We said goodbye to Leah and to the village of Jugachi, but neither of us was lonely as we were not separated forever.
We headed to the road in high spirits, but on the way we noticed something.
It's nice to know that you got the holy shield, but you haven't decided what you want to do.
There is a goal. I have a goal.
"...... is a joke, right?
"It's a joke.
You say with a grin.
"As expected, Mr. Will can't defeat the demon king on his own. Besides, the demon king hasn't come back yet.
You can't beat something that isn't resurrected, right?
It's not pompous," he adds.
Speaking of which, I hear there's a group of pagans trying to resurrect the Demon King.
Yes, a group called the Zodiac Order.
Zodiac, the main deity of all evil gods, right?
Yes. The pagans, who have venerated the Zodiac since ancient times, are planning to revive it.
They're a vindictive bunch, aren't they?
"Yes, it is. That's vindictive. Probably still flying around the world trying to revive the Zodiac.
I see.
But notice something.
"Huh? Come to think of it, when I first met Luna Maria, it was the pagans who attacked me.
"Yes, it is.
"Why did they attack Lunamaría? Even though killing Lunamaria won't bring back the demon king.
Oh, that's it. That's because I'm an oracle priestess.
"Because I'm an oracle priestess?
Yes. I have the power to see into the future and that makes me very troublesome. I have used this power to report to His Majesty the location of the infidel's lair many times.
I see, so it's a grudge match.
And I think there's a sense of urgency that if we don't, we'll find a savior to save the world someday.
"Savior.
Lunamaría chuckles as she says it as if it were someone else's business.
"Master Will is rarely so insensitive,
"Insensitive?
Looking around, Lunamaria explains to me.
"The savior is Master Will.
"I'm the Messiah!
Yes, I had a feeling that this was the first time we met, but the more we traveled together, the more I was convinced of that feeling.
"Hmmm, like that's an overestimate.
The way you help people, the way you breathe out, the way you care for others, it's all first-class.
"--
I tried to argue with her, but it would be no use.
I mean, it was too soon, or rather, I saw a sight that would prove her previous statement.
"There's a battle going on in the distance.
Lunamaria listened carefully and said, "Well, I guess so," she said, "I guess so.
I'd have to help them here to prove I'm not the Messiah, but I don't think that's an option.
That's what I'm talking about, Master Will.
Lunamaria grins and we run out.
We were going to solve someone else's problems, without learning a lesson.
We were headed to a place on the side of the road.
Some travelers were attacked by bandits as they were heading to the meadow. But that's not what we thought.
When the Lunamaría came to the battlefield.
"Zodiac cult!"?
I shouted.
Surely these guys look familiar. A sorcerer in black, a warrior in black leather armor, and an infidel, to be sure.
Then are those who oppose these men righteous?
The synonym for evil is justice. In the dictionary.
It was Vandal, the god of magic, who said, "I'm not going to be able to do anything about it," and I looked at him to make sure.
I looked at my opponent to make sure of that. My opponent was well-dressed.
They wore uniform armor. Maybe they are the knights of this country. They all wear the crest of the kingdom of Midnia.
The man at their center was a bit odd.
A figure that did not fit in with the bleakness of this battlefield.
A girl in a wide-brimmed hat like the Vandal, dressed like Milia, and carrying a staff, obviously not suited for this bleak battlefield.
She also carried a staff and was clearly a girl sorcerer.
And at the center of it all is a woman.
It was Luna Maria who murmured, "You understand?
Do you understand?
"Yes, approximately in the manner of
"That's a lot of Lunamaria.
Then the girl opens her mouth to say, "We are the Knights of the King's direct guard, we do not delay in such places.
"We are the Kingsguard under the King's direct command, we do not delay in such a place.
It was quiet but interesting.
As she announced this, her whole body was enchanted with magic and she released the fireball.
It flies straight to the evildoers.
One of the evildoers becomes a fireball, but his companions don't seem to mind and slash at the girl.
"Oh my, how dare you abandon your fireman friends. Now that's what I call an evil man.
With a look of heartfelt contempt, she puts her magic power into her staff and slays the evildoer with it.
The pagan sprays bright red blood, but the girl, whose face is covered with it, says coldly, "The pagans have green blood.
Some say that the evildoers have green blood in their veins, but that seems to be a superstition.
But--" he continues suspiciously.
"We won't know for sure until we pull out the halavata. Come at me in turn, and I'll examine you one by one.
It was only a moment before the evildoers were horrified, but it was only a moment before they slashed at him at the same time.
The sorcerer seemed confident in his skills, but he was not strong enough for a simultaneous attack. One sword is about to hit me. I swooped in and dispatched the sword with my dagger.
The sorceress saw this and said.
"Oh dear.
I was surprised.
Well, our little heroes have come to reinforce us.
I'm small in stature, but I'm a force to be reckoned with.
Yes, I know that.
And she chuckles and says
"I know everything about you, Mr. Will.
And laughed.
"How did you know my name? Just as I thought, another sword shot out.
I dodged it and kicked the fellow.
The evildoer blows away with great force, and the female magician, watching, is ecstatic.
"That's my girl Will. Wonderful feet. I'd love to be stepped on by your feet.
"............
Horrified, I looked at Lunamaria, but she too had a troubled look on her face.
The girl, who was watching the scene, smiles and says, "I'm sorry.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. --My name is Anastasia, commander of the Third Division of the Kingsguard of the Kingdom of Midonia, and senior court magician by His Majesty.
The court magician--
This child, at this young age? But she sensed it and took off her hat with a grin.
You'd think a little girl like this was a court magician, but I thought you'd believe it if you saw my ears.
Appearing out of the hat were the longest ears I've ever seen.
No, I've seen them before. A tribe that often appears in the books in the Vandal's library would have ears like this one.
I say the name.
You're an elf?
She wags her finger nonchalantly.
"I, Anastasia, am not an elf. I'm an Elder Elf of a higher order.
Anastasia's smile was bewitchingly beautiful, declaring that.