episode_0032

Pratia couldn’t remember specifically how she had become a monster on the 50th floor.

It was a tale from too long ago, and there were hardly any companions with whom she could converse.

Though Lindberg, the owner of the floor just below hers, occasionally came up to her floor, he showed no interest in Pratia and simply checked for intruders before leaving.

All Pratia had were dolls.

She didn’t even know why they were dolls.

She just knew about them and could handle them.

She never questioned this fact or pondered over it.

“…So… I was happy that Rashwood and the others came…”

“How did my friends die?”

The Retributors had turned into tragic corpses.

“Lindberg killed them and left… I tried to stop him, but he wouldn’t listen… I’m sorry…”

“Then why were you playing with their corpses?”

“I wanted them to be my friends.”

“What?”

“My only friends are… dolls…”

Pratia tightly embraced the doll of Retributors in her arms.

“You turned them into dolls?”

“Yeah…”

“…”

“Rashwood… Pratia just wanted to…”

Dmitri held my hand.

I lightly pulled my hand back as a sign that I was fine.

“Well, I mean… since they’re already dead, it’s better than leaving their bodies to rot without a purpose…”

For ages, Pratia had been playing with dolls here.

Apart from dolls, she had no friends, and she didn’t even know how to make friends if they weren’t dolls.

It’s clear she had no malicious intent in turning Retributors’ bodies into dolls.

She simply wanted friends.

“But hide-and-seek? And how did you know my name?”

“Rashwood’s friends told me. They said if Rashwood wanted to play hide-and-seek, he should catch us first…”

“Damn. Those guys…”

The Retributors were all of good nature.

Perhaps due to their experiences working together in the same knighthood, they never caused trouble like mercenaries and instead actively engaged in deeds that could serve as examples to others.

They donated for or helped those in need.

Truly, they were heroes fitting for tales.

If you were to list the best adventurer teams in the history of the Labyrinth City from 20 years ago, the Retributors would undoubtedly be among them.

Maybe they were the very best.

While many have forgotten these heroes over time, anyone older would likely have heard their songs.

“So, we were going to play hide-and-seek, but then Lindberg…”

“I get it. I’m sure you didn’t do anything to the Retributors. It was probably our fear of your power that made us run away… Or maybe we mistook you for Lindberg.”

I don’t precisely remember what happened then.

I just felt that this guy was so ridiculously strong that both I and the Retributors felt like we’d die just by looking at him, so we all ran away without a second thought.

But the Retributors were different from me…

They were willing to save me even in that situation…

So, despite telling me not to worry about being an Evoni or whatever, saying they would somehow keep me safe as if I were the living history of the city…

Foolish guys.

I’ve lived long enough.

Those guys who haven’t fully enjoyed life yet are the ones who should live and ascend…

“…”

It’s a story that’s now too late.

But it’s also a story that has repeated itself several times.

Good guys seem to die quickly.

The two holy knights I met in the past, the Retributors, and all the other good guys…

…No, that can’t be true.

It’s just that those kinds of guys tend to be more memorable.

“…Earlier, you know.”

“Yeah?”

“Earlier, you tried to give me the Retributors’ dolls, right?”

“Oh, yeah. They’re Rashwood’s friends…”

“And now they’re your friends too? They’re just dolls.”

“…Even so.”

…”

I placed my hand on Pratia’s head and gently stroked it.

“?!”

Pratia, startled, jerked back.

“Are you upset?”

“Oh, no. It’s not like that…”

She cautiously approached again.

I resumed stroking her head.

“You’re a good kid…”

“Me… good?”

“Yes. Good… You were such a good kid, and I…”

“No.”

Dmitri shook his head.

“Rashwood did nothing wrong. If anyone is at fault, it’s our world… Bringing Rashwood and the Evonians to this world, the massacres, and… keeping Pratia here… all of it…”

…”

The original world had many irrational things.

But I’m not foolish enough to speak such words.

“There were mistakes, but there were also good deeds. Anyway, misunderstandings are cleared up, and we’ve made new friends.”

I moved my hand from Pratia’s head to caress her cheek.

Seemingly pleased, Pratia grabbed my hand and pressed it against her cheek.

“That’s why I keep going. Despite farewells, we meet new people.”

It could be said that this is the fundamental reason I don’t leave the Labyrinth City.

The place where the most people gather in the world.

A place never boring.

Thanks to that, a city where I can somewhat hide the painful memories of the past.

“…Then, I’ll take the Retributors back with me.”

I received their dolls from Pratia.

Even though they’re dolls and not bones, it’s fine if I can take them back after 20 years.

There are still some who remember them.

If a funeral is held, someone will come.

Come to think of it, did anyone in the Retributors get married?

“Go back?”

Pratia said.

“I-I said they’re friends… I said they’re good…”

“It’s okay. We’ll definitely return.”

Dmitri reassured her.

“When? When will you come back?”

“Soon…”

“How soon?”

Dmitri is undeniably the lord of this Labyrinth City.

Even if he doesn’t go outside, he must have a lot of work to attend to.

“I’d like to stay longer, but won’t Lindberg come?”

I shrugged.

“Oh…”

“Y-Yes.”

“Lindberg doesn’t listen to you, right? He’s the type to just kill someone without warning; he shouldn’t be here.”

“T-That’s right…”

Tears welled up in Pratia’s eyes.

“Sigh… Let’s think of a solution. Ask someone smart for help.”

“Someone smart?”

“Yeah. There are many people besides us out there. You’ve been watching adventurers too, right?”

“Yeah… I was so envious…”

“So, I’ll help somehow. If it doesn’t work out, I could spend about 10 years on the 49th floor. Of course, you’ll have to help.”

“W-Wait a minute! Ten years in the Labyrinth…! You’ll turn into a monster!”

Dmitri exclaimed, surprised.

“It’s okay. The Evonians are resistant to magic erosion. It wouldn’t turn me into a monster.”

“…Huh?”

“Forgot? Our tribe hunted monsters for a hundred years. The whole world was magical, and flipping the blood of magic-filled monsters was no small feat. Yet no one ever became a monster due to magic entering their bodies. There was no sign of that happening.”

Perhaps because of the resistance of the Evonians to magic erosion, the goddess brought us here.

Speculation, but perhaps that’s why we don’t age.

“So, will you give us time? 100 nights.”

I spread out ten fingers towards Fratia.

“100 nights?”

“Just until Fratia can’t find a way out of here after sleeping for exactly 100 nights, then I’ll live on the 49th floor for 10 years. How about it?”

“10 years… How much is that?”

“It’s a very, very long time that can add up to 100 nights ten times over.”

Exactly 3650 nights.

“Ten times…”

Fratia counted her fingers one by one, lost in thought.

“Um… um…”

She couldn’t decide easily.

But she must not rush into it.

If she doesn’t think and decide for herself, problems will surely arise later.

“100 nights… Alright… I’ll wait for just 100 nights.”

“Okay, then that’s settled…”

“But what are 100 nights?”

“Oh…”

Come to think of it, this place is underground…

I explained in more detail and somehow made Fratia understand what 100 nights meant.

Of course, I’m not sure if she understood it correctly, but it’s important that she decided to wait on her own.

Dmitri seemed a bit, no, quite worried, but he didn’t outright oppose it.

“Well, let’s seal the promise with our pinkies as a sign.”

I extended my pinkie towards Fratia.

“Huh?”

“Like this.”

I grabbed Fratia’s hesitant pinkie and linked it with mine.

“This is a sign of a promise between friends. You mustn’t break it.”

“Between friends…”

Fratia looked down at her pinkie, holding it as if it were precious.

…I’ve been scared of this kid for 20 years, thinking back, it’s ridiculous.

Indeed, you never know some things no matter how long you live.

No, maybe I’ve grown old inside differently than what’s visible.

It becomes harder to change your mind as you age.

“Got it. I’ll definitely wait for 100 nights. So, Rashwood and Dmitri have to come back, right? Understood?”

“Yes.”

“Of course.”

Even in a place like this, you can feel the warmth in the air.

The problem was not staying for long.

“…!”

“Huh?”

Fratia and I both looked in one direction simultaneously.

This feeling…

“I smell something…”

Heavy footsteps.

“Intruder…”

“Run! Quickly!”

As Fratia shouted, I swiftly lifted Dmitri and ran, clutching his side.

“Aaargh!!”

A loud noise came from behind.

“Get out of the way, woman! Move!”

“No!”

“Aaargh!!”

“No! Lindberg!”

“Rashwood, sir…!”

Dmitri, beside me, looked up at me with a worried expression.

“Run now. There’s nothing we can do.”

“But what about Fratia…?”

We’ll figure something out. Surely they won’t kill us, will they?

The bigger issue is whether we can safely return.

Until now, we could descend safely because Fratia protected us, but now…?

Just as I worried about that, something jumped out in front of us.

“Rashwood, sir…”

“Spect!”

Spect was a mess.

Why does he look like that?!

Could it be that he didn’t make it back?!

“We need to run quickly! Suddenly, monsters from the labyrinth…!”

“Aaaah!!!”

A furious scream echoed behind us.

Even though it sounded distant, it felt like it was right next to our ears.

“What on earth is that?!”

“We need to get out fast!”