Kurt!　What does this mean!

　When they reached the hundred layers, Lara was the first to speak up.


'There's nothing there!'


　And Lara scurried around and continued to scurry around.

　Just as Lara had said, even though they had arrived at the Hundredth Level, there was no sign of any items or demons in the room.
　In the center of the room, which was just a large room, there was only a place like a sword pedestal there.

　What is this........what does this mean?

Kurt are you saying that there are items hidden in there that we can't find again?
No,

　I shook my head at Marise's question.

　Thinking of this possibility, I immediately used my detection magic.
　But nothing spectacular responded.
　The empty room on the hundredth level was clearly alien to me.

''Is this what the lowest level is like?''

　Cynthia asks this time.
　I shake my head at that too.

''That's not true. The lowest level of the labyrinth is the one where the best items or the strongest demons are placed.''
So someone else has already taken it?

　Lara nods her head.

''........I can think of that possibility. But no one had ever reached the lowest level of the 《Treasure Labyrinth》, hadn't they?

　Everyone nodded in unison at my words.

　It's possible that by the time we got here, someone had reached the hundredth layer and taken an item....
　But it's a funny thing because the story is that the hundredth layer here was unexplored until now.

''It's no wonder I'm thinking about it here.

　I scratched my head.

Let's go back to school.
Back?　And you haven't got anything yet?
'Yeah. There's no way I'm going to stay here any longer or get any more items out of this place. We need to talk to someone who might know about this.

　Besides, if he wanted to come to the Hundredth Level again, he could use the Secret Path (Secret) to reach it quickly.
　I don't want to use it too much, but since I had just come once, I could also use transfer magic.

'Wait, Kurt. Who seems to know about this........

　As I started to walk away, Marise was the first to follow me from behind.
　I didn't look back and replied to her.

'It's the headmaster.'

　The same as in the past.

Oh, it's Kurt. What's going on?

　When I went to the principal's office, he had a stick in each hand and his eyes were on the floor.

　There was a small ball on the floor.
It was called 'Goduf', one of the sports of this era.
　I had heard that the headmaster loved Godouf as a hobby and worked out even while on duty...but that's not important now.

''Headmaster. I need to ask you something about the 《Treasure Labyrinth》.
A maze?　Even Kurt doesn't understand some of the things you don't understand. Good, you can ask him anything you want.

　And the principal propped his stick up against the wall and sat down in his chair.

　Originally, one student coming to the principal's office so casually is a good idea.......but it's me and the principal's relationship.
　The principal has told me in advance, "If you have any problems, please come to the principal's office anytime.

　I walked up to where the principal was sitting and continued to ask him questions.

'I reached the Hundred Layers today.
"...hmm?　I'm sorry, Kurt. I'm a bit hard of hearing these days. Can you say that again?
I've reached the Hundred Layers.

　I repeat, and for a moment the headmaster freezes.
　But soon, his eyes widen as they pop out of their sockets.

'Yeah!　Oh, you've reached the hundredth level!　I thought it was an unexplored land that no one had ever reached, except for one(ish) person...
So that means we're not the only ones who've reached the Hundred Layers. Isn't that right?

　At my question, the headmaster closed his mouth.
　And then, in a mysterious tone of voice.

Yes, I never thought anyone would reach the lowest levels of the Treasure Labyrinth... or that Kurt would ever do it again.
'I don't want to talk about that. When I went to the lowest level today, there were no items or anything left behind. The first person who got there took the items by the roots... that's what happened.

　I asked, and the headmaster nodded honestly, "Mm," he said.

How. That was thirty years ago...

　The headmaster began by telling the story of a certain someone who first arrived at the lowest level.

"Thirty years ago I was still the principal of the magic school, and a woman came to me.

　She said to the headmaster, 'I'm sorry.


''I'm sorry. I had to capture the first hundred layers of the Treasure Labyrinth.


　And.

'That's pretty light...'
And why did you apologize for it?

　Lara and Marise chimed in.

''That's the kind of person they were. Besides........the 《Treasure Labyrinth》 is also used to educate the students. I guess he was worried that he might discourage his students from doing something about the fact that he, an unrelated person, had conquered the hundredth layer.
'Is it because the students think that if they go to the lowest level, there might not be any items or anything left behind...?

　At my question, the headmistress moved her head.

'And she continued.

''I'll take the items from the lowest level. I would like to meet him once, so tell him to come visit me then. If I like the kid, I'm willing to give away the item from the lowest level.''

　And...

　Hmm. I see.
　The items in the underground maze are the first to go, and those who are late have no reason to complain.
　That's why I thought it was inevitable, but it seems that it's still too early to give up.

　Besides, in this era, how could someone reach the lowest level of the Treasure Labyrinth?
　My curiosity about her is beginning to grow.

''Where is that person?''
Hmm. Well, that's the thing...

　With that, the headmaster took a piece of paper from the safe.

'She gave me this map. She seems to live there. However, it was thirty years ago...

　However, that's the only clue we have now, so we'll have to rely on the map.
　I receive a slightly yellowed map from the principal.

'Wah-wah!　I don't know what it says!
Is this ... is it an ancient script?
Cynthia doesn't know either.

　And from the side, Lara, Marise and Cynthia also look at the map.

The actuality of this is that it's a very good thing that you can't read this level of information, and that you have no right to reach me. The map written in ancient script, so to speak, must be an ordeal for her.

　A test........
The "Secret Path of the Treasure Labyrinth" also has that aspect to it.
　Today is a day of many trials.
　But...


But..." "I can read the ancient script. I believe she's not far from here, in the valley of Sokihemaa.


　What the humans of this era call 'ancient writing' is a language that was taken for granted a thousand years ago.
　I sift through the map in an instant and pass it on to Lara and the others.

'Kuh, Kurt!　It's amazing!
Speaking of which, you.... you once deciphered the ancient script on one level of the Treasure Labyrinth...

　Lara spluttered, and Marise opened her mouth with an ache.

'Kurt's not only strong, he's savvy!　 Does she live in such a place?

　And the headmistress didn't seem to be surprised, but I felt sympathy for her.

　An infestation of vicious demons?

　I mean it's not that great a place to be!

　When you wake up from sleep, the demon is right next to you.
　It's the perfect training ground.
　I wanted to see her right now.

''Then I'll go right away. Lara, Marise ... and Cynthia, do you want to follow along?
Oh, yeah, of course.
There's no way I'm going to leave from here!
Cynthia is going to follow Kurt.

　Apparently the journey with the three of us would continue for a while yet.

　Reading the map, it looked like we would be able to reach the valley of Sokihemaa in a day.
　Apparently she lives at the far end of the house there.
　

''Speaking of which, Headmaster. What's her name, then?
Hmm.

　The headmaster stroked his moustache and spoke her name.

'Avril. Also known as the Great Sage, it is said that few people have seen her. If you could meet her, I'm sure she would be Kurt's bread and butter.

　Averil the Great Sage, huh?
　Thinking about her now made my heart skip a beat.



　.........out of the principal's office.

'Come to think of it, thirty years ago, you said you were still the headmaster of the school.
I guess so.
Then how old is that headmaster, anyway?

　I had to twitch my head at Lara's question.