262 - - a little rest

As expected, we could not just continue on to the next prison, so we decided to end our search at this point.

Even if the way to the fifteenth floor were to open up, the notorious master of the labyrinth awaits us.

He is not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Thor and his team returned to the ground half a day earlier than planned, but fortunately, the flying dragon boat was already waiting for them at the fortress of Mu.

They were immediately picked up and taken to the landing site near the border town.

The carriage that picked us up had not arrived yet, perhaps due to our early arrival, and in its place were the members of the Tengran Alliance.

They had set up a table and chairs at the foot of another flying dragon, and seemed to be enjoying a leisurely cup of tea before their departure.

Moo, attracted by the smell of sweet pastries, jumps down from the boat and runs away at once.

"Which one is for Moo?

"How could it be, you idiot?"

Kikiriri gracefully gets back to her feet, and coldly tells the child who rushes into the room.

At this, Moe's face turns into one of intense shock.

His purple eyes widen to their fullest, and he looks up at the twins in silence.

"How can you be so desperate just because you can't eat sweets?　This girl."

"I haven't felt this sad since. Come on.

Nenemimi, who had bluntly clicked her tongue, quickly reached out her hand to Moe, who was standing still.

Then she lightly picked up the child, placed him on her lap and pointed to the table.

This is jam with white peaches and this is candied apples. This is butter cream. Choose whatever you like."

Today's light meal is apparently a dish of crispy baked wheat pastry topped with plenty of sweetness.

Moe's eyes immediately light up at the sight of the many small plates and jars of delicacies lined up in front of him.

Is this sweet?　Do you have any mustard?"

"We don't have any."

"Well, please put them all on me!"

"Greedy. Yeah, you're so cute and honest. Here, it's done.

"Thank you!"

"Oh, you can thank me for that. You're a good boy."

The twins pat him on the head, and Moe's face breaks into a big smile as he tucks into a piece of pastry.

Finally, Thor and his friends arrived.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt.

It's up to you to decide whether or not we are disturbing you, and you have no right to apologize. She's our guest now that we've invited her. And so are you. Here, bring a chair and a refill."

Without taking her hand off the head of the child who continues to eat enthusiastically, Kikiriri tells a staff member who is standing by.

Immediately Thor and his family were seated.

Wow, that smells good. May I sit down?"

Thank you for inviting us.

"Then feel free to join me."

A cup of fragrant, light red tea is poured into a cup and placed in front of Thor and the others one after another.

Sora's eyes lit up, just like Moo's, at the colorful garnishes and crispy pastries.

They all look delicious. Which one do you recommend, Moo-chan?"

"All of them!"

"I see. Then, I'll do the same.

You're greedy, too. Here, eat.

"Bon appétit!"

Sora eats the sweets handed to her with the exact same expression as Moo.

Nenemimi quietly reaches out her hand and gently pats the girl's head, who has a big smile on her face.

Next to her, Yuril takes a sip of the light tea and opens his eyes, looking a little surprised.

"This is very tasty, isn't it?

"Oh, you like it?　It is a rare tea from an island west of Hakuli. I can give you some if you like.

Thank you very much.

While the women were in high spirits, Thor and Chiru faced each other and began talking tactlessly about the labyrinth.

The twins looked at the men, who were engrossed in their adventures day in and day out, and Thora looked at them lovingly.

"You're back a little early this time, mud-breaker..."

"Yeah, I thought I'd get some rest."

"Hmm, is something wrong?"

No, not particularly. I'm just talking about being ready for the next one."

"Oh."

Chiru replies shortly, his hawk-like eyes glinting for a moment.

"Did you find all the keys to the colored pillars, by any chance?"

"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."

The Midoriwa archer's lips trembled slightly when Thor simply affirmed it.

Chiru opened his mouth to reply, but a voice unexpectedly came from above and covered his mouth.

"Oh, you're all here!

"Hello, Chita-san."

Chita, who had been expecting to be the only one missing from the tea party, was apparently working on a small boat in the belly of the flying dragon.

He slides down to the ground, dexterously putting his feet on the protrusions of the scales.

Moo, his eyes shining again, jumps down from Nenemimi's lap and rushes to the rider.

The twin sister looks ruefully off behind him.

"Hey, sweetie, how are you?　Got any snacks?"

"Hmmm, I'm fine. And those sweets are for me.

I see. Thanks for the food. Oh, how are you, Ryusuke?

"That's why I told you not to name them!"

Chita pinches him lightly on the nose, and Moo starts laughing happily.

"That's right, Moo-chan. You can't call me that. I've already ....... By the way, what is this girl's name?

After taking a break from drinking tea, Sola asks, and a woman from the Midoriwa tribe answers while stretching the child's cheeks from side to side.

"Name?　I don't have any~"

"Oh, you don't have one?"

"Technically, there is, but we can't call it that. "Mister Sola."

It was my brother, Chiru, who made up for my sister's lack of explanation.

He explains things in a way that is easy to understand for the girl who is twisting her head.

Dragons are clever creatures. They each have their own name. That's why it's disrespectful for us to call them by their own names.

"Oh, I see."

"Besides, naming has the meaning of binding. If you call it carelessly, it becomes an abhorrent name, and sometimes it can be a great misfortune. Therefore, we should not name a dragon. That is our opinion.

"Oh, I'll be careful. You got it?　Moo-chan. That dragon has a name.

"I see. What's your name?　Risuke."

The child looks up at the dragon with a face that does not understand at all and asks innocently.

Suddenly, the flying dragon above his head suddenly stretched out its wings.

It then emits a roar that shakes the air toward the sky.

While the adults around the dragon braced themselves for the sudden movement of its huge body, Moo said with a nonchalant look on his face, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

"Gagu-gagu-gagu-gagu.... That's a strange name!

Chita's eyes, which had been sleepily drooping, widened at the strange pronunciation.

Chiru, the elder brother, stood up as if kicking his chair, and grunted as he stared at Moe.

"You idiot ....... You can easily say the dragon's true name. ......"

Slowly catching her breath, Chita knelt down in front of the child and opened her mouth to meet her gaze.

"Moo-chan, you're amazing! I'm so surprised."

"Hmmm, I get that a lot."

"But that's an important name, so don't say it too often.

"Yeah, it's hard to say. Besides, Ryusuke is a better name.

"So you can't name it whatever you want~"

"Mwah. I'm always getting the same no-no's."

Chiru looked as if he sensed something in their situation and turned to Thor as he sat down in his chair.

"Hey, mud-breaker...... Thor. How about a little wager with me?　The one who defeats the master of the fifteenth layer first--"

"If you're a mu, give it up. I'm not taking it."

"Well, that little girl is attractive, but I'm more interested in Uriel. No, I was joking about that too.

Thor, sensing the light of sincerity in the eyes of the man in front of him, though his speech is light, ponders for a moment.

Thor knew that the information they had exchanged so far about the labyrinth was not really what Chiru and the others wanted.

Because Zoldamarg, the dragon of rotting corpses, the master of the labyrinth on the fifteenth floor, had already been defeated once by Straccia and the others.

Kikiriri and the others who had participated in the battle as members of the "White Gold Flame" should be more than familiar with the process.

And since the labyrinthine lords of the middle layer will reappear in a few days, it is not a case of the first come, first served.

Thor asked quietly to Chiru, who seemed to be in a hurry to move on.

"Shall I just ask you what the bet is?"

"No, it's just a little thing. No, it's just a wish.

After a pause, Chiru continued to speak, looking at his sister playing with a young child.

"Don't forget the view you saw with her. That's all."