Trapped in the swamp（EN） (Pixiv Fanbox)

As an adventurer journeying to foreign lands, she was unfortunately captured by bandits along the way.

Her futile struggles ended with her arms bound as they led her deep into the forest.

“What exactly do you intend to do?”

She questioned the bandits, but unfortunately, she couldn't understand their language.

It seemed to be a rare tongue used by indigenous tribes, not the country's official language.

“...Where is this?”

Eventually, the thicket gave way, revealing a vast, open wetland.

Before her stood what appeared to be a wooden pier, and she was forced to stand upon it.

Then, in the next instant, one of the bandits suddenly shoved her from behind.

“Whoa!?”

Splash!

The sound echoed through the forest as her feet sank into the swamp below.

“Hey, what are you doing?!”

She spun around and glared at the thief behind her.

But the thief, seemingly oblivious to her protest, hurried back to his companions.

“...Huh?!”

Just then, she spotted a sign propped up near the platform.

The words written on it read: 'Danger! Bottomless Swamp!'

In other words, she had just been dropped into a bottomless swamp.

“A bottomless swamp...!”

She hurriedly looked down at her feet.

Her boots were sunk about three centimeters up the shaft, but a strange phenomenon was occurring around them.

Bubble... bubble...

Faint bubbles rose from the swamp, popping and splattering mud onto her legs.

The muddy surface, refusing to release her feet, began slowly swallowing her boots.

“What should I do? If this keeps up...”

She tried to escape, lifting her legs.

But as soon as they rose slightly, the viscous mud pulled them back into the swamp.

She tried again and again, only creating ripples and bubbles on the muddy surface. Eventually, the swamp completely swallowed her boots.

“Why... this...!”

Suddenly, she turned around to see the bandits who had captured her.

They all remained where they were, watching her with quiet smiles.

It seemed their goal was simply to enjoy watching her sink into the swamp.

“Damn...!”

Even if she called for help, they wouldn't respond.

Realizing this, she shook her body, trying to escape the swamp, knowing it was futile.

But the swamp gradually swallowed her, and soon she sank up to her waist.

Mud clung to the fingertips of her bound hands.

“What should I do...!”

The swamp and the thieves mocked her desperate situation.

Could she possibly escape...?

―――

How much time had passed since she was pushed into the swamp?

With her mouth caked in mud, she desperately struggled against the monster slowly swallowing her body, fighting not to be eaten.

But even that faint resistance only served as seasoning to whet the swamp's appetite, and she sank in an instant.

Her body was already submerged up to her chest in the swamp.

“Is... is it over...?”

She muttered to herself, her cape stained as she stared at the bubbling mud surface.

The courage that had defined her as an adventurer had deserted her; she had no fangs left to bite back at the despair before her.

As if mocking her, several pairs of eyes watched from beyond the grassy thicket.

The bandits who had pushed her into the swamp basked in their pleasure, their faces twisted into wicked grins.

Squish... squish...

“Haa... haa... I can't breathe...”

Before she knew it, the muddy surface had risen to her neck.

Her beautiful hair and face were caked in mud. The mud pressed against her already sunken chest, making breathing difficult.

It was the sign that the mud pit's meal was finally reaching its climax.

And then, the moment came.

Gurgle... gurgle...

“Mmm!!”

The muddy surface pressed against her mouth, attempting to rob her of her ability to breathe.

Her nose was still free, but that too was only a matter of time.

Breathing heavily through her mouth, she realized her fate and tears welled in her eyes.

“Mm... mmm!”

Splash...!

And then, as if conceding defeat, she submerged her head into the swamp.

The churning mud bubbles surged momentarily, the mud face swallowing her green dress and rippling.

But soon, it grew still again, as if nothing had happened.

The swamp had devoured her body and soul completely.

―――

Her body was completely dragged into the bottomless mud monster.

Bubbles spilled from her lips as she wore an expression of agony.

At her feet, the remains of others who had fallen victim to the swamp drifted by.

Would her fate truly end here...?

―――

“...Guh! Guh!”

From the flat ground beside the marsh, the sound of someone coughing violently to expel something foreign from their mouth echoed into the forest.

There she was, covered head to toe in mud and in a state of utter exhaustion.

Still lacking the strength to stand, she sat on the ground, rinsing the mud from her mouth with water from a canteen she'd taken out of her pouch, somehow managing to wash it away.

“...Why didn't I sink into the swamp?”

Back then, she had indeed sunk completely into the bottomless swamp spreading before her.

Yet now, somehow, she had escaped that swamp and survived.

Furthermore, the rope that had bound her arms was severed, lying discarded near the spot where she had awakened.

“It... seems... you've... noticed...”

At that moment, before she could fully process her situation, someone spoke to her.

She turned her face toward the voice and saw a skeleton, covered in mud just like her, standing there.

“Undead!?”

Faced with the suddenly appearing monster, she tried to assume a fighting stance.

But contrary to her wariness, the undead before her showed no intent to attack and continued speaking.

“You... were also... cast... down...”

With those words, she understood who the undead before her was, and why she had survived the swamp.

Among the undead, some are born from those who possessed strong magical power in life and held intense regrets or grudges at the moment of death.

This undead was likely a victim of those thieves.

They had been drowned in the swamp and lost their lives, but their intense attachment to this world remained, turning them into undead.

And to prevent more victims like herself from falling prey to those thieves, it had saved her from being drowned in the swamp.

“You saved me?”

The undead nodded stiffly.

Though now nothing more than a mud-covered skeleton, its face seemed to hold a faint smile.

“I'm glad... you were saved...”

With those final words, the undead vanished deep into the forest.

After some time, having managed to recover her strength, she safely returned to the Adventurers' Guild and reported on the bandits.

As a result, a group of adventurers directly under the guild's command would soon be dispatched to eliminate the bandits.

Later, she visited the edge of that marsh once more.

She would soon leave this country.

Before that, she desperately wanted to express her gratitude to the life-saver who had vanished into the depths of the forest that day.

“Thank you for saving me. I will never forget you. Rest in peace.”

She couldn't tell if her words reached him.

But at that moment, she felt the miasma drifting around the marsh seemed to lift ever so slightly.

==============================================================

So, that concludes the series of misfortunes befalling my original character (Quick Sand Edition), which began with the illustration I posted on Quick Sand Day (September 19th).

It had been two years since my last submission, and I was honestly worried about whether I could effectively depict the bottomless swamp. I was delighted that it received such positive feedback, both domestically and internationally, far exceeding my expectations.

Now, for a bit of behind-the-scenes info: this time, I tried drawing the bottomless swamp in various styles like this.

1st: Single-panel style

2nd: Manga style

3rd: Depiction of being completely submerged in the swamp

4th: Entire body covered in mud

Personally, the submerged depiction in the third one felt fresh to draw since it's not an expression I often see.

Each piece took roughly 2 to 4 hours to complete.

While this is unrelated to this series, I definitely feel the results of two years of drawing practice (especially focusing on finishing quickly) showing here.

This time, since my days off happened to be close together, I drew four pieces at a high pace over one week. Going forward, I aim to update the series at a pace of one or two pieces per week.

By the way, there was a major mistake in the first illustration that I fixed later—did anyone notice?

Actually, the hands tied behind her back were reversed left and right...

The versions on the illustration site and this post are fixed, but the one I posted on X can't be replaced, so it remains as-is.

If you're curious, compare them (wry smile).

Next, I'll have her experience being swallowed whole.

It'll be a different take from the bottomless swamp, but I hope to provide an illustration that satisfies everyone.

Eventually, I'd like to share some concept art for this original character too.

When that time comes, everyone should “enjoy” her to the fullest. (sly grin)

Until next time.