We decided to set up camp where the road opened up a bit. This could differ between floors, but the labyrinth tended to be dimly lit regardless of time, which would throw off your internal clock. Even just being a few hours off from how long you had worked made it hard to manage your stamina, and you wouldn’t be able to save yourself from a pinch. Thus, abenteurers often rested when it would be night outside—even when they had strength to spare.
But getting together in dim light during nighttime could only mean one thing: a meeting. That was obvious, right?
“It’s almost certain that there’s a large, open space on this floor,” Camilla said. “We could smell water from multiple paths, which means there must be a lake or river—just as Wim predicted, yes?”
“I agree. Then it should also be safe to assume we’ll able to refill our water supply as well. Do you have any predictions about how the quality of the water here might be, Wim?”
“R-right. There were some spotted butterflies, and um, they can only survive around pure water. So, yes. I think the water quality will be safe.”
Hans had suddenly included me in the conversation, so I was panicking. I looked at his expression to see if my answer had been satisfactory, but it hadn’t changed at all. I was probably fine.
“All right, then as for tomorrow…”
Camilla addressed the rest of the leaders, and they resumed fine-tuning the plan for the next day. The bident formation consisted of two separate groups that would follow separate paths, and one of the advantages of this was that we could scope out the safest way forward, which everyone would then take. In other words, if there was a big monster on one path, that squad could turn back and meet up with the other group. It was thanks to this that we haven’t battled a single large monster all day. Apparently, things had rarely gone so smoothly, and the expressions on Camilla and the others’ faces were relaxed.
However, there was something else weighing on my mind.
“All right, then. Let’s call it a day. Does anyone else have anything to report?”
No one spoke, and a silence—uniquely heard only when all human voices have faded from a space—filled the air of the labyrinth.
I was about to raise my hand, but I hesitated. This was minor, and only a foreboding. I thought about just saying it so we could be prepared for anything, but this could’ve all just been in my head too. Actually, I was almost certain it was all in my head.
Unsavory memories resurfaced in my mind. It had happened when I was with Drachenflügel too. I would run my mouth and just ruin the mood.
Maybe I shouldn’t say it. I would keep it to myself until I was more certain. I was an outsider, so I needed to avoid drawing any unnecessary attention to myself.
“Wim! Do you have something to say, boy?” It must have been clear I was hesitating, as Camilla barked at me.
“Huh?! U-um, no. Nothing important.”
“Then you do have something. Out with it.”
“Um, actually, yeah. I do, but…”
“Calm down. Telling us can’t hurt us.”
“Um…”
“If you’re trying to be polite, then hurry on with it! We can’t end this meeting until you tell us. Here. One, two, three, four—”
“I’ll say it!” I took a deep breath. Then, I tried to look everyone in the eyes, but I was so terrified I felt like I was about to keel over. So, I just looked at Camilla instead. “Um… It’s barely noticeable, but this road is sloped.”
“Sloped? I heard we had generally descended.”
“We have. You can just barely tell with a spirit level, but we were gradually descending, which would be natural if we were approaching a water source. But just now, we started to climb back up a bit. I thought this was strange.”
“What does that mean, exactly?”
“Well, I’m not sure. These slopes can’t be found on other floors, so it might be part of a trap. That’s all, really. Yup.”
Camilla brought a hand to her chin. “So, we’re on a slope. Is a boulder going to come tumbling after us? No, I suppose it would be water if anything. Is this meant to drown us?”
Everyone was on edge. I really should have kept quiet. The potential danger was much greater than the chances of anything happening, which made it the sort of thought that would easily take over your mind. I was just making them anxious for no reason.
“That was my first thought too, but it’d take quite a lot of water to cover such wide paths, not to mention all the little paths and crossroads we’ve passed.”
“I see.”
I couldn’t help but look at the other leaders. I had brought up something I hadn’t needed to, and it was obvious what their reaction would be.
“Did you hear him, everyone? Share this with your divisions.”
“Understood.”
“Right.”
“Copy that.”
“All right, let’s get resting. Don’t exert yourself unless you’re on guard duty. Remember that the weary become the dead.”
Camilla ended the meeting with a clap of her hands, and everyone headed back to where they would be resting for the night. I had let them all down, so I stayed back, standing alone and dumbfounded.
That’s when someone whacked me on the shoulder. “Boy.”
“H-huh?! I-I’m sorry! Everyone gets to rest less now that I went and said something so stupid!”
“I’m starting to get frustrated since we’ve had this same conversation over and over, but—”
“I’m sorry.”
“You’re wrong. Don’t underestimate us. Here in the labyrinth, information is the difference between life and death. There’s a huge difference when you run into danger prepared versus ill-prepared. You always provide us with valuable, important intel, and we’re not so small-minded as to throw fits about having to keep track of just one more piece of information.”
Camilla was forceful—not in the oppressive way I experienced when I was with Drachenflügel, but more in the sense that she had something to tell me and wanted to make sure her words came across.
“I’m sure your introspective nature has helped you grow, but you take it too far. It’s going to get in your way. You don’t need to hold back so much, boy.” She looked into my eyes. “You can live how you want.”
Her eyes were stern, but I could sense warmth in them as well.
Progress was shockingly smooth. We hadn’t encountered a single big monster yet, and everyone still had plenty of stamina. We had even discovered a few gold veins. Although we were only partway through our journey, this dive had already proved to be profitable.
In fact, things were going too well. The labyrinth was a place where you could fall into unexpected traps, even with obsessive preparation.