Volume 16 - CH 18

A way to unlock the cursed armor of the "Mad King".

In order to find out, I decided to go see the omniscient and omnipotent "Laplace's Demon" .......

If you're an ambitious Magician, you're going to be able to enter the coveted forbidden zone, and you've got a few extra people attached to you.

But there is no obstacle to entering.

「So, I'm entering the Forbidden Zone now. I can't guarantee your lives, so you'll have to protect yourselves at your own risk. You've come along on your own, that's what you want.」

I said to the people gathered in the Headmaster's office.

「Eh? What? Um, Alec-san? Were you planning to go to such a dangerous place?」

Nicole asks with a pale face, Well, I just found this guy when I came back to the boys' dormitory, so I brought him along. He's just my roommate, you know.

It's not like Nicole told me to bring him. He's a perfect victim.

However――If you can use magic and you can't use your equipment, you should probably have a magician in your team. And a competent one at that.

「It's a good experience for you too, Nicole, if you've enrolled in this magic academy. Forbidden Zone are a realm that ordinary Magicians don't get to see, you know?」

Craig explained that he was grateful for the opportunity, but it was more of an elitist spot for the nobles of the Gilan Empire than an experience.

「I've heard that the Forbidden Zone is quite dangerous, Anija. It won't do you any good if you lose your life.」

Kaede says to her brother, but she (this guy) was called by Craig. She's also a victim in that sense, but she's an otherworldly heroes NEET with a magic value of 23. It's not a problem in terms her abilities.

She seemed to be well prepared, as she had changed from her normal robes to a lightly-dressed thief, perhaps for battle.

「I, the princess,......, stay away from the danger of the monarch,......, and go home,......」

I also saw the blue-haired Lumina on the way, so I brought her along. It's just a classmate, but I've seen what she's capable of during the entrance exam. She can use intermediate magic that is as powerful as Letty's, so she's fully capable.

She is currently wearing a simple light blue robe with no embroidery or accessories.

「Well, don't worry, Lumina. Cherry-sensei will protect you there.」

I said, grabbing Rumina's shoulder as she turned around.

「Of course I will! I'll protect the lives of my students! Leave it to me!」

Cherry-sensei, who was full of enthusiasm, was a bit of a worry, but he was recommended by the headmaster. In the worst case scenario, he's disposable because he's in a position to be used for the headmaster's personal use. He's a man.

Well, he's survived a decent amount of my spell, so I guess he's at least be able to protect himself from bullets.

「Fufu~... I hope there's something delicious♪」

Marilyn is completely wrong from the start, but oh well, as level 38 it won't kill you.

「I'm the only healer. ...... That's a lot of responsibility, this is ......」

The knight Noel tensed up and mumbled, but only this guy was able to caught because Fianna, the first tean priest, had just gone to the temple with Noel mother Olivia.

His level is tough, but he's a warrior type, so he's got stamina, and I'm going to follow him.

「Leave it to me, brother! I'll go to hell for you!」

I wasn't going to take Jouga with me, but he insisted, so I allowed him to follow me. The broadsword he's equipped with is a work of art in its own right, but there's no magic on it that would make it impossible to bring it into the sealed area, and the headmaster has already appraised it.

The usual party followed, including Serina, Meena, Lily, Ione, Nene, Letty, and Saki.

However, Luka, Mare, and Hannah are still warriors, so they will not be joining us this time.

「We're all ready to go. It's a little painful that we can't bring the Flame sword, but the iron ball is disposable, and I'll go through fire and water for you, darling.」

Saki says something that makes me happy.

「If you've made your preparations, let's get going. The sun is setting.」

Melissa says, looking bored as she fiddles with her silver-haired twin drills, but you're just a bonus.

I don't want you to misunderstand me for you as regular member.

「All right, well then, we're all set here, Headmaster.」

As the leader of the team, I check everyone's status and say.

「Hmm. Now, Alec, put the key to the seal in this my ear.」

「Ear? No, please don't joke around. Just get us to the Forbidden Zone.」

「I'm not joking. The boundaries are here. It's in here.」

Headmaster Loli said, poking her finger at her stomach. She's not laughing. It's a serious face.

「What? Inside your body, you say ......?」

「Oh, no.」

「What the hell!?」

「Is that possible?」

Everyone was surprised, but apparently it wasn't a joke.

「Of course it is. The elephants and dragons are just dots smaller than a grain of wheat in the body of this me, The coordinates have been transferred to multiple dimensions on the subatomic level, and then sealed.」

「A dragon is smaller than this one!? I don't know what you're talking about! Oh, man, brother........I'm starting to feel a little sleepy. ...... Zzz」

「Jouga, get a grip! Headmaster, enough with the theories. I'll put the key in.」

「Hmm, Well........it's been a while since I've been plugged by that. Please be gentle. Pop.」

The headmaster loli said with blushing and embarrassment, as if she was joking at this point.

No matter how you look at it, it's a rainbow-colored key bigger than her ear hole. However, when I tried to put it on the headmaster' ear hole, the key disappeared as if it had been sucked in.

「Murhh? Oi, Headmaster, the key's gone, but it's this okay―― hmm? Where'd she go?」

The headmaster who was supposed to be right in front of me is gone.

「Uwahh!? What is this place? This isn't the headmaster's office I was just in!」

Lily looked around and shouted, but the place has definitely changed.

「It seems that we've already entered the sealing boundary.」

Serina says in alarm mode, but it seems so.

The area around us is a desolate land of reddish brown earth, and there is even a huge moon in the sky.

In front of us is the horizon.

From what I'd heard, I'd assumed that we were in a dungeon, but it seemed to be an open world field.

No, that Loli said it was that labyrinth (dungeon), right?

But more than that――

「Damn, there's a monster house in this size ......!」

I shuddered involuntarily.

If a large number of monsters are gathered in one place, even small fish enemies can damaged us by the mass attack.

If it were a dungeon, I could use the technique of stepping back and fighting them one by one in a narrow passage with walls on either side, but here we were surrounded and had to fight enemies in all directions.

The fact that there were no obstacles made this a difficult task.

「Don't worry, Master. No sign of the enemy yet.」

I'm relieved to hear Meena, a reliable spotters, say that for the moment.

「It looks like everyone made it through safely. I'm glad. Now, Cherry-sensei, I leave it to you to lead the students.」

「Sure, leave it to me! Headmaster.」

I heard a voice out of nowhere, but there was no sign of Headmaster Loli. Well, I guess that's natural since I'm inside her.

「Well then, everyone, please follow my instructions and act accordingly. As you can see, I've got the map from the Headmaster. Ah! Hey, give it back!」

The map that Cherry-sensei was about to unfold was quickly snatched away by wind magic and opened by Melissa instead.

「This is where we are, isn't it? Let's see, Uchimimi?」

「It's the inner ear.」

I corrected her. It looks like a big place, like the surface of Mars, but the place name seems to describe a body part.

「So it's the inside of an ear. But this place is ......」

Cherry-sensei took the map back from Melissa, who was looking around with a suspicious look on her face.

「Maan. This is important stuff. I don't want you to do anything with it, my dear.」

「Oh my, I'm sure you're aware that the Jackal family motto is "Do as you please"」

「The Marquesses of Austin, right? But the name "nobility" has no place in this academy. You'd do well to remember that.」

「Hmph.」

Melissa sniffed in annoyance, but Cherry is also a teacher, so he is not intimidated, which is fine.

「So, Cherry-sensei, which way to go next?」

「That way.」

I asked, and Cherry pointed straight north.