“No, it’s me. Lord Uzunami.”
A girl with chestnut hair, dressed in black, called out my name as she turned around. There was no mistaking her face. I had seen the exact same sight just the other day.
Nosfy, who should have appeared on the sixtieth floor, had instead manifested on the fiftieth.
Rainer and I were surprised by her appearance. Without acknowledging our shock, Nosfy looked around and seemed to understand the situation alone.
“…Heh. I was a little nervous since it’s been a while, but it seems to have succeeded. There are considerable restrictions, but it appears I can use my original magic without issue.”
Nosfy gazed at her own hands and chuckled softly.
“Why are you here, Nosfy…?”
“Oh, you didn’t know about Lord Uzunami’s current situation? When a human first enters a Guardian’s floor, the ‘Foreigner Summon’ ritual is activated, calling forth the ‘Thief of Principles’.”
“The ‘Foreigner Summon’…?” No, I knew the Guardians were summoned. “But shouldn’t Rowen be the one summoned then?”
“Yes, Rowen was originally scheduled to be summoned to the Fiftieth Floor. However, just a moment ago, I ‘discussed’ the ritual and changed the target from Rowen to myself. It was like performing magic without a caster, so it was quite easy.”
Nosfy spoke of altering a ritual tied to the very foundation of the Labyrinth as if it were nothing.
“You can do that too…? But why would you do that…?”
I was surprised and perplexed by the sheer depth of Nosfy’s light magic. I didn’t understand the reason for changing the summon target. I couldn’t comprehend what the girl before me was thinking.
That’s why, even though I was facing an acquaintance, my feet wouldn’t move forward. My Skill, ‘Sensation,’ was raising a warning about approaching the Fiftieth Floor Guardian who had appeared on the sixtieth. Rainer behind me had a similar look on his face.
Seeing our hesitation, Nosfy continued to smile. Chuckle, chuckle. Her smile never wavered. And then—
“…Now, I will not permit you to proceed any further. —《Light Rod》, and then 《Banner of Light》.”
She conjured a gleaming flag of light in her right hand, signaling her intent to block our path.
“—!”
With those words, tension filled the air like a storm. I felt the atmosphere shift from casual conversation to one of impending battle.
I took a step back, and Rainer drew his twin swords. In contrast, Nosfy twirled the flag of light like a dance before thrusting it into the ground of the Fiftieth Floor, planting it firmly. Surprisingly, she used the flag not as a weapon, but for its intended purpose.
The moment the flag was planted, the magic of the space changed. White light magic mingled with the green wind magic. It wasn’t just a pale green — white utterly overwhelmed everything; light permeated everywhere, filling the Fiftieth Floor with a single element: light. The change was so drastic that even the aggressive Rainer had to halt his advance and observe. Within the space of a completely altered attribute, Nosfy spoke languidly.
“…Haa. All the same, Lord Uzunami, you’re moving a bit too fast. It’s only been about five hours since morning? It’s lunchtime, lunchtime. Perhaps you intended to reach the ground today? If you were in such a hurry, you should have told me. I have my own schedule to keep.”
Despite the confirmed hostility, she continued to converse amicably. Her friendly smile made it seem as if her previous statements were forgotten. Rainer and I could only grow more bewildered. Seeing my inability to respond, Nosfy made a suggestion.
“Therefore— how about we have a little ‘talk’ here until Rowen is ready?”
As if this was her forte, Nosfy urged us to ‘talk.’ My brain, having judged the current situation as combat, began to spin at high speed. Internal chemicals pulsed with a dull thud, activating every nerve. If I hesitated now— I would lose. That’s what I realized. My Status’s ‘Intelligence’ boosted my thought process to its limit, and at the end of it, I chose to gather information first. I signaled to Rainer, who was behind me, to wait with my right hand behind my back.
“…Then tell me. What is Rowen preparing?”
“To put it concisely, they are preparing for the ‘Ordeal’.”
Thump.
After my brain, my heart pulsed.
—The ‘Ordeal.’ Frankly, I only have painful memories associated with it. Knowing that the fifth ‘Ordeal’ was fast approaching, my thought speed accelerated even further.
“Why an ‘Ordeal’ now…?”
“It’s not ‘now.’ It’s precisely because Lord Uzunami has reached the Fiftieth Floor. …Now, I have answered. It’s your turn to answer, Lord Uzunami. Tell me, which is more important to you: the ‘past’ or the ‘future’?” I am very curious about that.”
Nosfy demanded an exchange of questions and answers. I still had things I wanted to ask, and I also wanted to observe. As part of my unreasonable circumstances, I decided to answer her question.
“Alright. If I had to choose between the two, I’d say the ‘future.’ To be precise, I value ‘Now’ the most.”
I answered honestly. I knew this was not a time to provoke Nosfy, even if it meant lying. Yet, I couldn’t bring myself to lie. The light from the flag shining behind Nosfy looked like a cliché spotlight in an interrogation room. There was an oppressive feeling that forbade any lies.
“I see. So, you deem the ‘past’ unimportant? Is what’s important ‘Now’ more than the ‘past’? Is ‘Now’ everything?”
“I wouldn’t say ‘everything.’ But you can’t move forward if you only look at the ‘past.’ You said something similar before…”
“Does that mean if there were sins in the ‘past,’ you’d pretend not to know them because you have no memory of them? Do you think a thousand years have passed the statute of limitations? That’s a very positive way of looking at things. Well, I certainly agree.”
Her response was laced with a good deal of sarcasm, yet Nosfy agreed with a smile.
“Yes, there’s no point regretting the past. We should look forward and do what needs to be done. I also believe that is the ‘right’ thing to do.”
The words Nosfy had spoken to Rowen yesterday were the same. However, something about them felt detached, as if they concerned someone else.
I continued my questions, not wanting to miss any subtle shifts in her feelings.
“It’s my turn to ask now… Why is Rowen starting an ‘Ordeal’ at this point?”
“It’s because that’s Rowen’s current desire—no, her whim. And as her ‘friend,’ I am cooperating with it. As a result, I am now acting as a ‘Thief of Principles (Rowen)’. Heh, were you surprised? I want to know Lord Uzunami’s current feelings.”
“Ah, I was surprised. Even if she were here, I thought she was Rowen. So, by calling yourself the Guardian of the Fiftieth Floor, that means…”
“Yes, the Guardian of a Floor has only one job: to prevent anyone other than the qualified from passing. Therefore, Lord Uzunami and you will not pass. After all, neither of you has overcome Rowen’s ‘Ordeal’ yet.”
The previous conversation wasn’t a misunderstanding, and it was confirmed that Nosfy was doing this in her right mind.
There was no longer time to indulge in this playful, one-on-one ‘Talks.’ As the tension mounted, I made a final, unilateral confirmation.
“…This is Rowen’s Floor, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. I am the Guardian of the Sixtieth Floor.”
“After that, did you make up with Rowen?”
“We made up immediately. Rowen forgave me with a smile. That’s why I was able to obtain the ‘summoning’ target through ‘Talks,’ and I am ‘here’ now. Yes, thanks to Lord Uzunami, Rowen and I have become ‘friends.’ However—”
Nosfy answered my barrage of questions without getting angry.
The girl before me was calm. She didn’t seem like someone who would fly into a rage over trivial matters.
That’s where she differed from the Guardians before her.
It was strange.
Guardians were supposed to be embodiments of lingering desire, yet Nosfy exuded a sense of calm.
While enduring my suspicious gaze, Nosfy spread her hands wide, emphasizing the state of the Fiftieth Floor.
“As you can see. Rowen is crying even now. She’s smiling, but she’s crying.”
A grassland that stretched on endlessly.
The surroundings were bright and cheerful, but at its center was a great storm.
This, she said, was Rowen.
I recalled Arti’s words.
She had pointed to the Tenth Floor and said it was “me.”
This applied to the other Guardians as well, I presumed.
“That’s why, as her ‘friend,’ I want to indulge her whims while she cries. I want to stop this rain of tears.”
“So, Rowen is crying, then…?”
“Yes, she cries when she’s alone. Therefore, my whim is still ongoing.”
Continuing to chuckle, she repeated yesterday’s wish.
“Now, please go see Rowen again. And cheer her up again. I will continue to wish for it until it comes true. Because that is my Lingering Desire, so it cannot be helped, right?”
She implied that I wouldn’t be allowed to pass until that wish was fulfilled.
“…To cheer Rowen up, I have to bring Aid. I’ll go and come back right away. Can you wait until then?”
“I cannot wait. Because you’ve been saying Aid, Aid, but there’s no need for that.”
“There is a need. He needs a family. That much is certain.”
“That’s right. Rowen seeks a family. I think so too.”
“Then—!!”
While she agreed, the conversation made no progress. Frustrated by this circular logic, I raised my voice.
However, that momentum was blunted by unexpected words.
“But doesn’t Rowen already have a family?”
Her statement overturned my premise—I couldn’t comprehend its meaning.
Or rather, while I could vaguely infer it, I couldn’t accept that inference.
“Rowen’s family…? Where…?”
“There.”
Nosfy pointed.
Behind me, a boy exuding killing intent.
Rainer.
“Please rejoice, Helvishein.
You are Rowen’s new younger brother.”
My inference turned into reality.
At that moment, I understood the true purpose of this blockage.
“A younger brother who doesn’t demand ‘kingliness’ from Rowen. A younger brother with whom she can talk honestly without reservation, who makes her happy just by being around. A younger brother who shares wind attribute magic, who is eager to be taught, and who is incredibly, incredibly adorable. Kuku, it’s perfect. With you here, Aid is unnecessary. That is Rowen’s answer—”
“—《Magic Wind Blade Formation》!!”
“Oops.”
Before she could finish her sentence, Rainer lunged at Nosfy.
It was a full-powered strike imbued with wind magic. Nosfy dodged it with ease.
I was the only one left behind in the battle.
Seeing my ineptitude, Rainer shouted as he swung his sword.
“Christ, do you still believe she’s not an enemy?! Look at her attitude, there’s no mistake! No matter what happens, she has no intention of letting us pass!! Give up already!!”
I wanted to indulge Nosfy’s whim as much as possible.
I wanted to believe until the end that she wasn’t an enemy.
—I could hear the sound of that faint hope shattering.
“That’s not it, Rainer. I don’t want to refuse you passage. I just want you to go back to the beginning. Now, Lord Uzunami, let’s go back to the 66th Floor, shall we? Because as long as Rowen isn’t smiling, this place is closed off. So it can’t be helped. Heh, heh heh.”
Therefore, to make Rowen smile, Aid is necessary. And to bring Aid, I need to go to the Ground. Yet, to go to the Ground, I need to make Rowen smile. —It seemed like she had no intention of letting me fulfill her whim.
“There’s no need to defeat her! You just need to get past her! If that’s the case, Christ, you can fight too, right!?”
Amidst the exchanges between Rainer and Nosfy, I made up my mind.
“I have to… do it…!”
I resigned myself to fighting the Guardian — the Thief of Principles of Light, Nosfy — here.
“Are you going to fight? However, an unpolished Knight and an incomplete Lord Uzunami are lacking in many ways to be my opponents.”
Nosfy, with a gentle expression, greeted me as I drew my Crescent Pectoral Azure’s Straight Sword. She pulled out the Banner of Light that had been impaled, brandished it like a spear, and pointed its tip at us.
“Literally, let me teach you the difference in our Levels…”
With those words, Nosfy’s magic power of Light exploded.
At the same time, Rainer and I charged forward.
We hadn’t signaled each other, yet we moved with perfect synchrony, splitting to the left and right to try and pass through.
In response, Nosfy adjusted the length of the Banner of Light and swung it wide horizontally. Its attack range was vast, and if we continued, it would reach both Rainer and me.
“Keep running, Rainer! Move out of the way and make it miss! — Default!!”
I tried to prevent that by constructing a Dimensional Magic.
Instead of compressing space, I stretched it. Due to the gap created, Nosfy’s sweep would miss and fail to connect—or so it should have.
“—What!?”
The stretched space contorted, and at the same time, it contorted again, compressing.
The gap that had formed was immediately filled, and the deviation was corrected.
Naturally, the sweep experienced no deviation at all.
Both Rainer and I were hit by the tip of the flag and were blown away by the impact, amplified by centrifugal force. Though I instinctively defended myself with my arms, the attack was strong enough to have broken them. In fact, Rainer, who had fully trusted my magic, had his defending arm dislocated, which I perceived with Dimension.
“Tch! Christ, what happened!?”
Blown away, Rainer immediately got back up and asked me for the cause.
“She used the same magic…? No, that’s not right. It was the same magic that I used…?”
Recalling the sequence of events, I searched for the cause.
And then, I realized an impossible fact. Dimension – Decisive Calculation had indeed grasped all of the spatial magic. Its grasp indicated that the magic that had occurred was Default twice. Furthermore, those two instances of Default were undoubtedly cast by me.
The first time, I had released it consciously. However, the second time was not by my will.
It was unconscious.
“Fufu, is this really the time to be talking so leisurely?”
While I was organizing the information, Nosfy charged forward.
Her target was Rainer. She intended to subdue the injured opponent first.
I used magic to move, determined to stop her.
“—Default!!”
I attempted to compress space to close the distance.
But—
“W-What again!?”
It was the same as before.
The compressed space was stretched the next moment.
The same magic activated simultaneously in opposite directions, yielding no effect.
There was no longer any doubt.
When facing Nosfy, magic activated twice.
And in opposite directions, as if to ‘cancel’ each other out—!
During that failure, Nosfy and Rainer made contact.
Rainer attempted to use a wind magic before the close-quarters combat began.
“—Zea-, Wind!! …Wha!?”
It was the same as me.
The magic Zea- Wind had indeed activated. However, it was canceled out by another instance of Zea- Wind that activated simultaneously.
Then, Nosfy, smiling wryly, attacked.
Rainer moved his remaining arm, managing to block the flag with his sword, though he was clearly at a disadvantage. The impact, which threatened to dislocate his remaining arm as well, sent him flying far away again.
“Rainer! The magic is activating twice, and the effects are canceling each other out! Don’t expect any support from me! Try to use as little magic as possible!!”
I had no choice but to move towards him on foot rather than using magic.
Along the way, I also analyzed this inexplicable phenomenon.
In this space, the most suspicious thing was the Banner of Light in Nosfy’s hand. I focused all my nerves on it, tracing the movements of the magic power of Light swirling around it down to the finest detail.
As a result, I understood the true ability of the Banner of Light.
I realized it was not a weapon, but a medium for activating psychic magic.
The light emanating from the flag was constantly generating that ‘Talks’ magic.
I hadn’t noticed because the target was not us.
The target into which the magic power of Light was flowing—
“The magic power of Light is seeping into our ‘Blood’!?”
The target was not ‘living beings,’ but ‘blood.’
No, to be precise, it was the ‘Spell Formation’ inscribed within the ‘blood’ that was the target. She was directly initiating ‘Talks’ with the magic ‘Spell Formation’ itself. And because she was dealing with an unconscious ‘Spell Formation,’ the ‘Talks’ were being resolved unconditionally.
It was as if deceiving a baby who couldn’t speak, the ‘Spell Formation’ was being hijacked by the magic power of Light.
“Rainer! This Light is hijacking the magic ‘Spell Formations’ in our ‘Blood’! Nosfy’s magic seems to work even if the opponent isn’t a living creature! This is a lie, calling it ‘Talks’ magic without any compelling force! We need to wash away the magic power of Light!!”
I understood the nature of the inexplicable phenomenon.
However, countermeasures were difficult.
First, the light itself, which served as the medium for the magic, could not be physically avoided. It permeated the entire space, so it couldn’t be neutralized.
Furthermore, since the magic that was activating twice was using Nosfy’s magic power, which had seeped in, rather than our own magic power, the ‘Spell Formation’ was activated without any discomfort or burden. This was the key—our magic power was not being depleted. Only Nosfy’s magic power was being used. It was not forceful like Dark Magic, but very harmonious—therefore, it was difficult to notice beforehand and prevent.
“Even if you say wash it away, we don’t have that much time—!”
It was impossible for Rainer, who was struggling just to defend against the onslaught.
I’m trying my best to rush there to help.
And finally, when I reached a distance where I could support Rainer, Nosfy turned half her face towards me. The corner of her mouth twisted, and she whispered a magic name.
That’s when I realized Nosfy had been waiting for me to hurry over.
“—Dimensional Magic, [Connection]!”
Dimensional magic, not light magic.
Nosfy spoke the magic name, but it was me who activated it.
Using someone else’s magic without permission again—!
“Gah—!”
Magic erupted from my left arm, on its own.
When I realized it, the magic construction was already complete.
Immediately, a massive [Connection] appeared nearby, clinging to the ground as if adhered to it. It was a colossal gate, unlike any I had seen before. Instead of purple, its color was white, and its density was so thick that I knew at a glance it wouldn’t be easily broken. It was something I definitely couldn’t create, opening its maw on the Fiftieth Floor’s ground like a pitfall.
“It’s the ‘Giant Gate’ using all the magic power I infused beforehand. Now, let’s gobble it up, shall we?”
As Nosfy spoke, her movements became faster. It was an acceleration that made it clear she had been intentionally holding back until now.
Rainer, who was injured, couldn’t match that speed.
Struck in the abdomen by the tip of her light flag, he collapsed, gasping for breath. Then, the soft, palm-like fabric of the light flag enveloped Rainer, and—
“—Here goes, Shoooot!”
With a cute cry, she treated Rainer like a lacrosse ball and slammed him into the colossal [Connection].
“Y-You—!!”
With a shout, Rainer was swallowed by the dimensional gate.
He was sent to another location.
Likely a place prepared for the Lord’s [Ordeal].
“Rainer!!”
“First, Helvishein alone…”
Nosfy, with a wavering smile, turned towards me.
This is bad…
She’s probably planning to throw me into the [Connection] next.
For a moment, the option of deliberately being thrown in crossed my mind. But Rainer wouldn’t want that. He’s a male friend I’ve shared meals and sleeps with. I understand that much.
More importantly, it’s what I told Rainer.
“Self-sacrifice is the easy path, let’s stop that” — that’s what I said.
I desperately want to go help Rainer, but my reason tells me that sacrificing myself to save him now isn’t the best course of action. It’s just a path that would make my heart feel lighter.
Now, the best course is to split into two groups and bring Aid quickly. If we go to the ground, we can expect plenty of reinforcements. So—!
“Damn it!!”
I grit my teeth and dash off. Not towards Nosfy, nor the [Connection], but towards the stairs leading to the Forty-ninth Floor.
“Heh heh. You’re starting to act like yourself, Lord Uzunami. To achieve a great goal, you cut off those who would be a hindrance. That’s a very ‘correct’ choice. I would do the same if I were you.”
Nosfy caught up to my full dash in a single leap and ran alongside me. Then, with her extraordinary strength, she swung the flag horizontally.
“That’s not it! I just trust Rainer! He can forge his own path alone!”
I parried her flag with my sword and retorted, then turned my body and took a stance.
Nosfy’s physical abilities are high. Realizing I couldn’t outrun her, I had no choice but to try and repel her with my sword.
Knowing the trick behind her light magic, I could only fight using my [Sensation] skill and my sword as my primary tools.
“Hm? Huh—?”
As our swords and flag clashed, Nosfy frowned.
She probably thought she could suppress me more easily. She’s surprised at the high level of my [Swordsmanship] skill, considering I’ve been in the rear guard.
Rowen’s swordsmanship had the power to compensate for the desperate difference in physical ability.
I’m only superior to Nosfy in [Swordsmanship]—however, it’s not enough of an advantage to cut her down immediately.
While looking for an opening to escape, we exchanged words and blows.
“You were hiding a troublesome magic, Nosfy!!”
“I wasn’t hiding it at all. Dedication to others is the foundation of light magic, isn’t it? I’m merely sharing my magic power with Lord Uzunami.”
“That magic is using my magic without my permission!”
“Magic activation is done after proper [Talks] with the ‘Blood,’ so I have no reason to be insulted.”
“No, if you’re going to use my magic, get my permission! Not ‘Blood,’ talk to *me*!”
“Ah… but if you say that, they might refuse to lend the magic formula…”
“Of course! That’s normal! What is this, ‘[Blood]’ and ‘[Talks]’!!”
“I apologize. It’s the basic principle of peace negotiations to engage in [Talks] with the opponent’s ‘weakness’.”
“Gah—!”
However, she artfully dodged my every attempt.
Not just her words, but also her combat responsiveness felt thin.
Having given up on a head-on confrontation with my [Swordsmanship] early on, Nosfy began to adapt by changing the shape of her flag.
Her basic stance was that of a staff, but she shifted to a spear, axe, greatsword, longsword, dual swords, and short swords mid-fight. And she wielded them all as if they were extensions of her limbs. It was undeniable that not only was her [Weapon Combat] skill value high, but she also possessed individual skills for each.
The simply immense difference in abilities, coupled with the changing weapons.
We’ve been fighting for nearly twenty minutes, but I don’t feel like I can break through even if we fought for another hour.
Indeed, despite over a thousand exchanges of techniques, I haven’t been able to break her defense. What’s more, the fact that Nosfy is concentrating on defense rather than offense is harsh.
My stamina is dwindling, and my breath is starting to falter.
Large drops of sweat trickle down my forehead, about to fall into my eyes.
“Haa, haa, haa—!!”
To catch my breath, I temporarily halt our combat and retreat significantly.
Nosfy doesn’t pursue, instead smiling with the stairs leading to the Forty-ninth Floor at her back.
“…Haa. I’m good at these kinds of endurance battles. Yes, I’m very good at enduring.”
Nosfy lets out a light breath and shows a cool expression.
It’s not that she’s entirely unfatigued, but the difference compared to me is like heaven and earth.
Wiping away the sweat, I reconfirm the direness of the situation.
The magic sealing my ability to break through the situation is still in play, yet my opponent is still hiding a trump card.
Frankly, the Guardian of the Fiftieth Floor shouldn’t be this weak. Nosfy hasn’t used her “Talks” magic to its fullest, and is instead engaging me in a direct “Swordsmanship” battle. This means that even though Nosfy isn’t fighting on her home turf, she’s still this strong.
To break through this situation, a considerable amount of recklessness will be necessary.
And speaking of recklessness, that brings back memories from the Ground. The most reckless thing I did was the battle against Palinkron.
At the end of that battle… with that unfair magic, I…
“Should I use that magic now?”
That is the highest-level Dimensional Magic I can currently use.
However, if it’s blocked, I’ll have nothing left. More importantly, it’s not designed for combat, and the “Price” is severe. Ideally, I don’t want to use it with this body. Moreover, I’ve only used it once against Palinkron… I don’t know if it will activate successfully again.
If I’m serious about winning, I should pour all my Magic Power into the cards I currently have.
That method of fighting would be more correct… but it’s also a tactic that won’t last if used only once.
This is the Fiftieth Floor. The middle of the Labyrinth, no, even deeper. Smack in the center.
Even if I win, if I run out of gas, I’ll have to return to Viais or I’ll die.
Damn it!
How frustrating it is to know my opponent is strong, yet to be unable to go all out…!
“Fufufu. I don’t need to exert myself. If I can wear down Lord Uzun here, that alone will be my victory, so it’s easy. Now, Lord Uzun. Without Rainer, can you reach the Ground in your current state of fatigue? Do you have enough Magic Power left? It’s probably about time the hunger issue starts too?”
Nosfy perfectly understands her win condition. She skilfully roils my doubts while leisurely waiting for my next move.
“…Lord Uzun, please stop being reckless and return to Viais once. Then, please accept Rowen’s ‘Ordeal’. You have that obligation. Yes, it’s an obligation imposed on those who pass through the Guardian’s floors.”
Pointing to the “Connection” that remains a little far off, Nosfy gently advises me not to be reckless.
There’s no other choice now…!
Hearing that, my resolve hardens.
I haven’t been reckless yet. This much isn’t even close to being reckless.
If I can be truly reckless here and surpass Nosfy’s expectations, there’s still a chance of winning.
“Furthermore, this is also a responsibility. You must take responsibility for the ‘Past’. Therefore, let us return together. To Viais of a Thousand Years Ago–!”
The recklessness truly begins now–!
I’ll defeat Nosfy with all my might, and then I’ll just ‘will’ my way to the Ground–!!
“—Magic “Default” “Default” “Default”!!”
I shout the magic and charge forward–!
Along with a second Full Dash, I unleash a flurry of full-power Dimensional Magic.
I know the magic will be nullified.
So, for now, I’ll win through sheer numbers.
I’ll create countless spatial distortions, attempting to produce a multitude of routes to bypass Nosfy. Perhaps there’s a possibility she can’t handle multiple magics.
“So, you’ve come to this. …Within predicted parameters.”
However, the moment Nosfy raises her hand, all the spatial distortions are instantly repaired. It was a response so swift, it felt as if she had anticipated this very attack.
But this is as expected. A Guardian would do this much.
Having not gained the benefit of “Default,” I am now running directly towards Nosfy.
At this moment, I unleash the real magic I had prepared.
“—Magic “Distance Mute”!!”
While hearing a tearing sound in my brain, I envelop my entire body in “Distance Mute.”
If numbers don’t work, I’ll win through quality.
Using the Limit of Magic Power that can be contained in a single spell, I construct the supreme, greatest magic. I no longer have the余裕 to prepare another identical spell.
This should be the most troublesome choice for Nosfy, who relies on ‘nullifying’ by preparing the same magic.
I intend to rush straight through Nosfy’s body and reach the stairs to the Forty-ninth Floor.
“…Replicating that density will be troublesome. However, I’ve seen that magic once. You’re going to slip through, aren’t you?”
Towards my charge, Nosfy remained calm. She quickly gave up on nullifying the magic.
But she wasn’t incapable of dealing with the “Distance Mute” covering my entire body. For her, nullification was just one option. There was no need to be fixated on it.
“Therefore, that is also within predicted parameters. —“Distance Mute.” I will align only my right hand with that shifted dimensional phase. It’s cutting it close, though.”
Using me as leverage, Nosfy casts a weaker “Distance Mute.” Then, with her glowing right hand, she grabs my charging arm and clutches it like a vice.
“H-Let go–!!”
I try to break free, but she smoothly deflects my strength. Even though I overwhelm her in “Swordsmanship,” the opposite is true in “Martial Arts.” Moreover, Nosfy is experienced in battle. With a skill I can only confirm as practiced, she calmly leaps.
Still holding me, she jumps high enough to reach the Labyrinth’s ceiling.
The place she lands is a gaping “Connection.”
“This puts you in check. I won’t let you go to the Ground. Yes, absolutely–I won’t let you.”
“Kuh, this–!”
Nosfy laughs–and falls, still gripping my arm.
Together, into the deep abyss of the Labyrinth.
We fall sixteen floors, crossing Dimensions.
Even though it’s sixteen floors, the transit through the “Connection” is instantaneous.
Passing through a moment of darkness, the world is immediately switched.
From a raging Labyrinth to a quiet castle with no one in sight.
And so, I am returned to the Throne Room where Rowen awaits–back to square one.
