A few days later, Aldis was heading deep into the Canobis Mountains, accompanied by Rona and Sailor.

　After six hours of flying and gaining distance in the air, they descended into the mountains at a point near the forest limit.

'We'll walk from here,'

Uh, why?

　Rona responded to Sailor who was leading the way with a dissatisfied voice.

It's a good thing that there are wards in the sky put up by the monster king. We're about to go to negotiations and we can't go out of our way to give a bad impression by breaking the warding, right?

...... is a pain in the ass.

　Reluctantly, Rona begins to walk.

　According to what Sailor says, the monster king always creates a ward around his residence to avoid monsters.
　It's not that strong, so you can force your way into it, but of course you'll have to break the barrier.
　This is not something that you should do with someone who wants to talk to you, even if it is someone who is hostile to you in the first place.

''So, is this where this monster king lives?

　A vertically sheer rock wall.
　Ardis asks Sailor in front of the huge gaping hole in the wall.

This is just the entrance. It's only a half day's walk beyond this point that will lead you to the Monster King. Of course, there are probably demons inside, so be careful just in case.

　The lead Sailor created a light with her magic and lifted it into the air.
　Sailor was the first, followed by Ardis and Rona as they stepped into the side hole.

''It's a lot bigger than I thought.''

　The dimly lit hole was wider than I had expected from the size of the entrance.
　It is so wide and high that the entire building of the Litte Trading Company in Leytin could fit inside.
　The mumbled words of Aldis echoed into the darkness.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

The magic power is pretty thin. Even demons are not much ............ like this.

　As if in response to Rona's words, magical reactions began to swarm around Ardis and the others.

　A demon appeared from the darkness, looking like a leech.
　It's about seventy centimeters long.
　As a demon, its magical power is small, and it seems to be an unremarkable opponent for Ardis and the others, but the problem is probably its number.
　The sound of countless crawling sounds could be heard.

　One by one, they emerged from the darkness, where the magic light could not reach them, and rushed in like a wave.

''Don't use fire,''

I know.

　Sailor orders Aldis, who shows a disgusted look on his face.

'Well then, how about this?'

　The first to move was Rona.
　With a flick of her triangular ears, she produced more than a dozen transparent blades in the air, then lightly slammed her forelegs into the ground and let them go.

　The wind blade sliced through the air as it headed for the leeches, severing their bodies with ease.
　In one fell swoop, about thirty leeches died, and an indescribable odor wafted out of their body fluids.

The only thing that's left to do is to get the best out of it. Al, please, the rest-''

　Rona, who has a better sense of smell than a human being, frowned at the unbearable strange odor, and promptly announced her withdrawal from the battle lines and backed away behind Aldis.

''I suppose we could just freeze them,''

　After casting a cold glance at Rona, Aldis froze every one of the leeches that crawled across the ground and swept in.

'They're still coming,'

　Aldis and the others slowly made their way deeper, using wind and ice magic to reap the leeches that kept appearing from outside the range of the lights.

''It's disgusting.''

　The leech-like demons that constantly attacked them didn't seem to be much of a threat.
　However, the number of them gushing out endlessly seemed to make Rona only sigh.

'It doesn't matter if it's this much, right?　It takes a lot of work, though.

How long is this going to last?

That's more trouble than it's worth when this thing starts to pull.

What do you mean?

　Ardis interrupted Rona and Sailor's conversation, and a change in the movement of the leeches appeared.
　The flock of leeches that had been filling the path of Aldis and the others without a gap, began to move as if they were avoiding something.

　Sensing a strong magical power at the center of their movement, Aldis raised his alert level.
　He drew the red magic sword he was carrying at his waist from its sheath and held it in both hands.
　When the magic light is preceded and sent to the center where the leeches are escaping, the figure is finally caught in sight.

''Wow, it's huge.''

　A childish expression comes out of Rona's mouth.

　The first thing I see in my eyes is a bright red color.
　Its hard-feeling epidermis looked as if it were made of overlapping plates, reminding me of a plate mail.
　It was probably about eight meters long.
　Standing on its two thick hind legs, the demon balanced itself while swinging its strong tail from side to side.

　It's front legs, which are much smaller than its hind legs, moved to explore the empty space, and then its upper body snapped forward and its sharp jaws picked up the fleeing leech.
　A leech is captured and disappears into its mouth.
　Then another and another and another.

Hey, Al, is that... Is that...?

Yeah. It's probably something called a dragon-shell beast. I've never seen it before either, but it's the first time I've seen it: ......

　A body reminiscent of a giant reptile.
　And the big horns sticking out on both sides of the head and shoulders.
　Three pairs of red eyes that glowed eerily.
　It was a very dangerous demon called the Dragon Shell Beast.

''Do you think it will attack us?''

That's right.

　When the dragon shell beast that swallowed the fifth leech realized that there was no new prey left around, it turned its gaze to Ardis and the others.

''I suppose so.''

　Three pairs of red eyes showed an eerie glow.
　Apparently, they recognized Aldis and the others as their prey.

'They're coming!

　Aldis and the others scattered at the sound of Sailor's voice.
　In contrast, the dragon shell beast slithered closer to them as if to see what was going on.

''It!''

　Rona creates a blade of wind just as it was when she released it at Hill.
　The invisible blade, which arose to surround the golden body, curved and shot at the dragon shell beast.

　However, the blade that easily cut through the grinder did not seem to be very effective against the armor of the dragon beast.
　After the sound of being snatched, what was seen was a few scratches etched into the red skin.

''Katai na!''

　It seems to be quite hard, and even with Rona's magic, she can barely make a shallow wound.

''Then how about this?''

　Aldis, who understood the solidity of the epidermis after seeing Rona's attack, unleashed a magic of light.
　A streak of light condensed to the extreme hit the tail of the dragon shell beast.

''...... Doesn't it work much?''

　The light that seemed to pierce the dragon-shelled beast was flicked into the hard scales of its epidermis, changing its angle and drilling a hole in the ground of the cave.
　Because of the blood flowing from the area hit by the light, it seems to have done more damage than Rona's attack, but even so, it can't be called deep.
　Against an attack that an ordinary demon would have been able to penetrate, the dragon shell beast's defense was more stubborn than expected.

''It's coming, Al!

　Rona's warning.

　Without a pause, something was spat out in a straight line from the dragon shell beast's mouth.
　It's as if a thin stick was extending from its mouth.

　That thin rod reaches two meters in front of Ardis's feet and scrapes the ground - no, cuts it.
　The ground was cut in two by something released from the mouth of the dragon shell beast.
　As if cutting into the fruit with a knife, the narrow gulf that was created was closing in on Ardis.

''Tch!''

　With a click of his tongue, Ardis deployed three layers of magical barriers.
　However, that solid barrier began to crack from the point where the dragon shell beast's attack had hit it.

　It emitted a sound like broken glass and the first barrier was destroyed.
　Something from the dragon shell beast goes straight up to Ardis' body to go up to her torso.
　The second one was destroyed, and when Ardis tried to break off more barriers, a new one was wrapped around him before he could do so.
　The dragon-shelled beast's attack was still blocked by the barrier and passed past Aldis' face, disappearing a meter above his head.

''If you're going to block that one from the front, you'd better put at least five of them on top of each other.

　Apparently, Sailor was there to provide cover.

I'm sorry.

　Admitting his mistake honestly, Aldis looked at the groove in the ground that the dragon shell beast's attack had carved into.
　There was a scattering of black powder along the ground where the cut was made.

''Iron ...... sand?''

　It was probably made by spewing out finely crushed iron grains at high speed.
　In other words, it's like a breath of iron sand (tessa).

Would you like me to clean up?

No, I'll do it.

　It's not too dangerous an attack once you see it.
　Aldis summons about ten swords from the 'Gate' and unleashes them at the Dragon Shell Beast.

　The flying swords slash at the enemy from all directions at once.
　However, aside from the three swords, "Sotensaika", "Tokiharugasumi" and "Tsukishirofubuki", it's impossible for a mere heavy iron sword to penetrate the hard armor of a dragon shell beast.
　Even the three swords that used the Seven Colored Powder (Lesia Powder) couldn't penetrate its strong defense.

''I have to cut directly through it?''

　Several heavy iron swords were shot down by the Iron Sand Breath, and Ardis regrasped the red magic sword and jumped out in a breath.

　He instantly dived into the bosom of the dragon shell beast that had been knocked unconscious by the flying sword.
　The dragon shell beast noticed Aldis' approach and pointed its fangs at him, but its throat was already in between the magic sword.

''If this is the case--!

　It's a good thing that you can't prevent it, but Ardis swings the magic sword out to the side of the line.

　Unlike the flying sword that has left the hands of a human being, this is a magic sword with Ardis's power carried directly on it.
　Moreover, no matter how tough the armor was clad in, the protection at the throat was indeed thin.
　The dragon-shelled beast's neck was ripped open with a snap, and a large amount of blood poured out from it.

　The battle will be decided by this blow.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get the most out of this one.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the best way to get the best out of it.

''That was quite a troublesome opponent.''

You were watching, so don't say that.

　When I blasted my complaint at Rona, who said it was her own affair, Ardis urged Sailor to start walking deeper into the cave again.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

''It looks like we're finally going to be able to get out...''

　Seeing the sunshine, Rona happily quickened her feet.
　But when she had taken about ten steps, her bouncing feet suddenly stopped.

''What's the matter, Rona?''

......

　Aldis, wondering, asked, but there was no answer from Rona.
　Eventually, it was not Aldis but Sailor, who was next to her, that Rona threw the words at him.

'Is that it?'

Yes.

Yeah.

　Even Aldis, who had been tilting his head at the exchange, finally understood the meaning after another five minutes or so of walking forward from there.

　Five hundred meters away from the direction of travel.
　This is because they have captured the existence of a huge creature with an extraordinary magical power just barely within the reach of Aldis' magical power probe.

　It's been about eight years since it was sent to this world.
　This was the first time I had encountered a being with such powerful magical power.

...... of this, you mean.

　Aldis squeezes out the words as she moans.
　I see, it's no wonder Rona is so silent.

''Come on, let's go.''

　Sela walks away unconcernedly while Aldis stands there.

　There is no point in standing on a stick like this.
　Ardis and Rona moved forward in silence, chasing the black robe that was leading the way.

　The sun's rays gradually increase the proportion of their vision.
　After thirty minutes, Aldis finally made it through the cave and out into the sky, his eyes widened and he was speechless.

'Nah ......!'

　A small basin that looks like a hideout surrounded on all sides by high mountains.
　Standing there is a creature so huge that you can look up at it.
　You don't need to ask Sailor to understand its existence.

The Hexenbiest King of Canobis.

　It was overwhelmingly powerful, and it was staring Ardis in the face with cold eyes.