And then, she waves her hand and follows after us.

But, Alt huh.

"…Let the Kuzunoha Company have the blessing of Futsu-sama." (Gonzou)

Futsu.

Now that he mentions it, that's also something I still don't know much of yet.

The words of prayer that Gonzou directed to us, reminded me of the dragon called Futsu, and then, before long, we arrived at the second floor of the labyrinth.

Evening.

Inside the dungeon, it is incredibly hard to tell the passing of time in one day, but the time is flowing as normal.

At the Adventurer Guild, they square the accounts of that day's ventures and training, as well as the materials that were brought that day. One day there is filled with busy times.

Continuing further on inside this building, there were the big shots from Kannaoi's adventurer guild, a number of staff members, and a number of outsiders as well.

It is rare to see people that are not personnel at the deep parts of the adventurer guild.

"And so…how's the Kuzunoha Company that was called here by Sairitz?"

The first one to open his mouth was a person that seems to be an outsider.

A man in the prime of his life.

His personal appearance is good and the other people were obeying him.

Even if the guild staff members are not, they still seem to be showing a certain amount of respect.

"In the morning, they finished their preparations and have headed to the labyrinth. Seems like they are still inside the dungeon. Hey, what's their progress?"

The guild leader responded and inquires the details from a subordinate.

"They are currently in the third floor, but…it seems like there's already one that has dropped out. There's no response."

"They arrived at the 3rd floor in the first day. It is a pace comparable to a Dragon Slayer, but…they might have hurried too much, someone died. Kougetsu-sama."

"For people that came here by the recommendation of Sairitz, they are not the big deal huh. But it is true that since the time they were involved with princess Iroha, no one has been able to put a hand on her. We can't be negligent, but…" (Kougetsu)

What came out from the man's mouth was the name of Iroha.

It can be understood that the objective of the man called Kougetsu was not directly the Kuzunoha Company but Iroha.

(Buying the most expensive map and reaching the 3rd floor on their first day, isn't that only on the level of being a bit competent? Moreover, they have already lost one of them, probably already dead.)

(I am of the same opinion, but don't say it. We are simply devices that answer what we are asked. Understood? I want to continue working here tomorrow, you know.)

The two staff members of the adventurer guild brought their faces near each other and exchange whispers.

They are in the same room, so there's no way that would go unnoticed. The gaze of Kougetsu was directed in an instant to them.

However, there was no further allusion to it, and his gaze returned to the guild leader.

"If possible, I would want everyone to disappear and dress it as an accident inside the dungeon though. Can you return the people at the foremost line?" (Kougetsu)

"Kougetsu-sama, sorry for the rudeness but, are you sane? They are the most competent team in this guild, and they are doing their best to clarify the situation of the grand labyrinth. This is a mission of the highest priority."

"I am talking about a high priority mission that involves this city and this country though. The scales of your and my high priority missions are totally different." (Kougetsu)

"…Please don't mistake our priorities. We are not interested in the political fight of Kannaoi and Lorel Union."

"…Hoh." (Kougetsu)

"Because no matter the result, our situation won't change much anyways. I wonder if a country on the scale of Lorel Union can maintain its livelihood without the adventurer guild. If it is gone, who knows how much national power decline it will invite. There's not even the need to think about it, right?"

"It is true that the adventurer guild is necessary. It is unthinkable to have it disappear. But you know, for example, if there's no need for you to be the representative, and there's no need for the staff members to be the ones there…" (Kougetsu)

The two staff members clearly jumped at those words.

"Kougetsu-sama, leave it at that. If you say any more than that, we will have to turn into your enemies."

"It is a situation where the result is already clear, and yet, you are siding with the princess? Are you sane?" (Kougetsu)

"I didn't say anything about taking Iroha-sama's side. The people that turn their fangs at us are deemed as enemies. As long as the Adventurer Guild is not touched, we are neutral."

"…"

"Of course, if we were to be requested cooperation by a person that possesses the same influence as Kougetsu-sama, we would have acted the same way as today. I will say this bluntly, if you want to assassinate the people that Sairitz-sama has personally told the country to make accommodations to, go ahead and do so by yourself."

"Hmph. Neutrality." (Kougetsu)

As if saying how worthless that is, Kougetsu raises both hands up.

There's no reaction from the guild's side.

"Even if they were given to us, the contact with the Shadowless has been severed. Princess Iroha not only has not returned to the castle, she is staying in a facility that has the same stance as yours, the Chihiro Man Rai restaurant. They had to reunite today of all days with Shougetsu and his group, and until the very end, they were persistently running around. Seriously, how annoying!" (Kougetsu)

"…"

"It is already a hopeless situation. This city and the Osakabe's era. It is already settled who will be guiding in the future, and yet, no matter how many times I brush them away, those damn flies keep flying around…" (Kougetsu)

"If they are flies…"

"What?"

"If you are unable to even brush away something like that, there's no way you can guide the future of the old family. This is not a matter I should relate with religion, but don't you think this is an ordeal that you have to surpass with your own strength?"

"Big words there. I wonder how Sairitz will see you guys when she knows that I had you investigate the movements of the Kuzunoha Company. Isn't that already a betrayal?" (Kougetsu)

"Are you saying we are accomplices in crime? Are you trying to threaten us?"

"I am just speaking the truth." (Kougetsu)

"…Truly a pity. You are obviously lower than Sairitz-sama, but it seems like you are lower than the Kuzunoha Company too. You are dancing on the palm of Sairitz-sama, and your existence has already been noticed by the Kuzunoha Company. The Kuzunoha Company already has foreknowledge of the ones that are trying to investigate their movements. Seems like they have no problems in others knowing their movements. Not only that, they were concerned for the standing of the Guild. About a lot of things, they even mentioned you by name."

"What?" (Kougetsu)

"Now then, I wonder who's the one that's the most out of the loop. Looks like the problem of your household still has no settled winner. Do take care."

"…Remember this. I will never forget today's disgrace." (Kougetsu)

"If by chance you win the political strife, I will remember. The door's over there."

Kougetsu was displaying his anger and leaves the room together with his subordinates.

"…A storm is coming."

"Yeah."

The representative looks at the door where Kougetsu left and mutters this.

The staff member girl reflexively answered those words.

"Kannaoi will be in a dangerous state for a while. Don't think you are safe just because you are office personnel. With how he is, it looks like he won't hesitate in dragging us as well."

"If princess Iroha is able to turn around this situation, that would be pretty…no, it would be engraved in history, you know."

"But she has the Kuzunoha Company–no, she has the Wise with her. We are witnessing the beginning of a legend. It might be the moment when history moves."

"A Wise-sama?! That Raidou…-sama?!"

"According to Sairitz-sama, that is. Seems like he is the second Wise-sama that exists in the current age. No, maybe he is the third one."

"Does that mean…the Empire's hero might be one as well?!"

The male staff member was also listening and enters the conversation.

The representative just sighs at it.

"…Yeah, so it seems."

"But if that's the case, that means Raidou-sama who is working at a company, is the one who is the least powerful among them. It seems like he has already lost one member after all. Both hero parties were the very definition of dazzling after all."

"About that information…is it reliable?"

"Yes."

"I didn't ask before but, who's the one that was lost? Is it known?"  

"I can check right now. Let's see…Eh?"

"You are kidding, right?"

"What's wrong? Who's the member that the guild card signal was lost?"

"From the members of the Kuzunoha Company that are currently in the third floor, the one that we lost the signal of was…Raidou-sama."

"…What?"

The representative looks at the information he was presented, with eyes as if he was trying to eat into it.

3-Alt.

3-Alt.

3-Alt.

No matter how many times I read it, it is still 3-Alt.

The third floor area that's called 'Path'.

"I heard it was a strange floor. I also heard that its existence was known from the 3rd floor and below. And just as told, the symbol is engraved here." (Makoto)

My thoughts were leaking from my mouth.

To think I would draw it so suddenly.

Moreover…

"I have been separated from everyone. Even though we advanced through the same teleport formation…why did it turn out like this?" (Makoto)

I was standing at a long corridor. Ah, so 'Path' refers to a corridor huh.

When we went down to the second floor, there was a teleport formation to return to the first floor.

But there's none here.

In other words, there's no way to return.

The floor shines a dim red light, and at the ceiling, there's also a round light bulb-looking thing that's shining a red light too.

The floor is wide enough for 5-6 people to walk side by side.

The light continued forward and looked like a path.

Must be the direction I have to progress.

From the sides, there were cylindrical pillar lights lined up.

It felt like neon lights.

After that, there's pitch black darkness.

From here and there, I could feel the presence of mamonos. Quite the numbers.

Even if there's not as many as the 2nd floor Drake Garden…no, that one was excessively spacious, so in terms of density, this one might be higher.

"How to say it…it feels cools, slippery, and made of inorganic materials. Like tiles." (Makoto)

This is not the time to be making calm observations.

Yeah, I have ended up in that strange floor.

I didn't expect it would even separate us.

Chapter end