One Sunny Afternoon

The wagon swayed.

Pulled by Hellhounds along the road, the wagon continued to sway.

"Clatter clatter～"

"Rattle rattle～"

Maal and Irina were singing as they leaned out from the wagon bed.

For Irina, everything in the outside world was something she was seeing for the first time. Everything was new and fascinating to her.

Maal was the one explaining things to her.

If Ria was her big onee-chan, then Maal was her little onee-chan.

For a dragon like Irina, the difference between humans and beastkin was trivial. Maal, who played with her so kindly, was simply her onee-chan.

Inside the wagon, Serge was flipping through his grimoire, working to master his Skills.

Gig was training his grip strength with a hand gripper that Ria had made for him.

Ria, Carlos, and Lulu were each swaying on the backs of their respective horses and donkey.

While everyone was spending their time productively, there was a single red-haired girl sitting alone in the corner of the wagon, shrouded in a gloomy aura.

"How did it come to this…"

It was Shizuna.

She had muttered this who knows how many times now. Seeing her dark mood, Serge almost started humming "Dona Dona."

Yes, she had been sold by her own father.

Returning from the Dark Labyrinth, Vargas had become a hero.

He was already a well-known warrior from a famous party in the city, but now he had conquered the Dark Labyrinth and brought back an orichalcum greatsword that could only be called a sacred treasure.

Unlike the other members, Vargas had received an easy-to-understand wish fulfillment.

After that, he found himself at the center of the same kind of commotion that Ria had experienced in Labyrinth City.

Starting with the mayor he had already known, he began making connections with the city's nobility and other prominent figures.

During all this, Ria returned late and discussed coordinating the surrounding settlements in preparation for the Millennium.

She thought they had managed to have a productive discussion. After all, when the Millennium arrived, Jaeburg would inevitably become humanity's front line.

Amidst these difficult discussions, Ria was also dealing with an even more challenging problem.

The most urgent priority had been appeasing Matsukaze.

Matsukaze had been left alone for more than half a month. Of course, others had taken him for walks and such, but that was beside the point.

Horses have their pride.

She spent an entire day running with him through nearby grasslands, washing his body, and brushing him.

Then came the information exchange with Serge.

Despite the growing suspicion that the Demon King-sama might actually be a decent person, their countermeasures against Cordova remained unchanged.

They would probably meet that alluring dark elf again eventually.

Their basic policy hadn't changed.

Having decided to return to Labyrinth City to gather more information, and with their departure date from Jaeburg set, one day—

Vargas showed up at the inn where Ria's party was staying.

In his hands was Shizuna, held by the scruff of her neck like a cat.

"Take this one with you."

Vargas said.

Vargas had mentioned before that while he would stay, he wanted his family taken somewhere safe.

He had now ordered Shizuna to find them a safe place to live in Casalia.

"Why does it have to be me…"

"I can't exactly go myself, can I?"

Considering safety during the journey, they needed someone with at least Shizuna's level of skill.

Above all, Shizuna was liked by Ria.

Just as a noble hoping for his family's advancement might present his beautiful daughter to someone in power—

Vargas had presented his daughter to someone in power.

"I never thought my father was that kind of person!"

"Don't say that. Ria is a woman, after all. It's not like I'm selling you to some lecherous noble."

Though Shizuna wore an expression of despair, after being thoroughly lectured about her mother and younger brothers' futures, she agreed to accompany Ria's party.

On top of that, she was also carrying the responsibility for the safety of the other Thunder Fangs members' families. There was no escaping this.

"First of all, aren't you happy that such a beauty is pursuing you?"

"I'm not happy! She's a woman!"

"From where I'm standing, you two look pretty close though."

Watching Vargas tilt his head with a puzzled expression, Serge thought to himself:

This old man has the makings of a yuri enthusiast.

At any rate, Shizuna had joined as a traveling companion.

The group was first heading to Labyrinth City. It was an important hub for logistics and should have plenty of information.

From there, they planned to head to the Ogre Village and visit the surrounding settlements.

… And there, they would part ways with Maal.

That had been the agreement.

Ria had bought Maal to explore labyrinths. In that sense, with Shar having served as scout in the Dark Labyrinth, Maal's role could be said to have ended.

Even so, they had explored the labyrinth together—more than just for her combat ability, Ria had simply needed her.

Beneath the traveling sky, swaying gently on Matsukaze's soft back, Ria felt a bit melancholic.

As if sensing his master's mood, Matsukaze occasionally glanced back.

"It's alright. I can't let my selfishness take away Maal's happiness."

She stroked Matsukaze's neck. Yes, farewells are simply part of life.

"You'll stay with me for a while longer. Someday I'll find lots of cute brides for you."

Matsukaze's foals. They would surely be clever and strong. And then she would ride on their backs and travel again.

Ria found herself feeling uncharacteristically sentimental.

Shortly after sunset.

In the mountains east of the Dark Labyrinth, near the border of the permafrost, a single group had gathered.

They were mostly cat beastkin, but there were various races represented. The agile races found in this region were all assembled.

Standing at their head with arms crossed was a single beautiful girl.

"I've brought them."

"Ah, thank you."

Facing the girl was a silver-haired dark elf.

No, here she had changed her skin color to white.

It was a precaution in case she was spotted by humans, but as a result, the beastkin hadn't been able to recognize this dark elf as Rei at first—a funny story in hindsight.

"So, what's the plan?"

"I'll handle the rest. Thank you."

"What are you talking about? Include me in this."

The girl spoke as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Rei couldn't help but widen her eyes.

They were childhood friends. Sharing the same godparent, they had grown up like sisters. But now their positions and affiliations were different.

"His Majesty told me to help you."

In reality, she had probably begged to come here.

"Besides, it would be hard to direct all these people by yourself, wouldn't it?"

"That's certainly true. I appreciate it."

The girl before Rei. Her age, of course, didn't match her appearance.

Perhaps a race even closer to true immortality than dark elves.

A vampire.

Flaxen hair and blue eyes. Sharp fangs peeked from her pink lips. Her pale skin exuded an alluring air.

"So, who do I kill?"

"Hold on now."

This vampire princess was a battle maniac despite her appearance.

"We're guiding the humans from the shadows. You're a creature of darkness, aren't you?"

She should be skilled at infiltration operations, but her specialty was fundamentally destructive activities.

"So I just need to charm them. Well, with my charm? Most men fall head over heels, you know?"

"His Majesty isn't affected by it though."

"Shut up!"

Being played with in Rei's palm like this, there seemed to be quite a gap in their mental ages.

Her subordinates behind her were nodding in silent agreement.

"Besides, the one we need to be most careful of is a woman."

"Oh, is that so? Good. I didn't want to suck some filthy man's blood anyway."

"If you have the leisure to suck blood, that is. Now then, let me tell you about the detailed plan."

The vampire moved behind Rei, looking at her back.

She tried to sink her fangs into her neck.

"Hey, Asuka."

She was easily pushed away by hand.

"Sorry, sorry, just kidding."

The vampire waved her hands with a smile, but Rei knew she had been at least half serious.

"Really, stop that. I want to stay good friends with you."

"How rude. The only one I like is His Majesty."

Rei smiled wryly at her words. It certainly wasn't a lie. Aside from the Demon King who was both her lord and godparent, she had never shown interest in any other man.

The Demon General with the nickname "Shiver," Asuka Augustoria.

She preferred women, though she was bisexual.