We find our companion's shadow on the bulletin board, and we immediately try to gather more details at the adventurer's guild.
　But before we do, we are taken out of the room with the requesting bulletin board by the guild attendant that Lagune-chan brought with her.

　There is no falsehood in the words of special treatment that Lagne-chan had said earlier, and a separate room was prepared for us to have a nobleman. It's close to the high-class lodgings prepared for Lauravia's 'Dancing Tournament', and the attendant who shows us around isn't just a clerk either. I introduced myself briefly in another room that I was shown to, and found out that the attendant was the submaster of the 'Adventurer's Integrated Guild Hoosiers Branch'.

　Immediately I tried to find out from the submaster about the "World Tree Pollution Problem" and "The Saint's Kidnapping Incident," both of which I could see the shadows of my fellow adventurers.
　I check if I can stick my head into the things that are marked on the bulletin board as rank 'SecredAce' and distantly told not to mess with them. Then--.

Don't worry, Kanami-sama. We have permission to enter the World Tree Area. According to our guild's assessment, Kanami-sama's rank is SA, so ...... I would rather ask you to resolve this issue from here. We are ready to disclose to Kanami-sama and the others the information we know about the 'Great Sacred City' right now, and the entire guild is ready to assist you.
'Oh, really: ......?'

　They readily agreed to it.
　There was already a pile of "World Tree Pollution Problem" and "The Saint's Kidnapping Case" materials on the table in the room, and we knew that the submaster really intended to ask us for help.

　Slightly disappointed that "SecredAce" is abbreviated to "SA" and that my rank has been canned before I've even had much of an adventure, I go to work on the materials on the table.
　In the middle of the process, Rastiara raises her hand to ask a question as if it were non-negotiable.

''Hey, Submaster-san. If Kanami is rank SA, am I the same rank?　And while you're at it, can you tell me everyone's rank?
''Uh, um, ...... sorry. Lady Rastiara is not allowed to register as an adventurer in our guild. Well, if you can, please check in at the Hoosiers' castle: ....... The same goes for Sith-sama and Snow-sama. We are unable to assess the three of you based on our guild's judgment alone: ....... Instead, the remaining two - Ryner-sama and Ragne-sama, the 'Seven Celestial Knights', will be treated as equivalent to rank A.'
'And you can't even register at ......!　Kanami is Sacred Ace and yet ......!
''Please understand. Since Kanami-sama is famous for being a freelance labyrinth explorer, enrolling in our guild will be easy. With Kanami-sama's enrollment, the entire adventurers of the Great Sacred City will be buzzing with activity. This is a very beneficial registration for our guild. However, the three of you are quite the opposite. To put it bluntly, it's very annoying because the country will be looking for us.

　It's quite galling to be a submaster of a large guild. He firmly made his case to Rustyala and refused to register.

　What the submaster is saying is quite natural.
　If we classify them, we can say that Rastiara and Snow are officials working for the country. Even though they've entrusted the succession to someone they both trust, they didn't follow the official procedure and quit.
　If you pull out that official without permission, you're lightly picking a fight with the country.

　The fact that Rustyala also understands that this is the situation, so he continues to snarl without forcing himself.

''Mmmm......''
'It may be unnecessary, but I think you should go to the castle to say hello before you start working on your request, don't you?　I was quite surprised to hear that the three of you are here.

　The submaster doesn't ask for details of the situation, but only makes suggestions. He seems to think that there is a backstory that will become troublesome if he gets involved. And that idea isn't too far off.
　Rustyala, Snow and Dea immediately respond to that suggestion.

''There would be a lot of commotion if we went, so it's impossible right now.
'If they know I'm here too, I'll get in trouble, so I guess I'll just refrain from it.　Let's wait until things have cooled down a bit more. Yeah, we'll do that.
It's too much trouble, I'm not going. I'm gonna be one of Kanami's guys. Always.

　He replied that he no longer cared about the situation in his country. The submasters were lightly surprised by the irresponsibility of their own country's key officials.

I'm sure you're right: ....... However, we will report to the castle about you all, so I'm sure the castle's messenger will be coming soon. Please note: ......

　As one of the guilds protecting the city, I guess I have a duty to report it. I can't tell them to stop doing that, so without stopping them from talking, I just thank them.

''I've been in a guild myself, so I understand. It is only natural to report to the country, so feel free to do so. ...... But more importantly, thank you for your time today. This 'World Tree Pollution Problem' and the 'Saint's Kidnapping Case', I will use my full strength to resolve these two cases.
You are the hero of the Allies. Those are very encouraging words.
Well, I'll have to get the file. If you'll excuse me--

　Immediately I put the materials in my 'belongings' and then try to leave the room.
　However, Rastiara is stuck in the middle of the street, and somehow, I jam up to the submaster to try to register as an adventurer.

''Then let me start at rank E under a fake name!　Sign up like you're an unknown newcomer, not a Rustyala!　And it sounds rather fun that way!
Under an alias, sir? ......?

　Submaster-san is in trouble, so I immediately stop Rastiara.

''Rastiara, don't be reckless. Just let's go quickly.''
'Kuhn ......!　This was the best part of my day here: ......!　There was a whole bunch of events on the board I just saw that I wanted to take in: ......!

　I pull a heartily regretful Rustyala and leave the submaster with a "Thank you for your help" before we all leave the room.
　We then walk down the clean corridor of the Adventurer's Guild and set our destination with Dia walking next to us.

'Hey, Kanami. 'The World Tree Pollution Problem' or 'The Saint's Kidnapping Case', which one do you want to go first?
'Let's get to Maria before the World Tree. I'm worried about Maria when she's dealing with Nosfy.
'The saintly one first or ....... But if it's really Mary's, I don't think there's anything to worry about. That guy would have beaten the enemy all by himself.
'What ......?　No, no, no, that's not true. Even if it took me, Ryner, and 'The One Who Stole the Reason of the Wind (Titty)', we couldn't defeat Nosfy.
"When it comes to that, even if it took me, 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Wood' (Id) and 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Water' (Hitaki), Maria couldn't defeat her. ......

　Dia remembered something, and she turned a little blue and went on to talk about Maria's strength.
　I heard that while I was in the labyrinth, Maria and the others were challenging the face of Viysia. Maybe they are remembering the fight then.

　Rustyala and Snow, who were walking close by, do not deny Dia's story, but agree with it.

'Maybe Dia is right, Maria could be ....... Snow would think so too, wouldn't she?
'Yes ....... That fight would have slowed us down. It could have been enough: .......

　It's treated as if Maria would be an easy win for at least one guardian (Guardian).

　Indeed, Maria may have that much of an achievement. I still believe that she is the one who defeated Arti, the one who stole the logic of fire, and when she fought Palinkron, the one who stole the logic of darkness, she could have won alone if the enemy didn't have the power of the World Service Force. It's not hard to imagine that they will not fall behind even if they have to deal with the logic stealers.

　--It's not good to be optimistic.
　Now Maria may be in a tight spot. She may be falling for some kind of nosy ploy. She may be waiting for my help.

　As long as there's that possibility, we should give priority to "The Abduction of a Saint".
　Having decided that, I immediately hurried to the underground city where the kidnappers were holed up.
　I've confirmed the general location of the abductor's hiding place when I looked at the materials just now, so there's no need to get lost.

　And then I read about the details of the existence of the so-called "saint". As I headed in, I lightly organized the information in my head before arriving.

　According to the documents, a girl who would become a saint appeared in the Great Holy City about half a month ago.
　It seems that the girl who appeared out of nowhere went around curing the city's sick people with her specialty of sacred magic. Seeing the girl curing the incurable diseases, people gradually came to call her a "saint".
　Naturally, she soon caught the attention of the state, and with the recommendation of the Senate, she became an official saint recognized by the state.

　After that, the saintess worked for the Great Holy City with all her might.
　Just by looking at her divine magic, people were filled with hope, and even during the war against the Northern League, she never stopped smiling and being cheerful.

　That saint was kidnapped a few days before we came to the Great Holy City.
　The knights of the Fusoya's immediately moved to retrieve the saint, and a fierce battle took place in which an area of the underground city was sealed off - but the result was a disastrous defeat.
　From the devastation of the blockaded area engulfed in flames, the culprit is said to be a "witch with a grim reaper" who is said to have come down from the north.

　As I thought, no matter how many times I check, the possibility of it being Maria is high.
　If you have clashed with Nosufi, you must join him as soon as possible. That 'thing that steals the logic of light' has an unknowability that cannot be relieved just by winning the game.

　We walk through the bustling streets of the Great Sacred City, asking the residents for directions to find the entrance to the underground city.
　Then, in the middle of the street, we find an entrance that seems to lead to the underground platform of the station, which is also my world. I was expecting a little bit of a magic circle (deiri-guchi) that allows you to move at a moment's notice (warp), but it's a very realistic structure.

　As we approach the entrance, we are stopped by one of the guards who are blocking off the underground mall.

''--Please stop. The road is closed from here on out. Currently, violent criminals are hiding out in the direction of the West Underground Mall.
'Well, I was told that if I showed you this, you could get through: ......
'Are you from the ...... adventurer's guild?　I'll have a quick look. I'm restricted by rank.

　Immediately I took the armband given to me by the Adventurer's Guild out of my 'belongings' and showed it to the guards.

　The guard takes the armband in his hand and goes through the checking process. But in the process, he turns a little blue in the face.

'...... Huh?'

　There are about ten rank SAs in the world, Reiner said.
　Naturally, the guards begin to doubt the authenticity of the armband.

　Sparing no time, I immediately work on the skill 'Fraud' and continue to show the armband without changing my expression at all. In addition, I don't forget to lightly pressure them with my magic power.

　Unable to endure that unreasonable intimidation, the guard vacates the path.

''Ka, finished checking. Please go through ....... However, you are on your own from here on out, so please be careful ......
Okay. Well, good luck with your work.

　Feeling a little sorry for myself, I walked down the stairs leading to the underground district with the others.
　The guards quietly watched the group as they slithered into the blockaded area. But no doubt he would go to the Adventurer's Guild for confirmation after seeing them off. It couldn't be helped since the suspicious person who was intimidating them with his vicious magical power had entered the blockaded area with an SA-ranked armband.

　Next time, I'll be allowed to use the A-rank armband that Ryner has. It's harder to use this SA-ranked armband than I thought.

　Thinking that, I descend a staircase similar to the one in the labyrinth. It was a bit narrow, surrounded by stones, but the tightly dimensioned stairs were easy to walk down.
　After descending more than a thousand long stairs, we arrived at the underground city of the "Great Sacred City".

...... This is the underground mall.

　We emerged into a space that resembled a labyrinthine hierarchy. But unlike that one, there were no maze-like corridors and it was very open.

　It's nearly a kilometer high, by eye measurement. That hollow space is probably as long as the site of the "Great Sacred City" on the ground.

　Inside the underground city, we went down to the east area of the blockaded area.
　Normally, there should be a mysterious city that is different from the one on the ground, but what I saw was a sea of flames.
　Everywhere you look, the flames are blazing, and although it's good to get down, you can't find your way forward.

'It looks a lot like Alti's Hierarchy: ......

　The scene immediately reminded me of Arti's hierarchy of the ten levels of the labyrinth. However, I thought that the essence of it was completely different.

　Arti's hierarchy was filled with a special 'unextinguishable flame'. The flames that continued to burn even if there was nothing to burn were the ones that Arti's grudge felt.
　In contrast, the flames in this underground city were gentle. It is indeed hot. It has a harshness that doesn't attract people. However, it does not burn the surrounding town. It is a fire that never burns out anything, even if there is something to burn.

　The fact that the underground mall is still alive and well despite being swallowed up by the flames is a bizarre sight.
　But from that particular 'flame that never burns', I am convinced of Maria's existence.

'Maria!　Call me back if you're there!　It's me!　Everyone's here too!

　I felt the power of the "One Who Steals the Reason of Fire" and I speak to the flames. If Maria shared her perceptions with the flames, then this should convey our arrival.

　However, after shouting, I waited for nearly a minute, but there was no response from the flames.
　Whether Maria is not within the blockaded area or is in a situation where she can't reply ...... cannot be determined.

　It's a hassle not to be able to use magic 《Dimension》 at a time like this. I have no choice but to look around the underground city with my eyes.
　I immediately build a dimensional magic in my body and change my magic power to the freezing attribute. It's a technique that consumes quite a bit of magic power, but it allows me to use a different attribute of magic.

　I hold up my hand and try to extinguish the fire with the opposite attribute of the flame.

''-- Freeze Magic [Freeze]''

　I remember the old feeling and expand my magic power.
　I know that the flames in this underground town are magic, so it's a feeling of doing 'magic offset (counter magic)'.

　With the effect of my 《Freeze》, a hole is created in one of the surrounding flames. I really wanted to extinguish all the flames, but the magic of the flames was too dense and it was all I could do to create a tunnel.

　Passing through the tunnel of flames, we start walking towards the back of the underground city. The area around us is covered in flames, but we manage to withstand the heat since we're maintaining the 《Freeze》. We have no trouble exploring the underground city.

　If it comes down to it, I can further adjust the temperature with Ryner's wind magic, and even if I get burned, I have a recovery spell.

　I bullishly made a path with the Freeze and proceeded deeper and deeper into the underground city. If I keep going, I should be able to contact another reason why this underground city is sealed off.

　As I walk, I think back to the information in the materials of the "Saint's Abduction Case".

　It wasn't just about the saint that was written. As I recall, there was information that 'even if you clear the flame problem, there is an unidentified monster beyond it'.
　According to the information gathered by the adventurers who challenged it earlier, it seems that it 'deals with dark-attribute magic,' 'can slash you from anywhere,' and 'can hear a terrifying voice that chills you from the depths of your stomach.
　The adventurer's guild is rumored to have a Grim Reaper brought by a witch residing in the underground city.

　This is a very familiar characteristic.
　This may be a bad event that adventurers are prepared to die for, but for me, it will be a long-awaited good event!
　So I'm not afraid of the unidentified monsters, and I keep going and going. The party behind me feels like a picnic.

　At last the monster appears while we are wandering around the underground mall.
　The whole area is in flames, but we can hear its voice without it showing itself.

Adventurers ....... Turn back ....... It's hell from here on out. It's not ...... a lie. There's a really scary one in the back .......

　The moment I heard the voice, a chill ran down my spine.
　Immediately I recognize the dark-attribute mental interference magic on that voice. Perhaps it's a magic that causes fear without the other party noticing.

　I shake my head, dismissing the fear sticking to my back and imagining a more terrifying future.

'There's no turning back ....... Going back here would probably be even scarier.
Are you sure?　If you proceed, the Grim Reaper will curse you for that?　I'm going to put a curse on you, like, "One of these days you'll be stabbed to death by a member of the opposite s*x in the back"?　Are you sure you want to do this?
'No, you can curse, but why would you choose such a pinpoint curse: ......

　No matter how much I put the magic of fear on it and act like it, it hasn't changed until the quality of her voice. Reassured by the familiar girl's voice, I move forward, chatting and laughing.

'You've ignored my advice: ......!　Then go to ......!

　As I continue to walk, a magical force containing the will to fight is hurled at me.
　The source of this is from my blind spot. However, I knew beforehand that they would definitely attack from my blind spot, so I leisurely pulled out the Alais family's treasured sword, Loewen, from my possessions and set out to intercept them.

　-- A nostalgic metallic sound rings out.

　A black scythe slice extends from within my shadow and I flick it as I turn around. Thus, having dealt with the Grim Reaper's surprise attack with "sensitivity," the Good event of joining the group begins.

　A brown-skinned girl crawls out of the shadows and sends a casual greeting.

''--Hmm, it looks like the real thing after all!　It's not fake, and it's not under any weird magic. Most importantly, there's Rowen. Long time no see, brother.

　I reply to that as I put my sword away.

'Yeah, long time no see. Sorry to keep you waiting, Reaper.

　He reunited with the Reaper, looking the same as he once did, and apologized for the opening.
　But the Reaper shakes his head, shaking his long black hair. Just like a year ago, he admonishes me with a calm demeanor not befitting his age.

I didn't wait that long. I've been playing around a lot. ...... So, would you like it to be someone else who apologizes, not me, but your sister Maria?
...... All right. I knew Maria was here, didn't I?

　There was a lot of things I wanted to apologize for over and over again, but I swallowed the words and made it a priority to join them.

''Yeah. ...... Maria Auntie doesn't have a bit of time to spare, so Atachi has been keeping an eye on the city instead. I'll show you around in a minute. This way, this way, this way...

　The Reaper walks forward and beckons her forward. Then the flames in her path disappear on their own.
　Perhaps there is now a 'connection' between the Reaper and Maria. He is using that "connection" to manipulate the flames born by Maria to create a path.

　I was about to follow the Reaper's back to tell him more about it, but before I could, my friends passed me and started talking to me.
　Rustyala and Snow say, "It's been a while," while Ragne and Ryner introduce themselves, and finally, Reaper is happy to see Dia back. I don't want to take away from everyone's reunion, so I stay quiet in the back after the greetings.

　However, in the middle of that banter, Rustyala is the first to hear what I was going to ask at the right time.

''--NeNeNe, Reaper. Are you still here?　There's that saint, that little Nosfy Foozeyers.
Yes, I'm here. I'm with my sister Maria now.

　The story surprises me and I shout out from behind me.

'What, you two are together ......?'
'I'm with you. Say hi to Mr. Nosfi, he's on his way.

　The Reaper turns around and says something very challenging.
　The women, who didn't know Nosfi's personality, seemed at ease, but only Ryner looked as uncomfortable as I did.

''Yes, we've arrived! This is our base of operations!

　We've made a lot of progress while chatting, and we reach the largest building in the underground area. It seems that the Reapers are living underground by illegally occupying this place.

　It's a mansion that seems to belong to a middle-class aristocrat.
　It is wrapped in a wreath of fire and refuses everything that comes its way.

　Through a reasonably large garden and entrance, they enter the back of the mansion. Then, led by the Reaper, we enter a single room.

　It's a large room.
　A fine fireplace is lit in the center of the wall side, and a painting is displayed at the top.
　A long table was placed across the room in the center, with more than ten chairs in a row. It was probably the mansion's dining room, or dining room.

　At the end of the table in that room sat two girls.
　Maria, a girl with dark hair, and Nosfi, a girl with chestnut-colored hair.
　The two girls were not hostile, but were chatting casually with drinks between them.

　Maria had a cloth wrapped around her eyes and her attire had changed a bit from before.
　Nosfi's clothes have changed entirely. No, it would be more accurate to say that she was being put in restraints rather than changed.
　She was wrapped around her body in what looked like a bandage over the frilly black clothing she had seen before. If you looked closely, you could see that the bandages were covered with small letters written all over them. It's a fashion that reminds me of the 'spell cloth' of Arti, the 'one who steals the reason for fire' of the past.
　However, unlike Arti, Nosfi is wrapped in such a way that both hands are disabled.

　After confirming their appearance, the two people in the room also notice their visitor (here).

'Kanami-san ......?'

　Maria reacted before anyone else and stood up, calling her name.
　A fireball floats in the room. She must have sensed my coming by the flames.
　She turns her face to me, shakes her dark hair, and wanders off to walk towards me.

'Maria ......'

　To which I reply.
　We call each other by name to confirm.

　That's when Maria was convinced that I was not an illusion. She walked straight up to me and hugged me tightly.

　Maria put her hands slightly above my waist, pressed her face to my chest and murmured without showing any expression.

'I'm sorry ....... I was going to talk to you about a lot of things when we meet, but ...... let me do this for a little while. ...... Just for a little while .......

　I can't use Dimension now.
　I can't see the hidden expression on her face.
　But by intertwining our magic with each other, I can understand Maria's battle up to today - the hardships that have resulted from the accumulation of these battles.

　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it.