Episode 10

—Kon.

A pleasant sound sometimes echoed through the quiet space.

Water flowed silently, pooled in a bamboo tube, and with its weight struck a stone.

Why a shishi-odoshi existed in another world—if Hiroto had been here, he would have questioned it without a doubt.

“I’ve heard about you, Eris-san. I often worked together with Stork-san.”

The one speaking wore a gentle smile—an older man who looked to be around sixty.

Glanz Fort, retired from the Mage Corps five years ago and now living in seclusion—the former mage known as the Sage—was meeting Van’s group.

“Sage-sama. Thank you for taking the time today—”

“Eris-san. You don’t have to be so formal. These days, I’m just an old man.”

Glanz let his gaze pass over everyone, as if to say they could speak normally. The tension eased.

“That’s a relief, Glanz-san. My dad told me to make sure I wasn’t rude.”

“That does sound like Stork-san.”

A warm atmosphere settled in and the conversation flowed.

Eris clearly wanted to hear about her father; the topic drifted from their original purpose and became centered on Stork. She couldn’t help being curious what her father had been like when he was young.

“Sorry, Eris. I’ve got something important to ask him.”

Van cut in, breaking the flow. His expression was serious—yet it also looked like he was pressed for time.

Eris started to scold him, but when Glanz looked her way, she reconsidered. Glanz seemed willing to listen.

“Van Freak-san, correct?”

“Yeah. …I know it’s rude. But I need you to hear me out.”

Van explained his situation in full: he was seeking clues in an unexplored dungeon to save his grandfather, Masfelt.

“Masfelt-san… The Mage Corps, of course, and even the Knight Order received his cooperation. However…”

Finding new technology in an unexplored dungeon wasn’t rare. But the chance of obtaining something that directly led to a cure was vanishingly small.

“Even the Maria Church and the Apothecaries Association couldn’t help. I tried everything I could. And it still didn’t work.”

Van clenched his fist hard. He must have come here with nothing left to grasp but hope. His face was filled with helpless frustration.

(Zeke-san… so this is that moment.)

Glanz remembered what Zeke had told him five years ago:

People would attempt the dungeon. They would seek companions.

(Just like he said—brown-haired man, white-haired woman.)

Words that would normally sound like a joke… but coming from Zeke, they carried weight.

That certainty. Glanz had sharpened his magic for five years to honor the promise.

(If it’s an illness, holy arts would be best. But I don’t believe he would say something pointless. This meeting—and their actions—must have meaning.)

“Van, you—why didn’t you say something that important sooner?! And you really think some ‘maybe’ hope is going to solve this?!”

“Then what was I supposed to do?! I didn’t just try recovery magic—I even tried healing magic! I did a ton of other things too! And nothing worked…”

Van and Eris argued. Atri listened silently. Feluart watched with interest.

(Guiding them… that must be this old man’s role.)

“…This kingdom has holy arts, doesn’t it?”

“Are you stupid…? You want me to beg royalty to cure Grandpa? If we’re unlucky, the Royal Guard will arrest us.”

Van let out a powerless sigh, exasperated.

Of course he’d thought of holy arts—but he wasn’t reckless enough to go straight to the royal family.

“I know one person. Someone who has connections to the royals. You know him too—that guy…”

“!? He’s not the type to help people. I can’t ask him…”

“Van. Are you going to let your grandfather die over that stupid pride? Instead of clinging to hope with near-zero odds, you should choose the method that actually has a chance. I’ll ask with you.”

Van’s resolve wavered as he listened.

He understood it logically: compared to dungeon exploration full of unknowns, holy arts—backed by history—offered higher odds.

Holy arts, called the work of the divine. As long as someone lived, they were a miracle that denied every death except the end of natural lifespan. Diabalet had risen by that power.

“Please, both of you, calm down. Van-san—are you saying you intend to challenge the unexplored dungeon?”

“…Yeah. If there’s even a tiny chance.”

“As Eris-san said, holy arts are the best option. But… even if you request treatment, whether they agree is unknown. This nation treats holy arts as special.”

If treatment through connections were allowed once, it would happen again and again, and the value of holy arts would gradually fall. The nation used holy arts politically—that was why they didn’t want to employ it casually.

And there was also a simple reality: holy arts users were extremely rare. Not every royal could use them, and only a few—Ciel included—could use holy arts repeatedly.

“Relying on the person Eris-san mentioned is one path. And… challenging the dungeon is another.”

Glanz’s expression changed.

“I have been to that unexplored dungeon. It was five years ago. During the survey, we nearly died.”

Glanz told them what happened then.

The dungeon rejected the survey team with countless mechanisms. And at the deepest point, an ancient magic had been set.

“Thanks to the efforts of a small friend, we escaped… but next time may not be the same. Van-san—are you prepared to risk your life?”

“…That’s why I got stronger. I won’t die—and I won’t let Grandpa die either.”

(He looks uncertain… but his eyes are good.)

Glanz had spent years in the Mage Corps and seen many youths, but Van had something that shone. He hadn’t felt that in five years.

“Understood. Then I will guide you to that dungeon. Only those who are prepared should follow.”

To save a fallen grandfather.

To repay a debt from five years ago.

For the world they desired.

With those feelings in their hearts, they challenged the Lagias Dungeon.

An old building—ruins bearing the Maria Church symbol.

In the underground of that church’s remains, they were there.

“Honestly… it was a pain. Moving a big guy and treating him. I’m exhausted.”

“…I said I’m sorry. How many times is this now?”

“Boo. Dex, you really don’t get it. ‘Leave Lagias to me,’ my ass. You got wrecked.”

Above ground it looked like nothing but a ruin, but the space below was far more neatly maintained than anyone would imagine. It was one of the bases they used.

“Pariarch, you got pierced by Izosaar too. If you’d captured the saintess at least, we would’ve had more breathing room.”

“—Nope. That won’t do. Because I’m killing that woman on my own. She seriously pisses me off.”

Pariaarch leaked killing intent with a flat, emotionless face. The gap between that and his usual breezy self made Dex suspicious.

“Did you capture that for the sake of it? Are you sure it’s safe?”

Deeper in the wide underground chamber stood multiple transparent cylindrical containers—large enough to enclose a person. Inside them were a strange liquid and the figure of a young man.

“Hm? It was originally for me, but structurally there’s no problem.”

“That’s not what I mean. Can that guy really serve as the substitute plan?”

The young man stored in the container seemed unconscious—eyes closed, standing silently.

“Uhh… I think it’ll be fine. He’s a holy arts user, after all. His name was… what was it again?”

Long, silver bangs swayed lazily.

It was Maenof—the one who had gone missing.

“Either way, we’re not ready to execute the substitute plan yet. We’ll wait for his report.”

“Yeah. I’ve got preparations too. I still need to punish Izosaar’s third son.”

“Don’t drag personal grudges into this. There’s plenty else to do.”

“It’s not just personal, you know. Annoying as it is, I have to admit he’s capable. Which means… his brothers might have hidden potential too. And a talented little brother brings all sorts of feelings, right?”

Pariaarch smiled like he’d just thought of a prank. Dex shook his head.

“You really are trash…”

The dungeon discovered five years ago within the Lagias Domain.

Five figures moved through it now.

“I can’t believe an unexplored dungeon was in Lagias territory.”

Van’s expression was bitter, as if he had complicated feelings.

“Hey, Van. Just who is that Atri girl…?”

“She’s my childhood friend… probably. Glanz-san is pretty scary too, though.”

“He’s the Sage, so of course. But she’s different, isn’t she?”

If they were going to challenge an unexplored dungeon, careful planning and coordination should have been essential. Yet they were skipping those steps and pushing forward for one reason: Masfelt’s condition. They judged there wasn’t time for leisurely strategy meetings.

“—This is not what I was told.”

“Hm? Did you say something, Feluart?”

“No, just… both of them are throwing out ridiculous magic.”

“Do we even need to be here…?”

At the front were Glanz and Atri. The other three walked behind them.

It was an unusual formation—rear-guard in front—yet the dungeon run continued.

“Somehow… I almost feel bad for the monsters.”

“It can’t be helped. It’s life-and-death.”

The Lagias Dungeon showed no sign that the mechanisms Glanz’s survey team had solved five years ago had reset. But after years of neglect, many monsters had spawned inside.

Dangerous ancient magic and monsters alike were why investigation had stalled.

“Hm… Atri-san. Are you interested in working as a mage?”

“…Not interested.”

A swarm of monsters should have been a major obstacle—yet the two’s magic wiped them out instantly. Before overwhelming power, the monsters had no chance.

(Where did they gain such power…? Van-san and Atri-san—truly interesting.)

They advanced through the dungeon as if on a stroll, then arrived before a certain room.

“This is crazy… It’s all white.”

“Everything’s pure white. Like Atri’s hair.”

“…Rude.”

Glanz checked inside, utterly serious. The other four felt the air shift at once.

“When we were here, this place was pitch-black. And there was an ancient magic trap within.”

Glanz spoke as if recalling five years ago, while also using magic to probe ahead.

“Sage, what kind of ancient magic was it?”

“An unknown spell that erased a designated space from existence.”

“E-erase?! That’s that dangerous?! …As expected of the Sage.”

Because they had escaped, Glanz stood here now. That fact alone inspired reverence in Eris—among magic users, the Sage was like a god.

“A small friend spurred us on then. …Let’s proceed. That staircase didn’t exist back then.”

A staircase in the back of the room.

Whatever awaited beyond it, Van’s group had only one choice—move forward.