A few hours ago. The Zamelites were searching for the Elysium.



The party of the Zamelites had reached the fourth level of Elysian.
　They were not exhausted at all.
　If they used the hidden passageway at the second level, the stairs at the back of the third level were easy to find.

　The party consisted of a C-class mage, a D-class and an E-class mage, and the other party members were hired by the Adventurer's Guild.
　There are also two vanguards hired by the Adventurer's Guild. One luggage carrier.
　In addition to that, there was Flora-Zamel, who was wearing a prototype armor.

With the replica lords, there's no need to fear the monsters. I'm sure you'll be able to find it. Flora-sama.
Yes, sir.

　Flora-Zamel wears a pure white armor.
　It's a replica of the ancient artifacts made by her grandfather, A-class wizard Zamel, and the Zamelites.
　It was developed with the same level of ability as the legendary Lord's Wheel.
　It's still in the prototype stage, but it's much better than the usual armor.

The difference between it and the Lords is that it doesn't have a helmet.
　The difference between it and the Lord's Armor is that it doesn't have a helmet, and its joints are made of leather and cloth instead of metal.
　I heard that this can't be helped because it's still under development.

''You have received instructions on how to use the 'Replica Lord', right?

A C-level sorcerer from the "Zamelites" said.

''Yes. It's an enhancement of the wearer's (so-chakusha) physical abilities and the generation of a defensive field using the wearer's magical power. Your grandfather told me to protect myself with this.

　Flora nodded.

　Her grandfather was probably being considerate of her.
　He gave the party a C-class mage so that Flora could dive into the lower levels.
　The reason why the party leader is Flora is to add a foil to her career.
　In addition, my grandfather gave her a prototype of the "Replica Lord" to protect her.
　If you complain about this, you'll be blindsided.

Flora-sama has already accomplished the feat of defeating the 'Giant Ogre'. Furthermore, if she achieves an achievement at the fourth level, she will be able to advance to the C level without an exam.
I'm not looking to be promoted in a hurry.
What do you say, Lady Flora?

　The C-class magician shouted.

''Now that the 'Cain Faction' is growing in power, the 'Zamel Faction' must gain enough strength to counter it. You, old Zamel's granddaughter, are the one who should be the standard-bearer of the new era!
"...I'm not much of a...
You defeated the Giant Ogre.
'I've said it a million times!　That it wasn't me who defeated that thing. That it was the black shadows flying in the sky that saved me!　And yet.....
'I've decided to take credit for the 'Zamelites'. You can't change now. It was Lady Flora who defeated the Giant Ogre!
Ugh.
"We 'Zamelites' are a group of people who share Old Zamel's desire to 'master magic'. Even if we don't reach the 'Ancient Magical Civilization', we want to see with our own eyes what the 'Sanctuary Church' saw... we all have that kind of desire.

　Glaring at the bewildered Flora, the C-level sorcerer said.

In other words, the 'Zamelites' are the ones who are most passionately involved in magic. In order to make that known, we need results. Old Zamel will create this 'Replica Lord' and Lady Flora will wear it as a young bannerman and achieve results. It has to be so!
''........Okay. I'll do everything I can....

　Flora-Zamel looked at the door in front of her with a clatter of armor.
　It's a double door. The fourth level of Elysian is located beyond this.

　The fourth level is the 'graveyard'.
　The graveyard is lined with countless gravestones, and the Magic Guild's scouting unit said that the undead are nesting there.
　However, the reconnaissance team cannot advance beyond that point.
　Other than the area around the entrance, it's an unknown world.

''You all have countermeasures against the undead!
""Yes!"
Yes.

　The other members of the group and Flora-Zamel respond to the words of the C-class sorcerer.
　The warriors in the vanguard are equipped with magical weapons for the counter-undead.
　The sorcerers are preparing the 'Ancient Magic' that is quick to activate and the magic of purification. As soon as the door is opened, they are ready to unleash their magic.
　A bottle of holy water is packed on the back of the luggage carrier.
　Holy water is a valuable item that can damage the undead.

The Flora Party of the Zamelites were fully prepared.
　Even if they couldn't step on the fourth level, they should still be able to do plenty of exploring.

''Well then, let's begin the search (Tangsaku).

　On the signal of the C-class sorcerer, Flora-Zamel and her group stepped into the fourth level.
　And then──...




　I'm currently at the reception desk of the Magical Guild (from Yuki's perspective).



It was supposed to be a good enough measure.

　This is the building of the 'Magic Guild' reception desk.
　The C-level magician of the 'Zamel School' who sat on the floor continued to speak.

'What I didn't expect was that the ghosts that lurked on the fourth level reacted unusually quickly to the 'Ancient Magic'. When the 'Ancient Magic' chanting and movements were performed, the ghosts swarmed in large numbers. There were also golem-like demons. It was as if someone was leading them towards us.

　The people in the reception area are quietly listening.
　So are me, Odette and Giselle.

　Some of the employees ran out of the building earlier.
Didn't I hear them shouting to "Old Zamel" and "His Highness Cain" to call....

　The party that was about to head out to explore the lower levels has now stopped moving.
　It's as if the "magic guild" has stopped functioning.

While we were dealing with the ghosts, Lady Flora-Zamel was possessed by a high-ranking ghost that emerged from the ground, or perhaps she was possessed by the armor she was wearing, the replica lord. Immediately afterwards, Flora-Zamel-sama went berserk with her armor.
'Holy water!　What happened to the 'Ancient Magic' of purification!

　The C-level magician shook his head at the voice that rose from the surrounding magicians.

''I told you. I told you that if you try to use the 'Ancient Magic', the undead will come rushing in.

　The C-level sorcerer continues to speak as he squeezes out.

　That Flora-Zamel had begun to attack them from behind.
　That she was crying out.
　That the armor still continued to run out of control.
　That she eventually ran off behind the fog.
　I was going to chase after her, but was blocked by a large number of undead.

　The C-class sorcerer of the "Zamel Faction" continued to speak while holding his head in his hands.

"....Flora-sama should be on the fourth floor right now, please.... Dispatch a rescue party. The information on the Replica Lords clad in Lady Flora would be leaked to the guild, but that cannot be the price of her life. Therefore...


　When I mumbled, the people around me looked at me in unison.
　........I should have said it in a whisper.
　It was just so quiet that the others seemed to hear it too.


'Oh, yeah. That's right!

　The C-class magician shouted.

"Flora's replica lords were modeled after ancient artifacts. There is a possibility that the Ghosts were attacking them for that reason...
You're done.

　Suddenly, a voice rang out.
　Several men were standing at the entrance of the building.
　As if being protected by a young sorcerer, an old man with white hair was looking at me.
It was the head of the 'Zamel School', the old Zamel, an A-class magician.

''I don't think we should be talking too loudly about the mistakes of the Zamelites.

　In a muffled voice, old Zamel said.

'I will arrange a rescue party. But I will not allow you to talk about it out loud.
'Lord Zamel!　Your grandson is missing!
I know!

　Old Zamel shouted.

'I know ... I know ... I know ...'

　The hand that had slipped out of the robe was shaking.
　Desperately, he seemed to be suppressing his emotions.

''But we can't let others take that armor that we made...''
I'm sorry for your loss. Lady Zamel.
'I will soon dispatch a party of your choice in the 'Zamelites'. Please put your mind at ease.

　The sorcerers surrounding old Zamel speak up.
　They help Flora-Zamel's party of C-level sorcerers to wake up.
　They take him away, hiding him from the others.

'................................The one who rescues Flora will receive a reward from me personally.

　Suddenly, old Zamel stopped and turned around.

''Well I will do whatever I can to help. Receptionist you may put it on the official record that the A-class magician Zamel made that promise.

Dear Mr. Zamel!　Don't you dare say such a thing!
"We, the Zamelites, are here to rescue you!　I will!

I know!　But my grandson ... and Flora alone ... are left behind in the basement ... oh ... ...

　After saying that, the A-class sorcerer Zamel and the 'Zamel School' sorcerers left.
　After they were out of sight, the people gathered in the guild started to make a commotion.


''Old Zamel promised a reward!
But it's the fourth level underground...?
''How are we going to deal with those who are swarming us in response to 'Ancient Magic' and 'Ancient Artifacts'...?　Can you explore without using 'ancient magic' or 'ancient artifacts'.......?


　No one wants to leave the building.
　Everyone puts their luggage on the floor and discusses it.
　It looks like we have stopped exploring today.

　It's not surprising.
　The greatest weapon of a sorcerer belonging to the guild is 'Ancient Magic'.
　If using it makes the undead come flooding in, then countermeasures are necessary.
　Either forcefully break through with the powerful Ancient Magic, or explore without using the Ancient Magic.
　Either way, it's not something we can move on quickly.

　We went out of the guild's reception area for a while.

"Yuki.
What's up, Odette?
What are we going to do?
My shield and sword are magical items that Roderea-sama prepared for me. You can fight the undead. But.....
'You can't take out a large number of ghosts on your own, Giselle-san.

　Odette and Giselle speak to me in hushed tones.
　Giselle has a serious look on her face.
　But Odette's has a gentle smile on her face.

''After all........it will be difficult to rescue Flora-san.

　After saying this, Odette looked at me.

"If there is someone who has a mysterious blood that keeps the undead at bay, or someone who has the ability to annihilate the undead in one fell swoop, it's a different story.
We can keep it at bay, but it's hard to annihilate it all at once.

　I said, "If you use a magic to annihilate the enemy, you might end up wiping out the people you want to save.

"If you use that kind of magic to annihilate your enemy, you might end up wiping out the one you want to save.
Okay. So, just one more thing to check.
What the f*ck?
How do you expect the rest of the party to keep up with that 'undead-less person'?
"You can put blood on your clothes and armor. It will help you avoid the undead.
With a demon?
As long as they have blood on their wings, they'll be fine.

　My Myster Blood has the power to purify.
　When wielded on a sword, it can slay ghosts, and when worn on clothing, it can avoid the undead.
　However, you still need to replenish your blood every certain amount of time.

''........That was right. My Lord's blood.......has the power of purification.

　Giselle nodded deeply.
　'She knows about my past life,' she said.

''If Yuki is going, I'll go with you too. However, you should ask the guild's permission. It is necessary to inform the "Zamelites" that we are coming.
Okay. Also, I'll tell His Highness Iris about it.

　If I make a move of my own accord, the 'Zamelites' are going to complain about it.
　I'm a human now, so let's make sense of the human world.

''I don't want to get in trouble later and be told no compensation.
'What?　Were you expecting a reward?
'Once we rescue Flora-Zamel, we can check out the 'replica road' she's using. Hopefully, we'll be able to build one for Iris and Odette, too.
...I see.
Besides, now that no one is anywhere near the fourth level, we can go on a treasure hunt without a care in the world.
That makes sense.

　Odette shrugged.

'Since it's Yuki, I thought you couldn't leave a feeble girl lost and go looking for her. In a past life, it is likely that they would look for a lost Alice-san. I thought that kind of thing has become a habit.
No way.
'I see. Well, I'll have to ask His Highness Iris about it later.
Let's just leave the failures of the previous life out of it.
He's not planning on it.

　Then Odette laughed.
　Giselle doesn't seem to understand. I'll explain it to her later.

　But.........the fourth level of Elysian seems to be a rather troublesome place.

Ghosts that respond to "Ancient Magic" and "Ancient Artifacts"?
　........Perhaps the dead spirits of the "Sanctuary Church" are involved.
　Perhaps the bishop of the dead spirit is leading the ghosts.

　When Odette and I went to get the holy sword, a bishop of the Dead Spirit also appeared.
　Even though they are dead, they are still obsessed with ancient magic and ancient artifacts.
　They haunt the people of this time period to the point of dragging them around....

　........let's just destroy them all.
　It's hard to get comfortable with those people in this era.

''You look disgusted. Yuki.

　It came out of nowhere.
　Odette pecked me on the cheek.

You're going back to your quarters, aren't you?　You'll surprise Martha and Remy if you look like that.
I'm ... sorry. I'm sorry to bother you.
Don't worry about it. I know how you feel.

　Odette ducked the hem of her robe and spun, spun around.
　Then she looked into my face.

I don't like having your enemies in this day and age either. Let me help you. I am your friend in this time period.

　That's what he said.