--I wanted to help the nobleman's kid, not because I felt like it, but simply because I felt like it.


　For me, the nobleman is a hateful person who killed my family.
　It was none of my business what happened to the child, and that was why I could do the job of kidnapping the nobleman's child without hesitation.


　I'm sure my thoughts haven't changed since then.
　However, the reason why I was motivated to act like this was probably because I had a chance.
　The words that kid said, "I want to help.
　There was definitely such a feeling in that voice.
　The desire to save his family.
　I wanted to save my sister.
　I wanted to do what I could not do.
　Because it was there.


　So a little bit of my conscience, which had been in the corner of my mind, kicked in.
　I thought I could help you.
　I thought I could help.
　Such were the excuses I made to myself.


　It's not that I was bonded for a moment.
　It's not about atonement.
　My sentence has expired. I've paid for my crimes and I'm tired of this job.
　Even though the reason for doing this is still unclear, it is probably just my own misgivings that made me do this.



　The nobleman's kid ......, Arx Raytheft, is about to leave his prison.
　You will find a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time and are now looking for a job. With the color of her eyes, she looks like a little rabbit.
　The clothes he wears are those of a noble lad, but the way he behaves and the gestures on his back give him an air of a commoner.


　The clumsy way he speaks seems to be that of a commoner himself.
　It makes you feel as if you were talking to a neighbor's child at a moment's notice.


　That is why it is somehow easy to talk to them.


"Hey, wait a minute.

"......?　What's going on?

I have to take something with me.


　He made Arx wait for him and took a cloth on the bed as a blanket.
　Then Arx tilted his head suspiciously.


"What are you going to do with it?

"Well, a lot of things.


　I leave the answer to him and ask him first.


So?　Do you know exactly how this place works?

No, not really.


　And then he smiles as if to cover up his blunder.
　I can't help but sigh at the haphazardness of this boy, but ...... I'm new here, so this is normal.


...... I'm sure you're right. As you may have seen along the way, there are three guard stations on each of the three floors. There are five to seven guards at any one time. And those guards are all armed with the Mark and selected mages. If it's just one or two of them, it won't be too much trouble to deal with, but if they're all together, it's too much to handle.

You're right. ......

If you want to go head-to-head, you'll have to deal with at least fifty people.


　That's a rough number, but it's probably a reasonable line.
　Then, what did Arx think, his cheeks tightened.


"Oh no, ......, I don't have enough magic power at all.

"How many times can you use magic?

I'd like to use as little magic as possible because I'm going to have to assault the ...... residence of that nobleman.

That's not enough. It's not enough at all. I'm not sure what to make of this.　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

............ I have very little magic power. So, I was disinherited.


　Arx's shoulders slumped and he sagged. He seems to have touched a sensitive spot. In the event you're not sure what you're looking for, there are a number of things you can do.


Your only ......, well, two flaws if you include your feminine face.

I'm sorry, .......

I'm sorry, . You're not cute without one or two flaws.


　It's a good idea to have a good idea of what's going on in your life.


I don't want to hear it from the bad guy face.

I don't want to hear it from you.


　While having such a strange argument, he stated the facts in a straightforward manner, taking into account Arx's condition.


Even with my magic power, I'd say only a little more than half of them can be defeated.

Hmm, how about we start a small fire and take advantage of it?

How can a nobleman's kid come up with such an outrageous idea? That's a robbery by fire trick, isn't it?

Ah, ha ha ......


　Arx is a deceptive laugh that hides his bad taste.
　It's certainly not a bad idea, but only if it's not here.


It's not a bad way to start a fire, but only if you're not here. Look at the wall.

That's it.


　Knock, knock.




Yes. As you know, everything here except for the additions was built during the time of the Mages' Minstrelsy. You can't destroy it, and it's almost impossible to set it on fire, but--


　I was about to say that, but then I saw Arx's face.
　"Can you do it? He looked at him as if to ask, "Can you do it?" but he seemed to be unable to go that far and shook his head.
　Anything.


"If we could recreate plasma jets or something, we could, but that's probably impossible.


　Apparently.


　...... Although the situation was at a standstill, Arx was not willing to give up.


"First, let's try to go as far as we can.

What are you going to do?　If we don't think about it, the situation will be worse than if we stay here.

"Well, I have an idea. I can't do anything until I get moving and see how this place is structured.

Hmm?　Well, that's good.


　I guess. What I'm doing is haphazard, but I don't think I don't have a plan at all. Basically, mages keep their inner workings hidden.
　They create a number of spells that correspond to the situation, and keep them out of sight, saving them for emergencies.
　There's no way this boy hasn't done that.
　If you're looking for the best way to get the most out of your money, you're going to have to spend a lot of it.


　...... No, wait.


I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. ...... Hey, by the way, if you don't count the lives of the guards, how easy is it to get out?

"Well, it's nice and closed. If I wanted to, I could create a spell to create poison gas.

What?　Create what?

Poison gas. ...... It's like a poison that dissolves in the air. You inhale it, you fall into a coma. You know when you go to a volcano or a mine and people get sick and collapse?　Powerful stuff like that.


　It's true that there are occasional stories of people collapsing and dying in such places.


You mean it's not impossible anyway, you crazy kid.

"No, I won't do it. Never. That's just too cruel. I don't want to go on a killing spree.

You'd better.

...... Well, not if I have to, anyway.


　I see. I guess you are ready to weigh your sister against others.
　He's a military brat, after all.


　The ...... glittering glass-lit passageway is as bright as daylight, and the walls feel well bleached.
　As you leave the prison and head toward the stairs, the criminals in the other prisons begin to make noise.
　They say, "Let us out too," "Take us with you," "You'll never get out anyway," "The guards will blow you up and that's it," and so on.


　As we ran along, we soon heard the sound of footsteps.
　There was no way that any of the detainees were walking around except us.
　Naturally, they must be patrolling guards.


"That's the first batch of guests.

I wonder how many dozens there are. ......


　With Arx beginning to worry about the long road ahead, he first hid in the corner of the passage.
　Then, under your breath, you'll see when you'll meet the guards.


"Algol's handy cloth. Rabbits, fawns, anything you can wrap up. They'll swallow you up, lock you in, and soon you'll be quiet.


　The cloth, covered with magical glyphs, instantly wraps around the guard's upper body and constricts it.


　--[Algol's Cloth Quelling Technique


　Because the guards are wrapped in the cloth, their voices do not sound muffled.
　The cloth is wrapped around the guard, so his voice is muffled.


　Eventually, the guard fainted.


"Huh, strange magic, huh?

"Don't tell me you're... ...... After seeing your magic, I've been curious about magic that uses other things.

Quote from the Age of Spirits. A Week in the Life of Algol the Farmer. Hunting Tuesday.

"...... Exactly.


　Just by listening to the spell, you can figure out exactly which book and verse it's from.
　It's the amount of knowledge that's scary. Even graduates of the Academy of Magic and those who have passed the guild examinations would not be able to do this. In terms of knowledge alone, you are already as skilled as a mage.


I mean, if you're so good at making magic, why are you kidnapping people?

"I have many things. Besides, that's the first time I've ever been kidnapped.

Oh, I remember you saying something about your first job.

Did you say that?

I did.

You've got a good memory.

You've got a good memory. I can tell you everything the three of us talked about.



"...... Really? What kind of mind do you have?


　I'm halfway bored with excellence. You feel the bitterness and pungency and stick out your tongue.
　Magical knowledge and comprehension. You've got a brilliant mind and an amazing memory.
　If his magic was so monstrous, he'd be hailed as the second coming of the hero.
　I don't know why the heavens didn't give him that much talent, but...


"Hey!　Is there someone in there?


　As he remained in place, the voices of the other guards came from the end of the passage.
　How will I get through this next time?
　As I was thinking that, Arx suddenly shouted.


Help me!　One of the guards suddenly collapsed!

What?


　What?" The sound of approaching footsteps.
　On the other hand, Arx pulled the fainting guard to where he could see him and started pretending to help him.


　The guards who rushed to the scene were naturally unsure of their decision.
　Unable to see the situation.
　Should he save his friends?
　Or should they capture Arx?
　Is Arx, a child, a sinner in the first place?


　I guess that's what I'm confused about.
　In the meantime, I will use the same [Algol's Cloth Quenching Law] as before from the side.


　The guards faint helplessly and fold up, but--


"You guys!　What are you doing!


　The other guards, who had arrived late, charged at you with their staffs for suppression.
　Are they using the imprinted armor to strengthen their physical abilities? They move faster than I expected.
　I try to pull the cloth off the defeated guards, but I don't think I can do it in time.


"d*mn it!

I got it.


　Arx said, getting down on his knees and pointing his finger at the guards.
　Then he chants a spell.


　The guards, on the other hand, were only looking at themselves - they didn't see Arx as a threat, so naturally they were slow to react.


　But then...


"--Kuro bullet. It blinked like the gaze of the god of death and drove down the pale horse flying in the sky.


　Suddenly, there was a sound as if something had burst.


"Gah!


　The armed man fell as if he had tripped over something.
　The guard rolls down the aisle and begins to writhe in agony, clutching his leg.
　On the white floor of the sealing tower, the red of blood was slowly spreading.


　--.


　An inexplicable chill suddenly seeped down my back.
　I don't know what happened.
　Or maybe it's because I don't know that I'm afraid.
　It wasn't a spell that affected the passageway or the space.
　Then it must have been an offensive spell.
　And yet, I couldn't see what attacked the guards.


"Sorry. I'll use the healing spell and you'll be fine.


　Arx whispered to the writhing and moaning guard, gagged him with a handkerchief, tied his hands behind his back, and quickly turned to face him.
　He urges me to escape.


　As you run down the aisle, you suddenly turn around lightly.
　Behind me, the guards are struggling with pain.


　He was a good distance away when ...... Arx used his magic.
　Then suddenly he fell.
　A small circular scar was definitely visible on his leg.
　I'm not quite sure what I've done.


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


　I've seen a lot of magic in my life. I've seen a lot of magic in my life. I've seen students and teachers at the Academy of Magic, and I've seen some of the biggest spells used by the country's leading wizards. All kinds.
　But not that one. Different. Something else entirely.
　It's something more, something far away that can't be recreated with our current knowledge.
　Besides, "the Grim Reaper's gaze" and "the pale horse" are unfamiliar terms.


　As you run down the aisle, you ask Arx.


"...... Hey, what the hell was that magic you did back there?

"That's another one of my originals, ...... though it's a little less wordy.


　"That's my original, too.


You can't say "original" without ...... saying it.


　The magic of originality is something you don't often show to others. There is a small chance that it will be imitated, so it is kept secret until the right moment.
　Even then, they will only show it to others if it will not have any particular impact on them.
　There is no danger of imitating ...... the spell you just saw.
　That spell is one where the actual magic is invisible.


　Since we don't know what he did, we can't imagine what he did, and no one can reproduce it.


　Magic tends to focus on the combination of spells, but it also tests the imagination.
　If you have a good imagination, your magic will not be stable, and even if you cast the same spell, it will not be the same magic if your imagination cannot keep up.


　...... Honestly, this guy is outrageous.


　I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.
　There they are. There are people like this who act like they don't know what they're doing and use incomprehensible means to get things done.


　I used ...... magic to get down about ten floors, but stopped once Arx had consumed half of his total magic power.
　You can't afford to be complacent, but if you can't move in the same way as before, you'll have to adopt a different strategy.
　Even the criminals in jail are screaming at the sight of us. Some are asking to be let out, others are trying to drag us down, but if we take our time, the guards will hear the commotion and come up from below.
At the moment, no reinforcements are coming because we haven't let anyone escape yet, but we don't know how long we can keep this up.


　While hiding, I looked around.
　The sound of footsteps was still coming from the end of the passage.


They're here.

"Hmm. I wonder why the guards haven't come together since a while ago?

Because they think it's just sinners screaming?　They only think that yelling at them will quiet them down, so only one or two guards come to check on them. But...

"So the further down we go, the more guards there are.


　The next guards seemed to have sensed our presence and were on alert.
　He was quite agile.
　He doesn't stick his head out of the corner right away.
　What to do now? As I pondered this.


"Is that Mr. Arx there?


　Suddenly, the guard called out Arx's name.
　The guard suddenly called Arx's name with an honorific title.


　Immediately, Arx stopped him with his hand.


"...... Noah?


　Apparently, they knew each other.
　The person emerged from the corner and affirmed Arx's words with a "Yes.
　He took off his engraved helmet, the equipment of the guards, and revealed a beauty rarely seen in the world.


　He is a beautiful young man that no woman would want to leave alone.
　He has the air of a nobleman's squire.


"First of all, I'm glad you're okay.

Ah. Thank you. But the plan's taking a turn for the worse.

I've already informed Mr. Crabbe, and he'll be working on it. But I don't think it's a safe situation.

I know. ...... So, what's Noah doing here?

I was searching for the house when I saw Master Arx being taken out and followed the mercenaries here. He followed the mercenaries here and came in when the opportunity arose.

How did you get in here?

Yes, sir. Suddenly, my security was stretched thin.


　But that's not right.


What?　Less security?　What's that?　This is not the kind of place where the number of guards can be reduced so easily, is it?


　When I pointed out the strange part, the young man gave me a suspicious look.


"......?　Master Arx, who is this man?

"Well, he's helping us escape, isn't he?

Does he look like a prisoner to you?

That's right, he's a prisoner. He's been in prison for two years.


　I've been in prison for two years," he said, sticking his tongue out at me.


"Can you trust ......?

He said, "Trust is an afterthought when it comes to this. It's better to have at least one collaborator.

Cazzi.

My name is ...... Noah. I'm Master Arx's squire.


　They introduced themselves to each other briefly, but Noah's guard was still up.
　Then, Arx said.


"If you're worried about him, you should be more careful with Noah.

"......, you can't just leave everything to me, can you?

"What?　Because my uncle once told me that I could leave anything to him.

Oh, ...... I'd like to shut Mr. Crabbe's mouth right now.

You seem to be having a hard time.

That's true. I'd like to be treated separately.

"Who's having fun with that?


　The young man called Noah has a perfectly calm face, though he points his finger at Arx.
　It seems that both the master and servant are the ones who are being fed.


　But what doesn't add up is.




You're a little thin, aren't you, ......?

Yes. The official in charge of this place is suddenly giving a speech, and half the people are out of the facility.

It's .......


　What an opportunity. I've never heard of this place being compromised by an instruction before.
　That's a very nice gesture.


Did you bribe the spirits?

"I've never prayed or made any offerings.


　Anyway.


But we don't have time for this.


　It seems that the guards are gathering on the floor, sensing something is wrong.
　The sound of footsteps, though faint, was beginning to echo.
　And this time, it seems to be a group.


　I retreat to the nearest room.


I was able to get in, but it's not going to work out that way.

Noah, how about a head-on breach?

...... It's difficult. If you give it enough time, it's not impossible. There's more to come, isn't there?

Oh. Rejected then. Oh well. ...... Cuz. Are there any windows around here?

Windows?　If so, it'd have to be at the back of this floor. ...... You're not going to tell me you're going through an exterior wall, are you?

No way. I'm not climbing without a lifeline.

So what do we do now?

It's...


　...... When you're stuck in a corner like this.


I'm going to fly.


　That's when Arx said that nonsensical thing.