'No, no, it's outrageous. Thank you for keeping an eye on us.
''No, no........we have not received such words. Since then, we have again applied to the people of the 'alliance' to inspect the sandy beach, but after all, what we can do in the present situation is only a recommendation against the monopolistic behavior of the hunting grounds........
''I got kicked out of the gate again because today is an important day for the 'alliance'. Truly, the Guild Saber is now formless, I guess.

　Adeline, who came after us, shrugged her shoulders. It will probably be the same if we go there, but there's no point in leaving the labyrinth like this.

''........Oh, won't this spider be stopped?''
Yes, I'd like to capture it if I could but I was thinking about getting out of the labyrinth for now.
'You can use the 'capture rope' to keep them safely restrained. It takes some skill to use it, though.
'Oh no, I don't have one. I've caught Harpy with a regular rope before. Sorry for being uninformed.

''Adeline, refrain from chit-chatting during your mission. Lord Atobe, may I use the 'capture rope' to restrain the 'Arachne Mage'? She will probably be unconscious for a few hours, but she will gradually regenerate.
I'd appreciate it if you would, I'm sorry.
'Yes, sir, Captain Seraphina. I'll do my best, please don't be so upset.

　They call him captain when he's hush-hush, not senior. Adeline-san took out a rope from her pouch-shaped inventory and restrained the spider in the blink of an eye - it seems she used a skill called 'rope binding'.

''Assuming we retrieve the 'spider' as soon as possible, what do we do now.......''
'Do you want to try to get to the side of the beach somehow, Aricht?　Maybe try to find a loophole so that the 'alliance' doesn't notice...
'That's it, but if you're willing to use any method you could ask Demi-harpy to take you out of the sky or something.

　Igarashi-san pointed to the sky. It just occurred to me, too, when I was thinking about demi-harpy - I can't see from below how high the rock wall is, but I think a winged harpy could jump over it.

　'Spiders' are also very good at climbing walls, so if I could train them, I might be able to get them to ride and climb a near-vertical wall. Right now we have to use other methods or negotiate with the 'alliance' to get through.

''I'm sorry, if only I had a little more negotiating skills...''
''No, the 'alliance' isn't violating any rules, so that's not an option. But hunting 'crabs' isn't the only reason to come to this labyrinth. I think I've gotten some response from defeating the 'spider'. Because I went through that process, I think I can somewhat disprove the idea of defeating a demon by fitting it into a certain pattern...

　I can't expect them to listen to this kind of persuasion just because we've done well. It's hard to talk to them if they think we only want to hunt 'crabs' too.


'No, well it's an afterthought, to be honest.
My brother is hiding his embarrassment and that's pretty cute too, isn't it, Suzu-chan?

BOW!

　Despite Suzuna's panic at Misaki's recklessness, Sion barks in a good mood. Is she agreeing with Misaki - is that too much to think about?

''Seraphina-senpai, we can't just stare at the 'alliance' and leave like this either. Why don't we use my skills to check out what's going on over there?
But to interfere too much with the actions of the searchers...
Basically, yes, but there are exceptions. But there's an exception. In this case, I think we can apply it. Even if it's misguided, the basic principle of Guild Savers is 'assume all possibilities to prevent a crisis from happening.'

　At Adeline's persuasion, Seraphina turned around and looked at the rock wall. Then she closed her eyes and took a breath, and faced her junior once again.

''Well I get it. Adeline, can you probe (search) the movements of the 'Alliance' leader?
It's no problem. That's my profession, the realm of the 'hunter'. Then let's detour from there and move out of sight of the 'alliance'. It's better if the straight line distance from the rock wall is as close as possible.

　Adeline-san led the way and moved - and as she moved to a certain position, she set the bowgun she was carrying on the ground with the direction of fire pointed up the rock wall.

'Well please stay back for a moment.

　Adeline turns the handle on the handle of her bowgun - and the string is pulled with a snap. It's a tension that would be difficult to achieve with human power.

It's not just a matter of time before you get a chance to see it. It's a good idea to have a moment of life and become an obedient messenger...!

　Current Situation

　Adeline activates Arrow Familiar and generates an Arrow of the Devil.
　Adeline activates the Search Arrow and fires the arrow of the messenger.

　Adeline-san puts magic power into the bowgun's arrows and fires them into the sky - where they seem to stall at a certain height, the arrows fly as if they've grown wings and rise even higher.

''It's an amazingly high rock wall.......although I managed to get over it. Maybe it's the nature of the labyrinth, but from below, it looks like it's infinitely high, but it's actually about five hundred meters.''
'Adeline, how is the 'Alliance' doing now?　The target demon and...

　When Serafina-san asks, Adeline-san puts it to her mouth.



Mr. Seraphina, what the hell is going on?

　When I asked, Adeline showed me her license. There was a display of what the 'Alliance' was doing behind the rock wall, as seen by the 'Messenger's Arrow'.

　◆The messenger's report ◆

　Gray uses the Demon Call Button.
　Gray uses the Demon Call Button.
　Gray uses the Demon Call Button. It's successful. A Ghost Scissors appears.
　Rolando's party defeats a Ghost Scissors
　Gray uses the Demon Call Button.
　Gray uses the Demon Call Button.
　Gray uses the Demon Call Button.

It's like a... it's like a... it's like a demon...
' ... forcing them out and continuing to hunt. Don't wait until it appears naturally.
''Senpai, this 'ghost'.... the instructor said that hunting immortal demons without countermeasures should be avoided in principle... it's not good to continue like this after all...'' ...!

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what that countermeasure is, but it's true that if you defeat dozens of demons with names like 'ghosts', you may not feel like you're being haunted. I don't know if 'haunting' exists in the labyrinth country, but since there are professions like 'priestesses' that have skills related to spirits, it's not impossible to talk about it.

　Everyone in the party is also speechless when they see Adeline's license. The 'Ghost Scissors' that only one appeared - perhaps the demon called 'Crab' was defeated immediately, and even now the display of using the 'call sign' and the occasional demon appearing and being hunted is repeated.

From the information we've gotten, they should have started using the 'call sign' today. If they have been able to make demons appear with tools, then the number they have hunted is considerable...
Look, Rearward, look!　I'm getting a different display now...!

　-- at that time I feel a chill in my blood that I've never felt before.

''What is this........ouch.......my head is about to crack open.......''
Suzu-chan?

　It wasn't just me, but everyone else must have felt the same sensation - Suzuna was particularly sensitive, pale with bloodlust, and her hair on her cheeks was wet with sweat.


Bawp, bawp!　Grrrr.....
..........

　Theon barked at the rock wall and Theresa looked in the same direction.

　I then saw the sweat trickling down Theresia's cheeks. She's the same as Suzuna, and she's sensing the signs of a threat.

"A demon........trying to take revenge on his defeated comrades.......?

　Elitia and Igarashi-san were staring at Adeline's license with their eyes wide open - I also shook off the sick feeling of vomiting and looked at the display with only my energy.

　◆Report of the messenger ◆.

　Rolando's party defeats a Ghost Scissors
　Ghost Scissors" activates "The Resentment of Myoikai".
　An unidentified demon appears.
　'? Activate the "Bubble Laser".

What...?

　Adeline-san raised her voice and the display of her license automatically switched over. It displayed that the messenger created in 'Arrow Familia' had been destroyed.

''What in the world is happening.......this, this disgusting feeling......is it because an 'unidentified demon' has appeared.......?'''
''Perhaps.........with a name. The 'alliance' used the 'call sign' and defeated one type of demon in excess, thus fulfilling the special conditions for appearing.......

　Seraphina answered Igarashi-san's question. The fact that it was an unforeseen situation was no different for the two guild savers.

''Senpai, contact everyone in the squad........!
I hereby conclude that as of this hour, the requirements for interference with the Alliance for Freedom have been met. Adeline, escape from the labyrinth and report the situation. I'll head out to check on the unidentified demon.

　Adeline-san tries to say something, but swallows her words when she sees Seraphina-san's expression.

''........I understand. But Captain Seraphina, alone........''

　Serafina-san looks at me. Even though she has talked about it beforehand, due to her nature, it would be decisive to ask for her cooperation - but this is not the time to get lost.

''Me and a member who can leave quickly when we go over there will go check on the situation. The members of the 'alliance' that are blocking the way, we have the means to jump over them.
...please, Master Atobe.


　Considering the number of demi-harpy's, there are three people, including me, who can go over there. Theon is too big for his body, so we'll have to wait for him, but there are two more.

'Arihito, I think I can manage to get out of there with my skills. Take Theresia and Kyouka with you.
Yeah, okay. Igarashi-san, could you do me a favor? Teresia too you don't have to take it easy.
..........

　Theresia shook her head - does that mean she's not overwhelmed? Igarashi-san smiled at that and returned a nod of approval.

'Me and Misaki-chan will also go with Sion on the path to the beach. Even if we can't get through, we might be able to reach our skills.
''What a mess the 'alliance' people are making while I'm saying that.......''

　Misaki was right, the 'alliance' is in some kind of trouble - it seems that the other members are stopping Daniela from going over there.

'Let me go, I can fight too!　Rolando, that man is going to fight!
'Calm down, Mr. Rolando, don't come because I'm confident I can do it, that's what he's saying!

　The young male members of the 'Alliance' raise their voices. They didn't notice that we were approaching - Elitia, who was ahead of us, penetrated the gap in the 'alliance' that wasn't focused on blocking the road and accelerated further.

''I'm sorry, Atobe-dono, I'm asking you to take the lead!　I'll definitely catch up with you!
I understand!

　It seems that Serafina-san is planning to make a final attempt to persuade the 'alliance'. As I run after Elitia, I take out the summoning stone pendant, grab it and shout.

''--Come on, Demiharpy!

　Current Situation

　Arihito summons three "demi-harpy" creatures.

"....oh, come on, the 'man in the suit' party...!
Just stand there. Don't make a move.

　Current Situation

　Elitia activates "Sonic Raid".

　The very moment - no one can follow Elitia's movements. Elitia runs through the seven members of the alliance with unseen speed.

　The large man who was blocking the path leading to the sandy beach reacted belatedly, and by the time he looked up, Elitia had just kicked the rock wall on either side, triangulating and somersaulting.

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

　The explorers of the Seventh Ward, who have never seen Elitia's movements before, can't even keep up with perception - when they hear the voice of a large, somewhat nervous man, me, Theresa, and Igarashi-san are carried by Demi-Harpy to pass further above Elitia, and I was.

'Oh, you guys...!

　The man who had stopped Daniela also raised his voice, but there was no time to be bothered. We passed through a gap in the warped rock wall - the smell of the tide was certainly flowing from the sandy beach in front of us.

　But that wasn't all. The sandy beach, which was probably originally all white - although still a long way away, we could see a red pattern applied to the area where Roland-san and his party were located.

''With the attack just now, those people also........''
Either we're involved or we're targeted... either way, we're in no shape to fight...!

　The sandy beach was split in two, with a vertical gash in the rock wall at the end of it. The attack when something in the sea shot down Adeline-san's arrow - it had caused damage to the members of the 'Alliance' to the extent that it was nothing short of horrific.

''You choose distorted methods, which leads to distortions...!
Eritia!

　If Demi-harpy is attacked, she will probably lose her life in one hit. I can't ask them to use the Song of Sleep, so I release the summons and follow Theresia and Igarashi-san to follow Eritia - even with Eritia's speed, which activated the 'Sonic Raid', there's still a distance to where Roland and the others are.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Arihito's Eagle's Eye is activated, and his ability to grasp the situation is improved.

　Even at this distance I can see it - a dozen or so crabs as big as a human, with only one scissors greatly developed, have been knocked down, and there is a gaping hole in the sandy soil near them. This was probably the demon's den that the 'Alliance' had monopolized.

　Near the hole, there is the figure of Roland-san, holding what looks like a military sword (saber) in his hand. Gray is sitting back and looking at the sea - looking out of his gaze, he sees a monster that floats on the surface of the sea, a monster that is dozens of times larger than the other crabs.

　◆The monster encountered ◆.

　The Merciless Decapitation Level 8 Resistance Variation Terrain Effect: Fear Drop?



Why are you... I'm not supposed to be afraid...
.....

　Elitia wasn't fortunate enough to be affected by 'Fear', but Igarashi-san and Theresia were affected, and she lost her will to fight and almost stalled - but.

'Igarashi-san, 'Brave Mist' please!

　Igarashi noticed the reason for the strange change and quickly regained his composure. She could choose to consume her morale and recover it, but it was better to use her skills to preserve her morale.

''Teresia-san, Rear-kun, stay close to me........!

　Current Situation

　Kyouka activates Brave Mist → Kyouka's and Theresa's fear state is released.

　Once you use 'Brave Mist', the state of resistance against 'fear' will last. However, the fact that most of the 'alliance' is stuck means that there are few people with 'fear' resistance and they don't have a way to disarm it.

　Rolando-san, the only one who is not in a state of 'fear', does not look back at his companions. He is confronted with a giant crab that has emerged from the sea - I think it comes with the name 'Ghost Scissors', but its shape is far from the same.

　The left shears are abnormally developed, but the right shears are not shaped like scissors - they are shaped like a sickle. Did the right scissors develop as a weapon to be used differently to compensate for the gap when attacking with the too large left scissors?

　The enemy hasn't even landed yet, but Rolando-san's party has been destroyed by a single long-range strike. Five people were wounded, and although Gray and another seemed to have escaped a direct hit, there was no longer any will to fight left.

''You guys run!　Thomas, just give me one chance to set it up!
I don't want to mess with that monster!

　But Mr. Rolando said something and started to run. As Gray shouted, he saw another member of the group, Thomas, who was only slightly injured, use some kind of skill.

'--Whoosh!

　Current Situation　

　Thomas activates the Reuter Plate, and the elastic floor appears for a certain amount of time.
　Rolando" invokes "Sky High".

　The sky is cold and blue. Mr. Rolando jumps up to an incredible height with a spirited cry that echoes across the sandy beach - it must be one of their must-win combinations. Using his skills to gain a foothold in the sand regardless, Mr. Rolando strengthens his jumping ability and jumps up to attack directly above the enemy.

　Airborne Division (Airtroop) - I heard from Louisa-san, Rolando-san's profession. It was something that specialized in attacking from the air, even in the labyrinth country.

''--Wait!　If you miss that blow...!

　Elitia's cries didn't reach her. Gray was surprised that Elitia was even approaching, and he retreated inching backwards on the sand, finally running away. Half-crazed, screaming.

''Uhhhh, ahhh!

That guy..........he......left Roland and the others........

　I'm sure that I have no right to assist in that blow - but I still couldn't leave him alone to challenge a demon with a body tens of times bigger than his own.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　Aricht activates Other Assist → Target: Roland
　Arihito activates 'Support Attack 2' → Support: 'Force Shoot Stun'.
　Rolando" activates "Vapor Dive".

　I thought about passing fixed damage against that huge body. But most of all, I thought I should increase the chances of Roland-san being able to leave after I put in the attack.

　At the edge of his vision in the Eye of the Hawk, he could see Gray using the Scroll of Return and shifting his entire fallen comrade. The remaining person named Thomas also tried to escape, but perhaps he was out of the range of the scroll, and his attempt was unsuccessful.

''--crash!

　Leaving a trail of white airplane clouds in the blue sky, Mr. Rolando tries to drive his saber into the head of the giant crab. The crab seemed unable to respond to the attack directly above - but it was.

　The huge body of the crab, which showed half its body from the surface of the sea and still seemed to be restricted in its movement by the white waves at the edge of the waves, was 'seen through' like a ghost without warning.

''--Roland-san!

　Current Situation

　The Ruthless Decapitation activates Phantom Drift → Resistance Change: Physical Disables, Speed Increases
　The Ruthless Decapitation Disables Vapor Dive

　As if to mock every prediction, Rolando's attack cuts through the sky. As he landed on the surface of the sea, a column of water stood high in the air around Mr. Roland, with a bash.

　The sound of his heart thumping in the air sounded awfully slow.

　Elitia, Igarashi-san, and myself are shouting - in an unvoiced voice.

　Rolando-san tries to swing his saber at the giant crab that has turned behind him. However, faster than the blade can reach it, the crab's left shears, but the right sickle-shaped part of the crab flashes and cleaves Mr. Roland-san away.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Ruthless Decapitation activates the Soul-Snatching Scythe and hits Roland.

　Without a voice, Mr. Rolando collapses to the spot. There was no blood splatter or anything else going up - but I could see it.

　The scythe wielded by the giant crab did not give Mr. Rolando a physical slash. It just 'went through' and took something away from Mr. Rolando.

　I look at the license and feel my heart freeze. If this display is true, Rolando-san--.

　◆Current Situation ◆.

　Roland" loses his soul.

"...what is this...why is this...
Come on, rear end, get a grip!　If we don't, we're going to have to.......!
Kyouka, Theresa, get out of the way now!　This demon is too dangerous........!

　Elitia doesn't back down and tries to take on the giant crab - no, she understands the dangers of keeping her distance from the demon and tries to draw attention to herself.

　That's not all. Why he doesn't run away is because Elitia can't abandon him, even in a party that seems to be unfriendly and rivalrous.

　Mr. Rolando can't be saved anymore - my rational self says that he should split up and run away.

　But what if it wasn't so?

　The blue-white light that has escaped from Roland-san's body is floating around the giant crab, as if to confirm the possibility of a tiny bit that has flashed in my mind - but.

　◆Current Situation ◆

　The Ruthless Decapitation activates Soul Tentacle → Capturing the soul of Roland.

　The anemon-like tentacles that extended from the crab's back caught the light. The demon that harvested and captured the soul of the searcher - it seemed to be taking revenge for the continued hunting of its own kind.

　However, seeing the wandering soul being captured suggests one possibility at the same time - Rolando-san's soul is not lost.

''--Eritia, your opponent's resistance has changed to 'physical invalidation'!　The blows can only go through with my support, but can you manage to attract them!
I'll hold it for a few minutes but I can't let a crab lick it.................

　Along with a reliable reply, Elitia activates the 'Sonic Raid'. The attack that swings down the giant scissors strikes out, and a dust cloud rises up - and.

''Atobe-dono, please retreat from here!　That demon can't be defeated with our current strength!
'Brother, please tell me if there's anything I can do for you!
"Mr. Aricht, you can't go after it too far that monster is dangerous!
Whoa!

　The 'alliance' was upset, and I guess I've achieved persuasion because of the 'alliance''s upset, Seraphina-san and everyone else are also running towards us.

''The enemy has long-range attacks too!　If you have any warning, avoid the side anyway!　You look like that and you move fast, you can't take too much distance!
"[I understand]

　Seraphina-san will get in front of us and take a defensive stance - this formation can support everyone in the vanguard while reducing the risk of being targeted by giant crabs.

'Leader, answer me!　Leader!　.........d*mn it!

　Thomas, a man named Thomas, is also trying to rescue Mr. Rolando, instead of running away without him. His soul may be in captivity, but as long as his body is safe - he hopes so, but he can't always save himself.

　Even so, if you run away without doing anything, you will surely regret it. Even if the 'alliance' brought this on themselves, that doesn't mean that they have to die.

''Let's rescue the two members of the 'Alliance' and get out of here.......Seraphina-san, let's focus on just that.
Mr. Atobe... how far do you think you are going to...
'I think I'm being silly myself. Still, I'm not........
My brother's not an idiot, you know?
'You're right, Misaki. Arihito-san, our feelings are the same. If we all work together, we'll get home safely...!

　The two of them should be scared too - and yet they didn't run away. Seraphina didn't say anything more, and she looked forward and held up her large shield.

I will protect you and no attacker will be able to get behind you...!

　The crab swings the giant shears again. When Elitia pulled it back and avoided it, Theresia and Igarashi-san started to move - now they were focused on that one thing, supporting the girls.