The water demon general has broken the wards ......?
...... Yes. The demon tribe that seems to be the water demon general who shattered the warding is leading several demons towards the village ......!

　It is said that the lordsmen who were quick to notice the attack are ringing the bell and calling for evacuation.
　It seems that the lords have sent messengers to the mansions of both Olivia and Karen.

''Ka, Karen-sama...... how can we......
''Please hurry up and evacuate the territories. I'll take care of the water demon general and the demons.
'There are some lords that have been delayed in escaping: ....... Please, Karen-sama, please ......!

　After evacuating the lords who had come to the mansion, Karen began to give out instructions crisply.
　He seemed to rally the troops in the territory and head towards the Dead Swamp Maze.

''Karen-san, we'll accompany you!
''No ....... You can't cause any more trouble for Iori and the others. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one. Therefore, Iori-san and the others should evacuate together with the residents of the territory.

　The suggestion to accompany him was sullenly rejected by Karen.
　He said that he wanted to protect the territorial residents of the refuge in case something happened, and Karen ran off.

.............

　Karen's complexion is poor.
　His physical condition and mental state is probably the worst.
　How can you have a decent command in such a state ......?

''I can't believe that the water demon general who is supposed to be guarding the labyrinth is going all the way out ......
'They must have had something to do out there. ...... For example, there's an enemy that needs to be defeated.
...... Are we the cause of all this?
I don't know. But I think that's very possible.
............

　There would be troops in Eliesteel territory, but it would be impossible to act quickly in the absence of the Lord.
　Even if they called for help outside the territory, it would take several hours to arrive.
　In other words, the only person who could deal with the Water Demon General now was Karen.

　I don't know how skilled Rayford's soldiers are.
　But no matter how strong the soldiers are, they are not enough to defeat the Water Demon General.
　If Karen fights the water demon general at this point, she will definitely be defeated.

''What do you think, Iori?
Of course. I'm heading to the Water Demon General's office. This is a great opportunity for you. You're not going to be able to get your hands on any of them. I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.
Mm, I was hoping you'd say that.

　I went back to my room and got ready.
　I'm fully equipped to take on the Water Demon General.

　I get ready and go out of the mansion.
　Karen is still in the process of gathering soldiers.
　It will take some time to head towards the labyrinth.

　If the water demon general is to be dealt with, Elfie needs to get serious about it too.
　In order to give his full strength, he has to take a fake magic power granting item (magic item).
　With that in mind, it's better for the two of us to head to the labyrinth instead of waiting for Karen to gather the soldiers.

Let's go to .......
Yeah.

　Leaving the mansion, we headed in the direction of the labyrinth.


◆

　The territory was in turmoil.
　The bells that had been ringing just now had already stopped, and instead the angry voices of people could be heard from everywhere.

''I thought there would be a lot of bold ones since they are settled beside the labyrinth, but from what I've seen, that doesn't seem to be the case.
'It wouldn't have been possible for the wards to be broken before then.

　He runs and sprinted through the middle of the chaos.
　"I'm using the acceleration (accelerator) to get quite a bit of speed, but Elfi is following me without changing his face.
　Even though he hasn't regained his legs yet, his specs are still as inhuman as ever.

...... there?

　After sprinting for a while, the demons came into view.
　The screams of the people who had missed the run and the roars of the demons echoed, and the black smoke that blew out of the houses was trailing in the sky.
　The Water Demon General's figure could not be identified.

　The murky green liquid was about to enter one of the houses.
　Just before that, the door opened vigorously and a man holding a sword jumped out.

''Oh, father!''
''You stay inside the house!''

　The man pushes the girl, who is trying to follow him, into the house.
　Then a green liquid splashed on them.
　It's a slime species - the swamp slime that lives in the swamps.

"Whoa!

　Swinging his sword, the man intercepted the slime.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on.
　But that was only a moment later, and in the next moment the scattered parts returned to the slime's body.

''d*mn it!''

　The slime jumped up, trying to take in the man.

''--"Demon Eye, Ashburst!"

　On the verge of doing so, Elfie's magical eye causes the slime to explode.
　The entire nucleus floating somewhere inside his body is blown up, so his body doesn't even regenerate.

''Oh ...... you guys are.''
I'm an adventurer. Are you okay?
Yeah, yeah. ......

　I make the man who is on his buttocks stand up and ask him about the current situation in the village.
　It seems that the demon's attack was only about ten minutes ago.
　The man said in a trembling voice that those who had been slow to prepare had been delayed in escaping and several people had already been killed.

''Have you seen the Water Demon General?
''No, no, there are only demons. No, no, only demons are there, I didn't see anything like that.

　The demons are there, but the water demon general is not there.
　Has he returned to the labyrinth, satisfied with the destruction of the wards?
　Or is he out there somewhere looking for what's going on?

"Ugh.
"Whoa!

　Just as he was about to say it, there was movement at the edge of his vision.
　Pulling the man closer, he jumped back from the spot.
　The liquid hit the place where he had been standing a moment ago.
　With a sizzling sound, the vegetation on the ground melted away.

　The one that attacked me was the Acid Snake (Acid Snake).
　Other demons that had crawled out of the labyrinth, such as the slime like just now and the ground crawling tooth pollies, were gathering here.

''Anyway, we need to get away from here immediately--''
I can't go away yet!　My daughter is left at home!

　A man shouts, pointing to a private house.
　I saw a little girl peeking out of the door of the house.

'...... I understand. We'll attract the demons. In the meantime, bring your daughter to us.
I'm sorry. ......!

　A man runs towards the house behind him.
　He sewed the head of the acid-shooting serpent that was about to pounce on it to the ground with a knife.
　The attack was the signal, and all the surrounding demons attacked at once.

''Do you think it's going to be okay without removing your disguise?
''Of course it is--!

　Elfi's twin eyes gleamed in red lilies.
　Following that, a series of small-scale explosions occurred.
　It's not just a matter of time before you're ready to go.

　The demons attacking through the gaps are my prey.
　I ducked the slime that jumped at me and located the core inside.
　The moment I bent down to pounce on it again, I crushed the inner core with my jade taiji.

　The remnants of the demon scattered in the blink of an eye as we attack and defend.
　The wreckage was stacked on top of each other, forming a small mountain.
　There were no earth spiders or flaming dragon class demons, and the only ones that jumped on us were small fish.　
　If it's at this level, me and Elfi can handle it.

''We'll be fine now!''

　The man reached the house and picked up his own daughter.
　He covered her with his arms, protecting her from the breakage, and then came towards us.

'Aren't you afraid anymore ......?
'Oh!　Those brothers are going to help us!　And no matter what happens, Dad will protect you!

　Elfi's magical eye is what keeps the father and daughter away from the demons.
　I used my sword skills to cover the gap.　
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　Should I break the siege and get those two out of here?
　I cut down the demon in front of me and turn my gaze to call out to Elfi.
　That moment--.



''--then let's try to protect them.



　At the same time as the voice resounded from the heavens, a mass of magical power hit the man's body.
　The sound of something exploding, containing dampness with a bang, echoed.
　Without screaming, the man, whose left half of his body was severely damaged, fell to the ground.
　The girl he was holding in his arms was thrown out and rolled on the ground.

'...... dad?'

　The girl crawls and approaches the man.
　But the man doesn't say anything.
　It's because the first blow has already killed him.

"Great, great. You did a great job defending your child from that blow!
''Ah...... ah!''

　The girl cries out, clinging to the male wreckage.
　She shakes her hair and calls her father's name over and over.

"Don't cry," she says. It's okay, it's okay. I'll send you to the same place as your father in a minute.

　Immediately after the voice filled with mockery and glee.
　Countless water bullets rained down from the sky towards the girl.

''--!''

　He interrupted in front of the girl and slashed off the falling bullets.
　The bullets that missed their aim landed close by and pierced the ground in a big way.
　It is a vicious blow that wouldn't last a moment if a person were to get hit.

　I looked up at the sky, but there was no sign of the attacker.
　However, you can sense a hint of cloaking magic in the air.

...... show yourself!

　He pointed the spearhead at the tip of the magic and called out to it.
　There was a hint of laughter at the tip of the spearhead, with a kutzutz.

I'm sorry. It's been a long time since we've seen each other, but this doesn't tell you who I am, does it?

　The cloaking magic was released.
　Peri-peri-peri and the man who had been assimilated into the landscape is revealed.

'----'

　The one who appeared was a young man.
　He had indigo hair that was trimmed to a moderate length and a face that gave a gentle impression.
　The body is thin enough to be called slender, without any unnecessary fat whatsoever.

　However.

''...... me.''

　The jet-black military uniform that he wears shows his affiliation to the Demon King's army.
　And when the young man ruffled his hair with a pretentious wind, I saw a single horn sprouting from his forehead.

　This young man.
　There is no way you can't know who this guy is.
　How could I forget this guy's face?

Dionysus ......!

　A traitor in the past.
　Dionis Rubruk was smiling in the air, smiling.