Chapter 48

CHAPTER 1 New Meetings and Reunions Part I: Team Battle Reprise Just before we dove into the Blazing Red Mansion, I went to Kozelka and Khosrow for advice. Kozelka was the one who’d asked our party to assist in District Five since we’d earned the Advanced Seekers title. I trusted their judgment and wanted to ask them for their input before making an important decision. Though the night had grown late by the time they finished patrolling the district after the stampede, they readily agreed to meet with us. That was why when we’d stepped out of the Blazing Red Mansion, we saw the two of them waiting for us. A look of relief washed over both their faces as soon as we came into view. “I am exceedingly glad to see you found Ms. Elitia unharmed, as had been reported to me,” Kozelka said by way of greeting. “Thank you, me too. But after that experience, I’m more certain than ever that we’ll need to prepare as thoroughly as possible before we attempt anything more in this labyrinth.” Khosrow listened to me intently, his arms crossed and his expression more severely grim than I’d ever seen it before. “Y’all have proved you’ve got what it takes to face off against a District Five level-twelve Named Monster. Atobe, your party is clearly strong enough to survive the challenges here, but the Simian Lord has lived a very long time. It’s beyond dangerous… It’s cunning, you know. But the nastiest bit about it is the way it commands its minions in a quasi-organized way.” Khosrow must know a lot about the Blazing Red Mansion and the Simian Lord, I thought. But the moment he saw that gleam of hope in my eyes, his lips curved into a pained grin and he shook his head. “I hate to break it to you, but I just learned all this after coming here. I’ve got old friends in the district, see.” “Yes, Commander Dylan mentioned you were acquainted when he presented us the Magistite Medallion…,” I recalled. “That’s exactly right. I was his instructor back in the day when he was young,” he started, then immediately interrupted his own story to add, “Ah, but I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’m not that old, my shabby appearance to the contrary…” Khosrow did have a pretty scraggly beard, but I could tell his whole look would change if he shaved it. Even so, it was hard to imagine he was younger than me—and I was pushing thirty. We might’ve been about the same age, actually. “Both Commander Dylan and I studied under Khosrow as his apprentices,” Kozelka told me. “Well, let’s just say we had a long and winding road to where we stand now. Atobe, the two of us’ll stay here as long as y’all do. There anything we can help you with?” the former instructor asked. “N-no, I couldn’t possibly trouble Guild Saviors with our party’s personal issues…” “When you’ve got something that needs doing and time’s against you, you take all the help you can get, wherever you can get it. Plus, it’s not like we’re constantly waiting for orders on our days off. You could say we’re not Seekers, and generally speaking you’d be right, but we’re all basically the same deep down. I can’t help but want to lend a hand to anyone who delves into a labyrinth for a noble purpose… No, the truth is, I want to pay you back the huge favor I owe you,” Khosrow explained, revealing the gratitude he felt for our help in quelling the stampede. Kozelka nodded quietly in agreement, then said, “I believe you grasped how Khosrow and I approach battle after watching us in action. The same engagement gave us similar insight into your skills and leadership, and it underlined how incredibly advanced you and your party are in comparison with your peers.” “And that’s exactly why we don’t expect anythin’ to stop you from going forward. We Guild Saviors and all Labyrinth Country citizens always hang our hopes on strong Seekers, and if we can help you forward in some way, well, I couldn’t ask for anything more.” “…Kozelka, Khosrow…” The two Guild Saviors, exponentially stronger than us and much longer residents in this country, felt like distant heroes I’d hoped to one day reach. And yet, those same two were actually extending their hands out to us. “More than anything, I just wanna fight by your side again, Atobe,” Khosrow confessed. “Let’s give this wannabe slave driver a shock it’ll never forget.” “Monsters simply act on instinct,” Kozelka added. “However, some do show definite hostility toward Seekers… If defeating the Shining Simian Lord will help you and your party move forward, then I would like to assist your endeavor—not as a Guild Savior but on my own as a private civilian.” “…R-right, but you wouldn’t actually be on your own, would you, little lady? You’d have me with yo—whoa!” Khosrow began to protest, seemingly unsettled by the phrase on your own. But quicker than my eyes could follow, Kozelka sliced her open hand through the air directly at Khosrow’s neck, stopping mere inches away. “…May I remind you, Khosrow—you are the one who warned that overly familiar banter can cloud one’s judgment,” she growled. “It’s past time you realize engaging in such disrespectful talk leaves you open to attack.” “I—I ensure you it will never happen again…,” he whimpered. Kozelka withdrew her hand, but Khosrow remained frozen to the spot. The unmitigated displeasure in Kozelka’s voice made it very clear that though she may have once been Khosrow’s student, the tables had unquestionably turned. “…Do me a favor and forget everything I just said,” he told me. “If you’d kindly take over from here, Third-Class Dragon Captain Kozelka.” “We shall now resume our regular duties as part of the Guild Saviors’ raid unit, though we will retain the ability to move at will until we return to District Seven. Please do call on us should you need our assistance,” Kozelka urged. “I’ll assemble personnel who can take part in your operation in the event your second raid on the Blazing Red Mansion requires multiple parties.” “…I—I can’t thank you enough,” I stammered. “Honestly, I was worried the situation called for more than our party alone could muster… I didn’t even know where to start looking for other parties in this district who could come to our aid.” “Fair enough. People end up being real cautious by the time they make it here,” said Khosrow. “It’s no walk in the park gettin’ someone to go along with another party’s mission, either… That said, I’d bet good coin you could work out a joint battle formation if you find people with the same goals in mind.” There was no guarantee we’d find the Shining Simian Lord in the same fortress the next time we went back. At least one Named Monster answered to its commands, but we couldn’t rule out the possibility there were more. We’d have to isolate the Simian Lord and its Demon Monkey Guard, as well as the enslaved Seekers, as much as possible; otherwise, their combined forces could overpower us and make any attempt to free the manipulated captives that much more difficult. I’d use the map Agnes from the White Night Brigade gave me to plan our strategy. We could do a recon check on the fortress first if necessary, then go in with several parties to divide and conquer. Now that I think about it, this is starting to feel less like a battle against a monster and more like a castle invasion. “Before anything else, I’m going to look into what means there may be to free the Seekers under the Simian Lord’s control, or at least get around them without a fight,” I told the two Guild Saviors. “Quite logical… I have no desire to see any Seekers perish.” “Just don’t forget they won’t exactly return the favor. You can order your parties to spare the captive Seekers all you like, but pretty thoughts like that’ll fly out the window the moment things get dicey…,” warned Khosrow. “You’d better prepare as many tricks to sideline or neutralize them as you can.” “Of course. I have a few already, but I’ll use all the time we have to see if we can’t find any more efficient methods.” For the moment, we’d covered everything I’d hoped to discuss. We still had a few days, too, so I could always meet up with them to talk if necessary. We said our good-byes and watched as Kozelka and Khosrow walked away. Then Seraphina turned to me and said, “Mr. Atobe, I’m pleased to see how much faith they’ve placed in you. However, I’m afraid Adeline may not be able to join the battle due to her lower level…” “I wanted to ask if she could help prepare for the fight, not actually participate in the battle, so I’d appreciate it if she could just accompany us to the second floor again.” “Understood. We shall also remain in the district for the foreseeable future, so please do reach out if our participation might assist you on an expedition.” Adeline’s skill Arrow Familiar could give us a bird’s-eye view of the fortress without having to risk getting close. Any drastic change in the layout could prove fatal, so I wanted to make sure we did a final check the day before the operation. “……” “Hm? Who are they…?” Theresia tugged at my sleeve; only then did I notice the two people watching us from a distance. One, apparently in her late teens, donned what could only be described as quintessential proper young lady garb and a large, wide-brimmed hat that hid her ears. She held a white umbrella in one hand, though I saw no signs it had rained while we were in the labyrinth. The other, perhaps slightly older young woman stood next to the teenage young lady, dressed in a maid uniform. After exchanging a meaningful glance with her younger companion, the two gracefully approached us. “…Might I steal a moment of your time, good sir?” the young lady in the hat asked. “Yes… How may I help you?” I responded, momentarily startled by how perfectly her speech had matched my impression of the well-bred belle, though I tried my best not to let it show. Elitia’s mannerisms sometimes emanated a rather refined aura, but this young woman commanded a different kind of dignity, one that extended even to subtle facial expressions. “It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. My name is Ivril, and this is Viola…” She introduced herself and her companion. “We are employed as Seekers in a party unto our own.” To think the two of them could take on any of the labyrinths in District Five on their own—they must’ve each mastered considerable strength. The woman called Viola remained at her post behind Ivril, still as stone. The long bangs that hid her eyes from view gave me the impression she probably didn’t fuss too much over her hair, though I could still tell she was watching us closely. “I’m Arihito Atobe, and these ladies are my party members.” After we’d both given our names, Ivril removed her cloth gloves, gave them to Viola, then offered me her right hand—which I met in a handshake. A cherubic, almost imperceptible smile graced her lips. “Thank you kindly, good sir. More than once have I had my hand refused or been accused of malicious intent.” “Well…we’re all a little different, and I’m not one to judge the beliefs others hold.” “…You have quite the respect for individual diversity, haven’t you, Mr. Atobe? I strive to be the same.” Shaking her hand exposed me to the risk she’d activate a skill on me—a lesson I’d learned the hard way through my experience with Shirone. At the same time, logical as it might have been to constantly keep my guard up, I also didn’t want to suspect everyone around me of ill will. “Under different circumstances, I should have liked to prepare a small gift before calling out to you…,” Ivril confessed apologetically. “However, we had not expected to chance upon you here.” “Do you mean…you saw us leave the labyrinth?” “To be perfectly honest, we caught sight of you entering it,” she admitted. “I heard you explain to the two Guild Saviors that your friend had gone in alone, and that you planned to ask temporary leave to follow her…” The way things stood, Elitia was the only one of us who had the official clearance to enter the Blazing Red Mansion, a five-star labyrinth. Even the temporary pass we’d received required us to leave immediately upon retrieving her. If we wanted to go back, we’d have to first all earn the proper qualification. Ivril turned her gaze to Elitia, who’d regained her footing. Igarashi and Seraphina stood supportively at her sides, but even so, Ivril seemed to perceive the slightly languid air that still lingered over our friend. Part II: Permission to Enter “…I beg your pardon for speaking so frankly, but this young lady, the Death Sword…she aims to rescue a friend held captive in that labyrinth, does she not?” “You’ve heard of Elitia?” “Indeed. We are staunchly opposed to leaving this labyrinth in its current state. It may not produce stampedes, but more than a decade has passed since it was left to its own devices…,” Ivril explained. “After some investigation, I learned several Seekers had entered its depths, never to be seen again. It appears ever since the fifth year of these disappearances, traffic in and out of the labyrinth dramatically plummeted.” We’re not the only ones—there are other parties who think something needs to be done about that place. “…Allow me to clarify something. People call Elitia the Death Sword, but she by no means asked for that name. She’s come to our rescue time and time again. If anything, she’s the antithesis of the Death Sword, a staunch defender and true friend.” “Yes, I understand…” She paused. “At least I thought I did. And yet I should never have addressed her with such a fearful moniker. I am terribly sorry for the affront on her honor.”