The next day, me and Rustyala were both trying the 21 layers of the labyrinth again.

''-- Well!　Finally, we can do some serious labyrinth exploration. Christ.
'Yeah. But there's probably a big difference between what you think is authentic and what I think is authentic, though.

　We took a shortcut to the 20th level of the labyrinth via our house magic, the Connection. It's a fresh sensation to be in the depths of the 20th layer so early in the morning.

　Rastiara is happily walking behind me as she unravels her body.

　Unlike yesterday, I'm leading the way today.
　In order to make the most of my abilities, I have returned to my original position.

　I walk through the 21st layer while conducting a search for the enemy, but Rustyala's noisy talking behind me doesn't stop.

'Christ!　I'm aiming for 30 layers!
...... No, let's go one layer at a time and see how things go. We'll start with the 21st layer to get our shoulders used to it, and then set our immediate goal at the end of the 'Righteous Path'--
'Long story about Christ!

　As I was presenting the policy, Rustyala prodded it sulkily.

　In terms of policy in the labyrinth, the two of us were not at all compatible. Although we had been discussing it since early morning, even now that we had entered the labyrinth, we hadn't been able to integrate those policies.

　-- though I'm sure this is fine.

　I knew from the beginning that it would be difficult to control Rastiala.
　I have no choice but to adjust to her, but if I give in and coddle Rastiara from the beginning, it will resonate later.
　Ideally, I should balance the too aggressive Rustyala with the too passive me. So it's just right that neither of us give in.

''My story may be long, but I don't think I'm saying anything wrong in advancing through the labyrinth.
'It's a boring thing to say as you move through the labyrinth, though.
Righteousness and boredom are in direct proportion to each other. Also, I'm not here for fun.
'But, Christ. That would be a breach of contract, right?　I'm going to help Christ with his goal of attacking the labyrinth, so he has an obligation to help me with my goal of enjoying the labyrinth.
Yeah, that's right. --this is a 'deal'. So, let's pause for a moment, Rustyala. It's all right for you to have fun. But don't forget what I'm up to. Just keep your hands to yourself as little as possible.
'Oh ....... You've been stubborn all morning to put that nail in the coffin: ......

　This guy needs to be nailed down like this to feel safe.
　He's a completely different type of person than the ones I've worked with, such as Dia and Maria.

It's because of your bad behavior. This is the end of your chatter at ...... since the day I met you.

　As I was talking to Rastiara, I noticed the monster's approach with the magic 《Dimension》.

''Ooh, it's here quickly. Well, it's useful. Christ's Searching Magic.
There's one enemy ahead of us. It's the same big monkey from yesterday. I'll jump in first to draw them away. Then you jump in after him. I'll do the combinations.
'You don't think I'm a boar or something?　Well, I'll follow you now.
Let's go--!

　I start running at the same time as I call out.
　Despite the fact that I'm running in earnest, Rustyala is following closely behind me. After all, it's a guy who is secure in his abilities.

　As I turn one corner of the corridor, I am able to see the odd-shaped monster.
　It's the same monster from yesterday, a Fury.
　The Fury notices that I'm approaching and tries to intercept me with its four arms.

　I duck underneath his four strong arms and slip past his crotch to get behind him. Fury tries to twist his body to attack me as I turn behind him. But Rustyala, who was following him, won't let him.

　Fury catches Rustiala's sword with two arms. Then she extends her remaining arm toward me. I dodge it and shift my body further into Fury's blind spot. Fury tries to turn his face toward me so that he doesn't lose sight of me - but he gives up because of Rustiala's presence in front of him. He must have had a hunch that if he removed his gaze from Rustiala here, he would receive a fatal wound.

　Fury prioritized crushing the Rastiara in front of him first.
　Leaving me behind, he tries to grab onto Rustiala, leaving me behind.

　At this moment, I'm convinced of victory.

　The moment that his powerful arm reaches Rustiala, my sword slashes through his arm's shoulder. The slashing of my shoulder causes my arm, which was trying to grab Rastiara, to stop moving for a moment. Rastiara doesn't miss the opening, and scrapes through the powerful arm and slashes through Fury's torso.

　Fury rages aloud and is eager to crush Rustiala.
　I swing my sword again in time with that enemy's breathing. Naturally, Fury's movements stop for another moment.

　It's a dead end.
　As long as I'm behind him, Fury can't make a decent attack.
　This is a trick that can be done because the magic Dimension constantly alerts us to the movements of Rustyala and the enemy.

　Rastiara slices and dices the Fury, who creates many gaps, many times. In the end, the sword slices through Fury's neck, and as it does so, I also stab Fury in the heart from the back.

　Fury let out a decapitated roar, spurted out blood, and disappeared as a light.
　I picked up the fallen magic stone and checked with Rastiara as I picked up the fallen magic stone.

''Are you hurt?''
I didn't get any blood back. No problem. I mean, it's just too bad about the monster right now. You can't do anything about it: ......
'This is what happens when we give it our all. It's like harvesting rice, and I love it.
'Hmm ....... If it's too overwhelming, the fun is ......
Don't worry, though, the 21st level starts here. --It's a magical dimension.

　I expand my magical senses.
　The characteristic of these 21 layers is that monsters with overwhelming power will spring out in large numbers.

　The roar of the decapitated demon from earlier should be involved in that mechanism.
　I'm going to figure out all the monsters in the area where the roar will reach. As expected, all those monsters heard the current roar and were coming towards us.

''Well?''
Just as I suspected. You take one down, and all the monsters around you seem to hear about it and come around.

　Yesterday, I didn't have time to search carefully and far away, but today was different.
　There is room to grasp its movements.

''I see. The more you defeat them, the more they surround you, right?
'But it's a pointless partnership for me. With my magic, I can't be surrounded. Rastiara, follow me.
Copy that. Are you going to use the two-body-one tactic you used earlier and keep taking them down?
'We'll do that for the basics, but if it gets too much trouble, we might do it all at once. And if we're surrounded, I'm sure we'll be fine.
Of course.

　Rustyala laughs and replies, following me.

　In fact, me and Rustyala are typical solo player types.
　It can be said that in one-on-many, the true value of this type of game is shown.

　As I mentioned before, it is true that we are strong even when working together, but that is because we are close to each other's abilities and fighting methods. Normally, there is no one who can match Rustyala's movements. Knowing that, Rastiara probably wanted to be my companion.

''There's a monster in a little while. This time I think I can surprise them from behind.''
All right. ...... Oh, you can hunt monsters, but make sure you head to the 22nd level too, okay?
If I could afford it, I would.

　As a matter of fact, there's only so much room. Because if you're running at the speed of me and Rastiala, you won't be surrounded unless there's something really wrong with you.
　That's why we can have a chat.

　The Fury struggled yesterday, but honestly, it posed no threat.
　At any rate, it is blocked from attacking in a pack, which is its characteristic, so it can't be helped.

　We repeatedly destroyed each one of them and stepped through the 21 layers.

　We had to leave the "right-of-way" and take a detour to avoid being surrounded, but we managed to get to the 22nd level of stairs without any problems.

　It takes about an hour to get there.
　The number of Fury's defeats was over ten.


◆◆◆◆◆ ...


　When we reached the front of the 22-story staircase, we were recovering while keeping an eye on our surroundings.

　We said we had plenty of time to spare, but as the numbers piled up, mistakes were bound to happen. We were surrounded a few times, so we weren't completely unscathed. It wasn't a serious injury, but it was damage that required recovery magic.

''World of Immaculate Cleanliness,'' ''In the pale sunshine.'' -- "Cure Fool.

　Rastiara chants, gathers magic, and casts a recovery spell.
　I stare at it and throw a question at Rastiara.

'Does that ...... poetry-like thing before the magic mean anything to you?'
Poetry?　Oh, this. Hmm, it's just an image aid, so I don't need it. It's kind of a habit, I guess.
Yeah.

　It seems that the same magic can have quirks for different people.
　The way of imagining is different, and the way of chanting is also different. The magic itself is in the body, so that may be natural.

''Good. Now you are fully recovered.
Thank you.

　We checked each other's MP and, while doing so, checked our experience levels.
　We hadn't hunted properly since the Teeda battle, so our experience levels were quickly accumulated. As I thought, the experience value per unit of a monster in a deeper layer is dramatically different.

　Also, the fact that we were hunting in deeper than proper levels was probably a big factor.
　Me and Rastiara are able to fight at a deeper level than the original proper layer thanks to their extraordinary 'qualities'. That Tida even told me that I had the ability of a general 20 level range at 10th level. Since I can fight high level monsters at low levels, of course I can accumulate experience faster than normal.

''And while we're at it, let's level up too. Christ, stay alert.
I'm on it.

　Rastiara must have seen the experience too.
　He decides that he can level up and casts a level-up spell.


[Status]
　Name: Aikawa Uzumi HP321/372 MP334/623-200 Class.
　Level 12.
　Strength 7.12 Strength 7.45 Skill 8.55 Speed 10.92 Wisdom 10.88 Magic 26.91 Element 7.00　
　State: confusion 7.93

[Status]
　Name: Rustyala Hoozeyers HP 670/709 MP 283/325 Class: Hero
　Level 16.
　Strength 11.71 Strength 11.11 Skill 7.12 Speed 8.39 Wisdom 12.97 Magic 9.12 Elementality 4.00
　Status:.


　The bonus points generated are transferred to MP. This is because maintaining the magic "connection" is making the available MPs unreliable.
　I'll still keep the skill points.

I still have plenty of MP to spare. Or rather, Christ. Why are your MPs down so low?
'That gate's magic has shaved 200 MP off my maximum. Also, my MP is much less due to the search magic. I'm using auxiliary magic in combat, so it's even less.
"Wow, I get terrible gas mileage. ...... You should save more money.
No. I don't want to die, just in case.
'Mmmm. Sure, I wouldn't want you to die, but I'd be in trouble too: ......

　As Rustyala and I discuss magic, I am reminded of something that has been on my mind for some time. I thought it was a good opportunity to ask her a question.

'Speaking of which, I was wondering, what is that skill you mentioned before, 'Gentile'?'
Hmm?　From this angle, I can see the five skills of Christ: 'Swordsmanship', 'Freezing Magic', 'Dimensional Magic', 'Gentile' and '? I see five of them?
I think that 'gentile' looks like a "? It looks like a ? Do you think Rastiara's eyes are on a higher level than mine?　Is that 'gentile' doing anything for you now?
'I don't know much about being useful, either. It's just some sort of title that says you don't belong to this world, isn't it?
That's about it.

　We chat and descend to layer 22.
　We could try to find the boss monster on the 21st layer, but there's no detailed information on such a deep layer, so we give up. Not many of the searchers who come to the tavern have ever reached the 20th layer.

　The stairs to the 22nd layer were long.
　That also meant that the 22nd layer had a high ceiling.

'Fortunately, we're on the 22nd level. The last time we were here, we almost died, but it's a lot easier with just the two of us.
"Dying?　Even though you're alone, were you driven to that point by a normal monster?
'I came this far before when I wasn't even at level 10. I thought if I got too strong, I wouldn't be able to respond. Well, really, that was fun.
You know, I'm afraid of you trying to low-level the natural way. Are you suicidal or something?

　It was Rustyala, who was playing tied up with impunity, even though his life was on the line.

No, I don't want to die. I'm not like this, but I know how much I value life. Watching people die is not my cup of tea.
For someone who's not very good at it, though, he seemed happy to see me and Maria almost dead.
'You can't blame me, I love you for being on the edge of death. Don't worry, I'll get you out of there before you die.

　Lastiara speaks without a care in the world about things that Maria would stop talking to me if she heard them.

　I proceeded through the 22nd level, dismayed by Rastiara's unusual values.
　Unlike the 21st level, the corridor on the 22nd level is narrower and has a higher ceiling. It is several meters wide and several dozen meters high. Each layer of the corridor has its own characteristics, but never before has there been such a big change.

　The deeper the layers are, the more distinctive they may become.

　While I was examining the corridor in various ways, I found a 22-layered enemy with magic 《Dimension》.

　It's a bird-shaped monster.
　The flying monsters in the labyrinth tended to be small in body, but this monster was different. A huge body of several meters, wings and claws like a hawk. And it had three heads with compound eyes. Since I could see its ferocious canine teeth, it looks like I have to be careful with both its claws and fangs.


[Monster] Rio Eagle: rank 20.


Rustyala, there's a bird-like monster in the sky.
Oh, that guy. I'll run away when I'm wounded, so I'm asking you to take one hit at a time. Ignore the ones that don't come down and only counter the ones that come.
A monster in flight. That sounds like a lot of trouble. But if it's the one that won't come down, is this one a pack-based monster too?
'It's like 21 layers of monkeys turned into birds. The battle changes in a gala, but ...... well, Christ would be fine.
What's that wasted faith in me that you have in me: ......
That's right, Christ is the 'hero' for me: ......

　Rustyala replied meaningfully.
　I was about to answer her lightly when I noticed Rio Eagle gliding over and shifted my attention from her to my enemy.

''--!　They're here!
You can tell a lot about the darkness up there.

　I hold my sword at the ready and intercept the descending Rio Eagle. Rastiara also follows suit, saying something swallowing.

　With a speed that is incomparable to that of the 21-layered Fury, Rio Eagle aims for my throat with its claws. I catch it with the belly of my sword and try to slice through the Rio Eagle's body as it is. However, the downward energy on the claw takes a bite out of me and I turn my body upside down. By the time I returned my sword, Rio Eagle had escaped from the range of my sword.

　I couldn't stop the Rio Eagle from taking off in one blow, and as I tried to look away - the flying sword stabbed into the enemy's side as it tried to gain altitude.

　It's the sword that Rastiara threw at me.

　The Rio Eagle disappears as a light, and Rastiara laughs as he picks up the remaining sword and magic stone.

''One-on-one, it was an incredibly nasty one, but not so much with two. The moment one of us takes it, it's easy for the other to attack.'
I guess so. But not if there's more than one of them.
Well, yeah.

　Rastiara releases the magic stone to me.
　While I put it in my 'possessions', I ask him about his future plans.

''So, what are you going to do? You're going to deal with these guys?
No, these guys are a huge pain in the ass, and basically pass the 22nd level.

　It's certainly fast moving and tactically smart.
　It would be quite nerve-wracking to take this one on properly.

　Ordinary humans would not be able to notice the air raid because of the darkness in the sky. Even if they did, they would be unable to defend themselves with their overwhelming speed. Even if they did, they would not be able to counterattack easily because of the energy of the fall. And if it fails to attack, it will break away and repeat the process. Rastiara said that they would run away if they were injured, so their nuisance would be one of the best monsters up to the 22nd layer.

''I don't like these guys either ....... Without a long-range means of attack, it's not worth it .......''
We specialize in short and medium range.
Yeah.

　As swordsmen, the only long-range attack I and Rastiara can make is to throw the sword. If you miss, your beloved sword will disappear, and on the other hand, if you carry another sword to throw, your movements will be slower. We are simply not cut out to take on enemies at a distance.

　If I used the 'possessions' system to its fullest extent, I would be able to handle it, but I'm not willing to cut up that many cards against this monster.

　It would be easier with Dia, but with the two of us in the current situation, it would be better to ignore them.
　Rarely did I agree with Rastiara, so I decided to move as far away from the Rio Eagle as possible.

　However, after a few minutes of walking, I could see that it wasn't going to work out that way.

'Chit ......'
What's the matter, Christ?

　I analyze the information I got from the magic 《Dimension》 and click my tongue.

　I knew that the guys around me were heading this way because I had defeated the Rio Eagle earlier. Even so, I had chosen a path so that I wouldn't be surrounded, but they were trying to block and surround my escape route with movements that were incomparable to those of the 21-layered Fury.

　Two individuals who took advantage of an opening in my magic 《Dimension》 are coming near me.

"Sorry, Rustyala. One coming from the front and one from the back.
It's no use. If it's backwards and forwards, let's just get our backs together.
All right. But if we take too long, we'll be surrounded. Let's get this done as soon as possible. --Dimensional Snow, Form

　I refined five of the magic "Dee Snow" and floated them around.
　I let the magic 《Form》 cling to my sword.

''That cold air filled foam ....... It's a magic I've never seen or heard of, but did you invent it?
'It's like weaving, or maybe it's a combination of magic. It's a trap spell, so don't touch it. If you hit it, it will slow you down, so use it well.
I'm sorry.

　As we finish our preparations, the two upward Rio Eagles begin to glide over to us.

　Rastiara and I are back to back, and each of us takes on one of them.

　I keep track of the Rio Eagle's movements with my magic "Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradient)".
　I'm able to see through its attack and successfully catch the blow. But inevitably, the counterattack is delayed by one tempo and the sword slices through the air. The same seemed to be true for Rastiara behind me.

　However, I succeeded in transferring the magic 《Form》 to Rio Eagle.
　My grasping ability against that individual has improved dramatically, so I'm confident that I'll definitely defeat him if he comes down next time.

　However, the Rio Eagle that received the magic "form" ran away from me in the distance as if to mock me.

''Eh?　Did you just put on a magic bubble and then run away?
You're a real cowardly monster! If there's even the slightest sign of abnormality, you'll run away.

　The Rio Eagle, which has escaped further, is squealing at a distance. No matter how I look at it, it looks like it's just calling for reinforcements.

　When I expanded the range of my magic 《Dimension》, the monsters in the distance also seemed to notice me. This includes monsters other than RioEagle. At this rate, we'll have to deal with all sorts of monsters.

''Wow. And the one that escaped, he's calling his friends. ......
'I knew it was going to happen! I ran away at full speed before, what do you want to do, Christ?
I'd like to do the same.
'I agree. He's a tough opponent, but he's a mother-in-law, so he's not that interesting.

　Me and Rustyala look at each other, nod at each other, and start running at the same time.

　One of Rustyala's missed birds tries to attack us on our backs. But there is no blind spot in my magic. I point my sword back, as if to insist that I can see behind me. Just like that, the approaching Rio Eagle retreated.

　Leaving the retreating Rio Eagle behind, me and Rustyala run to the 23rd level as fast as we can.

　Since we chose the path with the magic 《Dimension》, there were few enemies along the way. However, the monsters on the 22nd level were all cautious monsters, so they repeatedly escaped just in time to kill them.

　As a result, it was a disastrous battle, wasting MP and not getting any experience.

''Ha, ha, ha ......
Ha, ha, ha. ......

　We make it to the front of the 23rd layer, out of breath.
　Rastiara doesn't hesitate to complain.

"Hah, it's so annoying... 22 layers...

　She seems to have lost a lot of energy too.
　Shaking her shoulders, she followed me.

　As I started down the stairs, the monster that was chasing me pulled up. Apparently, the monster can't straddle the layers.

　After imprinting that useful information in my head, I descend to layer 23.