Chapter 128
The flames born from magic illuminated—a black, jiggling object. It was probably a creature called a "slime," or something like that.
They were packed tightly inside the garbage chute, writhing.
My skin prickled all over.
The slime clutching the bag seemed to be melting it even as it held on.
Beyond them—far below—I could see the remains of the uniforms and equipment belonging to people from the Labyrinth Strategy Department.
【Fire Magic】 exploded, burning the slime that was trying to engulf the bag and creating a blast. My body floated up and slammed into the ceiling—damn it, I'd been distracted by the slime and lost control.
Even so, I somehow managed to brace a hand against the cliffside and haul myself up. A wet, slithering sound came from below, and I could hear the slime extending its tentacles toward my feet.
"Graaah!"
I rolled and rolled into the narrow space. When I raised my upper body and looked toward the garbage chute—it was as silent as ever.
"...What the hell was that?"
Could they not reach this far? In any case, I was utterly exhausted.
Clutching the bag as my spoils, I climbed back up the slope and returned to the statue.
We left the "Labyrinth of Awe" once.
As expected, the bag had belonged to a messenger from Labyrinth Strategy Department 4—and inside it was a report on the expedition along with a written request for assistance.
Since less than an hour had passed since we entered the Labyrinth of Awe, the guards operating the elevator gave us suspicious looks. Even so, we headed to Muge-san's trading company with Polina-san and the bag that was our spoils.
Polina-san apparently didn't know where the trading company that had hired the Golden Brigade was located, and she needed to rest a little as well.
"...What's that?"
In front of Muge-san's trading company—though calling it a trading company was a bit much, since it consisted only of a large warehouse and a tiny, shed-like house—there was a car powered by a gleaming, polished magic engine.
The black car had a straight, sharp-edged design. It reminded me of Giugiaro's designs from Earth... As for why I knew the name of a design style like that despite never even getting my driver's license, it was because I'd once watched a television show hosted by a comedian that showcased people's beloved cars. Perhaps because of 【All Creation】, I could now remember even the trivial details of my previous life.
Putting that aside, seeing such an obviously luxurious car parked here—far more luxurious than any other automobile in the city—was no ordinary matter.
Without anyone saying a word, we stopped at a distance—and the passenger-side door opened, revealing a Lef in a butler's uniform. He had a massive build, by far the largest of all the Lef people I'd seen so far.
"Are you Muge, the owner of this trading company, and the adventurers Muge hired?"
Strictly speaking, Polina-san didn't fit that description, but Dantes-san answered shortly. "We are."
The butler made a face as if he were looking at something filthy and leaned toward the rear seat. Curtains had been drawn across the interior, so I couldn't see inside, but I could clearly hear the voice.
"—Are you truly going to meet them? They are dressed far too shabbily for Your Highness to meet them."
Then a scrap of paper was pushed through the parted curtains and stuck to the windowpane.
The butler was in the way, so I couldn't see what was written on it, but he read it and reacted.
"—However, His Majesty the Emperor has given me strict orders to protect Your Highness."
Another scrap of paper.
"—But surely there is no need to walk in front of a robber with gold coins pulled from your wallet, is there?"
Another scrap of paper—this time, it was slapped against the windowpane with a sharp smack.
"—However, Your Highness only reached that conclusion because of Rurusha's prompting. I cannot accept it so readily..."
I found myself saying,
"Are you acquainted with Rurusha-san?"
The butler displayed even greater disgust and said,
"...Eavesdropping is further proof of how utterly lacking in manners humans are. Your Highness, let us turn back."
There was a bang as the door flew open—and perhaps because he hadn't expected it—the butler flinched.
A scrap of paper was pushed over the top of the door. The butler accepted it, withdrew with a bitter expression, and stepped back.
The girl who emerged from the car wore a fresh, brilliant lemon-colored dress. She was such a beautiful Elf that Dantes-san's jaw dropped, while Zelly-san, who had been stifling a yawn, looked utterly startled.
"This is Her Highness Anastasia, of the royal family of the High Elves, who rule the Elves. Do not, under any circumstances, be rude."
The butler glared as he said it, but probably no one was listening. She was that beautiful.
"Anastasia-sama!!"
Yet one person broke through that atmosphere of astonishment—Polina-san. She removed her hood, stepped several paces forward, and knelt on the spot. Her Highness Anastasia seemed to recognize Polina-san as well; her eyes widened in surprise, but her expression turned sad.
It was profoundly incongruous to have an Elf who looked like a princess from a movie standing in Muge-san's warehouse. We weren't told the details of why she was in the Empire; the only thing the butler told us was that she communicated through writing because she couldn't speak. A thin green scarf was wrapped around Her Highness Anastasia's neck. There were things that didn't quite add up, and something resembling a bandage was faintly visible beneath it, but it was probably something I shouldn't pry into.
The written exchange began. Polina-san seemed to have something she wanted to say, but Her Highness's business came first.
Her Highness Anastasia had brought a sheet of paper with the contents written on it in advance. It said that Rurusha-san was grateful to us, and that Her Highness would hear what I needed to tell Rurusha-san in her place.
(Could I trust this person?)
I honestly hadn't decided what to do with the bag I'd brought back from the labyrinth. I knew it could be a move that might improve Rurusha-san's situation, but that raised the question of who I should hand the bag over to.
'Tell me your story. I will be sure to convey it to Rurusha.'
The sheet of paper, written in an elegant hand, was presented by Her Highness Anastasia, who was astonishingly beautiful—Polina-san had seemed like a beauty who was difficult to approach, but Her Highness's beauty was on an entirely different level.
Lady Eva was beautiful too—but thinking about it, this world had an astonishing number of beautiful people. Lady Eva had the sort of beauty that bewitched men. Her Highness Anastasia's beauty was perfectly complete, "unreal," or perhaps "like a work of art."
"...I would like to speak with Your Highness, but would it be possible for us to talk alone?"
I took a gamble and said it aloud. Surely I should hand the bag over to Her Highness. If she was willing to come hear out a mere adventurer like me for Rurusha-san's sake, she surely wouldn't put it to ill use.
But—
"Don't be ridiculous! You are nothing but an adventurer!!"
The problem was this butler. He seemed to treat Her Highness with great care, but at the same time, he seemed to be trying to control her—there was the shadow of someone important lurking behind him. I didn't know whether it was the Emperor or someone else.
"The mere fact that a human like you can speak directly with Her Highness Anastasia is a stroke of luck beyond compare!!"
The butler flew into a rage and looked ready to throw a punch—wait, aren't butlers supposed to be calm and composed at all times? What was wrong with this country's butler training? Was this man just a little strange?
Her Highness Anastasia pressed a hand to her forehead as if warding off a headache, let out a small sigh, and raised one hand to silence the butler.
'May I ask why?'
"Because this is a very private matter. It is something I haven't told even my party members, who share my fate."
My explanation seemed to lend credibility to my words, because Dantes-san and the others nodded earnestly. The fact that I'd forgotten to tell them turned out to be useful here. I had mentioned it briefly to Mimino-san, though.
'Then let us communicate in writing where the butler can see us.'
I understood. That way, no one would overhear the contents of our conversation, while Her Highness's safety would be secured to some extent. I said that was fine, and the members of "Silver Balance," Muge-san, and Polina-san headed toward the warehouse entrance. When Her Highness looked at the butler, his face had reddened and he was grinding his teeth, but perhaps he realized that she would not yield,
"Five minutes only! And I shall report this to His Majesty the Emperor!"
He lumbered back toward the warehouse entrance.
Once Her Highness had confirmed that everyone else was about fifteen meters away, she handed me a pen and a scrap of paper. Her smile made her intention clear: "Let's hurry."
I promptly borrowed the pen and wrote:
'I have discovered evidence that Rurusha-san was filing regular reports from the labyrinth. Please submit it to the proper authorities.'
Her Highness Anastasia's expression froze.