“Alright, that’s enough.”
Nina gathered everyone near the entrance of the underwater cave, after they had finished clearing out the golems that had spawned.
“Okay, let’s cast Barrier,” Clarice said, enveloping them all in Absolute Defense magic.
“Now, I’ll distribute the special items. Deres, please come down,” Mariu ordered.
“Ah, yes, regrettably,” Deres replied.
“If you say that, I’ll keep you stuck here forever.”
“Mentally, I already am.”
His words were silenced with a kiss. But that’s another story.
“Phew, alright everyone, this will keep you from getting cold and allow you to breathe too.”
“Ah, it’s those special swimsuits, the white bikinis, right?”
“Mariu helped me replicate them. The original is with Nastasia right now.”
“Yes,” Nastasia confirmed.
She took them out of the Item Box. If someone with a larger body wore them, they’d become “micro bikinis,” which were practically a state of being naked.
“Let’s change here immediately,” Mariu declared.
“What, here?!” Deres exclaimed.
“There’s no one here who would be bothered by being seen, right?”
No, no, no, *I* would be bothered!
“Umm, you’ll be looking the other way, right?”
“What are you talking about? Deres, you’ll be wearing one too.”
“But these are women’s swimsuits!”
“Mariu made just one that men can wear.”
And then, Deres was captured by Clarice.
“Now, let’s take off your current equipment first. Your underwear too, of course.”
“N-no, no, no, no!”
“Deres, don’t dim the Light Magic! …Fine, I’ll illuminate you myself.”
Nina’s blindingly bright Light Magic filled the barrier!
“M-m-my clothes are being stripped off! ¡¡¡¡”
“…It can’t be helped. I’ll help you too, reluctantly,” Helen said.
“Kaumi’s drooling! Drooling!!”
And so, Deres was forcibly made to wear the white bikini.
(Honestly, Mariu, what kind of item did you prepare?!)
He figured Mariu probably had one prepared for himself to wear too.
“Alright, Deres, you’ll wear a Maid outfit over this.”
“Eeeehhh…”
“Let’s all hurry and change too!”
” ” ” ” ” ” “Yes!!!!!” ” ” ” ” ” ”
After everyone had finished changing, the final preparations were made.
“Now, here are the ‘Bubble Shells.’ For the Succubi who can’t hold their breath, and Whitebeard.”
“Thank you!”
“Understood!!”
Helen and Whitebeard (he abbreviated the name considerably) received theirs. Then they passed them along to a few Succubi. Yes, with this, they were ready for underwater combat. Wait, Kaumi hadn’t changed yet. Ah, I see, she had to revert her transformation.
(This is where the Mermaid Race truly shines.)
They proceeded towards the cave entrance.
“Now, let’s cancel them,” Clarice said.
“Yes,” Kaumi replied.
“Understood,” Helen added.
Clarice released the Barrier, and Kaumi dispelled her human form. Kaumi leaped into the water with a splash.
“Ent-Succubus will take the lead,” Mariu declared.
“Then I’ll be… umm…”
“Deres,” Mariu called.
“Yes!”
He was put into the “lewd mode” outfit of a micro bikini and a mantle by Nina. Then, with someone casting Light Magic into the water, they dove in. It wasn’t cold; the gear really did its job! While lamenting the thought of Whitebeard’s fluffy fur getting wet, everyone safely submerged.
(Kaumi looks so alive.)
Yes, it was then that Deres finally remembered. She was a Mermaid he had met at Zazam’s port, who had helped with elbow fights and fishing. She was one of many… and indeed, she moved the best among them. However, her current activity was singing bawdy songs with castanets.
(Golems are already here!)
Next came fish-like monsters, ‘Giant Piranhas’ with sharp teeth, according to the notice. Their scales gleamed eerily, and they didn’t look very appetizing.
(Now, let’s cut, cut, cut them all down!)
Being underwater, not many people spoke. In fact, besides Kaumi’s singing, no one had opened their mouths. But their coordination was perfect. Indeed, Ice and Earth magic flew about effectively underwater.
(Lightning magic makes everyone numb!)
Besides fish-like monsters, there were also ‘Gang Kailrocs,’ ‘Startling Alligators,’ ‘Bloody Otters’—oh, I want to Tame that one!—’Tornado Frogs,’ and over there was a ‘Turtle Mimic,’ a turtle disguised as a Treasure Chest. They had all sorts of monsters here.
(The ones that look delicious to eat are… probably the ‘Sequence Eels.’)
These were eel-like monsters that coiled around like snakes. As they collected the ones they cut down, Kaumi ate any that drifted by. Seeing those jagged teeth, Deres truly realized she was of the Mermaid Race.
♪ Rub it, rub it, rub it, rub it~~ Rub it~~ ♪
Eating and singing, it was quite the situation. As they continued through the large underwater cave, the path transitioned from slanting downwards to parallel, and then ascended slightly. And beyond that…!!
Splash!!!
“Fuu, we’re out of the water,” Deres said.
“Umm, where is this…? A city?!”
Illuminated by Light Magic, it looked like an underground city, like ancient ruins.
“…They’re here.”
Crystal Golems had arrived. They weren’t particularly large; about the size of an Ent-Succubus or Wh-chan. Ah, White Frontbeard, abbreviated as Wh-chan. That was a bit too much of an abbreviation.
“INTRUDER DETECTED. IMMEDIATE EJECTION.”
(They spoke?!?!?!)
They appeared to be ‘Crystal Intelligence Golems.’
“Deres.”
“Can I cut it…? Hmph!!”
The blow left not even a scratch. This was seriously bad!
(Now, how do we攻略 this?!??!)
