I managed to get out of the association after that, fumbling my way out. I was exhausted and went outside to find Fee and Monica waiting for me.

"Elle, how did it go...?
I'm tired...
Right?　Imperial Alchemists are pretty friendly. That's going to come all at once. Well, a famous tax.
'Famous tax, yeah........anyway, I don't want to do anything else today.......'
We're getting a place to stay.
'Oh...'

　So we headed to the inn Fee had taken. On the way, he was staring at my face with a jittery look, but I'm hiding my badge, so it shouldn't be obvious. Well, if they know your face perfectly, you're out, but if it's dark right now, you should be able to get away with just a stranger's impersonation.

'Elle is in a room by herself. I'll be in the same room with Monica and I.
Wouldn't it be cheaper for all three of us to be together? Why don't you change it now?
"You have no delicacy!　Huh!　I'll see you guys later!　I'm going to eat!
Yeah, okay.

　I was pissed off. After all, I don't seem to understand women's minds.

　So I decided to put my bags down and wait outside. All I have is my wallet.


We're all here. Well, let's go then.
Where are you going, Mr. Fee?
Your favorite tavern. Well, let's use the cognitive distraction so we don't get into a tizzy this time.
''Are you sure?　May I use alchemy in town?
'We have one celebrity on our hands, you know. And I'm not going to bother you with that, and I'm fine.
Oh, I see.

　Fee's recommended tavern was right there. I seemed to be familiar with the owner and was shown to a discreet seat in the back. I decided to lightly give myself some cognitive distraction and left the ordering to Fee and Monica.

'So, where is Rafe Alan?　Any information?
All I know is that ... I'm in the Imperial City now.
What are your sources?
'The chairman here. His name is Clarice Burde, and he's the same age as me and we get along great.
You're the chairman of this empire at Fee's age. You must be very capable.
Yes. A lot more than I do. So you heard a rumor that I was hiding in the maze and you gave me the news.
...I see.
How about we can ask around and see what's going on?
'Well that might be a good idea. But it's going to take quite a while.

　As the three of us are talking, the door opens messily. A pair of men and women entered. But the people around them are strangely deflated or surprised to see them.........or maybe they are just weird.

''Oh it's not Clarice.
'What?　Is that it?
Yeah. I'm sure.

　He's tall, with a short cut to his black hair, and he's at least five feet tall. He has a slender body. The man next to me, on the other hand, is a muscular man with a brown haircut. He's taller than me, and his muscles are even thicker. He must be a very good user.

　In addition, there are glimpses of alchemy camps dug into his body. It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It's a good idea to use it without a training camp, like we did, but there are many people who can't do that, so carving a training camp is the norm.

　However, there are disadvantages to it. First of all, the pain of the treatment. The pain is considerable as the alchemy is carved until it reaches the nerves. Furthermore, the consumption of magic power is intense. From those two points, there aren't many users, but this man is carved all over his body at a glance. He must be an excellent human being.

　While I was observing the two of them, Fee and Clarice started talking to each other normally.

'Oh?　Not a Fee.
'Long time no see, Clarice. You're back.　I went to the association.
'Actually, there was a demon active in the west. I was part of a strike force.
'Demons?　What kind?
It's called the Scorpion. And there's a giant scorpion called the Huge Scorpion.
'What?　Were those things inhabited by the Empire?　It's supposed to be more common in the desert and the tropics...
That's the mystery. But people are actually dying and there's a lot of damage. I'll take the day off today, but tomorrow we'll be back on the western front.
The front?　Do they have a field ward?　On that scale?
'There are thousands of them. We've shaved off a lot of them now, but I'm not sure yet. There's a supply party in the imperial capital right now.
'I can't believe that's happening...'
Forget about that. How about you two?

　Clarice says so, so me and Monica introduce ourselves.

'I'm Elweed Willis,'
Monica Dunn. I'm an elf.

Well.... you're a blue star class Bluesteller and a platinum class elf. I'm Clarice Burde, a platinum alchemist of the platinum class. I'm a Platinum-class alchemist, and I'm the president of the Alchemy Society of the Empire. Oh, and you can talk to me straight. I don't like to be formal.
'Well, um ... would it be wrong to call me Miss Clarice?'
It's okay, Monica, because you seem to have a normal tone of voice.
Clarice, so where's your man?

　I rudely asked him that. And the answer I got was a convincing one.

"Rafe Allan. Maze walker.


　◇


　And the man we've been looking for, Rafe Allan, opens his mouth.

"This is Rafe Allan. This is Rafe Allan," he says, "and this is Alfira Medis, Elwydd Willis, and Monica Dunn. I understand you are currently in the Sixth Maze. Oh, and I can call myself Leif. I don't like to stand on ceremony. So how about the Sixth Labyrinth?

　Rafe says and stares at me.

　Should I answer this one?


Ten layers?　So, have you encountered any big or extremely strong demons?
Oh. I fought a giant spider, the Huge Spider, which is over 10 meters long. Moreover, it uses alchemy. Although it was mainly for defense and transference.
Did you take them down?　The three of you?
I froze it at absolute zero with Fee and Monica covering it.
''You can use the Singular Alchemy [Extra] all by yourself? So the Blue Star class [Bluesteller] is not an expert...
We're here to see you.
You want information?
That's right.
Well, hey, Clarice. We should get these guys on the front line. They'll be useful.

　Rafe waved that to Clarice.

'Oh?　That's a good idea. In fact, that's what I thought all along. In the front line, there's a blue star class "Bluestella" and two platinum class "Platinum". Furthermore, if I hear that they have broken through to the tenth level of that sixth labyrinth, I'll just have to ask them to join us. ''Fee, is that right?''
I'm good, but what about Monica and Elle?

　We all nodded.

I'm sure you'll be able to tell me all the information about my labyrinth once I've determined that you can traverse it with this case. And they say a picture is worth a thousand words. I don't trust you yet.
Yeah, okay. So what's the situation?　What's going on?
Actually....

　Then Clarice gave me an overview.

　A month ago, the Scorpions, or Scorpions, appeared in the western village. There were over a thousand of them, including the Huge Scorpion, the Huge Scorpion.

　The Scorpion is a class B dangerous scorpion, while the Huge Scorpion is a class A dangerous demon. They are a crustacean type of monster, and their ecosystem is basically found in tropical regions such as deserts. It has a bright red outer shell that would be flattened by a half-hearted attack. And the poison in their tail, if consumed, will kill them within minutes. And what's more troublesome is the way it disperses its venom. In some respects, it is similar to the Huge Spider, but if anything, the Scorpion type is more troublesome. Thousands of them appeared out of nowhere. Right now, it seems that excellent alchemists and armies are in charge of things. However, it seems that almost only alchemists are left in the front line right now. Other ordinary humans are already dead or wounded and have left the front line.

　It seems to be a pretty tough situation.

''Is it okay to leave the front line?

　I ask, and Clarice replies with a serious look in her eyes.

It's like they have an activity cycle. Right now they're resting somewhere. This is a pattern, and after a certain amount of time of activity, they flee to somewhere else. It's an uncanny speed.
　Or.....


　We decided to break up and get ready for tomorrow.