[Side Twilight Moonbow] Labyrinth Strategy ① Reunion
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As the Twilight Moonbow reached the entrance of the labyrinth that suddenly appeared to the north of Dal Ane, waiting for the right moment to enter, a tremendous explosion erupted from the direction of Dal Ane, followed by a tornado that swept up magical beasts along with the shockwave.
"Oh! A huge explosion!" Caroline exclaimed, her usual high-energy voice filled with excitement at the sight.
"Is that the master's magic? I wonder how far away our master really is. We’ve been trying so hard to catch up, but we still can’t reach him," Logan said, his tone somewhat downbeat, though his face showed a mix of happiness and a competitive gleam.
"I heard that the physical limitations preventing the use of advanced-level magic were overcome, but even so, when someone like Orn, who’s supposed to be a swordsman, does something that even a mage from the magical lineage like myself can't do, it really puts my position in jeopardy,"
Luna, agreeing with Logan’s words, smiled wryly as she found the situation amusing.
While the three were captivated by Orn's magic, Sophia was keeping an eye on the surrounding magical beasts, carefully calculating the right time to enter the labyrinth.
"Log, the magical beast output seems to have settled down. I think now’s the time to enter," Sophia said.
"Got it. Then, before we go in, can I ask you to send a telepathic message to the master?" Logan replied, quickly shifting his focus, giving instructions to Sophia, and starting to construct the necessary buffing magic for everyone.
"Sure, leave it to me!" Sophia responded.
Since all four of them were under the influence of Selma’s Mental Link, they were all capable of sending telepathic messages. However, because Sophia was the most accustomed to communicating with Selma, she would be the one to report to Orn via telepathy.
<Orn-san, we’ve arrived at the dungeon! We’re starting the Strategy!>
As soon as Sophia sent the telepathic message, she received a reply from Orn.
<Got it. I’m rooting for you all. You can conquer the dungeon. Don’t worry about things here, just focus on your mission!>
His words were filled with trust in them.
Feeling the confidence that their master had in them, Logan and the others entered the labyrinth with no hesitation, their faces devoid of any anxiety.
<Yes! We’re off!> they all replied.
However, once they entered the labyrinth, Selma’s Mental Link was cut off, as it was a different space. Just before the connection was severed, Sophia’s bold voice echoed in the minds of everyone under the influence of Mental Link.
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"...Is this a hill?"
Logan muttered as he looked around.
The labyrinth that the Twilight Moonbow had entered was an open space, resembling the lower levels of a great labyrinth.
The gently sloping terrain and the widely spaced trees didn't create a feeling of confinement, but the visibility was poor.
"An open labyrinth is a pain. It's a real struggle trying to find the path leading to the next level," Luna said, her expression sour.
While an open labyrinth would be a welcome challenge in terms of exploration, it was the last thing one would want when the goal was to clear it quickly, as there would be countless paths to take.
"We'll just have to proceed steadily while mapping as we go. First, let's move away from here, Log. If we stay near the entrance, we'll be fighting a lot of magical beasts," Sophia suggested.
"Yeah, you're right. Let's just move on for now," Logan agreed.
Taking Sophia's suggestion, Logan decided to move away from the entrance, mapping the area as he went. He chose a direction based on instinct, with Sophia and Luna following him.
However, Caroline seemed to be spacing out, looking around.
"Carol? What's wrong? We need to move away from here," Logan called out to her.
"Hmm, just wait a second, Log," Caroline responded, but she didn't turn toward Logan. Instead, she muttered to herself and seemed lost in her own world.
"An open-type labyrinth, terrain with poor visibility... Both of these were things that person... liked. If that's the case..."
Suddenly, Caroline seemed to realize something, and she started walking in a different direction from the one Logan had chosen.
"Hey, what's going on, Carol?" Logan called after her.
"I just want to try something. Give me a little time," Caroline replied, continuing to walk despite Logan’s confusion.
The three of them, feeling suspicious, followed Caroline.
She stopped about fifty meters from the entrance, then raised her voice in satisfaction. "Yeah, this should be it!"
She turned to face the others and spoke again.
"Does anyone have a magic stone?"
"Y-Yeah. I have one. Is this okay?" Sophia, still puzzled, took a small magic stone from her storage magic tool and handed it to Caroline.
"Thanks, Sophie!" Caroline said with a smile.
"So, what are you planning to do with it?"
Still unsure of what Caroline was doing, Logan asked her again.
"I know this labyrinth," Caroline said.
"What!?"
"Well, more precisely, I know something similar to this one. This labyrinth is very close to the kind that Doctor used to create. If this labyrinth was really created by Doctor..."
As she spoke, Caroline began idly toying with the magic stone Sophia had given her. Suddenly, a magic circle began to materialize beneath her feet.
"This is...!"
"I knew it. This magic circle can teleport us to the innermost part of this labyrinth. And if this works, it means Doctor is definitely in the deepest part of the labyrinth."
The certainty in Caroline's voice, as she spoke with an unusually serious expression, made it clear that she was speaking with conviction.
"Doctor... you mean one of the leaders of the Cyclamen Sect, right?"
Logan and Sophia were too stunned to speak, but Luna, who had endured more life-or-death situations, calmly inquired without showing her confusion.
"That's right. Cyclamen Sect: Fifth Seat Doctor Oswell McCloud. He was the one who kidnapped my brother and me and used us for human experiments."
Caroline trembled slightly, perhaps recalling past experiences, but unlike when she had been reunited with her brother and sister, there was no sign of panic. Her eyes still held a strong determination.
"Doctor himself isn't that strong. I could probably restrain him. But he commands a lot of magical beasts, so it won't be that easy. And the Doctor I know is the one from the past. I don’t know what he’s like now. He’s someone who can do anything, so turning back is also an option."
Suppressing her fear, Caroline shared what she knew with the three of them. Seeing this, the three of them responded in unison.
"What do you want to do, Carol?"
Logan asked on behalf of the others.
Caroline took a deep breath, then looked straight into their eyes and spoke.
"I... I don't want to run anymore. I believe this is fate. Sophie, you faced your past without running, so I don’t want to look away from mine anymore. I want to put an end to it!"
Hearing Caroline’s resolve, the three of them nodded.
"Got it! We’ll help! I don’t care if he’s some big shot from the Sect, we’ll knock him out!" Logan exclaimed.
"I’ll fight with Carol!" Sophia added.
"I’ll handle the support. Carol, just do what you feel is right," Luna said.
"Thanks, everyone... Alright! Let's take down the Doctor! And then—"
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The deepest part of the labyrinth that Twilight Moonbow had entered suddenly saw a magic circle rise up from the ground.
"A teleportation circle is activating!? What’s going on!?"
Luelia exclaimed in surprise upon seeing it. Frederick, standing beside her, also gazed at the magic circle with a puzzled expression.
Few people knew of the teleportation circle that could move from the entrance to the deepest part of the labyrinth.
Not even other high-ranking members of the Sect knew about such a mechanism in the labyrinth Doctor had created.
Only Doctor himself and those who had been his experimental subjects knew of its existence.
However, the experimental subjects had all been disposed of, with the exception of Luelia and Frederick.
Since the three of them were gathered in the deepest part, the magic circle wouldn't have activated on its own. Doctor himself was slightly surprised at first, but upon seeing the people who had just teleported in, he quickly understood.
"I'm glad to see you remember my teachings, Caroline. —Welcome, members of Twilight Moonbow."
Sitting on an out-of-place, throne-like chair in the deepest part of the labyrinth, Doctor—Oswell McCloud—welcomed the newly arrived members of Twilight Moonbow, surrounded by several floating magic circles.
"Doctor! And... Luelia-neechan and Fred-oniichan..."
Caroline, bewildered, looked around, seeing not only Doctor but also her older siblings, Luelia and Frederick.
"It’s been a while, Caroline. You've grown so much," Doctor said with a grin.
"—Tch! Don’t act like a parent! I don’t care about anything you say!" Caroline snapped, her face contorted in disgust.
"Hey, hey, I was the one who took care of you after your parents were gone, right? I was like a parent to you," Doctor chuckled.
"You killed Mom and Dad! And... and still, you have the audacity to say something like that!"
Caroline’s heart was in turmoil. The fear ingrained in her by Doctor, her resolve to settle things with him, and the taunting words of the man who had killed her parents—all of these emotions collided within her.
Normally, Caroline would never raise her voice or let her negative feelings show, but now, she was using her anger to drive herself forward.
"Haha! Sure, I killed your parents, but the fact remains, I was the one who took care of you, right?" Doctor laughed mockingly.
"What the hell is wrong with this guy...? Is he even human?"
Caroline’s anger seemed to have no effect on Doctor, and Logan couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread.
Sophia and Luna also glared at Oswell, their faces expressing clear distaste.
"—Doctor, we’re allowed to kill the intruders, right?"
Before Oswell could speak again, Luelia interrupted him with her question.
"Ah... right, that’s fine. Since Caroline has outlived her usefulness, everyone except Sophia Cloudel can be killed."
"...Huh? Me...?"
Sophia, who had suddenly been mentioned by name, let out a confused sound.
"What’s this about!? You’re saying Sophia—!?"
Before Caroline could raise her voice to question Oswell’s intent, Luelia, empowered by Frederick’s buff, closed the distance in an instant and was right in front of Caroline.
Luelia then swung her long sword, which was almost as tall as she was.
Caroline quickly reacted to Luelia’s attack, crossing two black short swords to block the incoming strike.
However, the blow, enhanced by both the buff and centrifugal force, was too much for her to handle, and she was sent flying backward.
"Carol!? Damn it!"
Logan, reacting a moment too late, swung his spear at Luelia.
Luelia effortlessly blocked it with her sword.
Seizing the moment when Logan’s movement stopped, he used his unique ability to materialize the shadows extending from her, attempting to restrain her with vine-like tendrils.
"I’ve seen this before."
Looking down at the black vines rising from below, Luelia muttered with a bored tone, and then immediately activated Flash Strike, which eradicated the shadows.
"—Gah!?"
Flash Strike not only blinded Logan but also allowed Luelia’s kick to strike him in the abdomen.
Logan was sent flying, but the time he bought was enough for the remaining two to finish preparing their spells.
As Luelia was engaged with them, Sophia and Luna simultaneously began casting their offensive magic from either side. However, Frederick’s magic was released first.
Lightning arrows rained down on Sophia and Luna, forcing them to dodge.
In the meantime, Luelia skillfully wielded her longsword and sent multiple slashes toward Caroline.
Caroline, who had been blown away, managed to roll and dodge Luelia’s strikes just in time.
As Luelia closed in again, she swung her sword once more.
The two of them disappeared from the others' sight when they entered a hole large enough to fit a person, which had been created by one of Luelia’s earlier slashes.