187 - - a talkative flamethrower and a silent swordsman

The second encampment was about an hour away.

Barconia and the others had agreed to escort us, so Thor and the others decided to lead the way.

In the lead were two swordsmen and one more a little later.

Balconia, a fire magician, and a woman in white robes, a water magician, are at the rear of the group.

Thor and Sora walked with Yuril, who was getting tired easily, in between them, and they were followed by Mu, who was to pull the sled, and the two magic users.

The other day Riccar was showing off this big beetle..."

The black-robed flame wielder, walking side by side with the child, rolls his eyes and asks, "What's going on?

No, no, no, it's too big. Did you capture a monster or something?　But I'm pretty sure there were no beetle types in the kobold forest. ....... Who is this Riccal?"

"Well, maybe this much."

No, it's still about the size of a cat. And who is this Riccar?"

"About a meow?　Recently, Kuro and Shima have been getting bigger because they eat a lot of food. Sooner or later, Moo, they'll probably crush you while you're sleeping.

"Black?　Stripes?　Another name has been added to the list. But what a big body to be crushed. ....... And what happened to Mr. Riccar?

"Moe's hungry, too. Have you had a snack yet, Pops?"　

Thor's lips lifted slightly as he walked in front of me, overhearing their endless conversation.

Mu's idle chatter seemed to be attracting Balconian's attention in a good way.

The magician's second voice, which had welcomed them at their first meeting, went something like this

Welcome to the swamp of the bewitched. How was your first encounter with the Giant Spider?　No, I don't have to ask. I've seen how you do it!　By the way, how did you do that?　I thought I was pulled into a hole, but before I knew it, I was right back where I started.　And how did the spider's legs suddenly stop and blood sprayed out?　If it is your beautiful daughters?　I'm very impressed. I'm sorry I'm late in saying my name. My name is Barconia. Pleasure to make your acquaintance.

Moo is Moo!

He was talking as if he were pouring water on a plank, and I threw the rest of the story to Moe, who replied in high spirits.

Barconia took the opportunity to talk to the child, who was chewing on the small apple he had received with his front teeth like a squirrel.

But you are very cute, Mr. Moo. If you were this lovely, I should remember you when I see you on the street. Maybe you are not from Dadan: ....... Were you born in a different place?　From the tree of liberation, come and gather. Hmmm...maybe a more northern city?　Taste for yourself a glimpse of the might of the great flame--."

Balconia, who had finished chanting while asking questions, lifted a staff shining with a bright red flame-crystal stone.

From the tip of the wand, a blazing sphere of flame is produced.

The fireball, which would normally be the size of the palm of one's hand, quickly expands to the size of Mu's outstretched arms.

Balconia throws the huge fireball forward with a single bound.

The ball of fire flies in an arc and lands in the swamp where the battle has just begun.

The swordsman, who had been slashing at the spider's legs with his heated red blade, leaps backwards with a look of familiarity.

The spider's legs, having lost their target, of course, quickly disappear into the mud.

Then, a breath later, a fireball exploded.

"Ouch!"

Sola, thinking she had struck out, lets out a disappointed cry.

The next moment, however, the girl gasped for air.

The fireball, which had gouged the mud, did not end there, but exploded rapidly, scattering sparks of fire.

The scattered fireballs, one size smaller than the other, fall down here and there in the swamp.

As soon as they hit the ground, they burst violently again.

Smaller and smaller fireballs are born, and they are pouring down everywhere.

"Whoa!　That's amazing."

Sola's mouth dropped open in astonishment at the sight of the fire that quickly turned the whole area into a sea of fire with a chain of flames.

Moe, too, clapped his hands, not taking the apple from his mouth.

Thor reached out his hand and hurriedly supported Yuril, who had staggered to his feet, perhaps hit by the sudden outbreak of hot air.

And it was not only the silver-haired beauty who was roasted by the fire.

A huge black mass covered with fire emerged from the bottom of the mud, as if the fire had spread to the hole.

Its body, as big as a carriage, is supported by eight long, terrifying legs.

The head is obscured by the mud, but its multiple eyes, glowing with an eerie light, are clearly visible.

The Giant Spider finally reveals its entire body, and its jaws open up and down menacingly as it looks at Thor and the others.

Black mud drips from the tip of its long, arcing projection.

A moment later, the big spider comes gliding over the mud with a speed that cannot be expected from its huge body.

Kicking off a blazing fire, the monster closes in on the swordsmen.

The two men in front of me quickly move backward in response.

They seem to be quite used to this kind of situation.

The one who stepped forward instead was the swordsman who had not yet drawn his sword.

The man with the two-handed sword on his back twists himself while gripping the hilt.

Instantly the sides of the scabbard that had encased the sword open, revealing the long blade of the sword.

The silver blade is drawn out, and it turns red in an instant.

The sword is swung horizontally, and cleaved horizontally.

The front legs of the giant spider that had lunged at the sword are sliced off as if it were cutting grass.

The man does not slow down, but twists and turns again.

The sword's tip, which spewed red flames, made a circle in the sky, creating a brilliant trajectory.

The swordsman spins around lightly and slams his accelerated sword into the monster's head.

Martial art--.

The face of the giant spider, which had opened its jaws to bite at any moment, is sliced open in a horizontal line.

A little later, flames burst out all at once from the severed part.

At the same time, it seems that the fire of the "intense fire" has spread to all parts of its body.

The monster falls silently into the mire, emitting a stench of burning smoke.

The swordsman, who has killed the swamp spider in an instant, looks around with his two-handed sword in his hand.

The heated blade of the sword vaporizes any bodily fluids that may be attached to it, but instead may burn if it is sheathed too soon.

The red-haired man turns back to Thor and the others, keeping his sword at the ready.

The swordsman gives a sharp look at Thor and the others and returns his gaze to the front without saying a word.

Just as Thor tries to remember the name of this familiar figure, a noisy voice rises from behind him.

"Rasel, you are too brusque! You could be a little more boastful there, couldn't you?　Oh, did you see my ?　What do you think, isn't it great?　It was a lot of work, growing them to that level. What's wrong? Mr. Moo?

The child, who had eaten every last morsel of his snack without even leaving a crust, was tugging at Barconia's sleeve.

Moe asks, seemingly unconcerned by the scene before him.

"Hey, old man, do you have any more apples?"