"Bastard. I've been in trouble since I came to Hakoin! ”

Water is dripping from school uniforms. While wringing the water off his clothes, he went to the base. Since Sixteen Nights was summoned to the Hakoto Garden, he has been soaking wet several times.

Along the unpaved deserted path, we came to the uninhabited Ruin Street. After that, the sound of the ground was heard that could destroy the house.

The sound was accompanied by the blowing wind that blew up the dust, and Sixteen Nights furrowed his eyebrows in surprise.

（…… What, that voice just now)

Quack! The broken door was violently opened, and Sixteen Nights immediately turned in the direction from which the chirping of the earth had come from. There are no people living in this neighborhood, so no one should approach it.

The ruins of the biggest natural disaster in the box garden, the claw marks of the "Demon King", are still deeply remaining, and even those who take advantage of the fire to rob will not approach. After years of devastation, only the houses buried in the dust and the pale white withered street trees like stone monuments remain.

So what's going on with this chirp? Sixteen Nights passed silently through the abandoned streets, during which the bad chirp rang out several times.

It's a beautiful job for a robber while it's hot, isn't it, the next moment he laughed.

“——DEEEEEEEeeeeEEEEEEEN！！！”

The prisoner stopped confessing to himself. Next to him, the prisoner's master made a sharp noise.

"Dean, haven't you said it many times? You are forbidden to scream except during battle! ”

“……… DeN。 ”

The red steel puppet replied softly.

Incredibly, while the voice was lowered, the huge body also looked a little smaller.

Sixteen nights helplessly hung their shoulders, as if they were very disappointed, approaching the distant birds.

“…… Ah, Sixteen Nights? What are you doing in a place like this? ”

"That's my line, miss. What are you doing in this remote ruin street? ”

"It's just demolishing the house and rebuilding it. Although the farm park is a priority, you can't just leave the residential area alone, right? ”

"Ahh

"But Miss, you're too messy with dolls. It's almost twenty-four hours a day, isn't it? When the farm is over, let him take a break! ”

After Sixteen Nights finished speaking mockingly, Asuka showed a dissatisfied expression that burned in his heart.

"That...... Well, that's right. That's it for today! ”

“DeN——”

Dean nodded at the one-eyed head and held out a huge hand to the bird. Asuka gracefully lifted the hem of her gown and sat on Dean's shoulder.

Seeing this, Sixteen Nights gently jumped on the other shoulder.

"It's rude!"

"If it's rude, please come down."

"That's not rude."

"What is that? …… Or is there anything impressive? ”

The two swayed and conversed to the sound of Dean's dull footsteps.

Not long after advancing, the sound of Kasugabe Yao came from above with a strong wind.

"You two, are you going back now?"

"Hmm. Kasugabe too? ”

"Hmm. I also...... Dean's head、Is it rude? ”

"Please—"

"Hey, it's not fair! Miss! ”

Sixteen Nights protested, and Asuka turned her face triumphantly to the side.

Yao hugged Dean's head in a large font and rode up. As soon as he reached the top of his head, he exhaled heavily.

"Sixteen nights, have you achieved anything?"

"That's great. Well~ Stay tuned! Sixteen Nights folded his arms and smiled.

"It's a pity that Li Najun was completely stilled in action, and he was really helpless."

"yes~ He's idle right now." Yao muttered in a calmer manner than usual and lay down on Dean's head.

Although they felt unbelievable about it on the sixteenth night, they must have been tired and wanted to rest.

The whole crew walked through Ruins Street to the cistern. While there are other roads that lead to the stronghold, this is the only wide road that allows Dean to pass without destroying things. All the staff had planned to walk all the way back to the base, but a voice came from the other side of the road leading to the farm.

Lily, a fox lady featuring an apron.

"Ah, are you back?"

"We're back, Lily, are things done with the farm?"

"Yes. Except for simple tasks such as planting, everything else was done. Now it's time to check the canal from the reservoir to the farm. It should be prepared before the field is adjusted. ”

If you look closely, Lily's hands are covered in mud.

I don't know if I have done farm work under the sun, and I have shiny beads of sweat on my forehead. But she didn't seem to mind working in such a hot weather, and the smile on Lily's face was more energetic than usual. The two tails, which were half the length of the body, also wagged back and forth as if they were not tired.

"Looks like I'm happy~"

"Yes! I'm glad to be able to contribute to this together! Enjoy lunch, everyone! ”

Lily's fox ears flickered up and she said with a smile. She looked at the miscellaneous trees that connected the farm for a while, and clenched her muddy hands to look at Sixteen Nights and the others.

"And...... My family used to be in charge of the farm. Every time I look at the barren land, I think that our descendants will not be able to touch the land anymore...... I've been dying all along—"

Lily clenched her little muddy hand lovely. She's more capable than others, and she lives a much more fulfilling day than before.

— at this moment.

'Goo~~~~! The stomachs of the four men cried together.

Together, (mainly Asuka and Lily), their faces flushed.

“…… Ah, that-"

“…… Asuka is very rude. ”

"Slow, slow! Kasugabe Division!? ”

"It's all the ladies who grew up in the greenhouse......

'Tsk————! Asuka glared sharply at Sixteen Nights. "For the sake of common sense, this is the place for men to step forward, right!?"

Lily, who was in a panic, said as if she had finally remembered lunch.

"Actually, lunch is being prepared at the base! Our lunch is only the simplest rice ball, but it should be able to increase the variety in a little while. Do you have any ingredients to hope for?"

"Really? That's plum squirrel soy sauce. ”

"I'll just kombu~"

“…… Sea· Chicken·mayonnaise”【Sea· Chicken, a famous canned food in Japan. Using fish as a raw material, it tastes similar to chicken and gets its name, and the one behind it seems to be mayonnaise ==】

"Huh?" Asuka and Lily tilted their heads. Yao tried to interject, but struggled with how to explain.

Sixteen Nights, who desperately held back her laughter, jumped up to Lily and picked her up.

"Ten, sixteen nights, sir!? ,—"

"Lily, take it. If you don't hurry up, the eldest lady will be hungry again~"

"Ahh

"Ahh

"Didn't you say it at first, and the rude words came down. Alright, Lily, sit up, and those who are rude will please walk back by themselves! Asuka turned his face in displeasure. With a wry smile, Sixteen Nights put Lily in Dean's hand and walked away by himself.

After walking the street connecting the cistern and the stronghold, it was already past noon.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————

The third watch is over!