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

　.......

　.........

　When I came to, I found myself in the dark water.

　I was slowly sinking down through a black world like the deep sea with no sound, no smell, and no light.

(.........but I'm not afraid.)

　It was peaceful there.

　Just quietly, I continue to sink in the dark water.

　...............

　....

　.........

　How much time has passed?

　Suddenly, a white foam-like substance floated out of the sinking tip.

(?)

　It passed by me.

　I saw a bubble.

　There was a woman in it.

　Tanned skin.

　A red pattern.

　Her braided white hair, partly undone, spilling over her shoulders.

　In her hand, she held a bloody sword.

　And that dignified beauty was His Majesty's Ameldus.　

　She was alone on the rocky shore of the Demertus Mountains.

　She looked towards the summit of the mountain in amazement.

　In the sky, a red magical light shimmered in the sky, illuminating His Majesty's beauty.

　Its mouth moved.

　I didn't hear a sound, but it was 'Marl? It was like she moved.

　Then she turned into an angry expression.

　Then, with the red patterns all over her body shining, she suddenly started to run towards the top of the mountain, where the 'black water' flowed.

　The bubble that projected such an image went straight upwards.

(...........)

　What was that all about?

　I wondered about it, but I sank into the dark water as it was.

　..............

　..............

　....................

　After a while, another white bubble floated up from the bottom of the water.

　I peeked at the bubbles that came closer.

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

　The one who was reflected there was Kirt-san.

　With his silver hair fluttering, he swung down the Great Sword of Thunder in his hand and knocked down another Black Great Monkey in front of him.

　It was a forest in the middle of the Demertus Mountains.

　Behind her is Solstice.

　She was breathing erratically, as if she was drained of her magic power, and was walking with a great staff.

　Behind her was Torquia.

　The Torga girl seemed to be just as tired as Solstice.

　The blonde little girl, Poe, was pushing her back.

　The group of adventurers that was supposed to be with her was nowhere to be seen, and it was just the four of them there.

　The corpses of the Toluga Warrior and the 'Black Great Ape' were lying all over the forest.

　As they moved, the four of them were talking about something.

　I still couldn't hear their voices.

　At that moment, their faces were illuminated by a red light.

　All four of them looked up as if they were surprised.

　Out of the corner of their eye, they saw a scene of red magic light shining above the Demertus Mountains' summit.

　Solstice muttered.

　Although I can't hear her voice, ''Don't tell me.......Marl?'' And the girl's lips were moving.

　Mr. Kilt's expression became tense.

'Let's go!'

　I could see that they shouted that.

　And the four girls were running without hesitation to the shining red mountaintop, which was a signal of danger to 'stay away'.

　The bubble that reflected the scene also passed upwards.

(...........)

　I've missed it.

　That's how I felt when I saw the four of them.

　And for some reason, I felt a little sad.

　I felt as if I would never see them again.

　As it was, I was slowly sinking again into the dark, dark water.

　.................

　..............

　..............

　How long has it been since then?

　I felt as if my consciousness was slowly flowing out into these black waters.

　Little by little, but I was sure.

　Sooner or later, I will be assimilated into this black water.

　And then I would disappear.

　That's the feeling I had.

　But I didn't feel afraid of it.

　It's just lonely...that's how I felt.

　Then, suddenly, the light behind me became brighter and a white light came in.

(?)

　It was the other side of the water bottom.

　The light was coming from the direction of the surface of the dark water, opposite to where I was sinking.

(.........Dazzling.

　I narrowed my blue eyes.

　And this little body was beginning to emerge rapidly, as if it were being pulled by the light.

　I waded through the black water, up and up.

　The next thing I knew, I could see the surface of the water.

　From the boundary of the shimmering water, there seemed to be a very bright, light-filled world beyond.　

　I'm pulled upward as it is.

　And finally, I emerge from the dark-colored surface of the water to the shining 'other side'--.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　The first thing I sensed was the smell of something burning.

　Then the noise.

　And then it was a vibration that shook my body.

(...uh huh?)

　My consciousness awoke and I lifted my heavy eyelids to check them.

　There was a silvery glow in front of me.

　It was Mr. Quilt's beautiful hair.

　It was there that I finally realized that I was being carried by Mr. Quilt.

　All around me was the forest.

　And it was like Kirt-san was running through the forest.

'!　You're awake.

　I guess he noticed me flinching, and Kirt called out to me with a huff.

　Then he exhaled as if he was relieved.

(This place...?)

　What's wrong with me?

　I was confused, trying to remember the situation.

(A)

　I remembered that I had been killed by the Black Hand at the top of the Demertas Mountains.

　I'm surprised, and I'm surprised again that I'm alive.

　I look at the chest of the Fairy Iron Armor and see a large hole in it.

　There were also traces of blood left around it.

(.........not a dream)

　At that moment, I noticed an object swinging at my chest.

　A gray stone hung from my neck by a thin cord - it was the 'Bright Stone of Life' that had lost its power.

(Ah, I see.)

　I've come back to life.

　I realize this, and I hear Mr. Kilt's voice in my ear.

"Thank His Majesty, Ameldaus.

　Huh?

When His Majesty saw the luminescent signal and realized that you were lying, he risked his life to return to the top of the mountain and retrieve your body. Thanks to him, you were able to return to life.

　.........that was it.

　Indeed, if it had been left unattended, my whole body would have been dissolved in the 'black water' and I might not have been able to come back to life.

　When I thought about that.

Don't thank me.

　I heard His Majesty Ameldas' voice.

　If I looked, His Majesty, the Empress of the Toluga Empire, was running alongside Kirt-san.

　No, it wasn't just His Majesty.

　Solstice, Torkia, and Po-chan are also with her.

　"I have arrived," she says.

You can't get away from them. But only Marle's surroundings were safe.
..........
Perhaps the light of the 'Brilliance Stone' protected you.

　As he said this, Your Majesty showed me the shiny stone in his hand - the 'divine spirit stone'.

(.........I see.)

　It was the stone that held the Black Water in place.

　Because I had the stone in my possession, my body remained unharmed until his return.



　Finally, I thought to myself.

　I was lost in thought, and Solstice puckered her lips.

"Hmph. Don't go dying on your own, you stupid Marl!
..........

　Apparently, I've given this girl a lot to worry about, too.

　I chuckle.

　And then I say to everyone here.

"I'm sorry. And thank you for the help.

　And everyone laughed.

　Mr. Quilts.

As long as you're alive and well, that's all that matters.

　He said.

　His Majesty and Poe nodded, and Torchia was in tears.

　Only Solstice turned away.

　And while they were having such a conversation, everyone did not stop running through the forest.

(Ah, yes.)

　Now I remember.

"What about that 'devil piece'?

　I asked everyone so in a hurry.

　No one answered.

　Then Mr. Kilt said.

"Look behind you.

(Back?)

　Puzzled, I looked back behind me, only twisting my neck as I was carried on my back.

　Then I looked.

　Before I knew it, the sky had turned into a sunset.

　The summit of the Demertus Mountains could also be seen there, and from the top of the mountain, countless 'black hands' stretched towards the red sky.

　And somehow, the forest from the summit to the middle of the mountain was burning.

　For a moment, I was stunned.

(What the heck?!)

　I was stunned, but Mr. Kilt told me.

'The fire in the forest was set by the strawmen to stop that 'black water' from invading.

　Huh?

"No sword or magic will work against that black water. There was nothing you could do, and it was all you could do to retrieve your body.
..........
And after that, I'm just struggling down the mountain.

　It was a tepid explanation.

　But that's why I could feel the severity of the current situation.

　--You can't win against that 'devil piece'.

　The current situation, in other words, is that the Golden Seal Demon Hunter Kirto Amandes has decided that.　

''...............

　I look behind me again.

　Against the backdrop of the red sky, the black hands are radiating up to the sky as if they are looking for their prey.

　It's like a black flower.

　It was the Black Flower of the Black Death, which hadn't bloomed in 400 years in the land of Toluga.