For the time being, I decided to return back to Seras and the others.

Seras recognizes my presence and runs over to me.

But

[Im glad that y]

In the middle of speaking, Seras stopped and rushed to me at greater speed.

[Are you hurt!?]

Slei also ran over to me.

Nyakis face turned pale.

[Dont worry. It isnt my blood.]

Saying that to Seras who was about to check my body from injuries, she pats her chest.

Regaining her composure, she then asked.

[The Heroic Sword, have you defeated them already?]

[There were only two of them who chased after Nyaki. The others dont seem to be following.]

Nyaki, who is standing at the edge of my vision, looked surprised.

[T- The other members of the Heroic Sword other than Ruin-san and Satsuki-san should be strong as well nya W- Who in the world are you nya?]

[Speaking of which, I guess we havent introduced ourselves with each other yet huh.]

Toad and Bardwitcher were approaching earlier, so we didnt have the time for that.

After the encounter with Nyaki, Im pretty sure neither Seras nor I said our names.

Is what I thought but

[Im sorry. In fact, Ive decided to reveal my identity while we wait for you.]

Looking as if shes ready to be scolded, Seras said.

[To gain her trust, I still think I thought that I should tell her the truth from the start Moreover]

Glancing at Nyaki, Seras shrunk down.

[Nyaki-dono is too pure, so it feels difficult to tell her false information My apologies.]

Even though she said that, it seems that she hardly gave her much information about my background.

I feel like she efficiently dealt with this.

[Well, it wont be much of a problem to divulge it to Nyaki. Moreover, well]

I also looked at Nyaki.

Nyaki-dono is too pure, so it feels difficult to tell her false information.

[To be honest, I can understand why you felt that way.]

And thus, I revealed my real name normally too.

[Is it okay if I call you Touka-san nya?]

[Call me what you want, Nyaki. And, this guy is]

I opened my collar a bit and peered into my robe.

[Introduce yourself.]

[Puyuuun.]

Pigimaru descends to the ground from inside the robe.

Nyakis eyes opened wide.

[Slime-san nya.]

[Hes called Pigimaru.]

[Pii?]

Pigimaru asked for confirmation.

Is this child our friend now?

-or it feels like hes acting that.

Nodding back at him, Pigimaru stretched out his protrusion to Nyaki.

[Puyuu.]

[Hes asking for a handshake. Just be gentle on your hold.]

Looking slightly dumbfounded, Nyaki reservedly gripped the protrusion.

[Im Nya- Nyaki nya.]

She still seems to be stiff but

It looks like Nyaki is starting to get less nervous.

Its going great.

[And, this ones Slei.]

[Pakkyyuuu~~]

[Funnyaaa!?]

Slei rubbed her cheeks against Nyakis.

Somehow.

It seems like shes cheering her up.

[My name is Nya- Nyaki nya.]

[Pakyuu.]

It was at that moment.

Nyaki moved.

Sitting on a seiza, Nyaki shrunk and bowed her head.

[For saving her life, Nyaki would like to thank you from the bottom of her heart nya Touka-san, Seras-san, Pigimaru-san and Slei-san Nyaki will never forget this gratitude nya. And also, Im really sorry for the inconvenience Nyaki caused nya. Im sorry nya!]

Nyaki looks up.

[Then everyone, please hurry up and leave this place nya! Nyaki will rest here for a while and then, head over there as I planned nya!]

Nyaki points towards the depths of the Demon Zone.

I see.

In Nyakis mind

It isnt as if she wants us to protect her here.

[Nyaki.]

[Y- Yes nya.]

[Youre still saying things like that?]

[Funya?]

[Unless you dont want to]

I held out my hand.

[How about you come with us instead?]

[F- Funyaaa!?]

[If you really dont like it, you could at least stay with us until we ensure your safety. Thats why I went out of my way to get everyone to introduce themselves earlier.]

For a while, Nyaki looked like she was stupefied.

It seemed that she hadnt caught up with the meaning of my words yet.

Eventually, it seems like she finally understood.

[T- Thats no good nya! If Nyaki goes with everyone, I will definitely just bring troubles nya! It seems that Nyaki, a Divine Beast, is absolutely necessary for Heroic Sword for the moment nya! Thats why They will definitely chase after me nya! Besides I dont know what would happen to Touka-san and everyone if they found out that their friends were killed]

Nyaki cried again.

However- She had a smile on her face.

[Even with the short time we talked, I know that Touka-san and everyone are good people nya Thats why I absolutely dont want everyone to go through something terrible nya Nyaki Even if Nyaki doesnt see Ninya, Mainya and everyone again I still meyt such kind people in the end So, Im really, really, really satisfied nya]

So for her, its either death from being caught by Heroic Sword.

Or death after a monster finds her huh.

Nyaki is already prepared to die.

[Everyone, thank you very much nya.]

Tears dripping from her eyes even with the smile on her lips, Nyaki said.

[Even for a short time Nyaki felt warm for the first time in a long time.]

I just let out a sigh.

[Nyaki It looks to me like youre misunderstanding something from back then.]

[Funya?]

[The two strongest people in the Heroic Sword are people who wanted to challenge the Humanitys Strongest is what you said earlier, right?]

[Y- Yes, nya.]

[The Humanitys Strongest is already dead though- and Im the one who defeated him.]

[Nyaaahhh!?]

[Its the truth, Nyaki-dono.]

Seras added.

[I was actually about to be killed by the Humanitys Strongest. Civit Gartland but thats when I was saved by Touka-dono.]

With tears still in her eyes, Nyaki looks towards me with a surprised lok on her face.

[T- Touka-san defeated that Humanitys Strongest!?]

[Well, yeah.]

It was through an honest fight, but by deceiving him though.

Well, the fact that I defeated him should still be the same.

[Thats why you didnt have to run away from them.]

Nyaki hung her head down.

It seemed like her mind was jumbled up with all sorts of emotions.

Well, I can imagine why.

At this point in time- Shes probably feeling pity for the Heroic Sword.

For she learned that Im apparently stronger than them.

Feelings of pity for the Heroic Sword surged at that moment when she knew that they would almost certainly be killed.

Perhaps, in Nyakis ideal view of life.

It would be better if no one had to die.

No matter what kind of person it is, the few deaths there are, the better.

Nyaki is probably thinking-

If things are like this, I should just keep running away.

like that.

Without the key, Nyaki, one wouldnt be able to enter the Faraway Country.

In that case, the Heroic Sword will not be able to kill the inhabitants of that country.

If we just keep as we are and Nyaki runs away No one else will die.

However, the Heroic Sword is Goddess Vysis secret force.

Theres no way that they wouldnt eventually stand in my way.

I will definitely clash with them somewhere In that case, its better to crush them now.

Even if they arent though.

Overlooking what they did to the Speed Tribe and Nyaki

Then I dont think I will ever be a proper adult.

[Sorry, Nyaki.]

Turning to the direction where Heroic Sword would be, I said.

[Im not the kind of person who would just let the Heroic Sword go unchecked. Im not as kind as you are.]

Nyaki raised her face.

[Touka-san]

A frail voice.

In fact, Nyaki is weak.

From what Ive heard from Nyaki, theres not a single person who saved her.

No one has been kind to Nyaki.

However, Nyaki is kind even to the people who caused her suffering.

To this Nyaki who is brimming with kindness- How heartless can they be to hurt her like that.

[However, I wish you would keep that kindness in your heart. Im sure there are people will be saved by your kindness.]

With a movement of my finger, I called for Pigimaru and he slipped into my robe.

This time, I would bring Slei with me.

[Seras, you will continue to be in charge of looking after Nyaki. There are seven more people on their side. They may consider splitting up and conducting an extensive search.]

[You mean that some of them may slip past through you?]

[Yeah. Its your sword that would protect Nyaki at that time then- The sword that was described by that Strongest Blood Champion as having talent, incomparable to others.]

[Leave it to me. Ill do my best to make sure that you can fight without worrying about anything else.]

[Im counting on you. Lets go, Slei.]

Following my words, Slei started to walk forward.

It seems like night is about to fall.

Thats what I could see from the color of the skies.

The darkness would be our time.

Heroic Sword.

If I were to go fight in an honest, straightforward battle, the other side might be superior.

Civit hadnt mentioned the Heroic Sword in the name of opponents he wanted to fight.

However, thats because information about them itself was hardly available.

At least, it wasnt known to the general public like Civit.

How many Im going to end up facing is also unknown.

However, what I know for sure is that

They are capable of making a Human-Faced decide to flee instead.

Just this point is an undeniable fact about them.

On the other hand, I probably cant deal with a Human-Faced in a straightforward manner.

They arent people that I should take lightly.

However even so.

Im not sure if Id be satisfied with just killing them.

[.]

Speed Tribe.

Eves parents.

Ive heard stories from Eve about the days she spent with them.

That they were good people.

Really good people.

Especially Eves parents.

The more she talked about them the more they sound like they resemble them.

Its just like how my uncles family is.

[And they were killed for fun?]

Not stopping from walking, I put the Fly King mask on.

Then, for all the fun they felt

[Dont think I would just let you die that easily.]

Even if its cruel.

Even if they say Im inhuman.

Towards these people

Theres no place for sympathy.