In the forest not far from the Imperial Highway, Zormunem was lost in thought.

　The wreckage (mukuro) of the mercenary group that he had destroyed just a few moments ago was a monster used by Ro Ni and food for Mdelev.

''Mmm, people are good after all. It's only when you're eating this meat that you start to think that this trip isn't so bad. Gahahahaha!''

　The heavy warrior of the ogre race, Mdelev, smiled vigorously as he threw away his thigh bone.
　Even if he was one of the leading warriors of the ogre race, was this journey really worth it? Somehow, I think of such a thing.
　Zormnem looks at Mdelev (...).


[Name] Mdelev [Lv] 81.
Race] Demon (Ogre) [Occupation] Heavy Warrior
[HP] 18423/18423
[MP] 4906/4906
Strength】1510 【Endurance】1301 【Agile】588 【Magic Power】451
[Skills]
Clubbing Lv 7 Physical Arts Lv 6 All Attribute Resistance Lv 5 State Anomaly Resistance Lv 3 HP Enhancement Lv 5 Muscle Strength Lv 7 Endurance Enhancement Lv 6


"Hey, captain. Can I take this girl?

　Lo Ni, the rabbit-man's trainer (tamer), peeks out from behind the minotaur he just tamed and asks.
　Zormunem shakes his head and replies.

'No, it's too conspicuous. Even as a fighting force, they are not as good as your monsters. It's wasted baggage.''
Okay. Well then...　You can eat.

　At Lo Ni's call, he took a breath.
　Suddenly, a huge sub-dragon, a worm, emerged from the ground, flipping its long body and swallowing the minotaur in one gulp from directly above.
　Lo Ni watched the worm swallow the minotaur with narrowed eyes.

''Delicious?''

　This worm, named Meade, was one of the monsters Ro Ni used. The rabbit boy had named all of his own monsters.
　Zormunem looks at Lo Ni (...).


[Name] Lo Ni [LV] 38.
Race】Beastmen 【Occupation】 Trainer (tamer)
[HP] 2970/2970
[MP] 2158/2158
Strength] 253 [Endurance] 198 [Agility] 922 [Magic] 360
[Skills]
Beastmaster lvl MAX


Mnya I'm so full....

　Nearby, Pirislaria, the evil eye wielder of the Three Eyes (Trier) tribe, was floating in slumber.

　She would only wake up clearly on limited occasions, such as at mealtime.
　Earlier, after eating a bit of food left by the mercenary group, she had fallen asleep again immediately.

　Naturally, not all of the people of the Three Eyes (Trier) live like her.
　Zormnem wondered if this trait of Pirislaria was due to the power of the evil eye, which was too strong even for her race.
　Zormnem looks at Pirislaria (...).


[Name] Pirislaria [LV] 46.
Race] Trier [Occupation] Magician
[HP] 5236/5236
[MP] 25486/27644
Strength] 150 [Endurance] 181 [Agility] 247 [Magic] 1723
[Skills]
Dark magic Lv4 Evil eye Lv4 Evil eye Lv MAX Evil eye enhancement Lv7


The...

　When I looked up at the voice, I saw Gal Ganis, a young man of the black demon tribe, standing with food in his hand.

''Sol-san, please have some food. You've been doing that for a while now.
I'm sorry. But I'm still fine. You all were less of a burden in the last battle.
I see..... But please don't take it too hard.

　Saying this in a caring way, Gal Ganis bites off the dried meat.
　He's a pleasant young man. Zormunem thinks so.
　Gal Ganis is now the next in line to be chief of the "black" clan of demons. Sometimes he wonders if he was wrong to induce revenge by saying that your brother was killed by a brave man, and to invite him to join him on his journey.
　Zormnem looks at Gal Ganis (...).


[Name] Gal Ganis [LV] 66.
Race] Demon [Occupation] Magician
[HP] 10011/10011
[MP] 21060/22948
Strength】700 【Endurance】589 【Agile】692 【Magic Power】1213
[Skills]
Fire magic Lv. 9 Earth magic Lv. 2 Dark magic Lv. 9 Magic enhancement Lv. 3


　We're all stronger now.
　Zormnem thinks so.
　It's not just about 【Lv(level)】 or ability value. There are certainly elements that cannot be seen through even this 【Skill】, and that is what is most important.......Zormunem felt through his journey.
　Finally, Zormunem looks at himself (...).


[Name] Zormnem [LV] 88.
Race] Shinigami [Occupation] Magic Swordsman
[HP] 14307/14307.
[MP] 33211/33473
Strength] 1550 [Endurance] 1035 [Agility] 1411 [Magic] 1593
[Skills]
Swordsmanship Lv 9 Gymnastics Lv 7 Fire Attribute Magic Lv 5 Water Attribute Magic Lv 8 Wind Attribute Magic Lv 6 Earth Attribute Magic Lv 2 Light Attribute Magic Lv 9 Dark Attribute Magic Lv 6 All Attribute Resistance Lv 4 Status Appraisal Lv 4


　Zormunem ponders.
　This [skill] of status appraisal that no one else has........no, what exactly is 'status' in the first place?
　Why can my eyes see the fact that even I can't know it, why can I see it?
　Who really prepared this information?

　I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.
　The fact that this power, which he had pondered over so much as a child and had yet to even tell his companions about, did not matter now.

''Everyone, this is the last time we will be resupplying.

　Each of the party members stopped their hands and turned to their leader.

'Our destination is near. And the end of this journey.

　Zolmnem continues as the party members listen quietly.

'It's been a tough journey. We have been fortunate to have made it this far without being chased by the Empire and without any of us missing. We will have to fulfill the purpose of our journey in the place we are going to. The odds are good, of course. But not absolutely. I think we should all be prepared for more difficulties than ever before.

　A heavy silence falls between the members.
　It had never been an easy journey.
　Zormnem knew.

　He knew that Mdelev had always been concerned about the wife and child he had left behind in his homeland. That he had only gently turned away from the wreckage of the father and son when he had put his hands on the human.
　That Lo Ni, who seemed so cruel, was actually very protective of his own monsters. That when one of the Shadow Wolves had died, he had dug a grave and buried it alone, and stood there for a long time.
　That Pirislaria's ability to stay awake was getting shorter and shorter, probably due to the load of the evil eye. That she was acting like it was nothing, so as not to make everyone worry about that.
　That Gal Ganis didn't really want her brother's revenge. That he wanted to live up to the expectations of the "Black" brethren instead of his dead brother. And yet, for the sake of the demon tribe's future, he pretended to be willing to listen to Zolmnem.

　What lies ahead is even more difficulty.
　But----Zormnem says.

'But ... but ... but ... I dare to make this journey more difficult. I want to set a new goal beyond the objective. Because I believe that we can do it together.

　It was something I had decided to say one day.

"For the sake of the demon tribe's future, I will defeat the brave man. And...

　A brave man was born.
　But the Demon King has not yet been born.
　This asymmetry will surely lead to a world of warfare.
　Of course, this is in the form of the demon race being outnumbered.

　That's why we have to defeat the brave men.
　If it's a status appraisal [skill] that I have, I'll probably be able to recognize it by looking at the brave man. I, who was not deceived by the shadow warrior, had no choice but to gather skilled companions from each race and depart.

　It is the longest wish of the demon race to overthrow the brave.
　But that alone is too lonely.

　So, Zolmnem continues.

"And then let's all go home together.

　Zormunem understood how difficult it would be to do so.

　If it was known that the heroes had been defeated, of course, Zolmnem and the others would be in a position to be pursued.
　Even this party, which was a small elite, was no match for Hayama's speed. It was clear that if the army waited for them in the village where they stopped to resupply, or if their resting place was surrounded, they would easily fall into a predicament.

　Everyone understood that, of course.
　This journey was going to be a deadly one from the beginning.

''Gahahahaha!　Guess what I'm going to say!　What are you going to do if you don't come back and live here?

　Mdelev's exuberant laughter was followed by all the members of the group.

''Hmmm.......I want to sleep in the futon, I want to sleep peacefully.......soooooo....''
I'm going to bring home some seeds. I'm going to take them home with me so the people in my village can have some.
I want to talk about my bravery. I'll tell you that I avenged my brother's death.

　Zolmnem thinks to his friends, who cheerfully say to each other.
　It was a tough journey. But never - it was not a bad one.

　Mdelev the Heavy Warrior.
　Pirislaria, the sorcerer.
　Lo Ni the tamer.
　Gal Ganis, the sorcerer.
　And Zormunem, the magician.

　The days I spent with this wonderful party were fulfilling.
　Yes, this.
　It was also a journey of adventure for me and my friends to face a powerful enemy called the brave.

'We'll make sure we all get justice together,'

　Zormunem calls out to his companions.

'For the sake of the demon race and our own future.