We, understanding the current situation, decided to withdraw from the labyrinth while discussing our next course of action.
“Hey, Lord. As someone who can steal the logic of the wind, couldn’t you do something about that dragon?”
“It’s not impossible, but if a child were to intervene here, wouldn’t it cause problems on other floors? What if the sixty-fifth floor has a similar structure? We wouldn’t be able to advance!”
“If you escort us to the ground, I’ll do anything as thanks. So, would you consider it?”
Without caring about my pride or reputation, I bowed my head. However, Lord just smiled cheekily.
“I’m sorry, Kanamin. I’d rather have you all stay longer. I won’t cooperate. Besides, whether in the past or now, the child and the Shiso are equal negotiating partners.”
During the previous battle, Lord hadn’t intervened at all. She had maintained a position where she could help at any moment, merely observing. That seemed to be her stance right now. She was not unsupportive, but rather, not actively cooperative. Nevertheless, I pressed on.
“Then, could you at least offer some advice…? I want your advice as someone who steals the logic of the wind.”
“Advice… that might be okay?”
It seemed Lord was willing to help as long as it wasn’t a direct intervention, but indirect. The boundary she had drawn was slowly becoming clearer.
“Well, if you can’t level up through conventional means, your options are limited. First, you should train your skills and magic.”
Lord said this, raising her index finger. A whirlwind blew from her fingertips. I could sense practiced skill in her magic construction and control. She was a magic user on the level of Arti, perhaps even more so than Dia or Maria.
“For your information, Rainer is already in the process of choosing this method. He’s studying Wind Magic under the tutelage of a child who was once called the King of Demons!”
When I looked at Rainer, he nodded in confirmation. It seemed he had realized his limits sooner than I had and had already begun taking countermeasures.
“What’s second?”
“Save money and hire people. While no one other than the child can defeat that dragon, there are certainly people who can put up a fight.”
This was a method that hadn’t crossed my mind at all. Of course, it was understandable. It wasn’t easy to find people who could keep up with us. Seemingly reading my thoughts, Rainer added.
“Don’t worry, Christ. This is a city from a thousand years ago. There are more skilled individuals here than in the surface world we came from.”
This was welcome news. If so, then securing manpower would simply be a matter of money.
“Indeed, if we had more people, we might be able to manage…”
“And third – this is what the child recommends the most – why not prepare strong equipment that could defeat that dragon?”
Lord recommended this as if it were the only option. However, for me, it was the most implausible method.
“No, isn’t that more than enough already? There aren’t any swords stronger than Rowen’s, are there?”
“It’s not just about swords, you know? After all, this is a world from a thousand years ago. The techniques of ‘Divine Steel Blacksmithing’ still remain. This also depends on money, but I believe it would be much easier if you gathered weapons and armor specifically for dealing with the Wind Dragon.”
“Ah, I see…”
It seemed the suggestion wasn’t to improve the quality of existing equipment, but to gather items specifically for fighting the Wind Dragon. For example, if the Red Talisman I currently possessed was an amulet that repelled wind instead of flame, fighting the Wind Dragon would be much easier. Lord was saying to gather such items.
“Yes, that’s exactly right. You two are aiming for the surface, right? Then, why don’t you just collect magic tools for the sole purpose of getting past that dragon and heading to the surface? I can introduce you to a good blacksmith!”
“Gathering magic tools does sound promising. Lord, if you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate an introduction.”
“Alright then, I shall introduce you to the best blacksmith in town!”
Lord smiled brightly and led us through the town. Along the way, she exchanged greetings with the townsfolk as we proceeded down a path surrounded by greenery. After a few minutes, we arrived at a place that resembled a summer villa. It was a light green house with ivy and moss growing on its roof. In the spacious garden of this house, four children were playing with a ball. One of them noticed our arrival. It was the cat-eared girl we had met that morning.
“Ah, Lord! And Knight Commander!!”
“We meet again, Bess. Hey, is your grandfather here now?”
“Yes, he is! He’s grumbling at his usual spot!”
“Thank you. I’ll be right back.”
After casually greeting the girl, Lord entered the house without hesitation. As I followed behind her, the cat-eared girl, Bess-chan, waved at me. Her face was slightly flushed as she smiled. Although we hadn’t spoken much, it seemed she had grown fond of me. Or perhaps, those eyes held admiration? Even though I didn’t know her well yet, the title of ‘Knight Commander’ seemed special to her. I smiled and waved back as I entered the green house. Passing through the entrance, the lively living room, and a long corridor, we opened a thick door. Beyond it lay a space that was far from ordinary for a residential home. Instead of a standard table, two unusually shaped workbenches, designed for specific tasks, were placed side-by-side. In the back, a large cauldron and a furnace were installed, and specialized tools hung from the surrounding walls. It was immediately clear that this was a “workshop,” built in a similar style to the workshop of an Epic Seeker, albeit on a different scale. However, it was much cleaner compared to Alivers’s room. Since the furnace was not lit, it wasn’t suffocating. In the center of the room, an old man sat at a workbench. Though his face was wrinkled, his eyes were sharp and full of vigor. It was evident at a glance that he was a difficult person. And this old man was likely Bess-chan’s grandfather from outside. He had feline-like beast ears, slightly different from the cat ears I was familiar with. He was peering at a seven-colored shining jewel through what appeared to be reading glasses. Lord then casually addressed him.
“Old Man Reynard! I’ve brought some guests!”
Reynard, addressed by name, shifted his gaze from the jewel to me.
Our eyes met.
And, on instinct, I used [Gaze]. It was because I felt a strength that compelled me to do so.
【Status】
Name: Reinand Volz HP589/589 MP123/123 Class: Blacksmith
Level 31
Strength 13.78 Stamina 12.23 Dexterity 10.23 Speed 5.12 Intelligence 5.11 Magic Power 5.66 Aptitude 1.44
【Skills】
Innate Skills: Axe Technique 1.22 Fire Magic 1.34 Earth Magic 1.21
Acquired Skills: Blacksmithing 3.12 Divine Metal Blacksmithing 1.26 Crafting 1.55 Iron Smelting 1.98
His level was unprecedentedly high, and he possessed a wealth of skills. I saw numbers that were superior to both mine and Rainer’s. Without a doubt, he would be considered a hero-class individual on the Surface.
“—!”
However, Reinand, the man before me, was more surprised by the [Display] than I was. His drooping eyelids widened to their limit, his eyes round. Although he tried to hide his consternation, I didn’t miss the old man’s fluster.
Lord began to speak, completely disregarding our shock.
“Um, old man, let me introduce you. This is Kanamin and Rainer.”
“…Hmph. I never expected you to bring them to me.”
“Even children are surprised. But these two truly need your strength. Will you at least listen to their story?”
“…I don’t mind. Speak there.”
I began my self-introduction with the utmost care. It was clear at a glance that Reinand was a cantankerous person. I had to be careful not to offend him.
“Nice to meet you, I am Aikawa Uzunami. I have come to ask you to craft something for us, Reinand. We are aiming for the Surface, but a Wind Dragon with immense power stands in our way. Would it be possible to commission a magic tool to defeat that Wind Dragon?”
“Hmph. You’re polite this time, boy…”
“This time? What do you mean—”
Reinand snorted meaningfully. I tried to ask what he meant, but he intentionally cut me off.
“—Ah, a Wind Dragon, you say. In that case, it’s likely one of the [Elfenries]. I can’t say for certain, but there is indeed a magic tool that would be effective against it.”
It was clear he didn’t want to discuss that matter. Since I was in a position of requesting a favor, I didn’t intend to press him further.
“…Thank you.”
I simply expressed my gratitude and bowed my head.
“However, it’s expensive?”
“I understand. I have the money.”
As usual, I pretended to reach into the bag at my waist and instead took out money from my [Inventory]. I carefully laid gold coins on the room’s table, but Reinand frowned at the sight.
“Hmm… Hey, boy, are you joking—? No, you’re not.”
“Huh? What do you mean?”
Reinand picked up a gold coin from the table and shook his head.
“Apologies, but this money won’t do. It’s not the currency used [here]. That’s all.”
I frowned at his simple explanation.
“Eh? E-Eh? Could it be that the currency is different…?”
I immediately turned to Lord beside me. She had a wide smile plastered on her face. From her expression, I was convinced that the currency I possessed was unusable. Next, I sought help from Rainer, my trusted companion. He, like me, gave me advice while breaking into a cold sweat.
“…Christ, let’s try selling the magic stones you have first. If you sell what’s in your abilities, it should amount to something.”
“Ah, right. That’s a good idea.”
Reinand, hearing this, urged me to present them.
“Show me. If you want to exchange them for money, I can take a look. I also do appraisals.”
I immediately took out the magic stones I had acquired during my exploration up to Floor 40 from my [Inventory]. However, Reinand’s expression didn’t change even after seeing them. It remained stern.
“…No. All of these magic stones are junk. They can’t substitute for gold.”
Reinand stated coldly, in front of treasure that could allow one to live in luxury on the Surface. I suspected Lord and Reinand were trying to trick me. However, the earnest gaze of the stern old man before me dispelled that doubt. I recalled hearing on the Surface that magic stones were of better quality a thousand years ago. I had also seen countless times that weapons and armor from the past boasted higher performance.
Convinced that his heartless words were not a lie, I resorted to my last resort. Gripping the hilt of the [Aris Family’s Treasure Sword Rowen] that Rainer had returned to me, I channeled magic into the cheapest of the spread-out jewels.
“Th-Then, I’ll refine high-quality ore! —Crystal Magic ‘Quartz’!”
I began to convert the magic stones, called junk, into shining jewels. Since the original material was magic stone, not sand, the conversion was rapid.
“Hmm… This too is nothing but worthless jewels. I’m not keen on being presented with mere gold or diamonds now…”
Even after showing all the wealth I possessed, Reinand’s frown wouldn’t ease. Instead, he reacted as if he were appeasing a child who had brought him a random stone. I couldn’t hide my astonishment at how drastically the value of things changed depending on the era—or rather, the culture. Seeing my reaction, Reinand explained with a hint of pity.
“Unless you prepare at least mid-grade magic stones, there’s no demand for them in this country right now.”
“Then, what about this Lake Crystal…?”
I picked out a magic stone I had some confidence in.
“Here, it’s considered low-grade.”
However, he dismissed it easily. I had been overjoyed at being a rich person on the Surface, but now I had fallen into poverty. As I staggered, about to collapse, Reinand asked about the processing of the magic stones.
“I’m sorry, but I have no intention of crafting anything without money… Also, what will you do with these magic stones? I suspect you can only exchange them for money at a [Blacksmithing] place in this town.”
“Um… Please exchange them for money…”
I left enough magic stones around the layer crystal that I might use on the surface, and released all the magic stones I had accumulated so far. Since the only place I could exchange them for money in town was the blacksmith’s, I took the opportunity to take out everything from my Inventory that seemed like it could be exchanged for money.
The exchange itself was over quickly, but that was as far as it went.
“If you’re not going to order anything, you should leave. I don’t have all day.”
“Ah, right…”
I couldn’t even place the order for equipment, which was my original purpose. All I could do was nod.
And just like that, Reinand kicked us out of the blacksmith’s shop. Standing dumbfounded, I was sent off by Bess-chan and the others in the garden, and found myself at a loss in the middle of town.
During that time, Rowen’s cheeks were practically glued into a smile. As we walked down the road, he murmured happily.
“Is that so? Kanamin and the others don’t have any money either? Heh heh, well now…”
He repeatedly confirmed our financial difficulties as if it were an unexpected stroke of luck.
While the magic stone ore was cheap, it was a relief that daily necessities like thread and awls were expensive. It seemed that demand and value differed completely depending on the culture and situation.
When I subtly asked about the situation, it turned out that Reinand was apparently the only one who could work with magic stone ore.
Without anyone or anywhere to process it, and without the custom of wearing accessories, there was no “Magic Stone Line” to be drawn, and no aesthetic sense to find beauty in jewels.
To top it all off, I heard that in the world of a thousand years ago, people learned magic on their own without using magic stones. I couldn’t help but understand the low prices of magic stones in this era.
And then I understood the severity of the situation.
“D-do you only have a little copper and silver? Could it be that this…?”
I jingled the small amount of money that fit in my palm. It was different from the currency I used in the Labyrinth Allied Nations. The designs were different, and the minting methods were different.
Coincidentally, my current funds were about the same as they were on the first day of my dungeon exploration.
If we stayed at an inn for a few days and ate and drank, it would all be gone.
On the surface, a little dungeon delving was all it took to not worry about living. However, this time, I couldn’t even do that “little dungeon delving.”
“Ah hah. Forget dungeon exploration, our very lives are in danger!”
I glared at the Boss Monster, who happily declared the grim reality, and consulted my companion.
“Rainer. How did you manage your living expenses until today?”
“I sold the ornaments I was wearing. But that’s almost at its limit too.”
“I see…”
“However, to think magic stones would be this cheap… Rowen, you deliberately kept silent, didn’t you?”
Rainer also glared at Rowen.
Yet, even under the pressure of two humans on the verge of becoming “monsters,” Rowen remained unperturbed.
“But you didn’t ask. …Oh, right! If you want to use the castle room, it’s ten copper coins a day! I’m opening the inn ‘Demon King Castle’ starting today!”
“Hey! You just came up with that now, didn’t you!?”
Rainer was on the verge of exploding at the hastily added malice.
“Yep! It’ll be more fun if you guys mess around for a while!”
“You… ! Should I just defeat you right now and sell you as magic stones…! Huh, Christ? That would definitely be the quicker way!!”
Rainer was about to draw his sword. And as if waiting for it, Rowen smiled defiantly.
Realizing that fighting a superior Guardian here would be a bad idea, I stepped in to calm him down.
“Rainer, calm down! Don’t get short-tempered! …Hey, Rowen. We’re really in a hurry. We’re not asking to use the castle for free, but can’t you make it a little cheaper? If possible, please don’t be so mean.”
“Hmm, I’m not being mean, you know? Ten copper coins a night is a bargain, and I’m giving you advice. What more do you want?”
Rowen would not retract his previous statement. It was likely because he believed he would win overwhelmingly even if things turned violent. No matter how serious we were, he remained completely unfazed.
With my intervention, Rainer seemed to calm down a bit and we moved on to a more constructive conversation.
“Tch… What do you think, Christ? Should we just camp out for a while?”
“Ah, be careful, because if you camp out, you might get arrested in some places~. Also, the children will arrest you, so be careful. They’re like a vigilante group, you know, the children.”
Rowen was clearly trying to provoke Rainer by targeting him. As expected, Rainer’s forehead developed a blue vein and he took the bait.
“Hey, Rowen. Where are the places where it’s okay to camp…?”
“You can’t if you’re bothering the townspeople.”
“Isn’t that up to your interpretation…?”
“By the way, if you get arrested, you’ll be detained for three days! Those are the laws that the children just made! I’m the king, you know!”
“Don’t make laws that specifically target us! I’m definitely going to defeat you here!!”
Rainer, despite having leveled up, still let his temper get the better of him.
With no other choice, I stepped in again. I accepted Rowen’s proposal without any negotiation.
“I’ll pay for the inn with copper coins. If we need to save money, there are plenty of ways.”
“But, Christ—!”
Rainer tried to interject, but I stopped him with a hand gesture.
“Rowen, it’s fine if we work in this town, right?”
“Of course. Rather, I’d like that to happen. The children want you two to stay here permanently.”
Calmly confirming the conditions, I tossed my available copper coins to Rowen.
“In that case— here, I’ll pay the copper coins. We’ll just borrow one room in the castle. For tomorrow and beyond, we’ll pay by working ‘here’.”
“Heh…”
Seeing me meekly pay the precious copper coins, Rowen looked suspicious.
I met his gaze with a poker face.
It was a sad but true story that the deceit I had honed over the past few weeks in another world was now showing its effectiveness. I was acutely aware that my “Deception” skill was currently active.
“Right. Indeed, I have received the payment. Welcome to the inn ‘Demon King Castle’. I’ll guide you to your room right away.”
“Ah, please do.”
Rowen, while cracking jokes, was trying to read my thoughts.
The light in his twin pupils, hidden within his smirking face, was as sharp as a blade. It was the gaze befitting a king who carried the weight of an entire country on his shoulders.
However, at the same time, I realized that she enjoyed the deception.
Rowen smiled as if reminiscing, then turned his body towards the Demon King’s Castle.
On the way back, we discussed our work starting tomorrow.
Rowen listened to our requests, probing slightly.
“I understand that we’ll be basing our work at the Child’s Castle, but where do you plan to work? Well, for the two of you, I’m sure you’ll be in high demand anywhere?”
“If possible, I’d like to work at the blacksmith shop from earlier. Can I help out at Reinand’s place?”
“Huh, at that place? That old man is incredibly stubborn, you know?”
“I want to save money and learn blacksmithing techniques, even if it’s just a little. If I can blacksmith myself, it won’t cost money, right?”
“Hmm, it was the Child who recommended that. Yes, that’s fine. That old man handles all the repairs of iron products for the townspeople, so if Kanamin helps, it’ll speed up repairs and everyone will be happy. I’ll talk to him about it tomorrow on behalf of the Child.”
It was accepted without any particular suspicion.
This choice seemed to be within Rowen’s expectations.
Following that, Rainer also consulted.
“Then, what should I do? If possible, I want a job that makes a lot of money.”
“Rainer, will you help the Child?”
“Is your job as a vigilante? And aren’t you the King? I’ve never seen anything kingly about you.”
At Rainer’s question, Rowen’s expression changed slightly. It was a blank space shorter than an instant, but Rowen was clearly flustered.
“—I am the King, but the Child’s job is a ‘gardener.’ I’m just doing something like a vigilante on the side. If you’re willing to help with both, I can pay you a decent amount of money?”
“Gardener and vigilante… I’m more used to harder, more dangerous jobs though…”
Rainer wasn’t enthusiastic. Naturally, he made masochistic remarks.
However, from the plan I was considering now, Rowen’s proposal was the most ideal place of work, so I couldn’t help but speak up.
“Rainer, stop looking for hard and dangerous jobs; it’s bad for your heart. Let’s see how it goes for now.”
I made eye contact with Rainer from an angle only he could see.
Sensing that I had something in mind, Rainer nodded obediently.
“Ah, ah… Right. If Christ says so, then so be it…”
“Okay. Then, Kanamin will stay at Bess-chan’s house, and Rainer will go with the Child.”
With the arrangements for us to live here settled, Rowen happily skipped ahead.
Every word she spoke felt like she had an ulterior motive, but her joy at gaining more companions to live with was completely genuine.
We followed behind her with bitter expressions.
A considerable amount of time had passed since we woke up. However, the sky was still dark. We walked through the city, unsure if it was day or night, and returned to the ‘Demon King’s Castle.’
◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Upon arriving at the Demon King’s Castle, we were led to a relatively small room. It felt like a malicious act to choose that when there were many large rooms available that could easily accommodate a household.
According to Rowen, “The size of the room changes depending on the amount of copper coins you pay!” If she were the innkeeper, that would be understandable. Neither I nor Rainer had any complaints and entered the room.
However, we were allowed to use the kitchen and bathhouse within the castle freely. Considering that, ten copper coins was certainly a bargain.
Rainer and I lightly cleaned the room we would be using.
Then, we sat on the provided chairs and discussed what to do next.
More accurately – about the escape plan I had devised.
We confirmed that Rowen had gone out into the town using 《Dimension》. Apparently, she had gone to report to the townspeople that we would be working.
“—Rainer, I want you to monitor Rowen.”
“Monitor… So that’s why you recommended the gardener and vigilante, huh? But what’s the point of monitoring Rowen? Just watching that idiot won’t help us clear the labyrinth.”
“No, you don’t have to worry about that. Actually, I’ve already figured out a way to get past that dragon.”
“R-really?! As expected of Christ!”
“In the battle with Palinkron, I saw three of ‘Primordial Kanami’s’ magic techniques. If I can use them, I’m sure I can defeat ‘Elfenries’.”
Rainer waited for my words with a sense of reverence.
“Perhaps those three magic techniques, 《Torsion》, 《Default》, and 《Distance Mute》, were all top-tier magic. —’Interference-proof attack magic,’ ‘Uncounterable space magic,’ ‘Lethal magic with no defense,’ learning any of them would be more than enough.”
They were definitely not pre-existing magic techniques. These were magic techniques created by ‘Primordial Kanami’ for himself. And there was no one more suited to use them than me.
Indeed, they were the strongest magic techniques devised by Aikawa Uzunami for Aikawa Uzunami.
I am confident that I can replicate them now.
When I used the foresight magic 《Dimensional Decisive Battle Calculation [Preface]》, I felt my understanding of Dimensional Magic deepen. Above all, I can now handle pure dimensional magic power, not mixed with ice attributes. There’s nothing more important than this for using new dimensional magic.
“‘Primordial Kanami’s’ magic, huh? Just hearing about them, they all sound incredible. I heard from Hairi that you, Christ, are our Shiso, but even so, I still can’t believe it. It feels strange.”
Rainer gasped upon hearing the immense power of the magic. Then, he reconfirmed that I was the ancestor of the religion he believed in and chuckled slightly. However, he could no longer revere me as a god, and it seemed he could only laugh.
“Come to think of it, Rainer, you were a knight of Fuziaze, weren’t you? According to the teachings of Revannism, am I important then?”
According to the memories that still faintly remained, Revannism was established to solidify the foundation for a thousand years later. Since Tiara and ‘Primordial Kanami’ founded the religion together, I technically qualify as a founder.
“Ah, you’re the most important. You might even be more important than anyone in Fuziaze, if things go wrong.”
This must have been one of their objectives.
To gain the greatest power in a peaceful country a thousand years from now. If it had succeeded perfectly, Dungeon Exploration would surely have been much easier.
“Um, does it tire you to talk to me, the Shiso?”
“It doesn’t tire me. However, I was a devout follower of Revannism. My knighthood was conferred at a Revannism church. It even included an oath of loyalty to the Shiso. Honestly, it feels rather awkward.”
I and Tiara must have prepared that oath.
I felt awkward too.
“I’d prefer you not to mind it too much. My memories as a ‘Shiso’ are also full of holes. Please treat me normally, as Christ.”
“Ah, I will. Whether you’re a god or anything else, it doesn’t make much difference to me. So, what kind of magic does Christ plan to use?”
Setting aside the talk about Revannism, we returned to the topic of escaping the labyrinth.
“I’m planning to use ‘Instant Death Magic That Cannot Be Defended Against’ – Distance Mute. With this, I think I can defeat Elfenries in one hit.”
“In one hit? Against those tough scales?”
“It’s magic that involves inserting an arm into the opponent’s body and pulling out their ‘soul’. Physical Defensive power is irrelevant.”
“As expected, magic from the Shiso… It feels like cheating…”
“It’s magic that was likely created together with Tiara, the other Shiso. It’s probably one of the best magics.”
It’s clearly magic achieved with Tiara’s cooperation. They likely incorporated the magic stone extraction formula, which is applied throughout the labyrinth, into Dimensional Magic, thereby sublimating it into magic that can render opponents combat-incapable without question.
“Can this Distance Mute be used immediately?”
“Not immediately… but with a little time, I think I can do it. That’s why I wanted a space where I could concentrate on magic development.”
“So that’s why you borrowed this place. In that case, I’ll leave the Elfenries countermeasures to Christ. What should I do then?”
“Learn magic from Rowen and work with him. In other words, keep a close eye on Rowen and try to distract me as much as possible.”
“Do you want to hide that cheating magic from Rowen?”
“I think this will probably be a trump card even in a fight against a Guardian.”
“That’s surprising… Christ, you seem so good-natured and naive, I thought you’d trust Rowen more…”
“What kind of impression is that?”
“It’s the impression from Laura Via.”
“Gah, is it that host’s fault…!”
Recalling the slander during the Dance Battle Tournament, I twisted my face.
“Leaving Christ’s image aside, you think you’ll actually come into conflict with Rowen, don’t you?”
I don’t want to leave it aside, but I have no choice but to return to the topic.
“I’m sure Rowen will become an obstacle for us at crucial moments. Guardians are probably like that. Without a doubt, Rowen is somehow… strange – and I can’t avoid it.”
It’s an irrational prediction with no guarantee. However, based on experience, I believe it’s correct.
“If Christ says so, I’ll follow. Coming from someone who defeated three Guardians, it must be correct.”
“Hey, Rainer. Just like with the naive thing, let’s stop with the hero thing too…”
“What’s wrong with calling a hero a hero? You’re someone my Older Brother and Hairi approve of. It’s only natural for you to be a hero.”
“Th-that’s so…”
Rainer will never back down when it comes to my Older Brother. I immediately gave up trying to persuade him and focused on what needed to be done.
“Well then, I should quickly concentrate on magic development…”
“During that time, I should watch Rowen in town. I’ll also try to earn some money.”
“Please do.”
“I’ll also buy something to eat. I’ll try to eat out as little as possible to save money. Christ, is there anything you’d like to eat? I can make most things.”
“Huh? You can cook?”
After all, Rainer is the son of an aristocrat.
I had assumed he wouldn’t be able to do such chores.
“I can. I’m Elder Sister Fran’s younger brother, you know…”
“Oh, so that’s how it is…”
Recalling that obnoxiously self-centered blond twin-tailed girl who only does as she pleases, both Rainer and I darkened our faces.
“Heh heh heh, but my sister isn’t here! I won’t be forced to prepare tea every hour, or be asked for handmade sweets, or be teased for every little thing! Even better, there are no sadists with red and black twins, no paper readers who act recklessly on their own, and no perverted guardians who gleefully try to put handcuffs on me! Ah, how wonderful! I’ll prepare a full-course dinner for you, Christ!!”
It was a cry that revealed Rainer’s hardships until today. And I understood his feelings all too well.
I felt the same way. No fear of death every hour, no feeling of being eavesdropped on or intensely stared at, no magical power that could turn the surroundings into wasteland.
Ah, how wonderful.
My stomach and heart are being cleansed…
“You’ve worked hard until today, Rainer…”
“We’ve been through a lot, but I’m truly glad we made it this far… Thank you, Christ…”
Rainer and I clasped hands firmly.
It’s strange, but I feel like it would be happier if we didn’t return to the ground like this.
However, we can’t do that. With great reluctance, we began our labyrinth escape operation.
Rainer went out to keep an eye on Rowen, while I sat in the room, meditating and kneading my magic power.
I imagined ‘Primordial Kanami’s’ magic.
I not only saw it, but I also consumed its magic with this body. Recalling its magic composition was easy. Above all, the fact that it was magic I myself conceived would be advantageous for its redevelopment.
To replenish the hand I lost by being unable to use Ice Magic, I concentrated my consciousness on the magic within me.
I began magic development.
