Having succeeded in making a new agreement with the Demon Beast King, Aldis and the others returned to the village that day.

　The next day, Sailor began to work vigorously.
　After speaking to the village chief and informing him of her plans to greatly expand the village, she immediately expanded the scope of the wards.

　The warding is now several times larger than it was before.
　Aldis and Rona were also sent out to clean up the demons left behind inside it, and their busy days continued.
　After five days of securing the safety of the ward, Sailor shows a satisfied look on her face.

''Now we can accept more people.

'I'll tell you simply, are you sure you want to spread it out so far?　Aside from defeating the demons, I'm not sure I'll be able to get around to just patrolling the wards?

　Aldis watered down a good mood Sela, saying that they may be short on manpower.

　The village conducts regular patrols to ensure the safety within the wards.
　It is true that the population is growing rapidly by accepting refugees, but most of them are civilians with no combat skills.
　It was obvious that there wouldn't be enough people to hunt for them to be on the lookout for intruders.

'You've got just the right ones,'

　Rona responds to Aldis' concerns.

'Is it just right?'

'You're feeble-minded, but you're good enough to kick the crap out of any demon in that area, and you can talk to humans. You live away from the public eye in the Caucasus Forest, don't you?

'Causus Forest ......?　Oh, you mean Lupus, by any chance?

　The name was recalled by Aldis when he was told.

　Lupus.
　It was a beast of the Krol species that had wandered into this world from the same world as Ardis and the others.

　That beast, which has the ability to fight Aldis and Rona head-on, but has a disappointingly timid character, was currently living quietly in the Caucasian forest.
　Because of its feeble nature and the fact that it can understand the language, it could be seduced or tricked into being used by bad people, so Aldis and the others have taken it deep into the forest, where people rarely go.

　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new pair of shoes.
　Aldis had been there a few times to check on them, and he remembered that they were very much alive.

It's a good idea to bring him to the village and have him patrol the wards instead of sheltering him here. It's the village that accepted me, and although I'm a little big, I'm sure they'll accept Lupus, too.

'Yes, ....... Surely it's more beneficial for both Lupus and us?




　The next day, Aldis took Rona with him and left for the Caucasus Forest.
　It would only take a few hours to get from the village to the Caucasus Forest if they flew over it.
　While flying at an altitude so high that the beast that flies above the ground looks like a sesame seed, Ardis suddenly brought up the topic of the ring that Rona wears on her paw.

''Come to think of it, what is that thing Rona got you?

Hmm?　This?

　Rona lifted her circular paw and asked back.

　Just as Ardis received the sword made by Lesia, Rona had also received one piece of equipment from the Demon Beast King.
　That's the ring we're talking about now.
　However, Ardis does not know what kind of thing the ring is.
　It seems that while Ardis was talking with Sailor, Rona and the Monster King had finished exchanging ideas about the ring.

''Mufufu, don't tell anyone. I'd love for Al to be surprised, you know!

'Hee hee. I'll look forward to it then.

　To Rona, who has a mischievous look on her face, Ardis replies appropriately with a flutter of her hand.
　It's not that he's that concerned about it, even for Aldis.

　In the meantime, we were in the air above the Caucasus Forest.
　When they reach the depths of the forest, Aldis and the others descend to the ground using the magic of Lupus as a guide.

''Ah, Aldis-san and Rona-san,''

　There was a four-legged, seven-meter-long, four-legged creature covered in black fur.
　At first glance, it looks like a wolf, but its true identity is a beast called the Krol species, which is located at the top of the hierarchy in the other world.

''What's going on?''

　Lupus tilts his large head, which is as big as Rona's body, and asks a question.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.
　It's not even the color of fear in his eyes anymore.

''It looks like you're doing well.''

'Yes!　We don't have scary enemies here, and there's plenty of affordable game, so it's a very easy place to live.

　Aldis can't help but smile at Lupus' answer.
　The demons that Lupus says are affordable prey are all vicious beings that have been told by mercenaries and explorers to 'be prepared to die if you meet them'.
　Lupus, who treats them as bait, is an unquestionably strong man in this world, but only the man himself could not understand that fact.

''I see. That's good to hear, but the truth is--

　If you're not dissatisfied with the current situation, you might have some difficulty changing your residence.
　With that in mind, Aldis told Lupus about the situation and suggested that he move.

The first time I saw him, he said: "Well, and ...... its ....... I've gotten used to it, and there are no scary enemies here ....... A place with a lot of people is a bit .......

　As expected, or should I say, Lupus showed difficulty in changing his residence.
　It's not just the comfort of this place, but it's also obvious that he's not willing to live with others.
　I'm not sure if it's the right time to do this, but Rona interjected from the side.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work for yourself no matter what happens next.

What?

　A hint of anxiety comes into Lupus's eyes at Rona's shifty tone.

'Because it is, isn't it?　We were just trying to keep an eye on Lupus, you know?　You've come to check on me from time to time in the past, and I was here for a while during the war because it was too dangerous for you to be here in case the Imperial Guard showed up, right?　That was only possible because not long ago we lived in these woods too, right?　Now that we live in the Canobis Mountains, we can't come back to check on them like we have in the past, and we can't protect the Lupus every time a human comes to this forest. This means that from now on, if a human or a beast as strong as us comes into the forest and attacks us, the Lupus will be able to fight back on its own, right?

　Lupus's face contorts as if in fear.

'What ......, eh?　Because he said there are no humans coming here ....... They don't even have strong enemies. ......

Yeah, they don't come for many and they're gone. But nothing is certain. There may be people who come to this area among the searchers, and there may be demons in the forest that we don't know about.

Oh, no. ......

　Lupus let out a weak voice.

It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're going to do," he said. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in the faraway Caucasus forest. If we don't know, there's no way we can go to help them. It's a good thing that the Lupus is able to deal with skilled human beings and strong demons on its own.

Ugh, ugh. ......

Don't tease him so much, Rona.

　It was Ardis who sent a ship to help Lupus, who was about to start crying.

But Rona is right, too. The distance between the Canobis Mountains and the Caucasus Forest is so great that we wouldn't know if anything happened. Of course Lupus will have to deal with the problem alone. Of course, there aren't many enemies that Lupus can't match: ......

　Rona is exaggerating, but even if it's low, there's no denying that possibility.

　Of course, there is no such thing as an enemy that can defeat Lupus.
　But the danger is not pure strength, but rather someone with malicious intent to plot against Lupus.
　I'm not sure I've ever seen such a thing before in my life.

　After hearing Ardis's explanation, Lupus finally agreed to move.

''Ugh ......, I understand. I'll go to ....... I will follow Aldis-san and the others. But if Lupus gets in trouble, you're really going to help him, right?

'Don't worry. Lupus will help you, of course, but as long as you're in the village, me and Rona will protect you.

　After being persuaded by Aldis and the others, Lupus moved to the village.

　At first, the villagers were greatly intimidated by the fierce-looking, huge Lupus.
　However, the fact that Sela agreed to accept them early on, that they could communicate with each other, and that they had already accepted Rona was a big factor in their decision.
　On the contrary, it may have been a good thing that he was frightened of the villagers, but Lupus gradually became a part of the village.

　Like the twins, the Lupus was given the role of patrolling the warding area.
　The mobility of the Lupus led to a significant improvement in the efficiency of patrolling, as they ran around effortlessly with two humans on their backs.

　Of course, patrols were not the only problem associated with the rapid expansion of the village.
　There are a number of things that need to be resolved, such as increasing food production, securing more salt and drinking water, and reconciling the new inhabitants with the people who have lived in the village for a long time.

　The hidden village, which had been operating in secret until then, has taken a new step forward with the small ripples created by a mercenary named Ardis.
　A village for the discarded and oppressed, with no ties to the state or the church - a village of people with no place to go.
　They take in people with nowhere to go, one after another, and the village continues to grow in size.