212 211.50 floors.txt (1/2)

No, it's me. Master Uzumi.

A girl in black with chestnut-colored hair hanging down turned around and called my name.

There's no mistaking that face. Just the other day, I saw the same scene.

The one who appeared at the fifty layers was Nosfi, who should have appeared at the sixty layers as well.

Ryner and I were surprised at his appearance. Leaving us behind, Nosphy is convinced of the situation all by himself while looking around.

''...... Hmph. It's been a long time since we've done this, so I was worried, but it worked out well. Although it's quite restricted, my original magic seems to be able to operate without problems.

Staring at his own hands, scowling, Nosphy laughs.

'Why is Nosfi here ......?'

'Oh, didn't you know that Uzumi-sama just did?　When a human first enters the Guardian's (Guardian's) layer, the 'Gentile Summoning' technique is activated and the 'Stealer of Reason' is called in.

”It's called 'Summoning the Gentiles' ......?　No, I know the guardians (guardians) will be 'summoned'. But then, wouldn't that give you a load?

Yes, originally, the Lord was going to be called to the 50th layer. However, just a few minutes ago, we 'discussed' (and followed) the technique and changed the target from the Lord to me. It was like magic without a surgeon, so it was very easy.

As if it's nothing, Nosfi goes on to speak of falsifying the underlying art form of the labyrinth.

'You can do that ....... But why would you do that ......?

I am surprised and confused at the depths of Nosfi's light magic.

I don't know why I substituted the target of the 'summoning'. I don't know what the girl in front of me is thinking.

That's why my feet didn't move forward, even though I said I was in front of someone I know.

The skill 'Sensitivity' was sounding the alarm bell to get closer to the Sixty Layer Guardians (Sixty Guardians) who appeared in the fifty layers. Ryner in the rear also had a similar expression to me.

Seeing us like that, Nosfy continues to laugh.

Kutsukaku, kutsukaku, kutsukaku, he never ceases to laugh. And then--.

...... Now, I'm not going to let you go on from here. --Light Rod, followed by the Banner of Light (Nosfy Flag).

He generated a glowing flag in his right hand with magic and showed his intention to stop the traffic.

''--!

With those words, a tension built up in the storm.

I could sense that the place of banter had been painted over into a battlefield.

I take a step back and Ryner draws his twin swords.

In contrast, Nosfi waved the light flag around like a performance, then thrust it into the fifty layers of earth and set it up. Unexpectedly, the light flag is used as its original use, not as a weapon.

The moment the flag stood up, the color of the magic power in space changed. The green wind magic power is mixed with white light magic power. Together, the light green - not a pale green - but white filled everything, and everywhere (・・・・・・・) light seeped in (・・・・・・・) light seeped in (・・・・・), and the fifty layers were filled with a single color of light-attribute magic power.

It was such a drastic change that even that belligerent liner had to stop to look at it. In the space where the attributes have changed completely, Nosfi speaks languidly to me.

''...... haha. Even so, Uzuraha-sama, you are a little too fast. It's only been five hours since the morning, right?　It's lunchtime, lunchtime. Were you planning to go to ground today, perhaps?　If you were in such a hurry, please tell me so. It's a matter of convenience for us, too.

They continue to chat amicably, even though the hostility is confirmed. It's a friendly smile, as if what I just said never happened.

Ryner and I's confusion has only accelerated. And seeing me at a loss for an answer, Nosphy suggests.

''So--wouldn't you like to 'talk' here for a bit until the Lord's side is ready?

As if to say that this is his realm, Nosfi recommends 'storytelling'.

The brain, judging the current situation to be a battle, spins at high speed. With a dull sound, the substances in the brain pulsate and beat the nerves, the nerves.

If we let our judgment get blunted now - we will lose.... That's what I thought.

The status 'smartness' raises my thinking speed, and at the end of it, I choose to gather information first. To Ryner, who was waiting behind me, I gestured with my right hand, which I turned behind me, to ”wait”.

'If you're ......, let me hear it. What's the Lord telling you he's getting ready for?

”In short, I'm preparing for my ordeal.

Boom.

Next to the brain, the heart pulses.

-- 'The ordeal'.

Honestly, I only have painful memories.

The speed of thought jumps even faster as you realize that your fifth 'ordeal' is imminent.

''Why is this 'ordeal' now ......

'It's not too late. Now that Master Uzumi has reached the 50th layer, the time is now. ...... Well, I've answered the question. Uzumi-sama will be the next to answer. Well, Uzumi-sama, which is more important to you, the past or the future?　I, for one, am very curious about that.

Nosfi demands an exchange of each question and answer.

There are still questions I want to ask. And there's also the reason why I want to see how it goes. As part of the usual selfishness, I answer that question.

'All right. ...... The future, if you want to put it that way. Or, more accurately, the 'now' is the most important thing.

I'll answer honestly.

I know that now is a time when I shouldn't provoke Nosfy by lying. But I still couldn't lie to him.

The glowing flag light behind Nosfi's back looked like a goofy stand light in the interrogation room. The pressure was on to not allow any lies.

''I see. In other words, Uzumi-sama doesn't care about the 'past'?　Is the present more important than the past?　Is 'now' all there is to it?

'I wouldn't say it's everything. But you can't move forward if you only look at the 'past'. You've said it before: ......

'Does that mean that if there are sins in the 'past' you are going to pretend you don't know about them because you don't remember them?　Do you think that because it was a thousand years ago, it is time-barred (forgiven)?　That's a very positive story, isn't it? Well, I certainly am (・・・・・)

I think so, sir.

It was probably a sarcastic response.

And Nosfi continued to agree with it with a smile.

'Yes, it's no use regretting the past. We should look forward and do what we have to do. It's the 'right' thing to do, and I think we should do it, too.

Those were the same words Nosfi had admonished Lord yesterday. But somehow it seems to be someone else's problem.

I continue to ask questions, not wanting to miss the details of that change of heart.

It's my turn to ask ....... Why is Lord trying to do 'The Trial' now?

”Because that's what the Lord wants now - to be selfish. That's why I'm cooperating with him as a 'friend'. As a result, I'm the substitute for the one who steals the truth of the wind. Huh, are you surprised?　I'd like to know how Uzumi-sama is feeling right now.

'Yeah, I'm surprised. If you were there, I thought you were a Lord. So, you call yourself the acting guardian of the fifty layers (Guardian), which means ......

Yes, the guardians who protect the layers have one thing to do: they don't let anyone but those who are qualified pass. Hence, Uzumi-sama and the others won't let them pass. Because neither of you have yet to overcome the Lord's 'ordeal'.

What you just said was not misheard, and furthermore, it confirms that Nosfi is doing it in his right mind.

This is no longer the time to play around with such games as a question-and-answer 'discussion'. As tensions rise, he takes the last confirmation one way or another.

'...... You're sure this is the loading hierarchy?'

Yes, I am. I am a guardian of the 60th layer.

Did you and Lord make up with each other after that?

'I was able to make it up to them right away. Lord forgave me with a smile. That's why I was given the subject of the 'summons' through 'discussion', and now I'm here. It's a good thing that Uzumi-sama made me and Lord become 'friends'. It's just--

Nosfi answers my standing question without getting angry.

The girl in front of me is calm. She doesn't seem to get agitated over something so slight.

That's what makes her different from the past guardians.

It's strange.

Guardians are supposed to be a mass of unrequited love, but Nosfy is comfortable with that.

With my sceptical eyes all over him, Nosphy spreads his hands out to emphasize the fifty layers of existence.

'As you can see. Even now Lord is crying. He's smiling, but he's crying.'

Endless grasslands.

All around is clear, but at the heart of it is a great storm.

This is the Road, they say.

I remember Alti's words.

She was referring to the ten layers and said that it was ”I myself”.

I suppose it is the same for the other guardians (Guardians).

'So, as a 'friend', I want to listen to her crying and her selfishness. I want to stop this rain of tears.

I knew the Lord was crying ......?

Yes, I cry when I'm alone. So I guess I'm still being selfish.

He kept chuckling and repeating yesterday's wishes.

'Come on, go and see Lord again. And cheer him up again. I'll keep wishing for it until it comes true. Because that is my unrequited wish, it can't be helped, can it?

I can tell you that, without saying so, that I won't pass until it's done.

'...... The only way to cheer up Lord is to bring the id. I'll be there and back in a minute. Wait until then, please.

'I can't wait. Because, as you said earlier, id id id, there is no need for that.

He's got to. He needs to have a family. That much I can assure you.

'Yes. The Lord wants a family. So do I.

Then--!

I agreed, but we never got around to talking about it. Frustrated by the roundabout way it was going, I raised my voice.

But that momentum is cut short by an unexpected word.

'But if you're Lord's family, you're already there.

The statement that overrides the premise - I don't understand what it means.

No, technically I can guess, but I can't accept that guess.

'The Lord's family is ......?　Where can I find ......?

There.

Nosfi points.

The boy who kills behind me.

Reiner.

'Be pleased (・・・・・・・), Helvirshine (・・・・・・・・・).

You're the new (・・・・・・・) Lord's brother (・・・・・・・・).

Speculation turns into reality.

It was then that I realized the true purpose of this roadblock.

'A brother who doesn't want the Lord to be a king. A brother who can talk honestly without hesitation and enjoy just being around him. A brother who has the same wind attribute, is worth teaching, and is very, very pretty. Kuhu, it's perfect. If you (Ryner) are around, there's no need for an id. That's Lord's answer--

Windflamberge!

Oops.

Before he could say the following words, Ryner slashed at Nosfy.

It's a full-force strike clothed in the magic of the wind. Nosfi dodged it lightly.

I was the only one who was late to the fight.

Seeing that unworthy figure, Ryner shouts while drawing his sword.

'Christ, you still believe this guy isn't the enemy!　Look at this attitude, there is no doubt about it!　This guy is not going to let us pass, no matter what!　Give up already!

I want to listen to Nosfy's ego as much as possible.

I want to believe to the end that they are not the enemy.

-- I can hear those fleeting hopes shattering.

'No, Ryner, I don't. It's not that I don't want to let you through. I just want you to go back to the drawing board for a moment. Now, Uzumi-sama, let's go back to the sixty-sixth layer for a moment, shall we?　Because until the Lord smiles, this place is closed to traffic. So it can't be helped. Hmph, hmph.

So you need an id to make that Lord smile. And in order to bring that id, you have to go to the ground. And yet, in order to get to the ground, they want me to make the Lord smile. -- I can only assume that he no longer wants to make me fulfill my selfishness.

''There's no need to defeat it!　We can go through the side!　Then Christ will be able to fight!

As Reiner and Nosfi's words fly around, I decide to prepare myself.

'We've got to do it ......, don't we ......!

Be prepared to fight the guardian here - the one who steals the reason for the light, Nosfi.

'Are you ready?　But with an inexperienced knight and an unfinished Uzurinami-sama, there are many things missing from my opponent.

With a gentle expression, Nosfi tries to intercept me as I pull out the ”Straight Sword of Crescent Pectrazi”. He pulls out the flag of light that was sticking out and holds it up like a spear, thrusting the tip at us.

''Literally, let me show you the difference in levels: ......

With those words, Nosfi's light magic exploded with the words.

At the same time, Ryner and I ran out.

We didn't signal to each other. But we split off to the left and right in the same breath perfectly and try to pass through.

In response, Nosfi adjusts the length of the light flag and tries to cleave wide to the side. Its attack range is wide, and at this rate, it can reach both me and Ryner.

'Keep running, Ryner!　Shift the distance (・・・・) and make them miss!　--magic 《difault》!

We build dimensional magic to prevent that from happening.

It stretches space instead of compressing it. The amount of space created by that should have dislodged (...) Nosfi's nosepiece should have come off (...) - it should have.

''--What?

The space that had been stretched out was compressed again at the same time.

The gap that was created was quickly filled in and the gap was repaired.

Of course, there is no misalignment at all in nagiwa....

Both Rainer and I hit the tip of the flag and were blown away by the increased impact from the centrifugal force. It's a good idea to be able to have a good idea of what you're looking for. In fact, Ryner, who had full faith in my magic, realized that his defending arm was dislocated with his ”Dimension”.

''d*mn!　Christ, what happened!

Blown away, Ryner asks me why, as he quickly gets up.

'The same magic was used by ......?　No, no. The same magic I (...) used ......?

I recall the previous sequence of events and search for the cause.

And what I notice is an impossible fact. The 《Dimension Decisive Operation (Gradiate)》 was indeed grasping all the magic in space. What that grasping ability showed was that the magic that occurred earlier was 《Default》 twice. Furthermore, those two ”defaults” were definitely my own.

The first time was my own conscious decision. But the second time was not my intention.

It was unconscious.

”Hmph, is this the time to be talking so casually?

While he's sorting through the information, Nosfi runs off.

Its destination is Ryner. He's going to conquer the injured opponent first.

He uses a magic to move to prevent that from happening.

''-- 《Default》!

They try to compress the space in order to reduce the distance.

But--.

Again?

It was the same as before.

The compressed space was stretched out in the next moment.

The same magic activated simultaneously in the exact opposite direction and gained no effect.

There was no doubt about it anymore.