PROLOGUE Little did we know when Falma opened the Black Box we’d acquired from The Calamity that the Hidden God part within would forcibly teleport us to a lost labyrinth. Waiting for us there was the master of the labyrinth, the Intelligent Armor Fylgja; as we had with Murakumo and Alphecca, we fought fiercely and just barely came out of the battle victorious. We did not, however, have to destroy Fylgja to do so. In fact, it was Fylgja herself who accepted defeat before we dealt the final blow. I then affixed the Merak Crystal, an armament controller, onto her armor and gained official ownership of another Hidden God part. In her materialized form, Fylgja looked like a female knight, although her figure was semitransparent from fatigue. She briefly introduced herself to Murakumo and Alphecca and then once again knelt before me. “Master Arihito, I can be equipped as armor during expeditions much like Murakumo; alternatively, I can release my physical form and travel with you.” “So we can call you to us like Alphecca?” “Aye. However, this means I can also be lost during emergency evacuation from a labyrinth, whether via a Hidden God’s provenance or a Return Scroll.” “Does that mean we’ll lose something when we get out of here, too?” “Nay. Anyone who defeats me may exit this labyrinth through the teleportation circle that lies ahead; if you proceed via this route, nothing will be taken from you.” I guess that means we can get out of here if we just keep going forward. Perhaps moved with sorrow for the Seekers who’d lost their lives to Fylgja, Suzuna, who had turned back to face the way we had come, was praying. I followed her example, putting my hand over my heart and closing my eyes. “Hidden God parts are duty bound to test Seekers… But why is that, Fylgja…?” asked Igarashi. Fylgja, who preferred to answer in terms of aye or nay, said neither. “That is how we are created,” she replied. “Until we submit to an armament controller, we engage every soul that comes to us in a test of strength that ends with either our destruction or the will of the Hidden God devotee we thereafter serve.” “Hmm. I’ve got mixed feelings on this, but I guess you’re someone we want on our side…,” Misaki mused. “Also, all you parts ladies are super-pretty. And now you’re here like a super-cool knight in shining armor.” “I am no knightly suit of armor. When equipped by either a Seeker or a Hidden God, I more closely resemble an additional layer of protection,” Fylgja responded in all seriousness, striking a very knightly figure indeed. While similar in some regards to Seraphina’s equipment, Fylgja did seem less like a typical suit of armor and more like a futuristic protector you might see in a sci-fi film. Soon enough, Fylgja’s form began fading, providing glimpses of the scenery behind her. “Fylgja, you’re starting to disappear. Are you low on magic?” I asked. “Aye. After a certain degree of movement, I require additional magic to sustain my material form.” “It would behoove us to regard Fylgja as a secret layer of protection anyone can call upon in times of need, as we do not need to specify a single Seeker to equip her,” said Murakumo. “Hmm, it seems I have also overspent my magic.” Murakumo in her physical manifestation nodded in agreement with Alphecca and Fylgja, then looked at me. I nodded back, and the three women vanished into thin air. “…First a blade, then a chariot, and now I reclaim a frame. This is all thanks to your support, Arihito, and that of your friends,” I heard Ariadne say. I took that opportunity to ask about something on my mind. “Ariadne, you’ve had the Guard Arm from the beginning, right? Is that also a Hidden God part?” “My mechanical arm is a section of my equipment that is unique to me. This varies among every Hidden God.” “I see… It’s very like you to have a Guard Arm, one that’s protected us all.” Though all I had to do was imagine the words for them to reach Ariadne, I heard nothing from her for a while. Did I say something to make her uncomfortable? “It is a Hidden God’s duty to bestow their protection on their devotees. If I have succeeded in this task, then I am glad of it.” “You always do. Thank you. What will happen if we keep collecting more of your parts?” “…Not even I know the answer. Much of the knowledge I once possessed was lost when I was disposed of,” she admitted. “Of one thing I am certain: The number of parts I have reclaimed will play a vital role in the event that we cross paths with a hostile god of my kind.” Though Ariadne had warned us of that from the beginning, we had yet to run into any “hostile Hidden Gods.” “…I cannot say anything for certain, but ever since you ascended to your current district, I have felt slightly on edge. However, I pray you merely take note of this, as it has no logical basis.” “Meaning…we might face an enemy Hidden God in District Five, right? I sure hope we can hold off on that until after our battle with the Simian Lord.” “As do I. The Simian Lord is a formidable foe, and its vanquishing will prove a challenging feat. All I can do is prepare to protect the lives of my devotees on the day of battle,” she said, a tinge of undeniable emotion coloring her once robotically mechanical voice. Her promise to protect us gave me more heart than I could ever have asked for. “…Perhaps using the Shrine Maiden as a conduit has affected me some.” “O-oh… Yeah, you might be right.” “I’m more than happy to use Medium again. We need it to bolster your protection over us, don’t we?” Suzuna, who had returned to stand by me before I knew it and apparently could also hear what Ariadne had been saying, chimed in. “I cannot fathom how our conversation inspired a desire to utilize that skill.” “I beg your pardon. It’s just, last time I got to thinking perhaps it would be best to do so regularly, but we haven’t had a chance since then…” “R-right, Ariadne does get stronger the more our devotion grows, after all. I agree with you, we really should raise our devotion levels again like we did before.” “…If that is your intention, then I cannot refuse. The session should go quickly enough that it will not impede your rest.” That seemed enough to earn Ariadne’s permission and portended our first Medium session in a while later that evening. We found the transportation circle and returned to where we’d been. Just then— “Oh, thank goodness, you’re all—!” “Fo—! Fa-Fahma, I can’h breahe…!” choked Misaki, who reappeared closest to Falma and instantly found herself buried in the Chest Cracker’s bosom. Not one to stare, I quickly averted my gaze; my eyes fell on Igarashi, who for some reason also looked away. “D-don’t tell me…you want me to h-hold you like that, Atobe,” she stammered. “Oh, n-no, I, um…” “…Kyouka, you’re telling on yourself.” “…M-Melissa, I wasn’t saying— Eek!” “I’m so glad you’re all okay…! I never stopped praying you’d be all right…!” Madoka flung her arms around Igarashi from behind, rejoicing in our safe return. But before I could join in the celebration, I had to figure out how much time had passed while we were gone. The flow of time was known to vary depending on where we teleported. “Sorry to worry you, Madoka… How long did it take for us to get back?” “I-it’s okay! Umm… The sun has already set, so I think you were away for about six hours.” The air had been similarly dry where we found Alphecca and now Fylgja. Clearly, the quicker the weathering took its toll, the faster time flew. “We were fortunate not to have lost a significant number of hours there,” said Seraphina. “I suggest we tackle opening the next Black Box tomorrow and allow ourselves some rest.” “Yes, that’s probably best.” She’s got a good point; we should call it a day. No sooner had the thought crossed my mind than Misaki finally freed herself from Falma’s embrace and walked over to me. “Falma, I’m sorry to have caused you so much grief,” I said. “Oh, no… I’d worried at first that I’d failed at opening the chest, but this one felt somehow different. A true failure could have made everything in this room vanish entirely.” “…Wow, chest cracking is really risky. Sorry for pushing all these difficult treasure boxes on you.” “There’s no need to apologize; I am a professional, for what it’s worth, and I find great meaning in helping crack chests,” Falma insisted. “If this was indeed a success, I do hope you will trust me again in the future with your treasure box needs.” She then bowed. I’d been careful to avoid watching her bend over at all, but the downward-then-upward movement was exponentially more risqué—my eyes found no safe landing in sight. “……” “Theresia, looks like Ari-poo really does love the busty ladies.” “……!” “H-hey. Let’s try to keep on topic here…” “Forgive me; I’ve been so worried this whole time I didn’t have a chance to change…,” Falma admitted. “I think I may need to avail myself of your bath.” The intense concentration of cracking a chest always left Falma dripping in sweat. Maybe that’s why she’s glowing now, too— Wait, now’s not the time for that. “Falma, could we ask you to help us with the remaining Black Box tomorrow?” I asked. “Yes, of course. A good night’s sleep will restore all the energy I need to have another go.” Our order-made wagon should be ready tomorrow; we’ll also need to head out in search of a Holy Stone to fashion a Curse Eater blade. Opening that last Black Box does run the risk of putting us up against another Hidden God part, but considering it could also give us new equipment, that’s a risk we should take sooner rather than later. Falma was undoubtedly one of the great pillars supporting our party behind the scenes. I also knew, however, that asking for her help meant taking her away from Eyck and Plum. With all that in mind, I decided I wanted to find some way to thank her—I simply had to. After first dropping by the apartment suite, I headed to see Ceres and Steiner at the workshop. There I was greeted by the sight of Steiner working on an organ that had been removed from The Calamity; they seemed to be connecting tubes. “Oh, welcome back!” “The operation to remove the Queen’s Tail from the Queen Scorpion went swimmingly. All that is now left is to power it with magic for a test run,” Ceres informed me. “We must take every precaution.” Made from materials we’d harvested from The Calamity, the Queen’s Tail was something like a large arterial weapon too heavy for any one person to wield. However, we were hoping we could manage to use it if we loaded it onto a cart Madoka could operate. “Thank you very much. I’m sorry to interrupt while you’re already so busy, but we just opened a Black Box, and I was hoping to discuss some items we found… Seraphina’s armor was also damaged, so I’d like to ask you to repair that as well.” “I’m quite sure we can handle a few additional repairs and process whatever items you gathered from the treasure chest without trouble,” Ceres said. “Now, let me see what we have here.” Madoka, who had accompanied me to the workshop, used her skill Unpack Goods to retrieve our newest acquisitions: Water Serpent Scales and the ripped Heavenly Maiden’s Raiment. The Ice Remnant had also dropped a frost stone, but I decided to hold on to it for use as bullets with my magical gun. “This raiment…no, you shan’t be able to use it in this state; it’s much too tattered. Steiner and I could wash it for you, but any repairs would be beyond us.” “Maybe a skilled tailor could fix it for you?” Steiner ventured. “Oh, I know! Luca could definitely help.” “True, he is a professional, after all. I’ll try reaching out to him at Boutique Corleone down in District Seven,” Madoka said as she started jotting down a to-do list in her notebook. Just as I was wondering what we might do with the Water Serpent Scales, Steiner stepped away from their work, walked over to us, and picked up one of the scales. “I can feel the scale’s water power just by holding it in my hand. This resource will be better as armor than as a weapon.” “About that—do you think you could add it to the wagon we’re having made now once it’s ready?” “As a defensive shield? A fine idea, I should say; simply affixing a scale will improve the wagon’s heat resistance, after all. You could add multiple if you like, but with this quality, I imagine one should do quite nicely.” “If you put it at the head of the wagon, it’ll react to flames and create a film around the entire vehicle,” Steiner informed me. “That will take magical power from whoever is riding it, though.” Following that plan, we would have two remaining scales to use on equipment. As neither Elitia nor Melissa, who took on quite a bit of attacking duty as well, had fire attribute–resistant armor, I decided to have Ceres and Steiner strengthen their equipment. “Though Elitia’s High Mithril Knightmail has reached its fortification limit, we can temporarily bolster it by adding the Water Serpent Scale as supplementary armor. However, pushing past that limit would require special materials, so I suggest you consider switching to an entirely new piece of equipment instead.” “That’s great advice, thank you. What about Melissa’s armor?” “Well, I do believe it best to apply the scales to a piece that covers most of her body. Her White Apocynum Overalls can be fortified up to +6; this would leave them at +1, with plenty of room for further modifications.” I guess since all equipment has a cap on modifications, we should upgrade to better base armor any chance we get. If we want to aim for the strongest armor possible, we should use only the resources we harvest from the strongest monsters we defeat. “Collecting a complete set of armor is quite the challenge, you see. If you find a suitable set that can be used as is, it would behoove you to switch to that. You also have the option of extracting the attributes and modifications you’ve made to the previous items, leaving the original piece.” “Is that even possible? That’s amazing.” “My profession is well suited to the task, in fact. That woman…Lynée, that is, also does similar work, though through different means,” Ceres explained. “The method I use converts and then extracts the capabilities imbued in a piece of equipment.” She brought over the tricorn cap she often wore, then whispered a spell that brought letters floating to the surface. “I added this power to my hat, but it will vanish if I simply remove it. The feat can be accomplished with what is known as a transmitter pearl, though I have not seen one these last few years. They can only be used a certain number of times and are only ever rarely found in labyrinths.” “A transmitter pearl… That’s good to know. I’ll keep it in mind.” “Arihito, I’ll check if I can find one through Bargain,” Madoka piped up. “Great. Keep an eye on its market price, too. I imagine it can get pretty pricey, but it’s probably worth it.” “We’ll go over to pick up the items you need repaired or processed, okay? We should have them done by morning.” “I can’t thank you enough. We’ll have a good meal tonight—and please make sure to take breaks.” “Mm, I must say, I am quite looking forward to trying the cuisine in this district; each one boasts different styles, after all,” noted Ceres. “Now then, shall we see what we can do before dinner?” “Yes, Master.” “Oh, I think I’ll go make some tea. Is that okay, Arihito?” Madoka asked. Such a conscientious girl. I was thinking to do that myself, but maybe it’s best to delegate. While she’s busy with that, I’ll go get the things we need to leave with Steiner and Ceres. Once night fell, it was off to the Forest Diner. We found it cheerfully bustling as always, with Seekers congratulating each other on another hard day’s work and sharing drinks. The hostess instructed us to once again head for the meeting room that also functioned as a private dining area, where apparently Maria would be serving us once more. We had originally agreed the Chef would deliver the dishes she prepared with our special fruits to our place, but Madoka had arranged for her to give them to us here. “……” Theresia looked curious about what the other diners were enjoying, but still she kept following behind me. …Hmm? Suddenly, a hush seemed to fall over the area—conversations still continued, but with lowered voices. All the diners around us focused their attention on one area. Elitia, who had been walking with Suzuna and Misaki, also stopped short when she saw the band of people approaching us: the White Night Brigade. I saw one group led by Vice Captain Agnes, and another walking in front of it. The young man with a bluish tint in his black hair in the center of this latter group stopped at the sight of us, then used his middle finger to push up his glasses. “…Captain…Johan…,” Elitia whispered, just as I caught up to and stepped in front of her. The young man she’d called Johan ambled toward us, grinning. Ice cold—that was the first impression I got as I met his gaze. Whatever emotions lurked behind those clear blue eyes didn’t easily fit into one simple category. “Didn’t think I’d run into you here. I was sure I’d see you at some point, but it looks like that came quicker than I’d expected.” “…Captain, Elitia is now—” “Working with another party,” Johan said, interrupting Agnes. “I understand… Elitia, I know I didn’t stop you when you set off on your own. But that doesn’t mean I’ve given up on you.” “…!” He closed in on Elitia and extended his right hand to her. But a handshake was the last thing on his mind. “…Would you show me the sword? I’d like to see if you’ve made any progress since you left.” The sword in question, the Scarlet Emperor, had recently awakened to its true power and reclaimed its true name, Antares. As long as it stayed within its scabbard, though, the blade’s transformation remained our secret. Elitia had been assigned the Scarlet Emperor back when she still belonged to the Brigade. I saw absolutely no signs that Johan understood exactly how much suffering that had caused her. However, precisely because the Brigade had given Elitia a sword they’d acquired, there remained the possibility they would push their claim to it. And if we lost Antares now, we would lose almost any chance we had of defeating the Simian Lord. “Afraid I can’t. I’m still not ready to give it back.” “…Do you still mean to take down that ape? That monster has mastered the art of forcing humans into servitude. If you lose, you’ll end up just like her…like that Healer,” Johan pressed, not even calling Rury by name. Agnes kept her gaze firmly on the floor. Most of the other Brigade members simply listened in on the conversation, completely dispassionate. “I don’t much like the idea of my own flesh and blood sister becoming some ape’s minion. If you haven’t mastered that sword, I’d like to take it back while I have you here.” “…Captain, that’s a bit much…,” Agnes protested. “This is a family matter,” Johan insisted. “You must understand, Ellie. I didn’t give you that blade for you to deliver it into the hands of a monster.” Clearly, he didn’t believe we could defeat the Simian Lord or bring Rury back safely. I knew Johan was Elitia’s elder brother, but the details of how their family had been reincarnated in the Labyrinth Country or of the kind of relationships they had were still mostly a mystery to me. Even so, my companions and I did know one thing: the reason Elitia had pushed herself so hard, what she had risked her life for. “Elitia is part of my party now,” I said. “We have important business to take care of. As Elitia’s family, I wish you wouldn’t disparage her goals.” “Arihito…” I turned to face Johan head-on; my skin crawled, a warning that I’d stepped into my opponent’s territory. As a group, the Brigade strove to collect cursed weapons in pursuit of their awesome power. While I couldn’t tell exactly what went on in the mind of the one leading that charge, I did feel an oppressive power emanating from the sword at his waist that told me it was no ordinary weapon. “Arihito…is it? You find my sister’s sword appealing?” “Not just her sword. Elitia’s a vital member of our party.” “No one could ever take Ellie’s place,” said Igarashi. “We’ve come all this way fighting side by side, supporting each other, putting our hearts and souls into our work…and we intend to keep things that way.” Johan studied Igarashi with amusement, but that hardly compared to the intense stares the other male members of his party focused on her. “D-damn… What a fox… You don’t see goods like that every day.” “You say that every time you see a woman with a big rack, Souga.” “Forget that for a second. Am I seeing things, or is that guy in the suit the only dude in that whole group…? Talk about a lady killer. It’s always the quiet-looking ones who get all the chicks…!” “Silence, Jeremy. You make yourself look like a fool whenever you open your mouth.” Souga, it seemed, hadn’t gotten a good look at Igarashi the last time he’d seen her. As soon as she noticed the other men leering at her, Igarashi retreated behind me. I could almost feel their stares boring holes into me, but my place now was protecting Igarashi. “…If you’ve yet to awaken the blade, I’m willing to give you some more time. But…,” Johan began. Just then, his eyes flew open wide in realization. He smiled. He wasn’t looking at me, though; his gaze was fixed on something far in the distance. “I see… So that’s how it is. Well, that’s fine. No need to rush…” “…Captain, we’re just as much to blame for leaving Rury behind. Can we not help Elitia in some way?” “If you fail, you’ll have to clean up the mess. That’s always been my stance, Agnes.” “…!” Agnes was trying to go against Johan’s wishes and lend us a hand. That said, it would be nearly impossible to come back from a battle against the Simian Lord unscathed. What Johan had told her essentially amounted to a direct order not to help us in any way. “I had not expected to see you here, and for now I’ve had my fill. Let’s meet again, Elitia—if you survive.” “…Wait. Johan, is Father—?” “He’s alive. But I am the captain now. I suggest you don’t hold on to hopes for his help.” And with that, the Brigade left the Forest Diner. They were fifteen strong, enough to fill two parties, counting Johan. A variety of vanguards, middle guards, and rearguards, the group consisted of eight men and seven women. Elitia didn’t turn back to watch them; for a moment, she kept her eyes on the floor. Eventually, she looked up and gave Suzuna and Misaki at her side a smile. “Don’t worry,” she told them. “I’ve known what kind of person my brother is for a long time. It’s no shock to me now.” “…Oh, good. I’m so happy to see you smile, Ellie.” “I thought he’d have this harsh exterior with a warm, squishy filling, but…he wasn’t anything like that. Kinda scary…,” Misaki mused. “Ack! I shouldn’t say that about your brother…” “…He didn’t always speak about my father like that. One day, it was like he became a completely different person… But I don’t know anything about why.” Despite the cold impression he left, Johan apparently used to be different. Something must have happened after he came to the Labyrinth Country to turn him into the man he was today. “Ms. Agnes seemed genuinely concerned for us. However, I imagine asking for help the way matters stand now will not earn us much.” “Good point, Seraphina,” I said. “Still, that means not everyone in the Brigade sees us as enemies…and I’m grateful for that, at least.” Seraphina, who’d told us ahead of time she’d come a little late, joined our conversation. Rikerton bashfully approached, his wife Ferris in tow. “Arihito, there’s something I’d like to ask you… Would it be all right if my wife Feresia joined us?” So Ferris is a nickname for Feresia? I smiled. “Of course. It would be our pleasure to have you both again.” “…Meow.” “……” As a lizardman, Theresia couldn’t speak at all, while Ferris, a werecat, was able to meow. The two of them appeared to be communicating somehow. “…Looks like Theresia can understand my mom. Amazing… Even I only get the gist of it.” Melissa gazed at them fondly; she rarely showed an expression like that. I got the impression that being with her mother had inspired a positive change in Melissa, a development that made me as happy as if it had been my own.
Chapter 63
22 min read