"Qu, Kurt!　What's this all about!

　Lara was the first to speak up when they reached the hundredth level.


"There's nothing here!


　Lara scanned the area and continued in a panic.

　As Lara had said, they had arrived at the hundredth level, but there was no sign of any items or demons.
　In the middle of a large room, there was only a place that looked like the base of a sword.

　What does this ...... mean?

I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that I'm not the only one who's had a bit of trouble with the whole thing.
No.

　I shook my head at Marise's question.

　Thinking of that possibility, I immediately used my detection spell.
　But there was no response from anything of note.
　The empty room of the hundredth level was clearly something different.

"Is this what the bottom level looks like?

　Cynthia asked this time.
　I shook my head.

No, it's not. The bottom level of a labyrinth is where the best items and the strongest monsters are located.
"Then someone else has already taken it?

　Lara nodded her head.

...... That's a possibility. But no one has ever reached the bottom of the Treasure Labyrinth, have they?

　Everyone nodded in agreement with my words.

　It's possible that before we got here, someone had reached the hundredth level and taken the item .......
　But it's funny, because it's been unexplored until now.

There's no point in thinking about it here.

　I scratched my head.

"Let's go back to school.
"Go back?　We haven't gotten anything yet.
"Yeah. We can't stay here any longer and get any more items. We need to talk to someone who might know something about this.

　And if you want to come to the hundredth level again, you can use the Secret Path to get there quickly.
　I don't like to use it, but since I've just been to ......, I could use transfer magic.

"Wait, Kurt. There are people who might know about this .......

　As I started to walk away, Marise was the first to follow behind me.
　I didn't look back, but replied to her, "It's the principal.

It's the principal.

　"Oh, Kurt.

"Oh, Kurt. What's going on?

　When I got to the principal's office, he was holding something like a stick in both hands and was staring at the floor.

　There was a small ball on the floor.
A small ball was on the floor, one of the sports of this era called "Godouf".
　I've heard that the principal loves Godouf as a hobby and works out on the job ......, but that's not important right now.

"Principal. I'd like to ask you something about the 《Treasure Labyrinth》.
"Labyrinth?　I guess even Kurt doesn't understand some things. Good, you can ask me anything.

　The principal leaned his stick against the wall and sat down in his chair.

　Normally, it would be a bit ...... strange for a student to come to the principal's office so casually, but that's my relationship with the principal.
　The principal told me in advance that I could come to the principal's office at any time if I had a problem.

　I walked up to where the principal was sitting and asked him this question.

"I reached the hundredth level today.
"......?　Sorry, sorry, Kurt. I'm deaf these days. Could you repeat that?
"I made it to the hundredth level.

　When I repeat it, the principal freezes for a moment.
　But then his eyes immediately go wide, like they're about to pop out of his head.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah!　You've reached the hundredth level?　I thought it was an unexplored land that no one but one(one) person(s) could reach. ......
I'm not sure what you mean by that. Isn't that right?

　In response to my question, the principal closed his mouth.
　Then, in a mysterious tone of voice.

I'm not sure if it's possible for someone to reach the lowest level of the Treasure Labyrinth again, or if it's possible for Kurt.
No need to talk about it. Today, when I went to the bottom level, there were no items left behind. The first person to reach the bottom took all the items. ...... That's what you mean, isn't it?

　When I asked, the principal nodded his head, "Yes.

It was thirty years ago. That was thirty years ago,.......

　The principal began to talk about "a certain person" who first reached the lowest level with such a start.



Thirty years ago, a woman came to me, the principal of the Academy of Magic.

　She said to the headmaster.


"I'm sorry. I've already conquered the hundredth level of the Treasure Labyrinth.


　I'm sorry.

That's pretty light. ......
"And why did you apologize?

　"And why did you apologize?" Lara and Marise chimed in.

That's the kind of person he was. Besides,......, the Labyrinth of Treasures is also used for the education of students. I guess he was worried that the fact that he had conquered a hundred levels would discourage his students.
This is because the students think that even if they go to the lowest level, there might not be any items left ......?

　The principal moved her head in response to my question.

And then she continued.

We'll take the lowest level items. But ...... if any of your students have made it to the bottom level, ...... I'm sure they're incredibly talented. I'd love to meet her, so tell her to come visit me. If I like him, I can give him some of the items from the bottom level.

　And.

　Hmm. I see.
　The items in the underground labyrinth were first come, first served, and those who were late had no right to complain.
　So I thought I had no choice but to go to ....... Apparently, it's not too early to give up.

　And who in this day and age can reach the bottom of the Treasure Labyrinth?
　I'm starting to get curious about her.

"Where is she?
"Hmm. That's the thing. ......

　Then the principal took out a sheet of paper from the safe.

She gave me this map. She lives there, apparently. It was thirty years ago, though. ......

　But since that was the only clue I had at the moment, I would have to rely on the map.
　I received a slightly yellowed map from the principal.

"Oh my God!　I don't know what it says!
"Is this ...... ancient writing?
"Cynthia doesn't know either.

　Cynthia doesn't understand either." Lara, Marise and Cynthia look at the map from the side.

"Well, ...... she said, if you can't read this, you don't have the right to get to me. For her, a map written in ancient script is a test, so to speak.

　Trials. .......
The secret path in the Treasure Labyrinth has that aspect to it, too.
　Today is a day of many tests.
　But.


I can read ancient script. She must be in the valley of Sochihemaa, not far from here.


　What the people of this time call 'ancient script' is a language that was commonplace a thousand years ago.
　I saw through the map in an instant and passed it on to Lara and the others.

"Ku, Kurt!　That's great!
By the way, you've deciphered the ancient script in the first layer of the Treasure Labyrinth before .......

　Lara was excited and Marise opened her mouth wide.

"Kurt is not only strong, he's also knowledgeable!　But the valley of Sokihemaa ...... is also said to be infested with vicious demons. She lives in a place like that?

　The headmaster seemed to be surprised, but I felt sympathy for her.

　Is it infested with evil demons?

　That's ...... the best place to be!

　You go to bed, you wake up, and there's a demon right next to you.
　It's the perfect place to train.
　I want to see her right now.

I'll be right there. Lara, Marise ...... and Cynthia, will you come with me?
Oh, of course.
I can't just walk out of here!
Cynthia will follow Kurt.

　It looks like we'll be traveling with the three of them for a while longer.

　According to the map, it would take them a day to reach the valley of the Sokihemaa.
　It seemed that she lived at the far end of the valley.
　The problem is that it was thirty years ago, so there is a possibility that she may no longer be there. ...... We'll see what happens then.

I'm sure you've heard of her. What's her name?
"Hmm.

　The principal stroked his mustache and said her name.

"Averill. It is said that she is the Great Sage and that few have seen her. If you can see her, I'm sure she can be of great help to Kurt.

　Avril the Great Sage.
　The thought of her now made my heart flutter.



　...... out of the principal's office.



Oh, by the way, you said you were still a principal thirty years ago.
Apparently so.
Then how old is that principal?

　Lara's question left me with no choice but to nod my head.