The stone floor is lined with beautiful squares as if it were a gridiron. There are some cracks and chips in the stone, but even so, we know that this is not just a stone tower.

　Schwartz crawled around on the floor. Yuri turned an indescribable face at the crown prince, who crawled around with his eyes like plates.

''Crown Prince Schwartz. Have you found it by now?''

　When I ask him that, Schwartz opens his mouth without turning around.

''........wait a moment.

　At the grumbling voice, Yuri silently looks around. I'm not sure if it was deliberately structured that way, but there is no place in the castle that is higher than the ladies' pavilion. It's hard to find, and it's like they can't attack it except from the air.

　However, Ditsen is busily scouting the courtyard and the castle where Aifa is supposed to be, hiding in plain sight.

''The sounds coming from the castle have diminished... if Aifa has been captured...''

'I can still hear the soldiers' anger, and isn't it all right?

'Yes, well no, either way, we have time to look for the elves too, so we have to get under here soon...'

　Ditsen looked at Schwartz's back as he mumbled and muttered, and at the right time Schwartz found something and called out.

''There it is........''

I've got it!

　Ditsen instantly reacts to Schwartz's muttering and rushes over. Yuri also peeked out from behind Schwartz with a curious look on his face.

　A thin coat of arms was carved into the floor that Schwartz was touching. Schwartz puts his right hand on the crest carved into the stone.

　Then he muttered something only in his small mouth.

　Immediately after, the gap in the neat and orderly rooftop floor glowed pale and white, and some of it slowly descended.

　With a heavy gong sound, the stone floor descended downstairs one after another, and before I knew it, a spiral staircase had been created there.

''........Great. As expected of the Blau Empire.''

　Without saying what, Ditsen gives a strange compliment, and Schwartz, standing up, shakes his head lightly from side to side.

''This tower was built by the first emperor. I'm told that the now lost magic technology is also used. I have no idea how it works.

　After saying that much, Schwartz quickly went downstairs.

''Eh? Is that okay? Wha, the trap or....

　While Ditsen gets scared, Yuri looks at the spiral staircase with an amused look and follows Schwartz.

''........Well, well, it's okay. Maybe.........''

　Seeing that they had gone down first, Ditsen muttered that with a dry laugh and went down the stairs.

　The stairs don't seem to be very long, and a slight glow began to appear as I ran my hand down the wall. It's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for when you go to the beach.

''It looks like we're already there,''

...Why is it so quiet?

It's so serene, isn't it?

'That's not what I meant...'

Oh, we're here. The door is open.

　Yuri muttered softly and looked through the doorway. On the other side of the door was Schwartz's back, and on the other side stood three female soldiers with their swords drawn. They were lightly armed soldiers, wearing only breastplates and small hands.

'It's a trap after all!

　Ditsen let out an involuntary sound, and the female soldiers looked up with grim faces.

''You're with this guy?''

Stay where you are.

　Two of the three men calmly move and walk towards Yuri and the others.

''Ko, let's force our way through here.

　Ditsen mumbles that in a small mouthful.

　However, there is no sign of anything happening.

''Jujutsu can't be used........!

Oh, it's true.

　Yuri curiously agreed with those words. An unplucked sword is attached to its neck.

''This place is lined with a sealed magic formula where magic cannot be used. You need a sorcerer to come to this house, but once inside, the sorcerer is powerless.

　The soldier who pointed his sword at Yuri's neck replied, and the other soldier pointed the tip of his sword at Ditsen's face.

I don't know how you guys know about this entrance. I don't know how you know this is the entrance, but I'm sure you can hear all these people fighting outside. I will not let you get away with this.

''Since you can't use magic, you can't escape even if you wanted to...''

　Ditsen said that with a cold sweat and raised his hands to indicate his intention to surrender early.

　And Schwartz, who was standing with his back to Ditsen and the others, opened his mouth.

'Who do you think you are pointing your sword at? I'm the Crown Prince.

　When Schwartz told him that, the soldier glared at him, his eyes narrowing sharply.

''Nonsense. You are the Crown Prince? It is impossible that we, the SS, do not know about this. What are you trying to do to deceive the royal family? You're not going to make a revolution under your banner, are you?

　When the soldier sounded like a fool, exuding anger, Schwartz sneered and stepped forward.

'If you think it's a lie, you can call my mother, the Empress Merleela, Her Majesty.

　At that word, the faces of the soldiers twitched slightly. They exchanged glances with each other as if they were unconscious, and the soldier standing in front of Schwartz opened his mouth.

''Well you know what will happen if you claim to be the Empress's child and it turns out to be a lie, don't you?''

Just go get him.

　Schwartz uttered the same demand again in a low voice, and the soldier closed up and the wrinkles between his eyebrows deepened.

　When the soldier remained motionless with his eyebrows knit together, a voice called out from behind him.

''........Schwartz-sama?''

　And at the sound of his voice, everyone turned to look behind the soldier.

　Then, there was a young elf woman standing there, who could be called a girl. She was an elf with short golden hair, dressed in what looked like a blue dress. As usual, she had a beautiful face and a slender figure, but her eyes, unlike the others, were bright green. Looking at the elf, Schwartz's eyes narrowed.

''Fearatola. As I thought, you haven't changed.''

　When Schwartz muttered that, the elven woman called Fiatola frowned and opened her mouth.

''........Schwartz-sama has changed a lot, hasn't she? What has happened in the time we haven't seen each other for just a few years?''

　Fiatola asks with a subtle expression of surprise and confusion. At that, Schwartz snarls with a face like he's bitten down on a bitter bug.

''Well it's a long story. Let me see your mother first.

　Fearatola nodded shallowly with a difficult expression to Schwartz, who answered that with a dropped tone, and turned to Yuri and Ditsen.

''But those people...?''

　As he speaks, Yuri turns to look at her with a soft smile and opens his mouth.

''We've come to see you, Fearatola-sama.

...for me?

　Yuri nodded widely to Fiatola, who asked him back while upset.

''Yes. We are Aifa-sama's messengers.''

　When Yuri replied that, Fiatola blinked her eyes.

''Aifa's...? Did he know I was here?

　As Fiatola's eyes turn black and white, Ditsen appears from behind Yuri.

''Um........for now, can you let me lower my sword? I'm just too scared to do anything about it...

　Ditsen muttered to himself as he looked across the edge of the sword that was still pointed at him.