Two hours after I saved the slaves.
　The battle against the Legion Bats by Franlure and the others ended without a hitch.

　I knew that the Legion Bats had a core magic stone in their bodies, so all I had to do was use them as bait to search for the magic stone. As long as the four personalities of Franlure and the others didn't have a vicious cycle, there was no element of defeat.

　Thus, without much time, we cleared the challenge of the 9th layer, and we headed to the 10th layer.

　--Yes, to the 10th layer.

　Inevitably, I can't help but remember the events of yesterday.
　Tida, who claimed to be the boss of the 20th layer, had an 'indication' of the 20 guardians (Twenty Guardian). Then it was predictable that Arti, who was 'labeled' as the Ten Guardian, was the boss of the tenth layer.

　However, that prediction doesn't mean much when they were attacked by a 20th layer boss in the 5th layer.
　He had been told by the students, Flanruele and the others, that the boss of the tenth layer was not in the tenth layer, so that idea should not be wrong.

　After all, in the labyrinth, there is danger at every level.
　That's all there is to it.

　Although my mind was consumed by Franlure's constant questioning of my hobbies and skills along the way, I arrived at the 10th level without any problems.

　The 10th level was a special level.
　At the end of the staircase, a brightness that was typical of the labyrinth filled the room.

　A room that stretched out endlessly, with flames as far as the eye could see.
　Nothing else. That was all there was to the ten layers.

　It wasn't a blaze that could scorch you.
　Still, the flames scattered everywhere made one hesitate to enter this room.

　We choose a path where the fire is extinguished by the warding of the "right path" and we walk.

　At the appropriate point, Snow takes out a bottle and tries to contain the flames. It was a bizarre sight. The fire was sucked into the bottle as if it had been cut out, and even though there was nothing in the bottle to burn, it continued to burn.

　That's the end of the challenge.
　Finally, we can leave this party.

'Congratulations, guys. Is this the end of my part in this?

　I talk to him to say goodbye.

''Oh no, brother, thank you for saving me. It was really lucky that I was able to cooperate with a seeker like you. I'm sure someone will get seriously injured on the way home. Oh, here's the gold coin I promised you.

　Erna thanks him while handing him a gold coin.
　Then Franlure interrupts her.

'Christ!　May I ask for a ground escort as well?　Well, thank you very much.　I'm thinking of going to Helvillestein's for dinner to thank you!　We've always wanted to be associated with a young, strong, sincere and gentle seeker like Christ!　Please, please, please!

　Franlure is obsessed with me, even though I'm not very good at sensing people's feelings.

　It's nice to be liked by a good-looking girl like her.
　However, I can't help but think that getting close to her will only lead to more trouble. There's a rift in the way we think, although there's a position, too.

'Excuse me, Mr. Flanlure. My original purpose is beyond the ten layers. Unfortunately, I can't escort you to the ground.

　I politely decline.
　I also remember to act disappointed.

'Yes, that's right ....... You have helped us, and we can't force you to do anything. But we, the Helvilleshain brothers and sisters, are ready to invite Christ to our home. You can always count on us.
Yeah, me too?　Well, if you're Christ, you're welcome to come and play.

　Probably on his own accord, Franlure decided that Mr. Reiner was also welcome.
　But it seems that Rainer-kun is not reluctant to do so either.

''Thank you. Well then, if I get another chance.''
'Yes, when I get a chance!　We'd love to see you at the El Tralieu Institute!　You know, the Helvillestein house is on the third floor of the Hoosiers'!　You'll be able to see it when you get to the number one spot!　I don't mind either way, so if you need anything, please do!

　Franlleure kept appealing to the end.
　If I had met him in the original world, he would be a hardworking and likable person.

　However, he calmly decides that he's not someone he needs right now.

　Finally, both of the rest of us dodge the greetings.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. See you later...
............. You're not cut out for the maze. I suggest you change jobs. So long.

　I don't know why we were saying goodbye to each other with such harsh words. I'd like to think that they were worried about me, since we worked together for a short time.

　Thus, I finished saying goodbye to the academy party.
　I was smiling when Franlure turned around and waved to me many times.

　I'm the only one left on the 10th layer.
　The fire that fills the room all over the place makes me drip with sweat. As soon as I can, I start walking along the 'right-of-way', trying to advance to the 11th level.

　I'm finally alone, but once I am, I feel a strange loneliness.
　It seems certain that if any person is by your side as a party, you will feel safe.

　However, I had decided to go on alone today, so from here on out--

Hey. Do you want to take it from here?

　Alone.

　Yes, I was supposed to be alone.
　In the space where I was supposed to be alone, I heard a voice that wasn't me.
　I quickly strengthen my magic.

''--Well, magic 《Dimension Decisive Operation (Graduation)》!

　I take a big step back and look for the owner of the voice I heard from somewhere.

　A large space, only two entrances and exits.
　Unexpected voices, burning flames.
　It's just as it was then.

　I use my magic to search all the information around me.
　The tops of the rooms, the corners, the shadows of the flames, I check for enemies everywhere.
　But the enemy is nowhere to be seen.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. I don't mean any harm, I just want you to calm down.

　The voice still came from somewhere.
　But my magic, which was becoming more sensitive, caught the source of the voice. The information that the vibration of the voice was generated from the burning flames reaches me.

　And then I realize that the flames are forming a mouth.

From the flames?
'Yeah, I was hiding in the flames. But you're the only one who has no problem showing up. Give me a minute.

　The flame speaks.
　I remembered this tone of voice.

　The flames turned into the shape of a person, and from somewhere in the room, bandages with letters scrawled on them gathered. The bandages wrapped around the flames, which took the form of a man, and served as a substitute for clothing.

　Finally, the head turns into a human and becomes the red-haired girl of sometime ago.

　This is Arti, the Ten Guardian (Ten Guardian).

'......!

　I'm lost.
　From a game point of view, I can surmise that she would be inferior to Tida, who has twenty crowns. But I don't know if I can believe it so easily.

　Unlike Tida, I don't have Dia now. The firepower is reduced, but that allows for more freedom in the retreating battle. It's because the range of tactics is wide if it's just me with my high physical ability. Above all, as a level 10 and with my increased speed, a simple escape is an option for me.

　After hesitation, I decide to continue the conversation with Arti, who says he has no hostile intentions.

　If it comes down to it, you can just run away.
　Now, you can easily catch up with the academy party.
　I'm sorry for them, but if they get into a melee, there will be more tools they can use. When that happens, I'll take my own life rather than waking up.

"Alty ......, right?　Have you come to fight me?

　I talk to Arti, who has turned into a human form, without warning.

　Arti floats fluffily and immediately shakes his head. I'm puzzled by its strangely human-like appearance.

　If it comes to a battle, Arti's appearance is a negative factor for me. At a quick glance, it's almost foul that he looks like a human child.

'No, no, no. You just said there was no hostility.

　Arti has a small body and a pompous attitude.
　It's a terrible feeling of discomfort.
　However, that uncomfortable feeling certainly keeps me from forgetting that the girl is a monster.

It's unbelievable. I was just attacked by a delightful Tida monster the other day. Do you think they forgot that you blocked their escape route then?
'As for me, I thought I was just setting the stage, but I apologize if you're mad at me. I'm sorry.
You can't be trusted to apologize: ......
'Mmm. ....... I'm afraid you're not very happy with the way you feel about me. I'm more than a little shocked. I didn't mean to attack you.

　Alty's mouth snaps up in a sulk.
　Yeah, this guy, too.
　This guy is just like that Tida.

'Of course he is. How could I possibly make a good impression on a monster? When people and monsters meet, they kill each other. It's an unwritten law. That's what Tida said.
Heh. You don't have to take that stuff seriously. It's just a rule Tida came up with on the spot anyway.

　Arti admonishes me with warm eyes, as if she were looking at a child who believes in Santa Claus.
　When a girl who is at least two times smaller than me looks at me like that, there is something about it that makes me mad.

''You mean, you don't want to fight me. And I'm supposed to believe that?
'Yes, I am. I'm not that battle junkie, I'm not a serious monster. That's why this room is always empty. So the explorers can go to the eleventh level in peace of mind and procure fire.
'Heh ....... But I don't look like I'm going to be able to get to the 11th layer without worrying about it?
Oh, don't worry. Now that I'm one of them, those bosses are not the enemy. Oh, I'm talking about a place where the boundaries of the 'right path' are far away.
Wait. Wait, wait, wait.
Hmm, what's going on?

　The headache won't stop.
　This one-sidedness, just like Tida. He's making decisions for himself.

"I don't deserve to be in on it. It's just not possible.
'Apparently, you have no trust in me. I'm trying to show you that I'm not hostile, not only with my words, but with my actions as well. So I've now decided to help you explore the labyrinth.
Don't. There's no way I can fight with you behind me.
'You can be the vanguard. I'm good with a sword, too.

　Saying that, Arti creates a sword of fire and mimics poking it repeatedly in the air, shooing it into the air.
　If it were only in appearance, it would be a smiling thing, just a child playing with a sword.

　But no.
　Flames are leaking out of his hands and feet. From hands and feet.
　You can't treat it like a human.

'That's not the point. That's not the point. Just by being near you, I'm ready to fight. There's no way we're going to find the labyrinth.
'Hmm. But it's a serious matter for me, too. I'm going to stay close to you until you trust me. It's all about trust, first of all. I'll be there for you, by your side, for years to come.

　Arti smiled innocently.
　The way she speaks straight and stagnantly, I can't help but feel that she's not lying. It is certain that I don't feel any hostility from her.

　But that may just be because I'm inexperienced and can't sense it.
　Inevitably, the unease remains.

　How much easier it would be if she simply attacked me. The plan I came up with last night for the guardians versus the guardians is completely useless.

''Does that mean you're going to be hanging around ...... me?　Until I trust you?
Yes,
...... "Well, can I beat you now?　You're the boss.
'That's awful for someone who's showing friendly intent. A pretty girl wants to be one of us. You should be welcomed there with open arms. ...... It's cold, really, I just want you to trust me. I have a modest wish, and I want it to come true. And I need human help to do that.

　Arti raised his hands in a surrender pose as he spoke.

　He continued to wave his hands and claimed to be harmless.
　I was about to cut the gaping Arti, but there was a word that bothered me, so I stepped back.

''--Hope?　You still want it?

　It reminds me.
　I can't stop thinking about that Tida's will.

"Oh, you want to hear it?
............

　Is it a positive thing for me to hear this?

　It's true that we need information in order to conquer the mysterious labyrinth.
　However, is it really the right thing to try to extract information from Arti here and now?

''Apart from talking about trust, just listen to me for now. I am.
'Let's just listen to ....... You've said something that's been bothering you before. You said you wouldn't fight it because you had your doubts. Let's hear about that too.

　Every single one of Arti's words on the labyrinth side would be a spoiler, so to speak.

　Even in these situations I hate to think game-like thoughts. And those thoughts are now recommending that I listen to the story as much as possible.

'Hmmm. ...... Okay, let's talk.
............

　Alty laughs bewitchingly and begins to speak slowly.

'Right. Since you're here, let's start with a story of doubt: ....... I think this is an interesting story for you. After all, it's a story about killing a guardian without a fight.

　Arti keeps smiling.
　Even if the story is about the way he kills himself, it doesn't change.

The fact is, we guardians are forced to protect the labyrinth as monsters because we have 'unfinished business'. It has been my suspicion for a long time that what happens to our guardians if we resolve that 'unfinished business' ...... is what happens to our guardians. Tida has cleared up my doubts. We seem to be the ones who are weakened by the loss of our 'unconsciousness' and disappear once we get our wish. That's why that nearly immortal Tida died so easily.

　From the way Arti talks, it seems that he was watching Tida die.
　He also says that the way he died could not have been the original Tida.

　Tida died because she got her wish.
　He seems convinced that he did.

　--that was new to me.

　I've never heard of that from anyone.
　I have a feeling that this is information that no one in the allied nations trying to capture the labyrinth knows about.

''Hmph. And that's what I want: ....... I only want one thing: .......

　And as if to say that what we're talking about now is just a prelude, Arti's voice is low and heavy.

　It is Arti's desire to speak.
　In other words, the death of Arti that will come (...).


'-- I want to make my love (・・・・・・) come true (・・・・・・)


　Arti said shyly, looking up in the air. Just as quickly, he said, "How's that, isn't it romantic? He teased his own words.

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

　I get a headache.
　It's not a simple pain.
　It's the pain of a mix of emotions that can't normally be mixed: annoying, crazy, and fun.

　Arti is looking straight at me.

　I mouthed a single word, "Troubling," as my head ached.