You're late, I was worried. What's going on?

　When we emerged from the water, Mr. Quilt was waiting for us at the edge of the hole.

　His hands were stretched out, and as Solstice and I grabbed them, the bodies of these two kids were lightly pulled up onto the floor.

'Hah, hah,'
Phew.

　I wanted to answer why I was late, but I'll have to wait until I get my breathing under control.

(Okay, my body is heavy.)

　Maybe it was because I had been in the water the whole time, but as soon as the buoyancy disappeared, I sat down on the floor without a second thought.

　Looking around, I saw that at the end of the exit was a room in the ruins.

　A broken table, lots of chairs, empty shelves - a black stone room with a similar structure to the room at the entrance.

　In the center of the room, a bonfire was being built using those chairs and other items as firewood.

　Rapt, Lectoris, and General Dardios, who were ahead of me, were drying their wet clothes while getting warm.

　When they finally settled down, they tried to talk to Mr. Kilt.

　zapar.

　The surface of the water shook and the two sisters appeared.

'Miss Frederica, Miss Illtimina!

　I stand up, my heavy body rising and reaching out.

"Are you all right, Lord Merle, Lord Solstice?
Yes.

　Frederica, who laughed, grabbed my hand.

　I stepped on both feet and pulled the black knight's sister onto the floor. The weight of my armor and backpack (backpack) is quite heavy. It was pathetic, but in the end, it was like Frederica-san had climbed up under her own power.

　As for Illtimina-san, her sister is pulling her up.

''.........''

　As she climbed up on the floor, I thought she was looking at me and Frederica-san's connecting hands, somewhat resentfully.
　Haha.........

　Both of us are wet all over, although it's obvious.

　Because of that, Illtimina-san and Frederica-san's beautiful hair shone lustrously in the flames of the campfire, and the gesture of the two of them brushing up their wet bangs was somehow mature and a little exciting.

　Hiding it, I call out to Frederica-san.

"Thank you for earlier, Frederica-san. Thanks to you, I was saved.

　Solstice, next to me, also says in a quiet voice.

''Oh, thanks, Frederica.''

　She looked a bit shy, perhaps because she was shy.
　The black knight's sister laughed gently.

''Don't worry about it. My mission is to protect you guys, and I'm glad you two are safe.

　Frederica.....

　I'm feeling kind of excited.

　And since Kirt-san had a troubled face, I finally told her the fact that Solstice was about to be killed by the tentacle creature that was in the water. After listening to the explanation, she looked very surprised.　

　Her expression immediately changed and Kirt-san bowed deeply to our benefactor.

''I'm sorry. I owe it to you to save my life.

Frederica-san was a little surprised when the 『Golden Seal Demon Hunter』 bowed her head.
　She immediately shook her head.

''Nope. As I just said, I was just fulfilling my mission. ........And I made a blunder in the Medusa battle. It would have been nice if I could have made up for that blunder in any way.

　She then looked at the 'Silver Seal Demon Hunter'.

''The debt you helped me with back then, did I repay you a little bit with this?''
Enough, thank you for helping us both, Frederica.

　Illtimina-san nodded clearly and replied.

　When Frederica-san heard that, she looked happy.

(...............Was it always bothering you that Medusa petrified you?

　She seems to have a very strong sense of responsibility.

　She is less capable than Kilt-san, General Dardios, and Iltimina-san, and she might have been worried that she was holding herself back.

　No, in fact, she's a much more capable person than me, though, right?
　Because the three people I'm comparing are extraordinary........

　But maybe that's why Frederica-san was relieved that she was able to be of service this time.

Frederica-san, there's a fire over there, let's get warm.
Yeah, I guess so.

　I called out to her and she nodded with an unclouded smile.

　Yup.
　Once again, I thought that she was a really attractive woman.

　Me and Frederica-san walked together towards the bonfire where Rapt, Recto Alice and General Dardios were waiting for us.

'Wow, I'm coming too, Marle.

　Illtimina-san followed, looking a bit flustered.

　Kilt-san and Solstice looked at each other and chuckled a little before following us.

　--It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We warmed our cold bodies by the fire and dried our wet clothes.

　We also removed our equipment and carefully wiped them with a cloth.

　In the meantime, Rapt, Lectoris and General Dardios, who had warmed up earlier, did the guarding.

''Taking care of your equipment is more important than anything else for an adventurer, right, Marle?
Yes.

　Nodding to Illtimina-san, I move my hand.

　Especially since I pulled out the 'Fairy Sword' underwater, I make sure that no water droplets are left on the blade. Water got into the sheath as well, so it was a bit difficult.

''Using the Wind Magic Stone makes it easier, right?

　Dr. Illtimina's advice.

　Okay, if you do as you are told, the wind pressure will blow the water droplets away.

(This is how you use it, right?)

　When I'm learning from Illtimina-san like this, I realize that I'm still just a new adventurer.
　Yes, I need to learn more things and work harder.

　Soon, everyone was ready to go.

''Alright, let's go then.''
Yes.
Yes, sir.
Yeah.

　We reply to Kirt's command.

'Oh,'
"Mm.
Come on, let's go.
Okay.

　Frederica-san, General Dardios, Rapt, and Recto Alice nodded.

　I ran the freshly groomed 'fairy sword' into the air.

''Let our path shine once more.'' --Lightum Vadou!

　piiiiin

　Once again, the light birds of Thanatos magic are called out.

　Illuminated by their brilliance, the eight of us left the room where we were taking a break and resumed our search for this 'great labyrinth' shrouded in darkness--.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


　We walk through the ruins made of black stones.

　From time to time, a sentence that seems to be a divine script, glowing red, drifts through the black walls, illuminating us and then disappears into the back.

(............)

　I followed it with my gaze.

'What's going on?'

　Solstice, next to me, called out to me.
　I replied.

'No, I'm just thinking that these ruins are 400 years old and they haven't lost their function yet.
Oh, yeah.

　A girl nods.

　The red light comes again.

'............'
..........

　It lit our profile as red as the color of blood, and then it left in the distance.
　We both looked away from it without a second thought.

(.........really, it looks like it's alive, these ruins.)

　Somehow, I thought.

'Well, there's no point in worrying about it. Let's go ahead, shall we?
Yeah, I guess so.

　I nod and I start walking too.

(!)

　I hadn't gone more than a few steps when I stopped.

'Wait,'

　I call out to everyone.
　They all look at me curiously.

　'What's wrong, Marl?' asks Mr. Kilt.

'What's up, Merle?'
The smell of blood. And that rancid smell.

　I replied.

　The road splits off ahead. My little finger pointed to the right of it.

"Hmm. ...recto Alice?
Wait a minute.

　The third eye lit up.

The right way is the right way.
Okay.

　Mr. Kilt looked over at us.

'Everybody be alert. Let's keep going.

　We nodded divinely and started walking away.　

　Within five minutes, the smell of blood became so strong that everyone could smell it except me.

　Eventually, what came into view was the corpses of many Arun Knights.

''.........''
..........
..........

　Everyone had no voice.

　Some were petrified, some looked like they had been bitten by something, some were crushed to the point of being unrecognizable in their original form, and there were many, many corpses of all sorts.



　Probably this is where we stopped a bunch of demons in their tracks.

　And then they were wiped out.

　There are puddles of blood on the black floor.

　Inside, there were also several traces of blood that seemed to have been dragged away to other passages that diverged.

(.........everyone...)

　Giu.....

　I clenched my fists and desperately suppressed my emotions.

　General Dardios and Ms. Frederica, too, just bite their lips tightly at the tragedy of their fellow Arun compatriots.

　We say a light, silent prayer.

　Then, as we were about to walk away, I noticed 'it' and stopped in my tracks.

　Kucha guchu, bhichit.　

　A faint sound.

　When I looked into my eyes, I saw two huge, black masses huddled at the end of the passage.

(--An immortal ogre!)

　Two terrifying demons with decomposed bodies were there.

　There must have been a fierce battle with the Arun knight, and countless swords and spears pierced through their bodies, one of them had no left arm, and the other had been left with a spear penetrating from its right eye to the back of its head.

　Both of them were so engrossed in something that they hadn't noticed us yet.

　Guccuri, bitu.

　The damp sound continues.

　We notice.

　They have been devouring the corpses of the proud Knights of Arun.

"---

　Reflexively, I put my hand on the hilt of my 'fairy sword'.

　No, everyone in this place had their hands on their weapons.

''Recto Alice, be on the lookout for the perimeter. As soon as a new hand arrives, let me know. Rapt and Frederica, protect Solstice.

　Kilt's stifled voice.

　The four men nodded as their names were called.

'General, aim for the straw and one arm. We'll take care of it all at once.'
Yes, sir.

　mekki

　I felt the muscles in the General's thick arms swelling up a notch as he answered.

'Marle, Illtimina, you two, keep one eye on the other until then. Don't push yourself, buy yourself some time.
Okay.
Yes, sir.

　We nodded and Illtimina-san asked.

'If you can beat it, would you mind if I beat it?
I don't mind.

　Mr. Kilt nodded.

　On the surface, Ms. Illtimina seemed calm and collected.
　But I had been with her for a long time, and I knew she was furious.

　I think Kilt-san understood, so she allowed it to happen.

(I can't allow it either...)

　The demons that defile the death of the Knights of Arun are enmity.

　They are immortal.
　They are beings that don't need to eat.

　In other words, they play with human corpses as if they were toys, destroying them.

"Let's go, Merle.
Yes, Miss Illtimina.

　I breathe with her.

'Alright, let's go!'

　Played by Kirt's voice, the four of us all attacked those immortal ogres in unison.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　The battle was over in a staggeringly short period of time.

''..........''

　In front of me lies an immortal ogre with its limbs and head severed.

　Standing in the center of it is Iltimina-san with a white spear in her hand and three glowing women - their hair flutters long in the labyrinthine wind, and the women of light split into countless feathers of light and disappear.　　

　At the start of the battle, Illtimina and I aimed at the one-eyed immortal ogre with a spear through its head, as directed by Kilt.

　I was the first one to go.

　Against the huge arm that tried to intercept it, I slashed its arm away with a counter-sword technique.

　At the same time.

White dance.

　Illtimina-san's spear magic is activated, and countless feathers of light blow out from the red magic stone, creating three 'women of light with spears' like her alter ego.

　Flying through the air, they feel no pain and sever the other arm and both legs of the one-eyed immortal ogre that was about to chase after me.

　I am unconsciously transfixed by their brilliance.

　And then.

Shh.

　The most beautiful of them all, Illtimina-san herself leapt over my head and waved her white spear at the neck of the immortal ogre.

　Zuzun.

　The five bodies were dismembered and the immortal ogre fell to the ground.

　And in the middle of the corpse, the beautiful girls landed in the middle of the corpse.

(...strong.)

　I was a bit stunned by what happened.

　Inside the vanishing feathers of light, the beautiful 'Silver Seal Demon Hunter' comes towards us with a calm gait.
　At its feet, immortal arms and legs still writhed in the purple blood, and its head's mouth repeatedly opened and closed regretfully.

　In a space of mixed beauty and horror, she touches a white hand to my cheek and

Are you okay, Merle?

　His voice and the feel of his cheek brought me back to myself.

'Oh, yes,'
That's good.

　She smiles as if she is relieved.

　It's the usual Illtimina's smile.
　But.

''........Isn't Illtimina-san a lot stronger than when you first met me?''
Oh, is that so?

　He doesn't seem to be aware of it.

(Because, an immortal ogre, so easily...)

　It was just like when that 'Golden Seal Demon Hunter' had overwhelmed the ogre that the tattooed man had once transformed into.......

　Ah, look, Solstice, Frederica-san and the two people from 'Divine Fangra' who were watching behind me were also stunned by how strong she was.

　She pats my head.

''If that's the case, it's because of Marle.
..........
When you're around, I feel strangely empowered. And I'm trying my best not to be left behind by Merle.

　No, I'm rather the one who's being left behind.

(I need to try harder!)

　I was in a bit of a hurry.　

　On the other side of the conversation, Kirto-san and General Dardios had already settled the matter with the one-armed immortal ogre.

　General Dardios took the bait and fought it head on.

　In the meantime, Kirt-san stabbed the great sword from behind and ignited the gas inside his rotten body with the Demon Sword Thunderbolt Slash, causing the immortal ogre's body to explode.

''Leave me covered in pieces of meat!
No, it was an act of God.

　It seems that the other side also had plenty of time to spare around such a conversation.

　And then Kirt-san, who had been covering his ears with one hand in the general's swordsmanship, suddenly looked at me and

.........hmm. You're really getting strong, Irna.

　His eyes were gently narrowed and he was murmuring somewhat emotionally.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


'Due to their rotten bodies, immortal ogres have toxins in their claws and fangs. This makes them even more dangerous to attack than normal ogres. They can also vomit the gases inside their bodies as poisonous gas from their mouths.

　Oh, really?

The immortal ogre is a poisonous attack. Remember that, don't you?
Yes, Miss Illtimina.

　I nodded loudly to Dr. Illtimina's lecture as we walked.

　After that, the eight of us quickly moved out of place.

　This was because Lectoris, who was exploring the surrounding area with his third eye, warned us that the demons nearby were gathering due to the current commotion.

　There are enough demons in this vicinity to annihilate 60 Arun Knights.

　Thinking about the future, we wanted to avoid a battle as much as possible.

　And so we continued to move, and finally found the stairs that led down to the 12th level.

(............)

　Ooh-oh-oh-oh.

　As always, there was a darkness behind the stairs that seemed to suck you in.

　And the elite of the 195 Arun Knights who headed ahead, not a single one of them had returned.

　We're not sure if they're alive or dead.

　All we know for sure is that something more dangerous than ever is waiting for us in the future.

　Boom.

　Someone spit.

　Not that I didn't have fear.
　But more than that, it was my sense of mission and struggle, and most importantly, my trust in my friends.

'Are you guys ready for this?'

　Ms. Kilt asked.

　We looked into her eyes and nodded.
　And she laughs too.

'Alright, let's go!'

(Oh!)

　I shouted back in my mind, and so we descended, step by step, down the stairs to the unknown 12 levels.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


(What is this...?

　As we descended to the 12th level, we were all stunned.

　White.

　The walls and pillars were made of beautiful white stones, like marble, and they were illuminated by the glow of the light birds, emitting a dazzling white light.

　There are no corridors or anything else, just pure white space.

　Such a white space, as wide as a dome stadium, welcomed the eight of us who had arrived.

　Hi!

　From time to time, a glowing red divine script runs through the white stone. Only there is no change.

''It's kind of too bright, it hurts my eyes.
Yes.

　It's a bit tight for us, who are used to the black space we've been used to.

　Eventually our eyes adjust and we all look around.

'Is this a temple?'

　Illtimina murmured.

　To the extent that it seemed so, the decorations on the walls and pillars were beautiful and precise, yet austere.
　But.

(...the smell of blood...)

　And a lot of it.

　Because it looks so sacred and mysterious, the gap between the two is a tremendous discomfort that hits me.

　I walk away, frowning.

　The sprawling white temple, in front of it, there was a huge statue.

(..........a statue of a holy knight?)　

　It was a magnificent statue of a knight about three meds long with four wings on its back that gave such an impression.

　On either side of it were three statues of knights, each as big as a human, but with two wings on their backs.

　They all held their divine swords, like holy swords, high in the air.

Hey.

　General Dardios muttered lowly.

　The tips of those pure white swords, all seven of them, were wet by the red liquid.

　Porta Porta........

　The undried blood falls to the floor.

　In other words, it hasn't been that long since this sword cut through 'something'

　--The "something".

　What exactly is that thing?

(............)

　Perhaps 'they' are the only ones who have visited this place for the last time after all these years.

　That is to say, 195 Arun knights who have yet to return.

　If you look closely, you can see small bloodstains scattered on each part of the pure white winged knight statues.

"....be on the lookout.

　We don't need to listen to Mr. Kilt's warning, but we have our full attention on the statues of the knights towering in front of us.
　We are all envisioning the possibility of these statues moving.

(................Come on, come on.

　My hand was long ago on the hilt of The Sword of the Fairies.

　Then.

　Hiyin.

　A glowing red divine letter that ran across the blank white walls and floor reached the head of the central knight statue with four wings.

　Instantly, something like a wave spread throughout the white space.

''Ugh.''
.....

　They all held back from being blown away.

　Then, on the face of the knight's statue's helmet, behind the slit that gave it its view, a single red glow like an eyeball lit up.

　Von Von.

　It was moving from side to side, as if it were looking at us.

(.........awesome 'pressure'!　(What a statue!)

　The feeling of bubbling skin.

　With the red glow of the divine script, it was as if the four winged knight statue had come to life.

　All eight of them were unable to move.

　While leaving them in a state where they could pull out their weapons at any time, however, they are made to feel how dangerous it is to touch them, disgustingly, by that 'pressure'.

　The silence lasted about 10 seconds - and

"Ye shall show me the proof of God.

　The statue of the divine four-winged holy knight echoed in this white space with an emotionless, and therefore beautiful and stern, voice.