Kagami-san, Kagami-san!
Have you ever heard of the dark dragon?
Even if the way the world works is the fault of some divine being,
it doesn't change the fact that they stole what mattered to me!
To have my vengeance against the demons...
I'll get you for this, Villager.
Kurull-san, Kurull-san!
I want you to...
teach me to cast spells!
Incompatible
I failed again.
You need to form a more solid visualization of the spell.
Doing that is what really puts you on the starting line.
How do you visualize the ice blades you use, Kurull?
Let's see...
I visualize ice particles.
Then to make them sharp blades, I manipulate the internal flow of mana,
layering them onto each other to take shape.
Then I focus on the direction I want them to go...
Thanks to the efforts of David-san and Takako-san,
the casino's profits have turned around.
It means we've had more time to spare, but...
It does seem to make Kagami-san more and more irrelevant.
By the way, why are you sitting in, Rex-san?
I've always wanted to learn magic myself.
As a born Hero, I have all this mana.
It feels like a waste to have only one sword technique that uses it.
Sacred Lightning, Iron Wave Slash!
That seemed to use more stamina than mana, though...
I guess I don't have any talent for it.
I've been practicing for ten days with nothing to show.
Magic is fueled by mana.
I'm sure you'll be able to learn it.
You can speed up your journey by reading lots of books to increase your knowledge.
Yeah...
Might I offer a word of advice?
Focus on one spell you wish to learn.
Once you understand it, your horizons will expand.
What spell would you like to learn most of all, Alice-sama?
I'd like to learn a healing spell.
I want to help people when they're in pain!
That's a wonderful choice.
Thanks!
The casino will need to open soon.
I guess the New Iron Heaven-Earth White Lightning Blast will have to wait.
The New Iron... what?
That's the name of my new finisher move!
It's not a sword technique, but a spell!
Is it, now?
David-san!
Alice-sama. How can I help you?
Why didn't you tell anyone?
To what do you refer?
Please, don't pretend!
You know, don't you?
That I'm... not a normal person.
Are you afraid?
Of course I am. Because...
We've got lunches, drinks, everything!
Alice-chan! The goddess of victory is here!
The customers and the staff are all so nice to me.
They help me whenever I need it.
But that's all because they think I'm human.
Even though I'm actually their hated enemy...
I thought the same thing when I first learned the truth.
But, Alice-sama, you are a person of character
who defies simple classification under the word "demon."
If you are afraid that I hold you in contempt,
allow me to tell you plainly that this is not the case.
David-san...
Most of all, Princess Kurull considers you a dear friend.
I have seen your kind and earnest nature with my own eyes.
It is beyond anyone I have ever known.
It does not matter what you are.
To me, you are simply Alice-sama.
Thank you! You're a dear friend to me too!
I'm very pleased to hear that!
I feel quite inspired indeed.
Okay, I'd better go help out!
Sacred Forest
B-Bad news, Menow.
I just realized something. It's not good.
What is it, Kagami-dono?
You suddenly look pale...
Traveling with you...
is boring as hell!
I see. That is a difficulty.
Mostly for me, the one you're criticizing.
We've been traveling for ten days without a single word outside the bare minimum.
There's a monster!
Let's take a break!
If Alice were here, it'd be more like...
Kagami-san, what's that? What's that?!
Kagami-san, let me tell you something!
Like that!
But... I haven't had anything to say.
Or to ask you, at this point.
Your philosophical attitude is such a bummer!
I-I'm sorry!
I'd been enjoying myself quite well, though...
But are you really sure this is the right area?
I'm positive.
It's what the books in the castle indicated.
The Demon King said he'd never been here himself,
but that there was something to be feared here.
Could he sense it or something?
I'm not sure.
But Esteller seemed aware of it too.
But we've looked and looked and found nothing.
Maybe there's not an entrance at all?
What do you mean?
The reason the dark dragon is just a legend
is because no one's ever seen it since the first guy.
Maybe he used some special method to get there, and the entrance isn't visible.
Hidden deep in the ground, perhaps?
Great idea!
Let's get digging!
We know the dungeon's somewhere around here, right?
With your fists?!
I can't believe this.
I'm using my magic to dig a hole...
How long do I have to...
Kagami-dono!
Time to swap out already?
Come look at this!
What, is it buried treasure?
No way!
Do you think this would happen anywhere we dug?
No, I used to dig way deeper holes in this forest to defeat monsters.
This never happened then.
Does that mean...
There's totally something here!
Kagami-dono, perhaps we should find another method...
The recovery can't keep up?!
This sucks! It's way too hard to keep going!
It came back.
In that case...
If I hit something scary when I get there, protect me.
Limit Breaker!
Here we go!
Wait!
I can't believe we managed to fall in together.
Kagami-dono... you're on top of me.
Oh, sorry. That explains why it didn't hurt.
A dungeon, then?
Never knew there was a place like this here.
Does that mean the dark dragon is ahead?
Kagami-dono!
Sorry...
I need a minute...
6 Days Later
Kagami-dono, you're up.
Sure.
Well done.
You could help instead of just spectating, though.
I'd prefer to preserve my strength for when it's needed.
It would take me too long to beat them anyway.
But they sure drop lots of money.
All the monsters here drop at least two thousand silver.
We've made 284 gold in six days.
We could make all the money we'd need if they spawned infinitely, but...
Still, it's a pretty weird place.
I don't feel hungry or tired, even.
It's a dungeon, but it's one straight path,
and at the end of the path there's always a spiral staircase,
which takes you down to another straight path,
which doubles back the other way.
Monsters always appear when you reach a certain point,
and after that, no more appear on that floor.
It almost feels like some kind of test.
We've already been down a hundred floors.
This would actually be the ninetieth.
Wow, you really kept count?
For those who come later.
We want to consider the return trip as well.
I did it!
Thank you. Now I can continue on my journey.
It looks like your hard work paid off!
Thank you, David-san!
Tina-san and Kurull-san too!
I know you're tired, but you still helped me...
It's nothing, really. I love teaching you.
I'm just glad hands-on practice in the church came in handy!
That said...
Fire magic,
explosion magic,
healing magic...
You've learned three types of magic in just six days!
It could be because she's a demon,
but Rex-san also said she had talent!
Why can't I do it?!
Rex is struggling because he keeps trying to link it to sword techniques.
Now, Alice-sama.
Why not reinforce your newly learned skill by healing the others?
Okay!
You must all be very hungry.
Please order whatever you'd like on my tab.
D-David-san, may I order the Hamburg steak?
Of course.
I'll have a salad.
Me too. And some milk.
That's all?
It's awfully late, and when I eat before bedtime...
These days, I just...
But I'll miss you when I leave soon.
David-san, are you leaving?
I will soon be relieved of my duty here and return to the capital.
Oh, I see...
Do not be so disheartened.
I will return to help you when I have free time.
Okay. That's a promise!
Is this where you were? I've been looking everywhere!
Rex-san! What are you so upset about?
I'll explain later!
We have to get out of town!
No need to get so worked up.
You're working late into the night and finally got your reprieve.
You really should take it easy.
Parna-san?
Hi.
Parna-san, it's been forever!
I was under the impression that this was my assignment.
Parna-san!
Stay back!
Mana?
H-Hey... Isn't she the vendor girl from the casino?
She's a demon?
Everyone freeze!
So it's true.
You can't talk your way out of this, David.
Who is that?
Duke Militaria Remote.
He's effectively the king's right hand.
Filing false reports is a high crime, you know.
What is he talking about, David?
I lied when I said I came here to watch over you, Princess Kurull.
What do you mean?
Parna-sama informed us that you and Rex-sama
were collaborating with demons in this city.
Of course, the king didn't believe it,
and sent me to investigate the situation.
You found my reports untrustworthy, then?
No, you are an excellent agent.
Your history with intelligence is why I chose you for the role.
If the report had come in from anyone but Parna, I wouldn't have believed it.
I had my reasons to obfuscate it, but Parna and I go way back.
Militaria Remote.
The father of Adalvel... my teacher.
I never thought we'd have to speak ever again.
Because of that, I was forced to come out here myself.
Though I'm honored to retrieve the daughter of the liege I serve.
I'd like you to explain yourself.
If you have a good reason,
I'll intervene with the king to see your sentence lightened.
What do you intend to do with Princess Kurull, Rex-sama, and Alice-sama?
The fates of Princess Kurull and Rex-sama will be up to the king.
It's possible the demons have brainwashed them.
As for the demon child,
I'll use her to flush out the other demon, and then they'll both die.
Still, Rex-sama...
It's lamentable to see a man of your caliber corrupted by demons.
I haven't been corrupted!
Why, Parna?!
You heard what Master told us!
Demons and humans are the same!
Couldn't you at least wait until we had the ten thousand gold we needed?!
"Master"? You mean that Villager?
Actually, I don't see him here...
Answer my question!
Because this isn't what I want!
Demons and humans are utterly incompatible.
Eventually they'll betray each other and we'll all lose people we care about.
So before anyone else has to experience that sorrow...
I'll put an end to this!
I suppose there's nothing else I can do.
A wise decision. That's our princess.
Arrest them all!
David, tell me one thing.
Why did you ignore my father's orders and submit false reports?
Because you'd begun to smile like the old days.
I see.
Takako-san!
Alice-sama, get down!
Takako-sama!
I forgot one.
I didn't think anyone would be so reckless!
When you hang out with Kagami-chan, this becomes your new normal.
I'll pay for the repairs.
Now, this way.
But Rex-san and Kurull-san...
Flee, Alice-sama!
They'll both be fine!
But if they catch you, you'll surely be killed!
I'll help you! Run away together!
What's happening? I feel so heavy...
It's Duke Militaria's skill!
My skill can make any warrior as helpless as an infant.
Now, cease your resistance and let us arrest you!
Take care of Alice-sama!
Hurry! Get to Kagami-sama and Menow-sama!
We're going!
Don't let them escape!
You shall not pass!
The next floor is the 100th.
There aren't any stairs.
A dead end? Or do we have to jump down?
Let's drop something and see.
Should we turn back, Kagami-dono?
Carrying all this money is becoming burdensome,
and jumping down there would be suicide.
Leave without seeing the dark dragon?!
I was against that from the start.
We've accomplished a lot. It's time to head back.
Hang on. I'm just gonna check.
I can't let you go alone!
You could at least listen to me once!
Oh, I see how it works.
Kagami-dono?
Looks like we can just jump down.
A mysterious substance that cuts off light and sound...
Kagami-dono?
What are you staring a—
I am impressed that you made it this far.