Volume 2 - CH 20

Volume 2

Chapter 20-In front of the castle gate with a bad feeling

(TL:By Rafael)

"What do you mean?"(Yuki)

"I don't know, either. But at that time,......, the part of me that is a samurai did tell me that I had killed someone."(Marina)

I'm not doubting Marina, but of course the walls and floors are not human.

It is more natural that some element made Marina misunderstand that.

But.......

It is a fact that I can't seem to shake the unpleasant speculations that keep popping into my head.

If you believe the words of that old man Loge, it seems that everyone is in the "Glad Shii-im" where a sense of desolation is in the air.

What does he mean by "everyone"?

Was he talking about those monsters?

Or is it the people who have settled there, like the children we rescued?

Or is it ......?

The more I thought about it, the more I had a bad feeling and a horrible conclusion came to me.

But I can't bring myself to say it.

If I, as the leader of the group, were to say it out loud, it would cause a lot of anxiety and bias in everyone.

I have no choice but to sort through the information and examine the possibilities one by one.

"Do you want  to cut through the area and check again?"(Yuki)

I asked, pointing at the wall, but Marina shook her head.

"No. Actually, I already tried it in the next room: ....... But I couldn't figure it out. I think it's because my 'samurai' isn't ready, but I can only feel it when I'm taking lives."(Marina)

I patted Marina's head lightly and thought about it.

It is true that Marina's profession as a samurai is still in its infancy. But then again, we all know that Marina has good talent.

I don't think the honest Marina would lie about it, and the fact that she has felt the sensation of slaying people from the strange demons in this labyrinth that she has encountered so far is a great piece of information.

Even if it didn't indicate a person, it was proof that they were the same thing, even if they looked different.

"I'm sorry for the ...... weird thing I said."(Marina)

"No. Thank you for telling me, Marina."(Yuki)

I stroked Marina's head again.

Her fluffy hair felt as good as ever.

(TL: I want to do that too)

"After a short rest, we'll head to the royal castle as planned, so we can have a quick look inside and then we'll pull out."(Yuki)

"Yes, I agree. I think this labyrinth is a little strange. The spirits also have a strange feeling about them ......."(Silk)

"Strange?"(Yuki)

Silk nodded at my words.

" There are also spirits of the four elements, and other than demons, the balance is not bad. Just ......"(Silk)

"Just?"(Yuki)

"There is a slight misunderstanding in communication. It's as if we're conversing with someone who doesn't understand our words through gestures, or if our intentions are different in our replies."(Silk)

By nature, it is quite difficult to communicate with spirits.

Unless you have a special innate sense like elves, there are very few human spirit users.

In the first place, their values, definitions of existence, and concepts are different from those of living beings.

Spirits are part of the world. They are like nature with a will, and spirit users make requests to them with magical power to create magical phenomena.

This is the complete opposite of the sorcerer who rewrites the structure of the world and common sense with magic and logic.

It's a little strange that a spirit who controls the state of the world and Silk, a spirit user, can't communicate well.

"He lends me his strength, But it's like I'm speaking an unfamiliar foreign language."(Silk)

"Is it because of the labyrinth?"(Yuki)

"No, even in a labyrinth, there is a strong division of spirits , and this is not..."(Silk)

Silk makes a shocked face

"What's wrong?"(Yuki)

"If I had to guess, I'd say it's more like ...... The Grey Field."(Silk)

Hearing this, not just me,  everyone tensed up.

I have a strong sense of trauma about that place. Especially for me.

"But I think I get it."(Rain)

Rain nodded and closed her eyes as she thought.

"This labyrinth is different, the magic is different. The air is different from where we usually are."(Rain)

"I can feel it, too."(Yuki)

Perhaps it's because I've been blessed with the cursing of Lady Persephone, the Blue-White Immortal King, but like Silk, I can feel the warped integrity of this world.

But I can't see the center of it. What is the nature of this horrible feeling of discomfort?

I have a feeling of certainty in my heart that I will find out as I go on, but I also have a strong feeling that I don't want to go deeper.

In any case, I don't think that the labyrinth of Glad Shii-Im is a treasure trove of adventure like other labyrinths that have been discovered.

The only thing here is a beautiful but dreary cityscape and an unidentifiable demon.

"All I know is that it's creepy, but my ex-thief instincts are telling me to retreat!"(Nene)

"I suppose. But work is work. Let's go."(Yuki)

(TL:Proffesinals have standards)

◇

With Nene giving us a heads-up, we carefully made our way down the main street.

"It's a big castle."Yuki)

The royal castle in front of us was magnificent and large.

It is a castle that can be used as both an executive government and a war castle, a castle that is both sturdy and beautiful.

"Is the main dungeon of the main labyrinth still inside?"(Silk)

"The theory so far is that it is. ......"(Yuki)

As I looked up at the slowly approaching castle, I scoffed to myself, wondering how much I could count on that here in Glad Shii-im, where theories don't apply.

As a supporter, I've gained a fair amount of experience.

I've been an adventurer for five years, and I'm proud of the fact that I've learned and experienced so much.

But still.

I'm feeling a little impatient at the current state of affairs, where such things are of little use.

The danger of this research quest is extraordinary.

As a supporter and leader of the party, I feel anxious about whether I can successfully protect the party ...... and these girls.

"Yuki-San....over there.!"(Nene)

Nene, who seemed to have found something, pointed to the area near the castle gate.

When I looked closely, I could see it too.

Something black was standing there as if waiting for us.

"Loge ......!"(Yuki)

A black veil robe hides her face. A nose protruding from it. A low back and a staff to support his body.

The old man I met when I first visited here was standing in front of the castle gate.

TL Note- Return  of the mystery character, who knows what  the future may hold in the castle of Glad Shii-im.