Chapter 123
*Inside the Central Hall, the operational briefing was in full swing.*
A small, childlike Dwarf woman, serving as the Interpreter for the Golden Company, Cecilia, and me, was frantically translating the words of Mayor Ragot and the various Hunter Guild Masters pouring in from all directions.
“She says descending to Labyrinth Floor 5 isn't a big problem. The path from Floor 6 to Floor 7 is where the real trouble begins. There are a safe but long route, and a fast but dangerous one. She says we must choose one of the two.”
At the Interpreter's words, Captain Jerome, Company Commander of the Golden Company, looked at me.
“Saint, Which way do you prefer?”
I immediately answered.
“Let's take the faster route. It would be problematic if the Demon Followers reached Floor 7 first.”
“We will follow the Saint's word.”
When the Interpreter conveyed Captain Jerome's words in the Northern language, several Guild Masters burst into laughter.
“They're complimenting you, saying they didn't expect you to be so tough.”
Well. I'm not *that* tough.
I'd prefer the safe route if I could.
I didn't want to take risks, but given the circumstances, I had no choice.
Mayor Ragot and the Guild Masters, aligning with my opinion, spread out a map of Labyrinth Floor 6 and discussed various options to decide the route.
“She says they've planned a route to reach Floor 7 as quickly as possible. Now that the path is decided, it's time to assign roles to the Golden Company and the Saint.”
At the Dwarf Interpreter's words, I shrugged.
I'm no specialist.
So it's best to leave it to the experts.
“Captain Jerome, what do you think?”
Captain Jerome seemed to ponder my words for a moment.
“Our Golden Company is a unit specialized in VIP Escort and rescue. We are also experts in close-quarters gunfights and battling Mages or Assassins who use firearms for Stealth. It would be best to assign us a role that matches these specialties.”
When the Dwarf Interpreter conveyed his words, the Guild Masters and Mayor Ragot communicated something in the Northern language for a moment, then assigned a role perfectly suited for the Golden Company.
“They say it would be best if you focused on escorting the Saint. Taking him to Floor 7 is something the Hunters can do, but escorting a Deity, presumed to be residing within a Magic Beast, back to the Mortal Realm from there is something they've never done. They say the Saint's help is desperately needed.”
The Golden Company nodded at those words.
“We will do so.”
Mayor Ragot then looked directly at me and asked a question in the Imperial Common Language.
“Saint. First, there's one thing I'd like to confirm. Are you able to use the Goddess of Life's Authority?”
At his words, I quietly tried to use a skill.
And then.
[Error. Range is too far!]
Skill can only be used in closer proximity.
I could confirm that I *could* use skills.
The problem was that the Range was drastically reduced, perhaps due to the Great Labyrinth's characteristics.
In other words, it was impossible to stop time for the entire area and then release only allies from Time Stop to safely conduct the Great Labyrinth Expedition.
“The use of skills itself is possible.”
“Does that mean you can use them immediately, without any preparation?”
“Yes. That's correct.”
At my words, Mayor Ragot looked at me with interest.
“Normally, it shouldn't be possible to use Authority without storing divine power or mana in a magic stone... but it seems you can use it because the Goddess herself resides within your soul, Saint. This is new information.”
“However, the range is severely reduced.”
Time Stop couldn't be cast at all.
Body Modification, Sensitivity 3000x, and Absolute Hypnosis also had their Ranges drastically cut.
“Although it requires direct physical contact, I can still use it. I can perform Treatment, and I can also apply strong Body Enhancement to myself to act as a combatant.”
“We've heard that you are an excellent Healer, Saint. That's reassuring. As for combat... to what extent specifically can you exert your combat power? I'd like to know precisely.”
“Kon?”
[*Just like last time, right?*]
As I nodded, the Psychic Amplifier immediately hummed and applied skills to my body.
Body Enhancement.
Applying Sensitivity 3000x enhances Reflexes for combat, and so on.
The same settings I used to save Kanya were reapplied to my body.
While it was impossible to cast Time Stop broadly, I could cast it around my own body.
“I can apply Time Stop to my entire body like armor, and if necessary, weaponize it. I can also use High-Speed Movement and Super Strength. With these abilities, I fought one-on-one against Satan in his manifested form. I couldn't win, but I could hold my own.”
The Guild Masters and Mayor Ragot stared at me for a long time, then nodded as if there was nothing more to see.
“Normally, you'll act as a Healer. And if a High-Risk Magic Beast that we find difficult to handle appears, then you can step in to deal with it. If you can fight Satan one-on-one, Saint, it's safe to say you are our most powerful weapon.”
At Mayor Ragot's words, a Guild Master who appeared to be a Vampire quietly raised a hand.
He asked me something in the Northern language, and the Dwarf Interpreter immediately translated and conveyed it to me.
“He's curious if you can use your abilities indefinitely, or if there are any limitations, Saint.”
“Limitations do exist.”
Though I had improved somewhat through practice with Kon, I still couldn't exert the Goddess of Life's Authority at 100%.
Overuse puts a strain on my body.
“You can think of it as having a set amount of Authority that can be used. Exceeding a certain limit puts a strain on my body. This is also why the Golden Company needs to escort me. I need people to protect me when I'm weakened.”
At my words, Mayor Ragot seemed to be deep in thought, then appeared to consult with the other Guild Masters.
The conversation didn't last long, and something seemed to be decided immediately.
“Saint, please conserve your strength as much as possible. We don't know when or where a powerful threat might emerge.”
Mayor Ragot said that then took a deep breath.
Based on his tightly closed eyes, he seemed to be recalling something troublesome.
“The Followers of Pride were discovered yesterday around 7 AM. They were on the first floor of the basement. A massive Unit, which we've never seen before, numbering over 2000, was on the move.”
The strongest Demon King.
2000 Followers of the Demon King of Pride.
The Golden Company Members' expressions hardened, and mine was similar.
“The Magic Beasts aren't the problem. *They* are the problem. The Followers of the Demon King of Pride are beings who tame and command Magic Beasts. They corrupt the Magic Stones of Magic Beasts with the Demon King's Authority, twisting them into even more dangerous Monsters. In most cases, our Hunters will handle them, but in difficult situations, Saint, you will need to deal with them.”
Mayor Ragot pointed to my Necklace.
“If I'm not mistaken, isn't it, that necklace, made from a unicorn horn?”
My eyes widened slightly.
“That's right. How did you know?”
“A Unicorn Horn is one of the Rare Magic Stones sold at a very high price here in the Great Labyrinth. That's because it's a magic stone that can manifest Psychic Ability for Long-Range Detection. So, Saint, I'd like to assign you one more role. We would be grateful if you could use that Unicorn Horn to detect approaching enemies in advance and inform us.”
Healer, Trump Card, and Detector.
And the Golden Company's role was to escort me.
It seemed the roles were decided.
“Of course, I will do so.”
“It's decided then. Now, there's just one more issue, minor if you will, that needs to be resolved...”
Everyone's gaze now turned not to me, but to the person beside me.
“Descending to Labyrinth Floor 7 is no ordinary feat. The deeper we go into the Labyrinth Underground, the stronger the Magic Beasts become, and to subdue them, we'll need much higher-firepower weapons.”
Cecilia quietly nodded at his words.
“Please speak, Mayor Ragot. I'm listening.”
“To kill the Magic Beasts emerging from Basement 4th Floor, you need at least Tungsten Armor-Piercing Rounds. You have to fire bullets made with Penetrator ground from Monster bones. And those are... quite expensive.”
Cecilia smiled at his words.
“Captain Jerome, I'd like to ask a favor.”
“Of course.”
One Squad from the Golden Company stood up, went outside, and then returned to the Central Hall carrying something.
Four wooden crates were calmly placed inside the Central Hall.
Cecilia walked forward and opened one of the wooden crates.
*Inside the box were glittering gold and various jewels.*
“*Ungra Diomene To Arusis Daruam Ungra*!!”
And from Cecilia's mouth flowed incredibly fluent Northern language.
*Cecilia knew a Northern language?*
While I was surprised, the Dwarf Interpreter smiled brightly and translated.
“She says that a great Warrior should rightfully be armed with the greatest weapons. By the way, that's a very famous saying in the North.”
It seemed so.
As soon as Cecilia spoke, the Guild Masters burst into laughter, stood up, and began shouting the same words Cecilia had said.
With just one sentence, Cecilia captivated all the Hunters in the Central Hall.
And she uttered one more sentence in the Northern language.
The Dwarf Interpreter translated her words.
She says that she will cover all necessary equipment, food, and drink from the beginning to the end of the expedition. She tells you to go out, arm yourselves with the best equipment and weapons, and eat and drink as if you'll die tomorrow. By the way, that's also quite a famous saying in the North.
Cecilia had probably done a considerable amount of research on the North in a short time.
And that research was now bearing fruit.
The Hunters inside the Central Hall stomped their feet and cheered.
The anxiety and heaviness of having to descend to Labyrinth Floor 7 seemed to have vanished.
I understood why Jonathan Karma had sent Cecilia with me.
She was a woman who knew very well how to spend money.
There was no one more suitable than she to win over Hunters who risked their lives descending into the Labyrinth to earn money.
***
As soon as the stage was set, Cecilia began to move with frightening speed.
It turned out she hadn't just hastily memorized a few phrases in the Northern language.
She spoke the Northern language very fluently.
“These are 7.62mm bullets with Tungsten Penetrators. I've pressed the Workshop to get an additional 20,000 rounds by tomorrow.”
“Captain Jerome! Could you accompany me to the market for a moment? We need to buy Magic Beast bone fragments required to make Penetrators.”
“I'd like to meet with the Guild Masters. There are a few things I need to discuss regarding supplies for the expedition.”
“I heard that among Transport Magic Beasts, the four-legged Magic Beasts called Barag can carry the most weight. I also heard they're ridden like livestock, so where's the market that sells them?”
Less than a day had passed, but enough ammunition, food, and supplies to arm all the Hunters and Golden Company Members were being prepared.
She set up a simple makeshift office in the Central Hall, then either directed the Golden Company Members or personally ran around the site, handling tasks at a terrifying speed.
Me?
“Excuse me, Madam Dwarf Interpreter.”
“Please call me Ru.”
“What's this line for?”
“These are patients who gathered when the rumor spread that the Saint had arrived. They say they want treatment.”
Here, too, I was doing what I did best.
A long line formed in front of me.
I spent my time treating the patients one by one.
I learned the interesting fact that my skills also worked on Vampires, Beastfolk, and Werewolves.
Well, up to this point, it was all normal.
That is, until a young man brought an elderly person with white hair, whose arms and legs were completely severed, asking for treatment.
“According to his Grandson, he's an Elderly Person, a Saint, who went on an expedition long ago, lost his arms and legs, and his vocal cords melted, so he can't speak.”
“Bring him. I will treat him.”
I placed my hand on the body of the Elderly Person, carried by the young man, whose limbs were gone, and used the Goddess of Life's Authority.
With a bright light, the Elderly Person's severed arms and legs regenerated, and his melted vocal cords were restored once more.
I smiled brightly and looked down at the Elderly Person.
“It's done now. You've been treated, so you can return home...”
And surprisingly.
Fluent Imperial Common Language burst forth from the mouth of the Elderly Person, who I had assumed was a Northerner.
“Ah! Ah! Chosen One of Lilia!! Please, please take me on the expedition! Take me on the expedition too!!”
The Elderly Person suddenly began to shout.
“I, I am a Descendant of the Last Hero Karim!! I must uphold my ancestor's will!! Me too! Take me too!!”
It was a shout with content that was by no means easy to ignore.