Location: Caverns

"Damn these tunnels- Ahem. Apologies. They're much more narrow than what I am used to. I have never gone this deep before."

Even though I was at the head of the line, I flashed a weak smile of apology. A rather uneasy Elly, holding her book tightly against herself, was in the middle.

And behind us both... a rather annoyed Queen of Witches, who was busy maintaining her chocolate-toned hat on the top of her head. And trying not to trip. Thigh-high boots with heels really weren't the best choice to explore down here.

"Yeah... Sorry about that, Venefica. We just thought you'd be interested, since, you know..." My voice trailed off awkwardly. The bunny woman responded with a hmph.
"Yes, I know. Since I have been exposed to a perversion of that magic, you thought it best to have me come along. And you did right. Sealing magic is no laughing matter, especially dark sealing magic."

Dark sealing magic? "There's multiple types of sealing magic?" I asked out of curiosity. Venefica chuckled at that.
"Your little witch friend didn't give you a lesson?" Suddenly, Elly let out a slight, panicked squeak, making me turn around... Only to find Venefica poking her shoulder with a claw, smirking all the while.

"I-I'm not a witch! T-the hat is just-" Elly sputtered out. "A-anyway, you can tell him!"
Venefica flashed an alluring smirk at me at that. "Fine, I will. He does so love my lessons, anyway.~"

Elly and I both blushed at that, as I hurriedly turned around and continued walking down. The two women followed me, Venefica's heels clicking upon the rocky steps as she began her explanation.
"Sealing magic is divided into two types. Holy sealing magic, and dark sealing magic. Holy sealing magic, as you can guess, is channeled from the Goddess Venereae, like all holy magic. As you can also guess, its primary use, during the Great Wars, was sealing powerful monster girls away. Or just weakening them enough so that humans could then defeat them."

Venefica's voice suddenly became more serious, sending a slight chill down my back. Or perhaps... that was because we were getting closer.
"Dark sealing magic is much... purer. More raw, you could say. Unlike Holy Seals, which rely on your virility and the blessings of the Goddess... Dark seals are powered by the caster's sheer will and magical power. Dark Seals can be used by anyone... on anyone."

Silence fell over us for a few seconds as we walked. I wanted to ask something... but wasn't even sure what to ask. Until Elly spoke up.
"Which means... if there truly is a Dark Seal down there, it's entirely possible that the being trapped in there is human."

A question finally entered my head at that. "... But why would monster girls magically seal away a human?"
And then I realized... the faint blue light was now visible again. We had arrived.

I stepped down the final step. Elly held her book tight with one hand, pushing her glasses up with the other. Venefica's usual calm, stern look had returned to her face, and she walked past the two of us, a hint of her sugary scent trailing next to her.

"Well, we're going to find out, aren't we."

The ice globe was just as I remembered it. The fog swirling inside, the hidden figure held suspended, immobile.

Unlike I had done at the time of my discovery, Venefica walked right up to the sphere without any hesitation, and raised her right hand. A red magical rune suddenly appeared between her hand and the prison, symbols shifting inside of it.

I felt slightly useless at this point, until Elly shuffled by my side, also intently staring at Venefica's work. "She's using Analysis magic. But since she's studying another form of magic, and not living beings like adventurers do, it's way more advanced than what you might be used to." She paused at that. "I could achieve the same, though, of course-"

As she said that, Venefica threw her hand aside, and the red rune disappeared. Eliciting a faint grumble from Elly. "... Maybe not that quickly, though."

The bunny woman then turned back to us, crossing her arms over her breasts, perhaps slightly causing me to stare.
"... Well. I can say a few things with certainty now at least. This is a Dark Seal, and it was cast by a monster girl. Likely several, actually. I can still sense the different strands of demonic energy coming from the seal. Since I do not sense any coming from within, however, it is quite likely that the being trapped in there is in fact a human."

Suddenly, Venefica began walking towards us. Causing Elly to shuffle a step back- and me to panic as I realized I'd been idly staring at her valley of cleavage while she explained.

I looked up, but before I could say anything, Venefica gently laid a finger upon my lips... letting out a seductive smirk.
"Are you paying attention, darling? I'm saying you were right. Do you want a reward for that~?"

My face went red. At another time I might have happily said yes- but Elly was here, and this... really wasn't the best place for it. "O-okay! So we kinda know it's a human... So..." For some reason, I felt like this was risky to ask.

"... Should we free them?"

Venefica's expression became blank as I asked. Elly pushed her glasses up again, and looked at the floor, but didn't answer. I felt like I had to elaborate a bit more.
"I mean... Why would we just leave them trapped here? If they're human, they can't be dangerous, can they? What are we risking?"

Venefica kept staring at me blankly... but eventually sighed. "... I guess you have a point. I cannot imagine why someone would seal a human in this day and age, instead of just milking them dry.~" She licked her lips at that with a faint smile, and stepped closer to me again, brushing her soft thigh against mine. "Well then, dear. If you really want to free them, get to it.~"

I stared - perhaps a bit dumbly at the woman at that. I barely had any magical skills. How was I supposed to-
Thankfully, Elly was here to save the day. "The Holy relic you possess. If this Dark Seal was made by monster girls, the Demon Layer will be able to shatter it. Using any other type of magic to forcefully break it would be more destructive, and thus more risky for us."

Venefica brushed her curvy body against me again as she stepped past me, going to stand next to Elly, who gave her a wary glance. I felt a bit ill-prepared... but then again, this had been my idea from the start, hadn't it?

I stepped in front of the ice prison... and pulled out the Demon Layer. The whip gently uncoiled in my hand, the tip falling to the stony floor. I swallowed, and stared at the sphere. The shadowy figure was not moving an inch.

I felt Elly and Venefica's gazes on my back. Was Elly worried? Was Venefica just having fun, seeing how I'd act? I didn't know. I didn't know if I was making the right decision, either.
But no matter how I tried... I couldn't seem to think of a legitimate reason not to act.

I clenched my fist, the muscles of my arm focusing...

And I swung the Holy whip against the Dark Seal.