The Sword Saint walked to the direction of the forest, outside of the plaza. Those who were in the plaza moved in groups behind the Sword Saint in a hurry.
Yogiri was walking sluggishly at the very back of the group.
If they were aiming for Sword Saint, they should show a strong spirit, and accompany him at all costs. However, it was only troublesome for Yogiri, as the Sword Saint and the like were inconsequential to him.
Tomochika, as if it was natural, was next to Yogiri. Next to her was the tall, young man who had the "apology stones". The swordsman that wore silver armor was walking next to him. The little dragon girl was walking a bit ahead, as though she was guiding the uneager Yogiri.
"My luck has been thoroughly bad from long ago. It's enough that it was a miracle that I could live until I was a senior highschool student. The number of times that I was hit by a car is about countless. It was to the point that I was called such things as Accident Faker-chan. Although I received, well, things like consolation money, it didn't particularly mean that I was profitable. My parents put it in their pockets, and it was the end." (Stone Man)
The apology stone young man was talking to Tomochika. Whether or not it was because he was helped, he was strangely close.
"In the end, I was kidnapped by a cult religion, and died being the sacrifice of a ritual." (Stone Man)
"That is, a misfortune, huh." (Tomochika)
"So, it came to be that I received apology stones." (Stone Man)
"The story jumped too much!" (Tomochika)
When he thought "everything was dead", it seemed that a woman calling herself god had appeared and kneeled down on the ground. And, it appeared that his suffering would continue even if he was born again, so it seemed that he was given an item called star crystals as compensation for that.
"But, doesn't such a god-like existence do such things as control a person's destiny?" (Tomochika)
Tomochika whispered to the side of her.
『According to people, it's indescribable. As there are people who are protected by guardian spirits like me, there are also those who had their fate decided by "god".』(Mokomoko)
The spirit Mokomoko replied to that. Mokomoko wasn't visible to other people.
"It's a story of 'you can play gacha with the apology stones', right? Um, considering all that..." (Tomochika)
Although it was a rude objection, it seemed that she hadn't been able to suppress her curiosity.
"Aah, it's supposed to obtain such things as comrades or amazing items in the gacha, but why'd she do it! Wasn't it said that my luck was awfully bad!?" (Stone Man)
"Aah, I understand somehow or other..." (Tomochika)
In other words, decent things probably didn't come out.
"So, now I am saving apology stones! If it is a 10 group gacha, there is a minimum guarantee of rarity!" (Stone Man)
"Err, please try your best." (Tomochika)
It appeared that Tomochika didn't know how to respond to the mysterious system of such things as gachas.
"Well. Despite us getting to know each other like this, isn't it a bit lonely that we don't even know each other's names?" (Silver Swordsman)
When it reached a point where they could pause in the story, the silver swordsman suggested that they introduce one another.
Before they aware of it, it had turned into a five-man group, and no one had an objection.
"First, from me. Though there may be parts to think of variously, would you please leave it as just Rick in here?" (Silver Swordsman->Rick)
The silver swordsman, Rick, displayed a clever wink.
"Even if celebrities are said to be able to travel incognito, it isn't known!?" (Tomochika)
It was troublesome even if it was said that it was natural to know. Tomochika made such a reaction, but it seemed that Rick didn't care.
"I, am called Rainier. I didn't have so much interest in becoming the Sword Saint, but I was forcibly invited by my friend..." (Stone Man->Rainier)
The tall and thin young man, Rainier, scratched his head apologetically.
"Where'd your friend go?" (Tomochika)
"Perhaps she thought that I died, and went ahead quickly..." (Rainier)
Somehow, it was a young man of small luck.
"I am Atila. I am a person who made this area into a headquarters." (Dragon->Atila)
The little dragon girl said. It seemed that she didn't intend to reveal her true character.
"I am Yogiri Takatou. I was dragged into this despite just happening to pass by." (Yogiri)
"I am Tomochika Dannoura. We were in the middle of going towards the royal capital, but we were dragged into this." (Tomochika)
Their self-introductions ended briefly. And, when they realized it, there was no one in the area.
"N? Perhaps they left us? If that's the case, we don't have to go anymore." (Yogiri)
Yogiri readily gave up.
"Wait a minute! Here! Just go ahead from here!" (Atila)
Atila stopped, and pointed ahead a little. But, the forest just continued there, and there were no signs of people.
"But there's nothing?" (Yogiri)
"There is a barrier here. The state of the inside has come to be not examinable from the outside." (Atila)
Certainly, it was strange that a line of that extent disappeared suddenly without any kind of signs. When they continued as if it was a thing like that, Atila stopped.
"I won't go ahead from here." (Atila)
"What about the guidance to the royal capital?" (Yogiri)
"When you have finished your task, you should call my name. I'll appear at once if you do so." (Atila)
Leaving behind Atila, the four people advanced ahead.
They crossed the boundary.
At that instant, a tower appeared abruptly.
"Heh?" (Tomochika)
It looked like Tomochika was taken aback. The other people also couldn't hide their surprise at the existence of the tower that stood towering over the surroundings.
The atmosphere had completely changed.
There was no difference in the scenery except for the tower. However, Yogiri felt the cold air that stung his skin.
The line which went ahead was showing its appearance again. As if natural, it was going towards the tower. It seemed that that place was the destination.
『Hey! Leave immediately! The Sword Saint and the like aren't worth worrying about!』(Mokomoko)
Only one person's surprise, Mokomoko's, had a different aspect. It looked like she was completely panicking.
"Huh, what's wrong? Although I was certainly surprised, it's just a tower, right?" (Tomochika)
『It's not like that! Haven't you noticed it!? The thick miasma up to this extent! It's this destination! Something evil is at this destination!』(Mokomoko)
Tomochika looked around restlessly at the area, it seemed that she didn't feel anything.
However, Yogiri was feeling signs of death floating in the area. It looked as if the sunlight was darkened.
"Oboo!" (Rainier)
"Rainier-san!?��� (Tomochika)
Immediately, Rainier's body began to fold and vomit.
If she looked around, there were people who were falling and vomiting in the same way.
『They were exposed to the miasma.』(Mokomoko)
"Miasma? I don't have anything, though." (Tomochika)
『I am protecting you, and I think the youngster will do it one way or the other.』(Mokomoko)
"It is miasma? In my case, there's no effects if it's to this degree, but it seems Rainier-san is resisting it." (Yogiri)
When he was looking at him with a "what's to be done?", Rainier's body shone.
"Fuu, thanks to the apology stones, I'm saved!" (Rainier)
"It was to the extent of having nausea, is it fine to use that!?" (Tomochika)
"But moving about isn't obtainable if I was as is." (Rainier)
The full particulars of apology stones were unknown, but Rainier seemed to have acquired resistance to the miasma.
"So, what will we do? It's a somewhat suspicious atmosphere, Mokomoko was saying so." (Tomochika)
Tomochika confirmed it with Yogiri.
"Certainly, there are faint signs of death after we came into the "barrier". In my eyes, this area seems to be a little dark." (Yogiri)
However, it wasn't something imminent, and it was a questionable thing if he spoke of whether or not they'd return.
If it came to them returning, they'd wander about the canyon. Them repeating the same thing without any method would be inevitable. That would be fine after there was nothing else that could be done.
"Well, I guess it's alright. There isn't any danger right now." (Yogiri)
『Well, it is you. You may be able to do it anyhow, but please pay close attention.』(Mokomoko)
"What happened?" (Rick)
"Aah, I was just surprised. We should go to the tower, right?" (Yogiri)
Rick asked, but Yogiri crudely deceived him and went forward.
It was a circular tower.
The diameter was about 50 meters. Even when he looked up, the tip was hazy and couldn't be seen. It seemed it was quite high.
As the huge door was open, they went inside following the line.
In the dreary room, there was another door nearby. In it, the Sword Saint and the many other people could be seen.
"You're slow. We'll leave you behind." (Sword Saint)
"I don't particularly care." (Yogiri)
Turning aside the Sword Saint's complaints, Yogiri and others went inside again.
Thereupon, the door shut of its own accord, and the room began to shake with a large rattling sound.
It seemed that this room was an elevator, and they were heading towards the top.
From the rooftop, they were able to have an unbroken view of the canyon.
A world of dry earth and rocks that went on endlessly. It seemed that the only exception was that there was green around the tower.
The Sword Saint went to the edge of the rooftop, and pointed at a lower part. Those who followed witnessed a bizarre scene.
The canyon was smoothly hollowed out.
It made you recollect a spherical shape about 10 kilometers in diameter. What was there had vanished in its entirety. It looked like that.
And, its central part.
Tomochika, who had exceptional eyesight, was looking at the figures of two people in the central part of that space.
She wondered if they were in the middle of fighting. But there was no movement there, and something, hardened like a statue, looked to be floating in air.
"This place is the demise of the world. It won't be amusing when this world ends, and it's just barely being kept alive. There are no things like the Sword Saint. They're nothing more than guards." (Sword Saint)
"I knew such a thing already!" (???)
From among the group, a little girl who wore gaudy clothing came out one step ahead of the group.
"Because I came here in order to end the battle with the Devil that has spanned a millennium!" (???->Little Girl)
"Hou, you're high-spirited." (Sword Saint)
"Your role will end with this day! You should spend your remaining years in peace hereafter!" (Little Girl)
The little girl raised one hand.
Just as a quantity of heat appeared, the surroundings stirred.
It was the temperature that the sphere of light which had appeared in the space of the sky, where the little girl's palm was facing, was emitting.
It was easily understood, even by Tomochika, who didn't know much about magic and the like, that it contained tremendous energy. The sphere of light that shone dazzlingly beautiful was like a small sun, so to speak.
The little girl swung her one hand downward.
The sphere of light vanished for an instant. It was shot at a high-speed towards the barrier.
The little girl was elated. Perhaps she was convinced of victory. 'No matter what kind of existence it is, it shouldn't be safe if it receives that', Tomochika also thought.
However, an abnormal event came the instant that the sphere of light touched the barrier.
The speed of the sphere of light fell remarkably.
The sphere of light's silhouette that they saw slowly disappeared, and its movements stopped before long.
"Yes?" (Little Girl)
The little girl had a blank face. It seemed that she couldn't believe the phenomenon that was before her eyes.
"Time seems to be slow inside of the barrier. It seems it becomes slow as you go inside. It appears that things like the central part have almost stopped. So, as that will arrive after a hundred of years or so, it doesn't seem that I have the margin to spend the rest of my life." (Sword Saint)
The Sword Saint said, as though to mock her.
"Well, I was expected to show this barrier once. Did you see it? Then, it's the continuation of the selection. I'll be waiting at the first floor of the tower, so come down. But you can't use the elevator, so please do it in some way or another." (Sword Saint)
The Sword Saint stepped onto the elevator, and the door closed. That, which had went down, wouldn't come back.
The actions of the Sword Saint candidates were varied.
The majority acted immediately, but there were some who didn't do anything, and others were staring at the barrier.
"Err, the friend that invited me, is the girl who used magic some time ago..." (Rainier)
The girl was standing stupefied still. It appeared that she couldn't escape from being dazed.
"Shouldn't you go to her?" (Rick)
"Just a minute, it's scary...what will she do if she regains her sanity..." (Rainier)
When Rick suggested, Rainier replied with a scared voice.
"I don't really know what that girl came here for, but she said Devil or something like that, right? Is it over there?" (Tomochika)
"That's right. There seems to have been a battle that shook the world a millennium ago in this place——" (Rick)
Rick appeared to know about the Devil. However, Tomochika had something to worry about rather than such a thing.
"Hey? If it's Takatou-kun——" (Tomochika)
Then even the devil can be killed? Tomochika closed her mouth immediately as she tried to say so.
——There is no reason to kill, is there? It seemed he'd say something like that.
They didn't really know what kind of person the devil was at the present time. It would be too rash to kill it just because it seemed to be evil for some reason or another. Tomochika, who was impertinent, reconsidered, and looked at Yogiri.
Yogiri had an awkward-like face.
"What's wrong?" (Tomochika)
Tomochika tilted her head. It was an unusual reaction of Yogiri.
"Perhaps the Devil? The source of miasma that is over there, I inadvertently killed it." (Yogiri)
"...yes?" (Tomochika)
Yogiri pointed at the center of the barrier.
"Somehow, I had a feeling like that first. I'm sorry, I mean." (Yogiri)
Rick was talking quietly about the battle of the Devil and the Holy Queen that spanned a millennium.
He did it by mistake. It was an atmosphere where it was hard to tell them.