My ...... man. You were supposed to be with me at the Duke's mansion, guarding the young lady.

　Moore tells Minerva in a pained voice as the two of them lose their breath after being attacked by the beast.

　Minerva knows the emblem engraved on their equipment.
　It's a sign that they are the direct army of the kingdom.
　And moreover, Moore confirms that face in person.
　There is no doubt that they are soldiers belonging to the kingdom.

　I could see that the two of them had already died out.
　We don't know why they were attacked by the beast in a place like this, but they probably encountered a situation similar to the one that Minerva and the others had experienced.
　Maybe there were other people who were inside the Duke's residence nearby.

'Let's mourn (and mourn) ......'

　Murmuring emphatically to no one, Moore arranged them both, said a prayer and burned them in the fire.
　There was no time to spare to bury them, and as long as there was no way to dig a hole for them, it was unavoidable.

'Miss. Use this. You'll have to put up with the smell of blood for a bit, but it's better than being dressed like that.

　Moore tosses Minerva the cloak that a dead female soldier used to wear.

　Minerva was thrown into this situation from her bedroom with her clothes on, and she was dressed in all sorts of troubling ways as a noblewoman - or even as a commoner.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends and family.

''We're back to square one, aren't we?

　All we got as a result was the cloak Minerva wore and an uncertain guess that there might be others in the same situation.
　There was no way to get to the king's capital and no water or food.

"Hey Rona. Do you have any idea where the water is?

　When she turned to Minerva, who asked casually, and gave her a look that said it couldn't be helped, Rona ducked silently.

"Oh, come on, you don't really know the watering hole?

　Moore expresses his surprise at Rona's gesture, as if she is telling him to follow her.

'They say that beasts have better noses than people, and maybe there's something about Rona that we don't understand.

Well, I don't have anywhere else to go. Let's go with him.

　After exchanging those words, Minerva and Moore began to walk westward through the meadow, following Rona, who was slowly walking at the front.





　Eventually, after about thirty minutes of walking, they came to a stream that ran through the meadow.
　Minerva and the others arrived at a single stream that flowed through the meadow.

''Ah!　It's a river, Battalion Commander Greystar.

Oh, thank God. Now we can breathe easy.

　The creek is about three meters wide at most, and although it is not rich in water, it is more than enough to quench the thirst of two people.
　It is not an abundant water source, but it is more than enough to quench the thirst of two people.

　Minerva, who had been walking without a drop of water in her mouth, suddenly felt thirsty.

'You look okay.

　After making sure there was no sign of the beast around ahead of him, Moore invited Minerva to join him.

'Feng ....... It will come back to life.

　Minerva smiled as she brought the river water to her mouth with both hands.

'I wish I had something to hold it in: ......

　Moore, who was also thirsty, murmured, "For now, let's just rest for a while.

"Anyway, let's just rest up here for a while. The young lady must be tired after all that walking.

Yeah. You don't want to take it easy--what's wrong, Rona?

　Minerva, who was about to answer Moore, noticed a change in Rona.

　Rona, who had been drinking from the river earlier, was now looking around as if she were exploring something.
　Its ears, covered in golden fur, stand on pins and move slightly in response to the sound of grass swaying in the wind.
　The way it was busily peering at its surroundings seemed to indicate that the danger was close at hand.

''Is the beast approaching?''

　Moore, noticing Rona's condition, begins to alert his surroundings.

'Earlier, is it the beast?'

I don't know. But we're not the only ones who need water. If this is the only water supply in the vicinity, it's no wonder the beasts are attracted to it.

　I'm not completely aware of my surroundings, but I haven't seen any rivers or lakes, let alone human settlements, in all the time I've been walking around.
　It was highly likely that this stream was a valuable drinking water source for the creatures in the surrounding area.

　Of course, the creatures would include not only docile beasts, but also ferocious carnivores that preyed on herbivores.

Let's get out of here now.

'Yes. That would be better.

　As Minerva sat up, agreeing with Moore's immediate decision, a voice reminiscent of a wrinkled old man came out of nowhere.

'Gee, you don't have to walk away so quickly, do you?

　The two of them brace themselves for the suddenness of the situation.

'Who's there!'

　Moore hides Minerva behind his back as he pulls his sword out of his waist after a moment of rigidity.

"Ho-ho-ho. "Who are you to trespass on my territory without my permission? Did you relax because the rainy season is so far away?　Do you think I have not yet awakened?

　The voice continued to echo.
　There was no shadow that looked like a living thing in the surroundings.

　Suddenly, Minerva turned her attention and noticed Rona staring at a certain point.
　As Minerva followed that gaze, a strange sight came into her eyes.

　The water of a slowly flowing stream.
　Then a strange change occurred.

　A part of the water had clearly grown thicker and gradually took on a dark blue color.
　The dark blue water widened in scope as he watched, eventually filling the three-meter wide stream.
　When it had dyed a distance of five meters from upstream to downstream, its erosion stopped, and this time it began to extend into the air, defying reason.

　Its shape reminded me of a fountain flowing gently out of an upward spout.
　Of course, this is not a fountain, and there are no upward-facing vents anywhere.
　The phenomenon that could be said to be a mass of discomfort stopped expanding when the dark blue water reached about two meters wide and three meters high.

"What is this thing ......?

　A futile question spilled out of Moore's mouth in the face of the strange scene.

I see.

　The dark blue water trembled as if it was ridiculing her.
　A muffled, old man-like voice reached Minerva's ears in conjunction with that movement.

''A demon, the words of a person ......

　Obviously an unusual situation.
　This resulted in Minerva recognizing that the other party was a demon.
　This kind of incomprehensible existence cannot be a beast, much less a human being, so the only name that can describe it is demon.

But this can't be a matter of ignorance. It's a good thing that ignorance gets a fair share of retribution. I'm not going to let you get away with it. Or at the very least, give yourself as your bread and butter. If you can be a part of me, then your life of darkness will have some value.

　The dark blue water demon tells him one-sidedly with a manner from above.

'You have four feet there. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get out of it. You have the wisdom to avoid a fight.

　There was no mouth or eyes to be found on the liquid body.
　But if this demon had eyes, its gaze would surely be directed at Rona.

　The only four feet in this place - the dark blue water demon that throws words at Rona.
　The demon's question, which was supposed to evoke silence or a growl, brought a response that Minerva hadn't expected.

''I'm sorry ...... but I'm going to politely decline your request. Aside from the man, if you abandon Minerva, you won't have a face to match Al.

　The clear words spun out of Rona's mouth caused Moore and Minerva's faces to color with surprise.

'Shhh, shhhh, shhhh, ......!

Rona, you can go to ......!

　The demon, on the other hand, didn't seem surprised by Rona's words and reacted in a dumbfounded tone.　

''Ho. Shield poke, or four-legged?　Do you think you can stand against me in your petty little body?

　To the demon who started to exude an intimidating atmosphere, Rona retorts with a nonchalant expression.

If that was really the case, you wouldn't say that you would let me alone, even if it was conditional, would you?　You're practically saying to yourself that it's a pain in the ass to deal with me, don't you know that, Mr. Sage Pollution Water?

　Rona spits out a word that is nothing more than a provocation.

　After a moment of silence, the dark blue water begins to shake greatly.
　It was as if it was expressing the wrath of a demon.

''You told me ......!　You said what you shouldn't have said!　You have insulted my noble and innocent self!　You filthy four-legged hairy coot!　You can no longer beg for your life!　Not a drop of blood, not a hair is left on the ground!

'It's easy enough to say, isn't it? Well, no matter how clever you are, at the end of the day, you're nothing but contaminated water that continues to pollute and multiply, so why don't you just shut up and wallow in your own filth? In a hundred years, the water will be cleaned up and become a little more decent, won't it?

d*mn it. ......!

　The raging demon attacked Rona, who was still provoking him.

　A number of needles were created and shot out of the swinging body.
　It is a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what to expect when you are ready to buy.

''You, chocobo!

You two, get out of here, now!

　As soon as Minerva and the others were instructed, Rona flew around the demon, leisurely dodging the needles that were fired in rapid succession.

''It's depressing!

　The demon's body then underwent a change.
　A part of the body seemed to turn into a mist and envelop Rona's surroundings, but in the next moment, it condensed and turned into a needle shape similar to the one that was pointed at her earlier.

''Rona!''

　Minerva shouts when she sees Rona's situation surrounded by needles all around her.

　Countless needles are shot at Rona from all directions without a pause.
　Naturally, it's impossible to avoid them.

''That's about as good as it gets, even for me!

　As soon as Rona struck the ground with her right front foot, a furious wind whipped around her body.
　The swirling, raging wind folded, drowned out, and blew away the needles that struck from around them.
　The aftermath reaches Minerva and the others at a distance.

'This is outrageous.'

　Moore exclaimed in admiration.

　Minerva agreed with him about that.
　Minerva still doesn't understand things like magic and witchcraft very well.
　But even such a girl can understand that the scene unfolding in front of her is not an attack or defense by physical means.
　And the wind that Rona released was not spontaneous.
　It was clearly something akin to witchcraft.

'Rona is ......'

　Rona, who was happily eating the sweets from Minerva's hand, never thought that she had the intelligence to be able to understand human language and manipulate magic.

　Despite the bewildered Minerva, the battle between Rona and the demons continues.
　Rona, who had cleaved off the needle's siege with her wind magic, now went on the offensive.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

　The ears of the inverted triangle twitched.
　Before the demon can take defensive action, I let the flames cling to its right front paw and slam into the main body of the dark blue water as hard as I can.

''You little bastard!''

　A hateful demon's voice rang out.

''You should have just gone to bed quietly, but you're going to get hurt because you wake up early for no reason!

　Rona, who struck a blow, immediately jumped back and took her distance.

''Watari-san!　You can't give it to me!　There's no way I'm going to give you a place to live with such a dense magical power flowing into it!

　Although we can't see his expression, there's no doubt that the demon is agitated from his tone of voice.
　Rona, on the other hand, is quite calm.
　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　The demon's attack increased in intensity.
　A mass of water formed an elongated whip-like shape and attacked from Rona's side while bellowing.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it.
　The countless number of needles and whips that are coordinated with each other, gradually led to injuries to the hands.

''Battalion Commander!　It's Rona!

...... I know.

　Moore sees that she is struggling and tries to take a step forward with a serious expression on her face, but Rona notices her and shouts out in a hurry, "What are you doing?

'What are you doing!　Now run away!

'I can't just leave Rona and run away!

　Rona's words stung Minerva, who was biting down, and the unassuming Rona's words stung her.

'You guys are only getting in the way when you're here!　He's slowing me down!

Such a ......!

　Minerva exclaimed after a cold word.
　Moore's hand was placed on her shoulder as she leaned forward.

'...... lady. He's right, we're slowing you down. It's frustrating, but I don't think I can keep up with that speed.

　It must be hard for Moore to admit his powerlessness, but he still tries to obey Rona's words, prioritizing Minerva's safety.
　On the other hand, Minerva, on the other hand, is still biting back.

　I know that we are useless in this place.
　But that doesn't mean it's okay to leave Rona facing that dangerous demon?
　That's the question that comes to mind when I look at Rona.

''Are you ......, are you going to be okay by yourself!

Dah-rah!　I don't understand you!　I'd be in less danger too if you guys weren't here!

　Rona said in a disgusted tone.
　In the meantime, the needles and whips released by the demon definitely carved a wound into Rona's fur.

I'm sure you'll understand. ...... Rona, please don't take it easy.

　Accepting Rona's words sadly, Minerva squeezes out and turns on her heel.

'Don't leave me, sweetheart.

Yes ......

　With a glance at Rona, who continued to fight in the rear, Minerva began to run as fast as she could, following Moore's back as he led the way.