episode_0034

In a place like this, a confession at this moment.

He must have summoned tremendous courage.

Dmitri, with a flushed face, bowed his head and awaited.

“…”

I don’t know when or how her feelings began.

But I can guess.

A noble girl afflicted with a condition that stunts her growth.

And me, an adventurer who does not age.

If she heard my story when she was young, wouldn’t she have regarded me like a prince on a white horse from a fairy tale?

Even witnessing the commotion I caused underground wouldn’t have deterred that sentiment.

Though I don’t remember well, she kept saying something to me.

Perhaps it wasn’t an apology.

“I…”

At this moment, she is not a noble but a companion of the adventurer Raswood.

So it’s best to face her feelings head-on.

Without turning away, be honest.

“I will decline.”

“…”

She bowed deeply.

It’s unclear what expression she wears now.

But it’s palpably evident that she feels intense emotions.

“Can I… know the reason?”

I’ll probably be harsh and relentless.

Maybe even feel betrayed.

“You and I are different.”

“Different…”

“Yes. Even if you’re a girl who doesn’t grow, eventually, you will die.”

She is cursed not to age.

The curse itself consumes her life.

Even if she doesn’t age, someday her life will run its course and end.

It’s all too obvious.

Our circumstances are different.

I, and our Eboni tribe, rejected the concept of aging.

To be raised as eternal slaves who do not age.

The large-scale extermination of monsters ended 400 years ago.

We thought we had served our purpose.

When the war ended, our tribe hoped to return home.

The overwhelming emotions of that time…

And… we were betrayed.

The goddess of this world did not send us back.

We protested to the authorities.

Threatened the priests.

Set fire to temples.

Even declared war on the kingdom’s king.

But it was all in vain.

Even the wizards said it was beyond their power.

Half-mad, we desperately searched for a way to return for a few years.

And we collided with the fact that there is no way back.

The goddess will keep us trapped in this world.

When the monsters start destroying the ecosystem again, she will throw us back into that hell.

Since our numbers have dwindled, she might bring someone else from Earth.

Or perhaps force the remaining of us to breed.

Either way, it’s all fucked up.

“Don’t get involved with me or our tribe. We are slaves. Forever shackled like dogs. Live your life. Even if cursed, someday it will end. Cherish that time.”

My time flows differently from the world’s.

Of course, I still live in this world and can follow its flow, but that’s all.

I will eventually part ways with those who shape the world.

It has always been that way.

Sangcheol carelessly fell in love with the people of this world and even bore children with Linde.

And when his wife aged and died, he couldn’t bear the shock and committed suicide.

Well… maybe dying like that isn’t so bad.

In a sense, it’s cutting this leash.

“If we ever… get married or something in the future, what will happen to me when you die of old age?”

“…So, is that it?”

“Huh?”

“The Eboni in your house… Did you accept her because she can live long like you?”

“…There’s not exactly that reason. But she was my friend’s…”

“Sangcheol.”

“…”

“That was her name, right.”

Are you investigating us?

It’s not that strange, but…

It’s a bit eerie.

“That’s the problem. You don’t age. But could your lifespan also be limited? No, no… It’s not a curse like that. It must still be consuming your life. Even if you don’t age, eventually the end will come.”

“…”

There was no response.

It must be difficult to say something.

“Even so, Linda will probably grow old and die someday. Still, she will likely… live quite long. After all, I took her in not to continue the bloodline of the Evoni tribe but simply because she is my friend’s daughter.”

“What about the Dragon Slayer?”

Always grasping at straws.

“He’s just a guest. There’s nothing special between him and me. If you must know, he’s my friend’s granddaughter, so I let her stay at my house as a bonus.”

“So… can I also live long like Linda?”

“…Are you serious?”

Unpleasant thoughts surfaced in my mind.

About that crazy woman who struggled to live longer.

“I won’t do anything to the Evoni tribe. But… But what if I find my own way?”

“Don’t do such a thing. Please.”

“Why not? Why can’t it be me?!”

Dmitri raised his voice.

“What’s going on?”

Spect approached and asked.

“…It’s nothing.”

I shook my head.

“…”

Dmitri still kept his head bowed.

“Understood. Then I’ll…”

“No, you came at a good time. Let’s start moving now.”

I stood up and stretched lightly.

“…Let’s go.”

I said to Dmitri, who was still sitting.

“…”

She didn’t reply, but she still got up.

“…?”

Spect, oblivious, raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything.

And ascending from the 39th floor to the surface wasn’t particularly difficult.

The monsters appearing in the 30s were a bit challenging according to Nana and Spect, but we managed to either avoid or defeat them comfortably as we ascended.

And we escaped the labyrinth.

Someone was waiting in front of the labyrinth entrance and ran towards us upon seeing us.

“Master, Viscount!”

It was Buarno, Dmitri’s steward.

He stood in front of Dmitri, sweating profusely.

“Why on earth… why did you do this?”

He almost choked up, kneeling and placing a hand on her shoulder.

“What happened? Are you hurt?!”

“I’m fine.”

“…”

Behind Buarno, Captain Marco stood fully armed.

“The Viscount is unharmed.”

I shrugged my shoulders, indicating that nothing had really happened.

Now she was a Viscount, not Dmitri…

“Thank goodness, but… This is not a trivial matter! Taking the Viscount into the labyrinth, are you out of your mind?!”

Buarno stood up abruptly and spoke to me.

“Sorry. But the Viscount is quite stubborn.”

“Even so! If it were you, you would have restrained the Viscount without any harm…!”

“It’s okay…”

Dmitri said.

“But, Viscount…!”

“Nothing happened, so it’s fine now.”

She lifted her expressionless face.

“Mr. Rashwood, Spect, thank you for following my whimsical decision. I will calculate and send your rewards within this week.”

“Thank you.”

Spect deeply nodded to the Viscount.

“I… don’t need anything.”

I avoided eye contact.

Marco glared at me suspiciously.

He’s a guy who knows how to balance work and personal matters well. Why does he act like this towards me, his former childhood friend, but not towards me as his teacher?

“Let’s head back now. Both of you, rest easy.”

Dmitri turned away and walked alone.

“Wait, Viscount?! Not yet…!”

Buarno hurriedly followed her.

“…Adventurer Rashwood.”

Marco still stood there, calling my name.

“There really wasn’t anything serious. Well, in fact, there were a lot of things happening, but the viscount really didn’t get a scratch. Originally, it wasn’t me and Spect who kidnapped the viscount, but rather the other way around, with the viscount taking us along.”

“…”

After a moment of contemplation, Marco grimaced as if in thought, then turned his back and followed the two who had left first.

“…Aren’t you coming with us?”

I asked Spect, who was beside me.

“I’ve booked a separate inn. I plan to head there now.”

“Is that so? Then I’ll go too. Thanks for your hard work today.”

“Yes…”

Spect’s tone of voice sounded a bit off.

“Why? Is something bothering you?”

“Well…”

“…Did you hear everything?”

“…Yes.”

Ugh, seriously.

Well.

There’s no way someone like him wouldn’t have heard that.

“Don’t go spreading it around, okay?”

“I don’t do such things.”

“Alright then.”

“But…”

“What now? Do you need me to keep your mouth shut?”

“No. It’s not that. It’s just that… you weren’t too harsh, were you?”

“It can’t be helped. Proper rejection is better for both parties in the end.”

“Even so…”

“Sigh… Do you know?”

“What?”

That you’ll grow old, watch everyone around you die, and end up alone.”

“…I was raised under my grandmother. So, I think I understand a bit.”

“Is that so? Then try to imagine going through that kind of separation about a hundred times more.”

“…”

“I actually went through that.”

“I see…”

“That’s how it is.”

“But… Wasn’t there another way?”

“Why do you keep asking?”

“Just… I have a bad feeling about it.”

“Of course you would. He’s the owner of this labyrinthine city, the viscount.”

“No, it’s not that. It’s a bit different from that…”

“Ah, forget it. Stop grasping at straws. Anyway, I’m tired. You should go in and rest soon too.”

“…Yes.”

With a hesitant expression, Spect also turned back and went away.

And I was left alone at the entrance of the labyrinth.

“…”

Looking up at the sky, the same night sky always greeted me.

The vast, dark sky was filled with the moon and stars.

Then I took off my helmet and walked towards home.

“…This is bad.”

As expected, the top part of my helmet was cut off by the 49th floor monster, Kalkia.

If the attack had come a little lower, my head might have been taken off too.

“…”

I touched the severed part with my hand.

If I had died there…

…No, that wouldn’t have been a worthwhile death.

If I had died there, the chances are high that Spect and Dmitry wouldn’t have made it out either.

But… But what if there’s a place where I can die meaningfully?

If such a place exists… I…

“…Hey, don’t talk about dying.”

I shook my head.

I’m not thinking of dying yet.

If I have to sacrifice myself, I’ll do it without hesitation, but I won’t resort to suicide like Sangcheol did.

That’s settled.

That’s how it is.

“…That’s how it is.”

With the cut-off part of the helmet turned over, I headed back home.

“I’m back.”

“Welcome.”

As soon as I opened the door and entered, Rinde, who was sitting in the entrance, greeted me.

“Oh, you scared me…!”

“You’re back early.”

“Were you waiting all this time?”

“Yes.”

“Well, as you can see, I came back alive.”

“Thank goodness.”

“So, I guess I can’t give you a corpse. Too bad.”

“Yes, indeed.”

“…Just kidding?”

“Yes.”

“You’re quite the trickster.”

“Are you going to take a bath?”

“Huh?”

“Then let’s bathe together.”

“Sure.”

…What?

“Wait, what did you say?”