There were countless trees large enough to look up at, strung together to form a forest.
　Once I stepped through the gap and into the back, the air was clearly different.

　The forest is far too quiet.
　Not only was there no sign of life, but the trees were devoid of any signs of life.
　It's a strange thing to say in the afterlife, but my impression of this forest is that it is dead.

I'm not going to be able to get rid of it. It's not a good idea to waste time with those bastards.

　As he broke the silence, Liuzas let out a rough breath.

''That's why I've told you many times since I was in the royal castle that it's better to keep your strength up.

　He stops and lines up beside her, and Lucifina gives him a dumbfounded look.
　It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

It's not just a matter of time before you find yourself in the middle of the night. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

''I can't say I'm trained if I'm out of breath after running 10 or 20 kilometers. I've already ...... played a role in his Majesty's proposal to have a joint training session with knights and sorcerers to coordinate in battle, but Liuzas-san says it's not necessary.

A sorcerer is a sorcerer because he uses magic.

''If you say so, though, Iori-san can also use magic and has a lot of strength. See, look, Iori-san is also unconcerned.

　After glancing at me, Liuzas blatantly frowned and clicked his tongue.

Shut up, muscle woman. I'm not going to be the same as those of you whose brains are made of muscle," he said.

Muscle ....... Huh, Mr. Liuzas, what did you say?

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

　Lucifina smiles at him, and Lucisus turns his face away from her with a bang.
　A tingle runs through my chest at the sight of a replay of those days thirty years ago.

''How long are we going to play this? Let's move on.''

　I called out to him to shake off the pointless sentimentality.

I know you don't, but I do. I've stopped breathing uncontrollably. From this point forward, this is Kongo's territory. I'll keep them out of sight, just in case they don't find us.

　With a click of his tongue, Liuzas wrapped all of us up in his air-blocking magic.
　Lucifina, who had been puffing out her cheeks in disapproval, also tightened her expression and began to walk away.

'...... It's kind of a nasty forest, isn't it?'

　As I walked on the dry ground, Lucifina suddenly uttered the same sentiment as I did.
　Without speaking, I agree with it.

　The dead forest - apart from that, there's another image I had.
　The feeling of not feeling life, and an imagination that seems to contradict that feeling.
　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it.

　--I'm not going to be able to get out of it.

◆

　--Vajra.

　A person who made a name for himself at a time when the demon tribe still belonged to the side of the demon king's army.
　A fist strike would shatter his bones, a slash with a sword would break his blade, and magic would not leave a scratch.
　It is said that the blows delivered from his strong body broke through all defenses and laid waste to the battlefield.

　The source of Kongo's strength was a technique called "Demonization".
　It is a secret technique of the demon tribe that rapidly increases physical ability and magical power.

''Can't Iori-san's 'Usurpation of Magical Techniques (Spell Divaur)' cancel that demonization?''

''Impossible. When I fought Dionis not long ago, that guy also used Demonization. I used Magic Skill Usurpation that time too, but it didn't work.

I'm sure the demonization isn't magic. It's more of a species-specific ability. You can't use usurp magic tricks on a winged demon, can you?　It's the same.

　If it's an opponent who is attacking you with purely physical strength, you just have to counter it head on.
　However, in a situation where you have to think about preserving your magic power, you don't know what will happen.
　Just like those wreckage, there is a possibility that their power has increased in the underworld.
　If it comes down to it, I'll use the "Heroic Reproduction" method, but if possible, this is an opponent that I wouldn't mind fighting.

　While we were whispering to each other, about two hours passed.
　This Kongo, of course, has not seen a single other creature.

　But there was a change in the landscape.
　The color of the ground.
　Several times in the distance, only some of the ground could be seen to be reddish.
　The more frequently we saw red soil as we progressed, the more frequently we saw it.
　Eventually, most of the ground in the direction of travel was red.

'What is that ......?'

　We look at each other and slowly approach the red dirt.

'This is .......'

　Upon closer inspection, the red was not soil.
　It was a thin layer of flesh on top of the dirt.
　A fishy, rotten smell of rottenness hit my nose with a twang.

''It smells pretty bad ....... Is it the soil unique to the underworld or something else?''

Yeah, but I've never seen anything like it before. But I've never seen anything like it before.

　I don't think it's strange that there are things in the underworld that are not in this world--but

'It's strange. ...... Shall I poke you with my sword?

Please don't.
Stop, you idiot.

　It was too venomous in appearance to be touched unnecessarily.
　After observing it from a distance for a while, I noticed that its flesh occasionally quivered a little.
　Is it alive ......?

Magic.

What are you talking about?

It's what powers this thing. This lump of meat has a lot of magic in it. It's some kind of magical artifact.

　If you strained your eyes to check carefully, you could see the magic power circulating inside the flesh.
　I thought I had learned a fair amount about magic, but I didn't know what a lump of meat (this) was.
　I looked at Liuzas, but he shook his head.

I don't know what kind of magic it is," he said. If I don't know what kind of magic it is, it's probably some kind of loss magic or mental image magic. I'm not sure if this kind of thing is created in the underworld on its own or--

Somebody's got it.

...... I see. Then I guess it's best not to touch it carelessly. Iori-san and Liuzas-san, please be careful.

　While letting out a sigh together with Liuzas at the distracting words, I'll nod at that conclusion.
　It's the same as when we fight demons.
　I'm not going to approach something I don't understand and ask what's going on without defensiveness.
　...... I think it was Lucifina who taught me how to be prepared to fight demons, though I think it was Lucifina who taught me how to be prepared when fighting demons.

'For now, let's bypass it and move on.

Ah. ...... Hey Lucifina!　Watch your feet!　Where are you pointing that thing at?

"What?　No, no, Mr. Liuzas!　This one seems to be moving a little bit!

I'm telling you to be careful!

　I look down at the still writhing mass of flesh as the two men exchange.
　...... Inexplicably, I have a bad feeling about this.
　I feel like this is the cause of the weirdness I've been feeling ever since I entered this forest.
　I hope it's uneventful and I can keep going .......

　It's been a couple of minutes since I started walking around the bypass.
　I came to realize that my bad feeling had been right.

◆

Well, we can't go any further.

　The field of vision was covered in red.
　A lump of meat clad in lustrous mucus covered the entire surface of the forest.
　The stench of decay that the lump of flesh emits is so dense that it makes you want to choke.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

...... If this is all that's going on from here, there's no detour or anything.

　Everything in sight is stained red.
　We can't go on like this.

What do we do now? Do we go back and head north from somewhere other than the woods?

Hey, c'mon, c'mon. If you don't move fast enough, you'll be gone. You won't get away with it until the Proof of Valor loses its power.

...... Yes. We can't afford to go back, and it's impossible to leave this forest.

　A huge purple crystal rises out of Lucifina's gaze.
　It is said that if you approach that crystal, the "first demon king" who is guarding it will attack you.
　I originally chose this forest to minimize the amount of fighting, but if I left the forest it would be a complete disaster.

"There's no turning back. We can't go around. If that's the case, we'll just have to cut through this place.

''Yes. Shall I make way with my slash, rather than the other way around?

'It's too risky in a situation where you don't know what's going to happen. Nine times out of ten, that flesh will come at you if you touch it. Even if we proceed, we should at least take some sort of precautions.

Then what?　You want me to fly through the sky?

　I ignore the irritatedly entangled Liuzas and let my thoughts wander.
　I don't know what that hunk of meat is, but at least it doesn't look like a safe object.
　It probably doesn't have any sight or hearing, given that it doesn't do anything to me when I get close to it or talk to it nearby.

'That meat probably triggers a 'touch' and starts moving.

What?　I told you so. That's why you avoided going through it first. So what's the point--

　The only possible idea to proceed safely is - 'they won't know you touched them'.
　If we can make them lose the feeling of that hunk of meat or something, or--

'Liuzas.'

"...... Ah, 'paralysis'."

　Just as Tokushin said, Ryuzas anticipates my words.
"If the paralysis deprives you of your senses, there's a chance that you could walk on top of it and not be noticed by that lump of meat.

'I see!　Then you can walk up there!

I wish it were that easy.

　Lucifina is pleased with her hand, but Liuzas' expression is grim.

''Is there something wrong with it?

...... Yes. If it's a demon or something, I think paralysis will do the trick. But when it's made with magic, it's a different story. There is a good chance that it will react to the magic and start moving.

　The very act of shooting witchcraft could conflict with 'touching'.
　It's one idea, but it's a dangerous one to try: .......

'I see. ....... Sorry, I'm not very familiar with witchcraft ....... In the thirty years that I've been hijacked, I've had more and more magic to use, but I don't have any idea what magic is useful now. I'm sorry I can't help you.

'Never mind. I can't come up with any more ideas right now either.

I can't think of anything else. ...... Well, there's a chance it could work. I guess we'll just have to try it.

　As long as we can't go around or backward, we have no choice but to move on.
　If we can't come up with a better plan, then we'll have to do it.

''Nevertheless, danger is danger. You guys stand back in case something happens. I'll do it.

You okay?　It was me who said it. If I do this--

f*ck you. You would have me back up in case you weren't okay. If anything goes wrong, you're gonna have to get me out of there fast. You're a knight and a hero, you know how to protect people.

...... Yeah, I get it.

Yes, sir. If anything happens, I'll be there to help you.

　We stand back and watch the back of Liuzas with his wand at the ready.
　The bad feeling doesn't go away.
　I draw my sword and immediately brace myself to tremble.

"--"Paralysis."

　Magic is unleashed on the mass of flesh.
　A flash of light is sucked in soundlessly, and the writhing mass of flesh stops twitching.

　One second, two seconds, three seconds, four seconds, five seconds.

　Time passes slowly in the silence - and then.

'Success, is it ......?'

　It was the moment when the air that had been tense was about to relax.





'--------' ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ---------- ... ------ ------------------------ ''Ruh!''




　-- at the resounding roar, we realized our failure.

　The chunks of flesh all around the area are bubbling and bubbling, and they're rushing towards us like a tidal wave.
　The amount of meat was still enough to suggest that all of the area ahead was covered with chunks of meat.
　There are also signs of vibrations approaching us from afar at a terrific rate of speed, with a doo-doo-doo.

　This lump of flesh was probably a sensor - a spell that Kongo had cast to catch the intruder.
　In other words, it's not a simple thing that can be paralyzed.

"Son of a b*tc*!

"Liuzus!

　I'm not going to be the only one who can do that.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the future.

"In this situation, we have no choice but to crush them head on!

...... d*mn it, I guess we'll just have to do it.

It's going to be a pain in the ass to process this amount: ......!

　Along with the air flames, Liuzas increased his magic power, trying to invoke the great magic.
　This was the moment when we, too, were about to step forward to catch the wave of flesh.

''--This way.

What--?

　Before we knew it, a girl was standing behind us.
　There wasn't even a sign of her, and our eyes widened at the girl's sudden appearance.

This way.

　The girl calls out again in a voice without intonation.
　The girl starts to run without looking back, and her hesitation is momentary.

''-- Let's go!

　We ran after it, feeling a wave of flesh coming up behind us.