Hey, Makoto, is there a need to listen to the request for assistance from the Pope? (Lucy)

Thats right! It is the guy that tried to do something terrible to Fu-chan! Like in ero doujins! (Aya)

What are ero doujins? (Furiae)

Ah! I know! It is the ones that go Kuh! Kill me!. (Lucy)

Lu-chanwhere did you get that knowledge? By the way, the one who would fit the Kuh! Kill me! bill would be Saki-chan, I guess. (Aya)

I dont understand what you two are talking about at all. (Furiae)

Lucy, Sa-san, and Furiae-san were talking noisily.

Right now we are at a place a little further away from the capital of Highland, at the ghost town.

It is apparently a town that fell from a monster stampede several decades ago.

It was uninhabited for some time, but theres rumours that it is being used as a hideout for the Snake Church.

We came here in order to confirm the authenticity of those rumors.

The objective is to investigate the remnants of the Snake Church by the request of the Pope.

It cant be helped. Princess Sofia was troubled. (Makoto)

I answered the question of Lucy.

Rozes doesnt have many templars.

In this world, templars serve as policemen.

An existence that one cant be without in order to maintain public order.

Templars are affiliated with the Goddess Church, and Rozes is compensating for its lack of personnel with the knights that the Sun Country dispatches.

In other words, if the Pope were to say we will be withdrawing the templars from Rozes in order to prepare for the battle against the Great Demon Lord, it would be incredibly problematic.

Of course, it normally wouldnt end up that way, but they might use our refusal as an excuse to demand Furiae-san.

We decided to listen to them.

So, is the Snake Church here? (Furiae)

Furiae-san was looking around restlessly while grabbing the sleeve of Sa-san.

Thats normally my role as her Guardian Knight, but I decided to have her be close to Sa-san who is the safest to be with.

[Detection]. (Makoto)

I walk around the ghost town and search for the presence of enemies.

But theres no reaction at all.

My Detection has a radius of around 100 meters

But I have a party member that is better than me in searching for enemies.

Lucy, hows it? (Makoto)

Hmm, nothing. Dont hear anything. (Lucy)

The senses of Lucy have a wider range and higher accuracy than my Detection.

That even she doesnt hear anything must mean that

Fake information? (Makoto)

What do we do, Takatsuki-kun? Go back? (Aya)

Hmmm (Makoto)

If theres no one, we have nothing to do.

Or maybe they have just left temporarily.

Lets try persisting for a bit more.

Lets wait for a bit, and if they still dont show up, we leave. (Makoto)

Okay~. (Aya)

Hmph, even though we went through the trouble of coming all the way here. (Furiae)

Theres nothing bad in it being safe, Furi. (Lucy)

The tension lessened slightly, and we decided to stay on standby in the shadows.

Theres no reaction from Detection.

Lucy is on alert.

Dont think we will be caught by a surprise attack with this.

Around 30 minutes after arriving at the ghost town

A voice resonated in my head.

(ThisbadMako! Thatis)

Noah-sama?

Hm? Her voice sounds far away.

Noah-sama, whats the matter?

()

No response.

What was that?

At that moment

*Pang*

Someone landed on the ground making a light sound.

They must have come using flying magic.

I didnt notice their approach at all.

They approached us with fearsome silence and speed.

My hair stood on end.

The one standing in front of us is a man with white armor and the crest of the Goddess.

A templar.

And yetwhy didnt Detection react?

The one there is the Sun Hero Alexander that we met not that long ago.

Hey there, what a coincidence. (Alex)

The man said shamelessly.

His face was showing a slight grin.

Coincidence?

Who is going to believe that when we meet at a ghost town?

I silently take stance with my dagger.

Lucy held her staff up, and Sa-san stood in front of Furiae-san.

Furiae-san was glaring at the Sun Hero with suspicion.

The man in front of us said this with a wide grin on his face.

I will have you hand over the Moon Oracle there. (Alex)

I refuse. (Makoto)

I responded without hesitation.

That answer must have been what he expected, he didnt show much surprise.

No no, you have no right to refuse. (Alex)

The Sun Hero Alexander shrugged his shoulders.

Popes orders? (Makoto)

No, I am doing this on my own volition. It will be taken as the Pope not being involved in this. (Alex)

The Sun Hero speaks out even what he doesnt need to say with a carefree smile.

Looks like it was the trap of the Pope.

It was a mistake to have come.

Sa-san. (Makoto)

Yeah, I will protect Fu-chan! (Aya)

I decided to leave Furiae-san to Sa-san.

I call the Spirits and have Lucy prepare her mana in order to be able to use magic at any moment.

But the Sun Hero in front of us was just grinning and didnt do anything.

Oi oi, theres no point in resisting. It is for your sake to give her up before you get hurt. (Alex)

Looks like for him, Furiae-san getting kidnapped is already a settled thing.

He plans on proceeding even if it is by using forceful means.

HaahI dont really take pride in bullying the weak though Hm? (Alex)

The Sun Hero was about to say something, but he cut off his words in the middle, and looked up.

I do the same, and there was something falling at astounding speed.

Furiae!

Takatsuki-kun! Aya-chan!

The ones who showed up were Yokoyama-san and Sakurai-kun on a pegasus.

Sakurai-kun jumped off the pegasus and stood in front of us.

Thats a relief.

With Sakurai-kun here, theres nothing to worry about.

Princess Noel told me that the Pope was making plans to kidnap Furiae. (Sakurai)

Aah, even the Light Hero-kun is here, huh I was told that you shouldnt be hurt. (Alex)

Even when Sakurai-kun arrived, the Sun Hero wasnt erasing his carefree smile.

I glance at the sky, and I see that even though it is slightly cloudy, the sky is clear.

It is different from the time against the Demon Lord.

It is the Light Hero Sakurai-kun in perfect form.

And yet, why is he looking so carefree?

Move aside, Light Hero-kun. (Alex)

The Sun Hero demands arrogantly.

I refuse. (Sakurai)

Sakurai-kun unsheathes his sword and takes a stance.

Lucy, Yokoyama-san, and I prepare ourselves to assist him.

Compared to us, the Sun Hero was showing no signs of being worked up.

Haahwhat a pain. (Alex)

The Sun Hero sighed heavily.

The next instant

*Whoom!*

A squall blew.

A massive aura rages around the Sun Hero.

A warm light covers the area as if protecting us from that violent aura.

Sakurai-kun had his magic sword in hand and his body and blade were shining lightly.

It is a gentle light, but it is a massive aura that doesnt fall short to the Sun Heros one.

Sun Hero Alex, this is not the time for us to be fighting each other. Withdraw. (Sakurai)

Of course, I also have no intentions of fighting you. (Alex)

Then (Sakurai)

As long as I get that Moon Oracle there. (Alex)

I cant allow that. (Sakurai)

Negotiation failed then. (Alex)

That was no negotiation!

After his one-sided demand, the Sun Hero slowly walks over here.

Dont get any closer. (Sakurai)

Sakurai-kuns voice was firm.

Ryosuke (Furiae)

Furiae-san mutters uneasy.

The Light Hero should be the strongest.

It should be okayright?

The Sun Hero isnt stopping his steps and isnt erasing his smile.

With a grin still on his face, he continues approaching us.

I will hold back. Nothing personal. (Sakurai)

Sakurai-kun says this and hits the Sun Hero with the back of the sword.

The blunt side.

The Sun Hero grabbed the magic sword of Sakurai-kun with his hand.

No way! (Saki)

Yokoyama-san let out her voice in shock.

Oi oi, what were you trying to achieve with such a soft swing? (Alex)

He makes a fist with the hand thats not holding the sword.

A punch that was like a flash brushed close to the face of Sakurai-kun.

Kuh! (Sakurai)

Sakurai-kun takes distance.

Ooh, you managed to avoid that. Looks like the great me held back too much as well. Just give up the pointless struggle and hand over the Moon Oracle. (Alex)

The Sun Hero still had a bold smile.

Got it, I will be serious on the next one. (Sakurai)

Sakurai-kuns body and magic sword were showing the same light as the time when he defeated the Beast King.

Sakurai-kun blurred out.

Light Sword: [Flash]. (Sakurai)

I heard that voice.

A small explosion and flash.

After that, a violent wind raged, and dust flew.

I saw something flying away.

It seemed like a person.

Eh?

I heard someone mutter that in blank disbelief.

The one who was sent flying away was Sakurai-kun who was now knocked out.