Nestor was the first to clash. As in the first battle, he took the Ogre’s attack head-on and then counter-attacked.

Meanwhile, Sylvie slashed in. Perhaps the attack power increasing magic I cast was still effective, as her deep cut and subsequent strike restrained the Ogre’s movements more than expected.

As for Sofia, she skillfully avoided the Ogre’s attacks and dealt damage with “Aerial Sword.”

Next, she unleashed “Clear Stream Flash,” and the Ogre, unable to keep up with her as she moved behind it, lost sight of its target and froze.

A chance–before I could even think, Sofia gathered magic power and delivered a powerful blow. I understood it to be the Earth Attribute Lower Magic Sword Technique “Earth Crush” from her magic power–and the Ogre finally fell.

Sylvie also easily avoided the Ogre’s attacks and defeated it with a series of blows. Furthermore, Nestor also defended against attacks while responding, and with Radi’s support, he also defeated it… but more monsters appeared from the stairs leading upwards. They were Great Serpents, “Blind Attackers,” just like before, and there were three of them.

Sofia and the others immediately moved to intercept–right after, I sensed a presence behind me. Had someone been outside? Footsteps approached from downstairs.

“I’ll handle it.”

With those words, I drew my sword. Immediately after confirming that Sofia and the others were handling the “Blind Attackers” without difficulty, an Ogre appeared from the stairs.

I preemptively fired a “Holy Shot,” first piercing its right leg. The Ogre instantly froze. Without a moment’s delay, Radi unleashed a “Fire Lance.” Flames briefly enveloped the Ogre… yet the monster continued its advance towards us.

I confronted it head-on. Moving my body to the side to avoid the powerfully swung club, I lunged forward and thrust at its heart. This was the Magic Sword Technique “Lightning Thrust,” a lightning-infused stab as the name suggests.

The strike aimed at its vital spot hit perfectly, and the Ogre’s body trembled. Immediately after pulling out my sword and stepping back, the Ogre lost its strength, collapsed–and perished.

“You’re quite skilled for a rear-guard too.”

Radi said. When I looked back, I realized that Sofia and the others’ battle had also ended.

I thought he might probe further, but perhaps due to being in combat, Radi didn’t ask anything more… so, we continued upwards.

Along the way, I suddenly thought. Sofia, Sylvie, and even Radi and the others are able to handle Ogres. From this, I think they have reached a level where they can at least counter the monsters in the next Five Great Demon Lords’ Castles.

In the game, the Five Great Demons’ abilities increased with each one defeated… meaning that even if we wasted time doing side events, the Five Great Demons’ strength didn’t change. However, now that it’s reality, there must be a time limit. If the Five Great Demons’ abilities increase over time, only fast-growing companion characters like Sofia would be able to counter them.

And the information from Eina and the others that the Human Side is secretly making various moves… there might be a Great War with Demons soon, but with our current abilities, we’ll probably be fine–as I was thinking this, we encountered more monsters. We engaged in combat.

Eventually, we reached the top floor of the Tower. The hall, illuminated with maximum light, gave a rather deserted impression.

“This is…”

Radi muttered as he looked around the room. Since furniture used for living, such as beds and bookshelves, was scattered around, a magic-user must have definitely lived here. However, there was an inexplicable point. There were bookshelves and a wooden desk, but what was inside them were very common items like potions and novels… no research materials were found.

In other words, it was set up so that it was impossible to tell who lived here.

“It seems they really didn’t want their existence known,”

I murmured, shifting my gaze to the bookshelf. Everything was generally available and nothing new.

“…That’s strange.”

Then Radi spoke.

“If Demon Race had overrun this Tower… they wouldn’t have had much time to sense it and escape. Wouldn’t it be difficult to erase all traces of who lived here so cleanly?”

“Could it be that they knew about the Demon Race’s attack?”

Sofia spoke, looking around the room. But Radi tilted his head.

“They knew… the method is also questionable. No, is the very assumption that the Demon Race launched an attack wrong? But monsters were infesting it…”

I also thought to myself… perhaps a Demon Race pretending to be a magic-user lived here? If I assume that, it makes sense… I listened to Radi’s words while looking at the books on the shelf.

“And there’s another question. If there’s no Demon Race here, then why were the monsters guarding this place?”

Everyone fell silent at the mystery he posed. I took my eyes off the bookshelf and offered him a suggestion.

“I understand you want to solve the mystery, but… it doesn’t look like Radi found what he was looking for.”

“That’s right… but if that’s the case, I’d at least like to solve this inexplicable situation.”

“I agree. The magic-user seems to have prepared and left the Tower, but something might be left behind… Let’s search.”

And so, everyone began to act. Even so, despite the spacious area, the only places likely to have information were the bookshelf or desk drawers. Thus, my companions naturally gravitated towards those spots–

“…Ruon, what are you doing?”

Sylvie asked, seeing me pick up a book from the shelf and leaf through it.

“You’re not reading the book, are you?”

“For example, a letter might be tucked between the pages of a book… that happens sometimes in novels, right?”

“Oh, indeed.”

Sylvie picks up a book in the same way. I pick up another book, turn it upside down to check if anything is inside, and watch Radi and Nestor examine the desk.

They seem to be checking for a false bottom. But they finish their work faster than us who are checking the shelves, and… that’s when it happened.

“Ah…”

Sofia makes a sound. I see something fall from the book she is holding.

It’s a blue piece of stationery. It seems to be a letter.

“Jackpot.”

I say, approaching Sofia and picking up the letter. Radi and the others also approach, and I examine the stationery.

The seal is broken. It’s probably something they forgot to take… I felt a little sorry, but I took out the contents. Two white sheets of paper. However, the paper was quite crumpled, showing signs of being read over and over again.

I checked the text. And then, a surprising name jumped out at me.

“To my dear disciple, Richard,”

“–Richard!?”

I raised my voice. It was the name I heard from Kyarun, whom I fought with before–

“Do you know them?”

Radi asks. I shake my head from side to side in response.

“I’ve never met them. But I’ve heard their name during my travels… I also heard they were a Magic-user, so I think it’s the same person.”

“Could it be that this was their Stronghold before they traveled to various places?”

Sofia says, looking around the hall. I agree with a “Perhaps,” and then think.

I had questions about Richard’s actions, but… is he a Demon Race who betrayed the Demon King? I somehow thought he was a Transmigrator like me… No, there’s still too little information to draw a conclusion.

The content of the Letter is a trivial message, with the master commending Richard. For a moment, I wondered if there was a code hidden within it, but since there’s no way to check, it’s just a Letter to us.

However, I obtained very interesting information… since I had intended to investigate him before, I thought to myself that coming here was worth it.