The fourth district of the imperial capital. Arge number of people had formed a row in front of a small inn around therge river flowing southernmost of Leithe.


    This is Shizukutei (Teardrop Pavilion), the inn-cum-restaurant that recently became famous in Leithe.


    The restaurant here sold lunch boxes from 7 am and the lunch box, while enough to fill up the belly of a male student in his growth phase, was also budget-friendly. But above all, it was so delicious that it could melt your cheeks. Instantly, it astutely captured the heart of Magic Knight Academy students, who were supporting the expenditure of Leithe, and became a famous restaurant where people lined up for hours.


    However, Mia and the others, who had tasted the absurd cooking of Sagami Co. in Straheim, could easily guess who had influenced this kind of business called Teardrop Pavilion.


    After standing in line for a few hours, they picked up five cheese hamburg steak lunch boxes and three extrarge lunch boxes from the daily menu and went to a nearby park.


    In the park, a ck-haired young girl was ying with a green-haired and a white-haired young girl.


    "Here, the promised lunch box," Pluto handed the three extrarge lunch boxes to the ying young girls.


    "Thank you for your hard work!! Lunch box, lunch box, it''s lunch box~ ?"


    One of the girls hummed a strange tune and spun around with a blissful expression. It was Dorahachi.


    "Woah! It looks delicious!"


    "Yeah, I''m sure it''s delicious."


    The other two young girls said, their eyes glimmering. They were Haku and Sheena.


    These girls were like mascot characters always seemingly ying together, either in Straheim or here, in Leithe.


    Looking at them, who without further ado opened the lid of the lunch boxes and began to stuff their cheeks, Pluto said, "Dora-chan, we have just eaten. Let''s wait until the afternoon, and then we''ll eat together."


    "Hmm, okay."


    Although she nibbled at her finger dejectedly as her stomach made a growling sound, Dorahachi stored the lunch box somewhere.


    Haku and Sheena also habitually stored theirs in the magic bag attached to their waist.


    "Then, please teleport us."


    "Okay. It''s our promise~"


    Dorahachi turned the palm of her right hand towards the students of ss G, and a magic circle appeared beneath their feet. The scenery then instantly changed to Straheim.


    "Shall we meet in this za at 5 pm?"


    "Okay~ I am looking forward to your souvenirs~"


    Dorahachi waved her hand and dashed to the crowd along with the other two girls.


    "We don''t have much time. Let''s head to thebyrinth."


    Everyone gave a light nod to Pluto''s word and started walking towards Kurik.


    一一一 Kurik, 4th floor.


    "me Rando!"


    The me howled with Pluto''s chant.


    The ming tide swallowed the two-headed monster in the blink of an eye, enveloping and fiercely burning its body. Soon, the two-headed dog was reduced to charcoal.


    "With this, we have finished capturing the monsters of the 4th floor. We should head back now."


    The students had reached a considerable depth after several hours of adventure. Honestly speaking, the monsters they encountered today weren''t very strong. Of course they beat them easily without getting hurt, but they felt a bit unsatisfied.


    Maybe because of that, one of them said something exaggerating.


    "I want to explore a bit more."


    It''s easy to be overconfident when you have been ustomed to things, and that''s when it''s the most dangerous. Their Sensei had taught them that, but...


    "Yeah. Isn''t it fine since we still have some time left?"


    "It''s fine. Let''s get over it until we reach the safety point on the 5th floor."


    "Agreed."


    Pluto, Cliff, and Teresa nodded one after another.


    "Hmm, you''re right. Let''s explore a bit more."


    The team leader, Eight, had the same idea, so Mia and the others headed towards the deepest part of the 4th floor.


    "Hey, was there such a house before?" Pluto scowled, his gazending somewhere.


    In front of him was a ck door that they had never seen before.


    "I don''t recall seeing it either. If I''m not wrong, there was supposed to be a path with a dead end, right?"


    "Could it probably be a secret room!?" Teresa stared at the door with a gaze full of curiosity.


    "Just saying. Rumors say there may be some treasures here..." Pluto added.


    They had received training regarding thebyrinth from the active adventurer, Aku-san, and Satori-san, who had apanied Sensei.


    There were several hidden doors in thebyrinth, and inside them was a treasure chest that was said to contain a valuable fortune. However, as there were also dangers from the traps, it was best to inform the guild about it right away rather than entering the door without preparation upon discovering the chest.


    "Anyway, our goal for today isn''t to earn money. We already have gotten enough, so there''s no need to go on a dangerous adventure."


    "You''re... right."


    Teresa nodded, albeit looking a bit regretful.


    "Mia also think so," Mia also agreed.


    That was right. The reason they came here today was to obtain the materials needed to create an item. Now, there wasn''t any purpose for them to face the danger of investigating the door.


    "Since we all agree to it, let''s head back first. We will report this to Aku-santer."


    "Argh, if only I could see through this door to look inside."


    Teresa suddenly touched the dark-colored door with her right hand.


    "Hey, don''t touch it recklessly!!"


    Unlike before, Pluto shouted with a sense of urgency.


    "Huh?"


    Teresa''s body stiffened. She hurriedly tried to pull back her hand, but it was already toote.


    On the surface of the ck door, a blood-like crimson magic circle was formed, and it began to slowly rotate.


    "B-back offー一!!"


    Suddenly, the dark light swallowed Mia and the others. They lost their consciousness.