episode_0120

A strong flash brightly illuminates the cave, and then quickly disappears.

A situation that occurred in the blink of an eye.

However, the result was beyond imagination.

No monsters were left in front of Aria.

All those many monsters that were overwhelming for us to catch turned into a handful of ash.

“…Is this the Saintess of the current era?”

Grace, who knew her true identity, murmured.

But Erika’s party, who didn’t know Aria was the Saintess, gaped and said,

“You can use magic like this too? What an unbelievable summon!!”

The existence of the Saintess is known, but there aren’t many people who can recognize her just by looking at her face.

In a way, it’s natural. This world isn’t one where media is developed enough for everyone to recognize famous people’s faces.

Erika’s party was exactly like that.

However, the Saintess, seemingly displeased with being treated like that, quickly looked at me and protested.

“What?! I, I am a summon… ”

“Shut up and open the way.”

“…Mph!!!”

Unfortunately, there’s no reason to let Aria speak.

If it becomes known that I can summon the Saintess, there’s nothing good about it, so it’s much better for her to be considered a regular summon.

Besides, being chased and her clothes being a bit dirty makes it hard to see her as the Saintess anyway.

At that moment, more Jewel Soldiers started flooding in along the path the Jewel Turtle had opened.

“Let’s get out of here quickly first!!!”

As Erika said, now that the horn has been blown, it’s certain that Jewel Soldiers will continue to be supplied.

Getting out of here is the only way to survive.

“We will cover the rear.”

The priests and paladins went to the back, and Noah, who was covering the rear, joined us.

We moved forward following the Saintess, who was going ‘Mph mph!’ and silently opening the way at the front.

“You can only maintain the summon for 1 minute. Hurry!!”

“Thought so!”

As if they had already expected that such a powerful summon couldn’t be maintained for long, everyone ran out in a hurry.

“Mph!! Mph!!!!”

Thanks to the Saintess, who was silently? and devotedly? opening the way, we ran through the cave smoothly.

Her annoyance was felt in real-time, but it wasn’t something I particularly needed to care about. I decided to think that the Lord sent her to be used freely like this anyway.

*

The Saintess succeeded in opening the way very easily.

Thanks to her astonishing performance, everyone succeeded in evacuating safely.

One might think it’s too early to say we’re safe just by escaping this much, but.

『Check Card Reward.』

The status window proved that we had become safe.

“You worked hard.”

However, she seemed not to care that I was praising her, and looked at me with sharp eyes, about to unleash her anger, but.

“You…!!”

Since the duration had already passed, she instantly turned into light and disappeared.

Seeing that, Erika.

“Wow, she’s really like a human.”

…She really is human.

Since there was no reason to tell the truth, just as I was about to vaguely change the subject.

Grace first took out some cards and magic stones from her pocket.

Though the amount was small, they were high-grade magic stones boasting a vibrant color and purple cards.

It seems she only picked expensive things while escaping.

“You somehow managed to grab that in the middle of all that.”

“Didn’t I do well? But it’s a shame I couldn’t grab the small stuff while escaping.”

Shrewdly gathering money, should I say that’s typical of Grace?

Erika’s party also looked quite impressed, their expressions were worth seeing.

“It’s definitely not easy starting from the 7th floor. The 6th floor was actually a bit overwhelming too.”

“I think so too. I should be prepared to stay on the 6th floor for a while.”

As the reactions of the other party members indicated, the 6th floor was still too early for us.

If Erika’s party hadn’t been there, or if Noah hadn’t been there, we would have said goodbye to this world without even being able to summon the Deputy of God.

It didn’t make sense to go to the 6th floor right after going to the 5th floor twice anyway, and the 7th floor, which has another barrier, is truly a difficult situation.

No matter how high my potential peak is, it varies depending on the cards and situation, so in the end, I can only act according to the level of my party members.

Therefore, in order to become stronger.

I quickly opened the status window and checked the reward for the 7th floor at the very bottom.

『Check Card Reward.』

Reward for the high floor.

Although we fled midway, since the Saintess caught a group of monsters, perhaps something decent will show up?

Even without this, every single good card reward is a precious situation.

Immediately, I moved my hands up, down, left, and right, offered a prayer, and then clicked the reward window.

[Archangel’s Barrier (5)] – Creates a rectangular barrier that protects everything inside.

[Divine Declaration (8) – Power] – All divine attacks are doubled.

[Holy Spear (7)] – Summons a holy spear that lasts for 3 turns. (Stackable)

Reading just the effects, it’s definitely a good reward befitting a high floor.

‘The cost is definitely heavy.’

With energy still at 5, high-floor cards are very, very heavy.

I wonder when a situation to gain energy will arise.

Which card should I choose.

It didn’t take long to decide.

[Divine Declaration] and [Holy Spear] are both offensive.

For now, having just 1 [Deputy of God] seems like it might be enough anyway.

Since I focused the concept on support from the start, I naturally chose [Archangel’s Barrier].

Around the time I saw the card return to the deck.

We discovered a dead end cave that was moderately wide.

“Since things turned out this way, how about we rest for a bit?”

No one presented a different opinion on Yuria’s suggestion.

After finishing the short rest, we continued moving forward again.

Fortunately, perhaps it was because the horn had summoned all the monsters in the vicinity.

For quite a long time, we did not encounter any monsters.

Someone might say then isn’t that a loss, but.

Right now, we are not explorers staying on the 7th floor to hunt, but rather people who somehow just muddled their way up, so it can be seen as a little different.

However, since we don’t know when we might encounter monsters again, we were a little tense and wondered when we could go down. I did want to at least ask Noah vaguely.

“Noah. So, did you find the way to the hidden path on the 6th floor?”

“No, if it could be easily found, wouldn’t it have been known long ago?”

As expected, things in the world don’t just resolve easily. While it’s hard to even find out what monsters are on the 7th floor and what their weaknesses are, ordinary explorers couldn’t possibly know such confidential information.

“…….”

At that moment, something suddenly crossed my mind.

The gathering of deep-floor explorers, [Divers].

If I could just get in there, wouldn’t I be able to get all sorts of information?

They definitely told me to contact them if I became a high-floor explorer.

After conquering the 7th floor, it seems I should consider getting information from them as well.

“Ah!! Found it!!!”

Suddenly, Noah’s voice was heard.

Soon after, she started running forward with a ‘wadada’. Everyone hurriedly followed behind her.

The place we arrived at was the middle of a narrow cave with no particular features.

What on earth was here, we couldn’t know at all, but.

“Stand back.”

Noah, before anyone knew it, started doing something while scattering black mana.

Not long after.

Rumble!!!

The surrounding cave began to shake.

“Is it collapsing?”

“Noah?!”

While everyone’s gaze was focused on Noah.

Suddenly, a crack appeared on the cave wall with a ‘짝!’.

Fortunately, the cave wasn’t collapsing.

As if like an automatic door, the wall of the cave began to open.

Everyone who saw that looked dumbfounded.

“Well, I am a bit amazing.”

As Noah said, perhaps even ordinary black mages wouldn’t be able to affect the labyrinth.

It was possible because she was a top-tier black mage, on the level of an Apostle of an Evil God.

However, unlike the achievement she had made, Erika’s party gradually started to watch Noah warily.

No matter how you look at it, she doesn’t seem like an ordinary black mage.

“Follow me.”

When Noah entered the crack in the cave first, the rest hesitated and followed behind.

There was a long staircase there.

As you slowly descend the staircase that twisted around in a circle, you eventually reach a wide clearing.

And at its center.

“There really is a portal?”

A portal, presumed to be able to descend to the 6th floor, was shining vibrantly.

Seeing that sight, the client’s face brightened dramatically.

“As expected, what my grandfather left behind wasn’t a lie after all?!”

“Well, we’ll only know for sure once we actually go in.”

However, thinking that the answer they couldn’t find even after searching the 6th floor thoroughly was before their eyes. As if overcome with emotion, the client’s eyes became moist.

“First, we’ll go and come back ourselves.”

Beyond that portal is an unknown space.

Naturally, it is dangerous for everyone to cross.

Always in situations like this, the two guides who step forward first.

And including Noah, three people headed into the portal.

And after about 10 minutes.

Grace returned alone, unharmed.

“Come in with peace of mind.”

Looks like there wasn’t much to it than expected.

We immediately entered the portal.

As my brightened vision returned to normal.

I slowly opened my eyes.

Then a new space welcomed us.

“Aaaaargh?!!”

Erika’s startled voice was heard.

That was only natural.

Because the first thing I saw as soon as I opened my eyes was the sight of the 6th floor visible far below.

I am certain that if I had acrophobia, I would have fainted the moment I saw that.

Where we were now was high, high above the clouds on the 6th floor.

To be precise, it was a strange garden located above the clouds.

“There’s a railing so there’s no worry about falling, but….”

“Seeing the entire 6th floor is a bit scary.”

Everyone who had somehow come to their senses while making various comments.

I was fine because I used to look down at the Labyrinth City from the Magic Tower often, but people of this era don’t have many occasions to be in such high places.

At most, maybe the 2nd floor?

However, compared to the 2nd floor which is tightly covered with leaves and vines, this place looked like you would 100% die if you fell.

“Noah?”

“She’s meeting the owner first.”

“…Owner? You mean this garden has an owner?”

“Yes. Although I don’t know the specifics myself. Please follow.”

We passed through the garden following behind Grace.

The garden was better maintained than expected.

With colorful flowers and grass neatly cut into the shape of a unicorn, it even felt dignified.

Furthermore, the climate, for being the 6th floor, had low humidity and temperature, making it rather pleasant.

“Is there someone who can prepare such a private space in the labyrinth? Or….”

“We’ll only know once we meet them.”

What kind of person could it be?

At this point, only curiosity grew.

After passing through the garden, a large mansion naturally awaited us.

And immediately, a maid and a butler appeared to welcome us.

However, their appearance was a little different from what we had imagined.

Entirely black humanoid bodies with torn white eyes.

However, they didn’t feel grotesque.

Their white features were round, so perhaps I should say they looked a bit like mascots.

They looked like they would go well together if placed with our Defense Golem.

However, since there was no way the concept of a mascot would exist in this world.

“…Monster?”

“I’ve never seen a monster like this before.”

Everyone felt fear.

However. The maid and butler monsters simply opened the door without a word and welcomed us.

We exchanged glances and slowly advanced towards the mansion.

After passing through the neatly kept yard, around the time we arrived in front of the mansion, the main gate opened.

And from inside, Noah and Yuria came out.

Finally, a man slowly walked out.

“After only seeing shabby black mages every day, it’s a pleasure to see explorers after a long time!!”

“……?!!”

Everyone was surprised.

Because the man’s appearance was so alien.

However, as if even that reaction pleased him, the man laughed loudly.

“I am Cain, a black mage who has become half-monster. A pleasure to meet you.”

Cain held out a hand that had changed like a demon’s.