(The next day…)
"Yukito-san, are you really sure the princess doesn't know about this?" Hime asked while walking beside the two of us.
Just as Luke and I had discussed last night, we carried out the plan I had prepared.
The three of us went out without Iris knowing where we were going.
W-well, even though she would eventually find out that the three of us were going out, at least she wouldn't know our destination.
Yuu-chan also carried out the task I gave her, which was to accompany Iris for the whole day and keep her busy.
I don't know what exactly she would do, but I'm sure she could handle it.
I just hope Iris doesn't force Yuu-chan to tell her about what we're doing today…
——
The three of us chose to pass through the corridor in the underground beneath Yggdrasil.
The reason was so that no one would see us heading toward the ruins if we took the usual road on the surface.
This was the safest route, and in my opinion, we wouldn't run into anyone else here.
"But Yukito-san, are you sure everything will be resolved if we destroy that magic circle?" Hime asked.
"Of course. If I look back at our battle in Vannis, I think the only way is to destroy it directly," I replied.
Luke joined our conversation, since he knew everything about how to destroy a magic circle.
"Don't worry. I'm sure it won't take long to destroy it, and even if there are obstacles, we'll definitely be able to handle them," Luke said.
I slowed my steps for a moment because I felt like I heard some kind of sound.
…I think there really is something making noise nearby.
I decided to stop suddenly because I wanted to check it first, just in case there was something that could endanger us.
Brukk!
Hime, who didn't notice that I had stopped suddenly, crashed into my back.
Her head and body briefly pressed against mine before she fell to the ground, unable to maintain her balance.
Realizing what had happened, I immediately turned around and helped Hime back up by reaching out my hand to her.
"Are you okay?" I asked.
"Y-yes… I just didn't see you stop…" she said as she took my hand and let me help her stand.
She brushed off her black skirt, which had gotten a little dusty from touching the floor of the corridor.
I didn't immediately look away from her, afraid that she might have been injured because of my actions earlier.
"Don't worry, Yukito-san. I just fell normally… there aren't any injuries on my body. So relax, okay?" she said with a small smile, gesturing to show that she was really fine.
If she said so, then that meant my fear was no longer necessary.
I was just a little worried that I might have hurt her, which would have made me feel guilty.
"You two! Come here, there's something up ahead," Luke said softly from in front of us.
While I was helping Hime stand up, Luke went ahead first to keep watch, just in case something dangerous appeared.
Then, he hid himself between the walls of the corridor, as if peeking at something from where he was standing.
Hime and I immediately approached him, then stopped right behind him to listen to what he had to say.
"Look ahead. Even I'm confused as to why they're here. There shouldn't be any monsters in this place," Luke said.
Hime and I took turns switching places with Luke to see what he had seen.
Several large monsters covered in thick fur stood there, their bodies resembling brown bears standing on two legs.
Their fangs looked extremely sharp, and their eyes were red, as if they were ready to devour anything in sight.
Their numbers might not have reached ten, but they moved as if they were in a single formation.
They stayed close together, as though they were watching over one another.
After grasping the situation in front of us, I turned my gaze back to the two of them.
This was strange—there were monsters inside this corridor. When I was here with Iris before, I hadn't encountered any monsters, whether from the direction of Yggdrasil or the ancient ruins.
"There's only one reason why they're here," I said.
"They were summoned through the magic circle you mentioned, right? That's the only possible explanation for this," Hime replied.
I nodded and cleared my throat softly toward her.
"We've already come too far to turn back, and we can't just leave those monsters roaming around here," I said.
"I don't mind. So what's the plan?" Luke asked.
"I'll use my magic to blind them for a few seconds. During that time, the two of you attack them directly."
"I'll also provide support with magic after chanting my spell," Hime said.
Alright, this is the moment to take down the monsters blocking our path!
——
"Third-tier magic, blind all sight before me, the light that becomes an obstacle—Shining!"
Hime stood in front of the monsters, causing them to immediately rush toward her.
When they took the bait, Luke and I quickly prepared ourselves with our sword and small dagger already in hand.
Cring.
The light released by Hime's magic made the monsters stop moving, and they began to scream as they lost their vision.
Hime immediately turned her head and looked at the two of us.
"Now's the time!" Hime said.
I immediately ran toward the monsters and began slashing at them alongside Luke.
We killed as many as possible before the blinding effect of the light wore off.
"Fourth-tier magic, flames that burn through arrows—burn, Vire Arrow!" Hime cast another spell.
This time, she used a spell that fired flaming arrows made entirely of magic toward the remaining monsters in front of us.
W-wow… at this rate, Hime could probably defeat all of them without any help from Luke or me…
It felt like we were just extras in Hime's massacre.
"Phew~ Thank goodness they weren't too strong," Hime said as she wiped the sweat from her forehead.
I sheathed my sword again since there was nothing left to cut down.
"Let's go. We need to hurry before monsters like them appear again," I said.
The two of them cleared their throats before walking beside me again.
Not long after that, the three of us finally reached the lowest floor of the ruins.
Just like before, nothing had changed in this place.
"Hime-san, we've been here before, right?" Luke asked.
"You're right. Back then, the three of us came here together with Yuu-chan, but we didn't enter that corridor," Hime replied.
That's right—they had already been here before. If I remember correctly… it was when Iris and I were inspecting the underground area.
At the same time, or a few minutes earlier, the three of them had already gone to the ruins first.
"So, where is the room you were talking about?" Luke asked.
"Follow me," I answered, leaving them with no choice but to follow wherever my footsteps would lead them.