The Salamander, as a mythical creature, has sometimes been taken to be the pure representation of fire. Real salamanders are small little lizard sorts of things. Salamanders in this show are giant lava-dwelling kaiju lizard things. Now you know.This week, we quite logically take on the Salamander. After escaping its wrath, Sarasa makes a plan to go back up against it, in order to get bits valuable enough to pay off the debt that Iris’s family owes. There are other motives besides, since apparently the salamander is increasing the volcanic activity, meaning that more earthquakes are happening and an eruption may occur. Taking it down means a solid plan and two weeks to prep protective gear and get affairs in order.
Once all is ready, the gang trek back out to the mountain and make their way to the Salamander’s lair, where Iris and Kate have to keep it occupied long enough for Sarasa, limiter removed, to charge a single magic blast that will drain her to the point where she can’t move, but that should take the beast out. Sarasa’s mentor follows them secretly (or not so secretly), worried for her apprentice facing down such a powerful monster.
Sarasa is ultimately able to start channeling her freeze spell despite Iris and Kate not doing a whole lot to keep the Salamander’s attention, and at first it looks like she might not get there. Some encouraging words shouted by Ophelia (where Sarasa can’t see her) convince Sarasa to really cut loose, and she encases the Salamander entirely in ice. Ophelia seems pleased that she didn’t have to intervene more directly, and while Sarasa passes out and the gang have to withdraw, it should be easy enough to harvest the Salamander later, provided it’s actually dead.
Thus, with a little more action than normal but still plenty of cute girls doing cute things, we end the episode and prepare for what I presume will be the final one.