We could rest here for the day.
Yeah.


　We are now on the eighth layer. I'm descending at a pretty good pace. About 30 minutes per layer. But I'm just talking about the current pace. I don't know what's going to happen next.

"Fee, come on down here.
But....
'It's warmer if we both sleep cuddled together. Of course, we've used alchemy to some extent to create wards around you, and we've taken into account that your body temperature won't drop too low, but you'd still be better off with human skin.
Yeah!　Isn't that right!　I don't blame you for this one!
Well, I've been sleeping with Fee a lot, so it's not like it's a new thing.
That's me being drunk!
"?　Well, yes.


　Fee mumbles and complains, "This is why Elle........" and snuggles up to me. Then we both pulled the blanket over us and let ourselves sleep for a while.



'Hey, I've been waiting for you,'
It's a dream...


　I was in a dream. No doubt I had slept in the fifth labyrinth just now. But now, however, I was in a completely white space and as usual, that man was smiling at me, smiling at me.


'Sit down, Elle,'
'Oh...'
So, how's the Fifth Labyrinth?
'It's tricky. Like the maze structure, but most of all, the low temperature is a bad thing. I can use alchemy to maintain my own body temperature to some extent, but that's not infinite either. Fatigue gradually builds up. Quite frankly, it's a race against time.
'I see. Well, whoever built that labyrinth has a twisted personality.
'You know about this?　You know the makers of the labyrinth?
Of course. All of them. I mean...
You can't tell me what to do again?
Yeah. I can only advise you on what to do. Now, the only thing to do in this labyrinth is to keep an open mind.
Preconceptions?
Oh, time to go. Bye, Elle. I'll see you later.


　


'Anh!'
...It was a dream, wasn't it?
Hey, hey, Elle where are you holding me?
'Oh?　Oh I'm sorry.
'What's your reaction?　You grabbed me by the chest and said, oh I'm sorry!　There would have been a more appropriate response!
Um, I'm sorry, sir?
Watch your language!　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make your life easier and more fun. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I didn't know that....
What?　What a misleading reaction!　But it's not a misunderstanding... no, but...


　And while I was goggling something, I was already getting ready to go. Then I suddenly realize something.

'My right eye ... is it healing?'

　Until now, there had been a faint but sharp pain. But now there was no sign of it. I tried to remove the eye patch with all my might, and nothing changed. Then I tried to activate the Elemental Eye 《Decoding Sight》, but........

''Geez........d*mn, does that mean the runaway has been cured for now?


　For now, I won't have to wear the eye patch from now on. However, the problem is that I don't have the elemental eye, the decoding site, under my complete control yet.


''Alright. So, are we moving on now?
'Yeah, well...'


　Looking ahead, we see a maze that stretches on forever and ever, and it's right in front of us. A maze, yes ... a maze. But I couldn't stop thinking about what that man said.


"Don't let your preconceptions get in the way of your success.


　So, does that mean that this labyrinth is not just a maze made up of ice?

　But then, what exactly is the Fifth Maze?

　With that question in mind, we move on.


''Well there are fewer and fewer demons, aren't there?
'Indeed. You're just walking all the way.


　We've come down to the ninth layer since then. However, this layer is obviously not full of demons. And most importantly, I can feel the First Quality 《Prima Materia》 rushing in from the layer below. I'm sure it's true to think that there are special demons at each of the ten layers, just like in other labyrinths.


　And while going around the maze, we found a staircase leading to the lower level.


Let's go. I'm sure there's more ahead...
I know. It's just like the Sixth Labyrinth. There will be some very special individuals.
'Oh...'
Or a chimera mixing with people.
I'd kill myself if I had to.


　I hadn't yet decided on a definite resolution, even though I'd said so....


　◇


Same thing.
Yeah.


　A door expands in front of you. And it has the pattern of an ouroboros painted on it.


Let's go.
Yes.


　Geeeeeeeeeeee, we both open the door with a sound. Then, in front of us, we saw an icy area that was crystal clear to all intents and purposes. But we didn't pay attention to it. Because.........there was a powerful object sitting in the middle of it.


That's.........
"Oh. It's a golem.


　Golem. It is a type of artificial human being born from the same concept as the Homunculus. But it is very different from a homunculus. A homunculus is a chemical manipulation of alchemy. Just like when I created the prototypes. Golems, on the other hand, are created by the "alchemy of words".

　The idea is that letters, words, and numbers have mystical powers that can be used to create creatures like gods.


　In fact, many of them have ended in failure, but there are a few success stories as well. It's hard to understand why that rare golem is in this place, but if it's a labyrinth, that's just as well, I guess.





　The six-meter tall golem rises from its spot while generating a strange sound. In its hands, it holds something like a mighty axe. And what should be noted is that all of its components are ice. At first glance, it's just a beautiful object. But we could sense it. This golem's mission is to take care of the creatures that enter this room.


　When we looked at the ground, we saw countless human bones lying on the ground. There are some humans who have made it this far. However, that was also hindered by this golem.


''Fee, leave the vanguard to me. Cover me from the rear guard with a fire attribute attack.''
Yes, sir.


　And I pull the thin-winged dragonfly from my waist.

'Attribute granting [Enchantment]: flames [Flame]'

　Fire is effective against ice. That's why I chose the attribute granting "Enchantment": fire "Flame" this time. I don't expect to be able to cut off a single sword, but I'm sure I can deal effective damage.


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


　He exhaled the air from his lungs in one go, closing the distance in just one step.


'Gigagaagaagaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!


　Slow. Sluggish. Because of its massive body, it moves too slowly.


　And then a flash. I swung that sword at the brain, but........


Hey.........!


　 I was completely played. My thin-winged dragonfly can't even put a scratch on it, and my body flies through the air as fast as it can.

　Oh no. Oh no. Oh no. Oh no! Oh no! Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Yuck. This is very, very bad........





　The axe wielded by Goreem will swing at my body. If this continues, my body will be split in half. Even so, I won't give up. Rather, I believed that Fee must have the same vision as me on what to do about this situation.


''Fee!!!!!
I'm already doing it!


　And I prepare for the impact to come.

''Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　And I'm blown backwards by the ice pillar that suddenly appeared in front of me. It's not just a matter of time before you are able to get your hands on a new one.


'Huh.........Thank you, Fee. But hey, isn't that a little too powerful?　It really hurts.
'I don't have a choice!　Would you rather have your body cut in half or be blown up by my alchemy?!
The latter.... oh, but it really hurts...
Sorry about that. But that golem is hard.
Isn't this diamond-level altitude?
Really?
''If you can play my thin-winged dragonfly this perfectly, that thing is now as hard as a diamond.
I don't know what to expect.
Well yes.


　We were dented by that fact and resumed the battle again.