Based on the tendency so far, it was highly likely that the other party was also a spirit system demon. Elitia also judged that and called out to Suzuna.

''Suzuna, please give my sword the 'Word Spirit'.'''
Yes, I understand.

　Suzuna invokes the 'Word Spirit' as a precaution, and tries to add the sacred attribute to Elitia's sword as an impossibility - but.

　Current Situation◆
　Suzuna activates Spirit of the Word → Target: Elitia Disabled against cursed weapons

　The white letters that emerge from the 'Word Spirit' do not settle on the blade of the 'Scarlet Emperor Sword' and fade and disappear.

''........Sorry Elitia-san, once again.......''
''No ... it means you've made the best choice so far. The only way to attack a spirit body with this sword is to have Aricht assist you.
'Yeah, I get it. My 'word spirit' is continuing and I should be able to support it.
"Lord Aricht, I'll take the attack first and see how it goes...

　Current Situation
　'? Scarecrow" activates "Lower Stance" → "? Scarecrow's evasion power increased. Critical rate increased.　

...Apparently you're using a sword technique I've never seen before.

　Serafina-san speaks of caution. The figure, with her sword raised as if she had been deflated, appears to be full of gaps at first glance - but since that's a skill, there's always something to it.

''I don't want to think about it too much, but I can't help but associate it with an appearance like this...''

　Elitia says with a nervous face. The technique used by the 'merciless decapitation' that takes away the soul with a single blow - an instant death attack. The word 'god of death' that you associate with the skull's face reminds you of that without question.

　I don't think there's any harm in using that one!

　Misaki takes out two dice and plays one with both thumbs and catches them as they fall - while I look out for Theresia.

'Theresia, I need to ask one thing of you. While Elitia is attacking........''
..........
Victory numbers.........

　Current Situation
　Misaki activates the "Dice Trick".
　Misaki activates Lucky Seven and that's it!
　'? Scarecrow's immunity has been reduced.

I'm in.

I'm going to initiate it, guys!　Be wary of their pauses!
"Yes!
.....

　Current Situation
　Aricht activates Force Shoot Freeze → ? Scarecrow is hit and frozen.
　'? Scarecrow activates Seikou Amouryoku → unfreeze, restore anomaly resistance

　The body of 'Scarecrow', which was frozen for a moment, immediately melts - in this evening darkness, its body shines unnaturally dazzlingly, as if it were bathed in sunlight.



"--Haah!
'Supporting' you, Seraphina!

　Current Situation
　Arihito activates 'Support Attack 2' → Support: 'Force Shoot Stun'.
　Seraphina activates "Aura Shield" and "Defense Force".
　Seraphina activates "Shield Slam" → Target: "? Scarecrow
　'? Scarecrow" activates "Willow Wind" → "Shield Slam" is swept away

What...?

　The power of Serafina-san's rush while holding up her shield, 'Scarecrow' stood on one leg and let it escape behind him by twitching his body like a willow branch.

''--Aah!

　Serafina-san tries to turn around immediately, but the weight of the large shield inevitably causes a delay before she can turn around and utters a spirited cry. Even so, they can't make it in time for 'Scarecrow' to act.

''--I won't let them--I won't let them...!

　Current Situation
　Elitia activates "Sonic Raid".
　Scarecrow" cancels an attack.
　Elitia activates the Blossom Blade → Target: "? Scarecrow
　'? Scarecrow activates Ranbu Kengeki → Target Skill: 'Blossom Blade'

d*mn it...!

　Elitia accelerated and instantly closed the distance and fired the first blow - the 'Scarecrow' swung his sword, which was sloppily held, out and flicked it back as if he were squeezing a whip. He switched the attack he was going to unleash on Seraphina-san to a defense against Elitia.

''--Haah!

　Current Situation
　Elitia" continues with "Blossom Blade".
　'? Scarecrow" continues "Ranbu Kengeki" → Offset "Blossom Blade".

　Elitia unleashes slashes one after another - 'Scarecrow' continues to play back Elitia's swords in turn with both swords, and even receives twelve slashes in a row and a follow-up attack by the 'Gauntlet of Early Work'.

　The eyes of the skull mask emit a cold light. Elitia's movement stops - she can't do anything about the slight gap after releasing her sword technique, but she can't do anything about it with her own will.

　◆Current Situation ◆
　'? Scarecrow" activates "Vorpal Weapon" → "Twin Swords of the Pilgrim" ability is released.

There's a gimmick in the sword... no such thing as a gimmick...!

　The sword held in both hands of "Scarecrow", its shape changes - another blade stored in the blade of the thick long sword expands, and the entire blade begins to vibrate with a low sound.

　--I can't take something like this seriously, even once.

　This thought was also conveyed to Theresia, who had been killing the signs and waiting for an opportunity until now.

''.........!''

　Current Situation
　Theresa activates "Assault Hit" → ? Double the attack power against Scarecrow
　Theresa activates the Butterfly Dance and increases the number of attacks.
　Theresa" activates "Azure Slash" - "? 1 hit on Scarecrow, critical stun

Huh...!

　Theresia should have used 'Active Stealth' to reliably get behind the enemy and unleash a desperate blow.

　Nevertheless, 'Scarecrow' reacted and avoided the high-speed barrage of blows that Theresia unleashed while leaving an afterimage.

　However, only the final blow barely caught 'Scarecrow'.

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

　The slash wrapped in the flames created by the 'Blue Flame Stone' - the mask of the 'Scarecrow' was injured.

　Current Situation◆
　'? 'Scarecrow' deactivates 'Vorpal Weapon'
　'? 'Scarecrow' disengaged from combat readiness

　It doesn't look like the "Scarecrow" was dealt a big blow. However, 'Scarecrow' returned the sword that had been roaring back to its original state and sheathed it, looking at us in silence.


'You stopped fighting........so what's the reason for that? Is it because Theresia's attack hit you...?

　The killing intent that was clearly felt just now has completely disappeared.

　Elitia was glaring at Scarecrow with her grip on the 'Scarlet Imperial Sword', but in front of the opponent whose hostility has disappeared, she lowers her sword point.

''........If I don't use the 'Blossom Blade' completely.......Red Eye, my sword......''

　After putting the sword away, Elitia says in a small voice.

　'Scarecrow' received Elitia's biggest technique. In total, he blocked a series of attacks that amounted to fifteen levels with two swords.

　Some of the demons in the fifth district may not be able to understand Elitia's attacks. How does she, who is undoubtedly the biggest attacker in our party, feel about that fact--''

''Elitia........''

　When I call out to her, Elitia turns to me and smiles - she doesn't seem as depressed as I thought she would be.

'I'll think about it later. It's hard even for Kyouka - I have to be stronger than that. I just reaffirmed what I knew.
........I see. You're strong after all, Elitia.
What do you mean by praise when I told you not to be strong? You won't get any better by coddling him.

　As we were talking, Suzuna comes over to us - apparently the 'evil spirit dispersal' had an effect, but Igarashi-san on Sion's back seemed to be unconscious.

''Arihito-san, the 'Evil Expulsion' was able to calm Kyouka-san's condition a bit, but not completely.
''Thanks, Suzuna. It's better to have a lot of countermeasures against state anomalies, so the 'evil spirits' can be useful.
'Brother, should I hand out the pills to you all?'
Oh, just give me a second to... hmm?

　Current Situation
　Madoka" has been upgraded to 5th level

When I did that, I gained a lot of experience...
Permanence I didn't know there was such a thing.
'I'm sorry. I was stocking up while I was at home to see if I could be of any help.

　Poor Potions of "Permanence" ◆
　A potion that exerts the effect of the skill "Permanence".
　Extends the target's state change in accordance with the user's level. Effective only for some state changes.
　The success rate increases as the opponent's health decreases. Normal success rate is low.

　I'll ask Madoka to hand me a bottle of potion and take a look at it - it says 'inferior', but the effect itself is quite effective if you succeed in activating it.

''It's junk, so I used it on my own...''
'No, that's exactly the kind of effect I was hoping to get. A potion that has the effect of a skill do you know how to make it?
''Ha, yes. Not every skill can be activated with a potion, but some magical types of skills can be housed in potions. You need to have someone who is a 'pharmacist' or 'alchemist' and has the 'Potions Creation' skill to make it for you.
Oh, I see... it's a special drug that's been sold as junk.

　I'm sure I could use it at least once more, but if using these things while exploring means Madoka gets experience, it would be good to be aware of the medicines and tools she can use and have them available to her.

'If you have any of these things in the future, make sure you buy them whenever possible... though Madoka is doing it before I can say anything else, so it's really helpful.
'Thank you, I'll do my best........oh, brother.......'

　Scarecrow" is pointing at us - no, no. He's pointing at something behind us.

"'Altergast'...?

　The ice statue of "Altergast". Pointing at it, 'Scarecrow' looks at me.

'What's wrong with that?　Is that why you stopped fighting...?

　The response from "Scarecrow" was - surprisingly - an affirmation.

　But then he shook his head, and now he shook his head to the side. It's almost confusing, but if we're going to try to interpret it as it is, it's 'it's right, but it's different in some ways'.

''You mean you want that ice statue...?　What are you going to use it for?
'Well if you're not going to be any more hostile to us, we'll negotiate with you. Do you want me to give you that one?

　'Scarecrow' nodded. If I brought back the frozen 'Altergast', I was thinking of consulting with Celes-san to see if I could use it as a material, but if I can get any information about this labyrinth from 'Scarecrow', the value of it is unknown - but there is no small amount of interest.

''........Can I agree to it, guys?　Give me the frozen demon.
I think I'm good but really, I don't know how it's going to turn out.
'As of now, I don't feel any kind of hostility anymore. I'm sorry, I don't know for sure, but...

　Everyone was a bit confused as well, but they agreed to hand over the ice statue. As the Scarecrow approaches the ice statue, it seems to be heavier than it looks, and it is carried easily.

　The Scarecrow takes one look at us, then turns away and walks eastward away from the lake.

'What do you do, Lord Aricht, what do you do?　You seem to be urging me to follow you...
''I'd like to think it's not a trap either. Seraphina, please give me a moment.

　I approached Sion, who was a bit farther away, and looked at Igarashi-san's condition as she regained consciousness. I was told to stay away from her earlier, but even though she's still not in the right state of mind, Igarashi-san raised her body a little and smiled at me.

''I'll be fine.......Suzuna-chan's strength has calmed me down a bit. I'm sorry, for dragging you into the battle....
No, I'm glad to hear that Igarashi-san is safe. The demons in the Fifth Ward are tough, but I also found out that we can fight them somehow.
Well you guys were awesome. I'll make sure I'm in the race next time...

　Igarashi-san's status abnormality is '? She is left with a 'spiritual disorder'. If she couldn't solve this completely, she might not be able to participate in the battle against the 'Monkey Prince'.

(.........You knew the risks, as long as you're hiding in the labyrinth of the Fifth Ward. (We'll just have to solve this one by one.)

　Theresia and Elitia picked up the magic stone dropped by 'Ice Remnant' and left it with Madoka. We followed the 'Scarecrow' as it walked towards the woods in the east direction, wary of its surroundings.