156-150 Labyrinth National City Grandle

We cut through the vacant mine site and entered Grandle territory.

Normally, we would have to make a large detour to the checkpoint and go through the entry procedure, but since the Adventurer's Guild Headquarters was running Grandle, we decided to take the shortest route.

The reason I was able to make up my mind was because of Master Brod's encouragement.

''It's not a problem since I'm the guild master. Besides, it's an emergency, right?　I'd at least write an endorsement for that.

I was grateful for my master's words and decided to be lenient.

Then I entered the Grandle territory, but one problem emerged.

''Well this is a time like this, but have you heard of the Labyrinth of Intrigue?''

'I don't know. I used to be an adventurer, but I was more of an adventurer who completed requests than a labyrinth.

I take my master's words and look around, but I know that not everyone is familiar with the labyrinth, so I suggest that we can ask around in the nearest village or town.

''Let's ask around here to inquire about the labyrinth.

'I'm sure there are multiple labyrinths of varying sizes in Glandle but I'm sure they weren't anywhere near that.

We'll just have to run it in a straight line and put on the street.

''Well I'm sorry for rushing you. I don't know why I was in such a hurry either, but let's find the street road first.

Everyone nodded, smiling quietly, but they couldn't help but think of their eyes as the gaze of a parent watching them grow up.

Keti and Kefin were currently Gosha, but it was decided that once the buildings and people were in sight, the Master would take over as Gosha and Lionel would be the lone escort.

It was about an hour's ride in the carriage from the mine ruins from which they had left, when they finally found the road to the city.

However, at the same time, looking at the place where the road ended, he could see that something like a fort existed in the distance on the right hand side.

''Hey hey. You're cutting it too short.

The Master seemed to know the fort.

But I noticed that he didn't look too amused.

'Does the Master know what that is?'

Yeah. That's the border. The fort that separates Glandle from Duchy Brange is the border.

What good is that stuff going to do?

'That was built by the summoned heroes, so it won't fall apart so easily, and apparently it was built in anticipation of the demons flooding out of Grandle.

Do you foresee this happening?　Or........summoned heroes....are you from Earth?　No, it might be safe to think of them as life forms in another space.

But it doesn't matter now.

If my master knows about that one........

''It means we know where we are, right?

'Ah. If you take this road to the left, at the speed of this carriage, you'll be in the center of Grandle in a few hours.

I guess that means it's the center of Gentle.

Let's go then.

Everyone agreed and we resumed our movement, changing our course to the left.

For some reason, I felt backed up or stopped at that time, but I decided to prioritize finding the labyrinth of intrigue, which was the wish of the Thunder Dragon.

We took a lunch break here, but no adventurers, let alone demons, approached us.

This is where Gosha took over for Master Brod and began to move on.

After advancing for a while, they began to pass carriages and adventurers.

'Luciel, there are many adventurers from here on out, but there are also many who have a grudge against the healers. It's true that you've made some changes to the healers' medical fees, but assume that's only within the St. Surreal Cooperative.

The Master turns around from the guru's seat and gives me the information.

If he doesn't hear my name, does that mean I'm going to be baptized away again?

Well, Lionel and the others will escort me well, so I'll be fine.

With that thought in mind, I knew the breadth of Master's vessel for casual attentiveness.

I'll make a mental note to not let this man be an integral part of my shame, and to make it my goal to overtake him one day.

'Thanks for the advice. But, well, it's okay. I'm also an adventurer.

Okay.

I laughed and replied, and Master laughed and turned around and drove the carriage forward.

We finally arrived at Glandle at around 15 o'clock with an empty stomach.

'This is Glandle,' he said. The carriage will get in the way, so keep it in your magic bag until you find out where the labyrinth of intrigue is. Then we'll go to the guild headquarters first.

Yes, sir.

I agreed, retrieved my horse and carriage, and followed Master Brod.

The size of Glandle's Adventurer's Guild wasn't much different from any other adventurer's guild I'd seen, but I noticed a ridiculously large facility behind the building.

''What's that building over there?''

That's the guild headquarters. Well, only Guildmasters and staff are allowed in and out.

I see.

It's also where, incidentally, the amount of object X consumed is measured.

Master Brod smiles and tells me so, but honestly, I'm not interested because it's not like I'm going to get anything or anything.

'Master Brod, you should make an award for drinking Object X of the Year, then.

'If we could do something like that, it would be number one for as long as I live.

''You don't have to smile so bitterly. Hah~, let's go ask them where the labyrinth of intrigue is.

Oh.

With Master Brod in the lead, we entered the Adventurer's Guild.

There seemed to be many adventurers in the adventurer's guild that we entered after opening the door, but the battle with the demons was intensifying here as well, and there were many injured people.

''........Luciel, what about healing these guys and others?''

''Well if Master gives me an order, I'll follow it. But honestly, I don't want to heal me, or the guy staring at the robe I'm wearing, from my injuries.

Huh. Okay.

Is something wrong?

'No, I just thought, "Well, I guess I'm not as frightened of unknown adventurers as I thought I would be.

'Ah. Now that Master Brod and Lionel are here, we have Master Brod and Lionel.

I smiled, speaking my mind.

'I'm not playing around with you in a subtle way.'

'It's always been. More than that.

No, I get it.

We didn't want to get in the way of all of us going together, so we went to the reception desk and asked Master Brod and Kefin to gather some information.

We decided to wait for them at a table just inside, and this is where we heard some unexpected information.

'Hey, did you hear the rumours about the Maze of Intrigue?'

'What's the rush?　What happened in that trap-filled labyrinth?

What's the word on the street is that those Nadia and Lydia sisters have been brought in as criminal slaves.

'Seriously. I don't think those two are going to commit a crime, but more than that, are those two going to stay quietly trapped?

''Your sister's side is a swordsman of the flowing stream, and your sister's side is a spirit user, right?

'Maybe you fell into the trap of the party you put together to traverse the labyrinth?

'Oh. Maybe I can see that. But it's going to cost a lot of money to buy those two.

I think those two are for auction, right?

It's none of our business.

That conversation between the adventurers made me feel like I was being forced to make a choice.

To continue to head to the Labyrinth of Intrigue and save the dragon priestess and discover the core of the labyrinth and not touch it.

Or to purchase the Spirit Master and then go to the Labyrinth of Conspiracy.

As soon as I heard about this story of the spirit user... no, I had a feeling that Goukan-sensei was showing me the way, even shortly before I entered Meratoni.

After thinking that far, I opened my mouth.

'You've been listening to the other adventurers, haven't you?　Maybe the spirit user will be able to help you in the future. So I'll buy it. Because maybe my sister might be one of the same kind.

She's a total softie.

''Well from what I've heard it's going to be an auction, so it's better to confirm the date and time and head to the labyrinth or attend the auction before you head there so you won't have any hesitation.

Master Luciel is always so kind to me.

I'm sorry for the shakeup.

I bowed my head, and everyone laughed at me.

Just then, Master Brod and Kefin returned, "The labyrinth of intrigue is about an hour's drive north of here, isn't it?

''The labyrinth of intrigue is about an hour's ride north of here by carriage, isn't it?

If we leave now, we should be there by evening. However, the traps are so numerous that it will take us some time to get through the labyrinth of intrigue.

''........I see. I'd better get some food. Master, that's another thing, but I've made one stop.

Where are you?　You can't make it to the guild headquarters indeed.

''Haha. I'd certainly like to see that too, but I'd actually like to stop by the slave auction.

"...Luciel at the slave auction.......what's going on?

I'm not sure yet. If you only believe the dragon's words, you'll have to head for the labyrinth right away.

''Well the reason I'm sticking with you this time is to watch your apprentice grow and train him. So don't worry about it, just trust your instincts.

Yes, sir.

I reply to my mentor and head to the adventurers I was talking to earlier.

And I decided to ask them straight away.

''Can you tell me about that slave and slave auction we were talking about earlier?　Tell me, and I'll heal your wounds in exchange for the price.

It goes without saying that behind me smiling, Master Brod and Lionel, who were not half as intimidating as I was, were there.

Thus, I managed to calmly hear from the adventurers about the slave trade and slave auctions.