Chapter 136: Aria’s Growth

「Eh? That’s strange!」

As the group walked toward the third floor, May suddenly spoke in a puzzled voice.

「Is something the matter, May-chan?」

「Uncle Cedric! Belphegor… Belphegor’s presence keeps getting away!」

May replied to Cedric while looking at the compass-like magic tool in her hands. Her words surprised everyone equally.

「She’s currently on the deepest floor of this labyrinth. And yet, for some reason, her presence keeps getting farther and farther away from us according to this magic tool.」

With her finger on her chin, Ciel pondered this phenomenon.

Judging from the path the group had passed along the way, they could tell that this labyrinth should have no secret paths or something similar. Moreover, Belphegor was on the last floor.

Despite all that, Belphegor’s presence seemed to be getting farther and farther away from them.

It was an incomprehensible, unscientific, and definitely unmagical phenomenon.

「Let’s keep moving forward for now. I think we will find the answer when we arrive at the final floor.」

「You’re right, Vulcan. Look, another enemy incoming!」

Ciel agreed with Vulcan as she looked into the deeper parts of the labyrinth. At the next moment, two monsters appeared from those depths. One of them had a giant, scissor-like leg and a tail with a pointed end-like needle. It was a giant scorpion-like monster. The other was an eerie monster like the Cybertech-REX monster from before, but this one had two heads and a serpent-like tail.

「〝Scorpionodon? And 〝Cybertech Chimera?. Troublesome guys popping out one after another, huh!」

Ciel glared at the two incoming enemies and picked up her 《Celcius Blade》.

「What do you mean by “Troublesome,” Ciel-sama?」

「Aria, these two monsters can use poison attacks. Please, be careful! Their poison is deadly.」

Ciel replied to Aria’s question while checking on the monsters’ movements.

The tails of both Scorpionodon and Cybertech Chimera were poisonous. As a side note, both were A-rank monsters in this world.

「Tama, please use that!」

「Nya~n(Roger that, master)!」

Tama replied with an adorable cry.

Soon, a golden light enveloped everyone’s body. It was one of Tama’s inherent skills, 《Divine Protection of Lion King》.

Tama’s buff granted poison resistance to the buff’s targets. With this, there was no need for the group to fear the poison attacks of the two monsters.

「This power! It’s such a wonderful skill!」

A smile appeared on Ciel’s lips as she leaped forward with 《Celcius Blade》 in her hand. Her target was the Scorpionodon.

「Well then… I guess the other one is mine!」

Aria readied her tempest bringer and rushed toward the Cybertech Chimera. Tama followed her to act as her support.

「《Celcius Nail》!」

It was a horizontal slash―

Ciel shot forth an ice slash. Her attack was quite fast. However, contrary to its appearance, the Scorpionodon turned out to be a really nimble opponent. Ciel’s attacks only managed to graze its shell.

But—

『GYURU…!?』

The Scorpinodon roared in surprise a moment later. One of its scissor-like pliers froze at rapid speed.

Ciel’s attack, 《Celcius Nail》, could instantly freeze the target it touched. Just like that, the scissor-like claw got frozen solid in mere seconds.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Scorpionodon seemed to understand what had just happened to its body. It tried to cut the frozen claw from its root with its other claw. Scorpionodon’s quick wit was befitting of an A-rank monster.

「HAAAAAAAA――!」

Aria let out a warcry as she leaped toward the Cybertech Chimera.

After jumping high above her opponent, she quickly took a nosedive by using the propelling force of her Tempest Bringer. Then, the Tempest Bringer in her left hand pierced the crown of one of the heads of her opponent.

『HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!』

As the Cybertech Chimera made a hissing sound, its serpent tail bared its fangs toward Aria.

「NYAA(IN YOUR DREAM)!」

However, Tama had already seen through that.

He invoked one of his 《Elemental Manipulation Cannon》, 《Water Bit》. Controlling it freely in the air, he fired the water jet from right under the serpent’s jaw. The water jet pierced through the crown of the serpent’s other head.

『PIGYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!?』

The serpent let out a high-pitched shrill. It listlessly fell on the ground as if it had just been deprived of its ability to move.

「NICE ASSIST, TAMA!」

Aria praised Tama. After that, using this opportunity when her opponent had faltered due to Tama’s actions, Aria spun in the air and slashed with her knives while falling back to the ground.

Her dual slashes tore the windpipes of both Cybertech Chimera’s heads.

Aria jumped back as soon as her feet landed on the ground.

『GRR…… NNNNNNN!?』

『GI, GA…』

The two-headed Cybertech Chimera groaned in pain. Soon, the light of its life faded away from its eyes due to the hemorrhage in its throat.

「You did a good job defeating an A-rank monster you met for the first time.」

Ciel approached Aria and praised her for this feat. Behind her was the figure of the Scorpionodon, which had already turned into an ice sculpture.

（Hmm, as I thought, Master’s battle sense is truly exceptional. She was literally toying around with an A-rank monster she saw for the first time.）

Tama recalled how when he had seen Aria for the first time, a goblin mage had put her life in jeopardy.

And that very same girl could now defeat an A-rank monster with ease without even relying on her 《Acceleration》 or 《Sacred Blade》.

Tama was truly delighted upon seeing his master’s growth.