*

　As he moved through the dungeon, his neck tingled with pain.
　Furthermore, Fene's ears perked up and two Skeleton Warriors jumped out of the side path.

''Ha!''

　It was Fene who moved first.
　He picks up a pebble that was under his feet and releases it with a sling shot.
　The pebble is enveloped in a jet-black light just in time to let go of his hand or not.
　The pebble hits the Skeleton Warrior's brow as if it were being sucked in.
　In the next moment, jet-black flames exploded and engulfed the Skeleton Warrior.
　It swallowed yet another Skeleton Warrior.
　The two bodies collapsed in tatters.
　A short time later, the flames flare up in a big way and then disappear suddenly.
　The magic stone falls to the ground and makes a small sound.
　Fene tucks the magic stone into her pouch and smiles.

''What do you think?　I'm a force to be reckoned with!

　Fene turned around and twirled her tail around.
　Her whole body emitted an aura of praise and admiration.

'Alright, good, well done.'

　Mako stroked Fene's head with an eagle.
　Fene was full of joy and Laura looked a little frustrated.
　Perhaps reading the air, Liv opened her mouth.

'Oh come on, Fene. Pull yourself together a bit.''
Why?
'If you were to take him out in one blow, Laura wouldn't be able to level him.

　Fene looked at Mako and Laura in turn.

'Ugh, I'm sorry.'
No, no, no, don't worry about it.
Let's get on with it.

　There was a delicate air in the air, but it was blown away by Yuka's words.

''Right!''
Yes, let's go on with the search!

　They looked forward to this, fortunately.
　Makoto and the others regrouped and proceeded through the dungeon.

''You're on a roll.
"Huh!

　Yuka blurted out and Fene's tail stood on end.

'No, no, no, don't get carried away, get carried away...'
...Are you feeling better?
You're up there. Or, you know, riding the wave, right?

　Yuka paused to restate, and Makoto agreed.
　Aside from the dictionary meaning of the word, being on a roll would be a negative nuance.
　A person with a little bit of naturalness in him might be able to feel a positive nuance, but not with Yuka.
It's the kind of woman who doesn't feel uncomfortable with the fact that she can follow up "You're on a roll" with "I've got to shame you for a minute".

' "And yet....
What's more?
Like I said before, I think it's your fault that you've grown to two tails.
Speaking of which, does your tail itch anymore?
I'm fine.

　Fene turned her tail around, twirling and twirling.
　Apparently, that itch was a sign of an increase in tails.

''Do the Foxtail tribe have more tails?
Never heard of it.
In the folklore of the seven evils, there's a story about a fox with nine tails.
I've heard that one before.

　Is it from an old woman - or a girl - who is a sorceress?

'There are stories of a man who ate the world, a goblin king with a million sons, a nation-stealing bandit, a wolf of misfortune, a war demon who keeps challenging the gods, and a fox with nine tails. May I tell you a story, if I may?
Whenever you have time.
So, next time off. My place, okay?
...make it the Golden Fleece.

　I don't know what I would do if I was tempted.

'In Mako-sama's room?'
Downstairs in the mess hall.
Okay.

　Laura said, quite unhappily.

'Hey, Laura?'
What is it?
The lore about the seven evils, but there were only six of them.
Shouldn't there be seven eyes?
It's the Seven Wonders.

　Yuka slowed down and slapped Mako's second arm with the back of her hand.
　And then he picked up speed again.
　For now, Mako decided to go through with it.

'Are there still seven wonders?'
Come on, at least I've never heard of a ghost story at school.

　Maybe she didn't have any friends and didn't have a chance to know.
　I pity her.

"So what lore is missing?
Your genie. I mean, you're lazy.
You don't get to decide.

　I wonder how far he is going to pull this stuff off.
　It was a long period of time when I was running out of energy, but I think I took the job itself seriously.

'But there's no such thing as just laziness!
That's true.

　It's a matter of course.

'So, why?'
'I don't think this guy who says it's too much trouble, too much trouble, is going to stay in the lore. They probably rotted away unnoticed.
I hate that it's so likely.

　All six of the lore looks cool.

Besides, laziness doesn't seem to be a motive.
I'm gonna live a slow life.
....

　'Konnyaro,' said Yuka, her lips curved.

'Well, enough about the lore of the seven evils, what did you do to Fene?
Why would you ask me that?
I can't help but think that you're involved.
Don't be judgmental...
"I kissed my brother.

　Even though we were in a dungeon, an icy wind blew.

''Oh, Anta, for such an age-old child you pervert!
We're not children.

　'Fene,' said Yuka with a sigh.

'Okay?　If I tell you that someone your age isn't a child, these perverts will come up to you.
No, really, I'm not a kid.
I know, I know. That's what all kids say, you know.
In Missus' world, but in this world, she's an adult.
"Legal, Lori.

　Yuka grunted.

'Whatever, you're kind of an expert at that sort of thing, aren't you?
What does it matter?
I don't care.
I'm studying because I'm an honor student.
Study?

　Mako couldn't help but ask back.

'See, you need to get into the conversation with your classmates, don't you?'
I thought you didn't have any friends?
I was able to do reasonably well in my old world, reasonably well.

　I still grunted.

'Are you the one who wants a friend?'
I wanted it so badly that people wouldn't think I was a loner, but now I don't think I need to force myself to make it.

　Well, if they leave you in the dungeon, they will.

''........Mm?''

　Fane jerked and moved his ears.
　Somewhat belatedly, my neck tingles.

'Undead?'
It's like someone's fighting up ahead.
What are you going to do?
I'm not gonna wake up this time. I'm gonna go check on him.

　None of the four of them seemed to have any objections.

*

　They ran through the corridor and emerged into a large space.
　There, the four adventurers were surrounded by countless ghost mages.
　The members were two warriors, one hunter, and one wizard.
　Since the ghost mages were in the air, the warriors weren't very useful.
　The wizards cast magic and the hunter shoots arrows.
　The ghost mage seems to be taking some damage, but the wizard is exhausted and the hunter has only a few arrows left.

''What do you do in a situation like this?''
Negotiate. Negotiate.

　Liv grinned.

''I'll help you if you send me all the magic stones!
"No!

　When Yuka called out to him, one of the warriors replied immediately.

'I guess we're out of negotiations. Let's go home.
Stick with it a little longer.

　They're also putting a lot of effort into it.
　They wouldn't be able to give me all the magic stones.

''Then you're on your own!
Give me half the magic stone!
Okay!

　After all, the warrior answered immediately.

'I thought your terms were too strict?'
Next time I'll cut it in half.

　Liv and Laura stand to protect Yuka.

'Skill and Parallel Activation (Multitasking) x 10. luno cesta agata!　O Periolis the Imperishable, pursue me like a hound--
　As Yuka started chanting, the Ghost Mage turned to me.
　All at once, they release flames.
　Of course, the target was Yuka.
　Mako frowned at the sensation of being seared on her skin.
　Apparently, even if he had magic resistance (skill), the instinctive fear was hard to suppress.
　However, Yuka continues to chant.

''I won't let you!　Impact reversal (reflection)!

　Laura shouted as she held up her shield.
　The shield glowed and bounced off the flames.
　The flames engulfed the ghost mage that was drifting near the ceiling.

'Be the hound that pursues my enemy!　Reveal, homing bullets!

　The spell was completed and Yuka released her magic.
　The branching tracking bullets pierced the ghost mage while changing their trajectory.
　It's exactly like a hound.
　The ghost mages have been reduced to about a third of their number, but they don't seem to have lost their will to fight.

''I'll do it too!

　Fane used a sling shot to unleash a series of stones in rapid succession.
　The moment the stones touched, the Ghost Mage was engulfed in jet black flames.

''It's going to go on and on!

　Fane got on a roll and released stone after stone.
　The anomaly occurred when the number of Ghost Mages was about a third of the way down.

''Ha!''

　Fane releases the stone with a slingshot.
　The stone touches the ghost mage and unleashes jet black fire.
　But the fire is weak.
　The Ghost Mage shook off the flames and attacked Faene in return.

''That's it--Hare?''

　Fene knelt on the spot.

''Look out!''

　Liv shields Fene and takes the flames at her back.
　The fire sparks splash out loudly.

'Re-chant (repeat)!

　Yuka wipes out the ghost mage, as if she had decided that it's not just a matter of time.
　The magic stone falls to the ground in pieces.

''Liv, how's your back?''
"It's just a bunch of burnt hair.

　Liv turns her back.
　The quintessential fire-rat leather, I should say, and there isn't a single scorch mark on the coat.

'You haven't lost any weight, have you?
I'm not that patient, you know. Besides, poorly trained, skinny people make our team less likely to survive.

　Liv smiles charmingly.

'Fene, what's going on?'
I suddenly lost all my strength.

　Fene's breathing is ragged and his face is pale.
　His face is pale.

''You've used too much of the power of the seven evils.
The levels were so high, I was caught off guard.

　When the level was low, Mako felt weak.

'Yuka, please.'
I know.

　Yuka holds out her hand to Fene and uses the skill--Soul Heal.
　A bluish-white light radiates from her hand and Fene's breathing calms down a bit.

''I feel a little better.
Let's call it a day of exploration.
I'll be fine.
I know how you feel, but it's my call. Just do as I say.
Okay.

　Fane winced.

*

"Luno Cuesta Agata!　O Periolis the Imperishable, like a corridor joined together, be the path I walk!　Reveal!　Transfer (teleportation)!

　The magic kicks in and I'm hit with a floating sensation.
　When I open my eyes, I find myself at the south castle gate of Rockwell.
　The sun is leaning heavily, and the city is dyed reddish brown by the city walls.

'Oh, it's you guys.'

　The gatekeeper was unconcerned, as if he would get used to it after the third time.
　But his eyes widened when he saw Fene being carried by Liv.

'Are you injured?'
It's a bit.

　Makoto trailed off.

'Well, I'm glad it's not so bad. The adventurers tend to push themselves too hard, you know. I'm sorry to see you tired, but I need to see your pass.

　The gatekeeper nodded with satisfaction as I showed him my pass.

'Alright, you can go through.

　Makoto and the others passed through the gates and followed the main street.
　The town is dyed reddish brown and the streets are somehow lazy.

There's something nostalgic about it.
You're from Tokyo's 23 wards, right?
Don't say "setup".

　Yuka said, sounding miffed.

'I'm from District 23.
Okay.
Yes.

　Yuka didn't poke at me any more.
　I don't wish it was always like this.
　Laura stopped in front of the church.

'My house is this way. What will you be doing tomorrow?'
Tomorrow is your day off.
I understand. Now, good night.

　Laura bowed and turned on her heel.
　Gradually, her back moved away from her--.

'I was over there too.

　Yuka hurriedly chased after Laura.
　Makoto and the others turned into an alleyway and headed to the 'Golden Sheep' pavilion.
　A nostalgic smell irritated their nostrils.

''I'm home.''
Welcome back. You're early today.

　Inside the counter, Shelly was cooking.

'I can smell the miso soup,'
My husband taught me how to make it, so I made it before I forgot. It's going to take a little more time to make it, though.

　Shelly clapped her hands together and said happily.

'How did you make it with my cursory explanation?'
You knew you were messy, didn't you?

　Ummmmm, Shelly laughs.

'By the way, what's wrong with you, Fene?
I'm here.

　Fene grunted at Liv's back.

'Are you hurt?'
Exhaustion.

　Shelley patted her chest.

'Sleep upstairs until it's time to eat. Liv, do it for me.
Hey.
Forgive me if I don't feel well enough to eat.

　Liv climbed the stairs with Fene draped over her.
　Mako let out a small sigh and sat down in her seat.