The Colosseum of Carnage Teran, the Labyrinth City, had changed overnight. More specifically, the city’s character had been radically changed. Its progressive entertainment industries flourished, it attracted ambitious adventurers and merchants, and its commercial districts remained alive all through the night. Meanwhile, sources of violence and pain lurked and pounced on anyone who took even one step into the city’s darkness. The worst aspects of Labyrinth City’s nature were spreading. The cause of this change was an announcement by Vishma, the lord of Teran, informing the populace that a large-scale Stampede had been triggered by demon-god worshippers and that hordes of monsters would soon attack the city. He also revealed that a labyrinth had appeared directly beneath their own streets. The bad news continued when scholars and sages studying the ancient civilization predicted that estivation—a prolonged period of dormancy for monsters in the summer—would not occur this year. Monsters would not have been able to resist estivation in a normal Stampede, but they were so stimulated by this one that they could ignore it. Reservations for long-distance stagecoaches were quickly filled by those fleeing Labyrinth City. Some people started taking tents to stagecoach ticket offices to line up overnight. The schedule had to be revised, and brigades were put together to travel to the capital escorting people’s personal carriages, stagecoaches, nobles’ dragon carriages, and travelers who recklessly decided to walk. Meanwhile, an endless stream of people traveled in the opposite direction toward Labyrinth City, the ambition on their faces greatly contrasting the terror of those who were fleeing. Each one was lured by the great riches promised by the Dineezian orders of knights and the Adventurers Guild as a part of their mass recruitment efforts. Normal Stampedes were dealt with by letting racing dragons loose across the land and to kill the monsters that left their labyrinths, with the dragon knights keeping the large harvest of monster parts for themselves. A large-scale Stampede, however, would require more manpower, and every order of knights knew they had to shore up their numbers, no matter what the cost. The Adventurers Guild also needed help to hunt as many monsters as possible before they left their labyrinths. The labyrinths were dangerous because of the large number of mutants, but waiting idly for the Stampede to begin would allow the numbers to balloon out of control, and even more powerful monsters would spawn. Many adventurers were eager to take on this work, as the rich mana in the labyrinths turned the monsters into very valuable game. Simply put, it was highly profitable work. Labyrinth exploration during a large-scale Stampede yielded significantly greater earnings than during peacetime. A considerable number of noncombatants remained in Labyrinth City either because they anticipated the unprecedented economic boom or because they wanted to support the fighters and those who were too weak to run. This strange sense of unity driven by ambition and chivalry barely kept the city functioning. It wasn’t just money that lured people to Labyrinth City. There was also the honor of protecting one’s country and the chance to earn glory from killing powerful monsters. While a large-scale Stampede was a terrible battle for survival, it was also a once-in-a-lifetime chance for those who lived in the world of blood and violence to work their way up in society. Fighting in a large-scale Stampede was obviously a big risk. The number of countries that had been physically overwhelmed and destroyed by similar events in the past was considerable. Yet the Holy Kingdom of Dineez had survived a large-scale Stampede two centuries prior. It was certain that many people would die, but a portion of those who remained burned with hope and ambition, believing the battle was still winnable. The unprecedented economic boom extended to overly crowded bars, but many restaurants and cafés with a more relaxed atmosphere put out signs announcing a temporary or permanent closure. In the west of Labyrinth City, one restaurant found itself in an awkward situation. Business was undeniably bad, but they hadn’t closed up shop, and its employees still had the composure and compassion to help a man they’d found collapsed in the street. “Oh, you’re awake. You feeling okay?” said a man who appeared around thirty years old. “…Yeah,” Nick grunted. “You were out for three whole days, man. Do you remember coming here?” the stranger asked. “Three days?!” Nick exclaimed, shocked. He didn’t believe the man at first, but then his exhaustion hit him. He was certainly tired enough to have slept for that long. After his fight with Argus, Nick had wandered the streets on the verge of death trying to regroup with Bond. He had been heading toward Starmine Hall when he found a collapsed building and broken pavement obstructing his path, and he had fainted from exhaustion without reaching his goal. The next thing he knew, he was lying on tatami mats in a quiet southern-style restaurant. Nick tried to get up—this was no time for another nap—but he failed. “Ngh…,” he groaned. “Hey, did you get hit in the head, too? You need to stay put. You’re seriously injured,” the man scolded him. Nick felt helpless. He could barely move, and even if he could jump up and rush outside, it was too late for him to do anything. “…I don’t know if I should be happy I survived or not,” he muttered numbly. “I won’t ask you to thank me, but who the hell says that to someone who saved their life? What a pain in the ass,” the man said irritatedly. “I tend to act more angry than I am. Sorry,” Nick apologized. Another powerful wave of helplessness and guilt had made him want to snap at the man to shut up and mind his own business, but he resisted. The man seemed to sense that and softened slightly. “…Well, to be fair, I’m not the one who treated your injuries and nursed you back to health. That was the mistress. Make sure to thank her… And thank Belle—er, Agate, too,” he said. “Huh?” “It’s the mistress’s policy that we should always save people on the verge of death, but I don’t want her getting involved with criminal types who would only cause her trouble. That’s why I turn away anyone who seems dangerous. I was unsure whether to take you in or not… But then I saw that you’re a fan of that idol and wanted to help you.” Nick was baffled to suddenly hear idols mentioned, but then he remembered the Agate keychain he had in the inside pocket of his armor. The man must’ve helped him because he recognized the merchandise. He relaxed a little, figuring he was in good company. “You’re into idols, too? Who’s your fave? Is it Aggie?” Nick asked. “I tell ya, I can’t even go to her concerts. I screwed things up in the past, and her manager banned me from getting anywhere near her,” the man said. “Whoa, really? What the hell did you do?” Nick asked, exasperated. The man shrugged his shoulders self-consciously. “If you have to know, it was gambling,” he said, then told Nick he had work to do and walked away. Nick almost called out to him to stop, but then he heard soft footsteps coming toward him. He looked in the direction of the noise and saw a woman enter the room. “Oh, you’re awake. Sorry about my new hire. He can be a bit blunt,” the woman apologized. “No, that’s… Thanks. It sounds like you saved me,” Nick responded. “Hold still. I’m going to change your bandage.” The woman had a calm demeanor and wore a kimono typical of waitresses in southern-style restaurants. “Who are you?” Nick asked. “I am the mistress of this restaurant,” she replied. For some reason, she didn’t offer her name. “I need to meet up with my friends. I’ll send you money later,” Nick said. “You’re safe here. Stay and rest a little longer before you go,” the woman said, as if he were a child. “There’s no way it’s safe here. Didn’t you feel the ground shake?” “Yes, of course. That was caused by a Stampede.” “…It was?” Nick was disappointed but not surprised. Given what Diamond had told him and the violence of the tremors, he had known it was a possibility. “Oh, had you not heard yet? Lord Vishma made a statement,” the mistress said, offering him a newspaper. It was that day’s issue of the Dineez Mirror Times. Unlike Olivia’s Lemuria Monthly or the dragon-racing newspapers that Tiana loved, this paper was as reputable as they came. The reporters and special correspondents must have remained in the city to continue producing it. “‘It has been three days since Lord Vishma announced the first large-scale Stampede in two centuries,’” Nick read. “‘A ten-ton giant salamander has appeared in the Five-Ringed Mountains. Meanwhile, the Colosseum of Carnage remains ominously quiet beneath Labyrinth City. Attempts to investigate the labyrinth have been foiled by a barrier blocking magic spells. The Adventurers Guild has announced they are prioritizing the Five-Ringed Mountains and will postpone the creation of the expedition team for the Colosseum of Carnage. Many citizens are voicing complaints because of the danger the labyrinth poses to the city…’ Sounds pretty bad.” “Wow, you don’t seem that surprised. You’re a brave man,” the woman said. “No, I just knew it was a possibility. But isn’t this place in danger as well?” “Earthquakes and Stampedes are no big deal here. This building has a firm foundation and supports, and ruffians cannot get in. There is a barrier that prevents anyone from entering without a letter of introduction.” “…You can use barrier magic?” Nick asked, surprised. Barriers that warded against people required tremendous skill to cast and were very problematic when used for crime. Kidnappers could use them to hide victims like the false Steppingman had. If this woman could openly use one, that meant she was either richer and of a much higher social position than Nick had imagined, or she was a very skilled mage. “This restaurant is mostly used for clandestine meetings between people of great importance. Hmm-hmm… Though I’m not getting any business with the city in this state,” the mistress said with a mischievous smile. She was short and young in the face, but there was a mature air to her. Something about the mistress reminded him of Diamond and Olivia, and Nick felt a weight press down on his chest at the thought of Olivia. “But…I need to reunite with my party members. If they’re still alive, that is…,” Nick told her. “What is your party called?” “Hmm? Uh, the Survivors…,” Nick answered, unsure why she was asking. “The newspaper has been publishing a list of victims and missing persons from the last three days. Let’s look at the ‘S’ column… Oh, there you are.” “Really?!” “‘Survivors leader, Nick. Light warrior. Currently missing. Please contact the Adventurers Guild or Jewelry Production if you find him.’” “That’s me, all right… Well, I guess that means the others are safe.” A wave of relief washed over Nick, causing him to finally relax. The strength he needed to move suddenly dissipated from his body, and he sank down onto the futon. “See? What did I tell you? I don’t know what you went through, but you need rest,” the woman said. “…Sorry. I’ll pay you later,” Nick replied. The mistress told him not to worry about it and left to get him some food. Shortly after, she returned carrying a tray with rice porridge, soup, salt-grilled fish, and pickles so red he wasn’t sure they were edible. Nick didn’t realize how hungry he was until he saw the food. “This will be a shock to your stomach, so please eat slowly. One more day of rest should be all you’ll need for a full recovery. Now, please, dig in.” Nick picked up his chopsticks and began to eat. The pickles were so sour, he screwed up his face and his eyes began to water. Nick was left alone for a while afterward. He hurt all over and hated even the idea of getting up, but he eventually noticed something in the corner of the room. It was the small parcel wrapped in old-fashioned green cloth that Olivia gave him before she died. “Oh yeah, what is that…?” He untied the cloth to reveal a dagger with unusual ornamentation. It had a relatively large knuckle guard, and the sheath suggested a slight curvature to the blade. It was precisely the same size and shape as the dagger Nick used, and he thought it looked easy to handle. It also filled him with hope, as there was a jewel characteristic of holy swords embedded in the hilt. Nick picked up the dagger, and the blade and jewel glowed a light green color. “Initialization complete. You are Nick, correct?” “Huh? That voice…” “Allow me to borrow a small amount of mana…” The light released from the dagger grew limbs, a head, and green hair. He had witnessed this process many times. Other than the color, this was exactly what it looked like when the Sword of Bonds became Bond. “Holy crap…Olivia! Why’d you make me worry like that, you moron?! You’re alive! Nice job preparing a trick like this before fighting Argus!” Nick said joyfully, reaching out to pat the girl’s shoulders. But his hands went right through her. Nick only barely managed to avoid falling over, and he looked confusedly at the girl who resembled Olivia. He could see through her, like she was a ghost. “Olivia…what’s wrong with your body?” he asked. “Oh, um… The name ‘Olivia’ is not mine… And this body is nothing but a projection. It has no physical substance,” the girl said. “…What’re you talking about?” Nick responded, but he quickly realized everything about her felt off. It wasn’t just the transparency—she wasn’t wearing her usual baggy jacket, her hair was down instead of in a ponytail, and most of all, her expression was wrong. There was no sign of her ever-present grin or the shine in her eyes. She seemed timid, like a rookie adventurer visiting a guild for the first time. Olivia would never have shown this kind of diffidence. “I am the Sword of Might’s backup, and I have no link to the main body’s personality or memories… Simply put, you could consider me a different person entirely.” “Huh.” “I do not have an individual name. You may call me Olivia if you wish, but…if you knew my main body, it would be best if you used a different name. I apologize.” The girl calling herself the Sword of Might bowed, and Nick’s joy faded. “…So Olivia is dead after all.” “Communication with my main body has been severed. I cannot give you a definitive answer either way, but I would advise against hope,” the Sword of Might said. “Okay.” “H-however! You can count on me! First, let me tell you about the current situa—” “What was I thinking? I saw her disappear right in front of me. It was delusional to think she might have saved herself,” Nick interrupted. He wasn’t listening at all. “E-excuse me! Mr. Nick? Would you please listen?” “Nah, I’m good.” “Huh?” “Why should I? You’re not Olivia.” “B-but I can help you in her place—” “Like hell you can! Don’t talk about her like an object you can just replace!” “…I’m sorry.” Tears dripped down the Sword of Might’s face. “Oh, uh, sorry,” Nick apologized. “I was given knowledge of how to interact with people, but this is my first time putting it into practice, and I don’t really understand these feelings… I can’t make people laugh or tell weird stories like Olivia… I knew things would be better off if my turn never came, but if Olivia’s g-gone, that means I have to do my best, and, and…,” the Sword of Might muttered. “Sorry, I went too far.” “I—I apologize. I’m not good at controlling my emotions yet…” The Sword of Might wiped her tears with her hands. She looked lonely, and Nick couldn’t help but feel sympathetic. “…You were left behind to survive on your own, too, weren’t you?” he asked. “Yes. Oh, but that was part of my mission, so you do not need to worry about it,” she said. Nick felt bad for her. This girl standing in front of him didn’t seem particularly strong. She projected very little of the fearsome power that the Sword of Bonds, the Sword of Evolution, and Olivia contained. Even in sword form, she felt no stronger than an extremely high-quality magic sword or magic item. “My main body gave me information on the Sword of Tasuki and the demon-god worshipper Argus. My mission is to share it with you, answer your questions, and assist you. Please listen to what I have to say,” the Sword of Might requested. The girl clearly didn’t know what else to do, but that wasn’t what made Nick relent—it was the promise to answer the questions he had been accumulating for a while. He wanted to know the nature of this terrible, evil conspiracy he had been wrapped up in. He shook off a bit of his fatigue and despair and nodded. “…If that’s all I have to do, fine,” he said. “Th-thank you so much!” the Sword of Might exclaimed with a broad smile. “The current strife stems from ancient times, when the Demon God War ended and the holy swords achieved their foremost goal. That is especially the case for the Sword of Tasuki, who defeated the demon god.” Defeating the demon god was not the only objective given to the holy swords. Civilization had been partially destroyed in the war, and the remaining countries, organizations, and laboratories lost the means to control the holy swords. The Sword of Resonance, who commanded humanity in the war, lost her functionality and fell into a long sleep. The Sword of Evolution was stolen in the postwar confusion, and the Sword of Bonds was locked away for centuries to prevent anyone from misusing him. The Sword of Might, who had been developed for a time after the war regardless of whether or not humanity lost, was let loose to do as she wished. And then there was the Sword of Tasuki, who was owned not by the hero Setsuna, but by his companion and scout, Callios. Setsuna had poured his strength into the Sword of Tasuki during the battle against the demon god and lost his physical body. The Sword of Tasuki also absorbed many of his companions in this way, essentially killing them. However, the light warrior Callios survived and began to work with the Sword of Tasuki to accomplish the holy sword’s mission. “…They were absorbed?” Nick asked. “Capturing the personalities and skills of dead heroes was the intent behind the Sword of Tasuki and his plan. He has been continuing that effort unbroken since ancient times,” the Sword of Might explained. “The intent behind him… You mean his mission as a holy sword?” The Sword of Might nodded. “He had the ability to amass the strength of multiple people. Several of his limiters were removed to defeat the demon god, however, and his wielder unfortunately ended up stabilized in a state similar to the Sword of Bonds’ Union.” “Stabilized? That doesn’t sound like a bad thing.” “Hmm, how can I put this…? Essentially, dozens of people were fused with the holy sword itself without the possibility of release. The user was stabilized at a high soul level, giving him total control over his mana and an endless supply of energy.” Her disturbing explanation helped Nick understand what she meant, and it filled him with fear. He always noticed a strange overconfidence in himself when he used Union, thanks to the immense power that state afforded him. He had no idea what would happen to him if he became permanently stuck. The thought alone was terrifying. “Mr. Nick. How do you think a person in that state would feel?” the Sword of Might asked. “They would grow confident and arrogant.” “I think so, too. And that arrogance would lead to complete solitude.” “Huh? Why do you say that?” “With that overflowing power, razor-sharp intellect, and boundless mana, their erstwhile friends and enemies would seem frail, like infants or animals. They would be left with no equals.” “…I see.” “That’s when the Sword of Tasuki expanded his purpose from searching for how best to guide people—to creating new, ideal humans.” Nick’s expression turned dubious. It was hard to align that lofty mission with the wicked way the Sword of Tasuki had set his White Masks on him, Tiana, and Bond. “…And doing that will free him from his solitude?” Nick asked. “He must have a fundamental desire for there to be other people like him… Or at least, that was what we surmised.” “But that doesn’t make sense. Why the hell would he treat people like garbage if what he wants is others like him?” Nick exclaimed, and the Sword of Might whimpered quietly in fear. He noticed the anger and hatred he had allowed into his voice. “…Sorry, continue,” he said. “U-umm, I do agree that it looks strange. But the logic works. He does not see the people of this world as his equals,” the Sword of Might explained. “The power of his existence—which we measure with a parameter called ‘soul level’—is significantly higher than the average person’s. That is why he can kill people with as little emotion as a farmer killing livestock for a banquet. He toys with humans the way you might play with a pet. He only feels that childish joy.” “What are we, animals?” “To him, yes. That is why forces rose up to resist him. One of those was the school of martial arts founded by my main body, Olivia.” “Really?!” According to the Sword of Might, Olivia had been wandering the world to compete with martial arts masters and raise apprentices. Once she began receiving support from various forces that feared the Sword of Tasuki’s plan, however, she founded a dojo and got to work gathering capable survivors of the Demon God War, creating a large faction. Tension grew between the two holy swords as society rebuilt itself from the damage of the Demon God War, and eventually a new war broke out between them. The Sword of Tasuki imbued suits of holy armor with the strength of the mighty heroes and warriors he had accumulated and controlled to create an unmatched army. Olivia’s peerless apprentices had honed their skills to the highest level, and she gifted them legendary magic items and swords that she had received from her own supporter. Soon, she had created a powerful army of her own. The current Sword of Might spoke dispassionately, as if the story had nothing to do with her. She delivered the facts with no embellishment, which made Nick feel like he was listening to a serious status report. He was so fascinated that he even forgot about the dire situation he was in right now. “…Both sides were equal in power, and the war ended in a draw with both sides suffering heavy losses… Actually, it would be more appropriate to say that our side lost. We inflicted serious damage to the Sword of Tasuki but did not succeed in destroying him. By contrast, the majority of the Combat Masters dojos and strongholds were destroyed, and most of the pupils died. Olivia also fell into a long sleep. That was seven hundred years ago,” the Sword of Might said. However, one thing didn’t sit right with Nick. “…Seven hundred years ago?” he repeated. “Yes. It was precisely six hundred and ni—” the Sword of Might began, holding up her hand to count, but Nick interrupted her. “Hold on, that doesn’t make sense. Argus is an ordinary human. He’s not immortal. He’s clearly aged even in the last ten years. And why did he switch sides anyway?” The Sword of Might responded with a complicated expression. “…Mr. Argus betrayed the Combat Masters school.” “He betrayed them…?” “He became the Sword of Tasuki’s wielder during the decisive battle, obtaining the skills of ninety-nine instructors and becoming a literal ‘combat master’ capable of performing one hundred different martial styles.” Nick had always wondered how Argus had become so skilled. He was best with a greatsword, but he also excelled at archery, hand-to-hand combat, using daggers, katanas, axes, or shields, and was a master scout. Nick had already guessed at the truth because of Argus’s connection to the Sword of Tasuki, but the confirmation filled him with sadness. He had trained so hard to learn those skills from the master, only to find they were corrupted. “The Sword of Tasuki likely froze him after the battle. He has the ability to preserve souls, so it may be possible for him to freeze a soul and thaw it centuries later,” the Sword of Might postulated. “…Why did Argus betray Olivia?” Nick asked. “I do not know the reason, and neither did Olivia. Whether he was threatened, or had another reason, I can’t say,” she said apologetically. It sounded like she knew about Nick’s relationship with Argus. “But I do know why the Sword of Tasuki wanted Mr. Argus: He is partially Awakened.” “Awakened? What do you mean?” “‘Awakening’ is what we call it when a person’s soul level increases. People who reach a state similar to Union are called ‘Awakened.’” “Is that even…,” Nick started before trailing off. He was going to ask if that was possible, but he had already seen examples to support what she described. Argus’s strength was unnatural, to the point where he significantly surpassed Nick and Tiana in their combined state. There were also a handful of S-rank adventurers, like Solo Diner Fifs, whom he was unsure they’d be able to defeat with Union. What she said also coincided with something Olivia had once told him. “…I bet there are plenty of other people out there who could Awaken. S-rank adventurers come to mind,” Nick said. “Mr. Fifs is quite famous, but most S-rank adventurers have achieved their position with innate talent or special skills. They don’t align with the Sword of Tasuki’s purpose—or rather, the purpose of the holy swords,” explained the Sword of Might. “…You mean creating ideal humans?” “Yes. The Sword of Tasuki believes the next generation of mankind should stem from an ordinary person who trained to reach great heights, rather than someone with special abilities. That’s actually—” “The Sword of Might’s original concept that Olivia abandoned, right?” “Yes. It was Olivia’s pursuit of that concept that cost her Argus.” “And now he’s the Sword of Tasuki’s slave?” “I think his status as the official wielder gives him more freedom than the Sword of Tasuki’s other contractors, but yes, it is unlikely that he can disobey orders.” “…He made it sound like he killed my parents. Is that true?” “That I do not know… But assassination is one of his principal jobs.” Nick was growing more and more certain of his hunch, and that was yet another piece of evidence. He hadn’t seen his parents get killed. He’d been with them when the bandits attacked; the next thing he knew, his parents and the bandits were dead, and Argus was there to take him in. Argus didn’t give any details about his parents’ deaths other than that they were killed by bandits. He asked if Nick would be his apprentice, and Nick accepted. “…Why the hell did he raise me as an apprentice? What was he thinking?” Nick wondered aloud. The Sword of Might didn’t have an answer. “I’m sorry… Olivia might have understood, but I only have the facts.” “It’s okay. I wasn’t actually expecting an answer.” He realized how intense his eyes had become and looked away. “Now that I think about it, why did the Sword of Tasuki and Argus become demon-god worshippers? It doesn’t sound like they ever lost their objective of killing the demon god.” “To put it simply, it was to give Argus a trial.” “A trial? Are you saying he wants to resurrect the demon god just to have one of his followers defeat them?” “Yes. I believe he thinks it will stimulate Argus’s Awakening. The demon god’s resurrection and the potential destruction of civilization from another war are trivial compared to the immense benefit of the Awakening and birth of a new form of human.” “Immense benefit? Really?” Nick said, glaring at the Sword of Might. She vigorously shook her head, realizing he had misconstrued her words. “Oh no, I don’t think that way! I was speaking from the point of view of the angels and gods! I know that would be a really bad thing!” “I sure hope so…” “Did you know the Originators from the super-ancient civilization created the current world’s gods?” “Are you talking about mythology? I know the gist.” “The soul level of the Originators far exceeded that of modern people and gods. They shifted to the farthest ends of the universe where not even the gods could observe them, and all gods share a desire for their return. The gods would see a human’s Awakening as a blessing, so I think that if Callios achieves his goals, he will escape divine judgment. The gods have such differing ideologies that I can’t say so for sure, but…that is probably why he decided his plans might succeed.” “Hang on, even the gods are against us…?” Nick said, his jaw dropping in astonishment. The Sword of Might’s serious expression did not waver. “Whether or not the gods are allies of humanity is a difficult question. Even the definition of what constitutes a person differs from god to god.” Nick realized with fear that he was deep into dangerous territory, and even asking questions here was a risk. However, his curiosity got the better of him. “…Okay, that makes sense. Keep going. You said he wants to resurrect the demon god to give Argus a trial. Does he really have to go that far to get him to Awaken?” “Yes. Argus has achieved the upper limits of human capability, but I believe he has run out of monsters he could fight to push him to the next level. He needs to go through a difficult trial on the level of heroes from the era of the gods, such as fighting the demon god.” Nick had a lot of doubts, but deep down, he accepted what the Sword of Might said. He had felt it firsthand fighting Argus. Physically, Argus was an ordinary human, but someone could become like him only by truly mastering human movement, and it was impossible to imagine a more skilled fighter. Anyone who surpassed him could hardly be considered human at all. Nick was feeling two things now: contempt toward the enemy for causing all this chaos in the pursuit of such a trivial goal, and despair toward himself for being unable to defeat them. “I think I get it. So all of this—the plot to endanger Labyrinth City, start a Stampede, and resurrect the demon god, as well as turning the Combat Masters members into White Masks and having them sow dissent through acts of terrorism—all of that was just preparation to help Argus grow stronger? Like a veteran adventurer taking a newbie into a labyrinth or training them at a dojo?” “Precisely!” the Sword of Might said, smiling as if impressed. That was exactly what she had been trying to say. But she hadn’t foreseen how it would make Nick feel. “This is why Nargava was given the power for revenge and ended up dying?” Nick said. “Huh? Nargava… Is that a person’s name?” the Sword of Might asked. “This is what Garos was working to prepare behind the scenes before he was discarded like a tool?” “Ah…” “This stupid, trivial goal is why Karan was injured and can’t continue working as an adventurer?” “Umm, I don’t know much about those people, but it sounds like many have fallen victim to the Sword of Tasuki’s plans… But there is hope!” the Sword of Might declared. “Hope? Really?” Nick sneered, but the Sword of Might plunged ahead without noticing his attitude. “Olivia mutated after her first decisive battle against the Sword of Tasuki and quit running her dojo or recruiting apprentices. She traveled the world teaching self-defense techniques to those too weak to fight and searching for any of the Sword of Tasuki’s followers who might have been in hiding, and she ended up settling down as a magazine editor in Labyrinth City.” “…How the heck is that where she ended up? I fail to see the through line.” “I can’t tell you. Or rather, I wasn’t given those memories, so I don’t know.” Nick was about to ask why she’d brought that up, but then he realized. Lemuria Monthly wasn’t just an entertainment magazine that reported idle gossip; Olivia had been using it to leave some kind of code. “You’re telling me to look in the back issues again, aren’t you?” Nick asked. There was certain information the Sword of Might couldn’t tell him here. Given what he had learned, it was easy enough to figure out why. “The Sword of Tasuki can use Fold Space to listen in on conversations near his followers. And we have no idea where his followers could be.” “Exactly. The members of Combat Masters—aside from you—are his ground troops. He must also have followers hiding in Labyrinth City and noncombatants he has forced into submission, though it is not certain how many. However, judging from the fact that Olivia chose to operate entirely under the radar as a magazine reporter…,” the Sword of Might said, trailing off. “…The Sword of Tasuki can kill as many people as he wants free of divine judgment, and he has the ability to execute his plans. Olivia spent her time encoding the key to stopping him and leaving it in her magazines,” Nick finished. “Yes! So…let’s save the world together!” “Not happening.” “Great! …Wait, what?” “The strongest man alive and the holy sword that defeated the demon god teamed up and started a Stampede, and they have followers hidden throughout Labyrinth City. They’re free to kill as many people as they want without drawing the ire of the gods. You do realize that telling me to oppose them is as good as ordering me to my death, right?” “U-umm, no, that wasn’t my—” “They’re doing some messed-up stuff, but large-scale Stampedes are an inevitability of nature. It would’ve happened eventually. Argus’ll take care of it with the Sword of Tasuki’s help. Or who knows, maybe a hero will appear from out of nowhere and fix everything… The city and the country might be destroyed in the process, but we can just run as far away as we can. I’m sure everything will calm down in a year or so.” “Uh, well, that might be true, but…think of all the monsters that will be let loose into the world! There will be nowhere safe to run!” “Maybe we’ll die, then. That’s life. Do you even hate the enemy? Do they make your blood boil? Do you have any real reason to want to kill them?” “Huh…?” “If the gods won’t hold the Sword of Tasuki accountable, why should you? Olivia became pretty human after she mutated, but…you don’t give off that vibe.” “Oh, yes. I am a copy imbued with the Sword of Might’s original functionality. This body is nothing but a temporary image, which means I lack the muscle and combat experience of the main body. I won’t be able to help in a fight… However, as a holy sword, I must aid the hero!” “You and Bond keep going on and on about saving the world and serving the hero, but those words mean nothing. Do you actually have the will or the desire to kill the demon lord? Or smash the Sword of Tasuki to pieces?” “Uh, well…no, but…as a fellow holy sword, it is my duty to stop him—” “Forget about your duty. You haven’t killed anybody, and you haven’t helped the Sword of Tasuki. Stop saying this situation is your responsibility to fix when you don’t actually give a damn about any of it.” Nick watched as the Sword of Might hemmed and hawed, and he breathed a deep sigh. He thought she was going to scold him, but instead she just started trembling, which only increased his irritation. “…Just so you know, I’m not saying I don’t want to fight. I can’t leave things like this. I hate the Sword of Tasuki, and I hate Argus. I’m gonna make them regret what they’ve done. I’ve gotta save Karan, too. So it’s good a way to die as any,” he continued. “Oh! Then you should work with m—” “But I don’t give a damn about the world, the gods, or the demon god. Society can burn for all I care,” Nick said. A brief flicker of joy had passed across the Sword of Might’s face, before his utter indifference brough her back to earth. “Umm… I don’t know what to say…,” she said. “…Sorry. I’m tired, so I’m gonna sleep some more. I’ll be leaving as soon as I get up, so you should get some rest, too,” Nick said before rolling over in bed. The Sword of Might watched Nick idly as he slept. His lonely expression made her think of a wolf trying to endure a blizzard. Afterward, the Sword of Might returned to her sword form. She requested that Nick at least take her with him, and he put her in his bag. It seemed like she knew that explaining her human form to the people who worked at the restaurant would have been difficult. “Thanks for everything. I’ll come back after I withdraw some money,” Nick said. He was back on his feet after a day of lazing around and sleeping, and he had decided to leave after eating breakfast. “Don’t worry about paying me. I wish you would stay and rest a little longer,” the mistress said. “You still don’t look great, man,” the male employee added. “I can’t keep eating your food for free,” Nick replied. “I took this man in when he was living on the streets with one foot in the grave, and I gave him a job when he got down on his knees and begged. I can handle providing for another employee or two,” she told him. “Don’t tell him that, mistress,” the man complained. According to the mistress, the man who now worked for her had been addicted to gambling and lost his bar due to poor management. No other restaurants would hire him, and he was barely staying afloat when she happened to find him collapsed from hunger in the street. She hired him after he begged for a job. Nick was curt with the man—but privately found him to be surprisingly earnest. “You never know what life will throw at you. The city’s in bad shape right now, but good luck out there,” the man said. “I know. You should seriously consider closing up shop. I imagine the situation’s gonna get a whole lot worse,” Nick warned. The man gave him a sour look, clearly not wanting to lose his job, but the mistress seemed unconcerned. “It will take more than a Stampede to make me run,” she said nonchalantly. Nick admired her gumption, but he was also plagued by a sense of inferiority. This noncombatant was much braver than him. “…Okay. Well, staying here will probably be safer than trying to relocate.” And with that, Nick left the restaurant. He reached a familiar street after a few minutes of walking and realized he had already forgotten the direction he’d come from. That was the barrier’s effect on his mind, and although he’d been disoriented, he collected himself and continued walking. There hadn’t been any rubble when he walked down this street a month before. It all felt like a dream now—the wealthy nobles and merchants wearing order-made jackets, magic academy students wearing new robes, idols practicing happily… “Hold it, you. Are you an adventurer?” The idiots threatening passersby with knives were also new. “Let’s see here… You pro’ly don’t got any money, but we could sell your weapons ’n’ armor. Drop ’em on the ground.” A group of five unsavory men surrounded Nick—thieves, taking advantage of the confusion to prey on people in the street. They wielded crude knives and swords, but they seemed accustomed to threatening and hurting others. They could probably handle amateurs and novice adventurers without issue. Nick ignored them and walked right through a small gap in their formation. “Huh? Hey! Don’t ignore us!” one of the men said, grabbing Nick’s shoulder. That flared Nick’s anger. It wasn’t how rough the man had been with him that pissed him off but his lack of skill. Compared to what he’d just gone through with Argus and the White Masks, the man was like a cat pawing at him. Nick couldn’t believe such pathetic men had the audacity to act tough and assault people in the street. Just by casting Heavy Body and slightly twisting his legs, Nick sent an impact through his shoulder and into the thug’s hand. “Gah!” the man grunted, soaring backward through the air as if punched. “You’re a mage?! Why the hell’re you dressed like that?!” another thug said. Without understanding what had just happened, the gang launched themselves at Nick. Nick promptly broke one thug’s knife wrist, broke another’s knees, and knocked out another with a blow to the chin. The one remaining thug stared at him in dumbstruck confusion. It had taken less than five seconds to immobilize them all. Nick had never felt more skilled as a fighter. His showdown with much more talented fighters than these men had been engraved into his mind, and the near-death experience had sharpened him like a knife. “Are you the leader?” he asked. “Whuh?” the thug said. “If you are, then you need to answer for your actions,” Nick said, punching him. “S-sorr—” “Keep your apology. I’m telling you to take responsibility for what you’ve done. You pulled a knife on me, so now it’s either kill or be killed. Which will it be?” Nick punched the man again, causing blood to spurt from his nose, and then again, knocking loose a tooth. The man fell backward to the ground, and Nick straddled him and kept on punching. The man’s cries for mercy only irritated him further. “P-please forgive me… I’ve got no job, I’m all outta options… Just let me go…” “M-Mr. Nick? You have already immobilized him…,” the Sword of Might said telepathically. “Yep,” Nick responded flippantly. “Then why…?” “This is what it means to make someone fight. That ‘Might’ in your name is just a fancy word for violence. Fighting hurts. It’s hard. It makes you want to cry and run. But your opponent won’t let you escape. They might kill you or give you a fate much worse than death.” “B-but to defeat bad people and save the world, you must fight.” “This man’s a bad person. He attacks people in the street. He’s probably killed children and assaulted helpless women. Killing him would make the world a slightly better place.” “I haven’t attacked any women or children! I swear!” the man shouted. “Really? Can you promise you never will?” Nick asked. The other thugs were abandoning their leader, who watched them scramble away with despair. “Please…just let me go…,” he whimpered. The demon within Nick told him coolly to keep up the pressure. He raised his fist, and someone grabbed it from behind. “That is enough,” said a man’s voice. Nick almost twisted the intruder’s arm to lock the joint—but then realized whose voice it was and relaxed. The leader of the thugs turned his pleas to the new arrival. “S-save me! I know I messed up! I’ll never rob anyone again!” he yelled. “Throw down your blade and run,” the man told him. He was wearing black priestly robes but lacked the medal that priests wore to show their denomination. It was Zem, and Bond was standing behind him. They watched Nick with pained expressions, paying the thug no mind as he crawled away on all fours. “Hey there. Looks like you’re both okay,” Nick said. “How can you act so casually! We were worried sick!” Bond yelled, pounding Nick’s chest. Nick chose to ignore the tears in Bond’s eyes. “Sorry,” he told them. “…There is much I want to say, but I am relieved to see you are okay, too,” Zem said. He studied Nick from head to toe and sighed with relief. “Yep. I survived. Can’t say I deserved to, though.” “Do not speak like that,” Zem chided. “How’s Tiana?” Nick asked. “She was over-exhausted from the battle and is still resting. She will not be on her feet for another few days, but her life is not in danger,” Zem said. Nick felt guilty hearing that. “She took much of the exhaustion when we disbanded Union, didn’t she?” “…Yes. I abandoned you to get Tiana to safety,” Bond responded meekly. “Don’t be stupid. I chose to stay behind. I was in much better shape.” “Anyway…where were you? I tried to follow your mana and find you, but I could not sense you until now. Were you hiding in a vacant building?” Bond asked. “A person near here took me in and sheltered me until I recovered,” Nick explained, keeping the details vague. “You do not appear seriously hurt, so we should go ahead and return,” said Zem. Nick did not move. “…I can’t face everyone,” he said. Zem smiled bitterly. “…I know that expression well. I’m sure I was wearing a similar one when we first met.” “You were also drunk and smelled of women’s makeup,” Nick said. “Yes, but when is that not the case?” Zem responded with a wry smile, causing Nick’s intense expression to soften a little. But he didn’t say what Zem would have hoped to hear. “Sorry, but I’m really not going back to Diamond. She’ll end up stopping me.” Zem watched Nick warily. “…What do you intend on doing?” “I’m gonna enter the Colosseum of Carnage to fight Argus and the Sword of Tasuki.” “Huh? P-please wait! We need to investigate the articles Olivia left behind!” the Sword of Might entreated. “Do you realize how hard that’ll be? We should leave that to an expert. It would be great if we could decipher her code in time, but what if Argus and the Sword of Tasuki execute their plan while we’re sitting around waiting?” Nick responded bluntly. “Was that Olivia’s voice?” Bond asked. “…Not quite,” Nick said. He took the Sword of Might out of his bag and showed Zem and Bond. Recognition flashed across Bond’s face. “That must be a copy she prepared as a backup. Which means that her main body…” “Yeah. Olivia is gone,” Nick said, looking down. Zem didn’t understand at first, but Nick’s behavior made the truth clear enough. “…There’s someone I want to talk to about all this. I’ll explain everything there.” “Where are we going?” asked Zem. “To see the Sun Knights.” The Order of the Sun Knights had multiple stations throughout Labyrinth City. Each one was operated by a different unit named after a weapon or piece of armor: Helmet, Breastplate, Shield, Bow, Sword, Staff, and Gauntlet, which was the unit that Alice led. The Gauntlet unit’s station was littered with Sun Knight corpses. At least, that was how it felt; none of the men were actually dead. Some were injured and lying on the floor, and others were sleeping in chairs, looking completely spent. The knights who were up and working either had the glazed eyes of dead men walking, or they were strangely wound up, as if they had inhaled some sort of illegal substance. “…I see. So their goal is the Awakening of mankind. Talk about an unwelcome favor,” said Alice, who looked more exhausted than anyone there. Her attitude was a remarkable contrast to her usual energy. Zem and Bond were shocked by Nick’s story, too, and taken aback by the state of the Sun Knight station. This all was unprecedented. “First a large-scale Stampede, now the Awakening of mankind…,” Zem reiterated, dumbfounded. Bond remained silent with an unusually sullen expression. Nick normally would’ve been considerate of their feelings as he spoke, but he ignored them and barreled on. “I’m gonna kill Argus. I want you to help me. Not sure if you have the strength to spare, though.” “We’re as busy as we’ve ever been, but…taking out Argus would be very beneficial. Helping you would be worth it,” Alice responded. “…It sounds like this is new information to you. How much did you know?” Nick asked. “You’re starting to sound like a Sun Knight.” “Is that your way of telling me my attitude’s gotten worse?” Alice told him sweetly that she quite liked it, eliciting a self-deprecating smile from Nick before she continued. “…I knew the adventurers’ party called Combat Masters was made up of demon-god worshippers. Or at least, that Argus himself was one. His origin is shrouded in mystery. The Adventurers Guild enacts a kind of immigration policy by giving people from other lands a place to work, but it’s unusual for a person’s background to be this much of an unknown. But if he appeared in our era after being born centuries ago…that would actually explain a lot.” “That can’t be all you know,” Nick said, giving her a ruthless glare. Alice calmly gazed back at him. “I’m fine with sharing, but…it relates to your parents. Do you want to talk about this outside, where you can get some fresh air?” “That’d be a waste of time. Just tell me.” Alice asked with a look if she should clear the room, and Nick shook his head. “…Okay,” Alice said, sounding hesitant. There was a rare gravity in her voice. “I’m currently investigating an incident from ten years ago. A family of peddlers was attacked by thieves, and only one child survived. The thieves were all killed by an adventurer who was known by the family.” “You’re talking about my parents,” Nick said. “Yes, I am. Argus slaughtered the thieves to avenge his friends. There was only circumstantial evidence of that, but it was all believable. The thieves were all notorious enough to have bounties on their heads, after all. Argus was penalized publicly for his excessive retribution, but he was celebrated among adventurers. He didn’t even spend long in prison.” Nick did his best to repress his anger as he listened. “There was a recent development, however,” Alice continued. “The knight who handled the investigation just died.” “…What happened?” Nick asked. “He had just been promoted to serve as an assistant for the commander of the Northwest Company, but one day a hole suddenly opened up in his body. A stake from an ancient spell called Curse Stake shot out of the hole, stabbing the commander. This incident exposed the man with the hole in his body as a traitor, and he was killed by other Sun Knights after resisting arrest.” Nick’s breath caught in his throat. Alice’s story had reminded him of the disaster on the Starmine Hall stage. “That sounds like what happened with Garos and Karan,” he said. “Karan should be commended for stopping that stake. Two people have already died from being pierced by it, and another two are in a coma after being inflicted with the star curse,” Alice told them. “…More people were stabbed?” “The commanders of all four companies in the city—the Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast—were all stabbed by cursed stakes. We have enough evidence to investigate Argus, but the Order of the Sun Knights has been completely paralyzed as an organization.” “You’re kidding…” The situation was much more serious than Nick had expected. Alice—and every other Sun Knight in Labyrinth City for that matter—was in dire straits. The entire order could end up collapsing. “…Contractors of the Sword of Tasuki must have infiltrated the Sun Knights. They helped him kill leaders of the order by acting as relay points for Fold Space. A few of those contractors were sacrificed for these attacks, but there’s no guarantee there aren’t more in the organization,” Nick added. “Exactly. We’re in the middle of hunting for spies and reorganizing. A number of self-reliant squads are working to preserve order and kill any surviving monsters, but the Order of the Sun Knights is only operating at about thirty…no, twenty percent of its usual ability,” Alice said. “An adventurers’ party is currently exploring the Colosseum of Carnage, but it sounds like they’re having a hard time.” “Who is it?” “The Fanged Fiends.” Nick grimaced at that name. The Fanged Fiends were a B-rank party that, just like Combat Masters, relied mostly on martial arts. What set it apart was that it was made up entirely of beastmen. None of the members were as skilled as Argus, but they were more versatile because fangs, claws, and breath allowed for a wide variety of techniques. They also had nearly thirty members and usually split into two forces. The Fanged Fiends saw Combat Masters as a rival party and often harassed them, so Nick didn’t have fond memories of the group. Still, he knew their strength was legitimate. “But…do you think they can handle the labyrinth themselves? What’s the Adventurers Guild doing?” Nick asked. “They have their hands full dealing with the Stampede. They’re currently working their way through Goblin Forest, Martial Triffid Forest, and the Five-Ringed Mountains. Those labyrinths are actually a greater threat than the Colosseum of Carnage in terms of the strength and numbers of their monsters. It’s honestly a relief they were even able to spare the Fanged Fiends,” Alice said. “Do you think they’ll be enough?” Nick asked. Alice sighed wearily. “No. The situation is really bad. It’s not just the Sun Knights who are being overwhelmed right now—it’s everyone. And I don’t like this silence in the city. The Sword of Tasuki is probably using the time to prepare something. It’s possible the Stampede from the surrounding labyrinths is just a diversion to distract us from the Colosseum of Carnage. But…” “But what?” “A giant behemoth standing over a hundred meters tall spawned in the Five-Ringed Mountains. The Adventurers Guild doesn’t have any strength to spare while great monsters straight out of fairy tales and fantasy novels are popping up everywhere. You can see Fifs battling the behemoth from the telescope on the roof of this building. He was seen stopping a meteor with some kind of eruption attack.” “It’s the end of the world…,” Nick muttered dejectedly. “The S- and A-rank adventurers are doing their best to hold out, but they might have to flee. It would be best to assault the Colosseum of Carnage while they’re still fighting; it’s just… Do you know the characteristics of that labyrinth?” Alice asked. “Oh yeah, I saw it in the newspaper. It said something about people being unable to use magic in there.” “And there are no knights or adventurers who can defeat Argus without relying on magic.” “Why don’t you just order people in there anyway?” “I can’t do that. We Sun Knights have a reputation for being cold-blooded, and it’s not untrue. That said, I don’t want to die in that labyrinth without accomplishing anything, and I don’t want to send my subordinates in there, either.” “Then you’ll have to search for adventurers who can handle Argus. If only you knew one who was itching to try,” Nick said with an air of arrogance. Alice smiled. “It sounds like you’ve brought me a wonderful present.” “I have a plan. It could be enough to get to the bottom floor of the Colosseum of Carnage, kill Argus, and break the Sword of Tasuki.” Nick explained his proposal. The others were astonished—and not because they thought it was stupid. It actually seemed a decent chance of success, and they were also frightened by how dangerous it was. “…Interesting. So you want to make the Sword of Evolution the linchpin of the operation?” said Alice. “Argus has a thorough understanding of the structure of the human body and can observe his opponent’s breathing to predict what they’re gonna do. He might be unbeatable against a human opponent, but there are some S-rank adventurers who are better than him at fighting monsters. Fifs is one of them,” Nick explained. “So you think it’s possible to get the upper hand on him by becoming an inhuman monster?” “It’s just an idea… And a pretty crazy one, I know. I can’t prove it’ll work. But at least it’s worth a shot.” “I agree. We’ll operate under my authority as a captain of the Sun Knights and use the Sword of Evolution. This will invalidate the documents that Redd and Diamond worked so hard to draw up… You realize you’re kind of betraying them, right?” Alice asked. “I guess I am. Sorry, Diamond,” Nick said, looking away. But he didn’t really mean it. Alice smiled wryly in response. “This is a really wicked idea, Nick. I’m surprised…” “Yeah, I guess so. We won’t accomplish anything unless we’re willing to go as far as it takes. You said it before—I’ll only get in the way if I fight without a firm resolve.” “…I did say that.” “And you were right. It’s painfully obvious now. I fought Argus holding on to hope that things would work out, and I got crushed. No more hesitating.” Nick balled his fists tightly. Alice watched him with pity, but she quickly steeled her expression and continued speaking. “There are two problems with your plan. First off—this won’t be a big issue if the operation succeeds, but we could end up creating a terrible new enemy. The Sword of Evolution essentially has a criminal record, and we can’t just put him in a collar and force him to serve us like a human. You understand that, don’t you?” Alice asked seriously. Nick made a troubled expression. “It’s a gamble. I actually wanted to talk that over with you.” “We might be able to keep the Sword of Evolution in check with spells, magic items, or preventative ritual magic, but there would be no guarantees. Why don’t we ask the holy swords we have here?” Alice said, looking at Bond and the dagger Nick had taken out of his bag. “…It certainly is risky, but I do not think there is much cause for concern. The Sword of Evolution is not entirely trustworthy, but this operation harkens back to the original mission of the holy swords. There is not much risk of him betraying us during the mission… At least, I hope not. I doubt he would sympathize with the Sword of Tasuki,” Bond said. “Really? That’s good news,” replied Alice. “I am more concerned that he might scheme to use this situation to his advantage, but that would be after the threat of the Sword of Tasuki is gone,” Bond said. “I feel the same way as Bond… I am planning on putting together a training program to help you get through this, Nick,” the Sword of Might said timidly. Nick was slightly surprised. “You’re gonna help us?” “I cannot agree with the plan completely. You are deviating greatly from what Olivia envisioned… But protecting my wielder is my mission.” “…You’d be a real easy target for scammers, you know that? You should go ahead and mutate so you don’t have to spend all your time serving someone,” Nick told her. “Whuh?! You’re not scamming me now, are you?!” the Sword of Might cried loudly. She sounded almost like Olivia, which brought back the pain of her death. Nick wondered what she would have said now. “…What’s the other problem?” he asked Alice, trying to recompose himself. “It might be wrong to call it a problem, but… If you do manage to beat Argus and the Sword of Tasuki with this plan, what will you do next?” “Why do you ask?” “A large-scale Stampede is starting. Defeating the Sword of Tasuki won’t be enough to stop it. The threat to Labyrinth City and the continent isn’t going anywhere,” Alice pointed out. Nick’s expression hardened. “Large-scale Stampedes are an inevitability of nature. Why is it only up to us in Labyrinth City to deal with it anyway? What about the knights serving in the capital and fighting on the border? What about the racing dragons and the dragons in the capital? They’re humanity’s strongest ally.” “The racing dragons have already been assigned to dragon knights and sent out to fight monsters. This is going to be much tougher on them than the usual Stampede, though,” Alice said. “…Tiana’ll be sad to hear that,” Nick commented blithely, still acting as if the Stampede were no concern of his. “I’m not trying to criticize you. The situation will improve significantly if you take Argus and the Sword of Tasuki out of the picture. I actually feel bad for putting you in a situation where you’re forced to make this decision. Even if you came up with the idea, don’t think of this operation as your responsibility. If you ever become a Sun Knight, you’ll need to learn how to push aside the weight in your heart and save as many people as you can, even if it isn’t everyone. That’s what makes a good knight,” Alice told him. “It wasn’t that long ago I couldn’t stand you… But I like the sound of that.” Alice had provided Nick with the metaphorical poison he’d needed to clear the melancholy in his heart—a paralyzing agent that would keep his emotions calm enough that he could work. “Nick. Are you okay with this plan? Can you say you are truly satisfied with it?” Zem asked. He was preparing a different kind of poison, but Nick didn’t notice. There were some men who were as easy to read as a venomous insect with their warning coloration, but Zem was not one of them. “If you’re not on board, you don’t have to come,” said Nick. “I’d actually feel better if you stayed with Karan and Tiana.” “Are you saying you don’t want us around?” Zem asked. “Sure. You can take it that way,” Nick said, his voice not nearly as flippant as his words. Everyone could tell he was trying to distance his friends to keep them safe. “…Karan or Tiana probably would have stopped you if they were here. They would have said you’re being reckless.” “Yeah, probably.” “That said, simply opposing your plan would accomplish nothing. I suggest an alternative,” Zem said, taking a piece of paper from his breast pocket. “An Adventurers Guild request form?” Nick eyed Zem suspiciously. “It’s an escort job for a carriage traveling from Labyrinth City to a city near the border. The client is a mutual aid association for first-generation and low-ranking nobles. They have the funds and connections to escape, but not to hire adventurers exclusively to guard them. The reward is not a large sum; however, travel expenses and food are provided for. I suppose you could consider it more of an offer to join the caravan than an escort job,” Zem explained. It was then that Nick realized the former priest was telling him to run, and he looked at Zem sadly. “They can also be persuaded to bring along children or the infirm,” Zem added. “You’re telling me to get Karan out of here,” Nick said. “You could also take Bond, Daffodil, and Ares… I am sure the company of three skilled adventurers would make them willing to provide for a few more noncombatants,” Zem said, smoothly laying out his plan. Nick felt himself being drawn in by Zem’s kindness, and when he lowered his guard, Zem put his hands on his shoulders. “Dormancy.” The nature of Zem’s poison was a deep sleep. Nick jumped back instinctively after hearing the spell, but Zem had anticipated that and grabbed him. Nick tried to twist Zem’s arm and lock his elbow, but Bond split into four copies of himself and held back each of his limbs. Alice casually tidied up the desk and chairs but did not intervene. She was not going to take sides. “H-how could you…?!” Nick seethed, his face twisting with anger. Dormancy was a type of battalion spell used by the military and knights, and it differed slightly from normal healing magic. It could be considered a type of hypnotic spell. Targets fell into a deep and dreamless sleep for about half a day, which allowed them to rest while traveling or on the march even if they had nothing but a sleeping bag or blanket. It also had a great healing effect. Nick had not fully recovered from his exhaustion yet. He might have been able to resist the spell if he were at full strength, but it would be a challenge in his current state. “…Goddamn it!” he cursed. Nick lashed out at the four Bonds without moving a muscle. He did it by casting Light Body and Heavy Body in quick succession, cycling his body quickly between different weights to send momentum through his limbs and throw the Bonds across the room, knocking them all out. “What…?” Zem gasped. Nick used the moment of confusion to move behind Zem and lock his arms and neck. “The hell’re you two doing?” he grunted, his voice thick with doubt and caution. Zem smiled. “I was hoping to put you to sleep and force you into the escort job.” “If you don’t want to help me, fine. But you didn’t have to do something that drastic,” Nick snapped back. “I could say the same to you. Your plan does not rely on you. It would work just as well with another skilled fighter in your place. Alice could handle it, I am sure,” Zem said. “I would be honored to take Nick’s place, but I’ve been saddled with the responsibility of temporarily commanding the northwest branch. I can recommend other knights, though. They may not be as strong as Nick, but they can make up for that with equipment and numbers,” Alice chimed in. She looked like she was enjoying this. That only made Nick angrier, but he had to admit she was being kind by overlooking this disturbance and even offering her help. “Tch… There’s no way in hell that would work…!” Nick said, clicking his tongue in frustration. “In that case, it’s not only your own life you will have to be willing to sacrifice, but those of your friends. Tell us to come with you, and we will. If you tell us to run, we will do that instead. But only with you,” said Zem. ““““Precisely! We will not let you get away with leaving us behind!”””” echoed the Bonds. “God, don’t speak with four bodies at once! That’s so loud!” Nick snapped. ““““Very true.”””” Bond dispelled Parallel, returning to one body. Nick sighed with exasperation, let Zem go, and sat back down. “…We might really die this time. Tiana and I were lucky to survive the other day,” Nick told them. “Risking one’s life is part of being an adventurer. And you seem to misunderstand,” Zem chastised. “What am I misunderstanding?” “It’s too late to tell us not to come. I want Karan to heal, too. And as our party’s healer, it is frankly pathetic for me to have to resort to hope at all. You should be blaming me for my inability to help her.” “Zem, that’s—” “Do not tell me I’m wrong. What I said is no more wrong than you tormenting yourself and charging to your death… None of us are handling this situation perfectly. Tiana and Karan would not want us to risk our lives. But we cannot stop moving forward. I will follow you to hell if necessary.” Nick could see that he wouldn’t convince Zem otherwise. He had to admit he would hardly back down if he were in Zem’s position. “What about you, Bond?” Nick asked. “You are my wielder. I would be a sorry excuse for a sword if I was more frightened than you,” Bond replied. “If you’re tagging along because of some dumb mission, then—” “How dare you! My mission is not the only reason I want to help! I couldn’t care less about that at this point!” Bond yelled, pounding his fist on the table. Nick had never seen him so angry. “I…I’m frustrated! One of my friends was cursed, and not only was Union insufficient to give you a chance against our enemy, but I put you two in danger! And as if that wasn’t bad enough, our enemy is another holy sword!” “…Yeah. We didn’t stand a chance,” Nick said. “I wasted centuries slumbering at the bottom of a labyrinth while he was busy working on his schemes. The same goes for the Sword of Evolution. It’s shameful! And now the people who freed me from that place are suffering… Why don’t you want me to help?!” Bond cried, throwing a tantrum like the boy he appeared to be. He rubbed his eyes, tears streaming down his face, and glared at Nick. Nick was taken aback. “Sorry. I would feel better with you by my side.” He hugged Bond and comforted him like a child. “I won’t tell you not to do anything reckless. This entire plan is reckless. But do not even think of going off and dying on your own,” Bond insisted. “Okay. I don’t plan on dying. And I’m not gonna fight alone,” Nick said. And so, one boy’s cries marked the beginning of a deadly battle.
Chapter 83
59 min read