episode_0004

A week after escaping the sealed labyrinth.

We arrived at our destination, the .

The labyrinth city of Astragius.

It is the main stage of the original work, and is also the location of the original work’s final dungeon and challenge content, .

A city that was rapidly developed about 20 years ago when the was discovered and adventurers flocked to challenge it.

An arrangement of buildings erected one by one according to the needs of the residents, without any planning or order.

It is so chaotic that there is even a rumor that anyone who visits the city for the first time will inevitably get lost and wander around.

(The Eternal Labyrinth… Is that what it’s called now?)

‘Huh? I guess it had a different name before?’

(Hehehe…..)

After letting out a laugh that had a somewhat empty feeling.

Luagat continued his explanation in a bitter tone.

(Originally, it was the great temple of the Luagat sect, built by those who served the fruit.)

‘The Great Temple…?’

(Yes. ….. Even now, when I close my eyes, they come to mind. The voices of children playing in the courtyard… The singing of believers praising the gods… The screams of the offerings that fill the underground temple… Even after thousands of years, they are unforgettable memories….)

…….There seems to be something a bit strange.

Without bothering to tackle that part, I changed the topic to another question.

‘But you have such unique tastes. Why on earth did you build such a complicated temple?’

(Well…. It wasn’t the person who built it, but his servants. I can’t imagine what they were thinking when they built it like this.)

‘…………..’

(If I had to guess… Since the laws governed by the God include chaos and darkness, it was probably designed to be faithful to those laws. Also, there may have been a part where the God’s followers were able to hide after being branded a cult member.)

‘Hmm….’

At least while playing the original, there was no such setting or talk about a group called the .

Just how deeply rooted is the existence of this irregular in this world…

I’m incredibly nervous, but since I owe him my life, I feel hesitant to pursue it.

Before setting foot in the labyrinth city.

Equip the hidden item that you previously obtained.

An artifact that is not just a mask that covers the face, but also alters the body shape and voice, preventing the opponent from accurately recognizing my presence.

In the original, it was just a fun item that prevented the heroines’ favorability ratings from dropping when enjoying the devil-type assistant events or NTR-type events…

Using an artifact that can perfectly hide your identity for that purpose would be no different from using a unicorn as a burden.

Well, the manufacturer may not have considered this kind of use when setting the performance rating…

Since my situation is what it is, I’ll try to use it usefully.

After wandering around the labyrinth city while hiding my identity and gathering some information.

I headed to a clan house located in the downtown area of the labyrinth city.

The clan house of the clan, one of the three strongest clans in the Labyrinth City.

Considering the value of land in the Labyrinth City, which rivals the imperial capital, you can understand the status of the clan called just by having a clan house in such a prime location in the bustling city.

— Squeak….

“Welcome. What brings you here?”

An elf receptionist who welcomes guests with a straight-forward attitude.

I bowed my head politely and stated my business.

“I would like to request an interview with the Clan Lord.”

“Did you make a reservation in advance?”

“No.”

A slightly bitter smile spread across the lips of the elf receptionist who had been maintaining a businesslike attitude.

“I’m sorry, but it seems difficult. If you were a member of royalty or a noble family, it would be a different story…. You’re not the kind of person who would be free to come and meet me on the same day without a reservation.”

‘Well, I guess you could tell at a glance that I wasn’t a very noble person, since my clothes were shabby and I didn’t have a single servant around.’

After nodding, he took out a note he had prepared in advance.

“Then…. Could you please pass this message on to me? It’s important.”

“……….”

The elf receptionist accepts the note with a dubious expression.

And after a while.

The receptionist who went up to the second floor and came back looked at me with a mysterious expression and opened her mouth.

“…..Your interview request has been accepted. Please follow me.”

“Yes, I understand.”

I really don’t understand why you would accept an interview request from an author like this.

The elf receptionist couldn’t hide her expression, distorted with wariness and suspicion.

Well, if it was a situation where you didn’t have to hide your identity, there would have been no need to use such a roundabout method…

— Squeak….

“Brought to you.”

“Yeah.”

After closing the book I was reading and placing it on the desk.

The Clan Lord of the clan spoke to the receptionist in a cold tone.

“You go now. I don’t need refreshments or anything, so don’t let anyone into the office until I call you.”

“Yes? Oh, but…..”

I guess it’s a bit unsettling to leave our beloved Clan Lord alone with such a suspicious author.

The elf receptionist was about to say something, but the clan lord added something in a frosty tone.

“Do I have to say this twice?”

“Oh, no…! Sorry.”

Finally, he glanced in my direction one more time.

She quickly lowered her head and disappeared out of the office.

— Creak…. Crunch.

After all signs had disappeared.

The Clan Lord rose from his seat and approached me.

— Thud, thud….

Clan Lord, Lyudmila Reginraev.

A striking beauty with fiery red hair.

With a height of over 170cm, a well-trained physique, a proud expression, and deep eyes, he leaves a strong impression that would overwhelm even the most mature male.

“Who are you?”

“……….”

“How do you know ‘that secret’? Depending on the content of your answer…. I think you won’t be able to leave this room alive.”

Let me say this for your reference.

What I wrote in the note was, ‘I’d like to talk to you about the secret hidden under your left armpit.’

It’s not that I didn’t expect this kind of reaction from Lyudmila, but I had to resort to impromptu means in order to have an immediate interview.

— Swish….

After raising both hands to show that he has no intention of fighting.

I took off my mask and opened my mouth.

“Long time no see, Lyudmila.”

“——–!!”

Lyudmila’s eyes shake with bewilderment.

And a few seconds later. She….

“God—-!!!!”

He called my name with a voice full of emotion and ran to me and hugged me.

“Ugh…..!”

Sai feels both physical shock and embarrassment at the unexpected, passionate hug.

Lyudmila cupped my face with both hands, looked at me from a distance so close that our noses were almost touching, and whispered in a tearful voice.

“Is that… really you? God… you… right…?”

“Uh…. Yeah. That’s right….”

“Ugh….. Ugh, sob…..”

— Slap….

Hug me even deeper into your body.

She continued to whisper, rubbing her lips against my cheek, her breasts against my chest, and her thighs against my buttocks.

“Sob…. Ugh, sob…. I, I really…. how much…. I worried about you…. When I heard that you…. had died… I cried for days… And now… Now again… Sob…..”

“………..”

“Thank you…. sob…. sob….. Really…. Thank you for coming back alive…. Really…. Sob….. God…..”

A few minutes later.

Lyudmila, who had calmed down somewhat, led me to the reception room, and I advised her to sit down for a moment to catch her breath, and then I made her two cups of tea myself.

— Dalgrak.

I put the teacup down in front of Lyudmila and sat down across from her.

— Huruk…

After slowly taking a sip of tea.

Lyudmila wiped her eyes with the back of her hand and parted her lips.

“Just now…. I’m sorry. I was so emotional…. I couldn’t hold it back…..”

“No, it’s okay. That happens sometimes.”

….To be honest, I don’t think that should happen sometimes or anything.

There has never been such an intimate relationship between Lyudmila and me.

Although we have built up a relationship of trust through previous raids in the same raid group and exchanged information at after-parties and clan meetings,…

It is only a relationship of trust between adventurer companions and rivals.

I had never considered Lyudmila as a romantic interest or a romantic partner.

but….

— Balgre…

Lyudmila, who was still dyeing the Volga with a deep blush, tilted her teacup and avoided eye contact.

The emotion expressed in her expression can only be considered love itself.

What the heck is going on….

(Hmm….. My dear. By any chance. Wasn’t it the case that the stabbing in the widow’s bedroom was due to the womanizing within the party?)

‘…..Shut up the nonsense and focus. Keep your mouth shut.’

(joy…..)

Luagat disappears into the depths of consciousness, letting out a snort that seems to indicate that he is deeply hurt.

Ugh…

I already have a headache, and what the hell is going on with that guy…. Seriously, this is so frustrating.

Let me explain, even if it’s late.

Lyudmila Reginreiv is one of the candidates for the heroine of the original work, .

In the original, she was one of my top three favorite heroines, and she was a strong character with considerable performance…

Unfortunately, in the original, Julia and her rival flags were set up, making simultaneous registration impossible, so we had no choice but to give up on recruiting them.

He even said something to the effect that Hyunwoo didn’t really like it.

“But… God.”

“Uh… Huh?”

Did he originally call me by my name? I’m sure… he must have called me Mr. Lee or something.

“What the hell happened?”

“………”

“The warrior party announced that you died in an unexpected accident while exploring the labyrinth…. I couldn’t believe it. You, who were more careful and wise than anyone else, lost your life in an accident…. And on top of that, you died, but the other party members all returned safely. I thought it was impossible. What if it were the other way around….”

“………..”

After thinking about it for a while.

I decided that it would be dangerous to reveal the original story, so I decided to tell a somewhat embellished version of it.

“Actually, while searching the , I got into a bit of an argument with my party members due to differences of opinion. If I were to go into detail, it would be quite long… But to cut to the chase, the story ended with me leaving the party.”

“……..”

“But I thought that if a member left the party of warriors who received the Goddess’s oracle, it would make people feel uneasy. After discussing it with Hyunwoo, I decided to pretend that I had died in an accident and went into hiding for a while.”

“That’s what it was…?”

A look of disbelief.

Of course, it’s obvious that people would be more anxious if there were deaths than if there were defectors… It’s nonsense.

“Well… That idiot Choi Hyunwoo has had a feeling that he didn’t like you since a long time ago. That stupid Julia doesn’t have enough brain cells to understand your deep concerns. Sion and Krimhilt are like dogs that would bark if Hyunwoo told them to… If it’s natural, then it’s natural. ”

“Haha…..”

“But….”

After changing his expression to a serious one.

Lyudmila tilted her head towards me and continued her story.

“In that case, wouldn’t it be better to leave the labyrinth city and do adventure activities somewhere else? Why did you come here?”