''Well Ellie, are we still not on the right level?''

　I hear Suzuna's voice and I stop in my tracks. I'm not sure if I should talk to the two of them now - depending on what they're talking about, it could be that they don't want me to hear it.

　If that's the case, what I'm hearing here is not right. But I couldn't just walk away.

''I have to go to the sixth ward, dive into the labyrinth, get a little stronger... and then aim for the fifth ward, or else I'll be in danger, right?
"...I could go back to the Fifth Ward on my own. But I couldn't do it on my own so I sought out my friends.
'Then, now that we can all go to the Fifth Ward, there's no point in getting lost...'
'I know ... I know. I'm terribly happy about that... but...

　Elitia is lost - I thought it was still a long way off until now, because the time when we're all going to move up to the Fifth Ward has come sooner than I expected.

　It's a bigger risk than going to the Fifth Ward by following the normal procedure. We're being called to the Fifth Ward because we're preparing for a situation that requires a little bit of strength - the Stampede.

'I've never been able to fight the demons of the Fifth Ward properly. There were several parties in the brigade, and I was in the third party... When I was attacked by the 'Blazing Monkey Duke', I was level 8 and not strong enough to come to the fifth district. My brother was the leader of the group and it was an organization that my father had set up, so they only let me stay put.
''.........You said that you were attacked by a demon called 'Brilliant Monkey Duke', right? At that time, you were participating in the search.......how was that possible?
And yet, only that day........at the place where the informant told me the cadre was located, the 'monkey douche' made a surprise attack.......

　--The demons make up the organization, which is led by the Duke of Monkey. And the Duke of Monkey has the cunning to deceive the searchers.

　Elitia was caught by surprise by the Duke and lost her friends. It's no wonder that I remember the emotions I felt when I got to the stage where I could go to the fifth ward.

　Even when I was separated from my friends by Shirone, I couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation, even if only for a moment. If I wasn't in time, if my friends couldn't defeat the 'Mud Giants' in my absence - I don't even want to imagine that.

"The Brigade didn't set out to fight the Marauders. It was to obtain the cursed weapon held by the explorers captured by the Duke of Monkeys. When the second party reached their goal, the leader ordered us to retreat. But no help came to us as we were fighting the Monkey Duke.

　The 'Alliance' method was to keep other searchers out of efficient hunting grounds. That's one method, and I can't deny it all, but I fundamentally disagree with the 'Byakuya Brigade's' method.

''........Was it originally decided not to send out a rescue?''

　Suzuna didn't seem to want to hear it either. Although her voice trembled, she still looked straight at Elitia and asked her a question.

''........At first, my brother also tried to cooperate with me to capture the labyrinth. He began to prioritize getting to the upper wards by any means possible, and getting stronger for it. I gathered only those who could agree with that policy and the 'Brigade' became what it is today.
''So... if you've reached your goal, you're saying that it's okay for your friends to drop out...?

　At first, I thought she was upset by the ruthlessness of the 'brigade'. However, the emotion in Suzuna's voice was not the only emotion in her voice.

''I think the other parties should be free to decide what policies they want to follow. I know it's out of line for me to complain... but...
''Well it was the first party that was supposed to be dealing with 'Sarukou'. Since we are part of the brigade, we really have to take the same risk. So, at that time, no one strongly opposed the leader of the group, nor did anyone leave the group. Even the opinions that came from a few people who wanted to save Rulie from being captured by the 'monkey douche' were not a force to be reckoned with for the entire brigade.

　Elitia couldn't give up. How did she feel when the organization she belonged to decided not to help her best friend - just imagining it filled her chest with anger and regret.



　If they had been taken by surprise by the 'Monkey Duke', the ranks would have been in disarray and the party would have been in disarray. However, only one person was caught.

　Elitia's body trembled as she tried to say the reason for this. To stop that trembling, she grabbed her arm tightly.

But........she had a 'morale release' to save the party when they were in a tight spot.

　--Morale Release 'Salvation Hand (Salvation)'. Use your physical strength to damage the enemy and transfer your friends to the entrance of the hierarchy.

We........found ourselves fleeing from the 'monkey bars'. Ruly was nowhere to be found.......I was about to go looking for him, but the Commander.......

　Elitia was knocked unconscious by her brother's hand, and the next time she woke up, she was in a room in the mansion that the 'Brigade' was using as their quarters, her voice trembling as she said.

''If I was stronger, I wouldn't have let Ruilly use the 'Morale Release'... if I could stop him, if I could play the role of the vanguard... if I could use the 'Scarlet Emperor's Sword' better...

　Elitia burst into tears and spoke of her regrets. Suzuna hugs Elitia and doesn't say anything for a while.

　There are some things I just can't understand. But maybe it's a difference in thinking.

　If it was the first or second party of the brigade, there was a possibility that they could have saved Ruury. Is it because they cut it off without challenging it - because they considered themselves lucky that they didn't clash with the 'Monkey Duke'?

　But no matter what the circumstances, my conclusion is still the same.

　Elitia and Suzuna, who had come down to the Eighth Ward to look for their friends, met and joined us.

　We still don't know everything about what happened to Elitia. Still, her purpose became a goal to be weighed from the moment she joined the party.

　We've been saved by Elitia. So we will help Elitia, and that will not change no matter what.

''........Aricht-san.
.........

　I came out under the light of the streetlight. They noticed me and looked at me.

'I heard you two were out and I came looking for you. We got to talk to you on the way out, too.
''.......I'm sorry. Even though everyone agreed with me........considering the strength of the demons in the Fifth Ward, I still.......
''It's too early to go to the fifth district now....... Surely the fight will be easier if you get stronger in the sixth district and go to the fifth district.
Mr. Aricht....

　We go to the fifth district without worrying or anything else, only looking at the positive aspects.

　It's one of the choices to do so in fighting a strong enemy - but that's not the kind of word Elitia is looking for right now.

''But like Elitia, we've been teaming up with a high level Seraphina-san to fight. The fact that we were able to defeat a level 9 'named'........'Funeralist' means that we can fight normal demons of a bit higher level as well, in my opinion.
"...it's...
''I'd like to hear how high the demons in the Fifth Ward are. I'm not going to get upset just by looking at the numbers, though.
''It varies from one labyrinth to the next, but it's about level 11. The 'Blazing Monkey Duke' was level 12. But I don't think we should be overconfident the longer 'The Monkey Duke' is alive, the longer he's alive.

　The appearance of a level 9 'named' in the seventh ward was still an exceptional event that could not normally happen.

　That's why - because he struggled in this ward, going to the fifth ward would not be completely reckless.

''I might be able to skip level ten and fight eleven demons... I might barely be able to defeat one of them, but it doesn't look like I can't be a force to be reckoned with.

'It's all right, Elitia. If we all work together, I'm sure...
Yeah, yeah, what's the point in worrying about that now?

　-- I hear a voice from behind me and turn around. Then Misaki, who had been following me for some time, came out from behind the lamppost where I was earlier.

'I'm sorry, Rear-kun we all came together because we were still worried about you.'
"Woof.
''Well my level hasn't caught up to Elitia, but I'll try not to drag my feet.
..........

　Igarashi-san, Sion, Melissa, and Teresia are also coming together - the last ones to come out were Madoka and Seraphina-san.

''Ah, um........I can't fight, but if you all are going to the Fifth Ward, I want to go with you......!
''In terms of level, I'm finally able to cross over to the demons in the fifth district... but I think that with this party, I can contribute enough for the title of 'Encouraged Explorer'.'''

　Elitia's eyes shake. But before the tears can flow, she covers her face.

　And the next time she looks up, the sparkle in her eyes that we know so well has been restored.

''Well thank you. If we can all go to the Fifth Ward together, that would make me most happy.
Yeah. Come with me, Elitia.

　I hold out my right hand and Elitia pulls my hand away and stands up. Suzuna stands up with her and looks at me with a little moisture in her eyes.

'Thank you for coming to find me, Aricht-san, gentlemen.
'Moo, you'll have to take me with you in that case. I'm in the same big brother-child alliance as Ellie and Suzu.
'Misaki-chan has a tendency to make fun of you like that... nah, she must have slept a lot, so she must have left you behind.
'Not really, for tomorrow it's already today, but I thought it would be hard to fall asleep, and I slept soundly.

　It may be true that she couldn't fall asleep until the middle of the night, but after all, she's always been a great help to me with her mood swings.

''Well this isn't the time to cry. I'll cry only after I've saved my friends.

　Melissa calls out to Elitia. Elitia smiled and then said

''Yes, Melissa is right you have to fight to the best of your ability no matter what mission you are given. Otherwise, there would be no point in being called in, right?
'Well if you decide to do that, it's time to get back. We've still got some time before morning, so we should get as much rest as possible.

　Everyone took off back to their quarters. Just as I was about to go too, the ones who entered the park from the other direction - Steiner-san in his armor and Celes-san on his shoulder.

The process is done, Alihit, and we're just about to go to bed. If you are called upon while you are in the Fifth Ward, we can go to the Fifth Ward as well.
''I'm just saying that I'd love to have you here. You can get good ore in District 5, so you can strengthen your equipment.
'Thanks, both of you. When your permission to stay is granted, and if there's anything you'd like to discuss with me about your equipment, I'd love to hear from you.
I was told that Corleone will have a suit made for you, but you must receive it when it is completed. Don't take any chances. This is the first time you've been called up in an emergency, so your priority is to survive.

　I nod back. Survival is my top priority - everything else is beyond that.