I'm sorry, Nina. I need your help.
No, no. Has Master asked you to help him as much as possible, La?

　We are not in the Great Maze, we are outside.
　We are aiming at the ceiling of the underground lake from outside the dungeon.

　There are only two members, Nina-san and I.
　The reason is because there were only two people who could use 'Covert'.
　Sa-san is currently practicing her skills.　

　We spent three days searching all over the Great Labyrinth using our mapping skills, but we couldn't find our way to the Harpy's Lair.
　Since the Harpy was a flying demon, he thought there was a good chance that there was no way to get to it from the ground.
　So he decided to explore the vaulted ceiling portion of the subterranean lake from outside the dungeon.

'The trees are so annoying,'
　Outside the dungeon, dense trees obstructed their view.

'Takatsuki-sama, be careful. Even though it's not inside the dungeon, there's still a possibility of demons in there.
With your enemy detection skills and Nina's listening skills, you probably won't go unnoticed.
　Nina, who is of the rabbit-eared race, is said to have the best hearing among the beast race.

''There are demons here, aren't there?''
Yes, let's go around.
　In order to avoid unnecessary battles, he would go a long way if he sensed the presence of a demon.
　Therefore, it took a long time on the road.

''........''
....
　We slog along, parting the grass and trees.
　The silence continues.

　Hmmm, it's hard not to be able to say something witty.
　If it were Sakurai-kun or someone else, I wouldn't have so much trouble talking.
　When I was thinking that, Nina brought up the subject.

"You and your master have been friends since the other world, haven't you, Takatsuki-sama?
'Yes. Though I've only known him for about a year in my former world.
　But I am indebted to Fujiyan for a lot of things.
　I can't thank him enough.

'I'd like to ask you a few questions, Takatsuki-sama.
What is it?
　You mean Fujiyama?

What is it like to be the kind of woman your master likes?

　You're talking about that kind of stuff.
　I've never had a girlfriend, and I'm old enough to have one.
　But I'm indebted to Nina.
　I'm just saying, it's a great idea.

"Basically, I like women with animal ears.
　This is true.
　There's no doubt about it.
　After all, when I drink at 'Nekomimi-Tei', I've been lectured about the wonders of animal ears about a hundred times.

''I'm aware of that, but...''
　Nina's long ears drooped drearily.
'What's worrying you?'

No matter how many motions I give him, he just won't do it.
....
The last time I went to the bedroom, I tried to be quite racy, but he wouldn't touch me...

　This was more adult advice than I thought it would be!
　I can't..........I can't have this conversation.
　Fujiyan, why don't you touch it!
　Nina, you are so cute!

'Could it be that you are not aware of my feelings...?
No, I don't think so.
　I'm 100% aware of that!
　I can read minds!　Him.

I'll have to crawl on the floor at night to get naked.
....
　Nina, you're a rabbit and you're a carnivorous girl!

'The daughter of the Lord of McAllen seems to have a thing for her master and...'
Oh, Christiana, was it?
'He's a dirty one!　They demanded a lot of things from me to keep my master's airship on course.
　Well, people in power are like that, you know.

I'll ask Fujiyan casually next time.
Please!
　It was a cheap assurance, but I wonder if it was a good one.

　While we were having this conversation, we were getting closer to our destination.

'According to our mapping skills, we're about to be around the top of the subterranean lake.
''Your mapping skills, Lord Takatsuki, are quite accurate. I can't believe you can cover such a vast area.
　Really?
　I never really thought about it.

Let's stop. We've got a harpy.
Yeah, there are three of them.
　It was only two animals that were caught in enemy detection.
　I was glad Nina was there, after all.

　After observing for a while, the harpy that seemed to be on guard took over with the harpy that came out of the hole.
　There is a nest in the vicinity, so there is no doubt about it.

'I think we've almost pinpointed the location of the nest,'
The guards are a pain in the ass.
Let's go back.
　We quietly walked back to the town of adventurers so that the Harpy wouldn't notice us.


　◇


So it looks like the Harpy's nest is right above the subterranean lake.
That's where...
　Sa-san's eyes get sharp.

''I have good news for you,'' said Fujiyan.
''Apparently, Sakurai-dono--the Knights of the Sun have defeated the Abominable Dragon,''
'Ah!　It's true, the Adventurer's Guild was very noisy today. It was because of that.
　Recently, Lucy, who has been gathering information and training in the guild, popped her hand.

'Wow, that's great, Sakurai-kun. It's been less than a week since you arrived in the Great Maze and you've already completed defeating them?
I'm afraid it's not quite done, sir.
What do you mean?　Master.

I hear there are three Evils.
'What?　So much!
　It's rather bad news, isn't it?

''So the demons in the Great Maze are still acting weird...''
　Lucy was depressed.
　'I haven't been able to dive into a dungeon lately.

'So when are we going to defeat the Harpy Queen?'
　Sa-san's voice was hard.
''I think it's better to be safe after all the 'abomination dragons' have been defeated...''
When was that?
I don't understand...
　Just because they were defeated right away this time doesn't mean they'll do well next time.
　The Great Labyrinth is huge, and most importantly, it doesn't guarantee that the Sun Knights will win.

''We'll defeat the Harpy in three days. Let's at least strengthen my spirit magic sufficiently. Then we'll wait for Lucy's magic to be finished.
Lucy, will you have it done in three days?
'I'm afraid of Aya's eyes I get it!　I got it.

It's settled.
　Nina looks around at everyone.
　I take over.

"See you in three days. "we'll meet in three days to take down Queen Harpy.