'....... Don't tell me you're taking advantage of an alchemist's s*xuality, you coward!

I was released from the interrogation and left the detention center with Sitri, who had come to retrieve my identity.
It had only been a few days in jail, but to Nikolaj Smokey it felt like months.

Nikolaj is the president of the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences and a member of the nobility. He has a certain amount of power, and his hand has reached out to the Order, but this time he was not unscathed by the magnitude of what had happened.
It would be some time before the other researchers returned to the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences. However, if the strawberry blaze that Nikolaruv and the others had fought over was the real strawberry blaze and not the strawberry miruku, then this would not have been enough.
At the very least, he would have been stripped of his position as head of the academy and expelled from the academy. However, almost all of the students had participated in the battle, and if that had happened, the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences would have collapsed.

When Nikolaruv didn't hide his bad mood, Sitri said apologetically.

'I'm sorry. I was accidentally fooled too--Kry-san is a bit mischievous ............'

'Hmm. I didn't think he'd fool his own people, too. ...... He's as merciless as they say.

I've heard that he even played the Emperor when escorting him to the meeting. Perhaps his sense of danger is numbed by his repeated searches of the Treasure House. It is rare, but not unheard of, for a man to lose not only his sense of danger but also his sense of power. I heard that the founding hero, Solis Rodin, was one of those people.

When Nikolauf glared at him, Citly covered his face with his hands and said.

'It's very ............ devilish.

He was clearly crying falsely. Although Citry looks calm, there is no way that a woman who has made a name for herself among the thousands of alchemists in the world would shed tears over something like this.

The Supreme Master is the mark of a person who has attained a high level of all the abilities necessary for an alchemist, including the ability to control and manipulate. It's not a title for decoration.

'Enough. We were foolish to be deceived. Now I know how many people are after my life. Citri, did everything go well while I was gone?'

'Yes, sir. In the first place, most of the members of the academy were caught. ......'

'This is the biggest blunder since the establishment of the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences. d*mn it!

But it's fortunate for Nikolaruv that his former apprentice, Sitri, has escaped the Order's clutches. Not many people would approach Nikolaruv, who is currently in a very dangerous position.

Sitri was not captured because she was not explicitly involved in the struggle. And that, of course, was what the Thousand Transformations had in mind.
It is obvious that this former apprentice has a crush on Krei Andrich, but Krei also seems to care a lot about his childhood friend, Sitri.

It is no small feat to outwit the eyes of a man who is feared to be a near-future visionary and a trained alchemist. At the moment, Citry doesn't seem to be too interested in power, but...

Despite the situation, he seemed to be in a good mood.
I noticed his attitude and pointed it out.

'Sitri, you ...... snatched the research materials of another department while no one was around, didn't you?'

'.................. That's outrageous. Do you think I would do such a terrible thing? What evidence do you have?

Knowledge and talent alone are not enough to become the best. To be the best, you must act. And the guts to take risks.
Citri looks hurt, but this former apprentice is the kind of woman who laughs when she's really hurt. A first-rate alchemist doesn't reveal her emotions so easily.

They look each other in the eye with great intensity. Sitri wrinkled her forehead for a moment, but then quickly looked away.

'I didn't snatch it, but ...... well, I can't let the Knights take it all, can I? There was no one there, so it was really dangerous!

'You're a firecracker!

We're completely f*cked. Even if she could recover the research materials, the entire contents would already be in her mind, word for word. I can't just wipe her memory.
Some of them may have been secret research materials of various departments, unknown to Nikolaruv. Knowledge is the foundation of the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences. This is equivalent to having the entirety of the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences stolen.

Of course, it wouldn't be surprising if something else was stolen in the confusion, but...

After all, the commotion was too great. Some of the students may have tried to steal the results and experimental materials of other institutions, just as Citry did. It is quite difficult to identify them now.

However, if I let them go without saying anything, it will affect my reputation as a university president.
I wondered how I should deal with them... At that moment, Citly said quite naturally without moving his expression.

'Mr. Nikolauf. Actually, ...... Strawberry Blaze has the real thing. It seems that Mr. Crye ............ originally had it in that canteen and then poured it down the drain.'

'............ What a ridiculous thing to do...'

A legendary potion, and a very bad one at that, punishable by death for possession, poured down the drain ......?
Even safer potions wouldn't be disposed of like that. It's impossible.

'Nicolauf's thoughts are valid. But - it's the Thousand and One Transformations that do the unbelievable, isn't it?

'Why the question? .................. So, Citri, you think there's a reason for your unbelievable actions?


I couldn't stop the heat from building in my voice. No matter how diluted it is, it's a big clue that the dominant drug is dissolved in it. The sewers are vast, but a detailed investigation will reveal some information.
It's far better than simply being fooled into believing that something that doesn't exist does exist.

'The sewers of the Imperial Capital are spread out like a network and are quite vast. Besides, if it's a sewer, there's no need to worry about the dominant drug getting into the mouths of the citizens of the Imperial Capital for the time being. No matter how much Strawberry Blaze is diluted by the sewage, it will soon become ineffective. Of course, I'm sure you can find at least a hint to reproduce it.

But if you get it in your mouth before it's diluted,......, some of them can live in the underground sewers of the Imperial Capital,................ ...? No way -- an underground sewer monster!

This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.
This is the first time I've ever seen such a thing.

At some point, the underground sewerage system became too complicated, and halfway through its life, it left the control of human beings and became governed by the rules of the underground.

All sorts of people lurk in the sewage underground of the Imperial City. Small animals such as rats, cockroaches, and bats. Humans driven out from the surface world, and--monsters.

The monsters of the underground sewers are a kind of urban legend in the Imperial City. They are the rulers of the underground, hiding in the sewage and swimming through the vast underground sewers looking for new prey.

It is said that he is an aquatic demon that has lived underground for a long time, accumulating power, but the truth is not known.
A number of knights and hunters have entered the underground sewers to investigate, and as a result of the many casualties, it is now standard practice to enter the underground sewers in large groups for maintenance. The ruler will not attack those who walk in large groups.

'I didn't think the Thousand Transformations would be interested in urban legends.

'One cannot be a hunter without curiosity. Don't you think that a small group of people can enter the sewers now?'



'.................. Interesting idea. There are those among the nobility who are interested in monsters.

Even the most urban legend monster is still a living thing. A strawberry blaze before it's fully diluted should be enough to kill it.

If we can capture the monster while investigating the traces of the Strawberry Blaze, we may be able to use it for alchemical research. There is also a possibility that we can analyze the ingredients from the reaction of the subject who received the dominant drug.
It wouldn't be a problem to intercept it if it was going to be disposed of by the Thousand Transformations anyway. If you have Sitri with you, I'm sure that Changeling won't be able to make such a drastic move.

'Get ready, Sitri. I'm going underground. I don't think I need to tell you this, but don't forget your protective gear. It's all for the good of the Primus Academy of Magical Sciences!

Nikolauf forgot all about his irritation and turned around to give instructions to his former apprentice.













In front of the chapel of the Imperial City of Light Church. Looking at the wailing of the crucified Marin, the head of the Imperial City Church - the priest who prays to the great Light Spirit rooted in the deepest part of this world, Edgar Winwood, sighed deeply.

The Imperial Church, which had been occupied with dealing with Marin's lamentations, was in a whirlpool of chaos with the sudden return of the missing priests.

There was no one who understood the situation. Some of those who had returned had gone missing years or even decades ago, and their identities had yet to be confirmed.

The only thing we know is that it was Krai who took the box that freed the missing people, and that the young man mentioned the word 'Kamikakushi'.

'............ To find a missing person in only half a day is ...... unprecedented. The word 'skillful' doesn't even begin to describe it. Apparently, your friend ...... is very much loved by the world.'

'............mm'.

I'm not sure what to say, but I'm going to say it.

In this world, there are sometimes people who perform feats that ordinary people cannot imagine. When Ansem first introduced me to you, I thought it was quite unexpected. Even now, my impression of his unreliability has not changed at all.
However, that young man who attracted the attention of famous hunters such as Commander Franz, Chief Gark, and Ark Rodin during the Lamentations of Marin's Purification Operation must have been born under the star of a hero.

'Divine concealment, huh. No matter what method he used or where he learned about it, he saved his followers. I owe him for Marin's lament. My priests aren't too fond of him, but I have ...... to thank him.

After all, that young man is the leader of the Ghosts of Sorrows in which Anthem participates.
I've already heard about his fighting style, and the story of Lucia Roger's advanced attack magic on Ansem during the Lamentations of Marin has already spread. No one likes to have their beloved Holy Knight used as a wall.
Although he became a hunter first, human emotions are not so simple.

My first priority now is to deal with the Lamentations of Marin. However, once the spiritualist sorcerer has safely visited the church and completed the purification process, it would be a good idea to formally invite the young man to the church, as a way of releasing the coils of the past.
Those who had gone missing were saved, and everyone would not do anything to return the favor.

Then Edgar sighed.

'But ...... a godforsaken, huh? I don't know which god it is, but there are too many troublesome gods in this world.

'...... Hmm.'

In the past, there was a level 10 treasure house in the place where the current imperial capital exists--the Star Temple--where the "God of the Otherworld" manifested itself.
It's also a great way to make sure that you're getting the most out of your time with your family and friends.

As a result of the extreme accumulation of mana and material, the manifestations of gods beyond human comprehension are a terrifying threat to humans.
Some studies have shown that these supernatural beings were the cause of some of the civilizations that perished in the past.

At that moment, I remembered what Ansem had told me and put my hand on my chin.

'Come to think of it, the 'heavenly fox' of the [lost inn] that you encountered in the sky was also like that. ...... You are so favored by the gods. I hope it's not some kind of bad omen.

'Mm-hmm......'

Anthem nodded widely, whether she understood or not. It was one of the few weaknesses of this holy knight that he did not talk much.

With the return of the missing priest, the Church's strength will increase. You can't immediately treat him as a force to be reckoned with since he hasn't been counseled yet, but apparently there are some skilled magicians.
By the time Lapidus and the others come back with the sorcerers, they will have recovered.


Pulling himself together, Edgar knelt down next to Ansem and looked up to the heavens to pray to the Great God of Light.















We made hasty preparations to welcome the difficult spirit man sorcerer that Lapidus and the others had told us about.

The conditions we were given were to prepare a carriage and keep people away.

It's not easy to stop traffic in the Imperial City, but circumstances are circumstances. We have the Emperor's approval.
The carriage is made of materials. We'll have to find a beast to pull it.

I'll send people to various places and make arrangements for the carriage at the same time. Because of the urgency of the matter, there were a number of adjustments that had to be made by Franz himself.

The main duty of the Zero Knights is to protect the Emperor's safety, but we don't have time for that.

The sympathetic stone from the Astrological Institute trembled at such a time when the Knights were working as one and desperately advancing their plans at a dizzying pace.
Franz frowned at the brief report that was brought to him. He hadn't slept well in a while, but now his eyes were all clear.

'............ funny ...... the prophecy of the astrological academy does not disappear'.

'Perhaps it will disappear if the current operation goes well.'

A subordinate who, like Franz, had been busy working without much sleep said with shaded eyes.

Indeed, that was a possibility. In the first place, astrology is an indeterminate thing. You can't choose when to receive a prediction, and there are time gaps.

But I felt a stirring in my heart. This time it was going too well compared to the past.

Normally, I would have welcomed this, but this time there was a "thousand changes" involved.
That's right: ...... Now that I think about it, that guy was pretty quiet this time. No, he was too quiet!
I'm not sure what to make of that.

Shaking his head, Franz shuddered.

'No,..............., I think I see a new shape. It's in the shape of a fox.

'A fox ......?

'Fung............, it's quite possible that he's involved.

The nine-tailed shadow fox will not forgive those who stand in its way. It's possible that he'll retaliate, given his history.

I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but I think it's a good idea. All of them had existed in the Imperial City long before, and there was no room for foxes.
The only thing we don't know where it came from is the magic sword that the Thousand Transformations first forced on the Sword Saint,............, but no,


The only thing we don't know where it came from is the magic sword that the Sword Sage forced on him in the first place. ...... No. ...... If that were the case, he would have seen the fox's vision first. Then it's just the beginning.




No doubt about it. The fox wants the body of the sorcerer Lapidus and the others are going to pick up.

If we fail to purge Marin's wailing without the help of the Spiritualist sorcerer, that horrible curse will eventually fall on the Imperial City.
No, there's no need to be long-winded about it. The curse will fall on the entire Imperial City as soon as we release the treasure that is stopping Marin's Lament. I can't even imagine how much power will be released from the multilayered warding magic circle.

'Request the cooperation of all the Knights. Prepare for the fox's attack with your entire army!

'There is a limit to the number of Knights we can use. What about the Church's defense?

'We'll use hunters. We can't deploy a large force of Knights near the church. Contact Chief Gark! Lapidus, can you hear me?

'Yes. Roger that. The sorcerer doesn't like large groups of people, but I can at least persuade him.

From the sympathetic stone on the table, you can hear the chilling voice of Lapis.
The tone of voice is definitely not that of a nobleman, but the content is much more considerate of the human side than you would expect from a spirit person.


I'm not going to let my guard down. We've been burned too many times lately.
If we fall behind that organization any longer, we'll have no face to show His Majesty the Emperor and Princess Murina.


We must stop them at all costs. This is our moment of truth.

















'............ What are you looking for?


The deepest part of the Inn of the Lost. A treasure trove of things taken from the humans.

The older fox rolled his eyes at the unusual sight of the younger fox rummaging through a room that few intruders or phantoms had entered, and called out to her.

Stimulation from the outside world is essential for growth. The foxes in the Inn of the Lost are highly intelligent, but due to the lack of visitors, most of them are stagnant in their natural state, without individuality.

This sister fox, on the other hand, was different.

She was tricked by humans and learned the taste of fried food. Having been exposed to the outside world, she has received further stimulation and appears to have grown to a larger size as a phantom.
Defeat is hard to come by for an invincible vixen made up of a vast amount of mana and material. Especially for the older fox, who knew her when she had no emotions and no intelligence, the growth of the younger sister is deeply moving.

The sister fox, who had been shaking her tail and sticking her head into a spike, responded to the brother's words without changing her position.

'A curse.