"In the end, we're back to square one."

Belhard was sipping the alcohol he'd bought in the castle town. He was sharing a room with Elliot at the inn where they'd stayed last time.

Elliot was also sitting on the bed, drinking a little.

"I sense an evil presence in the west though."

"Well, I'll find out when I continue my journey and get stronger. I've only fought three times, so my experience is low, and there's no way I can fight the Demon King in that condition."

Belhard knew that there was no Demon King in reality, but he avoided saying so because he had heard that each country was preparing a way to satisfy his desire for recognition.

"By the way, how far are you going tomorrow?"

"I want to go to the border with the Graze Kingdom for now, but it may change depending on the monsters."

"...Yeah, I don't know what tomorrow will be like."

"It seems we're going to the border with the Graze Kingdom tomorrow."

Karna, who was sharing a room with Whis, told her. "Huh, did he say that?"

Whis, who was sitting on the bed, leaned forward to ask.

"Yes. Now that you've joined the hero's party, there's something I want you to know."

Karna briefly explained the hero's existence and their position as much as he could.

"I can't believe...Elliot was like that..."

Whis couldn't help but hold his breath.

"Yes, so I'm thinking that Elliot will be the one to stop the strongest monster. I'll support you."

"That's a big responsibility. The fate of the world depends on it."

For Whis, who had been watching Elliot since he was a child, the shock of finding out Elliot's true identity was great. In the end, it was what he was thinking until he fell asleep.

After having breakfast on the first floor of the inn, the four of them finally stood at the east gate of Bilderna Castle Town. After Belhard exchanged a few words with the royal knight standing guard at the east gate, the four of them set foot on their first ground.

"Let's go to the border first. We'll take the eastern road, but we don't know the situation. Let's stay alert."

Elliot gave his first heroic orders, and the group started moving forward.

Trasteria, who had circled around ahead of them, stifled a yawn and was thinking about which monster to assign next.

"It might be a little dangerous, but let's let it go."

He gave these orders, and told Belhard and Karna.

Elliot and the others were walking along the eastern road, where no monsters appeared. They soon entered a forest filled with sunlight filtering through the trees, and the group continued on without being exposed to direct sunlight. However, halfway through, Whis came around in front of them, blocking their way, and readied his bow and arrow.

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"There's something there!"

Elliot and the others still couldn't see it. Following Whis, who was moving forward with his bow and arrow at the ready, they slowly moved forward. After walking for a while, they saw a figure. One person had collapsed at the side of the road, and the other was crouching. It seemed to be a woman looking after a child.

Belhard, who had his lance ready, asked, "Isn't that a human?"

"It looks like it."

Whis muttered as he sheathed his bow and arrow, but his wary expression did not change.

The woman who noticed Elliot and the others called out for help.

"Excuse me! Do you have any potions or anything? A child has a fever and collapsed!"

The four of them ran towards the panicked woman.

"What's wrong!?"

Elliot frantically tried to take out a potion from the pouch on his waist.

"I think it's some kind of illness, but he suddenly collapsed..."

At that moment, Whis drew his dagger and decapitated the woman before she could finish her sentence.

"What!!"

Whis aimed his dagger at the fallen child as Elliot cried out in shock.

The child suddenly jumped up and her dagger cut through the air. The child transformed into a ghoul and tried to flee into the forest in a panic. Belhard, who had his lance at the ready, moved instantly and skewered the ghoul that tried to escape. The woman whose head had been cut off also reverted to her ghoul form.

"It was a monster!"

Elliot exclaimed in amazement again.

"It was oozing with murderous intent and a stench of decay. It was planning to attack us when it was an opportunity."

"I didn't notice..."

"How about that? My skills will come in handy."

"Yeah... If Whis hadn't been there, I would have fallen into a trap for sure."

Elliot had no choice but to agree. He was completely unguarded.

"So, did you pass?"

Elliot nodded in agreement.

"There are monsters like that..."

"Besides, it's strange to be walking down the road without any luggage."

"Yeah, that's true."

"I didn't think about that," Karna replied, stunned.

"You pass, Elliot."

Belhard put his hand on Elliot's shoulder. Elliot nodded once more.

"Come on, let's keep going. I want to get to the border town if possible."

Elliot felt like Whis had taken the lead.

At that moment, countless tornadoes occurred in the Kingdom of Graze. In order to protect the people from disaster, private homes were being reinforced at national expense. King Raniester had taken the utmost precautions, but fifteen people were killed or injured.

With the recession continuing as it was, is there no choice but to endure until the hero arrives?

King Raniester thought as he looked out over the disaster area.