When we followed Elitia into the 'Red Tower of the Flaming Sky', we consulted with Kouzelka and Khosrow.

　We received a request for assistance as 'Encouraging Explorers' and came to the Fifth Ward. It's also because we wanted to consult with the two guild savers who accompanied us up to this point when making important decisions - they gladly responded to our summons even though it was already late after they had finished their post-stampede rounds of the town! It was.

So you have found Lady Elitia, just as you said you would? I'm glad to hear that you are safe.
'Thank you. But I still find that we need to prepare as much as possible to capture this labyrinth.

　Mr. Khosrow is listening to me with his arms crossed - his expression is more stern than ever.

''I've beaten a level 12 named in this fifth district. Atobe-kun, your strength has reached a level that can be used here. However, the 'Marquis Monkey' is a long-lived demon that is extremely dangerous.......because of its cunning. What's most troublesome is that the 'Marquis Monkey' will lead his subordinates in an organized movement.

　He's been active in this labyrinth country much longer than we have, or so we thought.

　Mr. Khosrow knows about the Red Chamber of the Flaming Heavens and the Marquis de l'Ape," he said. But when he looked at me expectantly, he chuckled and shook his head.

''Unfortunately, the information you just gave me is what I've found out since I came here. There are some old acquaintances in this ward, you know.'
"When you received the Medallion from Commander Dylan, you said you knew both of them...
Yeah, that's right. I was an instructor when he was a young man. Oh, I repeat, I'm not so much of an uncle as I'd like to be. It may look ugly on the outside, but...

　Mr. Khosrow has always had a beard, and shaving it off would certainly change his impression. However, it's hard to imagine him being younger than me at thirty years old, so maybe he's about the same age as me.

'There was a time when me and Third Class Dylan Dragon Commander Dylan served under Khosrow as his instructor.
Well, a lot of things have led us here. Mr. Atobe, we can stay as long as you guys are in this ward. What do you need help with?
''Yes and no. I don't want the two Guild Sabers to help me with the personal matters of the party...
'If there's something you want to accomplish in a limited period of time, you should take advantage of whatever is available to you. And guild savers don't always wait for instructions from above, even on holidays. To say they're different from active explorers would be an understatement, but the fundamentals of the game haven't changed. I want to lend a helping hand to those who challenge the labyrinth with a purpose... no, I want to repay the huge debt I owe them this time.

　We are indebted to you for our participation in the Stampede suppression - Khosrow-san told me so. Kuzelka-san nodded quietly and took over the words.

''I think Lord Atobe has seen and understood how I and Khosrow will fight, too. And we, too, have witnessed Lord Atobe's skills and command, and we understand with a sense of realization that he has outstanding abilities even among explorers in the same level range.
'That's why I'm hoping it won't be something that gives you guys pause. We and the rest of the people who live in the labyrinth country will always have hope in a strong seeker. If you guys can do something to help you move on, that's a nice thing to wish for.
"...Mr. Kuserka, Mr. Khosrow.

　The two of them are far more skilled than us, and have lived in the labyrinth country for a long time.

　We had hoped to catch up with them someday, and they were distant. The two of them are holding out their hands to us.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. Let's give the guy who's pretending to be a demon king with searchers in tow a shot at us.
''Demons only live according to their instincts. However, there are certainly some that turn their malice against the explorers... If you guys can get ahead by defeating the 'Brilliant Monkey Prince', I'd like to help you do that. Not as a Guild Saber, but as an individual.
Well, well, you're not on your own, and I'm with you... whoa!

　Perhaps Cuselka's way of saying 'individual' bothered him, Khoselka interrupted him - but with an unnoticeable quickness, Cuselka's hand sword was pointed at Khoselka.

''........You were the one who said that familiarity would impair your judgment, Khosrow. Besides, it's also your bad habit to let your mind down and make gaffes.
'Oh, I'll have to remind you again...'

　Even though Kuserka drew her sword, Khoselka-san remained frozen - the fact that there is no way out to this point means that in the past they were in the position of instructor and pupil, but after all, it seems that the situation is completely reversed now.

''........I want you to pretend that what you just heard never happened. The rest of the story is up to you, Third Lieutenant Kuzelka.
''We are now going to be assigned to the Guild Saber as a raiding party on normal duties. We can move freely until the date of our return to the Seventh District, so if you need anything, please call for help. On my end, I will make sure that we have the manpower in place in case we need more than one party for the operation in the Red Chamber of the Flaming Sky.
''Huh........Oh, thank you.
''When you get to this point, each party will be very cautious about making a move. It's going to be hard to keep up with the other party's objectives... although if our intentions are aligned, we may be able to build a co-operative system.

　If you go back to the same spot in the Marquess of the Monkeys fort, you don't know if you'll find the Marquess of the Monkeys there.

　There is at least one named subordinate of the Marquis de Sars, but that's not the end of the story. If we don't divide the Marquis de Saroo, the Demon Monkeys, and their subordinate explorers as much as possible, the enemy's cooperation will be a big threat and it will be difficult to break their subordination.

　Based on the map given to me by Agnes from the 'Brigade', I will formulate a strategy. If necessary, after ascertaining the latest status of the fort, we split up into multiple parties and attack the fort - once again, it's different from the normal defeat of demons and is more like a siege battle.

''First, we'll figure out a way to free the searchers controlled by the 'monkey lord' or a way to avoid engaging them.
'Well I don't want to take the life of a captured seeker.
But they'll come to you without a care in the world. If we're in danger, we can't afford to be lax, even if we're ordering all of the participating parties to take the lives of the searchers under our control we should have as many ways as possible to stop or neutralize them.
'Yes, sir. I have several options, but I'll be scrutinizing them to the fullest extent of time to see if there's a more effective way.

　As it stands, we've talked about all the things we need to discuss with the two of you. There are still a few days left, so we can meet and talk again if we need to.

　After we parted from Kuzelka and Khosrow and saw them off, Serafina-san spoke to me.

'Lord Atobe, I'm glad to see that you two have earned our trust. Adeline may find it difficult to accompany you due to the level of difficulty...''
''I have a request for Adeline-san during the prep phase, not in battle, so could you ask her to accompany me once to the entrance of the second level of the Red Chamber of the Flaming Sky?
'Yes, sir. The girls won't be returning to the Seventh Ward anytime soon, so I'll tell them to wait for word from us.

　With Adeline's 'Messenger's Arrow', you can scout the fort from the sky without approaching it. If the terrain changes at the critical moment, it will be fatal, so I want to make a final pre-check the day before I decide on the mission.

''..........''
Hmm?　That was....

　With Theresia pulling my sleeve, I notice two people in the entrance square of the Red Chamber of the Flaming Sky.

　One of them seems to be in her late teens, dressed in very ladylike clothes and wearing a wide-brimmed hat that hides her ears. It doesn't seem to have rained while we were in the labyrinth, but she was holding a black umbrella in her hand.

　And a woman in a maid's outfit, who seemed to be a little older than her, was standing beside her. The girl gave the woman in the maid's uniform a look and then shuffled over to us.

''.........If you're over there. May I have a word with you?
Yes ... how can I help you?

　I was a little surprised at the way she used her words, which is exactly how I imagine a "daughter-in-law" to be, but I try not to let that show through.

　Elitia also has an elegance in her gestures that she occasionally shows, but in a different vein, there is a thorough elegance to even a single expression. That she is not a transmigrant from the earth is indicated by her pale blue hair, which seems to be her natural hair.

''It's nice to meet you, my name is Ivril. She's Viola we work together as explorers.

　In this fifth ward, the two of us can enter the labyrinth alone - that means the power we have individually is quite high.

　The woman named Viola remains reserved behind Ivril and doesn't move slightly. I don't know if she doesn't care too much about her hair and other things, or if her eyes are hidden by her bangs, but I can tell by looking at her that she is paying attention to us.

'My name is Aricht-Atobe. I'm working with these girls in a party.

　When I say my name, Ivril takes off the gloves she was wearing and leaves them with Viola. Then he holds out his right hand - I hold out my hand and shake it too, and Ivril gives me an innocent smile.

''Thank you. Sometimes I get refused, because some of you say what you're up to.'
'It's ... there are so many different people. I don't think you can deny each of us our own ideas.
I try to be like that too.

　Shaking hands and using some skills - it's natural to be wary of that in light of Silone, but I also don't want to doubt anything.

'If it were true, we should have prepared one of the souvenirs before we spoke to you... but for some reason (at any rate), it was just a coincidence that we saw you all here, too.
'You mean you saw us coming out of this labyrinth...?'
'To be honest, I've been watching you since you entered the labyrinth. I was spoken to by a guild saber, and my companion entered the labyrinth and applied for a temporary infiltration permit...

　As of now, only Elitia is the only one in my party who can enter the Red Tower of the Flaming Sky, because she's the only one who has the qualification to enter the 5-star labyrinth.

　Even if the temporary permission to enter is granted, we must escape immediately after rescuing Elitia. In order for all of us to enter again, it means that we need to qualify again.

　Ivril turns her attention to Elitia, who is now standing firmly on her own. Igarashi and Seraphina were accompanying her, but she could tell that Elitia was still a bit subdued.