All right, let's go.

　Passing through the [Gate] that opened, I stepped on the ground of Isengard.
　Following me, Yumina, Sue, Else, Linse, Yae, Hilda, Sakura, Roux, and Lean, everyone else also passed through the 【Gate】 and transitioned to the forest where the Sacred Tree is located, just like me. And Paula, by the way.
　I stayed where I was and waited for a while.

''Well?''
I didn't do anything. I'm not sure.
So am I.

　Else and Yae replied as they moved their bodies lightly. Everyone else doesn't seem to have any major changes in their condition or anything. No, Paula, you're probably not affected.
　I haven't seen any major changes either. It's only on the level of eating bad food, although I do feel a little sick, but that's about it.
　I'm sure the area is cleaned up by now. We'll be okay, but we'd better wait and see what happens to my sisters.

"Fluffy, you've grown up...

　Soo looks up at the "Holy Tree" towering behind him. There isn't a shred of a small sapling, and the thick trunk and high height of the tree make my neck ache. How many tens of meters is this thing?
　Already standing taller than the frame gear and the surrounding forest trees, it gave off a look that truly made it look like the 'Lord of the Forest'.

''It's sparkling and beautiful.''
Yeah, you know.

　The cherry blossoms and Linse look up, the purified magical elements from the leaves of the "Holy Tree" sparkle and disappear on the wind. It is indeed beautiful.

''Your Majesty, and gentlemen, please come this way.

　As we were looking at the "Holy Tree" in a daze, Nicola-san, the deputy leader of the Knights who was ahead of us, approached us.
　When we entered the large tent that had been set up, the leaders and vice-commanders of each country's knights were already seated at round tables. Our Knight Commander, Rain, is also there.
　It's not that they are planning a strategy with a difficult face, nor are they discussing their plans with boisterousness and clamor.
　They were drinking tea and chatting in a very loose atmosphere. When I entered the tent, though, they stood up and gave me the salute of their respective countries.

'How is the situation?'
Nothing for now. That thing's attack is continuing, though. There aren't that many of them, so we are intercepting them while taking a break in turn.

　The Deputy Commander of the Belfast Kingdom, Neil-san, answered. Following that, the Deputy Commander of the Restia Knight Kingdom, Franz-san, opened his mouth.

''What I'm worried about is whether the advanced species will attack us...''
'Yeah. Maybe the advanced species won't come this far. Or rather, they shouldn't appear out of nowhere.
'Huh?　Why is that?
''The advanced species that have appeared so far are, as it were, visitors. They are forms that just happened to appear from other worlds in various places in this world. We were able to locate them and intercept them. In other words, they couldn't appear in the places we were aiming for. And this time, the mutant species that was attacking here was a native species born in Isengard, so to speak. Even if an advanced species does come, I don't think it will be in the form of a species that suddenly breaks through space and appears.

　They'd have to come from the Golden Palace near Isenburg, the capital of Isengard, in a hurry. Due to their huge size, the upper class species are slow to move. The Eisen Tower in Eisenburg has surveillance cameras left by Bastet and his team, and we can spot them on our way here.
　Probably because they also know that, that's why they came out with this fake knight faux.

However, we must not be too careful. We must organize a scouting party and keep a close watch and vigilance on them.
''Yes. The people at the Red Cat have taken care of that one, so I'm sure it's fine.

　Yes, Lane tells me. Nia and the others?　Yeah, that's unusual. ...I wonder if they will charge me something later?
　As if reading my mind, Nicola-san continues to speak.

"And in exchange, when His Majesty arrives, he will have a bathroom built here.

　We've already been charged!　No, well, I know how you feel!

A bath, huh? It's nice. I can certainly understand why you want to sweat it out.
It's very humid here for some reason. It's especially hot and humid during the day.
Our Order has many female knights, and there are certainly such petitions...

　Hehehe.........I'll make it. The leader and deputy leaders of each country have raised their hopes, so I'll make it before dinner. It's true that it's tough not to be able to sweat it out.

Then we'll go help with the meal.

　With that, Yumina, Lou and Sue left the tent and headed towards the food distribution station where a kamado was being made.

'We will go around fighting off the mutants, that we will.

　Yae, Hilda, and Else summoned Schwertrite, Sieglune, and Gerhilde's special machine 《Valkyria》 from the [Storage] of the ring and headed to the battlefield.

''We'll set up a light ward around them. And we're not the only mutants here.

　The remaining Lean, Linse, Sakura and the others flew away on the Helmvige (flying form) that Linse had called up from the [Storage] of the Ring. If we go too far, the effects of the [Divine Demon Poison] will be felt, so I think it's only in the vicinity that we'll be able to set up the wards.
　Now, shall I make a bath too? It can't be a mixed bath, so I'll have to make separate men's and women's baths.
　I went into the forest to find an open area. Because of the battle that took place here and there, there were quite a few such places. I moved a large tree that was falling down all over the place to the side. This is the destruction of nature.

"Well, I guess that's enough for now.

　With earth magic, we first delve into the place to make a hot tub. We made an open-air bath once at the main store of "Ginsuki". I'm familiar with it. The hot water can be called in using the transfer pipe and can be drained.
　There are many men's baths, so we need to make a bigger one. The women's bathrooms should be carefully made so that we don't get any complaints.

Well. Well, let's do it then.

　Rolling up my arms I began to chop out a large tree that was lying there to be used as wood to assemble a hot tub.




'Oooh, wow!　It's full-blown!　It's a winter night indeed!

　Nia, the 'Red Cat 《Akaneko》 who was out on the scouting mission, squeals with joy when she sees the finished open-air bath. That's right, that's right. It's okay to praise her more.

''But, I mean........it's fine to have a roof and walls, but wouldn't this be in full view of the frame gear?

　Est-san, the deputy head of the "Red Cat", looks up at the sky seen from the bathroom and speaks up with a question. Of course, there's no slack in that either.

''This open-air bath itself is enchanted with a visual blocking spell, so when someone is inside, the only thing you see from the outside are the trees in the forest. It's okay.

　Even though I said so, it seems that the ladies decided to go out once again to see the facility, perhaps to confirm it. I can only see the illusion of a forest of autumn leaves from the outside. I wonder if they don't trust it.

''This isn't going to be disabled by some kind of switch, is it?
I won't! You'll kill me if you do.

　You will be able to see that you have a very good idea of what to do with your life. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier with your fiancée.

It's a good idea to use a large towel if you're worried about it. Just in case you are worried, I prepared a large towel for you to use.

　Unlike the hot springs on earth, I'm not trying to say that you can't wear a towel or anything like that. The hygienic aspect is cleared by granting the [Clean] magic and activating it every certain time.

''Why you have so many women's swimsuits is very curious to me, but...''
Oh, that bothers me, too.
Well, have fun!

　I leave hurriedly, as if to escape from the complaints of Yuni and Yuri, the leaders of the "Akaneko".
　That's not it, right?　They're among the prototypes sold to Mr. Zanuck of "Fashion King Zanuck," and I didn't buy them myself.
　Tents are set up here and there around the "Holy Tree" which has already been turned into a garrison, and knights are spending their time freely.
　You can see knights from other countries interacting with each other, which they don't usually do, some of them matching swords, talking about their hometowns, and, wait a minute, what are you hitting on me for? And, well, they show a variety of aspects.
　Knights from the west (the underworld) who are still unfamiliar with frame gear are being lectured by knights from our side who are used to riding it.
　While I was doing so, skirmishes with mutants and fake knights 《Fakes》 were going on a few kilometers away, and the air of an ever-present battlefield was enveloping the area.
　I walked into one of the tents in that garrison.

''Anything unusual?''
Nothing in particular. There is still a mutant invasion, but it's just the usual suspects in the vicinity, and the Golden Palace doesn't seem to be responding.

　The caretaker of The Garden, Sheska in her maid's outfit, who had a headphone-type communicator attached to her ear and was facing the monitor provided, turned to me.

''It hasn't been noticed by the other side yet, has it?
No, I'm sure he's aware of that. You know you'll be in trouble if that 'divine Demon Poison' is gone.

　Rosetta, the manager of the Workshop in her tuna, and Monica, the manager of the Hangar, are talking about this while looking up at the same monitor.
　The monitor showed the Golden Palace from the point of view of a surveillance camera attached to the Eisen Tower.
　The bizarre scene of golden skeletons roaming the area looks like something out of a B-grade zombie movie. It's a strange analogy, though: a skeleton, but a zombie.

"They might be up to something.

　As Flora, the manager of the Alchemy Building, says, there is a high probability of this happening. Even they must have thought about this happening. They might try something sooner or later.

For now, please continue to keep an eye on them. Rosetta and Monica, you'll need to work on your frame gear too.
Huh... Master is very hard to deal with, sir.
Yeah, that's right. Show me the cartoons as a reward, Animee.

　The maintenance team that started booing me broke off and promised to show me a robot animation when everything was done. I was forced to do so. The two of them happily walked out of the tent. It's easy to handle in a way, though you could say it's cholo-ish.

"Master, I'm a hard-smoking maid.
"You are no prize, you erotic maid.

　I give Sheska, who came up to me with a huff and a puff, a bitter glance. As usual, this guy is hard to handle.
　It's still a little uncomfortable, but since we can move freely, it's not a problem, I decided to call Ende from Brunhild. He's becoming a follower of his uncle Takeru, so I'm sure he'll be slightly affected by this, but strength is strength.
　We also need to have the general of Freys, Xeno and the others in the Golden Palace to do something about it.
　I'll call Ende and have him make preparations, and then connect the 【Gate】.
　Immediately from [Gate], Ende led the way, Mel, Lise and Ney also came to the garrison. Of course, since there would be a commotion, all three of them are in human form.

''It's been a long time coming, but are you already charging in?''
'No, not yet. I don't know what's going to happen, and I just got a head start.

　To answer the question Ende posed. It's true that we're ahead of schedule. This kind of error is inevitable.

'It smells good!'
'Master Mel, it's a curry!
'And that smell is fried pork too ... conclusion. Cutlet curry.

　As I was talking to Ende, the three Frays girls in the rear were capturing the aromatic aroma that wafted around the garrison with Kun Kun Kun Kun Kun Kun. ........Is it katsukurage? How could I tell that much?
　Probably the roux is the main ingredient in the ration station to make it. If she had obtained the Military Characteristic 'God's Tongue', it wouldn't be surprising if she could create the ultimate curry.

I've prepared a tent for you to use as you wish. You're free to do whatever you want until the operation starts, but don't get into trouble with the knights from other countries.
'Alright. So, Winter Night, I'm sorry...
...the food bank is over there.
Sorry, people won't calm down until we eat the food in that case... Everyone says the rationing station is over there.....

　When Ende turned around, the three girls were already gone, and he could see them running in the back towards the rationing station in good company.

''Wait! You're acting too fast!

　Ende dashes after the three of them in a hurry.
　How can I say that those three........Ende too, but haven't they become more clunky? The coolness or stoic vibe that used to be there, is completely gone.
　Maybe it's because he's become corrupted by all the joys of life.... Well, he's become more human, though.
　As I watched the four of them leave behind me, with a high-pitched sound, Hyou-Oh, Linse's Helmvige landed vertically from the sky.
　Sakura and Linse come down from the cockpit. Paula's guy fell down. Hey you, your neck is bent. Are you okay, even though it's a stuffed animal?
　Linse's Helmvige has a wider cockpit. The reason for this is because the structure narrows a bit during the transformation.
　That's why two girls (plus a stuffed animal) can ride in the back seat with no problem.

''I've set up a ward all over the place. That should make it impossible for a bad monster beast to get close to you.
And while we're at it, there was a flying mutant, so we shot him down.
I shot him down, but...

　Linze also came down from behind the chest-breasted cherry blossom.

''There are dozens of false knights [faux] coming towards us from Eisenburg, there are. They'll be here in about thirty minutes, I thought.
All right, I'll tell the guys. I'll tell the others. Thank you.

　After receiving Linze's report, I started up the map on my phone. Previously, it was useless because it was inhibited by the effects of the 'Divine Demon Poison', but now I managed to use it, although it was limited to the purified environment.

''Search. Focusing on this place, False Knight [Faux] and mutants.
"Searching..... Displaying.

　The image is projected in the air. There are quite a few of them.
　We'll have to raid the Golden Palace.......in other words, until the purification process is advanced enough for the Moribane Sisters to be able to stay here, we have to protect the Sacred Tree as well.
　I'll have Ende send out the Dragon Knight, Dragoon, to help.
　Now, let's start our counterattack.