By Zephyria 
My spirits are far from earth. They could ride the wind beyond blocked walls or flow along groundwater, but they lacked the skill to open the earth and pull people out.
Should I draw my sword and break through? This was the heart of the capital. If I dug up the floor, where would I put the soil? If I accidentally caused the water pipes or the road surface to collapse, the damage would be considerable.
Then, should I ask the First Goddess for help? But she was a being who merely observed, not one who directly intervened in the fierce, short lives of humans. It seemed unlikely she would lend a hand in rescuing Sam Marcus or Lady Grimsbane.
Should I call the soldiers now, reveal my status, and ask for wizards? But I, who had not yet married Ruben, could not command the capital’s soldiers like private troops. The thought that someone might be resentful for being pushed back in line due to my name made me reluctant to wield my authority.
I glanced again at the old man fussing beside me, then turned my gaze to the Sylphs.
“First, you, go to Rubel and tell him I might be a little late because something has come up.”
[Rubel? Pretty one?]
“Yes, my lovely.”
[Okay!]
One Sylph, brimming with excitement, fluttered up and vanished into the air.
Beside it, other spirits circled and flew, blurring my vision. Despite the situation, they sang and danced, showing their utmost joy. Seeing these beings so delighted and eager even for minor errands made me feel guilty for not calling them to play more often.
Clearing my throat, I caught one of them and asked again.
“And you… Benjamin. Do you remember Benjamin Claudian?”
[Beni?]
“Yes. About this tall, my friend who is close with gnomes.”
[I know! Shall I call him?]
“Yes. It’s best to get help from spirits for spirit matters. Please bring him here.”
[Okay!]
He’s been idle lately too, so it would be a suitable choice. Now, all I have to do is wait.
Sienna Bicov, who had been standing by in a daze, brought a chair, allowing me to sit comfortably. The sound of the old man, who had suffered a sudden misfortune, sniffling repeatedly echoed through the space.
About an hour passed.
Soon, I felt a familiar presence and stood up. The two spirits I had sent away returned, climbing the banister of the stairs. Two figures followed the spirits, as if they were a pair. Greatly bewildered, I rose from my seat and welcomed them.
“Oh, you came without even letting me know.”
“With something like this happening, why did you only call Benjamin?”
“I figured you’d naturally be at the Magic Tower at this hour. Isn’t it a weekday today?”
“It’s Friday, so it’s fine. No, that’s not the problem. Even so! How difficult is it to deal with an unregistered spirit? What were two knights going to do by only calling Benjamin? I can’t believe it, really!”
“Hmm.”
It seemed they had gotten a general explanation from the Sylphs.
Feeling a bit sheepish, I turned my gaze to Benjamin. As always, he greeted me with a gentle nod.
In the capital, Benjamin, as a scion of a Marquisate, always wore elegant attire to maintain his appearance. Today was no different. His dark jacket, which suited his dark complexion, was fastened with a buckle at the back, fitting his broad shoulders perfectly.
On the other hand, Marianne, who often stayed up all night researching, frequently wore a large, hooded black robe. However, today, the wizard’s robe that had draped over Marianne’s shoulders like an outer garment was nowhere to be seen. Instead, she wore a brightly colored, short dress adorned with several thin ribbons.
Had I misjudged the timing again?
As I pondered, Marianne, grabbing Sienna, greeted her warmly.
“Wow, Baroness Vikoff? It’s been such a long time. To see you here. What brings you here?”
“Ah, well… I just came for a jewelry appraisal and happened to be here.”
“By chance?”
“…Somehow, uh, someone went missing, so I couldn’t just leave…”
“Ahaha, Mikael does tend to stir up trouble. Let’s grab a meal together after this is over.”
“Really? Ah, yes. I… will do that.”
“Yes. Just a moment, please. Let me take a look.”
As Marianne rolled up her sleeves, I tried to offer her the chair I was sitting on, but Marianne refused without even looking back.
Her meticulous examination of the surroundings, her hands picking up and inspecting certain stone fragments on the large table, and the way she tapped the center of the floor with the heel of her shoe all exuded seasoned confidence.
“What is there?”
“If there is, there is, and if there isn’t, there isn’t? It’s like there’s an illusion magic cast here. There should be something, but there’s nothing… Benjamin, call Mulden.”
“Yes.”
Benjamin crouched down, placing one knee and both hands on the floor. When I summoned spirits, I just had to gently ask them in my mind to come out, but Benjamin seemed to require more preparation.
As I watched him pour mana onto the floor for a long time, a spirit’s head suddenly popped out between Benjamin’s palms.
Benjamin’s spirit still had the appearance of a roughly sculpted clay figurine. However, its size was quite different from before.
“…Do spirits normally grow this easily?”
“It wasn’t particularly easy.”
“Why? Are you envious?”
“Not envious, just curious.”
Benjamin’s spirit, clinging to his leg, peeked at me furtively. I remembered it being about the size of a palm, but now its head reached his knee. At this size, one could believe it was a child.
I reached out to touch it, but it darted away and hid behind Marianne.
“…What on earth is that?”
“Not a gnome, but Mulden. He’s an intermediate spirit now. He ate so much on the way here and back.”
“Ate? Do spirits eat food?”
“Not real food. Processed Mana Stones that spirits can eat easily are called spirit food. Shall I give some to Mikael too?”
“Yes. I gratefully accept.”
Even though I thought I had released plenty of mana each time I summoned them, the thought that I had been starving them made me feel incredibly guilty. While the neighbor’s spirit grew this much, it wouldn’t do for my Sylphs and Undine to remain the same size. I resolved once more to feed them well from now on.
Marianne gently stroked Mulden’s smooth head, which was hidden behind her, and soothed him. Hearing him purr like that, he was as cute as a well-trained animal.
“Mulden, can you find the path the spirit here took?”
At Marianne’s question, Mulden nodded.
[Yes. I can find it.]
“Can we go too?”
[If you carry me!]
Nodding again, Mulden spread his arms wide. Benjamin, who had been watching quietly, reached under Mulden’s armpits and lifted him up.
Mulden wasn’t satisfied with that and waved his stubby hands, begging Marianne to hold his hand. Marianne, with an uncharacteristically benevolent smile, took his hand.
Then, the clay figurine’s mouth opened into a circle.
[Let’s go!]
“Whoa!”
Was that Sienna screaming just now?
❖ ❖ ❖
Although startled by the sudden collapse of the floor, I was not so unskilled as to tumble to the ground.
As Benjamin embraced Marianne, I grabbed the backs of the two people beside me and helped them stand upright. In my left hand was Old Man Marcus, weeping mournfully for his lost son, and in my right was Sienna, Ivan’s wife.
The two people standing beside me coughed a few times, but I had no time to pay attention to them.
Half in a daze, I looked around. The floor, paved with colorful stones in a magnificent pattern, was smooth and polished, making it easy to walk on. Luminous pearls were embedded in the walls at regular intervals, so it wasn’t dark. As I took a step, a group of rats peeking at us scurried away in surprise.
It was a very long corridor.
What was this? Such a… vast space beneath the capital?
I expanded my Qi sense to survey the surroundings. It seemed to be dozens of yards below the surface, and there didn’t seem to be any other living beings nearby. Dumbfounded, I examined the spirit peeking out from Benjamin’s embrace.
“Didn’t we come here to find the missing people?”
[Yes. But we can’t go further from here.]
“Why?”
[There’s an owner here.]
Come to think of it, my Sylphs and Undine were clinging to my shoulders, looking frightened and unwilling to let go.
[Yes, you’ll get in trouble if you just wander around here.]
[There’s no one to scold us anymore?]
[Still, no! You must be quiet.]
Benjamin’s spirit always used polite language, but I didn’t understand why my spirits spoke so curtly.
Regardless, the group decided to follow the direction indicated by Mulden’s stubby finger.
Benjamin led the way. Mulden, nestled in Benjamin’s arms, refused to walk on his own. Sienna and Marcus were placed behind him. I naturally took the rear, with Marianne walking beside me, shoulder to shoulder.
The footsteps of our party echoed off the walls. We passed through several forks in the path. Mulden guided us without a moment’s hesitation, so we didn’t get lost.
How long had we walked?
Marianne playfully teased Sienna, whose tension was evident on her back.
“Relax, Baroness Vikoff. The hero of the Empire is with us.”
“What kind of joke is that?”
“It’s not a joke! No matter how powerful the owner of this dungeon is, with Mikael, who can fight and win against gods, what is there to fear?”
“Dungeon?”
“This doesn’t look like a naturally formed cave at all. I’ve never heard of such a structure beneath the capital in my life. Isn’t it either a secret dungeon of some suspicious wizard, or a secret hideout for the Nobility Yearbook department or the Imperial family? I vote for the latter.”
“Hmm.”
“If there’s a non-human entity, it might be the God of the Saras River. Well, I’ve seen gods once or twice, so there’s nothing to be afraid of.”
The corridor, which had been barely a yard wide at the beginning, was now much grander. Its height and width exceeded twenty yards. It was more like a plaza than a corridor.
Benjamin, who had been walking at the forefront, suddenly stopped.
“What’s wrong? Did you find something?”
“Yes. So… it seems we are entering a Dragon’s Lair right now.”
“What?”
Everyone in the party looked up at the ceiling, following Benjamin’s gaze.