141-135 Return to the Labyrinth of Trials

When I came to Granhardt-san's room, I knocked on the door.

But I didn't hear the knock, or maybe it was just the sound of knocking, and there was no response from inside.

But I didn't talk to her, I just waited in front of the door.

It was just a gut feeling, but I could feel a strange tension coming from inside the room, as if it was waiting for me to pass by.

After a moment, I knocked on the door again, this time calling out to the inside.

''It's Luciel. Granharto-san, or Estia, please come out.

Perhaps it was because I knew it was me who knocked when I told him that, but as soon as I felt the atmosphere that was transmitted from inside changed, the door to the room opened.

It was Estia who opened the door, and Granharto-san, who was inside, was lying face down in front of the desk.

He seemed to be asleep.

I looked at the situation and asked Estia.

''What's the situation here?''

That man was so critical of me. I had to put him to sleep.

I didn't expect to suddenly talk to the dark spirit that possessed Estia and not Estia herself, but I asked the dark spirit here unabashedly and without hesitation, as if nothing was wrong.

''Tell me why Estia has been possessed by you, the dark spirit, since this morning, tell me that.　

'That man is going to ask me nebulous questions and every time Esther is cagey, he's going to focus on that. This isn't a hearing, it's an interrogation to find a suspect.

It's true that Mr. Granhardt is stiff and has a section where all of his questions become interrogations. He has an oddly high-handed attitude, and it's probably not surprising that Esther is surprised.

''Is that how you put me to sleep? My guess is that it hasn't been that long since today's interrogation began, has it?

'Feel like Estia being interrogated in a similarly oppressive space the day after she arrived here. How many times I thought Estia would destroy the room.

I don't know why Ms. Granhardt is having an interrogation-like hearing, but it must be quite a bit for Esther to want to run away.

Wouldn't it be better to have a woman attached to the hearing?

I abandoned it when I thought that far ahead.

Because this hearing itself would be a waste of time anyway.

'Huh. Well, all right. Then follow me.

Where are you going?

The dark spirit with a mysterious face - which is actually Estia's face - gradually began to stare at me with an uneasy look on its face.

''Follow me and you'll understand. Let me tell you, your sister will be there too.

"....you do have a strange way of talking. Now, are you in love with your sister? Or have you fallen in love with Esther? Or ... don't tell me you're in love with me or something.

I'll admit to liking Forêt Noir.

But then what? It's too blown out of proportion.

Why is the Spirit of Darkness so annoying?

I'm not sure I'm confident enough to wrap myself in an ostracism, so I took a deep breath and decided to respond calmly.

'Thinking back on your past actions, was there any element of me falling in love with Esther or you?'

Don't you?

"...recognize that the values of a spirit and the values of a person are different.

Mentally exhausted, I looked at Mr. Granhardt as he slept and left a note, secretly feeling jealous.

'Even if you're going to be interviewed again later, rest assured it won't be in an oppressive space. Let's get the hell out of here.　

'You really know what you're talking about. I knew you were really in love with him, didn't I?　

While grooming the annoying dark spirits, we returned to the Pope's private room again.

''Isn't this gate-like door the Pope's room?''

Have you seen it?

'Ahhh I have fond memories of a time as a spirit when I had a human race with whom I could share in the fun, even though it was a momentous time for me as a spirit...'

The dark spirit possessing Estia laughed serenely.

Does she have strong memories of Lord Leinster?

With that in mind, I stop in front of the Pope's private room and knock on the door before calling out to him.

'I'm Luciel. I've brought Estia with me.

"Enter.

I heard a voice from inside and the door opened, the handmaids came out of the private room and we entered to switch places.

A horse next to the Pope I know, but to the handmaidens who didn't know what was going on, it must have been quite a surreal sight.

I was anxious to think about what the maidservants must have felt when they saw Forenoire, but that was when I calmed down and was about to thank my subjects. At that moment, Esther walked up to the Pope.

I stood in front of the Pope, judging it to be dangerous, but the Pope placed his hand on my shoulder and confronted Estia himself.

''It's been a while, Darkness.''

Huh, I didn't know that crybaby Fuluna was really a great pope.

Maybe it was because he was possessed by Estia, but it was a normal conversation in the common Gardardian language.

Of course. All spirits and concubines are acquainted. But since she wasn't strong enough at the time....

A man doesn't like it when you pry into his past.

Brule.

I just asked him if he knew me and this treatment, I decided that the only thing I would talk about was the labyrinth.

'And then? You didn't send Luciel to me just to say hello, did you?

I wanted to see you, Yami, and I'm not lying. I wanted you to hear from Luciel about why I called you here.

My voice is mysterious, but I tell him what I'm talking about, while somehow I think it's cute when the Pope speaks for a long time.

'First of all, do you know that there is a labyrinth in this church?'

A labyrinth in the church headquarters? ...I can feel the dark vibes from that old facility you used to use?

The dark spirit closed his eyes once and immediately noticed the labyrinth of trials.

It was created a little over fifty years ago, but Luciel stepped into it alone a few years ago. It was created a little over fifty years ago, but thanks to Luciel's single-handed efforts a few years ago, I was able to mourn many of my compatriots.

As the Pope spoke happily, the dark spirit looked at us.

''It's because the labyrinth was a labyrinth where only the undead could be found, luckily.

As I spoke, the dark spirit possessing Estia nodded and started muttering something.

''........If that facility is going to be a labyrinth, then demon or undead-type demons will appear. Does the fact that Luciel stepped through it mean that it was an undead-type labyrinth? ...Is that correct?

Spirits apparently have their heads spinning.

Or maybe they're picking up information from small particles of dark spirits and analyzing it?

I resisted the delusional thoughts and continued the conversation.

I'm a genie as expected, but I went into the labyrinth yesterday as well. That's when the labyrinth became active again. Do you have any idea what happened?

'None. We can't be that bypassed and put Esther in danger.

'Is it conceivable that dark spirits become active when they enter the labyrinth, or in this case, active?

The dark attribute is a magic used by demon kings, but they don't give off miasma!

It wasn't anger, but sadness, and I heard a voice that stifled such a heart cry.

''I'm sorry to have made you feel uncomfortable, even if you didn't know it.

'Good. That's what they've been saying among the human race for a long time, so it can't be helped. Leinster and Fleuna's mother Fleuna was the only one who was on my side.

Looking at the same soft expression as before, it was apparent that the Pope's parents, Lord Leinster and the High Elf woman, were very kind to the Darkness Spirit.

''Darkness, have you been manipulating people lately?''

'I can prevent my and Estia's memories of me and Estia from lingering, or put them to sleep, but I can't do that yet, because the host is not well suited to play with and manipulate the mind. Even if I could, Estia would not suffer.

Spirits don't lie, but even if they did, there was no way Forenoire couldn't see through it.

When you think that far, the exorcist who took over is definitely suspicious, but even if he had lost his powers, could an ordinary healer still traverse the labyrinth?

Then it hit me.

'That would make my replacement exorcist suspicious, but I thought of another possibility.

What is it?

'It is possible that there are Imperial sleepers (spies) in the Church, including the healers,'

Luciel, what's going on?

'There was a man in Yenis who had been hiding out as a slaver for several years. Given that, it's not surprising that there was an Imperial sleeper (spy) among the Knights, Healers and staff. Well, it's a possibility, so it could all turn out to be unfounded....

If more than one person was guided into the labyrinth and equipped with anti-wraith magic tools, it would not be impossible for them to traverse this labyrinth.

That's what they think.

''You must leave that matter to Catherine. Can I ask Luciel to take care of the labyrinth?

I don't want to go alone, but if it's the Pope's order, I don't blame him.

I can feel that the equipment and level of the game has gone up, unlike in the past.

If this was any other labyrinth, I would dismiss it without even thinking about it, but I've decided to take on the undead labyrinth because it's a good match.

However, there's going to be one more thing that's different from last time.

I'll go with you.

The dark spirit raised his hand.

'I can't take you unless you're someone for whom the spirit magic the Wraith uses doesn't work. I don't want to be a kindred spirit.''

I saw no advantage in going with the dark spirits and said so.

'Such magic does not work on me. Of course, even if I don't possess Estia's body, Estia herself will not be interfered with by others due to the influence of my inhabited body.

If so, I wanted Lionel and the others to use it, but I remembered that I had to keep it a secret that the labyrinth itself was inside the church.

I couldn't talk about this, but I wanted to give a similar explanation, so I decided to delay our departure.

'I also need to inform the squire that I will be hiding in the labyrinth, so may I start my decision after lunch?

You must let them do all the work.

Ha!

'Like what Fleuna asked for, but I have memories of that building over there, so let me handle it.

You watch out, Yami-chan.

I had no way of stopping Estia from committing the disrespect of petting the Pope while she was committing the disrespect of petting the Pope.

Estia told Lionel and the others over lunch that she was now nominally my subordinate.

But he didn't talk about the labyrinth, he just told them that he had some training to do only as an S-class healer.

When I ordered them to thoroughly re-beat the Knights until I returned, I saw that the three of them happily started planning to re-beat the Knights, and I knew they were going along with the play, knowing it was a lie.

'I hope you return safely and let us have a rematch with the Whirlwind soon.

I'll be working hard for my new armor.

We'll do our best to live up to Luciel-sama's reputation here, too.

I was so grateful that the three of them were concerned about me, and I only said one word.

'I appreciate it.'

I felt like something hot was going to flow from my eyes if I continued to say more words, so I laughed and rode the magic elevator that led to the labyrinth entrance.

From the feeling of yesterday, the problem is the boss room on the 40th level and the boss room on the 50th level.

And.........should I be careful with the dark spirits as well?

When the magic elevator opened, there was not a dark spirit, but Estia waiting for him.

'Are you ready?'

Yes. Mr. Luciel, it's nice to meet you.

Hmm? What about the Spirit of Darkness?

He says he won't touch it until it becomes dangerous, but he wants you to be assured that the miasma will be completely shut off.

Why does being laughed at with a troubled face make you feel guilty when it's not our fault?

Let's go.

Yes, sir.

This is how we entered the labyrinth of trials.