Keti, Kefin, and the former slaves returned when they had finished cooking.
　They offered vegetables and other items, and when we offered the spices, a yellow cheer came from the dwarven old ladies.
　After that, I was having a congenial cooking discussion, but it turned out that Esther was completely incapable of cooking, and I was completely out of the mosquito net.

I started asking Ketty and the others about the state of the cave.
'How was it inside?'
The demon was getting stronger.
''Only there are so many of them, and they don't disappear like a labyrinth, leaving behind magical stones. It wasn't easy to explore.
　So we're just going to have to keep going while we collect the corpse?
　Even if you want to transfer the magic sack...it is not designed to be transferred to a slave.

So, inevitably, I'm the one who has to go and collect the demons?
　
　No, if the former slaves are active........

''........What about the former slaves?''
Unfortunately, it looks like it would work above ground, but underground it would be a self-destruct mechanism.
It's not very wide inside. It's not very large inside, so it's hard to see how many people are working together, and it's hard to move around.
Well that's true. Former slaves, you will guard this place after your break.
　Well my wish was denied.
　Well, I knew it because the two of them had a dark look on their faces........

'We're going back to being slaves again?'
Or are we going to be forced to suicide attack a nest of ant demons?
　They were scared, but I decided to demand one thing of them.
'I promise not to treat you badly if you keep this place and two more holes firmly in place.
Good.
We will defend ourselves and win our freedom.
"O
　The former slaves were so excited about it, but we had no intention of letting the criminal slaves and war slaves go free.

　Thus, after the meal break, we and King Rockwell decided to take a nap.
　We also instructed the dwarves in each hole to take turns and eat their meals.


　When we woke up after a few hours of napping, we started to charge into the hole.
'Let's go then. But first, anyone want a nose plug?
　Lionel and the others immediately raised their hands.
　King Rockwell and Esther, who had never heard of Object X, nodded their heads.

'Well, that's all right. This will turn any smell into clean air, so you two can use your noses.
　I handed them all a nose plug.
'Are you sure I don't need to go inside too?'
''With Grand-san here, I feel safe in protecting this place. And the people of the Dwarf Kingdom think so too. The former slaves should listen to Mr. Grand! Then you may smell a little odd, but don't worry about it.
Okay.

　Thus I was plunging into a cave I did not want to enter.

'Do I just have to shine the light like this?' Esther spoke up.
'Yeah. Let me know right away if there's anything that's bothering you or that you think I can do while we're moving.
I understand.
　I asked Estia to take the role of shining the light in the second row.
　King Rockwell, who has the ability to turn a small circle, took over the lead, while Kefin, Estia and Ketty lined up in the second row from the left, with me and Lionel at the back of the line.

''There are a lot of corpses, but if you look closely, the demons are small, too.''
That's true. But it will gradually grow from the junction.
I think demons are going to show up.
I'm on it. We'll set up an X at the junction and proceed.
　When I tell Ketty and Kefin that, they can feel the tension between them, and now King Rockwell and Esther ask me.
'Is that object X as big as it is?'
'And just by putting it down, are you going to weaken the demon?
It just stinks. And it's enough for a demon to avoid. You can drink it when it's all over. By the way, if you waste it, though, you'll be penalized by the wise man's oath.
...is it worth it?
'Then why hasn't it spread?'
I suppose it's because I always have to finish it.
Well then, Your Majesty.
Of course, I can drink it all right.
　When I said that and laughed, they paled a little.

　The expression on their faces even before they could smell it I immediately knew what to make of it. And I'm pretty sure it's not a good feeling.
　As we progressed through the cave, the number of demon carcasses began to increase.
　I'm going to put the entire carcass in my magic bag, but Keti and Kefin started to voice their doubts.

That's funny. I should have given him a little more warning.
'Indeed. It is indeed extraordinary that there are so few of them.
　The two of them said it was more of a case of the demonic ants being tossed out.
　Since the two of them were not the type to talk about things in a strange way, they thought of the case where it disappeared like a labyrinth if left for a certain amount of time, and the case where the ants brought it back.

''........Maybe they're bringing it back. .........If I think of it that way, it's possible that the demons will become stronger in the future. If that's the case.......then I should have been the one to come in from the beginning to collect the corpse.
''That is something no one can understand. In fact, Master Luciel is in a dangerous hole like this, so he has no one to be ashamed of.
　Lionel called out to me, and I felt a little lighter as they all nodded in agreement, and my body felt a little lighter.
'Thanks. Let's do what we can first.''

　I left the demons coming out to the three vanguards, and I just focused on casting a purification spell while collecting the corpse.
　When we reached the fork, I paused as I was about to put down a barrel of object X to keep the demons out and proceed.
''Hold on a minute.''
　I indicated the opposite of what Ketty and the others were going to do as I knocked down the illusionary wand, asking God which way I should go.

'I know it sounds childish, but please take this route this time.
　Ketty and Kefin looked at each other and laughed and agreed.
'I don't care which way you go, Nya.
We're a follower of Master Luciel.
Thank you.
　I told them with a laugh and decided where to go.
　King Rockwell and Esther looked at that as if they were watching something strange, but I didn't care and continued on.

'There are more demons out there,'
　As King Rockwell uttered that, as we moved to the right on the forked path, more and more demons began to appear in our path, though weak.
　I was retrieving more and more of them, but the ants were reacting to the missing carcasses.
'But their movements are a little different than they were before, Nya.
...for sure.
　The evidence seemed to make Keti and Kefin feel uncomfortable as well.
'With this many ant demons, maybe they can't even get enough food. If the demons are also eating, it's no wonder that there are individuals who are cannibalistic and trying to become stronger.''
''Well it looks like this place isn't going to be a labyrinth of corpses that will disappear like a labyrinth.
　Lionel seemed to get caught up in my words.

'Maybe it's going to get stronger and stronger from now on, so we'll proceed with caution.
"Ha.
　From the side that said that, we found another fork in the road and I set up the same object X and decide on a path to follow with my illusionary wand.

'The passage is gradually getting wider and wider.
　Esther suddenly said that. The road is definitely getting wider, I had that feeling.
'Apparently the number of enemies is increasing as well.
　The three vanguards jumped out when King Rockwell told them so.
'There doesn't seem to be any attacks from the rear, but there may be some demons coming towards us from a different passage gradually,' Lionel tells me.

''What makes you think that?''
'It's normal for an organization to protect its kings and queens. There didn't seem to be any hierarchy in the labyrinth, but I've heard that in general, even demons have a pecking order.
What are your sources?
Jasoan, this is the Gaius brothers.
　I didn't think I'd be gathering information before I knew it.

　In the town of Yenis, he was relieved to find out that Lionel hadn't wasted any time either, and at the same time, he was once again impressed by Lionel's greatness in being recognized by the dragon race.

''Well, shall we collect it?''
　As I begin to collect the carcasses, the ants are aiming at me and attacking me.
　But with the three of us holding most of them back, there aren't many demons coming at us.
'Even I wouldn't have a problem with one or two of them.
　I turned my illusionary staff into a sword and cut through it.
　The demon attacked from my blind spot and was crushed by a spear thrust from behind.

'Didn't Whirlwind teach you not to be proud?
'I trusted that Lionel wouldn't miss it. It was a little scary, but...
　I'll admit that I was proud that I could manage if I didn't die from a blow even if I was injured, and as expected, I was too careless this time, but I knew that if anything happened, Lionel would come to my rescue.
　...I was acutely aware of how much I really trust and rely on Lionel.
'It must be senility that kills you,'
Yeah. So protect me.
I'll do my best.
　When me and Lionel laughed at each other and turned forward, Estia was shaking.

'Estea, if you're afraid, light up from the back of the line.
............................
　I try to call out to him as I take down the attacking ants, but Esther opens her mouth first.

''Male friendship is good. Ah, so it's a master-servant relationship this time! It's a good look.
　He didn't seem scared at all.

'If you get tired, just tell me. I will always be your shield and your sword.
　I was so happy to shine the light.
　I made up my mind to attack it as something she didn't have.

　And so, two more branch roads led me to an open area, where I could see bipedal, large ant demons eating dead ants at various points.
'A higher species?'
There's a few too many of them.
'We can't read the opponent's abilities, so if you try to hit them all at once, you may struggle.
　It was true that the bipedal ants, unlike the other ant demons, were as large as goblins, but they didn't feel the pressure.

'Lionel,'
　I hand over the Great Sword of Fire and give the order.
'Lionel, blow up the demons, Keti, assist Lionel, Kefin, guard me as I collect the carcasses, and King Rockwell, escort Estia here.

I could fight you, too.
'I know, but for some reason I don't feel like we're going to struggle that hard here at all. So let's leave it to you.
　Reluctantly, King Rockwell compromised.

　Thus, the battle with the higher-level individual, the demon, began.