The robed woman, having just spoken those words, turned a suspicious gaze toward the red-cloaked man trapped in ice.
Almost immediately, countless cracks spread across the ice block, and it began to shatter.
"…Oh? So this is magic that pseudo-stops time inside the ice. Quite a valuable experience."
"…As expected, my magic was already countered."
"Of course. Otherwise, I'd be too scared to stand in front of you."
The red-cloaked man answered the robed woman's words with a mocking laugh.
"I see. Then there's no helping it."
The moment the robed woman muttered that, blood sprayed from the red-cloaked man's entire body.
This was likely caused by [Aero Cutter].
Her activation speed was as impressive as ever, though not quite as fast as the ice block from before.
A seasoned high-ranking explorer or combat specialist probably could have reacted.
The fact that this man showed no reaction at all suggested he wasn't specialized in combat.
So why had someone like him shown up here so casually?
"—Eh… Gwaaaah!! It huuurts!!"
The relaxed atmosphere the red-cloaked man had worn until moments ago vanished. He collapsed to the ground, writhing in agony.
I understood this red-cloaked man was hostile to Amuntsāsu, but what organization did he belong to?
The most obvious candidate for an organization opposing Amuntsāsu would be the Explorers' Guild.
Was this man from the guild?
No—the words he'd thrown at the [Hero] earlier didn't sound like anything a guild member would say.
While keeping my guard up against everyone present and pondering such things, the red-cloaked man's cuts began healing visibly right before my eyes.
It was an unbelievable sight.
I recognized this phenomenon.
This was unmistakably Caroline's unique ability, [Self-Healing].
It was different from what I'd mistakenly thought my [Gravity Manipulation] expanded into as [Mana Convergence].
My senses screamed that this was ninety-nine percent [Self-Healing].
"Phew. That hurt. Wounds heal on their own, but the pain's still there, you know? Could you stop already?"
Why hadn't this possibility occurred to me…?
There was only one organization this man could belong to.
The defining trait of its members was clothing dyed bright red, just like his.
The name of that organization was—the Cyclamen Order.
"No way… You actually completed it…"
"Oh, so word reached even you? Yeah, it was tough. But to go any further with the research, I need the 'Spirit's Eye.' Yet no matter how hard I look, I can't find it. You know where it is, don't you, [White Mage]? Could you tell me?"
The robed woman muttered in a shaken voice, and the red-cloaked man answered triumphantly.
If this man was involved, then in that case—
"Who knows. Even if I did, do you think I'd tell you?"
"Don't be so mean. This research could evolve humanity. You understand that, right?"
"—Enough of this pointless talk."
I forcefully interrupted the conversation between the robed woman and the red-cloaked man.
"Pointless? No way. This is crucial for my research—"
"I only have one question. Answer that, and nothing else."
"You're being awfully domineering. Like some dictator. Fine, what do you want to know? My research results?"
"Do you know Carol—Caroline Inglet?"
At my question, the red-cloaked man slightly widened his eyes.
"…Ah. A nostalgic name. I've known her for about ten years. But unfortunately, she passed away two years ago. Why do you know about Caroline?"
The red-cloaked man hesitated for a moment but admitted the connection readily.
That settled it.
I already knew Caroline had suffered inhumane treatment from the Cyclamen Order more than two years ago.
The reason was likely the analysis of her unique ability, [Self-Healing], and ultimately to grant that ability to others.
To greedy humans, Caroline's ability would be something they'd desperately crave.
And from the fact that this man had used [Self-Healing] and mentioned some kind of research, it was natural to conclude he was one of the people who had subjected Caroline to cruel treatment.
"Hey, robed woman."
Having gotten the information I wanted from the red-cloaked man, I next addressed the robed woman.
"…Wait, 'robed woman' is me? I have a name—Shion Nastachium."
"I'll finish him off myself, so don't interfere. If you do, I won't hold back against you either."
"That's not even a conversation! …Well, if Orun says he's going to kill him, I wasn't planning to get in the way anyway."
"Hey now, that's some dangerous talk. Raising a hand against a powerless, innocent civilian like me?"
"…Innocent civilian? After breaking one girl's heart, what the hell are you babbling about?!!"
"Girl—you mean Caroline? That was necessary for humanity's evolution. A necessary sacrifice."
Hearing this man's words filled me with uncontrollable rage.
From the way he spoke, it seemed his research had been stalled because he lacked the "Spirit's Eye."
If this man obtained that "Spirit's Eye," it was entirely possible he'd extend his filthy hands toward Caroline again.
Even if I stretched my imagination hundreds of thousands of steps and granted that it was necessary for humanity's evolution—I refused to accept it.
Caroline was my precious disciple.
If something precious might be dragged into irrational harm, I'd nip that possibility in the bud right here.
I further condensed the mana in my magic sword, then swung it to unleash Heaven Flash.
But the jet-black slash scattered with a high-pitched ring before reaching the red-cloaked man.
"…What?"
"Hey now, no way… My prized magical tool got destroyed in a single strike? You're as terrifying as ever."
While I wondered why the jet-black slash had scattered, the red-cloaked man muttered in a shaken tone, cold sweat pouring down.
It seemed he'd blocked Heaven Flash with one of his magical tools.
But since it was destroyed, he couldn't block my attacks anymore. Thinking that, I unleashed Heaven Flash again.
Yet it was blocked once more—by the awakened [Hero].
The [Hero], who had been battered moments ago, had healed his wounds to some extent with his own recovery magic, but his stamina hadn't recovered, and he staggered.
"Haa… haa… Why… are you here?"
The [Hero], still not fully grasping the situation, asked the red-cloaked man behind him.
So these two were acquaintances after all.
Did that mean the empire was connected to the Cyclamen Order?
An imperial prince involved with a criminal organization—what a rotten world.
"Oh! Your Highness! Thank goodness. Even if death isn't permanent, the pain is still awful. The reason I'm here is that His Majesty the Emperor asked me to back you up."
"…From Father? I see. Then it's unnecessary. I have to fight the man in front of me…!"
The [Hero]'s fighting spirit hadn't waned at all. He stared straight at me with childlike eyes.
(Why did he wake up at this timing? I don't have time to deal with a battle maniac…!)
"That's not possible. Your Highness is too battered right now—I can't leave this to you. You've bought me just enough time with that one moment. Please leave the rest to me."
"What did you—"
As the red-cloaked man contradicted the [Hero], he suddenly hurled a fist-sized magic stone full force into the sky.
When the stone stopped midair, the surrounding space began to warp, opening a huge hole in the air.
A thunderous roar like a lightning strike echoed from within.
Then several purple spear-like objects flew out from the hole.
"No way… How…?"
I managed to dodge them easily, but my mind was in complete chaos.
(This mana-made spear… is definitely his magic… But this is on the surface!? What's going on!?)
Looking up again at the hole in the sky, a massive fireball came falling next.
I started to swing my magic sword to intercept the fireball, but a voice came from behind: "Leave it to me."
Silver wind swirled around the robed woman.
It enveloped the fireball, gradually shrinking it until it vanished before reaching us.
At the same moment, the culprit behind the purple spears and fireball emerged from the hole.
Its entire body was covered in glossy black scales like obsidian, resembling a massive reptile.
Huge wings sprouted from its back, large enough to cover its massive frame.
Its true identity was the 92nd-floor boss of the southern great labyrinth—the black dragon.
"Hahaha! Surprised? By pure chance… I managed to obtain a black dragon corpse. I tried recreating it—how is it? I'd love to hear the感想 of the [Dragon Slayer] who's faced a real one!"
The red-cloaked man shouted excitedly.
"A fake, huh."
I'd been shaken by the sudden appearance of the black dragon, but upon calm observation, it was clearly a fake.
Its presence and intimidation were nowhere near the real thing.
Having already overcome the genuine article, this was no obstacle to me.
But could humans really recreate magic beasts just from having a corpse?
"Unfortunately, great labyrinth magic beasts are on a completely different scale. I'll continue analyzing and refining it further. —But since this seems insufficient for His Majesty, here's an addition!"
The red-cloaked man snapped his fingers, and several smaller holes opened in the sky alongside the black dragon's.
From them emerged wyverns, fire dragons, water dragons, and various other dragon species.
"To sum it up—a dragon parade invasion, I suppose. Even if they're far from the real thing, with this many dragons, conquering this territory should be possible, right?"
The red-cloaked man spoke as if victory was already assured.