Chapter 47: Obtain Ancient Magic

Nader and his group landed inside the huge dome.

In front of them stretched a huge hall that was rather plain and minimalistic. The only striking thing was the huge magic circle in the center of the room.

They hadn't encountered any other nuisances that might block their way, so it hadn't taken them that long to get there.

"What are you doing with that?"

Shizuku couldn't help but ask when she saw Nader creating a notebook along with a pen to write. The other girls' curiosity was piqued as well.

"Since it's quite annoying to have to clear a labyrinth every time we need to learn an ancient magic, I thought it would be better to study the magic circle, saving us some hassle."

While concentrating on the magic circle and studying its structure to draw it on top of a white sheet, Nader explained his reasons for it.

"Oh? Does that mean you will study the magic circles and somehow try to rewrite them to confuse the system into thinking we have successfully overcome the labyrinth?"

Tio's words sounded more like a confirmation than a question.

"Exactly. Although the labyrinths are important to Shizuku's growth, we can put that aside for the time being, as I have a couple of things that will surely be more effective for her than facing the labyrinth."

Hearing her name mentioned, Shizuku quickly tried to refuse.

"Me? Wait, you've already given me so much-".

"Face it, Shizuku-dummy. He's doing it because he wants to...". Yue interrupted Shizuku from the side.

"That's right, we're not strangers who need to reject the other party, so helping each other is only natural." Tio bowed to Shizuku, she was already fully integrated into the group...

"There you go."

Nader shrugged and went back to copying the magic circle as it was carved on the floor of the room.

The girls came closer and tried to understand the structure of what Nader was drawing, however, after a while they gave up and started talking to each other.

"Yue, we've never heard your story or Nader's, can you tell us how you two met?". Asked Tio curiously.

Shizuku instantly gasped and turned her attention to Yue.

She, despite being Yue's only friend, for now, had never asked about Yue's past or anything like that, as she could conclude that with only the vampire part of the story, Yue didn't have a very bright past.

Shizuku didn't want to rekindle flames that had possibly already been extinguished. However, now that Tio was asking about it directly, it also piqued her curiosity about her.

Tio knew it too, but now that they were part of the same group, she directly through her question without qualms; not because she didn't take Yue's feelings into account or anything, it was simply because she had an honest personality. But then again, she would never meddle in other people's lives if she didn't consider them important or someone who was in the same boat as her.

"Hmm... get the popcorn. This is going to be a long trip...".

Yue summoned a couple of bags of popcorn she had stashed in her storage ring and pushed them towards the two girls, who grabbed them.

With a smile on her face, Yue set out to narrate her incredible story of how she met her beloved Nader.

Shizuku and Tio looked at each other and shrugged as they saw the happy expression on Yue's face.

As Nader sketched restlessly in his notebook, and while the girls ate popcorn as if they were about to witness a show, Yue began to narrate her story; from beginning to end.

Of how she had been abandoned at the bottom of the labyrinth for three hundred years of loneliness, as well as, what was most important to her; the encounter she had with Nader.

Even the two girls listening to her could feel the sadness when she recounted the betrayal and the happiness in their hearts from her when Yue narrated how happy she was after being found by Nader.

"Yue-san, you've been through so much...".

Yue was startled and flinched when Shizuku suddenly hugged her while stroking her head.

"Stop it, Shizuku. You're heavy..." Yue scolded Shizuku and slipped out of her embrace in an attempt to escape, however, her cheeks were painted a reddish hue.

Yue was quite embarrassed by Shizuku's sudden hug. On the other hand, she did not hate this feeling at all, rather, she was happy enough to try to hide her embarrassment under a deadpan look.

"Indeed, I am not the only one who has gone through and overcome the turbulence that life has in store for us."

Glancing sideways, Tio smiled and took the opportunity to pounce on the two girls, Yue being the most affected.

"Get off, Tio...". Yue gasped amidst the two mountains covering her face.

"I'm done here." Nader stood up and put his notebook away in the «Storage».

A small smile broke out on his face as he looked at the girls. He was glad that Yue could have some friends to hang out with.

"I'll go first." Nader waved his arms in the direction of the girls and stepped into the magic circle.

"Nader..."

Yue looked pleadingly at her beloved.

She was in a bind and didn't know how to act in situations like this, somehow, she was quite weak with these things, but Nader ignored her with an apologetic smile.

As little Yue was caressed and pampered by the women, the magic circle glowed and illuminated the room.

Nader, as the center, felt a strange sensation scraping at his mental defense; something couldn't break through even if we're a hundred times stronger.

However, as it was part of the process to receive the ancient magic, Nader let it in.

The next moment, a large amount of information, perhaps much more than when he received the «Magic of Creation» flowed into his memory, being recorded there forever.

This time, however, a hologram of the creator of the labyrinth did not appear, but already came along with the information of the ancient magic.

"So Space Magic. Perfect, this will be very useful for the girls." Nader smiled.

He no longer cared about the story that the person called «Naiz Gruen Caliente» left in his memory, since it was the same direction as the story that «Oscar Orcus» told a while ago.

After all, the only thing that mattered was that the said person was one of the «Liberators» and at the same time, the creator of this labyrinth some 2,000 years ago, as well as, the ancient possessor of «Space Magic».

The magic he thought was the strongest for the girls to begin practicing, so that they could both attack and escape if the situation called for it.

As a conclusion to the test, the illumination receded and the magic circle returned to its previous opaque state.

Nader turned and met the excited gaze of the three girls; apparently they had already knocked Yue out of the game.

"What ancient magic did you obtain: spirit magic? Regeneration magic?"

At no point did Tio think about the possibility that Nader had failed to obtain ancient magic, so she directly asked the question. She knew some names of the magics that were used in the age of the gods, so she was quite curious about the ancient magic that was engraved in this labyrinth.

"Well, you can find out for yourselves once you get in there."

Nader smiled at the sight of the girls' sour faces and walked over to them.

"So, who goes first?" Shizuku looked at Tio and Yue, who looked at each other and waved.

"You can go first...".

"Sure, it's only natural, after all, you were the one who put in the most effort," Tio added to Yue's comment.

"Girls...".

"Hmph, don't get sentimental now...".

Yue let out a snort and pushed Shizuku towards the magic circle.

Soon, when Shizuku positioned herself in the center, the magic circle buzzed and Shizuku's memory was filled with great information after reading it from the moment they entered the labyrinth.

She didn't have time to be surprised, as a sharp pain shot through her head from the sudden invasion. However, she only gritted her teeth and showed no disturbance on her serene face.

"Phew... then all the magic used in this era are just offshoots of ancient magic... this is the true ability and scope of true magic," Shizuku muttered in amazement when after a minute, the test was completed.

The magic that was most commonly used in these times, was only the ramifications of the magic that were known in the age of the gods. They were magics that, with time, were losing value and potency.

She walked away from the magic circle and arrived in front of the others, who were waiting for her as they spoke.

"From the smile, I see that you have completed it successfully. Congratulations..." Yue nodded approvingly, "So, what magic did you get...?"

Since she couldn't get any words from Nader's mouth, she thought could get them from Shizuku, who smiled after observing Yue's hopeful look.

"Yue-san, don't be so impatient, you'll find out soon anyway."

"... I'm leaving," Yue said expressionlessly and walked away from them.

Before long, Yue completed the test and opened her eyes, revealing beautiful crimson eyes shining with excitement.

She seemed to be planning and imagining everything she could do with this magic.

Since she had a skill that allowed her to fuse magic spells, she could easily fuse «Space Magic» as well to obtain a better spell, and thus, make it more efficient on the battlefield.

She returned and walked straight into Nader's embrace as Tio also completed the test of obtaining ancient magic.

"Hoho, it's amazing that these magics are still in this world. Although the test is torture for normal existences... so it's not something that just anyone has the qualification to obtain."

Tio commented with a smile as she returned to the others' side. She was quite satisfied that she had gotten stronger.

"If it wasn't for Nader, who had informed us of that demon that escaped from here and the cause of this mountain's eruption, I probably would have thought that we were the only ones who had Space Magic," Shizuku commented.

"By the way, speaking of the demon, Nader, what do you plan to do with it now?" Tio spoke curiously, waiting for his answer.

"... Being aware that the demons now possess ancient magic, so, the balance fell back in favor of the demons and knowing that now the humans are at their lowest point since the Pope perished because of me, I believe that sooner rather than later, the demons will begin to mobilize in opposition to the humans."

Nader paused and, without waiting for the girls to speak, he continued.

"I really don't plan to screw up in the pointless battle between demons and humans." Nader closed his eyes and shrugged. He opened his eyes and looked back at Shizuku, who clenched her fists. "Well, that's what I would say if Shizuku wasn't familiar with us. Besides, I'm sure that, even if I had no intention of meddling, Yue would help her."

"Hmm..." Yue nodded in agreement with Nader as she hugged his arm affectionately.

Shizuku's eyes sparkled, and she looked at the two hopefully, "That means...".

"Until the demons start the attack, I don't plan to intervene since we still have to finish the other labyrinth," Nader concluded.

"Hoho, since it's my comrade's wish and problem, I'm in as well." Tio unfolded the fan in front of her smiling face.

Shizuku's excitement boiled over, and she hugged Nader and Yue tightly, who ended up in the middle of two huge gelatinous mountains again.

The three of them gawked at Shizuku, who for the first time let her emotions flow: "Thank you, Nader, Yue, Tio. Nothing makes me as happy as meeting you...".