'Oh!　I didn't know you two A-ranked adventurers would even come to the head of the Elsa Knights!　This trip is safe!

　My client, a big, hungry merchant, was happy to have Elsa with him.
　He was a good-looking man with a smile on his face.
　Beside him were several carriages and other merchant men. Tethered to the carriage are horses' hooves containing a grimoire of wind magic.
　When the merchant man looked at Regina and Elsa, he tilted his head questioningly.

'Hmm?　What's going on?　The two of you, turn away from each other.

　Regina and Elsa were turning away from each other.
　After what happened earlier, it seems they just don't see eye to eye.

"No... It's nothing. Ha-ha.

　I tried to disguise it with a fake smile.
　I couldn't let him know that our guards don't get along with each other. This would give the client unnecessary anxiety.

Now let's go. Now let's go. You three will ride in the back of the lead carriage. Sorry to make a bit of a tight fit.

　We climbed into the back of the wagon.
　On the plank floor was a large cargo.
　It's not dusty and it's well maintained.
　It must have been a fine carriage.
　Even with the maverick gait of the wizard-armored horses, the cart didn't shake much and the cargo didn't fall apart.

　I opened the top of the truck and combed it open.
　The scenery drifted behind you like an arrow.

Ha-ha. Sure looks like we'll be there soon.

　Anna was right.
　The effects of the mages are amazing.

You two should see what's out there, huh?

　I wanted Elsa and Regina to feel like this wind - so I turned around to beckon them to me.
　Then I saw them staring at each other.

"Hmph. What the hell do you know?
'At least I think I know better than you, Regina, don't I?

　It's just a flash in the pan.
　You'd think they were about to draw their swords.

Hey, hey. What happened to you?

　Did Regina say something about Elsa slowing her down again?
　That's what I took for granted, but the answer was different.

Of course I know more about Kaiser than you do!
No. I know your father better than you do. I'm sure of it.

　--Yes?
　I overheard them arguing, and I froze.
　Huh?　Me?

"In response to your father's decision to follow me, Regina told me that Kaiser has always had a soft spot for me. I replied that he would not allow me to go with him on a dangerous mission for that reason alone. She told me not to talk to him as if he knew anything about it. ......
So they argued about who understood me?

　She nodded when I asked her that.
　What's that? .......
　Regina sniffed and looked good.

I've been partying with this adventurer all along. There's nothing I don't know about anymore.
I've been with your father since I was born. I understand him better than you do.
'You didn't know him when he was an adventurer, did you?　I spent the most concentrated years of his life with him, the most concentrated years of his life. I am.
'So you say, Regina, you don't know your father as a father, do you?　We sisters are the only ones who know your father's paternity.
Uggh. ......" "Gunnu. ......

　Regina and Elsa were gnashing their teeth in frustration at each other.

'So, have you ever had the experience of ducking under the line of death with Kaisel?　I have?　It's the experience of ducking under a dead line that creates a true bond.
'Ugh ....... But I have shared a bath with your father many times!　I suppose that's more intimate than going under the dead line!
'What? ......?　As expected, I've never experienced a back flush either: ......!
"And my father came and kissed me almost every day when I was a boy. You don't know what your father's kiss was, do you?


Don't get cocky, okay?　Little girl. I know that much too!
What--?
Of course I've kissed Kaiser, of course I've kissed him. After all, we were in the same party.

　If it was the same party, would kissing be the norm?　
　What's that theory: .......

'The latter is better than the kiss as a child and the kiss as an adult!　Apparently, I'm one better than you.
Ugh ......!

　Elsa was flustered in front of a victorious Regina.

'I can't believe your father once kissed Miss Regina: ......!　The two of you were honeymooning, after all: ......?
'Wait, wait, wait!　Elsa's got it all wrong!　I say kiss, but it's unavoidable when you're giving artificial respiration to a dying Regina!

　It's just a stopgap measure.
　It's not what Elsa had in mind.

'Ho....... So that was it.
'But that doesn't change the fact that I know how to kiss Kaiser. Little girl. You're not the only one with a monopoly on it.

　Regina with her arms folded and a smug look on her face .
　...... Why are you so desperate to stick it out?
　I wonder if he's really pissed off about Elsa.

'd*mn it ......!　Regina can't be beaten. ......! Erza's big eyes were filled with a strong gleam of will.

　Let's see . . we're talking about sword skills, right?
　Don't tell me you're talking about whether or not you have a better understanding of me?
　I looked out of the hood and saw that we had already entered the Numeric Marshes.
　The landscape was open, with stagnant colored marshes and knee-high vegetation. A thin layer of fog hung over the entire marsh, enveloping it.

　That's when.
　The wagon, which had been going so well, came to a halt. The back of the wagon was sinking.

What's going on?

　I open the front cover and ask the merchant man sitting in the driver's seat.

Aha. ....... The wheels on the back of the truck got stuck in the mud. I guess we'll have to pull it out.
Well, in that case, we can help you with that.
"Oh. That's great!　Please!

　The merchant man clasped his hands together and revealed his joy.

'But it's funny . I've been trying to stay away from the swamp. ....... It's as if the swamp has drawn us in.

　I was stroking my chin suspiciously, when I heard a voice say.

'Mr. Debris!　Oh, my God!　There's a swarm of demons around!

　A trader on a coachman's platform in the rear of the carriage cried out.

"What did you say? And the merchant leader's man--Debris said.
''What?''

　All at once, the place was tense.
　I quickly opened the top and looked out.
　Through the white mist that hung lightly around the carriage, a large number of demons appeared as if they were wading through it.
　There were demons like muddy hands in the mud where the carriage wheels were stuck.
　I see.
　These things dragged me in?

Whaaaaat?　I'm surrounded!
I can't even move, and this is not good!

　The merchants were in a panic because of the sudden danger they were in.

No problem. We're here for times like these.
Father!
"Yeah," I said, nodding at Elsa's call. ''I guess we'll have to do some escorting first before we can pull up the carriage.