Is this divine intervention or…

“Nevertheless… What could this possibly be?
It’s as if this place was plucked out from the Land of Death”

Regaining vitality from the flavor and juice of the apple…
Having finally regained the composure to look around, Uruka approached a spring gushing with water and murmured so.
While reaching into the water, she glanced at the middle-aged samurai accompanying her.

“Banho, look at this.
You must have seen the muddy cloudiness just a while ago…
However, now it’s clear like this…”

The water she scooped up while talking was clear and pure as far as the eye could see…
Although visually similar to a human nose, in terms of smell, a beastman’s nose far exceeds it.
Even after smelling it with that nose, no issue was felt. In fact, after taking a sip, it tasted remarkably delicious, like fresh spring water flowing deep in the mountains.

“Hm, for the water quality to change so rapidly in a short time…!
It’s as if something invisible is at work here.”

Banho, also tasting the water from the spring, nods thoughtfully as he savors it.

“It seems hardly an event within human understanding…”

“In that case, Uruka-sama, what if we consider it this way?
In reality, an existence beyond human understanding has brought this about.”

“What do you mean?”

Banho speaks solemnly to the puzzled Uruka.

“At the moment when Uruka-sama, the last survivor of the royal family of the beastman, was on the brink of exhaustion, an improbable water source appeared before them…
I cannot help but think this might be a sign from the heavens.”

“That is…”

Banho, with a stern expression, continued despite Uruka’s wry smile at his outlandish words.

“It may sound absurd…?
But what other explanation could there possibly be?
Princess, this spring and that apple, they indeed are signs from heaven!
This is what the heavens are proclaiming.
One must not give up…!
One must survive by any means necessary and achieve the revival of the Beastman Country…!”

Before they knew it…
Around Uruka, samurais who have been accompanying her have gathered.
Until moments ago, despair flickered in their eyes to varying degrees.
However, now, there is no such shadow to be seen… Their eyes were only illuminated by the flame of hope.

It’s not just a matter of gaining spirit and vitality…
Everyone is thinking the exact same thing as Banho.

“Uruka-sama…!”

“We share the same thoughts as well…!”

“Let’s do it!”

“We have the help of the heavens on our side!”

It was not the young girl but the much older warriors who declared such emphatically.
Unexpectedly, even Uruka felt pressured and seemed on the verge of expressing agreement at that moment.

“Unfortunately, that opinion is mistaken.”

A voice of an unknown man resonated from somewhere.

“…What’s this!”

With his hand on the sword at his waist, Banho swiftly scanned his surroundings.
Although his prime physical condition might have long passed, his past as a renowned warrior in the country of the beastmen was widely recognized.
Faster than any samurai looking around, he quickly identifies the source of the sound.

“Is that… a monster!?
No… it’s different… but…”

Seeing that, Banho furrowed his brow deeply.

He was a veteran.

Having cut down countless humans and demons, he had never encountered such a being before.

A flying object made of something different from metal, wood, or animal skin…
The spherical object, about the size of a handball, emitted a mysterious light from its base as it floated in the sky.

“Have I startled you?
But for now, rest assured that I have no intention of harming you.”

Where is the voice coming from…?
A sphere floating in the sky declares so.

The identity of this completely unknown sphere…
Yet, with only small knives at their waists as weapons, the samurai, lacking the means to counter this entity, seemed to have no choice but to simply listen and remain on guard.
Breaking the deadlock was, as expected, Banho.

“…From what I gather, this seems to be a type of skill that transmits people’s voices from a distance.”

As the ancients said, ‘With age comes wisdom.’
They discuss speculations, mobilizing all their knowledge against the abnormal entity.

Beastmen, as a race, have a low affinity towards magic; hence, natives of the beastmen country lack substantial knowledge of magic.
Conversely, this equation brought him the understanding that what cannot be understood is magic.

“It’s not a spell, but what am I doing is quite similar.
Here, I have also observed your presence.
I perceive you as fugitives from the Fain Empire, but is that assessment correct?”

“It is not wrong…
But it is impolite to address me unilaterally without revealing yourself.
If you are innocent, then please reveal yourself!
Then, we shall, in a dignified manner, disclose our names and statuses!”

“Banho…!?”

Declare our names and statuses…
In response to those words, Uruka, the last princess of the fallen nation, murmured quietly.
However, as Banho turned towards his liege,

“Uruka-sama… Please entrust this to me.”

He whispered softly so as not to draw attention.

…He was about to take a gamble.

Sensing this fact, Uruka and those around her stiffened with tension.
If Uruka is recognized to be the last princess of the beastman tribe…
The response from the unseen counterpart would likely split into two main options.

Namely, to sell her to the Empire or to protect Uruka.

It’s uncertain who this party is, but one thing is sure: they are rooted in the Land of Death... they can be our adversary.
Therefore, it was a wager made with the acceptance that there were no proactive choices available from the start for us, who would have collapsed without this oasis.

If they could protect their young lady, it would be divine intervention…
On the contrary, if they intend to sell her to the Empire… they must rely on their swords to carve a path somehow.

The conclusion reached by the elderly samurai was silently transmitted to all who had shared in their joys and sorrows, even without using words.

“Your request for us to show ourselves is quite reasonable!
We are on our way to your location as well.”

It was when such a response came back from the sphere.

“Banho! Is this it!?”

Pointing towards the spring that had turned into a giant water mirror, Uruka shouted so.
What in the world…!?
Samurais, including Banho, cautiously shifted their gaze in that direction… and their eyes widened in astonishment.

A mysterious radiance unfolds around the spring…
Enveloping them as well, forming a circular shape on the ground…
Magic light? They doubted, as such spells had never been witnessed even in battles with the Empire.

“You must step outside of that light for a while.
Otherwise, I cannot guarantee your safety.”

Such words were emitted from the sphere, causing everyone to exchange glances.
However, there was really no reason to protest.
The group of the doomed nation obediently evacuated to the outside of the light.

They had been waiting for that moment…
The voice emanating from the sphere… or rather, the thing carrying it, slowly raises its gigantic body from within the light…!