Two months have passed since I've been conquering labyrinths and teaching Lara and Marise magic .......

　At last, the exchange game with the Imperial Academy of Magic was approaching, and the five representative players were to be announced.
　The whole school was gathered in the schoolyard and the headmaster announced it in a high voice.

The representatives were ...... and from the first year, Lara!　Marlies!　...... and Kurt!

　Wow. I was relieved to hear my name called.
　I was looking forward to it, but it would be a shame if I didn't even make the team.

What?　I'm going to represent ......!
Of course I'm going to ......!　I'm sure you'll be happy to hear that.

　I'm sure you'll be able to understand why.

"Lara. You don't have to be afraid.
What?
I've been watching Lara for two months and she's no match for any wizard. I can assure you of that. Marise will be with you.
"Uh-huh!　Thanks, Kurt!　Thanks, Kurt! I'll do my best not to drag you down!

　Lara shook my hand and smiled broadly.

Lara shook my hand and smiled.　You guys are too close!　You're too close! Get off me!

　Marise stepped in between us.
　As they jostled me, I thought back to the past two months.

　I guessed they both had good muscles. Both of them were getting stronger and stronger.
　Thanks to them, I've gotten to a level where I can beat Desmond, who hasn't learned the initial body-enhancement magic.
　I'm looking forward to the exchange game.



　--And finally, the day of the exchange game arrived.
The representative players are gathered in front of the entrance of the 《Treasure Labyrinth》.
　The whole Magic Academy was in a festive mood, and there were even special food stalls set up.
　But we're the representatives. We didn't seem to enjoy the festivities much, though.

　Lara, Marise ...... and the third year representatives headed to the "Treasure Labyrinth" .......


Oh, come on!　I've heard that the magic academy in the capital has three first years as representatives!
You've already abandoned the game?
And one of them has a defective magic power. And one of them has a defective magic power. Do you really think you can compete with the Empire with that?


　It started with a player from the empire being abused.
　It seems that there are teachers from the Empire's ...... Disalia Magic Academy, but they didn't even try to stop them.

"Hmph!　Don't make fun of Kurt!
Yes, I do. And if you think he's a first year and underestimate him, you're going to get hurt, aren't you?

　Lara and Marise were not intimidated.

"Hmph!

　One of the five ...... representatives of the Empire stepped forward and lifted my chin.

I'm pretty sure the smallest ...... guy in the room said he had defective magic.
"Me?　I'm pretty sure I have a defective magic.
Ha!　I didn't think you were lying!　I'm a first year with defective magic ...... and I'm going to win this exchange game easily!

　The man smiles broadly.

　Lara and Marise are angry behind me, but I don't think anything of it.
　The weaker the dog, the more it barks.

"And yet, ......
"Hmm?　What's wrong? Are you scared of me?

　A man repeating a provocation.

　Not really.
　He was just surprised that the man was so vulnerable.

　Are you sure you're okay to approach him so unprotected?　
　And it doesn't look like he's deployed any warding magic.

　That's impossible.
　No matter how confident you are in your abilities, I'm deploying seven magic formulas at the same time.
　If even one of them were to be activated, his head would be blown off.
　And yet, the reason he's so smug is because he's .......

"Kurt!　Are you okay?

　Marlies quickly pulls me away from the man.

They're so rude!
It's true!　Let's show them what we can do in the interleague.



　They seemed to be pissed off.
　I hope they don't lose their cool.

"Lara, Marise. Stay alert.
"What?
I'm pretty sure you're not allowed to attack your opponent directly in the exchange game, right?

　This game is about how many items and materials you can collect in the Treasure Labyrinth.
　Attacking your opponent directly with magic is forbidden.
　This will result in instant disqualification.

　But .......

"He was trying to provoke us into attacking him. You're a very clever man.

　If your opponent is short-tempered, he might be disqualified for taking advantage of your current provocation.

Well, ......, I don't think so.
"Me neither. It's just stupid, right?

　I'm sure you're not the only one.

　...... Isn't that right?
　Come on, Empire.

"Hang in there. Representatives.
"Kurt. I know you can beat the Empire this year.

　Erica and Desmond came running up to us and gave us a pep talk.
　Apparently, the teachers are waiting at several points in the Treasure Labyrinth.
　Apparently, they're trying to keep the students out of harm's way in case of unforeseen circumstances.

　But don't worry.
　It's not going to happen.

　◆

Come on!　It's finally begun, this year's exchange games!　To our surprise, Rosangrila Magic Academy has selected three of their five first-year students to represent them!　Will they be the eye of the typhoon in the exchange game?　Everyone, let's cheer for each other's school and hope for victory!

　I wonder if loudspeaker magic is being used. ...... A woman's voice echoed through the school.
　The exchange game is about to begin.
　At that moment, an explosion of cheers erupted throughout the school.

"You're first!

　Immediately after the game started, a representative of the Imperial side pushed past us and entered the "Treasure Labyrinth".

"Kurt!　We have to hurry!
If they get there before us, they'll take all the remaining items!

　Lara and Marise seemed to be in a panic.

Lara and Marise seemed to be in a panic, but they said, "Well, there's no need to panic. Lara and Marise seemed to be in a panic.
But ......
Don't worry.

　Lara looked worried.


"So you're the three first-year geniuses. My name's Corey.
I'm Glenn!　I've heard a lot about you guys. We'll give you a free pass for the first part, let's see what you can do!


　The other two representatives from King's Landing said.
　All but us are third years.

　Hmm.
　They seemed to be more relaxed than Lara and Marise, as they were third years.

"Well.

　They're early.
　The Imperial side's players were already out of sight.
　But we have the advantage of being home.
　Sorry, .......


We already know all the terrain on one level.


Yes?

　Marise shouts.

"What do you mean?
That's right. I've spent the last two months analyzing every layer. I understand everything, including the hidden passages.
So you're saying there are more passageways just like the one we went down the first time?

　I think Marise is referring to the passage where I first found the magic stone.
　I nodded silently in response to her question.

"There's a wall at the end. There are ancient writings on it. Third-years have been down there many times, so they should know.
Oh, yeah. ...... I know where you're talking about. ......
It's just a bunch of meaningless letters, isn't it?　I mean, there's no way you can decipher ancient script.

　I'm not sure if you're a third grader or not.

　We quickly reached the wall where the ancient script was written.



"It's written so messed up, I can't even read it.
"Kurt, ......?　What are you going to do this time?

　Lara and Marise ask.

I can read this ancient script ...... and I can decipher it.
Are you sure?
Yeah.

　It says here.


"Here's the fork in the road. Take the right hand. And you will find the greatest treasure.
　If you lose sight of the path you're on. Use the disarm spell on the obstacle before you.
　You'll find your guardian. You will only get it when you pass the final hurdle.


"How come Kurt can read ancient script?

　Marise asked, and I closed my mouth because I didn't know how to answer.
　But the answer was simple.


　The answer was simple, because these ancient letters were written in a language that was 1000 years old.


　I never thought I'd see it here: .......
　The language of this world was completely different from that of 1000 years ago.
　Thanks to this, I had to learn how to read and write from scratch after I was reincarnated.

But if what ...... you're saying is true, then I can't believe there's still so much mystery left in the first layer. ......!
And that you can read ancient script that no one has ever been able to decipher before.
Looks like this year's first-years really are a bunch of horseshit.

　The third year seemed to be more than surprised.
　Let's leave it at that for now.

"Well, ......," he read, "take a right at the fork in the road. When you reach a dead end, activate the lock release on the wall. ......

　A lock release is a spell that unlocks stuck treasure chests and doors.
　But to use it on a wall that doesn't seem to have anything to do with anything ...... is something I might not have noticed if I hadn't read this tip.

But is there really such a way?
And what is a guardian ......?　Are they even a match for us?

　Lara tilted her head and Marise pondered.

Don't worry. Don't worry. I didn't tell either of you, but I tried to go there once before.
What?
I also defeated the guardians there in one shot. Now all we have to do is collect the treasure.

　When I said that, Lara and Marise exhaled.

　Why?
　Never mind. Let's just go get the treasure.

　...... and before that.

"...... Hmm.

　I turned around and fired my fire spear.

What's wrong, Kurt?　What's wrong with you, Kurt?
It's dangerous. It's dangerous. You shouldn't use magic so carelessly.

　To Lara and Marise ......, or rather the two third year men, it would have looked as if I had cast a spell in the middle of nowhere.
　But there was no way I was going to do something so futile.

"What? There's a little bug that's been bugging me.
"......?

　I wondered if ...... was the work of the Imperial side.
　I've never heard of anything like this before the exchange, so it was probably a good idea to destroy it.
　It's a good idea to take a look at the website and see if you can find anything that might help you.