The day before the Magic Guild’s orientation, Odette trembled as she stared at the letter that had arrived from her father, Duke Sley.
“…Why would he send a letter like this now?” she murmured, glaring at the words.
To my daughter, Odette.
Do you remember the condition under which I permitted you to join the Magic Guild? It was that you had one year. If you failed to become a C-rank mage within that time, I would use you in a political marriage. That was our agreement.
However, circumstances have changed. A ducal house of equal standing has just married off their daughter. House Sley cannot afford to be seen falling behind or be looked down upon by others.
The promised period is now shortened to six months.
If you fail to produce results by then, I will proceed with your marriage. That is all.
“This is absurd!”
Odette slammed the letter onto the floor. Before she joined the Guild, he had promised her two years. The moment she arrived in the capital, it became one. And now, right before her orientation, it had been cut to a mere six months.
“…If only Grandmother were still alive. She would have stopped him.”
Odette’s grandmother had been a mage from the Guild. Growing up, Odette had heard all sorts of wondrous stories from her. It was why she hadn’t been surprised to learn of Iris’s ‘ageless constitution’—the world was full of mysteries, so such things were possible. That was why Odette had decided to become a mage herself. Her parents had even supported her.
But ever since her grandmother passed away, her father had done a complete turnaround. He had begun to see Odette as a tool for a political marriage, all to gain an advantage over the other ducal houses.
“But… a C-rank mage in six months… That’s simply beyond my abilities…”
As she thought this, Yuuki’s face came to mind. If she asked him, he would surely help her. With his power, obtaining C-rank would be easy.
…But.
“Yuuki has circumstances that can’t be brought into the light. I can’t let him do anything that would draw attention. Besides, this matter with my father… it isn’t something that needs to be solved today or tomorrow.”
Odette shoved the letter into a dark corner of her bookshelf. In its place, she looked over the orientation guide that had arrived from the Magic Guild.
“Iris is paired with Yuuki, and I’m paired with Lady Therese, a count’s daughter.”
She’d never heard the name, but they would have to work together to get through this. With that, Odette began to plan for the next day.
The day of the orientation arrived.
I was on the first level of the great dungeon, Elysium, the Capital of Ancient Magical Civilization, standing with Iris. Our fellow trainees were gathered around us, about a dozen or so. Odette was there, too, paired with a girl I didn’t recognize. She had long bangs and a quiet, reserved demeanor. That must be Lady Therese.
Knowing Odette, she’d be fine no matter who her partner was. We’d trained together before the magic duel with Alex, so I knew she was skilled. We just had to focus on our own job.
“I will explain the rules once more,” one of the instructors announced, stepping before the trainees. There were two of them: one was our instructor, Demeter, and the other… I think his name was C-rank Mage Daraton.
“This orientation is to familiarize you with this dungeon, Elysium. You will move according to the map you were given and proceed to the point where we are waiting. Understood so far?”
I peeked at the map in Iris’s hands. Each pair had been given one, showing the route we were supposed to take today.
“The route on each map is different. No two pairs will cross paths. The goal is for you to learn the sheer scale, and the terror, of Elysium. Are we clear?”
The trainees, myself included, all nodded.
“The monsters on the first level are all weak. I have no memory of selecting trainees who would struggle with them. However, if you feel you cannot proceed, strike the armband you were issued and chant the incantation.”
The instructor pointed to an armband on his left arm. Iris and I wore identical ones. It was a magic item with a small, diamond-shaped crystal on its surface. The crystal was tiny, about the size of a thumbnail, but I could feel the magic dwelling within it.
“That will alert us to your location, and we will come for you. However, be aware that it will impact your future evaluations. We have no desire to babysit trainees. We’d much rather get back to our own research,” Daraton spat.
“We will be at the goal on the first level. There is no need to rush. Be cautious. In ten minutes, the crystal on your armband will light up. That is your signal to move. Do not even think about taking shortcuts. There is a massive chasm on this level. If you fall, you’ll drop all the way to the third level. If you don’t want to bring shame upon your noble houses, be careful. That is all.”
With those parting words, Demeter and Daraton left, disappearing down a side path off the main corridor.
“Are you ready, Your Highness?”
“I am. It’s just…” Iris shivered slightly beside me. “Lately… when you call me ‘Your Highness,’ it… gives me the chills.”
“…It does?”
“It feels… ticklish, but also… like you’re keeping me at a distance. Something like that.”
“…But I’ve always called you that.”
“…It’s like my constitution changed after I remembered I was Alice.” She rolled up her robe’s sleeve to show me. She had goosebumps. “It seems the ‘Alice’ personality inside me is getting stronger. So, when we’re alone, could you please call me Alice?”
“…I’ll try.”
Whisper, whisper.
Iris and I stepped away from the line of trainees, talking in low voices. For the record, I was standing with my back straight, staring intently into the depths of the dungeon, while Iris held up her arm to show me her sleeve. To everyone else—
“Hey, look. It’s Princess Iris and her knight, Yuuki Grossalia.”
“They’re steeling themselves before tackling the dungeon.”
“Even for an orientation, Her Highness is giving it her all…”
“Don’t underestimate that knight, either. He’s the one who defeated C-rank Mage Alex Kielce.”
“Look at him, pledging his loyalty to his princess. It’s like a painting.”
—That’s apparently what it looked like to them. In reality, she was just showing me her goosebumps.
Odette, however… she knew exactly what we were doing. I could tell from her wry smile.
“Everyone, quiet down. It’s almost time,” Odette suddenly called out.
Everyone focused on the armbands on their left arms. As we watched with bated breath… the crystals began to flash. The trainees took off, racing toward the goal. The orientation had begun.
“Alright, Dick, Niil. You two keep watch outside.”
“Roger~!”
“You got it~!”
About ten minutes after the orientation officially began, Iris and I arrived at the innermost chamber of the ‘Cave of the Holy Sword.’
A princess couldn’t be seen sprinting breathlessly through a dungeon, after all. She should be the last to depart, proceeding to the goal with calm and dignity.
Using that as our convenient excuse, we waited for all the other trainees to leave before we started moving. After confirming no one was around, we ducked into the Cave of the Holy Sword.
Our purpose was to return a replica of the Holy Sword to its pedestal.
I’d asked Rhodelia at the Grail Trading Company to prepare an exact copy. All we had to do was slide it into the scabbard.
Whoever finds an ‘Ancient Artifact’ has ownership rights. I could get a reward for turning it over to the Guild, but I had no intention of trading the Holy Sword for something so trivial. That sword was the artifact that killed me, and it was tied to my and Alice’s reincarnation. Plus, with Lyle leaving behind that flashy ‘Traitor Sage’ moniker, the remnants of the Sanctuary Church would be all over us if they ever found out I was his guardian and Alice was his daughter. It was best to seal the sword away where no one would ever see it.
“Okay, I’m summoning the replica.”
“Right, my Lord.”
As Iris watched, I drew the summoning sigil on both hands. “Answer my summons and come forth! My vassal, the replica of the Holy Sword Rinkal!”
A magic circle appeared on the ground, and from it, the silver sword materialized. This, however, was the copy Rhodelia had made. I’d marked it with my ‘Mistel Blood,’ temporarily making it my vassal, which was why I could summon it like this.
Now to just dry-fire a spell to burn off the remaining ‘Mistel Blood’…
“Alright, the Mistel Blood is gone.”
“I’ll wipe it down, just in case,” Iris said, polishing the replica with a cloth.
We both gave it a final check for any lingering evidence. “Okay, looks good.”
I slid the replica into the scabbard still embedded in the rock. It was locked in place with the same spell the tutor Kachel had used on the bookshelf, but I’d reinforced it with my ‘Mistel Blood.’ It would be nearly impossible for anyone but me to draw it. And if someone did manage to pull it out and realize it was a fake…
“…We’ll blame the Sanctuary Church.”
“I agree.”
We looked at each other and nodded. They’d put us through hell in our past life. A little payback wouldn’t hurt.
“Once we’re out of the cave, the orientation is back on. Time to go back to princess mode, Iris.”
“…Can I… stay as Alice just a little longer?” Iris asked, shaking her head. “We rarely get to be alone like this… Please let me blow off some of this ‘princess’ stress. Just until we get to the goal.”
“…You drive a hard bargain.”
I took her hand, and we left the cave. I called over Dick and Niil, who were waiting at the entrance, and let them land on my shoulders. I pricked my finger and resupplied them with ‘Mistel Blood,’ then drew the sigil for ‘Boosted Enhancement’ on their wings.
“Dick, Niil, expand your search radius and make sure no one is around.” I ordered. “My girl wants to be ‘Alice from the village’ for a bit. Make sure no one sees her.”
“Please, Dick-san, Niil-san,” Iris added.
“Roger that~!”
“Leave it to us~!”
The two bats circled us happily.
“We’re all powered up thanks to your blood, boss~!”
“No one’s getting near us~!”
“I’m counting on you.”
“Alright, let’s go,” Iris said. “What’s our route?”
“According to the map… we go straight down the central passage and then take a side tunnel.”
A large tunnel opened up in the rock wall a short distance ahead. It looked like the path from there was a winding, roundabout route to the goal. There was a dead end partway through… no, wait, that’s a chasm.
“The chasm that drops you straight to the third level. What a pain.”
“Should we go around it?”
“We’ll fly over. It’s faster.”
“Yay! I get to fly with you, my Lord!”
“It’s been a while. Hold on tight.”
“Okay!”
Iris and I started moving. I wondered how Odette was doing. I was sure she was fine, but…
“Dick.”
“Yessir, boss~”
“New orders. I’m drawing another sigil—”
I gave the bat an additional command.
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