“Now, correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure we said that we’d just be resting this week, right?” I asked.
“Yup, exactly! That’s why we’re enjoying a nice walk for a little change of pace right now,” Ketty answered.
Her words left me confused. People all had different ways of relaxing, and walks certainly were nice, as they let you enjoy the scenery. But when Ketty had brought it up, I’d assumed we’d be strolling around the town or exploring the surrounding areas. That made sense, right?
“I’ve finished disarming the traps, sir,” Kefin told me.
“Oh, we should be able to see the staircase soon,” Estia said, glancing at the map in her hands.
“I’ll go scout the area.” With that, Kefin went ahead of us to check if there were more dangerous traps that needed disarming.
Yup, that’s right; we were currently inside the labyrinth that connected Ebiza to Illumasia. There had been no traces of Lionel that morning, and when he returned, he’d simply told me that he’d gone to buy ingredients with Ketty and Kefin. I’d already felt that something was fishy at that point, but I was impressed he had thought of stocking up on food in case something happened when we traveled to the empire.
After that, we had gone all the way to the labyrinth to see the prince and his troops off, and before I’d realized what was happening, we’d begun clearing it. I did know it was strange, but my friends were having so much fun, I couldn’t bring myself to rain on their parade.
Is this really what we should be doing with our week off, though? Truthfully, I had serious doubts about it, but since no one had objected, here we were, dungeon-diving.
“Master, Lionel, do you really intend on destroying this labyrinth in a week?”
“We’re just trying to maximize our chances of survival, something you always like to remind us to do. We even got our hands on a map. And who knows? Maybe you’ll get a new power down there,” Lionel said.
“Better to focus on getting stronger than to sit around overthinking things when we don’t have all the information,” Brod added.
I did understand Lionel’s point. Trying to increase our odds of staying alive after our mission in Illumasia was definitely the right move, and what Brod had said made sense too. But I knew that the true reason we were here was that they wanted to level up.
We spotted a monster, and they both rushed at it, each trying to steal the kill from the other. Early this morning, Brod had gone to the Adventurer’s Guild and had provoked the adventurers we’d captured the previous day into a five-on-one battle. He’d won, and his spoils had been a map of the labyrinth he’d stolen—ahem, purchased—from the adventurers. It was almost as if he and Lionel had arranged for us to clear the labyrinth today. The two of them must’ve been excited to learn that there was a place where they could level up nearby.
“It is true that I’m always telling you not to die, so I won’t tell you that leveling up is a bad idea, nor do I think it is. But I wish you’d consider how it feels to be in my shoes when you come to me acting all embarrassed when you get hurt,” I said.
“Are you afraid of people giving you another nickname?” Estia asked.
The mere thought sent a chill down my spine, and I shot her a glare.
Lionel soon returned with minor scratches on his forehead, arms, and thighs. “If anything, we’re not training enough. The heroes and champions who went down in history all had to fight, regardless of the era they lived in. I’m sure it’ll be the same for you, sir; many more battles await you in the future.”
“Please don’t say ominous things like that, especially not with such conviction,” I said.
If Lionel’s warrior instincts were picking up on something, it meant there was a possibility I’d be dragged into more fights. What a pickle.
“Well, I’ve gone through a lot of things that most people would find unimaginable. As such, my instinct tells me that you will get involved in many more dangerous situations.”
The bright smile on his face as he predicted all those unsettling things in my future in the middle of the labyrinth almost made it look like he wished for them to happen. Lionel had dedicated himself to protecting me since the day we met, and I sensed he had been quietly watching me grow all this time. In the end, it had led to him being dragged into a fight with the Wicked One, where he’d lost all the levels and skills he’d accumulated so far just to protect me. I couldn’t help but wonder how he truly felt about it.
“Shouldn’t you be scared of being the head of my followers if you have such ominous premonitions? You came back from hell after that battle with the Wicked One, didn’t you? Don’t get me wrong, I’m insanely grateful for everything you’ve been doing for me, but...”
It was a bit harsh, but Lionel had a family waiting for him in Yenice. He wasn’t a slave anymore, so why did he—no, scratch that, why did all of my companions insist on risking their lives for me? Was I truly worth their efforts? To be honest, I wasn’t sure about that anymore.
However, Lionel didn’t seem bothered by my words. He turned to me and said, “Back when I was a general in Illumasia, I never thought of anything but the empire. I don’t think it was wrong per se, but I always felt that something was missing.”
“I don’t think being with me is that different, though. While we’re not actively participating in wars, you and the others still end up in dangerous battles because of me.”
Recently, my friends had been forced to fight demons and dangerous opponents like the Wicked One. It wasn’t as if I had intentionally put myself in those situations, but I still felt bad.
Unlike me, however, Lionel didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. In fact, he was smiling. “Killing someone means robbing them of their future with no chance of turning back. Back when I fought in wars, I always hoped the enemy soldiers would retreat while I ran around the battlefield trying to protect my allies from serious harm. It left me feeling empty inside.”
I realized I hadn’t often heard him talk about his life in the empire.
“But this is different. Ever since becoming your follower, I’ve had the chance to take part in exciting battles and experienced things no one would ever imagine—including regaining my youth,” he said, a smile lighting up his face. There was no hint of regret or sadness in his expression.
“Do you have any regrets?”
“None whatsoever. I got to fight dragons, have full-blown duels with the Whirlwind, and even challenge demons and the Wicked One. And with my renewed youth, I can aim to achieve even greater feats. Plus, it’s given me the chance to have a family.”
“I’m impressed by how much you’ve come to terms with things.”
He chuckled. “I simply believe that I am protecting the future of the world by protecting you.”
“Please stop thinking that the future of the world depends on me. No matter how you look at it, that’s an unrealistic expectation.”
“It’s not; it’s just right. Besides, I have my own ambitions too.”
“Do you? Can I ask what they are?”
“I want to appear in your future biographies as the former Illumasian general who became the head of your followers and supported you throughout your journey.”
I hadn’t been expecting that, and his words left me floored. “What?”
“When people write your life story, I want them to include me as your most loyal retainer. That’s my dream.” With that, he resumed walking ahead, laughing heartily.
“My biography? I’ve read Lord Reinstar’s, and it was impressive. But having mine sit next to it? Yeah, that’s not happening.”
Feeling a little dejected, I followed my companions to the tenth floor of the labyrinth. Meanwhile, Brod, who’d overheard my conversation with Lionel, launched into an argument with him, claiming that he would be the one to appear the most in my life story as the man who’d taught me how to fight.