Four underground levels - the first thing I felt when I landed there, the stagnation of the air, I had never experienced anything like it before.
　There was a hazy warmth in the air, as if everything was about to go to sleep. If air is what remains in place, then surely the air this deep underground must be years or even decades old.

　The sensation of the air clinging to my skin like mucus was incomparably more unpleasant than that of the upper floors.
　Just walking through it made me feel like I was going against the flow of the river.

　Landing on the fourth underground level, Loki immediately felt it. Not only did it make him feel sick just being here, but it also made it difficult for him to perceive something called magic. Rather than detecting it, or using his own magic power to perceive it, never before had he been able to feel it like this in normal times. Here, even ordinary people, not magicians, would be able to sense magic power.

　Magic power is equal to the source of life that can exist anywhere. Therefore, regardless of whether you can perceive it or not, it exists everywhere.

　In addition, I felt a sense of guidance, as if someone was pushing me. A will that could be understood clearly and distinctly. There was a small stream, like a stream, mixed in with the sea of magical power. This was enough to know which way to go out of the left and right forks.

(Eerily quiet... but something beckoned on the magic power?

　The magic is the fundamental energy, and at the same time, it contains information that is impure because of what it emits. Therefore, the reason why Loki felt "beckoned" is because he was accompanied by a strong emotion similar to desire.

　But ... to get a true picture of the situation first.

'What is it? It seems to me that this place is not filled with residue, but with natural magic. Could it be possible?

　While he was wary, Loki couldn't help but remark on the environmental change from the previous hierarchy.
　The oxygen was thin, of course, but that wasn't the only thing. He had a feeling that the abundant air that was stored here was full of other components that were not oxygen.
　The fact that its true identity was magical power was palpable enough on his skin.

　'Look,' Loki thought he saw the cause as his eyes followed where Ars indicated.

'It's because of Mithril. There are countless of them inside the deposit, so maybe they're interfering with each other and flowing. If that's the case, the reason it's so bright here is probably due to the magical power on the upper floor. Because of this level of purity, if you take into account the fact that it is an AWR material, a small amount of captured magic power may be running through the interior like a pathway. That means the magic power collected on the upper floor is being accumulated downstairs.

　The pale light smoldering inside seems to be flowing, if you ask me. Even if this is just an optical illusion of the eyes exposed to the air here, there is no way to be sure.

　The reason why there is such an abundance of magic inside the deposit, which is originally unrelated to pure magic power. It's also certain that there is no other explanation other than the hypothesis Ars just mentioned.

'I can only assume that Mithril is purifying the magical information it has taken in. Preventing degradation?　Or should I say revitalized.

　That's why there is only magic here that does not contain information.
　Originally, such a place is a nature where so-called demons and humans do not exist. It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　Even Ars, who has been out in the outside world many times, had never felt this much magic before.

''It's not about that.''

　Loki followed Ars, who waved his face to check the area.
　The structure of the four underground levels was wide and high ceilinged passages eerily indicated the destination. The passageway extends to the left and right around Arus and Loki.
　Neither of them could see beyond the pale light and how far it led from here. There must be a side passage somewhere, but looking to the left and right, it seemed to be a long way off.

　The structure itself is a bit similar to the one level underground, but it's not exactly the same.
　He quickly pointed out that he was looking for a mistake.

'Well, that sounds disgusting,'
'Yes. So this hole is not naturally occurring, is it?

　There were holes the size of a fist in the wall. The number of holes was uncanny, and they were arranged in an irregular pattern to provide a bit of a breeze.
　The faint sound of the wind was reminiscent of the sound of a whistle, and could be heard continuously as if it were a tree spirit.

　Instead of peering in a straight line, I turned my attention to it and saw the light of mithril leaking out of the back along with the wind.

'Is it still a maze-like structure?'
'I suppose. I don't think it's that different from upstairs, but it's more bizarre.
It's eerily quiet.

　Of course, not the sound of wind, but the presence of a demon.
　Traces of a monster's presence. The sound of things have disappeared by pointing at such magical foreign bodies.

It's a very good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. Even if you call it a mutation rate, it doesn't seem to have been that different from a normal bodos.
..........

　Loki glanced at Ars's face and then opened his mouth consciously, as if he had made up his mind.
　It was inevitable that a slight tense feeling ran across his face. The bells of anxiety were ringing in his chest.
　To be Ars's shield and fight in front of him was a place Loki had hoped for as a partner, but had not been able to achieve. It was unwilling to take on his original role due to his poor health, but there was absolutely no way he could let Ars fight in vain now.

　Loki caught his breath.

'This hierarchy must be bigger than you think, right?
'A rough calculation would suggest it's twice as much as one level.
Al....
Hmm?

　Ars turned his attention to Loki's emotions as his anxious voice reluctantly came to the surface.

'Don't worry about it so much. It's better than you think. It's probably for the best that there has been no battle-like combat so far. Recovery?　It should be on its way to the Maybe I need to adjust the magic power in my body with a demonic map or something, but that's still enough.

　Seeing Ars's powerful eyes, Loki also exhaled heavily with his shoulders, just as he was relieved.
　However, after all, with the cause of the problem unknown, the anxiety remains.......and it's still piling up.

　As the rescue of Felinella is approaching (...), Loki crisply straightens his back and turns to Ars.

'Listen. As I've said many times before, Al, please do not waste your energy on unnecessary wear and tear. This is not selfishness. It's for the best, you know!

　A little more wordy, Loki admonished the Supreme, who tended to be reckless.

'I know. I know it's not good right now, it's my body. And if you can get away with a little recklessness you can trust me with that much.

　Receiving Loki's words, Ars also returns sincerely.
　The serious reply made Loki nod without any room for lies to enter the picture. However, in the faint fading of his face that fell, Loki let out a voice that seemed to disappear, "I trust you," he said.

　The sound of anxiety that sounded faintly in Loki's mind was slowly subsiding. I'm not sure if I've interpreted it in a convenient way or not, but in any case, I've decided that it was just my imagination.
　Just then.

I'm going to get you out of here.

　Loki waited with a slightly strange sensation to see how Ars behaved as he checked his left and right sides once again now.
　Without needing to be told by Ars, Loki turned his feet to the right passage.
　Immediately after--.

'It's eerie that there's no sign of demons at all, but I can't say that. We have no choice but to search through this entire level with all the vigor we can muster.

(What...)

　His heart jumped once loudly. The aftermath was a shock, making Loki's feet stick to the ground. Ars's words behind his back were so convincing that they swelled the anxiety in Loki's mind.
　The hand he brought forward to hide behind him made a fist so strong that it bled.

　His body trembles slightly. Loki bit his lip as he turned his back to Ars.
　He turns over with a crumpled and somberly twisted face.

　For a moment, really, something was decided in Loki's mind before he had time to ponder it.
　Whether it's sweat or blood, he opens his staring hand and looks back as if nothing has happened.

'Al, the detection still doesn't work here either. But it would take too much time for the two of us to search around together.
Loki...

　Somehow, even Ars must have sensed the intent. Loki, who controlled the tip of the plane as if to greet the sharp eyes, continued onward.

I know what you want to say, of course. I have seen the demon Serketo above me, so it is impossible for me to misjudge the difference in power. Rather, I'm more worried about Al.

　Making a smile, Loki holds up one finger as if to nail "so". Normally, Ars would be the first to suggest it.
　Loki has to dare to mention it.

'So how about we set a time and come back here once? If we go from left and right, we can search quite a bit of ground. If there is no danger, we will rescue Mr. Ferinella and bring him back here. If there is any difficulty, we will turn back once and head with Al. Of course, if it looks like Al is also going to be fighting with a high rate, we'll turn back here once.

　The method presented as a compromise could force Ars to fight uselessly, as Loki had said earlier. If they could still search efficiently, it was an unstoppable suggestion.
　Now, with time running out, we can't even detect them, and the only way to search in a vast space is to move directly with our bodies.

　After thinking about it for a bit, Ars thought to add more conditions, he covered the tops of Loki's fingers with his hand and let them fall down.

'Three enough.'
I understand.
'We can't contact each other here. So unleash a top-grade level offensive magic directly on the large mithril in the vicinity. It will depend on the distance, but if it's this clear, it might spill over.

　Nodding widely, Loki checked the time on his license. It was doubtful that it would work accurately inside the deposit, but the time display seemed to be the only thing alive for now.

'Al, we'll be sure to help Mr. Felinella,'
Of course.

　As if they were repulsed by each other, Ars ran like the wind to the left, while Loki ran to the right.
　The two of them were fast losing sight of each other's backside.