Elliot and the others were allowed to sleep for only an hour, and walked along the approach to the shrine where the sun had risen completely. According to the locals, Mitami Shrine should be located up ahead.

"...So, Whis and I will launch a raid. The enemy seems to be fast, so be prepared. If we hesitate, we might get taken out."

"I understand. Karna will do the healing, so we'll focus on attacking."

After walking along the long approach to the shrine and climbing the stairs, the four couldn't believe their eyes when they saw a sight at the top.

The battle had already ended, and a monster with sharp claws like a tiger and a snake's tail was lying there with its neck severed. Nearby was a monkey-like head that seemed to belong to the monster. The other monsters had already been exterminated.

Two people had their backs turned to Elliot and the others, looking down at the Nue. One of them was a woman wearing a white gi on top, black hakama on the bottom, and holding a Japanese sword. Her princess-cut hair was tied back for ease of movement. The other was a man with short black hair and black clothing covering his mouth. When they noticed Elliot and the others, they turned around slightly and looked over their shoulders at the four of them.

"What is this...? What is this?"

The woman with the Japanese sword answered the stunned Elliot and the others.

"The residents were in trouble, so we used Jin to punish them." The woman with the Japanese sword looked closely at Elliot and the others' equipment.

"Are you also here to defeat the Nue? Weak justice will destroy you, so stop."

Whis was annoyed by the word weak.

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"My, you're getting cocky just from defeating a slightly larger monster, you must have only fought weaker foes."

"How rude of you to my young lady!"

The man in black drew his wakizashi and got ready.

"You're motivated!"

"Looking closely, it seems that you're also fighting monsters and traveling. Let me prove that you have the strength to uphold justice."

He holds his Japanese sword in front of him and faces Elliot.

"No, I'm not going to fight!"

"Stop it!"

At a time when things were about to explode, Belhard shouts in a voice that echoes throughout the temple grounds.

"What's the point of humans fighting each other? A practice match would be one thing, but fighting with real swords is crazy."

The two who defeated the Nue were still excited after the fight, and Whis blamed them for returning the challenge.

The woman holding the Japanese sword let her guard down, shook off the blood from her sword, and sheathed it.

"That's true. Touji, let's put away our spears now."

"Yes, my lady."

The man in black clothes who was called Touji also sheathed his wakizashi. "You guys came to subjugate the Nue as well, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but it looks like you got there first."

"... Did you come from El Santo by any chance?"

"That's right, you came here after liberating the capital of El Santo."

"I see. So you were the ones who liberated the capital of El Santo. I'd heard about it from the people in the town."

At that moment, Elliot remembered the story of the two heroes he'd heard in the town of El Santo.

"I see, so you guys were also working to liberate El Santo."

"Why did you come from El Santo to Ittsukuni?"

"That's to subjugate the Demon King."

"There's no such thing as a Demon King," Belhard sighed in his mind.

"A Demon King... does such a person really exist?"

"There is. I can definitely feel it."

The woman with the Japanese sword placed her finger on her small chin and thought for a while. "I understand. If such a being exists, it will bring disaster to the people. We must defeat it. Let's join forces."

The woman with the Japanese sword extended her hand.

Elliot reflexively shook her hand.

"I'm Ruri Tachikawa. And my companion is Touji Kaga. From now on, I'll be good to you."

Ruri Tachikawa and Touji Kaga joined the party.

"Why! Why aren't things going as planned!?"

Tsuraria, who had been listening to the conversation, stomped her feet in anger.

"Now, now, Tsuraria-san, let's have some Umeshu and take a dip in the hot springs. It'll help relieve your fatigue."

Tsuraria glared back at the shinobi who tried to soothe her.

"If that's how it goes, I'll take care of everyone together. Be prepared!"

The shinobi didn't know what she was prepared for, but he patted his chest.