173 - - Start-up, start-up

At the end of a narrow alley between a row of crumbling houses, the sound of a sword swinging rings out.

Thor, who had just smashed the head of an amber ant that had run into the alley at his feet with his machete, looked forward and frowned slightly.

Thor looked forward and frowned slightly, for he saw a large number of ants crawling out from under the wall, which he had thought was a dead end.

Thor quickly kicked the ground, ran to the stone wall behind him, and slammed his shoulder into it.

The wall, which was already in shambles, collapsed easily with his body slamming into it.

The wall stones fell one after another on the overflowing ants, crushing their bodies and splashing their bodily fluids.

Naturally, Thor, who had caused this, must have been caught in the eye of the ants as well.

However, his body was still standing in the same position as it was before he began to move.

Only the body that had collapsed the wall by was returned, leaving only the result.

Hearing a loud noise, Rummella peeks into the passageway with a surprised look on her face.

He looked at the wall that had collapsed so spectacularly, and exclaimed a little in dismay.

"You've broken it again, with such a big show!"

"Yeah, I was just fixing it anyway."

Saying this, Thor reaches out his arm and touches the rubble.

Just before he was about to activate his magic technique, a girl from the Soukei clan hurriedly stopped him.　

"Oh, wait! This road is a shortcut to the plaza, so it might be better to stay on it.

"Are you sure?"

Yes, it's a good opportunity for us to fix some of the inconveniences.

"Well, I'll leave that part up to you. Oh, here he comes.

As Thor exited the alley, he sheathed his sword and looked up at the shadow that had crossed overhead.

It was the first flying dragon to come in two days.

Thor and the others nodded to each other and started walking toward the landing site.

The flapping wings of the dragon created a whirlwind as it landed in the open space in front of the usual entrance to the former ant's nest.

The first to jump down was Moo, his curly hair shaking.

He stood up with a colon flip, and his purple eyes flashed when he spotted Thor approaching.

He may have been doing a just before he got off the ground, and he came running toward Thor as if he were sliding on the ground with his Thunder Beast's leather shoes.

"Taa!"

Thor, who had easily avoided the child who jumped at him, grabbed the child's torso, flipped it over, and carried it as if it were a piece of luggage.

Moo spun around and was lifted onto his shoulders, his arms and legs flailing with joy.

Then Sola jumped in with her arms outstretched.

The girl, unable to avoid it, puts her hands behind her back with her face firmly buried in Thor's breastplate.

Then, after taking a deep breath, she looked up with a start.

"Ah, Thor, you're back to level 10, aren't you? Congratulations!

"How did you know?"

"Yes, the smell is different.

It has already been a week since we came here to explore.

During that time, only Thor and Rummella had never returned to the city.

They should have been in a very fragrant state, but what Thora smelled was the usual smell of Thor, just a little sweaty.

In other words, his body and armor had been to a clean state.

As I approached the flying dragon boat with the two of them clinging to me, a woman in a robe had just alighted from the boat.

When she noticed Thor, the ash-eared woman shook her ears and bowed gracefully to him.

"Good evening, Thor.

"Have you had a chance to relax?　Mr. Yuril."

"Yes. I made lunch for you. Please enjoy it.

Lifting up the basket, Yuril smiled his usual compassionate smile.

His beautiful silver hair had regained its luster, perhaps because he had been able to get some rest back at home.

Wow, it looks delicious. I'll take it without hesitation.

The one who answered for Thor was Kugase, who peeked in from the side.

Apparently, they had come on the same flight.

"What is it?　Your eyes. Aren't you going to ask me if I've had a good time?

"Is the Kongo-class busy?"

No, of course not. We're so busy we could turn a corner.

Hey, you forgot me!

A woman, her face peeking over the edge of the ship, interrupted Thor and the others' conversation.

At first glance, she looked just like Rummella, but the area around her eyes was quite different.

Her eyelids were heavily drooped, giving her eyes a glaring look.

"Cu, give me your hand quickly!"

"Sister, you're here!"

"Missed you, Ram!　Come on, get a foothold, Cu."

"It's so much trouble, isn't it?

Muttering, Kugasse summons a large clay figure near the airship.

The woman jumped down through the body and jumped on Ram Merulla, who was standing behind Thor.

"Ram, Ram!　How are you?"

"Sister, what are you doing here?"

"Well, I'm here to see my dear sister," he said.

"The prison is too tough without a Kanadeishi, so I brought you here to have the curse lifted quickly."

"Well, I'm retired now!"

"Don't say that, sister, okay?"

"Mmm, if you insist, Ram, I'd be happy to come back for a bit. ......"

Then, finally noticing the presence of someone other than her sister, Licori, Rammerla's sister, turned her half-closed eyes toward Thor and the others.

"...... I hate children making noise in a flying dragon boat."

"Moo loves kids!"

Moe shouted back, flailed around on Thor's shoulders, and jumped to the ground.

The purple-eyed child spun around again, came up behind Licori, and slapped her forcefully on the buttocks.

"There he is!　What are you doing, you little shit!"

Likori, who was angry and foul-mouthed, grabbed Moe by the neck as he tried to run away, laughing.

He then got up on his knees and placed the child on top of him.

"I guess anyone who beats someone else's ass is prepared to get beat up," he said.

"Tor-chan, help me!"

Moe, immobilized and unable to move, pleads desperately for help as Licori raises her arms in the air.

But Thor shakes his head helplessly.

"That's what you get for hitting anyone and everyone, Moe."

"Oh, no!"

A shrill sound echoed through the ruins.

With the help of Sora and Moo, who had been spanked back and had grown quiet, Rikoli had the curse reversed and was back on the dragon boat in a blur.

"By the way, were you sure you didn't want to go home, Kugase?"

Of course, I'm here to help you. Are you happy?

"Yeah, that'd be great."

"Hmmm, I wish you were always that obedient."

The six of us discuss the future of the project, while crunching on slices of bread with ham, boiled eggs, and vegetables between them.

"Yuril, I want you and the others to take care of the ants in the remaining areas.

Yes, this is the outer city, isn't it?

"Yes, we will take care of this one first and then go to the inner city. And it might be dangerous near the wall. Please be careful.

You can leave that part to me.

You're in charge of the shield. Moe, make sure there are no survivors.

I'm on it, Tor.

Sola, you'll do as you always do.

Yes!

"Then we'll work on the recovery. We're counting on you, Ram.

The girl with an absolute memory of the scenery nodded broadly at Thor's words.