Ryo!
Oh, Ryo's at the north side library.
Thank you!
And where is the north side library?!
Mister Ryo, please help!
Natalie? What's wrong?
It's Abel... and his party...
The dungeon... They went missing inside.
We can talk on the move.
Okay, I think I understand the situation.
But why did you seek me out, Natalie?
Abel told me something before...
He said if I ever needed help and he wasn't around, to turn to you.
That you were sure to help me.
I see. Abel said that?
Okay, I'm headed in.
Coming through!
No can do. No one is to enter the dungeon—
Ice Wall.
A wall of ice? Hey!
The signal came from layer 40, she said.
I don't have time to take the long way down.
Abrasive Jet 6.
What's wrong, demon prince?
Are you coming or not?
Too slow.
Leonore was much faster.
What was that move?
Surviving the loss of your head... That's going to be trouble.
You're very resilient, but I imagine a demon lord needs to be even stronger.
Especially considering you're something of a weakling.
Then again, I'm not sure you even understand me.
Let's put your regenerative capacity to the test.
Abrasive Jet 256.
You shattered its magic stone?
Thanks, Ryo. You saved us.
Oh, none of that. I'll accept gratitude in the form of dinner from the cafeteria.
Have it your way, then.
I'll treat you for a full week in that case.
Ow, ow! You're a real brute, Abel.
I'll hold you to the full week, by the way.
Abel!
Thank goodness... I'm so relieved!
Sorry for worrying you.
I'm Arthur Berasus, an advisor at the Bureau of Royal Magicians
and the current representative for the court's investigation into this affair.
You have my sincere thanks for your assistance.
Oh, I wouldn't worry about it. I'm just glad I got here in time.
But I noticed...
Indeed, not all of us made it.
Once our magicians regain enough mana, we'll begin collecting their remains.
Ryo, let's go grab the devils' magic stone.
I'd like to split the money from its sale among the families of the fallen.
Sounds good.
Wait, did you just call them "devils"? Is that what these are?
That's right. We've never encountered them ourselves before.
They supposedly haven't shown up in the Central Provinces for hundreds of years.
Leonore acknowledged herself as an akuma.
Is there some distinction there?
Something wrong?
When I dropped down here from layer 39,
I felt like there was some special field, though that stopped at some point.
Probably because the demon prince was defeated.
Yeah, most likely.
A safe exit following the defeat of a boss is de rigueur in dungeons, after all.
You're talking nonsense again...
Also, when I used the Probe spell on the 39th layer, I noticed something odd.
Something odd, you say?
It was near the stairs, so let's check it out on our way back.
It may have something to do with what happened here.
It's black.
When I was an adventurer myself,
I encountered a devil in the Western Provinces but could not slay it.
This is my first time seeing magic stone from one.
There are no records of their stone in the temples of the Central Provinces either.
Devils are said to appear suddenly and at random.
This has led to speculation that they can use space-time magic.
They appear at random, huh?
This is it!
That's her.
Let's see here. I took a peek because I noticed something strange,
and now find myself before a man-made altar.
Stop there, Demon Lord!
You're going to die here.
"Demon Lord"?
Did you just address me as the demon lord?
This altar was built upon great sacrifices.
It's well known that setting it alight will cause the demon lord to appear!
And who exactly are you lot, who've gone to such lengths to summon the demon lord?
I am Roman the hero.
The one who will slay the demon lord!
You're a hero?
You're a hero, are you? Of course, you're a hero!
You must be strong then, yes? I shall have you entertain me.
Come now! Come, come, come!
Let the battle be joined!
Huh?
This is beyond anticlimactic.
Y-You wretch...
You're welcome to attack me, but if you do, I will fight back.
Shouldn't you be more concerned with saving your so-called hero?
This is a fine sacred jewel, though.
The fight was a bore, but collecting this more than justifies the effort.
Hold it, Demon Lord...
That's another thing! For your information, I am no demon lord.
Don't be absurd! You're so strong...
What else could you possibly be?!
I don't know how you expect me to answer that.
I'd wager that, working together, you lot could probably defeat the current demon lord.
What are you saying?
You should also be aware that there are humans as strong as I am.
I believe his name was... Ryo? Now that was an enjoyable battle.
I would love to have another like it.
You're not... a demon lord?
Correct. My name is Leonore.
Hero, or whatever you are, you should grow stronger.
Ideally, become the strongest human at bare minimum.
Heroes don't come along every day, after all.
There's a human even stronger than me?
Ten thousand times stronger, I'd say.
You have a long way to go.
I think those are...
adventurers from Lune!
Clive's people probably hired them.
He wanted to secure the route to layer 11.
So it wasn't just those of us on 10 and 11 who got warped farther down.
I think this is it—the anomaly I picked up with Probe.
I've never seen anything like it. What is this thing?
There are signs it was giving off mana until just moments ago...
I've got a barrier bag right here.
Mana from outside can't get in, and vice versa.
Are you taking it back?
Well, it's effectively our only evidence.
Ryo, you really saved us this time. Thanks again.
You've already thanked me by promising to feed me for a week.
Ah, but that said, if you're really itching to show me your appreciation,
there is one piece of information that I'd love to get my hands on.
A-As long as it's something I know.
You said there was a great curry shop here in Lune, too.
I need you to tell me where!
Curry...?
Oh, you pronounce it strangely. If that's all you want, I'd be glad to.
I'll even take and treat you.
You will? And that's a promise?
Because if you break it, I'll cut you into smaller pieces than that devil!
That's not funny.
Then just keep your word and we'll be good.
Good work making it back, everyone.
We've got food and drink for you.
Ryo, Abel, all of you... You're all right!
We can get detailed accounts later. For now, get some rest.
You're the one who got Ryo, right, Natalie? Thanks.
Man, am I relieved that Abel made it back.
I thought we were done for this time!
I really wish he would take safe jobs on the surface.
But now then, there's this other matter...
Hey, Ryo.
The guards say you ignored them and rushed into the dungeon.
What were you thinking?
Sorry.
Hugh, don't be like that.
We're only alive because Ryo showed up.
What? What do you mean?
Let's head to the tent. I'll fill you in.
W-Well, if you say so. I can always get his story later.
Ryo, we're not finished regarding this subject,
but let me thank you now for what you did. I appreciate it.
I'm saved.
Devils?!
Yes, about fifty of them.
Moreover, there was a demon prince in their ranks.
That's just...
I'm amazed you made it back alive.
Maybe I shouldn't be, since it was you and Abel's party.
No. While Abel was very impressive...
the demon prince still nearly killed him.
What? Then how did...?
Don't tell me...
Indeed. That was when Ryo appeared.
Hugh, my boy, who in the world is that young man?
I couldn't tell you.
All I know is that he helped Abel return from beyond the Malefic Mountains.
I see.
So he's the friend Abel made.
A friend able to kill a demon prince in a flash... Most impressive.
Wait, what did you just say?
Both the demon prince and its retinue were dead in seconds.
In that moment, Abel described Ryo as unprecedented.
I'm not sure that quite covers it...
As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing more important right now
than our country staying on the good side of this precedent-defying magician.
But...
If those brain-dead aristocrats start trifling with Ryo, it will be bad news.
Hence, I intend to leave no official record of what he's done. Do you understand?
I do. I'll make sure to leave his name out of my write-up as well.
The town of Lune would rather not make an enemy out of him either.
Come now, Nils, you're a front-line fighter. You can't be dropping out already.
Come on, Ryo... How are you doing this?
Just how much stamina does he have?
All in full gear, too...
The important thing is to keep moving, even if you slow down.
I'm feeling really restless.
Maybe because yesterday's battle ended so abruptly.
That aroma...
Welcome.
S-Sera?
Good afternoon.
Hey.
I didn't realize you knew about this place.
Only coincidentally. I was lured in by the smell of curry.
Your nose led you well! There's no better place in Lune for curry.
Go on, have a seat right here.
What can I get you?
A plate of curry.
What level of spice would you like?
Medium-hot, I think.
Ma'am, I'll take another plate of medium-hot, too.
Two plates of medium-hot!
E-Elves just have high metabolism.
I promise, it's not that I'm trying to compete with you!
I didn't actually say anything.
So, where do you live, Ryo?
Right now, I'm staying in the guild dorms.
The dorms? Where the rookies live?
But if you've visited the north side library, you must be at least D-rank, right?
When I registered, I was ranked up to D.
That's impressive.
And makes sense, considering how strong you seem.
No one's ever said that to me before.
Really? They must not know what to look for, then.
Their loss.
Your medium-hot curry.
Please enjoy.
Delicious.
Isn't it, though?!
That was lovely.
Yeah, it really was.
You know, Sera, you're an adventurer, but I never see you at the guild.
Well, until recently, I was working out of the royal capital.
And since I have a long-term contract, I don't really stop by the guild.
A long-term contract?
I'm a swordsmanship instructor for the Margrave Lune's order of knights.
You teach swordsmanship?!
I'm much stronger than I look, I'll have you know.
I guess so...
Come to think of it, Ryo, do you have any plans for after this?
If not, would you care to join me for a mock bout?
From the moment you walked into the shop, you gave off an air of frustration.
It was a bit like...
you haven't been able to scratch the itch for combat you've been feeling.
How did you know I fight with a sword anyway, Sera?
From your gait and posture, I'd say.
Plus, I myself am also a wielder of both blade and magic.
Are you ready, Ryo?
I am! Whenever you are.
Then here I come!
You're good, Ryo!
Hardly! You're incredibly fast, Sera.
But you were able to dodge me!
Not one of the knights has been able to avoid my charge!
And if you were able to react to that...
I see.
Okay, this time, I'm going to get serious!
Whoa!
Now she's even faster!
She hits fast! And hard! I can't—
I surrender.
That was amazing, Ryo!
Oh, sorry.
But defending against me like that when I'm using Wind Robe is incredible, Ryo!
So you really were using wind magic to increase your mobility?
That's much more impressive than anything I did.
But your defenses were impenetrable!
What was that? I can tell you've worked hard to get where you are, but I want details.
Well, I use what my mentor taught me.
The very one who gave me this robe...
The Fairy King taught you how to fight?
Come to think of it, Sera, you mentioned the Fairy King when we first met.
How did you know?
Well, the thing is... elves are sort of half-fairies.
So I was able to tell on an intuitive level thanks to my race.
I see. It's a characteristic racial trait.
I could also tell the Fairy King took quite a liking to you if he gave you that robe.
But he even taught you to use a blade? How fascinating!
Is it that odd?
It's not so much that... But the Fairy King is more a legend than anything at this point.
Lady Sera, it's time for Master Alfonso's lesson.
Goodness, is it that time already?
Sorry, Ryo, but duty calls.
I'm off to train the margrave's grandson.
Reilitta, this is Ryo, an adventurer.
He's important to me, so show him home, please.
Right!
Until next time, Ryo. I had a lot of fun today!
Let's do it again!
Um...
Forgive me! Right this way.
He's important to her... He's important to her...
If it isn't Ryo. Fancy running into you out here.
Guild master.
You're headed back to the dorms, right?
We need to talk, so climb aboard.
Now then, I'm sure you know what this is about. Concerning yesterday...
Right.
Hey, no need to be so nervous.
Sir Arthur filled me in on what happened. And I'm truly grateful.
But even so, you cannot simply ignore a guard's order not to enter the dungeon.
Which is why, by way of punishment, I have a job for you.
You do?
I noticed, since registering, you haven't taken a single non-dungeon job, have you?
So, you're going to do this for me. As punishment.
Um... I realize the irony of me pointing it out, but that seems really lenient.
It's the best way to ensure no one loses out.
Well, in that case, I appreciate your consideration.
Forget it. We're helping each other out.
Now, this job involves making a round trip.
You're going to see some merchants to a destination and then return.
A round trip?
Right.
And your destination is Whitnash.