So, what's happening now?
'Oh ... that's ...'

　We went into a nearby cafe. However, it would be bad if the people around us saw or heard us, so we used alchemy to create a barrier of recognition inhibition. It's actually not a good idea to use it like this (at worst, demotion of rank or disqualification as an alchemist), but well, it's fine.......it won't bother anyone.

''First of all, the chairman asked me to attack the sixth labyrinth.
Why is that?
It seems that a giant spider, the Huge Spider, has flooded the Sixth Labyrinth. This happened a month ago. So we got a request from the elven village to ask for assistance from the kingdom. This went to the Chairman, who carefully selected the alchemists and gave me and Fee a white feather in his cap. Because the two of us are among the best in the kingdom if only in terms of our alchemy skills.
Oh....I see. And you've managed to get to the 10th layer?
''That's why you should listen to it. The giant spider, the Huge Spider of the tenth layer, is quite huge at first. Normally, it would be around 6 meters, but to my surprise, that thing was 10 meters high. Furthermore, it also uses transference alchemy. Fee and Monica covered it up, and I used the Singular Alchemy Extra to kill it off. It's also the absolute zero that I used the Philosopher's Stone to maximize my output.
Huh...?　Absolute Zero, using the Philosopher's Stone...?　Was Elle an opponent you had to go that far to win?
''Oh. First of all, the amount of magic power is significantly different. The amount of magic power isn't necessarily proportional to the size of your body, but the demons might be different. They had more than the three of us. Plus, Absolute Zero was finally decided upon while being resisted. That's a low estimate, but it's an A grade.
''Eh, an A-class.......demon.......even in the Order, an A-class requires hundreds of people, but, well, that's just the way it is.......''
''No, I pushed myself pretty hard this time. My body nearly collapsed after that; A-level is still impossible for the three of us to do, usually.
''So, right.... I thought Elle could do everything, but there's a limit to what the quicksilver can do...
'You know my total magical power is low, right?　If it's just skill alone, I can handle it, but running out of stamina is the biggest drawback.
''Huh.......That's really an amazing story. But I didn't think that Elle, who only thinks about crops, would be that keen on attacking the labyrinth to that extent.......

　Serena and Fee are both mistaken, but my ultimate goal is to grow the best crops ever and sell them to the world. The labyrinth attack will be a footnote to that. With my alchemy skills further improved, I could easily create homunculi like Proto, Ichiro and others. My research into fully independent artificial intelligence will be further advanced as well.

''It's kind of a relief. I knew Elle had to be, after all!
'But more to the point, do you know of any fairy tales or fantasy stories that have magic in them?
Magic?　Are you interested in that prehistoric stuff?　It's backwards compatible with alchemy, isn't it?
Let me know if you know of any anyway.
'No, I don't know. I've never been someone who's been exposed to books much. Especially in those fancy stories....
Well, thank you for listening to me. Well, I'll leave you to it.

　Saying that, I quickly take the slip and pay for the two of us.

Hey, hey!　Aren't I supposed to be the one buying the drinks!
That was a lie. That's what I asked you to do, and I'm paying for it.
''f*ck it!　That's the kind of thing...
Hmm?　What?
It's nothing!

　Then Serena said, "Humph! And then he left. Hmm. I still don't understand women's minds.

　And I decided to go home, since I had finished everything I had to do today.



　§§


Welcome back, ja?

　Open the door, and then ... and then close it. Yeah, I'm tired. I've seen all those deadly battles in the labyrinth. I've used up the First Pledge, the Primamateria, and my magic power. Fee and Monica's treatment has helped me make a full recovery, but my mental faculties must still be exhausted. I can't believe I'm having this kind of hallucination.

　Yes, there is no way that Alice would enter my house wearing a maid's outfit. Even if she were a princess, right?　It's weird to dress up as a samurai, and I've definitely locked up my house. Besides, there are a lot of things in my room that I don't want to be seen (such as agricultural research materials), so I have alchemically prevented them from entering my room. This door cannot be opened without my key. Or a duplicate key. A duplicate key...?　I think to myself and open the door again.

"...Welcome back, ah-tah?
What do you think you're doing, Alice?
'What?　Don't you like it?
No, that's not the point. It's not why you're in my house.
Your parents gave me a copy of the key.
"...What?　That's such a lie...
'Here you go. I asked to be allowed to clean the doctor's room and he gave it to me. Well, I lied and said I had the doctor's permission to do it.
Huh ... you're trespassing.
'Well, well. Besides, I've been waiting for you to put this on, you know?　Isn't it pretty?
What?　Isn't that what a lady-in-waiting looks like?　Is that in the pretty category?
'I hear it's all the rage in the world, but not with the doctor? I'm going to go change.


　Saying that, Alice runs and enters the room. Huh.........a troublesome person has come. Trespassing or something like that is dangerous, normally........

　

　I know you do it knowing I'll forgive you, but all sorts of things are tiring........

''Yes!　Would you prefer this one?
Yeah, I guess so.

　I sit down on the couch as I compliment Alice on her outfit in a Texan way.

'Huh ... I'm tired ...'
I'll make you a cup of tea.
Do you understand?
Your mother told me.
I see.

　I'll take your word for it and ask you to make me a cup of tea.

'Yes, please. 'Sir.'
Thank God.

　Zuzu and a cup of hot tea. Huh ... this is the best thing to do when you're tired.

　Then Alice's guy comes to sit next to me. He's close, but I don't have the energy to be still today. Let's just leave it at that.

'Sir, I'm sorry about your brother Oscar.

　Alice said and bows her head deeply.

'No it's not ... well enough. Besides, Alice has nothing to do with it, does she?
'No, I was letting them swim, it's true. And I'd overlooked the fact that they'd kidnapped your precious prototypes.
'Yeah but he's doing well now too. And Alice has thought of a lot of things for me too, right?　That's fine. In fact, I'm rather grateful to you.
...Are you sure?
Oh...
You're not angry?
Of course.
Heh heh heh, good for you!

　Alice looks at me with a big smile on her face. Okay, so this guy was worried. I thought he was causing me trouble. He usually jokes around, but he's still royalty. He's a disciplined guy.

''Speaking of which, sensei, how is the capture of the labyrinth progressing?
Hmm?　Do you know?
'Yes, sir. I asked the chairman. I wondered how he was doing since the teacher wasn't there, and I heard that he went to the sixth labyrinth when I explored a lot of things.
I see. I've made it to the tenth level now. But I don't know about the bottom level. And the demons are only on B~A level. It's not easy, actually.
'What...?　Do even teachers have a hard time with this?
That's because I'm only human. I have a hard time being human.
Hahaha.... it's a labyrinth.
'Oh, by the way, does Alice know about fairy tales and such?　Or the one where the magic comes out.
Yes. I have the book in my room.
"...Seriously!　I can go read it tomorrow!　I need to read it right away!
Hmmm. Okay, but will you let me stay over today?

　He says with a grin, but it's nothing to do with the fact that he's staying over. And Fee's staying over, too.

'Yeah, great.'
'Yay!　I'll take a bath then!

　Then I watched Alice disappear into the bathroom as she skipped away.

　Okay, now I've got a clue. Now it's just a matter of whether or not I have the information I want....

　But I'm going to find out that what comes after is the hard part.