"...Elle, are you sure you're okay now?
Yeah. I'm ready.
'That would have been nice, but Elle is really being too reckless these days!　You have to be careful!
That's right, sir!　I really didn't know what was going to happen when I collapsed!
Ha ha ha sorry.

　The next day. We were back in the Imperial City. Clarice's guy is busy with some post-processing or something, and we went to the tavern where Rafe and I had come before. Incidentally, Monica is not here this time, saying she has to help with the healing process. Besides, it seems that Rafe's pressure isn't very good for her.

　It's a good thing that we're waiting for you, Fee and I.

　We finally get to hear about the labyrinth, which is the purpose of this visit.

　And after a while, Leif's guy came over.

"Master, a drink.
Yeah.

　After ordering that, Rafe sits down in front of me. At that moment, I activate the alchemy of audio blocking so that no sound can leak out. Now we can talk in private.

''Now........where do I begin?''
'As I recall, you knew there was a powerful demon on the tenth level. How did that come about?
''Oh that's because the third labyrinth I invaded was the same. An enormous underground space with a total of fifty layers. And ten layers, twenty layers, thirty layers, forty layers, fifty layers, there are all powerful individuals in there, and the deeper you go, the stronger the demons become. Furthermore, each hierarchy has its own territory, or the demons that go to the other layers are preyed upon by the guys there. It seems that there is something like a hierarchy in the ecosystem. Is it the same over there?
'Ahhhhhhhh... Elle, do you remember that?　That thing.
'Oh that..... So that's what it was, after all.

　That being said, I was remembering. The giant spider, the Huge Spider, which was on the first layer, was scurrying around, but when it found us, it went down to the second layer and was cannibalized. That must have been a demon from a lower level of the hierarchy that went down to the second level, and that's why it was eaten. I thought they had their own ecosystem, but apparently that was a correct guess.

We found the same ecosystem here as well. As soon as the giant spider [Huge Spider] on one layer descended to the second layer, it was preyed upon.
I see. That information would be useful to us. I like to think of this as a common perception in the labyrinth.
So, how was the third labyrinth?　That's a vague question.
You know the Third Labyrinth by name, don't you?
Oh. Chimera Labyrinth, right?
Yes.

　The Third Labyrinth. Also known as Chimera's Labyrinth. For some reason, there are many powerful individuals that are combined with various demons hanging around. Chimera itself can be created by alchemy, but when it comes to demons, it's a different story. Secure a powerful demon and combine it. That's true in theory, but in that labyrinth, there are an unusually large number of them. Rather than being born by human hands, it's more reasonable to think of them as naturally occurring. I don't know the details, but the chimera there may also be a product of lost technology.

'The third labyrinth was truly hell. Far more so than the Scorpion [Scorpion] this time. I usually work alone, but I've decided to use four to six people to capture the labyrinth. I went around the world to gather four carefully selected men to capture the third maze. With this group, I have no doubt that we can traverse the labyrinth. But one person died at the tenth level and then one person at the thirtieth level, and from there there there was no way to return and we continued on to the deepest depths and at the last fifty levels, only me and one other person survived.
...Is the other one a famous one?
"Marie Blanc. A woman of indeterminate age. An alchemist who became a hermit in a forest, but an odd one. I will lend my help in the quest for truth!　She was a crazy woman with a crazy head, but her skills and survival skills were the only thing that was outstanding. If it wasn't for that guy's success at the fiftyth layer, I would be dead.
Marie Blanc?　I've heard of it, I believe, on a rumor or two.
Fee, do you know about this?

　I don't know the name Marie Blanc. But apparently, Fee does.

''She's a top-notch alchemist, also known as a witch, who lives in the forests of the Far East. I don't belong to the association, so I have no idea, but I've heard that if he were in the public eye, he could become a blue star class Bluestera...''
"Alsfira was right, he was in the Far Eastern Forest. Furthermore, he was conducting his research in the deepest part of the forest. Whatever it was, he said it was the best concentration there, or something like that. But in terms of skill, he's definitely on a par with Elle. Well, I'm subjective, but Marie's guy also used alchemy without an alchemy team.
''What...!　I didn't know there was anyone else like that besides Elle... it's a big world.
So, Rafe. Where is this Marie thing now?
I'm back, in the woods. I had a good time on this adventure, too," he said. He went back without taking any loot or anything else. Like you, a man who has mastered the art of alchemy is somewhat crazy.
...I see.

　I ignore the word "crazy". I'm only interested in the crops. Well I like to think so.

'So, back to my story, there's a hierarchy in the labyrinth and apparently the demons in the deepest part of the labyrinth are protecting something. It's like a guardian deity.
What was in the deepest part of the Third Labyrinth?
The Chimera. It's the mythical equivalent of the word chimera.
Chimera?　Does that mean that the head is the lion, the body is the goat, and the tail is the viper?
''Ah. The body is too strong, the mouth spits flames, and the goat's head on the body uses alchemy to use electric shocks. Not to mention the viper in the tail, a true trinity. It was an uncommon fight to the death. The attack was resisted by Marie and I gave the attack.......................and after fighting for more than ten hours, I cut off its head. And as soon as I defeated him, the back door opened.
'There it is?　Something...?
There was a box and two small, square, black things. That's all. I'm not sure about the box, but the black one seems to be able to pick up sounds around it. I sent both of them to the Kingdom Society, have you seen them?
That's it...
You know...

　Me and Fee have an idea of the other one, aside from the box. It's the listening device that Prince Oscar was using. I didn't think that the one that Leif and the others obtained after their death struggle would end up in the hands of that jerk....................karma.

''Well, in the end, even if we conquered the third labyrinth, we only found the demon's ecosystem and a mysterious object. But as I'm sure you've all noticed, the world's demon ecosystem is strange. I've been aware of it for three years now.
Three years ago?　That's when it started?
'Oh. I've been facing demons longer than I've been facing people in my job. And I think the mutation was three years ago. At least, when I found out. So, at the same time as I captured the labyrinth, or even before I captured it, something was wrong... but I still haven't gotten the full picture. I came here to give Clarice in the imperial capital the information about the labyrinth, and I fought those scorpions just by chance, just like you guys. And I plan to go to the fifth labyrinth next.
...the fifth labyrinth. So that means we're going north.


　The fifth labyrinth. It is called the Ice Labyrinth. A labyrinth made of ice, located further north, at the northernmost point. It is famous for having less information than the other labyrinths and no one goes near it. Leif is apparently going there. Well, considering the ability of the magic sword Levatain, it's a reasonable choice.


''Ah. I was actually planning to traverse the entire labyrinth myself, but I'll leave the sixth labyrinth to you.''
Well that's true. When we return, we'll resume our attack on the Sixth Maze.
One last parting gift.
What's this?
''It's an alternative to the data I compiled on demons and the characteristics of the third labyrinth. It also contains a discussion, but it's subjective. Don't take my word for it.
Are you sure?　Something that could be worth such an enormous amount of money.
I'm not in it for the money. I'm in it for the money. And I got a copy.
Thank you. Thank you.

　I say, and get a thick stack of paper.

'Well, then I'm going north.'
Well I'll see you later.
''Elle, Alspheera, and Monica aren't here, but I believe the three of you can capture the Sixth Maze. The labyrinth is the key to unlocking the mutation of this world. I look forward to working with you.
'Goodbye, Leif. I'll take care of Elle, and I'll make sure she stays at the helm.

　As Fee said this, Rafe put his mouth close to Fee's ear and whispered something.

'This guy's blunt, right?　Come on, man. Sometimes you just have to be pushy, you know?
What?

　Fee's face turns bright red and looks perturbed. What on earth was said?

''Well then!　I'll see you soon!


　Then Leif let out a loud voice and left.

　Leif Allan, the adventurer who had trudged through the third labyrinth. He was somewhat blunt, but he was compassionate and, to put it mildly, a good guy. There will be a time when we can meet again. We have to capture the maze before that time.