The Dardos Empire.
　It is located in the south of Latesia, largely facing the sea.
　Due to its environment, it is the country with the most developed fishing and shipbuilding industry in Latesia.

　We left the Allies and came to the Empire.
　After shopping in the port city, we spent the night.
　Currently, we are proceeding on foot on the street that connects the port city and the destination.

　Since it's called a city road, it's even better than the Urgus Forest we passed through on our way to the Confederation.
　There are almost no clouds, and the brilliant sunlight falling down is pleasant.
　There aren't too many demons in the area, and apart from the fact that the sea breeze makes my hair a little sticky, I would say it's comfortable.

''Empire or ...... mugging. As I recall, was this a country that excelled in magic?
I don't know if it's excellence, or rather, the study of magic.

　It's usually the empire that invents new magic.
　To put it quite roughly, the empire invents new magic, and then the kingdoms and teaching nations improve and simplify it.
　"As I recall, it was the Empire that spread the existence of 'psychic magic' to the world.

The Empire is quite a meritocracy, so they call on the best sorcerers from other countries to gather them. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this.
"Nugu ......." Was it "Great Magic"?　He's a good wizard, but that thing was a mean little thing, wasn't it?
He was, except for his magic.

　His humanity, his ability to be called the 'strongest magician' is real, compared to the other imperial magicians in the same boat.
　It seems to be declining now, but thirty years ago, he was undoubtedly one of the strongest of the human race.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the most out of it.

''Hum ....... What kind of sorcerer was he?
You can call it a wide-area annihilation type. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
Hum Hum: ...... wow.

　That's why that guy stepped on Ortegia even without me.

''Well, I don't care about that bastard.
"Hum-hum-hum ......?
...... How much do you eat, man?

　Elfie's hands as he steps forward in a good mood.
　The hot spring buns that he had bought up in the confederacy have disappeared, and now he's holding a seafood skewer in his hand.
　This guy has always eaten something since he left the labyrinth, hasn't he?

''No, Iori. Don't underestimate the taste of freshly caught seafood. You should try it too.
Hmm ....... No, it's certainly good, though.

　This guy is only using the rewards he got from defeating the labyrinth for food ......?
　While I was in the United Kingdom and the Empire buying adventure gear and stuff, you were eating all the time.

'Remember?　I'm very hungry now. The fact that I'm constantly maintaining my body intact means that I'm constantly consuming my magic power. You can curb your appetite to some extent by turning that off.

　As I scurried around, I looked around and suddenly Elfie disappeared from his minute body.
　A fresh head floating in the air and two arms floating on either side of it.　
　That's just a monster, man.

　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

I'm not going to let you go.
Not here. Come on back.

　We continued down the street with such an exchange.

◆

　The sun was setting as we walked.
　Just like in the Urgus Forest, the two of us split up the preparations for the field trip.
　Since we had done it once, Elfie was also getting better at it.
　Since I bought the equipment for the camp, it seems to be more comfortable than before.

　Using the pot I bought from the Confederacy, I made a soup with seafood.
　Since Elfi's head had quite a few ingredients in it, he didn't have to worry about the ingredients for the dish.

　Even though he had eaten so many seafood skewers, Elfi poured a plate full of soup and drank it.
　This guy's face is much looser when he's eating food.

''This soup!　Iori!　Call the chef!
''That's why I'm saying it's me too!''

　Apparently, he liked it.

'Phew. ......'

　I finish my meal and take a breath.
　The only sounds you can hear are the chirping of insects and the rustling of the trees.

You're not going to be able to get away with it. What were you doing before you came to this world?

　Elfi, who had been staring at the fire, suddenly asked me that question.

'What an imbalance you are. You are mature in some areas and juvenile in others. If you have that much skill and strength, you should normally have reached some sort of level,
............

　I'm aware of that myself.
　He has no eyes to see, believes in his fellow man, and is immersed in a sweet ideal.
　The spirit, not the body, is terribly immature.

I'm a student at .......
"Gaxei?
I went to school at ...... school.

　Before I came here, I was sixteen years old and in high school.
　I spent my days being swept away by the world around me and just kind of being.
　Except for the fact that my parents died in an accident ......, I would have been a weak-willed, normal student.

'Wasn't there a fight?'
'Not entirely, but at least my country was at peace. There were no demons or sorcery or anything like that, so there was no conflict.

　I've never had an experience where someone betrayed me so badly.
　It's a good thing that you have a good idea of what you're talking about in this world.

It's a good place to live in Iori's country, isn't it?
...... Yeah.
Do you ever think about going back to your world?
'When it's all done, I'll look for it. But .......
...... but?
I don't know what time it is between here and there.

　In fact, it's different, but thirty years have passed since I was summoned to the other world.　
　If that much time has passed there as well, there's no place for me when I return.
　And I've hardly changed in appearance.

"............

　Silence.
　The crackling of a fire.
　A little too heavy on the air, I guess.

'Feng.'
...... Elfie?

　When I exhaled, Elfie stood up heavily.

I'm sure you've absorbed the labyrinth core and regained some strength. Let's see how much of it you have.
...... That's abrupt.
Just in time for the belly to settle, right?

　Elfie snaps his arm around, breaking the weight of the air.
　Well, this is a good time.
　You haven't had a chance to test your powers since you got your mojo back.

"Okay.

　We move away from the fire.
　Thanks to the moonlight, it's nighttime, but not that dark.
　We got some distance from each other and faced each other.

"Huh ...... you can come at me with the intention of killing me.

　Elfie smiled fearlessly as he released his magic power.
　He regained both arms and his magic power is increasing.
　He's literally confident in his arms.

　The effect of the Jade Tathagata increased his physical abilities.
　"Physical ability is increased by physical strengthening and acceleration.
　With the increased amount of magic power, he is able to use magic to some extent without the use of magic stones.

　However, the degraded versions of Usurpation (Spell Dibaur) and Demon Seal (Il Ataraxia) take most of your magic power, and you lack the magic power to use Impact Mirror.
　It's still a lack of power.

　Even though he has lost his power, he is a former demon king.
　He increased the effect of his magic to the limit of not straining his body and held his jade sword.

''It's a handicap. I don't use my arms.''

　He raised his arms to show them off, and Elfie laughed.
　He crossed his arms and dangled his legs instead.
　He's going to come with a kicking move.

'----'

　With his hand on the hilt, he held the tachi sword in place to hide it.
　He continued to sit back and stop moving.

'............'

　I didn't move and Elfie gave me a dubious look.
　Then I muttered, "Hmm.

Then I'll go first.

　With his arms crossed, he kicked the ground vigorously.
　With the force of the attack, my feet caved in and the grass and trees swayed.
　With the speed of a bullet, Elfi rushed in.
　It seems that he doesn't use his arms as he said, but plans to attack it with his footwork, apparently.
　The reason he doesn't use his arms as well as his magic is probably because he's just waiting to see how it goes.

　A leap that closes the interval in an instant.
　I moved just before Elfi entered our time frame.

----!

　Inexperienced.
　It's a counter swordsmanship, also known as the waiting sword in this world.
　It is a technique to cut the first mover at the moment it enters the room.

　It is a technique that reduces power and focuses only on speed.
　This is the highest speed flash as close as possible to the speed of the heyday.

　That blow, Elfi easily ----

Oh.
Yeah.

　I didn't duck, I took a moronic hit.
　The blade passed through Elfi's neck.
　As it was, Elfie's head flew off to somewhere in the forest with a pop.
　The headless body falls to the ground with a crunch.

''............... Eh?''

　In the light of the moonlight, the headless Elfie is reflected in my vision.
　It doesn't move a muscle, and the sound disappears.

　Just when you're wondering what to do.

...... ah.

　Elfie's head is back.
　When it was fully attached to his torso, which had been parted in tears, he staggered up.
　His face was covered in beads of sweat.

　Breathing hard, I saw Elfie glare at me.

"You're killing me!
You were the one who told me to come here to kill you!

　He seems to have gotten quite agitated.
　I put my hand on my chest to suppress my heart palpitations and wipe sweat off my face.
　I thought you didn't have a heart.

I thought you were going to die.
...... What is that?
That flash of power you just saw, you must have gotten pretty good at it.
...... No, not even close.

　If he didn't sacrifice his power, he couldn't produce that speed.
　If it's a human, you can kill it by slashing it, but if it's a demon or demon race, that's not possible.
　Even with that speed, it would end up being played by a flaming dragon or earth demon general.

...... I've been thinking before, but Iori's sword skills are pretty good.
Well, maybe a little.

　...... I was taught by a former buddy of mine for a while.

...... something tired, so I'm going to bed.

　Then Elfie stopped fighting and went back under the campfire.
　Even though he was caught off guard, he was still shocked that he got his head cut off.
　If that guy was serious, he wouldn't have been able to get close enough to it with his magic eye first, and he would have been played by his magic power in the first place. ......

　After wiping the sweat off my face, I decided to go to bed too.
　When I put out the fire, though, it was a mystery as to why Elfie had come quite close to me.
　I went to sleep, wondering.


◆

　The next day.
　We walked alongside Elfie on the city road.
　The landscape changed as we went along, and we could see the meadow in the distance.

'I miss ......,'
You've been here?
Yeah. Thirty years ago, when I came to raid the Dead Marshes Labyrinth.

　It looks vaguely familiar.

　In the course of my travels, I helped people who were being attacked by demons.
　There we would feast and dance to relieve ourselves as a thank you.
　Some of us became friends with some of them.
　I wonder what the people of that village are doing now.

　I was walking down the road, immersed in such nostalgic feelings.

...... This is.

　From ahead, the sound of a horse's rise and fall could be heard.
　Not only that, but also a series of small explosions.
　I looked at Elfi and I looked at each other and slowly headed towards the sound.

'A demon or ......'

　Ahead of us, we saw a carriage being attacked by demons.
　The horse coachman and those riding inside are using magic to fight the demon.
　The thing attacking the carriage is a demon called a "mud grizzly".

　It is a powerful demon that uses earth magic to hunt down its prey using its mouth.
　Six of them are attacking the carriage at the same time.

...... Strange.

　Mud bears basically act alone.
　If there are that many of them, it's not surprising that they start eating each other.

　But despite that, the mud bears were strangely well organized.
　They are breathing heavily, but they are not roaring, and are attacking in coordination.
　There was an unnaturalness there, as if they were being controlled by something.

'............'

　When I felt uncomfortable with the wanderings, I squinted.

　A scream came from the carriage.

　Even one nasty demon, six of them.
　Seeing that they were holding up, the magician in the carriage seemed to be very skilled, but he wouldn't be able to hold on much longer.

　What should we do?

''............!''

　At that moment, one of the mud bears that had been attacking the carriage turned its head towards him with a gurgle.

''I guess he's noticed.''

　Two of the six bears stopped attacking the carriage and started running furiously towards us.
　The speed of these bears is quite impressive, even for a bear.

We'll just have to fight them.
Just as well. Let's see how well you got your arm back.

　The battle with the attacking demons began in a crushing manner.