Four, four.

　Michelle and Helena exchanged glances when they heard the voice.
　A peculiar squeal that sounded like whistling in a low scale. The girls knew instantly that it was Whips' voice.

'Stand back ye. 'Michelle, where's the magic stone?'

I've got some. I just don't have a lot. I only have one.

I'm sorry, but we need backup.

Of course. You don't want to die crying over it, it won't do you any good.

　Helena stepped forward to cover all of Michelle and the others.

　A knotty, hard sound mingles in between the zurri-zurri sounds from behind the bend that leads to the cave entrance.

'You're here.'

　As if in response to Michelle's voice, a brown-bodied demon appeared under the light of the lantern.
　The lower half of its body looked like a snake covered in scales, the upper half of its body looked like a horse with short body hair, and its head looked like an owl with a human face.
　It was about two meters tall. It has an odd shape, but with the meandering motion of its two front legs and lower body, it is slowly approaching.

　The blows delivered from its short beak are sharper than the fangs of the disperser known as the Despair of the Meadow.
　Even Ractor is a mere predator in front of this monster.

''Four, four.''

　A strange voice emanated from a face covered in white feathers.

　The sound of tsk tsk tsk and the sound of paws standing echoed into the cave like a countdown to the remaining lives of Michelle and the others.
　There was no intelligence in their narrowed eyes, only the instinct of a hunter to inspect his prey, dwelling with a red light.
　This is the appearance of the strongest demon in the Causas Forest, the forest nightmare 'Whips'.

''Don't ever step forward!

　As soon as Michelle's warning ended, Whipps' beak opened wide and a loud squeal came from behind it.

'Four-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!'

　The whipsong is a special ability of the Whips to reap the consciousness of humans.
　With the meaning of disabling humans and bringing silence to the battlefield, it is called the 'Song of Silence' by the mercenaries.

''Hanslick-san!　Ladies and gentlemen!

　Sorte's scream came from behind Michelle.

'Michelle!　You all collapsed suddenly and ......!

Leave me alone!　I just fainted!

　Only Solte was able to withstand the song of silence among the students.
　Helena was at ease, and Michelle barely managed to remain conscious.

''Ha!''

　Now it's our turn, and Helena slashes at her.
　Whips tries to dodge by floating his upper body, but Helena's sword strike is faster than that.

　The sharp edge of the blade reaches Whipps' shoulder.
　But the outer skin, which was harder than it looked, prevented the sword, and all that was given was a small cut.

　In an attempt to crush Helena, she fell on her paws, putting the weight of her upper body that Whips had floated down on her paws.
　The blonde swordsman dodged with a back step, just as predictable and predictable.

'Let's go!'

　With a shout, Michelle threw a pebble-sized mineral at the demon.
　It made a decent impact on Whips' torso and burst out with a dry thud, and in the blink of an eye, the point of impact was covered in ice.

　What Michelle threw at it is commonly referred to as a magic stone.
　It's a mysterious stone that can produce the same effect as rudimentary attack magic, even for those who can't use magic.

　It is said to be a relic from an ancient civilization or mythological era, and the technology to manufacture it was already lost at this time.
　Therefore, despite the convenience that anyone can use them, they are also rare, and even the elementary magic magic stones that can be found relatively frequently are sold for as high as five gold coins.
　Some peddlers who don't have the skills to fight may carry them for protection, but they are not usually able to use them with impunity.

It doesn't look like it's working very well. Well, it's better than nothing.

　But the attack by the magic stone that Michelle had spent her own money on didn't seem to have done much damage to Whips.
　Whips didn't pay attention to the magic stones Michelle was throwing, but only continued to focus his hostility on the blonde swordsman standing in front of him.

　Helena's sword danced in the small cave.

　With small steps, she tossed Whips around, flanking and backing away from the blow.
　However, although the wounds are definitely increasing, there is no sign of Whips slowing down.

　The sword blows are too light.

　Against Whips, who was much harder and stronger than it looked, Helena's sword was unable to inflict a fatal wound against Whips, who was much harder and stronger than it looked.
　On the contrary, Whips' blow was heavy.
　The sharp pointed beak of his beak, the weighted paws, and the huge tail covered in scales, none of these attacks would be justified if they hit.
　And more importantly, Helena's strength was diminishing with time as she continued to move.

　Inside the cave with little space to avoid, six people to protect, and a situation where even injury was not allowed.
　All of this was slowly chipping away at Helena's strength.

　Maybe it was inevitable that the time would come eventually.
　The blow of the tail that cut through the air and cleaved away from the side finally caught Helena's side.

''Guh!''

　Helena's body collapses with a cry of pain.

'Helena!'

Miss Helena!

　Whips chirps as she looks coldly at Helena as she collapses.

'Fo, fo!'

　It was like a declaration of victory.

'Miss Helena!　Healing at ......!

　Solte tries to run to Helena, who is huddled and unable to get up, but Solte tries to run to her.

'Fool!　Don't step forward!

　Michelle's warning was already late, and the Whips had already set Solte as their next target, jittery and crowded.

'Ah, ah, ......'

　Facing the deformed demon up close, Sorte's face was filled with fear.
　Its eyes couldn't be more wide open and stared at Whips' movements, but its body just stood there, as if it was in a golden bind.

　Merciless red eyes reflected in the light red eyes.

　A moment before Solte's life was about to disappear at any moment, Whips, who was about to stick his beak out at his prey's head, suddenly stopped moving for some reason.
　The demon removed its gaze from the irresistible prey in front of it and began to turn its head from side to side with a twirl of its head to alert its surroundings.

　The change comes again, leaving Michelle and the others unable to keep up with the transition of the situation.

''Buaaaaah!''

　Suddenly, an unusual squeal emanated from Whipps' mouth.
　A large amount of blood gushed out from the lower half of the demon's body as it wriggled and flailed about.

''Sword ......?''

　The first person I noticed was Michelle.
　The long lower half of her body was covered with Whips' scales. Part of it was stained with blood.

　A single shortsword was stuck deep into the spot where the blood was gushing out.
　But there is no one here who can answer the question of where that shortsword appeared from.

　As Whipps' screams echo, something is flying from the direction of the cave's entrance with the sound of wind.
　By the time Michelle was distracted by the sound, a single shortsword had already pierced Whips' head.

　No matter how tremendous the demon's physical strength is, it is helpless if its head is pierced.
　With a scream of devastation, Whipps sinks his huge body into the ground.

　As the stunned Michelle and the others stood still, they heard the sound of multiple footsteps rushing up from the entrance.

''Michelle-san!　Helena!　Are you safe?!

　The first one to come running in, shaking his purple hair, is Klente, who should have gone to Tria to call for help.

　In addition, other guards come following.
　From behind them, mercenaries Michelle had never seen before also showed up.
　Apparently, Clente had done his job well.

''Did you make it in time ......?''

　Michelle finally breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the long-awaited rescue.