"Ughhhhhh--!"
" Rudeus! Slow down!"
"It's too fast, I really can't take it anymore..."
"The teacher can't even handle this speed? This is just my usual walking speed!"
"That maze you mentioned, will it just disappear into thin air later?"
Of course not.
"Then why do you have to fly so fast!"
"I was just hoping to get there as soon as possible!"
Rudeus looked completely at ease, but the flying sword beneath his feet showed no sign of slowing down.
Just then, he suddenly detected a very familiar fluctuation in the aura coming from afar.
Rudeus raised an eyebrow and immediately expanded his field of Perception.
The next moment, his expression changed slightly, but a helpless smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.
"It looks like we have a little tail following us."
"Little tail?"
Roxy turned her head in confusion.
"Where is anyone? I don't see anything."
"Hold on tight, teacher, I'm about to speed up!"
"No... no!!"
In an instant, the flying sword beneath Rudeus's feet suddenly unleashed magical power.
boom--!
A deep, booming sound rang out, and the flying sword suddenly accelerated, its speed increasing dramatically in an instant. A gust of wind rushed towards them, making Roxy's long hair fly wildly.
Rudeus breathed a sigh of relief as he watched the red figure behind him grow smaller and smaller.
The next second--
" Rudeus! If you dare abandon me, you'll be sorry!"
The angry voice could be faintly heard coming from behind.
Even Roxy heard it clearly.
" Rudeus, I think I just heard something..."
"Well..."
Rudeus let out a long sigh.
"It seems like we can't shake them off."
Helplessly, he maneuvered his flying sword to a stop in mid-air.
A moment later, a bright red figure finally caught up.
It was Eris.
"So it's Miss Eris?"
Roxy looked at the girl who was aggressively chasing after her, and a hint of surprise appeared on her face.
"Hey Eris, didn't you already agree to that...? Why did you come along again?"
Rudeus was both amused and exasperated.
"Hmph! I was just a little worried about you, that's why I followed you."
Eris turned her face away, but her tone remained defiant.
"What? You're not happy with me, the Magic Sword Emperor, protecting you in the shadows?"
"Haha... no way."
Rudeus chuckled twice.
"It just feels a bit sudden."
"Hmph! That's more like it."
Eris nodded in satisfaction.
"Then let's go."
(Waaaaah... my honeymoon!)
Rudeus cried out in his heart.
The three of them arrived together in front of a cave.
The entrance to the cave was unremarkable; if Rudeus hadn't known beforehand that it was the entrance to a maze, he probably wouldn't have associated it with any special secret realm.
Is this the place?
Eris looked around, her brow furrowing slightly.
"What an unremarkable cave. What are we doing here?"
"This is information I received yesterday from an information broker."
Rudeus pointed to the cave in front of him.
"It is said that a special maze is hidden here."
"It not only contains many precious treasures, but also many monsters that have never been recorded before, which are said to be new species."
"So I think it's worth going in and exploring."
"Really?"
Roxy immediately perked up, a hint of anticipation flashing in her eyes.
"That sounds really interesting!"
"That teacher really gets excited whenever mazes are mentioned!"
Rudeus couldn't help but laugh when he saw Roxy's eager expression.
"Hehe~"
Roxy scratched her cheek sheepishly.
Rudeus sheathed his longsword and then took two scrolls from his Magic Pocket.
As magic was infused, the magic circle on the scroll suddenly lit up.
Two soft rays of light rose from it.
Immediately afterwards, two Light Spirit appeared out of thin air, twinkling with bright light, floating on either side of the group and illuminating the dim cave.
Let's go.
Rudeus took a step.
"Just follow behind me."
The three entered the cave one by one.
Rudeus walked in front, followed closely by Roxy, while Eris lagged behind.
At first, the entrance to the maze was not much different from that of an ordinary natural cave.
Rough rock walls, narrow passages, and uneven gravel underfoot.
However, as the group ventured deeper into the cave, pairs of orange-yellow eyes suddenly appeared.
Dozens of Goblin had been lurking in the darkness, watching the three intruders intently.
"Teacher, watch out!"
Rudeus's eyes narrowed, and he immediately gripped his longsword.
"These are cunning Goblin, let me deal with them!"
As he spoke, he prepared to show off his skills.
But before he could even draw his sword—
Clang!
A flash of sword light suddenly streaked past.
Immediately afterwards, several sharp sword energies crisscrossed.
Puff puff puff!
The Goblin in front of them didn't even have time to react before they all fell down.
Eris slowly sheathed her sword.
" Rudeus doesn't need to personally deal with these low-level monsters."
Rudeus's lips twitched slightly.
"... Let's keep going."
The three continued deeper into the area.
Before long, they emerged from the narrow cave.
But the road ahead was once again blocked by a huge vine.
Thick vines intertwined, almost completely obscuring the passage, leaving only a narrow gap in the center, just wide enough for one person to pass sideways.
"Teacher, you follow behind me."
Rudeus cautiously observed his surroundings.
"There might be some kind of government agency in this place. I'll clear the way."
"No need!"
Eris waved her hand dismissively.
"They're just some plants, what's there to be afraid of?"
Before she finished speaking, she had already rushed in with her longsword.
" Eris- chan, wait a minute--"
Rudeus hadn't finished speaking.
Swish, swish, swish!
With a flash of sword light, the vines blocking the way were all cut down.
Eris swept through the enemy lines with unstoppable momentum.
However, she clearly didn't notice --
The severed vines were writhing wildly on the ground.
New branches sprouted rapidly from the broken end, growing wildly as if they had a life of their own.
The next second!
Snap!
Countless vines suddenly sprang up.
"Ah!"
Eris was caught off guard and was instantly entangled by the vines.
"What the hell is that?!"
She struggled desperately, but the vines tightened their grip, quickly binding her firmly in place.
" Rudeus!"
Roxy quickly grabbed Rudeus's sleeve.
" Eris's tied up! We have to get her out of there!"
Rudeus rubbed his forehead, looking helpless.
"It's alright, she'll be fine."
After saying that, he didn't even turn around, and directly led Roxy through the gap on the other side.
"Are you sure it's okay?"
Roxy was still somewhat worried.
"Certainly."
Rudeus remained completely calm.
"I recognize this vine. As long as you don't touch it, you'll be fine."
" Rudeus!"
Eris, standing behind him, gritted her teeth in anger.
You're really not going to care about me!
After struggling for a long time without being able to break free, a powerful magical force suddenly erupted from her body.
boom!
Intense flames instantly covered his entire body.
[ Flame Shroud ]!
The raging fire instantly burned the vines wrapped around her to ashes, and even her clothes were burned away by the flames.
Eris fell awkwardly from mid-air.
"Bang!"
She landed heavily.
A moment later, she got up from the ground, glaring at Rudeus through gritted teeth.
"You don't want me to come along, right?"
"Then I'll go with you anyway!"
"Snort!"
On the other side.
Rudeus and Roxy had arrived at a low-lying area.
On the ground here, a large patch of Slime, shimmering with a deep blue light, had gathered.
They wriggled slowly, their bodies shimmering with an eerie glow.
"Teacher, be careful."
Rudeus immediately stopped in his tracks.
These are not ordinary Slime.
"They can spray strong acid solutions, and once they get on you, it's very difficult to treat."
So let me handle it.
"But..."
Roxy stared at the Slime in front of her, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"This is the first time I've ever seen such a monster."
Can I try it?
"Really, teacher?"
Rudeus's eyes lit up immediately.
But then, as if realizing something, he quickly suppressed his smile and put on a worried expression.
"Uh... I mean, I'll protect you."
What are you all talking about in your gibberish?
Eris's voice suddenly came from behind.
Rudeus looked back.
Eris had changed into a new outfit and was now walking over aggressively.
"They're just a few Slime, what's there to be afraid of?"
" Eris- chan, wait a minute--"
Rudeus was about to stop him.
Eris, however, had already drawn her sword and charged out.
"Watch me!"
boom!
A sharp slash swept out horizontally.
Several Slime were instantly split in two.
However, the next moment, Rudeus's expression suddenly changed.
The Slime that had been cut in half did not die; instead, they began to writhe wildly.
Immediately afterwards, their bodies all swelled up!
"Oh no!"
puff!
Puff puff puff!
The next second, dozens of dark blue acid bombs were sprayed out like raindrops.
"Huh?"
Eris had just looked up.
A deluge of acid was already raining down on us.
"Ah--!"
Thick acid splashed onto her instantly.
Sizzle!
The clothes were immediately corroded, leaving large holes.
"Oh dear!"
Eris glanced down at her clothes and her eyes widened in surprise.
"What the hell is this?!"