After meeting up with Dustin, the two spear users, we immediately started moving towards Athropolis.

　Even though we're bypassing the highly dangerous forest area, it doesn't mean that there are no threats, and various demons appear in front of us to attack us every chance they get.

　However, this time the group is clearly overpowered.
　It is only the route that the adventurers have deemed relatively safe, and even if they were to be attacked, they would be able to kick them out with the force of an armor-sleeve.

　-- If you pass by the side of the swamp, winged and limbless winged and tailed carnivorous flying frogs, water reapers, leap through the air one after the other, leaping through the water and pouncing on you with large mouths that swallow even dogs and cats in one gulp.

　It's a good idea to be careful, and if you're not careful, humans can be choked and preyed upon by having their heads sucked into their mouths, but it's easy enough to cut them off and discard them if you know how to use your arms.

　--If you try to bypass the muddy area, a number of spontaneous mudmen, who are like mud golems, will crawl out and try to grab your legs and drag you in at the drop of a hat.

　If they had acted alone, they might have required quite a bit of attention due to the darkness around them, but their movements themselves are slow, so with this many people, they don't pose much of a threat.

　--I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of people who will be able to help you.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you see it.

　--The first time a battle that seemed to be a battle occurred was an encounter with a school of fishmen who looked like fish with limbs.

　Considering the fact that it wasn't mentioned in the documents and that they seemed surprised and upset over there too, they must have come across it as they were moving to hunt or something.

　Fortunately, or rather, they escaped like a scattering of spiderlings when they cut down the first one or two, so we decided not to chase deeper and hurry onward.

　-- And of all the demons we encountered in the day today, the one that was the most formidable foe was --.

"Master Luke, are you all right?

　Sakura waved the cherry-red blade that had cut off the aquatic horse's (Kelpie's) head and raced back, brushing away the blood.

''Yeah, nothing over here. Everyone's not injured either, right?

　I look around and look around at the water's edge where a few kelpie corpses were lying around.

　It was a sudden attack, but there were zero injuries.
　After using magic to prevent the first attack of the surprise attack, the people in charge of the white soldiers were in charge of killing one by one - only Dustin had killed two of them with one move - but they kicked them off in a flash.

'A horse that lives in the water ......?　He was using powerful water magic for that, and although I could sense a pretty terrific killing intent.
It's a Kelpie. It's not so much a horse as a demon that can take the form of a horse. He's a carnivore, and apparently has a taste for human flesh.
M...... cannibalistic demons, you mean? No wonder they have horrible fangs.

　Aquatic horses, kelpies.

　It's not so uncommon for demons to prey on humans, but most of them are only preying on humans without distinction from other animals, so when it comes to demons that actively target human flesh, there are only a few.

　The kelpie is one of those human-loving demons, and it is a particularly well known race of demons that live near water.

I've heard that in other dungeons, they often use magic to trick you into thinking they are deceiving you, but the Kelpies here were strangely aggressive. Maybe they were unfamiliar with the humans because they hadn't been around long enough for them to show up.
At any rate, it's a fortuitous thing that we didn't have the help of a godsend.
''C'mon ......, no amount of god dropping is overkill against such an ordinary demon. Just having Dustin around makes me feel sorry for him.

　I placed my hand on the crimson sword made by Hihiyrokane that I had lowered to my waist while telling Sakura that she was overreacting.

　The sword of the key ritual implement of the god-surrender - Sakura regretted letting the god-surrender get out of control in the previous battle and chose to leave this sword in my care.

　However, considering the upcoming battle, it is indeed a shame to give up the power of the godsend completely.

　I'm not going to be able to tell you what to do with it.

...... Alright, we should be arriving at the camp the adventurers have set up in a little while, so let's take a break there. Are you two still able to walk?

　I decided to turn to Noir and Hild and check their condition.

　Both of them seem to be more tired than the rest of us, due to the fact that they are walking around in an unfamiliar environment.

''Da, Dajo, my husband ...... still, somehow .......''
Fieldwork can't be neglected: "Fieldwork can't be neglected: ...... It's times like these that the impact of the day-to-day is .......
We're almost there. Good luck.

　With Erica's potions to keep them hydrated and nourished, they trudged through the few remaining miles without stopping to reach the camp where the adventurers were based.

　The location is relatively dry and on a hilltop with a good view.

　It's a place where you can rest in peace, with fences and skill-based nets all around.

　I instructed everyone to rest in their own way, and then I walked to the very edge of the fence-protected area.

...... something, it's making me feel strangely nostalgic.
Do you remember the White Wolf Woods?

　I was looking at the night view of the deep realm, and before I knew it, Garnett had arrived next to me.

　He acted naturally, as if it was natural.

　I myself almost feel a strong sense of discomfort at the fact that Garnett wasn't there until just now.

'Do you understand after all?　I don't think it's really that similar, but the White Wolf Forest was also near the ridiculously large Lake Titania. Water and forest side by side is kind of .......

　In fact, it's probably not a very unusual location.

　Trees need plenty of water to grow, and rivers and lakes are part of the forest area, so there should be similar sites all over the continent.

　Even so, one can't help but feel an inexplicable sense of nostalgia.

''White Wolf Forest and, no, are you getting along with Mark these days?''
'What kind of association is that? Well, ...... I think I can talk to you more decently than I did in the beginning. I think you've gone from someone you don't want to admit to being one of your people to at least being a bad brother.
I'm glad to hear that. I'm sure you've known that guy for a long time, so it doesn't get any better than that, does it?

　After I said that with a serious face, Garnett smiled shyly and faked it.

　Long association. That's certainly true.
　Regardless of the activities of the White Wolf Knights, for Garnett, it's 'an existence that will eventually become a family'.

...... That's right. Speaking of siblings, I need to meet up with the rest of the Argentean family too. So far I've met with Lord Rembrandt and Commander Carmine, and you and A(r)ma(r) and .......

　I'll also mention the name of Alma, the ostensible prospective fiancée, in case someone else may be listening in on the conversation.

　This way, if someone happens to overhear, they'll think me and Alma's brother (Garnett) are having a conversation about Alma.

'Oh, crap ...... I've definitely had that problem. I'm going to have to let Valentine and Scarlett meet you, too.
What's the matter with you?
It's a long story. They're not gonna get along with each other very well. Well, we'll talk about it later. Let's just focus on the Asropolis.

　Biting down bitterly on complicated emotions, Garnett clapped me on the back and then turned on his heel.

　I tightened my grip on the feeling that I was about to float away, and followed Garnett back to the camp.