Chapter 98 – Temple of the Wind Spirit

Though I don’t particularly like winter—I think it’s good to have something that helps you focus.

Real combat in the labyrinth and training using Golems. Developing Magic Tools with Alfred. Creating and selling Potions. With occasional days off in between, the intense, fulfilling time passed in the blink of an eye.

Thanks to the training, Ashley, Sheila, and Irmhild have shown remarkable growth. …After all, all three of them strongly insisted on joining the fight against the Demon.

They’re not quite at the level where they can fight one-on-one like Grace yet—but I think they’ve reached the point where they can fully dedicate themselves to support if either me or Grace takes the vanguard position.

“Everyone has their Red Transfer Stones, right?”

“I’m good here.”

“Same.”

After each of us finished checking our belongings, we nodded to each other.

We were doing final checks in a room of the Temple assigned for us to wait until the appointed time. Since we were likely to fight in the labyrinth, we needed to be able to use the emergency evacuation via the Red Transfer Stones.

Flight, countermeasures against Miasma, and then means of escape. If I prepared these aspects in advance, I could focus on the fight itself.

Each of us meticulously checked our Equipment. I also took up Ouroboros, and Ouroboros—as if aware that a major battle was approaching—twisted the corner of its mouth… clearly smiling. Well, Ouroboros is its usual self. No abnormalities with Caduceus either. Right now, it’s taking the form of a cat and lounging around.

Suddenly looking up, I saw Marlene had arrived and was staring at me with a serious expression.

“Worried?”

When I asked, Marlene nodded. Then, she gently wrapped her arms around my neck and hugged me.

“It’s fine. I’ll definitely come back with everyone.”

I also wrapped my arm around her, stroking her hair. In my embrace, Marlene nodded repeatedly. She probably wants to come along too. I’d like to accommodate her wishes as much as possible.

“Theo.”

“May we join as well?”

Turning my face, I saw Grace and Ashley had also come over.

When I nodded, they hugged me and Marlene from both sides. A warm, soft sensation. We embraced each other for a generous amount of time before separating.

“…Alright.”

Feeling pumped up, I stood. My eyes met Sheila and Irmhild’s. They nodded too.

“It’s fine, Marlene-sama. We’ll definitely come back.”

“So, please hold down the fort this time.”

When Sheila and Irmhild said that, Marlene also nodded happily.

From their perspective, since they’re exploring the labyrinth together, fighting Demons is only natural as long as they have the capability, it seems. They’re quite dutiful. Additionally, Irmhild has business deep within the labyrinth.

It was just the right time to head to the labyrinth, so we all left the room together.

The Shrine Maidens were lined up, kneeling as if in reverence.

“We pray for your success in battle.”

Penelope came up to me and, like the other Shrine Maidens, bowed deeply.

“We’re off.”

“Yes. Please leave Marlene-sama to us.”

Entrusting Marlene to Penelope, we left the Temple. Knights and soldiers were standing guard. Their faces uniformly showed tension.

They have their own duties—since they don’t know where or how the Demon might appear, they have to guard various places.

Penelope and Marlene came to see us off all the way to the labyrinth entrance.

From the entrance monument, right up until the moment we transferred into the labyrinth, Marlene kept waving to us.

As soon as we descended into the labyrinth, perhaps because the Shrine Maidens’ prayers reached us, a phosphorescent glow from the Blessing began to shimmer around our bodies.

“I’ll take the front.”

Grace literally Logged through the Monsters swarming toward us. I took the rear, cutting down the Monsters swarming from behind as we advanced. We had plenty of Potions and the like prepared. Ashley can also use Vitality recovery Magic. We probably don’t need to worry too much about depletion along the way.

Before long, we reached the Sealed Door—the relief portion was slowly pulsing with light.

“It seems we made it in time.”

“Yeah.”

I looked around. There were no particular responses to Life Sense Magic or to Sheila and Irmhild’s senses. It didn’t seem like the Demon was lying in wait either.

Of course, there was no sign of that girl we saw in the labyrinth either.

Eventually—the moment arrived. Just as the star position on the relief shifted, the Sealed Door opened on its own.

Immediately, a wind containing dense Magical Power—blew in from beyond the door. As it scattered the stagnant air of the Dusk Forest, a change occurred in the Dusk Forest itself.

The Fairy Lights glowing faintly here and there in the thickets increased their brightness as if responding to the Magical wind.

Buds everywhere seemed to be blooming, as a kaleidoscope of brilliant light spread throughout the forest.

“Incredible—what a sight.”

Ashley let out an astonished voice. Indeed. It’s a fantastical scene.

“…If I didn’t have business at the Spirit Hall, I’d want to explore the forest.”

Magical wind, huh. They said it’s one of the Four Great Spirit Halls… in that case, the Spirit Hall beyond this door must be—.

Beyond the door from which the wind flowed, a narrow passage continued. On both sides—were steep rock walls.

Sending a magical Light ahead, we proceeded along the trench-like path, and suddenly the view opened up.

We had emerged at a place like a sheer cliff. The path width—or rather, the footing—had widened slightly.

—Ahead was a pyramid-like square pyramidal structure. That must be one of the Four Great Spirit Halls. A narrow path continued all the way to the plaza in front. On both sides of the path was a straight drop into the abyss. It was so deep the bottom couldn’t be seen.

Visibility was good. Because on the high rock walls of the outer sections to the left and right, brilliantly shining Fairy Lights were in full bloom, swaying in the wind. The wind seemed to be blowing from the direction of the Spirit Hall.

“Let’s go.”

We headed toward the Temple at a slightly quicker pace. Even though we can fly, it’s definitely better to reach the plaza in front of the Temple with its rows of pillars rather than fighting in a place with such poor footing.

Here and there in the outer walls were hollows, and I could see grotesque stone statues enshrined within. Are those—Gargoyles?

The Gargoyles were tracking our movements with their eyes… but there was no sense they were about to attack. Perhaps they don’t eliminate intruders? Or maybe there’s some condition for them to initiate an attack, or something?

“Theo, that—!”

Just as we reached the plaza, Grace called out and pointed upward.

At the very top of the Spirit Hall, at what should be called the pointed spire.

There she was. The girl with raven-black hair reaching to her waist, her dress flowing in the wind. Her golden eyes fixed on us.

Before any of us could say anything. The girl raised her face, closed her eyes—and pointed toward the other side of the cliff path.

Looking back. The direction we had just come from.

On the footing at the break in the passage from the Sealed Door, a Magic Array appeared. It closely resembled—the Magic Array created by Transference Stones.

“…They’re here.”

Directly transported to the location where the Sealed Door opened. Well… I expected they’d do that much. The fact they timed it with the opening means they can’t ignore the Seal entirely. As long as they aren’t bypassing the Seal to intrude, that’s fine.

A pillar of Light rose. When it subsided—standing there were a tall, beautiful woman and—a small figure of indeterminate gender, draped from head to toe in black tattered Cloth.

Two of them, huh. As we inferred from the situation with Linette and Zevion, it seems they can’t attack relying on numbers. They must have some circumstances. That’s why they operate covertly.

The Gargoyles took flight from the cliffs all at once. Their destination wasn’t us, but the pair that appeared from the Magic Array.

That girl’s earlier action. Was she informing us of the Demons’ arrival? Or giving the Gargoyles orders to eliminate the Demons?

In any case… if they enter using such an unnatural method, they must be enemies to the labyrinth, huh.

“Gilmunabal.”

“As you command.”

When the female Demon gave an order with her chin, the tattered-cloth one responded in a hoarse voice and stepped forward as if to shield the woman. Miasma gushed out from under the cloth like an overflow, and something flew out from within the unnaturally collapsed cloth.

A branch—no, a giant hand. Gnarled, with a texture like a plant branch. The enormous arm, so large one wonders where it was stored within the tattered cloth, casually swatted down several Gargoyles. The tattered-cloth Demon took the lead… and the female Demon continued her approach with a relaxed smile, composed.

The tattered cloth… Gilmunabal is the vanguard, huh. It seems… the woman is the main one, or rather, of higher rank.

“I’ll handle the—female Demon over there.”

“Then, we’ll take the black one.”

As planned. Basically, Grace is the Vanguard. Everyone else provides support. If it’s a dangerous opponent on Zevion’s level, I’ve given orders for immediate retreat.

Given the nature of the Magic I use, it’s easier for me to unleash attacks and move freely when my allies aren’t nearby. It’s better for me to fight away from everyone else.

Just as they stepped into the plaza, Grace charged at Gilmunabal. I ignored Gilmunabal and headed toward the female Demon behind him.

From Gilmunabal’s perspective, there’s no reason to ignore me. From the corner of my vision, Gilmunabal’s arm approached.

There, Grace’s Axe slammed in, deflecting the attack’s trajectory. From one edge of my vision to the other. Grace and I made eye contact for a moment and smiled at each other.

“—A child, is it. Now that you mention it, I recall there was such information among the reports.”

Saying that, she narrowed her eyes looking at me. Miasma rose from the woman’s body. That’s enough. Now that a Demon has appeared here, their purpose is obvious.

“What about me being a child?”

If it hits, it won’t end well. Ideally, with a single blow that could kill. For the first move, such Magic is desirable. Even if it doesn’t defeat them, I can gauge their response.

Deploying a Magic Circle. The moment she entered range, I fired off Lightning Magic Lightning Blast. A massive Lightning Strike, bright enough to illuminate the outer walls, rushed toward the woman.

But—.

The Lightning Strike scattered in all directions. Around the woman’s body, several golden sword-like objects floated.

…She used those as makeshift lightning rods to disperse the lightning.

The Miasma rising from the woman’s body had, at some point, changed from the ordinary kind to one with a metallic sheen. Even as I watched, the Miasma gathered in the air, forming blades—.

The floating blades were very substantial, not simply made by solidifying Miasma… it seemed. The swords emitting a metallic luster had pattern-like characters floating on them. Should I assume she’s solidifying and controlling them via some kind of Spell Formula?

Golden lines also ran across her body. Unlike Zevion, her form wasn’t too far from human, but twisted, goat-like horns grew from her temples, and a gem-like—vertical eyeball peered from the center of her forehead.

“This refined Magic power. This is getting fun.”

The woman spread both hands.

“I am Luceriage. Luceriage of the Dancing Sword. If I ask for your name, will you tell me?”

Around Luceriage, the swords began to spin, cutting through the wind.

Her body floated into the air, rising to the height of my eye level.

“Theodore Gartner.”

“I see—. Theodore. I will stab you full of holes and kill you.”

As if pleased that I gave my name in return, the woman smiled, revealing pointed fangs at the corners of her mouth.