Reinforcements

"Well, this is a problem…"

At Sei's murmur, Mako turned around.

"What is?"

Though Mako didn't understand, Sei, who was tracking Zeke's party with Map, did.

While the other members were scattered throughout the city, Zeke and Mika were extremely close together.

Even when he zoomed in on the Map and narrowed the range, they were still extremely close.

"They're going at it in broad daylight…"

Understanding the situation from Sei's words, Mako's cheeks flushed red.

Zeke's party was staying at the most luxurious inn in the city. Incidentally, Sei's group was one step above that—they were using an annex of the city governor's mansion. Thank you, Lieselotte's letter of introduction.

They had visited the inn after confirming that the people around Mika had dispersed, but apparently they'd caught them right in the middle of the act.

"Huh? But NatsuNatsu wasn't like that…"

She had been a beautiful girl but also aloof, with no romantic rumors supposedly.

However, this was another world. A woman's body could be a weapon, and the marriage age was early here. If influenced by this world's common sense, such things could happen. Whether her own feelings had changed, or she was doing this to secure her hold on Zeke and the others.

While thinking that Zeke was just being a typical man, Sei checked his status again.

Swordsmanship level 10, plus various skills suited for close combat. He even had danger sense, so a surprise attack would be difficult.

If they were to assume hostility, he'd have many openings during the act, but honestly, Sei didn't feel like he could win even catching him off guard.

And Mika's level and skills were ridiculously high too.

While Sei surpassed her in swordsmanship, she had acquired many resistance skills and mastered Principle magic at a high level. Also, her fire magic level was high.

Fighting this was something he'd prefer to avoid if possible. Unlike the previous heroes, she was on a different level, literally.

"Let's wait for a while…"

It took about an hour for the act to finish.

When Zeke left the inn, Sei confirmed him with his own eyes for the first time.

He was tall with a sturdy build—the very image of a seasoned warrior. His face was reasonably handsome too.

Sei hid behind the corner of a building after confirming his appearance, making sure not to be noticed. His equipment was just a single sword at his waist. Though he wore no armor, his clothes and shoes were also magical equipment. Considering his skills, fighting him would still be difficult for Sei's group even without armor.

Come to think of it, the enemies they'd fought until now, heroes included, had few skills and levels that weren't particularly high. In the battles with the evil gods, they'd had help from Quorfos and Ria.

But Zeke's group had accumulated various experiences and was armed with many magical weapons and tools. While the equipment Ria made was no less impressive, the difference in skills gained through experience was significant.

The only ones who could oppose them were Sei, who had received the divine dragon's divine protection, Mako who'd gained various skills and Gifts through Gluttony, and Lavi—the same as always. But expecting the other members to contribute as combat power would be harsh.

To put it bluntly, they'd be a burden. The fact that Laila and Gantz, who were over level 100, would be burdens was quite an extraordinary situation. They really were a combat group that had lived for 3000 years.

While Zeke and the others were separated, Sei and Mako attempted to make contact with Mika.

The inn's first floor served as a front desk, with a restaurant and bar adjacent. It was more of a hotel than an inn.

After estimating that the act was over and she'd probably finished grooming herself, Sei and the others asked an employee to deliver a message to Mika.

Before long, a girl descended from upstairs. With a somewhat languid expression.

… Well, that would be because it was after the act.

Natsuki Mika was a beautiful girl, just as Mako had said.

She wore a sword at her belt, but otherwise dressed in ordinary men's clothing.

Sei got the impression she was the type who'd be more popular with the same sex than the opposite.

It seemed Zeke had a taste for that type too.

Since they'd called her using Mako's name, Mako was naturally there, but even seeing her face, Mika showed no change in expression.

"I thought you were dead."

That was her opening line. Since she actually would have starved to death if Ria hadn't picked her up, Mako could only give a bitter smile.

They moved to a lounge-like area, and the three began their dialogue.

"So who's this person?"

To Mika's natural question, Sei answered. It was something he'd repeated many times before.

But this girl was clearly wary of them. Considering her Principle magic level, she could probably use Identify-type magic at a high level. Sei was disguising his level as 101, but even that was quite high. In a major nation's knight order, there were almost no people over level 100.

Despite being over 200 herself, she was wary of someone at half her level. You could say she was cautious.

"I don't believe it."

After hearing Sei's story, without changing her expression, Mika said that.

"There's no reason for the gods to bother sending us back to Earth. They could just kill us and be done with it."

"Well, I was told to kill you if I couldn't send you back."

Even hearing that, Mika's expression didn't budge one bit. Both confidence in her own abilities and natural courage.

"Truthfully, is there really a danger of world collision from us being in this world?"

"That's the thing…"

Having received the same question from heroes several times, Sei had confirmed it with Ria.

In truth, a world collision leading to an immediate Great Collapse wouldn't happen.

Unless heroes kept being summoned one after another over decades.

But if they allowed one exception, the gods governing space-time would get carried away and spread the hero summoning magic to various countries.

And heroes, rotten as they may be, were still heroes. They were a significant military force. Not only on war's front lines, but there was no more powerful existence as a terrorist.

Therefore, the divine dragons would send back heroes as much as possible, and destroy the countries that summoned them to erase the technique.

Sei conveyed all this in detail and truthfully to Mika.

"So if you insist on staying here no matter what, setting aside the divine dragons, first the Great Demon King-sama will come flying."

"Great Demon King… an existence above the demon kings?"

That was something Mika apparently didn't know.

There was a Great Demon King on Dragon Bone Continent, and demon kings on Dragon Fang Continent and Dragon Wing Continent. The demon king of Dragon Claw Continent had apparently been done in by the evil gods.

"What's that Great Demon King's level?"

"Just under 400. Well, considering his trump cards, you wouldn't be wrong to think of him as equivalent to 500."

Even Mika changed her expression at that information.

Even at 200, you far exceeded normal human limits. At 500, it was strength that could contend with the gods themselves.

"… I see. But I have something I must do in this world."

Mika returned to a mask-like face and declared to Sei and Mako.

"I'm going to create my own country."

What are you, the leader of some Band of the Hawk? Sei retorted in his mind.

Mika said something to the effect that she wouldn't show mercy even to fellow people from Earth for the sake of her goals.

Honestly, if Sei and Mako fought together here, they might be able to subdue her.

But if Zeke and the others scattered throughout the city gathered, the situation would reverse.

More than anything, if level 200+ warriors fought in such a crowded place, how much damage would they cause to the surroundings?

While Sei and Mako would fight with weapons alone, Mika would use magic without hesitation.

If she used high-level fire magic, he didn't want to think about how much damage would result.

While they were talking, he noticed members of the Golden Warrior Brigade returning to the inn.

Combat probably wouldn't break out here, but having the other members gather might put them at a disadvantage in negotiations.

No, rather, if they brought up the story of returning the hero, would they side with persuading Mika?

It was a crisis for the world. Even if it was Earth that would collapse, they might actually become allies.

(There was a time when I thought that too.)

Marisia and Alteisia were the first to return to the inn.

"I cannot go against Zeke's opinion."

Marisia stated definitively. She was originally a valkyrie who had been the gatekeeper of a labyrinth where a god was sealed.

In Nears, where the concept of angels didn't exist, she was close to that. As a servant of the gods.

And when Zeke defeated her, he had done this and that… and bound her with enslavement magic.

Enslavement magic still existed, but its use was publicly forbidden except for subordinating monsters, not on the humanoid races.

Valkyries were not part of the humanoid races.

Alteisia at least understood the story.

But still, persuading Zeke was impossible. And if that man got serious, she couldn't oppose him.

It would be appreciated if she'd at least remain neutral, but naturally she couldn't abandon her party companions.

If the two men sided with persuading Zeke, she promised to support that.

Kars and Kess returned a bit later.

And after hearing the story, both of them shook their heads.

There was no way Zeke would let go of his woman.

If the two of them tried to oppose Zeke anyway, at minimum this city would be destroyed.

Siegfried was a free man.

The two men, with apologetic faces, told them to give up on sending Mika back.

Before Zeke returned to the inn, Sei and Mako took their leave.

The four men and women had strongly urged them to.

Zeke's love of women was no joke. He was a man who thought any woman who approached him belonged to him.

Sei and Mako's appearances fit his tastes quite well, and while he wouldn't suddenly attack them, they would likely have an unpleasant experience.

"And so, we're short on combat power."

"Understood. I'll send three from here."

When they returned to the governor's annex and contacted Ria, the answer came back at once.

"Three people… Honestly, unless they have considerable skill, they'll just be a burden."

"Don't worry. Rather, you should be careful not to become burdens yourselves."

"… Don't tell me you're sending dragons?"

Mature dragons aside, an ancient dragon could fight Zeke and the others on equal or better terms.

But Sei's thoughts were denied by Ria.

"Dragons are all basically female. I don't want them going near Zeke."

Just how hated was Siegfried?

After finishing the necessary contact, Sei discussed with his companions.

For now, all they could do was analyze Zeke's group's combat power and think of countermeasures.

Though they couldn't do much without factoring in the reinforcements' combat power either.

Those who would participate in combat were the three: Sei, Mako, and Lavi.

Gantz and Laila looked dissatisfied, but the level difference was just too great.

Bungol was a hot-blooded high orc, but he obeyed the words of Sei, his senior disciple.

Kukri wasn't originally combat personnel, but given the opponent, she had a worried expression.

Zeke's group stayed in the city for about a week.

And they were heading southeast. Under the Ferocious God's sphere of influence.

Their purpose was unknown, but they were at least allies of the humanoid races.

Considering what Mika had said, they probably planned to defeat the Ferocious God and build a nation.

Whether or not they could do it aside, considering the kind of person Zeke was, it didn't seem like he was suited for that sort of thing.

And on the day Zeke's group left the city.

The long-awaited reinforcements arrived via transfer magic.

"… Great Demon King-sama, is this okay?"

To Sei who reflexively said that, Ars replied with a smile.

"I'll go a bit out of my way just to harass that guy."

It was a somewhat frightening smile.

And who he had brought with him were…

"Grand Elder, is it okay for you to come to a place like this?"

Where Laila let out an exasperated voice, Quorfos laughed.

"I have a personal grudge against that man too."

Apparently 3000 years ago, he'd committed sexual assault in the elf village in the Great Forest.

At that time there were various other problems, so he was dealt with through a transaction and banishment, but as Grand Elder, Quorfos apparently still had feelings about it.

And the last person was a boy who appeared about the same age as Sei.

Holding a long staff, his appearance was that of a mage.

"So, who is he?"

The Great Demon King, a high elf, and one person who appeared to be an ordinary mage.

"He's Great Sage Sagittarius. The world's strongest space-time mage who once traveled with Reiana."

With a somewhat troubled expression, the boy introduced himself.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Great Sage Sagittarius. It's long, so you can just call me Sage."

Kukri was making a fuss again. Apparently he really was a legendary figure.

Come to think of it, the name Sage had come up several times in conversations between Ria and Carla.

"Well then, shall we deal with Siegfried and the others with these six?"

Ars naturally took the leadership role and said that.

Having used Omni-Identify almost reflexively, Sei was left speechless at the Great Sage's unhidden status.

These three, plus the three of Sei, Mako, and Lavi.

Apparently this time they had excessive combat power.