Ch.6868. The Protest

Deneb’s words carried significant weight.

The very foundation of the imperial family’s power rested on being descendants of the “Hero” who defeated the Demon King.

This hero had captured the Demon King who nearly annihilated humanity, but before dying, the Demon King released a massive radiation of demonic energy.

Humanity fled from this demonic energy, and the imperial family established a barrier to protect people from it.

The place built within this barrier was the labyrinth city “Arks.”

“It’s a bit confusing.”

Of course, even if the Demon King hadn’t died, the broader context wouldn’t have changed.

The premise remained the same—without the imperial family, humanity would perish.

So I asked Deneb a similar question.

“But if that’s true, why hide the fact that the Demon King is alive? It doesn’t seem like information that needs to be concealed.”

There had to be another reason for hiding the Demon King’s survival.

“Well, you see…”

Deneb briefly seemed reluctant to speak.

It felt as though even thinking about it made her uncomfortable, but she soon took a calm breath and began.

“The imperial barrier isn’t intact, so it’s becoming difficult to keep escaping the Demon King’s gaze.”

“Are you saying the barrier is about to break?”

My voice rose involuntarily upon hearing this.

If they couldn’t defeat the Demon King and were just hiding under the goddess’s protection, what was the point if it had an expiration date?

“Yes. There seems to be quite some time left, but… do you remember the demonic energy contamination incident from before?”

“…Yes.”

An incident that happened just a few months ago, when they conducted a large-scale purification operation.

Connecting what she’d told me with that incident…

“Has the Demon King already found us?”

Deneb quietly lowered her head and continued.

“There’s no official announcement, but according to imperial predictions, we have at most 30 years left.”

“…”

…30 years?

“That’s longer than I expected.”

“Yes, I thought so too. But that’s not the most important part.”

When she said 30 years, it suddenly felt like a distant future problem.

“The Demon King is consuming the power of the constellations.”

“…”

Hmm.

“That’s a serious problem.”

“Yes, exactly. If the Demon King absorbs more constellation power than now, we’ll be devoured before we can plan for the future.”

Honestly, I wasn’t sure how to respond.

Could constellations even be consumed in the first place?

‘Weren’t they just meaningless things?’

While I was stunned by this question…

“Umm…”

Deneb, noticing my confusion, met my gaze.

“Come to think of it, Adel, you still don’t know about the Labyrinth. I think I explained things in the wrong order.”

She bowed her head and began explaining again.

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand what she was saying.

***

Dawn passed during my conversation with Deneb.

“…Shiro.”

“Adel.”

Shiro and I were released as soon as morning came.

Perhaps Kyle was telling the truth when he said the princess was intervening.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

Anyway.

I checked Shiro’s condition, which was most important.

“No. I was just sitting there until they released me.”

“That’s a relief.”

It seems Shiro had a similar WWE experience as me.

-Thud, thud.

We walked through the chaotic streets.

Knights stood at various points along the road, searching anyone who looked suspicious.

Indeed. Even in fantasy, martial law wasn’t a common occurrence.

‘By the way.’

There was something I hadn’t asked Shiro yet.

“…Did anyone call you for a separate conversation inside?”

I wondered if she had also spoken with Deneb.

“Conversation?”

Shiro seemed confused by my question.

“Ah, if you don’t know, don’t worry about it. Something happened inside… the situation is complicated, so I’ll tell you later.”

“Okay. Got it.”

Shiro nodded and moved closer to me.

She held onto my arm, her body pressing against mine.

“…”

It struck me again that Shiro was quite tall.

I’m talking about her height, of course.

***

After seeing Shiro off, I returned to the inn.

As I entered the lobby…

“…Mr. Adel?!”

A girl with short golden hair exclaimed with wide eyes.

It was Arya, the innkeeper’s daughter.

She was at the counter but quickly ran up to me.

“I was so worried you’d been captured by the knights!”

-Grab!

She clutched my hand tightly and began to sob.

“Why didn’t you come back yesterday? They declared martial law and explorers were being arrested, and you didn’t return—do you have any idea how worried I was?!”

“I’m sorry. Something came up.”

“…What happened?”

“I was captured by the knights.”

“…What?”

Arya’s movements froze.

She seemed unsure how to respond.

“…Did you escape?”

“What? No, don’t worry, it was nothing serious. It was just a misunderstanding, so I was released after a day.”

I spent some time explaining the situation to her in that manner.

After time passed and I finished showering…

“Ugh—”

I threw myself onto the bed as soon as I reached my room.

-Creeak!

The bed screamed in protest, probably because my body density had increased from absorbing the Source. It would be a shame if it broke.

More importantly, my mind was already filled with other thoughts.

‘I seem to have gotten involved in something really bad.’

I recalled my conversation with Deneb from dawn.

‘The reason the Labyrinth exists.’

The Labyrinth was created by the twelve zodiac constellations.

The constellations apparently had some purpose.

For that purpose, they were guiding people to eventually clear the Labyrinth.

Currently, the imperial family was hindering the completion of the Labyrinth.

“…”

Honestly, I didn’t fully understand.

The Demon King is alive, and the constellations that created the Labyrinth are encouraging its completion.

‘What happens when the Labyrinth is cleared?’

I pieced together the fragmentary information.

The Demon King’s survival. The eventual breach of the barrier leading to destruction.

Constellations, clearing the Labyrinth.

Why?

Why must the Labyrinth be cleared?

‘Let’s examine the context.’

The constellations’ purpose was likely related to the Demon King’s invasion.

Otherwise, there would be no point in telling me.

“…The demonic energy contamination occurred in the Labyrinth.”

The Demon King had already influenced this place.

Contamination in the Labyrinth.

Constellations, Demon King, entrance passage, Labyrinth.

‘The Labyrinth was a passage.’

It served to isolate us from the outside while simultaneously hiding the Labyrinth city from the Demon King.

‘But why do the constellations want the Labyrinth to be cleared?’

I continued thinking.

Creating the Labyrinth in the first place was strange.

Why do monsters exist, and why does the Source appear when they’re defeated?

Moreover, clearing the Labyrinth would surely reveal the outside world.

The Demon King is there.

In other words,

They want us to eventually meet the Demon King.

‘Staying here means eventual death.’

That was what Deneb had said.

The Demon King is gradually devouring the constellations, preparing to invade the Labyrinth city.

The demonic energy contamination in the Labyrinth will worsen day by day, eventually consuming the entire city.

“…Ah.”

Why hadn’t I realized such a simple fact sooner?

The constellations…

They want humans to open the Labyrinth door themselves and reclaim their original world.

***

The next day arrived.

‘Time to go.’

Yesterday, I spent the night organizing my thoughts.

Was my conjecture correct? Were there any gaps in my reasoning?

After experiencing various certainties and doubts, the sun had already risen.

‘Nothing will change anyway.’

At the end of my conversation with Deneb.

She had left me with final words.

If I wanted to know more details, I should visit the Polaris Guild and meet the guild master.

‘Once I go there, there’s no turning back.’

I would be completely entangled in their affairs.

That was probably Deneb’s intention in telling me.

“…”

-Creak.

Having finished my preparations, I opened the door.

I’m going to the Polaris Guild.

Of course, my conjectures might be wrong.

There was even a possibility that Deneb had lied to me.

That made me all the more curious.

‘What kind of person is the guild master?’

The Polaris Guild master, Vena.

She had always been a mysterious figure.

After successfully reaching the 9th floor, she essentially disappeared from public record, and her face was never revealed to the public.

Moreover.

‘She’s at the center of all this.’

Should I trust the imperial family?

Or should I side with the Polaris Guild and the princess who seem to be opposing them?

The situation was full of questions, but one thing was certain.

‘I’m going to the Polaris Guild.’

There was no other way for me to investigate this matter further.

I closed the door and left the inn building.

“Mom! There are people in armor here.”

“Shh, let’s go home quickly. We shouldn’t stay outside for long.”

The atmosphere in the streets was still unsettled.

‘I hope I don’t get arrested while walking.’

Despite being a barbarian, I had been randomly searched several times even before martial law.

Anyway.

I carefully avoided the knights and walked toward the Polaris Guild.

‘Almost there.’

Just as I thought I was getting close…

“The imperial family must stop this outrage against explorers!”

I heard someone shouting, seemingly from the direction I was heading.

“Stop it! Stop it!”

“The imperial family must stop!”

…?

Many people were shouting in unison.

I continued moving, thinking it wasn’t related to me.

But the sight that awaited me was shocking.

“The rioters and the Polaris Guild master must lay down their weapons and surrender one by one!”

Imperial knights had surrounded the Polaris building.

There must have been well over a hundred of them.

“If you don’t surrender within the next three minutes, we will order bombardment of the building!”

Right now, at the Polaris building…

A protest was underway.