Things tune in on Rutilix and Alphecca's side as Rutilix is surprised to find a dead end again. He marked a nearby pillar to act as a sign to know which way they've already gone, and he's confused because he remembers passing by it earlier. WHen he starts doubting his memory, Alphecca speaks up to say he remembers passing by that mark too, so he suggests that the maze layout is changing while they are moving around. At least there aren't monsters attacking them like before, so he suggests just picking some other path.
Rutilix reluctantly agrees, apologizing for not doing a better job of guiding him through. Alphecca gently denies this saying he was the one to bring Rutilix here, so he doesn't need to blame himself for anything. The way things are the investigation is a bust, so Alphecca suggests they prioritize finding a way back to the capital city. Rutilix swears upon his life to get Alphecca back safely, prompting Alphecca to comment that he's putting too much tension into his shoulders and elbows, even if being high energy is good.
Rutilix changes the subject to comment that he's felt someone else was around ever since getting into the labyrinth. He wonders if they're being watched as he says they can't let their guards down yet. Alphecca notices some noise coming the distance, which Rutilix assumes means Monsters are approaching Again and swears he will cut them down This Time. But then he says the noises sound different compared to when the monsters showed up earlier. Alphecca is impressed by this and compliments how Rutilix's senses as a golbesta (re: lion man) are since it sounds the same to him. Rutilix explains that monster movements sound more like creeping while this sounds more like footsteps. He also hears voices talking before taking a sniff and getting surprised at the scent he picks up.
Title card pops up, and this episode is called The Maze.
The story then picks back up on your end as the maze gets described as slightly cool and damp inside while no sunlight penetrates to the interior of the place. Strange pale lights illuminate the place as the party advances in towards the deeper parts within as Marfik leads. Your phone pipes up with an alert to tell you you're out of its signal range so you can't set up a live broadcast if a battle happens. You are mildly surprised at the alert and worry about what will happen if you guys do get into a fight, and Akashi asks you what's wrong before he notices his phone is out of range too. He did expect it to happen given that this area is underground, but he still worries about how it'll work if you have to fight something. At the very least there won't be many views to use, so hoping you don't run into anything seems to be all you can do. He has heard that monsters generally don't show up where there's few people around though.
Marfik is unconcerned as he comments on how strange the place is. The labyrinth clearly looks old, yet there's no signs of it collapsing anytime soon. He wonders if the walls are made of stone or metal since he's never seen the material before, but it's tough whatever it is. Akashi is surprised at how little Marfik is worried about the signal loss and absorbed by his observations. Akashi then comments he thought the maze would be a lot harder to walk around in, and the fact that it isn't creeps him out a bit. He also comments on the cold since there's no sunlight coming in, then asks if you're cold. You either say the robe you're wearing is warmer than you thought it'd be, say you might be a little cold, or comment that Akashi looks warm. In A, Akashi is surprised and says the people on this planet must have considered the clothes for a lot of situations. In B, Akashi asks if you're okay since the robe is revealing. If the cold starts to bother you, he tells you to say so and offers you his jacket. In C, you sidle up to Akashi, causing him to blush and protest that doing so makes it harder to walk.
Anyways, Akashi comments that it's easier to breathe there than he thought it'd be. Marfik finds it interesting that Akashi would worry about this, so Akashi points out to all the lights dotting the place that are bright enough to tell where your feet are. He's not good with cooking but he knows that fires that big eats up oxygen, so he figured so many fires burning in here would burn through enough oxygen to make it suffocating. You note that Akashi has a point and can say he's surprisingly smart. If you do, Akashi gets offended and points out he's studied enough to get into college at least.
Marfik notes that Akashi does have a good question, but that could be answered if he looked closer. He pulls a torch from the wall and brings it closer to you guys, and Akashi freaks out at this for a moment until he realizes he doesn't feel any heat coming from it. Marfik asks you to put your hand into the light, and you find out that you feel no heat at all when you do so. When you comment on this and ask if the light isn't a flame, Marfik confirms as much and says it only looks like fire. It's a material that gives off light without any radioactivity and some sort of material that doesn't exist on Earth. Said material also seems to have hair inside of it, which is a thing you might see with some heroes on Earth. You either find that interesting or ask if he's talking about that one firefighter.
Akashi is low key amazed at the light and comments that the universe is filled with unknown things. Marfik says that's what makes exploration so much fun. He brings up this labyrinth you guys are in right now as an example, saying it's even weirder than the rumors made it out to be. His excitement causes your phone to glow slightly in response, and when you check it out of curiosity it alerts you to a new path being found for Marfik at a high strength level. You either suspect what this is about or wonder what it detected, but before you can think more on it you feel a shiver down your spine as it feels like many eyes are upon you.
You turn around and demand to know if someone is there, but when you look all there is is the dark hallway that has nothing for anyone to hide behind stretching off to the distance. Akashi hasn't noticed a thing at first as he mutters to himself about how Marfik is as weird Kyoichi told him he'd be, but then he asks you why you're looking behind you. You are confused by what you felt, but you decide to tell him it's nothing since there's nothing apparently there.
Time passes until you guys eventually run into a dead end. Marfik comments that you guys must have taken a wrong turn or something if you guys can't keep going this way. Akashi is baffled at this and asks where that could have happened. Everywhere looks the same to him since there aren't any identifying marks or such. Marfik mutters to himself about there being two triangles here and makes a note of it being the wrong way as he pulls out a memo from his pockets to fill out. He then suggests heading back to the last intersection since there should be a mark with a triangle inside a circle somewhere. Akashi asks Marfik about those symbols being around, so Marfik points to a nearby column with two small triangles carved into it.
Akashi is surprised Marfik noticed something like that. Marfik starts explaining that when a lot of people visit a place with a complex layout, there's usually some sort of marking nearby. As an archaeologist he can't really approve of damaging ruins, but he accepts that it's important as a way of orienteering and making sure you can return safely. He personally stacks rocks together to function as his waypoints, but if someone else has set something up he'll just use that instead. Marfik turns his notepad around to show you the map he's already been drawing of the labyrinth, including small drawings and details about points of interest he's already come across.
Akashi is amazed by Marfik's mapmaking skills and says he's seen something like this in a game somewhere. He also comments that it looks like Marfik is having fun with it and compares the map to something a kid would make contents-wise. Marfik proudly admits that he's enjoying himself and doing his best with the cartography. It's been forever since he's gone into a complicated maze like this, and he's looking forward to finding out how long it'd take him to map the place completely. The thoughts excite the flames in his chest, and he says that he always conquers the place when he gets this far in. He swears to make it all the way through to the center of the labyrinth, and your phone shines again and informs you about finding a really strong connection to a new path for Marfik. You comment on your phone reacting to Marfik, and Akashi asks you what the light coming from your phone is all about since it's like a hero transformation light. He does note that it looks different from the light that happens when he transforms though.
When Akashi turns to look at your phone, a voice yells out demanding to know who's there. The voice surprises you as it comes from behind, and you turn to find Alphecca and Rutilix there, the latter with his sword raised. Akashi is also surprised by their presence and asks who they are and why they're even there. Marfik quickly comes to the idea that they are the king and knight the minister told you guys about, and when you ask if he means them Marfik says it's possible. That said he has no idea how many other people are around in the maze. Akashi takes a mild interest in how Alphecca and Rutilix are dressed, saying they really do look like they stepped out of a video game.
Rutilix doesn't know what nonsense Akashi is talking about but demands an answer to his question about who you guys are, clearly suspicious of you guys. He figures from your scents that you aren't from this planet and asks where you guys came from. He also accuses you all of being the reason he felt like he was being watched and asks why you guys are doing so. If he feels you guys are a threat to the king, then he swears to cut you guys down. Akashi protests that this is the first time you guys have laid eyes on them, and you comment that if they felt eyes on them then you weren't imagining things earlier.
Rutilix accuses you guys of playing dumb and of being SO rude to be talking so casually in front of the king. Akashi is offended by this, though he takes it as confirmation that they are the king and knight you guys were asked to find. You come to the same idea and comment on running into them faster than you expected. Akashi tries to remember what he heard about knight and thinks aloud about how he heard the other knights called Rutilix a 'potato eater.' Rutilix's tail puffs up in shock at that, so you try to rein Akashi in from pissing Rutilix off any further.
Marfik sighs at Akashi putting his foot into his mouth, and Akashi is baffled and asks if the word was something he wasn't supposed to say. Alphecca tries to get Rutilix to calm down, though he does sympathize with how he feels. Rutilix however takes it as a personal challenge to be insulted like that, then poses with his sword raised to his eyes. A light wraps him up to your surprise, and when it fades Rutilix is in his hero form. You express surprise that he transformed, especially without an Operator to make it happen.
Marfik voices his surprise at being able to transform on your own inside this labyrinth, but Akashi tells him this isn't the time to be touched since there's someone threatening to attack right in front of them. Marfik agrees with the point, then says the only plan available is to fight back and make Rutilix calm down. Your phone flashes again as if to draw your attention, then gives you the command window prompt asking if you want to use the new path found for Marfik. You tell Marfik that the transformation is ready to go, which confuses him since he could start one on his own here. You confirm the transformation, and a red light wraps Marfik up. Rutilix is surprised by this turn of events while Alphecca seems more curious. Akashi notes the differently colored light and figures what that means, and Marfik appears in his adventurer hero outfit with a shovel Parallel Weapon in hand.
Marfik is calmly surprised about his new form and wonders if it comes from the wish he had when he first heard the rumors of this place. After a moment to process it all, he declares that he likes this alternate form and thanks you, saying he'll go adventuring in this outfit. You are a little taken aback at his response but prompt him to focus on more pressing issues. Marfik remembers that there's going to be a fight going on and asks Akashi to work with him since he'll need to figure out how his new weapon works.
Akashi nods as he processes that Mardik would need to learn how to fight all over again, then focuses as he tries to activate the hero transformation on his own. He manages to succeed to your shock, and you ask how that even works. Akashi is also surprised it happened, and as convenient as it is he wonders why it does work. Rutilix is surprised to see Marfik and Akashi are Magical Warriors, but he's glad for that since it means he can fight on an equal level. He challenges the two of them to come at them as he calls them thieves. Akashi is shocked to be referred to as such and sighs about having to twist Rutilix's arm to get him to listen. Marfik suggests not overdoing things since the goal is to just make him settle down. Alphecca attempts to tell Rutilix to calm down and not swing around his sword in anger, but Rutilix declares the start of the episode battle as he charges forward. More story happens after that.
After the battle we tune in at the point where Rutilix gets hit hard enough that he falls to the ground and his hero form cancels out. Akashi sighs as he asks if Rutilix has calmed down yet and comments that short-tempered people are such a pain to deal with. Marfik points out that Akashi is short-tempered himself and doesn't have a leg to stand on in that regard, so Akashi stammers that he knows and sighs about needing to become more mature.
You are preoccupied with looking at your phone, so Akashi asks why you're doing so when he notices. You think to yourself that something weird happened during the battle earlier. Only five of you are around, yet somehow your phone says you've been racking up a view count higher than that the whole time. You check your phone's signal status, and it still says you're out of range. You voice your thoughts about the number of people around and inability to livestream this fight, and you confirm that you have no logs about streaming the fight. You can't even access the livestreaming site for that matter, but still you keep getting the sensation of being watched.
You wonder aloud if the presence watching you is the one giving you guys a view count, and Marfik says he has an idea about what you're thinking about. He notes that the battle you guys had was strange, where you guys could freely pull moves that require far more views than there are people present, like the fight was streamed normally. Akashi finally gets the point and calls the place creepy, then realizes he should probably transform out of his suit.
Alphecca asks Rutilix if he's calmed down yet, and Rutilix says he has as he apologizes. Alphecca approves and says he respects Rutilix's determination to protect him before noting that you guys don't seem to be looking to continue to fight either. Alphecca offers a hand and helps pull Rutilix up, then steps forward to talk to you guys. He apologizes for both Rutilix's behavior and his inability to make him stand down, and Rutilix follows suit as he says he got angry when he heard the words 'potato eater.'
Marfik turns down the apologies and says you guys share some fault for unknowingly using an insult in their culture, and Akashi apologizes for that in embarrassment. Marfik takes the opportunity to get introductions rolling, and after he gives his name and job title he describes Earth as being placed in Orion's Arm, third planet in the Sol system. Akashi gives his full name and describes himself as a student from the same planet, then sets up your introduction before you give your name.
Alphecca is curious about you being a Sorceror from another planet given that you're wearing clothes from this one, but he quickly accepts that if you guys came from another planet you wouldn't know who he is. Alphecca introduces himself by his full name, the current king of Aradicia, then tells Rutilix to introduce himself too. Rutilix obeys, describing himself as an apprentice knight of the Royal Cavalry's Imperial Guard and giving his full name as Rutilix Solo Kolfen. He admits he was rude to have drawn his sword in anger, and he bows deeply as an apology. You either comment on how earnest he is, say Alphecca is a cool king, or say Rutilix is a bit cute. B gets an extra line where Akashi seems resigned and amazed you'd be bold enough to check out a king. C gets different extra lines where Rutilix is embarrassed by the comment and Akashi suggests you not say any more on that since he figures Rutilix might slash you for it.
Anyways, Alphecca asks why you guys are here since only the Magicians in the kingdom should know about it. He doesn't see why offworlders would have heard about it, but he figures from your outfit you guys must have been talking with the people at the palace. You explain your presence to him, which gets skipped over to the point where Alphecca seems unenthused about the labyrinth being known throughout the galaxy. That said, he comments on how curious Marfik must be to come all this way based on a rumor. Marfik laughs it off and says people say that a lot to him, and that he's fascinated by mysterious places.
Rutilix thinks about how everyone is in an uproar about them being gone, so he suggests to Alphecca that they head back to the city as soon as possible. Alphecca agrees, though he wonders if they can actually get back to the entrance. You are curious about this and ask if they can't leave, which Alphecca confirms in a rather casual manner. Rutilix is more concerned about it than he is and requests that he take the situation a bit more serious like he's asked several times now. This is a life or death situation they're in. Alphecca says he's right, but he admits to having a bit of fun with things, shocking Rutilix. You comment in exasperation on Alphecca's hobbies, compare him to Marfik, and/or note how beleaguered Rutilix looks.
Marfik is glad that he and the king can get along so well, but he agrees that Rutilix is right in that they should leave for the time being. He turns to you and Akashi, saying you should all head back for now and come back to the investigation later. Akashi agrees, commenting that the sense of responsibility for walking the king back is heavy. Rutilix brags that it'll be fine since he's there too, but Akashi points out he just got his ass kicked.
Rutilix gets pissed at the slight, but Akashi tries to argue that what happened was a fact as he asks why he blew up like that. Rutilix is further offended at that and calls Akashi a club swinging meathead with no clue about swordplay. Akashi is shocked at that, clarifying that his weapon is a bat. And while he concedes the point about swordsmanship, he says he knows enough to point out that Rutilix sucks at swinging a sword. Rutilix challenges Akashi to a rematch, and Akashi is more than willing to accept but Marfik tells the two to stop since you're a joined party now, so no fighting. Alphecca also admonishes Rutilix for flying off the handle since a knight isn't supposed to behave like that. Akashi and Rutilix both apologize, and you either comment on how quick to fight the two are, worry about how you guys will get along, or comment on how similar they are. C gets an extra bit where both Akashi and Rutilix protest at the comparison, but Marfik says that makes them even more similar.
Anyways, Alphecca suggests that the party get going now before the maze layout changes Again. Akashi is taken aback at this and asks about the maze changing and it having done so already. Marfik looks ahead, then is confused as he asks if that wall up ahead was there earlier. He points down the hallway you guys came through earlier, which has now changed to a dead end. Akashi then alerts you guys that a new path that wasn't there earlier is open now. He points down a hallway that was walled earlier, and the episode ends with you expressing your confusion at this.
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