As we began to ride Alfeca again on the path through the puddles, the landscape around us suddenly began to change.

'This feeling ... it seems to be shifting.
It's a little surprising when you don't have any landmarks or anything to show for it... and then all of a sudden there's a fog.

　Igarashi-san, who is riding alongside Sion, says with a slightly nervous look on his face. I wish it was an enemy attack instead of a transfer, but since this is the only direction we can go after Shirone's footsteps, we have no choice but to proceed with all our might.

　After a while, the fog begins to fade - it was daylight on the second level, but nightfall is falling on the third level. This was the first time that time had changed significantly after moving through the levels, and everyone was surprised.

　The three levels of the 'Primary Color Plateau'. A vast wasteland that was so vast that it was impossible to see what lay ahead, with several oddly shaped large rocks, sparsely covered with greenery. This scene had some resemblance in my memory.

　The Guiana Highlands, an unexplored region in South America. It was daytime when I saw it on film, but I wondered if that place would look just like this at night.

　Large rocks were lined up to form a path, like a row of columns. If you look further left and right, you'll see a sheer rock face - a canyon-like terrain.

''I wonder what kind of demon lives in a place like this...''

　Elitia leans in behind me, probably because of the limited visibility in the dark. The pigtails touch my cheek and tickle me slightly, but Elitia doesn't seem to mind, so I don't say anything.

'I'm a night owl, I can see in the dark,'
..........

　It seems that Melissa can see well in the dark, perhaps because she has inherited the abilities of the 'warcat'. Theresia seems to be able to see as well, but I wonder what her vision through the skull mask looks like - is it like a night vision scope, or does it look like normal daylight?

'Sion seems to be able to see well, too. I wonder if he's following my scent... can you guys follow me back a bit?
"Woof.

　As Igarashi-san said, Sion proceeded with his nose in a place that seemed to be empty. Will he be able to follow the footprints and so on?

　I proceed cautiously while being wary of my surroundings. I can't see a bit more clearly either - the moment I think about it.

　The current situation
　Arihito's Eagle's Eye is activated, and his ability to grasp the situation is improved.



　With the exception of owls and other nocturnal species, birds are under the impression that they are blind at night, but apparently not so much. We couldn't see as far as we could in the daytime, but we were able to get a clear view at once.

　As far as the surrounding terrain is concerned, the only thing that moves is a small creature. There was no sign of a demon, but I couldn't find any sign of Shirone either.

''.......Wait. Theon's appearance is........

　Sion stops at a certain spot and cowers in place, circling around as if in trouble. Igarashi-san gets down and talks to Sion, but he doesn't move any more.

''Sion-chan, what's wrong?　Are you saying that Sirone's trail is broken here?
Kuhn.

　Theon also looks confused, licking Igarashi-san's proffered hand and getting into a prone position. When we catch up with them too, we get off of Alfeca and pay attention to our surroundings to see what's going on.

　Melissa crawls to the ground and starts looking for clues - and after a moment she stands up and gives a small shake of her head.

'The faint footprints that were left are broken. No signs of leaping or anything like that.

　Looking at the trees growing in the area and the oddly shaped rocks that were cut almost vertically, he couldn't even see any signs that Sirone had come this far. But Theon had certainly followed the scent of Silone to this point.

　For that matter, it looks as if he just disappeared here out of nowhere. (Or....)

...It's like a godsend. Maybe he was caught by a flying demon or something...?

　Igarashi-san says while looking up at the sky - a black and white night sky with a light haze and a hazy moon. The monochrome sky, which does not look like a plateau of primary colors, feels less real than the usual labyrinth, and more like a fairy tale world.

''It's hard to imagine that a searcher of Shirone's level would be caught without a way to accomplish it, but judging by the circumstances, it's possible,''
''Yeah well if we've been kidnapped by a flying demon, we have to find it quickly. But we'll have to search a pretty large area.

　If you can't even narrow down the direction you're looking for, you could be stepping on a completely futile footing.

　And another possibility - it could be that Shirone herself has disappeared herself and is in hiding in order to avoid being tracked.

　It may not be impossible for him to travel to one level with the return scrolls and get out through the gap. If that's the case, should we also think about escaping rather than searching this unknowable labyrinth in the dark?

　Something small fluttered across my vision.

　Under the black-and-white night sky, "it" appeared in front of us. A lone, blue butterfly--.

　The demon we encountered◆
　? Blue Butterflies H: Level 3 Neutral Unrecognized Resistance Drop: ?

This little butterfly is a demon...?
Neutral........that means it's like a demon that's not hostile.

　Looking at the license display, these butterflies seem to be quite numerous in the vicinity. However, they just flutter around us, and there's no sign of them doing anything.

''........just to be sure, do you want to try to take them down?　If Cyrone had met this demon, there's a chance he might have some clues.
''No, you can't attack them. Neutral demons will have their karma rise if you attack them from us.
'Really?　Karma isn't something that only goes up when you break the guild's rules....

　Butterflies don't come close to us. As advised by Elitia, attacking something that shows no signs of attacking us at all would normally be considered a bad act.

　--But the number of blue butterflies flying around the area is increasing by one or two.

　And for some reason, the butterflies that began to increase in number gathered around Elitia, who told them not to kill the butterflies.

''Elie-san, you'd better get away from this place. No matter how harmless they are, if they're demons, there might be some danger...''

　It was when Igarashi-san was about to call out to her.

''........Elitia?''
"...I'm not...

"--Warn the contractor. ...to warn the contractor that the demons appearing in the vicinity

　Elitia mutters something. At the same time, Ariadne warns me - before it all reaches my ears.

''.........No.......I'm not a murderer.......!
Eritia!

　Current Situation
　'? Blue Butterfly H activates Guilty Feel → Target: "Elitia
　Elitia activates Slash Ripper and Blue Butterfly H avoids it.
　Eritia attacks neutral demons → Eritia's karma increases.

　The demon that was displayed as neutral did something to Elitia - that was all she could think of.

　After telling her not to attack, she herself pulled out her 'Scarlet Imperial Sword' and slashed at the butterflies that fluttered around her. The attack seemed to have hit, but her sword was cutting through the sky.

''--Eritia, get a grip!　This demon is bad, let's get out of here for once!
No ... no ... it's too late ... I ...

　What is happening to Elitia? She holds her head as if in pain, and the blue butterflies flit around the area in increasing numbers as she watches, as if to accuse her.

''Rear Kun, the fog is coming from over there...!
.....
"Contractor is advised to leave the company temporarily. If you do everything in your power to leave now, you can get away from that fog...

　Alphecca warned - but Elitia, surrounded by blue butterflies, didn't hear us, or she just stood there and fell into self-destruction.

'Eritia, we're getting out!　Elitia!
Isn't that right........?

　Igarashi-san is aware that Elitia's karma has risen, and he stops himself from trying to attack the blue butterfly.

　If you attack from us, your karma will rise, but the enemy will do something to you - it was too naive to think that such unreasonableness was not something that would happen easily.

　If we were to lose our attention, the labyrinth would change its look in an instant and try to eat the searchers. Elitia's companions probably fell victim to it as well - if only.

(We will definitely all get through this........!

'-Silone was probably consumed by that fog!　If we could bring him back, we'd have no choice but to go to the same place!
'Yes ... well ... We have to prepare ourselves too........before that.......oh, Ellie-san!

　Igarashi-san brushes aside the butterflies and rushes over to Elitia. Elitia is distraught at one point, but in response to Igarashi-san's voice, she lowers her raised sword with no effort.

　The fog that fills my vision is just around the corner. I abandon the idea of using the 'Scroll of Return' and face the rushing fog.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. You have probably hit the bull's eye on what you seek in that fog.
'Yeah I hope you're right. We're still in the situation we're going to turn the tide, I promise.
"As you wish.

　We hear Alphecca's voice. We hide in the shadow of that body - just before the fog pushes in, Igarashi-san, holding Elitia, just barely jumped into the place where we are.

　The number of butterflies flying with the fog had increased to a vastly greater number than before - they didn't come close to Elitia, and after the fog covered the area, they flew up into the sky.

　From the shadow of Alphecca, I watched the butterflies that filled the sky, creating a giant shadow puppet. Countless butterflies gathered together and changed into a single giant butterfly - as if they were a single life form from the beginning.

　The demon I encountered◆
　☆ Pity Phantom Winged Butterfly Level 8 Special Resistance Drop: ?