As we passed from the second level of the Red Chamber of the Blazing Sky to the first, we passed between the vermillion-painted pillars, which reminded me of the torii gate of a shrine.

　The landscape changes with the sensation of shifting. A forest lined with trees so huge that you can't see the tops of them even if you look up - the fact that the leaves of the red trees are always dancing and not piled up around them is probably due to the unique environment inside the labyrinth.

''........Ellie-san.

　Even when Igarashi-san calls out to her, Elitia doesn't respond. At the back of the car seat, she was still holding on to Igarashi-san, looking vacantly at him.

　Her best friend who had been taken away from her by 'Sarukou' was still alive. Even though it was a joyous occasion in itself, they couldn't meet again in the way they had hoped.

''That scene is probably one of the reasons why the 'Monkey Duke' has remained undefeated. If one was a high-ranking adventurer, it was not impossible to defeat the 'monkey lord'. However, if the captured and controlled adventurers are used as shields, they can be...''

　The same searchers, not demons, but the same searchers - humans, must be defeated. It's also a group that can be called a party of one, who will use their skills to the fullest extent, seeing us as a complete enemy.

　Serafina-san's bitter expression shows that even the Guild Saber can't handle this situation.

　We've already experienced the scene where demons try to manipulate the searchers. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the future.

　You can resist the charm if you're prepared, but we don't know the specifics of the monkey clover's ability. I'm sure that if there was a reason for the masks worn by the explorers, it would be to destroy the masks - but I'm not sure that would work.

　The "monkey mask" is different from the masks worn by sub-humans. I'm not sure what that is, or if I can get just one of them - but if I can't remove it safely, it's useless.

(If there was someone who was trying to bring back the manipulated explorers, just like Elitia, if they were gathering more information about the 'monkey douche' than us, or... or... but if there was such a person, would we be able to find that person in the remaining days to come? ........?

　With today as day one, there are six days left. I'll think about applying for an extension as a special case, but the prospect of being able to extend the 'skipping class' that was granted as a mere exception is unlikely.

''Rear-kun, I know you have a lot on your mind, but can you let us hear about it?　Hopefully we can have something positive to talk about...

　Igarashi-san is also feeling a little depressed after seeing how difficult the situation is this time. Thinking about it all by myself at a time like this will only make everyone uneasy.

''I'll talk to everyone when I get back, but let me clear my head here for once.

　Serafina-san, Igarashi-san, and Theresia nod - even though Theresia is probably the most anxious, she is saved by her stubbornness, and at the same time, she warns me of my own inadequacy.

　The last 'Curse Erosion' used by the 'Monkey Duke' gradually overwrites the servant's mark on the back of Theresia's neck - it's still only changing shape around the edges, but Theresia's pain must not be less, and her body always had heat in it.

'On the second level, I didn't see any monkey-shaped demons other than the 'Monkey Duke' and another one. It doesn't necessarily mean that there aren't any demons like the ones that the normal named ones have in tow, but since their numbers don't increase endlessly, does that mean that they won't cause stampede even if they are left alone?
'It is conceivable. I don't know much about this labyrinth either, but demons that act in an organized manner may play games with the explorer's side. They try to prolong the time until they are defeated as long as possible by setting traps and building bases. Some castles built by demons may exist in a labyrinth, making them difficult to capture.

　If the two-tiered fort was built by the 'Monkey Duke' and his subordinate demons, they would have a certain amount of masonry skills - how did they learn it, or was it instinctual?

　If he had that kind of intelligence, it was inevitable that he would plot to prevent himself from being defeated. And the Monkey Duke's ability to enslave searchers is at the core of that ploy.

　The captured explorer is the perfect shield for the Duke of Monkeys. And it's probably not just the searchers we saw that are all of them.

''........Why are there two levels? If there's another demon on the third level, wouldn't that cause a stampede?

　When Igarashi-san told me, I thought that the stampede so far seemed to be caused by 'Certain Named' and the normal individuals of it. ''Death coming from the sky'' and ''The Calamity'', a type of demon that was difficult to defeat and easy to increase in number.

''Let's find out as much as we can about the 'Red Tower of the Flaming Sky'. That way, we might be able to find out what it is.
There's an archive in District 5. If you have the title of 'Specially Selected Searcher', you'll be granted permission to view it.

　I had heard that there was an archives in the odd-numbered wards, but I hadn't had time to go out there until now. I hope I can find valid information - if it seems to be in the literature about the ability of the 'Monkey Duke' to subjugate others, I don't think it's something that would be difficult to defeat.

''I'm ... sorry ... I ... I can't do anything about it, and now I'm all alone again ...''
...Elitia.

　The tears trickle down Elitia's cheeks again.

　What could I say at a time like this? It's not even a temporary consolation that it's okay because Elitia is safe.

There's a reason why you went alone, Elie-san, isn't there?
.........


　Serafina-san lowered her eyes and shook her head - that meant that the people who were being controlled by the 'Monkey Duke' would not be judged as searchers.

''........They were judged as demons by the license. The explorers' subordinate status to the 'Monkey Duke' would have been considered not to be naturally lifted.

　If you see that reality, even those who tried to save the manipulated searchers will find it difficult to maintain their will to fight.

　--And so the Red Chamber of the Flaming Sky has been abandoned. The reason being that there is no threat to the town even if left alone, and that they don't feel there is any reason to take down the 'monkey douche' to the point of taking a human life.

We need to break that 'unbreakable state' in principle. If defeating 'The Monkey Duke' will release our subordination, then we need to defeat only 'The Monkey Duke' and his subordinate demons.

　You can say it out loud, but there is still no glimmer of hope. Even if you go head to head, you will fight a superior opponent and win against difficult conditions - without losing anyone.

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

　Theresa listens intently in my arms, but she pretends to look at me behind me.

　There's no excuse that I wasn't expecting it. It was only because Theresia went behind the monkey douche that we were able to get out safely.

　We wouldn't have made it this far without anyone else. That's why, even if we were to challenge the monkey douche, we wanted to challenge the monkey douche with all of us qualified, not in a situation where it was 'because Elitia broke in on her own'.

''Elitia-dono, you came to the Fifth Ward once, and because you belonged to the 'White Night Brigade', you were qualified to explore the Five Star Maze. It would be enough for you to tell me now as to why you acted alone, even if you had to keep it a secret from the party. But you have done something very reckless. Shouldn't you have trusted the party that has been going through all these difficulties with you more...?
"...I don't want to see you guys get hurt anymore, I'm selfish and I'm selfish again... ...someone else's...

　Elitia has always fought on the front lines, bravely fighting demons.

　At times, she has challenged huge demons tens of times larger than herself, as if she were cutting down on her own life, and then she saved us.

　--because she didn't want to lose it again.

　But even if that were the case. It seemed to me that we were too far away from Elitia's side.

　At the same time, I was deeply disgusted with myself for not trying to enter deeply into her situation and only thinking it was right.

I'm the Sword of Death........I shouldn't really be with anyone anymore. Everyone else is actually afraid of me too...

　I should have known full well.

　The vision that 'Phantom Winged Butterfly' showed me was the one I least wanted to see. Elitia was also showing her emotions as a result of the nightmare she was being shown.

　And in the battle with The Calamity, the party was injured. Seeing this, Elitia has one thing to think about.

　Knowing this, I put on a knowing face and left Elitia alone.

''........Listen, Elitia.
.....

　We're going to balance the party as adults so that no one hates us.

　You'll be able to get to the point where you can't get over it with all these pretenses.

　--It's never too late to do that. It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time with us.

　So, if I were to hurt her, if I were to hurt her as much as I did, I would have to say it.

'If Elitia thought there was such a thing as 'true', then our trust was at the top of the list. It's my fault for making it so. If there were things that Elitia didn't want to say, that was fine with me, and I hoped that one day she would tell me. I tried to keep thinking that, even though that someday was already here.
...Alihit.
Rear....

　For a moment, Igarashi-san seemed unsure if she should stop me.

　Even in front of her, I tried to remain a "good employee" and "good subordinate".　

　That's the right way to be a cog, and even now, I can't completely deny it. An organization needs people who are not afraid to speak their mind, and that is how it maintains harmony.

　But to just try to be a 'good person' when it comes to one's own and one's friends' lives or deaths.

　--I'm a big, irrepressible idiot once I've chosen to do that.

'Eritia that sword. I want you to tell me all about what has happened so far. You can talk about it in front of everyone, you can choose to do that yourself.

'I believe that everyone in the party is important to me. It doesn't matter when you joined, I don't want Seraphina to get hurt if possible, and if she has any problems, I'll do my best to figure out how to fix them. But Elitia seems to be taking a step back for things she hasn't told us yet. If we don't get that wall down, we're going to be stuck eventually.

　Everyone has a wall in their mind.

　We keep our distance and don't want people to step in any more, and we don't let them enter any more.

　But that also means that you can't enter them, either.

　No matter how much Elitia seems to be getting to know Suzuna, Misaki and the rest of her friends, she's not really laughing.

''........I'm in a profession that I can't fight alone. That's why I met Theresia at the mercenary agency, and I was able to get a handle on the fact that I might be able to do well in the labyrinth country. But if it was the three of us, Teresa and Igarashi-san, we wouldn't have gotten this far. When I saw the combination of Elitia's skill set and my own, I was really impressed. I didn't know this was going to happen. That with the addition of Suzuna and Misaki, we could go on without stopping.

　Elitia's eyes are still vacant. But I believe that its ears are reaching me, and I continue to speak.

'No matter how strong the enemy is, there is definitely a way to defeat it. In order to fulfill that condition, no one must be left out. We've been saved by Elitia many times. Let me say it again and again until it gets through. Theresia jumped into that danger because she wanted to save Elitia. What I couldn't do, Theresia did what I couldn't do it wasn't a matter of logic anymore, I did it because I wanted to. It's simply that simple.
But if you're going to let Theresa be manipulated by this scheming monkey...
'I won't let that happen. But for that to happen, we all need to be strong. I'm acutely aware that we've come this far too soon, but it's much better late than never.

　All the time, Elitia has been fighting for Ruury, thinking about her situation and what she is going through.

　Can a searcher trapped by a demon really be alive? While I held that concern more than anyone else, I came here with more faith in the survival of my best friend than anyone else.

　Just as I believe that I can return Theresa back from her sub-human form.

''Well Luury is alive, Elitia. Elitia had the courage to see her.
......................

　Elitia's eyes wavered.

'So run with us to the end. Until we save Loury, and ever since we saved him. We will not be left behind again. You won't get away with it again, Elitia.
.....

　Tears poured out of her eyes as the light returned, once more. Elitia covered her face, shook out her mangled hair, and cried aloud.



　Igarashi-san just hugged the crying Elitia.

　Only now - but I don't deserve it yet.

''..........''
...Teresa?

　Theresa, who was in my arms, raised her body. I thought she was going to get off of Alphecca, but she didn't.

　She put her hand on my head and stroked - and touched the one that was running down my cheek.

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

　Theresia's lips moved, but no sound was spun.

　She touched her fingers to her own lips, as she would have, as she wiped a tear from my cheek.

　I don't know what she had in mind when she did. I swallowed my embarrassment and everything else and just touched Theresa's lizard mask and didn't say anything for a while.