A mud bear (mud grizzly) approaches us with bloodshot eyes.
　We intercept the two bears as they come toward us.

　Mud bears are ferocious monsters, but at the same time, they are also cowardly.
　When they are attacked by an opponent, they are frightened by the pain.
　If you inflict more damage, they will flee from the spot.

''Ha!''

　I ducked the blow swung down with force and flashed as if to scoop it up.
　Blood spurts out, but it doesn't result in an amputation.
　Growling in pain, the mud bear swung his arm down again.

　I stepped and avoided it.
　As he dodges, he concentrates his attack on the part he had just cut.
　Blood spilled out and the movement of my right arm fell.

　So I deliberately pull and invite the mud bear to attack.
　He swung his taiji from the upper level towards the arm that had been slammed into the ground.
　The right arm of the mud bear falls to the ground.

　If you inflict the damage of losing one arm, the mud bear should try to escape--.

"----

　And then he cleaved with his remaining left arm.
　He caught it with his jade taiji and used the recoil to jump backwards.

''These mud bears, there's something strange about them.
''Yeah. I gave him a light demon eye, too, but instead of being frightened, he's coming at me.

　Six mud bears are looking at us.
　They seem to regard us as more of a threat than the people riding in the carriage.
　There are some mud bears that have eaten Elfi's magic eye and lost parts of their bodies, but they don't seem to feel any pain.

"Maybe it's a new species that's been around for 30 years.
That may well be the case, but ......

　Six mud bears began to move at the same time.
　They ran on four feet on the ground and formed a half-moon formation.
　Obviously, these guys are coordinated.

''Let's eliminate them with my arms for now. Iori, stay back.

　Elfie stepped forward.

''Come on, scrape away. You'll be able to see a glimpse of the (former) Demon King's abilities. ......!

　While whispering and whispering yuan, Elfie breathed out air flames.
　Instead of his twin eyes, the magic power concentrated on his right arm.
　He opened his five fingers and took up a stance with his claws sticking out.


"Demon arm broken off."


　The magic power that covered his arm formed a huge five claws.
　As it is, Elfi cleaves his right arm to the mud bears that were coming towards him.

　The claws, reminiscent of those of the dragon species, simultaneously touched the mud bears that rushed in from the front.
　The bodies of the five mud bears were torn to shreds and blown apart.
　Five deep scars were carved into the ground as well, and the shock wave violently shook the surrounding plants and trees.

　It was truly overkill.
　The only one that was able to evade was the one that had been slow to start.
　It was also blown away by Elfi's shockwave.

''----''

　The last one flipped its body around in a circle and changed its target from us to the carriage.
　It's the one I slashed off my right arm earlier.　

　The people in the carriage seemed to be distracted by Elfi's blow.
　The reversed mud bear caught me off guard and my reaction was delayed.

　...... It can't be helped.

''Huh--!''

　He threw two knives at the back legs of the mud bear, which was running to the carriage on four legs.
　The knives stabbed deep into the hind legs of the mud bear that had its back turned.
　The knives are quite sharp, as they are said to be forged by Zoelz.

　The knife's stab caused the mud bear to stop moving.

　It passed by Elfi's side and thinned out into a mud bear.
　The mud bear turns its body towards you and opens its mouth to intercept you.

　I'm going to concentrate my magic power and release the rocks.

"--Poof!

　That magic was never released.

　Because earlier than that, the flash of this one had caused it to die.

　The head of the mud bear with its mouth open fell to the ground with a zuri.

　The battle ended as the six mud bears that were causing a commotion on the street were wiped out.


◆

"Thank you!

　After the battle with the mud bear.
　A woman jumped down from the carriage and thanked us in a loud voice.
　As it is, she's running towards us.

　The woman running towards us is in her twenties wearing a dress.
　I'm not just talking about the dress, but also necklaces, rings and other ornaments.
　From the way they look, they are probably aristocrats.

...... probably a nobleman. Don't act rude because it's too much trouble to offend them.
Of course.

　At the same time as she nailed Elfie in a whisper, a woman came right in front of her.

''Haha ...... haha ....... Thank you so much for saving me from a dangerous place!

　The woman had long red hair that showed that it had been taken care of, and large Akane eyes.
　She was wearing a thin layer of makeup and her lips were also drawn in red.
　She seemed to be wearing perfume, and a softly sweet smell wafted through the air.
　...... This is supposed to be the first time we've met, but for some reason I have a sense of deja vu.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

No need to thank me. Nothing wrong with you?
Yes, thank you. Yes, sir. It was a close call, but no one was seriously hurt.

　According to the woman, she was passing through the city streets in her carriage when she was suddenly attacked by a mud bear.
　By being well maintained in this area, there are not many demons in the area.
　Therefore, it seems that they didn't have much strength and would have been in danger if we weren't there.

　Although his voice is loud, you can tell from his mannerisms and tone of voice that he was raised well.
　However, he didn't have the arrogant attitude of a nobleman of the kingdom.
　That alone is a moderately good impression.

　If it was those guys, they would have shouted, "Why didn't you help us earlier! It's even conceivable that they would yell at you from the very beginning.

"Master Karen!

　A man who looked like a squire came over to us from the carriage.
　A yellow-haired man in his early 30s.

"You don't even know if it's safe to move.
''It's all right!　These people have defeated the demons, so you are safe!
'............'

　The man who called the woman Karen-sama glanced at me.
　I could sense some thorny things in his gaze.

...... From the way you're dressed, you're not from around here. Excuse me, where are you from?

　With a sullen expression on his face, the man asks you about your status.
　It's a good idea to say, "A person of low status should not approach the lady.
　This is quite an attitude towards the person you've helped, even if it's a consequence.

...... "This is who we are.

　Without letting it show on my face, I pulled my guild card out of my pouch.
　It was for times like these that I became an adventurer.

''Allied adventurers ....... Is that also an A-rank for both of you ......!

　The woman put her hand over her mouth in surprise.
　The man narrows his eyes and is silent.
　This will not take a small amount of licking.

'I'm sorry I'm late. My name is Karen Rayford!
'...... I'm Jan, Lady Karen's squire.

　Karen claimed to be an Imperial nobleman, the daughter of the Lord of Rayford's estate down the road.
　I've heard of the surname Rayford before.
　When I saw Karen earlier, I didn't think it was ...... that I felt a sense of deja vu when I saw Karen.

'I'd like to ask you: "Do you know ...... Gash Reynard?
That's my father's name... ...... Do you know my father?
Do you know my father? ----

　Gash Reynard.

　He was a nobleman I met when I came to the Empire thirty years ago.
　We fought together, and he left an impression on me.
　He was one of the people I wanted to meet at first sight.

An old ...... acquaintance, sort of.
Really? ......

　For some reason, Karen's expression darkened at my words.
　A little bit of a bad feeling passed through my chest.

'Could it be that the reason you were passing through here was because you had something to do with my father?
No, it was a coincidence. I have to go to the dead swamp labyrinth.

　Karen held her tongue once and shook her head.

''I'm an ...... adventurer, and you may have come to defeat the labyrinth, but unfortunately I can't enter the labyrinth at the moment.''
............ Why?

　I have a feeling of trouble.
　I heard Elfie let out a small gasp of air with his eyes closed.
　I feel the same way.

It's because the ...... labyrinth has been warded off.
Warding?

　Karen said.

　The wards have been put up to keep the demons out.
　That much is good.
　The wards should have been put up in the kingdom's labyrinth as well.

　From the way Karen talks, there seems to be some complications, which is fine.
　But the problem was what he said next.

''The wards are being put up in the labyrinth by ----.

　The name of a nobleman who is said to be warding off the labyrinth.

''--The noblewoman is named Olivia Eliesteel.

　He wobbled and swayed a little.
　I suppressed my mouth so that Karen wouldn't see me.

'...... Iori?'

　I was surprised to learn that the woman I saved was the daughter of a former acquaintance.
　It's a happy coincidence.
　But I didn't expect to hear this name from that woman.

　Olivia Eliebus, the woman who betrayed me.

　The name of the woman who betrayed me.