episode_0100

Something black covering District 11. A single hole was pierced through it, and countless people began to enter through that place. All sorts of explorers and knight orders, soldiers, and even paladins and priests. They, pouring in in a rush, were defeating all the monsters around them. And a situation where priests were treating explorers in real time. Kitra had arrived beside me before I knew it. “Clan Leader! What in the world is this…?” As Noah wasn’t significantly injured, Kitra began by treating my wounds first. I began to feel something embedded in my body being removed. “We have a critical patient here!!!” Beside Kitra, who was shouting like that, was Guild Leader Razan. Perhaps because of him holding just one sword without much other armament, or because the reinforcements had rushed in. Or perhaps because the magic tower was still raining down bombardments, I don’t know. The black mages, who were pouring out attacks as if they would destroy everything around them, seemingly with anger management issues, were instantly injected with manners and began to cure their illness. Abandoning their masterpiece monsters in an instant, they began to flee. It was only natural, given that the plan they had risked everything on had been thwarted. The group of high-ranking black mages who had been glaring this way finally gave up on Noah and began to retreat. Seeing the countless reinforcements chasing them pass by my side. I instinctively knew it was finally over. It seems like today was a day when an unusual number of holes appeared in my body. * The situation was quickly brought under control. Unfortunately, I couldn’t see the Guild Leader, said to be one of the strongest in this world, fighting. I’m just grateful to have survived. It is said that the black mages suffered devastating damage. Roughly a few thousand corpses just of the black mages killed. Even if the black mage group was of a similar scale to the Ariel Church, they suffered enormous damage. They tried to achieve all their goals by employing the absurd measure of completely blockading District 11, but they failed, so they paid the appropriate price. Moreover, the damage didn’t end there. Traces of the Ariel Church that had secretly helped the black mages after entering District 11. Even if the black mages erased all those traces. It is impossible to erase even the evidence that humans saw and left behind. Numerous curse dolls were already found in large numbers in the basement of the Ariel Church’s church building. And calling together the majority of priests for no reason, resulting in numerous casualties. As all these circumstantial pieces of evidence also pointed to the Ariel Church. Even they couldn’t endure it. However, the measure they took. It was to pin all the blame on the Saint, Aria. Namely, cutting off the tail. Since all the priests and paladins under her had actually fled outside the Labyrinth City overnight, the church itself issued a warrant, explicitly calling them ‘heretics’. Moreover, evidence that she had communicated with the black mages suddenly poured out. People’s reaction was along the lines of, “Isn’t this just the Saint’s deviation? It wasn’t related to the church!” and they moved on. This was thanks to the church’s usual good image management. As that was the public opinion, it was difficult to push further even with circumstantial evidence. In fact, rumors even circulated that the Saint herself had deceived the black mages in order to defeat them. And District 11 was completely devastated, except for a part around the magic tower. Of course, not all buildings were completely destroyed, but they became almost ruins in the final battle. For now, it became difficult to find intact buildings. Our clan building, which once stood proudly as a two-story structure, was gone, with only the foundation remaining. The only saving grace was that the basement level 1, which was used as a storage, remained intact. Rain felt a bit lonely, but I told him that time originally flows and the world changes. During the approximately two weeks of receiving treatment, nothing special happened in the labyrinth either. According to the guild’s announcement, because devastating damage had accumulated among the black mages, people could enter the labyrinth with peace of mind. Thanks to this, a large number of explorers who hadn’t been able to enter the labyrinth for a while went in, and there was even a story, which you couldn’t help but laugh at, that the market price of ordinary cards dropped. Anyway. It was a few days that felt long if you thought about it, and short if you thought about it. All the clan members had found new homes around the magic tower and were staying there. Of course, the monthly rent was beyond imagination. Because most of the people who lived in District 11 tried to move in here. Of course, due to that exorbitant amount of money, most people who lived in District 11 moved to other districts. If I were just an ordinary clan member, I would have considered moving the clan’s base this time, but. Unfortunately, I currently hold the position of the Magic Tower Master’s disciple. Of course, I am still in the hospital room provided by the guild. Recovery from injuries caused by black magic is slow, so there was no other choice. However, although most patients were transferred to facilities in District 0, I remained here. Because there were countless people in worse condition than me. Noah, who didn’t have many injuries and was naturally sturdy, was discharged quickly and immediately headed to Master. After hearing various stories from Grace and Luca who came to visit me today, I was alone again after they left. Just as I thought another day was passing like that. Someone came to visit me. “May I come in?” It was the Crown Prince’s voice. Naturally, I had no power to refuse. The Crown Prince entering with a guard knight, as usual. Immediately after using magic to block sound, he pulled out a chair in front of me and sat down. Still, he did bring something, perhaps considering it a visit. The guard knight expertly began to peel an apple with a knife. “You’ve done a great job this time too. If it weren’t for you, I would have been buried in that fog and almost died. Of course, I wouldn’t have died but would have been dragged to the imperial palace, though.” “That’s a relief. To think they had dug such a massive trap.” “Indeed. It seems to be a plan that has been prepared for quite some time.” Thud. The Crown Prince throws a document from his pocket. While I read it immediately. “When you didn’t move according to the church’s will, when the Apostle of the Evil God escaped. And finally, when I escaped the empire’s grasp, they devised a method to catch these three things at once. That is what manifested in the form of occupying District 11 this time.” “But I have a question. Couldn’t they just capture us one by one?” “Likely, both the church and the empire find it difficult to move openly as there are many eyes, and it’s also hard for the black mages to infiltrate. It’s a political matter. Not all of the empire has fallen into the Evil God’s grasp, and not all of the church has colluded with the black mages.” “That’s fortunate, at least.” Does that mean their scale was smaller than expected, forcing them to resort to such unreasonable actions? Because if they have fewer troops, it’s much more advantageous to seize the timing and pour in all their power for a timed rush. “However, it seems they acted more hastily this time than expected. You and the Apostle of the Evil God will always stay in District 11, but I tend to move around various places in the Labyrinth City.” “Moreover, I also enter the labyrinth.” At that moment, a thought suddenly occurred to me. “Then couldn’t they just attack us separately when we’re in the labyrinth? Why not usually.” “Didn’t a similar thing just happen on the 5th floor? If they openly target you, who knows what measures the quick-witted guild or similar places might take.” “…That’s true.” “Anyway, you probably won’t have to worry about entering the labyrinth for a while. Because they’ve truly been almost annihilated, they say.” Swish. The guard knight hands over the apple. Immediately took a bite of one. “More than that, have you heard stories about yourself lately?” “What kind of stories are you talking about?” “Haha, it seems your clan members haven’t told you. Well, in that case, I won’t bother telling you either.” The Crown Prince holds out his hand. “Anyway, the contract is still valid, right?” “…Yes.” Anyway, it seems I can only live a peaceful life or return to my original world if the Evil God disappears. The enemy of my enemy is my friend. An alliance with the Crown Prince brings nothing but advantage. “…But is it okay to meet so openly like this? Before, you were being careful about all sorts of things.” “Didn’t the knights around me all disappear?” “Now that you mention it. Except for the one person here…” They were all gone. Even if I immediately spread my senses and looked outside, they weren’t there. And upon reflecting on my memory, it seems for some reason the Crown Prince came with only one knight on the day he visited the magic tower. “On that day, they all suddenly returned, saying there was an urgent summons from the Emperor. Just like the church that summoned all its priests and paladins.” “…I see.” “So I cut them all off under the pretext of failed escort. Because there was justification. And.” At that moment, the Crown Prince, who had paused briefly, said with a slightly cool tone. “It’s probably because I decided that from now on, I should move directly, not just behind the scenes.” * I was discharged from the hospital. Considering the size of the injuries, I stayed longer than usual. Perhaps it’s due to the received damage increase from the energy artifact I obtained this time. Letting aside the fact that it hurts more, it doesn’t seem quite right that it affects recovery rate as well. Anyway. Returning to the clan after a long time, everyone welcomed me. Thankfully, none of the clan members had died. The atmosphere in District 11 was a bit gloomy, but only to that extent. Because there were almost no casualties except for explorers and mages. It was also thanks to the citizens who quickly completed their evacuation as soon as the situation occurred. Of course, it might have been difficult because their homes were gone, but. “They say the magic tower is going to create an entire magic city?” It was decided that the magic tower would make a large-scale investment, and house prices soared, so the original residents of this place felt a little relieved. Wondering how on earth such a decision was made, I asked Master. “I originally wanted to create a city I liked. But to do that, I’d have to tear everything down and build it, so I couldn’t.” Even when developing a new city, the modern approach is to first completely level the area. How would the Middle Ages be any different? It was leveled completely this time, albeit unintentionally, so it’s actually the right time to push ahead with it. Thus, the world keeps turning. And we also get our daily lives back. Doing training as usual (just running because the training ground collapsed) too. While just thinking about when to enter the labyrinth next. Unbelievable news came down. “Mr. Ivan!!!” As the guild suddenly summoned us, we went to the guild, and Rain welcomed us. “They say the empire is directly giving awards to individuals who made significant contributions in this incident!” “Ah, similar to last time?” Didn’t the empire give awards to the survivors in the incident on the 5th floor last time? I was thinking it was a similar feeling, but. “But, they say the imperial family will commend them directly?” “……Directly then.” “It seems you’ll have to go to the empire.” The empire, the imperial family that the Crown Prince cursed so much, invited me.