Labyrinth Entrance
by Afuhfuihgs
The gates of the Imperial Palace opened, and we moved forward. Thanks to the flamboyant entrance according to Raellan’s plan, no one dared to approach us. So, a large circle formed around us.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, a direct path from the entrance of the Imperial Palace to the underground was created to prevent attempts to infiltrate the palace. Glancing at the faces of the Imperial mages guarding the path, they looked as tired as I expected.
As we continued down the path towards the underground without obstruction, someone approached us, even though no one had been getting close. They were wearing robes like us, so we didn’t know their identity at first, but the person at the front was short and wearing a cat mask, making it easy to guess they were from the Order.
The Order members were hiding their faces with masks, just like us. The one standing next to Estelle turned his head towards me. A gaze flew from the darkness of the robe and sharply pierced my face.
,I don’t understand the meaning.”
I could tell the person glaring at me with a low voice was a man. At the incomprehensible words, I said with a stiff face.
,What meaning?”
,Is there any reason to waste time killing vermin like you?”
,Are you agreeing that those who follow the Order are vermin?”
As I retorted, the man shrugged.
,To some extent. Because they can’t achieve anything on their own and just rely on the Order’s power. They’re just trash to be thrown away at the promised moment anyway. So, your actions can’t be seen as efficient enough to damage the Order.”
It’s natural that the Order doesn’t feel any damage right now. That’s because we meticulously guided them to feel that way. Raellan, Eunice, and Bella – the three greatest schemers in the world – put their heads together and created a hit list that would allow Lily’s activities to proceed without affecting causality and plausibility as much as possible.
So, everyone I killed was either going to kill a lot of people in the future or was helpful to the Order. It didn’t contradict the immediate plausibility, and it was a strategy to subtly gnaw away at the roots that were the foundation for the Order’s growth, preventing them from growing.
Judging that there was no need to continue the conversation, I turned my head. The other side seemed to think so too, as they moved on without a word. I glanced sideways at Estelle. She seemed a little nervous because she was with the Order.
I wanted to ask what the note she sent me meant, but this wasn’t the time. Inevitably, I secretly passed the note to Raellan, who was next to me. Raellan checked the contents of the note and asked me.
,Did Estelle send this?”
,Yes.”
,Does the Golden King have another lover besides Edio?”
,…The person in question said no?”
Raellan glanced over his shoulder at the Golden King, who was floating in the air in the center of our group using magic, making it easy for him to follow along. Raellan made a hmm sound and burned the note using magic.
,Then there’s no need to worry about it. There’s no reason for the Golden King to lie.”
,But the reason Estelle risked danger to warn us….”
Raellan sighed deeply and said.
,Don’t you understand even with so many clues? This is just Estelle’s misunderstanding.”
,…Huh?”
,The Golden King directly said that his lover is Edio. We even saw the touching reunion between Edio and the Golden King with our own eyes. But Estelle didn’t see that reunion. That’s where the misunderstanding arose.”
,Wait, so… are you saying that the Golden King’s lover that Estelle mentioned is Edio?”
Raellan nodded as if it were obvious. I thought for a moment and realized something strange. Estelle clearly wrote that the Order leader was holding the Golden King’s lover. But Edio had been with us until recently. That wasn’t something that could be called a simple misunderstanding.
When I explained my question in detail, Raellan frowned.
,…Of course, it must be a lie.”
,Huh?”
,The only lover, Edio, is with us. If we think based on the unchanging truth, the lover that the Order leader is holding must be fake. Or they’re mistaking someone else for the Golden King’s lover….”
Raellan trailed off and muttered something quietly.
,…Maybe they still think they have him.”
,Huh?”
,Shut up and mind your own business.”
,….”
***
After walking a bit in the basement, an Imperial mage stood in our way. When we at the front stopped, I heard the people behind us stopping one after another.
I looked around, but because magic was used to prevent us from seeing the inside of the Imperial Palace, I could only see my masked face like a mirror and the many people waiting to enter the labyrinth.
One of the Imperial mages, who seemed to be of high rank, walked in front of us and stopped, then amplified his voice with magic and spoke to everyone.
,Before entering the labyrinth, everyone will wear a special bracelet developed by the Imperial family. This bracelet is an artifact developed by Imperial magi-scholars, and it can temporarily unify the wavelengths of mana so that you don’t get separated from your companions when you enter the labyrinth. Please remember that one person must infuse mana into everyone’s bracelet for it to work properly.”
As soon as the mage finished explaining, people threw questions at him as if they had been waiting for it.
,Is it okay for people participating individually not to wear the bracelet?”
,No. A map recording magic is engraved inside the bracelet. We hope that when you come out of the labyrinth, we can collect the bracelets and create a detailed map of the labyrinth.”
,What if I lose the bracelet in the labyrinth?”
,The bracelet is the property of the Imperial family. Of course, anyone who returns from the labyrinth without the bracelet will be severely punished.”
After some explanation, the Imperial mage waved his staff. Then, something like a security checkpoint appeared in front of us. The mage demonstrated by passing through it and showing everyone the bracelet he was wearing on his wrist as if showing it off.
,When you pass through here, the bracelet will be automatically put on. Sometimes, due to malfunctions of the artifact, there will be people who can’t wear the bracelet. Don’t panic and step aside and ask a knight to put the bracelet on for you.”
The mage, having finished his explanation, gestured to start. As I passed through something like a security checkpoint, a pure white bracelet was fastened on my wrist as explained. After confirming that everyone had worn the bracelet without any problems, I infused mana into everyone’s bracelet as the representative.
Then, the pure white bracelet turned black. I wondered if there was something wrong with that, but when I looked around, it seemed to be normal. With all preparations complete, I followed the mage, who was emitting light from his staff like a signalman, guiding us to the entrance of the labyrinth.
And finally, we were able to reach the entrance of the labyrinth, which looked like a huge portal.
,That’s the entrance to the labyrinth! Just go through it as if you’re passing through an open door, and you can enter the labyrinth!”
At the mage’s shout, everyone started running towards the entrance of the labyrinth, without anyone saying who would go first.
***
The way to enter the labyrinth was unique. Unlike how it looked, it wasn’t like a portal that suddenly changed your vision, but rather like passing through a short tunnel.
As soon as I came out of the tunnel, darkness came first. When Ellie used magic to secure our vision, the appearance of a huge maze with no ceiling in sight came into view.
Without thinking, I turned around, but there was no tunnel-like entrance that we had come through. We had entered the labyrinth through a non-existent entrance. Fortunately, everyone entered the labyrinth without any problems.
,As I explained in advance, we’ll move according to Ross’s orders in the labyrinth.”
Everyone nodded at Raellan’s words. Watching them settle in, I took out the Imperial Guardian Golem from my spatial storage.
As soon as I finished activating the golem by infusing mana, the Golden King used magic as if it were natural and climbed onto the golem’s shoulder. It seems he doesn’t want to walk even in the labyrinth. Anyway, I didn’t expect the Golden King to be active on the first floor.
After confirming that my companions were ready, I said to everyone.
,As planned, we’ll keep running with the golem in front. If the road is blocked, we’ll detour to the nearest path.”
I know how to conquer the labyrinth. I was the one who wrote about how Roel struggled and reached the 4th floor of the labyrinth. The name of the 1st floor is the Infinite Maze. As the name suggests, it’s a place where mazes continue infinitely.
There is no path to the 2nd floor in this maze. The way to get to the 2nd floor of the labyrinth is not to escape the infinite maze, but to travel 10km in the maze. If you meet that condition, a portal to the 2nd floor will appear in front of you.
Those who don’t know the hidden conditions must carefully step into the darkness of the endless maze. It’s a place where even simply moving consumes stamina and mental strength due to numerous traps and monsters.
Those who don’t know the 10km condition will endlessly wander in search of a non-existent exit in the maze, constantly doubting whether they are going the right way. The consumed stamina and mental strength, and the endless maze and darkness, lead them not to the exit, but to destruction.
But if you know the hidden conditions, the 1st floor wasn’t a difficult place. Because you just have to run until the portal to the 2nd floor appears.
With the Imperial Guardian Golem holding a shield and sword in front, I shouted vigorously.
,Let’s go!”
No sooner had I finished speaking than everyone started running forward.
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