The old Elven Village.
That place was attacked by the Demon King’s Ogre troops, and in the end, Hakuki showed up, and we had no choice but to flee.
As a result, the elves have migrated to this new land and settled there.
It’s been more than ten years since then……
“In that place, General Hakuki… no… Hakuki……”
Larou’iph muttered solemnly.
Yes, Larou’iph also encountered him there, on that day, in the past.
That is……
“Yes. That’s the place where Aonii saved us.”
“…Earth Lagann… ah… that’s right. That’s actually right…”I remembered that blue ogre who risked his life to shield us.
It felt like a strange coincidence that Hakuki was still in that place where so much had happened in the past.
Come to think of it, when I first faced Hakuki, I was already battered, and then Aonii knocked me out, so I couldn’t do anything.
But now……
“It’s not just about Aonii…… well…… even though I’m a runaway from the Empire, I was taken care of a long time ago by that man…… my childhood friend’s father…… I know they have him, so I can’t just say it’s none of my business…….”
I’m going to rescue my childhood friend’s father, who was now a captive of Hakuki, the wanted fugitive.
With this, all the messy internal politics of Japone no longer mattered.
Then, as if sensing my resolve, Espie and Slayer stood on either side of me, grabbed my arms tightly as they pressed close.
“Besides, I’m not the same helpless girl from over a decade ago!”
“Yeah. And I’ve got my own score to settle with that monster… Count me in, Brother!”
Before I could even say “I’m going,” the other two clung to me and declared, “We’re coming too”.
Their faces no longer resembled those of the timid children from back then. Now, they burned with battle-hungry grins and trembled with barely restrained excitement.
Even though we would inevitably face those monsters and demons head-on, these two already looked eager for the fight.
“W, wait, hold on! If our opponents are Hakuki and the remnants of the Demon King Army, then this is a matter for the Allied Forces and the Seven Heroes…… well, Espie-dono is one of the Seven Heroes, but…… wouldn’t charging in without a plan be tantamount to suicide?”
But, Mr. Outei calmly interjected with a rational comment, unlike the enthusiastic duo.
Besides……
『Indeed…… Hakuki…… even by his standards over a decade ago…… for only three—the child, Espie, and Slayer—to face him… Hmm……』
Even Tre’ainar, who knew Hakuki’s power better than anyone, reacted with hesitation.
No matter how accustomed I’ve gotten to facing the Six Supremacy, Hakuki was still in a league of his own.
But……
“No, master…… isn’t it the other way around? In fact, I think of this as an opportunity.”
Surprisingly, it was Koujiro who agreed with what we were trying to do.
“Hakuki, who has strengthened his forces through the behind-the-scenes maneuvers of Shitnei, has created a tax force to forcibly collect taxes from the people…… While this has caused even stronger backlash from the anti-royalists and the people, the fact that the opponents are the powerful Ogres allows them to suppress the resistance by force. However…… If we eliminate Hakuki, the one who leads the Ogres…….”
Even if some of the people could no longer tolerate the king’s actions, the Ogres and the betrayed warriors, who have also been brainwashed, could suppress them by force.
But, what if we could defeat Hakuki, the mastermind behind it all…?
“At the very least, rather than fighting head-on against the remaining warriors of the Kingdom of Japone, the tax forces, and the royalists, if we can just defeat Hakuki alone… this country might still have a chance.”
“Koujiro ……”
“However, a half-hearted force will only lead to greater casualties…… therefore, we should use a select small, elite unit to face Hakuki…”
Saying this, Koujiro turned toward us with his sword in hand……
“Onii-san, Espie-jou. Slayer-shi. I want to go with you as well.”
“Koujiro!?”
No way, Koujiro himself offered to help.
“Master, I’m sorry, but this time I must step away. Kagerou-anego … and everyone under her guidance, please protect the master in my place.”
“Koujiro-han……”
“Besides…… it seems that my comrades are being held captive, so I really have no choice but to go.”
That’s reassuring, and more than I could have asked for.
In addition……
“Chieftain…… for now I would like to step away from my role as the guardian and educator of this settlement…… and just for a little while, let me return to the person I was when I was known as the Ebony Witch.”
“Eh? Larou’iph……?”
“Earth Lagan! Please, allow me to join you!”
Even Larou’iph volunteered herself.
No, but if you think about it rationally, it wasn’t surprising.
Although Larou’iph was the only one in the village with a different skin color, she was now loved and admired by everyone and seemed happy, but I’m sure she still couldn’t help but get involved in this one incident.
So she’ll go too……
“Yeah. We should build a grave for Aonii after all… shall we go, Larou’iph?”
“Yes, let’s go, Lal! Even though you haven’t had any major battles in the past decade or so, it’s time to show the fruits of all the training you’ve put in to make Mr. Aka happy one day!”
“Lal’s magic has always been a blessing for us.”
“Oh…… Certainly, the aura of magical power overflowing from your body is beyond ordinary! Well then, go for it ♪?”
I nodded, along with Espie, Slayer, and Koujiro.
In that case, the starting lineup will be five people… no……
“Honey.”
At that moment, Shinobu looked at me with a straight gaze, as if she had already prepared herself for anything……
“Even if you think it’s annoying…… I won’t become a woman who just waits around…… what I want isn’t to await your return, but to run alongside you… on the battlefield… and in life…….”
“Shinobu ……”
“My only concern is that I might become a hindrance… but… in order to avoid that, I have also been honing my skills under a new master since the incident in the Heavenly World…… so that this time…… I can become your strength. Well, it’s also for the sake of my home in the first place…… Anyway!”
Her resolve was something I understood deeply. Even Espie, Slayer, Koujiro—and her parents, Mr. Outei and Mrs. Kagerou—didn’t try to stop her.
“I’ll just tag along on my own ♪.”
“Ha, hahaha……”
She was so straightforward and smiled so brightly that I couldn’t refuse.
“Mmfufufufu~, that’s fine, that’s fine, Shinobu dear!”
“I know it’s dangerous…… so I won’t say anything naïve. I respect your determination. The desire to follow Brother no matter what…… Espie and I understand it from the bottom of our hearts, so much so that it makes us want to cry.”
“Oh dear… I’m supposed to be the one to stop you, but you’re so straightforward that I can’t say anything…”
“Shinobu…… this part of you… is really similar to Kagerou…”
“Fufu, it’s good to see that Shinobu is growing as well, except that her still membrane is still intact.”
“…Marvellous… such a gallant visage… truly, I envy you, Lady Shinobu. One such as I would never possess the courage to act so boldly… you are strong, and fair of face, and heart ever steadfast … surely, Sir Earth himself would favor a maiden such as you…”
Espie and Slayer happily welcome Shinobu. Meanwhile, Mrs. Koujiro, Mr. Outei, and the others smiled wryly in exasperation, but they didn’t seem opposed.
At first, it was supposed to be a small elite unit, but before we knew it……
“Alright, so the members will be… this group.”
Me.
Espie.
Slayer.
Koujiro.
Larou’iph.
Shinobu.
And……
“Konkon ♥”
“……………”
…One clingy fox who’d been latched onto me this whole time, refusing to let go.
『Fuu… I am quite conflicted about this, and not particularly eager, but… perhaps this too is fate… Hakuki… after hundreds of years? Has it been so long since then… never would I have thought to face you again in this manner…』
The master by the side.
With this lineup, we were about to face a major battle.
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