Chasing the Yellow Spring Courageous Mantis, Aldis ran down the passage.

　Eventually Aldis saw the Yomiko's vanguard that was trying to force its body into the entrance of the stairs leading to the ground.
　The underground passage itself was large enough for three humans to walk side by side, but the stairs leading to the top were only about a meter wide.
　It was not high enough or wide enough for a mantis with a much larger body than a human to pass through.

''I see, when the need arises, we can lock them up and let them starve to death,''

　In the room where the Yellow Water Vulture was being held, there was a small hole in the ceiling.
　It was probably where they usually fed and watered.

　Even if unforeseen circumstances released the Yellow Water Viper from its restraints, the only people in the cell were in danger.
　Unable to go above ground, the Yellow Spring Mantis will eventually run out of food and starve to death.
　I don't know what kind of intentions the Saitu Trading Company had in keeping the demon, but there must have been a planned intention at the root of it.

''Well, it's none of my business,''

　For starters, it was important to Ardis that the Saitu Chamber of Commerce had a demon in the midst of the town.
　Furthermore, it was a convenient way to drive the Saitu Merchant Association into a corner.

''Well then, let's go with a flourish at best.

　After confirming that there were no humans directly above him through magical exploration, Ardis used his excessive magical power to unleash a magic spell.
　It is similar to the offensive magic called "Thier Cele Qovis" that shoots a single ray of light at the enemy, but I'm sure the average sorcerer would look away and deny that it's something else.

　The light emitted by Ardis was not just a single ray, but it was so large that it could be called a giant cylinder.
　If it was that big, it would be visible from all over the town, and of course Aldis knew what he was doing.

　The blue sky was revealed above Aldis' head by the light that penetrated several layers of the floor of the building, not just the underground ceiling.

''Gee, gee!''

　Ardis also raised his body into the air as he chased after the Yellow Spring Violet Courage that flew up through the hole.
　Ardis followed the Yellow Water Violet into the sky and people's voices reached his ears.

''What was that light!''

We heard a lot of noise!

Look up!

'What, could it be ...... demon!

　Some look up at the sky and stiffen, others instinctively flee in fear for their lives, while others simply panic at the sudden sound and impact.
　In the midst of the various reactions of the humans, I find one magical power that is incomparably larger than the Yellow Water Vulture.

'Rona, or ......?　What the hell is he doing here?

　Aldis inwardly twitches at the magic that is probably his partner.

''Giiii!''

　But it was short-lived.
　The Yellow Spring Mantis attacked Ardis as he came up into the sky.

''Why didn't you just run away quickly?

　In a way, Hosen Years ago, Hosen Years ago could be considered a victim of the Saiz Chamber of Commerce.
　Aldis had planned to leave them alone if they returned quietly to the mountain, but it seems that the mantis could not contain the grasping insects in his stomach.
　The praying mantis is a very powerful force, and because it has found a place in the sky where it can display its strength, it recklessly challenged Ardis.

''If you are going to do that,''

　Of course, Aldis was not a charitable person.
　He didn't hesitate to fight back if it was coming at him.

''Gee!''

　Despite flying through the air for probably the first time in his life, the yellow water mantis swings up at him in time on instinct, and he raises his kama.
　It would be easy for Ardis to avoid it and get behind his opponent and decide the game with a single strike as it is.

　But right now, defeating the enemy is not the goal.
　The goal is to gather the ears of the entire town and let them know that a dangerous demon has emerged from the Seitz Trading Company building.

　Aldis dared to let the Yellow Water Vulture attack and avoid it with exaggerated movements.
　Instead of counterattack, he surrounded the Yellow Water Violet praying mantis and produced a series of explosive flames that resembled the Purgatory Flame, Ferno Resta Ganov, into the sky.
　The giant red-glowing spheres are a powerful reminder to people of the abnormalities of the situation.

　And so, for a while, Ardis continued to attract the attention of the whole town with his visually flamboyant magic while pretending to fight against the Yellow Water Vulture.

''Is that enough?''

　After a farcical battle, Aldis, who saw what looked like a led soldier below him, decided that his objective had been sufficiently achieved and went on the offensive.

'I know it's pathetic, but ......

　Ardis pulls the red sword from his waist.
　He held up the red sword body, which reflected the sun's light, and plunged into the Yellow Water Vulture from the front.

''Giiiiii!''

　The Yellow Spring Mantis unleashes a liquid from the spout between its two eyes to intercept Ardis.
　However, the attack, which would have been fatal if it was an ordinary mercenary, did not work on Ardis, who deployed a magical barrier.

　Ardis's sword flash, which was completely useless, severed the head of the yellow water mantis.

　Yet another swing of the blade.
　The slender torso was split lengthwise and the body of the yellow water mantis, frozen whole by magic, was knocked down into the grounds of the Saitu Chamber of Commerce.

''The rest is up to the lord.

　Looking at the noisy surroundings, Aldis went down into the Saiz Chamber of Commerce building and disappeared as it was.
　After confirming that Rona-like magic power went out of the premises along with a number of human-like magic powers, he withdrew himself, avoiding the eyes of the soldiers and the people of the Chamber of Commerce behind the pushing and shouting voices.





''That's another drastic thing you've done.

It just happened.

　After explaining to Rona how they had ended up destroying the Seitz Chamber of Commerce building and engaging in a flamboyant battle with the Yellow Water Dragon Mantis in the sky, Aldis ended it with a few words.

'So it was also true that they were capturing and selling refugees: ......

　When Rona tells him the details of what happened during their time apart, Aldis learns that the rumors he overheard while gathering information are true.

'You were right to crush it,'

　Rona spoke up on behalf of Aldis' feelings.

'As far as I'm concerned, though, I wish you had stopped Filia.

'I didn't do anything dangerous. You just snuck into the Chamber of Commerce for a bit, fought some people for a bit, and rescued some refugees who were trapped for a bit.

Hey, hey, .......

　Rona countered flatly when Aldis' cold eyes were on her.

'I thought Filia could handle it on her own, so I let her do what she wanted. In fact, I didn't touch her from the time of our infiltration until we escaped. I don't know if you don't want to admit it or if you're too harsh on me because I'm one of your people, but Filia is stronger than Al thinks. For pure fighting power alone, she's so strong that she wouldn't be able to compete with any of those mercenaries. Well, I'm missing out on a lot of things because I'm far less experienced.

　Rona said accusingly to Ardis, "You won't gain that experience forever if you keep it in your pocket.

　Aldis would certainly need to change her mind.
　It may not be in their best interest to keep the twins safe and protected forever.

　They were already not helpless infants, but sorcerer's eggs on the verge of adulthood.
　And they are not just eggs.
　He is an egg of a different genius who has already put his hand on a stage that the sorcerers of the Kingdom of Naglas Army could not reach even if they spent a lifetime on it.

I wonder what I want to do with those guys. ......

　Bosori and Ardis murmured, but Rona looked away, seemingly uninterested.

　Originally, Ardis had no intention of teaching the twins magic.
　But the twins learned how to manipulate magic by watching and learning, and while Aldis was sent to a different world than Minerva and the others, he was taught by Nere, and now he is a rare sorcerer who can use magic without chanting, which is rare in the world.
　Aldis was reluctant to admit it as a substitute for self-defense, but before long, the two of them offered to accompany him on his journey.

　If we are going to respect their wishes, then surely we should give them more experience in actual combat.
　But Ardis had the selfish hope that they would live an ordinary and peaceful life.

　I didn't mean to take care of them for so long," he said, turning his now-obvious excuse in his mind to himself.
　Sighing deeply, Aldis regained his composure and asked Rona.

'Let's put that to the side now: ....... What are those two over there?'

　Aldis's gaze turned to a girl who looked to be about fifteen or six years old, and a young boy who said he was her brother.
　While the refugees rescued by Filia and Rona had scattered to the town respectively, only two remained here with Filia.

'It's Hal and his sister,'

'I heard that earlier. I also heard that saving a boy named Hal was the reason for getting involved in this case. What I'm trying to ask is why the girls are still with Filia.

I think Al told you. 'If you're going to give me a helping hand, be prepared to take care of me to the end,' and, by the way, you also said at the end, 'You can do whatever you want.' So doesn't that mean Filia was prepared to do as she pleased with a reasonable amount of determination?

You said ............. Indeed.

　After a brief silence, Aldis covers her face with one hand.
　It hadn't even been half a day since she'd mentioned it.
　Aldis wasn't so thick-faced as to pretend he hadn't forgotten about it.

'But. Maybe it's a better pick-me-up than you think?

What do you mean?

My sister's side is different, but my brother's side is more magical.

What is ......?

　Aldis looked at the boy again at the unexpected words Rona had uttered.
　As if he thought he was being stared at, the boy jerked his body and clung to his sister.

'At first I thought it might be because of the way you looked that you were scared of me, but I don't think that's the case. 'See,'

　While saying this, Rona gathered the magic power and made it into a lump, and it slowly flew to the boy's side.

　Pure magic power that does not evoke phenomena such as flames and ice is colorless and transparent, so it would not normally be reflected by human eyes.
　However, the boy's eyes stared at the supposedly empty space with an expression as if he was looking at something terrifying.
　When Rona manipulated the magic to levitate to the boy's immediate side, the boy slumped over as if to escape from it.

　On the other hand, the sister who is right next to the boy doesn't show any reaction.
　That's normal.

　Filia, who can sense magic like Aldis and the others, looked at me with a face full of questions, wondering what she was doing.

''If you train them, I think they're a promising force for the village.

　Indeed, Rona was right.
　The magic used by Ardis and Rona is different from the generally known magic, and it is a basic premise of being able to feel and manipulate magic power.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　If you can feel magic power from the beginning, then it would be quite easy to learn magic.

''Yes, it's .......''

　Aldis, who affirmed Rona's words but didn't feel somehow in the dark, slumped her shoulders without effort.