Episode13(S1-7)：NANA

“...... Why did you stop?”

“Anything more is a waste of time. There is nothing to be gained by expending effort in vain.”

Indeed, the problems are piling up. What caused The Dragonute, the purpose of turning the lake water into a poisonous swamp, what I am looking for, Quon's goal, and the purpose of the Holy Beast and The Angel, and above all, the safety of Scuderia: ....... Are these separate events, or are they related? I hope it is the latter if possible. ......

Well," Alpina turned around and walked deeper into the forest. Was it because she was The Sons of God, who knows no fatigue, or was it because she had made a discovery that lifted her spirits? Quon did not know, but he did not think to point it out.

“It's time to move on. Talking here won't change anything.”

For the next few minutes, the two of them avoided the poisonous swamp. Quon was the only one who had to suffer, since Alpina could fly freely, but he kept his complaints to himself. However, Alpina's provocative attitude toward Quon as she waited for him in her spare time at each place they went was somewhat irritating at times.

Anyway, they proceeded steadily deeper into the forest. The area was originally a backwater with few tourists and only a few peddlers and government officials visiting the area on a regular basis. Thanks to this, the roads are not well maintained, and some areas have long since been eroded by poisonous swamps.

“Hmm? That's ......”

It was then. They noticed a girl crouching at the end of the road. Around her, several Holy Beasts surrounded her, their eyes like ravenous beasts, drooling over their prey.

“The color of her soul is different from The Human's. ...... probably The Dragonute.”

Alpina's sapphire-blue color eyes are tinted with gold colored magical eyes, and she looks at the girl with a penetrating gaze. And at the same time, she thinks in her heart.

But it looks a lot like ...... that soul Zirnia. I miss it, but is it someone else's empty?

“Are you going to help her, Quon?”

“Of, course”

Quon is running faster than he can speak. His grip on The Relic Sword is as fast and light as the wind in the trees. However, the blow from the sword is extremely heavy and easily shatters the numerous Holy Beasts. It is like twisting the hand of a baby. Alpina, who is watching the scene with pleasure, continues to send the souls that have fallen out of their bodies to The Divine Realm.

In the meantime, the girl trembles with fear. It is obvious that she cannot help but be alarmed when a new foreign enemy appears that can easily overrun a foreign enemy that may pose a danger to her. However, this does not stop the girl from becoming rigid, unable to do anything about it.

“Quon's already able to hunt holy beasts with ease? He's growing as fast as ever. I don't need to bother with him at all.”

Alpina crossed her arms and watched the situation unfold. She had been considering joining the war, but she is convinced that she does not have to worry about that. Quon's growth rate exceeds Alpina's expectations, and even though he is The Human Child, he easily slaughters the Holy Beasts.

Then, in a matter of minutes, all the Holy Beasts are destroyed. The bodies and souls are all sent to The Divine Realm, and anything that could harm the girl is washed away. Quon puts away his sword and kneels before the girl. Because of the experience of having someone he cared about taken away from him by the Holy Beasts, Quon was unable to leave the girl behind.

“You okay?”

“Y, yes. It's okay. Thank you for ....... ......”

The girl sits on the ground and bows her head with words of thanks. Her eyes were filled with tears. Quon guesses that the incident must have been terrible for the young girl, although the relationship between The Dragonute's appearance and her actual age is unclear. In fact, Quon was prepared to die when he was attacked by the Holy Beasts.

“You're looking good, Quon.”

“Thanks to you.”

Quon smiled as he turned to Alpina, who was slowly walking toward him. The experience of having once been able to deal with an opponent who was prepared to die with a sense of ease had restored confidence to his heart.

“Apparently, you're not badly hurt. ......By the way, are you The Dragonute after all?”

“Ah, yes. My name is Nana from The Dragonute. Thank you for your help.”

The girl, dressed in the simple, perhaps ethnic clothing of The Dragonute, bows her head once again. Her white-silver colored hair is long, and like The Dragon of old, she has glowing amber colored eyes. On the other hand, she did not have the wings that most The Dragons have, and her appearance was relatively close to The Human.

“Um, ...... I may be asking for your help and I may be being thick, but could you please help my brother as well?”

“Your brother?”

“Yes. My twin brother, Lace, was chased into the forest by that Monsters just like me. Please!”

Quon turns around while calling Alpina's name. Then, she gets the meaning behind the words, but puts up a practical attitude.

“If you want to help, you'll have to go it alone, Quon. I am The Devil. The Devil helps The Human Child based on a contract. If you wish me to help you, you must give me a reasonable price.”

“Okay. Then I'll go it alone--”

But Quon's words are interrupted by Alpina's voice.

“Unfortunately, you are now under contract with me. If any harm were to come to you, what would happen to that contract? To begin with, the price you offered me when you made the contract was your time. In other words, using your time for someone other than me is essentially a breach of contract. You know what that means, don't you?”

The high concentration of magical power overflowing from Alpina's soul forced Quon to become rigid. The fear that if he makes a careless move, his soul will be crushed covers Quon's heart.

“...... I know. But that doesn't mean you can't miss it.”

Alpina shapes her finger into a gun and silently thrusts it at Quon. Magical power gathers at the tip of her finger, forming a ball of light that destroys and shocks. In response, Quon looks into her golden magical eyes, undaunted.

Nana interrupted their bleak exchange, slowly but clearly. She roused her heart, which had been cowed by fear and anxiety, and uttered a words. Those were words of determination to protect her beloved brother.

“If so, please sign a contract with me. Then there will be no problem, won't there?”

Alpina lowers her hand. Quon was relieved to hear that, but at the same time, he was a little worried about how things were going to turn out. When Quon made a contract with Alpina, it ended without incident. However, he could not believe that it would go the same way here. His contract with Alpina was not only a matter of chance, but also a matter of Alpina's free will and caprice. However, this is not the case with the contract with Nana. In other words, this is the first time for a contract to take the form that it should have, and even Quon cannot predict what will happen.

“A contract with The Devil requires a corresponding price. In exchange for saving your brother's life, what would you offer?”

“I will do anything. ....... I will spare no expense if you can help my brother.”

Her eyes showed no hesitation or regret as she resolutely stated her intentions. It was obvious to everyone that this was her true intention.

“Then, you and your brother will swear to be faithful to me for the rest of your lives. In exchange, you will sign a contract with me.”

Alpina snaps her fingers and a magical circle appears on Nana's chest. Through the magical circle, Alpina's magical power is channeled into Nana's soul, and the proof of the contract is engraved. Alpina then reaches into her coat pocket and turns her golden magical eyes to the outskirts of the forest.

“Then let's go pick up your brother. He doesn't seem too far from here.”

“How do you know her brother?”

“Siblings are not that much different in soul color. Besides, I was allowed to see the memory of her soul when I signed the contract just now. Thanks to that, I don't have to go through much trouble.”

Quon looks down at Alpina with a wry smile, "You're not being honest.

“That's what you signed her up for from the beginning, wasn't it? To know her brother's soul.”

“No way. I was only acting according to the procedure that should have been in place. It is true that you need to make a contract with me.”

Alpina turned around and headed deeper into the forest. Quon and Nana followed her.