317 - - Those who take risks, the third.

"Okay, it's starting to take shape.

The girl nodded her head in satisfaction at the widening of the road.

Moving around in her field of vision were clay figures of various sizes.

Faithful servants made of clay are silently obeying the orders of their masters, breaking rocks and carrying out the earth.

The girls are at the bottom of a deep canyon between mountains inhabited by earth dragons.

The swamp of ghosts, now just a marshy area, is a barrier to the east, but if you try to go east from there to the "coma pit", this steep mountain range stretching from north to south will block your way.

The constant influx of earth dragons and flying centipedes makes it a difficult place for a large number of people to cross on foot.

The idea was to use this valley, which Thor and the others had passed through by flying dragon to see the big hole before.

However, there are several places where the cliffs on the left and right sides protrude and narrow, causing a traffic jam if there is a large number of people.

Therefore, earth-men who can use were gathered and the expansion work was underway in a great hurry.

Half of the expeditionary force is deployed on both sides of the valley, clearing away the approaching dragons, but once the sun goes down, we are at an overwhelming disadvantage.

Before that happens, we must secure this place not only as a passageway but also as a safe zone.

However, there were obstacles here as a matter of course.

"Already, here it comes again--!

A large stone flying from the rocky mass that floats behind Kugase turns around as if it were being sucked in.

Several more rocks were thrown at the girl who started to run, but the rock floating in midair took her place in every case.

As if released from the yoke of the earth, Kugase's body runs through the wind.

Waiting for him ahead are the gray-skinned monsters who have been hurling stones at him.

Stone demons (trolls).

A kind of subhuman, they are even bigger and more powerful than orcs.

Their mineralized skin is hard, and they also possess extraordinary regenerative powers, making them a formidable opponent.

Although it does not like strong light, there is no need to worry about it in this dimly lit valley, shielded from the light of day.

"Give it to me, O great earth-tree conveyer. Give to all equally the burden you have borne..."

The troll at the head of the pack bares his wild teeth at his opponent, who is not even half his own height.

He then slammed his unusually long, thick arm into the side of the troll's head without mercy.

"

Kugase, who had finished chanting while running, quickly crossed his arms to catch the monster's blow.

However, he is unable to resist the difference in weight, which is nearly several times his own, and his body floats lightly in the air.

The struck girl bounces on the ground several times, then stands up with a frown on her face.

The trolls roar and step out to follow immediately.

Unable to support her own weight, she falls to her knees.

The monsters look incredulous, but then they lift the hand that holds the stone.

But for some reason, their hands are also motionless, as if they are sewn to the ground.

One of them tries to shake itself, but loses its balance and plunges face-first into the ground.

I try to raise myself up by pressing my thick arms against the ground, but this time, a dull thud is heard from my elbow.

It seems that his arm has reached its limit, unable to support the excessive weight of his body.

White bone pops out from under the skin, and grayish fluid begins to pour out of it.

Regeneration begins immediately, but the bones and tendons are so distorted and attached to each other that it is no longer possible to move properly.

In no time at all, the troll's body is crumpled and organs protrude faster than it can regenerate.　

With their limbs bent in strange directions, the monsters plunge one by one into the ground.

Finally, they are reduced to a mass of flesh, spewing out their gray bodily fluids.

"Well, I'm glad it was so easy to get rid of them, but the downside is that it's a hassle to collect the magic stone.

Kugase walked up to the troll and plunged his hand into the puddle of blood without hesitation.

He probes the hardest spot with his horns and picks up the stones one by one.

The girl had just used a technique called "Jyukagura-jin," which is a middle branch skill that is a higher level of the skill.

It can increase the dead weight of all the targets within its range, and is especially effective against heavier opponents.

However, since the starting point of the technique is centered on oneself, it is easy to be caught in the middle of it if one uses it carelessly and without thinking.

The reason why Kugase dared to receive a blow and be blown away was also to escape from the range of the technique.

The brown-horned girl with the magic stone stuffed in a leather bag at her waist rushes to the worried-looking Ram Merulla.

Don't collect magic stones, show me your wound first. It will take longer to heal.

"Ram-chan, you can always rely on me to show you what I can do."

"You're just being so nice. Lord of the tree of life! Give me a drop of water to the children who seek refuge in you.

Kugase slowly relaxed his chest as he felt the tingling in his creaking ribs disappear.

He takes the canteen offered by Ram Merla, quenches his thirst, and takes a breath.

He then looked at the dozens of clay figures in motion and remarked on how well they were working.

"At this rate, we'll be finished before nightfall. It's really an extravagant view. If you asked a temple to do it for you, it would be worth a white gold coin.

"Really?　Come to think of it, I've always wondered about service temples, but they charge a lot of money for a name like that."

"Of course, it's called that because the clay dolls serve us, not because we work for free.

"Oh, that's right. That's complicated. Maybe we should call it a pay temple from now on.

"If we name it that, we won't get any customers!"

The two men exchange a small smile at each other's sophomoric conversation.

After a short glance at each other, Rummella asked me in a whisper.

"Hey, Cu. Do you have any plans after this expedition is over?

I don't have anything in mind. I've got some money saved up, so a break wouldn't be a bad idea.

See you later. ...... I hope you'll stay with me a lot longer."

"...... Ram-chan. Just because you got dumped doesn't mean you're too quick to run to girl on girl."

"No, you idiot!　I'm asking you to stand by me."　

Kugase nodded his head and replied to his cute best friend, whose cheeks were slightly tinted, with a look of amusement on his face.

"Well, if it's all right with me, I'll be happy to help you build your town as much as you want.

"Oh, you noticed that, didn't you?"

"Well, well, you'd be a fool not to notice."

In between playing and treating injuries, Licori and Mordamo are eagerly wooing the earth-men.

It is obvious that they are trying to make the foundation of the new border town as cheap as possible.

"Well, Ram-chan, you really believe in them, don't you?"

"Yeah?"

"I want this expedition to be a success and for everyone to return home safely."

"Of course not."

Rummella answered without hesitation, and then countered Kugase's meaningful narrowing of his eyes.

"You know, I don't believe unconditionally in the words of someone I fall in love with. I like you because you are a person who will surely show me the future that I believe in."

He said it clearly and clearly, a proud smile on his face.

The girl who had bared her thorns in fear of getting hurt met someone irreplaceable and became a dreaming maiden.

And from there, she peeled off her skin again and changed to boast a strong core.

Although she has not lost some of her maidenly charms.

Kugase has been watching her best friend grow up, despite her wounds, from a very close distance.

It was a dazzling and at the same time enviable change for a girl who had not even fallen in love yet.

The change in her best friend made Kugase suddenly imagine the distant future.

Someday, she, a tall girl who grew up in the countryside, might have someone to tell her how much she loves her.

How reliable and joyful it would be to have an irreplaceable person who would stand next to me and push me, who would be happy and sad with me.

So for that, first of all, we have to believe in this future that will continue from now on.

Kugase carefully wipes his hands soiled by the hem of his clothes and offers them to Ram Merulla, who has grown up to look differently.

"Yes, I will believe in you too, Ram-chan.

"Yes, I'm looking forward to working with you, Cu."

"Well, first we have to decide on the contract fee.

"You're so clever, ......."

Lili has taught me well in that area."

After saying this happily, Kugase shifted his gaze to a series of holes in the side of the valley.

"By the way, everyone is back home very late. ......"