"....!　Yuck!　I'm going to use senior Alba's magic sword!

　By the time Béla-san noticed, I had activated my magic sword.
　The usage is the same as Alba's, to make you think that I used it to imitate the way I saw it.
　However, I only use one hand. I'm not going to be able to get the same amount of power as Alba.
　Now, who will I aim at?

''d*mn it!　You've got to be kidding me!

　Alba snapped and stared at me.
　Mila's sword snatched her side and the sub-beast bit into her thigh.

It's a good thing that you have the ability to see that person to the fullest. You will be completely defeated by his magic as a dark mage.

Disgusting...!

　As expected of Alba, he couldn't fight the Four Heavenly Kings if he lost his weapons and both hands.

''Beulah!　Defense!

　Beulah shook her head at Lily's cry.

''That demon saw through Alba-senpai's movements!　I know this party well!　It might even change the trajectory of the magic sword!

Well, then, if it goes wide...

'Then we'll need to generate magic!　In the meantime, I won't be able to use my freezing spell!

　Clever.
　Declaring my attack to be a straight line, I'm going to put up a wall of ice on an expected trajectory. This could be avoided.
　But if you deploy a large ice wall in anticipation of me avoiding it to the left, right, or above, your magic power will run out temporarily and you'll have to rekindle it.

　How much magic power I can create and how much magic power I can keep in my body is different.
　Béla is promising, but it's only been three years since the [position (job)] was revealed. Although she boasts a growth speed that far surpasses that of an ordinary person, it is difficult to develop magic-related abilities in the first place.
　It's not something that she can use randomly, large scale magic.

''Then every other enemy--''

　Lily seems to have noticed it too.
　If you can deploy a wall of ice between all the enemies and their friends, that's fine.
　Fenix would be able to make Fulkas-san retreat, and Lily could at least keep [Dragon Man] away from her.
　If you want, Lark will play it with his shield.

　However, Alba is still there.
　As a result, only one person has left the party, a companion who is still being tortured by the 【Vampire Queen】.
　If I abandon him, I can protect the four of them from the magic sword, but if I try to protect him, the threat other than the magic sword remains.
　In a position to attack Beulah, who is temporarily unable to use ice-cold magic.

　The adventurers are on the right side of the setting. They should not abandon their friends.
　In the fourth place, we can't let our audience see us like that.

It's all about Alba. Quickly.

　Beulah immediately followed Fenix's instructions.
　The appearance of the ice wall divided the world between me and my magic sword and the rest of the world.

　My magic sword was blocked by the ice wall - it stopped just before the ice wall stopped. Immediately the extended sword barrel returned.
　I could read their decision.
　The purpose is to make Béla-san use her magic power.
　No, there is one more thing.

''Come (,)--Markosius, Naberius.

　Marcocius, the head of the werewolf state, and [Hell's Watchdog] Naberius-san, who also changed into a giant Cerberus, appear.

''Well done for summoning me, General Staff-dono!

At your command, sir.

　I have only one order.

"Destroy it.

Yes, sir!

Yes, sir.

　Mr. Markosius punched the ice wall, and a short distance away, Naberius blew fire from three heads.
　I continue and summon the contractors.

''-- Grashalaborus, Chimaris, and Lerager.

　The [Invisible Slaughterer], [Dead Spirit Leader Brave General], and [Dark Scar Hunter] also continued to appear.
　Mr. Gura wagged his tail and got into a sitting position.



That is why I am the Chief of Staff. Your orders, Mr. Remeghton.

It's like I told you before-Gracia Ballas.

　When I call out to them, Mr. Gura makes three bodies invisible, including himself.
　I also decide when they should move.

''Ooohhhh!　It's going to be open soon, Mr. Chiefs of Staff!

　The left and right fists that were fired with unnoticeable speed were crushing the cancerous ice wall.

''This one will soon melt as well.

　The ice is melting and evaporating at a tremendous rate.

''Time it with the two bodies.

Yes!

"As the Lord Remeghton commanded.

　I raise my magic sword again.
　Next time, I was going to use this sword to evict one person.

　◇

　The enemy was extremely skillful in standing up.
　Black Knight Fulkus moved to hold me back instead of attacking, and he was able to parry our attacks with an agility that was unimaginable in his armor.

''I thought you wanted a rematch with me, but are you stalling for time?''

"We are acting on the promise of a meal, a war.

　The voice sounds like a poor quality altered voice machine was used.
　It's an unfamiliar term but I suppose it means that he's following the instructions of his chief of staff.

"Is he a man worthy of belief?

　If I was right - and there was no way I could mistake him for a stranger - they had only just met.
　But the answer was clear.

"The chief of staff must let his people win.

　As if that was enough, Fulkus wields his spear.
　Wherever he goes, he remains the same.
　The demon just seems to understand his contribution.
　That was a bit frustrating. Because it was something I couldn't do.

'Great. But we will win.

What's the point of telling?

I think I do.

　You have to inspire yourself by saying it out loud.
　As soon as the ice wall unfolded, I was astonished.

　--a magical reaction increased beyond the wall, he said.

　And judging from the magic power, it's a floor boss class demon.
　That's five of them.

''Lark, get Beulah.

I'm going to have to...

　Lark heads to Beulah while bouncing [Dragon Man]'s fist with his shield.

''Everyone be alert. There are five demons behind the wall. All of them are equivalent to floor bosses.

''Nah--uh. There are already two Four Heavenly Kings in front of us!

　The arrow released by Lily hits 【Longman】's arm. It pierces past the scales.

''........the ice wall will be destroyed soon.''

　Beulah has a bitter look on her face as she unleashes a rapier-type holy sword stab from Lark's shadow.

''What the hell's going on here!　Six at most, no way there are eight of them!

　Alba's cry is plausible.
　One floor boss per level, up to one roaming or second-in-command demon that is comparable in strength.
　That's the basics.

　With the exception of the Four Heavenly Kings, he himself, and his second-in-command if there is one.
　The maximum number of Floor Boss equivalents allowed to appear in this layer is six.
　But as of now, there are eight.

But it's happening. If the rules are being followed, it's probably due to summoning magic.

''But isn't that consuming the magic power that makes up the target's body in exchange for calling the contractor!　If you summoned all five of them together--that would be a demon king level demon...!

　He can do it.
　From the age of ten until this day, he has been training his magical organs without fail.

''Fenix, ignore us and use your magic!

　I can't respond to Alba's cries.
　My large-scale magic will engulf the surroundings.
　It's not impossible to burn it down, but the enemy in front of me won't allow me to manipulate my magic with such subtlety.
　If I stepped in forcefully, I could overthrow Fulkus with my sword skills, but in that case, I would be separated from my friends.
　Since it's clear from their movements that that's their goal, they can't be taken for a ride.

''The ice wall, it will be breached!

　A moment later, the wall shattered, creating a large hole, and at a short distance, the wall melted into a sludge and red flames were visible.

''My name is Markosius!　Brave men of the fire, let us meet!　Let's go, brother!

　Whether he was hiding or summoned, several of his subordinate [werewolves] also advanced.

''My fire, my fangs, this time to you...!

　It seems that it was Naberius who melted the wall.

''Well I thought there were three more of them.

　Lark's melancholy voice.
　The response to the three bodies is the same, but more than that--''

''Beware of the magic sword.''

I know. I know that Beulah will... be... all... together...?

I'm not sure...

　Lark was not at fault.
　The ice melted and the equivalent of two floor bosses came to our side, almost at the same time.

　The magic sword was extended.
　In other words, he had set the trajectory of the magic sword the moment he saw our position, or just before he saw it. As expected, the latter is unlikely.

　It must have been just a momentary glance.
　The magic sword extended towards Beulah, and Lark held up his shield to play it.

　However, the cutting edge ducked (...) the shield.

　The sword barrel, which bypassed the shield as if it had a will, went through Lark's chest.
　The position of the heart, a fatal wound.

"No........this is strange........

　Lark's eyes were wide open, not his usual sleepy eyes.
　He manipulated Alba's magic sword to perfection.
　No, no.
　Did he read this one's movements and further adjusted it with black magic?

You're not going to have to torture them anymore, Carmilla, that's enough. I don't need to torture you any more.

'If you say so, Master Lemegeton, then let's leave it at that.

　There were several cuts on Alba's body, a sword was stuck in his abdomen, and he had been bitten by a bat all over his body.

''Thank you, [Warrior] Alba, I was able to drop [Holy Knight] Lark with your magic sword.

You're gonna have to remember that.

　Carmilla smiled, smiling.

'I've already forgotten.'

　The bats started sucking blood all at once, and in the blink of an eye, Alba's body shriveled and disintegrated.

''Haha, I can't believe I'm not even a snack for these kids...''

　With that, the magic sword dissipates as well, and Lark's efforts to somehow grab the sword barrel and pull Remegaton along are in vain.

''Sorry........Feni--''

　Alba and Lark exited.
　The only damage to the enemy is the two [Dragon Men] that Beira froze and Lily and Lark stopped them.
　It's not commensurate with the lost strength.

''Leader I'm sure of it now.

　Béla didn't say any more, but I could tell that she realized who she was.

'This is where I should go. Permission.

　His movement is that of someone who knows us well.
　It seems right, then, to turn Béla, the only one he wouldn't know well, towards him.

'You're not going to tell me not to go because you want to, are you?

　It's not. No, I have those feelings, but I don't want to make the wrong decision because of them.
　My concern is that he would have even read that we are going to use Beira.

'We will quickly exit Remegeton while keeping an eye out for the three remaining bodies. The leader should protect Lily-senpai and annihilate the surrounding enemies. It would be simple.

　Béla thinks she can do it.

''Well fine. I'm asking.

Yes, sir.

　Béla jumps out.
　None of the enemy will stop it -- no one will stop it.
　-after all, they've read it.

"Béla!

I know I'm being invited!

　I can't leave Lily and go after her.
　The demons stand in my way.

'The Lord Chiefs of Staff have given us an opportunity!　I'll give you a second chance at a rematch with you!

　Markosius exclaims.

'In that order, I guess I'll go first.

　Naberius, aka Cerberus, advances.
　The floor boss of the first level. Claims that since he defeated the first one, he has the right to fight again first.

'Aren't we all going to hang on?

In that case, there are many ways to wipe you out more quickly. The General Staff has been attentive to our wishes.

　He seems to be a very good boss.
　I'm proud to be your friend.

　And.
　You've been licked quite a bit.
　To think that you could have defeated him earlier in front of the 【Flaming Hero】.

　It's true that the opponent has the upper hand up to this point.
　However, the game is still undecided.

''I understand. I'll take on as many opponents as I can.

　Let them all leave and we have an opponent to fight.
　I will take my burning holy sword in my hand and meet the enemy.