A few hundred meters ahead, a huge black-painted mansion rises.
　Valerie's Magic Research Institute, located in the border region between the Kingdom of Lalva and the Principality of Liju...
　We made our way deep into the forest and finally arrived.

　I'd never been here before, but I'd heard of the institute when I was his apprentice.
　It was said that there was a constant stream of other wizards coming in to take advantage of Valerie's magical research.
　For this reason, there are multiple layers of protective magic on the doors, walls, and even inside the institute.

Let's go!

　I called out to Shea and Yurin.
　Straight ahead.

　I remembered that the main gate would release a thunderbolt spell if an intruder came within 30 meters of it.
　As I searched my memory for ......, a pale glow covered my eyes.

　It's probably as powerful as the advanced magic "Thunder Blast".
　The ground around you explodes and burns.

　Two more shots, three more shots...
　We proceeded unperturbed in the relentless rain of lightning.

　All lightning that touched me within 10 meters of me disappeared.
The fixed damage does 9999 damage to the attack on me itself.
Even a Thunder Blast can't save you from extinction.

　The lightning bolts that landed more than 10 meters away scattered explosions, but I ignored them and moved forward.

　Eventually, I reached the iron door.

　You can't destroy this door with [Fixed Damage].
　It must be a creature that is hostile to me, or an attack against me, for it to be damaged.

　You can't deal [fixed damage] to mere doors and walls like this...

Shea, can you help me?
"Yes, Master Chrom.

　Shea nods reverently and draws her sword.

　The blade is covered in a black glow.
　It's the glow of the [Darkness] skill I've given her, [Cutting].

　The sword that Shea swung down sliced through the one-meter-thick steel door like butter.

　We made our way effortlessly.

　After passing through the gate, there was a 50-meter-long passage to the entrance.
　On either side of it, there were statues of magical beasts.

It's just like that.

　Whoa, whoa, whoa.

　A roar echoed.

　The stone statues shook their bodies in unison and turned into real Hexenbiests and came at us.
　They were gargoyles instead of guards.

　Aaaaahhhh!

　The next moment, they screamed.
　Any hexenbiest that came within the range of my skill took 9999 damage and shattered.

　All that was left behind was countless rubble.

Let's go inside.

　I walked straight ahead, turning all the gargoyles into rubble as I went.
　At the entrance, there was another door with a spell to repel intruders, but I cleared it in the same way as the main gate.

　We entered the building.



　There were magic traps everywhere in the lab.

　The moment you walked through a certain spot, attack magic would rain down on you.
　Or a part of the wall would crack open and monsters would appear to act as guards.

　But I don't care how powerful the magic is, or how many monsters are standing in my way.
　I can dispel all magic.
　Monsters, unless they are of the demon king or his entourage, can be killed instantly if they are within range.

　I proceeded with Shea and Yurin, using [Fixed Damage] to eliminate all attack magic and monsters as we met.

　Our destination was the innermost part of the laboratory.
　That's where Valerie's private laboratory is located.

　It is said that he currently has seven apprentices, and together with them, they are researching and experimenting with various kinds of magic in this laboratory.
　...... has been the site of many atrocious human experiments.

　I'm not sure what to make of this.
　These are the stories that make me sick just hearing them.

　I guess it doesn't really matter to Valerie that she cast the Dark Chain spell on me.
　She probably doesn't feel much emotion about it.

　There are so many atrocities that she can be sure of that.

"Wait for me, Valerie.

　I grit my teeth and keep going.
　Onward and onward as I whip my legs, weakened by his spell.

I'm going to make you pay for what you've done. ......!

　I'll make you pay for what you've done. !" I wipe out the monsters acting as guards with [Fixed Damage], slice through the walls with Shea's [Cut], and advance the shortest distance possible.

It's still amazing ......!

　Yurin looked at me and Shea with confidence.

"Please continue to guide us. My goal is to get revenge on Valerie, but I know you want to break the spell that was cast on you. Let's find out how to break it first.

　And me.

"Hey, intruder!
"You know this is Valerie the Wise's laboratory!

　Two wizards appeared at the front of the corridor.
　They were about twenty meters away.

Who are they?
They're Valerie's ...... disciples. They were mainly responsible for our test subjects. ......

　Ulin's voice was trembling.

They don't treat their subjects as human beings, they break them like tools, they kill them, and they're ...... horrible people.



　You look so pale.

"It's okay, Yurin.

　Shea hugged her.

"We'll protect you.
"So you've come to steal the Master's research!

　Valerie's students shouted.

I won't let that happen!　For the sake of my beloved master I will kill you here and now.
"Of course!　"Of course! As a sign of our love for Master Valerie!

　I'm sure you'll be happy to know that I'm not the only one who's a bit of a jerk.

　I've heard rumors that Valerie has a penchant for men. ......
　I'm not sure if it's just that I'm not his cup of tea, or if it's that I'm not his cup of tea.

"Fire Blast!
"Wind Blast!

　The two of them shot out advanced fire and wind spells respectively.
　And no chanting.

　You're good.
　I'm sure their skills as wizards are better than mine when I was in the hero party.

　Probably a court magician of a great nation.
　That's why I'm Valerie's apprentice.

But...

　No raging flames, no swirling winds.
　The moment they reached a distance of 10 meters from me, they turned into countless particles of light and disappeared.