I kicked off the attacking demons and went further down the hierarchy.

　I can feel that the monsters are getting stronger in proportion to the number of layers, but I don't feel that the ruins are hindering the attack so far.

　I even have the sense that I'm being led deeper into it.
　That's how smoothly the attack is going.
　However, we must not be caught off guard.

　At the eighteenth level, the three difficult demons appeared at the same time.

　The bottom half of a horse, the top half of a human-shaped body, a head with horns like a sheep, and thick arms with muscles that were almost torn off - Gila Horse.

　A large, fat, hulking body, eyes with sewn-on eyelids - del trolls.

　A fly-shaped demon with a fly's head, white skin and black body hair - Vuelzegio.

　Three against three.

　The moment the three and three encountered each other, a shadow leapt out.
　It was Currier-san.
　A form that completely caught the three demons by surprise.
　The trajectory of a reverse kangaroo.
　The blade of the revergate cut both sides of the giant body of the deltorol in the middle.
　Neither of the three demons were able to react completely.

　The other two finally noticed that Currier-san had finally moved when Deltrol spurted out blue blood without even a scream.

　Currier-san didn't miss the moment when the remaining two animals were frightened.
　She twisted her hips and unleashed a slash.
　A diagonal rotation cut with a subtle height difference.

　Gila Horse and Vuelzegio had finally just entered an attacking stance, but before they could move, their heads were slashed off and they rolled to the floor.

　A pleasant sound was made and Revelgate returned to his scabbard.

''It seems that the demons of this hierarchy are not strong enough yet to call themselves difficult against us.

　The three demons, which are called the difficult obstacles, also broke through without difficulty.

　Cecily-san, who has an expression on her face as if to say that she's almost used to seeing this scene, checks the time.

''Well, the date is about to change, but... what do we do now?

　Currier-san ponders.

'Well let's go down to the next nineteenth level and rest there for today. Then, after we leave tomorrow, let's defeat the guardian species on the 20th level.

　After descending to the nineteenth level, we chose a small room near the stairs as our place to stay today.

　As we unloaded our backpacks, Cecily began rummaging through the contents.

''Shall Currier and I get ready for dinner? Kurohiko, after you finish preparing the bedding, could you, um... or could you go check the restroom?
Oh, I see.

　By the way, we each brought our own sleeping bags, only the sleeping bags were carried on our backs.　
　After I unfolded my own sleeping bag, I received two sleeping bags for both of us and unfolded them side by side.
　Cecily noticed something, "Hey," she said.

'Isn't Kurohiko in the middle?'
Oh, I'll just sit at the end.
'Hmm?　Did you intentionally put Currier next to you?

　I placed Currier-san's sleeping bag in the middle, but I wasn't particularly aware of it.

'Wouldn't it be unfair if Kurohiko wasn't in the middle?　Besides, if you put the sleeping bags closer together--
He can't sleep because I'm so freaked out!

　I leave the small room, leaving Cecily, who doesn't seem quite as nervous as I am.
　It's a small room, but it's about ten tatami mats in size.

　Well, even in a dungeon, the issue of the restroom is inseparable from the restroom.
　In the Holy Ruins, there are toilet-like rooms at each level.
　There are some grains and plants growing in the ruins.

　It is said that the human excrement might be used as a fertilizer.

　If human excrement is incorporated into the circulation of the "ecosystem" of the holy ruins, it is not surprising that the holy ruins are able to understand the behavior of human beings based on physiological phenomena and create a room suitable for it.

　If this theory is correct, then it makes sense that the Holy Ruins would dare to create a restroom near the room where people would be staying.

　I find a long, narrow door near the passage outside the small room.
　I open the door.

''Oh.''

　As expected, it is a room for the toilet.
　The size of the room is about a little wider than a tatami mat.
　The ceiling is not so high.

　In order to review how to use it, I took out a set of tools for exorcising demons from the pocket of my search clothes.

　A hardened gray powder is attached to the kit, and you use it to burn incense when you need to do your business.

　The incense is said to have the effect of dispelling demons.

　However, the effect cannot be expected unless the room is as small as this one.

　It's not effective if the room is as small as the one we stayed in earlier.
　In rare cases, the walls of the Holy Ruins have a characteristic gray color.
　It seems that the powder obtained by grinding it is the raw material for the incense that is used to exorcise demons.

　It is said that one of the reasons why demons can't move down the stairs and why the safe zone is concentrated in the room near the stairs is because it contains a lot of this special gray stone material.

　Well, this incense is, in essence, a convenient item to use in the Holy Ruins without worrying about being attacked by demons.

　After confirming the location of the toilet, I decided to return to the small room.
　I turn the corner.
　I noticed the door to the room was open.

'Hmm?'

　The smell reminds me of my appetite....
　I look into the room.
　He was simmering soup in a pot.

'I could use some ingredients that wouldn't last for the first day, so I made it a nutritional priority!

　I save the foods that keep well and use the ones that don't keep well for later, starting with the ones that don't keep well.
　I bring ingredients for shallow days in order to add variety to the meal.
　While it's hard to get hungry, it doesn't mean you'll lose your appetite.
　Hunger will eventually strike.
　Naturally, if you eat the same thing all the time, you'll get bored and stressed out.
　A meal is a simple thing, but it is not to be underestimated.
　Meat and vegetables were being cooked in a pot.
　The soup was an ocher color.
　The color of the soup is ochre, probably the color of the seasoning.
　It smells more like miso than curry.
　Either way, the stomach bug that had been inactive began to move.
　Apparently the scent that tickles the nasal passages, even though it's hard to lose the belly, is another thing.

'Here, for Kurohiko.

　Currier serves the soup in a wooden bowl.
　Bread and Karam water were added to it, and today's dinner was ready.

　I take a sip of the soup.

''Ugh, it's so good.

　It has a moderate sweetness like miso.
　The flavor of the meat and vegetables is added to it.
　The meat is tender and tender and juicy.
　The vegetables are moist and crunchy.
　The bread is also delicious when eaten with the soup.

　The temperature inside the Holy Ruins is a little lower than above ground because it is underground.
　That's why I'm grateful for this kind of body-warming food.

　When the meal was finished, Currier-san took out several thumb-sized vials from her luggage.

　After taking out the contents and measuring the amount with a small spoon, she threw the leaf-ended powder into the pot.
　Then she carefully stirred the soup.

'What's this?'
It's a concoction of chopped and milled herbs. They are all good for you. Some help with digestion.

　This kind of part is Currier-san's specialty.

　After concluding the meal with the herb-infused soup that Currier-san had prepared, we reviewed the plan to attack the Holy Ruins, which had progressed ahead of schedule.

　However, it was a good review, as things were going smoother than planned.

　After the review was finished, we had a light chat and decided to go to sleep.

　However, one of us stayed awake for a while longer as a watchman.
　We take turns sleeping.

　Cecily was the first one to take over as the lookout.
　I crawled into my sleeping bag.

".....

　I was going to go straight to bed, but the pale wall light was annoying.
　When attacking, I don't need a light source, which is useful.
　.............
　Well, in short, I can't sleep.
　It's probably because I wasn't too tired today.

　

　Just like the time of the operation to retake Salem Fort, if you are a member of the knight's group, you may go to your destination, which will take several days to complete, and the battle will unfold.

　In that case, the experience of hiding in the Holy Ruins while weaving in and out of battles like this and conducting something close to an encampment would be useful.

　If the destination takes a few days, there will be days to camp on the way.
　Fighting is not the only way to capture the Holy Ruins.
　Movement and food.
　Lodging in the ruins.
　For the holy warrior cadets, these must be important factors.
　It's the same with building a plan.
　They set up the period and the flow of the attack by themselves, and also think about the distribution of the budget.

　In fact, Cecily was a big help in making those plans for us.

　Also, if I was alone, the baggage could have been a hindrance to the attack.
　In such cases, the presence of the other two people who fought so lightly was reassuring.
　In other words, such a smooth attack was impossible if I was alone.

Kurohiko........are you still awake?

　Cecily spoke up, keeping her voice low.

'Yes. I kind of couldn't sleep.
Yeah, well, so am I.

　I look at the ceiling.

　Usually, before going to bed, I look at the ceiling in my room.
　What I see is a stone-like ceiling.
　For some reason, after all this time, I become intensely aware that I'm in the Holy Ruins.

'Let me thank Kurohiko for this.

　I turn to Cecily.

'Thank you, sir?'
I'm very happy.

　The way Cecily-san spoke was like a dreamy tone.

''Today, after attacking together like this... I knew I wanted to dive into the Holy Ruins with the two of you like this. That's why I wanted to thank you for teaming up with me.
What are you talking about, Miss Cecily?
What?
I'm the one who should be thanking you.

　Yeah.
　I should be the one to thank.

''Thanks to Cecily-san's participation in the attack team, we're able to attack at this speed. I'm sure you're not the only one who's interested in this. So, thank you.
Blackberry....
Oh, good night.

　Feeling a little embarrassed, I laid my body down and turned my back to Miss Cecily.
　Cecily replied calmly, "Yes," she said.

'Good night, Kurohiko.'