There are three teams
that are formed to enter and conquer Avalon dungeons.
Each team
consists of five members with five different roles: a guardian for defense, an
attacker for offense, an engineer for technical skill, a conjurer for magic,
and a healer for healing.
It seemed that three
teams of five members, fifteen in total, were always diving in Avalon.
Except for the first
teams led by Fransisca, the other two teams are all Krangal soldiers, but the
first team seems to be a mixture of Krangal and Sagrado soldiers.
The leader is, of
course, Fransisca Arias Sagrado, also known as the princess-maiden or oni
captain. She is armed with a one-handed sword that contains wind magic and
plays the role of attacker.
The engineer is a
muscular skinhead Sagrado man named Lorenzo Hurtado. He looks like an attacker,
but he is good with his hands and delicate work, and is good with a bow... He
carries a huge bag on his back, so maybe this is what his muscles are for.
**a
The conjurer is a
Sagrado woman named Fatima Contesti. She used to be one of the priestesses who
took care of Fransisca's personal belongings, and she is said to have had a
great talent for magic.
As Sagrado people are
known for their beautiful looks, Fatima is no exception. Her breasts, which are
pushing up her robe, are even larger than those of Fransisca.
However, her cool
expression and her mouth held shut in a crooked line give a cold impression.
Her blonde hair, tied
in one tight bun, enhances her meticulous impression.
The healer is a Sagrado
woman named Sara Del Rey, who looks more like a girl of about 10 years old. Is
it really appropriate for her to be here?
She is small by far,
and has light green hair that reaches her shoulders in fluffy waves. Her eyes
are red like cherries.
She seems to be the
most friendly among the members of this group, as she smiles when their eyes
meet, but the large mace she carries on her back is very serious.
Finally, the guardian
is played by the only Krangal, Alex Rein.
「...Wait, why is the
team mixed!?」
Alexis questioned after
the introduction.
Everyone is from
Sagrado except him. Yes, Alexis, he is far away from home~.
「Ara, is it a mixed
team?」
Fransisca smiles.
「...Your Highness. Your
bad habit is come out again...」
Fatima was holding her
head heavily. Despite Alexis's first impression, Fatima reacted as if she was a
surprisingly hard worker.
「Bad habits?」
The answer to Alexis'
question was in the big shield on Alexis' back, which Fatima suddenly looked
at.
This shield, a square
shaped shield carved out of a piece of iron, is in a bad shape with cracks here
and there.
「The shield that we gave
to the Krangals before him was still brand new... Are you sure you want to kill
him this time, Your Highness?」
Alexis was startled by
Fatima's line, which she muttered with a serious expression on her face.
「Please, can you refrain
from saying "kill" so openly?? You just announced a murder!」
「What do you mean?」
Fransisca is smiling at
him.
But she doesn't seem to
be at all innocent.
（This is more serious
than I thought...）
Alexis had a headache.
No wonder things were
not progressing at all. And from this point, he knew that the position of the
first team's guardian was a graveyard. But what's the point of having allies
hating each other?
（...well, the problem is
on the side of the Krangal soldiers who have been making fun of the Sagrado
royalty for a long time）
Even though they are
the royal family of the lost country, the attitude of the Krangal soldiers is
unforgivable from the point of view of the pride of the royal family.
（...Indeed. Although it
is a subject of my own country, it gives me a headache...）
Even though Alexis is
such an insolent person, he can't help but feel a minimum sense of
responsibility. Besides, in addition to the investigation of the current
situation, he was sent here with the expectation that he would be able to break
through his current situation.
**b
「...Well, that's okay,
let's do it now」
Soon Alexis was ready.
「If Your Highness wants me in
this role, I'll do my best, but...please don't slow me down, Your Highness」
When Alexis said this,
Fransisca blinked at him.
Fransisca blinked
because she had not expected such a comment. Soon, however, she felt mocked and
started to sniffle.
「That's my line, Alex.
Don't let us slow down, don't "run away" and do your job as Guardian.
Do you understand?」
Fransisca's amethyst
eyes shoot into Alexis' like piercing bullets.
（...――What a princess...）
Thinking this, Alexis
replied with a smile, "I'll do my best".
* *
*
Now, Alexis had finally
stepped into Avalon for the first time.
He plunged into the
darkness and found himself in a gray stone cave.
「This is...」
When he turned around,
all he saw was a wall. Not only that, the second and third teams that were
supposed to have entered the area were nowhere to be seen.
「We've all moved to
different places」
It was Fatima who said
this in response to Alexis' question.
Although she spoke
bluntly and had a cold expression on her face as usual, she might actually be the
easiest person to talk to.
「Moved to a different
places?」
To Alexis' question,
Fatima says, "You were dispatched without knowing anything about it?"
and sighs.
「Avalon Dungeon is also
known as a "Dungeon of Illusions". Once you set foot in there, you
can never return, and the terrain changes completely each time you enter.
However, those who enter the dungeon at the same time will all end up in the
same place with the same topography. ――However, because of a slight margin of
error, as you can see, people end up in completely different places」
「Eh, then, how can we
return home whenever we want to?」
Fatima tries to open
her mouth to Alexis, who is surprised, "That's――".
But at that moment
Fransisca called out "Alex" in an irritated tone.
**c
「How long are you going
to keep talking? If you, the Guardian, do not take the lead, we will never be
able to go on. Go on, you slowpoke!」
Why is she calling me a
slow learner all of a sudden?
「I don't know about you,
but please, that's not the kind of language a princess would use」
Alexis led the way with
a light warning.
Though he wears metal
armor, he is a medium attacker. The sword at his waist is also for attackers.
The only guardian-like item in his hand is a battered shield...
（...but I must be
patient...）
Half in resignation,
half in frustration.
A feeling that it can't
be helped, because his retainer did it first, and there is resentment at
Fransisca's attitude toward him.
However, Alexis' pride,
which has been honed by his many victories over thieves, battlefields, and
adventurers, does not allow him to back down in a place like this. After all,
this is the only thing he can do to compete with his Sparkle Brothers.
「Okay, let's do it!」
Alexis grinned.
Although none of his
experience so far had been accumulated as a Guardian――
And so, Alexis led the
team as they headed toward the end of the cave, which was opening its mouth to
the depths.
The cave's visibility
itself is good, although it is not clear where the light is coming from.
Probably, it is because the space was created by ancient magic.
The width of the
passage is about four meters. Certainly, as long as he can fulfill his duty as
a guardian, his allies in the rear will not be able to escape from his attack.
「Let's go! Follow me
closely!」
Alexis said, holding up
his battered shield.
