A doll-like demon made of mud was slowly approaching us.

　We stepped backwards to meet its advance.

　And then.

　ton (of money)

　Poe, who was on my back side, had stopped and bumped into me.

(Poe?)

　I turned around to see what was wrong.

　But she wasn't looking at us, she was looking at the swamp in the opposite direction.

(What...?)

　kopopoop

　Bubbles were floating on the surface of the water and mud was gathering.

　A new 'mud monster' appears.

　No, he's not the only one.

　From the surrounding swamp, two or three new Mud Monsters were born one after another.

　Everyone else noticed them as well.

　A total of seven of them.

　That's how many mud monsters are approaching from around us.

What are we going to do?

　Solstice, holding a large staff, says impatiently.

　They can't be defeated by a sword or magic, they are truly immortal mud dolls.

　Kilt-san also roars, "Nuh.

　Maybe it's because they're made of mud, but they move slower than I thought.

　Maybe they could escape if they wanted to.

(But is that okay?)

　We're going to spend the next 10 days or so going through the Great Marshes.

　During that time, we should encounter the Mud Monster again and again.

　We'll have to run away from dozens, hundreds, or even a thousand of them all the time.

　That's impossible.

　With the violence of numbers, one day they would lose their escape.

　...........

(We have to defeat them here!)

　sizzling sound

　I gripped the hilt of my sword tighter.

"I'm going to try again!

　I shouted and attacked one of the 'mud monsters'.

'Merle!'

　With Illtimina-san's startled voice behind her back, she swung the 'Fairy Sword' and slashed diagonally across the demon's stubby torso part.

　Gahhhh.

　It felt as if he had cut through the clay.

　Still, the blade definitely penetrated.

　If it was a living thing, it would be fatal.

　But.

!

Without even stopping to move, the Mud Monster stretched out its arms, dripping mud water, towards me.

(Kase!)

　Hurriedly, he stepped backwards.

　His foot slipped on the muddy soil.

"Ah.

　The movement stops.

　The next thing I knew, I was being hugged head-on by that 'mud monster'.

　BASH!

(GASP!)

　His face is pressed against the mud of the demon's body part.

　I, I can't breathe!

　With a flurry, I flailed desperately.

　Even if I tried to push the demon's body with my hands, my hands would only sink into the mud, and even if I thrust the 'fairy sword' at it, the force restraining me would not loosen.

(Well, not good........)

　My mind turns white with acidity.

　Then.

　zakyuu

"What are you doing to my Merle!

　Illtimina's angry voice rang out, and the restraining force disappeared.

　She grabbed me by the collar and pulled me backwards.

　Puh-uh.

I can breathe...!

　I looked and saw that Illtimina-san's white spear had severed both of the 'mud monster's' arms and dragged me out of the room.

''Are you alright, Marle?''
Oh, thanks.

　In her arms, I thank her.

　Ms. Illtimina looks really relieved.

　But the situation hadn't changed.

The Mud Monster's severed arms have regenerated and are moving towards us again.

　Iltimina-san held her white spear while sheltering me behind her back.

　Kilt-san exhaled heavily.

''Let's get away.''

What...?

We can't go on like this. Once we get back into position. We're going to make our way through the straw. Everyone follow me.

　As I say this, I hold up the 'Great Sword of Thunder'.

　I grit my teeth.

　Iltimina-san stroked my hair with her white hand as if to appease me.

''Alright, let's go.''

　As he said it, Kirt started to run.

　The four of us follow him.

　The stocky, huge body of the "Mud Monster" stands in the pathway.

''Demon Sword, Thunderbolt Slayer!''

　badge-in

　The blade of the great sword, which gushed out a blue lightning bolt, bit into the mud body, causing it to discharge.

　The 'Mud Monster's' abdomen expanded like a balloon, as if the water had boiled away.

　''Dopaan.

　After a few moments, it burst out.

(.........hmm?)

　At that moment, I thought I saw what(...) in the splattering mud.

　........What was that?

　But even as he thought about it, the bursting mud doll quickly sucked up the muddy water around it and regenerated its massive body.

''Tch.''

　Mr. Kilt clicks his tongue.

'Let's just run through this!

　Immediately, I shouted so.

　We ran frantically right next to the demon in the middle of its rebirth, splattering muddy water underfoot.

　Ga-pop, ga-pop.

　Then another "mud monster" approaches us.

"Pooh-oh!

　Po-chan fluttered her habitual blonde hair and dove into the bosom of her huge body, pressing her small hands to the mud's abdomen.

　Both hands glowed white with 'divine Qi'.

　''Dopaan.

　My abdomen burst.

　Brown mud and others danced against the blue sky.

(Ah.....)

　And there I saw it, this time.

　I can't help but stop myself from running away.

"Male!

　Iltimina stopped and looked back at me, as if surprised.

''What are you doing?!''
Hey, Merle!

　Mr. Kilt and Solstice sounded surprised, too.

　I said desperately.

'Please!　Just one more time, burst that demon!


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　Everyone looked at me suspiciously.

　I didn't even tell them why, so that's natural.

　But Illtimina-san was the only one who didn't ask any questions and immediately nodded her head.

''I understand.''

　As he said that, he held the white spear in his backhand.

　Kilt-san, Solstice has a surprised look on her face.

　Beside that, Illtimina-san swung her spear wide and covered it

Shh!　

　From a close range of 10-medes, he unleashed a desperate throw at the 'Mud Monster'.

　Cubodpaan.

　Fire in the hole!

　Squinting my blue eyes at the blast, I focus my attention on the splattering mud.

"!

　There it is!

　Amidst the scattered mud, there was a 'black glowing stone' about three centimeters in diameter.

　An obvious foreign object within the body of mud.

　My right hand had pulled out a throwing knife that was inserted into my waist belt.

　I held it at the ready.

Yeah!

　Whew.

　He took aim and threw sharply.

　Gatchin'

　The thrown knife hit the 'black glowing stone' beautifully and made a high-pitched sound.

　The surface of the stone cracked.

　From there, a white light overflows and dissipates into the atmosphere like steam.

''Eh...?''
What?
..........

　As Solstice, Mr. Kilt, and Poe were stunned, the mass of mud they were trying to regenerate stopped moving and collapsed directly onto the ground.

(I knew it.)

　I feel relief and joy that my prediction was correct.

'What's this all about?'

　Ms. Illtimina was also surprised and sent a look at me.

　I picked up a cracked black stone.

　It's a lustrous, shiny stone like obsidian.

　Its surface is carved with a number of geometric patterns that look like Thanatos magic letters.

''What's that?''

　I replied to Illtimina's words.

''Maybe it's a demon 'core'.'''

　The magic power hidden here has created the Mud Monster.

　That's why the mud monster was destroyed when the core was destroyed.

　All four of them were surprised by my explanation.

　Solstice said, stunned.

'How could you see such a thing, Anta?'
It's a coincidence.

　The first time I saw it, it really just happened to catch my eye.　

　So the second time, I looked for it with my eyes and made sure it was there.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

'I see,'

　Then he held the Great Sword of Thunder to the six remaining mud demons that were approaching us.

Well done, Male. I'm sure you've got the specifications to deal with them if you know the seeds. Leave the rest to me.

　Then he smiles fiercely.

(Ugh........)

　I was a little creeped out.

　In the next moment, Kirt-san fleshed out from his low stance into the 'Mud Monsters' like a predator.

''Demon Sword, Thunderbolt Renslayer!''

　A sharp cry.

　At the same time, blue lightning is released into the atmosphere.

　Badge, badge, badge.

　At the same time the world turned blue, the six giant bodies made of mud bounced into the air.

(Ah.........)

　Six 'black glowing stones' could be seen in the large amount of mud that rose up.

　Instantly.

Nuh-uh!

　crackle

　The blade of the huge great sword cut off the 'black glowing stone' accurately.

　''Bottoms, bottoms,''

　The clumps of mud that were flying in the air fell directly to the ground in the Great Marshlands.

　They no longer regenerate.

(That's just you, Quilt.)

　As long as you know your weaknesses, those 'mud monsters' are no match for you.

''Hmm.''

　She shook her silver hair and nodded widely, making sure the demon didn't move.

　And Solstice picked up the shattered 'black glowing stone' that had fallen on the ground.

''Hmm?''

　Look at that black surface.

It's a Thanatos charm, but I've never seen it before. What's the principle behind it?　It's kind of interesting.

　What a glint in his eyes.

(Haha....)

　As expected of an intellectually curious girl.

　Even the magic that was trying to kill them right up until the last minute becomes an object of immediate interest, isn't it?

　I've got to admit, I'm half-impressed, half-dumbfounded, Illtimina-san's white hand stroked my hair.

''It was a good job, Marle.''

　A gentle smile.

　I can't help but stare at her face.

'Yes.'

　Then we laughed.

We succeeded in fighting off the immortal puppet that appeared in the Great Marshlands.