◇[Dragon Slayer]◇
Alion.
Corridor of the royal castle.
From this position, the barracks could be seen.
The "Dragon Slayer," Bainwolf, rested one elbow on the railing and took a swig of his drink.
Below, soldiers were busily moving about.
Everyone was preparing for the coming battle against the Demon Emperor's army.
As the beautiful goddess was about to pass behind him, he called out to her.
"So—what was your intention in leaving me behind in Alion?"
"We cannot afford to leave this place too underdefended, after all~"
Vysis stopped and continued.
"I would have liked to accompany them if possible... but tomorrow I must head to Magnar for some business. Ah, I am so worried... Will they be all right?"
"The Sword Tiger Corps, Nyantan Kikikappu, and above all, the Four Holy Saints are with them. They will be fine."
"The more people say 'they will be fine, they will be fine,' the more worried I become, you know~"
The heroes from another world had departed from this royal castle a few days ago.
Their destination was the Great Ruins Zone located to the west of Alion.
Also known as the Golden-Eyed Demon Zone.
Bainwolf turned to face Vysis and leaned against the railing with both elbows.
"Does removing me from the team heading to the Demon Zone have something to do with me being Ayaka Sogou's instructor?"
"Eh? What are you talking about?"
Vysis tilted her head.
She looked as if she had no idea what he meant.
Bainwolf continued.
"Is the goddess-sama's goal for someone in that girl's group to die?"
"Nnnn~? I really do not understand what you mean. Why would I want something like that?"
"If I am not there, the danger to them increases—is that not right?"
"Eh~? Even if you suddenly start spouting such incomprehensible theories, I am troubled..."
Bainwolf stroked his chin beard.
He shifted his gaze diagonally upward.
"For example... the goddess-sama wants to make that girl easier to manipulate, or something?"
"Nnn~? I am sorry, but I truly have no idea what you are talking about. Um, are you not wasting time? Or perhaps you are speaking in some logic that only makes sense to yourself? Are you all right in the head?"
"Broken-hearted people are easier to manipulate."
"Eh—!? I am seriously troubled if you come up with such things on a whim..."
"..."
"By the way, Bain-san, how is your father doing?"
"...He is all right, I suppose."
"You joined the Demon War Knight Order because, if you trace it back, it was for your father who was bedridden with illness, right? He raised you splendidly all by himself, so he is admirable."
Vysis moved beside Bainwolf.
She placed her arms on the railing and gazed at the barracks.
Her expression carried worry.
"The materials that can only be obtained from the mines managed by Ulza... the extremely valuable medicine made from them. Your father's illness can only have its symptoms suppressed by that medicine... And the one who holds all decision-making authority, including access to the mines, is Ulza's ruler, the Demon War King Jin... In short, everything can change with a single gesture from the Demon War King... That situation seems very dangerous. But please rest assured."
Vysis stood in front of Bainwolf.
She took his hand firmly in both of hers.
"As long as I put in a word with the Demon War King, that expensive medicine will continue to be provided to you free of charge. That is what this is about, right?"
Bainwolf exhaled and let the corner of his mouth relax slightly.
"That is exactly why... this Dragon Slayer, famous for being lazy, responded to the goddess's call and came running, right?"
"What a wonderful mindset. I am truly delighted as well."
The reason he joined the Demon War Knight Order.
To protect his lazy lifestyle.
That was what he told those around him.
But if it was just for living alone, being a mercenary would actually be fine.
With his ability, there were plenty of easy jobs.
Bainwolf had lost his mother when he was young.
His father had raised him single-handedly with great effort until he fell ill.
He had to repay that debt.
That was why he had accepted the invitation to join the Demon War Knight Order.
"Well... I intend to act while keeping my own position in mind, of course."
"You are so mature~"
"So, have you managed to gain control of the White Wolf Knight Order led by that famously rigid commander? That is probably the main reason you moved up the departure to Magnar, right?"
"Eh? Does that have nothing to do with the flow of our conversation?"
Good grief.
Bainwolf was rather impressed instead.
Twisting things around.
When it came to doing that, no one could match this goddess.
"By the way, Bain-san, changing the subject."
"Hm?"
"What do you think of the heroes from another world?"
Bainwolf gazed at the western sky.
"The one steadily climbing the path to being the strongest hero is still Kirihara. In terms of fighting the Demon Emperor, his talent is overwhelmingly superior."
"I see, I see~ What about the other heroes?"
"A-rank Oyamada also seems to be steadily gaining power. I was worried at first, but Yasu is also growing. Even more than that is Sogou, though she gives the impression of not being able to fully commit to things... Well, there is also the impatience from her unique skill not manifesting. As for Hijiri and Itsuki, to be honest I do not really understand them either. From the outside, it seems Nyantan is also having a hard time with those sisters..."
"Those sisters are not exactly rebellious... but they cannot be called perfectly loyal to their mission either. Especially the older sister—I still do not fully understand what she is thinking in many ways... People's hearts are difficult..."
"Ah, and there is one hero I am a little concerned about in a different sense..."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"Asagi Ikusaba."
"Ikusaba-san."
Since arriving at this royal castle, the only hero Bainwolf had consciously avoided was Asagi Ikusaba.
"People like that... I am just not good with them."
◇[Kohaku Kashima]◇
First day after entering the Demon Zone.
Lush, overgrown trees.
Exposed black soil on the ground.
Probably trampled by monsters.
Numerous beast-like footprints could be seen on the ground.
Unnaturally broken branches and leaves.
Those were probably traces left by monsters as well.
Even the scents reaching her nose carried a faint animal odor.
Traces indicating monsters were left here and there.
On the first day, the heroes first fought monsters on the outer edge as a test of their skills.
The level-ups so far.
The training from powerful individuals summoned by the goddess from various countries.
After going through all that, the heroes had grown to the point where they could easily defeat the monsters on the outer edge.
(But—)
While advancing forward in the formation, Kohaku Kashima felt a certain kind of fear.
"Hey, over there!"
One member of the Asagi group spotted a monster.
"Guruoaaaah!"
The heroes in the same group all readied their weapons at once.
"It appeared! A golden-eyed one we've never seen!"
"I'll take it!"
"Asagi! Let me do it!"
Everyone's eyes had changed color.
The heroes' level-ups.
They could feel "growth" just by killing monsters.
Lately, some of the students seemed addicted to that "growth."
Kohaku found that atmosphere a little frightening.
Asagi Ikusaba, who had been at the rear of the line, stepped forward.
"Now now, next let's give the experience points to Kashima-chan. Everyone, we are comrades, right? Come on! It's charging! The front line, endure with your defense skills!"
Asagi, who had completely gotten used to giving orders.
The front line that received the orders grouped together.
Using shields and defense skills, they blocked the monster's attacks.
While defending, they inflicted wounds on the monster's body.
They gave damage without delivering a fatal blow.
By now, the members of the Asagi group were also accustomed to it.
"GuGo...!?"
The monster fell to its knees.
Its legs had been concentrated on, and its movement was sealed.
"There!"
Slash!
The monster's arms were severed.
This was already very different from right after being summoned.
It was no longer the same as when the three-eyed wolf had burned to death.
The girl who had cut off the monster's arms showed no hesitation.
Asagi clapped.
"Oh~, you have gotten good at leaving it barely breathing too! Asagi squad, excellent!"
Asagi hugged Kashima's shoulder and gently pushed her forward.
"Here, Poppo-chan. Let's have you take the delicious finishing blow."
"...U-um."
"Ah, right! You have to thank everyone! This is a victory through teamwork, after all~"
Kashima bowed her head hesitantly to the girls in the front line.
"Th-thank you..."
The girl whose eyes met hers looked away.
"Well, it is more because of Asagi's orders than for Kashima..."
Asagi placed a hand on her face.
"Come on, don't say unnecessary things like that! It sounds sarcastic! Unlike Kirihara's group, we value the bonds between comrades!"
Asagi laughed cheerfully.
"Well~, I understand why Atsuko would want to say that~"
"Right? You get it, right? Asagi is really good at empathy~"
"Of course~ Hey, come on Poppo-chan! Quickly, finish it!"
The atmosphere did not allow refusal.
The golden-eyed monster glared at Kashima while breathing roughly.
Blood and saliva mixed together dripped from its mouth.
Killing intent and hatred burned brightly in its golden pupils.
Kashima felt like she was going to vomit.
"Kashima-chan, it is bad if you get too far from the front line. It is also bad to keep everyone waiting—"
Asagi's tone of voice changed.
"Kill it quickly?"
Asagi urged her.
Kashima drew her sword and raised it.
For some reason, the words "I am sorry" flashed through her head.
"――――――――ッ"
Kashima closed her eyes and delivered the finishing blow.
▽
"You're late, Ikusaba~!"
The one who complained to the Asagi group that had caught up was Shougo Oyamada.
"Don't call me by my last name, I've been emphasizing that all the time~! Oyamada-kun is so mean~"
Asagi lightly brushed it off.
"Huh!? I know, you know? You guys are talking behind our backs, right?"
"Hoe~?"
Asagi played dumb.
"What, Oyamada-kun, that is just a little jealousy. After all, our group doesn't have any S-ranks or even A-ranks~ Of course you'd want to complain with some jealousy mixed in."
"Huh? Then, if that's the case, how about just you with the unique skill joining our group—"
"Shougo."
Kirihara stopped Oyamada.
"What is it, Takuto?"
"We don't need her."
"Huh?"
"Ikusaba."
Kirihara turned back toward Asagi while flipping his coat.
"I will call you when I need you... but otherwise, basically do not get involved with us. I've thought this since back in the previous world... You are not the type of person who can be trusted."
Asagi's face became expressionless.
An unreadable expression.
"It seems we feel almost the same way, and for some reason that makes me happy, Kirihara-kun."
"I will not let you submit to my command. It is obvious you will get in the way of the path I am walking..."
Asagi tilted her head just slightly.
"Same here."
The place froze.
The Kirihara group.
The Asagi group.
For a while now, an unsettling air had been drifting between the two groups.
So perhaps everyone had expected it to some extent.
That these two would eventually cause this kind of clash.
At that moment,
"――――n?"
The Four Holy Saints at the very front suddenly entered a combat stance.
It seemed Agito at the lead had sensed something.
"Huh? This one looks pretty troublesome. This feeling... it might be too much for the heroes. So, um... heroes, step back a little. Sword Tiger Corps, can you surround and protect the heroes?"
Next, Agito called to Nyantan in the middle row.
Kirihara flipped his coat again and turned forward once more.
"Step back? You say some foolish things... Hmph, ever since entering the Demon Zone, the monsters that appear have been nothing but small fry and it was getting tedious, but..."
While turning, Kirihara touched the hilt of his sword.
"Even so, those guys seem to be underestimating me too much... It is about time to correct their perception."