As they passed through the throne hall, they found themselves in a great hallway.
　Butler and Grog were walking down the great corridor, chatting and laughing to intercept the dragon's heart, which they said had invaded the castle.

'When did it start?'
What?

　Grog's abrupt question brought up a question for Butler.

'Since when have you been in love with the Princess?'

　Butler laughed bitterly, as if he'd just been figureheaded.

''Well it's been since I was in school,''
It's been longer than I thought.
Aries and I were classmates. On my first day at school, I was sitting next to Aries.
Well, it's love at first sight.
'Yes, I'm embarrassed to tell you this, but...'
''You're not a curious man, you're an unhappy man. Of all things, to have feelings for the princess of a country why don't you tell me?

　Grog looked sideways at Butler's face.

'You can't say that!　I'm just a commoner, born into a common family.
'Do you think it's funny that a commoner should date a princess?　Well, that's funny.

　Grogg laughed and made fun of the story.
　Butler looked a little uncomfortable and shut up.

But I have heard a similar story. I can't remember her name, but I heard that she married a commoner. When she was a little girl, she would often sneak out of the castle to play with the children of the commoners. When she grew up, she confessed her love to this commoner man.

　To Butler it was an impossible story.

''........There was a strange princess. But that doesn't mean I can't be one. There are far more princesses who aren't, and that's the norm. A princess is usually united with a nobleman.

　Grogg listened to Butler in silence.
　He did not interfere.

'But thank you. I think Dr. Grogg has made it a little easier for me. If I make it out of this battle alive, I'll tell Lady Aries about it.
'Oh come on, come on. That's what people who are about to die say. If you want to get out of here alive, you must first raise your sword. If you want to get out of here alive, you need to take a sword and believe in yourself. All you have to do is trust me. I'll be with you soon enough.

　But soon after, a bead of sweat broke out on Grog's forehead.

'Looks like ... there you are.

　Tension flashed across Grog's face.
　Reflexively, Butler held up his sword.

'I'll leave the small fry to you. I mean, isn't it just me from earlier?'
There were four of them in front of me. One of them had his hood up to hide his face.
'Hey, Butler, we're small fry,' he said. Heh, we've been licked.

　A battler applying an attribute to the sword.
　The blade was lit on fire.

'I'll do it.'

　So it was the red-haired man - Alford - who took the lead.

'Almost to the hall, probably Johannes will be there. I'd like to get some shoulder time around here.

　Alford let a golden sword appear in his left hand.
　It was not housed in a sheath, but appeared out of nowhere.

'Dr. Grogg!　This man.............................Lord Alford!
You were right about the message.
"They're all calling me Mr. Alford, Mr. Alford and you're not even respecting me, don't use respectful names.

　Alford pointed his golden blade point at the two men.

'Master Alford, why with such men! And Butler.

　At that moment Alford's figure appeared at Grogg's hut.

'I'm tired of that question--'

　-- fresh blood danced in the air.

　Grog was cut in both directions from his left side at an angle, and in a moment he was dead.
　Butler couldn't react, and the next thing he knew, Grogg was lying next to him, upper and lower body split.
　Butler crawled on his buttocks and crawled across the floor in a frightened manner to keep his distance.
　Alford watched his back with a cold look.

'It's an odd sword. And it's needlessly flashy.'

　The man in the hood - Masamune speaks to you.

It's the Sword of the Brave (Excalibur). Only those who are brave can summon it and obtain it.
'Aaaaahhhh!

　Just then, a bullhorn was raised and Butler attacked Alford.
　But Alford, with a relaxed expression on his face, defeated Butler's sword.
　Butler broke his stance and put his hands on the floor.

I'm sure you're not the only one who has to deal with us. Why is someone like you guarding this place?
'Shit, shit, shit, shit, shit!'

　Things weren't going the way he wanted, and Butler was angry with himself.

''Huh, apparently this country isn't able to train soldiers any better than it was when I was here. I can't believe I'm entrusting my security to someone like this...''

　Butler began to swing his sword gingerly, as if he hadn't heard Alford's words.
　Alford didn't catch it with his sword, he just turned his body around and dodged it.

'For Aries-sama!　For Lady Aries!
Hmm?　You're not going to die for that woman, are you?
'For Lady Aries!　For Aries-sama's sake!

　Alford's fist struck Butler's right cheek as he lost his mind.
　The recoil sent Butler flying backwards and crashing into the wall.

'You, that's not loyalty. It's another mix of emotions.'

　Butler stood up slowly on wobbly legs, leaning against the wall.

'I see now why someone as less capable as you are in this place. You don't seem to have noticed, so I'll tell you. You're being tricked by Aries.

　Butler stared at Alford with his veiny, floating eyes.

'He's a ruthless woman. She will use anyone for her own good. And she's cunning. I'm going to tell you in a way you'll understand--Aries knows you, don't you?
....
'What's the normal thing to do?　There's no way that smart woman wouldn't notice the eyes of the men around her. She's just playing the damsel in distress. She's using you, you know. I don't think there are many others like you. There are plenty of others out there who are just like you, who play with their emotions and have the wrong idea.
"Shut up!

　With a shout, Butler rushed in angrily.
　Alford smoothly dodged and slashed off Butler's left arm.

''Gyaaaaaaaaah!

　Butler holds his left arm and collapses, screaming.

'The name of the witch in the neck is not an honorable one. The same knife was always stuck in the neck of the nobleman who was fascinated and misled by that woman. By the time she graduated from the school, she had already made a career out of assassinations. Don't you think it's strange?　Why do you think you need to do that when you're the princess of a country?

　The Sword of the Brave [Excalibur] disappeared from Alford's left hand.

''I've asked you. I asked him why he would do such a thing and why he doesn't play with his friends. Then that guy replied with a strange look on his face. "Because it's more fun this way, and besides, isn't it easier?" You know.

　Butler suffers a look of grief as he holds his slashed arm in place.
　But there was no mercy in Alford's eyes.

'That's why you're here. I was only guided by that guy's intentions. That's what happens to everyone who loses their minds to the witches of Grayberg.'

　Alford held up his left hand to Butler, who was wobbling and trying to stand up, and held up his left hand.

"Die and be at ease--The Explosions.

　At that moment, with a tremendous roar and a gust of wind, Butler's body exploded from the inside out.
　Its head, barely intact, hovers in the air, but it's still faintly conscious.



　This feeling was due to an assumption.....

　Nevertheless, that person's face comes to my mind.
　No matter how much I try to erase it, it won't leave me.......

''I am Aries. I'm Aries Grayberg.''

　I just fell in love with that man that day... It was love at first sight.

"My name is Philip Butler.

　She laughed softly.
　Yes, it couldn't be.
　That smile couldn't be a lie, could it?

'Does Philip want to be a teacher?'

　They made fun of me.
　They chose a teacher instead of a knight.
　But he was not.

"I'm rooting for you, Philip. Good luck, Phillip.

　He recognized me.
　He told me that teaching is a profession that nurtures the future.

　I will take this sentiment to my grave.
　And I'll be watching over her for the rest of my life.
　I don't care if she doesn't notice.
　As long as Aries-sama is here, it's fine.

　Aries-sama. Please be safe.
　I'm sorry that I couldn't protect you to the end.

　If I could be reborn, I would be able to be with you one more time, I would be able to be with you one more time.



What's with the shaking?

　A sudden tremor struck Aries and the others.
　It was so strong that it reminded me of an earth shaking.

''This magic power........it's Alford, isn't it?''
Was it explosive magic?

　Johannes asked Aries.

'Yes. The ones who are brave have aptitude and control over fire, wind, lightning, water and earth, and all of these attributes. Explosive magic is a composite magic that can activate all of these at the same time and is the unique magic of the brave.
Then they won't be alive, will they? By the looks of it, aren't they the teachers who just came in?

　Then Aries gave a small smile.

'No need to worry about it.'
I see.

　Johannes looks away from Aries.

'There are plenty of alternatives to Butler, Grog, etc.
　Aries raised the corners of his mouth in a grin, a big smile on his face.

*

You sure this is the right way to go?

　It's good that I've broken into the castle, but I keep being forced to walk down this great corridor that seems to go on forever.
　There was no sign of the throne room at all, and I was getting tired of it.

I used to live here, you can't go wrong.
Why is it so big?
It's a show of power. Sometimes we invite kings and noblemen from all over the world. But we get licked in the castle.
And those five guys?

　That's when the three of them stopped in their tracks.

　In front of them were five figures dressed in gold-decorated armor, and behind them they could see a huge door.

''They're not servants by any means~''
'The Knights of the King's Sword. 'The highest-ranking knight in the land,' said Alford.
"So who's in charge?
I'll go.
'Eliza, they're tough. Their swords and magic are of an advanced class.
Then I'll do it.
'Zeke, I thought you couldn't use magic?'
'I didn't say you can't use it, I said you need to rest your body. The use of a powerful skill consumes a great deal of energy and makes you lose control. You can't use powerful magic at a moment's notice because your magic is unstable.
Have you decided on a plan?

　That's when the big, burly knight at the front called out to me.

'What's up, girl, you're ignoring me. You're going to play with us, aren't you?

　Apparently he had overheard the conversation.
　The knight was looking at Eliza with an ugly grin on his face.

''《Great Magic Bullet (Magram)!

At that time, one of the knights unleashed a magic without warning.

''《Water Flow (Ur)!

　Eliza quickly returned fire.
　The mass of water drowned out her opponent's magic, but it continued to go in a straight line without killing her momentum, hitting another knight.
　The knight collapsed as he coughed up blood and more blood spurted out of the hole, a hole.
　The lead man, who seemed to be the captain, smiled fearlessly at his companion who fell beside him.

''The heart of a dragon, as they say. You have a pretty face and a different quality of magic power.''
'Eliza, you can use as much magic as you want. I'll heal you later.
What, do you have a magic crystal?

　Alford asks curiously.

'You're well prepared,'
'Magic crystals?　I'm saying I'm going to use my magic to heal you.
By magic?　No way, Nito. You can recover your magic power with magic?!
Yeah. So you can spend as much as you want from here on out. Don't worry about it. Or, for that matter, why don't we just blow the whole door up behind us, because it's too much trouble?

　When I defeated Gordon at the Weak Farm, I obtained the Curse of the Great Lance (Karth Javelin).
　This is a spell that gives the target an abnormality - a lack of magical power.
　The person who develops this disease has their magic power reduced, and whenever they try to use their magic, they will experience severe and intense pain and will not be able to activate their magic.

The Benedictine Javelin

　With the Reversing Prank [Pole], it changed into a sorcery that gives the target an abnormal state - mana-filling.
　This is treated as a disease as well, but it continues to fill up with magic, but it continues to recover the amount it consumes each time it uses magic.

'Let's start with Alford, don't move.
What!　Nito ... no, don't be too quick!

　I walked behind Alford, who was retreating with a twitching expression, and stabbed him with a spear in his back with a lazy stab.

''Whoa!''

　Alford bends his upper body and screams out.
　But what's the matter, "Hmm? He immediately questioned and stared at his palms.

'Then to Zeke and Eliza, too.

　He stabbed them both with the spear as well.
　Unlike Alford, the two of them were quiet, but after being stabbed, they stared at their palms in the same way.

''Magic power, recovering........''
What is this magic...

　I was curious about the meaning of the three of them being satisfied, and I thrust the same spear into myself.

''........I see, so this is the feeling of contentment. I certainly feel satisfied.
Okay, let's do it all at once!

　Alford liked the playful spear, and Alford was motivated by one of them.

''But I have a feeling that if you release magic all at once into the same place, they'll affect each other and explode.
Well, I suppose that could be done with some adjustments.
No, no, that's not the point. It's dangerous, isn't it?　I don't want to be underneath a building with all this tomfoolery.
'Indeed,' said Zeke. 'Nito's magic seems a bit dangerous to me. If we're going to do this, it's probably best if Nito doesn't join us. The three of us can do just fine with this place. It's a good thing that we have enough magic to spare.

　The goddess who performed on the grand staircase.
　I have a feeling that Zeke has been wary of me since then.

'Well, I'll leave you to it then.'

　So the three of them stepped forward.
　Following Zeke's command to "match wavelengths," Eliza and Alford caged their magic power.

　While the three of them were concentrating their magic power, I was sneakily opening the different space storage while turning my back to them.
　It's for the purpose of applying 《Reversing Prank 【Pole】 to the magic tool 《Saint's Wrath》.
　Ever since I got it in the dungeon, I had thought about trying it on the magic tools someday, but I had completely forgotten about it.

"Explosions!
Rejected by the Water Spirit, Regented Undine!
Raas ile Indra!

　When I heard the three of them chanting from behind me and turned around, a dazzling light illuminated the surroundings.
　Immediately after the different colored magicians appeared at each of their feet, the three of them simultaneously unleashed a tremendous amount of magic.
　They mixed up in the air and became one magic and attacked the knight.

''The Bombardment of Magic Bullets (Bottom de Magura)!
"Sacred Thunder!
"Soledad wave!
Gyro Rock!

　Meanwhile, as if they had noticed, the King's Sword Knights also unleashed their magic in unison.
　Both sides' magic collided with each other, creating a distorted sound.
　The headwind was terrible. It's so bad that you can't help but cover your face with your arms.

''Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

　Furthermore, the backlighting was diffuse and temporarily took away my vision.
　Immediately after, there was a blast of sound and wind that seemed to reach the end of the main corridor. In the middle of it all, I heard a scream from whoever it was, and then the wind stopped and my vision cleared, and I saw the three of them with satisfied faces in front of me.

''The contentment is awful.''

　Alford laughs.

-- ''I have obtained the magic tool 《Verfegor's Great Staff》. I will add it to my equipment.''

　The great door and the surrounding walls disappeared along with the King Sword Knight, and that's when I was about to turn my attention to the hall.
　The reversal of the 《Saint's Wrath》 ended and an announcement was made in my head.

　The staff that was pure white had turned into a large red-black staff, and the statue of the divine goddess at the tip had been transformed into a devastating demonic statue with the form of a demon.

''Nito, the door is open!''

　Zeke's voice was more animated than before as he announced the result.

'Take care of Aries and Johannes as planned, we'll take care of the rest.......Nito. What's that?
What... what?

　Zeke asked in a suddenly nervous tone of voice.
　When he turned around, he saw the three of them in front of him, frozen in place as if a shocked expression was strapped to their faces.

''Nito. It's........''

　Eliza is confused by something.
　But then she finally realized that it was this big red-black cane.

'Oh, what. I'm not sure if it's this one. This is, well, I don't know what it is because I'm using it for the first time too--
"Hmm, what?　This is the master?　It looks so poor.''

　At that moment, I heard a voice from my right side, where no one should be.
　But when I turned around, there was no one there.

'The cane!　The wand is talking!
A cane?

　Eliza fussed as if she was upset.
　As I was told, I turned my attention to the large cane in my right hand.

''What a dumb face~, is it safe to say that this is a master?''
....

　--The cane is talking.

"Hey, do you hear me, you're bleary-eyed?

　A statue that looks like a demon carved into the tip of a staff.
　It's talking to me.
　In other words, the thing is talking in front of me now.