Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

"That being said—no matter how much she doesn't want to be herself anymore, Lefia can't become Philvis Chariah."

Riveria gave the same answer as a certain god of light, and let her words drift away on the wind.

She and Loki gazed together at the underground city where the girl was.

"Relphia can only arrive at 'one outcome' right now, but that's just self-satisfaction. One day, it will lead to contradictions and self-destruction. The so-called answer is actually quite obvious."

The difference between Lefia and Ais lies here.

The Valkyrie (Ais) is indeed walking on the edge of danger.

However, she did not want to become "someone else".

Fiora (Ais) is only focused on becoming stronger to achieve her own "goal".

Unlike Ais, the girl who chases after the illusions of others (Lefia) wants to destroy herself with her own hands.

"Yes, I believe that Lefia is currently standing in front of the 'mirror' called the 'guide,' forced to confront her inner demons that are difficult to unravel, and caught in a contradiction."

This is why Loki sent Lefia to the "school district," and why Baldr entrusted the "Seventh Squad" to her.

It is hoped that when young girls face students and pursue the correct answers, they can become aware of the contradictions within themselves.

Hopefully, once she understands what is right, she will recognize her own "mistakes".

"The profession of teaching is one that guides students while also learning from them."

To borrow a phrase from the teacher (Lyon), that's how it is.

Lefia is no longer a "guide" who can continue to move forward even if she makes mistakes, but is forced to become a "guide" who must recognize right from wrong.

"Pay attention to this, Lefia!"

Yarisa shouted this out the window.

"Remember this, Lefia."

Rivera gazed at the underground city and called out in this way.

"Find yourself again, Lefia."

Baldr, his eyes still tightly closed, whispered this.

"Yes, it's almost there, Lefia."

Luo Ji suddenly changed the wind direction and said with wide eyes.

"You are no other than Rafia Viridis."

The moment when four sounds overlapped from different locations and perspectives—

Lefia was in a maze that would leave anyone bewildered when she suddenly heard the sound of a heart beating.

"Please, senior!"

"Please, senior!"

Luke ran up Goliath's arm, but was accidentally thrown off along the way. Even though he landed on his back and was seriously injured, he still used his longsword as a crutch to support himself.

When Nano came to Lefia, she put down her wand and placed her hands on her scarred shoulders with tears streaming down her face.

They said the following sentence in unison.

"Please let us protect you!!"

The mirror shattered into pieces.

The original Lefia and the fake Philweis have both disappeared. Faced with the "truth" of contradictions, the students convey their true thoughts to Lefia.

Her azure eyes began to tremble as her heart wavered.

The resolve and awareness that were intertwined like a dead knot gradually crumbled.

Suddenly, a warm light appeared in her hand.

The magic circle attached to her left hand—the "Spirit Ring"—awaits her.

It borrowed her (Philwiss) voice, and the teacher's (Rivilia) voice, to ask Lefia.

"What is your choice?"

"I……"

Lefia's mind went blank, entrusting her final decision to her lips.

As countless thoughts surged through my wounded body—

"Roara ...

“──!”

“Ahh!?”

Suddenly, a "hellhound" broke through the defensive line formed by Mililia and Cole, lunging at Lefia and the others who were standing frozen in place. Lefia quickly pushed Nano aside and sliced ​​her opponent in two with a single stroke.

The situation was extremely urgent, and the monsters and the dungeon wouldn't patiently wait for someone to come up with a solution after much trouble before engaging in battle.

Therefore, Rafia quickly revealed her final decision.

Surrounded by terrifying monsters and stared at by students with distorted faces, she collected fragments of the chosen songs in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, as if trying to bury herself.

Then he shouted at the top of his lungs.

"—Gather, breath of the earth—my name is Alf!"

She shouted out her conclusion.

"【Veil Breath】!"

A burst of emerald-colored light followed.

Lefia's attack was neither lightning powerful enough to burn stars, nor a shield strong enough to shatter enemy attacks.

This is the magic of the "mentor" who always guides Lefia—and it's also a "protective magic" that transforms into light to envelop her companions.

The green light protected Nano, Luke, Mililia, and Cole, who all looked surprised.

After acquiring magical armor (Veil Breath) that could heal injuries and block physical and magical attacks, the "Seventh Squad" stared in disbelief at the adventurer who cast the spell.

Lefia said this during the brief moment when time seemed to slow down.

"Please protect me."

The choice made by the lips was conveyed to the astonished students.

"I am a mage, please protect me—no, I will save all of you who promised to protect me!"

Upon hearing this sentence—

Hearing this answer—

Nano and the others, who were in tears, all broke into smiles.

""""yes!""""

The "Seventh Squad," who answered in unison, looked radiant.

The emotions that welled up spontaneously flowed through their bodies, which had already exceeded their limits, driving them to pick up their fallen weapons, hold them in their hands again, and borrow power from the protection of the light that safeguarded them.

In that instant, the five people on the scene united as one.

"Square formation! Just three minutes... no, just one minute!"

Lefia made her request from the heart of the monster army.

She recalled the fierce battle on the 24th floor, a desperate fight against countless carnivorous plants, during which she begged her companions to help her hold out for "three minutes".

But now it's different.

Filled with fierce determination, Lefia vowed to catch up with the city's strongest mage (Riveria).

"Miri! Kor! You two are responsible for suppressing the Minotaur on the left and right sides! Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh!! Nano! Even if you finish last, it's fine! Start chanting immediately!"

Luke mustered the last of his strength and charged forward with unstoppable force.

His voice trembled as he gave the order, stepping back from Goliath and leaping to rejoin his companions. As Mililia and Cole roared and clashed with the enemies on either side, he first met the gaze of those azure eyes, then began slaughtering the monsters charging towards Lefia from the front.

Luke displayed both the destructive power of a forward attacker and the defensive strength of a forward tank, performing more heroically than anyone else in the squad.

"Make a wish in the name of the fairy!"

As she began chanting, Lefia sheathed her short sword, "Tears of Ash," and then pulled out the long staff that had been tucked into her belt until now.

She connected the wand, which was as large as a one-handed sword, to the short staff she held in her right hand.

After activating its built-in variable function, it instantly transformed into a large staff longer than Lefia's height—a transformation into a wand similar to Riveria's "Great Elf".

[Dual-Wand Fairy Stardust]

This is Lefia's new weapon, a specially made wand composed of a short staff and a long staff.

The short staff was modified from Philwis's weapon, the Guardian White Torch, while the long staff was reforged from the remaining fragments of Lefia's wand, the Forest Tear. Both wands feature a "connection mechanism" that is the first of its kind in Orario's history.

"Ancestors of the forest, noble brethren, answer my call, come to the grasslands! The bonds of connection, the promise of a joyous feast, let us dance in circles!"

The special equipment, created using the knowledge Lefia learned in the "school district," can only unleash its true power when the user transforms from a "magic swordsman" back into a proper "guard mage."

When the short staff and the long staff are connected and their "magic gems" resonate with each other, they will unleash explosive "magic power".

"Come, fairy ring. I beg you—lend me your power!"

Raphia spread her feet shoulder-width apart, held up her large staff, and began to sing loudly.

A massive, golden magic circle then unfolded, illuminating the faces of Luke and the others who were covering Lefia.

"The Ring of Elves!"

Lefia chanted a summoning spell, calling upon powerful "magic"—scenes from "back then" flooded her mind in an instant.

"Ah, ah... ahh...!"

In the past, on the 17th floor, the powerless Lefia could only sit and wait for her death.

Just as the giant was about to kill Lefia and the others with ease—a dazzling golden light saved them.

"Huh?!"

The giant's hand, which was about to smash Lefia into a pulp, was severed on the spot, and the monsters that were about to devour the students and Badain alive were all beheaded.

As Goliath screamed in agony and retreated, Lefia, who was slumped on the ground, encountered "Golden Dream".

"Are you alright?"

A girl, no more than a year older than him, appeared before him.

This beautiful girl with blonde hair and golden eyes is none other than the famous "Sword Princess"—Ais Wallenstein.

"Oh no! Things look really bad!"

"Are they all students from the 'school district'? We have to save them while they still have a breath left!"

Ais happened to save the group of "school district" students who were almost wiped out while she and Tiona were on their way to the depths of the dungeon.

Looking at Ais standing in front of her, Lefia was captivated by her charm and overwhelming strength, and was unable to recover for a long time.

"...Are you a mage?"

"Huh... Ah, uh, yes! I'm a mage...! But I'm completely useless..."

After excitedly answering loudly with her shoulders heaving, Lefia immediately lowered her head in frustration.

Shocked and frightened, I was completely unable to help, and the "magic" I cast was useless.

Overwhelmed by a sense of powerlessness, and so devastated that she was almost unable to recover—

"Cast a spell."

Those words reached my ears.

Lefia looked up in disbelief and found Ais staring intently at her.

"If you fail to use your magic now, you will be doomed... I think that won't do."

Ais, who was intuitively convinced of this, offered a clumsy explanation.

Despite the content being rather illogical, it inexplicably moved Lefia, who was in despair.

"I...I'm too weak...and I lack courage! I can't possibly chant magic on my own...!"