This is it.

At the end of the second level of Elysian.
　At the top of the wall, there's a small switch.

Normally you wouldn't notice this. It's...
At the end of the hall, top left-hand corner, it's covered in dust. I don't see any sign of anyone touching it.
Stay away from Iris and Odette. I'll check them out.

　This is the remains of the 'Ancient Magical Civilization'.
　We don't know what kind of tricks are in here.

''I'm going to take a closer look.

　I activate my 'flight' skill.
　I kick the ground and float up softly.

　The switch that Dick and the others found - or rather, this is a round protrusion.
　As Iris said, there are no signs of human touch.
　It's located in a corner of the wall near the ceiling, and there is moss growing around it.
　There's no light to reach it, so you would have to be very careful to notice it.

"But you said the second underground level has been thoroughly explored.
I don't think it's going to be every inch of it.
There's a place around here where the demons come out. You can't run away if you're trapped in this dead end. That's probably why not many people came here.
That's the way it is.

　I touched the switch with my finger that had been dipped in 'Magic Blood (Myster Blood)'.
　Just to be safe. I'm going to apply a "hacking" on it.

"─ ─ Structural analysis of magic: completion........is this the switch for the hidden door?

　It's a mechanism that works when you put your magic power into it and push it as hard as you can.
　It's not that different from the ones I used to use in the old castle's hidden room.

Dick and the rest of the bat army are on alert for the area. If there are any demons behind the door, protect Iris and Odette.
"'It's all right.

　An army of fourteen bats walled off in front of Iris and Odette.
　I put my magic power into it and hit the switch.


　There was a heavy squeak, and the wall opened.



'Great. 'My Lord!'
There's a hidden door to the corridor. Aren't you sure this is the first place you and I found it?
I don't know.

　It's hard to believe it's been here for nearly 200 years and no one has noticed.
　Did someone notice it and hide it?
　Or maybe they couldn't use it, so no information was left behind....

'You can understand why it's hard to find. The dungeon has a high ceiling, and no magic lights reach the top of the dungeon. You can't even tell a small switch near the ceiling by looking at it.
Bats see things with sounds that people can't hear...
That's too convenient...
What's going on in there Dick and the others, please.

"'Shouchi!

　Half of the bat army dives through a hidden door.
　─ ─ As soon as I thought that, they came back.

''There's a short passageway at the back here!
"There's a door at the end of the hall.
There's no one in the aisle.

It's all right. Let's go.
Yes, sir.
Yes, sir.

　If no one has ever been in the passage, there might be something left behind.
　I left the bat alone (so that he could press the switch when the hidden door closed) and went into the passage.
　As expected, the hidden door closed automatically as we entered.
　But there was a switch on the inside as well.
　We made sure that the door opened there as well, and the entire bat army joined us.
　As we prepared to move on, Iris suddenly opened her mouth.

''I have a favor to ask. My Lord.''
What's up, Iris?
Can you show me how to use enhanced 'physical enhancement'?
Enhanced?　"You mean 'enhanced' twice as much?
'That's it. I want to be able to fight alongside My Lord, too.

　Iris was looking at me with serious eyes.

'I'm a sorcerer too. I don't just want to be protected by My Lord, I want to be more helpful. So, please teach me how to use the enhanced 'Ancient Magic'.
'Okay, but I'm still new to 'Ancient Magic'.
But in a previous life, My Lord taught Alice normal magic.
Regular magic is my specialty, you see.
But he didn't tell me the only thing he knew about 'unlocking'.
If I tell you, Alice will come into my room without my permission.
Yeah.
This is my home.

　There was the sound of coughing.
　Odette looked at me and Iris for some reason.

''Putting aside the story of my past life I would like to teach you the 'Ancient Magic' as well.
Odette?
''If we're going to compete with C-level and above magicians to explore 'Elysium', we'll need strong magic.
All right. I'll see what I can do.

　I don't think I can........
　Maybe Iris and Odette can do something similar to me.

The "Ancient Magic" is activated by chanting and drawing a crest in the air with your finger.
　But in my case, the magic is triggered by simply drawing a sigil with "magic blood".

　It's because I have a skill called the Aptitude for Ancient Magic.
　Originally, "Ancient Magic" is activated by concentrating magic power through chanting and using that magic power to draw a sigil in the air. And because of the huge amount of magic power contained in my "magic blood", I seem to be able to activate it just by drawing a sigil with it.

　When Iris was reincarnated, she was affected by my magic power and is in a state of 'quasi-magical blood'.
　Odette is Odette, and she received a lot of my blood to command Dick and the others the other day. They both have an aptitude for magical blood.
　In order to use their enhanced physical strength in their condition...

Let's start with what Dick and his friends did.
The same way, right?
I will draw the emblem of 'Physical Strengthening' on Iris's body with my 'magic blood'. I'm going to be able to use my own ancient magic to enhance my body at the same time. That should cause double the 'body enhancement' to manifest.
...I see!
'But we'll start with a weaker 'body enhancement'. Also, the crest should be drawn closer to the center of the body. So that you can strengthen it in a balanced way.
Where do you want to be?
It should be around your chest, or maybe just below your collarbone.
I understand. Please.

　Iris untied the ribbon of her dress.
　Then she unbuttoned the collar, revealing the neck and collarbone area.

Since Iris is a family member, she should be able to fit in with my magic. But make sure you don't increase the power too much. Half of the normal 'body strengthening' power - about 0.5 should be just right.
I understand.
I'll draw it between your collarbones, so try not to touch your clothes.
...Well, that's a bit...ticklish.
'It's like we're interfering with each other's magic. You'll fit right in.
Oh it's true. I'm getting warm.
''Iris' blood is 'quasi-magical blood'. Alright, here we go.
'Thank you. My Lord........what?　Odette, what's wrong?

　I noticed Odette's face as if she was smiling at me.

'No, they looked like two people who were very close to each other.
'Yes. Me and My Lord are good friends.
Is that what you want?　Iris. I said, 'like a father and son (...).'
..................Ha!

　Hey, why are you looking at me with your eyes wide open? Iris.

"Let's start over!　My Lord!
Why?
I just happened to be Alice in my previous life. Next time I'll be properly embarrassed as the Eighth Princess Iris. So please draw the crest again.
Just use your own 'physical enhancements'.
Yes?

　Iris closes her eyes and begins chanting. She draws the emblem of 'Body Enhancement' in the air with her fingertips.

''Activate. "Body Enhancement 1.5!

　With a declaration, Iris kicked the ground.
　Her slender body jumped up to near the ceiling.

''──E.''
That's great. Iris!
"This is the 'ancient magic' of My Lord...

　On the ceiling, with a pompous, thrusting hand, Iris comes down.
　It's not quite double, but it's far more enhanced than the normal 'body enhancement'.

　I'm also relieved.
　Iris--No, Alice doesn't know what she'll do if you let her out of your sight.
　I'm going to have to strengthen it as much as possible to avoid getting injured.

What about Odette?
...please.

　Odette, like Iris, untied the ribbon of her clothes with a swoosh.
　Then, she turned her back to Iris and then unfolded the collar of her clothes.

''In my case.......it will be the same as Dick-san and the others.
'Right. So I think Odette should be a little weaker on the 'physical enhancements'.
In that case, could you use the 'Efreet Bullets' emblem?
I don't mind. You don't mind?
I'm not very good at 'ancient magic' that is flame-based. That's why I want to add the element of fire to my magic with Yuki's help.
Okay, okay, that's it.
..........
Yuki.
What the f*ck?
I'm not your daughter, remember?
I know.
You just have to know.

　Odette looked at me sideways, then adjusted her clothes.

'Dick. What's the trick in this passage?
It's just a big door.
So that means there's more to the story.

　Otherwise, they wouldn't have bothered to make a hidden door.

'Let's go while Iris and Odette's 'additional sigils' are still in effect.
Yeah, well, I see...

　Making sure the two of them nodded, I touched the door at the end of the passage.
　After checking that there are no magical traps, I push it open.

　The door opens with a rusty sound and...



　Beyond that, there was a golem made of stone.


''Vi?　


　The golem looked at us and raised its arms.
　The type that reacts to intruders.

　The golem is in a large circular room.
　In the corner of the room there's a tattered robe lying around.
　It has an emblem that should be familiar to me. That was...

It's the emblem of the Church of the Brethren.

　In other words, this is a hidden passage that was once used by the "Sanctuary Church".