Chapter of Arkdragon, Episode 6: Illusion

I sat up from bed suddenly and looked at the clock on the wall. It was still just a bit past seven, and I let out a sigh of relief.

Whew, I was actually scared there.

We usually slept out in the open or camped out, so we didn’t have much trouble finding a sleeping spot. I felt bad for the people who came to pick us up, but we could hardly explain that we had to wake up from our dreams.

“I’ll have to apologize the next time we meet. He was kind enough to guide us through town and even bought us skewers. I feel bad.”

I watched Marie’s arm slide down to her side as I muttered. She’d been embracing me earlier, but was now comfortably sleeping face-up in her sky blue pajamas.

I wanted to keep sleeping too, but I only had to work one more day until the weekend came along, and then I could enjoy my little trip with her.

Yeah, I’m really starting to feel motivated now.

I gently placed her hand on her chest, then quietly left the bed so I wouldn’t wake her.

What I hadn’t expected was that a legendary dragon would be joining us on said trip... I couldn’t imagine what was going to happen, and I had a feeling it wouldn’t end up being just a “little trip.” It’d be bad if she started wreaking havoc, but there was no point in worrying about that now. Even if something did happen, it wasn’t like I could do anything about it.

I walked around barefoot on the floor, lost in thought. It was probably best to decide on some things not related to the trip, too, like what to eat once we returned. She could eat a ton, from what I’d seen, and I didn’t get the impression that she was too picky about her food. The food didn’t need to be too extravagant, but I needed to make sure we had enough.

“I need cheap and tasty food, and a bunch of it. I’ll have to put some more thought into this...”

Curry would be the easiest, but we just had some the other day. I wanted something that had originated in this country because we just got back.

“Something that’s really popular... Oh!”

An idea came to me, so at least I didn’t have to worry about that anymore. It should fulfill the criteria I was thinking about.

There was one more important thing on my mind. The magi drake may have been beautiful, but she couldn’t just walk around outside with her horn and tail. She said it wouldn’t be an issue when I brought it up to her yesterday, but I wondered what she meant by that.

I was putting some some freshly toasted bread on a plate when I heard a yawn from behind me. Mariabelle was stretching her limbs, then looked around blankly and climbed down from the bed.

“Good morning. Did I sleep in late? Let me help prepare breakfast.”

“Good morning, Marie. Would you mind getting the plates ready, then?”

She gestured, said, “Leave it to me!” as she yawned, then put on her slippers and walked over.

The kitchen in my 1DK condo wasn’t very big. I only had to turn around to see the front door, and there was just a pot of foliage marking the boundary of the kitchen. Because of this limited space, our butts bumped into each other as we went through our morning preparations.

As I was opening the fridge, Marie’s fairy-like eyes looked up at me.

“So, about the magi drake... You said she had maternal neurosis, right? What do people usually do about that in Japan?”

“Hmm, I think so long as she can have fun and get her mind off childcare, anything would work, really. Like shopping, or a mini vacation. Though, I’m not sure if she’d be able to enjoy shopping right after coming to Japan.”

I think it’s fair to say anyone who comes to Japan from the other world for the first time would be rather confused. Shopping would be more enjoyable after getting used to the world to some degree.

Although, my main reason was that I didn’t want to spend money, but I didn’t need to tell her that...

“I see. Then maybe your suggestion of a mini vacation was the way to go. But that requires money, too, doesn’t it? From what you’ve told me, it doesn’t seem like you have too much wiggle room to spend with your income.”

“I do have some saved up. It’s a good thing we planned our trip for somewhere close-by though. There are hot springs there, so I’m sure she’s going to enjoy those.”

The girl’s face loosened into a smile. Then, she clapped her hands together and looked at me cheerfully.

“I can’t wait! Japanese hot springs surrounded in greenery... I just love baths. Relaxing in some hot springs sounds so luxurious.”

Yeah, I knew that. Marie took her time bathing, and I always heard her humming in there. Not to mention, the hot springs we were going to were said to heal wounds and illnesses.

It seemed the girl completely forgot about preparing breakfast from all the excitement. When I talked to her, realization seemed to hit her, and she hurriedly prepared the table.

I was pretty happy about it, myself. As soon as I got through work for the day, I’d be free to enjoy the next two days. Despite my age, I couldn’t contain my excitement.

With those thoughts in mind, I quickly prepared our meal. I placed the onions and ground meat I was cooking in the frying pan onto a separate plate, then melted some butter and dumped in some flour. Then, I added a bit of milk, mixed it in, added some more... After repeating the process a few times, it began turning into a smooth white sauce. It took a bit of work, but I didn’t think it was worth going out and buying premade sauce.

I added the ingredients from earlier into the boiling sauce, then mixed in macaroni. I just needed to transfer it all to a heat-resistant plate and add some cheese, and then I’d be done.

“Marie, heat this in the oven for lunch again, okay? It’s just normal gratin, but I think it’ll taste good freshly cooked.”

“Oh, oven food. The last one was so good... Hehe, this is a bit embarrassing, but I said, ‘Delicious!’ to myself.”

Oh, that was pretty cool to hear. Cooking is much more rewarding when there’s someone else to enjoy it. Especially with Marie, since her reactions were easy to understand and I felt like my food became a hundred times more enjoyable to eat.

“Well, I have to get to work, so let’s eat.”

We sat down at the table and said “Itadakimasu” together, then began eating our breakfast.

Oh yeah, after I’d left for work, Marie was apparently pacing back and forth in front of the oven at lunchtime, unable to walk away from the fragrant smell of the cooking cheese. It was an aroma both children and adults could enjoy, and I was sure she could hardly wait to dig in.

She blew on the piping hot gratin, then put it into her mouth. The melty, creamy sauce mixed with toasted cheese was appetizing in its appearance and had a rich and delicious flavor. The gentle taste of milk was dramatically enhanced by the savory Parmesan cheese. After enduring the heat that nearly burned her tongue, the flavor burst forward all at once. She gripped her fork without thinking and let out an unintelligible noise, then leaned back in her chair, as if all the energy had been drained out of her. Afterward, the sound of her uttering “Delicious...” could be heard.

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

The Koto Ward had quickly become enshrouded in night. I was riding the gently rocking bus home after a long day’s work, feeling somewhat exhausted. Of course, I wasn’t late and got off work at the standard time, but I couldn’t help but worry about Marie being home alone. She called me overprotective, but I was sure most people would feel the same way if there was an elf in their room.

I watched the city lights go by as I thought about it. After passing several stops, my phone vibrated in my chest pocket. I looked at the screen and realized my earlier concerns had been completely unnecessary.

“Kitase-san, where are you now? Marie-chan and I are about to watch a movie. If you’re almost home, would you like to join us in watching it?”

A cute image had been sent to me along with the message. That must have meant Kaoruko was helping her learn Japanese today. They must’ve been getting along better if they were still hanging out this late.

I smiled with relief, then tapped at the phone screen’s unfamiliar controls. “I’m about to get home now,” I replied.

The bus slowed to a stop. When I descended the steps and walked out, stepping onto the ground, I was already in front of my condo. The air-pressure-powered door closed with a “psssh...” and the bus departed for its next stop.

In that short amount of time, a young girl appeared at a balcony above and waved her hand. It seemed her long ears were hidden under a hairband. She was clearly standing on her tiptoes to wave at me, and I couldn’t help but smile at the sight.

After living alone for so long, it was surprising just how drastically my life had changed.

“Boy, tonight sounds like fun. I wonder what sort of animation we’re watching,” I thought aloud as the signal at the crosswalk turned green and I began walking. Although I knew she was looking for a translator, it went without saying that my steps were lighter than usual.

I slid the door open, and a girl trotted over excitedly. She clutched my pajamas as I got out of the bath. She, too, had recently bathed, and her skin was positively glowing.

Looking around, the sensation that something was different was probably due to the layout. There was a sofa for relaxing in the spacious living room, and there was a large LCD TV that my own couldn’t hold a candle to. It was so spacious, yet she had two more rooms. It made me realize how powerful the term “2LDK” was. It was about twice as big as my own place.

Hmm, it’s pretty crazy when I put it like that...

“The TV is so big! Come on, come on! Let’s hurry and watch!”

Marie hopped up and down, tugging at my pajamas to hurry me along. She was clearly excited, but I wanted to thank Kaoruko first, who was sitting over there with a big smile.

“Thank you for letting us use your bath.”

“Oh, not at all. It seemed Marie-chan just couldn’t wait to get started. She’d been studying so hard until you arrived. It surprises me just how much of a quick learner she is.”

She glanced over at the table in the living room, and some writing implements had been neatly set aside there. I picked up the notebook to find all the things Marie had learned that day written inside, then nodded.

I turned to the girl, who was itching to start the show, speaking to her in Japanese instead of Elvish.

“Good evening. What anime are you watching tonight?”

“G-Good, evening. Um, I will watch, a very fun Japanese anime.”

Her pronunciation and word choice was slightly awkward, but she got her point across just fine.

Impressed, I smiled at her. “Then, let’s watch it together.” I held her hand as she gave a happy little reaction.

She studied in earnest, so I had to reward her so. I guided her to the best seat on the sofa, then poured some of the juice I brought over with Kaoruko’s permission. With the preparations complete, I sat next to Marie on the sofa as she’d urged.

Still not used to this sort of entertainment, she looked up to me with childlike excitement. “I can’t wait to watch another title by the same director. I’m like a child in high spirits, despite being an adult.”

Wait, was she an adult? She was kicking her feet back and forth like a child, acted like a child on the inside and outside, and her actions were pretty childlike... but I decided not to say anything.

Seeing this, Kaoruko giggled from the single-seat sofa nearby.

“But it’s very strange. I feel excited, too, like I’ve been taken back to my own childhood. I think it’s thanks to Marie-chan that I’m able to feel this way.”

I nodded in agreement. Whether it be cooking or movies, having someone who was genuinely enjoying themselves around me gave me joy, as well. Even more so, considering she was appreciating something that was produced by my home country.

I looked at her as I considered that, and she gave my knee a couple taps. That was the signal telling me to start, because she really couldn’t wait anymore.

“Shall we dim the lights for the show?”

“Yes, please.”

Kaoruko pressed a button on the remote, and the hue of the room faded with an electronic beep. It was as if only the TV and the three of us existed in the room, and the girl clapped as the anime movie began playing.

A vivid blue filled the screen. It was brighter than the blue sky, and seemed to be this director’s favorite color. It dyed the dim room in a similar blue, and we stared at the screen like we were being sucked into it.

It reminded me of when a film began rolling in a theater, and I simply loved that moment. The moment one opened the cover to a brand new story, and an unknown world would unfold before their eyes.

This time, the opening was a bit more tense than the others we’d seen. The heroine who appeared on-screen had a gloomy expression, and her surroundings were as dark as our room. A deep, rumbling echo indicated that this wasn’t somewhere above ground. It seemed like a good old-fashioned type of anime that appealed directly to one’s emotions with little narration.

The elf was able to somewhat understand the situation without my interpretation just by the expressions on the protagonist’s face and the movement of her surroundings.

Just outside the window was a world of night, and from there, a black-clad figured emerged. Scenes of a character running away from bad guys are often used in movies, but the one fleeing here was a young, powerless girl.

Marie stiffened from the tense atmosphere and clutched my sleeve without thinking. The shadows chasing the heroine closed in on her, and then it happened.

“Ah!”

Marie was so surprised that she sat up straight on the sofa, her eyes glued to the screen. The long, shrill scream sounding from the ship advancing through the clouds was like a scene from a nightmare.

But the incident didn’t end there. Sparkling illuminations were shown on-screen as if to announce the start of the movie, and then music began playing and the title was displayed. Marie’s eyes glittered with fascination.

“Wooow! I’m getting goosebumps... It really is like a world inside a picture book. Just like with the last anime we watched, the music is so beautiful it’s making my heart swell.”

I felt the same way. I’d seen this many times before, but the feeling in my chest wasn’t because of how often I’d watched it. Though, it was hard to put my emotions into words.

“It’s like... there’s a story inside the music. A story without words or letters, which makes it all the more memorable.”

She rested her head on my chest, and her expression was that of a child’s who was completely immersed in a story. Her face seemed to be appreciating all of the messages in the songs that were making our hearts throb.

Now the elf was probably taken a bit aback. The opening had been so tense, but the atmosphere changed completely with the appearance of the other protagonist. He was a young, energetic boy, and a smile began widening on her face as he took her hand and led the way. It was like she was learning how to smile for the first time, and her lovable expression made Marie smile, too.

Eventually, like the last title, the story became filled with attractive characters, and the marvelous vehicles that appeared stimulated the viewer’s imagination.

The last anime we watched was geared toward children, but this was more like a roller coaster ride that seemed like it was for kids at first glance.

The young boy had an energy that was unexpected from someone of his small frame, and he dove headfirst into danger without hesitation. Marie winced every time from the simple yet dramatic scenes where he’d fall and nearly die.

“Ah, hya! Waaah?!”

Not accustomed to this sort of action, she clung to me tightly the entire time. She was positioned as if she were tree climbing, and I could feel her heart beating against me.

“Ahh, I wish this boy would calm down a little... Ah, ah! Stay put!”

Just then, the boy’s foothold gave way under him...

Marie reacted in exactly the same way as the heroine. Her lips tightened, and she squeezed me so hard I could barely breathe. Her sigh of relief was perfectly in sync with the girl on the screen, which was so cute I just had to smile.

The roller coaster analogy applied not only to the action, but the story itself. There had been sudden changes in high and low moments up until then, but the climax was downright intimidating and full of scenes that demanded the viewer’s undivided attention. I could feel the tension from the elf who was basically holding me like a body pillow.

It was a bit agonizing as a man to have her soft body pressed against mine, but I managed to keep explaining the key points as if I were the narrator. I tried to make it more enjoyable for her in case she learned this Japanese.

She continued watching fixedly until the story finally came to an end. The bad guy was successfully thwarted, and a warm, mystical conclusion awaited us. It was the quintessential ideal ending to a fantastic story.

“Haaah...”

Marie let out a sigh of relief and slid down the sofa. Gentle music began playing as if it were being considerate of her. People who watched it in theaters probably wouldn’t have been able to get up until the credits finished rolling, either.

After such an overwhelmingly heated experience, it made us want to immerse ourselves in the gentle music.

The girl’s head slid down my body until it rested on my thigh. With the absentmindedness in her eyes and slight curl of her lips, it was hard to describe the look on her face in that moment.

“What did you think, Marie?”

I stroked her hair as I asked, and she let out a deep sigh.

“It makes me want to say Japan is the greatest country ever. I feel like I gained something from watching it, like some sort of precious treasure.”

Yeah, I knew just how she felt. That was how wonderful the story and ending were. So much so that I could watch it over and over again.

Marie rolled over and looked directly up at me. It seemed she was still too captured in the world of the story to turn the lights back on. I wanted to wait a little longer until she was ready to come back.

“Yeah... It was more showy than the last one, and it’s hard to describe, but... it was wonderful. The people, the vehicles... and that diligent boy was so much like you. So cute.”

“Huh, you think so? I don’t think that word describes me very well, to be honest.”

She giggled at my reply. Then she reached out with her pointer finger and booped the tip of my nose.

“Is that so? You may have a tired-looking face, but that’s how you seem from my perspective. But... Hm, would you mind if I say something selfish?”

Her tone was playful, but there was sincerity in her eyes. It made me realize she was an adult after all, considering it wasn’t often she’d tell me what was on her mind in such a way in all the time we’d spent together. Maybe it was time for me to take her outstretched hand like the boy in the movie.

“Go right ahead.”

My reply came out gentler than I had expected, and both our eyes widened at once. I fumbled for an excuse, but she stopped me with a finger. Her pointer finger touched my lips, and then in the same gentle tone as mine, she whispered in Elvish.

“I want to go on adventures and travel to unknown lands with you. That ancient labyrinth, too. I can’t contain my curiosity anymore after watching that movie.”

“All right, Marie. I’ll take you, no matter what. You’re going to have to acknowledge the greatness of my fishing skills if we’re to travel to uncharted worlds together, but I’m sure you don’t mind that.”

She smiled and denied me with a cheerful, “Absolutely not!” Ms. Elf kicked her feet back and forth, still laying on my lap.

Just then, we heard someone clear their throat, and we nearly jumped. Our eyes slowly turned toward the source of the noise. Kaoruko sat there with her back straight and her cheeks slightly blushing. We immediately separated from each other.

“Oh, please don’t mind me! I know how close you two are, and I won’t be telling my husband who works at the public office!” She spoke quicker than usual and gestured with both hands. Even someone who was still learning Japanese like Marie could understand the gist of the message.

Marie’s face grew bright red as she looked down without a word, and I covered my face with both hands.

We’ve done it now...

We were so engrossed in the movie, we’d completely forgotten we had company. I still had much to learn...

I made up some excuse about us just being relatives who got along well, and we left after thanking Kaoruko for her hospitality.

Ms. Elf and I exchanged glances, warning each other to be more careful...

That day, we’d concluded another story. The blanket was filled with the warmth of our bodies, and the girl’s heavy eyelids told me she was halfway into her dreams already.

The black cat in the picture book had finally reached his destination after going through many bizarre events. We’d been interrupted by sleep many times, so she was trying her hardest to stay awake this time. The black cat was rejoicing with both hands in the air, and Marie’s smile was just as big as his.

“The end,” I whispered, and her eyes turned toward me. She had a sleepy, happy smile on her face, and her pretty eyes closed slowly. Moments later, she was making soft sleeping noises.

I watched her depart in her dream world, and I closed the book. That book from overseas had painted such a vivid picture for us in the past few days. I was sure the children who would read it after us would be just as excited as she was.

My role was likely similar. I taught her how to read and write, showed her the joys of these stories, and she’d continued to grow as a result. I was fortunate to be able to witness it from so close by.

“Then, I already know what I need to do. I’ll take you wherever you want. I’ll keep you safe and make sure you have the time of your life.”

I’d given up on it once, but we only had to get over two hurdles to head into the ancient labyrinth: have me be acknowledged as her convoy, and find a powerful ally.

“Then we just have to keep pressing forward.” I didn’t know what to do about the latter, but I’d do what I could. We’d be in a dream world anyway, and I wasn’t just some salaryman over there.

I put the book down softly so as to not make a sound, then tucked her in up to her shoulders. Her warmth was making me sleepy as well, and before I could even yawn, her soft hands and feet wrapped around me.

She always says I make her sleepy, but look who’s talking now, I thought to myself.

I smiled again as she pressed her cheek against me in her sleep.

Goodnight, Ms. Elf.

I decided I’d give it my all tomorrow.

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

I sighed as I looked above me. There were two large buildings within the premises, and the one directly before me was comparatively new and fancy. It was still before lunchtime, but there was a constant flow of what seemed to be students. They seemed just like university students as they walked around in matching robes. The building in the back was more imposing in build, and it had a very sorcerer-esque feel to it. With the crow perched upon its roof, there was a somewhat creepy feel to it that kept me from wanting to get too close.

“So, which one do you go to, Marie?”

“The one in the back, of course. There are multiple royal sorcery facilities built for the purpose of utilizing knowledge. It’s a perfect place of study for those blessed with a good bloodline, and it doesn’t differ much from the general public until you take the novice class. That’s why they don’t have staffs.”

Marie gestured at her holly staff. I thought I recalled her explaining that it was made from a unicorn’s mane or something.

Thinking about it, it wasn’t surprising that it was a royal facility. Their mission was to unveil the mysteries of ancient knowledge, which was why it was run by the kingdom. It was likely made into a center of knowledge for nobles and the like for financial reasons. At the same time, it served to bestow knowledge of the ancient labyrinths to promising young individuals who may distinguish themselves in war later on.

The road we walked on was well-kept, and it felt like there was money bursting out of every corner.

The elf, whose height wasn’t much different from mine, raised her head proudly and turned her eyes toward me.

“Well, I skipped a class, so I don’t attend the side for the general public unless I’m instructing.”

“What?! Are you someone with authority, Marie?”

“I already told you. Only a select few can become spirit sorceresses. You tend to listen to what I say, but I guess you really have no interest in these things.”

She had the wrong idea. We were always walking around together, so I thought sorcerers had a ton of free time... but it was probably best not to say that out loud.

I seemed to have carelessly let my thoughts show on my face, and she shot me a suspicious look.

“Oh, is that so? I’ll have you know, I wasn’t just wasting my time playing around. As proof, I’ve been receiving a salary.”

Wh-Whaaat?! The shock on my face was palpable. So that was how it was...

I was a vagrant who wandered around this world aimlessly with no prospects for the future. Come to think of it, my serious aversion for working even in my dreams made me seem like a pretty hopeless person.

“Pff... Aaahahaha!”

My face must have looked pretty funny, because Marie laughed out loud while clutching her stomach.

“Huh...? What’s so funny? My whole life suddenly became pretty bleak just now...”

“Ahahaha! I’ve never seen your face look anything but sleepy before! Stop, stop! Don’t come closer with that face! M-My sides!”

She dropped her precious staff on the ground, and my expression looked like I was about to cry. Unfortunately for me, this went on for a full minute or so...

Marie waved goodbye as she disappeared toward the Sorcerer’s Guild. After her report, we’d meet up again and go see the magi drake, who would be waiting for us at the ruins. Then, I’d escort the two ladies on our hot springs trip.

But first, I set my resolve and knocked on the door of the Adventurer’s Guild. Just as it was made apparent earlier, my current existence was an incredibly shallow one. I was a boy who could be blown away with a small gust of wind, but it was the life I’d chosen.

The receptionist was a lady, and she looked at me with an uninterested expression. Yeah, that seemed about appropriate for me.

“Welcome, little boy. What are you doing here?”

“I want to go to a labyrinth with a cute girl. I need to get ranked to do that, so I was hoping to get it done here.”

“Is that right?” she said with the same disinterested tone.

Yes, I needed to get ranked there. That would help me show my skills to the Sorcerer’s Guild, and they’d understand that I was capable of acting as a convoy... but it was my first time visiting such a facility, and I had no idea what the results would be. That was why I hadn’t said anything about it to Marie. We promised each other we wouldn’t keep secrets, but I liked to think of it as more of a surprise.

I was a little anxious as I filled out the contract, which stated scary things like that I wouldn’t hold grievances if I died or got injured, then proceeded to a test of close quarters combat skills about an hour later. I made a mental note to potentially fix this personality of mine that compelled me to take on any request given by a cute girl...

With those thoughts in mind, I faced the man who seemed to be some sort of instructor. We were at an inner courtyard that was surprisingly spacious. It couldn’t compare to the Sorcerer’s Guild from earlier, but the building was new, and there seemed to be quite a few people here.

I looked up from the two-story courtyard, and the sun seemed to be on its descent. Seeing this, I realized I didn’t have too much time. I turned toward the man before me.

“Um, how far will you be raising my rank? I’d like to increase it as high as possible.”

“Haha, you’re an eager one. Even if I’m not strong enough, there are pros on the upper floor. You can challenge me without worry, and make sure to apologize for getting ahead of yourself on your way home.”

The man flashed an affable smile. He seemed to be in his forties and had dark skin with black hair and a black beard. Yet, he gave off an impression of cleanliness and seemed to have a good sense of virtue. He did accept a payment that most kids wouldn’t be able to pay, so it seemed he was going to judge me for my money’s worth.

So, I decided I’d go all out in front of others for once. I’d made a mistake in my last man-to-man combat encounter, but I wanted to make good use of my Phantom Image this time.

I asked if they had any sword replicas available before the match began, and he looked at me as if I were some sort of weirdo.

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

The man had been an adventurer for over twenty years and had completed over a hundred missions during his career. He had accomplished so much, but that was due to his ability to lead his companions rather than a pure skill in swordsmanship, as he’d freely admit himself. He was the reliable leader who could turn the tide of battle even in the most desperate of situations by bolstering everyone around him. Due to having lived this way, he was approached by the Adventurer’s Guild right when he was about to retire.

Despite having such a history, the man woke up to find himself in great confusion. A wet towel was blocking his vision, and the spectators raised their voices with heated excitement.

...Had he gotten stunned in the middle of battle? His experience had led him to the wrong conclusion, and he quickly sat up.

“Pops, stay down!”

“What?! What are you... Wait, what the hell?!”

In his field of view was a young adventurer, just like the ones he’d always taken care of. Then, he realized he was in casual clothes instead of armor, and he finally remembered the situation he was in.

Those around the inner courtyard were peeking out of their windows, and the excited voices could be heard all around them. It was like a coliseum, though it should have just been an exam to judge one’s rank.

Clutching his throbbing head, he managed to raise his upper body. Then, he saw a man standing in the middle of the open space with a sword at the ready. They sheathed their curved sword, then stood in a wide stance...

“I thought I was dreaming! Why is Brandish fighting?!”

“He’s the third one! Just who is that kid, Pops?!” a voice asked, but the man still didn’t understand the full situation. After all, according to his memory, he couldn’t follow the boy’s movements and had been pummeled without being able to do anything. He was asked to yield several times, but his pride as an adult wouldn’t let him, resulting in him getting knocked out.

The scene before his eyes made him wonder if he was still dreaming. The fight was happening right before him, but he still couldn’t see the boy’s movements. It seemed as if the boy strolled right into the master’s reach and received a slash from a blade, but went on walking as if nothing happened.

No, that wasn’t right...

He vanished like smoke in the wind, and by the time his opponent’s sword was sheathed again, the boy stood there with an unconcerned expression. He hadn’t moved a step from his original position.

“H-Hey, is he using a real sword?! And... he’s using Kill Zone?!”

“The master warned him he could end up dying! But that brat stood there laughing and said he’s used to it!”

He couldn’t understand.

The man who was called “Master” was the third most skilled person in the Adventurer’s Guild. He had a fastidious personality, which showed in his ability to slice through enemies who entered his domain in a flash. Due to the absolute killing power of his skill, it wasn’t often that he’d show it in public. This explained the coliseum-like fervor that had filled the otherwise ordinary courtyard.

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” the man groaned, unable to understand what he was seeing.

The boy hadn’t taken a step from where he stood, but he, nevertheless, suddenly appeared at Brandish’s flank. Brandish screeched like some sort of bird and slashed at him in a cross pattern.

The man watched, sweat running down his face, as the boy vanished like smoke, then reappeared from behind, then the opposite flank, and so on.

Watching an illusion user at work was quite a peculiar sight. The occasional clang of metal indicated that the real one was somewhere in the illusions.

The sound of footsteps resounded, and the boy who had been standing in one spot approached slowly. Was it a dream, or a nightmare...?

Brandish’s expression seemed to be asking that very question, and he could only continue slashing at whatever entered his attack range and desperately fend off the attacks thrown at him. His reaction speed seemed to indicate that he’d already given up on discerning whether he was attacking an illusion or his opponent.

However, this of course meant he would quickly run out of breath.

Whoosh!

Brandish swung at a figure only for it to vanish, and a great sense of fatigue came over him. Instead, his real opponent appeared through it from behind, and the moment the boy entered his domain, he was overcome with a flurry of swift blows.

The boy deftly blocked three sword strikes directed at him in mid-air, and the crowd forgot to breathe as they watched in awe. Even blinking would interfere with the spectacle before them.

“There’s just no way... He managed to get through Kill Zone?”

Just as the man they called “Pops” muttered, the boy had destroyed the domain by striking his opponent in the shoulder and both sides of the abdomen in quick succession with perfect accuracy. It would have been too difficult to regain one’s advantage from that point.

After watching Brandish get slowly pushed back while taking blows all over his body, he suddenly came to. He then stood up in a fluster and shouted, “Th-That’s enough! The match is over!”

The Adventurer’s Guild rumbled with uproarious cheering. He could finally breathe again after seeing the battle between two experts.

The man expected the boy to be full of himself, having such skill, but he seemed to be polite enough to go around bowing to each of his opponents. This didn’t seem like typical behavior for a young boy, but it seemed to give off a favorable impression to them.

The fact was, there were very few skilled yet humble individuals out there. The excitement from the match lasted for several days, and it stayed as the topic of conversation at the Adventurer’s Guild.

Unbeknownst to the boy, during these conversations, he was given another name: Phantom.

The girl trotted over with a light jog. Her beautiful, straight hair wavered as she ran with her precious staff in her arms, and her cuteness drew looks from those around her. Truly, men couldn’t really help but feel lucky when they saw a cute girl. She was making me nervous about the chance of her tripping, so I wished she would’ve walked instead...

Our meeting spot was a park located close to the Sorcerer’s Guild. The sun was already setting, so it would’ve been night by the time we arrived at the ruins if we didn’t hurry.

“I’m sorry for the wait. My report took longer than I expected.”

“It’s okay, I just got here too. Let’s go get the magi drake now.”

Marie smiled cheerfully and said, “Okay!” Her cheeks were flushed, probably from all the running she did to get there. She fixed her messy hair and took slow, deep breaths to steady herself.

“Oh...” As we walked side by side, she seemed to notice something and touched my shoulder. “Your shirt’s frayed at the shoulder here. You must have caught it on something again.”

“Ah, you’re right. That’s not good... I wasn’t planning on buying any new clothes yet.”

“Don’t worry, I can fix it up for you later. Or do you want me to help you pick out new clothes? These are getting pretty damaged, so we could get you something a little more modern.”

Oof... I would have to decline. I’d just spent so much money at the ranking exam earlier. I tried changing the subject, but I wasn’t very used to keeping secrets, so she looked at me suspiciously.

Oh yeah, I’d managed to earn Rank A for melee combat, so I was pretty relieved about that. I needed to beat higher-ranking opponents if I was to advance any further, but it was too much of a hassle and too late to find one at this point. This should have been sufficient to prove my skills to the Sorcerer’s Guild, though, and I was too busy with the upcoming trip to do all that, anyway.

Even though those were the thoughts in my mind, they just sounded like excuses...

Now I only had one more task: finding a tank for our party. That was honestly the most difficult one, and it had no solution I could think of... but my thoughts were quickly interrupted by the girl tugging on my sleeve.

“I’m so excited for the trip in Japan! So, what sort of place are we going to? Is there delicious food? I haven’t been on very many trips before.”

“You’ll just have to wait and see. But yeah, I’m sure there will be plenty of delicious food.”

She beamed, and we walked together with her still holding onto my sleeve. We were in high spirits in anticipation for the trip, which was most likely why neither of us had taken notice of what was lurking behind us...

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

Due to his extensive time spent traveling solo, Kazuhiro was extremely proficient with Insight. This allowed him to detect those who laid in hiding, and it was a critical skill for avoiding ambushes. But if an opponent had the Hide skill with a higher proficiency level, they’d be able to avoid detection.

A tall figure appeared from behind a building, a sword at each of his sides. His name was Sven, the man who’d spent all night searching for the elf and boy just the other day. One would expect him to lash out in anger right away, but he stood there, deep in thought.

“I finally found them, but what’s this about the magi drake...? Why are they talking about a legendary dragon?”

“Should we grab them before they get away again? If we injure them here, you’ll surely be chosen as their replacement,” the one clad in black suggested, and Sven laughed.

Judging by how that boy went out and earned a rank for melee combat, he was likely trying to get acknowledged as the elf’s convoy. That meant he hadn’t given up on exploring the labyrinth.

However, getting approval from the Sorcerer’s Guild of this country wasn’t so simple. Even though he had Oracle, his scarce ability to read the future, it couldn’t see a whole day ahead, and this outcome was certain.

“The elf girl turned in the license already, and it’s obvious he’s going to fail getting approval. I’m already guaranteed to be the one appointed to explore the labyrinth. More importantly, I need to find out whether they’re about to go see the real magi drake.”

He narrowed his eyes and smiled, believing that this could’ve turned out to be even more profitable than the ancient labyrinth.

Then, as per Sven’s command, a black fluid began enveloping them. The dull light gleaming where the eyes and mouth would be indicated that this was the work of a type of wraith. The ability to vanish without leaving a trace was useful not only in labyrinths, but outside, as well.

As the black fluid encompassed him completely, he threw back his robe, revealing a rare crest given only to a handful of individuals who earned such a prestigious rank.

It seemed something strange tended to happen when getting involved with that boy. Such were the thoughts of the necromancer adorned in black while descending into the darkness.

Not only did they completely lose track of them the other night, but they had no idea the two would be heading to the Nazul-Nazul Ruins not too far from town.

The dim waterway smelled of mold and the drip, drip of water could be heard. They could sense the presence of monsters that favored damp areas, but they themselves went undetected due to the wraith enshrouding them.

Suddenly, Sven turned around with a dubious expression.

“...These underground ruins have already been investigated, right?”

“Y-Yes. There are still several unsolved mysteries about the Nazul-Nazul Ruins, such as why they were destroyed, but the Sorcerer’s Guild’s investigation should have already been completed.”

Though, come to think of it, the fact that there were still “several unsolved mysteries” about them was already strange in itself. They were extremely thorough in their investigation, so why would they give up halfway on investigating an area that was so close by?

But those thoughts were interrupted by Sven’s words.

“The hell...?”

Peering out from the waterway to see what he was pointing at, there was someone having a cheerful conversation with a lizardman, a monster. The screeches they made were hard to discern, but it could’ve been some sort of reptilian language.

“They’re laughing. Ah! They just high-fived!”

“Th-This is quite unbelievable. They’re known to be utterly aggressive and violent monsters. They spawn advanced subspecies left and right due to their inexhaustible reproductive capabilities, which can pose a danger even for us...”

They simply stared, mouths agape.

There were those who’d learned the language of monsters, but it was hardly practical, because they’d get attacked as soon as they tried using it to communicate. Interrogation was considered to be pretty much the only use for it.

Suddenly, the group started walking deeper into the ruins. The black-clad figure nodded when Sven flashed some hand signals, and then the two cautiously went after them through the waterways.

Surprisingly, it seemed the lizardman was guiding the way. Not only that, but what seemed to be an ordinary wall slid open, and the group continued on as if they were used to it.

The duo carefully followed suit, and Sven looked up to raise another question.

“...Do you remember any of this being in the investigation reports?”

“It seems to be very advanced magic, so perhaps they haven’t noticed it.”

They tilted their heads, puzzled. Even if it was hidden well, the power of magic wasn’t to be underestimated. They should’ve been able to notice the space on the other side and search every nook and cranny in the area. But the ornaments on the walls exuded artistic beauty and were far more intricate than the ones in the underground ruins they’d come from.

At the same time, they noticed the atmosphere had changed drastically. The air of something otherworldly was so thick, cold beads of sweat rolled down their cheeks.

“What... is this place? It’s still alive. These aren’t just some dilapidated ruins,” Sven commented after seeing the guardian standing in the walkway as if it were protecting something.

Even from afar, it was clear to see it was highly dangerous. Any one of them could be level 70 or higher and capable of slicing through most adventurers like vegetables on a cutting board. They even internally shouted for the boy and elf to stop as the two kept walking on nonchalantly... Then, their jaws hit the floor as the group continued joking and laughing, passing through unscathed.

They rubbed their eyes in disbelief.

“What’s going on here? Judging by its build and ornaments, that guardian is a killing machine from ancient times.”

The black-clad figure nodded in agreement to Sven’s grumbling voice. However, getting closer to investigate would prove to be difficult. One of them may have been manageable, but there were at least ten within their immediate field of view.

It was hard to tell because of the all-black attire, but the necromancer turned with an anguished face. “Boss, they’ll notice us even through my magic if we get any closer!”

“I know. I’ll use my Oracle to investigate them.”

With that, his animal-like eyes glinted behind his sunglasses.

Oracle was a scarce skill indeed. It could peer into the details of the future, including things the user wouldn’t have possibly noticed otherwise. Its effects were obscure, like some sort of precognitive dream, but Sven had learned to freely control it over years of use.

But immediately after activating it, Sven’s body became drenched with sweat.

“No... way... It’s the real thing. The magi drake... L-Level 1,200... Wait, what? It gave birth to whelps?!”

He raised his voice with a cry, and in that moment, the magi drake turned toward his direction through the view of Oracle. Only the user was able to see in that world, but she definitely looked directly at him and made a growling noise.

Realizing she could send him flying with a mere breath, but not doing so in favor of dishing out a more fitting punishment, the guardians came to life with a heavy metallic sound. Thin silver lines appeared on their blades, and they began swinging at the air as if to warm up for action. Their swordsmanship was unexpected for such large bodies, and the two intruders felt death looming upon them.

“Boss!!!”

Only Sven’s eyeballs were trembling as the necromancer clutched at him in fear. The necromancer then chanted the incantation for an escape spell, but if even one word was pronounced incorrectly, they’d be sliced to pieces by the massive swords that were sending sparks in the air as they dragged against the stone walls.

Of course, the magic would only activate if the magi drake allowed it. The black-clad figure knew this domain belonged to her.

I’m sorry, please help us, please forgive us.

Internal screams of apology were mixed in with the chanting, and the spell was complete.

A pillar of water erupted in the dark waterway they’d come from. The water was only as high as their knees, but they thrashed around in a panic like they were drowning. They then sat up and looked at each other with bloodshot eyes, letting out long, long sighs. Sven’s face expressed not only fear from the close encounter with death, but from witnessing the monumental existence of the magi drake.

“I can’t believe we’re alive...”

Those were the words he finally mustered after steadying his breath. It was clear to see he’d been thinking of countless possible scenarios to survive that moment just from the exhausted look on his face.

The necromancer had felt the same way. If the magi drake felt like it, she could’ve prevented the spell from activating and they never would’ve gotten out of there alive.

“I suppose... she let us go.”

“A magi drake? That’s not... Well, I guess that’s the only possible explanation here. That was no ordinary monster. What was with that dragon?”

Sven covered his face with both hands and let out a long sigh again. At the same time, that overbearing pressure from behind them disappeared. It was just like the night the boy and elf suddenly vanished.

Indeed, what could have happened to them? Did they disappear from this world after being eaten by the magi drake? Even Oracle, the gift from the heavens, couldn’t detect their presence in the slightest. But Sven could feel it in his gut that this wouldn’t be the case...