Heading To The Underground Labyrinth

“There’s a clue to ancient magic down here…!”

Staring at the stairs that vanished into the darkness, Tommaso’s eyes gleamed.

Beside him.

“…………………………Tch.”

Jonah, who stood nearby, did not miss Felipe’s bored click of the tongue.

“Little Jonah! There’s bound to be ancient magic ahead of us!”

“Y-yes…”

In contrast to the excited Tommaso, Jonah couldn’t help but be uneasy about Felipe.

Of course Jonah was also eager—he couldn’t deny that if they descended the stairs the ‘Undying King of the Dark Underground Labyrinth’ might be waiting.

But more than that, he couldn’t shake the strange feeling he got from Felipe.

“From here on, Tommaso and I will proceed. You are to stay here and wait.”

“Wh-what!? P-please wait! We don’t know what kinds of dangers await!”

“That’s right! Besides, this man cannot protect Lord Felipe in an emergency! Please, take us with you!”

The two mages stepped forward and pleaded desperately.

It was unclear what Felipe intended by descending the stairs with only the two of them, but in any case Jonah would be left behind here.

Therefore.

“Please wait! I’ll go with you too!”

Not to be outdone by the two mages, Jonah pressed his hand to his chest and pleaded.

“Don’t be ridiculous! Lord Felipe has no time to babysit a child!”

“Exactly! Rather than taking a child like this, please take us with you!”

The male mage shouted, and seizing the moment the female mage implored Felipe.

“…Tommaso, you’re his assistant, right? Then you should persuade this boy…”

“Excuse me, but can you read this?”

As Felipe frowned and urged Tommaso to persuade him, Jonah pointed to the ancient characters carved into the floor.

“Hm… It annoys me, but I can’t read it. But if Tommaso is here…”

“Unfortunately, I can’t read it either. More than that, it was entirely thanks to young Jonah that the ancient script was deciphered and this place discovered.”

Tommaso pinched his Kaiser mustache and spoke with a touch of pride. He shifted his gaze to Jonah and gave a small wink.

It seemed Tommaso had helped so that Jonah could accompany them.

“Please! I will surely be of help!”

Saying that, Jonah bowed deeply.

Standing before the stairs that might lead to the legend he sought, Jonah had no option to back down.

Above all, for Jonah, the remaining year of his life existed to see with his own eyes the legends recorded in the book that compiled legends from around the world.

“……………………”

Felipe folded his arms and quietly closed his eyes.

Jonah and the two mages watched him with bated breath.

“…Very well. Boy, come with us.”

“Y-yes!”

“Please wait! Then we shall…!”

Jonah brightened at Felipe’s quietly opened eyes and answer… but the two wizards were not satisfied.

They could not accept that a mere boy like Jonah would be allowed to accompany them while they, who prided themselves on their superior stamina and magical prowess, were left behind.

However, Felipe seemed to see right through that.

“You have the important role of taking charge of this Mage Tower in my absence. Now that the ‘Jewel of Nornil’ has been taken from the power room and the Tower’s functions are lost, there is no one here other than you who can unite all the mages in my stead.”

“…………………………”
“…………………………”

At Felipe’s words, the two mages were left speechless.

With the joy of the trust and expectations placed on them by him, and the weight of the mission they had been given.

“You understand, right?”

“”Yes…””

With him saying that, the two mages had no choice but to accept.

Felipe gently patted their shoulders, and the two bit their lips and nodded.

“Now, let’s go.”

“Y-yes!”

“W-wait for us!”

Felipe turned on his heel and quickly descended the stairs. Jonah and Tommaso hurried after him.