episode_0063

The events on the 5th floor spread through the Labyrinth City in an instant.

It was natural, as shocking facts kept occurring one after another.

Before long, there was no one inside the labyrinth who didn’t know about that matter.

“The Apostate, Urie? That guy who hadn’t been seen for years suddenly came out in the labyrinth?”

“They say the Imperial Family is sending knights this time to investigate that.”

“More importantly, aren’t they executing him? What if he escapes again like last time?”

“That’s their business to handle. More importantly, did you see what the Red Skull Clan sent to the Guild this time?”

“Haha, what a sight! It seems the person in charge ultimately returned to the Red Skull Clan. Because the 5th floor safe zone was also turned into a wasteland.”

“It’s pathetic, but well, it’s not my problem. There will be changes in the structure of the clans too!”

People laughing heartily, talking about the story of the 5th floor.

I quietly sit in the corner of the restaurant and eat cautiously.

Even though I tried to ignore it, this story came up everywhere I went, so I’ve let my guard down a little now.

“More than that, Levi, something, there will be explorers trying to catch that now!”

“Even deep-level explorers are reportedly seeking permission from the Imperial Family to try and catch it out of curiosity.”

“What, didn’t they say it was impossible to catch?”

“Is there any deep-level explorer in their right mind? They say something might come out if they catch a complete Leviathan!”

Information about the 5th floor’s hidden boss, Leviathan, was originally meant to be kept secret.

Because if someone summoned it, it would cause a nuisance.

It seems someone leaked it.

Thanks to that, I suffered for a few days because of investigators from the Imperial Family.

But now, the news has spread so widely that they seem to have given up.

“But why did the Apostate Urie appear on the 5th floor?”

“How would we know what those guys are thinking?!!!”

“That’s right!!”

However, since he hasn’t opened his mouth yet, what the prisoner did on the 5th floor is completely unknown.

“More than that, did you hear about that this time?”

“What are you talking about?”

“They say an ordinary Bronze-ranked explorer stopped that prisoner!”

“Of course I know!!! My son is making a fuss about that story these days!”

“I heard the Imperial Family bestowed something this time….”

And above all, the biggest interest is the story about one explorer.

The story that an ordinary explorer who had nothing played a key role in capturing the 7 Sinners and died was enough to stir human hearts.

Creak.

A few people entered through the restaurant door.

The face of one of them was familiar.

Knight Otlus.

The knight who guarded the 5th floor.

He was not wearing armor, but light clothes.

But he was wearing at least a sword.

Looking at him like that, he felt more like an explorer than a knight.

I immediately stood up and showed respect.

“It’s alright.”

“What would you like to eat?”

“I’ll go right away.”

I immediately paid the price and left the restaurant.

And I guided them to the clan building.

They were all people who had come up together from Hans’s hometown.

“I just received a vacation and can go to my hometown.”

The knight said he was going to deliver the death notice to Hans’s parents.

Taking the Honorary Knight title that was bestowed upon him along with him.

While all party members, including Rein, watched, Hans’s trace was erased.

That trace returns to the beginning again.

There was nothing left here now.

I watch the empty room where everyone has left.

It will probably take a long time until that room is filled again.

*

Although it’s a fantasy world where recovering a severed arm is possible.

That process is not smooth.

Of course, if you spend a lot of money, fast and comfortable recovery is possible.

But money is always the problem.

Even if the income is decent, because they are unstable explorers whose money supply might cut off at any time, Luca went to receive a different treatment instead of an expensive one.

I didn’t particularly gain anything after conquering the 5th floor this time.

They say something did come out after catching the dragon, but the Imperial Family and the Magic Tower quietly took it.

Instead, they decided to reward the explorers who returned alive from the 5th floor, using the excuse of capturing the 7 Sinners, to commend their efforts.

Excluding Luca, who went into recuperation, I, Kai, and Grace arrived in Zone 0.

“There are so many people?”

“Yeah.”

There were more people than expected.

In a way, it was natural.

They say the Knight Commander himself came out to commend this event.

You can hardly see nobles in the Labyrinth City.

To begin with, the Empire’s capital is also quite far from the Labyrinth City.

And the Imperial Family did not permit nobles to settle in the Labyrinth City.

This is largely due to the unique nature of the Labyrinth City.

Countless wars broke out over the Labyrinth City, which pours out infinite resources.

All the countries that could no longer endure this joined forces to make it virtually a neutral zone.

That’s why it became an unprecedented city where anyone from the continent can come here and become an explorer.

And anyone can get citizenship and live here.

Of course, all this is the story of ordinary countries.

Since the Empire is actually controlling the territory.

The Imperial Family’s influence is on a different level.

The reason the Labyrinth City is maintained so strangely is entirely due to the Empire’s consideration.

That’s why the Empire was able to be respected and rule the continent for a long time.

Therefore, the only nobles you can see in the Labyrinth City are knights.

And the one who leads all those knights is the Empire’s 1st Knight Commander.

Moreover, he is a person who always stays only on the 10th floor.

Since they said such a person would appear, it was inevitable that curious people would gather.

Not everyone here can enter the building.

But at least they could see the explorers and knights entering like this, which is why people gathered.

Fortunately, perhaps out of consideration for the explorers, they told us to come in comfortable clothes, so I wore what I usually wear.

Of course, Grace wore clothes that looked a bit subdued.

“How is it?”

“Looks good?”

“It’s uncomfortable!!!!”

Kai shouted.

Perhaps because he was wearing a very tight shirt.

“Can’t I just go in wearing armor instead?”

“…Maybe that’s better.”

In the end, I just put armor on him.

A satisfied Kai took the lead and broke through the crowd.

We followed behind him and arrived at a building.

We handed over the invitation to the soldiers guarding the entrance and went inside.

Inside, a party was being held.

It wasn’t the scene of nobles I usually imagined, dressed in all sorts of fancy clothes, elegantly enjoying themselves.

It was a party made up only of wildly charismatic explorers.

It felt similar to the parties occasionally held by the Guild.

I quickly understood the reason.

“Rein?”

“Ah. Ivan. This event was hosted by the Guild.”

Looking closely, all the staff and servants inside had the Guild’s mark.

Since explorers are the main focus, did they trust the Guild with it?

“You can just enjoy yourselves comfortably inside. The Knight Commander will arrive at this time, so you can go at this time…”

After hearing a rough outline from Rein, I wandered around the party hall.

“Oh!! Taiman!!”

Kai approached an explorer.

He was a fellow kinsman.

Well, I guess they’ll get along fine on their own.

Prick up!

Grace found explorers playing card games in the corner.

“Go on.”

“See you later.”

Grace left and I was left alone.

The moment I was about to pick up something to eat with a plate.

Erica’s party approached.

“Ivan!!”

Erica’s party.

Agot’s party also became 4 after losing 1 party member.

But that alone is a blessing.

Because no party returned without a single casualty.

They say there were quite a few deaths even among the knights.

“By the way, where did that beastkin kid go?”

“He’s still undergoing treatment.”

“Is that so?”

Erica returned as bright as when we first met.

As expected of an explorer who must be accustomed to death.

After finishing the conversation with Erica and meeting other explorers, it was the same feeling.

Sadness was felt deep within their hearts.

Nevertheless, no one showed it outwardly.

Everyone lost comrades, but they continue to move forward.

Looking at that, my depressed heart also calmed down a bit.

“Witch Slayer, Ivan.”

The Blue Faction Leader extended a handshake to me.

“I wanted to see you, but because we were also very busy, I couldn’t even contact you.”

“Is something the matter?”

“Are you perhaps interested in the Magic Tower?”

The Magic Tower, huh.

Actually, I am a little interested.

After all, I’m also classified as a mage.

The feeling that I might get stronger if I learned professionally.

So I originally planned to visit first, but.

“Haha, I can tell just by your expression. Here, take this invitation.”

I received an invitation from the Blue Faction Leader.

A luxurious scroll was properly sealed.

“You will get a good opportunity.”

“Thank you.”

“Well, so aren’t you curious about anything? Opportunities like this are rare, you know?”

“How did things proceed with the Leviathan?”

“As expected, I knew you’d be curious about that.”

The Blue Faction Leader immediately started climbing the central stairs of the party hall.

While doing so, he used magic.

Wine came out of a wine bottle held by a servant and started drawing a picture in the air.

It was inevitable that the explorers’ gazes gathered to watch that.

“Leviathan was powerful!! A single kick could make a mountain collapse entirely. We actually had casualties on our side too.”

A momentary silence followed the last words he spoke, but the Blue Faction Leader didn’t mind and continued speaking.

“The moment the Polar Night retreated and Leviathan turned into an ordinary dragon, I finally captured it. A single card within it.”

Soon, the wine drew the pattern of a single card.

“Black……”

“That’s enough.”

While the Blue Faction Leader was about to say a lot, someone appeared in front of him.

A man with a bulky figure as large as a barbarian like Kai.

He was a middle-aged man with long white hair and an impressive, wildly charismatic beard.

It might seem strange to be wearing full plate armor loaded with decorations and even a sword at his side in such a party hall.

But rather, because of that, I could tell his identity at once.

“…1st Knight Commander.”

“But the Imperial Family still ordered not to publicize that matter.”

“It wasn’t just one or two people who saw it, and soon deep-level explorers will conquer it and it will become widely known.”

The Knight Commander and the Blue Faction Leader had a light battle of wits, but.

The loser was the Faction Leader.

Although he leads a faction of the Magic Tower, no matter what, he has to concede one move to the Imperial Family’s Knight Commander.

But despite that, new unknown information is already spreading quickly around this area.

“Black… a card, right?”

Murmuring.

Despite the Knight Commander blocking it, the story was already spreading rapidly.

It seems from tomorrow or the day after, there will be no one in the Labyrinth City who doesn’t know this story.

“…….”

It seems clear that a great upheaval will occur in the Labyrinth City for a while.

Time passed and the moment came.

A night with bright moonlight.

Countless citizens and explorers gathered in the spacious plaza.

But it wasn’t dark here.

Because magical tools were illuminating the plaza.

About 40 people walked in through the soldiers blocking the crowd.

The survivors who survived on the 5th floor, excluding the knights.

A shower of applause poured down.

I felt mixed emotions.

Receiving congratulations, but the weight of the dead is felt on my back.

What on earth is this feeling?

I wasn’t the only one feeling that way.

Everyone knew. This situation right now is a kind of show.

It’s propaganda that the labyrinth is safe and the Imperial Family will solve everything.

If not, there’s no reason to go to such lengths and make such a fuss.

I walked steadily and stood in front of the Knight Commander.

But the Knight Commander stepped aside.

And someone appeared in that spot.

The Knight Commander showed respect.

Not the old and serious Knight Commander, but a young and seemingly strong man.

Blond hair and a long red cloak with the Imperial Family’s emblem drawn on it.

Above all, the White Lion necklace, said to be bestowed only upon the master of the Empire who will lead this Empire next.

Everyone here could tell who that person was.

The Crown Prince.

The next master of the Empire has descended here.

Clank!! Clank!!!

Knights showed respect, and countless citizens and explorers showed respect simultaneously.

I did the same.

“…Thanks to you, we were able to capture the 7 Sinners, who were a stain on the Imperial Family. I myself could not but descend here.”

The flowing silence despite so many people being present.

Step, step.

The only being who could make a sound here was the Crown Prince.

He walked slowly, and then sat in the prepared seat.

“…Let’s begin.”

The event proceeded quickly.

Giving rewards and thankfully receiving them.

But there was something strange.

The fact that the items given were very useful.

Should I say they gave exactly what each person needed, tailored to the person?

Kai received an excellent artifact.

He received arrows said to have defeated a giant.

Grace received equipment.

It was a dagger that strengthens ice-attribute attacks.

And they gave me a luxurious magic staff.

It was useless to me, who uses a deck.

But I thankfully received it.

When they gave things that everyone needed, I almost got goosebumps at their information gathering ability, but.

Looking at the staff, it seems their information gathering ability is just excellent.

The Empire’s Crown Prince should at least do this much.

My vigilance level dropped a bit.

The Crown Prince withdrew after receiving the cheers of countless people, and the event concluded.

It was a short but intense day.

After it ended, I returned to the clan building.

“You’ve been keeping the house well. It’s later than I thought, isn’t it?”

Noah welcomed us.

She wasn’t the kind of woman to wait for us until this late at night, but.

Because there was a promise I made with her.

“Can’t we do it after sleeping?”

“Do it right now.”

“…Okay.”

I immediately opened the Status Window.

The Status Window that opened when I survived the 5th floor.

『Congratulations! You have captured the Apostate Urie and taken one step closer to the labyrinth’s secret.』

『A new function is unlocked.』

『You can enter the Shop. [Cooldown 120 hours]』

『Time flows differently in the Shop compared to reality.』

“When can you do it?”

Unfortunately, just because we are both transmigrated doesn’t mean we can see each other’s Status Windows.

I don’t know if she can enter this Shop either.

Trying this now is also thanks to her insisting so much that I do it.

“Then I’ll do it?”

“I’m holding on tight!”

Noah clung to my body.

Because Grace’s gaze watching from nearby was unusual, I quickly pressed the Status Window.

『Moving to the Shop.』

*

“…Failed.”

It wasn’t going to work from the start.

I know Noah is desperate, but it’s too absurd to happen.

“It’s been a while.”

One beastkin visible beyond the campfire.

Card Mage Kaman.

“You seem to have aged a bit since I last saw you?”

“Hmph, is that so?”

“I can enter the Shop freely now. But I didn’t defeat a Black Mage this time, so what do I do?”

“There are many ways to get coins other than that.”

Clink, clink!!!

Money pours down from the sky.

Thud, thud, thud.

“It’s coins equal to the number of people you’ve saved so far.”

“Your words change every time, you’re just giving coins however you want, aren’t you?”

Flinch!

Kaman’s two ears twitched slightly.

It seemed I was right.

“Then give me a lot. I really almost died this time, you know?”

“With just that much. Back in my day, more than that…”

“Hurry up and unpack your bundle.”

I stopped Kaman before he could tell various stories.

I should buy first and then ask what I’m curious about.

“*Cough*, then take a good look.”

Swish.

Kaman unfolded the bundle.