It had been several hours since Takashi and the others had left the vige of Leaven. Tired of walking along the deserted footpath trail, Takashi red at Aina''s back, who was walking in front of him. The sun had already set, and the area was already dark.


    (I was hoping to get there before it got dark.)


    Takashi suppressed his desire toin and ask the question—Are we there yet?


    He thought a bit more before he spoke to Aina in a chit chat-like manner.


    "This Zhaviest person is an acquaintance of yours, right Aina?"


    "I have been in his presence, you know. He probably doesn''t know what my face looks like, though."


    "Eh? What do you mean by that…?"


    Interrupting the conversation between Takashi and Aina, Exce raised her voice, expressing her surprise.


    "W-Wait a minute! Then doesn''t that mean you don''t know the exact location of Lord Zhaviest''s base, do you?"


    "Yeah. I only heard about it! I think it''s somewhere around here, though."


    Takashi felt his own nose twitching with a "<em ss="chakra-text css-0">pikupiku</em>."


    (N-Not Good! I''m at the end of my patience! I''ll snap!)


    Eventually, Aina stopped walking at the end of the path where a steep wall cliff loomed high above. Even Takashi, who was usually not short-tempered, finally lost his patience.


    "You are lost!! What are we going to do?! It''s already night!!"


    "What are you talking about? We arrived right on time!"


    "The cliff is the base? That''s not f-ing possible!! Are you messing with me!?"


    However, Exce reached for the wall of rocks on the cliff timidly.


    "This, is perhaps…"


    While saying, "Let''s go," Aina walked briskly toward the cliff. The moment Takashi thought Aina was about to run up against the cliff, she disappeared as if absorbed by the cliff.


    (Ah! By any chance, this is!)


    "Sorcery!"


    "It seems so!"


    Takashi and Exce also moved towards the rock face resolutely. Then, their vision suddenly changed.


    A small hill spread out before them. Wooden houses stood at regr intervals. Even though it was dark, thanks to the torches in front of the houses, the whole view of the hill could be seen clearly. Arge Western-style house stood in the center.


    "The Salvation Crusaders used the same kind of sorcery."


    When Takashi muttered that statement, Aina looked at him as if she was making fun of him.


    "Didn''t you know? This sorcery is something that Lady Leelou has developed! Applying her transformation technique, you know. It was thanks to Leelou''s sorcery that Tartanin''s group was able to prepare their army without being detected by the demons!"


    "What! So that''s how it is! As you would expect from grand tactician Lady Leelou!"


    "<em ss="chakra-text css-0">Fufu</em>! Of course! Because Lady Leelou is a genius!"


    Aina was simply delighted to hear praises for Leelou as if she were the one being praised. Her smiling face was so adorable that Takashi forgot his irritation and gazed at her. However, when Aina noticed Takashi''s gaze, she immediately changed her expression to a sour face.


    "Come on. Don''t just stand there. Let''s go! I''m sure that big mansion is where Lord Zhaviest resides!"


    "I KNOW!"


    Takashi climbed the hill and saw women and children with flower crowns on their heads. It was already dark, but they were picking flowers with smiles on their faces.


    "Ah, uhm..."


    When Takashi approached, the little girl ran away. As he reflected on whether he had frightened her, the girl returned with a smile on her face, apanied by a man in priest robes.


    "It would be rare to have visitors in this kind of ce, no?"


    The balding man, who appeared gentle-tempered, said.


    (This person is Mr. Zhaviest, huh?)


    Aina immediately lowered her head.


    "Lord Zhaviest. Please forgive our sudden unannounced visit."


    "Eh-uhm, Aina…"


    "I am Aina. Before, at the time of the ndestine meeting, I was apanying Lady Leelou."


    "Ahh—! The body double!"


    (B-Body double…? You''re doing a lot of things, aren''t you, Aina?)


    "This personage is Her Highness the Princess, Exce of Leirune. And this one is the hero, for the time being."


    "This one? For the time being, was it!"


    Takashi huffed and pouted. Zhaviest turned a kind gaze toward Exce and Takashi with a "<em ss="chakra-text css-0">hou hou</em>."


    Aina began to exin to Zhaviest how they came to be there.


    "…<em ss="chakra-text css-0">Hou.</em> Indeed, I see. A vessel of the Immortal Fleet shipwrecked———that must have been tough on you."


    "Because of that, we would like to stay here for the night... if that is alright with you…"


    "Of course! This is also God''s guidance! You are wee to stay as long as you like, not just one night!"


    "Thank you very much!"


    Like Aina, both Takashi and Exce bowed their heads down to Zhaviest.


    Takashi thought to himself.


    (We would have been grateful even if only for just one night. You are really a nice person!)


    Afterward, Zhaviest invited them to join him for dinner. Takashi and the others, who had not eaten a good meal since the shipwreck, decided to take advantage of Zhaviest''s hospitality.


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