True Consciousness (3)

Balkan inwardly chuckled at the Queen’s words.

‘It feels like she’s been trying to make me her son-in-law since that time.’

Ever since he realized Celsia was an Armored Knight and rescued her, she had been subtly suggesting marriage.

Even then, she spoke as if joking, but her heart was in it, and now it was even more so.

Was it because he had become a more attractive prospect now that he was an Advanced Explorer and had brought several Demon Worshiper to their knees, compared to back then when it was just gratitude and goodwill for saving the princess?

Moreover, unlike in the secret chamber where only Diana and the Knight Commander had heard, there were more people here.

“Now she’s openly trying to steal someone else’s disciple.”

Idelbert, who had been watching the conversation with the Queen, slammed his cat tail on the round table with a dissatisfied expression.

Crack, crack…!

Each time he struck the table with his tail, small cracks appeared on its surface, as if he was barely suppressing his emotions.

“Eradicating the threat of demons is akin to saving the world. If one were to accomplish an achievement that no one but the king and hero of the Great War era could have dreamed of, even a country would not be enough as compensation.”

Idelbert retorted at the Queen’s brazen words.

“Nonsense. You, who have always been unshaken by the nobles’ checks, are suddenly talking about handing over the country? Are you nearing your time to leave this world, so you want to see your granddaughters’ weddings so badly?”

“Heh heh. If possible, I’d like to see my great-granddaughters as well.”

“……”

Gritting his teeth.

Idelbert clenched his fist as if wanting to flick her forehead, but barely suppressed his emotions.

The Queen spoke with a light attitude, but the weight of her words was anything but light.

Perhaps a wedding between Balkan and the royal bloodline would take place, and others would quietly watch and console themselves in defeat.

Idelbert wanted to prevent that at all costs.

“I agree with the Queen’s statement that eliminating the threat of demons and their worshipers is akin to saving the world… but it doesn’t seem right for the royal family to unilaterally give compensation.”

And Idelbert wasn’t the only one thinking that way.

The sisters’ thoughts were generally similar.

Saintess Serif of The Great Mother Goddess Order also rested her chin on the round table, perking up her pure white cat ears.

“It feels like you’re trying to monopolize him. Balkan also seems uncomfortable, so it would be good to coordinate new rewards with our order. Above all, Balkan possesses the qualities of a Saint, so he will gladly accept our order’s gift.”

“I didn’t know the Saintess was so greedy. I’ve been hearing rumors from the temple lately about a Saint appearing, so were you trying to pair him with you, the Saintess? It must be so, considering you think he’ll definitely accept the gift from your side.”

“H, how did you…!”

Serif jumped up at the Queen’s words.

Ever since she was caught using Divinity while capturing a Jealousy Worshiper’s minion at The Great Mother Goddess Order’s Eden Branch, the talk of a Saint had been increasing.

‘Could it be that Serif was behind it all?’

The Great Mother Goddess Order was a sexually conservative group.

But what if a Saintess and a Saint were to meet?

How dazzling and beautiful would the Divinity-filled child born from the union of chosen ones with superior Divinity be?

As long as there was even a slight possibility, wouldn’t even a sexually conservative group be able to look towards new possibilities?

Not a fake mating in the mind, but a real mating of flesh and blood in reality.

And that too, legally with everyone’s understanding.

Glance. Glance.

“A, ahem…!”

Serif, blushing as she noticed the gazes around her, especially Balkan’s, cleared her throat and sat down. This time, Celsia stood up.

“Your Majesty.”

“Yes.”

Celsia spoke carefully to her grandparents.

“I hope you won’t put too much burden on him. He needs rest first, after achieving great feats and just returning from the Labyrinth.”

There was a hint of anger in her voice.

Was it because they spoke as if they would give him the kingdom?

No. Celsia had the responsibility of a princess, but she had never harbored a strong desire or greed to become a queen like Jirnier, who had left the royal family long ago.

Then, was it because the Queen, her grandmother, spoke of her, her granddaughter, as if she were a bargaining chip?

That wasn’t it either. As a princess of a nation, Celsia had always thought that she could be the subject of a political marriage.

So, the biggest reason was.

‘Not with rewards… I want to capture his heart with my own strength, with my own charm.’

She wanted to obtain the man she had set her sights on with her own power, as a female.

Without status or interests.

Just like when she first met him by chance while passing through the Labyrinth and formed a bond.

That was how Celsia wanted to take her place in his heart.

“…Ahem.”

Teles smiled as if surprised, seeing his granddaughter’s appearance as a woman.

‘As expected, a woman needs to meet a man.’

His granddaughter’s confident appearance, which he could never have dreamed of in the past.

He felt even more affection for the man who had saved the shut-in princess, who had been confined to her room by a curse-like blessing.

“Everyone is saying that, but what does the person in question think?”

At those words, everyone’s gaze turned to Balkan.

‘……’

Balkan was sweating slightly.

The sight of the heads of important forces, indispensable to Labyrinth City, gathered and looking at him… was quite intimidating.

But, even in the midst of that, he seemed to know what he had to do right away.

“As an explorer, I did mention the reward first, but my thoughts are the same.”

Now wasn’t the time to talk about the results after everything was over…

“As one who has been granted the Hero’s Castle, I will go where help is needed.”

He had to think about how to deal with those Demon Worshiper bastards first.

The Queen left for the palace with a satisfied smile.

Perhaps it was because she was the one who had bestowed the castle used by the hero.

Anyway, after the Queen left, a new atmosphere permeated among the few staff members who entered the conference room at the Labyrinth Entrance.

“Balkan Auster… I never thought he would be this much.”

“The reason the Queen stayed until this hour was just to ask for one man’s help…”

“Isn’t this the first time the princess has directly asked for help since the Knight Commander and Diana Ordia?”

“I should have expected it when I heard he received a noble title. I thought he would just be promoted to Advanced Explorer, but I never thought he would be evaluated beyond that…”

The man whom the owner of the kingdom that embraced Labyrinth City had directly requested cooperation from.

That recognition made others not object to Balkan sitting at the same round table as the Explorer Association leader, the order’s Saintess, and the royal family’s princess.

Balkan looked at the staff members who had gathered in front of the round table after the Queen left, muttering in small voices.

The royal knight squad members, the Explorer Association’s direct explorers, and The Great Mother Goddess Order’s Paladins.

‘They’re all elite forces.’

From the late 40s to the mid-50s in level.

[lv. 53 Nam Su-hyeon]

Considering blessings and curses, Mana and Divinity, the difference would be quite large.

But just looking at the simple level, they were skilled enough to be compared to himself, who had risen 2 levels in this Labyrinth trip.

They were clearly classified as elite forces wherever they went, and they were all sending unusual gazes towards him.

‘Why aren’t there any men?’

Moreover, they were all women.

He had somewhat expected it while living as an explorer, but from the time he reached the upper-middle class, Balkan couldn’t find a male stronger than himself in this Labyrinth City.

Not just limited to people, but even Monsters.

“Hmm.”

When Idelbert coughed softly and gathered attention.

“…! Ahem, ahem…!”

“Gulp, cough…!”

“Cough, cough…!”

The women, who had been staring blankly at the firm body of a male they had never seen before, an unbelievable male stronger than themselves, cleared their throats and blushed.

Regardless, Idelbert said what he had to say.

“First of all, I sincerely express my respect to you who have gathered to protect this damn city.”

His tone was somewhat rough, but Idelbert said so in a voice filled with sincerity.

“The Association leader is expressing gratitude…!”

“N, recording. Recording artifact…! Ah, I didn’t record…!”

Knowing that it wasn’t a common occurrence, some of the Explorer Association’s direct explorers were even moved to record her voice with recording artifacts.

“The Explorer Association, the royal family, and The Great Mother Goddess Order have observed that the Labyrinth’s Omen Phenomenon will occur on a much larger scale than before. The Monster expected to flow back to the surface is about 4,000 from the 18th floor. The damage range is the entire explorer area, and if the Barrier is breached, it could spread to the Outlaw Zone and the Temple Zone.”

However, Idelbert’s following words shattered that friendly atmosphere at once.

“The order’s Pacification Ritual has been decided to minimize the damage caused by the Omen Phenomenon by deploying Holy Barrier at the main passages and Portal of each floor.”

Serif’s words were followed by a moment of silence, which soon turned into confusion.

“I had roughly guessed from the atmosphere…”

“It’s much bigger than I expected…! An 18th-floor Monster will kill an ordinary person, no, even a mediocre lower-class explorer just by touching them!”

“An 18th-floor Monster is rushing to the surface, and we’re going to the Labyrinth to install a Holy Barrier?”

“At least Monsters tainted with Demonic energy or vulnerable to Divinity will suffer great damage just by touching the Barrier…”

“If we miss the timing to retreat even a little, we’ll die…”

Even a Paladin who looked to be over 40 years old muttered with a serious expression.

Judging from that reaction, it could be seen that an Omen of this scale had not occurred for at least several decades.

“A Sloth Demon Worshiper with the power to control Monsters will also take advantage of this opportunity to join the chaos. There’s no way they’ll miss such an opportunity.”

Celsia said with a bitter expression.

The Labyrinth’s Omen Phenomenon alone was enough to make one’s head explode, but those troublemaker bastards were trying to tap dance on a sea of fire.

Even though they had come prepared to some extent, a deep anxiety was etched on the faces of those gathered in the conference room.

“It’s okay to go back now. You have gathered with a noble heart to protect this city, but the damage will clearly be significant. Beyond losing a limb, you may lose your family. No one will criticize you for leaving a dangerous place to protect your family.”

Idelbert’s voice lingered in their ears.

It was okay to leave Labyrinth City with their families before the Omen Phenomenon broke out.

“Keuh…”

Balkan couldn’t help but laugh at that nonsense.

Leave?

This city?

‘Impossible.’

The Labyrinth was the only clue connected to his younger sister.

He could never let it go.

Besides, Balkan was sure.

Even though the reasons may be different for each person… most of those gathered here would not leave the city.

‘There’s no way there’s a sane person among the guys who have been stuck in the Labyrinth until they’re almost level 50.’

Swish.

“Master.”

Balkan raised his hand and asked the woman sitting next to him.

“What should I do?”

Balkan opened his mouth and soon realized that his prediction had become a reality.

Even in a situation where a bloody battlefield was expected, a man was trying to fulfill his role and duty.

How many females would cowardly run away, saying they were scared, after seeing that sight?

A radiance settled in the eyes of the female warriors looking at him.