- Saki Yokoyama's Point of View

Sakurai-kun, can I help you?

　It wasn't until a little while later that the poor wizard who was with Aya-chan realized it was her classmate, Takatsuki-kun.

　I - Yokoyama Saki has the 'Holy Knight' skill.

　The holy sword handler and the body covered with the fighting spirit of light can't hurt a single weak demon.
　With this power, I am the second in command of the brave men of light.

　And my other skill, the "Magic Eye of Mana Vision.
　I can see mana, the source of power in this world.
　Thanks to that, I've been able to survive many crises in the past.

　Demons pretending to be weak and assassins pretending to be ordinary people.
　They can all fool you with their appearance, but they can't hide their magical power.
　That I see.

　Takatsuki-kun is--weak.

　I feel like he hasn't gotten stronger at all since I saw him in the temple a long time ago.
　You'll find that your magic power is lower than that of the average person on the street.
　You must have skipped out on your training.
　Even in high school, I was always playing games instead of studying.

　It's a good thing that Ryosuke is in a different world, and he's going through a difficult time because he's got an amazing power.
　What's the point of helping someone who was playing with no effort at all!
　I said to him, slightly annoyed.

'Takatsuki-kun, I don't need you to help me...'
What do you have in mind?
　Ryosuke interrupts me and asks Takatsuki a question.

　Huh?
　You can't count on him?

Sort of. I'm not sure I want to give it a try.
We're running out of options. Please.
　Well, that's no use, I'm sure.

　Oh, but I wonder if the red-haired wizard girl in Takatsuki-kun's group will help him.
　Her magic is amazing.
　The level of magic that even the wizards in the kingdom have never seen before.

You'll have to wait and see what Lucy and Nina have to say. Can you show me around?
Copy that.
　Apparently, Aya is the only one coming with me.
　My prediction was wrong.

Are you okay?　Takatsuki-sama.
I'll tell you what. I mean it.
　My two friends are looking worried.
　Of course they are.
　He's not very bright.

He's not messing around.
　Takatsuki says it's easy for him to say
　You don't understand how terrifying the enemy is.
　The sight of an abomination dragon would surely make you wince, wouldn't it?

　The four of us, Ryosuke, me, Aya-chan and Takatsuki-kun, are on our way.　
　To begin with, can Takatsuki and Aya-chan use flying magic?


　◇


　As expected, Takatsuki-kun couldn't use flight magic.
　Instead, he was using a strange magic that moved on the surface of the water.
　Any intermediate wizard could use flight magic, though.

''Wow, it's faster than a seasapent.
　Aya-chan is having a blast.
　She looks a bit happy.

　◇

Is this the right place?　Sa-san.
Yeah, it's down here. I was told never to go further back.
　Aya-chan and Takatsuki-kun are talking about it.
　By the way, Aya-chan seems to know a lot about dungeons.
　Maybe she's an adventurer or something.

　We are standing on a small islet at the edge of an underground lake.
　At the bottom of the lake, a short distance from the islet, we can see a huge submerged cave at the bottom of the lake.
　In the middle level, the walls are illuminated by photolithic stones, creating a magical atmosphere, but the cave is nothing but darkness.

At the end of this submerged cave, there is an evil dragon. But the group members are not used to fighting underwater...
　Ryosuke explains ruefully.
　But everyone did their best.
　For our group, which is full of new knights.

　The bad ones are the prince faction who interfere with support and the great sage who doesn't help at all.
　Thanks to this, we have to rely on apprentice wizards like Takatsuki-kun....

So, do you think you'll be able to manage?
　Ryusuke, I don't think it's possible to get your hopes up.......

''For example, would it be easier to fight if the abomination dragon wasn't underwater, but outside the dungeon?
'You can do that?　Outside the dungeon, we can use the 'Brave Man of Light' skill to its fullest extent. With the sunshine, we can definitely win.
All right, so let's pull the enemy out of the water.
　Takatsuki-kun says it with ease.

(No way I can...)　

Wait here for a minute. I'll call out to the spirits. There's a lot of them around.
Takatsuki-kun, you can see spirits... it's amazing.

　Can you see the genie?
　You have the magic eye skill of mana vision, and you can't see me?
　You're just saying the right thing!

　Honestly, Narosuke seems to believe that.
　In fact, I've never seen a genie user in the Highland Kingdom.

It's a good idea! How are you?

　What is that?
　You're telling me that a genie is going to help me with that?

Yeah, it's a bit of a mess with them, but yeah, I'm in trouble.

We have a big problem.

Thank you. That's very helpful.

(Huh, how long is this pointless conversation going to last...)

Well, nice to meet you.
　Right after Takatsuki said that.







--The world tilted.


　I had such an illusion.

"?

　!" The whole labyrinth is shaking.
　It's impossible for that to happen.

　I can't breathe.
　What's going on?　What's going on?

Saki, what's going on?
　Aya called out to me, but I was panicking.

　My eyes went blank and I couldn't see anything.
　When I realized it was all magic power 《mana》, a chill ran down my spine.

(What's this?!　It's all mana?　Oh no, he's not in control at all!　(Runaway!)

........It's amazing. Is this the power of a spirit?
　I'm sure Ryosuke is feeling this crazy magic too!
　We've got to stop this!

'Yeah, I've never had so many spirits come to me before.

　As usual, Takatsuki-kun remained at a weak magic power.
　He was at the center of the magic power like a blowing typhoon.

　If he was a bent wizard, there was no way he wouldn't be overwhelmed by this magic power!

(Is the magic quiet only around Takatsuki-kun?)

　It's like the eye of the storm.
　As if he were the center of the universe.

'Then I'll use my magic. It's hard to control, so stay away.

　What are you talking about?
　Controlling this kind of magic is not something a human can do!

Saki. Let Takatsuki handle it.
　Ryosuke's eyes were 'expectation and trust'.
　Why?
　I've never shown that look to anyone.

'Me?'
Hmm.... I want you to stay close to Sakurai-kun.
Yeah, I wish I could get a closer look at Takatsuki's magic.
　What are you talking about?　
　Aya, get away from that thing!　

　The three of us moved away from Takatsuki-kun and watched him.

''Then, please, Spirit. Water Magic, Yamata no Orochi.

-- at that moment, a monster was born.