by Chuuni Suki
During that time, Yue slowly approached Miledi Golem. Then, she stared at those lights.
"What is it?"
Came Miledi's whispery voice. Similarly, Yue whispered words, a present for a great "Liberator" that was about to disappear.
"... ... Thanks for your hard work. You did well."
"... ..."
Those were words of appreciation. For her alone, a great existence that kept waiting for hope at the bottom of darkness, a small present from the one still alive. Normally, they might be improper words that came from a younger person. But, as expected, those unexpected words were the only ones that came to Yue's mind.
Those words might also be unexpected for Miledi. Without saying anything, her blank surprise could be felt. Before long, Miledi muttered in a soft voice.
"... ... Thanks."
"... ... Nn."
By the way, behind Yue and Miledi who were exchanging words, Hajime spoke with an irritated tone, "That's enough already, so quickly disappear.", while Shia who heard that said, "Who's the one incapable of reading the mood now!? Please just be quiet for now!", and covered his mouth. Fortunately, the other two didn't notice, so their solemn atmosphere was preserved.
"... ... Well then,... ... it's time... ... from now on... ... you should freely... ... do what you want..."
Those words that were similar to Oscar's were presented to Hajime and his party, one of the "Liberators," Miledi, became fleeting lights and disappeared into heaven.
Silence wrapped their vicinity, Yue and Shia followed the trail of lights as it went to heaven while soaked in reverberation.
"... ... In the beginning, I thought she was someone with the worst character. But, it was just her trying her best."
"... ... Nn."
Yue and Shia exchanged those words in the quiet atmosphere. However, there was a man that didn't think of Miledi like they did, Hajime talked to the two with a fed up expression.
"Haa, isn't it enough? It's about time we moved on. Also, did you really think that fellow's mischievousness a lie? That kind of mischievousness isn't at the level of an act."
"Wait, Hajime-san. To say that about the dead. That's cruel. Hajime-san truly can't read the mood."
"... ... Hajime, KY?"
"Yue, even for you... ... haa, well, that's okay. But for your information, it's not like I can't read the mood. I just don't want to."
While they were talking, Hajime and his party didn't notice a light shoot out from a corner of the wall. When they noticed, they moved toward it. They jumped onto the floating block on the upper part of the wall, so the trio jumped onto the same block. Then, when they landed, the floating block that served as their foothold shii—, started to move, it carried Hajime and his party toward the shining wall.
"... ..."
"Wawah, this thing suddenly moved. How convenient"
"... ... Service?"
Because the floating block suddenly transported Hajime and his party, Shia was surprised while Yue tilted her head in doubt. Somehow Hajime wore an unpleased expression. They advanced toward the shining wall in ten seconds and completely stopped five meters in front of it. Following that, the shining wall, as if waiting for that timing, started to lose its radiance. With a suh- sound the part of the wall that was still shining started to split. In its place, a passage with glossy white walls appeared.
The floating block Hajime and his party were on advanced into the passage. Apparently, they were going into Miledi Raisen's dwelling. After advancing for a while, just like the door leading to Oscar's dwelling inside Orcus Great Dungeon, there was a wall with the same seven distinct patterns engraved on them. Hajime and his party approached the door and, as if the wall was waiting for that exact timing, the wall slid to the sides and they advanced towards the interior. The floating block was advancing without stopping towards the wall on the other side.
Slipping through from the wall on the other side was...
"Yahhoo, short time no see! It's Miledi-chan!"
A small Miledi Golem.
""... ...""
"Come on, look. I already knew this might happen."
Yue and Shia were speechless. Hajime who already expected this showed a fed up expression. Hajime was able to expect this because he saw through that both the frivolous Miledi and the serious Miledi were the real her. Those annoying sentences and unpleasant traps were not at a level a truly serious person could conceive. Also, Miledi chose to leave her own soul to test the challengers herself. That's why it was impossible for her to pass on after being defeated just once by a challenger. If that truly happened, the last trial would be gone after just one clearing.
Because of that, Hajime expected that Miledi herself wouldn't disappear even after Miledi Golem was destroyed. His expectations became conviction when the floating block started to move to guide Hajime and his party. After all, Miledi was the only one that could move the floating block.
Toward Yue and Shia who were looking down silently, Miledi talked to them with a very casual tone.
"Aree? Aree? Isn't the tension too low~? It's okay to be more surprised, you know~? Ah, is it that you are so surprised that you can't say anything? If that's so, then my surprise is a bi~g success ?"
The small Miledi Golem was designed to be more human-like compared to the gigantic one. It had a slender body clad in a milk-white, long robe while wearing a white mask. Its Niko-chan mark was slightly irritating. Along with Miledi's words that ended with kira!, a twinkling star, she came in front of Hajime and his party. Even now, Yue and Shia looked down, their expressions hidden behind their bangs. Because he could read the development that might happen next, Hajime took a step back.
It wasn't known if it came from Yue or Shia, but a question was muttered.
"... ... Before?"
"Nn~? A while ago? Aa, did you really think I was gone? No way, no~ way! That's impossible~!"
"But, didn't you disappear into the light?"
"Fufufu, isn't that well prepared? That "production (of play)"! Oh my, Miledi-chan truly has talent as an actress! What a frightening woman!"
Mini Miledi's tension rolled up. It shot up in proportion with their annoyance. In front of that Mini Miledi, Yue thrust out her hand while Shia prepared Doryukken. As expected Mini Miledi stopped moving while thinking, "Are? Did I overdo it?"
"U-u~mm..."
Towards Yue and Shia who were swaying as they approached her, Mini Miledi moved her head kakukaku, in hesitation then said the words she had decided in her mind.
"Tehe, pero?"
"... ... Die."
"Please die."
"Wa-wait! Please wait! This body is weak! It'll be truly bad if you destroy it! Please calm down! I will apologize!"
For a while, dotabata, dokanbakih, sounds of destruction and "Iyaa—", a scream could be heard, Hajime who ignored those sounds was observing the room. The room was white all-over, there was nothing except a magic circle that was carved on the floor in the center of the room. The other one was a door-like thing on one part of the wall, Hajime guessed that Miledi's dwelling was on the other side of it.
Hajime slowly approached the magic circle then arbitrarily examined it. Mini Miledi saw that and panicked while drawing near Hajime. From behind her, the expressionless vampire princess and rabbit-ears approached while making dodododoh, sound effects.
"You~ it's not good to examine it without permission. Rather, they are your companions! Please don't just ignore them, stop them!"
While saying those complaints, Mini Miledi hid behind Hajime and made him into a shield against the devil duo.
"... ... Hajime, please move aside, I won't kill her."
"Please stand back Hajime-san. I will kill her. Here and now."
"Surely, I never thought of hearing those materials at this timing. Rather, stop playing around and do it already."
H
ajime gave his advice with a somewhat amazed expression at Shia and Yue's softness. Behind him, Mini Miledi said, "That's right, that's right, do it seriously!," only to get iron clawed by his artificial arm. He ignored the Niko-chan mark that was distorted into a bitter expression. Just as it is, he put more power and mekimeki, sounds of something cracking came from Mini Miledi's head.
"It would become an unpleasant design if this keeps up, so hand over the age of gods magic already."
"Ummm~, did you notice your speech and behavior are villain-lik- [Meki meki meki] Affirmative! I'll immediately hand it over! That's why, stop! I truly will break if this keeps up!"
Maybe because their bitterness had decreased having seen Mini Miledi being capable of little more than flailing around, Yue and Shia regained their composure. Mini Miledi who understood that she truly would be destroyed if she kept joking around, finally began to activate the magic circle.
Hajime and his party entered the magic circle. This time, because Miledi herself knew they cleared the trial, there was no need to search their memories like that time in the Orcus Great Dungeon, and the information and how to use the age of gods magic were directly carved into their brains. Although Hajime and Yue who already experienced this didn't show any reaction, Shia who experienced this for the first time bikunh, jumped.
The carving ended after a few seconds, Hajime and his party easily obtained Miledi Raisen's age of gods magic.
"This is... ... magic to manipulate gravity as expected."
"That's ri~ght. Miledi-chan's magic is gravity magic. Use it well... ... is what I wanted to say, but you and that Usagi-chan don't have the aptitude~ it was at a level that even I was surprised by it!"
"How noisy. I have understood that much."
Just as Mini Miledi said, Hajime and Shia who had the information of gravity magic carved into their brain were unable to fully use it. It's the same case as how Yue is only able to use a little of Creation magic, it was a matter of aptitude.
"Well, Usagi-chan should be able to use it if it's only to adjust weight. For you... ... because you can use Creation magic, just do something about it yourself. Blonde-chan alone has the aptitude. With training, you can master how to use it."
Having heard Mini Miledi's somewhat serious explanation, Hajime could only shrug his shoulders, while Yue was nodding, and Shia was brokenhearted. It was because she was judged to have no aptitude for the age of gods magic that she had finally obtained. She could only use it to adjust her weight. She was truly disappointed. Moreover, it was out of question to make herself heavier, but there was also a problem to make herself lighter. If she was negligent, it would only make her figure bad. Rather, burdened by the demerits... ... Shia could only feel depressed.
Having cast a skeptical gaze toward the depressed Shia, Hajime immediately made further demands. There was no need to be reserved at all.
"Oi, Miledi. Pass us the proof already. Then, give me all of your convenient artifacts and all of the unusual materials you have such as the Induction stone."
"... ... You, aren't your lines completely the same as a robber's? Are you aware of it?."
From the distorted Niko-chan mark mask, a glare could be felt, but Hajime ignored that. Mini Miledi pulled out a ring after rustling her chest pocket, then threw it toward Hajime. Hajime received it with a pashih, sound. Raisen's ring had a design of upper and lower ellipses with a stake piercing them.
Mini Miledi immediately made a large amount of ores appear from empty space. She probably had a "Treasure Box." The ores that were taken out was kept inside of it. Having seen that she obediently took them out, she probably had already decided to hand them over beforehand. That's because Miledi was convinced Hajime would fight those mad gods, that's why she wouldn't mind cooperation of this level.
However, to not be satisfied by this much was Hajime's quality. After putting away all of the minerals inside his own "Treasure Box," Hajime turned cold eyes toward Mini Miledi.
"Oi, isn't that "Treasure Box"? If so, hand that over too. There are probably some artifacts inside."
"O-oi you~. I won't hand over anymore than this. The "Treasure Box" and the other artifacts are necessary to maintain the dungeon."
"As if I care. Hand them over."
"Ah, oi, I said no!"
Because Hajime truly tried to snatch it away, Mini Miledi retreated with an impatient expression. All of the artifacts that she owns were things necessary for the dungeon. Rather, they were only useful for that, so they were no use for Hajime to have them. Having heard that explanation, Hajime, "Hou hou, I see. Then, hand those over.", said that demand without any mercy. No matter how it was seen, it was a robbery.
"Ee~i, I already said I won't hand them! Mou, go back already!"
Currently, toward Hajime that impatiently approached, Mini Miledi turned on her heel with all of her might and ran toward the wall, then elevating the floating block, she moved into the ceiling.
"Don't escape. For me, I just want to get the rewards for conquering the dungeon. That's a legitimate demand from me."
"Having the nerve to say that, please do something about your sense of value! Uu, to make me say something that O-chan usually said..."
"By the way, my sense of value was cultivated inside that O-chan's dungeon."
"O-chaa—n!!"
While she continued looking at Hajime with a shocked expression, Yue and Shia who still held a grudge after being toyed with entered the fray, they narrowly encircled Miledi. Although half of it was because she reaped what she had sown, Miledi felt the other half was her former comrades' fault for making this dungeon.
"Haa~, to have these abnormals as my first challengers... ... mou, no more. I will send you outside by force! Don't come again!"
In front of Hajime and his party who seemed to jump out at any time, Mini Miledi grasped the string that unbeknownst to them hung down from the ceiling, then gui, pulled it.
"""?"""
For a moment, Hajime and his party let out expressions wondering what she was doing. But, an unpleasant sound they've already heard before could be heard by their ears.
GAKON!!
"""!?"""
That's right, it was the sound of an activated trap. At the moment the sound rang out, accompanied with a roar, water gushed out of the four walls with tremendous velocity. A large amount of water gushed out like a flash flood, not from the front but diagonally above, and the room was filled in no time with a rapid current. At the same time, the magic circle in the center of the room sunk like an antlion's nest, there was a hole in the center of it. The rapid current rushed toward the hole.
"You! This is—!"
Hajime who had noticed something stiffened for a moment, he instantly wore a distorted expression filled with humiliation.
A white room with a hole in the middle of it, also a large amount of water whirled and flowed into it... ... That's right, this was just like a "toilet"!
"Unpleasant things should be flushed?"
Mini Miledi gave out a wink. Yue immediately tried using magic to jump up. Because there was an age of gods magic circle, there was no magic power disintegration. That's why, even with only a little amount of magic power left, Yue could use magic to help everyone escape the rapid current.