Uluru Volcano.

　It is one of the largest volcanoes in the Daleks Mountains to the south, and since prehistoric times, it has been revered in the region as a volcano inhabited by spirits. Spirits often appear in the area's fairy tales, and there are even threats that children will be cursed by fire if they stay out late.

　These stories are usually spurious and aimed at getting children to listen to them, but in this area, spirits really do exist. Therefore, they had some credibility.

　And not only in such fairy tales, but basically in all creative works, spirits are depicted as beings that are higher than humans - that is, they can never win. In particular, spirits that take the form of humans or animals are often emphasized as powerful spirits.

　In other words, they are the beings that stand at the top of this world.

　-- Salamander, one of those spirits, sensitively sensed the intrusion of the strangers.

　It was a group of five humans, and they truly appeared suddenly near the volcano where Salamander lived.

''Son of man, do not enter........''

　The sound of flames popping, and a muffled voice saying certain words. Although the salamander takes the shape of a person, it is only a 'shape'. The rest of the body is just what looks like a mouth on its face.

　The salamander increased its vigilance against the stranger while emitting a flame that was more powerful than anything else.



　******



　The unique sensation of transition, where the scenery changes in an instant. Wraith looked around, feeling nostalgic about that sensation he had experienced many times. However, there was no volcano-like scene there as he had expected.

　Behind a forest of trees, a giant volcano towered a short distance away. In front of the volcano, there was a place that looked like a village.

　For some reason, the area around the mountain appeared to be slightly reddish. It looked as if the atmosphere had been distorted.　

'You couldn't get to the volcano directly?'
The mountains look red. It's impossible because of that.
I mean, that's the genie... uh, what was it?

　I groan, trying to remember the name of the spirit that Lurimes had told me about before I came here. But it doesn't come out. Lurimes, unable to see it, sends out a helper.

'Salamander.'
That's it. The power of the salamander.

　Beside his mentor and brother, who were calmly discussing the matter, Seth was in a cold sweat, holding back his beating heart. Pouring a resentful gaze on Wraith, he whistled and quickly turned away.

''Utterly terrible...''
Stop complaining and get out of here!
..........

　Seth felt something that didn't add up, but he followed the back of the Wraiths who had already started walking.

'Let's just go to that village for now.

　We had to pass through to get to the volcano anyway.
　There was no opposition, and after a few minutes of walking, we reached the entrance.

　A sort of stone stuffing station was next to the entrance, and a middle-aged guard with a sword in his hand stood languidly, stretching absent-mindedly. He seemed unmotivated to look at it.

''Excuse me, I need to go through the village.''
Oh, yes. Yes, sir.
Hi. Hi.

　It was passed too easily, and I get upset. Raffy and Sylvia also laugh at this.

''Isn't the security too much of a monkey, is this village okay.......''
'Well, the frontier is a nice place to be in terms of location. I guess it's peaceful.

　We proceeded with a sideways glance at the small items being sold, such as ethnic costumes and small accessories. Then, from behind me, "Ah! A voice said. Lace turned around and saw a single doll in Sylvia's hand.

''Look how cute it is, isn't it?''

　A doll held out to me with a guffaw as if asking for my consent.
　The doll has a thin, red, reptilian-like body with one tail-like thing hanging down. Two short horns sprouted from the sides of the head, and the overall appearance of the doll is probably comical.

　........Let's leave aside whether or not it's really cute.

''Eh........ah, yes.''

　Wraith replies crisply, puzzled by the difference in sensibilities. I'm not interested in dolls to begin with, but then again, I don't think this is it.

　Wraith glances at the reactions of the people around her and is astonished.

''Ka, cute........''
Yeah.

　Raffy, who didn't seem to be interested in pretty things, was ranting and shaking her hands. Heartlessly, her cheeks are slightly red. An unexpected aspect.

　Rulimes, too, had a glint in her eye and was biting into the doll.

''Could it be that you are a traveler?　This is a doll based on Mr. Salamander from Uluru Volcano! It's so cute!

　The clerk's sister looks at Raffy and Sylvia and raises her voice here and there. Wraith doesn't know if the clerk is serious or not.

　Am I crazy?

　Such a question comes to mind quickly, and Wraith creeps up next to Susu and Seth, as if it's the last thing he needs to ask. And then she spoke to them in a whisper, whispering.

'Hey, what do you think of that doll...?'
Well, um, I don't think I'm pretty, but...
Yeah.

　Two men, unable to follow the sensibilities of the women. I just stared at the conversation that was going on with the waitress. Then an unexpected piece of information jumps into my ears.

Are you going to the volcano? Well, I can't go in there now, can I?

　The shopkeeper, who knew where the Wraiths were going through the conversation, lowered her eyebrows in disappointment. The Wraiths, who didn't know what was going on, couldn't help but look at each other.

''What do you mean?''
I think you can see it from here, but now the volcano is all red and distorted around it.

　The Wraiths check out the sight of the volcano just after the transition. They nod in affirmation to the clerk's words.

'That's the Salamander's help, but it's making the whole volcano so hot that people can't get in.

　The red color was made visible by the power of the salamander flames that enveloped the volcano. This makes the environment inaccessible to human activity. Just getting close to a volcano can lead to dehydration within a few minutes.

　Attempting to climb the volcano is tantamount to suicide.

If you really want to enter the volcano, the only time to do so is when Salamander-sama is asleep. During that time, the fever will subside.

　Only when the salamanders are asleep does all the heat enveloping the mountain and all the functions of the mountain cease. If you want to enter the mountain, that's usually the only time you can do it. However, since the time of sleep is irregular, it's difficult to enter the mountain with a target in mind.

''Hmm, I see...''

　Seth and Sylvia raise their eyebrows as if to say they're in trouble. It's a new obstacle here. However, Wraith is the only one with a clear expression.

''I think you'll probably be fine.''
What's that supposed to do?

　When asked by Raffy, Wraith takes out a few necklaces from his bag. It's a beautiful necklace with a blue crystal that stands out.

''A magic tool........is it?　But you can't prevent Salamander-sama's power with magic tools alone, right?
Well, I'll give it a try.

　The clerk has a worried look on her face, but Wraith laughs lightly. The clerk also found that the Wraiths' wills were firm, but she didn't hold them back.

　Sent by the clerk's words, "Please be careful," the Wraiths leave the place. Incidentally, that doll was in Sylvia's hand in a chintzy way.

　Imagining that the real Salamander could really be like this, Wraith sighed with a single sigh. I wish he had a more dignified appearance and looked up at the volcano that was shimmering red.