◇Sumire's POV◇
"Hey! A Divine Beast just appeared!!"
"What is it this time!?"
"It's Suzaku, Suzaku! A Divine Beast from the East Continent!"
"A fire-attribute Divine Beast, huh. Which knight division is on duty at this hour!?"
"It's Captain Isolde's Flower Crown Knights."
"Lucky! That's the order Sumire-san is in, right?"
"Call them quickly! We don't have enough power on our own!"
"I fired the signal magic! They should be here any minute!"
Hearing the loud voices of the former explorers, I hurried over.
"Sumire is here!! I'll set up the fire protection barrier!" (Sumire)
I channeled magic into my staff and chanted a spell.
I can't do chantless casting like Eugy-kun, but a large, faint orange barrier slowly spread out from around me.
"Whoa, awesome barrier, Sumire-san!"
"Such incredible mana, as always."
"Thanks! You really saved us, Sumire-san!"
"Now we can fight without worry."
They all thanked me in turn.
"I think the rest of the Flower Crown Knights will be here soon too! For now, let's observe the Divine Beast!" (Sumire)
The former explorers all nodded obediently when I said that.
――Hyuooooooooo!!
A loud cry echoed through the area.
A massive red bird circled in the sky overhead.
What looked like cherry blossom petals drifting down were actually sparks from Suzaku's wings.
For now, Suzaku was just watching us from high above.
(Hmm, maybe it's not going to attack right away…?) (Sumire)
We kept a close watch since provoking a Divine Beast carelessly was dangerous.
"Sorry I'm late. Sumire-kun, what's the situation!?"
It wasn't long before Captain Isolde-san arrived.
Her fellow knights gathered around.
"Our opponent in the Zero Floor of the Zenith Tower's Trial of Gods this time is the Divine Beast, Suzaku. For now, it's just scattering sparks from above. No real attacks yet. I've set up a fire protection barrier for everyone here." (Sumire)
"Thank you. I'll take command from here. Understood!?" (Isolde)
"Yes, ma'am!!"
We all responded briefly, me included.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Sumire-chan."
"It's fine!" (Sumire)
The female Vice Captain called out to me.
The Flower Crown Knights, led by the 7th Knight Isolde Tristan-san, is a small order with fewer than ten members.
They say that in the past, each of the Twelve Knights led divisions with around thirty members, but due to the Red Dragon incident three years ago, the organization was drastically downsized.
The Zenith Tower has remained sealed for three whole years. Not a single soul has been able to enter.
In other words, Eugy-kun still hasn't come back…
Nowadays, the Dungeon City has lost its greatest resource -the Zenith Tower- and even the Dungeon Guild has been disbanded.
Most of the thousands of explorers have lost their jobs.
I was one of them, but Isolde-san, who had been close to Eugy-kun, reached out to me.
She apparently has been managing the wealth from the materials Eugy-kun obtained fighting Divine Beasts like Cerberus and Hydra. She said, "Since Eugene-kun was Sumire-kun's guardian, it should be fine to use this wealth for her."
Thanks to that, I didn't have to worry about money. But just waiting around for Eugy-kun felt wrong, so I joined Isolde's knight division to help restore the Dungeon City.
Now that the Zenith Tower is sealed, the main source of income for the city is from the Divine Beast materials that appear in random Trial of Gods.
Ironically, the same Trials that once brought ruin to the city are now its lifeline.
Of course, there's always the risk of another malicious Divine Beast like the Red Dragon appearing.
But we had no other choice for the city to survive.
Many people gave up on the city, which couldn't sustain itself any other way. The population has fallen to less than a tenth of what it used to be.
Once said to be home to the finest talents on the South Continent, the city-state with the Last Dungeon and the Magic Academy…
Its former glory is long gone.
Claire, the First Knight acting as King Uther's proxy, hasn't been herself lately.
She sometimes transforms into King Uther to keep up appearances, but I'm sure the residents have noticed.
The real Principal Uther is probably already…
"Now!! Fire all at once!!" (Isolde)
"Yes, ma'am!!!!"
A volley of magic arrows was released under Captain Isolde-san's command.
Dozens of brilliant flashes tore through Suzaku's tail feathers.
I had a different role, so I remained on standby.
――KAAAAAAHHHHN!!
Suzaku cried out differently than before.
The sky lit up.
Then, WHOOSH! Hundreds of massive fireballs rained down from above.
"Sumire-kun! Can you do it!?" (Isolde)
"Yes, I've got this!" (Sumire)
I activated the spell I prepared earlier.
"[Sacred Flame Guard]!!!" (Sumire)
A giant red wall appeared, shielding us from Suzaku's fireballs.
I'm not good at fine magic control, so I handle barrier magic for the Flower Crown Knights.
Normally, spreading such a huge barrier is inefficient, but since I'm an Ifrit, I don't have to worry about running out of mana.
Also…studying barrier magic reminded me of Eugy-kun, and that made me happy.
I really wish I could've learned it directly from him.
But knowing him, he'd probably say, "There's someone better suited to teach Sumire barrier magic than me," and go looking for another teacher.
…Even in the middle of battle, I can't help thinking about Eugy-kun.
After a few more exchanges of long-range attacks and defense…
Suzaku disappeared with a golden magic circle.
"All right! Operation complete! Any injuries, report now! We'll treat you!"
"We got thirteen Suzaku tail feathers! These'll make powerful magic weapons."
"Bet they'll sell for a high price."
"Don't go pocketing them yourself."
"I would never!"
"Hope this breathes some life into local business."
I heard such conversations.
The people still living in the Dungeon City are those who can't forget its former glory.
And those who truly love this city.
"Sumire-kun, great work. Thanks for handling the defense all on your own. Thanks to you, we got a lot of Divine Beast materials. Your reward will be extra—" (Isolde)
"No need. Just the same amount as everyone else. I am always telling you that." (Sumire)
"I see… Understood. I'll handle the rest here. You go on ahead." (Isolde)
"Okay, thank you! Sashiogi Sumire of the Flower Crown Knights, entering standby!" (Sumire)
"Yeah, good work." (Isolde)
I saluted Captain Isolde and headed to my room in the knight dormitory.
◇
"Phew…"
Back in my room, I let out a breath.
I thought about taking a nap, but I was still too worked up from the Divine Beast battle to sleep.
At times like this…
"Maybe I'll write in my diary." (Sumire)
I opened the diary I'd been keeping since the day Eugy-kun disappeared.
The Lykeion Magic Academy was gone after the Red Dragon incident.
So I couldn't attend classes anymore.
The Flower Crown Knights teach me combat training.
But no one teaches me academics, and there's no time for it either.
So at the very least, I thought I should keep practicing writing in this world's language…and kept writing in my diary.
I flipped through pages of past entries.
It was really hard after Eugy-kun disappeared.
Principal Uther was gone, and the Zenith Tower was sealed.
No one who was inside before the seal has returned.
Three years have passed.
Most believe that no one left behind in the tower could still be alive.
But…
"Eugy will definitely come back!"
"Eugene's not the type to die."
"Y-Yeah, you're right!"
Airi-chan and Sara-chan never doubted Eugy-kun was alive.
Of course, neither did I.
For a while, I waited for Eugy-kun together with Leona-chan, Teresia-san, and Camilla-san, who I'd grown close with.
Fewer and fewer explorers remained due to the tower being inaccessible,but we stayed in the city.
Eventually, the city began to operate by selling and buying Divine Beast materials that appeared periodically.
Just when things had started to settle down, another huge incident occurred.
Apparently, the Great Demon Lord who ruled the world a thousand years ago had been resurrected.
Because of that news, Airi-chan, as the next Empress, was summoned back to the imperial capital.
Sara-chan was also summoned around the same time as an upcoming Holy Maiden.
"Sumire! Come to the capital with me and wait for Eugy! I promise you won't be inconvenienced." (Airi)
"Sumire-chan, come with me to the Holy Union." (Sara)
They both invited me, but I chose to stay in the Dungeon City.
Eugy-kun told me to wait for him after all.
I want to wait for his return in the closest place possible.
After that, the days were filled with unease, but apparently, the Great Demon Lord was safely defeated.
It seems that, for a brief moment, the Great Demon Lord's attack caused people all over the world to lose consciousness, but I don't have any memory of that time.
The one who defeated the Great Demon Lord was apparently the so-called Light Hero-sama.
His name was passed along since he is from another world, but I had no memory of it.
Or more like, I hardly have any memories of my past life.
Just my own name, the fact that I was from Tokyo, and my family's faces and names.
"Is it okay to not go meet them, Sumire-kun?"
That's what Commander Isolde asked me once.
"I'll be fine. I made a promise with Eugene-kun." (Sumire)
I answered.
Rather than going to see someone from another world whom I don't remember, I want to prioritize the promise I made with the person most important to me.
More time passed after that.
It's been three years since Eugy-kun disappeared.
I'm still waiting.
I could wait forever.
But even so, I get anxious sometimes.
What if Eugy-kun is already…
That's when it happened.
—Mire......an!
A thought transmission mixed with static echoed in my head.
A sharp ringing sounded in my ears.
I couldn't make it out clearly.
But I knew who it was.
That woman.
(Seriously… She's always so sudden…) (Sumire)
I let out a sigh.
That said, I was actually in the mood to talk to someone too.
Everyone in the Flower Crown Knights is friendly, but I can't help seeing them as just coworkers.
Whenever we talk, the topic ends up being things like "the future of the Dungeon City…" or "what to do when the next Divine Beast appears…"
That's not what I want. I just want to have random, idle chats.
Like I used to have with Sara-chan, Leona-chan, and Airi-chan.
But now they've all returned to their homelands.
(…I miss them.) (Sumire)
Maybe she picked up on how I was feeling?
I left my room and headed toward the Zenith Tower.
On the way, I passed by the ruins of the Lykeion Magic Academy.
The rubble had been cleared away, but there was a fence around it, keeping people out.
There's still no sign of it reopening.
I avoided looking in that direction as I arrived at a large black door.
It was magically sealed, but miasma still leaked faintly from within.
Not even a single insect or blade of grass grew near the door.
I recited the incantation for the "First Unlock" and opened the door just slightly to slip inside.
I closed it immediately behind me.
Beyond the black door was a staircase leading underground.
Only my feet were illuminated by faint magical lanterns lighting the steps.
I slowly descended the stairs.
At the bottom was a long tunnel-like corridor, lined on both sides with numerous prison cells.
I tried not to look toward the cells as I walked deeper inside.
…Hehehe… hehehe…
…Kya! …Kya!
…Hahaha… kuku…
…Teke… riri…
…Gooo… gooo…
Creepy voices(?) echoed from deep within the pitch-black cells.
No matter how many times I come, this place always gives me the chills.
This is the 7th Sealed Prison.
It's the most dangerous place in the entire Dungeon City, where dangerous magical and mythical creatures that Principal Uther collected as a hobby are sealed away.
Most of the animal club members who used to manage it are no longer around.
(Well, apparently only Eugy-kun and the Principal were allowed inside the Seventh though.) (Sumire)
Right now, I'm the only one who can enter.
So I come here occasionally to make sure there are no issues.
Though today, I came because I was summoned.
The destination is the deepest part of the 7th Sealed Prison.
The nameplate on the cage read:
—[Fallen Angel Demon Lord, Erinyes]
I slowly stepped into the cage, which was filled with overflowing miasma