It takes about three days to reach Hornest.

The relations.h.i.+ps with the neighboring country were good, so there is no strict examination to enter the country, but of course, there is a check.

Since we have Emma from a baron's house, it will be easy. n.o.ble's have high credibility after all.

Pa.s.sing such procedures without a ha.s.sle was one of the reasons why brother asked in the letter to bring Emma along.

Two more days and we will enter the foreign kingdom. And after pa.s.sing through one city we will head for Hornest.

Half a day have pa.s.sed since leaving the city, probably due to everyday fatigue, everyone fell asleep inside the carriage.

It already evening, so if you sleep now you won't be able to sleep at night.

But it's fine.

Because today we are camping and will stand on lookout in turns. Carriage stops and the door opens. It's the coachman, Perido-san. My father's friend, a refined middle-aged man.

「Noir-kun, today, I want to camp here, is that fine?」

「Yes, we have no problem with that.」

After replying I go outside.

It was a fairly green plain with good visibility of surroundings. No animals were in sight.

「Is this area safe?」

「It's famous for lions appearing around here.」

Seeing how I was startled, Perido smiles gently. Well, sorry for being a coward.

「There are other places as well, but this is on the better side. You catch my point?」

「In other places, monsters appear.」

Perido-san nods.

Beasts, by all means, shouldn't be underestimated, but in most cases, they are better than monsters. We decide to stay here tonight.

After taking dinner together, everyone takes turns guarding, two people at a time. Including me, several people have【Night Eye】, those who don't form pairs with them.

My turn is third, together with Laursan, so for now, I lie down. Then, I notice the trembling hand of Laursan who was lying next to me.

「To think a lion might appear, I'm scared…」

「It will be fine. If we work together, we certainly will not lose.」

「I will feel safer if you hold my hand…」

Feeling sympathy for her I hold her hand, then Emma comes in, pouting her lips.

「No matter how you think, isn't she just pretending? Noir, don't tell me that you seriously believed that she is scared.」

「But…」

「No buts.」

「I'm really scared. Off you go, it's your turn so hurry up and get to lookout.」

「Suit yourself. I'll be silent even if a lion comes.」

Is this the birth of Dark Emma? Ruffling her hair she returns to the post. Laursan tightly grasps my hand.

「At that time, let's die together!」

Said she very happily. Laursan is pretty tough, mentally.

While being a little uneasy, since I didn't want to die, I shut my eyes. Though I felt uncomfortable, I went asleep right away.

「…Funya?」

When I woke from having my head lightly tapped, Laur san was making gesture『quietly』. I strain my eyes in complete darkness.

Near me, everyone was a.s.sembled, including those on the lookout.

「…Are we under attack?」

「Yes, looks like we were surrounded by beasts.」

I get up and pull out my sword. Emma speaks.

「We killed two female lions that came close. But they seem to have a lot of friends.」

We are in the state of being surrounded by fourteen female lions. Males… Can't spot any. Laursan is the only person among us who cannot fight. Perido-san, in fact, has level 80.

「Laursan, in case something were to happen, please swing this around.」

I handed to her Hatchet of Divine Punishment. A lion is a terrifying beast but we have plenty of chances to win.

「I, Emma and Lunsan, let's the three of us shoot magic from here. Laylsan and Perido-san, please defend.」

「Umu, understood.」

「Fine with me.」

Those three have【Night Eye】so they can properly see the enemy.

Without holding back they repeatedly attack, Emma with【Wind Strike】and Lunsan with a magic gun. I use knives as throwing weapons. My【Throwing B】does a good job, and knives keep hitting lionesses in the eyeb.a.l.l.s.

Female lions unexpectedly easily withdrew and the battle ended.

Perido-san happily touches my shoulder.

「You are quite strong. In the old days, your father was strong as well, but you will exceed him soon enough.」

Actually, I already did! But let's not say that. As a son, I will protect father's reputation.

Perido-san was delighted, but soon his expression changes completely and becomes grim.

「But it's strange. There were too many female lions. Usually, it's five or six at most.」

As Perido-san was saying that he has a bad premonition, his premonitions prove to be spot on. The female lionesses came back with an outrageous boss.

The lion that sluggishly came along, was one size larger than your average lion. Seeing his split tail, Perido-san says.

「That is a metal lion. He probably came to these lands as a result of wandering in a search for a female.」

「How is he different compared to a normal lion?」

「d.a.m.n, they coming?!」

The conversation abruptly ends. The metal lion suddenly raised his speed and plunged at us. Laylsan and I come forward.

「Haaaa!」

「Eat this!」

Laylsan's fist and my sword went into the body of the metal lion. We won! But such belief crumbles in a moment.

Because her gloves and my sword both were easily repelled. It seems that his flesh has changed to metal.

I see, I don't have time for the appraisal, but he must have some skill that allows metallification.

「Please be careful!」

I shout. Metal lion attacks the other four without stopping. With the exception of Laursan, three people step forward and try to take down the enemy.

…But he outsmarts them.

With the body weighing over several hundred kilograms, he easily jumps over the heads of the three.

At his landing destination was Laursan. d.a.m.n, so he had his target set from the very beginning?!

「…Eh, me…?」

「Gyaaaaaa!」

He swipes at full power with his ma.s.sive front leg. Metal Lion doesn't hold back. Leg crosses Laursan…

De-Dead…? Everyone present there were stunned. At an amazing speed, memories of the time spent with her fly through my head.

The first time we met in the guild, that she tried to test me at first. How we became friendly later, how she turned to often show me her smile.

「Laura, sa…n…」

「Taaaaaaaaah!」

Something moved fast in the darkness along with a valiant cry.

「Gumoh?!」

The Metal Lion staggers seemingly in pain. While spitting blood from its face! And the one who did that to him was Laursan. She dodged an instant death attack by ducking and now followed it by counterattacking with the hatchet.

「Someone, someone please help.」

While asking for help she keeps moving. After another mighty swing with the hatchet, the metal lion completely sinks to the ground.

You have to be kidding?

The metallification should have been still in effect. Which means, that she unleashed destructive power that overwhelmed defensive capabilities of metallification.

「Huh? I, won?」

Laursan looks confused. Well, and so do we. Losing the lion, lionesses probably felt a danger to their life, and thus decided to retreat.

Laursan runs up to me and jumps into my arms.

「I was so scared.」

「Ehm, just now, that was…」

「I was saved by the weapon that Noir-san gave to me. That is a very strong weapon.」

…Strange.

Hatchet of Divine Punishment had only【Strong Edge】and【Wolf Slayer A】. A lion is not a wolf. Then was it the former skill that was so powerful? No.

Because my double-edged sword had it as well.

And it was repelled.

「Laursan, I will appraise you, okay?」

As a result, a shocking fact was revealed.

Name: Laura Metrose

Age: 16

Race: Human

Level: 15

Occupation: Guild receptionist

Skills: Memory, Speed Reading, Monstrous Strength S.

Eh?!

Isn't there some kind of outrageous skill mixed in?