As the Demon King, I have married a slave elf. How should I express my love?

Despite everyone being on high alert, the attack that followed was completely unexpected.

"Aa ...

That was—a roar.

"Gurgle, woof!"

The 'Mud Demon' emitted a wail that caused excruciating headaches.

The water surged violently, the wreckage of the boat exploded and shattered, and even the oil lamps floating on the surface were swallowed by the lake.

The impact was so great that even Sagan couldn't withstand it and knelt down, and the holy swords of Shesty and the others also lost their luster.

"Shestia!"

Because the paladin girl stood firmly in front of Sagan and endured the roar, she fainted half-consciously.

"Tsk, he really needs to be taken care of!"

And the one who stepped forward to take Siesta's place was none other than Barbarossa.

Shestie quickly regained consciousness and shook her head.

"...I...am...alright."

"No, no, no, it's alright."

Upon closer inspection, blood was flowing from Shess's ear, suggesting that her eardrum had been damaged.

"Barbaros, you take care of Shestie. Raphael, can you still fight?"

"No need to ask any more questions!"

Raphael, after all, possessed baptismal armor, so his injuries were relatively minor. He raised his holy sword once more and nodded with a powerful flourish.

So Sagan, together with Raphael, once again headed towards the "Mud Demon".

"...Sigh, I'm completely helpless against healing magic."

Barbarossa, grumbling as he moved away from the front lines, began to treat Shestie's wounds.

The Mud Demon opened its mouth, seemingly intending to unleash another roar.

"Dream on!"

The head of the "Mud Demon God" was blasted through by the dragon's breath.

However, Fa'er's strike was not like the Holy Sword or the Celestial Phosphorus; it did not possess the power to burn the mud.

The splashing mud swerved in the air and landed on Fa'er.

"—!"

"Fair!"

As soon as Sagan finished shouting, a black whirlwind suddenly swept up in front of the little girl.

then--

'Om ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh!'

As if in response to the previous roar, the beast's howl boomed out.

The roar generated a shockwave that blew away all the mud droplets.

"Hooooooooooo..."

It turned out to be a lion.

That wasn't a metaphor, but a real, four-legged lion, a wild beast. He leaped into the air to protect Fa'er.

The black lion stared at Fa'er with its golden eyes.

"Sagan's daughter, are you alright?"

"...Simonli?"

There's no mistake. That voice sounds exactly like Simmons from "Black Blade".

It seems that this lion is his true identity.

On the lion's back stood a stunningly beautiful woman wielding a large scythe. From her bright golden hair emerged two curved horns resembling those of a goat.

"Hehehe, I heard magic doesn't work on this thing, so how about my 'Barol's Magic Eye'?"

A sinister, deep purple gleamed in the beautiful woman's eyes, turning the 'Mud Demon's' skin gray.

"Is it a magical eye that can turn everything it sees into dust?!"

That's a special ability possessed only by certain races. Like dragon breath, it doesn't belong to magic, and Sagan has only seen it in literature.

Fa'er blinked repeatedly in surprise.

"……Who are you?"

"Oh dear, didn't we just say hello? I'm Gomel."

Illustration p245

Gomel smiled seductively and lightly touched Far's chin with her fingertips.

That figure was completely different from the old woman from before, but it seemed that she was Gomel from "The Witch".　

"you……"

Sagan grunted, prompting Gomel to snort and say:

"Given the current situation, helping Sagan seems like a better deal. In any case, we'll play along with you guys as we see fit."

Gomeli's words made Black Lion nod in agreement.

"Isn't it enough to just rescue that elf girl? Please allow us to do our part."

Then—Gomel, carrying a large scythe, added disdainfully:

"Bivron's actions are really annoying. I'll help with anything as long as I can go against that kid."

The other magicians did the same, each launching their own attacks on the "Mud Demon."　

Seeing this, Barbarossa busied himself treating Shestie.

"Okay, your hearing has almost recovered, right?"

Unexpectedly, Barbarossa actually helped her with the treatment, and Shess looked up at his sickly face with considerable surprise.

"W-Why did you save me...?"

"Is that even a question? Of course, it's because I won't get paid if you die."

This was probably the truth, but Shessty lowered her head in shame.

"It seems I misunderstood you, thinking you were an even more despicable and contemptible man."

"Huh? Magicians are pretty much like that, aren't they?"

Barbarossa looked surprised, but Shesty then shook her head and struggled to her feet.

"That's enough treatment... and sorry for slapping you earlier."

"……What?"

Shessty left the dumbfounded Barbaros and ran towards the 'Mud Demon' again.

Those who were still able to fight all joined Sagan in the attack.

But that's still not enough.

Although they managed to stop the "Mud Demon," they were unable to destroy it, and they couldn't even shatter its upper body that had appeared on the lake surface.

They lacked a decisive blow.　

◇

Neferi held the mermaid girl and waited not far behind the battle line.

—Is there anything I can do...?

Sagan granted Nephew's wish to save Nepheleus.

But he also said that he couldn't save Nephtros by himself, and asked her if she could fight alongside him.

She had to stand up for Sagan and for her own wishes.

But she really didn't know what to do.

—I can't use the magic tricks that Mr. Sagan taught me.

Neferpitou had just witnessed firsthand how the magicians' spells were all swallowed up by the "mud".

She knew that as a noble elf, her magical power was greater than that of ordinary people. If her magic were to be devoured, it would only implicate Sagan and the others.

"If that's the case, what should we do...?"

His inner thoughts turned into murmurs, and the mermaid girl in his arms twisted her body, seemingly waking up.

"Uh, wait a minute? What's going on here?"

The mermaid girl seemed not to have grasped the situation yet, her eyes darting around in disbelief.

"Are you alright?"

As soon as Neferi finished asking the question, the girl's face turned deathly pale and she began to tremble.

"Eek~ I'm so sorry, please forgive me! I'm just a member of the band, I didn't know anything about it!"

It seems the girl assumed Nefi was angry when she saw her.

Neferpitou's hand then touched the girl's cheek.

—Was my expression still too stiff...?

Recently... or rather, after meeting Sagan, she met many understanding people who could always understand her thoughts.

Therefore, she thought she was finally laughing like a normal person, but judging from the girl's reaction, it seemed to be just wishful thinking.

Disappointed in himself, Nefie realized that the mermaid girl was afraid of him, so he shook his head at her.

"Please hide behind me. We're still in danger."