It's been a few days since then. The three of us spent our days working at the academy, while Monica was taking classes, but we decided to resume our attack on the labyrinth.

　Leif gave us the information about the labyrinth, which was our original goal. The three of us met every night. We discussed how we should attack based on this information and how to do it most efficiently. We went to the elven village early in the morning.

　By the way, Monica had told her parents that she had become a student at the academy, so naturally it spread to the village. When Monica returned to the village, people congratulated her on her new status. And every time she did, Monica smiled. It was a dream come true. I'm sure she was very happy.

　When we got to Monica's house, we started to get ready.

This time it's going to start on the tenth floor. We can move on, right, Fee?
Yes. I've got it well marked, so it should be possible if you have access to the First Pledge, the Primamateria.
Good. We're all set.
Doctor, please don't be too reckless this time, okay?
Well it depends on the situation, but we'll do the best we can.


　◇


　The tenth layer. He had returned to the place where they had fought to the death. But it's strange. Yes, it's strange. It's because there's nothing here that shouldn't be there.

Hey ... where's the body I froze that time?
Well..... that's when you froze me...
'I don't know. It's not alive, and it's not that quick to solve. Is this also the nature of the labyrinth?

　If he suddenly shifts over, that subspecies' corpse is gone. This labyrinth is getting more and more confusing, isn't it?

　I look at the paper Leif gave me with the information on it. But I don't see anything that applies to this phenomenon anywhere.

There's no point in thinking about it. Let's go.
Yeah.
Yes, sir.

　We go down the stairs and proceed to the tenth level. If Leif's information is correct, the big mountain ranges are twenty, thirty, forty, and fifty layers. Of course, we don't take that into account, but it's one guide.

　And we continued to kill the giant spider, the Huge Spider, that appeared. This one too, the lower we went down as per the information, the more powerful the individual became. But considering the battle in Altart, they are not as strong as those Scorpions. After all, the giant spider 《Huge Spider》 doesn't have that hard outer shell. Moreover, there aren't many individuals that use reflectors or resists.

　Maybe I got used to that battlefield, but I could feel my ability as an alchemist increasing. In particular, my handling of the First Pledge, Primamateria, had become outstanding. I was able to make minor adjustments to the amount and fine-tune my alchemy. With pinpoint accuracy, he froze only the toes of the giant spider 《Huge Spider》 and flashed it with a thin-winged dragonfly.

　Just repeat that process. Fee and Monica also froze their legs in the same way, nonchalantly, and I cut off both of their heads.


　Then, progressing smoothly, we reached the fifteenth layer. Now we rest in front of the stairs to the sixteenth layer.

'Huh ... so far so good.
Yeah. It's not too far off.
But we're about to see twenty layers, which is a bit scary.
Let's keep our guard up.

　After eating drinking water and portable food, we continued on to the next layer. Just then, I caught a glimpse of something in my vision.

　Is that........the Ouroboros emblem?

　Ouroboros. It represents the circle in alchemy: 'One is all, all is one'. A snake with its own tail added to it. That emblem is found in textbooks, and alchemists know it as common knowledge. But what does it mean that this is inscribed in this labyrinth?

'Fee, Monica, look. It's Ouroboros.
What?
Hmm?

　There is only one ouroboros carved into the wall as you descend the stairs, but it's carved into the wall. This might mean something.

''Well sure, it's an ouroboros. But why is it here?
"...The Ouroboros represents the circle of the world, right?　Could it be that the labyrinth is connected to somewhere else?
'Well we can't ignore this. After all, the labyrinth may be a facility related to Lost Technology or alchemy.

　And I quickly write that information in my notebook.

　Ouroboros. I have a feeling this is connected to something.



　And we continued onward, and we smoothly arrived at the front of the 20th layer. The giant spider 《Hugeespider》 may have improved its skill level as well, and has been making quite a few strategic moves. However, we humans are more intelligent than them. Their strategies are of little consequence. It wasn't that hard to kill them.

　And that's before the 20 layers of problems. If my information is correct, there should be a powerful individual here as well.

"...let's go. You ready to go?
Yeah.
Yes.....

　I proceed with the thin-winged dragonfly drawn out.

''........What is this?''

　I took the lead and entered the 20th layer. It was the same space as the tenth layer. Just a big space. Yes, something is wrong here. That's right, it's strange.

"Hey, Elle........what is this place?
Sir....
Oh ... nothing?

　That's right. There's nothing here. No signs of life. Just an empty, empty space. And I can see twenty levels of stairs.

''Well well then, let's go ahead with that.

　The moment Fee tried to walk, I realized it was because I had activated the Absolute Realm 《Sanctuary》. Some kind of alchemy is being activated........

''Feeb!　Look out!!!!!!
...What?

　I pushed her away from the alchemy that was activated right underneath Fee, shielding her from the alchemy that was activated. And the alchemy that was activated came at me decently.

　That's right ... this alchemy is ... transference.

　With the last look on Fee's stunned face, I was sent flying off somewhere.


　◇


Ugh... what is this place?

　The place I came to at the moment of transitioning was a small room. I considered the possibility of being attacked by a large number of giant spiders, the Huge Spider, the moment I transitioned through the labyrinth's traps, but it seemed to be different. And I had noticed that. That alchemy was installed during the past few days, and it is a delayed activation that reacts to the First Plasmateria in the human body. I was keenly aware that the labyrinth is not straightforward.

　Was that alchemy set up by a giant spider, or was it................................by a third person? But it's strange to think of it as a human. Could they have gotten there by ignoring the giant spider 《Huge Spider》?　Even if you use a transfer, those things need to mark each other's locations.

　You don't think there's a pioneer?　But why would he do that?　I don't understand, but for now ... we have to get out of here for now. And we need to meet up with Fee and Monica. I'm sure they're worried about me.


　I smelt the flames from my fingertips and tried to light up the surroundings. Then I see a desk and ... some kind of box. Is this ... what Leif had said?

'The box ... but it has glass ... what is it for?　And this one?

　There it was, a box and a small round thing. It has a string attached to it. But I don't know what it's for. But I've never seen this before in the Kingdom or the Empire. No way, is it a lost technology?

　I'd like to take it home with me, but it's heavy when I gingerly lift it. With alchemy, I could carry it, but right now it would be more important to understand the current situation.


　I opened the door and there was a narrow passage. And when I looked at the passage, I was horrified. Yes, because there was a large number of ouroboros drawn there, as if they were connected all the time. Instantly, the lights above the two sides light up.

''........do you want me to come?

　It was as if he was inviting me to join him. It was dimly lit. I don't even know what's out there. But the only choice I can make right now is to keep going. It's my only choice. Fortunately, I still have plenty of water and portable food on the porch. I can go on exploring the maze. Relax, I'm all right.


　And then I walked forward, as if something was inviting me to do so.