202 - - two hundred-episode farce

An ice house was built and a place for storing food for the animals was prepared. The rest was taken care of by the remaining Great Spirits, and they left for the Labyrinth City.

"So you will stay at the inn with me during training and return to the cafeteria on your days off?"

"Yeah, it's not cool to commute from my parents' house when I'm your apprentice. Besides, if I don't show up occasionally, my father will have a hard time when I leave the labyrinth city if I live at my parents' house.

Gina says, looking annoyed. She seems to care about her family, but it's hard for her father to keep her here.　

"But, well, I'm sure he's worried about you, so you'd better show up when you get there. Do you want me to go with you?"

"Well, I'm sorry, but I have a feeling that my father won't believe anything my master tells me when he's with me. I'll go with Shiva for now."

"Okay."

Gina, you know your father so well. I don't know what's in store for me yet, and some might say I'm being overprotective, but I think I'll ask Dory to go with me. When I told this to Gina, she laughed at me saying that I was not a child. Well, she agreed with me, so I guess it's okay.

When we arrived, we would go to the general store as usual to meet Marie and get some information. I'm sure Sarah and the others will feel safe with Dine. Then we'll go to Mr. Toruku's place and get a room. This time we should also visit the Adventurers' Guild and make sure that Gina's parents' house has not received any unwanted attention, so we'll be pretty busy.

We enjoy a leisurely flight while talking with Gina and the others about what we want to do in the labyrinth city. By the way, Sylphy and the others seem to have no problem as long as they have enough alcohol.

We land in the usual forest and head for the labyrinth city. I thought about landing in front of the gate, since everyone knows that I can fly, but there's no need to let them know that I've come to the labyrinth city, is there?

****

"Hmm?　You are ......"

The gatekeeper of the labyrinth city saw my face and stopped moving. I've done a lot of things for sure, but I guess I'm famous enough for the gatekeeper to remember my face. I'm a bit emotional.

ID, please.

I show my guild card like you said.

"You're right. I'm sorry, I need to ask you a few questions.

You want to talk about it?　

"Yeah, come here."

Huh?　I don't know how long it's been going on, but there are more gatekeepers, and I feel like I'm about to get caught?　Are you extremely nervous because you're afraid I'm going to get out of control?

"Where are the kids?　And can you at least tell me why?"

"They'll have to come with me. We want to talk to you about the Marquis de Galli, Viscount Galli. If you refuse, you must be prepared to do so.

I knew they would ask about Galli and his son sooner or later, but I didn't expect them to stop at the gate. They didn't leave any evidence, but it's a feudal world with royalty and nobility, and they're wanted just because they give a suspicious impression, right?

But I'm a rank A adventurer, don't you take into account my relationship with the Adventurer's Guild?　Maybe they're supposed to listen to us because we've taken ...... into account. If you are low rank or something, you might be in a straight line of torture. It's not impossible, but it's very scary.

"Yuta, what are you going to do?"

Sylphy asks me if it's my imagination, but I wonder if it's because of her expressionless face that she seems to be enjoying herself a little.　It doesn't matter. But if I'm confirmed as the culprit, the gatekeeper might get a little more upset, or maybe he's still under suspicion?

...... If anything goes wrong, it will be troublesome, so let's summon Dine and Dolly for now. Should we call Nomos too?　...... Hmmm, let's not go with If and Vita for a variety of reasons. I'm afraid that ifs will get into a fight soon. Let's say Sylphy, Dine and Dolly are more than enough.

（I'll stay quiet until I'm sure we're caught. I'll summon Deanne and Dolly, and explain the situation to them.)

It's kind of embarrassing to whisper while the gatekeeper watches you.

"I know Viscount Galli, but what do you mean?"

You sound so white yourself.

"I'll explain that inside. I'd appreciate it if you'd hurry up a little."

His tone is polite, but the gatekeeper seems to be in a bit of a hurry. Well, let's get the hell out of here. He summons Deanne and Dolly quickly and walks away.　

"It's my sister's turn. What?　Yuta?" Yuta, what's going on?"

Dineh and Dolly are looking at each other in shock as they pass silently right next to each other after having been summoned. I guess it's all right, because Sylphy is explaining everything behind my back. Surrounded by gate guards, we are taken to what looks like a guard station by the gate.

Yuta-dono, please enter this room. Don't worry, we won't hurt you.

Apparently we're going into separate rooms. Deanne's got Gina and Dolly to escort Sara and the others, so that's not a problem. I'm a little relieved, because if Sara and the others get separated, we'll have to call the other spirits. Is it just a matter of how many rooms we have?

Sarah and the others seem to be in no hurry at all, probably because they know Dolly is nearby. Gina looks a little nervous.

We enter a small room with a crude wooden table and chairs. The windows are barred. It has the atmosphere of an interrogation room. I want to ask if they serve katsudon (pork cutlet served on top of rice), but I'm pretty sure I won't get through to them.

I sit down on a chair, and a soldier with a bit of gorgeous armor sits opposite me. He called me "captain," and it seems that the person in charge of the room is himself being interrogated.

"First of all, what can you tell us about Viscount Galli?"

"I don't really have any answers for you, since I only met you once, but you were reckless and things eventually turned nasty."

I know exactly where he is, but I can't be honest with you. I know that the Adventurers' Guild has promised to be a wall for me in negotiations, but what about this case?　Will you be a wall for the interview as well?　...... indeed, you can't interfere with the interview, so I guess I'll just have to work on my own.

"Well, ...... actually two people have gone missing, Viscount Galli and his parent, the Marquis de Galli."

"Missing?　Viscount Galli?"

Yes, rumor has it that Yuta disappeared the Marquis and the Viscount Galli.

Rumors are not to be trifled with. You're right on the money.

"I guess it's because things got a little rough when I met Viscount Galli, isn't it?　But I'm not the culprit."

It's a lie.

"Yes, we have confirmed that Yuta was seen in the labyrinth city both the day before and the day after the two disappeared."

I guess my alibi checks out, so I'm not a definite suspect. Well, if that's the case, why'd they bring you here?　The fact that he can fly doesn't exonerate him, but that should be hard to prove on either side.

"So I'm cleared?"

"No, that's ......."

As the captain began to speak, I heard footsteps of many people moving and angry shouts coming from outside the door. I looked at Sylphy to see if something was wrong, and she told me.

"Some men in military uniforms are trying to force their way in, saying they are going to interrogate Yuta.

Military?　The Gulli family was a big military family, wasn't it? Someone from that side of the family. When I look at the captain, he's holding his head in his hands. It seems that the gatekeeper was in a hurry to prevent the military from interfering.

This is it!

Bang!　The door opened with a bang, and men in flashy military uniforms entered the room. Apparently the gatekeepers couldn't stop them. The soldiers' gazes at me were kind of muddy and unpleasant.

"You must be Yuta!

Oh, ugh, he just said something about restraints.

"Wait!　This is a guard station. You can't do anything without me!

The soldiers were about to make a move when the captain stopped them with a loud voice.

"Yes, that man is an important suspect in the disappearance of General Galli. Don't let the guards get in the way.

"We have confirmed that this man was in the labyrinth city when the two went missing. You will bring danger to the country!"

"Even if he is an A-rank adventurer, he has harmed a general of a country. If the Adventurers' Guild defends them, the Adventurers' Guild will be blamed in every country. Can't you even understand that?"

A soldier says to the captain with a look of deep-seated mockery on his face.

"If he is the murderer!　What do you think will happen if you take him into custody when he is only a suspect? Or do you think the military has evidence that would confirm his guilt?"

The captain responded in a losing effort. Good luck, captain!

"Viscount Galli's first squire told me that the man was disrespectful to Viscount Galli and hinted at kidnapping him. It's not worth the trouble to detain him for disrespect and make him talk."

Wow, he's declaring that he's going to arrest him on a separate charge and torture him to get a confession. It's a scary world. You said he was a suspect who harmed the general in the first place. Why are we suddenly talking about disrespect? And that first squire is really annoying. He's telling you things. This soldier, probably a useless guy, was sent here to vent his frustration with the first squire.

He's not just a civilian. You can't do that!"

The captain of the guard is also saying some scary things. He says that a mere civilian could do such a thing.

But I'm actually the kidnapper of Gulli and his son. The fact that I'm not falsely accused is a little troubling. Well, that doesn't mean I'm gonna get caught. I'm the most important person in the world. But I want to find the magic wand, and I don't want to lose my access to the maze.

"Let me ask you something... is it the will of this country to capture me?"

The soldier says, "Yes," and the captain says, "No." The discrepancy is too much.

The king ordered you not to touch me in the first place, didn't he? Can I ignore it?　The master of the Adventurers' Guild said that the Adventurers' Guild will protest to the king about Viscount Galli, right?"

It was Viscount Galli who went to the people whom the state had told him not to touch, and told them to be reckless. I think this is a problem before the issue of disrespect.

Disrespect is disrespect!

A soldier barks. You're not making sense. He smells like Viscount Galli. No wonder he's so easily taken advantage of by the first squire.

"Are you related to the Marquis de Galli, soldier?"

The word "first squire" is often used, and I'm sure there is no mistake, but let's check it just in case.

"Yes!　I report directly to General Galli and am a member of his elite!　If we can capture you here and take credit for your success, you can eventually become a general. That's why I'm taking you into custody."

What do you mean? The soldier with his chest out, the captain next to him with his head in his hands. These two look like they know each other.

"Well, is it the role of the military to arrest people for disrespect?"

No, the military does not have the right to arrest you unless you are in a war zone. Minor offenses are handled by the garrison. For serious crimes, the Knights are in charge.

The captain makes a nice follow-up. In a way, I am sorry for making you cover for a criminal. I didn't know there was such a division between military and knights. Maybe because of frequent wars, the roles were divided well.

"By the way, if you're holding me for a crime I don't even know I'm guilty of, I'll resist too.

The truth is, I know exactly what I'm doing.

"No matter how strong you are, you are still a human being. Even if you escape from here, do you think you can survive with the military always chasing you?　Even if you flee to an enemy country, we will surely pursue you. Do you want to live in fear of something for the rest of your life?　Are you going to involve your disciples in such a life?　You will be caught and you will tell us everything."

The soldier says triumphantly. I'm a little impressed by the subtlety and sincerity of what he says.

"I understand what you're saying, but if you arrest me without any evidence, you'll probably be in big trouble.

"Hmph, what a silly evasion. As the first squire said, you're a cack-handed little rascal who doesn't even know how to respect his superiors."

I'm starting to think that I should have left that first squire somewhere instead of leaving Gulli and his son alone.

"If I may say so myself, I'm a pretty important person who supplies valuable materials wholesale to the country and the army. If you were to arrest me for such a vague reason, there would be protests from various places, and you would be punished instead of promoted, wouldn't you?

The Polurius Trading Company is the wholesaler to the state and the military, but I'm the main source of it. Even with Wings of the Labyrinth and Muscle Star, they'll still need some of my material. It's going to be a mess, that's for sure. I know you're here because you want to get ahead, but what if it means you're not going to get ahead?

"It's true. That's why the government ordered us to leave Yuta alone."

A soldier looks at me in horror at the captain's words. When I nodded, his face turned pale. I guess he came to the labyrinth city without doing much research, being led around by the first squire.

"Let's get out of here!"

After thinking for a moment, he bowed to me and left as if he were running away. What a travesty of justice! I'll ask Sylphy to keep an eye on the soldier and I'll ask him later. I wonder if Galli and his son are still alive?