Waiting for the non-combatants to join us, we resumed our dungeon exploration.
　As it turned out, we had successfully captured the third layer of the dungeon.

　We were able to set up a safe room in the corridor connecting the third and fourth layers and return to camp.
　And we didn't let a single person leave the camp.

　It was the result of everyone's combined efforts, but the Ex-Party's contribution was especially tremendous.
　In the third layer, the most important one would be Merlin-san.

　She applied icing to the icy ground, its lower part, and thickened the ice. This made it impossible for underwater monsters to easily break through the ice and come out. And even if they did, they could anticipate an attack from the vibrations and cracks.
　That's not all.

　When a huge elephant sub-beast with two tusks rushed forward, it was intercepted and defeated by a giant 'air spear'.

　After that, various threats appeared, such as a dwarf using the ice attribute, a sub-beast that looked like a mixture of a crocodile and a lizard, and a crystal golem, but we broke through them.
　The lack of discretion made it much nastier than a normal dungeon.

　If they threw in a large number of floor boss classes, it would be a challenge for the adventurers to get through. No wonder the first group was repeatedly wiped out.

''Um........Margrette-san. May I have a moment?

Yes, Miss Mira. Yes, Mila?

Well that's the spellcasting equipment we recovered from today's investigation.

　Mila and Maru are talking.
　Yes, I also found a magic tool today. I found a lot more than just magic tools.

　For example, it was Fulkas-san who tossed the crystal golem, but a treasure chest fell out of the collapsed golem.
　When he opened it, he found it crammed full of gold coins that had once been in circulation in the destroyed country.

　The ones found in the original dungeon could be divided into two types.
　The ones collected by the spirits and the ones made by the spirits.

　The gold coins would be the former. I don't think they found value in money, but rather because they liked the shapes or liked things that sparkled.

　By the way, the magic tool that Mila-san is talking about is the one that fell near where she defeated the Kraken.
　It was a metal tube with a bottom and a lid. The inside is hollow and Maru says it's a water bottle.

　Which is a magic tool is the capacity.
　I tried to fill it with a lot of water, but it didn't overflow forever. I've been trying to fill it with lots of water, but it never overflows.
　However, when the person who poured the water into the cup tilted it as a reminder, the water flowed out.

　I don't know the exact volume of the water, but I'm sure it's quite a lot.
　The liquid in it probably won't deteriorate.

''Is it the water bottle in the example?''

Yes, would you be willing to give it to me?　For the right price, of course.

I see. You intend to use it with blood, don't you?

　Until now, Mira had been able to attack beyond her own blood volume through the blood of her enemies, which she had made the blood-sucking bats and blood-sucking leeches suck on.
　Normally, she drew blood and saved it, and then used it for defense - which is difficult to do.

　Some equipment of the magic body (avatar) had conditions, and the information of possessing it was necessary.

　For example, there is Alba's magic sword.
　In order to recreate it on your magical body (Avatar), you need to have the body itself.
　In other words, the body's information is read, and the sword is recreated using magic power.

　However, if this was all there was to it, for example, Alba would lend or sell the magic sword, and all sorts of adventurers and demons would use the elastic magic sword.
　Even though the body was the only one in the world, many different magical bodies (avatars) could use it at the same time.

　In order to prevent this from happening, the magic body (avatar) had to be in possession of the main body when it was used to recreate special equipment.
　This also applies to the case of blood that is not flowing through the body, but is drawn separately.

　So in order for Mira-san to use the additional portion of her blood in defense, she must have the same blood that she registered in her magic body (avatar) equipment when she entered the 'cocoon'.
　This means you have to draw your own blood on a daily basis, which is a heavy burden.

　However, if you have a canteen magic tool, the blood you put in it will not deteriorate.
　You can also clear the problem of preparing the same one you registered with.

　Moreover, since the capacity is large, you can accumulate more and more blood.
　It will lead to the strengthening of Carmilla, who is a 【Blood Manipulator】 specializing in the manipulation of blood.

''Yes. Can you manage to do something for me.......?

　The number of people and equipment involved in this dungeon survey alone shows the enormous cost of the project.
　We've also been properly compensated, and basically the ownership of the items we've acquired is in the Chamber of Commerce at Mr. Fellow and Maru's place.

It's not in my power to say...

'Yes, of course...'

However, I would rather you use it, Lady Mira, than have it in the hands of a rich stranger. I promise that I will do everything in my power to provide you with a good answer.

"....!　Thank you, Mr. Margrethe.

Preferably Mal. It's what the people closest to me call it.

Uh-huh. Yes, Mr. Mal.

By the way, Mila-sama, I'd like to ask you a question. I'd like to ask you something, but I'm not used to the sensation of flying, and I'm not sure I'm comfortable with my Heavenly Wings. I'm not sure if there is a trick to it.

Oh, you know, the thing is...

　Near where the two beautiful women are smiling and engaging in conversation, [White Mage] Joss-kun looks shocked.

''Reme-san.......Mira-san, are you rich?''

What?

Because buying magic tools at a fair price...some of them would cost enough to build a mansion in the city, right?

　That's true, but Mira-san doesn't seem to waste money, and she was working as a demon even before she worked at the Demon King's Castle. If she had been accumulating money all this time........can she reach it, or.......?
　I don't know. But if Mira-san can pay, then she can pay.

I don't know. By the way, you were able to move well today. You said you want to become an adventurer, but do you really not go to a training school?　I felt like I was kind of used to it.

''No........my parents were against the nurturing institution (school). I'm sure it's the movement in battle that Reme thought you were used to.......?　It's been planted for a fight, hehe........

　Looking at Joss-kun who laughs vaguely, it's not something he wants to remember much.
　Training my son, who woke up as a [White Mage], to train in combat...?

Yeah, I see. So, it's going to be fun.

...What?

Because he's agile, he knows how to fight, and on top of that he can cast multiple white magic on all of his friends, right? It means you can become such a [white mage], right?

　Jos opened his eyes and then smiled ticklishly.

'I wish I could be. Reme-san........

Hmm?

Are you planning on joining any of the parties, Leme?

''Well yeah, I guess. Unless you want to participate in a tag team tournament or some other event, I don't know if I can go back to being an adventurer traveling the world.

Well I'm sorry to hear that, very sorry.

　Joss-kun raises his voice in distress.

'Reme.'

　Suddenly, Mr. Flucas looked up at me.

What is it, Mr. Flucas?

I'm home in Leme.

　At first I had called him Reme-dono as a stranger, but it was off. We've developed a friendship on the journey.......................It would be no problem.

''Yes.''

I heard there's a river.

　So it rings a bell.

'Oh there is. We can catch some fish, but it's going to be late now, so we'll have to wait until tomorrow.

...first thing in the morning.

Ha-ha, let's do it.

　I guess I was itching to catch a kraken. I couldn't eat that one.

　Fulkas-san nodded in satisfaction and walked off somewhere.
　.........I think it's the cooking area, that way.

''........Reme, are you not nervous or something?''

Nervous?

　When I looked at Josu, his face was a little tense.



Yeah, I know. Mr. Fulkus is very strong, isn't he?

''Since it's the [Demon King] that corresponds to the [Brave], it usually takes more than one person working together for a demon to defeat the [Brave]. Because of this, even in dungeons where there is no 【Demon King】, we can successfully defend against them.

　It seems like a long time ago, but the fact that I and everyone in the first tier annihilated the 【Lightning Roar Brave】 party with me and everyone else would be included in the 【Multiple Cooperation】.

　They were still in the process of growing up, but even so, it was difficult for the latter to win with 【Brave Man】 alone and 【Black Demon Dog】 as one unit. To the extent that it could be said to be almost impossible.
　That doesn't mean it's bad. It's that such a reality exists.

''Un........''

''But there are exceptions to everything. Lord Arthur, for example, would be no match for an ordinary [brave man].

I think so.

　Of course, 【Position (Job)】is only 【Position (Job)】.
　Even if we say 【Brave Man】, there are various abilities.

　If the person on top is Aerial-san, the hero of the storm, then there is even a young man who has failed many times to capture intermediate dungeons and has sunk into despair.
　Even the 【Brave Men】 who are both special and special among humanity are rated even higher in an industry full of 【Brave Men】.

　Still, they are special among humanity.
　Such people are not invincible either.

　Just like Arthur-san that Josu-kun just mentioned, there are some outstanding warriors who have the ability to make you think that they could fight a [brave man] alone and win.

''Fulkas-san, too, sir.

Well yes.

　Fulkus is a fellow member of the Demon King's Castle. I don't feel bad about the compliment, but the way he said it made me feel a little uncomfortable.

''Did something happen with Fulkas-san?''

'What?　No, no way. We've barely even spoken.

　It wouldn't be a lie. Not only Jos-kun, but Fulkus-san doesn't talk much in the first place.

''I feel like I'm feeling very real.

I have many acquaintances who are demons. That's why I can understand their strength more than other races........ To be honest, there aren't many purebloods who are that strong.

　How many purebloods are there nowadays in the pure sense of the word?
　Even humans (normal), if you go back, there are studies that show that there is sub-human blood in there somewhere or not.
　Yet, there is still an insistence on marriages between people of the same species.

'Do they believe that the darker the blood, the stronger the demon is?

Yes.....

　From Jos-kun's point of view, Fulkus-san is a nervous partner.
　It may be similar to how adventurers get nervous in front of Aerial-san.

"Well, Josu-kun, shall we go fishing tomorrow?

What...?

'I'm not saying you have to, but it's the same party. We can't be tense all the time, can we?

It's... it's... it's true.

It's okay. I'm not a scary person. He's nice, and he's got a good sense of humor.

Reme, you have a big heart, don't you?

Yeah, I don't know...

'I'm not afraid of you......... I'm learning a lot........!

　What is...?
　However, I think it's very good that Joss is so eager to grow up.

''Uh, yeah. So, I guess we'll go tomorrow, then?

Please.

Of course I'm going with you, aren't I?

　I noticed that Mila was standing next to me.

'Yeah, let's do that,'

　I'm used to it by now, but Joss-kun is frozen in surprise.

'Reme-sama, Ex-sama. May I have a moment?

　Maru called me over to him and I left.
　The leaders of the five parties were gathered there.

''Once again, thank you for your hard work today.

　After bowing gracefully, Maru continues.

''I would like to hear your opinions on today's investigation...''

'The third layer was originally configured as an 'adaptation' to the first group, wasn't it?　That's why we made it through, albeit awkwardly. Of course, it was only because our guys were so good at what they did.

　He met eyes with Mr. Xu. He raised one lip and smiled.
　There are people who can make these little gestures look so samey, I think.

''Hmm, I guess for us, the next fourth layer is the real deal.

　The demon man. He is the one who held up Hydra's neck with his arm.
　He is the leader of a party that includes a cat sub-human woman who calls Mira her sister.

''For example, a place full of narrow passageways, like the mining area, would block the large-scale magic that Merlin-sensei is so good at,''

　This is a woman who is a wizard. She's also one of the people who is learning magic from Merlin-san during her journey.

''Ah, is there a pattern like that - I guess so~. Hmm, I mean, isn't the monster strong?　The enemies are too hard to beat against the floor bosses!　And...

　She's a sub-human female rabbit. She has tremendous leg strength, especially her leaping ability. The kicks she throws from there are enough to blow a hole in the monster's stomach.

　By the way, the word "hard" is usually used to imply that she has high endurance.

　There were two kinds of monsters that appeared in the floor boss battle.
　One was a half-horse, half-fish Kelpie. It was a horse sub-beast with the lower body of a fish, and it was green in color.
　It was said to live in rivers and lakes and was said to eat people.

　The other one was a giant with hard skin and a strong body. Fulkas-san said it was called Grendel.
　It was hard to defeat Grendel.

　Most of his attacks were blocked by his skin, and it was hard to see how much damage seemed to be going through him even if the damage went through his too huge body.
　Moreover, a single enemy strike would destroy the field and make it harder and harder to fight.

　It was also hard that the stage was lake shaped so that Kelpies could move around.
　In the end, Maru summoned Fulkas-san's armor - this is how we used Fulkas-san's armor figure - and we all prepared for it while Fulkas-san, wearing it, held Grendel down.

　I prepared my 'Reduced Defense', Merlin-san and the wizards prepared their blades of wind, Ex-san moved to stitch up the enemy's shadows, Maru-san created a giant axe, and Mira-san created a giant blade of blood.
　They slammed everyone's attacks into each other at once, causing massive damage beyond the enemy's defenses.

'I think Grendel himself was meant to see our power. Other than Merlin-san's magic power, I think he also wanted to see the maximum attack power of the other members.

'........then the fourth layer is going to be a more intense adventure than this one.

'I suppose I'm right in line with Leme's expectations, but there are some things that concern me.

Is it too much of a no-holds-barred thing?

　'Kokoro,' Maru nodded.

''Yes. The original dungeons are created using natural magic pools, not dungeon cores. Even though it is vast, it is clearly limited. Considering the reappearance of monsters, even if you just continue to hunt monsters in the first layer, they will eventually disappear.

　The spirits would not enjoy this, so if they realized that the humans had chosen such a method of dealing with them, they might release monsters from the second layer onwards.

　The reason why we are going to attack and investigate in a straightforward manner is partly because we want to avoid offending the spirits.
　They have prepared a treasure chest, and I get the sense that they are completely looking forward to our attack.

''When you think about it, the third layer alone must have consumed a significant amount of magic power.

''That's for sure. And it would take quite a bit of magical power to replicate things like regeneration ability and high durability.

　The demon man and the wizard say.

'Uh, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean?'

　I glanced at the sub-human rabbit, who glanced at me. He gnawed at his own fluffy ears.



'Ah!　Okay, I see what you mean, I get it perfectly. I think you're using too much magic on the monsters to create a lot of layers.　So that's it.

''Yes, though, spirits also have their own magical powers, so it's hard to say exactly...''

　I nodded at Maru's additions.
　Our conversation continued for a while after that.

　After all, we have no choice but to proceed with the investigation.
　The most important thing is to ensure the safety of the residents in the area, but from the perspective of the Chamber of Commerce, the treasures that will be found this time are also important, and for us investigators, we are also concerned about the "Spiritual Trials" that may take place in the deepest part of the city.

　We break up and each of us share information within the party.
　We take a meal and go to the tent to sleep.
　Of course, the men and women were separated and the locations were far apart.

　Night.
　I woke up.

..........

　I usually cast black magic on myself and train it. It's the potency and duration of the black magic, and also the magic organ. After the master's training in hell, I've come to be able to control the magic power even when I'm unconscious.
　That's why, or perhaps it's just that I'm sensitive to magic power reactions.

　Leaving the tent, I leave the camp and enter the forest.
　If we go in too deep, we might get lost, but I'm familiar with the place, and I can sense the magic power of my friends.

'Did I wake you up?'

　It was Mr. Merlin.
　She's glowing. She was, not.

　It was a flock of butterflies, glowing like moonlight. It must be Mr. Merlin's magic.
　At this time of night, a single great wizard is creating light butterflies and making them dance.
　I don't understand what it is, and for a moment I wonder to myself if I am dreaming.

''It's........beautiful.''

'Hmmm, thanks. But the real thing was more beautiful.

Are they real...?

"Ah. Well, I was just thinking about talking to you. First, would you like to hear some of my old stories?

　Saying that, the [Visionary Wizard] began to speak.