Samayou Shinki No Duelist Vol 02

Samayou Shinki no Duelist Volume 2
written by SUEBASHI Ken

illustrated by H2SO4
published by Fujimi Fantasia Bunko
Guhehe.Translation
Translated by : Hiyono
Pdf Created by : Hykzqwmx
Page 1
Prologue
Preface
A boy who had once been solely a tool for murder.

The first time he smiled was about a month after we first met.
The two of us having newly arrived in this world, we sought
to gain a greater understanding of the labyrinth – the Magna
PortaGreat Gate. To that end, we hid our identities and ventured
forth.
One day, we happened upon an untried adventurer, under
attack by a Void Beast, whom we saved. He thanked us
endlessly, and as we saw him off, I turned back to look – the
edges of the boy’s lips had curled just a little.
“…You just smiled!”
“…”
The smile disappeared, and he watched me in confusion.
“I guess you weren’t aware of it, huh? Well then, what you
just felt right here——”
I tapped him on the chest.
“That is a ‘sprout.'”
“A ‘sprout’?”
“Yes, the sprout of feeling. You need to nourish it and help it
grow.”
“Grow?”
Page 2
He looked even more confused than he’d been a moment ago.

His expression was so adorable I laughed aloud.
From that day on, we put an end to many Void Beasts, saving
countless lives in the process. The people gave the boy the
name “Snow Blade King,” and he was revered as a hero.
——That was the moment where it all began, when a “tool”
took its first step toward becoming a “human.”
From that time forward, the two of us continued forward,

together.
Unbound, as we were, by the chains of time, we truly believed
those blessed, joyful days would never end.
——What fools we were.
Prologue
“Well, work is work,” the dark-skinned young man – Jahar –

said with a smile. “——It’s just that, to be honest, this is a bit
of a pain, you know?”
Deep within a temple of the Shinki, in a section cut off from
the rest of the world, was a room with a throne.
Currently, this room held three people: the master of the room
and her attendant, as well as a visitor, Jahar.
Page 3
“While the reward is certainly great, would you mind sharing

with me the ‘reason this has to be done,’ O ‘Shinki who
Scatters the Stars’?”
“The reason? ‘Because it’s necessary’ – is that reason not
good enough for you?”
“Necessary according to whom?”
“The world.”
“…Explain.”
“There’s no need for you to know any more than that, Duelist
of the Moon,” the girl seated on the throne answered calmly.
She looked to be about fifteen, and boasted a sort of prim
beauty, as well as an air of haughty willfulness.
“Both the reward and the task itself are beneficial to your
master, the ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon.’ You’re nothing
more than a pet – for you to insinuate that there’s more to my
goodwill than appears is the height of arrogance.”
“As luck would have it, I happen to be something of a wild
dog that delights in biting people. Manners and what have you
– I’ve never bothered with those things.”
Jahar’s light tone seemed strange given the Shinki’s
contemptuous tone – if he hadn’t also pulled the huge red
claymore from his shoulder. The atmosphere quickly grew
tense——
Page 4
“I’m hoping that comment about biting was just an analogy,

Jahar-san, because if you really tried anything like that, I’d
have to respond in kind.”
The words were intermingled with a dry laugh.
Alongside the “Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” Elfriede, stood
an upright young man. A quick glance revealed him to be
unarmed, and not the slightest hint of bloodlust could be felt
from him.
“Anyway, it’ll be quite problematic if you take everything
Elfriede-sama says seriously. The way she speaks is rather
biting; there’s something seriously wrong with her personality.
Even if what she says makes you mad, don’t take it to heart.”
“Is that so? You see, the problem is that I’m the kind of
person who takes everything to heart; I’m quite fond of heart-
to-hearts, you know? If you ask me, that way of doing things
is a bit easier on me.”
“That makes things a bit harder on me then, Duelist of the
Moon. ——Also, Kai – shut your mouth.”
“As you say. My apologies,” the man said with a smile.
“If you agree to my request, then you will be amply rewarded
with either money or Reliquia according to your preference.
Moreover, I will aid you in restoring the Moon’s Oath Legion,
which in turn, will allow you to gather divine energy once
more. What do you say? Will you help?”
Elfriede smiled.
Page 5
“I will, but I have to ask – what do you stand to gain from all
this?”
“I would prefer to avoid a direct confrontation with the other
Shinki at all cost. An alliance is rather beneficial in that sense.
——In any event, accomplishing the task I have set before
you benefits you more than anyone else.”
“…The problem is my Shinki. I can’t see her liking this, and
convincing her will be problematic.”
“That’s not my concern, now is it? If you refuse now, then our
relationship ends here. Forget the reward, your position will
be a very dangerous one.”
“…”
“On the other hand, if you do this thing, then I will continue
to protect both you and your Shinki, even though it must be
said that we will eventually become enemies sooner or later.
——Now then, consider this: do you two really have the
leeway to turn me down?”
Elfriede’s expression revealed a confident expression befitting
the one holding all the cards.
“To be honest… no.”
Jahar shrugged.
Although he wasn’t happy to admit it, the fact of the matter
was that her words were indeed irrefutable.
Page 6
“You’re much more suited to the struggle for victory than my

Kaya-chan. If we were partnered together, then my chances
would be so much better.”
“If you ever feel like leaving behind that crybaby and coming
over to this side, I’d be happy to welcome you. A Duelist’s
power is to be appreciated.”
“Then what about me…?” Kai asked with a stiff smile.
Elfriede watched her Duelist through slanted eyes.
“…Unfortunately, Duelists can’t be swapped. Just focus on
protecting me, Kai; I know better than to expect anything
more from you.”
“Alright, alright. I understand,” he replied.
“When it comes to switching sides, you’ll have to give me
some time to think.”
Jahar flipped his hair back as he spoke.
“Nonetheless, I’ll take the job. Our interests happen to
coincide this time, after all.”
“Is that so? I’ll leave it to you, then. ——Repeat our request
in full once more, if you would, Kai.”
Page 7
“Very well. According to the information shared by the

‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon’ and her Duelist, the former
Duelist known as the Snow Blade King as well as the Sixth
Shinki, of ambiguous origin, now reside within the city. With
regards to the aforementioned parties, the ‘Shinki who
Scatters the Stars’ requests the following of the ‘Shinki
Crowned with the Moon.'”
Kai paused for a second before continuing.
“You will execute both Yuuki Takamigahara and Albertina at
any cost.”
Page 8
Page 9
Chapter 1: The Saplings Experience the Labyrinth
Lost to the world of dreams, the young girl’s quiet breathing

was steady.
She looked to be not-quite fifteen, and boasted a head of
luxurious golden hair. She was quite cute, really. Her face
revealed an expression of absolute fulfillment; her journey
through Morpheus’ realm had made her jubilant indeed.
At her side was a young man with arms crossed, watching her
wordlessly.
He looked to be about twenty, and was slightly taller than
average, with black hair.
After some time, the young man – Yuuki – sighed.
The girl was lazily asleep atop the store counter, where a
puddle of her drool had collected. He’d entrusted the store to
her before heading out; it was immediately clear to him that
she hadn’t been the least useful while he was gone.
“…Hey, Tina. ALBERTINA.”
“Hmm…?”
The girl yawned languidly.
“How was the store? The store!”
Reaching out, he gave her a light shake.
Page 10
This time she yawned and muttered something

incomprehensible. She didn’t appear to have truly awoken.
“…”
Yuuki thought for a moment before leaning in near her ears
and inhaling deeply.
“WAKE UP——”
“Eh? …Wha? Oh, it’s morning!”
The small head raised sharply, crashing directly into Yuuki’s
chin.
“…Sorry about that, Master.”

Tina was seated at the dinner table, her body bent as she
pleaded forgiveness.
“I didn’t mean any harm. I was just woken up so suddenly,
you know…”
“——Your head slamming into me I can forgive,” Yuuki said,
as he rubbed his chin unhappily. “However, what I can’t
forgive is the way you simply ignored your store duties.
Weren’t you the one who told me that you could handle things
over here? In fact, weren’t you looking at me with an
expression that said not to look down on you even as you
swore you would take care of things?”
“Uh…”
Page 11
“If all that happened was that we missed out on some

potential customers, then that’s one thing. The bigger issue is
that there have been many thieves and other unscrupulous
adventurers on the prowl recently. What would you do if our
merchandise had been stolen?”
“Umm…”
“If such a thing were to happen, we’d be out several hundred,
if not several thousand, denar. Even if you didn’t eat or drink
for a month or two, that wouldn’t be enough to cover the cost.”
“Ohh…”
“Anyway, what did you mean by ‘Oh, it’s morning!’? Most
people sleep at night, wake up in the morning, and work
during the day. It’s the middle of the day right now – you
should be hard at work.”
“Um, well… It’s that, you know? ——It’s because you’re my
sun.”
“…What?”
“Oh, my love! Each time we meet, every time I see your face,
it’s as if the night has broken at last and the dawn has come!”
“…”
Yuuki frowned.
“I’ve always thought you were pretty weird, but I guess
you’ve finally gone over the deep end?”
“No good, huh?”
Page 12
Tina looked gravely disappointed.

“But those were such stirring lines in the story…”
“Story…?”
“Yeah, I borrowed a book from Franka. I guess it’s what
you’d call a romance novel? It was super interesting, you
know; I read it all in one go without even sleeping!”
“…And there we have it. It all makes sense now.”
Yuuki collapsed lifelessly atop the table.
“Oh, forget it. It’s a waste of energy getting mad at you. Let’s
eat.”
“Ooh, sounds good to me. Tina’s more than happy to help out.
Eating is definitely one of life’s great joys – a moment of
joyous, radiant light.”
At Tina’s overjoyed reaction, Yuuki could only sigh once
more.
“——To be honest, compared with the current situation, the
thing with the store is really of little consequence.”
“Hmm? I don’t really quite get it. Why don’t you explain
further? The ‘Shinki who Dwells in the City,’ Albertina, will
be happy to advise you on your worries.”
Tina stuck her chest out proudly.
“Sure, why not? Let’s talk.”
“Right, right.”
Page 13
“Right now, I find myself in pretty dire financial straits. To be

blunt, business is poor.”
“You shouldn’t aim at changing your fortunes in a single
night. It doesn’t matter whether it be the size of your business,
your skill as a merchant, or anything else, really – that applies
to everything. You’re worrying too much, Master. You need
to face life’s problems one step at a time.”
“The thing is, if we continue down this path, then starting
from tomorrow, I’m going to have to ration our food portions
to a third of their current size.”
“TODAY! WE NEED TO FIX THIS TODAY!” Tina shouted
in a panic.
“It’s because I don’t know how to fix it that we’re in this
problem in the first place.”
“H-How… No, calm down, CALM DOWN, Master! H-How
did things become like this?!”
“You’re the one who needs to calm down. ——Anyway, to
answer your question, it’s simple – we’ve spent all our money.
Moreover, today, taxes are due, which pretty much leaves us
penniless. This is all because of that incident. Just thinking of
how much we wasted that time is painful.”
Yuuki was terribly dispirited.
“That’s why if we eat what little food we have left, we’ll
simply starve. ——Or wait, actually, you should be fine;
you’re a Shinki, after all.”
Page 14
“N-No one’s going to be fine! Even if I can’t actually starve, I

get hungry just like anyone else. It’s too hard, Master! Too
hard!”
“Yeah, it’s definitely hard on me.”
“…”
“…”
“…Is there no other way? What can we do?”
“Weren’t you the one giving advice here? ——Well, if we
can somehow sell everything that’s up for sale, then we ought
to be good for a while longer, but only a month at most. The
problem is, we’d then have to close up shop, which would kill
our income. It’s a real conundrum.”
Yuuki managed a small store for adventurers, the “Shoppe
Boris.” Because he’d inherited it from its former owner, an
old man, its name was unchanged.
The store carried several types of merchandise such as
Reliquia, those mysterious tools which housed divine energy,
weapons and armor, and various medicinal items like herbs
and bandages. In short, the tools of the trade for an adventurer.
Even if medicinal herbs and the like were something he could
gather on his own, but without any spare capital, there wasn’t
much he could about procuring any other goods, particularly
Reliquia. If things continued, circumstances might force the
closure of his store not long from now.
Page 15
“I’ve got it, Master! Why don’t you just venture into the
labyrinth and bring us back some high-grade Reliquia? With
your skills and a celestial Dragon Fang weapon in your hands,
even the lower levels should pose no threat——”
“No thanks,” Yuuki replied sternly.
“W-Why not?”
“First of all, I’m just a ninth-ranked adventurer. If I were to
walk around with such a high-grade Reliquia weapon, then
people would be very suspicious of how I got it. Even if I
were to try and sell it, people would either turn me down
outright or, suspecting I obtained it via illicit means,
intentionally lowball me. ——Do you really want to raise
questions about our true identity?”
“Oh…”
“Secondly, and most importantly – I don’t want to.”
Tina frowned, sure she’d misheard.
“…Say that again?”
“To put it simply, if the store is to do any better, I want it to
be because of my mercantile skill. If I have to rely on the
strength of a celestial Dragon Fang weapon to keep us afloat,
then it’s entirely meaningless. After what happened last time,
I’ve determined I need to increase my skills yet further.”
“You’re stubborn about the strangest things…” Tina said
worriedly. “Seriously, how could there be a Duelist who’d let
their Shinki go hungry?!”
Page 16
“I’m not a normal Duelist, you know? ——Anyway, when it

comes to the store, I’m the master here, and you’re just a
salesclerk. Shouldn’t you be following your boss’ orders?”
“If the store owner’s command is to ‘starve,’ then any
employee would mutiny.”
“…”
“…”
The two began a staring contest as the atmosphere grew tense.
“…The Shinki Albertina commands you – bring forth the
food!”
“The fact that I can’t do that is the reason we’re worrying
about this in the first place.”
“It’s not that you can’t do anything about it! It’s that you
won’t——”
“Um…”
The pair shut up as a voice called out from the entrance to the
store.
A familiar young girl stood there, watching them.
“Although the store’s open, I didn’t see any customers and I
thought I heard you guys inside… Are you busy?”
“Oh, no. Did you need to make a purchase, Franka?”
Page 17
“Oh, it’s nothing like that. I just happened to get some fruits
and veggies from my neighbors. I can’t finish them on my
own, so I thought I’d drop by and share some with you.”
“A Goddess!”
Tina’s eyes shined as she shouted, surprising Franka.
“A Goddess has descended, Master!”
Aren’t you the Goddess here? Yuuki thought, though he kept
the thought to himself, expressing instead his sincere gratitude
for Franka’s generosity.
※※※
Solitus.
This empty world, encroached upon by “The Devourer,”
consisted of a single city.
This city had been constructed in honor of deity: the Heavenly
King, who orchestrated all things, as well as his five
subordinate Shinki – the “Shinki who Supports the Sky,” the
“Shinki who Raises the Sun,” the “Shinki Crowned with the
Moon,” the “Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” and the “Shinki
who Guards the Earth.”
Page 18
Below the city was a labyrinth of unknown depth, the Magna

PortaGreat Gate.
In order to obtain that mystery of mysteries, the tools which

held within them divine energy – Reliquia – those with
confidence in their own prowess challenged the labyrinth day
and night.
There were those who dreamed of instant wealth.
Others sought to demonstrate their faith in the Shinki.
Others still had no higher goal than to ease the aching of their
bellies.
——Adventurers.
One day, the adventurer Yuuki Takamagihara had stumbled

upon, and taken in, a young girl who’d fainted deep within the
labyrinth.
Her name was Albertina.
——An existence which should not exist – the sixth Shinki of
five.
※※※
“Wow, that’s definitely rough.”
Page 19
Once they’d finished lunch, Franka heard them out over tea,
and expressed her wholehearted sympathy.
She was fairly tall, with a full figure. The expression on her
face gave one a rather cute, if slightly shy, impression.
She was a frequent customer of Yuuki’s store, as well as an
adventurer with a bright future. On her sixteenth birthday,
several days before, she’d finally attained the qualifications
for a third-rank. It was an astounding deed given her age.
She was an amazing individual even when it came to other
aspects of her life. The lunch they’d just finished had been
prepared by Franka using the vegetables she’d brought with
her as well as some salted pork. Not only had it tasted great,
but she’d done a fantastic job of cleaning up afterward as well.
Yuuki simply couldn’t compare.
“If there’s anything I can do to help…”
“You’ve already done more than enough. I’m grateful for
your concern, really, but this is something I need to take care
of on my own. If there’s one thing you can do, it’s simply to
keep on buying what you need as a customer. Are you okay
on Divine Pearls?”
“Yep. It’s something clerics need to pay special attention to,
after all,” Franka said with a smile. Frantically, she added,
“Oh, but if I ever need more, I’ll be sure to buy them here.
Definitely.”
Page 20
Clerics were one type of adventurer. They utilized divine

energy for offensive, defensive, and restorative Orisons. They
used the Reliquia known as Divine Pearls – crystals formed
from the source which powered all miracles – to power their
skills.
“That reminds me, Yuuki-san. I haven’t seen you around the
school recently… Are you still taking a break from things? Or
rather, is it because of this financial trouble that you’ve been
too busy to come?”
Solitus was home to several adventurer training schools.
Yuuki and Franka were both advanced class students, and he
was also employed by the school as an assistant instructor for
the beginning class from time to time.
However, as Franka had just described, of late, he had neither
attended class nor taken any part-time jobs from the school.
“Yeah… Some things have come up, so I’ve been busy.”
Truth be told, her guess had been spot on, but he felt too
embarrassed to admit as much, and so he held his silence.
“On that note, there was a post about an offer for job. The task
is to escort the students of the beginning class around the first
few floors of the labyrinth. They’re looking for a party with
experience.”
“They’re recruiting? That’s rare. Don’t they usually just give
those jobs directly to school-affiliated parties?”
Page 21
“Yeah, but there was that huge incident just recently, right?
Many people who were caught up in it haven’t yet made a full
recovery, and so they’re short on people.”
“I see…”
Monsters of countless types and shapes, known as Void
Beasts, resided within the Magna PortaGreat Gate. Each floor was
an ecosystem of its own, and generally speaking, Void Beasts
never ventured past the limits of their natural habitats.
However, a month ago, a large and terrible Void Beast had
suddenly appeared in the upper levels. Although the incident
had eventually been resolved, numerous people had been
wounded in the process.
Yuuki and company had happened to be in the vicinity at the
time of the episode, and had gotten drawn in. In fact, the
cause of the predicament he now found himself in was none
other than that very incident.
“The pay looks pretty good, so what do you think? Plus, the
kids are still young, but they’re future adventurers. If you
develop a good relationship with them now, they might just
become your customers in the future. ——A-Also, if I might,
I’d like to take part as well; I’ll ask Master too.”
Page 22
Page 23
“Sure.”
The training school was quite generous – not only would they
cover any and all expenses incurred, but they’d pay out
immediately after the task was done.
He was hesitant to leave the store unmanned, but this was a
real opportunity.
“I’ll definitely give it some consideration,” he said at last.
“Nice!” Franka whispered, clenching her fists in victory.
“Fruits, veggies, and oooh, cheese! This will definitely do for

now. This is great, simply great. A real savior, she is.”
After Franka had departed, Tina picked over the food she’d
left behind with a radiant smile.
“How unlike a certain Shinki that comes to mind.”
“…Even the Shinki have things they can’t do.”
In this city of Solitus, the five Shinki were objects of reverent
worship.
The barriers they maintained halted the advance of The
Devourer, and the power of miracles they wielded both held
natural disasters at bay as well as ensured a favorable climate
for agriculture. Simply put, they were directly responsible for
providing humanity somewhere to live.
Page 24
Divine energy was the source of their power, which they

gathered by breaking down Reliquia and absorbing their
stored energy directly.
As the result of certain events, Yuuki found himself
unexpectedly caring for this young girl who possessed the
power of the Shinki – the sixth of five. However, her store of
energy was almost completely gone, and she had no
subordinates, and as such, was essentially incapable of using
her powers.
In any case, Yuuki had no desire to rely on the powers of the
Shinki to pour life into his floundering business. This was a
burden he had to carry alone.
“So Master, what do you plan to do about the job Franka
mentioned?”
“I’m going to take it. I need money, after all.”
“That’s great. I guess I can look forward to things improving
then.”
Tina nodded spiritedly.
“Good luck, Master.”
“The way you speak… it’s almost like you have nothing to do
with this. You’re coming too, you know?”
“——Wha?”
The Shinki blinked in shock.
Page 25
“As you’re an employee of this store, it’s necessary for you to

understand the adventurer life at least a little. This is a great
opportunity to train both you and those beginning class brats
at the same time. Training an employee is an employer’s duty,
after all.”
“T-Tina’s no adventurer, though. If anything, I should simply
be on the receiving end of adventurers’ efforts.”
Laying hold of Reliquia was no simple task. Generally
speaking, they could only be found in either the lower levels
or protected by Void Beasts. Bringing Reliquia back to the
surface was an adventurer’s duty, the elite of whom would
then offer these Reliquia to the Shinki.
Tina’s identity, however, was a secret from the public at large,
and so there were none to make her offerings.
“Wait until someone’s actually willing to do that, then we can
talk.”
“A-Also, you know as well as I do that I’m unsuited for
raiding, Master! I can’t fight! I’m weak! It won’t take long
before I can’t walk anymore and I’ll need you to carry me!”
“No need to worry about that. I’ll be more than happy to kick
your lazy behind as many times as necessary to keep you
moving along. ——Speaking of which, during the incident
last month, you sure were proactive about venturing in
yourself? What happened to all that motivation?”
“Oh, well uh, that was because of Franka…”
Page 26
“And that’s exactly why it’s best to train yourself so you’ll be

ready if anything happens, right?”
“Ugh…”
“That’s why I’m exercising my authority as the one who
bought your body. You’re coming!”
“…I understand. I’ll go…”
Tina bowed her head dejectedly, seemingly resigned to her
fate.
(——Everything else aside, the fact that she needs to train
herself is certainly true.)
Her physique was frail even by the standards of girls her age,
and utterly unsuited to physical labor. A simple trip to the
mountains to gather herbs had left her so exhausted she’d
been useless the rest of the day. It’d be bad if she was left like
this.
Although if he had to be honest, his desire for her to
accompany him had another reason behind it.
More specifically, he didn’t want her out of his sight if he
could help it. If she wasn’t by his side, then he’d be unable to
protect her.
The Church of the Five Holies taught that the Shinki were
joined together in working to save humanity.
Unfortunately, this was a lie.
Page 27
They were instead engaged in a savage, zero-sum free-for-all.

As they were unable to harm one another directly, it instead
became a proxy battle where one’s subordinates were sent out
to gather as many Reliquia as possible, both to one’s benefit
and to the others’ detriment.
Only one would be allowed to ascend to the throne of the
Heavenly King and lead humankind to salvation; only she
who had forcefully suppressed her fellow Shinki would
qualify.
Once a Shinki had perished, after a number of months or even
years, another would be born in her place within the
corresponding temple. As far as the public knew, the Shinki
were immortal. The fact that there was an occasional changing
of the guard was the greatest secret of the Church.
The sad truth was that these violent struggles to the death
weren’t actually all that uncommon.
With that said, it must be noted that the Shinki were instilled
with an overpowering mental restriction against harming
another individual. This sealed their ability to directly attack
one another.
For that reason, the existences known as the Duelists served
as both their sword and shield.
These Duelists were called forth from other worlds, and
possessed frightening martial ability. They existed solely to
fight on behalf of their respective Shinkis.
Page 28
Each Shinki was allowed but a single Duelist; they were

singular existences to the Shinki – lifelong servants and
companions.
Summoning a Duelist to one’s side was both the right of every
Shinki as well as the first step for each newly born Shinki.
Yuuki Takamigahara was a former Duelist, now nothing more
than a simple shopkeeper. His former master, the one who had
called him to this world, was no more.
Albertina was a newly born sixth Shinki of mysterious origin;
the reason for her birth was yet shrouded in mystery.
Left with nothing, she’d sold herself to Yuuki, pleading for
his help in return.
Yuuki had accepted her offer, and under their agreement, he
served as her substitute Duelist.
In order to make full use of his half of the deal, Yuuki had her
help around the store. That notwithstanding, the thought
constantly ran through his mind that he needed to keep her
safe – that he would have to do his utmost to meet her
expectations.
She had, after all, foregone the opportunity to summon a
Duelist of her own, choosing Yuuki instead.
“…The fulfilling of a contract is a merchant’s duty.”
Page 29
Above all else, that required keeping the secret of her identity
under wraps. To that end, he needed to ensure that she learned
to live as a normal girl would. Helping out in the store would
be the first step in that process.
“Hmm? Something wrong?” the Shinki asked, staring at him
oddly.
“It’s nothing. There’s a reason I want you to come with me.”
Catching Tina’s gaze which struggled to stray, he continued,
“However, our purpose this time is simply the job at hand.
I’m not expecting any fights. We’ll just wander around the
upper floors a bit; nothing’s going to happen. You can think
of it as exercise, if you want. Do your best to keep up – you
don’t want to fall behind the kids, right?”
“Right…”
Tina met Yuuki’s gaze through tear-filled eyes.
Several days after, Yuuki and Tina made their way to the
training school.
There was yet some time before they were to visit the
labyrinth, but there was something they needed to see the
children about first.
The training schools were operated by the Church of the Five
Holies, which was a theocratic organization in charge of both
the worship of the Shinki and the management of the city.
Page 30
Given the circumstances, the job of adventurer – who

provided the means whereby the Shinki held their world
together – was held in high regard.
Unfortunately, as the only requirement made of adventurers
was that they have the necessary skill, and moreover, because
in their world, strength directly translated into wealth, there
were more than a few thuggish types among their ranks. ——
All that aside, it is sufficient to say that no cost was too great
when it came to raising future adventurers – a flawless system
ensured that any who desired to become an adventurer did, in
fact, do so.
After graduation, the most common path involved gradually
building experience in the labyrinth while attempting to obtain
the necessary qualifications to enter one of the organizations
which served the Shinki directly – the Oath Legions.
“Thanks for coming by, you two,” a voice called out as they
crossed the gates of the school.
The speaker was a tall man in his thirties with a saber at his
waist.
He was a freelance adventurer named Alfred. He’d been a
frequent customer of “Shoppe Boris” dating back to when its
namesake had still been around. He was also Franka’s mentor.
He continually bore a languid smile and an easy demeanor,
but he was an experienced veteran who had formerly served in
the Sky’s Oath Legion.
Yuuki and Tina greeted him in unison.
Page 31
“I have to say, for you to proactively accept a job for

adventurers is pretty rare, Yuuki.”
“Yeah, I was pretty worried you wouldn’t accept, to be
honest…”
The voice this time came from the person at Alfred’s side,
Franka. Smiling brilliantly, she continued, “I want to thank
you again for taking the job, Yuuki-san. It’s a pleasure to be
working with you.”
“I’m doing this for myself; it’s not like circumstances left me
with any other choice, really.”
Yuuki shrugged. Even if he considered himself a merchant
first and foremost, he acknowledged that it was rather hard to
do business when one was starving.
“As luck would have it, I also received this request from the
school.”
After Alfred had parted ways with the Sky’s Oath Legion, his
primary occupation had been the mentoring of inexperienced
adventurers. In addition to the slaying of Void Beasts and the
gathering of Reliquia, this activity formed the final pillar of
adventurer activities in the labyrinth.
“Now that you’ve joined, Yuuki, we can finally form a
balanced party. This is fantastic,” Alfred remarked, with a
calm smile.
Adventurers could largely be divided into three categories.
Page 32
First, those who wielded swords, axes, spears, bows, etc. –

physical attackers.
Secondly, those who employed Orisons in battle – clerics.
Finally, those engaged in all non-combat roles such as
Reliquia appraisal and the gathering and selling of labyrinth
intel – the support specialists.
Each type of adventurer had their own specialties. In this way,
they’d be up to the task no matter what was required, whether
that be combat or exploration or anything else.
Their party was in charge of supervising three students. Each
of the beginning class trainees was around ten years of age,
and having frequently served as an assistant instructor, Yuuki
knew them all.
“Oh, Yuuki-sensei! How’s it going?”
“Regards.”
The energetic voice belonged to Edgar, while the calm words
came from Selim.
“P-Pleased to be in your care…”
The final greeting, only barely louder than a whisper, came
from a young girl named Kaya.
Although Kaya ought to be oldest of the three by a year or
two, she was a timid girl, eternally lacking in self-confidence.
An unremarkable student, really.
Tina watched her curiously before clapping her hands.
Page 33
“I remember now! I’ve seen you in town before!”

Tina’s tremendous shout left Kaya trembling in shock.
“T-That’s right; I remember you too. The Onee-san from the
puppet show…”
“Yeah! Thanks for your help that time. I’ll be in your care this
time as well!”
“…Listen, you’re the one who’s supposed to be taking care of
others here,” Yuuki whispered.
Generally speaking, the further one descended into the
labyrinth, the more vicious the Void Beasts encountered
would be.
On the other hand, any Void Beast that could be found in the
early levels didn’t really constitute a threat. That said,
prevention was the best cure.
Because Kaya and the others were here simply to observe, he
wasn’t going to allow them to fight. Even then, however, he
wanted to make sure they knew how to keep themselves safe.
The party ran through several drills where they imagined
enemies had attacked from the front, the side, and behind.
The first to tire was, as expected, Tina.
“W-What… hellish… training…” Tina gasped out, one
painful word at a time, while greedily gulping down oxygen.
“It’s… exhausting… being… an… adventurer…”
Page 34
“Man, you sure are weak, Onee-chan,” Edgar, still full of

energy, teased Tina. “You’re just fodder for Void Beasts like
this, you know?”
“You’re being rude, Edgar!”
Selim grabbed his companion’s collar in concern. Selim, too,
was in much better condition than Tina.
Tina borrowed Franka’s water canteen. After moistening her
throat, her breathing and pulse finally returned to normal.
“You need to understand something, kids. Tina’s true faculties
don’t lie in raiding.”
“Faculties?”
“It means an ‘ability’ or ‘aptitude,’ Edgar,” Selim explained.
“Then what are you good at, Tina-onee-chan?”
“I’m glad you asked.”
Tina stuck her chest out proudly.
“Know this – Tina’s original duty is to watch over and protect
this cit—— Ow!”
“…You. Come over here for a moment.”
After thumping her soundly atop the head, Yuuki dragged
Tina over to the corner.
“You stupid Shinki! Again! You did it again!”
Page 35
“B-But… he made me do it!” Tina pouted. “If I just had

enough divine energy, then I could show him what I’m really
capable of!”
“I will allow no such thing. Are you trying to give away your
true identity? ——Anyway, is it really appropriate for one of
the Shinki to argue with a young child like that?”
“Hmph.”
“…Do you really understand? Our goal here is to teach those
kids. If you’re going to lower yourself to their level, just how
are you supposed to do that?”
“…”
“You need to be more tolerant; don’t get mad over such petty
things. There’s no need to fight back. Listen calmly and
gently and then they will follow. You’re like a big sister to
them, after all.”
“A big sister…” Tina repeated softly. “A big sister, is it…?
Hmm, I like the sound of that. ——Alright, I’ve got it. It’s a
big sister’s job to have a big heart and be forgiving, I guess?
Okay.”
In a flash, her mood had improved. Yuuki sighed.
Although Edgar could be a bit careless with his words, he
wasn’t a bad kid. He was certain they could get along.
As he was thinking this and pacing back toward the students,
he noticed Kaya staring at him.
Page 36
Their eyes met for just the slightest moment before she
quickly turned away.
(…That girl sure seems pretty dispirited today.)
Although it had to be said that even on a normal day, she was
quite timid, but today, she was strange even by those
standards. She hadn’t spoke a word to anyone all day.
“Perhaps something’s bothering her?” he thought to himself.
Well, there’s no need to make a big deal about it yet. I’ll keep
an eye on it.
※※※
The doors of the adventurer training school were open to all.

Kaya had entered the school under the premise of being an
orphan.
Because adventurers were necessary for the city’s continued
survival, the trainees – future adventurers – were treated well.
Room and board were both provided; there wasn’t really
anything to complain about.
After finishing dinner in the cafeteria, Kaya returned to her
room.
Page 37
Usually, residents were two to a room, but because she’d been

unable to find a roommate, she currently lived alone. For this
introverted girl, unskilled in human communication, that was
a small blessing.
(Today was so tiring…)
Both body and spirit were weary. I think I’ll turn in early.
Kaya opened the door to her room. To her shock, someone
was sitting on her bed.
“You’re back.”
She yelped in surprise at the voice.
“…There’s no need to be so scared, Shinki-sama. I’m
positively wounded.”
The dark-skinned young man feigned offense as he shrugged.
“J-Jahar… You gave me a heart attack.”
Kaya sighed and entered the room, closing the door behind
her. Her heart pounded in her ears.
Although she pretended to be nothing more than a simple
trainee, her true identity was none other than one of the five
Shinki protecting the city, the “Shinki Crowned with the
Moon.”
This young man – Jahar – was her Duelist.
“Um, the dorm forbids strangers from entering, you know…
How did you get in?”
Page 38
“Window.”
“This is the third floor…”
“And your point is…?” Jahar responded calmly. “Don’t get
caught up in such trivialities. Anyway, why the surprise? I
told you before there was something we needed to talk about.
Plus, when I’m nearby, you can feel my presence, right?”
A special bond existed between Duelist and Shinki.
If they focused, they could feel the other’s presence.
Furthermore, within a certain range, they were capable of
telepathic communication as well.
“S-Sorry. I was a bit out of it.”
“If you’re going to be that unmotivated, then this is going to
be pretty hard on me. You need to try harder.”
Jahar sighed in disappointment.
“You Shinki are ever in the middle of a battle to the death. If
you’re careless for even the slightest moment, someone will
seize the opportunity, and that will be the end of you. Since
I’ll be dying right alongside you, please try to avoid such a
death at all costs, would you?”
“I-I understand.”
“Do you really?”
Jahar crossed his arms, looking askance at her.
Page 39
“Kaya-chan, you’re simply too timid. You would do well to

pick up some of that Tina girl’s fearlessness.”
“S-Sorry.”
Kaya shrank from him as she answered. I wish I could just
disappear.
When a Shinki initiated the summoning for a Duelist, the
Heavenly King would select the person most appropriate to
serve them and call them forth from another world – or so it
was told.
However, Kaya had always felt that she simply could not get
along with Jahar.
Truth be told, she was terrified of his savage and barbarous
demeanor. Absolutely terrified. Their personalities could not
have been less alike.
She’d come into this world but three years prior; after Tina,
she was the youngest of the Shinki.
The moment a Shinki was born, they’d come into being with
knowledge on several topics:
The world, slowly approaching death at the hands of The
Devourer. The existence of the barriers preventing its advance.
The town of Solitus and the labyrinth, Magna PortaGreat Gate.
Reliquia and divine energy. And finally, their mission and the
nature of their enemies——
Yes, the very moment she’d entered this world, she’d been
thrust into the heart of this cruel battle to the death.
Page 40
The reason Kaya, the “Shinki Crowned with the Moon,” had
been born was due to the death of the previous Shinki of that
title. In order to avoid the fate of her predecessor, victory was
necessary.
That knowledge, however, didn’t make things any easier.
Generally speaking, not only did the Shinki have a Duelist at
their command, but also a company of elite adventurers
known as an Oath Legion, whom were relied upon for their
ability to retrieve Reliquia from the labyrinth with great
effectiveness. Unfortunately, the previous “Shinki Crowned
with the Moon” had, prior to her death, disbanded the Moon’s
Oath Legion for some unknown reason.
Thus Kaya and Jahar had had to start entirely from scratch.
The first step would be to rebuild the Moon’s Oath Legion,
but the problem was she had neither divine energy nor money,
let alone a network of contacts. For that reason, she’d been
forced to hide her identity and live among the people,
gathering intel by hand.
When it came to gathering intel firsthand, obviously the
nearer she was to the labyrinth itself, the better. However,
given her physical age, if she were to move about in the
labyrinth, her actions would draw attention. Consequently,
she’d enrolled in the training school as a trainee and Jahar had
pretended to be an adventurer.
Page 41
The Shinki did not age, and so if she stayed at the training
school for too long, she would eventually arouse suspicion.
She’d already been a student here for two years; she didn’t
have much longer. Just as she was worrying about the
impending necessity of producing at least some results, she’d
heard news of a sixth Shinki – Albertina.
In the month since, her primary duty had been to observe Tina.
Tina’s cheerful innocence was radiant like the sun; she was
practically the embodiment of Kaya’s ideal self. She’d long
thought that if she could be like Tina, then all would be well.
Kaya mused to herself that if she wasn’t continually mindful,
then she’d likely find herself growing fond of her fellow
Shinki.
Kaya had thus forcefully cut off her feelings and done her
utmost to avoid thinking about what relationship they might
have in the future.
“So? What’s the situation?”
“Oh, um, as you asked, I registered for the event and have
been placed in their party. We met and practiced just earlier.”
“You’ve done well. And the Snow Blade King?”
“Yuuki-sensei? He’ll be coming as well…”
“Of course. Man, how great it would be to fight him…
Anyway, for victory’s sake, we’ll need to go after them one at
a time.”
Watching him, Kaya had an ominous premonition.
Page 42
“About that… what do you plan to do exactly?”

“Oh, the Star Shinki’s asked me to end the lives of Tina and
Yuuki.”
“Wha——”
Kaya froze.
Kaya and the “Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” Elfriede, were
allied. At the very beginning, the other party had come to her
with the proposal.
Jahar had noted that Elfriede likely felt there was little value
in simply killing Kaya, as a new Shinki would simply be born
again some time later. When it came down to it, she’d much
rather have another Shinki under her instead.
At the time, Kaya had only just been born, and without even
an Oath Legion to serve her, she’d had no room to refuse the
offer.
Even now their relationship was anything but equal; if
anything, Kaya was now essentially a subordinate of hers.
“You can’t kill anyone, Kaya-chan, so I’ll have to handle this
one. When it comes to splitting the two of them up, though,
please do your best,” Jahar remarked cheerfully.
Page 43
The Shinki and their Duelists were protected by an aura of

divine energy known as the ScutumHoly Shield, and were
impervious to harm under most circumstances. Penetrating
this shield was possible only via a very limited number of
methods, one of which Jahar possessed – a celestial Dragon
Fang weapon.
“K-Kill…?”
“Huh?”
“When you say k-kill, do you mean now? Why?”
Kaya, finally finding her voice, spoke.
“Apparently it’s ‘for the world.’ That vixen wouldn’t explain
in any greater detail, though. ——In any event, Shinki-sama,
that girl’s another Shinki-like existence – our enemy, in other
words. No matter how you look at it, this is good for us.”
“B-But, I can’t do anything like that.”
“No worries; I’m the one doing the killing here, not you.”
“I-I don’t want to help, either…”
Kaya found it hard to speak.
Jahar narrowed his eyes and gave a bitter laugh.
“In other words, Kaya-chan, you’ve given up on victory – on
life?”
“U-um…”
Page 44
“If you refuse to allow me to do this, then all that awaits us is

death. Hate conflict if you want, but do you have the resolve
to bear the consequences? Are you ready for you and your
Duelist to die a dog’s death?”
“…”
Kaya couldn’t speak.
“If you understand, then that’s great.”
Jahar smiled. His previously dangerous expression had
disappeared without a trace.
“Our enemies still have no idea who we really are. Moreover,
Yuuki ‘saw me die’ in the incident a month ago, so I should
be pretty free to move around. If we were to fight out in the
open in the city, then cleaning things up afterward would be a
problem, so we’ll need to end this in the labyrinth itself. We’ll
decide which one to kill first as circumstance allows. ——
When do you leave?”
“Huh?”
Kaya was lost for a moment before realizing that he was
referring to the trainees’ trip to the labyrinth.
“Ah, um, the exact time hasn’t been decided yet, but I’ve
heard it’s going to be four or five days from now.”
“Good, that gives us time to plan. We’ll continue this
conversation later, okay, Kaya-chan?” Jahar said happily.
Page 45
※※※
“Yuuki-kun, what do you think about changing things up a

little?” she asked, her hands crossed behind her back.
She appeared slightly displeased, but about what, Yuuki had
not the slightest idea.
So he asked.
“What exactly?”
“My name!”
“Your name…?”
“…That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”
She frowned. That was a bad omen.
“A name’s really important, you know? A name means that
‘you’re not just anyone, you’re you.’ It’s a very important
sign.”
She was slightly taller than Yuuki, who’d been frozen at his
thirteen-year old height, and so when they spoke, she had to
stoop slightly to speak to him. He didn’t mind, though.
“I don’t quite understand. Could you explain?”
“——Oh, you!”
She shook her head in surprise.
Page 46
“This child is just too slow. ——Yuuki-kun, you’re always

calling me ‘you.’ You have a name, Yuuki Takamigahara, and
your Onee-san does too! I’ve told you before, you know!
Simply put, when you don’t use my name, I feel lonely. It
makes me sad.”
As she spoke, she held his cheeks in her palms and laughed.
“So, call me by my name, alright?”
“If that’s what you want, then okay.”
“Oh, and it’d be great if you put some feeling into it. Feel free
to add ‘beloved’ or ‘beautiful’ before my name too.”
Yuuki sighed. She was always like this, never hearing a word
anyone said.
“Or you can add ‘onee-chan’ to the end if you want. Now,
why don’t you give it a try?”
“Muriel-onee-chan.”
“…”
Her mouth snapped shut and she blushed to the tips of her ears.
“W-What are you saying all of a sudden?! This kid!”
“You were the one who wanted me to call you that.”
Page 47
“R-Right. I really shouldn’t be the one saying this, but that

sure makes me embarrassed. Much more so than I expected.
It’s almost like I’ve done something I shouldn’t have. ——
Anyway, from now on, it’s not ‘you,’ it’s Muriel, okay? You
don’t need to add anything after that. Okay, give it another
try.”
“…Muriel.”
“Again.”
“Muriel.”
“Mm. That feels right. Simplest is best, I guess. Alright, make
sure to call me by name from now on, okay?”
Having finished saying what she wanted to say, she laughed
aloud.
Yuuki couldn’t tell what the difference was.
But seeing how happy it’d made her, he kept that thought to
himself.
※※※
The cheerful sound of chopping filled the cramped kitchen.
Page 48
Yuuki was making a stew with the vegetables Franka had

brought a few days prior. If they were careful about using
ingredients, they’d be good for a while longer. They’d been
lucky.
Yuuki cut the vegetables with a deft, practiced hand——
Suddenly he stopped.
(…That memory again.)
His dream from the night before came to mind once more.
That had been the first time he’d called “her” name – a pure,
blissful memory untainted by negativity. Alas, it hadn’t been
until long after things had concluded that he’d come to that
realization.
He exhaled slowly and deeply. He knew what had brought on
the memory.
More likely than not, it had been those words he’d shared with
Tina – of what it meant to be a “big sister.”
As far as he was concerned, there was only one “Onee-san” –
“her.” When he’d spoken to Tina, he’d also thrown the inner
sanctum of his heart into disarray.
The mere thought of Muriel brought with it a deep pain.
——That notwithstanding, it was no longer of a degree that
he could not bear it. On the contrary, some of that pain had
now been replaced by a gentle warmth.
Perhaps this was “her” influence.
Page 49
But was that a happy thing…?

“——Ow!”
Suddenly, a sharp pain ran through his finger.
“Are you alright, Master?”
Tina, who’d gone out back to draw some water from the well,
had returned.
“…I cut myself.”
“Oh, you weren’t paying enough attention, huh? You need to
be more careful.”
“…That sure is hard to swallow, coming from you. I need to
cover it; would you mind grabbing some bandages for me?”
“Mm… Let me take a look first, actually.”
Without waiting for an answer, Tina grabbed his hand and
assessed the wound.
——In the blink of an eye, the cut was gone and any blood
that had spilled forth had disappeared as well.
“Hmm, not bad if I do say so myself, especially considering
I’ve never done this before. ——What’s the matter? Hurry up
and praise me, Master!”
Yuuki ignored the indignant Tina, instead continuing to stare
at his hand.
“…This wasn’t a healing art. You turned back time, didn’t
you?”
Page 50
Page 51
Rather than stimulating the body’s natural healing processes

for recovery, she’d instead restored his finger to the state it’d
been in before it’d been cut.
“Oh, you know? Yeah, this way it won’t leave a scar. It’s
completely—— Ow!”
Yuuki had flicked her forehead with his finger.
“W-What do you think you’re doing?!” Tina asked with tear-
filled eyes, rubbing her head.
“Didn’t I tell you before not to use your powers without
permission?” he replied.
The miracles of the Shinki – effects far beyond the ability of
humans to replicate.
Divine energy, the fuel which powered such miracles, had to
be slowly accumulated through the collection of Reliquia
found in the labyrinth.
When Yuuki had first found her, she’d pretty much exhausted
her internal supply. In the time since, however, he’d provided
her with Reliquia to partially replenish that reservoir. She’d
just wasted some of that store.
“It’s fine. There’s no one else here besides you and I, Master,”
Tina retorted.
“It’s a waste of divine energy either way. You scamp – you’re
the kind who spends all their allowance the second they get it,
aren’t you?”
Page 52
“I’ve never had any allowance, so I can’t tell you. ——Oh!

How would you like to give me some, though?”
“I refuse. I don’t have that kind of money.”
“Hmph. Master’s such a scrooge.”
Tina sighed.
“——But what did you expect? Helping people with the
power of miracles is the responsibility and privilege of the
Shinki. If someone needs help, then Tina will help them. If
someone gets hurt, then Tina will heal them. Even if that
person is stingy Master!”
“That last sentence was unnecessary. ——I get what you
mean. But more seriously, setting the matter of divine energy
aside entirely, I don’t want you doing anything too flashy
when we don’t know who may be watching. I’m very grateful
that you’ve healed my wound. Thank you.”
Yuuki stooped over and patted her on the head.
“Ah…”
Tina reddened. Trying to hide her embarrassment, she proudly
stuck her chest out and spoke.
“I-If you understand, then that’s good. I give you my
permission to express your gratitude.”
Yuuki mused to himself that her personality was
straightforward indeed. In any event, he hadn’t been lying
when he’d said he was grateful for her help. Her reaction had
been pretty adorable, too – like a small puppy.
Page 53
“What’re you so distracted by, Master?”

“…Distracted?”
“Yeah. No matter how I look at it, I can only conclude that
your mind is somewhere else. If that wasn’t the case, you’d
never have done something so silly as cutting your finger like
that. What’s wrong? Something bothering you? Are you
worried about something? Come, share with Albertina.”
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
He poured water into the stew pot and then adjusted the stove
as he spoke.
“I was just reminded of some things from long ago.”
“Long ago?”
“I was remembering the Shinki whom I served as a Duelist.”
“Oh…”
“What’s wrong?” Yuuki asked, noticing that her expression
had suddenly changed.
It was almost like she was upset… or hurt.
“I-It’s nothing; never mind. ——It was definitely a good
memory, right?”
Tina’s words came in a flurry, and she continued.
“So, um… how was it?”
“How was what?”
Page 54
“Your Shinki. What kind of person was she?”

“Oh. Very different from you. She was tall, with a very
mature feel about her.”
Not that a Shinki’s age meant anything.
“She loved to laugh… In that respect, the two of you are quite
similar, actually.”
“Similar… A-And in other areas?”
“Hmm? You seem pretty concerned about all this. ——Oh,
the fire’s too weak. Why don’t you go clean the store and I’ll
call you when I’m done cooking.”
As he finished speaking, Yuuki left to gather firewood.
(…I was able to talk about it calmly.)
That he’d been able to keep his calm as he spoke about “her”
was a surprise to him.
Last night’s dream had been the same. As he thought of the
past, he found that the feelings his memories stirred were no
longer solely those of pain. He, too, was slowly changing.
“——Memories had best stay as just memories.”
Yuuki intentionally spoke aloud to disrupt that chain of
thought. The gloomy feelings dissipated a bit.
What he needed to focus on now was how best to help Tina.
Yuuki walked up to the pile of firewood stacked up behind the
store.
Page 55
Double-checking to make sure no one was around, he kicked

a log high into the air.
“Yah!”
With a shout, the log split into ten pieces which fell to the
ground.
At some point in that brief instant, he’d drawn his weapon.
A Reliquia of the highest order, a celestial Dragon Fang
weapon which could slay even the gods – the NixSnow Blade.
A normal person would not only have been unable to trace its
arc through the air just now, but would not have even noticed
he’d moved.
“…I’ve gotten slow,” Yuuki muttered, taking the firewood
into his arms. His sword had vanished as suddenly as it had
come.
——Yuuki was a former Duelist once known as the Snow
Blade King.
The Duelists were frighteningly powerful bodyguards to the
Shinki. They were untouched by the hands of time and could
not be wounded by most weapons; in this respect, they were
like their masters.
However, Yuuki’s master had since passed on, and he’d lost
the special traits of a Duelist.
He was now as susceptible to time and harm as any other.
Page 56
All the experience and skills he had accumulated during his

time as a Duelist, however, were yet his. He was definitely at
a disadvantage, but he felt confident that should he regain his
previous condition, he would be a match for other Duelists.
With that said, did he have it in him to keep Tina safe?
She was the sixth Shinki, an unnatural existence.
Even if her foolish actions were decidedly out of the ordinary,
her true nature yet remained a secret. As the other Shinki were
unaware of her, they did not need to fear an ambush.
——Or so he desperately hoped, recognizing that such a
thought was nothing more than a vain wish, subject to his
personal desires.
If knowledge of Tina’s existence had already spread to the
other Shinki, and they were even now under watch, what
should he do?
The matter bore consideration.
“In the end, whether they be friend or foe, contact with the
other Shinki is inevitable…”
Yuuki thought back to his time as a Duelist.
When it came to battles between the Shinki and, by extension,
their Duelists, a straightforward battle was far from the only
strategy.
Page 57
If one blindly charged into battle, it was possible that even

non-hostile factions would consider one too much of a threat
to be left alone. In such an event, even if you triumphed over
the opponent before you, that was hardly the end of your
troubles.
It went without saying, of course, that the other Shinki were in
the same position.
For that reason, it was very common for Shinki to join hands
– to form an alliance, in other words.
If Tina were able to form an alliance with another Shinki, then
at the very least, it’d be less one opponent they had to face.
“The problem is, we have nothing to offer.”
Yuuki returned to the kitchen.
Tina was gone. She had gone to clean the store, as Yuuki had
directed.
To even hold a conversation with another Shinki, let alone
form an alliance, first required grounds for meeting. That, of
course, was true for both parties. If only one party had
anything to offer, then such a thing would never happen; in
this respect, it was exactly the same as doing business.
If they and another faction were to join hands, it’d do much
for him and Tina, but what would the other side receive?
The gifting of Reliquia was generally enough to open a
dialogue, but he had none to offer. His celestial Dragon Fang
weapon was, of course, out of the question.
Page 58
“That being the case, then all I have to offer is intel. ——

Right now, the only one who knows the meaning behind the
‘Sixth’ is me,” he mused.
That there were five Shinki was a fundamental aspect of the
system, and yet a sixth had now appeared.
Once others knew what he knew, others would understand the
need for an alliance. The problem was, he didn’t know how to
initiate contact with the other Shinki. Moreover, the others
had no way to externally verify what he knew to be true.
——Whatever the case might be, he had no desire to simply
complain or play the role of a passive spectator.
He would not lose another Shinki. No matter what it took.
※※※
“Good morning. ——Ooh, something smells good.”

Franka smiled as she stepped into the store.
“Breakfast, is it, Tina-chan? …Er, Tina-chan?”
The girl in question was holding onto a rag while completely
spaced out in the middle of the store.
“Oh, Franka.”
Tina blinked, having only just noticed Franka’s presence.
Page 59
“How long have you been here? Oh, right! Welcome!

Welcome.”
“Um, I’d already greeted you. ——Is something wrong? You
were quite out of it.”
“N-Nothing. It’s nothing.”
“You sure don’t look like it’s nothing.”
Tina was normally full of energy, to the point that she
basically couldn’t stay still. For her to be like this was rare
indeed.
However, if the person herself said she was fine, Franka
wasn’t going to push the matter.
“Is Yuuki not here today?”
“He’s here; he’s in the kitchen, working on a stew. There was
only a handful of meat left, though; if it weren’t for the
vegetables you brought Franka, we’d have starved.”
“I-Is that so? I’m glad I was able to help.”
She’d had a sense that they were in pretty dire circumstances;
that had been the reason she’d sent over the vegetables in the
first place. With that said, things were apparently worse even
than she’d feared.
“So, what brings you here today, Franka? Is there something
you need?”
“Oh, I’m not here to buy anything. I was looking for Yuuki,
actually…”
Page 60
“If that’s the case, why not eat with us? The food ought to be
just about ready.”
“Is that alright?”
“It was your food to begin with. There’s no need to be polite;
Master will be happy as well. He worked on it to the point that
he cut himself, after all——”
Tina suddenly stopped, and her beautiful eyebrows narrowed.
She seemed displeased almost… or perhaps confused.
“…Did the two of you have a fight?”
“N-No. We’re fine… Or at least, we should be…”
“In that case, what did Yuuki-san say?”
“No, it’s nothing he said——”
Her words were a bit vague. Tina sighed and continued.
“There’s no point in lying to myself. It’s true that it’s because
of something Master said, but the fault is my own… or so I
think. Lately, when I’ve talked with Master, something’s felt
off. Actually, perhaps ‘off’ isn’t the right word either –
annoying, maybe.”
“And why is that?” Franka asked, frowning.
As far as she could tell, the trust between Tina and Yuuki ran
deep. Deep enough that it made her envious even.
What could possibly have happened?
Page 61
“The second the conversation turns to a certain topic – or it’s

even brought up, really – I start to feel really lost and
confused. More specifically——”
Her next words were carefully chosen.
“Master, before… there was someone he was extremely close
to – a woman.”
“…”
“Recently, she’s all he—— Franka?”
This time Tina was the one worried.
“You’re so pale… what’s wrong?”
“N-Nothing! Y-Y-Yeah. Yuuki-san’s so gentle, so of course
there had to be one or two people like that.”
This isn’t anything that major. It’s just that kind of thing, you
know. It’s definitely not the kind of thing that’d leave you
feeling so shocked your knees’d buckle or so disappointed
that you wanted to vanish. It’s nothing! I… am… fine.
——Tina’s worried gaze never left Franka, though.
“Um… does that mean that you find it strange too, Franka?”
“Uh, yeah. You could say that. At the very least, I think I
understand how you feel, Tina-chan…”
Yes, she really, really understood.
“A-And? That woman – where is she now?”
Page 62
“It seems she passed away some time ago.”

“Is that so…”
She felt herself calm down slightly.
She knew that this wasn’t something she could step into
lightly. Feelings of curiosity or even sympathy weren’t
enough. Especially since this was Yuuki they were talking
about.
Who had she been? How had they spent their days together?
Franka wondered, enduring the pain wracking her heart. She
was undoubtedly someone who had greatly influenced
Yuuki’s personality and perspective on life.
“This… gloom that feels like it’s suffocating my heart… what
is it?”
Tina sighed.
“If I had to say, it feels like a mix of sadness and anger. But if
I think about it, Master hasn’t done anything to warrant either
of those feelings, you know? Maybe… I’m sick?”
“Yep, you could definitely say that.”
“Oh no?!”
“Moreover, this illness isn’t one that has a cure.”
“How can that be?! W-What should I do?!”
Unable to hold back her laughter, Franka giggled.
Tina, on the verge of bursting into tears, blinked in surprise.
Page 63
“…Wait – were you tricking me?” Tina pouted. “That’s going

too far! I’m being serious here.”
“I’m sorry. I couldn’t help it – you were just too cute.”
Franka stowed the smile and apologized.
“——But I have to say, I wasn’t fooling you; what I said was
all true. What you’re afflicted with is very well-known, and I
must confess I don’t know the cure either. You’ll just have to
accept it. ——Oh, I should add, though, that it’s nothing that
needs to be cured. There’s no need to worry.”
It seemed Tina had been infected by that affliction both
joyous and painful.
“Oh… So there’s nothing I can do?”
“Right.”
“Oh…”
Tina looked utterly bewildered.
She really was too cute, Franka thought to herself. Her only
sibling was her half-brother through her mother’s side.
Having no sisters, she mused that this must be what it felt like
to have a little sister.
“Hey, Tina. Food’s ready——” Yuuki called, sticking his
head out of the kitchen. “Eh? Oh, Franka.”
“Pardon the intrusion.”
Page 64
“Not at all. Have you eaten? I’ve made a stew with the
ingredients you brought. If you don’t mind, why not join us?
I’m eager to hear the opinion of a true chef.”
“You’re exaggerating, but I would be more than happy to eat
with you guys,” Franka said with a laugh. “Oh, by the way –
the school’s made contact. The date for the trip’s been
decided.”
※※※
“We have three adventurers, and four with temporary permits.

Please take a look.”
Yuuki handed the requisite paperwork to the Church knight
posted at the gate.
Several of the labyrinth’s entrances were under the direct
supervision of the Church. These entrances were enclosed on
all sides by walls and sealed off with enormous iron gates;
only authorized personnel were granted entry.
Yuuki, Franka, and Alfred held the necessary qualifications.
The students – Kaya, Edgar, and Selim – held temporary
permits allowing them to enter the labyrinth if escorted by a
qualified adventurer. Tina, who was responsible for leading
their group despite not being a certified adventurer, had
similarly been granted a temporary permit.
Page 65
The enclosure sealed off by the metal gates was a small plaza
surrounded by a stone wall some tens of meters long. In the
center of this plaza lay a stairwell descending into the
subterranean depths below.
“Okay everyone, form up.”
Yuuki clapped his hands, signaling the children to take up
their positions.
“Before we head in, there’s something you need to hear: the
labyrinth is a dangerous place where your life is at risk; never
forget that. Furthermore, the danger isn’t just to you, but to
your party as a whole. In short, carelessness endangers not
just yourself, but everyone around you.”
Sooner or later, there could come a time when they would
experience this truth firsthand. By then, it would be too late to
do them any good. Even if they felt it a hassle now, it was
something that needed to be said.
“Although right now you are wards being escorted, make sure
that you follow what we practiced the other day. If anyone
acts up, discipline will be harsh.”
Simply because previous excursions had been safe did not
guarantee the current trip would be as well.
Accidents could happen even in the upper levels of the
labyrinth. When it came to the labyrinth, Magna PortaGreat Gate,
no eventuality could be counted out.
All three students wore meek expressions.
Page 66
“One other thing. I think you guys are already aware, but
there are three types of adventurers. The warriors who face
Void Beasts head-on, the clerics who employ their Orisons
from the back, and the support specialists whose job is to keep
their cool and provide situational analysis and intel. At the
moment, you three do not fall into any of the above – you’re
simply here to observe. Your training won’t split up by
category for some time yet. That said, it’s not a bad time to
decide what you’d like to be. Although you’re here today as
guests, I want you to do your best to watch us and imagine
what you would do were you in our position. ——Okay, let’s
go.”
As prompted, they entered as one.
“For someone who hates the labyrinth as much as you, you
sure are good at this kind of thing,” Alfred commented easily.
Because Yuuki was closest to the children, he’d been put in
charge of issuing directions. Although he’d protested that he
wasn’t qualified to do so, because he hadn’t been able to
completely refute their reasoning, things had turned out in this
manner.
“My way of living requires that I put forth effort
commensurate with the reward, and the training school is
compensating us most generously. That said, allow me to
remind you once more, I’m a merchant. Neither working as an
adventurer nor mentoring these children is my true calling.”
“Yep, yep. I understand.”
“Why do I doubt that…?”
Page 67
Alfred seemed to find something extremely satisfying as he

watched Yuuki, whom was filled with a deep antipathy at the
sight.
“I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have suggested this job after all, I
guess?” Franka asked.
Her apologetic look left Yuuki in a fluster.
“N-No, please don’t apologize. I’m very thankful to you,
really. I definitely needed the money.”
“Yeah, it was really a big help. ——Putting that aside for the
moment, when I see Master watching over the children, I get
the feeling that he’s actually quite happy.”
“I think so too,” Franka agreed.
“Really?”
“It’s one of the things I really l-l-like about you.”
“Thanks. I have to admit, I rather enjoy it. That
notwithstanding, I’m still primarily a merchant – not an
adventurer.”
“Merchant…”
“Something wrong?”
“N-Not at all!” Franka denied frantically. “If you remember,
Yuuki-san, it was your business sense that saved me.”
Franka had at one point been deceived by a loan shark, and on
the verge of being sold into prostitution. Yuuki had saved her.
Page 68
“It’s just that…”

“Yes?”
“The reason you distance yourself from adventuring work,
and the reason you insist on being a merchant… Is it because
of——”
Franka was unable to finish.
“Because of?”
“N-Never mind. I’m going to go to see how the kids are
doing!”
She ran off.
She can be so strange at times, Yuuki thought to himself.
※※※
Divine energy powered light fixtures ran along the walls. The
road was paved stone.
Maps were cheap and Church knights were on patrol.
The labyrinth had been tamed up to the third floor, making the
journey an easy one for adventurers. The three trainees had
also been here before as part of their training.
Page 69
——However, the female member of the three looked

anything but at ease.
“I need to focus, I need to remember…” she reminded herself.
Because the members of the party knew Jahar, if he were seen,
it’d arouse suspicion. Consequently, this task had been left in
Kaya’s hands. She, of course, needed to be careful not to let
on that she was actually the “Shinki Crowned with the Moon.”
Accordingly, there were several things she needed to take note
of.
First, she could not allow anyone to notice that she could not
be harmed.
If she emerged completely unscathed from an instance where
she should have been wounded, the anomaly would arouse
anyone’s suspicion. Furthermore, Yuuki and Tina would
immediately understand the implications of such an
occurrence – the ScutumHoly Shield which belonged only to the
Shinki and their Duelists. Although they weren’t supposed to
fight today anyway, it was still best to avoid any dangerous
circumstances.
Second, she could not exercise the power of miracles.
Page 70
The Orisons of human clerics and the power of miracles held

by the Shinki were similar in nature, but vastly different in
scope. Although she was nowhere near the level of the other
Shinki, she had managed to accumulate a certain degree of
divine energy, with which she could exercise this power.
However, were she to do so, Tina would likely notice. The
Shinki were capable of detecting when another was working a
miracle, after all.
If her true identity was somehow leaked, she could still escape
via teleportation. Unfortunately, that would be tantamount to
accepting defeat. Neither Jahar nor the “Shinki who Scatters
the Stars” would look lightly upon such an action.
“——I-I can’t help it.”
Selim’s voice sounded from behind her.
“Are you scared?” Edgar had teased, prompting the response.
“W-Well, didn’t something terrible happen here just a little
while ago? What if something like that happens again?”
Just as Selim had said, a large incident had indeed taken place
here on the third floor not long ago. Countless Void Beasts,
normally found only in the lower depths of the labyrinth, had
suddenly appeared and attacked, producing numerous victims.
Although the threat had been dealt with, restoration was still
underway, and traces of the battle still scarred the walls.
Edgar, too, was a bit frightened, but he put on a brave face
and bragged, “Hmph. I-I saw a huge one with my own eyes,
you know? But I came out completely unharmed, so I’m not
worried!”
Page 71
Kaya and the other trainees weren’t entirely clear on the

particulars of the incident; the most rational explanation
they’d heard involved a misfiring of a teleportation device.
Although, truth be told, Kaya knew that the tragedy had been
man-made.
The instigator had been her aide, the swordsman Jahar. His
goal had been to reduce the power of an opposing faction.
Even though he’d taken unilateral action in the matter, Kaya
couldn’t say she was blameless. Each time she thought of the
victims of the tragedy she was filled with deep remorse and
sorrow.
“Hmm? Kaya, you’re shaking. Are you scared too?”
“…Mm, yes. I’m frightened.”
She answered honestly.
Frightened of what had happened before. Frightened of what
would happen today.
Because of her, people had been hurt. Because of her, people
had been killed.
And most of all, frightened of her destiny.
All of these things terrified her, to the point that she didn’t
know what to do.
“Oh come on. You’re just being unsightly now.”
Page 72
“If you’re too careless, then you’ll be the one regretting it,”
Selim reminded.
Edgar snorted.
“Idiot. Like I’d do anything that stupid. You guys are just too
cowardly for your own good.”
Selim sighed, giving up on trying to convince Edgar.
“…”
Kaya watched the two in silence.
From the bottom of her heart, she did not want to see them
harmed. If she had any choice in the matter, she hoped they
would not get caught up in what was about to happen.
However, the second she had been assigned to the same party
as Tina and Yuuki, the scales of fate had dipped into the realm
of inevitability.
(Ahh…)
Kaya sighed inwardly.
If only I weren’t the “Shinki Crowned with the Moon…” If I
were just a normal person, just another adventurer-to-be, life
would be so much easier…
Though fearing the labyrinth and the monsters within, she’d
nevertheless press forward, exploring the unknown with a
childlike innocence, walking the anxious path of an
adventurer. That, perhaps, would have been her life.
Page 73
Alas, the nature of things was such that reality paid her wishes
no heed.
This time, she turned to look at Tina, walking up front.
Judging by her appearance, she looked only slightly older than
Kaya herself, but she was, in truth, the cheerful “sixth Shinki.”
I wonder what she thinks of her position? Of what her
existence means?
Is she worried by the fact that she shouldn’t exist?
Is she like me, struggling under the weight of crushing
pressure? Does she seek escape?
——How she wished she could ask. How she wished they
could talk.
Unfortunately, it was nothing more than an idle wish; she
could not act.
Once this battle was over, either Tina or herself – perhaps
both – would vanish from this world. To reveal herself was
tantamount to death.
Tina was an enemy she had to defeat, and not a companion
with whom to share her troubles. Definitely not.
“…Everything alright, Kaya?”
Perhaps Tina had felt Kaya’s gaze on her, because she turned
and walked over.
“You look pretty pale. Are you tired?”
Page 74
“I-I’m fine. I’m sorry for worrying you.”

“If you feel tired, don’t hesitate to tell us. I’ll let Master know,
and we’ll let you rest. There’s still a long way to go. This is
the worst.”
“R-Right. I understand,” Kaya replied. Without realizing that
she was still speaking, she continued, “Even though you say
‘this is the worst,’ you look quite happy to me?”
“Oh?”
Tina stared.
“I look happy?”
“Yes. Even though I can tell you’re not familiar with the road,
but as you walk, there’s such a bright expression on your
face… Onee-san, you’re not a normal adventurer, are you?”
“Mm. Tina’s a store clerk.”
Tina nodded strongly, and then continued.
“But yes, when everyone’s together like this, it makes me
happy. Even if we happen to be in the labyrinth. Tina loves to
be with other people. To be honest, from the very moment I
was born, watching over the city and its people has been
my—— Oh, wait. Master said I shouldn’t say this part.”
Tina flashed a quick glance in Yuuki’s direction to reassure
herself that he hadn’t overheard.
Page 75
The second Kaya heard Tina mention her responsibilities as a

Shinki, she thought Tina was greeting her as a fellow Shinki.
She raised her guard. Seeing Tina’s innocent expression,
however, she realized there’d been no ulterior motive behind
the statement.
(Still… “Master,” is it?)
How strange.
From what Jahar had told her, Yuuki was no longer an active
Duelist, though from the looks of things, he was more or less
just that. What stood out to her, though, was how Tina
referred to him as “Master.” Just what on earth was their
relationship?
Well, no matter what their relationship might have been, one
thing was for certain – it couldn’t have been more unlike her
relationship with Jahar. After all, every time Tina either
mentioned Yuuki or spoke with him, her happiness was plain
to see.
“Am I, perhaps, jealous of her?” Kaya wondered.
“——Alright, hold up for a sec.”
As Yuuki had directed, the party came to a halt.
Before them lay the stairs leading down to the fourth floor.
“It’s been a pretty casual trip so far, however——”
“It’s going to get dangerous, right?”
“Exactly, Edgar.”
Page 76
Edgar smiled proudly at the praise.

The fourth floor of the Magna PortaGreat Gate was something of a
boundary line. From this floor on, the labyrinth would reveal
its true face. This was something that had been hammered into
all students of the training school from very early on.
From here on out, the labyrinth would become a twisting,
winding maze – a world of darkness and terror.
Void Beasts beyond this point were both larger in size and
more ferocious, always awaiting the opportunity to catch
humans unaware and devour their prey. “Flight” was no
longer a word that existed in the vocabulary of the Void
Beasts at these levels.
“You are going to have to be extremely vigilant. Our goal is
the sixth through eighth floors. Anyone who fails to keep a
weapon at the ready from here on out risks their lives.”
Page 77
Page 78
Edgar and Selim swallowed loudly.

“If anyone is injured, or I decide we’re unfit to continue, we
will promptly return. If you notice anything at all, let me
know. ——Alright, it’s your turn now, Uncle.”
“Right. Form up. Just as we cautioned when we ran drills
before, do not break formation and pay constant attention to
your surroundings. This, you must remember.”
Finishing his words, Alfred led the way down the stairs.
“…Wuu, it’s so dark,” Selim cried out in panic.
From the fourth floor and beyond, the light fixtures attached
to walls on previous floors ceased to be present. The only
sources of light to be found were the light stones one carried
as well as the soft illumination of bioluminescent moss lining
the walls.
“Please take these. Don’t lose them.”
Kaya received a small hand-lantern with a light stone
contained within.
“The three of you will have to share one. Take turns holding it,
alright?”
Edgar shouted that he wanted to carry it first, so Kaya handed
it to him. To be honest, she hadn’t particularly wanted to hold
it anyway, although as she watched him excitedly turn the
lantern this way and that, she was rather envious.
The party continued slowly forward.
Page 79
They were arranged in the formation they’d drilled in back at

the training school.
Alfred held his sword at the ready, the vanguard of the party.
Yuuki took up the rear, keeping an eye on everyone. Tina and
Franka kept watch over their guests while directing the beams
from their lanterns forward, lighting the way ahead. This was
a fairly basic party arrangement.
“Even if it’s just the teensiest, tiniest bit dark, there’s nothing
there,” Edgar declared loudly, as if to convince himself.
“That’s because we’ve only gone a few steps,” Selim retorted.
“Please, this isn’t any different from what we were doing
moments ago on the floors above. All we’re doing is
following the road until we reach the stairs and then
descending once more. Even I can——”
“Hold it!” a voice called out from the front.
Just then, they heard a slight rustling as something fifteen
meters in front of Edgar suddenly charged at him. Alfred’s
sword flashed and, with a spray of blood, it was flung in
another direction.
“——Edgar, did you not see that just now?” Yuuki asked at
last. “There are two dangers to casually chatting in these
levels. The first is that you distract yourself, you lose focus.
The second is that you are unable to hear what goes on around
you over the sound of your voice. For this reason, any and all
conversation within the labyrinth should be soft and to the
point. Remember that.”
Page 80
Franka gave a wry smile, and explained further.

“The Void Beasts around here are still pretty small, so they’re
not really that dangerous. Take that carnivorous rat from just
now, for example. Even if you were to be bitten, you wouldn’t
suffer any grievous harm, although you might lose a finger or
two.”
“L-Lose…”
Edgar was too frightened to finish.
“Oh, if it’s rats, then our house has them too. Master’s too
careless with the cleaning. You’re so strict with other people,
but so negligent yourself.”
“I definitely get that impression too.”
Alfred expressed his agreement.
“I-Is that so, Yuuki-san?” Franka asked.
“…Could you guys try not to destroy my serious image over
here? This is one of those rare occasions where I’m even
teaching seriously and everything.”
Yuuki sighed. Watching him, Kaya couldn’t help but smile.
A serious image – at least the kind that the instructors from
the Church of the Five Holies exhibited – wasn’t something
that Yuuki had. On the contrary, his familiar manner made
him popular among the children.
Page 81
Even though his expression made it seem as though he hated

to be bothered, the fact was that he was always very warm to
the students. He was a fantastic teacher.
Kaya’s smile faded.
This happy atmosphere wouldn’t last. She could not allow
herself to forget why she’d come.
Indeed, the children who admired Yuuki were many in
number. However, if their plan succeeded today, then he
would no longer be around to teach those children.
(…I don’t want to do this. Please.)
She couldn’t count the number of times she’d had this thought
today alone.
When it came to Tina, there wasn’t much she could do.
Although she wasn’t at all eager to see it happen, she could at
least understand the necessity of it. She was resolved.
If Tina continued to live, it would be at her own expense. No
matter how good their relationship, no matter how deep the
feelings ran between them, this fact would not change.
Kaya did not want to die. No matter how much it’d cause her
to hate herself, she was going to defeat her “enemies” and live
on.
But Edgar, Selim, Alfred, and Franka – Kaya had no desire to
see them harmed.
Page 82
Even if the other party had requested Yuuki’s death, he wasn’t

a true Duelist. Even if he’d been one in the past, he was now
nothing more than a human playing guard to a Shinki out of
happenstance. There was no need to deal with him in the same
manner as Tina.
Unfortunately, Kaya was sure Jahar did not see things that
way.
His personality was such that he felt the ends justified the
means. If the death of his target required the sacrifice of
hundreds of unrelated victims, he would not hesitate to do so.
(Still… I have to wonder what it is that Jahar plans to do?)
Kaya was responsible for keeping an eye on Tina and the
others. When the appropriate opportunity appeared, she was to
teleport Jahar over, whereupon he’d dispatch both Tina and
Yuuki.
——This was what they had decided upon before setting out.
Their plans, however, had been extremely vague. She worried
that Jahar had already decided upon all the particulars. If he
had, though, he’d intentionally left her in the dark, saying
only that they’d speak again later.
If a Shinki and their Duelist were to both open up a “circuit,”
they’d be able to communicate telepathically regardless of
distance. Kaya’s only experience with this ability until now
had been to report on intel Jahar had demanded of her.
Jahar had not the least degree of respect for her, whether it be
about her abilities, her conviction, or anything else.
Page 83
“A Shinki who isn’t trusted by her own Duelist, huh?” Kaya

thought to herself. She wanted to cry.
No matter how she looked at it, she was sure that Jahar did not
intend an honorable, direct challenge. No, he’d create some
kind of disturbance, and then seize the moment when
opportunity arrived. This much Kaya was able to predict,
although that was the extent of what she’d been able to
determine.
At the very least, she hoped to avoid drawing in any
neighboring adventurers.
Jahar had yet to contact her since they’d entered the labyrinth.
Although it wasn’t like she’d been eagerly anticipating
hearing from him, his continued silence nevertheless left her
increasingly uneasy.
“Should I try and reach out to him?” she wondered before
quickly cutting off that train of thought.
She was not only frightened that he’d scold her for acting on
her own, but worse, that he might announce that preparations
were ready, and their battle imminent.
Perhaps if she avoided provoking him unnecessarily, there
might yet be a way to avoid the upcoming battle…
Suddenly——
「Yo, Kaya-chan. How’re things on your end?」

“——!”
Page 84
Startled by the voice which she heard with her mind, not her
ears, she forgot to walk.
Edgar, walking behind her, crashed into her back. Disgruntled,
he complained.
“I-I’m so sorry!” Kaya apologized.
Shifting her focus, she continued, 「J-Jahar-san? Don’t just

call out to me so suddenly.」
「This is the only way for us to speak. How exactly do you

expect me to warn you before I’m about to communicate? —
—Actually, forget about that for now; where are you? The
fourth floor?」
「Yes. We’re roughly around the center of the floor, I

believe.」
As she spoke, she did her utmost to ensure that neither did her
gaze wander nor did her expression change.
The telepathic communications between a Shinki and her
Duelist could not be sensed by other Shinki. That
notwithstanding, were she to act strangely, she could draw
unwanted attention.
「Got it. Okay then, we’re starting now.」

With a light tone, Jahar indicated that their murderous plan
was now underway.
「Um, Jahar-san——」
Page 85
Kaya rushed to speak, although she wasn’t quite sure herself

what she was planning on saying.
Is it because I’ve been wavering this whole time that I
accidentally blurted something out… or do I really want to
call an end to this?
「Let me explain something real quick. I’m about to split the

labyrinth up into different sections. Make sure not to leave
Tina-chan’s side, Kaya-chan. That’ll be all.」
Without paying the least bit of respect due his Shinki, Jahar
one-sidedly ended the conversation.
(S-Split…?)
What on earth does he mean by that…?
Suddenly, she felt goosebumps all over.
Accompanying the strange feeling was a terrible screech.
“Master! S-Something’s happening!”
“…Can you be a bit clearer, Tina?”
Although his tone indicated surprise, Yuuki’s expression was
serious. It seemed he quite trusted Tina.
“I don’t know the specifics, but there’s a tremendous flow of
energy——”
Before Tina could finish her sentence, their surroundings
twisted.
Page 86
The world around them spun, as if their sense of equilibrium

had been thrown terribly awry. A fierce pain rocked her head,
as if she’d been struck.
Kaya screamed and fell to the floor.
※※※
“——Is everyone alright?” Yuuki raised his lantern and asked,

the phenomenon having drawn to an end.
The shaking; no, perhaps it was more accurate to say the
vibrations rocking the entire labyrinth, left them uneasy.
Although whatever it was had come and gone in mere instants,
it was nevertheless apparent that something major had
happened.
The three children didn’t appear to have been hurt. The two
boys were confused, but better off than Kaya whom was
kneeling on the ground, her hands pressed against the floor for
support.
“U-Um, Kaya——” Edgar called out uncertainly.
“I’m fine,” she responded. “I just felt a bit dizzy, but I’m
okay…”
“Kaya, come over here by the wall and rest for a bit, okay?
Edgar and Selim, could you two give her a hand?”
Page 87
After issuing directions to the children, Yuuki turned to face

forward.
“Uwaaa… T-That was really bad…” Tina murmured,
collapsed on the floor.
Alfred and Franka were watching their surroundings
guardedly. Franka frowned.
“Franka…”
“I’m fine,” she answered, with an obviously forced smile.
“About just now, I think something caused an immense
fluctuation of divine energy. My head hurts and my ears are
ringing.”
“…It looks like the effects vary depending on one’s
sensitivity to divine energy.”
Alfred was completely fine.
Both he and Alfred, as well as Edgar and Selim, were
completely unaffected. This appeared to be the reason.
Yuuki gave the three others a chance to rest and went off to
scout out the situation.
Perhaps the entire party had just been warped to a different
floor… Or not.
The road before them, the stone floor beneath them, the flora
around them – everything belonged to the fourth floor.
That notwithstanding, the situation was definitely abnormal.
Page 88
Without having to think, Yuuki realized what the oddity was.

Just as the realization struck him, Alfred whispered.
“…Our surroundings have changed.”
“Yeah.”
This was undoubtedly the fourth floor. ——For about five
more meters, anyway.
Looking farther down, he could see stone walls of a different
type as well as other types of plants.
Yuuki walked forward to inspect the situation, looking for a
boundary line.
The changes were seamless. The walls and floor were
seamlessly connected, although the type of stone changed
partway through. Walking forward another five meters, he
found the anomaly repeated.
Furthermore, ahead of him lay a corner bend that had most
certainly not existed there before.
“The way things look, it’s almost like someone broke the
labyrinth up into pieces and them assembled them back in a
different order. ——Have you guys ever seen anything like
this before?”
Alfred and Franka shook their heads.
If they simply stayed here, confused, nothing would change.
They needed to confirm the situation before thinking things
through.
Page 89
Just what on earth happened…?

“Franka, is it possible that this is all an illusion brought on by
an Orison?”
“I can’t say for sure. There are definitely elements to this that
suggest an illusionary Orison, but…”
Her headache having seemingly subsided, she slowly rose.
She reached out and grasped the vegetation on the walls.
Yuuki heard the rustling of leaves as she made her inspection.
“Hmm, when you touch them, they certainly feel real enough.
Even though our eyes could definitely be fooled in the way
you describe, but to create an illusion of this scope –
especially one which could fool all five senses – is simply
impossible.”
“As I thought. This wasn’t the work of any human.”
That being the case, what other possibility remains——?
“S-Sensei, are we going to be okay?”
“W-We’re not lost, are we?”
Selim and Edgar raised their heads worriedly, and turned to
Yuuki.
“This is something you’ve all learned in the training school
before. ‘Anything can happen in the labyrinth.’ Well, even if I
say that, this isn’t exactly normal even by those standards. As
far as you kids are concerned, this is a valuable learning
opportunity.”
Page 90
Yuuki gave a loud, rude laugh. Intentionally.

It was of the utmost importance that they confirm the
particulars of their situation and assessed the level of danger
they faced. That would only further increase his wards’
unease, however. He had, above all else, been hired to keep
them safe.
The silver lining in all of this was that the kids didn’t seem to
have been too frightened by the event. As far as they were
concerned, confusion was the dominant feeling. Things
looked alright for the moment.
Yuuki pulled Tina over to a corner, and spoke to her in
whispers.
“…So what’s your guess? What do you think happened?”
“The labyrinth’s gotten all messed up. It feels really strange.”
Tina’s face was stiff. She didn’t seem to have entirely
recovered yet.
“I can tell that much with a single glance. I was wondering if
you knew what the cause was.”
“Oh…”
Tina frowned, silent.
“Well, I can definitely sense divine energy at work here… but
it’s not a miracle created by a Shinki.”
“Why do you say that?”
Page 91
“Something like this would consume a terrific amount of

energy. You’d have to exert your will over the entire labyrinth,
divide it into sections, rearrange them, and then seal them in
place. The amount of energy that’d take is simply
incomparable to say, teleportation. If I had to describe it in a
way you could understand, let’s see… If you were to work
yourself to death for a hundred lifetimes, it still wouldn’t be
enough.”
“…Such a clear method of explanation. Thank you so very
much.”
Her manner of speaking aside, her explanation definitely
made sense.
However, if this was neither the work of a human nor a
Shinki… what other possibility was there?
Some mechanism of the labyrinth?
Or perhaps it was the work of a Reliquia? As he considered
the possibility, he realized that he’d definitely heard of a
handful of exceedingly rare Reliquia that possessed the ability
to distort space itself. Of their current whereabouts, however,
he had not the slightest clue.
The possibility that this had been someone’s handiwork, and
intentionally done at that, could not be ignored.
Unfortunately…
(I can’t determine the cause without more information.)
Yuuki sighed.
Page 92
“Well, let’s leave further discussion on that topic for later.

What’s important now is, can you fix it?”
The tiny Shinki pouted irritably.
“Tina cannot. Or rather, there’s no way she could!”
“…Yeah, I guess so. Sorry for asking.”
Tina’s store of divine energy was rather pathetic really. It was
impossible for her to work any miracles on a grand scale.
Yuuki considered for a moment, deciding it best to change the
direction from which he was approaching the problem.
“Assuming this is indeed the fourth floor, Tina, can you feel
the divine energy of the light fixtures on the floors above us?”
“Mm, let me try.”
Tina closed her eyes.
The first through third floors were illuminated by a series of
Reliquia known as light stones. Although they were extremely
common, they nonetheless still carried within them minute
amounts of divine energy.
Divine energy which the Shinki were able to trace.
“Oh… you’re right. I can definitely feel them. There are a
bunch of tiny divine energy signatures spaced evenly apart.
I’m guessing that’s what you were referring to.”
“I see. That’s good news.”
Page 93
“Why do you say that?” Tina asked, clearly puzzled. “What

have you realized, Master?”
“Oh, it’s nothing major. It’s just that we’ve managed to
eliminate the worst outcome as a possibility.”
He now knew that the labyrinth’s entrance was where it had
always been. In other words, where they were now was where
they had been before the phenomenon had taken place. It
wasn’t that their entire floor or even the labyrinth itself had
been teleported to some strange dimension; the arrangement
of the labyrinth had simply been thrown into disarray.
In other words, if worst came to worst, if they could provide
Tina with enough divine energy, she could teleport them to
safety.
Although the matter of whether they could actually find a way
to gather that much energy was a whole other matter, it was
still nice to have an idea of the scope of the phenomenon’s
effect.
Yuuki and Tina returned to join the rest of the group.
The children were surprisingly calm. Kaya seemed to have
recovered.
“I have to say, it seems like as long as we’re together, I’m
bound to get caught up in strange things,” Franka commented
with a wry smile.
“No kidding. Last time was the same, wasn’t it?”
Yuuki shrugged.
Page 94
A month ago, Void Beasts which had no place being there had
appeared on the labyrinth’s third floor, along with a Void
Dragon.
As he thought on the matter, he realized that there was
someone missing from that time.
“…That reminds me, Franka, have you seen your brother
lately? He ought to have made a full recovery by now.”
“Oh yeah, Stefan. How is he?”
“He’s under house arrest. ——Well, to be honest, he’s locked
himself up in his room in the Oath Legion halls and refuses to
come out. He denied my request to meet.”
Franka’s answer was accompanied by a complicated
expression.
With that said, the gloom which had previously rested heavily
upon her was now gone. She seemed to have already resolved
herself to some plan of action or another with regards to her
half-brother.
“I’m going to take it slow. There’s so much I want to say,
after all.”
This time, her words came with a firm smile.
Yuuki nodded, thinking to himself that it didn’t seem like
there was anything to worry about anymore.
“Well then. We need to figure out a way to return to the
surface… What should our next step be?”
Page 95
“Hmm…”
Alfred scratched his head awkwardly.
“Well, first things first, we need to secure a base of operations
and then we should locate a water source. As for food, well,
there’s always the meat of Void Beasts and the vegetation
around us, should it come to that.”
“I agree. If this is really the fourth floor, then there are ought
to be a plentiful supply of water around us. Unfortunately,
with the topography as distorted as it is, that knowledge is
rather meaningless now.”
Yuuki couldn’t help but sigh.
“As before, there’s not much we can do without exploring
further. We’ll have to continue on, protecting the kids as we
go.”
“…Right.”
Yuuki expressed his agreement. It wasn’t like they had any
other options.
After resting for a bit longer, their party set off once more.
They continued slowly through the fourth floor. The
labyrinth’s layout had been drastically altered, a piece here
and a piece there, such that their maps and knowledge of room
and road positioning were rendered entirely useless.
As they made their way along, they ran into several groups as
desperately lost and confused as they themselves were.
Page 96
From what little info they’d managed to share, they’d come to

the conclusion that the phenomenon had caused identical
effects everywhere within its reach. Although everyone was
frantically searching for an exit, not a single party they’d run
into so far had yet seen the stairway up.
It wasn’t like their efforts had been entirely fruitless, though.
From a party who had discovered a groundwater vein, they’d
learned of a water source they could use.
“Hmm… Even though the labyrinth’s all messed up, the water
still flows normally. Just how does that work?”
Tina leaned in near the stream, eyeing it suspiciously.
Their current location was, as might be expected, no
exception to the changes in scenery taking place every five
meters. The strange thing was, rather than simply collecting in
a pool as one would have supposed, it instead flowed freely. It
suddenly appeared at the beginning of one boundary line, and
five meters later, simply disappeared into another.
“Be careful not to fall in, Tina.”
“Like I’d do anything that stupid—— Waaaa?!”
As she spoke, she lost her footing and was saved by Franka.
If nothing else, they’d at least managed to solve their water
problem.
“Why don’t we eat here?”
Following Alfred’s suggestion, everyone refilled their water
supplies and sat down to eat.
Page 97
Yuuki offered to stand watch and sauntered off a fair distance

from the party.
As he gnawed at his rock-hard piece of bread, he kept a
constant eye on his surroundings, pondering anew their
situation.
He came to the conclusion that the most effective plan of
attack would be to leave the party here while he went off
alone to scout.
Unfortunately, that plan had its fair share of problems.
If he were to break off from the party, there was no guarantee
they’d be able to meet up again.
Were the phenomenon to repeat itself, even he might lose all
sense of direction.
Furthermore, he worried about the danger the other party
members might find themselves in were they to separate.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Alfred or Franka – far from it.
That notwithstanding, they were exceptional “humans.” Here,
in the labyrinth, there were a multitude of threats that were
simply beyond their ability to handle.
One particular example came to mind – the legendary Void
Dragon which had made an appearance just a short time
before.
“If only I was still a Duelist…” he whispered to himself.
If he was a Duelist, their options would increase manyfold.
Page 98
The minds of a Shinki and her Duelist were partially bound to

one another. Regardless of the distance between them, they
could both sense one another and communicate telepathically.
In this way, Yuuki had saved his previous master countless
times, and she, in turn, had also saved him on numerous
occasions.
The current Yuuki, however, was but a normal person. He had
no master, no ScutumHoly Shield, and no protection from the
effects of time. He was nothing more than a former Duelist,
without the least trace of his former powers – nothing more
than a normal human.
“…You can’t be chosen as a Duelist again, Master?”
At some unknown point, Tina had found her way to his side.
It seemed she’d overheard his words.
“The Shinki’s summoning calls forth a Duelist to serve as her
companion. At that time, the person who is to be her Duelist is
chosen by the Heavenly King himself. That person is the one
determined to be most suitable for the Shinki in question, no?
In that case, if Tina really, really needed Master, then couldn’t
you be selected as her Duelist?”
Page 99
Page 100
“Unfortunately not.”
“And why not?” Tina pouted. “Tina is being serious here——”
“Oh, I’m sorry. It’s not because of you.”
Yuuki gave a wry smile and placed a hand lightly on Tina’s
head.
“It’s because of me. ——As I am now, I don’t meet the
necessary conditions to be chosen as a Duelist. That’s why
such a thing isn’t possible.”
“I see. Can I ask why? Is it because you were already a
Duelist for another Shinki?”
Tina’s earnest tone stiffened a bit as she spoke.
“No.”
Yuuki paused for a moment before explaining.
“To be honest, the Duelists——”
He suddenly froze.
“Master?” Tina asked, mortified.
Yuuki didn’t respond. Instead, he narrowed his eyes and
dashed off with a shout.
“Uncle, Franka, it’s a Void Beast! A huge one!”
The two reacted instantly.
Page 101
Alfred leapt forward, Franka behind him.

“Over here, kids! Hurry!”
Yuuki and Tina raced back, and placed the children behind
them protectively.
Before long, appearing from out of the darkness was
something greatly resembling a caterpillar.
One surpassing two meters in length, that was. Stretching out
from its main body were ten slender, insectile legs, wriggling
disturbingly. Its grotesque appearance filled one with a deep,
instinctual revulsion.
Because its legs were so large, its speed of movement was
many times that of a normal caterpillar.
“Uck——”
Selim vomited.
“From the look of it, that thing ought to be pretty nasty. I’m
guessing it’s venomous, so make sure not to get anywhere
near it as we kill it.”
Yuuki intentionally kept his voice calm as he explained the
situation, as if this was just another day in the classroom.
They couldn’t afford to panic, nor was there any need to. This
he wanted to make sure they knew.
And indeed, a Void Beast of this level was something that
Franka could easily dispatch with her Orisons.
Page 102
No, the real issue was——

“This bastard shouldn’t even be here; this Void Beast lives on
a level lower than this. When the labyrinth rearranged itself,
I’m guessing that included the Void Beasts contained within
as well,” Yuuki thought to himself unhappily.
If that was indeed the case, then things could get much, much
more troublesome.
——Worse still, he had the feeling that things were only just
beginning.
※※※
A small hill outside of Solitus.

Three figures stood on the hilltop overlooking the entrance to
the labyrinth.
“——Good. This ends the first phase.”
The “Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” Elfriede, slowly lowered
her arms.
She held a wooden cube gripped within her hand. Its size was
roughly such that it could just about be enclosed entirely by a
two-handed grip.
“Did it really work? That, what do you call it, ‘Void
Marquetry’?”
Page 103
Jahar squinted at it in disbelief.

“I’m different from you Shinki. I don’t really understand
divine energy and whatnot, so I don’t quite get it.”
“If you’re so concerned about it, then ask your Shinki about it
later. This thing only works on floors from the second and
below. In this instance, the fourth through seventh floors are
now a sealed space,” Elfriede answered emotionlessly.
The Reliquia, “Void Marquetry.” A most prized possession of
the “Shinki who Scatters the Stars.”
Its ability allowed it to rearrange space within its area of
effect. It could, for example, cause that which ought to fall
down upon the ground to instead fall from the sky, or to cause
someone to exit a room which they had attempted to enter.
This Reliquia was normally powered by a Divine Pearl, but in
this instance, the enormous capacity of a Shinki had increased
the range of its effects to rearrange the labyrinth itself.
This device acted according to its own will when producing
its activated effect. For this reason, Elfriede surmised that its
original purpose had been that of a toy which created a small-
scale version of the labyrinth. It completely ignored the
intended arrangement its wielder sought to impose.
For this reason, it was necessary to enact its ability more than
once, starting from the largest scope and gradually narrowing
its area of effect with each subsequent use, eventually
trapping Tina and the others in a tiny, enclosed space.
Page 104
“…It’s amazing how this thing poses no burden even with

repeated use,” the Shinki murmured.
As compared to working a miracle directly, simply boosting
the power of the Reliquia in her hand was far less draining.
Jahar would need to release his celestial Dragon Fang weapon
in order to kill Tina and Yuuki. Such an action was extremely
conspicuous. They could not afford to be seen, nor could they
afford to allow their prey to escape.
For this reason, they had determined that the most effective
strategy involved sealing them within the labyrinth, separating
them if at all possible, and then dealing with them one at a
time.
If all went according to plan, the next step involved Jahar
teleporting over and executing the pair.
“For the moment, the divine energy possessed by the Sixth
Shinki is pitifully small. However, if given more time, that
will likely change. Contact that Moon Shinki of yours, and
when the appropriate time comes, quickly end those two with
the utmost haste. If others must be similarly dealt with in the
process, then so be it. ——Am I clear?”
“…I don’t take orders from you, Shinki of the Stars. I’m the
Moon Duelist.”
“Elfriede-sama can’t seem to help but put on airs,” Kai, who
had been silent until now, interrupted. “You’re better off just
thinking of it as the barking of a dog or the chirping of a bird.
You’ll find it stops bothering you that way.”
Page 105
In response to Kai’s abusive words, which paid not the least

bit of respect to his Shinki, Elfriede glared at him. His warm
smile never wavered.
“…Your relationship’s pretty bad, actually, isn’t it?” Jahar
asked in surprise. “Let me express my gratitude for this
opportunity, though. I’ll fulfill your request. ——But putting
that aside for a moment, I have to admit there’s a question
that’s been on my mind this entire time. Perhaps you could
answer something for me, El-chan.”
“——El-chan?”
Paying no heed to her look of displeasure, Jahar continued.
“Your obsession with ‘killing’ in this incident strikes me as
incredibly odd. I’m more than aware of the zero-sum nature of
the relationship between the Shinki, and as such, your
manipulation of Kaya-chan and myself comes as no surprise.
That said, El-chan, your words and actions… they’re very out
of character for one of the Shinki.”
“…”
“The way a Shinki thinks ought to be more straightforward,
more kind. Am I wrong? Do you know how much work I’ve
had to put into all of this?! That girl, even though it’s her own
life that hangs in the balance, is absolutely repulsed by all of
this.”
It was certainly a fact that the Shinki were engaged in a bitter
struggle to the death. However, their primary responsibility
was the safeguarding of the people. Accordingly, a kind and
compassionate heart was one of their defining traits.
Page 106
“Just now, you said that even if others were killed in the
process, then ‘so be it.’ That thought is terribly inappropriate
for one of the Shinki. That’s much more like something that
one of us Duelists would say. ——So what I want to ask is
this: just why is it so important that those two ‘must die’?”
“…When one of the Duelists talks about life and death, it’s
quite a bit more persuasive, isn’t it?”
Elfriede sighed before continuing.
“Simply put, it’s because the Sixth Shinki is incredibly
dangerous.”
“Huh?”
Jahar frowned.
If she’d said it was the Duelist that was dangerous, then he
could understand, but it made no sense for a Shinki to be
considered a threat. The Shinki were incapable of harming
other beings, after all.
“I’m guessing you want a more detailed explanation?”
“Of course.”
The “Shinki who Scatters the Stars” considered his request for
a moment, and then nodded.
“Alright then. Given that your Shinki’s already in place by the
Sixth Shinki, I guess there’s no chance of you guys giving up
on things now. ——Let me put it this way. If we fail here,
then you, your Shinki, and even my Duelist and I – we’re all
dead.”
Page 107
“…”
Jahar didn’t know what to say.
Elfriede wanted to laugh, but couldn’t. Deep within the eyes
of this Shinki, who possessed enormous and terrifying power,
a terrible fear lurked.
“——Let me be the one to tell you. The Sixth Shinki? She has
another name – ‘The Serpent of Demise’.”
Page 108
Page 109
Chapter 2: Chaotic Labyrinth
——How many days had it been since he’d last left his room?
Silently, Stefan Klose pondered this question.
He was a subordinate of the “Shinki who Supports the
Heavens,” a young member of the Sky’s Oath Legion.
The youngest child of the acclaimed Klose military family,
he’d attained a first rank adventurer qualification at the age of
fifteen. At the time, he’d been bestowed with a great gift in
recognition of his status as a prodigy: a celestial Dragon Fang
weapon, one of only twelve.
During the tragedy a month prior, when Void Beasts from
deep within the labyrinth had been teleported to higher levels,
he’d lost all the members of his party.
Although he’d suffered grievous injury in the aforementioned
incident, he’d nonetheless survived. Because the elites of the
Oath Legions were few enough to begin with, the loss of his
party had been sore indeed – something he had been held
responsible for.
However, even as he’d been censured, he’d been shown some
measure of sympathy.
Page 110
The labyrinth was a world beyond human understanding.

When something unexpected happened, it was impossible to
guarantee the safety of even the most experienced of
adventurers. Furthermore, witnesses had attested to the
presence of a Void Dragon even. Stefan, though highly skilled,
was yet young; to blame him for everything would be cruel,
some had suggested.
The sympathy and criticism of others mattered to Stefan not a
whit; he had simply debriefed his superiors and then placed
himself under house arrest. Even after making a full recovery,
that had not changed.
Truth be told, it wasn’t as if he felt it a matter of practicality
nor was it part of some greater plan for the future. He’d
simply lost all motivation to continue.
To be blunt, he just didn’t care one way or another.
His comrades were all gone.
The target for which he’d sought strength and power for so
long was similarly gone. The man who had killed his master
was dead.
As far as he was concerned, there was no reason to ever set
foot in the labyrinth again. It felt meaningless to seek after
Reliquia to offer the Shinki.
Going further, he wasn’t even sure there was a need for him to
continue on as a member of the Oath Legions.
Page 111
If he were to withdraw, he’d likely be reprimanded by his

house for damaging the family reputation, but he’d never
cared about such things in the first place.
——These thoughts had consumed his mind for days. The
situation continued, unchanging, when suddenly…
“Hey Stefan, feel up to a raid?”

Karsten asked the same question each time he visited.
He was a man in the prime of his life who wore his hair
closely-cropped. His appearance would not have been out of
place on a farmer selling vegetables in the marketplace, but he
was a party leader of the Sky’s Oath Legion.
Rumor had it that he was the man responsible for suggesting
that adventurers be recruited solely on basis of merit and not
on who they knew or who their family was. This policy had
been responsible for the growth of the Sky’s Oath Legion into
the dominant force it was.
His words and manner might have made him seem a rather
frivolous person, but he was very popular.
“…I’m still reflecting on my actions.”
“I know, I know. The problem is, something’s happened in
the labyrinth again, and we need someone to scope out the
situation. You’re fully healed, aren’t you?”
“My party is no more.”
Page 112
“No problem. I have two new members to introduce to you.”

Stefan sighed.
“…I apologize, but I must decline.” In an even tone, he
continued, “I’ve been thinking. What will I do next? What
should I do next? I have yet to find an answer to that question,
though. ——Lost as I am, I doubt I could be of any service to
anyone.”
“Hmm…”
Karsten hawed and shook his head.
“This is pretty despicable of me, I have to admit, but I was
going to have to let you know sooner or later…”
Stefan frowned. This was very much unlike Karsten’s normal,
open self.
“What’s happened?”
“——To summarize the situation, the layout of the labyrinth
seems to have been distorted. Neither the precise effects nor
the scope of the phenomenon are known. Unfortunately, there
were adventurers in the labyrinth at the time whose
whereabouts are currently unknown. It’d be fantastic if
they’re simply lost within, but the possibility that they are
now trapped cannot be ruled out.”
Unfortunately for him, Karsten’s words hadn’t changed
Stefan’s mind in the least. Suddenly, he was struck by a
thought…
Page 113
What was it that Karsten was having such difficulty voicing…?

It couldn’t be——
“Yes. I see you understand.”
Seeing Stefan’s expression, Karsten nodded in confirmation.
“Your half-sister through your mother – the third-ranked
cleric, Franka – is among those currently unaccounted for.”
Stefan headed to the city exit, toward the labyrinth entrance

Karsten had indicated.
Each of the labyrinth entrances were currently watched by
knights from the Church of the Five Holies, and closed off to
any but those affiliated with the Oath Legions. They had
judged the situation too dangerous for any but these most
accomplished of adventurers.
Those standing guard recognized Stefan immediately, and so
he passed through unmolested.
He looked around, surveying his surroundings.
There was no small number of Oath Legion members
assembled. The elites of each Shinki’s Oath Legion had been
summoned to investigate the situation, and they entered the
labyrinth as he watched.
As he proceeded forward, cries of “Hey, look over there,”
“Still alive, eh?”, and other such comments were heard.
Page 114
The “genius” who had vanished from the public eye for the
past month became the center of attention. Loudly, they called
out insults and sarcastic comments which Stefan paid no heed
as he made his way to the rendezvous point.
“Oh, hey, the Onii-san over there!”
Someone called out to him as he reached the corner just
before the entrance itself, the designated spot.
A young girl was waving energetically at him. At her side was
another young girl.
“Hey, hey, you – you’re Stefan Klose, right?” the girl asked,
in a beautiful, clear voice.
She was a petite young girl of roughly fifteen or sixteen, with
light, tawny hair and a bright, lively expression.
“…You guys are my new party members?”
“Whoa, amazing. So you’re just as cold as I’d heard!”
The girl giggled as Stefan frowned.
“You’re being rude, Lea…” the girl by her side remarked, in a
subdued tone.
This girl looked to be about twenty or so, and was dressed in a
long robe, with her long, black hair tied back behind her head.
She was tall for a girl, but so slender she looked might break
in two with a gust of wind. Hers was an ethereal beauty.
Page 115
“Oh, my bad, my bad. You’re just so much like the rumors

that I couldn’t help but say it out loud. ——But yeah, to
answer your question, we’re new members of the Sky’s Oath
Legion. I’m Lea. I’m a third-ranked support specialist. The
frail girl by my side is Serafina, a third-ranked cleric. It’s a
pleasure, Senpai.”
“…We’re in your care.”
“My name is Stefan Klose.”
Lea laughed aloud once more at his words.
“Yeah, I know that! You’re a famous person, you know? The
youngest person to ever attain a first rank and a spear-user.”
“…”
Her estimation of him was too high by far. He was, after all,
strongly considering giving up the adventurer mantle. He
wanted to say as much, but realizing how childish such an
action would be, he stopped.
“This is great, though. With you in our party, we don’t have
anything to worry about. We’ve got this.”
Lea grabbed Stefan’s hand of her own accord, and shook it
vigorously.
Although her words and manner were most brazen and ill-
mannered… it was abundantly clear that she meant no harm.
That was simply the kind of person she was.
Page 116
Anyway, he was someone whose party had been annihilated

under his watch. He didn’t have the right to be picky when it
came to party members.
The girl ignored his reaction and continued to speak.
“I love to draw, so Serafina and I make a living mapping out
the labyrinth. There’s only so much we can do with just the
two of us, though.”
That was why the two had taken the exam for entrance into
the Oath Legions, and eventually joined.
Of the maps and guides to each floor of the labyrinth, it was
said that vast majority had been the handiwork of these two.
Stefan personally relied on the Legion’s internal materials, so
he’d never personally used anything they’d produced, but
he’d nevertheless heard of them.
“Oh, by the way, let me just get the bad news out of the way
first. I don’t want you to expect anything from us combat-
wise. I’m pretty much only good at running away, but
Serafina can be quite useful.”
“But… my Orisons… aren’t that battle-oriented…” Serafina
whispered faintly, with her head bowed.
“We’re not here to fight anyway. Our priority is to investigate
the abnormality.”
Lea nodded her head at Stefan’s words.
Page 117
“Yeah, I’ve heard. Supposedly the layout of the labyrinth’s

changed. The goal is to spread people out as much as possible
and map the changes. That’s why we’re here. ——Oh, that
reminds me. The situation’s already been explained to me;
I’m to debrief you.”
Lea’s explanation could roughly be summarized in the
following manner.
Currently, the stairways and roads of the Magna PortaGreat Gate
had been thrown into disarray. The reason for anomaly was
unclear, but something had warped space, effectually
rearranging the layout of the labyrinth.
When the phenomenon had occurred, clerics had reported
having been struck by a strange feeling. Whatever it had been
was undoubtedly the product of a massive working of divine
energy.
The changes began at the second floor, although it was
unknown how far down the effect went.
From the initial reports, it seemed the habitats of the Void
Beasts had also changed, although this had yet to be
confirmed.
Moreover, it was currently unknown if the changes were
purely temporary in nature or if they were lasting. Only time
would tell, particularly whether or not it might occur again.
Lea finished her explanation without interruption. Stefan was
stunned; her explanation was extremely well-done, and was
both clear and detailed.
Page 118
“Hmm… Things look pretty troublesome.”

Mapping out the labyrinth once more would be terribly time-
consuming, and if, Goddess forbid, the phenomenon should
repeat itself, it was possible they would never return to the
surface. Having come to this realization, more than a few
adventurers had refused to enter.
(And that’s exactly why we have to do this.)
For all the adventurers trapped within who were desperately
seeking a way back home.
“…Are you guys alright with this? The mission this time
could prove quite dangerous.”
“There’s no such thing as a raid that isn’t dangerous. It’s okay.
It’s precisely because it’s dangerous that we need to
investigate the situation further, right? All of this is making
my cartographer spirit burn, you know?”
Serafina nodded in agreement.
As far as Stefan was concerned, retreat was never an option.
“…Alright. Let’s enter the labyrinth now. You guys focus on
drawing your maps, I’ll take care of any Void Beasts we run
into. ——Let’s go.”
※※※
Page 119
“S-So t-that’s why I’m s-scared.”

Edgar trembled.
“This is only the fourth floor, right? Void Beasts at this level
should be pretty weak; there’s nothing to worry about.”
“But that caterpillar just now was huge,” Selim responded
weakly.
“What’re we going to do if something even stronger than that
comes out…?”
“Alfred-san will take care of it for us. Yuuki-sensei, you’ve
been pretty useless until now, aha… ha.”
Edgar tried to laugh things off, but failed.
“…I want to go home…”
Selim’s words were almost a sob.
After the Void Beast had been killed, they’d continued
forward once more. Unfortunately, the shock the two had
suffered had been great.
Kaya, walking behind the two, also wanted to cry.
Although her reasons were different.
(What do I do? What do I do? It’s already started…)
Anxiety and fear had gripped her heart.
Page 120
She didn’t know how he’d done it nor what his goal was, but
she knew one thing – the changes to the labyrinth had been
Jahar’s doing. The plan to kill Tina and Yuuki had already
begun.
I don’t want to help. Let me go. Alas, escape wasn’t an option,
leaving Kaya uncertain what she ought to do.
Interrupting her thoughts, a voice sounded in her head.
「——How are things on your end?」

“Ah——”
Kaya almost screamed. Frantically, she clasped both hands
firmly over her mouth.
「N-Nothing’s really changed… I’m still together with

Yuuki-sensei and Tina-san.」
「Where are you now?」
「On the fourth floor. We’re looking for the stairway to the
next level.」
「You haven’t found it yet, though, right? Good. Looks like

you guys are completely sealed in.」
Kaya felt like Jahar was laughing.
「W-What’s going on? Also, what’re you planning on doing

next?」
Page 121
「We’re still making preparations. I’m going to have to ask

you to keep up what you’re doing already, Shinki-sama. I
need you to inform me immediately if you guys change floors.
——Oh, one other thing. I think you know this already, Kaya-
chan, but let me remind you not to allow your true identity to
be discovered. If they find out who you really are, your end
will be a tragic one. The predator will instead become the
prey.」
「Oh…」
With that, the connection was severed.
The fear within her heart multiplied many-fold.
Kaya and Tina belonged to opposing factions, enemies in a
struggle to the death. It didn’t matter how hard or how long
Kaya thought on the matter, it wouldn’t change anything. To
Tina, she was nothing more than a hated enemy.
Moreover, for the sake of victory, she was planning on
ambushing them.
If that secret were discovered, forget Tina and Yuuki, even
Alfred and Franka, as well as Edgar and Selim – all would be
disgusted by her actions.
And then… death would come. It was only fitting that such a
fate would await one who had sought the lives of others.
Page 122
A weak Shinki – one who didn’t even have an Oath Legion

under her, one who jumped at her own shadow and could
never decide on a plan of action – had no hope for victory. So
Jahar had informed her. The right to “choose” was a right
belonging solely to the “strong.”
For that reason, Kaya had entered into an alliance with the
“Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” even knowing how unequal
their relationship was. Kaya needed to labor diligently to
improve their relationship, to serve her fellow Shinki as best
she could, and thus be rewarded for her efforts. This was her
first priority. Kaya wasn’t good at dealing with Elfriede, but
she needed to do her best here.
Jahar’s words were pretty much dead-on. These things were
necessary to claim victory.
However, Kaya was afraid. Both of killing and of being killed.
Regardless of the morality of her actions, Kaya lacked the
courage to trade her life for another’s.
“Something wrong, Kaya?”
A voice sounded in her ear. Tina had approached her without
her noticing.
“You don’t look too good. Are you scared?”
“…”
Kaya didn’t know how to respond, so she nodded instead.
Page 123
“Yeah, I understand. You don’t need to worry, though. We’ll

make sure you guys get home safely. Although back on the
surface, Master’s just a pretty pathetic merchant, but here in
the labyrinth, he’s more than reliable.”
Looking at the young man in question, Tina’s expression was
both proud and pleased.
“That goes for the two of you too, Edgar and Selim! There’s
no need to look so down. If you’re never looking up, then life
never will either.”
Tina looked pretty worn out herself. That notwithstanding, it
looked like her primary concern was to cheer everyone else up,
to help them all feel better.
Deep within Kaya’s heart, a feeling of guilt so strong that she
couldn’t ignore it rose to the forefront.
“——Please wait just a second.”
Alfred gestured for them to stop.
The party drew to a halt.
When something unexpected occurred – such as running into
a Void Beast – the haste of one’s actions determined life and
death. Edgar and Selim understood this as well.
Luckily, it wasn’t a Void Beast that they’d encountered.
Yuuki walked to the front to see what had happened and made
an unhappy pronouncement.
“…This isn’t good. It’s the stairway down.”
Page 124
Everyone well understood the reason for the gloom that

settled over his face.
They’d already explored the entire area, and what they could
reach of the fourth floor, they’d already seen. This corner had
been all that was left.
However, this, their last hope, had revealed not the stairway
up, but rather the stairway down.
“Sealed in” – Kaya remembered that those had been Jahar’s
words.
“Heh. Looks like this labyrinth doesn’t want to see us leave.
We haven’t heard anyone else make mention of the stairway
up either.”
“I-It’s still too early to decide that. Maybe there’s a hidden
room or road or something.”
“Even if there was, we have no idea where to even begin to
look for such a thing. Anyway, we’d already taken that into
consideration and having been watching carefully as we’ve
made our way.”
“Oh…”
Yuuki’s responses made Franka lose hope as well.
“So what should we do now, Yuuki? Should we head down
and take a look? Given the situation, the level of danger ought
to be roughly the same no matter where we go.”
Page 125
The rules binding stronger Void Beasts to lower levels was a

thing of the past given present circumstances. Whether they
stayed on this floor or descended further, the danger they
faced was more or less the same.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’s just that I have a bad feeling about
heading further down. It’s almost like we’d be playing right
into someone’s hands.”
Kaya knew just how accurate his assessment was, but she, of
course, said nothing.
Yuuki thought for a moment before deciding.
“Alright, let’s take the stairs.”
“Is that okay?”
“Nothing will change if we simply wait here. ——Are you
still okay to go on, Kaya?”
“Y-Yes. I’m fine.”
“Great. We should look for a way out while we still have
energy to spare.”
Yuuki smiled faintly and, turning to face the others taking up
the rear, told them to get ready to move.
Tina and Edgar were chatting quite happily. The two boys’
moods were much improved; her attempts to cheer them up
had succeeded, it seemed.
“Now that’s a real Shinki…” Kaya thought to herself.
Page 126
One who protected the people, delivering them from evil – a

guardian of this world.
Watching Tina, Kaya was filled with a deep sense of longing
– a mix of loneliness and envy.
The party descended the stairs, arriving at the fifth floor.
Kaya reported this change and promptly cut off the
connection without waiting for an answer.
What would she do next? Or rather, what would Jahar do next?
The fifth floor looked just as the floor before it had.
To be precise, it, too, was an amalgamation of other floors, a
warped mixture of the labyrinth’s levels.
“I have to admit, I feel a little hopeless…”
As she walked slowly along, Franka sighed.
“Who can say what lies ahead? We should continue what
we’ve been doing already by mapping out the floor as we
explore.”
Yuuki did his best to encourage everyone else.
Out of the blue, Kaya’s vision distorted and her head
screamed in pain.
——”It” had come again.
Page 127
※※※
“——”
It was a bit better this time.
Just as the vibrations had begun to rock the labyrinth once
more, he’d grabbed Tina and Kaya, who were falling.
“…Sorry Franka, I don’t have any more hands.”
“Oh, no, it’s alright. I’m okay.”
Franka stumbled a few steps, but managed to right herself.
“Mm. Tina’s okay as well, Master.”
“Don’t force yourself. ——How’re you, Kaya?”
“I’m fine,” she replied.
Likely because this was now the second time it had happened,
everyone’s symptoms were milder.
Yuuki placed the two he’d caught in his arms gently onto the
floor.
“Uh, Yuuki-sensei… behind us…” Edgar exclaimed.
Everyone turned to look behind them.
The stairwell they had just descended had vanished, replaced
by a blank stone wall.
Page 128
“…Everything’s been rearranged again.”

Yuuki clicked his tongue.
It wasn’t as though he hadn’t already considered the
possibility of such an occurrence, but it still bothered him
more than he cared to admit.
If it continued to happen, then any efforts to map out the new
topology would prove futile.
However, the fact that staying where they were wouldn’t
improve their situation hadn’t changed. Their small group
decided to press forward and explore the fifth floor.
As compared to the fourth floor, their efforts this time were
marked by ups and downs.
Everyone was pretty much accustomed to the strangeness of
the terrain by now, and any Void Beasts were immediately
repelled. Unfortunately, as they proceeded onward, the
phenomenon continued to repeat itself time and again, leaving
Yuuki and the others very unhappy.
None of the following changes were nearly as drastic as the
first had been, though. Essentially only the scenery directly
within their field of view seemed to have been effected.
Each change was a small one, along the lines of creating a
corner ahead of them where there had been none before, or
turning the road before them into a dead end.
Page 129
Although they were constantly wandering around, eternally on

the lookout for water, as time went on, they ran into fewer and
fewer adventurers.
Indeed, they had not met another person at any point during
their last two hours.
“——It looks like someone’s trying to isolate us,” Yuuki
thought.
If he considered that this had been the goal behind the
alterations made to the labyrinth, then things started to make
sense.
It should be said that he hadn’t thought of this just now; no,
this possibility had occurred to him immediately after the
phenomenon had first evinced itself. Now, however, it seemed
that this was indeed the answer.
This explanation did, after all, make far more sense than
“some mechanism within the labyrinth suddenly activated on
its own.” If someone was indeed behind this, then he’d just
have to pull them out from behind the curtains and give them
a sound beating and the problem would be solved. All that
remained was deciding how to get them to reveal
themselves——
“A Void Beast at 10 o’ clock!”
Franka’s shout interrupted his train of thought. These Void
Beast ambushes had happened numerous times already.
Alfred and Franka raced forward to meet the attacker.
Page 130
The children scrambled to the rear, hiding behind Yuuki.

Because this had occurred many times already, the reactions
of Edgar and company were fast and their motions practiced.
The two quickly put their enemies – fire breathing wolves –
on the brink of death.
Yuuki wanted to avoid combat unless absolutely necessary,
since action would risk exposing both his and Tina’s true
identities. That said, he would not risk Alfred and Franka’s
wellbeing simply to preserve that secret. Thankfully, such an
occasion had not yet presented itself.
As they gradually ever more fatigued, however, he determined
that once they’d exhausted themselves, he would need to act.
Watching their actions, they yet had energy to spare, but there
was a definite limit both to Alfred’s stamina and Franka’s
satchel of Divine Pearls. They couldn’t keep this up
indefinitely.
He needed to figure out a way to seize a hold of their enemy
before that limit was reached——
“Master! Over here!”
Tina.
Yuuki clicked his tongue and flipped around. He’d been too
focused on the battle in front of him, and had forgotten to
watch behind them as well.
Page 131
A black shadow had appeared, a cloud-like enemy preparing

to attack the children. It was an enemy often seen on the
fourth and fifth floors – a swarm of especially large wasps
that could be found only within the walls of the labyrinth.
“Get back!”
Tina grabbed Edgar and yanked him forward. A Void Beast of
this level was utterly incapable of harming a Shinki, so there
wasn’t anything to worry about there.
“Aaaaah——”
A venomous wasp flew at the neck of an ashen-faced Selim,
who was taking up the rear. Kaya, in an entirely unexpected
display of bravery, swatted it away.
Unfortunately, her action was accompanied by a shrill scream.
“Ah! Y-Yuuki-sensei! Selim——!”
It hadn’t been a single wasp that had attacked him. This
second wasp flew in from his blind spot, and stung him in the
arm.
“Calm down, Kaya. ——Tina, help Selim treat his wound.
Make sure you pull its stinger out!”
This type of wasp left its stinger behind in the victim’s body,
where it continually pumped venom into their bodies.
Yuuki gave Tina instructions before promptly charging
toward the cloud of wasps. Fuming inwardly at his
carelessness, he drew a dagger at his waist. His weapon
flashed, and a wasp fell dead, its body split in halves.
Page 132
In the blink of an eye, he’d slain the entire swarm. The job
done, he turned.
“How is it? Anyone else stung?”
“Selim was the only one, and we’ve already removed the
stinger. ——He was very brave; he didn’t even cry.”
Tina patted the head of the boy beside her, his eyes brimming
with tears.
Yuuki sighed.
“…I’m sorry. I was too careless.”
The strange new layout of the labyrinth meant that the
territories of Void Beasts, which never before overlapped,
now could, and thus attacks could come from multiple
directions. He’d focused overmuch on the large threat before
him, and had completely neglected to watch their rear.
“How are you all? Everyone okay?”
The lupine Void Beasts slain, Franka had rushed back to
check on the others.
“Selim’s arm was wounded by a poisonous wasp. I’m sorry to
ask you to have to exert yourself after a long fight like that,
but could you help him?”
“Of course! Leave it to me.”
Franka took his arm and inspected the wound.
Page 133
“The stinger’s… been removed already. This injury was

caused when the stinger was removed, yes?”
“Yeah, because the stinger was buried within his arm, we had
to cut it out with a dagger…”
“Well done. Poison will spread throughout the entire body
whereas a knife wound like this one can be healed easily
enough. ——Okay, I’m going to heal you with an Orison.
Please relax, Selim-kun. An injury like this just needs a bit of
rest, and then it’ll be as good as new, don’t you worry.”
Franka removed a Divine Pearl from her satchel and focused.
In a flash, the flesh on his arm had knit itself together and was
made whole once more. Offensive and restorative Orisons
were quite hard to do, but these were her specialties.
As Tina heaved a sigh of relief, Yuuki leaned in to whisper to
her.
“…When you pulled out the stinger from his arm, how
exactly did you manage to open his skin?”
“I used the knife you gave me when we entered.”
“That’s not what I’m asking. What I mean is, I thought you
Shinki couldn’t harm anyone?”
“Eh?”
Tina tilted her head in surprise and puzzlement.
“I was so focused on what I needed to do to help him that I
hadn’t realized it, but you’re right, Master. How did I do that?”
Page 134
“…You were able to cut his arm because it was for the sake of
helping him. If you didn’t realize you were causing any harm,
then it seems it’s possible for you to do so.”
The “inability to harm another living being” was purely a
mental block. If she hadn’t realized what she was doing was
hurting someone else, then this restriction on her actions
would not activate. Now that he thought about it, when she’d
woken up earlier, she’d crashed into his jaw, inflicting pain
upon him.
Although Selim’s wound was now healed, the party decided it
was best that they took a break nonetheless.
If any venom were left in his bloodstream, then physical
activity would precipitate its spread through his body,
worsening his condition. In order to avoid this worst case
scenario, they deemed it necessary to observe the situation for
a time.
Yuuki placed Selim under Franka’s watchful care while he
stood guard.
——Alfred suddenly sauntered up to Yuuki’s side.
“…How’re you holding up, Uncle?”
“Feeling pretty lively still.”
“This is the worst. Originally, I’d thought this was a simple
job, and yet look how things have turned out.”
Page 135
“Just think of these kinds of one-off jobs as a bit of recreation.

In the larger scheme of things, continuity and stability are
what’s important.”
“…I guess so.”
Yuuki sighed.
“You’re always mentoring new adventurers, Uncle. How’s the
money?”
“I don’t rely on this to put food on the table, if that’s what
you’re asking. Aside from duties with the training school, I
have a long-term employer. If you ever change your mind
about being an adventurer, I’d be more than happy to
introduce you.”
“Forget it.”
Done speaking, Yuuki turned to face the children.
“The kids seem to be holding up alright. I’d figured they’d be
pretty terrified after what just happened, but it looks like they
get along well with Tina and Franka.”
Selim was lying on the ground, resting, with the others
gathered around him.
“Not long ago, the ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon’ and her
Duelist, the noble Snow Blade King were very well-known.
This story——”
Franka seemed to be sharing a story of the Duelists with the
children. Selim, too, was an eager listener. From the looks of
things, he seemed to be doing just fine.
Page 136
“You don’t look very happy?”

“…”
Yuuki just grunted in response.
“Let me guess, you think Selim’s injury was your fault? It’s
not like I can’t understand how you feel. ‘There’s more I
could have done,’ ‘There’s more I should have done’ – you
can’t blame yourself like that. If you’re simply reflecting on
your actions, then that’s okay. But understand this –
masochism and regret don’t change anything.”
“I know.”
It wasn’t like he was omnipotent. In fact, he thought of
himself as weak and powerless – as limited. No, perhaps
“thought” was the wrong word; more like “recognized.”
But still… it was for that very reason that he didn’t want to
experience that ever again.
Franka’s story involuntarily flowed into his ears.
“From that point forward, the ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon’
and the Snow Blade King became bitter enemies. That was
when the ‘Black Demon’ made his appearance. They fought,
and the Snow Blade King was defeated.”
“Eh?! He lost! The Snow Blade King!” Edgar shouted.
Page 137
“This isn’t a story that’s been recorded anywhere, so no one

really knows, to be honest,” Franka replied with a wry smile.
“Truth be told, there are many variations that are passed
around. There are those who say that the Snow Blade King
had grown tired of this world, and intentionally threw the
fight. Others say that he had been harmed in the labyrinth first,
and lost for that reason. The one thing we know for certain is
that from that point on, the Snow Blade King ceased to appear
and the Black Demon began to serve the Lunar Shinki in his
place.”
“So what happened to the Snow Blade King then?” Selim
asked, from his spot on the ground.
“Some say that he perished, and others that he was lost. I
personally say it’s the latter. It’d just be too sad otherwise.”
“Tina agrees! Mas – er, the Snow Blade King – is definitely
still alive!”
Yuuki knew he was frowning. He wanted nothing more than
to run over and give the loose-lipped Shinki a sound knock
upside the head.
“Continuing on, thus the Black Demon became the new
Duelist of the Lunar Shinki. He and the Snow Blade King
couldn’t have been more different. Where the former’s blade
had been white, his was black. Not only did he refuse to lift a
hand in aid of adventurers in need, if they got in his way, he
slew them without the least hesitation. He became a most
feared, hated existence.”
Page 138
“So um, did the Lunar Shinki-sama of that time not have
anything to say about it?” Kaya inquired.
“Yeah, you’d think she’d be terribly angry, wouldn’t you?
Alas, anything she might have said has never been passed
down. All we know is that one day, she suddenly disbanded
her Oath Legion and ceased all action. From then on, there’s
been no hint of any activity from her. The Moon’s Oath
Legion is the only one that lies dormant these days. At the
same time, the name of the Black Demon gradually faded
from view. All this took place some five years ago.”
“…”
Five years. Has it really been that long?
“With that, Franka’s story is finished. Yuuki, we should go.”
“…Mm.”
Yuuki stood and smiled lightly.
“——Alright, you guys feeling better? Let’s go.”
※※※
“Um, are you really okay? Anything feel uncomfortable?”

Kaya asked Selim as they walked along.
Page 139
“Ah, no, I’m okay. I’m sorry Kaya, for inconveniencing you.”
“Seriously, Selim. You’re too weak.”
Although Edgar’s words right now were unconscionable, the
blood had completely drained from his face when Selim had
been stung.
“If you feel like you can’t go on, let us know in advance. We
can’t let you become a burden to the party, so I’ll take care of
you.”
“I said I’m fine.”
Listening to the two banter back and forth, Kaya heaved a
sigh of relief.
Seeing how peaceful and calm Selim was, she finally relaxed.
At the same time, she also realized her limits.
——She was simply incapable of harming another.
She remembered Franka’s story about the “Shinki Crowned
with the Moon.”
Kaya knew nothing of her predecessor. Although the two
shared the same title, they were two entirely distinct persons,
and thus their memories were their own.
Page 140
And so she knew nothing of what had happened between the

previous Lunar Shinki and her Duelist.
That deficiency notwithstanding, she did know one thing – the
last Lunar Shinki had manifested her desire to avoid harming
anyone.
——Should she follow that example?
※※※
“…Ohh?” Jahar muttered. “Kaya-chan isn’t picking up. She

seems to be refusing me.”
“Is it possible that her identity was discovered and she was
killed?” Elfriede responded.
“If something like that had happened, I would know. She’s
still alive. She’s still moving too; I can tell. I think she’s just
ignoring me.”
“It’s not unexpected.”
The Stellar Shinki nodded expressionlessly.
Indeed, Kaya’s decision was within the realm of her
expectation, and so she had prepared a countermeasure.
Page 141
“Alright then, as we discussed earlier, I’ll take control of

things. And, as agreed upon earlier, this means your reward
will be reduced.”
Jahar shrugged. This, too, is for victory. So be it.
“…If you’re going to cooperate, there are better ways.”
Elfriede looked down at the labyrinth entrance and whispered.
“This is all because of your cowardice. If you’re going to hate
anyone, then hate yourself, O ‘Shinki Crowned with the
Moon.'”
Page 142
Page 143
Chapter 3: Protected Things, Broken Things
“Hey, hey, over here——”

Lea reached out with both arms, taunting the enemy.
The foe in question was an enormous grizzly bear. However,
this beast had three arms on each side of its body, for a total
of six.
Each arm seemed to operate autonomously, attacking
independently of the others.
Each attack was, however, skillfully avoided; at times Lea
dodged by a hair’s breadth, other times she raised her dagger
to deflect the blow.
The monster roared, frustrated at its inability to catch its prey.
It kicked off the ground and charged her, seemingly intending
to crash directly into her.
Lea threw herself to the ground an instant before the collision
was to occur, narrowly evading the attack.
Its momentum propelling itself forward, the bear flew forward
into a wide, empty space – where two others were waiting.
“I leave it to you, Sera~” Lea called out cheerily, as Serafina
revealed a Divine Pearl and began to focus.
——In the next instant, the bear fell to the ground in an
exaggerated manner.
That made things easy. Dispatching an immobile foe was
beyond trivial.
Page 144
“AmnisBlue Water Pike!”

Stefan called forth his weapon, piercing straight through the
beast’s skull in a single stroke. Its massive body gave one
final convulsion before ceasing movement.
“The beast is dead; nice! Good job you two——” Lea
declared as she walked over to the other two.
She was covered from head to toe in scrapes and bruises, but
showed no sign of any major injuries.
Giving the bear’s corpse a quick glance, she frowned.
“…Ew, that’s disgusting – its head’s completely split open.”
“That’s what a celestial Dragon Fang weapon’s like.”
A legendary weapon capable of slaying even the gods. Its
destructive potential was simply incomparable.
“Even so, those things have a mind of their own, right? For it
to work so hard on your behalf, it must be quite fond of you,
you know?”
“…”
Stefan turned his gaze to the spear in his hand. That was a
thought that had never before occurred to him.
Now she mentioned it, he realized that if he left the Oath
Legions, he’d lose this gift from the “Shinki who Supports the
Sky.”
——He’d feel rather lonely in that case.
Page 145
The three were currently investigating the depth to which the

phenomenon had taken effect.
Their journey so far had been surprisingly smooth.
The three’s skills synergized quite well in combat.
Even if the appearance of Void Beasts had defied what had
previously passed for common knowledge, they nonetheless
had no difficulty dealing with these beasts. Small Void Beasts
such as poisonous insects were quickly burned to ash by
Serafina’s Orisons. Larger Beasts such as the bear just now
were handled in the same manner they’d used to slay the one
just now: Lea acted as bait, Serafina sealed its movements,
and Stefan dealt the killing blow.
Lea’s acrobatic ability was simply stunning, and Stefan felt
sincere admiration for Serafina’s deft command of Orisons.
The Orison she’d just employed to get the bear to fall over
had been an illusionary magic. For a beast which relied on its
sight as it had, shifting the angle of its vision by 90 degrees
had been more than enough to cause it to lose its balance.
Comparing this technique to a more direct – and forceful –
approach, not only was this method far more sparing of divine
energy, in certain situations, it might prove far more effective.
——Getting this cleric of few words to explain as much,
however, was another matter. Even with Lea’s help, it had
taken no small amount of time.
(…A cleric, huh.)
Page 146
Stefan was suddenly reminded of another young cleric girl.

He’d heard that she’d recently attained third-rank
qualifications.
The time they’d been able to spend with one another as
adventurers was pathetically small… Perhaps that might yet
change in the future.
The lost adventurers had already begun to find their way back
to the surface one by one. Their best guess was that the
constant rearrangement of the labyrinth had finally opened up
paths of escape for them.
Unfortunately, no one knew what had happened to the group
he was most concerned about.
“This is the last floor. Yeah, we’ve sure seen a lot,” Lea
commented as she opened a map.
The lines and words on the map were incredibly messy;
Stefan could hardly believe she was able to piece anything
together from that mishmash of scribbles.
“…Lea, please explain.”
Seeing Stefan’s expression, Serafina came to his assistance.
“Right, right. ——Because the labyrinth’s layout is in
constant flux, I’ve long since given up on trying to map it out.
Instead, I’ve been tracing out our path and trying to figure out
the rules that guide the changes. This is what I’ve found.”
Flipping over her notes, she continued.
Page 147
“This phenomenon takes effect in a portion of the labyrinth –

roughly the first through the thirtieth floors – and divides up
the entire area into smaller regions which are then rearranged.
Everything – roads, rooms, even stairways – is affected.”
“And the cause?”
“Unknown,” Lea answered.
“There are several noticeable tendencies, however. First of all,
the effect is focused. Look around us: this thirtieth floor is
almost unchanged. The epicenter is above us; I’d estimate the
third or fourth through the seventh floors.”
“I see.”
This info had already been passed on to headquarters. It was
likely that even now they were focusing their efforts on
investigating the specified area.
“Here’s where the situation changes. Look, we’re currently on
the thirtieth floor, right? That makes the next floor down the
31st; I went ahead and checked it just now.”
Stefan and Serafina nodded.
The 31st through 35th floors were special. Rather than five
separate floors with ceilings and floors, they were instead
comprised of a massive stone pillar stretching the span. It
would be impossible to mistake it for anything else.
“Well, that’s where the problem appears. If this is the thirtieth
floor, how many sets of stairs did it take to get here?”
“Is it not thirty?” Stefan asked with a frown.
Page 148
Counting the first stairway in from the entrance, it should take

thirty sets of stairs to reach the thirtieth floor.
“That’s what you’d think, right? The problem is I’ve counted
– and there are only 29.”
“I never noticed…” Serafina whispered.
“So what you’re telling us is that there’s a floor missing?”
“Exactly.”
Lea nodded in confirmation.
“Given that, the next question then is, ‘Which floor is
missing?’ The most obvious suspect would be one of the
floors that form the epicenter, namely the third through
seventh floors. It’s quite likely that one of those floors has
become isolated. Moreover, because we haven’t noticed any
extra sets of stairs, it’s likely that space itself has become
distorted.”
“There’s a possibility that… some missing persons are
trapped within.”
“…”
Missing persons, was it?
“If we can find that missing stairway or perhaps a
teleportation device of some sort——”
“We’ll break the floor.”
“…Huh?”
Page 149
Lea’s mouth hung open in shock. Serafina blinked in surprise.

“That is both the simplest and most efficacious method. Even
if the stairway isn’t present, but from what we’ve seen, the
floor itself ought to be where we expect. That being the case,
then we should be able to reach it from above. We can’t not
reach it. Rather than wasting our time on what could be
exploring in vain, this way is far faster.”
“Wait just a——”
“First things first, we need to see how big a hole we can open
up with Orisons and offensive-type Reliquia. If that doesn’t
work, we’ll just have to have people dig a——”
“Wait, wait, wait. Stefan, you need to calm down, alright? Are
you trying to destroy the labyrinth?”
“It’s nothing major; we’re just digging a hole in the ground,
after all. I’m already calm.”
“…I’m happy to hear that, but please calm down more than
you already are.”
Lea waited for a moment before continuing.
“First of all, even if you did that, you’d have no guarantee of
actually breaking through to the target area. This is the
labyrinth, you know? We have no idea what the structure
between floors is like.”
“…”
Page 150
“Furthermore, even if you did succeed in making a hole to the

next floor, it’s possible that the act of excavation could cause
a cave-in right above the very people we’re trying to save.
Worst-case scenario? We cause the entire floor to collapse.”
“…”
The rational part of Stefan’s mind echoed her words.
“I never would have guessed that you’d simply act without
thinking like that… You seem rather anxious?”
“Is that how I look?”
Lea and Serafina nodded in unison.
“…I hadn’t noticed myself. That said, my sense of things
more often than not differs from others; I’m very aware.”
“Losing your calm while maintaining a poker face like that
can’t be good for you. Anyway, I have an idea. Let’s head
back to the surface and then investigate more carefully this
time.”
“…”
Serafina seemed to be in agreement.
“There’s no need to worry. Your sister’s an amazing
adventurer, right? Don’t worry – she’s definitely okay.”
“…?”
Stefan frowned at Lea.
“Hmm? Oh, your sister? I heard about it from Leader.”
Page 151
“That’s not what I was wondering about. ——I hadn’t said

once that I was ‘worried about my sister.’ Why would you
think that?”
This time it was Lea’s turn to furrow her brows.
“Are you some kind of idiot or something?”
“…What do you mean?”
“No, never mind. Sorry.”
Lea sighed. She looked utterly flabbergasted.
“Anyway, what do you think about my proposal? I think we
can get at least gather the latest intel that way.”
“…Alright.”
“I understand. Then let’s head back for the time being.”
The three returned to the stairway up.
Their journey was without incident, and they only
encountered a handful of Void Beasts.
“…I don’t think I’m worried,” Stefan murmured as they
walked.
Lea looked over.
“About your sister? Wait, don’t tell me you’ve been thinking
about that this entire time?”
Page 152
“I once had a goal. For that purpose, I trained endlessly and

became an adventurer. However, my goal, that which I sought
after… everything’s lost its meaning.”
Lea and Serafina didn’t speak.
“That girl – she is all that remains of my hopes.”
The pain and sorrow that came from losing someone precious.
She was his family, the only person he could share this with.
“I think the reason I’m so concerned about her is because if I
lost her as well, then nothing I’ve ever done would have any
meaning. That’s why I don’t think ‘worried’ is the right word.
I just… want to save her, for my own sake.”
Stefan was no more talking to them than he was to himself.
As he spoke, those uncertain feelings that had long lingered in
his heart slowly grew clearer.
So when Lea spoke up, he was somewhat surprised.
“That’s what we call ‘worrying.'”
“…”
“Reasons might vary, but that feeling of wanting to help
someone else doesn’t change, right? That’s what we mean by
‘worrying.’ ——Regardless of the reason, the desire to be of
service to someone else has a worth all of its own. There’s no
need to overthink things to this degree.”
“…Is that so?”
Page 153
“Yes, just so. I said it, so it can’t be wrong. ——But seriously,

here I am speaking such deep and profound truths and your
expression seriously hasn’t so much as twitched. Do you not
think anything of what I said?”
It wasn’t that he didn’t, but rather that he didn’t know what
expression he should be wearing right now.
So he asked.
“Can I ask why you two are doing something like this?”
“What’re you referring to?”
“Does drawing maps make you happy?”
“Ah…”
Lea considered his question for a moment before finally
answering.
“Rather than happy… I should say that I want to leave
something behind. There’s nothing wrong with people’s
memories, but if everyone that knew you passed on, then
wouldn’t any trace of your existence be gone? That thought
makes me lonely. Although I draw maps because they’re a
necessity, the truth is that I also write stories and plays.”
“And you, Serafina?”
“I, um, I was… dragged into this by Lea…”
“Once this girl starts writing, she becomes a real chatterbox.
It’s a sight to see, let me tell you,” Lea retorted.
Page 154
“Our guides to the labyrinth are all written by her, I’ll have
you know. She’s even written some romance novels recently!”
“L-Lea, t-that…”
“It’s nothing to be ashamed of. When we get back to the
surface, you should give Stefan a copy. I’ll tell you now – her
book’s pretty popular right now, you know?”
Suddenly Lea froze.
A strangely serious expression took hold of this bubbly girl.
“…You have to be kidding me. What the hell are you
thinking——” Lea muttered, looking up at the ceiling.
“What’s the matter? Is something wrong——”
“Stefan! Over here! Get down!”
Just as Lea screamed warning, a loud roar sounded as the
labyrinth shuddered violently, throwing Stefan into the air.
※※※
——She was ready for death.

Her ears filled with the sound of falling rocks, and a cloud of
dust obscured her vision.
Page 155
Originally, she’d been on the floor, but now she was thrown
about in mid-air, like a leaf flitting about at the mercy of a
whirlwind.
——Just how many times had it shook?

As her consciousness returned, she noted that her
surroundings had fallen silent.
“Ow…”
Franka struggled to rise, enduring the pain that shot through
her body as she did so.
What had happened? She struggled to pull her thoughts
together, and slowly the memory came to her.
An intense, forceful shaking had savaged the area their party
had been in, throwing them off their feet. She hadn’t had the
luxury of worrying about others while the incident was
ongoing.
The walls had broken, turning to rubble which had fallen all
around them. She’d been struck… and that was all that she
remembered.
From the looks of it, she hadn’t been out long. The dust from
the cave-in still filled the air, making it hard to see.
Franka leaned against the wall for support, and, using an
Orison, created a source of light.
She surveyed around her——
Page 156
“——”
What she saw left her speechless.
All around her lay broken slabs of rock the size of a full-
grown adult, perhaps the remains of what had once been the
walls and ceiling of the labyrinth. Had anyone been
unfortunate enough to have been trapped beneath one, death
had certainly found them.
“Y-Yuuki-san! Master! Anyone——”
“——Franka?”
The voice of a young man answered her call.
“Yuuki-san! Thank goodness… How’s everyone else?”
“I’m not sure. They should be around here——”
Yuuki’s voice faded, as he was unwilling to give voice to
other possibilities. Franka mirrored that sentiment.
A small frame slowly rose, coughing.
Franka turned to look, heaving a sigh of relief.
“Kaya-chan… are you okay?”
“I’m alright. Edgar and Selim are over here.”
Franka and Yuuki ran over to look them over.
The two were caught in a narrow crevice formed by two slabs
of rock. They’d narrowly avoided being crushed by these
enormous slabs of stone – a miracle.
Page 157
“They’ve just fainted, thank goodness. ——That leaves…”

“Uncle and… Tina,” Yuuki replied in a sober tone.
When the shaking had begun, the two had been walking
together, at the front of the group. Because Franka had been
caring for Selim’s wound, Tina had been lighting the way in
her stead.
Franka and Yuuki extricated the two children from where they
rested, and gave them to Kaya to watch over while they went
off to explore.
In what might be considered a stroke of luck, they found no
sign of the two.
Had they been caught under one of the falling stones, or
perhaps——
“…Over there. Quickly, look over there,” Yuuki commented
unhappily, pointing.
He was pointing at a wall – one that hadn’t been there before
the shaking started.
“On that note, just after the shaking ended, I was struck by the
same headache and ringing in my ears as before… In other
words, the shaking and the alterations occur one after another.
Uncle and Tina have been separated from us, huh?”
Franka looked to Yuuki for direction.
“…The first thing we need to do is get these kids back to the
surface. That’s our priority here.”
Page 158
Yuuki spoke in a dull monotone, stifling the emotions raging

within him.
“If we dilly-dally here, then we might just get in a second
cave-in. I don’t think Tina or Uncle would forgive us for
making such a mistake. We need to go, and quickly.”
“R-Right.”
“I’ll carry Edgar and take the lead. You take Selim and follow
me, Franka. Kaya, you help Franka carry her stuff and the
lantern. ——You had better stay close.”
Just what had those final words meant? Kaya’s expression
stiffened and she nodded strongly.
Their group advanced through the treacherous terrain as one.
By the time they arrived at the summit of the floor, there had
already ceased to be any trace of a cave-in. The quaking had
been extremely localized.
“…Is there a way out?”
Franka immediately regretted asking. Her anxiety had
overcome her, causing her to ask this most meaningless of
questions. It went without saying that Yuuki had no more idea
than she whether or not such a thing existed.
Strangely, however, he answered.
“I’m looking for the stairway up. If my guess is correct, I
think we’ll find it.”
“I-I see. Why——”
Page 159
Do you know? she had wanted to ask, though she cut herself
off mid-sentence. ——Because he’d continued to speak.
“…I can still do better. There has to be a better solution to all
of this. That’s what I’ve been telling myself ever since that
happened. How many times must this repeat itself? I seriously
haven’t improved one bit.”
His words carried within them a profound sense of regret.
Franka didn’t know what she should say in such a situation.
Should she comfort him?
Tell him that it wasn’t his fault?
——No, such words would not salve his torment.
In any event, did she even have the right to do such a thing?
In the end, she decided to hold her silence, sighing at her own
weakness, as she continued forward.
“Ah——”
Suddenly, Kaya called out.
A Void Beast had appeared, and it was of a type that made its
residence below the tenth floor.
It was an organism that had no analogue in the world above. If
it had to be described, it might be likened to a tusked rabbit.
However, its size was that comparable to that of a small child
and its speed was nearly impossible to follow with the naked
eye.
Page 160
“Yuuki-san, I’ll——”
Bind its movement with an Orison, Franka had been about to
say, but what she saw left her speechless.
A faint sound, like the puncturing of a bag of water, sounded,
and the beast fell to the ground, dead.
Yuuki held Edgar in one arm, his dagger in the other.
From the scene before her, it was obvious that Yuuki was
responsible. He’d drawn his dagger and killed the monster,
slicing it into quarters.
The terrifying thing was that it had all been done in a literal
blink of an eye. Not only had Franka failed to catch the
moment when he’d cut the beast, as far as she was concerned,
he hadn’t moved at all.
This was far beyond what even Alfred or Stefan were capable
of. Never before in her life had she witnessed such exquisite
swordsmanship.
Page 161
Page 162
——No.
(I’ve seen this once before…)
It was when she’d encountered the legendary Void Dragon
and had sunk into the depths of despair.
Just then, both she and her brother had been saved.
“…Let’s go.”
As prompted, their party set off once more.
Weathering the silence for a time, Franka finally resolved
herself.
This wasn’t the time to keep quiet. Nor was this the time to
worry about either hurting another or being hurt. She didn’t
think she could claim to know him thoroughly, but she was at
least confident enough to say that this was necessary.
Three times she slowly inhaled and exhaled.
(——Okay.)
She sped up, catching up to him.
“There’s… something I’d like to ask, is that alright with you?”
“…What? Is it really something you need to talk about right
now?”
“Yes. It’s very important.”
Page 163
He offered no more resistance, so Franka took his silence as

acceptance.
“So um, I heard from Tina-chan earlier, but… Yuuki-san,
there was a girl you were close to before? What kind of
person was she?!” Franka gasped out in a single breath.
“——Uu”
“…?”
“Uwahahahahahhahaha! The heck is that?!”
Yuuki burst out laughing.
The wry smile on his face notwithstanding, he’d returned to
the Yuuki that Franka knew and was familiar with, all trace of
his former gloom gone from his face.
“…Seriously though, that girl just doesn’t know how to keep
her mouth shut. When we get back, I’m going to have to teach
her a lesson, maybe make her skip a few meals.”
“P-Please don’t be angry with Tina-chan… U-um…”
“Ah, yeah. There certainly was someone like that. ——Before,
I… wasn’t really a good person.”
Yuuki stared off into the distance.
Page 164
“Truth be told, I was party to some pretty terrible things… At

the command of my superiors, I committed numerous sins.
That was the kind of place I grew up in. Not once did I
question the morality of my actions. Later on, I was granted
the opportunity to realize what I had become. ——I was a tool.
I was simply being exploited by others, unfit even to be
labeled ‘human.'”
“That…”
“I was filled with regret.”
His voice was steady.
“The life I’d lived filled me with a deep, deep sense of regret.
Deep within my heart, I thought that I’d pay any price for a
second chance. It was then that she took me in. She was such
a strange one: proud, resolute in her ideals, and – at times –
willful, like a small child. ——She was the one who taught
me what it meant to be human.”
“And where is she now?”
“Dead.”
That a single word could contain such immeasurable sorrow.
“To express my gratitude, I told her I’d protect her, but I
couldn’t keep that promise. She died because of me.”
“…”
Page 165
“That’s why now that Tina and Uncle are separated from us,
I’m feeling a bit down. If I could just find my way back to
their side, I’d protect them. It’s alright, though. I’m feeling
better now.”
“…Thank goodness. The look on your face was so strange I
was starting to worry.”
“Franka, you——”
“Hmm?”
“…No, never mind. Thank you.”
The bright, carefree smile which usually adorned his face
made its return.
Franka thought to herself that perhaps he’d seen through her.
The topic she had just broached was a painful one for him,
and so it wasn’t one she’d talk about lightly.
So why had she intentionally raised the issue? She’d wanted
to distract him from his worries, even at the cost of risking his
anger.
He’d begun to lose himself in a cycle of blame and guilt, a
storm of internal strife in which he’d be lost. For that reason,
she’d had to draw him “out.”
Franka had noticed something.
The strange recurring phenomenon was the product of
someone intentionally targeting their small party.
Page 166
If that was indeed true, then his battle… was not yet over.
Even if it meant he’d be angry with her, as long as his focus
was turned outward, he’d be able to recover. He had to.
And thus Franka had intentionally set out to trample upon the
grounds of his heart.
Even if he resented her for it, hated her for it, she preferred
that to watching him lose himself in guilt.
——That had been Franka’s thoughts on the matter.
“Stairs!”
Franka raised her head at Kaya’s shout.
The stairway up for which they’d been searching for what
seemed an eternity was now before them.
“As I thought.”
Yuuki turned to look at Franka.
“That should lead to the fourth floor. Things should be alright
from here on. I’m sure the Oath Legions are even now
investigating the situation. You just need to find them, and
they’ll get you guys back to the surface. I’m sorry, but——”
“I know. I can handle things from here. Leave the kids to me.”
Franka forced herself to laugh.
Yuuki blinked in surprise, never having expected her to
understand so quickly.
Page 167
“You’re going to save Tina-chan and Uncle, right? I’ll have to

leave things to you. The two of them are very important to
me.”
“…Yeah, leave it to me.”
“I-I’m going too.”
Kaya made her way to Yuuki’s side, trembling all the while,
her head bowed.
Franka wasn’t surprised. She, too, must possess “something.”
The world they lived in and the world she lived in were too
different; she didn’t have the qualifications necessary to set
foot on that side of things. ——At least for now.
Yuuki walked a few steps and then turned back.
“Franka. Thank you. Really.”
“Oh, um, you’re very welcome…”
Franka couldn’t speak, and instead sent the two off with her
eyes, before finally heaving a sigh.
“Now then, it’s just about time to return to our normal lives.
Edgar- and Selim-kun seem just about ready to wake——”
Franka frowned.
Several Void Beasts had appeared, the same kind as the
tusked rabbit that Yuuki had killed earlier.
Page 168
It looked like they were planning on having a meal now that

the troublesome person had left, or perhaps they were desiring
to avenge their fallen comrade.
“My apologies.”
Franka gripped a Divine Pearl as she gave a wry smile.
“——But I’m not going to lose.”
An enormous conflagration enveloped the Void Beasts,
turning them to charcoal.
Two had managed to escape the flame’s wrath, however. Her
extreme exhaustion had caused her aim to suffer.
“You——!”
The Void Beasts prepared to attack once more. Am I going to
make it——?
A gale of wind suddenly blew by.
The twin Void Beasts, preparing to charge their foe, were
instead cut into two halves which fell lifelessly to the ground.
Franka turned back, catching sight of a certain person.
Said person held the celestial Dragon Fang weapon AmnisBlue
Water Pike in his hands. It was the first-ranked adventurer
known as a prodigy, a person most familiar to Franka.
“…Nii-san…”
“Are you hurt?” Stefan asked expressionlessly.
Page 169
“I’m okay. ——That sure gave me a shock. This is so sudden.”

“…”
“What brings you here? Are you investigating the
abnormality?”
“…Yes.”
The quaking just now had separated Stefan from his party
members, so he’d continued the investigation alone.
Although he’d found himself surrounded by no small number
of dangerous Void Beasts, as far as Franka’s brother was
concerned, he hadn’t been in any danger whatsoever.
Once upon a time, Franka had felt that her brother’s stony
expression was so grave as to be frightful.
She didn’t feel that way anymore.
“I apologize for disrupting you while you’re working, but do
you think you could help me take these kids back to the
surface?”
“…”
Wordlessly, Stefan took the children into his arms. At long
last, Franka felt peace settle over her.
※※※
Page 170
“…Um, Yuuki-sensei?” Kaya asked. “How long ago… did

you notice?”
“I began to suspect you right after the anomaly first occurred.
The huge working of divine energy affected you very harshly,
much more so than it did Franka; it affected you almost
exactly the way it affected Tina, in fact. There’s no way a
human could be that sensitive.”
“…”
“My suspicions were confirmed when you were protecting
Selim. When you swatted the wasp away with your hand, it
stung you, and yet you were completely unharmed.”
Kaya blinked.
“You saw that…?”
“Please don’t look down on the motion vision of a former
Duelist. The nail in the coffin came when Franka was sharing
the story of the Shinki with all of you. ‘Did the Lunar Shinki-
sama of that time not have anything to say about it?’ you said.
‘Of that time’ – those were your words. In other words, you
know that there are multiple Shinki of the Moon. ——
Because we’re short on time, I’m going to have to ask you
directly: which Shinki are you?”
“…The Moon.”
Kaya shrank as she responded.
“…So you’re Muriel’s successor, huh?”
Page 171
Yuuki stifled the pain that filled his heart. This wasn’t the
time for such things.
“Your plan was to separate Tina and myself and ambush us
once we were alone, am I right?”
“Yes…”
Kaya sighed dejectedly and continued.
“This plan was devised by my Duelist – Jahar-san. Do you
know him, Yuuki-sensei?”
He had indeed heard that name before. A moment’s
consideration brought the memory to mind.
He’d been a member of Stefan’s party, a dark-skinned young
man who wielded a huge blade.
With this, many things fell into place. So he’d been under
watch for that long.
“When the time was right, I was to teleport Jahar-san here.
Afterward, Yuuki-sensei… and Tina… one by one…”
“We’d be killed. So he has a celestial Dragon Fang weapon
then. ——You haven’t teleported him over yet, correct?”
Kaya nodded.
“The shaking and alterations to the labyrinth – what caused
them?”
“I don’t know either. Perhaps Jahar-san used some kind of
Reliquia.”
Page 172
All this Shinki had been responsible for was watching over
them and teleporting Jahar when the moment came.
Now that he thought about it, the Moon’s Oath Legion had
been disbanded. She didn’t have any subordinates she could
rely on.
In that case, they’d better meet up with Tina and Alfred as
soon as possible——
“U-Um…”
Kaya looked at Yuuki through fearful eyes.
“What’s up?”
“A-Are you… going to kill me now?”
“Huh?”
“Jahar-san said… He said… that it was only natural that
people who would kill others… would be killed themselves.
I… think so too.”
“Do you want me to kill you?”
She shook her head with great force.
“Then I won’t. Anyway, you’ve had it rough too. The reason I
figured things out was because you protected Selim. Also…
that cave-in just now, I know that you saved us with your
powers.”
“…”
Page 173
The fact that Yuuki and company hadn’t been caught in the
rain of falling rubble was no coincidence.
He presumed that Tina had also tried, but her frankly pitiful
store of divine energy would have been unable to produce the
effect they’d seen.
“On the contrary, let me thank you instead.”
Tears began to run down her cheeks.
“I… I never wanted anyone to get hurt…”
“I know.”
Yuuki nodded.
“You haven’t teleported your Duelist over, after all. Plus,
you’ve revealed everything without trying to run from the
responsibility. ——All that tells me that you’re done doing
things that way. Oh, that reminds me – how much divine
energy do you have left?”
“Eh…? Oh, not that much, sorry…”
“That’s okay. I’ll need your help then. We need to bring Tina
and Uncle here. If you have the energy for it, can you teleport
them here? You could also break down the walls between us,
if that works better.”
Yuuki walked over to a dead end. Kaya obediently followed
behind.
“…Um…”
Page 174
“Yes?”
“Yuuki-sensei, can I ask you – a Duelist – something?”
“Make that former Duelist, but sure.”
“The Duelists are people who protect the Shinki, right?”
“Yes.”
“So why doesn’t Jahar-san protect me then? He doesn’t listen
to me at all, and his personality’s terrible… If I think about it,
we’re nothing alike.”
Yuuki pondered her query for a moment before answering her
with a question of his own.
“Let me ask you something. Why do you think the Duelists
protect the Shinki? There’s no way they do it without hope of
reward, right?”
“Hmm…”
Kaya’s face clearly demonstrated the depth of her perplexity.
“…I’ve never thought about that before. The only answer I
can think of is that it’s the Heavenly King’s will.”
“If I had to describe the Duelists, I’d say that almost without
exception they are terribly powerful… and also broken,”
Yuuki replied, reflecting on his own experience.
Page 175
“When I say broken, I mean to say that we’re all somehow

deficient. At one point, each and every one of our souls cried
out that that defect might be fixed, and it was in that state that
we were summoned to this world. We are then paired with the
Shinki that has the ability to heal what ails us.”
“Heal…?”
“In return, the Duelists protect the Shinki. I’m sure you’ve
heard that the ‘most suitable person’ is chosen as Duelist,
right? This is what that saying means.”
“I don’t really understand…”
“Every Duelist has ‘something they want to do’ or ‘something
they want to receive.’ The Shinki are responsible for realizing
that dream. That’s basically what I mean. ——You heard
what I said to Franka earlier, right? I was once nothing more
than an unthinking, unfeeling tool; I knew nothing of what it
meant to be human. All of this Muriel, the previous ‘Shinki
Crowned with the Moon,’ gave me. It’s because of her that I
now live a normal person’s life in the city.”
“…And what is it that I can do for Jahar-san? If you ask me
what it is he lacks, all that comes to mind is that he refuses to
listen to me?”
“I’m not him, so I can’t say. ——Think about what it is he
wants more than anything… you must have some clue, no?”
Kaya thought for a moment.
Page 176
“He… always talks about ‘obtaining victory.’ He wants to

‘fight, and seize victory.’ That’s why he’s always angry that I
have no desire to fight.”
“That’s it then.”
Had he once failed, searing regret into his heart?
Perhaps he was even now seeking redemption as Kaya’s
Duelist.
On the other hand, the Shinki standing before him clearly
despised conflict; she wasn’t the type to fight to win.
Maybe he was looking at it all wrong.
“I’m so tired of all of this…”
Kaya laughed weakly and heaved a sigh.
“I’m sorry… There’s no point in complaining to my enemy,
Sensei.”
She looked so young, but she was wise beyond her years and
bore a heavy sense of responsibility.
Even though she knew what kind of situation she was in, and
the dark future she’d chosen for herself, she hadn’t sought to
escape that responsibility.
Yuuki scratched his head awkwardly.
“…Let me ask you something. What do you want to do right
now?”
“Huh?”
Page 177
“When things go wrong, the first thing to do is set a short-

term goal for yourself. That’s what the Gramps who taught
me business always said.”
“….If things were to go smoothly for me, that’d be bad for
you, Yuuki-sensei. Should you really be telling me something
like that?”
“Hearing something good makes you wary, huh? Business
might just be a good fit for you. Much more so than mine,
anyway.”
Yuuki smiled wryly.
“——Whether you’re a Shinki or my enemy or whatever,
none of that changes the fact that you’re my student. Teaching
you is my job. Does that reasoning work for you?”
“…”
Kaya didn’t know what kind of expression to wear as she
stared numbly at him. Finally, she bowed her head.
“I… want to have a sincere talk with Jahar-san.”
“That’s a good choice.”
The reason she wanted a “sincere” discussion was because she
knew she hadn’t tried her best either. If she’d come to that
realization, then chances were that things might yet change.
“Right. First, I need to find Tina and Alfred, and bring them
home. Are you coming?”
The “Shinki Crowned with the Moon” gave a firm nod.
Page 178
Just then——
“…Kaya?”
Yuuki frowned.
She’d suddenly frozen up.
“Why…?” she whispered, her face ashen. “I hadn’t heard a
thing… I haven’t done anything…”
“Calm down. What’s happened?”
“…Teleported.”
Kaya’s eyes finally returned to meet Yuuki’s.
“Jahar-san is already where Tina is.”
※※※
“Grr——”
Tina humphed as she stared down the object in their way.
“What a pain! It’s in our way!”
“…You can get mad all you want, but I get the feeling the
wall doesn’t mind,” a droll voice called out from behind her.
“Just forget it. There’s nothing you can do, anyway.”
Page 179
“Hmph. I guess you’re right. There’s no need to worry, Alfred.

Master will come for us.”
Tina had the utmost confidence that that was true.
Alfred was right that there wasn’t anything they could do in
this situation.
The violent shaking earlier had caused a cave-in. She’d used
her divine energy to protect the party, and the exertion had left
her nearly depleted.
Once the quaking had finally subsided, they’d found
themselves cut off from Yuuki and the others. Given the
discomfort the experience had subjected her to, the labyrinth-
altering phenomenon had likely occurred again.
Alfred and Tina had already explored all there was to see of
the space they found themselves in; it hadn’t taken much time.
There wasn’t all that much to see, truth be told.
The walls were laden with bioluminescent moss, so their
surroundings were clearly visible even without a lantern. The
light illuminated a broken-down room of some fifty square
meters without any doors.
In other words, they were trapped. The one small blessing of
their situation was that at least they did not have to worry
about Void Beasts.
However——
(…Just after the shaking stopped, I felt the powers of several
Shinki activating.)
Page 180
If she had to say it, then yes, she was worried. That said, she
didn’t have any divine energy left at her disposal; even if she
wanted to investigate further, it simply wasn’t an option.
When it came down to it, all they could do was wait to be
rescued.
“…You know, you really trust Yuuki, don’t you, Tina-chan?”
“Yeah. Master is worthy of Tina’s trust.”
She stuck her chest out proudly.
“…You don’t find him frightening?”
“Eh? Well, sure, when Tina makes a mistake counting the bill
or accidentally breaks store inventory, then yeah, he’s scary.
On those days, dinner shrinks a dish, after all. If that’s not to
be feared, I don’t know what qualifies.”
“I see.”
Alfred revealed a bitter smile.
“Still, I have to say that was a strange question, really. Are
you afraid of Master then, Alfred?”
“…I don’t know.”
His tone changed.
Page 181
“If the feeling of awe at overwhelming strength and

frightening talent can be classified as ‘fear,’ then yes, I am.
However, just like those who wield power can vary, the ways
in which that power is wielded can vary as well. In that
sense——”
The latter half of his words seemed to be directed more to
himself than to Tina.
Tina was left thoroughly bewildered; she couldn’t make heads
or tails of what this man was saying——
Suddenly, she stiffened.
“——Watch out! Behind you!”
Alfred drew his weapon as she cried out. The metallic clank
of metal against metal sounded, and blood sprayed into the air.
“Ohh? Those reflexes of yours aren’t half bad. What were you
called again? Al… Alf?”
Before them stood a man wielding a gigantic sword.
“My name’s Alfred. I appreciate the compliment.”
The calm manner in which he responded belied the ill look of
his face. His armor had been cut open from his shoulder
downward. Blood flowed freely from the wound.
“You were a member of Stefan’s party once, weren’t you?
You disappeared during the incident with the Void Dragon;
everyone was under the impression you’d died.”
“Just call me the Immortal Jahar.”
Page 182
Jahar laughed unconcernedly.

His face was familiar to Tina.
Not only did she know his face, but she also remembered how
he’d attacked her without so much as a warning.
“Again, it’s you! And just as contemptible as always! What’s
your problem? Don’t tell me you’ve caught some strange
sickness that compels you to attack others lest you die?”
“I definitely haven’t heard that particular explanation before,
but it’s true that seizing the initiative does indeed lower the
risk of death. Oh, let me just say this first – my target’s not
Alfred over there.”
“…Your name was Jahar, right?”
Tina’s eyes narrowed.
“You teleported here. You serve one of the Shinki?”
“Wonderfully deduced. Yes, I’m a Duelist. ——Now that
we’re all clear on who I am, you must know why I’m here,
‘Sixth Shinki’ Albertina.”
Jahar slowly raised his weapon.
This feeling was familiar. This was that which could penetrate
the ScutumHoly Shield, that which could slay even the gods
themselves – a celestial Dragon Fang weapon.
Page 183
“This is the IgnisCrimson Flame Claymore. If you accept your

impending death, then I will promise you a painless passing. It
will turn your very bones to ash long before you can feel the
slightest pain.”
Jahar casually brushed aside the sword that was thrust in his
direction.
“No one likes a man who treats women so poorly. You must
not be popular.”
His tone light, Alfred looked anything but calm. His shoulder
wound was deep indeed.
“Tina’s his only target here! Alfred, please stay back!”
As she called out, Tina agonized over the fact that she lacked
the energy even to heal his wound.
“When I find a girl I like, I chase her with everything I have.
Popularity’s completely meaningless. ——Anyway, Alfred,
do you really want to do this? I attacked you just now because
you were in the way, but if you just stand there quietly, I’ll let
you go.”
“Unfortunately, I’m quite the coward,” Alfred laughed. “I fear
that, should I do no more than spectate, Franka and Yuuki will
have my head afterward. If I have to choose, I’d say I find
them far more frightening than I do you.”
“That’s not even funny as a joke. ——Have it your way.
Allow me to teach you what fear really is.”
The sound of slicing wind——
Page 184
Tina hadn’t seen any movement. She only noticed because

Alfred had managed to deflect the blow.
“Really? Because I don’t see anything to be afraid of.”
The air was filled with the sound of metal striking metal in
rapid succession.
“——!”
Alfred was too busy defending himself to spare a word.
Even if he hadn’t been wounded, there was an insurmountable
gap both in the quality of their weapons as well as their raw
strength. The disparity between their swordsmanship was
even larger.
Moreover, it hadn’t taken more than the tiniest fraction of his
true ability to forcibly suppress Alfred, an experienced
swordsman. This, even Tina could tell.
Alfred failed to defend against a horizontal slash, and lost his
balance.
Jahar followed up immediately with a slice clearly intended to
take his head clean off his shoulders. Alfred only just
managed to block it.
The two held their positions, with Jahar finally breaking the
silence.
“…This is such a waste of time. Do you really not have
anything else up your sleeve? Well, either way you’re a dead
man, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.”
Page 185
He didn’t appear to have exerted any additional force, but

Alfred felt the force against his sword double.
Alfred sank to one knee with a groan.
Jahar suddenly broke off the stalemate, and raised his
claymore high into the air.
“This is goodbye.”
His blade came down forcefully from above with a slight
diagonal slant to it.
The celestial Dragon Fang weapon easily parted his armor,
cutting Alfred into two——
——Or at least, it should have.
“You——!”
Tina had charged forward.
The massive sword had impacted her body and sent both her
and Alfred flying, though their bodies retained their original
shape.
“Ha! How’s that? Tina stopped you!”
Tina slowly rose to her feet.
The skin on her wrists had been torn, and fresh blood flowed
down her arms. That was, however, the extent of the damage
she’d sustained.
“That claymore looks like it’s in its first phase? It can’t break
the ScutumHoly Shield like that.”
Page 186
“…What an impulsive little girl you are. Well, it’s not like I
didn’t know what your personality was like already.”
“‘Personality’ is the wrong word. Try ‘duty.’ ——If someone
in front of me is about to be killed, how could I stand by and
watch it happen?!”
“And who exactly do you think you’re fooling with that act,
‘Serpent of Demise’?”
“…Huh?”
Tina frowned. That wasn’t a term she’d heard before.
“I can’t tell if you’re just playing dumb or if you really
haven’t realized, but it’s not like it matters either way. ——
Your defender looks to have gone to sleep, so what’s your
plan now? Judging by the way you charged over here in
person, I’m guessing you don’t have any divine energy left.”
Alfred had collapsed on the floor. He was… still breathing.
Tina sighed in relief.
“Sorry to be the one to break the news, but Master’s going to
arrive any moment now. Why don’t you rest there for a bit?”
“You have that much trust in someone who isn’t even a
Duelist anymore?”
“Of course. As far as Tina is concerned, he’s someone far
more important than any Duelist could be,” Tina retorted
proudly.
“…”
Page 187
Jahar frowned ever so slightly, her words having disturbed

him somehow.
“——That aside, know that I have no plans of merely
standing here quietly and awaiting death. If I don’t put my all
into struggling to live then I could never hope to stand by
Master’s side.”
Tina’s breathing was rough as she glared down her enemy.
“Even if I’ve used up every last bit of my divine energy, and
am nothing more than a pitiful little girl, you can bet that I
will fight. I will fight you to the very end. Come, Jahar! Just
try and kill me!”
“…This is pretty difficult.”
Jahar sighed lightly.
“You are much, much stronger than that girl of mine who has
not the least intention of fighting.”
“Hmm? Are you telling me you’re not here on the orders of
your master?”
“The situation’s pretty complicated. It’s not like there’s any
need for me to explain things to someone who’s about to die,
though. ——Let’s just say that there’s at least one Shinki and
Duelist who have no need to trust one another. That’s all you
need to know.”
Page 188
“Why?” Tina asked, puzzled. “That way’s just too lonely. The
Shinki and Duelists are both abnormal existences. That’s
precisely why they must cooperate and compensate for one
another’s weaknesses.”
It wasn’t like she was stalling for time. She truly could not
comprehend his reasoning.
“For various reasons, Tina has no Duelist. Things have been
that way ever since Master took Tina in. That’s precisely why
I understand just how painful it is to be alone. To stand alone,
without anyone in whom to place your trust… to be isolated
from this world is terribly sad and lonely.”
“From a Duelist’s perspective, we have a mission that takes
priority over all else. Compared to feeling at ease, that
mission is infinitely more important.”
“I notice you didn’t refute my words.”
“…”
Jahar clicked his tongue irritably.
He swung his sword. Its shape changed, growing twice as
large.
Tina stepped back unconsciously, pressured by the oppressive
atmosphere.
Page 189
“Rather than wasting your time on idle chatter, begging for

mercy would be a better use of what little time you have left.
You would really trust Yuuki Takamigahara even unto death?
——This is a celestial Dragon Fang weapon, you know. It has
three phases, increasing in power with each shift. This is
currently in its second phase, able to pierce through even the
ScutumHoly Shield. Ready yourself, ‘Sixth Shinki.'”
“I don’t need you to tell me that. I will definitely survive until

Master comes.”
She was afraid, to be sure. She was drenched in cold sweat
and her legs trembled ever so slightly.
Though she would never admit it, even if that meant taking it
to her grave.
“…You Shinki take life and death far too lightly.”
Jahar’s lips twisted in disgust.
“I’ve heard more than my fair share of hollow words and
empty ideals. It’s true that peace and trust are indeed
important, but what you guys need to understand is that those
things lose all meaning once you’re dead.”
“I understand that very clearly, believe me.”
“Like hell you do!” Jahar roared.
Tina’s eyes opened wide in surprise.
His exclamation just now had held not the least trace of his
normally frivolous tone. His true feelings had shone through
for just an instant.
Page 190
“——Whatever the case, all we can do is follow our

convictions. That’s what Tina believes.”
“…”
Jahar didn’t answer, but he lowered his weapon, opening his
mouth to speak.
“…I said something utterly unlike myself. Your stalling
tactics were entirely too effective, Tina-chan. We’ve wasted
enough time here, let’s end this.”
“Tina wasn’t stalling anything——”
She moved just as she finished speaking.
She retreated backward, shutting her eyes and covering her
ears as she did so, drawing on every last bit of power she had
remaining.
“——!”
Jahar’s eyes were blinded by a brilliant flash, his ears
deafened by an explosive roar. The light filling the room
made it seem as if it were midday.
As she’d been speaking, Tina had been absorbing the divine
energy contained within the lantern at her feet.
——Unfortunately, even that had now been completely
consumed.
The light and sound would do no more than temporarily stun
Jahar. By her estimation, within the next five seconds, he’d
become active once more. How should she escape…?
Page 191
Tina raced away as she considered her next plan of action, but
what happened next rendered her efforts futile.
A horrific surge of energy carved out a crater in the floor,
sending a terrific heat into the air.
“Aah——”
Fortunately, Tina hadn’t been hit directly, but finding herself
standing on nothing but air, she was thrown into the ground.
Jahar hadn’t bothered to wait for his senses to recover, instead
attacking immediately with his IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore.
Tina executed a brilliant spin – or rather, failed to, instead
tripping awkwardly. With all her might, she struggled to her
feet.
The claymore’s blade drew level with her eyes.
“Not bad.”
Jahar watched her, a cold, cruel smile on his face.
There was nowhere to run. Even if she could stand up, there
wasn’t a thing she could do to stop that enormous blade from
cleaving her in two.
Instead, she looked up and, meeting his eyes, spoke.
“…There’s something I want to confirm, Jahar.”
“And what would that be?”
Page 192
“You just asked me whether or not I ‘really trust Yuuki

Takamigahara even unto death?’ Listen, it’s not ‘unto death.’
——This Shinki, Albertina, declares that ‘even if I die,’ I trust
him!”
As she spoke, she kicked off the ground. Even if just by the
tiniest degree, she’d do everything in her power to stave off
death. She had to survive until he came.
However, Jahar was faster than she was.
The claymore’s blade pressed against Tina’s tiny frame,
cutting apart the ScutumHoly Shield——
“Uwa——!”
Tina collapsed onto the stone-cold floor. She’d been struck
from behind, the breath scared right out of her lungs.
However——
(I’m… alive?)
Although she had indeed been wounded, the wound was
shallow.
The pain caused her to stand in a hurry.
Two new figures now stood in the room.
One of the new figures, wielding a longsword as white as the
driven snow, spoke.
“Any lost children here? I’m here to pick you up, Tina.”
Page 193
“…You’re late,” she replied, not noticing that her sobbing had
drowned out her words.
※※※
Just before Jahar’s Claymore had struck Tina, it had been

intercepted and deflected by the NixSnow Blade.
Kaya’s teleportation had just barely made it in time.
“——Well, well. If it isn’t the Snow Blade King.”
Jahar shrugged exaggeratedly before turning his gaze to the
young girl at Yuuki’s side.
“As well as my master, the ‘Shinki Crowned with the
Moon.’ …I thought it was bad enough that you refused to help,
but I never would have guessed that you’d even betray me.”
“I-I-I said from the start… that I wanted no part of this. You
teleported with the help of the ‘Shinki who Scatters the
Stars’?”
“Indeed.”
“The quakes have been her doing as well, I assume? Her goal
is to confirm Tina’s battle strength and condition?”
Page 194
By throwing her into desperate circumstances, and by

observing her actions in such a situation, she’d be able to
determine Tina’s standing. The changes made to the labyrinth
had been intended to isolate Tina from those around her.
“Pretty much. Even with the ScutumHoly Shield, if she were to
get caught in a cave-in, she’d be unable to move. She’d be
forced to call upon her reserves to prevent such a thing, this
we knew. As it turned out, she didn’t have enough energy to
teleport, so we used the cave-in to drain what little energy she
had left.”
“The alterations to the labyrinth don’t seem to have been too
controlled. What were you guys going to do if you’d failed to
separate Tina and I?”
“We’d simply continue until it worked. Kaya was to draw
your attention, distract you; there were many small things we
could have done. I have to say, though, I never expected that
girl to be so proactive about getting in my way like this. I’d
originally thought she only knew how to cry off in the corner
by herself, so I had the Stellar Shinki lend me a hand.”
“Jahar-san, you—— You’re more submissive to her
commands than you are to mine?”
“When it suits my purposes. For the sake of victory, I’ll do
anything, no matter how dirty, even if that means associating
with some rather unsavory individuals.”
“What meaning is there in a victory like that…?”
Kaya closed her eyes.
Page 195
Summoning her courage, she looked up and looked at her

Duelist through firm, resolved eyes.
“Lower your weapon, Duelist of the Moon.”
Jahar’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
“Whoa, whoa, how impressive. Have you come to a decision
of some kind? Or has the Snow Blade King over there said
something to you?”
“I——”
“Let me ask you something first. Do you really think it’s fine
to lose? Even if that loss heralds your death?”
“H-How could I be fine with something like that?”
“Then what could putting away my weapon possibly do?
Nothing can change the fact that the Shinki must slay one
another.”
Jahar’s lips curled upward, but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“This should be engraved deep within your heart, right, Kaya-
chan? Defeat your enemy, and seize victory. In that case, then
isn’t it simply common sense to do whatever it takes to obtain
victory – to slay your foes? ——Anything else can only lead
to death, you know?”
“B-But…”
Kaya sought desperately to convey her feelings.
Page 196
“But I don’t want to think that that’s all the meaning there is
to my life.”
“…”
“During my time in the city, my time in the training school,
although there have been many, many things that haven’t
gone right… I’ve been happy. Even today, to learn about the
labyrinth with my friends under the guidance of my seniors –
I’ve been happy. I can’t even count the times that I’ve thought
how great it would be if I were just a normal person, and
didn’t have to play any part in today’s plan. ——Are those
thoughts wrong? Is it a sin to live simply because I don’t want
to kill my fellow Shinki?”
Jahar had no answer, but neither did Kaya continue.
Silence had gripped the room.
The one to break the silence was one of the Shinki.
“Wait, wait… Does that mean that Kaya is a Shinki too?”
“You’ve only just realized…?”
Yuuki sighed.
“…Yes. I-I’m the ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon.’ I’m sorry
for deceiving you.”
Kaya bowed deeply.
“Hmm? Why would you apologize? Tina’s been hiding her
true identity too, so we’re even,” Tina replied solemnly.
Page 197
“You were nearly killed just now. Are you really alright with
that?”
“You’re wrong, Master. The one who wanted to kill me
wasn’t Kaya, but that man.”
“She’s right. It’s not like the Shinki and their Duelists have to
get along,” Jahar added calmly. “I refuse to die just because
my partner happens to be a pacifist. That’s why, I would be
most pleased if you obediently died at my hand, Serpent of
Demise.”
Tina frowned.
“…I thought this earlier but… What’s that you said? Serpent?
Tina’s not——”
“Where did you hear that name?” Yuuki suddenly interrupted.
It had been five years since he’d last heard those nightmarish
words.
“Oh? You know of it, Snow Blade King?”
“…I see. The ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars.’ It was her. You
guys are allied,” Yuuki whispered. He continued, “There are
five Shinki. The sixth is neither god nor goddess, but a
counterfeit – the ‘Serpent of Demise.’ ——That’s what she
said, right?”
“W-Wait. What do you mean by ‘counterfeit’?”
“In other words, she has the powers of a Shinki, but not the
mental restriction preventing her from harming another.”
Page 198
Jahar’s face twisted in a vicious smile.

“In other words, a Shinki who can use the power of miracles
to kill. A being meant to bring an end to all life – a destroyer.
That’s you, ‘Serpent of Demise’ Albertina.”
“Eh…”
“…”
Three different gazes settled on Tina’s person.
The one most surprised was, of course, Tina herself.
“Oh… Tina never knew…”
Out of the blue, Jahar leapt forward and gave a vicious swing
with his sword.
His sword, however, was met by Yuuki’s.
“…Why are you interfering here, Snow Blade King?” the
owner of the claymore asked irritably.
“You believe her words?”
“When it comes to the ‘Sixth Shinki,’ I think what she said
makes sense. Either way, though, regardless of who exactly
Tina-chan is, if I kill her, then the problem’s solved. Plus, I’ll
get rewarded for doing so.”
“…”
Page 199
“She’s completely drained right now, so I won’t find a better

opportunity than this. Even with a celestial Dragon Fang
weapon, if we find ourselves at her mercy one day, we’ll be
the ones to die.”
With their power of miracles, the Shinki were able to
singlehandedly prevent natural disasters and control the
weather. This was truly a miraculous power far beyond
anything humanity was capable of.
Faced with an opponent who both wielded that power and
lacked the restriction against harming others, even a Duelist
armed with a celestial Dragon Fang weapon could do naught
but await death.
“You’re wrong! Tina’s not that kind of thing! Master, believe
me, I’m——”
“I know,” Yuuki answered firmly before turning to Jahar.
“What the ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars’ told you has some
truth to it. The Serpent of Demise did indeed exist at one point.
She went mad, and many people died at her hands, but… she
was slain. The ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars’ had been an
eyewitness to her actions before, and thus experienced
firsthand the terror of that being. However——”
His gaze turned back once more to the young girl.
“To say that Tina is her successor, the second ‘Serpent of
Demise,’ is wrong.”
“And what basis do you have to say that?”
Page 200
“Because I, too, have seen the Serpent of Demise.”

“…”
Jahar frowned and brandished his IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore.
It seemed he didn’t want to hear anymore.
“The Serpent of Demise was not simply a Shinki who ‘was
capable of’ harming others – she was a Shinki who delighted
in it. She had the uncontrollable impulse to kill and destroy,
and giving in to that impulse filled her with pleasure. This girl,
however, is nothing like that. I’ve been by her side this entire
time, and have seen no sign of such things.”
“And do you think I’m just going to take your word for it?”
Jahar retorted. “No, there’s something else to consider before
we even get to whether or not I believe you. Why are there six
Shinki? There have always been five. Always. That a sixth
would suddenly appear is extremely abnormal – isn’t it only
natural to come to such a conclusion?”
“…You need to consider that again, more carefully. There
were always five Shinki before, but this is the first time a
sixth has appeared. I assume that both the Church and all the
Shinki know by now. In any case, as I just said, I and the
‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars’ have both seen the Serpent of
Demise before.”
“…Huh?”
Kaya looked puzzled.
“If that’s true, then… there should only have been five who
wielded the powers of a Shinki back then?”
Page 201
“Exactly. ——In that case, then where was the Serpent of

Demise?”
No one spoke; each person awaited his answer.
“The answer is simple. The Serpent of Demise was among the
five Shinki. Or rather, to be more precise…”
Yuuki’s words were slow, and ever so precise.
“The Serpent of Demise only appears among the Shinki.”
Deep within his chest, a terrible pain gripped his heart. It was
for the best, though – this had to end here.
“The Serpent of Demise does not exist as such from birth. No,
what was once a Shinki gradually gives way to the being
known as the Serpent of Demise. Neither her appearance nor
her personality change; however, her appetites and desires do.
She slowly comes to the realization that she is the ‘Serpent,’
and that destruction fills her with the utmost delight, the
greatest satisfaction. It is an impulse that will not be denied.”
Her every thought would focus on death and destruction. It
wasn’t just hate and anger that gave rise to such thoughts,
even love and mercy would as well. This, Yuuki knew all too
well.
The Shinki’s original personality would remain, but the
Shinki herself would become something else entirely. This
was a thing to be feared above all else, a thing to mourn above
all else; something only someone close to her would ever truly
understand.
Page 202
“Master, does that mean…?” Tina asked hesitantly.

Ahh, that’s right, Yuuki thought. No matter how airheaded
she might seem, she was no fool, nor was she without feeling.
“That’s right, Tina. She was my Shinki. And there, at the end
of things, she asked me to kill her. The two from the Moon –
the ‘Duelist who slew a Shinki,’ as you’ve once heard.”
Afterward, he’d withdrawn from anything having to do with
the Shinki and been adopted by Boris, eventually making the
city his home.
Calmly, he continued his story.
“Given her imperfect knowledge of what happened before, in
the eyes of the ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars,’ the appearance
of a sixth Shinki must seem terribly suspicious.”
“…So that’s what you’re trying to say. Right now, there are
five Shinki. Adding in the Serpent of Demise, that makes six.
However, which Shinki is the Serpent of Demise is currently
unknown.”
Yuuki nodded in the affirmative.
“My thoughts are that the existence of the Serpent of Demise
is a fact of this world. When a Shinki dies, another will be
born in her place after some number of years, correct? The
previous ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon,’ Muriel, was the
first Serpent of Demise. A gap having been created, some few
years later, Kaya was born. A few years after Muriel died,
Tina was born.”
Page 203
Tina counted on her fingers in confusion.

“Um… There were always five Shinki before. Now that
we’ve added one, will there always be six?”
“I assume so. I’ve said it already – the Serpent of Demise
arises from among the Shinki. In other words, once its former
host dies, it passes on to invade another. At the moment, we
have no idea who might be harboring the Serpent. I might as
well add that I don’t know how much the other Shinki know.
——That’s pretty much what I wanted to say.”
For a time, no one dared speak.
“——So that’s how it is.”
The first to break the silence was Jahar.
“What you say makes sense, but… it’s all still conjecture,
right? You have no proof?”
“…I do not.”
“Then what reason do I have to believe you? In fact, even
given what you said, the possibility still exists that what El-
chan said is true – that Tina is the Serpent.”
“…”
He’d seen it coming, but it was still unfortunate that things
had taken this turn.
“B-But, Jahar-san, if that’s the case, then Elfriede-san has no
proof either.”
Page 204
“I was aware of that from the very beginning. ——If neither

side has any evidence, then what should we do?”
Jahar laughed delightedly.
“Even if what Yuuki said was entirely true, we can’t ignore
the possibility that Tina-chan might indeed become the
Serpent of Demise. Perhaps it is simply laying dormant.
Although, regardless of whether she is just another Shinki or
indeed the Serpent, one thing doesn’t change – she is our
enemy. There’s only one choice left to us – to heed the
command of the ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars’ and kill her.”
“…”
“All this complicated stuff aside, let me add that I love battle,
and am eager for us to fight. ——After all is said and done,
there’s not really any reasons for us not to fight, right, Snow
Blade King?”
“…Perhaps.”
And, as expected, things have come to this, Yuuki thought.
“My way of doing things is pretty simple. If you refuse to
leave Tina alone, then I’m just going to have to kill you.”
“Master…”
“P-Please stop! Why…”
Kaya stuttered as she spoke. Looking up, her eyes were filled
with tears.
Page 205
“Why won’t you listen to me? Do you really love to kill that
much?! There’s something wrong with you!”
“…What a naive little Shinki you are. You don’t have the
slightest concept of what it means to die.”
Jahar rejected her plea with a scornful laugh.
“O-Of course not. I’ve never died before, after all…”
“And that’s what makes the Shinki different from Duelists. —
—You know what I mean, right, Snow Blade King? The
weight of our lives is altogether different from anyone else.”
The Shinki pair turned to watch Yuuki in surprise.
He sighed.
“That’s right; this isn’t something you guys know. The first
time she heard it, Muriel was pretty surprised as well. It’s not
that I’ve purposely tried to deceive you guys, it’s just that this
is something of an uncomfortable subject for me. ——Kaya, I
told you before that all the Duelists are missing something,
right?”
“R-Right.”
“Allow me to explain further. ——The necessary
qualification to become a Duelist is indeed a shortcoming of
sorts. More particularly, one’s heart must be filled with the
feeling of loss, and that at the time of death. ‘How can I just
die like this?!’ As our hearts and minds are overcome by that
feeling, we are called forth to serve the Shinki and are bound
to them.”
Page 206
“Eh——”
Kaya was struck speechless.
Tina spoke in her place.
“T-Then, Master… you’ve——?”
“Died once before, yes.”
With his heart filled with the desire to live as a ‘human,’ he’d
been killed by his compatriots who were still nothing more
than ‘tools.’
Once before, he’d told Tina that he no longer met the
requirements to be called as a Duelist. That was truthfully said,
for he was still among the living.
The summoning of a Duelist was something a Shinki could
only do once in her life. It was a technique that restored a life
that had been lost.
“Our service to the Shinki serves also as an opportunity to
satisfy the regrets that claimed us during our past lives.”
They’d be summoned to the side of the Shinki whom would
allow them to do precisely that.
Indeed, Yuuki’s dream of ‘living as a human’ had been
realized.
Page 207
“Jahar exhibits an abnormal obsession with victory. Although

I can’t say what you experienced in your previous world, it’s
clear that you can’t forget your death, and the loss that led to
it.”
“Yep.”
Jahar nodded.
“I was a mercenary. A rather well-known one at that, I might
add. ——However, on the battlefield one day, I lost to the
might of overwhelming numbers. It wasn’t that I felt their
superior numbers were unfair; no, when it comes to battle, the
ends justify the means. The one who wins is the stronger one.
I simply could not forgive myself for losing. That’s pretty
much it.”
Jahar lifted his sword once more.
“I want to win. No matter what it takes, I want to win. And
keep on winning forever more.”
“…”
“I’m sure you understand what it’s like to obsess to the point
of madness, no? ——IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore, third stage
release!”
The claymore once again changed its shape. Compared to its
previous state, it had shrunk a little. It was quite plain, rather
like its first phase.
Page 208
However, the sword’s blade was now enveloped in a dense

aura of divine energy.
“….Tina, please take Alfred to rest against the wall. The two
of you should stay back for this part.”
His command to Tina issued, Yuuki sighed again.
“How long has it been since I last did this? ——NixSnow Blade,
phase three – unleash!”
※※※
Page 209
Page 210
“Stop——!”
Kaya’s shout was lost amid the clash of wintry blizzard and
raging inferno.
The third phase of a celestial Dragon Fang weapon – the
ultimate form of those weapons which boasted the greatest
destructive power.
Jahar had mentioned it to Kaya once before, but this was her
first time seeing it with her own eyes.
Kaya recognized what had just happened for what it was – a
demonstration of their resolve. There wasn’t anything she
could to do stop them anymore.
(But…)
Even if she refused to back down now, there wasn’t a thing
she could do to change things.
Kaya didn’t want to see either Jahar or Yuuki harmed, nor did
she want them to hurt one another. She had no desire to watch
their blood soak this battlefield.
Protecting the party during the cave-in as well as teleporting
Yuuki and herself over had consumed no small amount of
divine energy.
That notwithstanding, she yet had some power remaining.
What should she do with it?
Page 211
Suddenly, the sound of their weapons colliding disrupted her

train of thought.
“Kya——”
Kaya’s tiny body was thrown into the air.
“——!”
She felt someone catch her. Tina embraced her from behind.
“A fight between Duelists is really something, huh. ——Oh
wait, Master is a former Duelist.”
“How can you be so calm?! ——Tina, you need to stop
them…!”
Kaya abruptly shut her mouth.
She’d noticed Tina’s wan profile and the force with which her
fists were clenched.
“…From the very beginning, Tina never wanted to be your
enemy, nor that man named Jahar.”
With an unwavering gaze, she watched Yuuki’s every action,
his every move.
“However—— It is not the role of a Shinki to stand amid a
blaze, focusing the heat of the blaze on her person. I am weak.
I cannot protect myself. It is for that reason that Master fights
so desperately.”
“…”
Page 212
“If Master thinks this is necessary, then Tina can only accept
his will. That is both my duty and my responsibility.”
“Re…sponsibility…?”
“I believed that Master would come, and he did. And now, I
choose to believe in him once more. I can only await his safe
return. But still——”
Tina laughed.
“Who knew that having faith in someone… was such a scary
thing. This is my first time experiencing such a feeling.”
“…”
Kaya didn’t reply.
She was nothing like Tina, neither in her relationship with her
Duelist nor in her resolve as a Shinki.
——I really am useless.
She did not trust in her Duelist, nor was she trusted in turn.
Furthermore, she lacked both power and resolve. Truly, she
was worthless.
The reality before her, as well as herself, if only all of this – or
even everything at large – would simply vanish without a
trace!
This feeling rose from deep within her heart.
Page 213
※※※
The two had already clashed more than forty times.

Generally speaking, a thin, slender blade would be faster but a
larger sword would deal weightier blows.
However, in the face of these weapons and their masters
which utterly defied conventional wisdom, this lost all
meaning.
“——Ha!”
The heavy mass of metal that was originally sent slicing
downward was instead sent flying back even faster than it had
come down.
The claymore had been blocked by that thin white blade and
sent back where it came.
The owner of the white longsword went on the offensive,
unleashing eight strikes in rapid succession.
However, the claymore flashed at a speed that ought not be
possible given its size, meeting each and every attack with
ease.
Yuuki leapt backward, throwing his sword out in a horizontal
sweep.
The divine energy enveloping the blade shot out in a burst,
hunting his opponent.
Page 214
Flames roared forth from Jahar’s sword, canceling out the

attack.
The two combatants traded attacks from a distance.
“Hey, hey. Let me see that legendary strength of yours.”
Yuuki answered Jahar’s provocation with silence.
As expected, he was strong – incredibly so. ——That was his
honest evaluation.
Although Yuuki’s tenure as a Duelist had been incredibly
short, his skills had been nothing to be ashamed of.
Yuuki spared Tina a quick glance. She was biting her lip,
watching him anxiously. The intensity of her will to watch his
battle to the very end shone through.
“…I give up. If you’re going to have such high expectations,
then I guess I can’t take it easy anymore.”
“Huh?”
“Hey, Jahar, I have a question for you. Have you heard the
story of the Snow Blade King and Black Demon?”
Jahar frowned slightly.
Yuuki continued his story unbidden.
“After the Snow Blade King was forced to give up his
position as a Duelist, Black Demon took over as his successor.
He was utterly unlike his predecessor. His blade was black as
night, with a heart to match.”
Page 215
“…And?”
“The previous ‘Shinki Crowned with the Moon’ was Muriel. I
was her Duelist. Muriel’s successor is Kaya. You are her
Duelist. Each Shinki may only have one Duelist in their
lifetime. ——Given that, just who is Black Demon?”
“You, of course——!”
Their blades locked. Jahar took a giant stride forward.
The NixSnow Blade blocked the claymore before slashing
diagonally upward. The snowy white blade once more
directed a burst of divine energy at Jahar who canceled out the
attack with a flaming red lotus.
“As the right-hand man of the Serpent of Demise, you killed
countless people. The noble reputation of the Snow Blade
King remains unchanged to this day, so that must mean you
went by another name. I assume that’s what you mean?”
“Pretty much, yeah.”
——This next move will decide things.
Yuuki breathed out and held out the NixSnow Blade before him
at waist-level. Its divine energy condensed into a frigid aura.
Jahar raised his IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore. Its energy, too,
began to concentrate. He was preparing to receive Yuuki’s
attack.
“…One last question: what do you think happened to the
black blade Black Demon used?”
Page 216
“Huh?”
“Figure it out. ——Come, howl with all your might, NixSnow
Blade!”
“Turn it all to ash, IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore!”
The blasts of red and white crashed into one another, forming
a tempest as they vied for victory.
※※※
(I can win this——!)

Jahar was confident.
Ice and fire were polar opposites, and their natures would
cancel one another out. However, he still had energy to spare,
and was confident in his ability to overwhelm his opponent.
“This is the eeeeeend!”
In his mind’s eye, he visualized the Snow Blade King’s form
amidst the fog covering the area, and sent an enormous blast
of flame in his direction.
The explosion swallowed up the Nix’sSnow Blade’s energy
signature, overpowering it in an instant before dispersing.
“…How do you like that?” Jahar gasped out, panting as he
scanned for any sign of his opponent.
Page 217
As his vision cleared, he made out the form of a snow-white

longsword thrust into the ground.
A lone sword. Where was its master——?
Just as the question rose to the forefront of his mind, the tip of
a blade emerged from his chest, having been thrust into him
from behind.
“Wha…t…?”
“MorsBlack Death Seax, third phase unsealed; this is Black
Demon’s sword.”
Yuuki’s voice came from behind him.
He’d completely evaded Jahar’s senses. This man’s true
abilities didn’t lay in his graceful swordsmanship, but rather
in this…?
A specialization dedicated to a single task – ‘killing.’ An
assassin’s arts.
“This is my win, claymore-user.”
“Ua…agh…”
Yuuki extracted his blade. Jahar’s mouth filled with blood as
he collapsed to the ground with a thud.
“——Jahar-san!”
A terrible shriek pierced the room.
Page 218
※※※
Born to a prostitute, he’d left home at ten, never to return.

He’d wandered, unattached, ever since then.
Penniless, hunger had been his constant companion. He’d
started off with petty theft, but it wasn’t long before he
graduated to armed robbery. He was good at it, too. By the
time he was fifteen, hunger was a thing of the past.
Eventually, there came a time when he’d been hired by the
lord of the area as a bodyguard.
The lord was a young man who’d only recently risen to the
position. He might not have even been fifteen himself.
The region had been engulfed in bloody war. He’d heard that
the man’s parents had been lost to that very conflict.
Having run out of soldiers, he’d been forced to hire
mercenaries.
The young man treated others well, and never seemed to lose
his spirit no matter how dire the circumstances became.
Page 219
“I’d love to enlarge these fields some more,” he’d said once,
while they were on patrol. “It’s food that sustains the people.
As long as we can provide a stable food supply, then our
people will be able to continue to flourish. Although we’ve
already made many changes to the kinds of crops we grow,
and have researched new types of fertilizer and such, in the
end, these fields are the key.”
The young man laughed bitterly.
“With our lands caught in the fires of war for so many years
now, protecting these fields is nearly impossible. All we can
do is win, and keep on winning. ——I have a dream, you
know. One of these days, I’m going to establish a land where
no one will ever have to go hungry.”
Jahar had thought him delusional. He couldn’t remember what
he’d said back then.
However, for him, who’d always lived from moment to
moment, it was the first time he’d ever thought about what the
future might hold.
Moreover, he wanted to see it. The “future” that young man
would bring about.
He was someone who sought to give his people an
environment in which they could thrive – a true visionary. If
he were to live to see old age, what wonders would be
wrought!
——Alas, reality was ever harsh.
Page 220
The young man’s earnest efforts had brought forth fruit… and
aroused the desires of neighboring powers.
Who it was who had engaged them that final time, he had
neither known nor cared.
However, on that last battlefield, the forces arrayed against
them had been on an entirely different scale than the small
skirmishes they’d experienced before. This time, showing
how badly they’d wanted the young man’s lands, the enemy
had left nothing up to chance.
Jahar had broken through the enemy ranks, and found his way
back to their fortress, only to realized he’d been too late – his
master had already fallen.
Lost, adrift at the loss of his master, by the time he came to,
he was already surrounded.
That was his last memory.
This was an all-too-common experience on the war-torn
battlefield.
At that moment, he finally understood that death meant an end
to the infinite potential that was life.
Strength, effort, talent, intelligence——
(When you die in battle, none of that means a thing.)
That feeling gripped his very soul.
At the same time, his heart howled with rage on behalf of the
young man whom he had been unable to protect.
Page 221
That’s why.
This time… This time he’d win.
This time, he’d bring his master a victory.
And a future.
※※※
“Y-Yooooooou!”
Jahar screamed as he lifted his sword once more.
※※※
Yuuki barely managed to block Jahar’s heavy, heavy strike.

The MorsBlack Death Seax in his hands was barely sixty
centimeters in length.
Jahar collapsed to one knee, having spent what little strength
remained to him. Blood blossomed from the wound on his
chest.
His eyes, however, revealed that he had not yet given up the
fight. There wasn’t the slightest hint of retreat in him.
Page 222
“…You evaded it just slightly, huh? You sure are one heck of
a monster, you know?”
Indeed, Yuuki’s one-hit-kill technique had just barely missed
Jahar’s heart.
“No! D-Don’t move! Jahar-san! I’ll heal you right away——”
Kaya raced to his side, supporting his body. Focusing, she
prepared to use her powers. ——Suddenly, her expression
stiffened.
“It’s not… Why? Nothing’s happening…”
“I’m sorry, but it’s useless.”
Yuuki knew how cruel his words were, but he spoke
nonetheless.
“Mors’Black Death Seax’s third form’s power is ‘certain death.’
——Wounds inflicted by this weapon cannot be healed by
any means – even the reversal of time.”
This had been the weapon that had stolen Muriel’s life. It was
the symbol of his suffering.
Yuuki had never intended to use it again, but had been unable
to leave it behind. It was his other celestial Dragon Fang
weapon.
“You are, without a doubt, strong. Amazingly so. In the face
of thousands or even tens of thousands of soldiers, you’d be
able to fight on. On that point, you’re stronger than I.”
“You…”
Page 223
“However, when it comes to a one-on-one duel; well, that’s

the stage on which I shine.”
To hone himself into a “tool” designed solely to kill, to
achieve this single purpose, he’d trained endlessly.
“——Screw… you!” Jahar managed to say. “I’m… still…
alive. Let’s fight once more… As long as there’s another drop
of blood left in this body, I’ll fight.”
“Please, I’m begging you. Just forget it. Please, don’t move…”
Jahar pushed Kaya, nearly crying, aside, and stood.
“…The depth of your obsession is staggering. Even like this,
you still want to win?”
“Of… course! We mercenaries aren’t hired for our dreams or
our ideals but in order to win! Without victory, there is no
meaning to our lives!”
Jahar coughed, and crimson blood stained the ground.
He didn’t seem to care; he merely wiped his mouth with the
back of his hand.
“Let’s con… tinue.”
He was still conscious. His arms and legs could still move. He
could still hold his sword. He hadn’t lost yet.
——His feelings were clearly conveyed to another in the area.
Page 224
“…I see now,” Tina murmured. “I’d been thinking that it was
strange that there could be a Duelist who looked down on his
Shinki so, but now I understand. In order for his Shinki to win,
he’d do anything, even if that meant that the very person in
question would abandon him. If I think about it like that, then
everything makes sense. Don’t you agree, Kaya?”
“Eh…?”
Confusion reigned on Kaya’s face; she didn’t seem to have
understood.
Yuuki sighed.
“This is what she means. ——Kaya, this guy has not been
fighting for ‘victory.’ He’s been fighting for ‘your victory.’
He wants to see you live on, no matter what it takes.”
He’d failed to achieve victory for his previous master.
He’d failed to safeguard his life.
——That was the hole that lay in Jahar’s heart. The regret that
had filled him even as death had claimed him.
That he stood here now, swinging his sword – it was all to
dispel that regret.
“Jahar-san…?”
Kaya watched her Duelist.
Jahar gently pushed her to the side as he strode forward.
“…Are you… done? Are you… ready… to die?”
Page 225
He hadn’t given up on victory. No, his eyes burned with

conviction.
“——NixSnow Blade.”
Yuuki called forth his comrade of numerous battles.
This would be decided in a single strike.
※※※
She’d heard everything that Yuuki and Tina had said.

But none of it felt real.
——Jahar-san’s obsession with victory… is for my sake?

——Because he wants a coward like me to live on?
No, it couldn’t be.

How could it be?
After all, how could someone possibly sacrifice their life for
her?
That’s what she thought.
Page 226
There was one thing she was certain of, though – he wouldn’t
stop just because she asked.
So what should she do? What could she do to end this battle?
The world was always betraying Kaya’s hopes.

How many times had she dreamed of escape now?
How many times had she wished that this world would simply
be destroyed?
——Ah. That’s right.
The sprout of an idea germinated within her mind.

Slowly it grew, taking form.
As the thought took root, the corners of her lips lifted.

This wasn’t something that belonged on the quiet, obedient
child she normally was – it was a sadistic, twisted grin.
——It was so simple – she just had to destroy it all. Yes,
she’d end herself and take him along with her.
Page 227
※※※
“I’m… going to kill you… any moment now…”

It was clearly taking all Jahar had just to keep advancing
forward.
His desperation was driven by another’s need.
This was what he, once a “tool” without a will or desires to
call his own, had dreamed of becoming – a human.
His actions were worthy of the utmost respect.
——And so, he’d bring this all to an end without drawing
things out further.
Hesitation would be a sign of disrespect.
“…Goodbye.”
Yuuki unleashed a slash that should have taken his head clean
off his shoulders.
——If it weren’t for what had also happened just then…
“Wha——?!”
Jahar opened his eyes, coughing up blood.
——There was an extra arm in front of him.
The “Shinki Crowned with the Moon” turned back to look at
him.
Page 228
What revealed itself to his eyes was the vision of a young

girl’s smiling face.
His master’s smiling face.
“Why…?”
“Because you don’t seem to want to listen to me, Jahar-san.”
With a laugh, the “Shinki Crowned with the Moon” continued,
“Knowing that, though, made my decision an easy one. If you
refuse to listen to me, then I just have to kill you. There’s
really no need to suffer through all this; I should have just
done this from the beginning. ——You’ve had it hard; it’s
time for you to rest now.”
At the sound of skin tearing, Jahar looked down. A large hole
had appeared in his chest.
He collapsed.
“Kaya, you…” Tina mumbled, at a loss for words.
“I’m myself, Tina-san. Eh, Yuuki-sensei, do you think I’ve
gone mad or something? I’m sorry to say that things have
never been clearer. ——You know, I feel pretty good, in fact.”
Kaya’s shoulders trembled slightly. The look on her face
couldn’t be taken as anything other than sheer delight.
A Shinki had harmed someone. And was now laughing
mercilessly.
In other words——
“The Serpent, is it…?”
Page 229
Yuuki unwittingly retreated a step.

The survivor of countless life-and-death battles, he’d been
struck with an instinctual fear.
(——Shit!)
Yuuki clicked his tongue.
He needed to act. Now. If he delayed even a second, and she
wielded the power of miracles to attack, then any hope of
victory would be lost.
“Oh my, oh my. You look positively frightening.”
Kaya didn’t appear the least bit worried by the celestial
Dragon Fang weapon in Yuuki’s hands. Instead, she casually
strolled up to him.
“…Are you the Serpent of Demise?”
“And what will you do if I say yes, Yuuki-sensei?”
The look on her face was utterly unsuited given her physical
age, with a hint of lasciviousness.
“You know, whatever happens, it’s all okay! You know, I feel
simply superb. Do you understand? I just feel so restless, like
I just can’t sit still. No, there are sooooo many things to
destroy! Look, like this!”
As she finished speaking, the ground before Yuuki suddenly
flew into the air.
Page 230
Dust filled the air, obstructing his vision. His sight blocked,
the only sense remaining to him – his hearing – was replete
with the sound of her laughter.
“Tina! Get over here!”
As Yuuki shouted, he took Tina’s tiny body into his arms and
leaped backward.
“Master, has Kaya… become that…?”
“…”
He didn’t answer. Cold sweat ran down his back.
All it would take is a single thought and he’d perish. Did he
have enough time to counter-attack?
(No——)
Could he really kill Kaya, that timid little student of his?
His hesitation lasted but a moment.
The dust gradually settled. Roughly twelve meters away stood
a small Shinki – or Serpent.
Yuuki discarded his second thoughts. Kicking off the ground,
he leapt into the air. Suddenly——
“Master! Stop!” Tina cried out.
A figure blocked Yuuki’s attack, countering with great
strength.
“Wha——”
Page 231
Yuuki struggled to maintain his posture as he weathered the

blow.
His attacker had spent everything in the attack, however, and
he crumpled.
“Jahar…?”
Yuuki frowned.
Indeed, it was Jahar, whose chest had just had a hole punched
through it by Kaya.
“…Why would you protect her? She just tried to kill you!
She’s a Shinki no longer!”
“…”
Jahar’s body shook.
Perhaps his body was convulsing from shock caused by his
injuries, or perhaps he’d spent himself so thoroughly he didn’t
even have the energy left to hold himself up…
Yuuki’s thoughts were, however, wrong.
“Bahahahahahahaha!”
He was laughing. From the bottom of his heart.
He gazed up at Yuuki, whom had been struck speechless.
Page 232
“You sure look stupid right now, Snow Blade King. ——This
is seriously laughable; that you and I could be taken in this
easily. Despite having the strength of monsters, we’re fools,
you and I. To think that a little girl could fool us this
completely. Isn’t that a hoot?!”
“Wait… what?”
Yuuki turned his gaze back to Kaya.
The girl stood a ways off.
The look on her face… was the familiar, timid, insecure
expression she always wore. The look of madness from just a
moment before had vanished without a trace.
“Jahar-san, why… why did you get up?”
Kaya looked at her Duelist through tear-filled eyes.
“Why… would you waste all of my effort?! If you had just
quietly stayed down, then you… you could have been saved—
—!”
“…I never asked you to save me.”
Jahar rose to his feet once more, and turned.
The hole in his chest had shrunken noticeably, and bleeding
had stopped.
“So you can use time reversal in that way…” Tina whispered.
Yuuki finally understood.
Page 233
Wounds inflicted by the MorsBlack Death Seax could not be

healed by any method.
For that reason, Kaya had destroyed the cursed, surrounding
flesh and used her powers to heal the new wound.
Because she hadn’t intended to “harm” him at all, but rather to
“heal” him, the mental block hadn’t affected her. This was
just like when Tina had cut Selim in order to help him.
“It was… all an act?”
Her deranged language and mad laughter – it was all an act.
In other words, she’d pretended to be the Serpent of Demise
based on the description Yuuki had given. Her goal had been
to get Yuuki to retreat, or, at worst, to gain the time needed to
heal Jahar.
Even though she knew she might have been killed for having
been the “Serpent.”
(She got me.)
Yuuki admitted it freely.
Unfortunately, as far as he was concerned, the worst case
scenario had just happened.
“Jahar-san, please, don’t——”
Jahar ignored her pleading, and pushing her aside, strode
forward and took up his weapon once more.
Yes, as long as he still breathed, the battle would continue.
Page 234
“Sorry for the wait. Let’s continue this.”

“…So in the end, nothing’s changed, huh?”
Yuuki stooped slightly, readying himself.
Kaya likely had no energy left. What she’d done just now had
been the gamble of a lifetime.
If that was the case, then all he had to do was kill his enemy
once again.
“Jahar… san…”
“I’ve already seen everything you had hidden up your sleeve.
That you think you can still win; your arrogance is
astounding.”
“Give it a try and you’ll see.”
“Yeah, allow me to enjoy this——”
“Jahar-san!” Kaya shouted at full volume, simultaneously
dealing Jahar’s knee a savage kick.
It was a completely unexpected ambush. It’d been executed so
perfectly that this man, whose swordsmanship had reached
divine levels, could only scream pitifully before falling to one
knee.
At this, Yuuki’s jaw just about hit the floor.
“…Mm, I see,” Tina said admiringly. “Just now, she must
have thought that she’d stop him at any cost.”
Page 235
Kaya didn’t seem to have realized it herself.

“C-Cut it out already! Why won’t you listen to me?!”
“…Because I don’t want to lose. Man, this really hurts.”
Jahar frowned as he massaged his knee.
“Is winning really that important? …Is it really all that
important that I win?!”
“Winning is my job. ——Alright, it’s time for you step back
now, Kaya-chan. You’ll get caught up in our fight like this.”
“And what are you getting so worked up about that for? This
fight is between the Shinki!”
“All the more reas——”
Jahar cut himself off mid-sentence.
Because Kaya, on the verge of breaking down crying, had
gripped his clothes with both hands.
“As a Shinki… this is my battle. That’s why… I’m the one
who gets to decide. What meaning there is in battle, what we
consider victory, what we consider loss, the value of all of
these things – I’ll be the one to decide! That’s how it has to
be!”
“…”
Page 236
“From the very beginning, this should have been my

responsibility. But because I refused to do anything but cry,
and only sought to escape the situation, you took it all upon
yourself.”
Her head bowed regretfully.
“I’ve committed two sins. The first was in not realizing what
my duty was. The other was in not stopping to think about
what it was you needed. ——Duelists are also numbered
among those whom the Shinki must protect.”
“Kaya-chan, I——”
“To me, victory is——!” Kaya ignored Jahar’s protestation,
continuing to speak as if he had never interrupted, “——to
live as I will. And right now, what I want is for you to stop,
and I will see to it that that happens. What I want is to
understand you better, and I will make that happen. That is
victory to me. Now——”
Kaya smiled.
“Jahar-san, please protect me now and forever. That I might
do as I will.”
“…”
Jahar fell silent. Finally, still kneeling, he bowed his head.
——What Yuuki saw now was nothing less than a knight,
bowing before his queen.
Page 237
“…What would you have me do, Kaya-chan?” Jahar asked

with a sigh as he lifted his head.
Kaya turned to face Yuuki.
“How about a ceasefire? We’ll call it a draw.”
“I wonder. What makes you think I want to accept your
terms?” Yuuki replied, coolly. “Even if his wound has been
healed, the lost blood hasn’t replenished itself. He is far from
peak physical condition. Moreover, Tina – Kaya only healed
the wound itself, correct?”
Page 238
Page 239
“Yes.”
The Shinki nodded.
“That means you don’t have the energy to spare to bring him
back to full health. There’s nothing you can do right now.”
“Is Tina not in the same situation?”
“I am. I can’t do a thing.”
The stupidly honest Shinki made Yuuki frown.
“…Anyway, as I was saying, things are in my favor right now.
I am, after all, the only one that’s completely unhindered.”
“Really?”
Kaya looked askance.
“Are you sure that I have no energy left? That’s just a guess,
isn’t it, Yuuki-sensei?”
“…Even if you’re not completely out of energy, there’s not
much you can do with so little left.”
If she really had more divine energy available to her, as she
was implying, then she’d have chosen different methods for
stopping Jahar and dealing with the cave-in.
Kaya thought for a moment and then continued.
Page 240
“Then Yuuki-sensei—— My actions as the Serpent of

Demise… do they really prove that I’m not the Serpent of
Demise?”
“…”
He understood what she meant.
Differentiating between the actions of the true Serpent and
someone simply pretending to be it was impossible.
The human body was terribly fragile. The tiniest hole in one’s
head and you were dead. If she truly was the Serpent, then the
tiniest pittance of divine energy would be all it took to end his
life.
He couldn’t read anything from Kaya’s poker face. The gentle
smile on her face revealed nothing of her inner thoughts.
She was even now fighting, in her own way.
Proudly, with her head held high.
Demonstrating that she, too, was one of the Shinki.
“…Alright then. Let’s call it a draw, and end things here.”
“——T-Thank you.”
As she spoke, Kaya visibly relaxed. She’d thrown everything
into her bluff.
Still, it was worthy of praise——
Page 241
“If you look so obviously relieved, then you reveal your bluff,
Kaya. Even when you feel things are finally over, you can’t
give up the pretense. This was just a verbal promise, after all;
it’s a trivial thing to go back on one’s word.”
“Oh… I-I’ll try to remember…”
“Tina, that goes for you too. The heck were you doing telling
her you were out of energy? In the future, please refrain from
showing your enemy your hand, alright?”
“Hmm? Who cares about that – it’s fine.”
The Shinki on this side hadn’t the least intention of reflecting
on her actions.
“Kaya aside, you never had any intention of continuing,
Master. Tina knows you.”
“…”
Although the way she spoke, like she’d seen through
everything, was maddening enough, the fact that she was right
was even worse.
Not only had he not wanted to fight Kaya in the first place,
he’d been lying about how tired he was.
“This is a pretty crappy way for things to turn out. We’ve
wasted that much effort, and for nothing.”
Disappearing his weapon, Jahar sat down on the ground. It
seemed he’d agreed to the ceasefire.
Page 242
“How are we going to explain this to the ‘Shinki who Scatters

the Stars’? El-chan is going to be pretty mad. ——Kaya-chan,
I leave it to you. Explain all this to her, alright?”
“Eh? M-Me? T-That’s…”
Kaya looked ready to cry.
Watching the scene before him, Yuuki began to consider how
to deal with the aftermath of the situation.
They all needed medical care, plus Alfred had to be taken to
the hospital.
Could they possibly break through the walls? Perhaps if they
waited here, the rescue team would eventually find them——
“This is the Stellar Shinki’s doing right? Do you have any
way to contact her?”
“There’s no need to do that. She’s definitely been listening
this entire time——”
The two Shinki suddenly called out frantically.
“Master!”
“Something’s coming!”
Teleportation – a miracle which could only be reproduced by
one of the Shinki.
“…Looks like she’s pre~tty ticked off,” Jahar murmured.
An enormous body, surpassing ten meters in length, appeared
at the immediate center of the room.
Page 243
Although it had to be said that its most pertinent attribute

wasn’t its size.
It was a reptile which walked on two legs, with deep blue
scales, vicious talons, and a tail.
Finally, it boasted an offensive power capable of penetrating
the ScutumHoly Shield of Duelists and Shinki with ease.
“The ‘Azure Lake Void Dragon’…” Yuuki muttered.
It was one of only twelve legendary monsters which inhabited
their world. To think that she’d even send something like this
over.
She’d likely pinpointed the moment when they were all at
their weakest. She clearly planned to clear the board in one go.
“To think she’d even use a celestial Dragon Fang weapon.
Just how badly do you want us dead, El-chan? ——Ho.”
Again materializing his IgnisFiery Crimson Claymore, he
knocked aside an incoming talon. Unable to completely
reflect the force of the blow however, he was forced to his
knees. The smile disappeared from his face.
Only an attack from a celestial Dragon Fang weapon’s second
or third phase would be able to harm a Void Dragon.
However, the use of these weapons consumed tremendous
amounts of stamina. Jahar didn’t think he had it in him
anymore. More than likely, Yuuki did not either.
Page 244
Looking down at these pitiful humans with contempt, the

Azure Lake Void Dragon opened its mouth. From deep within
its throat, a blue light began to gather.
“…Its Breath is coming!”
There was nowhere to hide. Nowhere to run.
Suddenly, something struck the beast’s right eye.
Its eye was, of course, protected by the ScutumHoly Shield, but
the attack had invited its wrath. It turned to face its attacker—
—
“Distance, angle – all accounted for. FulgurYellow Lightning
Longbow, second phase – ho.”
In contrast to the leisurely voice which had just spoken, an
arrow flashed toward its opponent like lightning.
The Void Dragon howled in agony. This time, the attack had
penetrated straight through its ScutumHoly Shield, and pierced
directly into its right eyeball.
“…Uncle?”
“Hey.”
Alfred laughed.
“I just came to. Looks like I’ve caused a few problems for you
guys.”
“What’s that you’re holding…?”
Page 245
“The celestial Dragon Fang weapon, ‘Yellow Lightning

Longbow.’ To be honest, I’ve always been more of an archer.
——Unfortunately, a second-phase release is my limit.”
As he calmly conversed, he continued to fire off arrows –
arrows which rematerialized after each shot.
The Void Dragon, however, was unperturbed by such
repetitious attacks. It raised one of its razor-sharp talons and
deflected his shots. Several of the arrows managed to get
through, embedding themselves in its body, but as they were
all in its arm, they posed no threat to its life.
“Alas, I don’t think this is doing much. As expected, it doesn’t
look like I’ll be able to take it down like this. You Duelists
really are amazing, I have to say – being able to do battle with
a monster like this.”
“How can you still be this calm? If we don’t figure something
out——”
“I have an arrangement with the person who lent me this bow.
These arrows are a signal for help.”
He sure seemed to be at ease, given how he was still saying
things that didn’t make any sense.
“If she’s in the area, then she’ll hone in on its energy
signature and come looking…”
“I’m already here——”
From behind came a young girl’s voice, speaking in a carefree
tone.
Page 246
Yuuki turned to look, and couldn’t help but frown at what he

saw.
“You——”
“Let’s finish this conversation later. For now, Sera, you’re up.”
Following the young girl’s gaze…
Above the head of the Void Dragon, skimming just below the
ceiling of the labyrinth, a silhouette could be seen.
——To be more precise, it wasn’t so much that you could
“see” her there, as that she had suddenly appeared there.
She’d teleported to her current position.
It was a young girl, slender as a reed, dressed in a cleric’s
robes.
However, the weapon she held in her hands was something no
cleric could ever carry.
From the silvery hilt she held in her hands extended a chunk
of metal so massive as to border on the absurd.
“——SaxumSilver Battle Pick, third-form.”
Mumbling, she added the force of her downward trajectory
into a terrific blow with her weapon.
Killed before it could even cry out, the Azure Lake Void
Dragon was flattened by her attack; the aftermath of her strike
creating a crater twenty meters in diameter.
“W-What the hell…” Jahar mumbled, entirely at a loss.
Page 247
“That is one of the celestial Dragon Fang weapons, boasting

the greatest destructive power among their number,” Yuuki
replied.
It went without saying that its master boasted an arm strength
that was anything but ordinary.
“…It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Lea.”
“As you humans count time, yeah, I guess it has. You’ve
grown, Yuuki.”
“It’s already been five years since I ceased to be a Duelist,
after all.”
The last time these two had met, he’d been thirteen.
As they conversed, the girl who had turned a Void Dragon
into a pancake walked over to join them; her Dragon Fang
weapon nowhere to be seen.
“Good work, Sera. ——This is my first time meeting the three
of you. Let me introduce myself. My name is Lea, the ‘Shinki
who Supports the Sky.’ This frail looking girl over here is
Serafina. She’s my Duelist. It’s a pleasure to meet you,
juniors of mine.”
“The Sky——?” Kaya yelped. “As in, the one who controls
the Oath Legion with the most influence?”
“Is that really the case, Master?”
“…You had better remember something that basic. We sell
Reliquia in my store, so you should at least know the relative
rankings of the Oath Legions, alright?”
Page 248
“If I say that Stefan Klose is one of my subordinates, then that

should do it for you, right? Oh, and that guy too – there was a
time he was a part of my Legion.”
Lea tilted her head in Jahar’s direction.
“…You let me in, knowing who I was?”
“Hmm? Why not? As long as they bring in Reliquia, what do
I care whether you’re an adventurer or a Duelist? Of course, if
you had done anything too extreme, I would have taken
appropriate measures.”
“I can’t deal with this person,” Jahar’s face read.
Yuuki mirrored his sentiment, though he and Lea were neither
strangers nor enemies. She was hard to handle, Lea.
She was an impossible person to read. She lived her life
whimsically; anything was okay as long as it was interesting.
Moreover, the speed with which her mind leaped around left
others at a complete loss.
It didn’t matter whether she was your enemy or your ally –
she was difficult to deal with.
“Might I inquire as to why you are here, O ‘Shinki who
Supports the Sky’?” Yuuki asked.
Page 249
“I’m here because someone called me here… Elfriede – the

‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars’ – has been acting strangely, so
I pretended to be an adventurer and came here to investigate.
Moreover, I wanted to know just how it was she knew about
the ‘Sixth,’ and what she planned to do about it. ——Oh,
almost forgot.”
Lea snapped her fingers. In a flash, the wounds covering her
body vanished.
It was a fantastic work of illusion. It would be too eye-
catching were an adventurer not to bear any hints of wounds
traversing the labyrinth, so she’d worked a little magic.
Serafina pretended to be a cleric for the same reasons. From
what Yuuki knew of her, it was only once she laid hands upon
that weapon of hers that her true nature would reveal itself.
However, her physical strength, battle prowess, and judgment
were a mismatch with her appearance, instead exceptional to
the point of abnormality. She would, without a doubt, draw
notice.
“You have eyes in the city, and yet you go to such efforts to
hide your own identity?”
Yuuki noticed that Alfred smiled wryly in response to his
words.
Page 250
“Of course. I’m the kind of person who’s generous when it

comes to myself and strict when it comes to others,” Lea
admitted shamelessly. “Oh, don’t misunderstand, though. It’s
not like I was particularly trying to keep tabs on you and
Albertina. That you were picked up by the old man or that you
picked up the Sixth in turn was simply coincidence. You guys
just happened to stumble into my network, and so I took
notice.”
“…’Took notice,’ is it?”
“That’s why I’m here talking to you, isn’t it? Now then, let’s
get to the main issue——”
Lea smiled faintly.
“‘Sixth Shinki’ and ‘One Crowned with the Moon’ – how
would you like to form an alliance?”
※※※
A hill overlooking a labyrinth entrance.

Elfriede bit her lip as she observed what was going on within.
(I’ve failed…)
Not only had she used both the Duelist and Shinki of the
Moon, she’d even used up a celestial Dragon Fang weapon,
and all for naught.
Page 251
She hadn’t foreseen the interference of the “Shinki who

Supports the Sky.” She’d originally planned on sacrificing
anything and everything to see Yuuki and Tina dead, but…
that wasn’t possible anymore. There was no way she could
afford to make an enemy of the Sky, who possessed the
greatest battle strength of all the powers.
“…Kai, we’re leaving. Back to the tem——”
“Too slow~”
Elfriede spun in the direction of the voice, her eyes widening
in surprise. There stood three people.
The “Shinki who Supports the Sky,” Lea, Yuuki, and Tina.
“You should really retreat the second failure strikes. Your
judgment is too slow by far, Elfriede.”
Lea’s gaze wandered over to Elfriede’s right hand.
“I see now, the Void Marquetry, is it? You seriously messed
up the layout of the labyrinth and gave those poor adventurers
quite some trouble, you know?”
“——How did you know I was here?” Elfriede managed to
ask, at last.
She’d been watching the situation via Jahar the entire time. If
she’d seen the smallest hint that her location had been given
away, she’d have retreated in an instant.
“You twice performed a teleportation and were even
piggybacking on Jahar’s sight and hearing. After using that
much divine energy, finding you was pretty easy.”
Page 252
“…I see. The wisdom of the elderly, is it?”

As with human clerics, the proficiency with which the Shinki
wielded divine energy varied. Lea was the oldest among the
current five – or rather, six.
Elfriede slowly regained her calm.
“So, what have you come here to do?”
“We’re not here to do anything.”
The one to answer was Yuuki. Angrily, he continued.
“We almost died.”
“We are, from the very start, enemies. No matter what I may
or may not have done, what right do you have to complain?
Anyway, my goal has been to slay the Serpent of Demise. In
order to fulfill my duties as a protector of the people, I can’t
allow her to live.”
As Elfriede spoke, she simultaneously searched for a way out.
Lea would disrupt any attempts at teleportation. When it came
to their abilities with divine energy, there was an
insurmountable gap between them.
(But still——)
Yuuki didn’t exhibit any bloodlust. It didn’t look like he was
here for revenge. Just what on earth are they planning…?
Suddenly, the smallest of the three stepped forward.
Page 253
“This is our first time meeting, ‘Shinki who Scatters the Stars.’
I am Albertina. As there is no place for me among the temples,
you may refer to me instead as the ‘Shinki that Dwells in the
City.'”
“…”
“The Shinki must fight one another. That much I know.
However—— To be killed without ever knowing the reason,
that I cannot accept. What did you say Tina was? The… um,
Ser-… ‘Serpent of Delight’?”
Tina turned to look at Yuuki uncertainly.
“What kind of happy-go-lucky apocalyptic beast is that? It’s
‘demise,’ ‘demise.'”
“Right. ——Tina isn’t this Serpent of Demise. Now that this
misunderstanding’s been cleared up, I want to speak with you
further.”
“…Your way of thinking is far too optimistic.”
Yuuki nodded his head in agreement with Elfriede’s words.
“But——”
The expression on the small Shinki’s face contrasted her
original intent. Yuuki placed his hands atop her head and
laughed.
“Right now, my job is to protect this girl and affirm her
words.”
Elfriede turned back to look at Lea once more.
Page 254
“A ‘Shinki who loves to kill’ is a threat to this world and its

people – to us all. Do you really not understand that? Do you
really believe their explanation?”
“I do!”
“They have no proof?”
“That’s not for certain.”
Lea revealed a mischievous smirk.
“Think for just a moment, Elfriede. I’m sure you can figure it
out? If there’s a reason that I can be sure that this Tina girl
isn’t the Serpent, then it’s because——”
“——!”
Elfriede gasped. Indeed, there was an explanation.
In other words, Lea was——
“You see? Would you like your ‘proof’ now?”
“Aaaah——”
A smile on her face, Lea advanced toward Elfriede, whom,
retreating, collapsed untidily on her bottom. Lea’s divine
energy began to concentrate within her——
A metallic crash echoed through the air.
Kai, having stood silently by Elfriede’s side all this while, had
slashed at Lea’s neck. His blow had been met by the pure
white longsword in Yuuki’s hands.
Page 255
“Would you mind not scaring my master like that?”

Although his voice was calm and steady, a violent bloodlust
could be felt emanating from him.
“Even if she puts up such a haughty facade, she’s really quite
the coward, you know?”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why I only scared her.”
“Ugh, seriously! Would it kill you idiots not to cause so much
trouble?!” Yuuki roared as he blocked a second blade with his
black one.
Kai’s celestial Dragon Fang weapon was the VentusPaired
Blades of Amethyst Wind. It was a pair of blades, unique for
their exquisite speed.
“Why don’t we stow those weapons first? We were just
double-checking, after all. ——Sorry for the hassle, Yuuki.”
Slowly, Kai opened some distance between them and Yuuki,
clicking his tongue, put his weapons away.
“What do you want?”
“Well, we’ve already confirmed it, right? ——From her
reaction, she’s definitely not the Serpent.”
“…”
Elfriede finally realized she’d just been tested, and she
blushed in embarrassment.
Page 256
Indeed, were she the Serpent, then she wouldn’t have shown
such a unsightly display of fear.
“Still, not the least bit of hesitation from you, Stellar Duelist.
Were I the Serpent in truth, then you would be dead right
now.”
“Even were that the case, my duties would not change,
unfortunately.”
Kai shrugged, smiling.
“It’s just death. How could I abandon my duties over
something as trivial as that?”
“Kai…”
Elfriede’s eyes filled with tears.
“She is, after all, a useless good-for-nothing that no one could
in good conscience abandon. Believe me, I know.”
“Oh, I see.”
“…”
Why would you affirm something like that?
Lea laughed, as if to change the mood.
Page 257
“I apologize for scaring you just now. The reason I believe

Yuuki is because I knew Muriel – the previous ‘Shinki
Crowned with the Moon’ – from way back. More specifically,
it’s because I watched her change. In other words, the Serpent
is not something ‘innate’ to a person, but rather something
you ‘become.’ My judgment is based on that experience. ——
Accordingly, potential candidates are not restricted solely to
this girl alone, but rather, to all of us. That includes you, of
course, Elfriede.”
“…”
“Consequently, in order to better understand what happened
before, and thus, what will happen next, I need Yuuki’s
experience. I can’t allow you to kill him.”
“I don’t think she’s just going to accept that, though?” Yuuki
interrupted. “Even though her mouth is full of pretty words
like ‘for the world and its people,’ in truth, her motivating
factor is not that, but fear and hate. Logic will not overcome
those feelings of hers.”
“——!”
Elfriede felt the blood rush to her head, and she stood in a
hurry.
“You – What gives you the right to say that!? Five years ago,
the ones who executed my entire Oath Legion were you and
that Shinki of yours!”
Tina looked at Yuuki worriedly.
Yuuki’s expression didn’t change; he simply sighed.
Page 258
“You’re right. If you want me to apologize, then I’ll apologize.

It’s not that I expect you to forgive me, or even that I think I
ought to be forgiven – this isn’t the kind of thing you forgive.
That said——” Yuuki continued in a calm voice, “If I were
again thrust into the same situation, I would do exactly the
same thing. At that time, what I wanted to protect was neither
this world nor its people. ——You guys don’t look like you
can stomach my words; that’s fine, but nevertheless, those are
my sincere feelings. I have no desire to go through all of that
again.”
“…”
“Allow me to repeat, we’re enemies here. If you ever try to
kill me again, I will hunt you with everything I have. It’s just
that I have no desire to ever see ‘that’ happen again; on that
point, we are agreed.”
“…I can’t deny that.”
The Serpent and Yuuki had been terrifying. Loathsome.
Abominable.
However, a Shinki could not allow herself to fall victim to her
passions.
Even a “good-for-nothing” had her pride.
“Good. Then let’s talk. That’s why I’ve made my way here to
see you. ——In order to begin, let me ask you a question:
why do you want to protect this world?”
Elfriede frowned. She couldn’t understand where his question
was coming from.
Page 259
“The world and its people need to be protected, don’t they?

It’s one of the duties of a Shinki.”
“It’s precisely this point which strikes me as abnormal. ——
Hey, Tina.”
“Yes, Master?”
“Is protecting the world and its people really so wonderful?”
“Of course.”
“Why would you ask something so obvious?” the girl’s
expression said.
“T-That’s why it’s necessary for the Shinki to wager it all to
protect it, right?”
“…Do you agree?” Yuuki asked, turning to Elfriede and Lea.
“Yep,” Lea affirmed.
Elfriede nodded her head.
“Amazing. So none of you have realized the abnormality yet?”
The three Shinki looked completely bewildered.
“Oh, don’t misunderstand. It’s not your thoughts that are
strange, but rather the order of things that’s off.”
The one to reply wasn’t one of the three Shinki, but Kai.
“…The sequence, right?”
Page 260
“Exactly. 《This world is wonderful》《so it must be

protected.》 Were that the way you thought, then it’d be fine,
but it’s not. Your decision was made before you ever had the
chance to judge the situation for yourselves. That’s backward.”
“…Can you make your explanation a little simpler?” Tina
asked, dissatisfied.
“Sure. No matter how you look at it, for all of you to come
into this world thinking that ‘this world is wonderful’ is
impossible. You haven’t experienced any of it yet, after all.
And yet, for some reason you have this compulsion to protect
this world from the very beginning.”
To Elfriede, that was simply the way things were.
Was it really so strange…? She could somewhat understand
his reasoning, but she wasn’t convinced.
“What makes all of this more interesting still is that if it
weren’t for that sense of duty ingrained in all of you from the
start, this world could not continue to exist.”
“That’s because the Heavenly King… wants us to protect this
world…”
“Then would that purpose not be better served by having all
of you cooperate in leading and guiding the people?”
Elfriede could not accept his words.
Page 261
“The gate to another world lying at the lowest depths of the

Magna PortaGreat Gate can only be opened by a single Shinki.
Moreover, opening that gate requires a tremendous amount of

divine energy. That’s why——”
“That’s why ‘the Shinki must fight to the death’? That doesn’t
make sense; there should be no need to fight, right? Couldn’t
you simply appoint one among you to take the role? Well,
that’s assuming your purpose really is to save people, anyway.”
“——! I, I really do want to save——!”
“I’m not doubting that.”
Yuuki’s voice was extremely calm.
“The fear and loathing you feel toward the Serpent of Demise
and myself is definitely real. However, you were still very
careful with how you acted on those feelings. Starting with
the opening act in the city, you separated us from other
adventurers, and even ensured we always had water. There’s
only one reason you’d expend all that effort – because you
wanted to avoid harming anyone beyond Tina and myself. —
—Now let me ask – given all that you are capable of, why do
the Shinki need to kill one another? Moreover, why is this
world so conveniently arranged as if designed specifically for
that purpose?”
Elfriede had no answer. His question had shaken her.
“The Serpent of Demise is another example. Its existence
serves one purpose——”
Page 262
“It prevents the Shinki from entering into a stalemate,” Lea

finished.
Her normally cheerful countenance had all but disappeared.
“It’s possible for the five to enter a stalemate by avoiding
combat entirely. However, once the Serpent appears, that
balance will be broken. Things will have to be settled. ——It
seems like that’s a side-effect of the Serpent’s existence.”
“It’s not just a ‘side-effect,’ but rather that someone
intentionally designed it just for that purpose. Tell me, don’t
you think that this world almost seems like it was purposely
designed to be a battleground for a battle royal?”
Yuuki’s question was directed at everyone present.
“The Church teaches that this is the will of the Heavenly King,
but let me ask you – have any of you seen the Heavenly King?
Asked him what he’s thinking?”
No one answered.
Indeed, that was what was taught as well as what the Shinki
were born “knowing.”
However, not one of these Shinki had ever before seen the
Heavenly King.
“I would like to ask him. Why, why Muriel had to become that
kind of thing?!”
Yuuki did his best to control his voice, but the depths of the
rage and sorrow in his heart could still be clearly felt.
Page 263
When he’d been serving Muriel, he’d never really conversed

with Elfriede before. The only impression she’d had of him –
his slaughtering of her subordinates – had been of a vile, cruel,
and emotionless murderer.
——However, she realized now that her perception of him
was wrong.
“For these five years, I’ve kept my distance from the labyrinth
and I’ve been thinking. Always, always thinking. I don’t have
any motivation in mind so grand as this world or the people
around me. No, all I ever wanted was to give her death
meaning – purpose.”
Tina looked at Yuuki, a strange expression on her face.
However, he continued, not allowing another the chance to
speak.
“——That’s why, I want us to form an alliance. This is not for
the sake of victory in battle, but rather to in order to reject this
hateful world – an alliance to ensure that we all continue to
live on.”
Page 264
Epilogue
I told him.
It is not my intention to leave this scar upon your heart.
However, that I am someone so dear to you makes me
incredibly happy. It is a point of pride for me. Perhaps it was
too much of me to have said this.
——You are already a tool no longer.
From now on, you must live on as a “person.”
And then… the ebony knife pierced through my chest.
※※※
Yuuki interrupted his reminiscing, gazing outward through an

open window.
The weather was fantastic.
The warm rays of the sun felt wonderful. Yuuki stretched and
returned to work… only to notice a young girl’s head, sticking
halfway out of the entranceway, watching him.
“…What are you doing, Tina?”
Page 265
“Um, um… Tina’s done cleaning the store, and we’re ready to
open. I was going to report to you, Master, but you were lost
in thought. ——M-Master, can I ask what you were thinking
about?”
“Ah, well…”
My most bitter memory – such an answer would be pretty
meaningless, wouldn’t it?
“I pulled back the bandage to see how the wound was doing.”
“Y-You’re hurt? Let me see!”
Tina’s frantic expression made Yuuki burst into laughter.
“It’s okay. It’s already fine… though it’s left a scar.”
It still was anything but a happy memory, but he found the
pain thereof had left him. It didn’t matter how grievous the
wound, as long as you survived, time would heal all wounds.
“T-That’s good to hear. ——But um, if anything does happen,
be sure to let Tina know, alright? I’ll definitely be of use to
you. I know I don’t really have any divine energy, b-but I’ll
definitely find a way… to help you…”
She seemed a bit awkward.
“…Are you okay? You’ve sure seemed a bit off recently.”
She’d been full of enthusiasm just a bit earlier, only to sink
into a depression in an instant. Her emotional ups and downs
were quite drastic.
Page 266
“It’s nothing!” Tina denied.

At the meeting a few days ago, Tina had formed an alliance
along with the “Shinki who Supports the Sky,” Lea, the
“Shinki who Scatters the Stars,” Elfriede, and the “Shinki
Crowned with the Moon,” Kaya. That said, their “alliance”
wasn’t anything complicated; they’d simply called a truce. A
violation of the truce would inevitably create suspicion that
the party in question was the Serpent of Demise, and thus
even Elfriede would temporarily cease hostilities.
Arrangements to meet the remaining Shinki had been left in
Lea’s hands and was something they’d left for the future.
“You sure don’t look like there’s nothing wrong. There’s no
need to hide it, whatever it is; just go ahead and tell me.”
“…That’s the problem.”
“Huh?”
“Hiding… Master, even if you say that, you’re always
worrying about things by yourself, thinking of how you’re
going to handle everything alone. Even the truce we formed,
that was something you did. Not that I’m not grateful – I am –
but… am I really not someone you can trust?”
The small Shinki looked up at Yuuki.
“That’s not how it is at all. You’ve been a great help.”
He wasn’t just saying it. He thought for a moment and then
continued.
Page 267
“Whatever it is that worries you, feel free to share it with me.

I’ll answer as best and truthfully as I can.”
“Um, then…”
Tina looked slightly embarrassed.
“What concerns me is the thing with your former master. —
—Did you really kill those adventurers?”
“…It’s true.”
This time it was Yuuki’s turn to not know what to say.
However, he’d just sworn not to hide anything from her.
“After Muriel became the Serpent, we thought up many ways
to control her impulse to kill.”
The simplest way, of course, was simply to allow her to kill,
but she’d rejected that out-of-hand.
Their second plan had involved allowing her to indirectly
experience another’s death.
Yuuki had discarded the name of the “Snow Blade King” and
had set himself to ending disputes between adventurers. It was
about this time that the name of the “Black Demon” began to
spread.
Unfortunately, before long, this ceased to be enough, and so
the two had taken to hunting Void Beasts.
Page 268
Although it wasn’t people that were dying, the fact that she
was personally able to kill proved incredibly effective. Her
mind and the impulse to destroy were constantly at war with
one another, but he pushed her to kill those Void Beasts. If
she were ever to kill a person, she would undoubtedly take her
own life. That outcome had to be avoided at any cost.
That she had changed did not matter. All that mattered to
Yuuki was that he be allowed to spend even one second more
by her side.
“Alas, not long passed before something happened. ——Once,
we were deep within the labyrinth when we caught sight of a
Void Beast. Muriel planned to unleash her powers upon it.”
It had been a huge one. Killing it would calm her impulse for
quite some time. Just as that thought had entered Yuuki’s
mind… a party had appeared and killed the beast.
That had been Elfriede’s party. On the off-chance something
terrible would happen, she’d brought not just her Duelist with
her, but all of her finest subordinates from her Oath Legion.
They had been plumbing the labyrinth’s depths looking for
the finest Reliquia – the Dragon Fang Gems – as well as
dispatching any Void Beasts in their way. They declared their
claim over any and all Dragon Fang Gems.
Yuuki couldn’t care less. The problem was that Muriel’s
passions had been denied an outlet.
“And so I killed the noisiest of their number. I figured if
Muriel saw someone die then perhaps it’d ease things a bit.”
He couldn’t have been more wrong.
Page 269
The thought that “I made Yuuki kill” became the straw that
broke the camel’s back.
Her powers had rampaged out of control, killing every human
present. Elfriede had only just managed to escape with her life
by teleporting back to her temple.
Once Muriel had regained control of herself, she had
determined to end her own life.
Yuuki had taken up his black blade and killed his master.
“Her wish that I ‘live on as a person’ were her final words to
me. As well as my dream.”
“And that dream… has it come true?”
“Yes. She taught me how to laugh, what happiness was, how
to help others – as well as the pain of loss. The pain that
wracked my heart as I took her life was the final proof that I
had indeed become ‘human.'”
He laughed, but the laugh never reached his eyes.
“She really was someone precious…” Tina murmured.
“Anyway, what happened after that you know. Old Man Boris
picked me up, I entered the training school, and lived as I do
now.”
Monstrous power, priceless Reliquia, even celestial Dragon
Fang weapons had lost their meaning. Aside from the
MorsBlack Death Seax, the symbol of his sin, he had discarded
it all.
Page 270
“I had originally planned on simply living like this for the rest
of my life.”
“…’Originally’?”
“My plans have changed thanks to the appearance of a certain
someone. ——Anyway, let’s open shop.”
Yuuki tussled the small Shinki’s hair and made his way to the
store.
“Good morning.”
Franka was visiting as usual.
“Good morning,” Yuuki replied in turn.
“…Did you two have a fight?” Franka asked, looking at
Yuuki and Tina’s expressions.
“Franka!”
Before Yuuki could answer, Tina threw herself at Franka with
tear-filled eyes.
“The opponent’s too much. I lost without ever having a
fighting chance. And I feel worse and worse. What do I do?
What do I do?”
“Ah…”
Franka sighed.
Page 271
“I get it now. …Accepting everything takes an open heart,

hard as that may be.”
“I have no idea what you two are talking about, but getting
along as you do, you sure look like a pair of sisters.”
At his words, the two looked at him with complicated
expressions carrying just a hint of reproach.
During the incident a few days before, Franka had brought
Selim and Edgar safely home. She’d run into her brother,
whom had been investigating the situation, and he’d seen
them home.
“By the way, I ran into Nii-san on the way. He’s apparently
decided to form a new party and continue his work in the
Legion.”
The siblings had once walked different roads, but that gap
seemed to have closed just a little.
“It seems like he’s run into a bright young girl and a quiet one.
A support specialist and a cleric, I think? I introduced them to
this store, so you might meet them later on.”
“I’ll keep an eye out, but I don’t expect too much,” Yuuki
replied with a bitter laugh.
Recently, their store had had some new customers.
Edgar and Selim visited whenever they had free time. That
said, they only came over to play, and never bought anything,
so it was hard to call them customers.
Page 272
Next were Kaya and Jahar. He’d formed a pact with them
aside from the truce. Jahar would bring Reliquia and Yuuki
would share intel with them as well as advise them on how to
deal with the other Shinki, forming a united front.
When it came to Kaya’s relationship with her Duelist, she was
as polite as ever though she now seemed capable of making
her position known. Her former cowardice had not reappeared.
Jahar, on the other hand, didn’t seem to know what to make of
Kaya now. Indeed, it seemed her sneak attack and the hole
she’d left in his chest had left him with a healthy respect for
his master.
Alfred was the same as always, and came and went as he
pleased. Even now that his identity as an observer had been
exposed, he hadn’t changed in the least. Yuuki wasn’t sure if
he was just slow or if he just really didn’t care. That said,
Yuuki had no intention of blaming him for anything, and so it
didn’t matter.
Tina conversed with Franka as she organized the store
inventory.
Yuuki had noticed how she couldn’t help but compare herself
with his former master, Muriel.
Page 273
Page 274
He pondered inwardly whether he should tell her that there

was no need for such things. He was pretty sure that she
wouldn’t listen if he said as much, though. What should he do?
He’d never had to worry about such things during his time
with Muriel. His relationship with Tina was quite different. It
was pretty unfathomable.
(——”This Shinki, Albertina, declares that ‘even if I die,’ I
trust him!”)
Yuuki thought back on Tina’s words.
She had likely noticed that he’d overheard her. It had been
thanks to that sentence that he’d finally managed to free
himself of his tortured past, and had had the resolve to once
again take up that which he had once sealed, the MorsBlack
Death Seax.
Muriel had been his savior. And now, with great force, Tina
dragged him ever forward.
When a Shinki died, another would be born in their place.
When the Serpent of Demise perished, another took its stead.
What had caused such a situation?
Was there another path that bypassed all this death?
This, above all else, he wanted to have made clear. In order to
repay those two.
Page 275
“Master! The price tag on this sword’s fallen off – how much
is it?”
“Give me a moment. I’ll take a look.”
Yuuki made his way to the side of Tina, gesturing
exaggeratedly, and Franka, smiling faintly.
Yuuki Takamigahara was unable to protect this world.
However, from the bottom of his heart, he wanted to protect
this scene.
The difference between a “tool” and a “person” came in
whether or not you could feel pain.
Yuuki wished to never again have something stolen from him
by this system that had been constructed by some unknown
force, and operated for some unknown reason.
And so… with these two hands, he’d change this world.
Page 276
Afterword
Hey everyone, this is SUEBASHI. This is the end of

“Samayou Shinki no Duelist” volume two.
So… I’ve already recorded my commentary on this story in
the afterword for volume one, so what I’m going to write now
is a little random.
When you’re an author, the majority of your time is spent in

front of a desk, writing.
Accordingly, the natural enemy of those with this profession –
or perhaps I should call it an occupational hazard – is back
pain.
To be honest, back pain is something I’ve had to deal with for
some years now; when it’s bad, I can’t last even five minutes
sitting. Although exercising those muscles and calisthenics
does help somewhat, when it’s bad, and when a deadline is
coming up, I don’t have the time to exercise as I’d like.
And so I decided the answer is my chair. I am, after all,
spending half of every day on my chair, and so you could say
the ergonomics of my chair play a very important role in
lightening the burden on my body.
In other words, “a good chair will alleviate the pain,” and so
I’ve been doing some research… But these things are just so
expensive! Among their number are chairs that are priced at
some hundreds of thousands of yen; there’s no way I could
make a casual purchase of that kind.
Page 277
Plus, from my point of view, the fit of these things is very

important, so it’s necessary to give them a try in the store
before making a purchase.
Anyway, that gave rise to a certain problem.
Because I’m pretty much a shut-in, my people skills are awful.
When you go to buy new clothes, for example, the store
attendants always find you right away. It’s a hard situation for
me to deal with, and it leaves me panicking.
Attendant: “Welcome.”
Me: (Crap, they came.)
Attendant: “What kind of clothes are you looking for?”
Me: “Uhhh, um, yeah.”
Attendant: “Hmm?”
Me: “T-t-t-the kind you wear…”
That’s the kind of useless gibberish you’ll hear from this man.
That’s why I need to prepare for just such a situation when

buying a chair.
So I roleplay these things in my head before I ever take action.
Page 278
I need a clear image of what I want to buy, so that I can

provide an accurate description of what I want. That’s way,
when face-to-face with a store attendant, I can help them do
their job even through my nervousness. You have to smile,
personably and friendly.
——Good, I think I’ve got it. Something like this.
Attendant: “Welcome.”
Me: “Hehe…” (Smile.)
Attendant: “Can I ask what it is you’re looking for…?”
Me: “Hehe… well, I’m looking for something that will help
my back, how do I put this, my lower back, feel more
comfortable. Hehe. Something that will gently and
comfortably envelop me, something that will suitably excite
me…hehehe.”
——Oh man, that’s not good. They’d call the police on me

for that.
What to do… (Not what to do about the police, but rather,
how to deal with the store attendant. Let me just add that on
the off-chance someone misunderstood.)
Anyway, to wrap the story up, I successfully purchased a new

chair.
Page 279
If you want to know how the attendant reacted, well, in the

end, even as I paced around the store, no one paid me the least
attention – I’d worried for no reason. Furniture salesmen seem
to be pretty hands-off about things… That’s how things strike
me anyway, as I sit in my new chair, writing this.
My back is doing much better.
And finally, acknowledgments.

Thanks to a level up in my procrastination skills, it was tough
going making headway on this manuscript. It’s hard to
express just how grateful I am to those who helped me.
I’m so grateful to the staff at Fujimi Fantasia Bunko, the
editorial staff, my illustrator – H2SO4-sensei, designers,
printers, logistics, bookstore staff, and everyone who took part
in the process of this book’s release. Allow me to now express
my sincere and heartfelt gratitude.
I hope we’ll see each other again.
October 2013 – SUEBASHI Ken
Page 280

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A boy who had once been solely a tool for murder.

He looked even more confused than he’d been a moment ago.

From that time forward, the two of us continued forward,

“Well, work is work,” the dark-skinned young man – Jahar –

“While the reward is certainly great, would you mind sharing

“I’m hoping that comment about biting was just an analogy,

“You’re much more suited to the struggle for victory than my

“Very well. According to the information shared by the

Chapter 1: The Saplings Experience the Labyrinth

Lost to the world of dreams, the young girl’s quiet breathing

This time she yawned and muttered something

“…Sorry about that, Master.”

“If all that happened was that we missed out on some

Tina looked gravely disappointed.

“Right now, I find myself in pretty dire financial straits. To be

“N-No one’s going to be fine! Even if I can’t actually starve, I

“I’m not a normal Duelist, you know? ——Anyway, when it

Below the city was a labyrinth of unknown depth, the Magna

In order to obtain that mystery of mysteries, the tools which

One day, the adventurer Yuuki Takamagihara had stumbled

“Wow, that’s definitely rough.”

Clerics were one type of adventurer. They utilized divine

“Fruits, veggies, and oooh, cheese! This will definitely do for

Divine energy was the source of their power, which they

“As you’re an employee of this store, it’s necessary for you to

“And that’s exactly why it’s best to train yourself so you’ll be

They were instead engaged in a savage, zero-sum free-for-all.

Each Shinki was allowed but a single Duelist; they were

Given the circumstances, the job of adventurer – who

“I have to say, for you to proactively accept a job for

First, those who wielded swords, axes, spears, bows, etc. –

“I remember now! I’ve seen you in town before!”

“Man, you sure are weak, Onee-chan,” Edgar, still full of

“B-But… he made me do it!” Tina pouted. “If I just had

The doors of the adventurer training school were open to all.

Usually, residents were two to a room, but because she’d been

“Kaya-chan, you’re simply too timid. You would do well to

“About that… what do you plan to do exactly?”

The Shinki and their Duelists were protected by an aura of

“If you refuse to allow me to do this, then all that awaits us is

“Yuuki-kun, what do you think about changing things up a

“This child is just too slow. ——Yuuki-kun, you’re always

“R-Right. I really shouldn’t be the one saying this, but that

The cheerful sound of chopping filled the cramped kitchen.

Yuuki was making a stew with the vegetables Franka had

But was that a happy thing…?

Rather than stimulating the body’s natural healing processes

“I’ve never had any allowance, so I can’t tell you. ——Oh!

“What’re you so distracted by, Master?”

“Your Shinki. What kind of person was she?”

Double-checking to make sure no one was around, he kicked

All the experience and skills he had accumulated during his

If one blindly charged into battle, it was possible that even

“That being the case, then all I have to offer is intel. ——

“Good morning. ——Ooh, something smells good.”

“How long have you been here? Oh, right! Welcome!