rd which reacted to Rio’s magic power released a bright light.

After he mowed down the incoming ball of light with his sword, Rio fell straight without obstacles.

Thereupon, Reis showed himself from inside the forest.

Reis’s collecting his magical power in his right hand as he shaping it into a swordhand and tackled from the side to Rio.

The next moment, the two of them intersected in midair, Reis arm was chopped and floated a moment in the air.

Reis immediately seized his chopped arm and took some distance from Rio.

「Dear me, that was a close one. To think that you’re this much....」

Reis gave his praise to Rio while letting out a gloomy smile.

The damage he received on his body from the knee strike, his dominant arm was chopped, the current Reis had wounds all over his body.

And yet, the color of pain wasn’t rising on his face, it’s as good as to say that the wavering of his feelings was completely unreadable.

He was an extremely eerie man.

「How you’ll deal with me, want to surrendered now? The treatment of that arm also better if you’re attaching it quickly right」

「Though I really want to surrender, the circumstances won’t let me to do so. Moreover, even if I surrender you will dispose of me after I blurt out all the information, will you not? 」

Reis spoke with in a carefree manner even when the situation reached this point.

But, it absolutely does not mean that he was getting ahead of himself, much less to say he went mad.

He guessed something as he felt the composure behind that tone.

「........」

When he noticed the intent behind it, Rio sent a piercing glance towards Reis.

Though overwhelmingly powerful as expected of Rio, he felt something wasn’t right.

Though he wanted to get that information, talking with this man more than this might get him tricked――

Though Rio was entering combat with the intention of capturing him alive, in accordance to his own intuition, even the matter of killing Reis was included in his calculation.

It’s okay as long as he can use his mouth. There’s no need to leave his legs or arms.

Even so, he won’t confess if he doesn’t make him feel powerless, he might even kill him if there is a counterattack.

He is the man who tried to harm Miharu and the others by instigating the demons in the first place.

There’s no pros and con in killing him right here right now.

「Oo, so scary」

Maybe because he’s cleverly reading this kind of change in Rio’s objective, Reis showed an exaggerated joke.

There’s a daring smile traced on his mouth.

「Funu, you’re a calm person aren’t you? It seems that beyond this is truly a life or death situation」

Maybe everything was calculated including that arrogant-like attitude, Reis sent a line of sight as if admiring Rio for not being provoked.

「Imprudently reaching my hand toward you is truly a scary thing. It’s not as if you’ll only become a hindrance of our side right. Then let’s not forget the matter of today」

Though Reis was saying that while shrugging his remaining left shoulder, it was unnecessary since Rio already knew his intention.

The prolongation of the conversation to try and buy some time is definitely the trick of this man, Rio threw a gale by manipulating the surrounding atmosphere with spirit arts toward Reis.

「Muh」

Reis balance slightly crumbled, weakening him even more with this move.

Rio didn’t miss that chance.

After accelerating himself by creating a jet of wind, he approached Reis in an instant.

And then, at that time.

「!!!!! 」

Rio immediately created a jet flow and strayed from his orbit as if hopping.

The next moment, a bright red hot flash passed through the place where Rio was supposed be.

「Over there ....」

When he looked at the direction where the flash was coming from, a black dragon could be seen hovering in the far distance.

It seems that the flash just now was the breath of the dragon.

Reis grinned from ear to ear.

「Since it seems my reinforcement finally came. In that case I’ll excuse myself for now」

After leaving those words, Reis started to dash boldly.

「W-WAIT!」

Despite Rio chasing in panic, Reis threw countless balls of light to disturb him.

It was not even a threat for him with just this much.

In the place where two or three of them hit, despite his speed falling slightly, he could flick them with the storm of spirit arts which covered his surroundings.

But, the black dragon that kept sending it flash attacks from far away couldn’t be ignored.

It’s just one attack of many but, if it’s hit the power put into it is incomparable even if he’s diverting it’s orbit with the storm.

Moreover, it’s aim is quite accurate, despite its straight orbit, it seems minute adjustment of the emission inside is possible by changing the direction of the mouth that breathed the flash.

Completely focusing on avoiding that flash, bombed by several balls of light, Rio’s speed kept falling.

And then, despite he choose to slightly crumbling his balance, the flash is fired and aiming at Rio.

「CEH」

He reluctantly stopped on that place and then, Rio decided to intercept the dragon breath from the front.

By gathering a great amount of magic power in his right hand, he converted it to pure energy with spirit arts and then, fired it toward the direction where the flash was coming.

Though Reis saw that image with an astonished expression from the distance, overtaking him after this should be impossible.

Despite the fired spirit arts, lightning strike, for a final blow, Reis cleverly avoid it.

The black dragon also turned around and then fled to a different direction from Rio.

Rio sighed deeply as he looked at the two shadows which vanished to the distant sky.

And then, after he relaxed his battle state, Rio retreated towards the rock house.

☆★☆★☆★

One month later.

Rios making sure to not leave Miharu and the others side as much as possible, despite consolidating the protection along with Aisia, everyday life in this one month passed by peacefully as if the riot from before was a lie.

Though he was secluded in the house, maybe because he felt something as soon as the demon approached one month ago, Masato started tackling his swordsmanship training even more earnestly.

That is also the same with Aki, she didn’t interfere with Masato’s training by saying that it was too extreme, she was a bit embarrassed as she asked Rio to supervise her training.

Though he felt that these two were a bit too enthusiastic, that is one way or another, Miharu’s taking the wheel.

And then, despite one month having passed in the blink of an eye, Galwark kingdom has announced the existence of the hero just a few days ago.

The name of this hero is Sumeragi Satsuki*, from the fact that she had the same name as the acquaintance of Miharu, it definitely is the person herself. [TL : Her Kanji name means “Empress of one hundreth-million Moon”/皇沙月, the middle kanji read as “Sa” not “Suna”]

Currently, in the Galwark kingdom there is every day gossip about rumors about her.

Though Almond successfully repelled the demons, the damage by no means could be ignored.

The traces of the damage made by the demons could be seen everywhere in the west part of the city, it was currently in the middle of restoration.

But, the atmosphere of Almond also turned really good due to the good news of the hero summoning who appeared again after more than 1000 years.

In order to fulfill the interview with Liselotte, Rio visited Almond again one month later knowing her existence to gather the information.

By doing so, he wanted to help Miharu, Aki and Masato in meeting with Satsuki again but, seeing that the whereabouts of Satsuki was the capital, some kind of connection is needed to meet her from the front.

Though he could just raid the capital bringing them along, it would cause many kinds of trouble when he thought about the consequences.

After laying out his thoughts, whether the plan is good or not, Rio arrived at Liselotte’s mansion.

He had an appointment to meet her after one month, his business was to report about the contract regarding the supply of liquor.

While at the same time he was bringing along a few samples of the liquor.

Though Liselotte felt exhausted by restoration work which is in progress, she met him with a full smile when Rio showed himself.

For the meantime, when he presented the native liquor of Seirei no Tami, Rio was led towards the inside of the mansion by Liselotte.

While doing a light chat, Rio decided to mainly tell her the aftermath after he left the mansion, and after finished hearing the general situation he delivered the liquor.

「Regarding the magic stones of the demons beaten by Haruto-sama, would you accept it if they are bought by us? Since you’re unexpectedly the reason that the mansion evaded a crisis, we’ll give our best price」

There, Liselotte asked to check whether the magic stones of the four ghouls beaten by Rio could be sold to her.

「Yeah, I don’t mind it but....」

Rio easily nodded to her.

In the first place, he desperately flew back to his house at that time, the matter regarding the magic stones of the ghouls didn’t register in his head.

It’s similar to a throw away item for Rio, Liselotte unexpectedly noted that Rio had the ownership over it.

「Thank you very much! 」

Liselotte nodded delighted.

Rio was also delighted with the unexpected income.

「But, it shouldn’t be enough for a reward by just adding an extra amount of money to the sale of the magic stones, right? Though I’m thinking whether I can compensate you with another thing, would you tell me if there’s something you wish for? 」

「Reward is it?」

Rio stared wide eyed at the unexpected proposal from Liselotte.

「Yes. Because it is thanks to Haruto-sama that the demons that appeared in the mansion could be vanquished, the damage on our side is at minimum」

Though Rio did not even think anything as he left right after beating the demon who kept hindering him, nevertheless many people were saved by his actions.

Though the rest of the ghouls that wandered in the city were completely exterminated by the capable personnel like Aria, since the ghouls appeared in the mansion which lacked war-potential, they definitely wouldn’t be able to repel them if not for Rio’s cooperation.

「Is that so. I see....」

Rio muttered as he placed his hands on his chin as if thinking about something.

Rio didn’t beat the ghouls to save Liselotte.

Therefore he had no intention to receive a reward, though he was originally going to refuse the reward, he was suddenly struck with a really excellent idea.

Though he hesitated slightly when he was thinking about the validity of the plan, he felt as if it was not a bad choice.

He felt so,

「Then, I will tell you my wish」

Rio cut short the talk with a dignified voice.

Hearing that manner of speaking and stare as if he became determined in something, Liselotte straightened herself to hear what kind of wish he wanted.

「I want to have a meeting with the hero of Galwark kingdom」

Liselotte eyes opened wide due to the unexpected request from Rio, and let out a smile that was a bit childish.