Were going to get through the main gates in one movement, hold tight, Nell!

Yes, Kurono-kun!

Merry, my beloved pitch-black horse, hurtles down Spadas main road with incredible vigor and flies out through the enormous main gates.

I can hear the guards shouting something at us, but Ive got the princess riding behind me, so its probably fine to ignore them.

Well, as long as I havent been mistaken as a kidnapper... But I probably shouldnt be thinking about that when Im in such a hurry.

After we eventually get out of the crowded city of Spada, I change our course to the wide, well-maintained highway. From this point, I can have Merry truly fly at full speed.

With the feeling of a driver finally getting out of a packed street onto a motorway, I whip Merry to accelerate.

You must run for goshuujin-samas sake!

Incidentally, Im using the tentacles ofBlack Hair CurseCoffinas reins.

I get the feeling that I heard the maids violent voice, but in any case, Merry lets out a spirited neigh and her powerful legs pick up the pace.

But this isnt the only thing that speeds her up.

Well then, Nell, Ill leave it to you.

Yes!

Nell is riding behind me like Fiona did during our date.

I can feel her soft, warm body against my back, although right now, I feel not only that happy and embarrassing sensation, but

With the elegant melody of her chant that sounds as if shes singing, the thick presence of her magical power envelops me no, envelops Merry and I.

Speed High-Boost.

Merrys speed doubles, showing the effects of Nells completed spell.

... Amazing.

I whisper without thinking, but Im breaking out in a cold sweat at this increase in speed that has exceeded my expectations. Marie is just as fast as Merry, but if they were to race now, Merry would win easily.

I wonder how many kilometers per hour were doing, but unfortunately theres no speedometer installed on the body of a horse, so from this sensation I can only say that were goingfast.

Merry was running almost at full speed when we were on the main road, but even so, because Im quite used to riding horses at this point, I had the composure and technique to be able to avoid running any pedestrians over.

However at the speed were traveling at now, going straight is the only option; I dont have the confidence to be able to pull off any detailed maneuvers. In other words, if we had gone at this speed through the city, my class would definitely have changed to hit-and-runner.

Having Nell wait to use her speed boost until we were out on the highway was a good choice after all, no matter how much of a hurry were in.

Fufu, thank you.

Thats her reply to my comment that this is amazing. Nell whispers it into my ear with a slightly happy tone.

I feel a momentary chill run down my spine; shes so close, to the point that I can feel her breathing.

But since were riding a horse running at this incredible speed, its only natural that shes clinging onto me.

My black coat smells of blood slightly since I fought for my life at the Grand Coliseum not too long ago, and yet due to the danger of falling off the horse, theres no other option but for Nell to just endure it and hold on tight.

Thats why I feel guilty that Im feeling chills and my heart is beating fast, even though Im supposed to be the one in charge of the horse. Im really sorry, but this is the normal physiological reaction of any man.

My feelings of guilt intensify as I think about how pure Nell is despite the fact that shes not a Fairy like Lily.

No, I should be the one thanking you. At this rate, well be able to reach Iskia Fortress way faster than Id expected.

Shaking off my inappropriate feelings, I gave her a serious response.

Nell is of the priest class, which means her specialty is not only healing, as she demonstrated on my right arm, but also supporting allies through enhancement spells.

And her Rank 5 title isnt just for show. Nell is demonstrating right now that her enhancement spells are just as powerful as her healing.

TheSpeed High-Boostshe cast is an intermediate-level enhancement spell, but I feel like its been executed at a level above that, so I think its exhibiting the effects of a high-level spell.

The same spell can have very different results depending on the skill of the caster. Its the same as when Fiona uses her offensive spells.

Well, in Fionas case, its more like a spontaneous discharge of her excess magical power while for Nell, her accurate control over her magical power and elaborate spell formula is what produces a perfected spell. So its actually quite different.

Well arrive within three no, two days, I guess.

Im sorry. You might have been able to get there faster if you were alone, Kurono-kun.

Nell apologizes, and at the same time, for some reason, I get the feeling that her arms have tightened their grip around my waist.

Its true that I could have gone without sleep or rest if I were alone, but

My body has the endurance and stamina to go a week without eating or drinking. I wonder just how hard those masked guys were planning to have me work; I feel the urge to murder them rise up... Well, Ill let it go for now.

Either way, Merry would need to rest, so Im sure its much faster with you and your enhancement magic, Nell.

But Im... well, heavy, so...

Whats with that girly line?

I feel like an idiot for answering seriously. But shes cute, so I have no choice but to forgive her.

Youre not heavy enough to have to pay any attention to your weight.

Lily, being a Fairy, doesnt even need to be mentioned, but comparing Nell to Fiona, her figure is more... you know, glamorous; she definitely exceeds the standards of an average seventeen-year-old girl in Spada. Including the big wings on her back.

But I cant say that. I can at least tell that that would be like stepping on an extra-large land mine.

Yes... Since you said that, Kurono-kun, I wont worry about it.

Nell sounds a little happy; it seems I chose my reply well.

I feel her arms tightening around my waist again, but Im sure its not because shes secretly angry at me or anything.

Shes clinging onto me awfully tightly, but we are traveling quite fast, so its dangerous if she doesnt, I suppose.

I feel bad for Nell, but we cant slow down here. Well go at full speed like this until we get to Iskia!

Mmm... Kurono-kun... Ufufu.

It seems that Nell is looking after me, even in her dreams. Seriously, Im no match for the devoted kindness of a princess.

If she werent here, Id still be going down the highway with bloodshot eyes.

Not only that. Nell wields magic that will be effective against the army of monsters. Our strength in battle is much greater than if I had come alone.

You ran well too, so thanks.

Merry is sleeping as well.

Nell applied not only the speed enhancing magic but also fatigue recovery and load-lightening magic, so the journey isnt taking too much of a toll on Merry.

If I was alone, I wouldnt let Merry rest enough and she probably would have collapsed.

Thats how much Im lacking composure right now.

Its alright, Ill definitely make it in time... This time, for sure...

Exactly one day has passed since we left Spada. Its now the evening of the 27th of the Month of Platinum (Hakkin).

Weve been riding almost all day and all night, and as a result, were about halfway to Iskia Village.

If we keep this pace up, well arrive there in two more days, just as planned.

Were completely ignoring the villages in between. Of course, were not resting in an inn right now; were camping outdoors in one of the thick forests that grow on both sides of the highway.

Merry is sleeping with her tired legs folded up under her, and Nell is leaning against Merrys large body wrapped in a blanket, breathing quietly and occasionally mumbling sweet things in her sleep.

Of course, its my job to keep watch over them. At the same time, Im using this resting time to make sure my equipment is all in order.

The right sleeve ofDiablos Embraceis still torn; its going to need some more time to regenerate.

It wouldnt look cool to go out to fight with my arm exposed, and I went out of my way to buy full-body armor to use in the fight against the Greed-Gore, so Ive decided to wear that.

Though the crucial torso portion of it was left at the Stratos Smithing Workshop to repair the hole made by Ludora, so Im not exactly fully equipped.

Ive got a gauntlet not only for my right arm where my sleeve is missing, but also my left. Ive equipped leg-guards on both of my legs as well, so my limbs are now protected.

Now that I haveDiablos Embrace, a high-level magical robe, Im more mobile equipping armor on only my limbs rather than the whole suit of armor, so this should be better for my overall combat performance.

This combination of equipment is probably the best I have available to me right now.

Theres still a long time before the sun rises, huh.

I did have to fight for my life during theCurse Carnival, so its not like Im not feeling tired at all.

But in any case, well arrive at Iskia Fortress by the day after tomorrow, and well save Simon, Will and all the other academy students. I can sleep after Im done with all of that.

I tell myself that, but in the end, theres still a sense of unease lingering at the bottom of my heart.

I wont make it in time, Ill be too late no, in the first place, will the Greed-Gore and its monster army be defeated just because I join the fight?

Lily and Fiona, my reliable companions, are not here right now.

Even my plan of defeating the Greed-Gore is a plan that I made based on the assumption that I would have those two with me. If I go to fight by myself, I have no options but to face it head-on...

Sitting here and thinking quietly like this, my uneasiness just keeps increasing.

Even if thats the case, even if Im alone, Ill make it happen. This is supposed to be my trial, right, Demon King Mia-chan?

For the Greed-Gore to appear at this time where I dont have my party members with me. Its only natural for me to suspect that this is a gods will.

Is this the trial that has been prepared for me by the Demon King? Or is this just a natural event caused by a series of coincidences? Either way, theres no doubt that theres a trial waiting for me with a second divine protection at the end of it.

The proof of that is that the crimson eye that was given to me by a god is glowing red.