Chapter 338: Sweet Night

Chapter
338: Sweet Night

Balkan
stared blankly, mouth agape at Idelbert’s explanation.

“…You’re
taking citizens injured in the riot to the Labyrinth?”

“To
be precise, we’re taking them to the fountains on the floors that are
multiples of 5 to drink the water of healing. It’s too dangerous
above the 15th floor, so only up to the 10th.”

Moving
citizens to the Labyrinth to heal them.

What
kind of insane plan was this?

Not
only him, but any other explorer would be dumbfounded upon hearing
this plan.

Taking
ordinary people who had never even set foot in the Labyrinth, injured
ones at that, into the Labyrinth?

“Isn’t
this putting the cart before the horse?”

Currently,
the lawless district of the Labyrinth City was half-paralyzed with
overflowing casualties.

The
number reached hundreds, maybe even thousands, so it was not a
situation that could be resolved by procuring potions.

But
to make such a simple and incompetent judgment to soak the injured in
the fountain and see the effects of the water of healing?

And
even by the royal family?

“It’s
not just putting the cart before the horse, it’s tearing the cart
apart. There’s another real purpose behind it.”

“The
healing of citizens is the superficial reason, and there’s another
purpose?”

Idelbert
nodded at the question.

“It’s
to restore the function of the paralyzed temple. You know that
wailing has been heard near the temple these days, right?”

“Yeah,
well…”

Where
else would the injured from the Labyrinth City go?

They
would go to the temple that performs miracles of healing under the
name of Mother Earth to receive treatment.

Back
when they went to subjugate the Elder Lich.

The
clinic of the temple was full because of the monsters tainted with
mana appearing in droves, and that phenomenon had not been completely
resolved even now.

And
there, a large number of ordinary citizens who had become rioters and
idiots and were injured in the lawless district this time were
dumped.

In
addition, explorers who were injured in the Labyrinth or visited the
temple to confirm blessings and curses joined in.

Thanks
to this, the Church of Mother Earth was currently so full of people
that there was no room to set foot.

The
priests who were healing people one by one were barely holding on,
saying that this was also a trial given by Mother Earth.

“We
can’t have the temple in chaos when the Labyrinth Premonition is not
far away. They are an important force.”

“Because
of the Tranquility Ritual?”

“That
too, but during the Premonition, monsters often flow out through the
portals, so it’s to prepare for that. There’s no certainty that it
won’t happen this time either—”

“Wait
a minute.”

Balkan
hurriedly moved closer to the information he was hearing for the
first time.

Idelbert’s
cat tail wagged slightly as her disciple suddenly approached, but she
soon asked back with a nonchalant face.

“What,
what is it, disciple?”

“During
the Premonition phenomenon, monsters can come out of the Labyrinth
through the portal?”

“Yes.
I experienced it once or twice when I was young. Historically, it’s a
much more common occurrence. Didn’t this master tell you?”

“No.
But, monsters didn’t come out of the Labyrinth during the last
Premonition…”

“Just
because it didn’t happen last time doesn’t mean it won’t happen this
time. If the Labyrinth was that simple, would it be called the
Labyrinth?”

It
was too true to dare to refute.

The
Labyrinth was a place where the word unpredictable was embodied as it
is.

The
way to survive there was not thorough recording and calculation, but
flexible response and improvisation.

“When
this master was an apprentice paladin, monsters from the 11th floor
even came up to the ground.”

“Monsters
living on the 11th floor came up to the ground…”

“Due
to the explosive proliferation of monsters, the environment of the
floor changes, and monsters from the 30th floor go to the 20th floor,
and monsters from the 20th floor go to the 10th floor.”

The
Premonition phenomenon that brings upheaval to the Labyrinth.

The
change also included the number of monsters.

Monsters
with too many individuals continue to flow back to the upper floors.

A
swarm of monsters pouring out all night long when the Labyrinth entry
portal opens.

‘…There
was a reason why Diana and Idelbert told me not to enter the
Labyrinth during the last Premonition cycle.’

Balkan
listened to Idelbert’s story and realized how lightly he had taken
the phenomenon of the Premonition.

If
he had been swept away by the wave of monsters when he was a scrub,
it would have been impossible to survive.

“The
power of the Order will definitely be needed in a situation where
monsters flow back from the Labyrinth. Whether it’s a miracle of
healing or a miracle of anti-magic.”

In
a battlefield-like situation where monsters from the Labyrinth flow
back through the portal, the role of the temple that can save people
will become more important.

But
if they continue to heal one injured person at a time like now, the
divine power of the temple will be too weakened.

The
higher-ups were trying to make the temple function again at the cost
of everything in preparation for such an event.

The
answer that came out as a result was the plan to take the injured to
the healing fountain of the Labyrinth.

The
water of healing from the fountain evaporates the moment you leave
the floor, so you have no choice but to take people directly.

“It’s
good that you understand quickly. If the injured are left as they
are, there is a possibility of an epidemic, and more than 40% of the
injured are explorers who know how to handle mana, so it’s a waste to
just let them rot. It’s a somewhat extreme choice, but it can’t be
helped.”

Balkan
nodded at Idelbert’s words and muttered softly.

“If
the royal family is preparing for a crisis to this extent…”

“They
must have obtained information that the situation will turn bad. In
fact, before catching the Puppeteer, we also heard news that there
was a small crack in the seal of the Demon of Wrath on the 30th
floor.”

Balkan
nodded at Idelbert’s words.

The
royal family seemed to have already predicted that this Premonition
phenomenon would be quite large.

“I
heard that the Premonition cycle is in a month… It seems like time
is running out to take hundreds of people to the 5th floor within
that time.”

“Of
course, you’re not doing it alone.”

On
the Union side, there were three reliable high-level explorers and
twenty mid-level explorers.

In
the temple, there were thirty mid-to-high-level paladins and priests.

In
the royal family, there was one direct knight battalion.

“It’s
a large-scale operation involving about a hundred mid-level
explorers… but you don’t have to worry about it. The task that the
royal family has entrusted to you is not transporting the injured.”

The
words so far were just to inform the situation and explain the
outline of the work.

Idelbert
said that the main point was from now on.

“Ellie Ordia.”

And,
an unexpected name flowed out of her mouth.

“…Ellie,
the Ellie I know?”

“That’s
right. Diana’s daughter.”

He
felt absurd.

Why
suddenly Ellie in this situation… No.

If
he thought about it for a moment, the answer came quickly.

‘Is
it because of portal magic…!’

There
was no magic as convenient as that for moving people.

Idelbert
glanced at Diana’s room in the inn for a moment, then looked back at
Balkan and said.

“The
request that the royal family has requested of you is to escort the
royal magician Ellie Ordia.”

***

“I
said I would do it. The Queen asked if she could help directly.”

Two
days after the conversation with Idelbert.

Ellie,
who had returned to the inn from the royal family after a long time,
answered that way when asked why she had accepted such a thing.

“It’s
an important matter, right? It’s also something that can save
hundreds, thousands of injured people… Of course, I have to help.”

The
answer was so pure that Balkan, who was standing blankly, unknowingly
asked why?

“Yes?
Why? …Ah. Is it because I went into the Labyrinth again? …Hehe…
I’m sorry about that. I decided to refrain from it.”

“No,
it’s not that… Why did you say you would help those people?”

“……?
Do you need a reason?”

His
head went blank again at the answer.

“Ah,
the Queen said that she would give me generous research support and
rewards… but even if that wasn’t the case, I should do it if it’s
something I can help with.”

Ellie,
with a pure expression, paused for a moment and then smiled brightly.

“Brother
also saved me when I was almost kidnapped, and you fought the demon
to protect others this time, right? You don’t know how much your
story is being told in the royal family these days, do you?”

Ellie
looked at him as if he were her admiration and pride.

The
elven magician girl, who had been watching the back of the man who
had saved, helped, and rescued her many times, wanted to become an
existence that could show miracles to others, just as he had shown
her miracles many times.

“Besides,
thanks to Brother helping me with portal magic research on the last
Labyrinth trip, I’ve become quite skilled at grabbing the coordinates
of portal magic! Before, I used portal magic with just a simple
sense, so it was very random, but now I’m so proficient that if I
calculate the coordinates of the 7th floor and use it, the 7th floor
will come out exactly! This is a really great achievement?!”

Watching
Ellie, who was talking to her uncle and brother for a long time, Balkan
made a decision.

And
that day, he went to Idelbert and said.

“I’ll
accept it. That request.”

***

The
preparation period left until the injured transport operation was
only 3 days.

Since
the goal was to recover more than 70% of the injured before the
Premonition phenomenon occurred, quick preparation was necessary.

In
addition to preparing basic supplies for entering the Labyrinth, this
request came to Balkan’s party, so the opinions and intentions of the
party members had to be coordinated.

And
the most important thing for explorers entering the Labyrinth…
equipment.

[Armor
repair is done, so you can come.]

Balkan
opened the letter from Zirnier and examined its contents.

At
the end of the content that made him laugh.

[The
ring you requested is also finished.]

There
was even more good news.

And,
good news piled up on good news.

Lilith,
who came out of Diana’s room, said with a haggard face.

“The
curse of the Demon of Lust… is over.”