From Yuki's point of view...



　That afternoon.
　Me, Odette and Dr. Demeter had come to the second level of the giant dungeon, Elysian.

''The second level has just the right place for magical experiments.
I've heard of it. That's the hall where the slow-moving demons come from.
'You're learning well. Odette-Slay.
My goal was to become a C-level magician.

　Odette said, then glanced at me.

'For now, though, my goal is to see how far our esteemed sorcerer can go.
'That's a tough one. You're going to have to follow along to see it through.
I'll take care of it. On the honor of the duke.
That's something to see. You.

　Then Dr. Demeter and Odette looked at each other and laughed.
　They're good friends.

　Before noon, when I asked her to go to the labyrinth, Odette said yes with two replies.
　It seems she wanted to practice before going to the lower levels of the labyrinth, and so did I.

　We are now on the second level of Elysian.
　This floor is a labyrinth of rooms and passages.

　Because it's being explored by the guild's senior sorcerer, a map exists.
　It seems that if you rely on it, the danger is minimal.

That's why. I'm sorry, but Dick and the others will have to help.
"This is my home." "I'm here to help you." "I'm a newcomer.

　I've got three bats flying around me.
　Dick and two new ones I've made into an errand boy.
　I've got Martha and Remy working on names for them. So far, no names yet.

"Goshujingo.
What is it, Dick?
"Somebody's been fighting with a demon here.

　I found what looked like scorch marks next to where Dick stayed.
　There's bloodstains. It's new.

"Dr. Demeter.
What's going on?
Who else is hiding on the second level?
No, the office staff (Jumkata) didn't say anything. It's just...
"Just?
'Part of the office staff is solidly 'Zamelites'. We try not to let them know what the faction is doing, which is sometimes the case.
Does that mean there's a party that might have gotten in?
The Zamelites aren't stupid. "The 'Zamelites' are not stupid. We'll do what we have to do. Let's go.

　Dr. Demeter stands ahead of me and walks away.
　I've ordered Dick and the others to tell him if they see any signs of people.
　I can't let them get caught up in our magic, you know.




''I'm in this room.

　At the back of the second level, Dr. Demeter stopped.
　There is a double-opened door in front of him.

'There's a 'Black Crowler' in the great hall ahead.
"'Black Crowler' - a giant black caterpillar?
'Yeah. It's an enemy that will appear from somewhere, no matter how you defeat it. I'm not going to be able to get the same thing to happen to you. After confirming that, the transmission of the message is complete.
Are you sure you want to be stranded?
''The Black Crowler'' is a hard one. You can only defeat it with a few sorcerers. So make sure you only have to stall them.
'I don't think that's possible. Dr. Demeter.
What do you mean? What do you mean? The Icicle Needle is the perfect freezing spell to slow you down. You don't think your friend is capable of this kind of thing?
No, no, no.
Okay. I'll try.

　I stepped forward, taking Dick and the others with me.
　Slowly, I opened the double-opened door.
　Inside - there was. It was a huge, pitch-black caterpillar.

　Its length is several times the height of an adult. It's even bigger than a carriage.
　The surface of the body is covered by a black shell.
　I heard it was slow to move, but...?

"Vuuoaoaoaoaoaoaoaoao!

The Black Crowler is in rough shape.
　Or rather, it's got people inside. Fall down.
　One of them is a former C-level wizard named Alec Keells. The other is Flora-Zamel.

　Alec-Keels is blue-faced and bubbling.
　He seems to have been poisoned.

　It is true that caterpillar-type demons are poisonous. As long as you don't get too close to them, it should be fine.
　.........What is this guy doing? What is Alec-Keels doing?

"Hi. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Stay away from me. Don't come over...

　Flora-Zamel is desperately releasing the ancient magic of fire.
　But it's being played by the shell of the Black Crowler.
　The only reason he's not running away is because Alec-Keels is down.

The Black Crowler is slowly closing in on them. Not good.

I'm calling in a rescue.　Dick and the rest of you, activate your magic at my direction!
"'Yes, sir!'
'I'll hold the demon back as instructed. Odette and Dr. Demeter, in the meantime, rescue the two of you!
'I understand!　Yuki.
'What?　Huh?　Why are there two 'Zamelites' here!

　I jumped into the room.

'Zumomomomomom!

The Black Crowler looks at us.
　His red eyes rolled up in a frenzy.

"The caterpillars are hard. They're long-distance attackers. Get close enough and you'll get poisoned.

　I gave a signal to Dick and the others.
　At the same time, I threw my staff filled with Myster Blood (which I had bought a new one after I returned to King's Landing).

''Activate!　"Icicle Needle.
"'It's on!'

　A large number of ice needles flew out from my hands, Dick and the others' wings and wands.



''Vmomo-momo-momo──!



　The 'Black Crowler' that was about to attack Flora-Zamel stopped moving.
　In the meantime, I approached Flora-Zamel and Alec-Keels and pulled on their bodies.

　The emblem of "Boosted" is drawn on my left hand.
　I'm not going to be able to move two people, but I can manage to pull it around.

"What are you doing here?　Flora-Zamel.
I'm sorry.
We'll talk later. Take Alec-Keels to Dr. Demeter and the others.

　I keep sending the ice needle flying at the giant caterpillar.
　Me, the three bat wings and the ice needles fired from the three bats' wings and the two staffs completely envelop the guy.
　I can't even see the "Black Crowler" in the ice storm from six directions.

　That's amazing. ''Freezing Blue Needle''.
　A large number of tiny ice needles, spreading out in great numbers.
　It's as if a small blizzard is erupting from the wings of me, my staff and Dick and the others.

''──Vumo!　'Vummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!'

　Moreover, the persistence is amazing.
　Because it doesn't consume a lot of magic, the emblems on Dick and his friends' wings are also very effective.
　The ice needles we shoot out draw a beautiful six-pointed star.
　It's truly an icy ward.

"...Guumo.................

　There is a tinkling sound and the caterpillar's legs begin to freeze.
　At the same time, his shell too.

"Wait a minute!　The 'Freezing Azure Needle' is an 'Ancient Magic' for stalling!　I've never heard of freezing a demon in six layers!
So I told him. You can't keep me here.

　Odette sighed behind me.

'I'm sure Yuki and the messenger will use their collective magic to take them down.

　Odette's right but this method will take a long time.

　The reason I learned the Freeze Ancillary is because I wanted to freeze the surroundings to stop the Royal Horseman (Lord).
I'm sure you'll be pleased with the results.

　I have other magic plans for defeating it.

"On your right hand is the 'Icicle Needle' emblem. ''I'm going to draw the new Force the Earth emblem on my left hand.

Icing Needle is a magic that flies ice needles.
The Force the Earth is a magic that flies spears of rocks.

　They have one thing in common: they both have a needle and a spear - something sharp.
　What happens when you combine them?

''Simultaneous activation. 'Hyoketsu Ao-shin' and 'Jishin Ranbu'!

　I invoked two 'Ancient Magic'.



　The ice spear that shot out from the ground skewered the Black Crowler.



"GGyaaaaaaah!



　Piki, piki piki.

　The entire body of the "Black Crowler" pierced by the spear froze in an instant.
　As it was, the demon's body crashed and shattered.

".........What was that?
I'm sorry. I guess I couldn't chant the 'Freeze Ao-shin' that my teacher taught me. The movements and chanting of 'Earth God Dance' mixed in with the movements and chanting like that.
'No, I don't think it's going to happen but can you do it again?　How is it reproducible?
''I don't know. I'm using 'ancient magic' through a messenger, so maybe something has changed.
Yeah, right. Either way, you're gonna have to come along for the ride later.

　Dr. Demeter nodded.
　'Right now, we have to rescue Flora-Zamel and Alec-Keels first.
　If it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have had to force ourselves to defeat the 'Black Crowler'.

'Flora-Zamel is safe. Alec-Keels it looks like he's been poisoned by the 'Black Crowler'.

　Odette looked at Alec-Keels and said.
　Dr. Demeter is taking out a leather bag (kawabukuro). He says it has an antidote in it.
　He gave Alec-Keels a drink of it and sighed with a sigh of relief.

''........Flora-Zamel.
Huh.
How did you guys end up here?
Well Mr. Alec-Keels is not a bad person.

　Flora-Zamel looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"As a 'Zamelite', I was told by my grandfather to make a difference. He told me to keep an eye out for you, who would be my rivals, who are the same age as me.
Did you take out the Black Crowler first and then try to interrupt him?
It's the least I can do.
"Alec-Keels got too close and got poisoned by the Black Crowler, I guess.
.... yes. I'm sorry.

　Flora-Zamel nodded disappointedly.
　But for some reason, she sighed with a sigh of relief.

''Well you know what, Flora-Zamel,''
Yes. Yuki Glossalia-sama.
''Booking a 'target golem' or sabotaging a demon by killing it first - did you really want to do that?
...it's

　Flora-Zamel looked around.
　Alec-Keels is unconscious.
　Odette and Dr. Demeter are staring at Flora-Zamel.
　I wonder if that's why.
　She's making little noises that only I can hear.

I don't want any factional strife. I don't want to be... born in the House of Zamel.

　That's what he said.