After school.
　As declared, I took Lara and Marise and headed to the Treasure Maze.

''Ho, ho, ho, are you sure you're okay?''
'There are demons in the maze!　It's a suicide mission!
I'm fine. I'm fine.

　Besides, I've gotten permission from the teacher properly.

When I stepped into the 《Treasure Labyrinth》, I could smell the unique smell of magic element.
　Mmm, I miss it.
　Smelling this burnt smell reminded me of the time when I had trudged through more than 100 labyrinths in my previous life.

'It's dimly lit ... but it's not impossible to see. It could have been pitch black, but why is this happening?
''And it looks vast. To think that something like this could be spread out underneath the King's Capital...''
Yeah. About the labyrinth, it's like an alternate dimension, so there's nothing funny about it.
"?

　They both nodded their heads at the same time.

'Is this the first time you two have been in the labyrinth?
Of course!
''I'd heard about it, but I was told it was dangerous, and the only place around here is the Treasure Maze.

　Then it's really hard to know.

''Look. A labyrinth is a magical element that distorts the dimensions.
Dimension...?
'Oh ... well ... there's another world out there?　Can I say that?

　For example, let's say it looks from the outside like it's only the size of a house.
　However, once inside, the dimensions are distorted and you are invited to a place that is like a different world.
　Then, it's even bigger than it looks.......some of the layers are even bigger than the royal capital.

''Even I haven't been able to figure out the details. But I think I know more about the labyrinth than the two of you.''
Who is Kurt...?
How do you know that much when you're our age?
And sometimes they don't even know what they're talking about.
Yeah, yeah.

　I can't say it's because I have knowledge from my previous life, so I shut my mouth.
　I'm sure you wouldn't believe me even if I said it.
　I'm not going to be able to get it right.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what to expect.
　And then...

I'm not going to be able to get it right.　It's a demon!

　A small lizardman appeared in front of me.

''Of course. The Treasure Labyrinth is inhabited by demons. But you can harvest materials from demons. You can also convert materials into cash. In other words, it's like 'money'.
I don't think so!

　Marise was pissed.

'I think we could do at least two lizardmen. That's the first lesson. Try unleashing your magic at that thing.
Wow, did I create the demon?
I've never fought a demon before.

　It was only a mere lizardman, yet the two of them were apparently timid.
　In fact, even the two of them would be able to defeat him if they released the Fire Spear five times.
　As for Marise, it's just one shot with the Holy Sword.

　It can't be helped.

''Then let me show you an example.

　I draw my sword and attack the Lizardman.
　I activate Quick Move and Rise Power in duplicate.
　I severed Lizardman's head in one fell swoop.

''How's that?''　Isn't it easy?
It's not easy!
I was going so fast I couldn't see...

　They tsked at me.

'But actually Lizardmen aren't much of a monster. You two should be brave...............see. Lizardman's here again.
Now two of them!
'Yes, you're right. It's something I'm going to have to do at some point... and I've got Kurt to help me out!

　First, Marise held up her hand.

"Gather round my hand, O flame. Become a spear that pierces the enemy and burns them!

　And then he unleashed an attack.

　A spear of fire was released, and it hit and toppled the Lizardman.

'Now!　Let's bring Lara into the fold at once, too!
Okay, okay!　--Gather into these hands, O flame. Become a spear that pierces the enemy and burns.

　It was a smiling move from my point of view, but the two of them managed to work together to defeat the two Lizardmen.

''Yes!　Thank you, Marise!
I did it!　Thank you on my end!

　Even though they had just defeated a lizardman, they were holding hands and making little leaps.
　Smiling.

　But then, as if in a huff, Marise pulled her hand away.

'And of course!　I'm going to be accepted at the top of my class at Magical Academy!　I should be able to do this much, you know!

　I said, trying to disguise my embarrassment.

　By the looks of this, it seems they are good friends after all.
　Right?

Well there are no more powerful monsters in one layer, so...?
What's going on, Kurt?

　From the moment we entered the labyrinth, the detection magic has been in motion.
　A certain reaction caught it.

'Ho. This is interesting.
Kurt?
Will you two come over here for a second?

　Taking the two of them, he chose the right fork in the road and continued on.

'This one is a dead end, you know?　What are you going to do about it?
Has no one noticed it before?
What?
There's a path ahead.

　Instead of answering their questioning looks, I slammed the Fire Spear against a dead-end wall.

　Doggone it!
　With a loud bang, the wall collapsed.

'The wall!'
What do you mean?　The walls of the labyrinth can never be destroyed. That's why I've read in some books that you have to attack them steadily...
Your common sense is wrong. Look.

　Depending on the strength of the wall, there's nothing absolutely impossible to break down the wall.

Does it go on and on?

　With that kind of common sense, I couldn't even discover the path behind the wall.

'Wah!　And it's full of Lizardmen!
They're coming at us!

　Moreover, there were lizardmen swarming in from across the road, heading towards us.

　There are about twenty of them in all.
　Because of the reactions of these guys, I knew there was a way out of the wall.

　Is this too much for you two?

"Good for a warm-up.

　With my back to the two frightened men, I stepped out into the lizardman horde.

　Then I sprinted.
　Entering the center of the horde, I deploy my lightning magic.

'Thunder Storm.'

　I mutter the name of the magic.
　Lightning appears from both of my hands and they head towards the Lizardmen.
　The lizardmen realize the danger and try to run away, but my lightning magic tracks them as well.

　Eventually, in ten seconds.

Okay. The end.

　I saw a horde of electrocuted lizardmen lying on the ground.
　I panned my hand away.

'Kurt, that was awesome!'
'Is Kurt more of an outrageous person than I think he is...'

　The two of you are excited, but please don't praise me for this level of magic.
　It would be embarrassing.

''Is this ... a magic stone?''

　I continued on the path for a while, and this time I found myself at a genuine dead end.
　There was a magical stone there, so I picked it up.

It's a small magical stone, but it might be useful for processing something. Let's keep it.

　Disappointing.
　I thought I'd find a better treasure.

I've heard that a magical stone is so expensive that even a tiny little one can build a house?
'It's Kurt, you know. Somehow that makes sense without having to change the color of your eyes to the magic stone.

　For some reason, they seemed to be stunned by my slumped shoulders.