I'm counting on.
'Yea, no ... not only was it not dependable, but it almost killed me...'
'Already ... like that again. You've done a great thing, so you should be more poised. And.........

　There's something about Ryoko-san that gives off an air of being my sister - even though I'm older than her.

　She still looked like she wanted to say something, but her expression softened as she looked at me in a huff.

''.......Thank you. If it wasn't for Arihito-san, I would have done something irreversible.
If there's any trouble, let's support each other as we go along.

　We struggled, but our strategy of working together with the 'Four Seasons' was a success. Until we move up to the Sixth District, we want to build a cooperative structure. Since we've teamed up to oppose the 'Alliance for Freedom', we should work together as much as possible until we reach that goal.

''The material that Anna was aiming for was from 'Thunderhead', right? It looks like we can get some good material from the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God' as well.
''No, I've only heard that 'Thunderhead' is good for gut material, so if you can just share that one with me.
Yeah, I'll do that. Then can you take one 'Thunderhead' unit over there? I could have Melissa dismantle it for you, but what do you want to do?
'I heard that the workshop where the racquet is made can take it apart as well, so I'll bring it to them. Melissa-san will be busy dismantling the big one too...

　Melissa is staring at the huge body of the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God' with the giant knife she used in battle - with an ecstatic expression on her face.

''........Do you think a demon that bleeds blue is blue when you slash it?''
'Well, um ... well, I guess it's only natural ... Melissa, can you transfer to the storage room?'
I can get you in. I'm gonna need a few more guys to take it apart, so I'll get my dad if I can.

　Rykerton-san would be able to come to the upper wards for his daughter - if he retired as an explorer and became a supporter, he would have some flexibility in moving between wards?

''Brother, I don't know if it's because everyone's luck was getting better or not, but there's that thing in the ford that's fallen down...''

　When Misaki told me to look at it, I saw the black box dropped by the 'Messenger of the Pastoral God' and half buried in the sand - I'm happy, but right now I'm more relieved to have survived and can't really feel it.

''It's already become a regular occurrence.......but it's actually extremely valuable, isn't it?
''With a box dropped by a demon like this, I guess we'd better be careful about traps. Shall I ask 'Shichimuan' again?
Yeah, that's a good idea. Madoka, put it away in the storage room for now. We'll all collect the materials that fall out of the ground that's a hell of a lot of stray sheep.

　After recovering a few of them, I found out one thing - "Stray Sheep" and "Darkness Blitz" are, to my surprise, different individuals. Although "Stray Sheep" is also smaller than Watadama, it's big enough for Madoka to barely hold it, so it looks like a lot of wool can be removed - I'm looking forward to seeing what properties it has, black and white. 'Thunderhead' was luminescent, so I couldn't tell, but the wool had a yellowish tinge to it.

'Bawp, bawp.'

　While I was collecting materials, Theon came over and barked a little, so I checked to see what was going on - and then the Triceratops were looking at me from a distance.

　 ...

Do you think they're going to get out of their hips or...?
You're pathetic. On the contrary, you're more pissed off than we thought.

　The person with the beard only looked up and said. He didn't look pale or anything, but he looked unrealistic, as if he was dreaming about something.


No, no, no... you don't know what you're doing?
'Normally you wouldn't be able to do that even if you thought you could. To protect your friends, you're the only one who doesn't get caught by Harpy's legs, and you're the only one who doesn't get caught by the demon's attack... and then you rise and fall from there. It was the coolest thing ever. It was the most exciting thing I've had in a long time.

　The person in the camouflage helmet is still the same unassuming tone, but what they're saying sounds like a rave - or maybe it's rude to doubt it.

　It seems that being pissed off means 'it's cool' to them. Since I'm just fighting self-consciously, it's surprising that I'd feel such an impression, but is it better than being thought of as uncool?

''Fufu........I've finally calmed down.
But, you know, we have the same pride in having come this far. I don't want to get in the way of your fight and its outcome.
'We didn't see anything. We'll keep that demon a secret and we won't divulge any information to Gray either. I don't want to do anything to offend your mental image that's about all we've been shown.
'I'd appreciate it if you would. If you insist on an 'alliance', there may be situations where you will compete with us. At that time, let's clash openly.

　Even if we clash, we're just fighting for the pecking order. We have to be first, too, to move on - if the 'alliance' is muddling along, we'll overtake it, that's about it.

'I think you guys will keep your word. I'm sorry to use this 'owl scope', this 'owl scope', I'm sorry to use your entrusted items, but it's been a tremendous help.
No. No. If it helped you, you can use it. The reason you guys didn't run away is because you didn't want to leave the demon unattended and turn into a 'stampede' just in case, right?　We want to thank you too, but....
'We'd never be able to beat that 'named'. You don't have to do it, it's like we've been living on that feeling for a while now. But your victory has given us hope. I don't mean to sound pathetic, but we're more motivated now than we've ever been.

　The bearded man's eyes are shining - it seems to be true that he was inspired by us. But we can't just take such a valuable item as it is.

''Well then I'd like to buy it for an amount of money commensurate with its value. How about a thousand gold coins?
".........geez, geez. A thousand gold coins, it's true that we don't have to earn a lot of money, but you're going to pop that amount?
How many dangerous bridges are we crossing........you should hunt more cotton balls or something. Even though it's not very tasty, there are still places in the 7th district where you can find demons like that.
''We're struggling a lot with one Grand Maul and it's pretty hard to hunt it. That's about fifty gold coins at best for a single one, so a thousand coins would be quite helpful.
'All right, we've got a deal. Let me know if you have anything in the future that you think we can use, and we might be able to put some color on it rather than sell it to a store.

　As for the gold, I'll use the feature in Madoka's license to have them transfer it to me. After the "Triceratops" people waved their hands and left, I went back to collecting the materials - almost ready to go home.

　◆ ◆ ◆

　The tent is taken down and we return to the city once - if we find the key from the 'black box', we may return to this labyrinth.

　While walking at the back of the group, Igarashi-san's back is still on my mind - as well as her use of "Ambivalents", but this time she never ceases to amaze me.

''Everyone in the party has the same desire to contribute for the sake of the master. Just as I do.''

　The Murakumo on his back speaks to me - he said a weapon should be a weapon and not a conversation, but I wonder if he's become a little more talkative through this fight.

''It's only natural for me to be the master's blade, since I am a part (part) of the machine god Ariadne.

(Thank God for this one.) Both Ariadne and Murakumo are an integral part of our party.)

''I'm sure Ariadne, the god of machines, can hear you. I'm just a part of her. I'll leave the reply to her.

　Murakumo was careful, or maybe he made the signs fade away - and.

　Watching over us from that 'sanctuary', her presence comes back. I was wondering if she was safe or not, since our conversation had been interrupted earlier.

(Ariadne, thank you so much for your help. If possible, prepare to prevent a short circuit...)

"...my susceptibility to electric shocks could have led to your death, the contractor.

　Like Igarashi-san and everyone else - Ariadne was also concerned about me.

(I'm sorry for worrying you. But it seems that my 'morale release' can only be activated like that for now.......I won't incorporate it into my tactics, and from next time, I'll take a safer measure......)

"...if you protect your friends, I'll protect you. So that everyone in the party can be protected. That should be the ideal of the Machine God's blessing. I've learned once again.

　She's not going to worry about me and be overprotective. She's looking ahead - she's trying to lead us in her own way.

I just hope we find the shield armament soon. The Guard Valiant can overcome the weakness of the Guard Arm's vulnerability to the blitz.

(That's all I can say, it's a handout from heaven. Not something to say to God.)

"...we are not omnipotent, we are not creators. We are not omnipotent, nor are we creators. Those who have a strong life can attract their destiny with a strong force.

'That's where I want you to say that I will carve out my destiny. ''With the help of me, the Star Machine Sword, and Ariadne, the god of machines.''

　Ariadne and Murakumo are similar to each other, but if anything, Ariadne feels more sincere - not that there's anything wrong with that, it's their respective lovable personalities.

''.........Love.......something that cannot be quantified. An emotion that Kishin cannot understand.''

'What I feel for the master is not love, but attachment. I focus on how well I can fit the master as a weapon. I'd like to hear the Master's self-evaluation this time.'

(Well you two get a 120. I'm not quite there yet myself.)

　The two of them are silent - after all, does a score of 100 or higher not exist in this case, or will that be the reply?

''I can't evaluate you on a scale. I don't think I'll ever meet a better contractor than you.

"I will obey the will of Ariadne, the god of the machine, and I will continue to be the master's sword. I will continue to be the master's sword.

　Ariadne's presence is distant and Murakumo is silent too - while I'm unsure how to answer.

''..........''

　Theresa, who is a little ahead of me, is looking at me. I wonder what she's thinking - she seems to sense that I've been talking to Ariadne and the others.

　She doesn't say a word, but lines up beside me. It's just that, even without words, I can tell that Theresa is concerned about me.

'I'm sorry for worrying you. Thanks for everything.
..........

　Even though I called out to her, Theresa didn't turn to me. But as we walked, the mask of the lizard (lizard) was gradually turning a little red.