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“Alright! Today’s practical training will be in the Zenith Tower! You can choose any floor up to the 99th floor. Make sure to submit a request in advance for the floor you’re heading to.”

That was the announcement from the P.E. teacher.

 There were no dungeon training sessions back when I was in the Normal Department.

In the Legendary Hero Department, it seems we have a lot more freedom in how we operate. I guess it’s because they trust in our strength.

“Alright! Let’s do our best, Eugy-kun!” (Sumire)

“What floor should we go to, Eugene?” (Sara)

That was Sumire and Sara, both part of my exploration party, calling out to me.

“Hmm, if possible, I would have liked to go beyond the 100th floor, but that seems to be off-limits…” (Eugene)

“Eugene! Anything above the 100th floor is forbidden during class! You can only explore floors below the 99th, where the Resurrection Drops can be used!” 

I must have muttered that to myself, the P.E. teacher reprimanded me.

“Got it, Sensei.” (Eugene) 

“Good! Keep that in mind!”

When I glanced to the side, I saw Sumire and Sara giggling.

Hey, it’s not like I’m being treated as a troublemaker or anything.

“Hey, hey, Eugy, I’d like to go to the 50th floor.” (Airi)

Said Airi, my childhood friend who recently transferred here, while tugging at my sleeve.

“The 50th floor, huh? That would be the Floor Boss. I’m fine with it, but what do you think, Sumire, Sara?” (Eugene)

“If you’re fine with it, I’m fine too, Eugy-kun!” (Sumire)

“I don’t mind either.” (Sara)

“Alright then, it’s decided.” (Eugene)

With everyone in agreement, we headed for the 50th floor via the dungeon elevator.

Just then, a figure approached us.

“Hey, Eugene Santafield. May I join you?”

It was a female swordsman with long hair tied back, wearing a white cape. 

Her light armor bore the holy crest of the Holy Knights of Caldia, the official attire of the Holy Knight Order.

“Lily Whitewind. What brings you here?” (Eugene)

She should already be part of her own exploration team.

“It’s not ‘what brings you here’! We agreed to have a sword duel during the next training session, remember? How long are you going to keep me waiting?!” (Lily)

“Oh, right. I did say that, didn’t I?” (Eugene)

It wasn’t that I had forgotten, but after returning to the Lykeion Magic Academy, things had been so hectic that I couldn’t make time for it.

“But we’re about to challenge the Floor Boss on the 50th floor now.” (Eugene)

“You’ll handle it easily, won’t you? Let’s have our duel after that!” (Lily)

She pointed at me decisively.

Well, it’s true we’re up against the 50th Floor Boss, and being overly confident isn’t ideal, but…

“Alright, fine. I’ll face you after we take down the boss.” (Eugene)

“Great! Then let’s go!” (Lily)

Lily started walking ahead with a bounce in her step.

As I prepared to follow her…

(…?)

I felt a sharp gaze at the back of my neck.

“…”

Sumire, Sara, and Airi were all glaring at me.

“H-Huh…? Was that bad?” (Eugene)

I made a personal promise to Lily, so I ended up deciding on my own. 

Also, since we could choose any floor for this P.E. assignment, if Lily wanted to go to the 50th floor, it is not like I can stop her.

“Not really~~~~~. Do what you want, Eugy-kun~.” (Sumire) 

“Eugene can make promises with whoever he likes.” (Sara)

“Eugy, who exactly is that girl?! And what’s this about a sword duel? Don’t tell me you have other sword rivals besides me?!” (Airi) 

(Seems like I made the wrong choice.) (Eugene)

(Why did you think that would go well in the first place?) (Eri)

Even the Demon Lord retorted.

The atmosphere in the dungeon elevator was extremely awkward.

Sumire and Sara were chatting with each other while ignoring me.

Meanwhile, Airi was intimidatingly asking Lily: “So, what sword style do you practice?”.

But the person in question was completely oblivious to the tension and responded cheerfully.

“I use the standard swordsmanship of the Holy Knights, Princess Airi. It’s an honor to speak with you.” (Lily)

“I see. I’m glad we can talk. By the way, what’s your relationship with Eugy—?” (Airi)

“And what sword style do you practice, Princess Airi?” (Lily)

“Me? I practice the Twin Heavenly Sword Style just like Eugy. Although, I’ve been slacking off lately…” (Airi)

“Oh, is that so! Could I have a match with you later?” (Lily)

“Hey, Lily. That’s a bit sudden and rude, don’t you think?” (Sara)

Sara, who must have overheard the conversation, intervened.

“It’s fine, Sara.” (Airi)

“Is it, Airi?” (Sara)

“Alright then! Looking forward to it, Princess Airi!” (Lily)

“Yes, same here, Lily.” (Airi)

It seemed like they had come to an agreement.

At that moment, I felt a tap on my back.

{Hey, Eugy-kun, aren’t Sara-chan and Airi-chan getting along too well?} (Sumire)

{We’ve been exploring together recently, and they’ve started using each other’s first names. Plus, they’ve had more chances to talk since Airi joined the student council.} (Eugene)

{Hmm…} (Sumire)

Sumire pursed her lips, looking a little displeased.

She probably felt left out since this all happened while she wasn’t around.

{How’s it going with your magic lessons from the Demon Lord?} (Eugene)

{Pretty good! I’ll show you at the 50th Floor.} (Sumire)

{I’m looking forward to it.} (Eugene)

Sumire seemed to be in a better mood after that brief conversation.

“Hey, Eugy. What are you whispering about with Sumire?” (Airi)

Airi talked to me.

“Sumire-chan, trying to steal the march again?” (Sara)

“When did you sneak behind me?!” (Sumire)

Sara had suddenly appeared behind Sumire and whispered in her ear.

“Recently, Eugene taught me the Sky Step from the Twin Heavenly Sword Style. It’s super useful.” (Sara)

“Wait a second! When did you two have time to meet up? You are the one stealing the march!” (Sumire)

“It’s no big deal! We weren’t doing anything inappropriate.” (Sara)

“Liar! You were definitely up to something!” (Sumire)

“Hmm, if you’re so suspicious, Sumire-chan, it makes me think you’re hiding something yourself?” (Sara)

“I’m not hiding anything! In fact, I’ve been trying to keep Eugy-kun away from Eri-san!” (Sumire)

“Wait, I heard nothing about that! Since when were you getting along with that girl?!” (Sara)

“Whatever~. I don’t need to report every little thing to you, Sara-chan!” (Sumire)

“You’ve got some nerve, Sumire-chan. Looks like you need to be taught a lesson.” (Sara)

“Go ahead and try~. I think it’ll be you who ends up learning something, Sara-chan.” (Sumire)

Sumire and Sara started bickering and grabbing at each other.

This was normal for them, so I said nothing.

“A-Aren’t you going to stop them?” (Airi)

Airi asked, flustered.

“It’s always like this.” (Eugene)

“Yeah, Sara-sama and Sumire-san are just messing around.” (Lily)

“I see…” (Airi)

The dungeon elevator arrived at the 50th floor as we talked.

“We’ve arrived, Sumire, Sara.” (Eugene)

“”Okay~.”” 

Sumire and Sara stopped fighting.

When we stepped onto the 50th Floor, everyone grew quiet.

The Floor Boss must be lurking somewhere around here.

Normally, dragons start appearing from the 50th Floor, and most of the time, the boss would be a dragon as well. But since the Dungeon Master has been changing the enemy spawn settings recently, past knowledge won’t be reliable.

I kept a close watch on the sky for any large shadows, but there was nothing.

(Is it not a dragon…?) (Eugene)

With dragons, the fear is that they could ambush us from above.

“Hey, Eugy. Where’s the Floor Boss?” (Airi)

“Let’s keep looking. Bosses usually don’t hide, so it shouldn’t take long to find—” (Eugene)

Just as I said that…

…Clack! …Clack! …Clack! …Clack!

From a distance, we heard a strange noise, like something laughing or clashing.

We exchanged glances.

Could that be the Floor Boss?

We cautiously approached the source of the sound.

…Shuuu… Shuuu… Shuuu…

We then heard a strange breathing noise.

It was an unfamiliar sound, like nothing we’d encountered before.

Emerging from the thick trees into an open area, we were met with the sight of a ‘grotesque monster’.

“Eugy-kun… What is that?” (Sumire)

“It’s a zombie… Probably.” (Eugene)

I answered Sumire’s question.

“It’s huge… I’ve never seen such a big zombie before.” (Sara)

“So the strange sound was its bones clattering together?” (Airi)

“And it’s breathing, even though it doesn’t need to.” (Lily)

I could hear Sara, Airi, and Lily murmuring.

(A dragon zombie… Looks like this is the boss.) (Eugene)

A dragon corpse possessed by an evil spirit.

Zombies are usually weaker than they were when alive, but the miasma and magic pressure coming from this one is stronger than the dragon we fought on the 20th Floor.

Moreover, it doesn’t have a clear weak spot like the heart or neck unlike regular monsters.

This boss is going to be tough.

“…How do we even fight that?” (Airi)

Airi looked unsure.

Zombies rarely appear around the Imperial capital, so Airi probably didn’t have much experience fighting them.

“It’s okay. My Holy Sword can cut through it.” (Sara)

Sara brandished her glowing Holy Sword

“My flames should be effective too.” (Sumire)

Sumire’s staff shone with red mana.

Airi seemed to hesitate for a moment before glancing at me.

“I understand. I’ll count on both of you for help.” (Airi)

She must have been reminded of the time she rushed ahead on her own.

This time, Airi wanted to rely on everyone’s strength.

“I, Airi Grandflare, challenge the Floor Boss of the 50th Floor.” (Airi)

Airi made the declaration.

――We defeated the Dragon Zombie together.

◇Inside the dungeon elevator on the way back◇

“That was harder than I expected.” (Airi)

“But we all made it through without any injuries, Airi-chan.” (Sumire)

“Yes, thanks to Sumire and Sara.” (Airi)

“I had prepared for injuries, but luckily, my healing wasn’t needed.” (Eugene)

Once again, I had taken on a support role for Airi and Sara.

Lily helped out by attacking from a distance while also guarding Sumire.

“Now then, we’ll have our match once we get back to the first floor, Eugene Santafield!” (Lily)

Lily pointed at me.

By the way, the 50th floor had been scorched to a wasteland by Sumire’s magic, so we gave up on training there.

“Alright, one match will do. Neither of us exerted ourselves too much, so it’ll be a quick bout.” (Eugene)

“One match? No way! Let’s make it a ten-round duel!” (Lily)

“Didn’t you say you didn’t have much stamina?” (Eugene)

“I’ve been training since then!” (Lily)

Even after fighting the boss, Lily Whitewind was still full of energy.

Just when I thought I had no choice but to face her…

――Emergency announcement! A Divine Beast will appear on the first floor of the Zenith Tower in 5 minutes!

The voice of an angel echoed within the dungeon elevator.

――This is a ‘temporary trial’ from the Dungeon Master.

――Explorers near the dungeon elevator, please gather if you wish to challenge it.

That was the message.

We all exchanged glances.

“Near the dungeon elevator of the first floor… Isn’t that exactly where we’re heading?!” (Airi)

Airi exclaimed.

Unfortunately, it seemed a Divine Beast was about to appear right where we were headed.

■ Comment Response:

>Wait, didn’t anyone else notice the voice sounded different? 

>Shouldn’t they recognize Eri’s voice by now since she spoke during the Floor Boss fight?

-The announcements in the Zenith Tower are voice-changed, so no one knows who it is. 

He was just guessing based on her speech pattern.

>The bickering between Airi and Sara is really funny.

-All the heroines in Zero Sword are meant to have playful arguments but are still fairly close.

■ Author’s Comment:

The anime Losing Heroines is fun. Also, shika no ko no ko no ko koshitan-tan.

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