episode_0084

District 1, where the headquarters of the Ariel Church is located. Like District 11, which is dominated by the Magic Tower, District 1 had a completely different atmosphere. It seemed to effectively rule District 1. Even the houses where ordinary residents lived were all decorated in the church style. Moreover, although they claimed to maintain simplicity on the surface, one could tell it was a group possessing immense wealth, as expensive magical artifacts filled every corner. Considering that churches in modern times can build colossal buildings with offerings, the power of a church that can actually bestow miracles would be unimaginably strong. [The Ariel Church does not wish for the labyrinth to disappear.] I recalled the conversation I had with the Crown Prince a while ago. Because if the evil god were defeated, they would lose these vast vested interests and inevitably face a gradual decline. It was indeed an ironic situation, but I could understand it. Although I couldn’t agree with it. Fortunately, I was treated equivalently as a sort of witness for investigation, not a prisoner. I was transported in an ordinary carriage, not the prison carriage that had tried to take me away. And I wasn’t the only one brought here. As witnesses, all of the 1st squad, specifically me, Kairak Luca, and Grace, excluding Adele. It seems they decided that way, probably thinking the recently joined clan members wouldn’t know anything. It was likely a correct judgment in reality. Grace and I weren’t particularly flustered because we had shared information, but Kairak was notably sweating and tense. There’s no one as reliable as Kairak when fighting, but seeing him like this makes me feel a bit of a gap. “…Are you nervous?” “No.” Luca poked Kairak as if teasing him, but Kairak shook his head as if it wasn’t the case at all. I also wondered if I should have given them some prior notice. “No wonder you haven’t been seen for a while, you left!” Kairak and Luca already knew Noah’s identity to some extent, having met her on the 4th floor. But I hadn’t told them the exact details. “Just answer truthfully.” “Understood.” Anyway, making two people who aren’t good at talking lie would be a bad decision. “Nothing much will happen.” In the first place, I had already submitted everything related to Noah as evidence. And Noah said they couldn’t find her, who was imprinted on my body. I had already cleared up or handled anything that could be picked apart. Of course, Noah took care of most of it herself. Still, I was nervous. Running all sorts of simulations in my head and roughly thinking about how the situation would unfold, I arrived at the heart of the church before I knew it. “No matter how many times I come, I can’t seem to get used to it.” “Indeed.” As expected of a church with immense power, lavish and enormous buildings stood tall, far removed from simplicity. They were even taller and more majestic than buildings in the modern era where I lived. “You seem to come often?” “Because the church is the only place where curse cards can be removed. It’s a place an explorer has to come to at some point.” “Well, it’s not like it costs money to visit.” The reason I didn’t particularly stop by here was partly because I was a mage who didn’t use cards, but also because I felt a bit distant after meeting the Saintess, Aria. But eventually, I ended up coming here. Not for a good reason, though. “…Let’s go in.” As I followed Aria into the church, it was as if countless people were waiting for me. Fortunately, seeing their varied clothing, it seemed like just a large gathering of ordinary people. But why were they gathered here? Just as I wondered. “Then…” Aria abruptly stopped our group. Ding!! 『Killing intent detected. Draw 3 cards.』 [Force Field(2)] [Freeze(2)] [Pyre(3)] Simultaneously as 3 cards were drawn, the red scissors Aria held cut the space in front of me. *Thud-* With that sound, items started spewing haphazardly from the subspace bag I carried on my back. Of course, since I didn’t usually carry much, there were no things like food and clothes as when entering the labyrinth, but just one thing crossed my mind. The black mage’s booklet I obtained while doing a personal request with Aria. Aria picked up one of them and shouted. “This is the evidence! Evidence that this person is colluding with a black mage!!!” The Saintess picked up the book written in the language of black mages and my notes from reading and analyzing it. At the same time, the atmosphere around us began to churn. People who, as if on cue, started showering us with random abuse and curses. And Aria was subtly smiling, as if she had won. “It is only natural to execute all heretics. I shall execute them here and now!” As the Saintess shouted, the atmosphere grew increasingly agitated. Holy Knights swarming out and surrounding us. It seemed the matter was already decided, as they were in combat posture. On the other hand, we were disarmed. “It was a trap. What should we do now?” “First, break through.” Fortunately, if it’s only Holy Knights and priests, we can escape from here. How to resolve this situation will be decided later. Just as I was about to unleash my senses and use a card. Someone stepped in between us. “Just a moment!!!!” A familiar voice and face. It was Rain, one of the Guild Guides from District 11. Why is she here? Seeing the Guild Guide’s uniform, the Holy Knights and priests began to move aside. Her status was lower than anyone else here. Yet, she couldn’t be ignored. Because she was a guide from the Labyrinth City Guild. “Saintess. That book just now was reported to the Guild as spoils of a quest. This can be proven by the Guild.” As Rain took out documents, the surrounding reactions gradually began to subside. At the same time, discomfort settled on the Saintess’s face. Perhaps the counter-argument was faster than expected? Perhaps she had intended to handle it quickly in the heated atmosphere. Because even if facts were brought in later, it would be over by then. But whoever gave the information, with Rain intervening like this, the reactions of the agitated citizens began to cool down. “Furthermore, forcibly opening a person’s subspace is illegal within the Labyrinth City. Are you aware of this?” “……” The forehead of the Saintess, who was smiling kindly, slightly furrowed. Seeing that, I could finally relax a little. “The Guild’s principle is to remain neutral and not interfere in other matters, isn’t it?” “Neutrality and standing still are different.” “I see. We will formally request the materials from the Guild.” The Saintess stared at Rain as if to kill her. As if adding fuel to the fire, Rain declared. “As the guide who handled the incident at the time, I request to be a witness. You have no objection, do you?” “…No.” “Then I will join the table.” Rain immediately walked towards me. She helped put the scattered items into the subspace bag. “Then, let’s go for the investigation.” Following Rain, I entered the interior of the church. Saintess Aria was just smiling kindly. The citizens who had filled the surroundings. “What, looks like they weren’t the culprit?” “Didn’t I say that the Witch Slayer who killed so many black mages couldn’t possibly be like that?” “Then who is the real culprit?” Before long, they started leaving the building as if the tide was receding. * The investigation ended quickly. It wasn’t that there was no crime at all. There was a crime just by hiding a sinner in my house. What was important was only the sentence. It concluded with a simple fine. Because there was no evidence that we knew she was an apostle of the evil god. Conversely, it also meant there was no evidence to protect us if the Saintess had framed us to the end. If that had happened, it would have been terrible just thinking about it. “Thanks to you, we survived.” “Not at all. Are you alright, Mr. Luca?” “More importantly, how did you know?” “That… I can’t say. Something like a higher-up informed me?” Did the Crown Prince help? But given the Crown Prince’s characteristic need to minimize contact with me, it doesn’t seem likely. In that case, it’s likely someone else. For example, the Magic Tower Lord. Or someone else. Well, unless Rain says it herself. There’s no way to know. “Was that why you didn’t come to our clan these past few days?” “That’s right. I can’t give you the details.” In any case, it’s certain that she helped us. “More importantly, did you hear that? The story about a subjugation force being assembled to eliminate black mages.” “I expected it. Naturally, it wouldn’t be good to drag this situation out for long.” “And it’s said that a wanted order for Ms. Noah will be issued.” [Living comfortably is out of the question now.] Noah’s voice heard in my head. I could sense a slight feeling of relief in that voice. Because there would be no safe place for her anywhere on the continent now. [Oh dear, my fate. I really want to go back home.] Listening to Noah grumble, we returned to the clan building. Rain immediately returned to the Guild. “It was a tough day.” “Still, we managed to get through it safely.” The best outcome resulted. It might all be due to the information the Crown Prince gave. We also received help from someone who moved Rain. If I hadn’t had such backing, I would have truly been trapped in the Ariel Church alone, unable to escape being a puppet. In the worst case, I might have lost my life. [You have good fortune with people. I would have lived comfortably if I had just come as an apostle of the main god.] “This side also has its own troubles.” Neither I nor Noah have an easy life. We just struggle to survive somehow. “They say the Guild gives huge rewards if you join the subjugation force?” “But you can only apply if you’re a high-floor explorer!” “I also heard they accept upper-middle-floor explorers.” “Us too? That’s a bit scary to say.” Before long, discussions about the subjugation force started circulating within the clan as well. It is said that the Ariel Church, the Guild, and various nobles decided to join forces and form a subjugation force to reclaim the labyrinth. Moreover, since many deep-level explorers are also participating, it seems there are quite a few people applying just to fill the numbers. “Even deep-level explorers have no choice but to come out if supplies run out. If the situation is prolonged, the vanguard will also have no choice but to return, won’t they?” “The vanguard.” The labyrinth’s vanguard is a group of deep-level explorers who advance into the deepest parts of the deep levels. Naturally, they advance day by day receiving all sorts of support and supplies from the Guild and the Empire. The fact that this could be halted was bound to be threatening. “Actually, maybe the black mages don’t really care about capturing Noah, and their main goal is just to cut off the supply route so that supplies can’t reach the vanguard?” It was a reasonably logical inference. Because it’s common sense that if the labyrinth is conquered, the evil god will be defeated. “Well, deep-level explorers probably have enough supplies to last a year.” “That’s also true.” Even our clan, which only has a few personal subspace items right now, could last 2 months in the labyrinth if we wanted to. By that point, they would have more than enough personal subspace items, so they could truly last a long time. “But you’re not going to apply for the subjugation force, are you?” “That’s right. It seems a bit dangerous.” To be precise, since Noah is currently half-possessing my body, there’s no reason to do something beneficial for those guys. “More importantly, I can’t believe they didn’t notice.” It’s amazing. Noah can materialize outside my body at any time. And they didn’t notice at all. How is that possible? Especially to the extent that even the Ariel Church, who are the top experts in discerning black mage mana, couldn’t notice. [The Magic Tower Lord said it was magic prepared for us.] ‘…Us?’ [Uh-huh. They say it’s magic prepared by Magic Tower Lords for generations?] If so, I need to know exactly what this magic is. Should I go find the Magic Tower Lord? I immediately entered the Magic Tower. As soon as I entered the entrance. “Oh! Ivan! Welcome!!” The Magic Tower Lord welcoming me with open arms. The guide next to him was startled. “You came to see me today, right?” “…Yes.” “Then.” The Magic Tower Lord instantly teleported me to the top of the Magic Tower. “It’s safe here, so you can come out.” At the Magic Tower Lord’s words, Noah immediately emerged from my shadow. “Wow, I can finally breathe. It’s too stuffy in there. Although I’ve gotten a bit used to it.” “Are you feeling alright?” “Yes! Grandpa. I’m perfectly fine!” Grandpa to the Magic Tower Lord. I was startled, but the Magic Tower Lord didn’t seem to care. “So, did you receive my help well?” “Ah, surely you didn’t send the Guild Guide…” “Precisely, I conveyed the matter to the Guild Master.” “I see.” The Guild Master. He’s certainly someone who can move a Guild Guide. “Anyway, that person. He nagged me so much last time for using the guide as my hands and feet!” The Magic Tower Lord suddenly started badmouthing the Guild Master. “Well, people can be like that.” “Exactly!! It’s not like I didn’t give any compensation!” The Magic Tower Lord and Noah started talking familiarly. Seeing that, it seems true that the Magic Tower protected Noah while we were in the labyrinth. “Well, anyway. You came here because you were curious about this magic, right?” “……Yes.” Noah said she learned how to use it, but didn’t know how it worked or why something like this was prepared. “The reason this magic was created is…” The Magic Tower Lord started unnecessarily building suspense. Perhaps because of that. I felt slightly nervous and unconsciously swallowed. “I’ll tell you if you become my direct disciple!!!” …No, this old man?!