The Final Labyrinth
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"Hey! Hand over the materials, you magical beasts!"
Haruto-san shouted heroically as he turned the magical beasts into magic stones.
"Haruto, why are you acting so desperate?"
After hunting down the surrounding magical beasts, Fuuka asked Haruto-san, her voice calm.
There was a clear difference in attitude between Haruto-san and Fuuka.
"Of course I'm desperate! My debt to Orn keeps growing day by day! You should be more panicked too!"
Haruto-san, with wide eyes, responded to Fuuka's question, as if surprised by her lack of urgency.
It’s already late February.
It’s been over a month since we were tasked by Her Highness Lucila to clear the labyrinths in various regions.
Even after completing the labyrinth in Sabona Village, we continued to clear labyrinths, and now there’s only this one left to conquer.
Though there have been many unexpected events on this journey, the schedule has been largely on track as initially planned.
However, the one thing that deviated significantly from the plan was the funding.
From the very beginning, we had concerns that the funds provided by the kingdom would not be enough for the labyrinth clearing.
While the "Copper Sunset" organization agreed to cover the shortfall, neither Fuuka nor Haruto-san had enough funds, so it was decided that I would cover the expenses until we returned to Tutril.
The debt Haruto-san mentioned earlier refers to this.
"...? Doesn’t Clanhome have money? When we return to Tutril, you can pay Orn, right?"
Fuuka tilted her head in confusion.
"Yeah. When we get back to Tutril, I can pay him right away. But if I try to cover the entire amount from our savings, we’ll have to reduce the amount of food you get for a while."
When Fuuka heard that her meals would be reduced, her eyes widened slightly, and she turned her back on us, heading toward the area where she thought more magical beasts were located.
"What are you doing? We need to collect the magic stones and materials quickly."
After walking a bit, Fuuka noticed that we weren’t following her and called out to us.
Her expression was so cute that it made me smile without thinking.
"Haruto-san, you’re really good at handling Fuuka."
As I followed Fuuka, I spoke to Haruto-san.
"Is it really 'good handling'? Our princess will bite if you dangle food in front of her... Sometimes I worry she might be deceived by someone with bad intentions."
"That’s not likely. Fuuka’s not thoughtless, and I think her carefree behavior here shows how much she trusts you, Haruto-san."
Looking at Fuuka’s actions on the surface, one might think she’s impulsive, but after spending more than a month with her, I can tell she acts after properly considering her thoughts.
In fact, she’s quick-witted and can make decisions and act immediately.
However, because of her competence, she tends to handle things on her own and doesn’t always try to communicate her thoughts to others, which can be a flaw at times.
As I objectively reflected on Fuuka’s behavior, I realized I had a similar tendency myself.
There’s a saying, "Look at others and correct your own behavior," and I thought I should be more mindful of that too.
◇
With Fuuka becoming more proactive in hunting magical beasts, what was supposed to be a detour turned into a rapid progress, and soon we were left with only the deepest part of the labyrinth to conquer.
(So this journey to clear the labyrinths is coming to an end.)
As I descended the stairs leading to the innermost depths, I reflected on the journey.
It had turned into quite a long trip, but I had gained so much from it.
I had witnessed Fuuka’s combat style up close many times, as she is a specialist in close-quarters combat, and I had also learned about the application of Ki from Haruto-san.
I could confidently say that this journey had helped me grow.
Now, it was just a matter of reaching the innermost chamber, obtaining the labyrinth core, and completing this labyrinth’s conquest.
After that, we would report to Her Highness Lucila in Dal Ane about the completion of the labyrinths in various regions, reunite with Selma-san, and then head back to Tsutoryru.
As I was thinking about all this, Haruto-san spoke up.
"Orn, it seems there’s one last event remaining."
His words were mixed with the usual lightheartedness, but his expression was the most serious I’d seen throughout this journey.
Haruto-san had likely used his [Aerial Vision] to check the situation in the innermost part of the labyrinth. By extending his usual vigilance even further, he must have picked up something.
It was a person.
"It seems there are a few people in the deepest part. Are they explorers trying to disrupt our conquest of the labyrinth again?"
I asked Haruto-san, who had already spotted the individuals, but unlike his usual carefree self, he remained serious and answered.
"I wish it were just that. Those people are almost certainly members of the 'Cyclamen Sect.'"
"What?! Members of the Sect are in the labyrinth...?"
Haruto-san’s words instantly heightened the tension. Not just me, but Fuuka, though her expression didn’t change, exuded a more combative aura.
I clearly recognized the 'Cyclamen Sect' as an enemy, and it seemed that Fuuka and Haruto-san shared that view as well.
Originally, it was Haruto-san who had informed me that Philly Carpenter, who had joined 'Golden Dawn' as my successor, was an executive of the Sect. There was likely a personal history between them as well.
"Orn, what do we do?"
Haruto-san asked, waiting for my decision.
The labyrinth flood that occurred when Her Highness Lucila and I were on our way to Tutril had been caused by Gary, who had been in the innermost part of the labyrinth at the time. This meant that the reason the Sect members were in the deepest part was likely to intentionally cause another flood.
There could be another purpose behind it, but either way, it wouldn’t be something that worked in our favor.
"We’ll continue to the innermost part, staying alert. I want to capture them alive and get them to talk. But if that proves difficult, I’ll take full responsibility. Don’t hesitate to finish them off."
After I conveyed my plan, both of them nodded, and we made our way toward the innermost part of the labyrinth.
When we reached the innermost part of the labyrinth, just as Haruto-san had said, there were about four people dressed in red clothing.
As soon as they realized we had arrived, they muttered in panic, "Already here...!?" "Damn it, too fast...!"
It seemed they had been preparing to face us.
In any case, the look they gave us was anything but friendly.
To restrain their movements, I used [Gravity Manipulation] to increase the gravity in the area where they were.
This had worked to stop the movements of the explorers who had tried to interfere with us previously.
However, against someone like Stig, who killed Gary, or someone as capable as Fuuka, this alone wouldn’t be enough to stop them.
The enemy was from the 'Cyclamen Sect.'
I decided to be extra cautious.
"—[Magic Sword Fusion], [Zero Form]!"
In addition to amplifying the gravity, I transformed Schwarzhase into a flowing, jet-black magic power and shaped it into chains.
These dark chains restrained the enemies.
The weight of the chains was also increased by [Gravity Manipulation] to the point where it was impossible for ordinary people to stand.
It seemed that these enemies weren’t as powerful as Stig or Fuuka, and they collapsed to the ground, unable to move.
"Ugh... what is this? It’s too heavy... I can’t... move..."
"Nice and quick, Orn. —Now, there are four of them, so it's fine if we kill two, right? Which ones should we kill?"
Haruto-san casually spoke, his gaze fixed on the immobilized members of the Sect, but there was no hint of a joke in his eyes.
Fuuka, too, had somehow drawn her sword from its scabbard.
"Hey! We’ll start right away—"
One of the Sect members tried to give orders to his comrades, but before his words could finish, his head and torso were severed.
Fuuka, having beheaded one of the Sect members, stepped forward under the amplified gravity, switched her sword to a reverse grip, and drove the tip of it into the ground.
Immediately, a magic circle appeared on the ground beneath the enemies.
The blade of Fuuka’s sword, which was stuck in the ground, began to gradually turn reddish, becoming copper-colored.
(A copper-colored blade. That’s the change that happens when the cursed sword Fuuka wields activates, a power only she can control.)
Fuuka’s sword was no ordinary blade.
It was said to be a national treasure of Kyūka, a blade that contained not magic, but something akin to "cursed power."
When she wielded that cursed power, the blade’s color shifted from its usual leaden hue to a reddish copper color.
I had asked Fuuka during this journey about what "cursed power" (妖力) was and what it could do, but she had told me, "I can’t explain it now. When the time comes, I’ll tell you." As a result, I still didn’t know much about cursed power.
However, I couldn’t imagine Fuuka doing something without purpose, so there must have been some reason behind her unleashing cursed power here and now.
While I was thinking about this and constructing a spell in my mind, the magic circle floating on the ground began to blur and eventually disappeared.
(What was that...?)
The movement of the magic power when the circle vanished felt off.
It was almost as if, rather than disappearing, it was being pulled into some mysterious space that suddenly appeared, like water leaking out of a container that had developed a hole.
(—No, this isn’t the time to think about that. Right now, neutralizing the Sect members takes priority.)
There was no doubt that Fuuka had done something.
But as I thought about it, I told myself not to think any further...
"Fuuka, get away from the ground!"
I issued the command to Fūka.
I was aware that it was a rather reckless thing to say under the amplified gravity, but Fuuka, upon hearing my voice, kicked off the ground and leapt vertically, using the momentum to pull her sword out of the ground.
The blade of her sword gradually began returning to its usual leaden color.
"—[Earth Current]"
Once I confirmed that Fuuka had escaped into the air, I channeled magic into the spell I had been constructing and activated the magic.
An electrical current ran through the ground, coursing through the bodies of the Sect members who had collapsed, causing three of them to lose consciousness.
"—Ah! Orn, Haruto, there’s an invisible attack coming! Brace for impact!"
Fuuka, now in the air, called out.
Her voice was tense and far different from her usual tone.
It seemed Fuuka had seen something with her ability.
As Haruto-san and I braced ourselves for the impact, we were suddenly struck by a violent gust, sending us flying backward.
Her ability was [Future Sight].
It allowed her to see glimpses of the near future.
While it was a powerful ability, she had mentioned there were drawbacks.
[Future Sight] allows Fuuka to see scenes from the future, but those scenes are perceived through the present Fuuka’s vision. In other words, the future information Fuuka receives is visual.
This means that for an invisible attack like the one we were facing, Fuuka couldn’t predict exactly what was coming. All she saw was us being blown away by something unseen.
Even so, knowing that something was coming allowed us to prepare a minimum defense.
Both Haruto-san and I were blown back, but we sustained no significant damage.
We were momentarily suspended in the air before I quickly used [Gravity Manipulation] to land on the ground.
I slid along the ground, slowing my momentum, and turned my gaze back toward the place where the Sect members were lying unconscious.
The organization members lying face down had thin red lines extending upward from their backs, while those lying on their backs had them extending from their chests.
At the intersection of these four lines, a sphere made of blood continued to expand. When it reached a diameter of several meters, the expansion finally ceased.
"What the hell is that...?"
Haruto-san, standing next to me, muttered as he gazed at the red sphere.
"Both of you, be careful. A large wolf-like monster is about to appear."
Fuuka, who had also been caught in the gust of wind above, skillfully used the shock to land near us and immediately issued another warning.
At the same time as Fuuka's warning, a wolf's howl could be heard from within the massive red sphere. Then, as the sphere burst open, a gigantic, wolf-like beast with dark red fur—resembling a floor boss from a large dungeon—stared at us, its eyes filled with menace.