I walked down the magic elevator to the store, but there was no replacement for Catherine.
'You didn't ask if there was a replacement here, and if so, who it was.
　He opened the door to the labyrinth, assuming it was irrelevant since it didn't look like it had been vandalized.

'There's a strange smell from here on out. I can lend you some nose plugs if you'd like?
I'm borrowing it.
　Although she didn't seem to use it, Estia received the nose plug safely.
''I'll give you the holy silver sword and shield. I'll proceed at once, please.''
'Yes. I'll do my best.
　Estia is nervous or unable to carry on a conversation.
I wanted to get my head around such a labyrinthine attack, so I decided to end it quickly.

'That's the zombie. Have you ever seen one?
I saw it in the Empire when I was a little girl.
"...Right. Do you have a ghoul or something?
'There was also some research on the undead in the Empire. I think the people with the highest magical aptitude became wraiths, and the low-level corpses were zombies and mummies, and the high-level corpses were ghouls and dead knights.
'Well. Let me know if you learn anything else.
Yes, sir.

　Is it because I found out that the dark spirit possesses Estia that you feel quite differently than you did a while ago? Or is this the real Esther? I didn't understand.
　The conversation was cut off from there with a plop.

　The smell was getting tighter and tighter as we went down the levels, but our attack speed was constant.
　It took us around thirty minutes to reach the ten levels, and we left the boss room well after.
　Each battle was over quickly, but it took us a while to pick up the magic stones.

''I think there are more demons than yesterday. But let's keep the pace of progress going.''
Yes, sir.
　Estia would respond to him if he approached her. However, he was in a state where he only spoke the minimum amount necessary about himself.
　I wondered if it was because I became a subordinate, but thinking back, I've always answered the questions I was asked.
　I came to the conclusion that he had a personality that didn't want to talk about anything useless.

'Whatever you want to say, whatever you think is wrong with you, just say it. There may be things I can't deal with on my own that Estia and the dark spirits can help me understand.
Thank you.

　It was then that I felt my guard lifted from her happy face.
　Was it because she relied on the dark spirits rather than Estia? From then on, I was able to move through the labyrinth without any strange tension.

''Why would Wraiths appear from twenty levels? Could it be that the labyrinth itself is powered up?
What did you get in the old days?
'Ghouls, mummies, ghosts, skeleton knights and the like. The wraiths were supposed to be after the 30th level but I just have a bad feeling about it. I'd like to clean up quickly, but we'll take a break at the 30th level first.
Okay.
　As reported by the dark spirits, Estia was able to advance without being manipulated at all by the Wraith's spirit interference magic.
　She decided to take a break in the boss room on the 30th level where the dead spirit knight appeared in the Wraith.

''Aren't you tired?''
'Most of the time, Luciel-sama will be defeated, so there isn't much of a tiring factor.
　That's what Estia replied, but she still seems to lack energy.
　
'We've been in combat, and we've been walking around a lot, so you're going to get a little tired, right?
'It's only the civilians who get tired of it. There's a lot of levels out there, and I haven't labored in recent years...
　Aren't you getting comfortable? His current level of speech was on the same level as Kefin's.

''Is it because I have a higher status than I used to have? Or is it because of your daily training? I'm surprised you're not struggling. Does Estia want to fight some more, too?
'That's not what I'm asking... how long did it take you to get here before?
　That question made me think back to my old labyrinth attack. As I recall, it wasn't until almost half a year later that I was able to get this far. It was practically a year and half a year of diving.

''I think it took a few months. I had to prepare in Meratni before I came to this labyrinth, and after I came to the church headquarters, I learned the real life-threatening real battle... I used to be a lot weaker than I am now.
　I looked back at my fond memories and naturally smiled.

'You worked so hard, didn't you?'
'It's a little different than trying my best. It's just that we got over it with the help of luck enough to overturn the barbarism.
　I know it's not all luck, but I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for Dr. Gouhouhou's activation.

You still tried, didn't you?
I don't know.
　I was so desperate to live at the time that I didn't think it was an effort.
　If it's an effort to learn the bare minimum, then yes, but have I grown a little bit as a person in the years I've been in this world?
　I felt it wrapped around my chest as a wedge.


　After the break, the ranks of the undead rose again as we entered the thirty-one levels.
　There were several large beings of wraiths strolling around the red-eyed dead spirit knight.

''I might not be able to help you, so avoid them if you're in danger. On the other hand, if you can afford it, protect me.''
I understand.
　Estia replied and walked out to the Dead Spirit Knight, defeating them with ease.
I was amazed at Estia's fighting ability, but I told myself that I was me, and I confronted the demons.
'It's amazing how you can chop off its head without a magic sword. That's a trick I can't do.''

　I switch out my illusory sword and illusory staff as I proceed to use my purification magic and magic sword to defeat the demons and collect the magic stones.

'The demons that only appeared after the forty levels are beginning to appear. Since we don't know what will appear in the future, we'll take a nap after having a meal at the 40th level. After the nap, we'll traverse the labyrinth in one go.
Okay.
　He didn't struggle, didn't get trapped, and advanced to the boss room on the 40th level with the same speed.
　Then Estia asked me for the first time by herself.
''Luciel-sama, is the labyrinth this easy to advance in?''
'I don't think it's usually possible. It might seem so because this time we are going on without getting lost. It's also significant that I have the map I drew when I hid in this labyrinth before. And also the countermeasures against the demons... for example, it's probably big that I'm taking measures to prevent the Wraiths from interfering with my mind and making me unable to fight.

'Come to think of it, you didn't get lost at all...'
　For some reason, Esther spoke to me out of the blue. There was nothing wrong with that, but it was uncomfortable.

''Is there something you want to ask me?''
"...am I of any use to you?
　You said the same thing earlier, but I didn't know why you had such a strong desire to be useful.

'Let's be honest. I'm sure I could have gotten this far on my own, but I haven't used much of my magic, and I'm grateful. But I've used very little magic, and I'm grateful for that.
Good.
　Esther laughed, holding my hand and looking happy, but I didn't feel anything there.

'I don't want you to loosen up. I've spent six months in this forty-level main room before. I'm counting on Estia and the Dark Spirit's help to make sure that doesn't happen.
　Daring to change my mind, talking about myself while urging me to pay attention, I regained my energy for the battle with the boss.

'Six months........you've lived well.
Didn't you say you got lucky?
'So it was true....I thought you were joking...'
"I'm a no-nonsense liar. I'm going to get fired up.
Yes, sir.
　I have a feeling that Esther is looking out for me.
But I don't think I can determine how far she means it and where she's coming from. But whether or not you make them a squire or not, you don't want them to be afraid of people, that's what I thought.

　

''........I didn't expect to see him again.
What an intimidating effect that demon has on people. It's not normal.
　Even though he's the Dead Spirit Knight King, his intimidation is similar to Lionel's.
　I guess I wasn't wrong in thinking in my mind that I used to think of the Death Knight King, who wasn't this guy, as my second master.
　When I looked at Estia, she was trembling in small increments.

''You can't fight if you're trembling, right? I'll take care of this one, and you'll stay in the back.
I can't believe you're taking on such a monster all by yourself...
'That's why I challenge you. I'm here to tell you if I'm growing up or not.


　The Holy Dragon Spear in his left hand and the Illusionary Sword in his right hand.
　The equipment is incomparable to that time.

　The level should have become strong enough to enter the first three digits of the level.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a great deal more to say about it.
　I felt like I could now go head to head with them as a good rival.


''Church Headquarters S-class healer Luciel, in order to realize your growth, I will challenge my master.
　After a beat, I challenge the Dead Spirit Knight King to a fight.

　A great sword passes by, which I believe even when it's said that everything is a one-hit kill, and the second spear thrust appears in front of me.
　The first attack pattern has only five different variations.
　When I flick that powerful spear thrust, the great sword comes back.

　My body firmly remembered that.
　I received it with the holy dragon spear that poured its magic power, turned it away so it wouldn't hit my body, and spun around to aim at the empty neck with the illusionary sword.
　The Dead Spirit Knight King was going to defend it with his spear and counterattack with his great sword.
However, the sword of illusion cut the spear of the death knight king without leaving any feeling, and with its speed, it cut off the death knight king's head.

''When I finally won after half a year of fighting, I was so happy I could cry, but this time I won in less than a minute.

　My body remembered the attack pattern.

　I definitely remembered those days when I faced off against the Dead Knight King.

　

　Why did I feel like I was making so much progress when I was pushing forward in that reckless manner? I thought I understood that. It was definitely something that the Death Knight King had taught me.

　I realized I'd been making myself up as I went along, more than I should have.

''Luciel-sama, how can you stand up to a monster like that head on? More importantly, Luciel-sama was always out of touch. I didn't know you were that strong.
　I felt like Estia's smiling words made me see through the current me, but I smiled and spun my words at her too.
　'It was just the old me that let me win. Now let's go eat.
　I laughed at Esther, who was scowling, and I was feeling more alive than I had in a long time.