Present time, Seiryuu City, DesuMachi Planet…
"Boooo!!!!!!"
The loud jeering from the audience snapped Hachiman out of his thoughts. He blinked and look around before turning back on the stage. It seemed the play had already reached its climax.
"...Yes, I will rot away on this earth! However, I will take this land—your marquisate—down with me! I curse you, Marquis Muno!"
Black smoke billowed from where the fallen hero lay. When it cleared, the painted backdrop had switched to reveal what looked like a desolate wasteland.
"Holy Knight! I cannot bear to see my people suffer because of my own deeds. Please save them!"
"Oh, how noble! Just as expected from the head of the Muno family, a house that has stood since the era of the ancestral king Yamato!"
The marquis's demeanor changed abruptly, and the Holy Knight began praising him without restraint.
In the end, the marquis sacrificed himself to lift the curse from his land, giving up his life for his people. With that dramatic conclusion, the play came to an end.
'Okay… I definitely missed something important,' Hachiman thought dryly. He hadn't followed the second half of the story at all.
When the performance finished, the children, who had been watching with twinkling eyes, immediately complained of thirst. Hachiman handed out fruit juice and led them to rest under a nearby tree.
"Would you like some, too?"
"Thank you."
He turned to the rest of his companions and offered them the same drink. Mei, Ruan Mei, Patricia, Zena, Auna, Lilio, and Ruu each accepted a bisque mug. They raised it to their lips and drank deeply. It seemed they had been thirstier than they let on.
After making sure everyone was settled, Hachiman felt his own stomach protest.
"I'll grab something to eat," he said casually.
Yukel and Liza followed him as he approached a nearby cart selling flatbread.
What drew him in was the rich scent of soy sauce sizzling over the heat. The vendor called it gabo flatbread, made from a local crop known as gabo fruit. It was surprisingly cheap, one penny coin for two pieces.
There was also a version stuffed with onions simmered in diluted soy sauce, so he ordered one of each for everyone. Apparently, the crowd from the play had already swept through earlier, so nothing was premade. They would have to wait.
Next to that cart, another stall was selling thin pancakes that resembled okonomiyaki. They looked promising, so he ordered several of those as well. The vendor called them crappes, a food Hachiman had never heard of before.
While the three waited for their order, a middle-aged woman holding a crappe approached Hachiman. She was the same person who had been seated in front of them during the play.
"My, aren't you the gentleman who was sitting behind me? Are you a foreigner, by chance?"
"Good afternoon, madam. My name is Hachiman. I'm a traveler."
"Goodness, how polite!"
Yukel, overhearing Hachiman introduce himself as a mere traveler, let out a faint, hollow smile. Liza, on the other hand, showed no reaction at all. She simply remained beside him, keeping enough distance.
After the woman introduced herself, they made small talk while the crappes were being prepared. Before long, she leaned closer and lowered her voice slightly.
"I'm sure you found the last part of the play rather strange, didn't you?"
"You mean when the Holy Knight appeared without any introduction, and the marquis's personality suddenly changed?"
"Yes… exactly. Well, you see…"
According to the woman, when the play had first been written some twenty years ago, it originally ended with the sorcerer successfully taking revenge on the marquis before being defeated by the Holy Knight. However, after complaints from the nobility, the script had been revised.
In the original version, Princess Liltiena was the daughter of a commoner, and the tragedy began when the lustful marquis abducted her from her husband.
'I see… So that's why everything felt so forced at the end,' Hachiman thought, a bitter smile tugging at his lips.
Once the flatbreads and crappes were finally ready, he thanked the woman and returned to where everyone was resting.
"What did you get?"
"Regular and onion-filled gabo flatbreads… and something called a crappe."
Mei asked the moment he approached. The others leaned in with interest, so Hachiman handed the gabo flatbreads to Patricia and asked her to distribute them.
Zena, Iona, Lilio, and Ruu politely declined with strained smiles, leaving a few extra pieces behind. Everyone else took a bite at the same time and promptly froze.
'…Ugh. That's bitter.'
A sharp, acrid taste spread across Hachiman's tongue, strong enough to make his stomach twist. Perhaps the locals were accustomed to it, but he certainly wasn't. Forcing himself to chew, he swallowed with effort and immediately chased it down with a long gulp of fruit juice.
Once Hachiman recovered, he looked around at everyone.
The beastkin girls—Pochi, Tama, Liza, and Fran—were making slightly strained faces but were still chewing bravely. Sora, Arisa, and Lulu, on the other hand, looked as if they were about to cry mid-bite.
Even the usually composed Ruan Mei wore a faintly troubled expression. Mei and Patricia were doing exactly what he had done, rapidly drowning the taste with fruit juice. Auna had completely given up and set her portion aside. Yukel, who looked moments away from throwing up, steeled himself, forced down the remaining slice, and immediately emptied an entire mug of fruit juice in one go.
"Sora, if it's too much, just spit it out here," Hachiman said, holding out a tissue.
"Fanks… I can'f eaf fhis…"
Sora quickly leaned forward and rid herself of the offensive bite, looking visibly relieved.
"I was completely fooled by the smell of soy sauce…" Hachiman muttered.
Fortunately, the crappes turned out to be normal and delicious.
They were somewhat like thin, crisp okonomiyaki, but the miso-based sauce gave them a different flavor entirely.
Under the shade of the tree, the group gradually recovered, chatting idly while enjoying the much safer crappes.
"Even when you know they're coming, those emotional scenes at the end, one after another, are just too much to handle!" Sora declared dramatically.
"I have to admit… I cried when Princess Liltiena took her own life to follow Zen." Auna rubbed at her slightly red eyes. "That part really hurt."
"Really?" Arisa spoke around a mouthful of food. "If it were me, I would've grabbed the dagger and gone after the marquis myself! You can't protect anyone if you're already dead."
"It's so crisp and tasty, nanodesu!"
"Yummyyy!"
"I wonder what they used in the sauce… I can taste just a faint hint of meat."
Meanwhile, the beastkin children were far more invested in analyzing the crappes than debating the play.
"But surely you agree the marquis is the one at fault for tearing the lovers apart?"
"Well… Princess Liltiena did betray her fiancé by choosing another man. You could argue she set the tragedy in motion," Zena replied thoughtfully.
Arisa and Zena, who joined Sora and Auna's conversation. As they shared their opinions, it became clear their values didn't quite align, their voices rising little by little.
Arisa insisted that "love is all that matters," a stance Sora eagerly supported. Meanwhile, Zena argued that "marrying a noble for the sake of your family is only natural," with Auna nodding in agreement.
"Hmm… then would Zena-nee really be happy marrying the fiancé your family chose for you instead of Hachi-nii?"
"…I—I don't have a fiancé…" Zena faltered, clearly shaken by Sora's innocent but direct question.
'Nice assist, Sora-sama!' Arisa's eyes twinkled at the unexpected opening. Without hesitation, she pressed the advantage.
"Isn't that because you joined the army to avoid getting engaged in the first place? I'm pretty sure kingdoms around here don't allow retirement for at least five years."
Arisa flashed a confident grin, certain she had cornered her.
"What does retirement have to do with being engaged?" Mei asked calmly. "Even noncombatants in the military can still marry, can't they?"
"When women marry here, they're expected to join their husband's household immediately," Iona explained gently.
"I see…" Mei nodded, absorbing the cultural difference.
"A woman has to be ready to give up everything for the person she loves," Arisa declared firmly. "Otherwise… she shouldn't fall in love at all!"
"But… to go against the will of the head of the family…" Zena tried to argue, her voice wavering.
"And if you keep being such a Goody Two-shoes, someone else will steal your beloved right from under you!" Arisa shot back, leaning forward without realizing how sharp her words had become.
She was clearly getting carried away.
Mei gently reached out and patted Arisa on the head, cutting the tension before it could rise further.
"Arisa-chan… that's enough. You're going a bit too far."
Her tone wasn't harsh, just firm.
Mei understood what Arisa was trying to say. She even sympathized with it. But this wasn't Arisa's old world. Pushing her previous life's values onto someone raised in a different culture wouldn't help anyone.
Mei turned to Zena, who looked close to tears. "I'm sorry. She didn't mean to hurt you."
Then she looked back at Arisa.
Arisa hesitated, lips pressed tight. For a moment, it seemed like she might refuse. But after a small sigh, she lowered her head slightly.
"…I'm sorry."
The tension eased almost instantly.
Sora and Auna, who had been watching nervously, finally let out sighs of relief. Both girls glanced at Mei with grateful expressions.
"Shall we get more crappes? Or maybe some of those meat skewers?" Mei suggested lightly, offering a warm smile.
"Meat skeweeers?"
"The crappes were yummy, but the meat skewers sound even better, nanodesu!"
"Shall I go buy them, Mistress Mei?"
Mei had only meant to lift the mood, but before she realized it, Tama, Pochi, and Fran had already gathered at her side, eyes shining with enthusiasm.
Fran was on her feet in an instant, practically leaning forward as if waiting for the starting signal to dash toward the stall.
Mei couldn't help but smile wryly. She handed Fran a few coins. "Make sure you buy enough for everyone, okay?"
"Leave the haggling to me!" Arisa declared, quickly trailing after Fran.
"Us, toooo?"
"We'll help, nanodesu!"
Tama and Pochi scampered after them without waiting for permission.
Watching the children run off with bright laughter, Zena's expression softened. Still, a faint shadow remained in her eyes; Arisa's earlier words hadn't completely left her heart.
—--
After their light lunch, Hachiman and the others continued walking through the marketplace, finishing the last of their shopping for the journey to Labyrinth City tomorrow.
"Thank you for your purchase!"
"Please deliver the goods to this address after sunrise tomorrow."
Patricia handed the written address to the shopkeeper.
"Hm… I suppose that's most of what we need, isn't it?" Mei asked as she glanced over their list.
"Yes, Lady Mei. Aside from the food and other perishable goods scheduled for delivery tomorrow, everything has been secured."
Patricia replied while mentally checking each item once more.
"Additionally, Lady Elysia will be sending a supply box by noon tomorrow. It contains necessities for young Miss Kagura, as well as research tools requested by Lady Ruan Mei."
"I see. That's reassuring."
Mei let out a small sigh of relief. Nearby, Hachiman stood by the storefront with Kagura in his arms. The baby held his finger as he gently played with her. Liza, Lulu, Auna, Yukel, Lilio, and Ruu waited beside them, keeping an eye on the entrance while Ruan Mei and the others were still inside the shop.
"How's it looking?" he asked when he noticed them returning.
"We've got everything. We can depart as planned tomorrow."
Mei smiled and gave him a confirming nod.
"Let's just hope nothing else pops up and slows us down," Hachiman said lightly, glancing up at the clear blue sky as if trying to seal that wish in place.
Mei's smile twitched for just a second before she forced it smooth again.
'Every time he says that… something happens,' she thought with a faint grimace.
Right on cue, Ruan Mei stepped out of the Alchemy shop with Arisa, Sora, Iona, and Zena behind her. Their arms were filled with books, Alchemy texts ranging from beginner manuals to advanced theory, and several tools that the others carried carefully behind her.
Arisa, Iona, and Zena looked completely awestruck, glancing at Ruan Mei, as if they had just witnessed something incredible. Sora, meanwhile, wore a proud grin that said she had expected exactly this outcome.
"Hmm? Did we keep you waiting?" Ruan Mei asked, completely unbothered by their reaction.
"Aaaa!" Kagura squealed the moment she saw her, stretching both arms forward with a bright smile.
Ruan Mei's expression softened immediately. Even with her arms full, she extended one hand and let Kagura grab her finger, allowing the baby to hold on happily.
"No, you came out just in time," Hachiman replied.
With the shopping finally done, the group began making their way toward the carriage area to return to the villa.
"Are Hachiman-sama and Mei-sama really leaving tomorrow?" Auna asked softly, unable to hide the sadness in her voice.
"Yeah," Hachiman replied. "We want to check Labyrinth City, just in case there's any unusual demon activity there."
"And we'd like to study how demons are using gathered miasma to summon demon lords or greater demons," Mei added gently.
"Haaa… I understand."
Auna gave a small pout. Her gaze went to Zena, Iona, Lilio, and Ruu, who were speaking with Patricia about tomorrow's preparations. The four of them would be accompanying Hachiman's group to Labyrinth City.
Ten days earlier, when Hachiman informed the Earl and the temple officials that they would be departing soon, the Earl had immediately proposed that Zena's squad accompany them as guides as a gesture of goodwill.
Auna was originally planned to join as well. However, with the newly emerged labyrinth in Seiryuu City still unstable, she had to remain behind.
In truth, even Zena's squad had nearly been denied permission. The Earldom was short on personnel to guard both the city and the labyrinth, and Zena herself was considered a valuable magic soldier the army could not afford to lose during such uncertain times. The Earl had argued otherwise, insisting that supporting the Hero's mission took priority.
Still, it was clear to everyone that Earl Seiryuu also had his own intentions. Since Auna could not accompany them, he wanted someone trustworthy to maintain the connection he had built with Hachiman, the Hero.
So Zena, being the first person Hachiman had met here and someone he had built a good relationship with, was the natural choice for that role.
The Earl had also told Hachiman about a recent conversation with the king. In a month, there would be an event at the Ougoch Duchy that the king himself planned to attend. During that time, he wished to meet Hachiman and discuss what measures should be taken regarding the recent demon activity.
Since the Duchy lay along the same route to Labyrinth City, Hachiman agreed. Besides, from what he had read, there was a Withered Labyrinth under the Duchy. As the former capital of the Shiga Kingdom, it would likely hold far more records and knowledge concerning demons.
As their group drew closer to the carriage station, Pochi, Tama, and Fran—who had been listening to Sora and Arisa's conversation—suddenly stiffened. Their ears twitched in unison. The three of them turned toward the nearby gate and came to an abrupt stop.
"Hmm? Is something wrong, Pochi-chan? Tama-chan? Fran-chan?" Lulu asked from beside them.
"…Weird sound?"
"There is a buzzing sound, nanodesu."
"Master… something is coming from there."
The moment the three spoke, Hachiman immediately opened his map. His eyes widened slightly as countless red dots appeared beyond the city gate.
Mei and Sora both gasped at the same time, having seen the same thing on their own maps.
"Pochi-chan, Tama-chan, Fran-chan, take out your weapons! Liza-san, get ready! Monsters are heading for the city walls!"
Sora didn't wait for a response. She was already sprinting toward the gate.
"Aye, aye~!"
"Roger, nanodesu!!"
"Fight, ohh!"
"Understood!"
The beastkin girls reacted instantly, racing after her without hesitation.
"Sora-chan?!"
Mei snapped out of her shock and called after her.
"Honestly… what am I going to do with that child?" she muttered, already taking out her katana from her storage space as she followed.
"W-what's happening?!" Auna asked, startled by the sudden movement.
"A monster horde is attacking the outer perimeter of the city walls," Hachiman replied calmly as he passed Kagura into Ruan Mei's arms. "Based on our search skill, they're Giant Fanged Ants."
"W-what?!"
"That species… They're not individually strong, but their numbers make them dangerous."
"But how is that even possible?"
"We'll figure that out later. For now, we join Mei-sama and the others!"
Zena, Iona, Lilio, and Ruu exchanged a quick look, then moved at once, running after Mei and the children.
"Ruan Mei, I'm heading out with the others. Arisa, hold on to Lulu and don't leave Ruan Mei's side. Patricia-san, I'm entrusting everyone to you. Yukel, protect Auna-san at all costs."
Hachiman's voice was firm, leaving no room for confusion.
"Hmm. Just take care of yourself," Ruan Mei replied calmly, already adjusting her hold on Kagura.
"Aye, sir!" Arisa saluted with her free hand while gripping Lulu tightly with the other.
"Please… take care, Master," Lulu said, her small body trembling despite her attempt to stay brave.
"As you will, my lord." Patricia bowed with dignity.
"Rest assured, Hachiman-sama! I will protect Auna-sama with my life!" Yukel declared firmly.
"May the benevolent goddess Parion bless you, Hero-sama…" Auna whispered in prayer.
Hachiman gave a brief nod to each of them. Just as he was about to turn, Kagura suddenly wailed, stretching her tiny arms toward him. Her eyes were wet as tears began to gather.
His expression softened at once. Leaning in, he pressed a gentle kiss to her temple.
"We'll be back soon. I promise," he said softly. "So stay here with your mom, alright?"
Kagura sniffled but stopped protesting, clinging to Ruan Mei's finger instead.
Ruan Mei patted Kagura's back lightly and offered Hachiman a small, reassuring smile. He returned it without hesitation.
Then, without another word, he turned and ran toward the gate, weaving through panicked civilians rushing away from the city walls.
—---
The soldiers stationed at the city gate were the first to spot the dark cloud rushing toward them.
"Sound the alarm! Take formation! Archers—on the walls! Drop those ants before they get close!"
Knight Thorne, the same man who had issued Hachiman's identity pass when they first arrived, gave out orders without hesitation. His voice cut through the rising panic, snapping the soldiers into motion.
Archers scrambled up the stairs, bows already drawn, arrows nocked and ready. Others loaded crossbows and grabbed slings, preparing to shoot down the incoming swarm.
They had barely settled into position when the ants reached the outer perimeter, far faster than anyone expected. Within seconds, the creatures were upon the walls.
At first, the horde flew upward, attempting to fly straight over and into the city. But just as they neared the top, their bodies jerked midair and veered away at the last instant like birds slamming into unseen glass.
Several failed to turn in time and crashed headfirst into something above the wall.
Even the ones that avoided collision struggled to stay up in the air. As their movements slowed, arrows rained down.
"Loose!"
The sound of bowstrings being released was heard along the ramparts as the flying ants fell one after another.
"Looks like the anti-monster barrier is holding," Knight Thorne muttered in relief, eyes narrowed as he watched the creatures smash themselves against the invisible wall.
However, even with the barrier holding, the hastily formed defensive line began to strain. As Iona had said, each Giant Fanged Ant was not particularly strong on its own—but their numbers were overwhelming.
"Hold the line!" someone shouted.
Within minutes, wounded soldiers began to appear. A few were dragged back by their comrades, blood staining their armor. At the same time, civilians who had been working outside the walls came rushing through the gate in panic. Some of them were limping; others supported the injured as they stumbled inside.
"Move! Move! Get inside!"
The soldiers quickly reformed in front of the gate, shields raised. A mage stood behind them, chanting layers of defensive magic to protect them. But with civilians pouring in and ants pressing forward, maintaining order was becoming increasingly difficult.
After the last civilian—a dog-person slave struggling under a large, heavy basket—cleared the threshold, the main gates began to close.
"Shut it! Hurry!"
Just before the doors fully met, a single ant forced its body into the narrowing gap, screeching as it wedged itself between the iron panels.
"It's just one monster! Crush it with the gates!"
Knight Thorne barked at the gatekeepers.
The men pushed with all their strength.
But it was no longer just one.
In that brief pause, when the gates stopped closing, another ant rammed itself into the opening. Then another. Their bodies piled into the gap, mandibles snapping as they forced the doors apart inch by inch.
"Damn it—push them back!"
The gap widened just enough for the ants behind them to begin spilling into the city.
"They're inside! They're inside!"
"Protect the children!"
"Guards! Over here!"
Panicked cries rose from every direction as civilians stumbled back, some shielding their loved ones, others frozen in fear as the ants began to spill through the widening gate.
But just then, a figure leapt high into the air, a massive hammer raised overhead. With all her momentum, she slammed down her hammer on the ground.
"Maybe you monsters can keep it down!?"
The ground shook upon impact. A wall of ice erupted outward from the point of contact, halting the ants' advance.
Standing before the ice wall was Sora, gripping her KuruKuru Hammer with both hands.
Reinforcements had arrived.
======