Category: Labyrinth

Chapter 5: To the Fortress of Canaan

 
Nina hated children.
 
They were selfish, noisy, and thoughtless. They had no qualms about touching the ears of beastmen like Gaul, which was a clear breach of manners.
 
She especially hated child adventurers.
 
They didn’t listen, were overconfident without reason, and acted like they knew everything while causing trouble for everyone around them.
 
When fellow adventurers would say, “You must’ve been like that at their age,” Nina would retort that when she was a child, there were no adults around to clean up her messes.… Read more

“Take this!!”
 
[ｋ!?]
 
He threw it. The stone, hurled with force, cut through the air—but it veered slightly above the giant bat.
 
“Missed…!”
 
He had known it would be difficult. It was unreasonable to expect to hit a moving target on his first try, especially in such darkness. If only he had time to practice, but of course, that wasn’t an option.
 
The giant bat’s figure quickly disappeared into the dark night.
 
“Throwing wasn’t a bad choice.… Read more

“Lady Diz. The knight brigade is preparing for departure as well. However…”
 
Kona, who had just stepped down from the carriage, bowed her head apologetically toward Diz. Diz shook his head, saying, “I know.”
 
“It’s not going to make it in time, right? That’s fine. Just make sure the preparations are done in a way that’s visible.”
 
“The necromancers are watching?”
 
“They probably have something like 【Far Sight】. That’s why we’re acting as decoys.”… Read more

After what felt like both a long and short void of unconsciousness…
 
“Wake up, Niitan!”
 
“…Good morning.”
 
Ur was jolted awake by Akane, who was fluttering around in her fairy form. Normally, being forcefully woken from a deep sleep would be exhausting, but this time, he woke up easily and refreshed.
 
“…How long was I out?”
 
“Exactly two hours. I just woke up too.”
 
Diz was still in the middle of getting ready.… Read more

And so, Diz’s instruction on 【Meditative Sleep】 began—
 
“Hey.”
 
“What?”
 
“What’s wrong?”
 
“I understand the logic, but why do we have to be this close…!?”
 
—Ur was already on the verge of breaking down.
 
Right now, they were lying on the bed. Ur and Shizuku were side by side, while Diz was practically on top of them, leaning over. The three of them were almost completely pressed together, and they were all in their underwear, half-naked.… Read more

 
After facing life-threatening situations countless times since becoming an adventurer, Ur understood.
 
Trying to use magic that requires high concentration in the face of an enemy trying to kill you, just like you would with a sword or spear, is extremely difficult.
 
Limiting the spells you use and repeating them until they become second nature is the survival tactic of an “adventurer mage.”
 
But Shizuku doesn’t need that kind of “selection and concentration.”… Read more

 
“Welcome, guests! I’m Lenden of the Golden Hammer! Now, hand over your money!”
 
“Golden Hammer, huh…”
 
Encountering a member of the infamous Blacksmith Guild, known for their skill and greed, Ur wasn’t sure whether to be happy or annoyed. His expression turned complicated.
 
“Now, hand over your money.”
 
Lenden’s unwavering demand for money left Ur half-dumbfounded and half-impressed. It was similar to what he’d seen in the Great Sin City-State of Greed, but it seemed everyone associated with it was the same.… Read more

Satellite City-State of Alto, Central Street, Knight Order Headquarters
 
──I’ll prepare everything, so you two, make sure you’re ready for the fight ahead.
 
After an intense meeting, Ur and the others were given an hour’s grace period and concise instructions before disbanding.
 
Diz hadn’t given them specific instructions on what to prepare. No matter how capable Diz was, she couldn’t know what Ur and the others were capable of or what they needed. Only they knew that.… Read more

“Your targets are the undead soldiers and the surviving bandits. And rescuing the hostages. You’ll be acting as a diversion, but we’ll give more specific instructions once we arrive at the scene.”
 
Next, Diz spread out a map of the surrounding area of the satellite city-state Alto.
 
“The problem area, the bandits’ stronghold, is to the north. It’s a ruin known in historical texts as Canaan’s Fortress.”
 
Diz pointed to the base of the Arpas Mountains.… Read more

Chapter 4: Countermeasures, Meditation, and Desires
 

 
There was no deep reason. No deep thoughts either.
 
Originally, he had belonged to a traveling brigade that moved from place to place within the ranks of the Nameless. However, due to his bad habits and misconduct, he frequently caused trouble and was eventually expelled. Drifting aimlessly, he fell into the clutches of a bandit group, remaining thoughtless until the very end.
 
Even when he participated in the heinous act of attacking a mobile fortress, a crucial part of the city-state’s infrastructure, he didn’t think much of it.… Read more