Chapter 9

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

The rough breaths swirled in the depths of my ears.

The fine hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

The cross-section of the beast, whose upper half had been sliced off, drew lines like tree rings, then relaxed its shape, and its limbs collapsed.

Red-black blood seeped into the soil with a gurgling sound.

"Rai-kun, can you stand?"

"K-Kazuhana-chan..."

"Can you stand? It's okay. Stand up!"

"---Yes!"

The mass of flesh didn't move, but the other two were still thrashing.

Zaza-san, who had started to approach us, confirmed our safety and returned to give orders and provide support.

Seto-san was still kneeling a little distance away.

I could sense Rai-kun standing up behind me.

"Hey, help Seto-san. Can you lend him a shoulder? Can you do it?"

"But..."

"It's okay. You can. Please, take him to the shade of that carriage."

"...I understand."

With a slight stumble, Rai-kun ran over to Seto-san.

Good, he's a bit away now.

Should I go to Kousuke-san or Shouta-kun?

Or should I prepare here for another one to break through, as before?

If I have a way to fight, if I have a way, then I do.

I've decided how to protect.

If I have to turn my back, I'll turn it towards what's important.

Even as I thought this, I couldn't immediately decide what to do, and the situation suddenly shifted.

"The tail fell! Finish it off! ---But not before it falls!"

The beast, whose tail had been cut off by the knight behind it, raised its front legs high, but several of Kousuke-san's arrows pierced its open belly up to its jaw.

The other tail hadn't fallen yet. Shouta-kun's iron ball had embedded itself in the beast's head.

A purple light converged on the beast's tail, which was being crushed by the ground and the iron ball.

"Get down!! The purple lightning is coming!"

The light that carried Saitsu-san filled my vision.

It was just a reflex, I think.

I wasn't particularly confident in my reflexes, but my right arm swung up as if swatting a grasshopper that had flown into the window.

*Pong*

The hammer, enveloped in distorted air, changed its trajectory to the sky, leaving a trail of light.

---

Almost simultaneously, a shock hit my left side, knocking me down. It took a few seconds to realize that Zaza-san had scooped me up.

For those few seconds, I looked at the sky and the hammer three times each. Zaza-san probably looked five times. Probably everyone else did too.

The two magic beasts near Kousuke-san and Shouta-kun were no longer moving.

The rock wall had already disappeared, and the forest rustled in the wind as if nothing had happened.

"Kazuhana-san... What did you do?"

"---I don't know?"

The hammer, still clutched in my hand, had its head embedded in the ground, asserting its weight, which hadn't changed since it first appeared.

Zaza-san stroked my forehead with his left hand, checked my body, and nodded.

"Check the situation! Evacuate once the first aid is done!"

Zaza-san's voice, standing up quickly, made the time that had almost stopped flow again.

Some ran to those who couldn't move, others whistled to call back the horses that had fled, some checked the condition of the carriages and wagons, and others brought out blankets and stretchers from the wagons.

Someone carefully wrapped Saitsu-san in a blanket.

I didn't know if it was over. The magic beasts were indeed all dead, but the reality hadn't sunk in, and I hadn't even felt that I had just been in a life-or-death situation.

But it didn't feel like it was over. The back of my neck was still tingling.

"Don't be so hasty, I'm not going to attack anymore."

Despite the commotion, the leisurely voice reached everyone's ears.

"I just came to see the new heroes of this era, ah, don't mind, continue, continue."

How long had he been standing there?

I had definitely checked the surroundings.

I wasn't the only one; no one could have missed such a figure standing in the middle of our formation.

Greenish-white skin, lustrous light brown hair that reached the middle of his back, golden eyes like a cat at night.

His twisted horns were adorned with several small gems, and he had two pairs of bat wings on his back.

There was no way I could have missed him.

Yet, he had a face that said, "What, I've been here all along?"

In the city and the town I saw from the carriage when leaving the capital, there were beastmen, elves, dwarves, and all sorts of people.

Differences in appearance were not a danger signal in this world.

Indeed, the carefree smile and voice contained no malice or intent to kill.

But the caution scratched at my heart.

The knights, who had scattered and braced themselves again, confirmed my caution.

"---Why is a demon here?"

"Didn't I say? I came to see what the newly summoned heroes are like."

To Zaza-san's low growl, the man laughed, showing his empty hands.

"No, no, but it hasn't even been a month since you were summoned, right? I didn't think you could kill three of them. ---Ah, I didn't mean to kill this one either. Just a little test, you know? I planned to let you play a bit and then withdraw. But there was a bit of a mix-up. Well, considering it's wartime, let's be lenient---whoa, calm down."

Before Zaza-san could step forward, the ground under his toes exploded.

---A bit of a mix-up?

"You should understand, right? I'm not just any 'demon.' I'm different from the ones you tangle with at the border. I'm of a different caliber. I'm telling you I won't attack. It's better to put away your reckless bravery. Ah, you too, hero-kun over there."

A hard, light sound rang out, and Kousuke-san pressed his left arm, which was equipped with a gauntlet.

It wasn't clear if he was being hit or not; the demon made no discernible movements.

"Hmm, I heard there were five, but only four are participating this time? There's a pretty small one. Has this country finally changed---no, ah, ahahaha!"

The demon man looked at me and Rai-kun, then suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ahaha, what's this, did you switch places or something? This is a masterpiece! This country really hasn't changed! Fwahahaha!"

---

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