We stepped through the lava field and into the next layer.

'This is ...'

　I look around and raise my voice.

"It's like a theater.
I guess this isn't the only place in the maze.
"A strange place...

　Lara, Marise and Cynthia also wandered around looking around curiously.

　A theater is a place with seats and a stage, where events such as plays are held.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a few of them in the capital as well, and all of them are very popular every day.

　It's just like that, and we're standing in the "audience seat".
　We were standing in the "audience section", looking down at the stage and wondering what was going on.


"I'm glad you're here.


　I heard a man's voice.

　I looked and saw that a spotlight had been shone on the center of the stage and someone had appeared there.
　The head was a bird and the body was human.
　He was dressed in a tuxedo and his attire was calm.
　Hmm, this is........

"A demon race?

　The demon tribe shook its head as I spoke to him.

''Good answer.''
I didn't know there were demons in here. Most of them can get to the lower levels by defeating you, wouldn't you say?
'Ho ho ho, I wouldn't do anything so fussy.

　The demon tribe laughs generously.

''There is only one thing I would like to suggest. Will you unveil a 'song' that can impress us?　........that is.
Me?

　Lara nodded her head and made a pouting face.

　That was the moment.
　One after another, demon tribe appeared in the auditorium, where no one had been sitting until now.

''Squeak!''

　They scream.
　They look similar to the demon tribe standing on stage, but they are smaller and look like their children. But they are much smaller, and they look like his children.

''Well, we're surrounded by demons!
Kurt!　We have to fight now!
Cynthia I'll do my best.

　Seeing that scene, Lara and the three of them get into a battle stance.

　If they're suddenly surrounded by the demon tribe, it's no wonder they're reacting the way they do.
　However.

''Don't worry, all three of you. They have little or no fighting ability. That's right........they're still in their "chicks" state, aren't they? There's no need to be that careful.

　I moved my mouth to reassure the three of them as I analyzed the demon tribe that had suddenly appeared in the audience.

''What do you want?''

　Again, he asks the demon tribe standing on the stage.

''I told you. Impress us with your 'song'........

　The demon tribe fished up the corners of his mouth in a grin.

''I'm sorry to be late, I'm Amut. As you may have guessed, those in the audience are my children. We are demons who love to sing. It's not easy for us to look at the songs, but if you can impress all of us, I'll show you a shortcut to the lowest level.

　The demon tribe - Amto spread out his arms and continued to do so.

　
　But still, it's a song.
　It's not like fighting or comparing wits. It's a pattern we haven't encountered in the world a thousand years after this.

　But.

''Interesting. I'll give you a ride.

　No matter what happens, I will step on the hurdles that stand in my way, and I will move on.

"Kurt. Are you a confident singer?

　Marise asks.
　I blurt out, "Huh.

'I'm not that sure about singing. Even if I did sing, I doubt it would turn out well.
''Then........why did you so confidently accept the match!

　Marise shouts out and shoves me.

'It won't matter if I don't sing. Because.........I'm not here to conquer the dungeon by myself. I'm here with all of you.

　Then he looked at the other two.

Wow, I'm not that good at singing either!

　Lara flapped her hands in front of her.

'I'm ... well I learned it as a culture when I was little, but I think I'm as good as humanly possible.

　Marise answers with her arms crossed.
　That leaves..........

'How's Cynthia?'
Cynthia?

　As I spoke to Cynthia, she squeezed my hand in front of her chest.

'Yeah I'll try.
That's encouraging. So, Cynthia, can you do that for me?

　Kokuri and Cynthia nodded.
　I used transition magic on Cynthia and let her transition up to the stage.

'You're the singer?'

　Amuto gives Cynthia a ridiculous look.

''Yeah....''
'Then sing it at once. But I don't think you'll ever be able to satisfy us.

　Amto smiling impatiently.
　Even for me, it was a movement that made me uncomfortable just by looking at it.

".........!

　Cynthia places her hand in front of her chest and takes a sigh of air.
　Eventually......

♪ ♪

　He sang out quietly and slowly.

'Ho....'

　I can't help but admire it too.

　Cynthia is played and echoes throughout the entire place.
　With her small body, Cynthia can't necessarily produce that much volume.
　However, the song's calm and relaxed pace makes us.... and Amuto and the others close our mouths.
　It's tempting to listen to Cynthia's song all the way through.


　But the fun time passed in the blink of an eye.


''Hmm........''

　At the end of the song.
　Cynthia bowed her head in a small way.

"'Ky Ky Ky Ky........

　When I looked around again, I saw that all the children of Amt were in tears of emotion.
　Mm, it seems that Cynthia's song had safely touched everyone's hearts.

　Except for one(ish) person(s).

''Hmph!　It's quite a song, isn't it? But it doesn't quite move me, does it?

　Amto says as his face contorts.

　But it's obvious that he's upset.
　He didn't expect Cynthia to perform the song so well.

'This is not the way to go, Amt. It seems to me that you listened quietly while Cynthia was singing, too. What are those tears in the corners of your eyes?
....!

　When I pointed it out to him, Amto hurriedly wiped his eyes.

'Wow, if I tell you I'm not impressed, I'm not!　We've won this battle, haven't we? Because your only condition for victory is to impress us all. Ho ho ho!

　Amto smiles high.

　And.

'Let the price of losing the game be paid by your 'deaths'.

　And then he attacked Cynthia standing next to him.

　As expected of a demon tribe. It's quite fast. It's not even Cynthia has been able to fully react.
　But.........there's no way she's going to allow me to do that.

"I'm not so sure about my singing, though.

　Just before Amto hunts for Cynthia's head, I activate the magic I prepared in advance.

　Then.

''Gu, guaaaaaah!　Hey, what's that song about, oh my God!

　Amto grabbed his head and began to writhe in agony.
　Eventually, Amto couldn't stand, and he began to writhe on the ground in agony.

I have a gift for you. How do you like it, are you impressed?

　I used my transposition magic to transfer to Amto and ask him that question.

　But there was no answer from Amto.
　He was doomed.

"Kultor!　Cynthia!　Okay!
What the hell is going on?　The demon race suddenly began to suffer, but...

　Lara and Marise also rushed over to us from the audience.

'What? I was just emitting sound waves on a frequency that only Amt can hear. We humans and Amt's children can't hear it, but it's poisonous to Amt himself...

　Then, unable to endure it, Amto had a mental breakdown and died.
　If he refused to admit defeat, he even tried to lay a hand on my dearest friend.
　This much is natural.

"Huh?

　Since I defeated him normally, I thought 《Secret Path (Secret)》 was impossible....　
　Amuto's body disappeared and a dazzling light arose from the spot.

''It seems that if I jump into this light, I can take a shortcut through the layers and go further down. Just like Amto said, the lowest level is next?

The "Secret Path" appeared.
　If this appeared, was it not a condition for the appearance of the Secret, but a condition for the appearance of the Secret, or was it a matter of defeating it?
　Or.

"You were really moved by the song(s) I played. Alright, let's all go.
''I'm sure that's the only thing that's different.

　When I turned my back to everyone and was about to jump into the light of The Secret Path, I heard Marise's tsk tsk tsk from behind me.