The Water Magician

"Six people defeating a wyvern, huh? As expected of those who form a party with the child of the fairy king. How interesting."

Saying this, the old man with white hair, a wide red hat, a red robe, and a staff laughed.

If he were there, he would know almost everything that happens within the dungeon he resides in.

He had been watching the battles in Room 10 and Room 11 on the hundredth floor with great interest.

Just how well could they do without the child of the fairy king, Ryo?

The result was quite satisfactory.

"But... I'm curious about this 'gaze' they have."

The red old man muttered with a slight frown.

"It feels unpleasant... surprisingly so. I can't shake the feeling that they're like those guys... but why do they care? If they were concerned about the child of the fairy king, I could understand. However, they... even though they defeated the wyvern as a party of six from the dungeon, that's quite an achievement for humans. It's impressive, but... it shouldn't be something for them to be concerned about, right?"

No one answered the red old man's words.

The party from Room 10 and Room 11, after breaking through the hundredth floor, left the dungeon immediately.

Although they had defeated the wyvern as six people, the mental fatigue was indeed substantial.

But at the same time, their joy was equally high.

For now, they returned to the inn they were staying at in the city of the West Dungeon, called "Holy Capital Minstrel," to wash themselves and gathered in the dining hall on the first floor.

Naturally, they felt fatigued, but alongside that, they savored their joy...

"Congratulations on breaking through the hundredth floor!"

"Congratulations!"

A banquet of just the six of them was held.

"It would have been nice if Ryo-san were here."

"Ah... He probably went to deliver a letter to the Republic, right? And he still has the Holy Seal Certificate with him."

"If Ryo-san were here, I feel like we wouldn't have struggled at all against the wyvern..."

"That's possible."

Amon mentioned Ryo's absence, Nils stated the fact, Zeek touched on Ryo's combat strength, and Eto agreed.

Harold and Gowan, who were listening nearby, nodded vigorously.

Both of them had sparred with Ryo, so they knew his strength... well, not exactly, but they knew he was quite strong.

"No, no matter how much Ryo is, it wouldn't be easy against a wyvern, right?"

Nils said while eating a pile of Bandit-style Grilled Chicken.

"But... I can't really imagine Ryo-san struggling," Amon pondered while eating steak.

As the group was discussing such things, the inn's receptionist brought over an envelope.

"Excuse me for interrupting your meal. This envelope has just arrived for you all."

"Ah, thank you."

Nils received it and opened it to check inside.

"The captain says we should return to the Holy Capital. It's good timing, so let's head back tomorrow."

"Yeah, we just conquered the hundredth floor... I want to continue when we have more time."

Nils suggested returning the next day, and Eto agreed.

The other four nodded as well.

Thus, the following day, the party left the West Dungeon and headed toward the Holy Capital.

Just as they reached a point exactly halfway between the West Dungeon and the Holy Capital...

The ground shone.

"What is that?"

"A magic circle?"

After Nils and Eto's words, everyone's vision went dark.

They were enveloped in complete darkness.

All six of them remembered something... an experience from the past.

"Could it be...?"

Nils's voice, which he squeezed out, trembled.

Then, a light appeared before them.

The ground was, once again, cobblestone...

"Just like back then..."

Amon's murmur was tinged with distinct fear.

The light rose and stopped at a height of about five meters.

And before them stood a man resembling a priest.

The man who had forcibly teleported the six of them at the crossroads of the long-lost country of Bordren.

"Hey, it's been a while."

The priest-like man spoke in the same voice as before.

However, there seemed to be a slight hint of irritation mixed in.

"You came all the way to the Western Nations, to the Holy Capital, yet you haven't done anything."