When we went down to the first floor of the medical center and walked through the lobby, we received a call from Adeline-san through the license - Seraphina-san had finished reporting to the Guild Saber headquarters as a troop leader, but she wanted to talk with us.

''Even so, big brother and sister Kyouka, you two looked like 'buddies' when you were walking together! It was so good that Suzu and I were jealous of each other.
'Yah, I wasn't talking about grilled rice cakes...I was talking about whether you two were like that when you were working together. Misaki-chan already?
'Well, um ... when I was at the office, I used to pull him around ... or rather ... now, you know, like Theresa, I think it would be nice to follow him around a bit behind.
..........

　Theresia seems to be looking pompous - she doesn't seem to have imagined that Igarashi-san is referring to her behavior. It never occurred to me either.

'It would be fun to work with Arihito...I thought for a minute that it would be fun to work with him. The first time I saw Arihito, he looked tired, so I knew it was going to be tough.
'That's what people said to me when I was just reincarnated. It's kind of strange that you're in better spirits now.
I do feel like I'm living my life to the fullest every day. If you had asked me if I wanted to live like this when I was at work, I wouldn't have said yes.

　Sion put his face close to her feet to see if he understood the meaning of Igarashi-san's words. Igarashi-san patted Sion's head and smiled.

''The scenery in the labyrinth isn't all suffocating and scary either.

　Saying that, Igarashi-san looks at me. From my point of view, there's no way that she wouldn't think that she doesn't have a sense of urgency when it comes to a fight, as she doesn't hesitate to make serious decisions.

'Kyouka, you're trying to encourage Arihito. And also us.
'They all didn't deny me the idea of fighting that demon again. For that, I'd like to thank...
'If my brother says so, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth.......is that a bit inappropriate in this case?
"Misaki-chan, I feel like you're becoming more and more attached to Rear-kun... was there anything that could make you that close?

'Well, that's not... that was necessary, and Aricht-san had no choice but to... oh, no, no, it's not, it's really not a weird thing... ...

　Suzuna's panic is probably because she remembers what happened when she raised Ariadne's faith value. As for me, I certainly had nothing to be guilty of, so I can't help but laugh - but would it be considered a problem just because I have a secret to the other members?

''..........''

　It was Theresia who turned to follow up in this situation. She reached out her hand and popped my shoulder, turned to everyone and shook her head slowly.

''Well Theresa, does that mean it's okay because there's nothing going on?　If that's what Theresa says, I guess we can believe it.
'We're gradually learning to recognize Theresa-san's gestures alone, aren't we? We're not quite as good as her brother, though.

　I can look at everyone smiling at me--Theresia, as far as I can tell, her lizard mask was subtly reddening, probably due to her getting too close to me.

'Are you embarrassed just because you patted me on the shoulder, Theresia?　Huh, it's not true at all that you don't have a heart, Ajin-san.
..........

　Theresa doesn't shake her head at that. When she quickly moves away from me, she presses down on her mask - and the redness gradually fades. Does that mean it can dissipate some heat?

'There's more than one reason for us to rush ahead. So we'll have to work hard.

　May the time of the lifting of the sub-human curse come sooner, even if it's only for a minute or a second. We will never lose sight of - the reason why we must not stop.

　◆ ◆ ◆.　

　Seraphina-san and Adeline-san were waiting for us in front of the 'Green Pavilion'.

''I'm sorry, Atobe-dono.
''No, we're fine. We were just about to get ready to head to 'The Beach of the Falling Sun' again.

　Seraphina and the others widened their eyes - but Seraphina quickly regained her composure and looked at me with eyes that held a quiet light.

''........Atobe-dono. If it is possible, could you use the 'Saber Ticket'?
''Se-senpai.......It's a violation of regulations to ask the guild saber to use the ticket from their side. If you do that, there will be some sort of punishment for my senior...
''I know. But the only way for me to enter the labyrinth with Atobe and the others under the current circumstances is to do so... The guild saber is in a position to forbid entry to the Beach of the Falling Sun and restrict traffic. The only exception to this is if you are asked to join the fight by a searcher who has the right of passage.

　As a guild saver, Seraphina-san is in a position to regulate the intrusion into the dangerous situation of the 'Beach of the Falling Sun', and at the same time, she is bound to that rule - that's what it means.

''Having faced that demon, I think I understand the threat it poses. The more people who have experience in fighting, the better.......I know that such an idea is an imposition. Still, I.....
"...Even if you didn't use that ticket, Seraphina-san saved us. With that you want to participate in the tournament, there's no reason to say no.
'.........Mister Atobe, then........
'If you mean that it's a violation of regulations, then I really shouldn't ask you to do it. But I'd like you to participate if you can... that's what I really want.

　Ms. Serafina looks at Adeline. Adeline-san seemed to try to stop her at first, but when Seraphina-san stared at her, she looked away as if she couldn't bear it.

''Ah, already........you know, seniors don't listen when you start saying things. So you say you'll leave me alone and ask me to take care of the rest.
''Well it's just like that Adeline, you know me so well. We've only been working together for so long.
'So even if you say that at a time like that... haha. I want to follow you too, but I also have to deal with everyone else. I think I understand those things.......I've always been a buddy.

　Adeline's words conveyed her deep respect for Seraphina. And that you are truly worried about her.

　Still, the way our party fights will be different if Serafina-san is not there. It was the same when we fought Murakumo - her defense was the starting point, and we had many chances to fight back.

''Adeline-san, we are........''
'I know. I've shown you and your team that you're a promising party and that you're capable of it. So I believe you.

　I am sure there is much more to say than the amount of words I want to say. However, Adeline-san seemed to be trying not to let me take up too much time.

'Captain Seraphina, I will be acting alone for the time being due to personal reasons.
Thank you. I'll contact you upon my return from the maze.
Yes, sir. Captain, ladies and gentlemen, please have good luck.

　Adeline-san saluted and bowed to us before walking away. After looking away from her back, I asked Serafina-san to show me how to use the Saber Ticket.

'This ticket is made of a special metal that acts as a magic tool. Could you hold it in your hand and remind me to call for help?

　I take out the 'Saber Ticket' made of light blue metal and remind myself as Serafina-san told me to do - and then.

　◆Current Situation◆

　Arihito uses the "Saber Ticket" to ask Seraphina to join the fight.
　Seraphina" joins "Aricht's" party

　There are now eight members of the party - we're already at capacity, but we have one more member we'd like to have join.

　Even if you split into two parties, you can still support another party. However, this time, as long as the enemy has means of transportation such as 'Phantom Drift' and 'Sky High', it's too dangerous to ask Madoka to join the party in order to use the 'Effect Item' - I asked her to stay in a safe place! The Law.

'Lord Atobe, gentlemen, for the second time, please join us.

　And there's something I want to make sure about Serafina-san as well - what kind of attack can her shield prevent? After greeting her again, I stop Serafina-san who is about to head to the entrance of the labyrinth.

''Serafina-san, I'm sorry to take up your time, but may I have a strategy meeting?''
''I'm sorry. I volunteered to participate in the war, and yet I acted without permission....
'Let's go back to our quarters, Arihito. There's still time to get back to your quarters.

　We'll take Elitia's suggestion and head to our quarters. We need to tell Madoka that we're going out to explore again, and we need to get Melissa to join the mission.

　◆ ◇◆

　We called Madoka and Melissa from our quarters and moved to the warehouse we were contracted to work in.

　Madoka had refurbished the warehouse, and tables and chairs had been brought in for us to hold our meetings. I asked Madoka if we could discuss the equipment we were bringing into the labyrinth while discussing it - she was already in close contact with the merchant's union in the Seventh Ward, and she quickly redecorated the place.

''You're going into the labyrinth once again brother, is there anything I can do for you?
'It's going to be a pretty intense battle this time. We'll have an opportunity to raise Madoka's level at some point, but for today, stand by. Don't worry, we'll be back.
'Ha, yes I understand. Celes and the others will be there, so we'll all be waiting together.

　Madoka can't hide her anxiety - she's sorry, but at the same time, she's glad that Celes and the others are here. If I had to make them wait alone, I might have asked them to stay in the guild with Louisa-san.

　Everyone takes their seats except me. Madoka had also procured a black board and white ink for the meeting, so I decided to let her use it to explain.

''Then I'd like to begin the strategy meeting. One of its major features is that when you launch a physical attack on it, its attacks will slip through, and its magic attacks will be effective. So if you make a magic attack there, it will return to its original state. I want you to figure that out first.
'Oh, you didn't know that was going to happen?　I knew it was transparent and all that, but...
'After Suzuna-chan shot 'Storm Arrow', I'm pretty sure the enemy materialized... that's the kind of law you had in mind.

　As a rearguard, I can observe the changes in the demons from the position where I've pulled back the most. That's my role to play, so I'll continue to try to understand the situation.

''I mainly do physical attacks, so in order to deliver an effective blow, I'll have to attack them while they're materializing.......''
'Yes ... and I want to include a coordinated attack if possible. What we need to do there is to create a situation where 'physical attacks can pass' and at the same time 'not be counterattacked'. If we force it and get the big scissors swung around, the vanguard could be destroyed in one fell swoop.
One way to make this possible is that when the enemy materializes and attacks me, I will receive it and bounce back.

　Serafina suggests that - but I have one concern.

''I think that's certainly valid. However, the 'Giant Crab' has other means of attack. Two in particular, the 'Bubble Laser' and the 'Soul-Killing Scythe' are particularly dangerous. Serafina-san, I believe those two are magical attacks, can you receive them with your shield, Serafina-san?
''........My 'Aura Shield' is a skill that reduces damage, both physical and magical. However, the performance of the shield is severely biased towards physical defense. I don't think it can even halve the damage of magic-like attacks.

　Because I thought that there was such a possibility, I tried to avoid a situation where Serafina-san would try to receive the 'soul-killing scythe'.

　However, it doesn't mean that Serafina-san will not be able to play the role of a shield for the vanguard - we have one shield that may have a higher defense against magic than the shield she uses.

'Madoka, what shelf do you keep the shield you made from the shell of the Beetle of Disobedience before?
'Yes, it's in the armour rack. It's a very large shield, so I put it on a cart...
'Will you show me? I train myself to handle large shields on a regular basis.

　Serafina-san got up from her seat and was led by Madoka to where the desired shield was located. She held a shield as big as her own height and let out a small surprised cry - as I expected, fortunately, the 'Great Shield of Mirror Armor' seemed to have a performance that lived up to my expectations.