「Yotto」

『GUAAAAaaaa!!』

「Acho–!」

『GYAGYA!!!』

After exiting 《Furthest Town》through the north gate, we ‘easily’ began climbing the mountain.
It’ll take at least 2 days to reach the 《Demon Lord’s Castle.》
And the rugged road still continues.

「Hoi-tto. Ah, oh yeah, Tao?」

『GYAN!!!』

「DEYA!! What is it!? WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF A FIGHT!!」

『GEEEEeee!!!』

You don’t have to yell…

「What’s on the menu for dinner tonight?」

「KU…….!! Acho—!! Y-you wanna talk about dinner even when in this kind of situation……!! Doryaa!!」

『GUHAAAaaa!!!』 『GYAGYAGYAN!!!』

Ooh, a combo attack-.
Amazing-.

「You see, when I last climbed this mountain I forgot to bring my bento.」

『GUHAAAAAaaa!!』

「…… Choose, are you two planning to talk or fight? 」

Hidden within my shadow was Ruru, who peeped her head out to question us.

「You should say that to that female knight over there!」

『GYAN!!』 『GUEEeee!!!』 『GYAGYAN!!!』 『GUOOoooo!!!』

「…… How can you say that even while defeating four fiendish monsters in the vicinity of the Demon Lord’s castle……」(Ruru)

「DAAAA! Mou! IT’S BECAUSE KAZUHA ISN’T FIGHTING SERIOUSLY THAT MY MOOD IS LIKE THIS!!」

Don’t blame me-.

「AA~MOU! I call upon thy blade, Vacuum! 《Wing Blizzard》!!」

Ooh!
A thin blade suddenly went flying and tumbling through the air as if caught in a snow storm-!
Uwaa, it looks painful……

「I am a 『former』 thief! But now, I am proud to be a chef!!」

Thus, we defeated the remaining monsters and steadily progressed towards the Demon Lord’s castle.

「If we continue at this pace, then we might reach the Castle in about a day and a half-」

Tao was more powerful than I’d thought.
Even though we have to protect Ruru, we’ll probably reach the castle faster than expected.

「A…… No…… HAA…….HAA……. Wait…… Can’t we take a break?」 (Tao)

「…… My feet are also tired…….」(Ruru)

The little girl and China Girl are both catching their breath while hanging onto my shoulders.
Is it really that rugged? This mountain?

「Ka-kazuha you……haa……haa……. Just where …… In the world are you getting…… your stamina…… from……?」

「……It’s weird. Even though you are not the hero, you posses a 《power》 stronger than the hero……」

Huh? Have I been caught cheating(reincarnating)?
This is bad-.
I might face extortion again like that time with Alzein…….

「It’s the power of an idiot.」

「…… You’re always spouting nonsense, as always.」(Tao)

「…… One day, you’ll be eaten by a monster for good…..」(Ruru)

Both of them are looking at me like I’m a dog waste.
THAT HURTS YOU KNOW!

「For the mean time, let’s take a break since we can already see the bridge that connects the territory of the humans to that of the demons.」

「How do you know such things? Kazuha?」(Tao)

Uh……
Once again, I’ve made another careless mistake……

「It’s as if you have experience being the hero… Are you perhaps…」(Tao)

*Giku/Startle*

C-can you please not throw a pitch with speeds exceeding 169km/h, Tao-san…..

「Such a thing is impossible. Take it from me, the 《spirit》messenger of G.o.d, such a thing is definitely impossible.」

「Right~. It’s the messenger of G.o.d, Ruru-chan, we’re……talking…….?……. Eh?」

「Hmm? Is something the matter?」

Ara~ara.
Tao still doesn’t know, huh? Ruru’s 『real form.』

「Spirit?」

「Yes.」

「Ruru-chan?」

「Yes.」

「Uhh, so …….? Wait a minute. ……… Nn?」

It’s useless. There are hundreds of ???????? popping out of Tao’s head.

「She tried to seal me in a hole. It was someplace near the south gate of 《Furthest Town.》 Amazing right?」

「I’ll bite you? Kazuha?」(Ruru)

「Past the South gate is…… Uh, are you perhaps…… Talking about the 《Spirit Prairie》?」

「Yeah.」

「…… The 《Spirit》 that is considered the protector of 《Furthest town》 and has been worshiped by its people since long ago?」

「Yeah. She’s currently in my 《bind》.」

I pointed at Ruru’s physical restraints.

「….She is that kind of a human…」

Haa, sighed Ruru while saying that.

「Ah…………Ah………..」

Ah?

「YOU IDIOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT!!!!!!!!!」(Tao)

「Ah……. It’s useless……. Because I’m with you I’ll be crucified too…」(Tao)

「SORRY.」

「I can’t feel your sincerity!!!」

………. SORRY.

The one who has inhabited 《the Spirit prairie》since ancient times, the deity protecting 《Furthest town》 and overseer of the boundary between the Demon’s stronghold and human territory. That is who this《Spirit》 is.

In short, Ruru, the person right here…

The one that I cast 《bind》on and thoroughly restrained.
Tortoise Sh.e.l.l binding at that. ………… Or not.

「How can you stay calm in this d.a.m.ned situatioooooonnnn!!!!!!」(Tao)

「My bad.」(Kazuha)

「…… It’s fine, Tao-san. For you will not understand any explanations this person comes up with anyway.」(Ruru)

If you say it like that, as if I’m the husband in a middle aged couple, then it’s plainly meant to be hurtful!

「Aaah……! What kind of hoodlum am I traveling with…!」

Eh?
Hoodlum?
Ain’t that too mean?

Seriously?

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