Come here!　Takatsuki-kun.
Yeah, okay.
　Saki Yokoyama (Sakurai-kun's wife) appeared, and we moved in the direction that she was pointing in - toward the black dome.

　The closer we got, the more overwhelmed we were by the enormity of the dome.
　I thought it was about the size of Tokyo Dome, but it might be even bigger.

　And when I saw the human race and the demon race fighting around the black dome, I noticed something strange.
　The human race - the Six Nations United Forces, led by the Knights of the Sun, were fighting to protect the black dome.

"Yokoyama-san, why are you all guarding that black one?
　If Sakurai-kun is trapped in there, shouldn't it be destroyed soon?
　When I asked Yokoyama-san, he said with a frustrated expression on his face.

That black dome is a warding that keeps out the brave souls of the light. But it is a one-way boundary that cannot be entered by the human race. And the most troublesome part is that the demons and monsters can't get in, and the demons can't get in. ...So...
I see, a 'conditional' ward. I'm sure you're not the only one. You built a magic formula just for that?
　Listening to Yokoyama-san's story dredged up some old memories.
　I learned about it in the Water Temple a long time ago.

　About Warding Magic.
　Warding magic is a magic used to prevent enemy attacks and lock enemies in.　
　A huge amount of magic power (mana) is needed to prevent powerful attacking magic or to contain a strong enemy.

　But that is not very fuel efficient, so there is a method called 'conditional' to create strong wards efficiently.
　Simply put, it is possible to attach a "bias" to ward magic, such as being strong against "fire magic" but weak against "water magic".
　I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.

　This time, the enemy has prepared
　Confine only the Brave Men of Light.
　Prevent the invasion of the Human race.
　Demons and Demons" is free to come and go
　Something like this.

'But the warding magic should be able to be 'broken' if you have the time. There are a lot of good wizards in the Order of the Sun, aren't there?
No!　Even the wizards of the Order of the Sun said it would take two days to destroy the wards!　This ward seems to be of the 'God Class' class, and the only people who can break it are the Great Sage Master or the Hero of Light in the sunshine...
Oh my God...
　The Great Sage Master has returned to the royal capital, Symphonia, and is turning back.
　The Hero of Light has been trapped.
　Moreover, the sunshine is blocked by the 'Cloud of Darkness'.
　This is certainly not good.

Is Sakurai-kun the only one in there?
'No, there are at least a hundred troops close to Ryousuke to escort him around at all times. So you can't be alone.........................but it's already been a whole day since we were trapped. I don't know if everyone is safe...
I see...
　It's a tough situation.
　I can't say I'm very optimistic.

　While we were talking, we came near the black dome and the jet black warding.
　The surface of the warding is so black that it's impossible to see what's inside.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to find out what's going on.　But then Yokoyama-san moved first.

'Holy sword technique, light slash!
　Yokoyama-san released a huge flash of light from his sword, even more massive than when he had just defeated the two fire dragons.
　The huge light-slash approached the ward.
　But the moment it touched the jet-black ward, the light-slash disappeared with a...........

''Absorbed...?
I don't know.... The wizards have never seen this warding before, so we have to start by analyzing it...
　Was it a good idea to attack him unwisely?
　However, I could sense a sense of urgency in Yokoyama-san's profile that could not be described as calm and collected.
　However, there was one thing I didn't like.

'Yokoyama-san. How could you understand the characteristics of the warding, even though you haven't been able to analyze it? Like locking only the brave men of light in.
When Ryousuke was trapped in that ward, Archbishop Izak of the Order of the Serpent explained it to me with a laugh. That ward was created from scratch just to contain the Brave Men of Light. He said that you guys will never be able to break it........d*mn it!
That guy again...
　He's a guy who really likes to explain things.
　I still haven't seen his face though.

'Hey, Takatsuki-kun!　You're a wizard...　Can't we do something...?
　He sounded like he was crying, and there were slight dark circles under his eyes as he looked at me.
　He probably hasn't slept a wink since Sakurai-kun was locked in.

'If I could do it...'
　I pulled out Noah-sama's dagger at my waist and approached the wards.
　This 'divine weapon' could possibly.........

　At that moment, the wing part of the water phoenix touched the black warding.
　The next moment, the water phoenix suddenly disappeared.
　I knew it was a magical (mana) absorption ward?

''Whoa!''　
You're okay!
　Yokoyama-san grabbed me when I was about to fall.
　She grabbed my ankle, so I'm suspended in midair.
　Careful.

Thank you, Yokoyama-san. Just wait here for a minute.
　Then I thrust the dagger into the warding.
　But it didn't respond.
　The blade of the dagger stabbed easily as if it was sucked into the ward.

''Huh?''
Oh, my God!　You can break the wards with that weapon!
Wait, the reaction is...
　I waited for Yokoyama-san to be happy and tried to touch the ward with the hand that wasn't holding the dagger.

　My left hand passed through the warding without a sound.

''Huh?''
"What? !
　These wards didn't reject me in the first place, did they?　

Hey, Yokoyama-san.
Yes. What is it?
　His tone of voice became a little tempered and funny.

''I thought this ward doesn't allow the human race to enter?
"Well, um... I think Archbishop Isaac said, 'A ward that the warriors of the human race and subhuman warriors and demon law messengers cannot enter...'...
Did they let you in because I'm an apprentice wizard...?
　My occupation in the Soul Book is an apprentice wizard.
　I haven't even become a wizard.

"Takatsuki-kun........isn't he a hero?
That's the position the Roses royal family gave me, and my occupation in this world is an apprentice wizard.
Yeah, it's tough, isn't it?
　Yokoyama-san gave me a look at a very sorry person.
　He's having a hard time.

(I guess he didn't expect an apprentice wizard to be a nationally-certified hero - even the wizard who made the wards.)
　Noah-sama's voice echoed in my head.
　Eh, I'm a state-certified hero, for one thing.
　Isn't your occupation being investigated?
　Yeah, you should at least expect that.

Come on, that'll get you inside the wards.
　Well, that's true, but...

Then, Yokoyama-san, I'm going to go off. You can let go of my hand.
　I'm left suspended in midair with Yokoyama-san holding my ankles.
''Eh, um......... Please take care of Ryousuke.
Yeah, I'll go help Sakurai-kun.
Be careful.
　I wave my hand flutteringly at Yokoyama-san, who turns her serious eyes to us.　

　Yokoyama-san lets go of my ankle.
　I was thrown into the air and swallowed by the jet-black wards.



　◇



(...it's dark. Almost no visibility....)


　-- 'Night vision' skills


　It was as dark as the night inside the warding.
　But something is there.
　Something is buzzing around.


　--I'm not going to be able to get it right.


　They have many enemies.
　They are all vicious demons and monsters of the 'disaster designation' class.
　It's not just a matter of time before they're ready to go.


　--It's a good idea to use the "covert" skill.


　I'm going to kill the atmosphere.
　I don't want to fight with the demons here.
　I have to find Sakurai-kun first.


　--The "listening ear" skill.


　I can hear it.
　It's the sound of battle.
　I don't know who's fighting, but at least they must be on Sakurai-kun's side.

　I moved quietly towards the direction of the sound.


　-- "Meikyoku no meiyousui" 100%.


　Slipping past the crowded demons.
　There's no time for fear.
　Without thinking, I just avoided the enemy and headed towards the sound.
　Gradually, the sound came closer and closer.

　I could see it!

　A lone swordsman is fighting.
　Gray armor.
　A black sword.
　Who is it...?

　Lots of demons around.
　And you're dealing with them all by yourself.
　He's quite skilled at it.

　Gradually, the figure of the swordsman came into view and I realized....





　--I'm not going to be able to get to the bottom of it.





"Sakurai-kun!
　I shouted loudly, not willing to let the demons around me notice me.

''..........................''
　No reply came back from Sakurai-kun.
　His eyes were vacant, as if he were a sleepwalker.
　The armor that I thought was gray was white armor with dried blood on it.
　The same goes for the magic sword I was shown one day.
　It is coated in sticky blood.

　However, he still wielded the sword.
　He was fighting alone against the rushing demons and monsters.

''Water Magic, Great Whale!''
　I used The Right Hand of the Spirit to create a giant water whale and bounce the demons off of it.
　It's not a magic for attacking, it's a magic to buy time and distance from the enemy.
　It's a magic to buy time and distance from the enemy.

''Sakurai-kun!''
　I shouted again.

.........tsuki-kun?
　This time there was a response.
　OK!

Sakurai-kun!　Are you hurt?!
　I ran over and tried to see how badly he was hurt.
　But Sakurai-kun himself was not injured.
　I noticed the blood on Sakurai-kun's body, which was all return blood.

''How........how did you......get here?''
'It doesn't matter!　Any other allies?!
　Yokoyama-san told me that the knights of the guards were trapped together as well.
　Then Sakurai-kun wouldn't be alone.


............they're all dead.
What?
　What came back was a dry-voiced reply.

'The 7th Division is made up of all young knights whose mission is to die in my place. But I'm not going to let that happen we all promised to survive and you all are my shields.
..........
　I was inconsolable.
　Had he survived in such a situation?

　The sound of footsteps approaching.
　They were the demons I had just blown away.
　Their numbers are increasing even more.
　In this ward, demons and demonkind can enter freely.
　It may increase, but it will not decrease.

My magic power is about to run out. Without the sunshine, this is what it would be like to be reincarnated as a savior or flattered. If you can get out of this ward, Takatsuki-kun, run away if you can get out of this ward... you won't be able to escape if you're with me... mugu!
Take these anyway!
　I was in the middle of a conversation, but as soon as I heard the words "magic power is running out", I immediately put the "best recovery pill" given to me by Fujiyan into Sakurai-kun's mouth.

The first time I saw it, I was in the middle of a fight.
　Mr. Sakurai's body was glowing blue and his magic power was filling up in no time.
　As expected of a 'top recovery pill (elixir)'.

''My strength and magic power have been fully recovered!
Do you think you can last one more day?
Wow, I don't know, maybe.
Yes!

The Great Whale of Water Magic!
　Once again, I blew away the approaching demons with water magic.
　However, since this is the second time, some of them are learning to evade or endure the water magic method without dodging it.

''Holy Sword technique, Light Slash!
　Sakurai-kun's Hikazan cut it off.
　It's the same technique as Yokoyama-san.
　It's so stylish that you and your wife are matching.

''Takatsuki-kun, it's a relief that your magic power has been restored, but the situation where I can't get out of the ward hasn't changed!
　Sakurai-kun's voice was laced with some energy.

　''That's right.
　According to Yokoyama-san, this boundary is a god class.
　The desperate situation hasn't changed.

　I recall my conversation with Noah-sama, and the magic lessons I've learned in the past.
　One of those lessons was how to break the wards.
　It's a bit rough, though.

(Well, I have no choice but to do it...)
　I unlocked the 'Meikyomisui' skill (...) and sighed.

''XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX (Spirit, Spirit. ........come)
　I called out in spirit language.
　Whoa, the water spirits who were waiting for me to come on stage around me started to get excited.
　I held up my blue glowing 'Spiritual Right Hand' in front of me, and the water spirits began to gather around me.


''For now, let's do something about this ward.
　I turned to Sakurai-kun and suggested that.