Chapter 70 - Hello from the roof (1/2)

Chapter 70 – Hello from the roof

A stone floor with tiles that lined up in a neat square like graph paper. Some stones were cracked or chipped, but it still was enough to tell that it was not a simple stone tower.

On that floor, Schwartz was crawling around. With a speechless face, Yuri was looking at that crown prince prowling on the floor and straining his eyes.

「Your Highness Crown Prince Schwarz. Have you found it?」

When asked, Schwartz replied without turning around.

「…Wait a while.」

Receiving a reply in a displeased tone, Yuri closed her mouth and let her gaze wander around the area. Perhaps built this way on purpose, but the castle had no structure higher than the lady’s mansion. Yet it was hard to find and had no possible way to attack it except for the sky.

However, Ditzen while hiding, kept restlessly surveying the courtyard and the castle, where Aifa was supposed to be.

「The sounds coming from the castle became fainter…… Aifa might have gotten caught……」

「Angry voices from soldiers still can be heard, so isn’t it okay?」

「T-That’s right… Well, anyway, we still have time to search for the elf, so we have to get down there faster…」

When Ditzen, mumbling, looked at Schwartz’s back, coincidentally right at that moment, he discovered something and spoke.

「Found it…」

「You did?!」

Reacting to Schwarz’s words, Ditzen immediately rushed over. Yuri also peeked with interest from behind Schwarz.

The floor where Schwarz was touching it had a faintly visible crest carved on it. Schwartz put his right hand on the stone with the emblem.

And whispered something almost indistinct.

Immediately afterward, the gaps between the orderly tiles of the rooftop glowed bluish-white, and then some of them slowly descended downward.

With a heavy rumbling sound, stones were going down one after another, and before long a spiral staircase was formed.

「…Amazing. As expected from Blau Empire.」

Without going into specifics, Ditzen gave ambiguous praise to which Schwarz shook his head after getting back to his feet.

「This tower was built by the first emperor. Currently lost magic techniques were used here. I have no clue what the gimmick behind it is.」

After saying this much Schwarz quickly went down the stairs.

「Eh? Is that okay? M-Maybe it’s a trap?…」

As Ditzen was seized with fear, Yuri looked at the staircase amusedly and followed after Schwartz.

「……Well, it, it will be okay, right? Probably…」

Watching the two go down first, Ditzen muttered that with a dry laugh and proceeded down the stairs.

The stairs didn’t seem to be that long, and soon dim light could be seen as he descended while putting his hand against the wall. Although the figure of Schwartz, who was in the lead, was not visible anymore, Yuri and Ditzen descended the stairs without any rush.

「Looks like we are almost there.」

「……Why is it so quiet?」

「Yes, the aura of tranquility can be felt.」

「It’s not what I meant……」

「Ah, we arrived. The door is open.」

Yuri said quietly and peeked through the gap. Behind the door, Schwarz’s back could be seen, and opposite him stood three female soldiers with their swords drawn. Lightly equipped they had only breastplates and arm guards.

「So it was a trap after all!」

When Ditzen uttered that line, the female soldiers turned their heads with stern expressions.

「Friends of his, huh?」

「Don’t move from that spot.」

Out of the three, two calmly started to walk towards Yuri’s group.

「L-Let’s force our way through here.」

Saying that, Ditzen chanted inaudibly.