Sevens (LN) Volume 4 Chapter 49

Chapter 49 - Arumsaas's Underground Dungeon There were several reasons why Arumsaas's underground dungeon was maintained under the city's management.

The amount of magic stone and material that were obtained from it were abundant.

A lot of the content of the treasure box that was produced by the dungeon had utility value.

The internal structure was easy for human to traverse.

And then above all else, the dungeon itself that wasn't similar with any other dungeon gave it rarity value. This rarity was also a factor why scholars were gathering to this place and created a city.

The first thing in my mind when I stepped inside that dungeon was──discomfort.

「What's, this──」

Arisan was dumbfounded. I was also the same. Sophisan was also looking around in surprise. Novem was……looking like she wanted to say something, but she stayed silent.

Clarsan was familiar with the place and wasn't surprised.

Mirandsan who lived in Arumsaas and had entered this dungeon several times before was similar.

Professor Damian didn't show any particular reaction.

Mirandsan looked at us and said that at first she was also like us and started explaining.

「This is Arumsaas's underground dungeon. You couldn't imagine this right? I was also the same.」

Professor Damian seemed to have interest in this and started speaking talkatively.

「This dungeon is different with nature dungeon that often appear, it's modeled after man-made object. Dungeon like that will rarely appear sometimes but, what is amazing from this one is that it's not from our era……it's modeled after an ancient civilization that had perished I guess? This place was investigated and Arumsaas found out that this place is modeled after a building of the ancient people. What is amazing is that the technology of the ancient people was far more advanced than us. There is a lot of interesting discovery from here.」

Arumsaas investigated and collected the technology of ancient people like that and greatly developed using that knowledge and technology.

I looked below my feet.

The surface of the grey floor was rough, but it was flat. There wasn't any spot that was bumpy or extremely caving in.

The wall was also the same. When I touched it with my hand, it had a smooth texture. Pillars were placed at regular intervals. The ceiling was high. On the whole the corridors were also built widely.

What was curious was the entrance into a room that was slightly ahead of us. Something like a lantern that was radiating light was attached above the entrance.

The material didn't seem like glass. It was a rectangular box with white and green decoration applied on its surface that was shining. The pattern looked like a person entering a door……it looked like such picture.

There was also other light source. The long and narrow tube that was hanged from the ceiling was shining white, illuminating some parts of the corridor. It was unfortunate that it wasn't illuminating the whole place.

I touched the wall and floor with my hand. I had never touched a texture like this before.

「This isn't stone isn't it?」

It's also different from a corridor that was made from scraping out stone. I didn't know how to describe it but, it was a really mysterious dungeon.

Clarsan touched her artificial left arm with her right hand. I heard the arm part made a brisk sound *kashun* and saw three metal sticks were inserted there.

What was that…….that was cool.

When I peered with interest, the Third was also similarly showing interest.

『That artificial arm, isn't it amazing for some reason? It's moving normally and it also feels like there is a secret behind it.』

The Second was also showing interest at the arm. But, it was a different kind of interest from the Third.

『If there was something like this at my time. The guys who had it hard after losing their limbs would be helped.』

Clarsan took some distance from me. That was a bit sad.

「Ple, please don't look so much. Err……it's troubling.」

The opened part was closed. Then Clarsan turned the artificial arm's palm face up and used magic.

「……Light.」

Multiple light spheres were let out from Clarsan's palm and they floated. They moved to above the party and illuminated the surrounding brightly.

Sophisan lifted her face and saw them in open-mouthed state.

「Amazing.」

I agree. Even if I made light with magic it wouldn't be this bright, besides I wouldn't be able to make the light to skillfully illuminate the whole place.

Clarsan looked slightly embarrassed while talking about her artificial arm.

「Three Arts were built into my artificial arm. The Arts were carved on sticks of rare metal that were set so I can use them. The first Art is light source. The second is fire. The third is water. If it's water that won't be used for drinking water then I'll be able to prepare any water from hot to cold.」

I honestly thought.

「I also want that kind of arm.」

Clarsan pushed up her glasses with her finger, and then she said a sound argument after she fixed her glasses' position.

「Please be glad with your flesh arm. Nothing beats that.」

I couldn't argue against that.

Then Professor Damian looked at Clarsan and yelled from remembering something.

「Could it be that artificial hand──was my creation?」

Why was his tone questioning? Clarsan bowed her head to Professor Damian.

「Thank you very much for that time. Thanks to that I obtained a new left hand. But, you didn't remember it at all until now?」

「Yeah. Just when I thought that hand look cool somehow, the blueprint surfaced in my mind and the memory when I created it came back.」

Professor Damian seemed to feel refreshed from recalling that. He was looking happy. Well, that was all though. Mirandsan sighed.

「Come on, more adventurers will come from behind if we don't move immediately. Also, doesn't Lyle-kun has something to tell us?」

That's right. I immediately used the Jewel's Arts to check the surrounding map and enemy's position and adventurer's movement.

Like that I confirmed the shortest route to advance to the next floor.

「We are moving. This way. Anyway we will advance while avoiding battle right now.」

After I decided the destination, everyone started moving based on that.

The light source that was emitting light above the party was following us when we were moving and illuminated the area from above. It was really convenient. Even though the light source that I could produce with magic would only emit light at that spot without moving…….

We advanced while avoiding contact with monster and adventurers working inside the dungeon, and then we arrived at floor B3.

Sophisan went down the slop in relieve.

「I'm glad that it's a gentle slope. If it's a stair then I would have to lift up the cart.」

Clarsan talked about the structure of the dungeon.

「There is no stair in this dungeon. All the paths are a gentle slope like this. It's also wide and not narrow, but the problem isn't the shape but the long distance.」

She said that it would be extremely troublesome when we wanted to carry up heavy baggage.

Arisan understood.

「Thinking again, our baggage will be a lot more when we climb back up compared to when we go down. We will have to carry things like magic stone and material. I see, that's what supporter is for.」

Manpower to carry the baggage was absolutely needed.

I searched for the nearest room after arriving at floor B3. There was no monster or adventurer at the room.

Mirandsan looked impressed when I entered inside without being on guard at all.

「Amazing. Even though we were taught to be careful when normally entering the room, normally it's impossible to enter carelessly like that.」

That must be an unbelievable act from the perspective of other adventurers. When Clarsan saw that everyone had entered inside, she dispelled the light source that was almost dying out and launched new light source.

Within the illumination from above, I made a suggestion to everyone regarding the management of the baggage.

「I learned a new Art. Actually now I can store the majority of our baggage.」

Novem looked at me and her eyes opened wide for a moment, but she immediately returned to normal.

「As expected from Lyle-sama. It's Brod-sama's Art isn't it?」

The topic was unrelated with the other people here so I cut the talk short.

The Seventh seemed to be slightly lonely inside the Jewel.

『Lyle, I think it's fine even if you boast about your grandfather here. Ojii-chan is really amazing just so you know.』

It would be meaningless even if I explained so I wouldn't.

「However, I won't be able to use it for a while after using it once. Please remember that the deposit and withdraw of the baggage will only be possible once a day. I plan to use it again at tomorrow night.」

Clarsan seemed like she wanted to say something to me after I said that, but Professor Damian was faster than her.

「……I was right when I said before that you're the expert. No, it's not like you are a dungeon specialist so perhaps it's wrong? Anyway, it's the right choice to rely on you.」

After everyone decided which item would be left behind for two days supply and which item would be stored, I snapped my finger. Novem tilted her head seeing that gesture.

A magic circle formed on the ground around me, then I instructed everyone to move the items into it.

Sophisan stepped inside the magic circle hesitantly and left the baggage along with the cart on it. Then she immediately evacuated from the magic circle. It was cute. Arisan was laughing at Sophisan who was like that.

「Why are you scared huh?」

「I, I'm not scared!」

After everyone left the baggage that wasn't needed at present, I snapped my fingers once more. The baggage sunk as though they were getting absorbed by the magic circle. And then when they were gone, the magic circle also vanished.

While everyone was staring in amazement, my legs staggered and I almost fell.

「So I'm still not──used to it?」

But, there was one person who supported my body. I thought it would be Novem like usual, but unexpectedly it was Mirandsan.

「Are you okay? Somehow your face is looking completely exhausted.」

A sensation that was different from usual. And then her scent. I felt slightly embarrassed.

「We, well, this is the Art's weakness. I won't be able to move without resting for a while.」

Novem made a troubled face near me. When I smiled at her telling her not to worry, she nodded and began to prepare for a break.

「Arisan and Sophisan, can I ask you two to be on the lookout?」

「Okay.」

「Leave it to me.」

I was supported by Mirandsan while walking toward the wall. There I leaned on the wall and sat down. Professor Damian made the puppets sat and he was also taking a rest. Clarsan put her lightened rucksack on her back and rested her body. Mirandsan was talking to me.

「Lyle-kun is really amazing. But it seems even Aria and others don't know about that Art though?」

I laughed and thought to dodge the question, but Mirandsan's eyes looked quite serious so I told her the circumstance.

「Just as you can see, I have to rest after using it once. Until now I couldn't use it even if I want to.」

It wasn't a lie. Then, Mirandsan nodded several times and continued her question curiously.

「Then, do you still have other Art that the people around you doesn't know about?」

Novem came this way when she asked that with her gaze turned toward the Jewel.

「Mirandsan, more than that will be a breach of manner.」

Asking about other people's Art was a breach of manner. Mirandsan shrugged hearing that and apologized to Novem and me.

「I'm sorry. I tried asking because I was curious. Lyle-kun too, sorry.」

She said that and headed toward Arisan and others with a smile. I saw her off and then looked at Novem.

「I don't really mind it you know?」

Novem said that it was no good even then.

「Before talking about breach of matter, Lyle-sama should be more aware of yourself. That blue Gem is Walt House's heirloom. The precious Arts that the ancestors manifested are preserved in it. Please don't teach the information about it to others easily.」

It seemed that I was scolded by Novem.

When I apologized, Novem said 「Please be careful next time」 and sighed.

Suddenly her face changed from like a mother scolding her son to a serious expression.

「Also……when Lyle-sama used Brod-sama's Art, you snapped your fingers didn't you? That gesture itself is meaningless. That was Brod-sama's habit. Where did Lyle-sama saw it?」

This was bad. I thought that for an instant, but I immediately recalled.

The Seventh──grandfather was lenient at his grandson. Then, it wouldn't be strange for him to show his Art to his grandson in order to boast. I didn't have the memory of before ten years old but, the possibility of me seeing it before should be high.

「I saw it once. Grandfather must wish to boast at me that time. What about it?」

Novem made a slightly troubled look while nodding, but she didn't seem to be convinced fully.

「I guess. Brod-sama was doting to Lyle-sama after all……」

Novem muttered as though to convince herself and then she sat down beside me. She recommended the sweets she brought to me.

「Lyle-sama, sweet things are good when you're tired.」

Novem was loyally devoted like usual.

However, the Seventh muttered quizzically within the Jewel.

『……Did I once show Novem when I use my Art? I also don't have memory of showing it to Lyle though.』

The Third made fun of the Seventh.

『Grandpa tend to boast to the children after all. Surely you had showed it before. You know, it seems our memory become hazy after we hand over the Jewel after all. Though my memory until the end remain because I died in battle though.』

The Fourth sighed.

『Well, in the Third's case……. But, certainly the memory after that doesn't exist. Surely you had the chance to show it after you let go of the Jewel.』

The Seventh denied that opinion.

『That might be true in my heyday, but the abrupt use of mana in old age cannot be underestimated. Doing something like forcing myself just to boast is……』

The Sixth recalled.

『Aa, it must be that. Novem might have heard it from his father or grandfather. They also accompanied you together in battle right? They should have seen it at that time.』

The Seventh reluctantly accepted it. But, I also thought that possibility was the highest.

『Perhaps that's the case?』

However, the Fifth said to the Seventh.

『But, after seeing how doting you're to Lyle, I can easily imagine you showing off to him even if you have to force yourself.』

Certainly. I could easily picture the figure of the Seventh forcing himself in front of his grandson.

I laughed slightly. Novem peered into my face hearing that.

「Lyle-sama?」

「Ah, no……it's nothing.」

I smoothed over my expression and ate the sweets I received from Novem. The sweetness spread inside my mouth and it flowed into my stomach. After a while, it really felt like my feeling got slightly comforted.

We resumed moving after a moderately long rest.

I asked Clarsan to erase the light source and approached a group of monsters that was in the way of our path.

There was light at a crossroads. Over there were an orc that was clad in iron armor and three goblins around it.

A total of four monsters were lying in wait there for prey.

Fortunately, our location was dark so they couldn't see us from there.

The Second laughed seeing the monsters.

『Are they planning to lie in ambush at that kind of place? It's like they're saying please target us.』

I told everyone to not move yet and took out a bow. I took out a single arrow from the special quiver on my waist.

Professor Damian saw the magic arrow I took out and asked with a small voice.

「That's a failed work isn't it? The students often failed in their side job and sold it at the outside. Is that usable?」

I nodded and then gave instruction to Novem and Arisan.

「It has a lot of issues though. Novem, prepare an area magic after I fire the arrow. Arisan, please take care of the monster manage to slip this way.」

Novem nodded. Arisan also responded by gripping her spear.

The Second advised me.

『Aim slowly. You can do it.』

I listened and calmed my heart. I could hear my heartbeat louder than the surrounding's sound. And then, when my fingers let go, the arrow hit at the head of the orc at the distance.

The head wasn't pierced. The arrowhead that collided burst and the metal helmet dented. Blood flew out from the helmet's gap. When the orc's large body collapsed as though it was strongly punched, the goblins raised their weapon and looked around.

Novem lifted her silver staff and prepared her magic. The goblins found the light that was generated by magic inside the darkness and rushed this way.

I put away the bow and pulled out the saber on my waist. Novem fired her magic at that timing.

「Fire Cannon」

A large ball of fire was strongly fired out and it passed through the square corridor. It hit one goblin and burst out into flame that scattered to the surrounding.

The goblins were enveloped in flame, and then the flame vanished when they stopped moving.

I confirmed the death of the monsters and immediately checked the situation around.

「……There is an enemy that is coming by crawling on the wall. Is it insect type?」

Clarsan immediately launched a light source and gave me advice.

「Lyle-san, it's a troublesome enemy. Speaking of insect in this floor it will be a centipede……it has a size around an adult male and it can spit out poison. It's a troublesome monster.」

The monster noticed the battle just now and approached this way.

The number……was three.

「There are three. They're coming from the front. They are heading straight at us.」

Hearing that Professor Damian sent the three puppets to the front.

He slightly pushed his glasses up with his index finger, and then he said toward us.

「No, magnificent. I think I'll also show my true ability here. Ah, I'll leave it to you to take care of it if there is enemy that slips through.」

The three puppets lined in a single horizontal row. Each of them was wielding a different weapon. It felt reliable looking at the back of their figure wielding weapon while waiting for the monsters.

I confirmed the distance with the enemy and──.

「They're here!」

I could see three centipedes crawling on the wall. The armed puppets wasted no time to move forward and swung down their weapon at the centipedes.

One puppet used a spear stabbed a centipede's head and sewed the monster to the wall. Another one used the centipede's momentum and bisected it vertically with an axe.

A puppet with a mace crushed a centipede's torso. But, even after getting smashed the monster was heading this way.

When I and Arisan were about to move, three knives shot through between us──and stabbed the centipede's head. The monster wriggled on that spot and after a while it stopped moving.

When we looked back, it was Mirandsan who threw the knives.

「……That was surprising.」

Mirandsan shrugged and then she explained to us.

「But, you now understand my strength from the throw just now right? I can also use magic but, I can also do quite much in this way.」

Arisan praised Mirandsan even while feeling astonished.

「That's amazing. But, say something first when you are throwing next time.」

「I'm sorry. I'll do that next time.」

Clarsan wore gloves while I was checking the situation of the surrounding and approached the monsters. She confirmed their death and began to collect their magic stones and materials.

There was no sign of enemy approaching.

The other members also stayed alert toward the surrounding. Novem was mainly looking toward the front while Mirandsan was watching the rear.

Sophisan and Arisan were talking about the battle just now.

「Both Professor Damian and Mirandsan are really skilled.」

「You're right. I didn't have any turn.」

Looking at Professor Damian, he was making a puppet to pull out the spear that was stabbed into the wall. The wall was regenerating as though time was rewinding back.

Clarsan who finished the dismantling asked for confirmation to me regarding the magic stones and materials.

「There are seven magic stones. The materials are all these. Will we leave behind the iron equipments?」

She showed me the iron equipments that the orc and goblins had. They looked heavy.

The Fourth understood Clarsan's question.

『I see. It will be a hindrance to progress further while carrying around these things. Lyle, let's just bring the magic stones.』

I told Clarsan that just the magic stones were alright, and then I told everyone to begin moving again.

Clarsan talked to me while walking.

「As expected from Professor Damian. It seems that his nickname of Puppet User is the real deal. Mirandsan's movement is also not bad. I wonder from where she fostered that much skill.」

Mirandsan who was an academy student was more skilled than expected. Even Clarsan was curious about it.

It wouldn't be bad to ask her about it later.

Before long we found the slope that continued to the floor B5.

Floor B5.

What first surprised us after going down was a device that existed in this underground dungeon.

「Oh, is this the first time for Lyle and everyone? This is the device to travel between floors in Arumsaas's underground dungeon.」

There was an iron door that was shaped like bellows. I could see wire behind it and it looked like it was moving.

Clarsan pointed at the top of such entrance.

「There is a gauge there. You can see the number right? That shows where the travelling device is located right now. You can use this device to freely travel if it's from floor B5 until floor B25.」

Arisan was happy hearing that.

「What. In that case we can use this thing to go down until floor B25 easily right now.」

Clarsan shook her head.

「That device can only move until a floor that everyone has reached before. In other words, people who only entered this dungeon for the first time will have to advance forward by their own feet.」

Professor Damian was also making a fed up voice.

「That's troublesome. Well, if it's you guys then you will be able to advance further ahead quickly.」

Arisan's shoulders dropped.

「It was stupid to hold expectation.」

Novem made a troubled face seeing Arisan like that. Even so she consoled her.

「It means that it will be easier for us on the way back.」

Sophisan was relieved hearing that. As expected, it was bothersome just imagining walking until floor B40 and then returning back again on feet while defeating monster.

A normal party would have to travel while carrying even more supply.

Clarsan was teaching us some snippet of knowledge. Unexpectedly she might like the act of teaching other people.

「In a large scale dungeon, this kind of device that help with exploring the dungeon usually exist, though not all of them has the same mechanism. There is a theory that it's in order to lure even stronger adventurers deeper to the dungeon.」

I looked at the device. I didn't know who was using this but, the device was moving up from floor B20 right now.

Dungeon prepared convenient device in order to lure adventurers even deeper into it──it vaguely felt like it wanted to get subjugated.

The Sixth was impressed inside the Jewel.

『This is amazing. In our case we will subjugate the dungeon right away when it's discovered, so we don't have experience of seeing something like this.』

Walt House would be in high spirits when a dungeon was discovered and they would scramble to be the first to challenge the dungeon. Certainly, that was the correct action seeing that they didn't have the skill necessary to manage a dungeon, but I could imagine them immediately subjugating a dungeon even if they actually had such skill.

The Fourth was feeling cheerful while making an over-optimistic calculation.

『The dungeon is this big, I wonder how much treasure we will get if it's subjugated……I'm really curious. Just how much money it will become.』

The ancestors thought kept heading toward subjugation no matter what. However, the underground dungeon of Arumsaas was managed. It was forbidden to subjugate this dungeon.

Thinking that other places were also the same, almost all large scale dungeons were impossible to be subjugated due to human's intention.

Which was deeper I wonder, the depth of dungeon or the greed of human?

Novem put her hand on my shoulder.

「Lyle-sama, let's depart.」

「Yeah, let's go.」

──Night.

Shannon slipped out from her personal room in the hospital and strolled. She noticed an approaching presence and hid behind a cover while checking the presence.

The person walking this way with a lamp in hand was a nurse who was doing a night round.

「Haa, it's spooky. Let's finish this quickly and get back.」

Shannon felt puzzled seing the person walking while feeling scared at the darkness. It was because darkness was something ordinary for Shannon. It was an everyday thing for her.

Even when she was using her mystic eye, basically she would only be able to see the shining mana inside the darkness.

And then she distinguished people by mana.

(That woman! This morning she stole my snack just because I cannot see it!)

Even though her eyes couldn't see, the sound and vibration taught Shannon of her surrounding. When she checked afterwards, her favorite snack was gone.

Shannon grinned and manipulated the fluctuation of the woman's mana to stimulate her fear. The woman immediately started to shake in fear.

「Wha, what? A strange sound is──」

She was even hearing auditory hallucination from too much fear. She was feeling scared even to the sound of swaying curtain from the wind.

Shannon was having fun watching that while controlling the surrounding mana further to make her own silhouette blurred.

Then she called out to the woman from behind.

「Hey, big sister……let's play.」

「Eh? ……No……NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!」

Then the face of the woman who turned around distorted in terror and she screamed at that place. After that she ran away in great panic. Her legs got entangled from feeling too scared and she fell. Even so her fear drove her to run away by crawling on the ground. Even Shannon who was surprised at first seeing that was laughing while holding her stomach right now.

「Ahahaha, that's what happen if you steal my snack. Even so, I wonder how do I look like in that woman's eyes?」

She only made it so that her figure was hazy. In addition she only stimulated the woman's fear a bit strongly.

Surely the people of this world couldn't see it. The satisfied Shannon returned to her room after that.

She turned her shining eyes to the ceiling of the dark corridor.

「Come to think of it……I wonder if Onee-sama is doing well. Come back quickly, Onee-sama.」

Shannon chuckled and vanished into the corridor's darkness──.

Floor B14.

Inside a dark room.

Reptile demi-humans──lizardmen were making fire. Their height didn't reach three meter but, they were big enough.

If the axe in their hand was swung down, even armored knight would be bisected into two.

They possessed hard skin and their physical strength couldn't be compared with human. There were five of such tough lizardman warriors wearing iron equipments.

They were drinking alcohol that seemed to be stolen from adventurer.

There was one lizardman acting as lookout at the room's entrance. Unlike the orc and goblin we fought at the upper floor, I got the impression that this group war really clever.

Clarsan who heard the situation narrowed her sleepy looking eyes.

「It's troublesome. This is the group of lizardmen that is rampaging near floor B15. I heard that recently this group is destroying several adventurer parties. It seems their number has increased slightly from before.」

Strong adventurers would use the device to advance to even deeper floor. Because of that the adventurers who were finally able to reach at the vicinity of floor B5 would find lizardman as their first obstacle. It seemed this monster became a wall for adventurer who reached this far for the first time.]

Professor Damian slightly raised his hand.

「Should I do it? If it's my puppets then they can be repaired right away even if they are damaged a bit.」

I pondered.

The Second seemed a bit disappointed inside the Jewel.

『What's this, it's just lizardman.』

The Third was also the same.

『Come to think of it I've seen them several times. I think they weren't that strong.』

The Fourth was also of the same opinion.

『Human bandit is more troublesome. This monster is just a bit tougher and cannot be defeated with low level magic, that's all.』

The Fifth wasn't interested.

『They aren't cute so it doesn't matter.』

The Sixth sounded delighted.

『Is that so? They are interesting guys when you fight them from the front. Sometimes there will also be tough guy among them.』

The Seventh was sighing.

『They aren't any threat. You can block the entrance with puppet and then face them one by one, or you can also ask Novem to fire magic at them. You can just burn them all together with the room.』

Arumsaa's dungeon wouln't burn. Because of that even if we used magic recklessly, the dungeon wouldn't be harmed and reacted excessively before rampaging.

It was a dungeon where we could fire magic without worry.

However, what to do now……while I was thinking that, I recalled that I still hadn't used my saber. It was a quality product I purchased in Centralle before coming to Arumsaas.

「……We will take care of this. Arisan, Sophisan, start preparing. Also, will Mirandsan participate too?」

Mirandsan answered 'naturally' when I asked.

「You can make use of me more. I'm really strong even though I look like this after all.」

Arisan nodded.

「I can go anytime.」

Sophisan was also the same.

「I'm ready. Besides, today I haven't really done anything today. I'll do my best here.」

I nodded, then I asked Novem and Professor Damian to guard Clarsan and watched the entrance.

Novem made a worried face toward me.

「Lyle-sama, is it really alright?」

「Yeah, I feel like we can do this.」

I muttered that and led the three toward the room with the enemies. I entrusted Arisan to be the first attacker.

Arisan nodded and her body shined faintly red. She rushed into the room with a speed that the eyes couldn't follow and circled behind the guard lizardman. She stabbed at his heart with her spear.

The guard lizardman raised a loud voice. The remaining five lizardmen who were relaxing reached out to their weapon and immediately stood up.

「They're quick.」

The three of us entered inside the room. Then Sophisan's hand took the battle axe on her back and cut off the neck of the lizardman whose heart was stabbed with spear.

「Splendid!」

When the five lizardmen showed movement to surround us, Mirandsan threw her knives and crushed the eyes of one lizardman. When the monster's movement dulled, she leaped toward his beck and cut open the neck with the short sword she drew out from her waist.

The blood spurted out and the lizardman fell on his knees before collapsing.

「That's two. Now then, next is──」

I was holding a saber in each hand with the stance of two-sword style. One monster approached me from the front while a second one went around behind me to swing his axe horizontally.

I jumped forward to deal against the pincer attack. The lizardman in front of me opened his eyes wide.

Behind me I felt the wind from the axe that was swung horizontally while I tightly gripped my saber. I passed through beside the lizardman in front of me while dodging the axe attack behind me. At the same time I bisected its torso with my saber. When I used the falling lizardman as my foothold to jump, the lizardman behind me opened his eyes wide in surprise.

「Is it okay that you are only looking at me?」

Then a battle axe came flying while rotating toward the lizardman that was looking up at me. It pierced deeply into his stomach.

Then I swung down my saber from above toward another lizardman that wasn't looking my way and landed. The lizardman's head fell.

Only one remained. The last one looked my way and opened his mouth largely as intimidation while taking a step forward. It was then a knife and a hand axe flew and stabbed him.

At the end, Arisan jumped up and stabbed the lizardman's head with her spear and the battle was over.

I confirmed that the six lizardman was dead, then I called Novem and others who were guarding the entrance.

The Third was giving applause from inside the Jewel.

『Lyle, you're really amazing. There are some places where your inexperience showed, but you will grow even more from now on if you amass experience. You are really reliable only in battle.』

I could feel the Third's mean mischief from the part of only in battle.

The Fifth gave me some advice after seeing the way I fought.

『You are still putting too much strength when you swing your saber. The cut was clean only because your weapon is a good one.』

No one would honestly praise me even though the battle was over. After I wiped the blood on the saber and put it back into the sheath, Mirandsan walked toward me.

「Lyle-kun, that was really amazing. It was like watching the fight of an expert.」

I was embarrassed.

「I, is that so」

「Yep, it was amazing. You're really……amazing. You're strong and can be relied on. Besides you are looking at the people around you without caring whether they're noble or not……」

Mirandsan's atmosphere became a bit dark. I became worried and called to her.

「Mirandsan?」

「……Hey, Lyle-kun. I like Lyle-kun……will it be a bother if I tell you that?」

「Eh?」

Mirandsan forced herself to smile seeing my bewildered face. And then, she apologized to me and headed toward the lizardmen.

「Sorry, just forget it. It will be hard for Clarsan to take care of them alone, so I'll help out with collecting the magic stone.」

I couldn't give any answer. My heard felt painful.

If only I didn't do anything like a faked hitting on woman and had a proper encounter with her at the beginning…….

The Sixth persuaded me with a strong tone when I was feeling regretful.

『Lyle, this is the result of your action. You cannot erase it so that it never happened. If you feel that it's painful then be careful from now on. Also, think of that pain as your punishment.』

I thought that nobody was asking, but I nodded slightly.

「……Yes」