﻿\setgamedatatitle("Infermio_01")

\text
――The labyrinth's office.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...That's all.
\endtext

\text
With that, Risbell places the report back on the table.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Now then, what should we do?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
What should we do, indeed?
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...What should we do, I wonder?
\endtext

\text("El")
Please do as you wish, Your Majesty. I'll follow you
anywhere!
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Tiela isn't the queen of this country, El.
\endtext

\text("El")
Huh? But to me, Her Majesty will always be my queen...
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Magahime-san is right, El. ...Even so, what should we do?


\endtext

\text
The main members of the Demon Lord's army were gathered for
their regular meeting.
\endtext

\text
Just then, a report from the soldiers working on the
expansion project came in, putting the current topic on
hold. The meeting suddenly became tense.
\endtext

\text
A previously unknown section of the ancient labyrinth had
been discovered―though that in itself wasn't all that
unusual.
\endtext

\text
But this time, it was found far behind the front lines in an
unexpected place, protected by a powerful barrier, making it
impossible for regular soldiers to approach―
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...This is no ordinary matter.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Indeed. The location is especially bad. If hostile forces
start pouring out, it could be a real disaster.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Exactly. Most of our forces are concentrated at the front.
If enemies suddenly appear in the rear, they'll be able to
cause chaos as they please.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
It's like a rebellion breaking out behind us. All our
hard-won territory could suddenly be taken over, you know?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ahem! To prevent that, we'll need someone to pull back from
the front lines to investigate and keep things under
control...
\endtext

\text
As Risbell looks around, everyone at the table makes an
awkward face.
\endtext

\text
――No one wants to be pulled from the glamorous front lines
and stuck with a dull support job.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...Hmm?
\endtext

\text
Sensing this, Margaretta is about to volunteer herself...

\endtext

\text
――But Risbell doesn't want to pull her most reliable asset,
Margaretta, away from the front lines.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm. ...I suppose it can't be helped.
\endtext

\text
Prompted by Risbell, Caym nods.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
The current operation is on hold. We'll send a sizable force
to the rear and focus on resolving this issue.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Agreed. I think that's the wisest course.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
...Tch! So that's how it ends up. Things were just getting
good, too.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
It might actually be pretty interesting, Agri. ―An ancient
Testa civilization labyrinth, and the barrier is still
active even today, right?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
So no one's set foot in there for over two thousand years,
right? There could be some rare items or treasure left
behind.
\endtext

\text
Magahime, who usually shows no motivation at meetings, is
sparkling with excitement at the thought.

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Count me out, man... I can't deal with labyrinths and
stuff...
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
I'm counting on you, as always. I'm expecting great things
from you again, Captain of the Vanguard.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...There might be zombies. Or ghosts.
\endtext

\text
When Glace says it, it sounds extra creepy. ...Seeing Agri
with lines of dread on his face, everyone bursts out
laughing.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Oh? According to this report, it says they heard a
strange woman's laughter coming from deep within the
barrier?
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Ugh...! C-come on, spare me! I really can't handle that
stuff!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama? You don't mean...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, I'm going. ...If a woman is involved, there's no way I
can just sit this one out.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
No, that's where you're supposed to be scared, you know...

\endtext

\text
Reluctantly, including Agri, the members of the expedition
team were selected that very day.

\endtext

\text
Naturally, Caym would lead. ...Risbell, of course, objected
because it was dangerous, but there was no way he'd listen.

\endtext

\text
Risbell and Beatrice would accompany Caym. Agri and
Margaretta would be the main combat force.

\endtext

\text
Additionally, Glace and Tiela―who usually don't join these
kinds of explorations―were chosen for their magical power to
deal with the powerful barrier.
\endtext

\text
...And for some reason, Magahime, who usually hates
troublesome things, volunteered to join because she thought
it sounded fun.
\endtext

\text
The rest of the generals stayed behind to support the front
lines. Since fighting in a cramped labyrinth was expected,
only a small number of elite soldiers were chosen.
\endtext

\text
Being the best of the best in the Demon Lord's army,
preparations were finished quickly, and they set out for the
reported labyrinth―
\endtext

\text
―The labyrinth in question.
\endtext

\text
The hand-dug passageways gradually transformed into
something excessively ornate and decadent, characteristic of
an ancient civilization.
\endtext

\text("El")
I've always thought this, but weren't people in the old days
kind of weird? You couldn't relax living in a place like
this.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Totally agree... Seriously, this awful taste is just too
much. It's already old and creepy as hell.

\endtext

\text
Agri, who hates dark places and scary things, is already
getting cold feet.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
That's why I told you not to hide behind the women.
Honestly, now I get why you chose to be a mercenary instead
of an adventurer.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Can't help it, man. Scary stuff is just scary... Wha―what's
that?

\endtext

\text
The stagnant air of the labyrinth seemed to suddenly stir
for a moment...
\endtext

\text("？？？")
...Hehe... Hehehehe...!
\endtext

\text
Agri turns to look at everyone, his face pale.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Y-you heard that, right? You heard it! Let's go back! Let's
get out of here! I'm done with this!
\endtext

\text("Glace")
Agri, calm down.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
That voice was filled with powerful magic. That's why we
could hear it all the way here―through this barrier.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
It was a sexy woman's voice, though... Anyway, here it
comes. So this is the barrier everyone's talking about.
\endtext

\text
At the end of the passage, a powerful magical barrier had
been erected. The space was distorted, and trying to move
forward felt like pushing against a strong current.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Even from this distance! This is seriously strong...
Ordinary magic soldiers wouldn't stand a chance.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Can you do something about it, Lady Tiela?
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
I'll give it a try. It's similar to the barrier of
Luct=Lusario. Of course, this one is far more powerful―

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Glace-san, Magahime-san, please help me. Lend me all your
magic power.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Shall we help too...? Caym, Risbell, let's do this!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Leave it to me.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm, I'll lend a hand.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Let's do it...!
\endtext

\text("Glace")
Right.
\endtext

\text
Tiela, Glace, and Magahime―the three former queens―unleash
the magic power that dwells in their blood.

\endtext

\text
Caym, Risbell, and Beatrice support them from behind,
bracing against the backlash and helping channel the
powerful magic.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Open! Ancient magical gate, grant me your key―!

\endtext

\text
Before the torrent of light―of magic―the barrier covering
the passage quickly dissipates like mist.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh... You did it!
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
No... haah, haah... It's not completely gone...

\endtext

\text("El")
Are you all right, Lady Tiela?!
\endtext

\text
El rushes over to support Tiela, whose body is exhausted
from releasing so much magic.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...It seems the labyrinth itself around here is functioning
as a device that generates the barrier.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Given time, the barrier will naturally recover. We probably
have only a few hours to get through.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
So we have to finish treasure hunting before then. ...And it
doesn't look like we could pull that off again, right?

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Yes... I'm sorry.
\endtext

\text
Not just Tiela, but Magahime and Glace also seem to have
used up a considerable amount of magic.
\endtext

\text
―If the barrier closes again on the way back, it's probably
impossible to break through it the same way.

\endtext

\text("？？？")
...Ufufufufu!...
\endtext

\text
Once again, that woman's laughter echoes from deep within
the labyrinth―
\endtext

\text("Agri")
O-oh crap...!
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Are you trying to lure us in, or are you just laughing at
us... Caym?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah. ...We have no choice but to go.
\endtext

\text
Taking the bait, the group heads deeper into the unexplored
labyrinth―
\endtext

\text("El")
This is weird, isn't it? Something's off, right?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. If we've come this far in this direction, we should
have already hit an outer passage.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We know the extent of these ruins. There's no way this place
should be this big.

\endtext

\text
El and Risbell are arguing over the map.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
This... it seems like the labyrinth itself is a space formed
by magic. But what kind of magic is this?

\endtext

\text
Beatrice looks up at the labyrinth wall, running her fingers
along it as she voices her doubts.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Yes, the barrier earlier was clearly of the Testa
civilization's magical lineage.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
But the magic forming this space is a completely different
system. I've never seen anything like it.

\endtext

\text
Tiela also looks uneasy.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
I mean, whatever, but this place is seriously bad news... I
just wanna get out of here already.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Not yet. We haven't found anything yet.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Not the treasure... or the women, either.
\endtext

\text
Taking the lead, Caym heads deeper into the labyrinth―
\endtext

\text("？？？")
You've come... finally?
\endtext

\text
The appearance was sudden. An overwhelming magical power
manifested out of nowhere, and 'it' existed, condensed into
a single point.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
W-whoa, whoa whoa! S-something's here!

\endtext

\text("El")
It's floating! It's floating, Caym-sama! All floaty!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Calm down. ...Panicking in front of something like this
won't get us anywhere.

\endtext

\text
Even those who don't use magic are still battle-hardened
warriors―they can sense the power of this being.

\endtext

\text
If it wanted to, with just a flick of its finger, it could
erase all of them in an instant.

\endtext

\text
...There's no point in being afraid of something like that
now.
\endtext

\text("？？？")
As expected! Only a king could be so gutsy.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's my job. ...Or rather, you seem to know a lot about
me.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
I am Caym, King of Hados and Demon Lord. Who are you? What
is this place? Why are you here?

\endtext

\text("El")
C-Caym-sama, maybe don't act so high and mighty right now...

\endtext

\text
Ignoring El, who is quick to try to side with the strong,
Caym glares at the being.

\endtext

\text
It's clearly not human. But it's not a Brightleaf or a
Diabolica either―some kind of demi-human woman. At least, a
being in the form of a woman.
\endtext

\text
A being with such overwhelming magical power probably
doesn't care about the shape of their body anymore.

\endtext

\text
They just take on whatever form they like best―so of course,
they're stunningly beautiful. And incredibly alluring.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
That's right... I'm Infermio. I'll go by Infermio. You can
just call me Mio, okay?

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
My race is Nightwraith―though, I doubt any of you have heard
of it.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Never heard of it. ...But I can't imagine there are many
like you in this world.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Correct. I'm like you Diabolica, and those so-called
Structors. I'm a being from another world.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
It's an incredibly distant world, so I'm the only one here
in this world right now.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you know that for sure?
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Of course. In this weak little world, there's nothing I
don't know. Not a single thing.

\endtext

\text
Caym crosses his arms, thinking, Hmm...
\endtext

\text
In the world where this Infermio, who called herself a
Nightwraith, came from, this level of magical power must be
the norm.
\endtext

\text
He couldn't even begin to imagine what a world full of such
beings would be like.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So, why are you here? And why do you stay here?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
From the way you talk, it sounds like you've just been
watching us for fun.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
How did you end up in such a sorry state, with nothing
better to do?
\endtext

\text
For a moment, a subtle smile flickers across Infermio's
face―one that could be amusement or hatred, it's impossible
to tell.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
I see... You're interesting. You, and all of you, are truly
fascinating. ...The most interesting I've seen in two
thousand years.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Two thousand years, you say?
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
It's true. That seal was from the Testa civilization... It
was meant to seal away this being.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Rather than sealing her, it was probably meant to keep her
away. For safety, they kept the humans of this world at a
distance.
\endtext

\text
Infermio keeps smiling with her eyes, ignoring all of them.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Let me answer Caym's question. Yes, I can't move from here.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
On my way between worlds, I ran into trouble in this tiny
world I used as a stepping stone. I messed up the
coordinates and got stuck.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
A stepping stone... This world is...
\endtext

\text
Risbell is left speechless. ...Her practical nature just
can't keep up with something on this scale.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
That's right, part of me and part of this world overlapped.
...To be precise, I stopped just before fully overlapping,
so I haven't moved an inch.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
If I move my foot, the two existences will merge, and this
world―and several neighboring worlds―will explode and be
blown away.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
It's not like I'd die from that, but it would be a pain to
deal with later. I'd get scolded.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Uh, yeah... Getting scolded would be bad.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
It would! That's why I'm just gathering my strength right
now, preparing a big move to skip over this world entirely.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Until that's done, I can't move. Watching over Caym was just
a little way to kill time in the meantime.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
If you call two thousand years 'a little,' I don't even feel
like getting mad anymore.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice smiles with a sigh.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Well, just watching was fine, but since you came all this
way, Caym, why don't you and I play a game?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh? What kind of game?
\endtext

\text
As he says this, Caym senses it.
\endtext

\text
This being really does like Caym, and in a way, they're the
same kind of creature.
\endtext

\text
Even if the dimensions and power they exist in are worlds
apart―
\endtext

\text
They both love 'fun' and naturally make it the purpose of
their existence. In that sense, they're alike.

\endtext

\text
More so than anyone Caym has met in this world so far... The
other side probably feels the same.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Let's see... fufu! Then, if you clear the conditions I set,
I'll give you a truly wonderful reward.

\endtext

\text("Infermio")
How about that?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
This wonderful reward, it's obviously that, right?

\endtext

\text
Caym grins lecherously.
\endtext

\text
...Even his subordinates are shocked that Caym can act like
this with such a being.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Yes, just as you imagine. ...No, I'll give you an even
better reward.
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
Well? Want to give it a try?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Oh, of course! If it's for a reward!
\endtext

\text("Infermio")
I thought you'd say that... hehehe!
\endtext

\text
Infermio gives a truly radiant smile, straight from the
heart.
\endtext

\text
As only her soft laughter echoes, the world twists, melts,
and crumbles away―

\endtext

\text
Before anyone realizes it, they're all standing in front of
the barrier Tiela and the others broke through with magic at
the very start.
\endtext

\text("El")
H-huh? Huh huh? We're back, Your Majesty?

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
My magic power isn't drained... That's kind of surprising,
huh?
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Yes, I'm surprised too...
\endtext

\text
Tiela nods honestly.
\endtext

\text
Everyone still remembers what happened. ...It seems only
time was rewound, putting them back at the beginning with
their memories intact.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
So it's not just space―she can control time too. ...Calling
two thousand years 'a little,' or this world a stepping
stone?
\endtext

\text
Beatrice gives a mischievous smile. It's rare for her, but
she might actually be feeling fear.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
This is nuts... And our boss is getting all fired up to mess
around with something like that...
\endtext

\text
With his crotch in his pants still bulging high, Caym stands
with his arms crossed, glaring at the barrier.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
There's no point in opening this barrier again right now.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Let's just come back after we've met whatever 'conditions'
that Infermio mentioned. ――We're heading back.

\endtext

\text("El")
...I wonder what those 'conditions' she was talking about
even are?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Whatever the conditions are, I just want to go home and
crawl into bed already... seriously!
\endtext

\text
Risbell looks like she really has a headache.
\endtext

\text
And so, the group returns to the front lines――

\endtext