While slipping and crawling, the 'Salamander' opens its mouth towards us - not a slowing down attack, but a ball of water floats up from the surrounding puddle.

''--I'll let you!
.........

　Current Situation
　Slow Salamander E activates Aqua Elemental → Aqua Elemental A begins an automatic attack.
　Aricht activates the Force Shoot Freeze and hits Slow Salamander E. He attacks weakly and freezes.

Huh...!
Quot...!

　The "Salamander" technique finishes activating before my attack can land - the floating ball of water seems to be pulsating with a thump, thump, thump.

　I didn't know that a demon that isn't 'named' or even normally inhabited has such a wide variety of attacks - there's no point in whining, the only people who can move properly right now are me and Theresia.

　Theresia holds up her shield - and looks at me behind her for a moment. That's all it takes to tell me what she's going to do.

"Please, Theresa, please!
"--Hey!

　Theresia rushes towards the 'Aqua Elemental'. The ball of water pulsates loudly, spewing water like a jet at a furious speed towards Theresia - but.

　◆Current Situation ◆
　AQUA ELEMENTAL activates 'Play of Water'.
　Theresa activates Mirage and Shadow Step.　
　Teresia avoids Water Play, 6 steps away.

　Theresia's figure, which wavered as if melting into the air, appears to be altered in several ways - the jet water flow released by the 'Aqua Elemental' appears to have been hit and only penetrates the afterimage.

(Theresia you're not just avoiding it. Even to prevent the stray bullet from hitting me........!

　Current Situation
　Aricht and Theresa's reliability bonus → "Evasion-Linked" is activated.

　Theresia moves into a position to guide the enemy's attack, and a stream of water is released to avoid me in the rear - even though I'm in the middle of this onslaught, I don't feel in any danger at all.

　I can't miss this opportunity. I'm going to work with Theresa and try to end the game at once.

Freeze!
.....

　Current Situation
　Arihito activates the Force Shoot Freeze and hits Aqua Elemental A. It's a weak attack and freezes.
　Theresa activates Azure Slash and hits Aqua Elemental A. It freezes, killing her with a single shot.

　After the enemy was frozen by the power of the "Ice Stone", Theresia flashed the "Eluminate Razor Sword", which was covered in blue flames. The 'Aqua Elemental' that was cut in both directions instantly evaporated and disappeared.

''--Kua........!

　One of the 'Slow Salamanders', whose frozen state has been lifted, is approaching us - if they activate 'Breathing to Stop Water', I won't be able to get Theresia to cover for me in my current position, and I'll also become 'slowed down' and out of power.

(If it's a water-dwelling demon, it can probably get through.......one or two, let's try it.......!

-Tereziah, 'peak strike' please!
...!

　Current Situation

　Arihito activates 'Support Attack 2' → Support: 'Vine Shoot'
　Theresa attacks Slow Salamander D
　Slow Salamander D is restrained by Vine Grass
　Freeze" of "Slow Salamander E" is released.

　The moment Theresia applied her weapon, the vine grass that was generated tangled around the 'Salamander' and took away its freedom.

　Before the other one moves to attack, Theresia has even gotten around to the back of it - the game has been decided.

''Huh........!

　Current Situation
　Theresa activates "Assault Hit" and doubles her attack power against "Slow Salamander E".
　Theresia weakly attacks Slow Salamander E.
　Slow Salamander D is restrained by Vine Grass

"...kuh....

　Having attacked from the frozen enemy's blind spot, Theresia's attack power has been doubled - perhaps judging that it would be a fatal blow, Theresia didn't dare to hit the attack properly, but struck it with the hilt. Then 'Vine Weed' is activated, and he succeeds in restraining it without knocking it down as aimed.

　The two-meter-long prickly fish-like demon was lifted up, entangled in the vine grass, and struggled to move its legs rudely. Even a demon with vicious abilities is helpless in this situation.

　◆Current Situation ◆
　The "slowdown" of "Alphecca", "Melissa", "Elitia", "Kyouka", and "Zion" was cancelled.

Haha, it's back to normal at last... thank you, Mr. Rear, Miss Theresa.
I feel like I'm moving so fast when things suddenly become normal.
'Really, well that's the last thing I want to fight for a profession that values speed.

　Melissa and Elitia on Alphecca and Igarashi-san on Sion are catching up to me.

''........Although the master's decision is absolute, in my opinion, I support defeating them.''
'That's what I thought too until halfway through, but this ability might come in handy somewhere. And I don't have to beat you to find out what you've got.
'Yes, that's right. Dismantling a plush demon like this...
''The tail is so tasty that it is sometimes found in District 7. If you make the skin into armor, it gives you 'water attribute resistance' and you can even make the head part into a fighting weapon.

　Humans are so tough - and it's not like I, who've been benefiting from demon materials, is thinking about it now.

''.......Oh?　Rear-kun, the demon seems to be........concerned about Miss Theresa.
What...?

　If you look closely at the 'Slow Salamander''s movements, it appears to be trembling in a small way after being caught. What those little eyes were capturing was Theresia.

''Theresia is a 'Lizard Man' this demon is a 'Salamander'. Could it be that she's wary of the 'Lizard' or something.......
Qua...

　The salamanders purr together, as if Elitia's guess was correct. Theresia just looks at the salamander quietly - no, she's licking her lips, so maybe she thinks it looks delicious.

　I don't know if she'll succeed, but if that's the case, there's room for 'negotiation'.

'Don't worry, I'm not going to eat them. We'll give you a safe place to live and you can come with us later, okay?
"...........

　Current Situation
　The hostility of "Slow Salamander D" and "Slow Salamander E" is gone.

　I didn't get a response, but it seems that they agreed. After releasing the "Vine Grass Bullet" and releasing the "Salamanders" and the others, they didn't run away, but were quietly looking at us.

(Hmm?　(This is...)

　When Theresia defeated the 'Aqua Elemental', there was a small light blue crystal-like object that fell down. When I picked them up, I found that they were smaller than magic stones, but they could be used for something.

''Ah........Rear-kun, there's something attached to the tails of these kids. Is it a magic stone?
And Silone's weapon...neither of them are damaged, although they have some sticky stuff on them.
Since it looks like mucus covered Salamander's skin..........Melissa, does it look like he's not poisoned?
'None. When I cook, I use salt to remove the slime.

　Theresia's stomach rumbled a little in response to the word "food". As Melissa pulled out some dried meat from her tuna pocket and handed it to her, Theresa gulped it down.

'When we find Silone, let's go home and have something good to eat.
..........

　Theresia nodded her head persistently. Perhaps it's because I used the "Slow Salamander", but the individuals who showed up from the puddles and antagonized me have disappeared - it seems that my choice not to defeat them was successful.

　Current Situation◆
　Acquire a "stagnant stone".
　Get a copy of Water Crystal
　Get one "Sticky Heaven Stilettos +4".
　Get one copy of "Sticky * Blood Soccer +3