Slash!

Slash!

Slash!

In the blink of an eye, two assassin ghosts fell.

Yujun bound the three charging at his back with a restraint spell. He couldn't see them, but he felt something heavy wound tight in threads of mana — and then arrows of light, born out of empty air, punched clean through their skulls.

Magic really is convenient.

And this was no ordinary magic. It was Ancient Magic of EX+ rank, running on an entirely different track from common spellcraft. Destructive power, casting speed, mana efficiency, versatility — there was simply no comparison.

And I can pick whichever elemental magic I want.

Choosing Ancient Magic had been the right call.

Swapping in magic-related items later wouldn't be a bad idea, either.

The assassin ghosts never so much as grazed a hair on him. From then on, he faced them with Ancient Magic alone.

"You seem an entirely different person."

"Me?"

"Yes. Until now I had only ever beheld you with a sword in hand. This is rather novel."

"Why? Does it look weird? Want me to stick to the sword?"

"No, no. You are magnificent like this as well. However, Master."

"Yeah."

"Can you use spatial movement magic in this place as well?"

"I can use it, sure. Crossing into another layer is another matter. This is the 9th Layer, so I can only move within the 9th."

"Ah. I see."

"That's why I'll need your ability on the 8th Layer."

"Pardon? On the 8th?"

"You'll see when we get there."

For now, dealing with the assassin ghosts rushing them came first.

Boom! Crash!

Arrows of light snuffed out the lives of the ones still bound.

"Your level is shooting straight up."

"They're a lot higher level than they look."

"They certainly do look feeble."

It was around the time he had cut down fifty of them.

A hologram window appeared.

Come to think of it, why was the system guiding him toward the 1st Layer?

Feels a lot friendlier than when this was just a game. Well, doesn't matter.

There was nothing bad about it for him.

"Master. Can we reach it within ten minutes? This place looks rather vast."

"I know the way, so it wouldn't take long. There's an easier method, though."

"And what might that be?"

"Use spatial movement magic."

"I do not know the coordinates..."

"D1792F20331."

"Surely you do not mean to say those are the coordinates?"

"Yeah."

"How is it that you know them?"

"I remember."

A player's memory transcended anything an ordinary person would call common sense.

"As I thought. You have been here before."

"Yeah. So hurry up."

"Yes!"

Paranet had mana to spare. In an instant, he and Yujun stood at the farthest edge of the 9th Layer, the entrance right in front of them.

"It truly is here."

"What, you thought I was making it up?"

"I did not expect you to know the coordinates of the very spot before us, rather than merely the vicinity."

"I told you I've been here."

"Aha! My faith is not misplaced after all!"

Back when he had challenged the Abyss in War of ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the Gods, he had used spatial movement magic then, too, to cut down his clear time. He had attempted the Abyss not once but many times over. Of course he knew the coordinates.

"...Master."

"What."

"Does this grant unallocated points every time we ascend to the next floor?"

"They get bigger as we go."

"To hand out this many points for free..."

"It's not free. We fought our way through the assassin ghosts."

"Ah..."

"C99102T4930."

"......"

"Coordinates. You've still got mana left, right?"

"Yes."

"Let's go."

Fwaaah—!

A brilliant light wrapped around Yujun and Paranet.

......

Yujun stepped straight through the entrance.

"This is madness."

"This is why we come here."

"But will a handful of unallocated points truly be enough to defeat those fellows from before?"

At Paranet's words, Yujun smiled.

"Unallocated points? These don't even qualify as a reward."

"What?"

"The real reward comes later."

Yujun swept his gaze around. It had been a long time. The 7th Layer was a very different place from the 10th, the 9th, and the 8th.

"Welcome, the two of you! Where have you come from?"

The speaker was a creature about half Yujun's height — a wandering fairy, sometimes called the mascot of the Abyss. They showed up often from the 7th Layer onward, serving as a kind of guide.

"The Continent."

"The Continent — you mean the present world? My, my. Guests from the present world are a rare sight indeed. Must be thirty years by now. Of course, that is thirty years since I last received one."

"You've been at this a long time. Impressive that you're still alive."

"People call us mayflies, but I am different. I have a secret to living a long while."

"Not interested. Can you guide us to Sheta Village?"

"Guest. Sheta Village vanished long ago."

"What? Vanished? You mean it fell?"

"It is a village that disappeared from the Abyss entirely. After that incident, not a single soul survived."

"What incident?"

"Well. I believe I could tell you — if you were to offer some points."

"You're charging for the information?"

"Yep!"

The wandering fairy answered with a sly little grin.

"How much?"

"Ahem. This isn't exactly classified, so I'll only ask for three million points—"

"Here."

Yujun transferred three million points to the wandering fairy through a point transaction.

"...My, my. What a spirited customer."

"Explain the incident."

"Some madman entered the Abyss and turned the whole place upside down. Unspoken rules? He threw them to the dogs. That madman massacred the residents of Sheta Village. Not a single one survived."

"Must've been strong."

"Strong, yes — but he was meticulous. He killed them one by one, in the hours when everyone else was asleep."

"What happened to him?"

"I heard he was seized by the high apostles of the Abyss and is standing trial."

"You know his name?"

"Well. Even I don't know quite that far..."

"What punishment will he get?"

"After a deed like that, he will have to atone for several centuries to come. In a place that is far from pleasant."

Yujun nodded. This was new to him. So the Abyss had things like trials.

"Good. Then which village can you guide us to?"

At that, Paranet tilted his head. He drew close to Yujun and spoke as if whispering.

"Master. Could we not simply go on our own? I wonder whether we truly need a guide..."

"We can't. The terrain here changes on a cycle. Knowing the paths I used ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to walk is useless."

"Then does that one know them?"

"Wandering fairies are exceptional at finding paths. That's why they work as guides."

More ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠than anything, move through this place without knowing the way and you could vanish without a trace. Stray even slightly off the path, and your whole body would be torn to shreds — enough to shatter an S-rank shield spell in three seconds. A wandering fairy's help was not optional.

"Hmm. The pressure barrier has grown stronger lately. Hmm."

"Say what you mean to say."

"I think I shall have to charge quite a lot..."

The wandering fairy studied Yujun's face. Yujun, who had been watching him without expression, spoke only after a long pause.

"You first."

"Pardon?"

"Name your price first."

"Then, ahem. F-fifty million points."

"Fine. Guide us."

"Pardon? Just like that? You won't haggle?"

"That's not something you should be saying. I don't want to waste time, so let's move. Or would you rather I threaten you?"

Yujun thrust his sword forward. The wandering fairy flinched and shook his head.

"I-I'm sorry."

"Thirty million."

"W-why did it go down?"

"Because you ran your mouth."

"...Understood."

Yujun transferred thirty million points to the wandering fairy.

"Shall I guide you to the nearest village?"

"How big is it?"

"Neither large nor small — respectably middling. Not a bad place to make your starting point."

"The name?"

"It is Krok Village."

"Krok. We'll go there."

It happened to be a place he knew — a village he had stopped at once or so across his many attempts to clear the Abyss. No reason not to go.

"We shall depart. You must follow closely."

Yujun nodded, and the wandering fairy set off with a delighted step.

"I do not like that one."

Paranet whispered it.

"Why?"

"I simply dislike the way he conducts himself. Weak as he is, he carries on as though he were someone of consequence, does he not?"

"He's just a guide. Don't get worked up."

"I shall have to take him down a peg later."

"Just stay put."

"Yes."

"My ears are quite sharp. You there, the undead gentleman. Do take particular care with your words and conduct."

"Hah. What is this pipsqueak going on about?"

Paranet bristled at the wandering fairy's words.

"I can already picture what will happen should I take offense and step onto the wrong path. Hoo. Do not provoke me."

"......"

Paranet looked at Yujun as if the whole thing were absurd.

"I told you to stay still."

"Understood."

"As I always say, those with a great deal of money are wise."

"Ugh."

Paranet seethed.

"If he gets any more annoying, I'll kill him. Don't worry."

Yujun murmured it under his breath. Paranet glanced at the wandering fairy walking ahead and nodded.

The fairy was, as expected, good at finding the way. Not once did he lose the path. He pressed straight on.

"Ah, that's right. I never introduced myself. I am Balballnu."

The wandering fairy spun around without warning and offered the introduction.

"Right. Balballnu. How much farther?"

"I should think another half-day's walk will bring us to the village. We could shorten that by quickening our pace, but safety comes before all else, so I shall maintain this speed. Is that acceptable?"

"Doesn't matter."

"From here, please be a little careful. A few misplaced steps, and you will be inside the pressure barrier's reach."

"Sure."

He had already prepared a stopgap for the worst case, so Yujun wasn't particularly worried. They were pressing on like that when the fairy suddenly backpedaled, his face gone pale with alarm.

"Now, one moment. Please stop."

"Why?"

"The terrain is changing. And to make matters worse, the Ruler of the 7th Layer is here as well."

"The Ruler? He's nearby?"

"Yes. Very close."

Whether it was the pressure barrier or something else, Yujun couldn't sense the Ruler's presence at all.

"For the terrain to shift, and for the Ruler to catch our scent and come besides — even bad luck has its limits."

Balballnu scowled.

"You still have to earn what you were paid."

"Of course. What do you suppose is the reason I have survived so long? It is precisely because I respond swiftly to the unexpected. An elite among elites."

"Tell me the method."

"First! Please stand still. You must not move until the terrain has finished changing."

That was when Paranet looked at Yujun.

"By any chance, do you not know the coordinates of this place?"

"On the 7th Layer, the pressure barrier keeps me from using spatial movement magic. The backlash is enormous. Use it, and your body might burst apart."

Of course, that was only a guess. It had been true in War of the Gods, but nothing guaranteed it would be the same here.

No need to gamble with our lives.

Yujun opened his inventory. A contingency, just in case — and it was in there.

I can't put my faith in the wandering fairy alone.