Chapter 115
'A labyrinth enters the human heart and takes control.'
—So said the documents handed to us by the Adventurers Guild. Labyrinths are each named after an emotion, and apparently exert their influence by "controlling" that emotion.
When we entered the Empire, the GPS-equipped bracelets we were given monitored the wearer's emotions. Apparently, if one of those bracelets lit up red, it meant "be extremely cautious." The wearer's emotions were on the verge of running wild and breaking their mind.
The manner in which a labyrinth controlled emotions differed from one labyrinth to another. Some activated traps, some affected you before you realized it, and some had places you couldn't pass unless you forcibly triggered that emotion... There were all sorts.
"It's beautiful in here, though..."
My first impression was that it was astonishingly spacious and orderly. The walls were smooth, and I could tell they were solidified with something like cement. The passageway was wide enough for three or four people to walk abreast, and it was faintly lit—another characteristic of a "dungeon." When I checked with 【All Creation】, I could tell that a small amount of magic power was circulating.
The lighting wasn't quite bright enough, so we kept the magic lamps lit.
(Come to think of it, it was about this bright when we were in the "Six Heavens Mine," too. It doesn't bother me now that I have the Gift 【Night Vision】, but... back then, I thought, "That's just how it is.")
Whenever I complained that it was dark, Lark would always say, "That's just how it is." He was a pretty world-weary kid for a thirteen-year-old, that Lark.
"Muge-san. When did the labyrinth strategy group enter?"
"I believe it was about five days ago, give or take."
I could hear Mimino-san and Muge-san talking, but my ears, enhanced by 【Enhanced Hearing】, picked up another sound—the sound of air flowing.
"—Dantes-san, there's a large open area up ahead."
"Hmm. Then Reiji, Zelly, and I will scout ahead. Mimino and the others, follow at your leisure."
Since we had only just entered, we probably didn't need to worry about a back attack.
After going about fifty meters, we reached a wide-open area. A gently descending slope stretched ahead, with huge stone statues lining both sides, holding things like swords, shields, and staves.
The stone statues seemed to glare at us.
"...It looks like there's nothing here. What do you think?"
"No, nothing here."
"Yep, yep. Nothing here."
Was it just an intimidation tactic? But—
"...It's not that there's nothing here, but I smell blood."
"I see. There could be a trap. Be careful."
Mimino-san and the others caught up from behind, so we regrouped and continued on. Contrary to expectations, though, there was nothing here—and before I knew it, the wide-open area had ended and we were back in an enclosed passage.
It was the same kind of passage as before, but this one seemed to descend as it gently curved this way and that. Along the way, we came across several forks. We checked each one as we proceeded, and in some places we found things resembling altars, but nothing had been left there—the people who came before us must have taken it.
After three hours of progress, and with only one break behind us, I was thinking it was about time for another when—
"—I can hear people talking ahead."
"Hmm, other adventurers, or perhaps the labyrinth strategy group."
They were competitors, but not enemies. So the presence of other people could, conversely, be taken as proof that it was "safe."
Eventually, we arrived at a huge cube-shaped hall.
It was simply enormous. Wasn't each edge of this hall about a hundred meters long?
"Whoa..."
A straight path ran to the exit on the opposite side, with bonfires blazing on either side. The center was a circular stage, and I could see about ten people there.
Beyond the bonfires, there was no ground, only a bottomless darkness stretching out. I felt the wind blowing up from below and shuddered.
"Huh? Other adventurers besides us—...wait."
What terrible luck—the group there was none other than the party led by Leon of the "Golden Caravan."
"..."
"..."
Dantes-san and Leon glared at each other for a while, but—
"—I don't want any trouble here."
"Yeah, I know."
Just like the other day, the slender woman in a hood spoke, and Leon backed down.
They headed toward the edge of the circular stage, so we went to the opposite side and sat down.
When I wondered why there were so many of them, I spotted a merchant who seemed to have hired the "Golden Caravan." He was wearing a glossy outfit and riding what looked like a forklift powered by a magic engine.
The merchant brought two other Lef people over with him and came toward us—to Muge-san.
"Well, well, if it isn't the 'Ramshackle Trading Company.' It won't do for a poor trading company like yours to come into a labyrinth."
"..."
"..."
As Dantes-san and I, who had been sitting and resting, started to stand, Muge-san said, "You two, please stay seated."
"The labyrinth is open to everyone, isn't it? You have no right to complain."
"How insolent... This labyrinth is the lifeline of our Empire, you know! And it's a nuisance to have people like you, who are connected to the 'outside,' come here. Don't you understand? Everyone thinks people like you, who can't do business 'inside,' are a nuisance."
"That's not—"
"—What are you saying, you Lef in that disgusting outfit, when you couldn't survive without importing food from the 'outside'?"
"Reiji-san?!"
He hadn't expected me to butt in, and Muge-san looked startled. The nouveau-riche-looking merchant stared blankly, but soon his eyes grew bloodshot, and—
"Y-you little brat... What did you just—"
"I'll say it as many times as necessary. This may be the center of the world's magic-engine industry, but that's all it is, when you look at the other side of things. It's not suited to agriculture, and livestock farming isn't flourishing here either. Without the 'outside' you keep talking about, this place couldn't survive. You take risks to bring all sorts of goods in from the 'outside'—even the material for the clothes you're wearing came from the 'outside.' You should be thanking Muge-san for transporting it, not complaining to him."
"Imports and exports are handled by magic airships! I wouldn't rely on some trading company puttering along with a ramshackle steam engine like this!"
"Then you had no reason to come talk to us in the first place, and no reason to complain about our ties to the 'outside,' either."
"What is this insolent brat?!"
"Now, now, calm down."
Somehow, Muge-san had wound up stepping between us and trying to calm things down instead.
"You too, Muge-san. When something needs saying, you have to say it. Your work is something to be proud of."
"...Something to be proud of."
After Muge-san murmured that, he fell silent, when—
"Young master, bickering to kill time is all well and good, but that's enough."
Zelly-san stood up, staring into the depths of the labyrinth.
"—Something's coming."
"!"
Both Dantes-san and I sprang to our feet, while across from us the "Golden Caravan" rose all at once, and Leon shouted.
"Hey, employer! Get over here, now! Something's coming from deeper inside!!"
"Eek!"
At the same moment the tacky merchants began to flee, a golden giant emerged from the passage beyond with a loud rumble.
It had two wheels, each about two meters in diameter, in place of legs, and balanced its upper body atop them.
It had four arms, all of them tapered to spear points.
It had no head; three jewels were embedded in the center of its torso in a triangle—and I felt as though the jewels themselves were glaring at us.
'—Intruders detected—'
A mechanical voice rang out.
Automaton.
The giant leaned forward, set its wheels spinning, and began to move.
Its wheels ground harshly against the floor, sending sparks flying.
"Mimino, Non, you two evacuate with Muge-san."
"Got it."
"Yes."
"Reiji, Zelly, we'll send that thing over the edge."
I see. Though the bonfires were placed at intervals and formed something like a defensive barrier, something that huge would go over the edge in no time if it charged into them.
"Understood—but if I get the chance, I'll break at least one of its arms."
Loot, loot.
"Don't overdo it."
"As expected of you, young master. I'll be cheering you on!"
I vowed to teach Zelly-san a lesson later.
"Here it comes!"
The "Golden Caravan" was ready too. Leon took the lead, while the hooded woman evacuated their Lef employer.
The Automaton burst into the center—.
'—FEAR ME—'
Immediately afterward, I was overcome by the urge to throw myself flat on the ground, and everyone's bracelets emitted a red light.