Chapter 226
Hah - .
Franz let out a hollow chuckle.
He never expected a gate to pop up of all places, right in the Duke Esteban’s Residence.
It was too contrived to be a coincidence, making him wonder if the Demon God, who had been sent packing to the stars, was trying to get revenge.
“The scale seems smaller than last time…”
The power radiating from the gate felt significantly weaker than before.
In theory, the monsters beyond the gate should be weaker as well, but with a lack of information, he couldn’t be certain. A theory was just a theory, and it could differ from actual combat.
“It would be nice to have a tool that could measure the power radiating from the gates…”
Right now, the number of people who can sense divine power could be counted on one hand, even if you search the entire continent.
Saintess Yusti-ah, Hera, who received the World Tree’s blessing, Yuna - though he wasn’t sure if she could feel it or not - and finally, Franz himself.
Of course, deeply devout clerics would be able to sense divine power to some extent. But that was merely an abstract sensation, not at a level capable of measuring a gate’s threat level.
In short, if he couldn’t create a tool to measure the power flowing from the gates, he would have to run all over the continent.
Who? The mage with Spatial Movement Magic.
“Absolutely not.”
Just as Franz was firming his resolve.
“Franz, when did you get here?”
Yuna, who had appeared out of nowhere, spoke in a flustered tone.
She was holding behemoth like a stuffed doll, which was truly an impressive feat considering the creature’s hardness and weight.
“Not that long ago. More importantly, when did this appear?”
“Right before I contacted you.”
“Then it hasn’t been that long.”
“But what exactly is that? It’s my first time seeing something like it in my life.”
How should he explain this?
Explaining it in detail would take too long, but keeping it short might not convey it properly.
While he was mulling it over, Yuna suddenly linked her arm through his.
“Let’s eat first. We can take our time talking about it afterward.”
“Yeah, let’s do that.”
If the gate had just been formed, there was no need to deal with it urgently.
It would hold out for at least half a month, considering the gate in Nostra.
“Oh, right. I couldn’t mention it earlier, but my mom and Yuri-ah are joining us for the meal. Is that okay?”
“It’s fine.”
Franz answered without a moment’s hesitation.
He was close enough with Yuna’s family to say, 'We’re practically family…!'
That didn’t mean they were actually family, but sharing a meal together was more than fine.
Soon, as he entered the mansion with Yuna, her mother and Yuri-ah welcomed him.
“Magic Tower lord, it is a pleasure to see you.”
“It’s a pleasure.”
Yuna’s mother and Yuri-ah bowed their heads politely in greeting.
Considering the status difference between a Duke and a commoner, and the fact that he was the one lending them the house, it was only natural.
But weren’t they Yuna’s family? Receiving such a formal greeting from a friend’s family was still burdensome.
“You can just comfortably call me Franz.”
“Right. You’re making Franz uncomfortable.”
Yuna chimed in with Franz’s words and immediately stepped forward.
Since she still had her arm linked with his, Franz naturally ended up following her.
The place they arrived at was, of course, the dining room. Various dishes were laid out on the table, looking quite appetizing.
“Franz, I prepared a bunch of things since you were coming.”
“You didn’t have to go out of your way…”
There hadn’t even been enough time for this in the first place, so he wondered how on earth they had prepared all of it.
Did Yuna personally work in the kitchen…?
With the power of a hero, she would have no problem using six burners at once, so it made some sense.
Afterward, Franz began the meal with Yuna’s family. The food was flawlessly delicious overall.
What he particularly liked was…
“I tried making it exactly as my mother taught me. How is it? Is it okay?”
“Yeah, it’s good. It’s delicious.”
Yuna definitely had a talent for cooking. If they lived together, he wouldn’t have to worry about meals.
Without realizing it, Franz imagined what it would be like to live with Yuna, but he brushed past the thought without fully registering it.
It was after they finished their rather enjoyable meal.
He had some one-on-one time with Yuna in the mansion’s reception room.
“You asked earlier what that thing outside was, right?”
“Yeah, I did.”
“It’s a bit complicated to explain, but it’s like a door connected to another dimension. Beyond it…”
Franz explained the labyrinth and the gate.
How there were monsters inside, how defeating the boss would make the labyrinth disappear, and so on.
“Then it’s decided.”
As soon as the explanation ended, Yuna stood up. Her expression was full of resolve.
“Decided?”
“You said we have to go inside and take out the boss or whatever, right? Let’s go together.”
Was there really a reason to do that…?
Defeating the labyrinth’s boss and closing the gate was something he could do alone.
Of course, it would be a bit easier if Yuna helped, but that wasn’t a reason for them to go in together.
“I’ll take care of it, so you just rest.”
“There you go again.”
Yuna sighed and narrowed her eyes.
“Franz, trying to shoulder everything alone is a bad habit. It’s much easier when two people do a job one person can do, so why do you keep trying to do it all by yourself?”
“Well, that’s…”
He had plenty of things he wanted to say: that it was a waste of manpower, that she was worrying too much, that something like this didn’t even count as a hassle.
But in the end, those words never left his mouth and faded away in his mind.
It was obvious that if he said such things, he would have to listen to Yuna nag for a while.
“Then head out first. I’ll be right out.”
With those words, Yuna immediately left the reception room.
Franz, who had also stood up, headed to the yard - specifically, to the front of the gate.
How much time had passed since then?
“Sorry, did you wait long?”
Yuna appeared, fully armed with her armor and holy sword.
Franz began to explain to her what they needed to do in the labyrinth.
“It’s true that we’re trying to kill the monsters, but what’s more important is gathering information.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t kill them and just test the waters?”
“Well, for now, yes.”
“Got it. I’ll do that.”
It might feel a bit frustrating from Yuna’s perspective, but it couldn’t be helped for the sake of gathering information.
If she started fighting seriously, she would instantly clear not only this gate but even higher-level gates in a flash.
Next…
“If possible, don’t leave my side.”
It didn’t seem like anything major would happen, but…
Still, you never knew. In an emergency, they would have to escape the labyrinth immediately, so it was better to stay as close as possible.
“Understood. I’ll stick right by your side.”
Yuna smiled brightly and clung to him.
They literally clung - close enough that their bodies were touching.
“This is too close…”
“R-Right…?”
Yuna awkwardly scratched her head and took a large step to the side. Then she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, looking needlessly pitiful.
Haa - .
Franz let out a sigh and moved a step toward her.
Their bodies weren’t touching, but it was a dangerously close distance, right on the verge of contact.
“If possible, just focus on escorting me.”
“Just trust me.”
Franz stepped forward with Yuna toward the gate right in front of them.
* * *
Whoooosh - !
A fierce wind blew, and it felt as if it would tear their skin apart.
Pure white snow filled their vision.
The place Franz and Yuna arrived at was a snow mountain with a raging blizzard.
“So not all labyrinths have the same terrain.”
With this, his knowledge had increased by one, though it also meant things had gotten that much more annoying.
“Yuna, wear this.”
Franz pulled a coat from the bag at his waist and draped it over Yuna’s shoulders.
“Ah, yeah. Thanks. But what about you?”
“I don’t need one.”
Franz was currently maintaining his body temperature by emitting heat into his surroundings, so he would be perfectly fine even if he took off all his clothes, let alone a coat.
Of course, that didn’t mean he was actually going to take his clothes off.
Anyway.
'We’ve ended up in an annoying place.'
The swirling snow was blocking the wavelengths of his magic power from spreading out.
It wouldn’t hinder his ability to use magic, but it was impossible to grasp the surrounding terrain and monsters through mana detection.
'Well, it doesn’t really matter.'
Who is the person beside him right now? A hero with eyesight better than an eagle’s.
Even without magic detection, it wouldn’t be too difficult to figure out if monsters were approaching.
It was then.
“Franz, something is approaching.”
Speak of the devil, it seemed there were some bastards with a death wish.
Soon, red eyes flashed within the blizzard.
A massive frame larger than a typical mansion, with a body entirely covered in muscle.
The creature’s overwhelming appearance seemed enough to instill fear in anyone who saw it.
Of course, Franz was completely unfazed.
'I wonder if it’s strong against ice and weak against fire…?'
His mind was already filled with thoughts of all sorts of experiments.