The Cultural Festival was a great success, and a few days have passed since then.
The afterglow of Culture Day was fading, and things were beginning to return to normal.

　It was at that time.


"An underground maze has broken out?


　After school.
　The homeroom teacher, Erika, told me this in the class HR and I couldn't help but shout out.

I've been told that there is a famous 'Treasure Labyrinth' underneath the Magic Academy in the royal capital. I'm sure you'll find that the same kind of thing has appeared on the outskirts of the city. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it.

　Erika-sensei prepared her textbooks at her desk with a thump, and then left the classroom.
　At the same time, the classroom suddenly came to life.

The best thing about this is that it's not just a matter of time. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the bottom of it.
Fairly infrequently but not infrequently enough.

　As I answered Lara's question as she came by, I was reminded of my previous life.
　It's rare for a dungeon to suddenly appear. In my past life, a castle in the sky would suddenly appear and I would go on an adventure.

　However.

''However, it's not a good thing for a dungeon to suddenly appear.
Why?
That's where all the bad magic comes from.

　For example, in the castle in the sky in the previous life, there were seven demons called the Seven Demon Kings living there.
　And even though they were in the sky, they were planning to eradicate the humans on the ground.
　They used their enormous magical power to build a castle in the sky for that purpose.

This is a mythical story, but I've also heard that the Celestial City appeared long ago.

　Continuing on, Marise also came up to me and said in a serious tone of voice.
　''Ho, she seems to know about the Celestial Castle.

''So, there's such a thing!
I don't know if it really happened, though.

　It's true.

What happened then?
''I heard in the literature that the seven demon kings ran rampant and at one point threatened to destroy the world...''

　A thousand years ago, when the Celestial City appeared, I went there and eradicated the Seven Warlords.
　Thanks to this, no harm was done to the human race and the earth.

''But the fact that there is a world now means that someone defeated that Demon King, right?　Who beat you?
'Well the book says that he was 'dead before I knew it'.
Ha, what's that? Why are you being so obtuse?

　Hmm, I rode into the castle in the sky alone, as usual. That's because there's no one to tell the story of that battle.

　One way or another.

Shall we head down into that basement labyrinth?

　Pulling up a chair, I stand up.
　A dungeon is a resource. Some of the treasures there revive after a certain period of time, and adventurers dream of getting rich.
　It can be a good way to pass the time.

Wait, Kurt!　I'll follow you.
Me too!

　Lara and Marise hurriedly followed from behind.

''Mm........Since we're here, let's call Cynthia as well. The four of us are going to attack the dungeon.

　After that, I met up with Cynthia and we headed to the guild.

　◆ ◆

　The entrance was located about an hour's walk from the city.
　Of course, it was silly to walk every single time, so I used transfer magic after asking the guild where the underground labyrinth was.
　At the entrance, there were many adventurer-like figures.


''A new dungeon has appeared...!　My arms are going to ring!
Oh, come on, we don't even know what demons are lurking inside.
What? You can turn around as soon as it's safe.


　Although there are some adventurers who have not been negligent in their vigilance, the majority seem to be on their feet.
　Is this a reaction to the fact that the only decent dungeon in the world until now was the Treasure Labyrinth?
　Rather than being afraid of the dungeon that suddenly appeared...they seemed to be excited about the new treasures.

''No one has gone inside yet?''

　Lara approaches one such adventurer and asks him.

'No some of them are already in.
What about some of them?　You mean the advance party?
'Maybe that's part of it but no one's come back yet. It seems like it's been a long time.

　No one's come back...?
　I have a bad feeling about this.

Then you should have a greater sense of urgency.

　Lara asks a question from the side.
　But the adventurer slaps himself forcefully on the chest.

Don't worry about it. After all, our hero is diving with us.

　I said confidently.

　
　I also hear that this brave man is called the strongest in history.
　That's why they're poised to be brainy even if no one has returned from the underground labyrinth yet.

''Hero-sama?　Just one person?
''No I'm taking some of the 'girls' who were in the guild at the time and hiding in the underground labyrinth. It's like a heroic party for the moment.
Why do you emphasize the 'girl' part?
The girls that the hero has taken are all beautiful girls of the finest quality. To be able to dive into a dungeon with such a beautiful girl..........................Kuhn, I envy you, hero!

　And that adventurer said regretfully.
　'He's a stinking brave man.

'Lara and Marise, Cynthia. Well, let's go and hide in the labyrinth now.

　I've finished gathering some information.
　I was too cautious to go into the underground labyrinth without any information, but... I don't think I'll be able to get any more information.

　So, as soon as I tried to step into the underground labyrinth.


Oh, my God!　A powerful demon is emerging from one level of the underground maze.　Someone come to reinforce me!


　'Oh!' exclaimed the breathless adventurer, as he came out and shouted.

'A powerful demon?'
'Oh that's the Phantom Wolf!
'Ba, that's stupid!　This is "disaster class". How can such a thing be just one layer...

　The adventurers made a lot of noise when they heard the story.

　Hmm, a phantom wolf.
　It brings back memories of the past.

"That Phantom Wolf is vandalizing the offerings again!　Well, it's weak, so I can get rid of it quickly but it's really depressing.'

　and a weak(ish) demon that the grave keepers, who are not adventurers or anything else, often worried about.

　There's no need to get so upset, but in this world a thousand years from now, it will be quite a troublesome monster. I know that much myself, for God's sake.

Kurt!
Let's get out of here!
We have to help...

　Lara and the others looked back at me and said, with a hint of tension in their voice.

'Hmm ... yeah, I guess so.'
'Why are you so unenthusiastic!

　Maryse tsked at me.

　Whatever it was, we hurriedly dove through the entrance of the underground labyrinth and ran to the front of the Phantom Wolf.


''Whoa, whoa, whoa!''


　The Phantom Wolf howls.
　Several adventurers bleeding around him.

''You're okay!''

　Lara ran up to the adventurer and gave him a healing spell.
　The wound is apparently shallow. It would be okay to leave it to Lara.

'Well,'

　I step in front of the Phantom Wolf and look straight at that guy.

'I can let you off the hook now, though, can't I?
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

　I thought it was useless and asked a question in passing, but the Phantom Wolf foolishly ran into me.
　However, the Phantom Wolf is a fast running demon. If you do a little damage to them, they might try to escape at once.
　Let's take care of this quickly.

"Phantom Delight.

　He muttered the name of the magic.
　Then several spheres appeared around the Phantom Wolf.

''Waon?''

　The Phantom Wolf raises a cute voice that doesn't match the earlier yell.

　And then electric shocks shot out of the sphere that appeared.
　Some of the blasts continuously hit the Phantom Wolf.
　The Phantom Wolf struggles to escape, but the sphere from which the electric shocks are fired moves to track it.

　Soon after, the phantom wolf disappeared without a trace.

''It feels familiar by now, but.......Kurt is still amazing.''
Such a ferocious-looking demon in an instant...
'Even Cynthia ... magic I've never seen before ...'

　Not only were Lara, Marise and Cynthia stunned, but the other adventurers around me were stunned as well.

　But I was more distracted by other things than defeating the Phantom Wolf.

''Hmm, something is still wrong with this underground labyrinth.''

　A bad thing is happening.
　Just like the castle in the sky a thousand years ago.
　Let's just get this over with before it's too late.