181 - - the first encamp

"Welcome."　

Thor gave a small nod in reply to the words of Sorrugum, the giant of the Purple-Eyed Tribe.

Two hours had passed since they entered the swamp.

Thor and his companions arrived at their first campsite without getting lost or being attacked by monsters, although they were ankle-deep in mud along the way.

After more than a decade of swamp invasions, it seems that a safe route free from monsters has been secured.

There was one more reason for their safety.

"I have successfully completed the task of welcoming you!"

A young man with a straight back and clenched fists on his chest, a purple-eyed young man, raised his voice.

Behind the earnest-looking adventurer, the young men who had accompanied Thor and the others, covered in mud, were standing in line.

They had come all the way to the ruins of the fort early in the morning to guide Thor and his companions here.

Thorlgum gave a short chin wag to indicate his approval, and then continued with his orders.

"Thank you. Now please show our guests the way."

"Yes, sir!"

The young second-in-command, who again responded cheerfully, turned around and gave a flurry of orders to his companions.

I'll take care of Thor and the others, so please carry the luggage!"

"Yes, sir!"

Sora and Moo watch the young adventurers' unrestrained movements with their fists clenched to their chests.

The five young men begin to pile up the bundles of wooden planks they have carried so far.

The wood had been packed in the back of the wagon for use in the swamp.

This caused Thor and Moe to spend nearly half a day on the platform.

"Well then, this way please!"

Thor had imagined dry ground when he heard the word "encampment," but it seems that such a place is futile to expect here, where the ground is completely covered with mud.

But it is the adventurer who continues to defy adversity.

Those who have gone through hardships before us have created a beautiful resting place in this barren, muddy land.

"Mmmmmm. Is this a tree, Tor?"

"Yes, it is. It looks very old, but it feels strange.

Moo jumped down from his perch on Thor's shoulder and immediately started stomping the floor with his little feet, asking questions.

He seemed to be interested in everything these days, and was quick to ask questions.

"Well, it's soft, but it's not the same as rotten..."

"So ...... u....... A normal ...... is a tree is a ...... tree is a tree is a tree."

Yuril, who was being supported by Sola, mutters back in pain.

His physical strength is as low as ever, and it seems to be quite difficult for him to breathe.

There was another big reason for his breathing, though.

The black mud was covered by a wooden scaffold.

It was a large wooden scaffold, about the size of a house with a garden.

The base was like a raft made of logs joined together, and it did not seem to sway even a little when more than ten people were on it.

To my surprise, the back part of the house was elevated, and there was even a magnificent staircase.

"This is a material called buried wood. It has been buried in the mud since ancient times, so it doesn't seem to corrode.

As we climbed the stairs, the assistant captain, who had been assigned to guide us, gave us an explanation.

The wood has a distinctive bluish hue and a smooth surface, as if coated with a film.

What awaited Thor and his group at the top of the steps was an unexpected sight.

The first thing that jumped out at them was a row of blue triangles.

Tents were spread out on the high ground.

And beyond the triangles.

Between the tents, we can see a panoramic view of the marsh.

Thor gulps quietly at the sight of the endless sea of black mud.

The vice-captain nodded his head and asked with a proud smile, "What is it?

"What do you think?　What are the prospects for a bewitching swamp?"

"Hmmm, what is this?"

Instead of an answer, the question was asked in a bouncy voice by Moe, who was touching the tent with a floppy hand.

He was too short to be able to see the distant scenery.

The vice captain hurried to answer the question, but the child arrived at the answer before him.

"Oh, this is the same as To-chan's stomach!

Moo rushed back to the house and patted the blue-striped cape on Thor's back.

The vice captain, smiling at the sight of him, again politely gives us the answer to our question.

"Yes, that is correct. It is made of the leather of the blue striped serpent. You noticed that very well, didn't you?

"Moo's eyes see the truth..."

"You have very good eyes, Mr. Mu."

The child, perhaps realizing that he had been praised, beckoned the young man with his arms outstretched, lifting his nose proudly.

Then he bent his back and put his lips on the vice captain's cheek.

"Choo!"

"I am afraid, Master Moo."

Moo, who used to go around spanking women's buttocks and thighs without a care in the world, was finally caught in the act and had his own buttocks slapped.

Having learned from her bitter experience, the young girl now goes around kissing anyone she likes.

She realized that this way she would not be offended and everyone would be in a good mood.

The second-in-command, whose hair was trimmed short, smiled for the first time at the child with a soft, maidenly smile.

"This way is your tent. Please feel free to use it.

Thor and the others were led to a larger tent at the end of the hall.

The vice captain turned around and hastily added a few words, perhaps realizing that he had forgotten to do so.

"Oh, you can take that cloth off now.

As if relieved by these words, Sora and Yuril removed the cloth covering their noses and mouths.

The cloth was similar to the one they had used in the wilderness to repel sand, but this time it was intended to protect them from the thick miasma and the stench of rotten air.

"Ahhhh, I can finally breathe!"

"Phew. At this height, the smell is a little better.

The miasma mixed with the stench of decay tends to accumulate on the mud, so the high ground is probably a countermeasure against it.

The vice captain, who had been unperturbed by the sight of Yuril and Sora with their hoods off, stopped moving in surprise.

Their hair looked like spun silver threads, and their white skin had recently become even more translucent.

His eyes are a calm gray, and he has a high, well-defined bridge of the nose and beautifully shaped ears that extend from side to side.

As always, she has a beauty that attracts the public's attention.

The girl standing next to her is no less beautiful.

Her black hair is neatly braided with a big blue ribbon.

Her eyes are bright and her nose is upturned.

Her beauty reminds you of a flower just about to bloom, and a man can't help but admire her.

In front of the two women, the vice captain's cheeks are flushed red and his mouth is tight.

"Hey, I'll call you when lunch is ready, so please make yourself at home until then!

After saying these words, the purple-eyed maiden ran down the stairs and disappeared.

The remaining Thor and the others, after looking at the swamp once more, quietly set about unpacking their belongings.

The search in the swamp has just begun.