Early in the morning I shopped for necessities and other items and had breakfast at the tavern.
　Then, with plenty of time to spare, I went to the church where we were to meet.

　There was a priest reciting something Biblical and many people praying. Among them, Dia was also in the mix.

　There are many people in this world who pray to God.
　There are many people who simply believe in religion, but even adventurers who have no faith are praying fervently. That's because this prayer itself has become part of the magic of 'leveling up'. The priest's chanting includes a technique that encourages 'leveling up' in addition to the usual teachings, which is why people with various circumstances come to the church.

　It seems to be different from the gods of my world who don't do anything for me.
　If it's a religion that 'levels up' for free, it's a bit of a surprise that there's such a thing as a confederacy.

　After finishing her prayer, Dia talks with the priest for a bit, then she finds me coming and approaches me.

'--Christ, you're already here.
Morning. You're early, Dear.
'I was wondering if maybe they weren't up to par ...... but I don't think that was the case. Huh.
I see. That's too bad: ......

　While answering, without that, I check Dia's status.


[Status]
　Name: Diablo Sith HP 39/52 MP 431/431 Class: swordsman
　Level 1.
　Strength 0.59 Strength 1.12 Skill 0.92 Speed 0.88 Wisdom 1.34 Magic 23.25 Elemental 5.00　
　State: blessing 1.00
Experience: 89/100


　From the looks of it, it looks like he's going to level up in a bit.
　And, as usual, he has a joke of a status.
　Magic power. Especially magic power.

　We head into the labyrinth, talking about working together in the labyrinth.

''So, am I supposed to draw the attention of the monsters?''
I'm sorry, but do me a favor. I can't seem to do any damage to the monster with my lack of strength. That's why I'm going to use magic from now on.

　Apparently, Dia's sword can't defeat monsters.
　That's why he was so obsessed with his friends. Even though he has magic that works against monsters, it's understandable if he can't make effective use of it solo.

　But that's not a swordsman anymore, is it?　Shouldn't you leave the sword behind?　I thought, but I didn't say it out loud. Apparently, Dea is serious about becoming a swordsman.

'Alright. But I'll focus on avoiding them in front of me. ...... as much as possible, because I don't want to get hurt.
'Yeah, that's fine. Just playing vanguard makes a world of difference over here.
...... well. This is probably the best formation I've ever seen. I'm good at spotting and distraction.
'I'll fight you with my sword as you move up a level, so just be patient until then.

　No, I think you'd be better off focusing on the magic. But I'm not going to say it out loud. Because if you say it out loud, when someone asks you why you think that, you can't answer them without explaining the 'display'.

'Well, I'll take the lead in finding the enemy.

　As we talk, we reach the entrance to the labyrinth.
　Unlike the clean labyrinth entrance in Hoozeyards, it is quite rough. There are no guards at the entrance to the Valt, either.

'Alright, let's go.'

　Thus, I took on the labyrinth for the second time.

　My mind was buzzing.
　Anxiety and fear are swirling around me.
　I tried my best to cover it up.

　I've gathered all the information I could to date.
　I've read all the books I could find on monsters.
　I've listened to the stories of the adventurers at the tavern.
　I have the right equipment and the right tools.
　I have a talented and trustworthy partner who is a bit of a pain in the ass," he said.
　I've learned to act differently while 'showing up'.
　I've gotten used to magic and I can apply it.
　You're perfect for the challenge--

　Calm your own spirit by checking in with your mind what you have built up to today, and move deeper into the labyrinth.


　◆◆◆◆◆ ...


　The first monster was a ripper beadle.

　We encountered it a little further on, off the "main road".
　This is one of the monsters I was expecting, since the northern part of the Valt area is full of insect-type monsters.

　We took the initiative with the search ability of the magic "Dimension" and applied the magic "Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradation)". This magic takes the image of the magic dimension and makes it specialized for battle, reducing the scope of the search ability, but greatly increasing the distance and attention required for battle.

　Magic changes its shape depending on the image.
　This is a good example.

　With this applied magic, I can never lose sight of a monster's every move.

"Dia, it's just one. Let's stick to the plan.
Okay!

　I move according to the coordination I had indicated beforehand.
　Dia went into chanting to unleash her magic, and I stood there so that the monster couldn't see her, and I held my sword up to my right eye.

　I use my sword to play, deflect and dodge the enemy's attacks.
　While concentrating on that, I'm careful not to let the monster turn on Dear.

　In the midst of all this, a ripper beadle comes charging towards me.
　In response, I strike down my sword with all my might to stop the rush.

　The movement is visible due to the effect of the magic.
　The two horns of the ripper beadle, which would be dangerous, are not even snatched by me.
　It's been a long time since I've fought in a fight, but since I've fought this monster once before, I was able to handle it without tension.

　Above all, I feel much weaker than before.
　Does leveling up increase speed and make the monster look slower? His status muscle strength has increased, and his shell is cracked where before he couldn't get a scratch on it.

　I don't have as much fear as before.
　But at the same time, it was also the moment I felt the abnormality of this world's level system.

''Christ!　Shoot!

　A signal flies from behind me.
　Immediately I shift to the side so that I can see the monster from Deere.

''-- 《Flame Arrow》!

　Dia completed her magic and released a flash of light from the air.

　Flame Arrow.
　From what I had heard beforehand, it's the rudiments of fire attribute magic. It seems that this is the only attack magic that Dia has, and that arrows of magic power with heat are shot out.

　What I had imagined when I was told that story was, as the name implies, 'fire arrows'. I had imagined flames in the shape of an arrow being shot from a bow.

　-- but the real thing was different.

　Not an arrow, but a line.
　In an instant, a white line is drawn in space - a so-called laser light is emitted.
　Naturally, it was impossible to follow it with the eye.

　Just when I thought it was glowing, the line had finished running.
　And the ripper beadle had a large hole in the center of its body.
　A blow.

'Good!'

　Deere gutted as her best shot landed and I said inwardly, "Yeah ......? And dismayed.

　Deere flails backwards as the mortally wounded Ripper Beadle disappears.

'I beat him!　That's just as easy!

　I'm stunned in front of me, and I don't seem to see it.

'Oh, congratulations ......'

　I congratulate him with a stick.

'Ooh, thanks!　It's the first time I've ever defeated a monster of this size!
That's good to know: ......

　I can't stop sweating cold.
　Dia doesn't understand the anomaly she's gone through.

　I've never seen or heard of this kind of magic, either in books or in people's stories.
　As I recall, Dia's magic power is 23; her skill attribute magic is 2.
　I'm sure other factors are probably at play as well, but I can't hide my anxiety that this level of numbers can cause such a phenomenon.

　It's a good thing that you're not the only one who has a laser gun on your back.
　Even though I can trust that person's character, Dia and I have only met for a short time. I don't know what will happen. Even without a malicious attack, a misfire would leave the same hole in my gut as a ripper beadle.

　I found myself starting to shake as my chicken heart began to bob and shake.

'Alright!　Christ helped me focus on the magic!　Let's keep it up!
...... Yeah. Keep up the good work. But be careful when you shoot your magic. Seriously, though. Careful.
'Yeah, I know!　I got it!

　Dia seems to be very excited by the fact that she has defeated the monster.
　My anxiety is only accelerated by her appearance.

...... Let's go then. I'm going to search for the enemy, so please be quiet. And also, if the situation is unforeseen, please follow my instructions. I'm not going to be able to get my own magic. Absolutely, positively.

　I repeatedly remind myself not to let the magic unleash, and expand the magic (Dimension).

Yeah, I know. I'll follow your instructions. It looks like I'm going to have to follow Christ's instructions.

　Diah honestly agreed to it.
　It seems that she has put a certain amount of trust in me.

　With that in mind, I move on to searching for the enemy while checking the experience and MP consumption.

　I'm not going to be the only one who has to deal with this, but I'm going to be the only one who has to deal with it.

　Dear, seriously, it's not half bad.

　It's low cost high power.
　I'm afraid that that one laser is going to exceed the amount of heat (energy) a human has.
　It defies the law of conservation of mass with room to spare.

"Oh, Dear. When you turn that corner, you'll encounter (encode) it.
Okay.

　I use my magic "Dimension" to capture a large monster and report it to Dia.

　I check the monster's name and rank in the Display and compare it to the information I have. After simulating a battle, I face the monster.

　It's a spider-shaped monster.

''Dear--!
'Oh!　--Flame Arrow!

　However, the same procedure as the previous battle is followed, and Dia's magic is released - just like that, he defeats it without any danger.

'Oh, Christ!　We're going to destroy it again!
Oh, my goodness. ......

　It was so easy that my past self, who was scared of the labyrinth, felt ridiculous.

　I don't feel like I'm being attacked because I'm using the "Dimension" for combat.
　In game terms, it would be like a bonus to my skill, with a significant compensation to hit and evade.

　And Deere's Flame Arrow is a must on top of its obvious overkill, as its bullet speed is too fast.

　I'll take control of the aircraft with my search and take the optimal position.
　If they don't notice me, I'll snipe them with the Flame Arrow. Even if I missed, the enemy can't reach the turret because I'm on the diagonal.
　If there's a point where it breaks down, it's if I fall behind in close combat.
　However, because of the difference between me and my enemies, who are at level 4, I don't feel that they can take me by surprise.

　And one by one, we defeat monsters one by one.

"--Ah. I was able to defeat it again unscathed.
'Hey, hey ....... Christ. How is a labyrinth so easy if you get a party together?

　Even Dia, who had been overjoyed at first, couldn't bear to look at the monsters dying one way or the other, and finally expressed her doubts.

'No, it can't be. There's been a death toll at least on one level, and from what I've heard from the adventurers in the tavern, I think we're crazy.
Does that mean we're strong?

　That's right.
　It's probably partly due to the fact that the level 1 Dia's magic has too much offensive power.

　But if I praise Dia so dismissively, I won't be able to show off my usefulness.
　If possible, I'd like to have a long-lasting relationship with Dia.

''Yeah. 'Yes, Dia has a talent for magic. Definitely.
...... Right. But it's--
But I think it's more about us being too good for each other.
'More than that?　Is our chemistry ......?

　Deere gives him a surprised look.

　Yes.
　More than anything else, the chemistry is eliminating the gaps in this tactic.

''It's because I'm a wizard with skills that specialize in searching for enemies, that's why this is the result.
'Come to think of it, ...... Christ is finding more and more enemies in this darkness. And from pretty far away .......
'We're actually using magic to find the enemy. ...... so we can't let the monsters get ahead of us, and as an artillery wizard, Deere is not targeted by the enemy. Furthermore, we can start the fight from a good position with Deere in a good position. In some cases, he can snipe first. I'm completely covering Deere, who needs time to generate firepower, and I'm completely covering Deere. I think that's what makes this a must-win pattern.
'Sure, when I'm on my own, the monsters always find me first and there's never a chance for them to use their magic. ...... But how does Christ find the enemy?　I've never heard of that kind of magic.

　If I tell you everything, you'll understand.
　Dimension magic 《Dimension》. The "display" in my eyes.
　That thanks to these two, I've been able to find the monsters without fail.

　But my dimensional magic is something I've never even heard of in the information I've gathered in the past few days.
　I don't need to tell you about the 'display', which is an ability that is unique to me.
　I don't like the trouble this brings in, and above all, exposing my information is difficult for the timid me.

'Well ......, it's an old magic from my hometown. I can't tell you all the details because it's considered a secret, but it makes it easier to find monsters when you're hunting.
'Oh, I see. That's a rare skill.

　It seems that the current explanation has convinced Diah.
　In the first place, it was normal for someone who made a living at roughing things not to easily disclose their hand, and that might be why Dia didn't ask him about it.　

''It's just that my MP consumption is so high that I'm actually a hundred times more tired than Dia.
'Right. Christ uses magic even when he's not fighting the enemy, and when it comes to battle, he's attracting monsters, right?

　Deere looks apologetic.

　Alright.
　I think I've done a good job of showing off my powers and I've sold my debt.

'I'll tell you when I'm about to run out of MP. I'm sure it will be gone soon, but by nature I can't stay in the maze for long. I've got a job at the bar, so it's just as well.
'All right, all right. Then let's go a little further back and hit some stronger ones!
'Good. I've heard about the distribution of enemies in the tavern, so I know which direction the strongest ones are in.
Alright. Let's go.

　Besides, if I use the 'display', I can see the ranks.
　Seeing that the chances of hitting an unruly monster are low, I agree with Dia's opinion and resume my search deep into the labyrinth.


　◆◆◆◆◆ ...


　After that, we repeated the example winning pattern many times and explored the labyrinth for two hours.
　And when we had defeated about 30 monsters, my MP was running low.

''--Oh. It's about time I couldn't keep my magic up.
What, already?

　It's not even close to the afternoon yet.
　However, due to the continuous battle, my MP is no longer at heart.

I'm leaving the labyrinth, but what about Dia?
Yeah. ....... Doh, what should I do? You're not going to do the vanguard without a magic search, are you?

　Absolutely no!　I want to be angry, but I speak softly.

'Hmm. It increases the chance of getting injured, and I don't think it's very efficient. As a matter of fact, I've been using my MP to fight in battle, so it weakens my close combat as well.
'Eh ....... Christ, did you also use magic while using a sword?
'Yeah. It's an application of old magic that helps me sharpen my senses.
'That means you've been using magic for a long time. ...... I thought you were a swordsman because you're quick with a sword, but you're really a wizard to the core.
I'm sorry. That's why a wizard with a dead MP is just a stick in a tree.

　Honestly, I don't want to fight with no MP.

　The chance of getting injured increases, and the possibility of not being able to protect Dia. If you can't use magic, it will take a lot of time and energy to kill the monster. The longer it takes, the greater the probability of unforeseen events occurring. The more opportunities you give your enemies to attack, the more likely they are to become defenseless due to their special abilities, making the battle completely unprofitable.

'All right. I'll send Christ to the outside. I'll take care of the rest on my own.
What--

　But Dear tries to run the opposite of what I want.
　I strongly disagree with that inwardly.

　Hey, what are you saying .......
　You're a turret-specific wizard, you're a cocky ......!
　If they die, we're the ones in trouble. ......!

　And with a self-serving theory, I stepped in to stop him.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait. Wait, wait, wait, wait. Dear, you're not going to do this alone, are you?
'Yes, I will. I have time, and I was alone yesterday, so it's no different than before.
By the way, how many monsters have you killed by yourself?
U......

　Dia instantly stammered.

'If you really can do that on your own, I won't say anything.
'Ugh. ...... I've taken it down, for one thing.
'I'm sure you've beaten them before. 'But how many?　It's been a challenge all this time, hasn't it? How many bodies have you been able to beat before yesterday?
I'm in one piece: ......
Don't leave me alone. I'm too worried about you.

　I'll answer immediately.
　It may sound harsh, but I can't afford to lose my partner.
　But I can't afford to lose any of my collaborators.

But!　I was able to beat them pretty good today!　I think I got the feel of it!
'I defeated it with magic. You couldn't shoot magic on your own, so you couldn't defeat the monster before, right?　You know that better than anyone else, don't you?
I have a sword, too!
That's why you can't beat him because that sword won't work.

　I can see Dia's status.

　So I know more about Dia than I do about Dia.
　Diablo Sith is a person who specializes in magic. So using a sword will never produce results.

'But I don't have the time ...... to do it. I'm fast, and my powers are ....... I need money .......

　Dia muttered with a serious expression.
　In response to that, I also answer seriously.

''Just to be clear, no matter how much you swing your sword here, you can't defeat the monsters. If you use magic, I understand. If it was a situation where you could use magic, I would nod my head. But that's not the case.
'No, magic isn't good enough. ...... I had no choice today, but I want to be strong with the sword. Fighting with a sword is my dream ......!　So I want to train in sword training: ......!

　Honestly.
　You have no talent with a sword!　
　And I want to go and fold Dia's heart.

　But I bear that word and I continue to talk to Dia.

'...... Why the sword?　If you want power and money, you can hone your magic and slay monsters. That way, Dia can make it big as a wizard and get some decent money.
'Maybe so ....... But I have to be the sword!

　I'm stumped.

　Dia is not very good at logical thinking, to say the least, flattering.
　She seems to be obsessed with the sword on an emotional level.
　Our relationship is too tenuous to convince her of this.

'Why not?'
Yeah, by all means. I want to forge my sword.

　I scratch my aching head and check Dia's status.
　The experience required to level up has been accumulated. And her HP has decreased somewhat.

'...... is ah, okay. If you really want to use the sword, I won't stop you. If you can use a sword and do magic, that's a good thing. But I want you to be ready to go, so let's get out of the labyrinth and take a breather first.
'Oh, ah, ......'

　Dear looked surprised and agreed.

'What's up?'
'No, I wasn't expecting you to agree ....... No one has ever agreed to me using a sword before, so ......

　It seems that Dia's swordsmanship is really hollow.
　Since I'm the vanguard, I haven't been able to confirm its pettiness, but it seems to be at the level of stopping anyone from using the sword.

...... probably. Maybe it's because I don't understand that kind of feeling, either.

　When I play games, I often choose to use swords, too.
　It's partly because I'm attracted to it as a boy, and in this kind of world, it's easy for swordsmiths to become the main character of the story. I can understand the desire to use a sword, even if it is forced upon you by your childish desire to be the main character.

　In fact, I want him to fight with magic alone.
　However, if I force myself to do so here, Dia's favorability towards me will decrease. Perhaps it's because of such dirty calculations, but I naturally took a tone of acceptance.

'Thank you ....... Christ .......

　Hearing this, Deer scratched her cheeks in embarrassment.

　Her reddened cheeks look cute against her golden hair. Including that gesture, I have a hunch that Dia might be a girl, but I discourage myself. Because I don't think there's anything positive to be gained from poking around there.

　Either way, I can't question it.
　To me, Dia is a collaborator in the labyrinth.
　She's nothing more, nothing less.

　I use my remaining MP to avoid the enemies and walk to get out of the labyrinth.

　In the middle of it all, we talk about the items that the monster dropped.

''Speaking of which, how do we divide up these magic stones we got?''
Most of the party recruiting postings I've seen seem to say it's an even distribution: ......
Well, we'll call it a 50-50 split.
Mmm. But in terms of burden, Christ is more--
That's a recipe for trouble. We're in it together, so 50-50. 50/50 in all cases. It's easy to understand and it doesn't cause any problems.
Mmm. ......

　In fact, I'd like to give some of my share to Dear.
　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one. It's the best thing to do, but for now it's probably a 50-50 proposition.

Also, when you get out of here, you can go to the church.
What, you were there this morning?
'Thanks to the series of fights we had earlier, we might be able to level up. I think it's better to go often while your level is low.

　I strongly recommend going to church, as I know Dia will level up.

　I also advise her to buy all the armor and tools she needs for the labyrinth, and to keep herself in good shape. If possible, he recommended that I should not enter the labyrinth alone and form a party other than myself. If you show your achievements by showing that you've risen to level 2 and the magic stones you obtained in the labyrinth, you might find your friends.

''--Wow, okay, okay!　I know Christ has a lot on my mind for me. ...... but I don't want to be told that all at once.
'Remember everything. If you're going to reenter the maze alone, what you just said is the least you can do.

　Dia gave me a bitter look at my nagging.
　However, she seems to feel that each of those stories is a warning for not letting Diah die. Even though she doesn't like it, she listens to me seriously.

　As we talked about this, we slipped out of the labyrinth.
　After that, we continued to take care of Dia until we started working at the tavern.
　It's regrettable that I can't help the labyrinth with no MP, but I still did everything I could think of to keep Dia from dying.

　--These would be excessive and useless actions if you only consider the benefits.

　Dia is an unbeatable person.
　However, it would be the end of the world if they cut too much time off from Aikawa Uzumi for Dia.
　I understood that, myself.

　It's simple.
　Probably because of a change of heart.
　If you think in cleverness, Dia is an entity to be used. In some cases, it should be used as a decoy, a tool to help me survive.

　--but Dia was the first acquaintance of my age in this other world.

　Most importantly, we had overcome the dangers of exploring the labyrinth together in a party, which made me feel close to her. For me, Dia had become what could be called my first friend.

　In other words, in this alienated world, I've fortunately or unfortunately found (・・・・・) a stronghold for my heart. Fortunately or unfortunately, I found the foundation of my heart ().