The second day of the school trip.

　I laughed.

'Kukuk...'

What is it, Racel?

　Sarasa called out to me, who was in a good mood in the morning.
　The rest of my friends (except Sheila) looked at me distantly, as if they were sickened.
　No, they looked like they were afraid of something.

'Ra, Lacelle's laughing at me,'
I have a bad feeling about this.
I've got a chill. Can I lie down?

　That's a very rude thing to say.

　In that respect, Sheila understood my psychology very well.

'Brother, you look very happy.'

'Sounds like fun!　Where's the fun factor in that creepy smile?

　Cecil tsked at Sheila.

　But her sister's opinion was right on the money.

　Yes.
　I was enjoying it.
　I was excited.

　Because a piece of information had come to me.

　It happened at last night's banquet.
　We, the students of Chapter 5, were treated to a dazzlingly sumptuous meal by Aeglia Ten Sorian - the Merchant King of the Sow Trading States himself.

　It was mainly seafood, and none of it could be eaten in the Villa Amst Kingdom.

　I and the rest of my friends devoured it with enthusiasm.
　Of course, we're on the lookout for poison.
　We properly used the [Appraisal] of the [Scholars (Professor)] to check for the presence or absence of the poison and ate it deliciously.

　The Azilian Merchant King, who was sitting next to me at that seat, called out to me.

''I heard that this school trip was your suggestion.''

Yes,

I've never heard of a school-wide trip. I came up with another good business idea. Thanks to you. Thanks.

　Perhaps they will suggest a school trip like this one to other countries.
　That's a lot of people.
　They must have thought that they could make a reasonable profit.

　Of course, it's not free.
　This school trip is funded by my adviser's fee, but it doesn't work like this in other countries.
　There will always be those who can't go on the trip.
　That makes no sense.

　I preached to the Merchant King that it was important for all, commoners and nobles alike, to be able to travel.

　The Merchant King listened attentively.
　The face of the Merchant King Aeglia was not that of a king, but of a merchant.

''I see. Then what exactly do we do?'

'Why don't you propose a plan to build up a monthly allowance that's not too much of a burden?　We're here with the whole school, but we're going to limit the people who can participate to just third class students.

Ho...... That's interesting. Lacelle-kun, it seems you not only have magical talent, but also business acumen. Why don't you become my policy advisor?

　A glint in his eye.

　Another policy advisor.
　Every king wants to work on me, don't they?

　Naturally, I say no.
　Then the Merchant King of Aeglia changes his tune.

He said, "Oh, I almost forgot. "Oh, I almost forgot. I wanted to give you something to thank you for choosing my country as your school trip destination.

A gift....

　I see.
　Now you want to try to catch me in a box.
　But I'm still a rich man.
　I wouldn't be intimidated by it if it wasn't so d*mn rich.

As a matter of fact, I already have. As a matter of fact, King Amst tells me ahead of time what you like.

　King Amst.
　What in the world have you brought to this merchant king?

　I braced myself, feeling a little badly.
　I cleared my throat and prepared to say no.

'I thought I'd introduce you to our country's dungeons.

Dungeon!

'And no one has stepped into that dungeon so far. I'm wondering if you might be able to capture that dungeon. What do you think?

"................

Hmm?

I'm coming!

　I lean forward towards the Merchant King.

''Haha........ It's just as I've heard. You seem to have a weakness for the word 'dungeon'. But that dungeon is at the bottom of the ocean.

　An undersea labyrinth!

　I was suddenly intrigued.

　I've been to a lot of dungeons in my life, but this is the first time I've been to a dungeon under the sea.

'By all means!　It's nice to meet you.

　Without thinking, I took the Commerce King's hand and I pleaded with him.


　◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆


　So we cancelled all our plans and went to the underwater labyrinth.

'We were supposed to be exploring the city today...'
I borrowed some money up front for a shopping spree.

　It was Cecil and Relivia who were disheartened.
　It's quite an unusual combination.

What's up, Lelivia? You didn't get into it at the beginning,

　Lelivia is still the daughter of the Dilivan family.
　She has traveled to Sow Trading Country several times.
　She said she was bored with it, but it seems she was being forceful.

''Ugh, you're so annoying. I just wanted to check out the latest fashions from around the country. I just wanted to check it out.

'Fashion?　Oh, you mean the clothes.

　Women like that, don't they?

Well, if you want to go, I won't stop you. I'll send out a chrome to protect you.

'Good!　It's okay, it's not........going around by yourself is no fun.

　With a huff, he turned away and shook his twin-tails.

　Whatever it was, he wanted to follow along.

'Hey!　Lacelle.

　I heard a great voice.
　There's only one person who can talk like that to me.
　It is Borunga.

''Is there a strong demonic beast in that underwater labyrinth?''

I don't know. I don't know about this. I suppose it's possible, but.... You can stay if you wish, Borunga.

No, I'm going.

　I check the sword at my waist.

　Good grief.....
　Why did this year's primary students gather all those cocky, unsophisticated guys?

''Anyway, Lacelle-kun. The submarine labyrinth means it's under the sea, right?　How do you get there?

Hmm?　In the water, but...

　I answered Sarasa's question with a scowl.

　Then Cecil comes in.

'I know that's true. If we didn't have air to dive under,'

'What are you talking about? Why don't you just hold your breath?

What?

　Cecil tilts his head.

　What is there to wonder about?
　You could hold your breath for an hour or so and act on it.

'Hey, Sheila,'

Yes. That's not a problem, my brother.

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!" Sheila, stop it. Aside from you being a freak, we can't hold our breath that long. No. No, we can't all kill each other.

Your brother and I are going to have an affair.

'Sheila, that's not the place to blush.

Can't you guys at least do that?

　I ask.

　Not to mention Cecil, Rowan, Relivia, Matelus and the rest of the demon group are nodding their heads.

　Mmm. Is that so?
　Well, now I should add to the curriculum so that I can move underwater for an hour or so.
　The frequency of underwater combat is low, but there's nothing better than experiencing it.

　I finished my notes on the curriculum after I returned to school and immediately left for the underwater labyrinth.

　With my students in tow, I come to the beach.

'If you're going to dive in the sea, wouldn't it be better to wear a swimsuit? Lacelle.

　Cecil looked at his uniform.

'No need.'

　You can't hold your breath underwater.
　If it's difficult to fight in the water, then it's pointless to have less defensive equipment like a swimsuit.

'Then how in the world do you do it?'

　Sarasa asked me.

'This is how,'

　I turned in the direction of the undersea labyrinth I had been exploring beforehand.
　I took up a piece of stick that was nearby.
　Then I activate my magic.

[Transformation]
[Hardness increases]
[Object acceleration]
[Muscle mass strengthening]
[Acceleration]
[Steel body strengthening]
[Maniacalization]
[Attack rises]
[Wind attribute granted]
[Attribute enhancement]

　The piece of stick in his grip immediately turned into a stormy blade.

''Oh!''

　I could see the students raise their voices.
　Even the vassals who had been watching the sandy beach leaned forward and looked at me.

''Wow!''
"Eleven activations, so easy to do...
Way to go, Lacelle.

　Everyone was surprised.

　I don't want them to be surprised at this level, though.
　It's about time that the third class students, in particular, learned to control their double-digit multiple activations.

　I say powerful words.


　"Iron and fire, the blow that crushes even the gods!


　He swung his magic sword down.
　He dropped the huge sword into the sea, tearing through even the heavens.
　It rose up a large splash of water and became a wave, lapping at the beach.
　The tremendous sound was like a rumbling of the earth.

　Eventually, everyone looked up.

''Wow........''

　I found myself gasping for breath.

　The sea had split in half.
　Beyond that, an entrance that seemed to be an undersea labyrinth had opened up.
　A path had been created in the sea by the impact of the tremendous magic sword.

　But if this is the case, it will close one day.

　I activate more magic.

　[Frozen Prison]!

　It's the current head of the school, Vael's eighteenth.
　A wide range of ice-attribute magic slid over the sea.
　Immediately the area froze.
　Naturally, the cracked sea is also frozen.
　It was cloudy and white, and even in the sunlight, not even a single drop of water floated on the icy skin.
　It was just a cold wind blowing in.

　The icy road is completed in the hot air of the Sow Trading Country.

''-----!

　Everyone was in raptures.
　Some were even pale in the face.

　A student clears his throat.

'We're getting stronger, aren't we?
Yeah..... But--
When the hell are you gonna do that?
I guess you can catch up with Mr. Lacelle.

　It's going to be hard.
　The only person who can surpass me is myself.

　And so I was leisurely advancing into the undersea labyrinth.