Section 6 "Mother's Love and Lover's Passion Are As Barren As A Lava Plain"

It's hot! So hoooooot!

Yow! Magma! Magma splashed on me! Hot!

A-Are you okay!?

Maaaaaash!

Behind my shield!? U-Understood!

You too, Master! It's dangerous here, so please hide behind my shield!

S-Sorry, but me too, please! With my thighs exposed like this...!

W-We're like sardines in a can!

Thanks for the offer. Your consideration is all I need. I've got this hood to protect me, so I'll make it through.

When you're on an adventurous journey, countermeasures against heat are a must. Though I have to say lava was unexpected.

Hahaha, unnecessary! It'll take more than this kind of heat to injure an oni's skin!

I'm fine here. Use the space to protect your weak bodies instead.

？！

Argh, this... Move over a little, Nitocris!

No way! If my body pokes out any more, my thigh will... My thigh will...!

It's so hooooooooot!

This is bad. Hey, we've got some enemies.

Enemies? There are enemies here...?

What's that queen thinking!? Here! In the Lava Zone! Why!? Why would she put enemies here!?

This is the only path that leads to the pyramid! Why is there lava here anyway!?

Do they use this path themselves to get to town!? Are they stupid? Are they morons!?

...It seems the excessive stress has...temporarily enhanced her intelligence...

I understand your frustration, but now's not the time! Get ready to fight!

I'll kill whoever thought of this map!

(Panting) I-I did it... I sure did it...

N-Now then, let's keep moving!

？！

What's wrong, Master? You're not looking too well...

Not too well? More like you look ghastly. Though honestly, it's my type of color.

You may be ill. Maybe your body's out of whack coming from the freezing cold into the scorching heat.

？！

Fujimaru!? Your brain waves are getting highly unstable!

Is there something abnormal in the area? Maybe there's a statue or book that affects your mental state with just a glance!?

This is the Lava Zone! Nothing like that can be found here!

It's okay, Puppy. With the five of us, it won't matter who we're facing.

Mash is the drum-defense, Nitocris the bass-support. Green is a manager-backup, while Ibaraki and I will be the leads.

I agree... I think it's a good, well-balanced team.

That's the spirit!

There seem to be some Servants waiting, but I'm sure it will be okay with this party.

C'mon, we're almost at the end of this Lava Zone! There's nothing left to fear!

...Oh my.

...

...

？！

Th-That's...

The three Servants who Fujimaru keeps calling a "danger beyond all dangers"!

...Also known as the Always-Sneaking-Into-Master's-Bed Trio!

Nah, let's face it. They're monsters.

Oh? Oh my, my, my?

Everyone, did you hear that child's voice just now?

!!

Oh crap, Minamoto-no-Raikou!?

Indeed I did. I think I just heard "I love you!"

Yes, I'm sure that was towards me.

... (Giggle)

...Hee hee.

(...G-Got my No Face May King out in the nick of time...)

(Master...! S-Senpai, are you okay? Deep breaths, deep breaths. We're fine. They haven't found us.)

(Hey, why do we need to hide? We have to defeat them to get through, right?)

(Shh! Just keep silent, Elisabeth. I can spiritually feel it.)

(You may be the root of all negative energy for mankind, but those three are the root of all negative energy for the entire universe...)

(In other words, they are like black holes...!)

(That is correct... You've got a pretty sharp eye there... Minamoto-no-Raikou is especially bad. That woman doesn't have a hitbox!)

Hmm... How odd. I can smell Fujimaru after all.

(Smell? What's up with that Servant...!?)

(Sniff, sniff) Yooo-hoooooo! Fujimaru, are you heeeeeere?

(It's okay, it's okay! Calm down, Master!)

(How traumatized are you...!?)

(You there, are you all right? You've started shaking like jelly...)

？！

(This may take a while, but let's keep still... They'll eventually leave...)

(But we're still in the Lava Zone, so it's unbearably hot!)

(Would you rather fight those three!?)

(...Well...that's...)

(Right?)

Hmmm... Around here somewhere... Fujimaru, where aaare yoooooouuu?

Playing hide-and-seek, are you? Do you two know a surefire way to win?

?

"Vengeful Lightning of the Ox-King"!

(What the...!?)

You just go and incinerate places that look like good hiding spots.

I seeee.

(...Why on earth are you contracted to someone like that?)

(...Fujimaru, this may sound obtrusive, but now may be the time to make up your mind.)

(Master...)

(Y-Yes! Understood, Master!)

(I can tell you are mustering up all the courage you have... Now that's what I call an ally!)

？！

Oh.

Ah!

...Found you...

Sorry, but we need to get past. And no, we're not letting you have Puppy!

We will let you through if you just hand over the child though...

...! I said no!

I saw her hesitate...

？！

It's okay, Puppy! Don't worry!

...Hey, you foreigner.

Um, me?

Mmhmm. There's something I want you to do with your skills...

Then we have no choice. Let us squash the gypsy moth and take back our beloved child.

Gypsy moth? Who are you talking about?

...Probably you...

Hmm, I see. ...Did you just call me a moth!?

Yes, a moth. See, you have antennae.

Plus you're an eyesore. All those unnecessarily bright colors.

Hehehehe. Hahahaha.

All right, you're dead. I was never afraid of thunder to begin with. Don't you underestimate the thunder of János Hill!

Hehehehe. I'm usually a very lenient person, but...

But with this "Elly" individual I feel... some sort of destined rivalry.

...Um, I would be happy if I could just sneak into Master's bed...

That's a no! Rejected!

(Sob)

Don't worry, Puppy!

Crimson Hero Elisabeth shall protect you from this sinister, good-for-nothing trio!

...

...Is she a genius at rubbing people the wrong way?

She is an innate airhead...

Now, bring it on!

Urgh...!

Hey, whoa! Why are they so persistent!?

They come back no matter how many times we defeat them! They're like zombies... It's scary!

Who are you calling a zombie? Only one thing keeps this body moving, and that's love!

There's nothing stronger than a mother's love. Nothing in this whole world!

...As I said before, I only want Master to touch me a little.

Like, my head or cheek...

We can't keep this up...

Alright, now!

Go, Sougenbi! "Great Grudge of Rashomon"!

Eek!

Cursed pest...!

Flailing about is useless!

To the three of us who are used to being around lava, your attack was like a gust of refreshing wind!

...Wait, h-huh? Master...? Where did Master go?

There, over there. ...Oh no, don't go that way!

That's hot lava! Wait right there, Mother is coming to save you!

Hyah!

Oh! I shall not fall behind!

Please wait for me, Master!

Huh? Oh, um...

Then me too

Okay, now's our chance!

Ibaraki-Douji, what did you do?

Ah, I asked Nitocris to make a Master decoy doll using her magecraft.

I had the mummies make it while we fought, but I didn't think it would work...

They do say love is blind. Heh heh! I can't believe Raikou actually fell for it!

Keheh, foolish fools! They'll fall into the hot lava and

Think again! All three of them are alive and swimming merrily through it! Let's run while we can!

No way!?

？！

Y-Yes! Everyone, let's hurry!!

They're not even oni! How can they jump into boiling lava and still survive!?

It's probably the power of love!

Love? Love is scary!