"Hey~, Tio~?"

"...Huh!"

After defeating the slime, I called out to Tio, who was wearing a dazed expression for some reason, several times, and she finally regained her senses.

And then, she pointed at me with trembling hands.

"Y-you, just now... what did you do!?"

"What did I do... I just swung my sword normally and sliced the slime's core."

I explain while slowly recreating the motion on the spot.

However, Tio seemed unconvinced.

"Wha, swinging a sword... just like that, you defeated that (S-rank) monster?"

"Yeah. As Tio knows, I don't have any magical power, so I've been working hard on my sword training instead. Thanks to that, I've become capable of defeating low-level monsters like those without any problem."

"..."

Hearing my response, Tio once again wore a dazed expression.

Could it be a trend for her?

I thought about such trivial things, and right after that.

"...Ah! Y-Yeah! You didn't have any magical power, did you!?"

"Hmm? Oh."

Since we trained together, Tio should know it well, so is there really a need to confirm it?

I wondered about that, but it seemed to be important to her, so Tio looked down and began to ponder something.

"Despite having the ability to defeat a high-level Chaos Slime in an instant, a swordsman without magical power... this characteristic, without a doubt. But why didn't my 'Truth Detection' catch you back then?"

Tio muttered something under her breath and then shook her head from side to side.

"No, let's talk about that later. Right now, that's not important—"

"Woof woof!"

"―Argh, another enemy attack!?"

Suddenly, Tio turns her body towards the direction of the sound with a tense expression.

I held my hand out in front of her.

"No, this guy is fine."

"...Huh?"

"Woof woof~"

What emerged from between the trees was a dog with glossy white fur.

It must have come all this way following me.

"You've done well to follow me."

"Woooof!"

While stroking its head and praising it for coming this far, the dog responded with a happy-sounding bark.

"Y-Yuuri? What does that mean...?"

After seeing our interaction, did she become envious? Tio asks with a trembling voice.

I answered her strongly.

"Oh, I haven't introduced you yet. This dog is my friend."

"W-What!? Did you just call it a dog!?"

"Yeah, but was there something wrong?"

"Of course! No matter how you look at it, that thing is not a dog!"

"...Not a dog?"

"It's not just a matter of how I say it! That guy is clearly the legendary beast Fen―!"

Was it wrong to make such a fuss with her battered body?

Tio clamped her mouth shut, pressing her hand against her stomach with a pained expression.

It seems that the damage is more serious than I imagined.

"Hey, hey, are you okay? Maybe we should head back to town right now and ask a professional healer for help?"

"Ah, I appreciate your concern, but I don't have that kind of luxury..."

The moment Tio was about to finish speaking.

It happened.

Boommmmmm!

"..."

"Ugh!"

"Wooof!"

The ground shook violently, to the point where an ordinary person couldn't stand, and a deafening, absurd roar echoed all around.

Even just the shaking and the sound make it clear that something unusual is happening, but the problem lies with the source.

Those two were emerging from the place where the giant of black mist had been just a moment ago in other words, from the place where the other three of the [Four Symbols of the Fine Weather] were likely to be now, except for Tio.

I voice my doubts while standing still on the shaking ground.

"Hey Tio, what the hell is going on? Didn't you guys defeat that giant black mist?"

In response to that question, Tio places both hands and knees on the ground and answers while trembling.

"I missed my chance to say it earlier, but the battle isn't over yet. That's why I need to get back as soon as possible..."

"...Hmm."

I understand the situation.

However, right now, Tio is so weak that she can't even defeat low-level monsters.

Isn't it a bit reckless to return to the front lines in that condition?

When I conveyed that, Tio smiled as if troubled.

"You hit the nail on the head. Indeed, as you said, even if I were to return now, I wouldn't be able to defeat that enemy."

A figure so weak that it's hard to imagine coming from her, who is usually so strong-willed.

I was about to suggest a temporary retreat to Tio, but—

"---That's right. So, we can't afford to be picky about our methods anymore."

"...Tio?"

However, Tio only showed up for a brief moment.

Coming here, a fire ignited in her eyes.

And then, Tio looks straight at me with those eyes.

"To be honest, I still don't understand what's going on, but... you're the only one I can rely on in this situation."

"Hmm? What do you mean by that..."

"Please, Yuuri."

She went on to tell an astonishing thing.

"I need your help... Please, help my comrades."

"...Huh?"

Isn't that just going to add more dead weight...?

Chapter 28: Request