When we arrived at the fourth level of the ground, we were greeted by a party of adventurers led by Theodore.

I'd like to thank you for your hard work. You can leave the guidance from here on out to us. Instead, I'll have you guys go to ...... and keep an eye on him.

　Theodore turned his gaze to the place where the Demon General Norzuri, who was under multiple layers of magical restraint, was standing in a curt manner.

　Norzuri's accompaniment is essential to this case.

　He, like my right arm, is a pawn that guarantees an audience with Demon King Gandalf and is a substitute that must be handed over to each other.

''Humph ...... The imperial envoy of the earthly kingdom seems to be quite a coward. I see that you were afraid to act with me here.
It's no use. Even the Demon King Gandalf is that strong, but he's still very cautious and hiding. If he's not strong enough, a nobleman would be more cautious in his actions.

　Until just before, Norzli was housed in the Hollow Bottom Fortress on the first level, but the movement to the fourth level was done separately from the Kingdom Mission.

　The reason for this is quite simple and straightforward: security reasons.

　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get my hands on any of them.

''So, where will the audience be?''
I don't know. Just follow the messenger over there.

　The one Norzli turned his gaze to was a dark elf female warrior with an atmosphere of cleverness.

''Demon General Norzuri servant, Frosty. I'll give you credit for abiding by your agreement with His Majesty the Demon King and bringing Norzli-sama to you safely. I will now escort you all to His Majesty the Demon King's service.
All right, all right. Mark, tell the guys to get ready to leave.
Yes, sir!

　Mark was pressured by the presence of Norzuri and Frosty, but as soon as he received my instructions, he regained his composure and rushed to the back of the base.

　The rest of us would leave as soon as the adventuring party and the delegation were ready to go.

　In the meantime, I decided to throw a few confirmations at them.

'Do you think there's a chance that Agat Ram will interfere with us before we head to the rendezvous point?
We are not to blame. We've been facing them for hundreds of times longer than you have.

　Norzli immediately threw back a response ...... or a rebuttal.

It's a good thing that you don't know that we are repeating our campaign of deception against Agat Ram. You have sent your wounded soldiers to the second level of neutral city, Athropolis, as part of this campaign. They will be under the illusion that our main bodyguards are also hiding on the second level.
...... Was that the intention behind that, too?

　Previously, we encountered the wounded of the Demon King's Army housed in Athropolis and the Norzuri and Suzuri who were leading them.

　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

I'm sure you can be thankful to them for that. Thanks to this, we have been able to give them a strong perception of our firm relationship with the second level.

　Norzuri smiled wryly as he said that, and then turned his glaring gaze on me, his expression tightening.

''The problem is you guys. You don't want to be carelessly spreading information on the ground and getting distracted by Agat Ram's intelligence network. If you are attacked and killed, fine, but if worse comes to worse, your location could be traced back to you.

　The magical power of the immense freeze that cannot be suppressed by the multiple layers of magical restraints and the killing spirit that seems to pierce even my soul exudes.

　In the next moment, Garnett and Chandler try to step in front of me with their hands on their weapons, and Frosty is ready to return fire.

　Me and Norzli hold up our hands at the same time, stopping each other's men without making an offer.

　And just as I was about to open my mouth again, Master Giles, an adventurer's guild executive, showed up.

　A large man who looked like an escort was also waiting behind him, as a matter of course.

　He was dressed in what looked like a cramped outfit, wearing the largest size of heat-resistant equipment over the coat he was wearing on the ground.

　It may not be hot because it has a cooling function, but it seems to be difficult to move around in it.

"His Majesty King Alfred has been very supportive of this mission," he said. Information control is undoubtedly of the highest intensity. If this is the case, the Kingdom of Westland may as well be in their hands.
...... Who are you? You're not just any guy, are you?
'This is Giles, the highest ranking member of the Adventurer's Guild. Our guild is not topped by one particular person, but rather a council of executives, including myself, who make decisions on a collegial basis.
So you are an insurance policy. You're an insurance policy. You think you can convince us by putting one of our brains in danger.

　Norzuri fished the corners of his mouth and laughed, and Giles's mouth fell open.

''All right. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. The nobility of the delegation and all the others.
"Of course, every single one of us is here because we are prepared to do so. Well, to tell you the truth, I personally wanted to see the Ark of the Elements and Gandalf, the Demon King, with my own eyes.

　After finishing up with Master Giles, Norsli was about to walk out of the base as if the conversation was over.

　I hurriedly stopped his back.

''Wait. He doesn't want you to move without permission. Please, please work with me.''
...... Hmm. It's a pain in the ass.

　Norseli stopped in his tracks with a look of disapproval.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.










　-- and then we set to work on the even bigger job than usual of escorting the delegation through the fourth level.

　The large size of the group seems to make it more conspicuous to the dragons and other demons, and the various monsters that appeared during the construction of the base also attacked one after another.

　However, our battle force is also well prepared for that.

　Garnett, who [fused] with the medallion and wielded his sword with great enthusiasm just as a test slash.

　Sakura, who flies around the battlefield with preparations that are almost invincible against the highly heated demons, the God-Descending and Hihiirokane's sword.

　Chandler, who doesn't need heat-resistant equipment and can shoot down one demon after another with superior skill.

　Ezell the Brave, who unconcernedly uses a series of skills enhanced by Ivaldi's sword, and Theodore, who cuts down dragons as if they were breathing.

　Most of the threats were taken care of without the need for a concerted effort, so much so that the wizard faces of Melissa, Hild, and Ambrose were naturally conserving their magic power in a way that they had no intention of doing so.

　Eventually, as the vast sea of lava came into view, Frosty stopped and turned to face us.

'Here. His Majesty the Demon King's Palace ...... The Fifth (...) Lost (...) Palace is just a stone's throw away.