Chapter 400: Keeping Watch

Chapter 400: Keeping Watch

“It’s been three days. Considering the length and the monsters you’d expect to encounter, they should almost reach the deepest room now.”CHeCk for new stories on no/v/el/bin(.)c0m

“Yeah... Man, I wanted to go into the Labyrinth too, y’know!”

Midors grumbled upon hearing my analysis.

He and I — as well as several others — are staying outside, keeping watch around the spot where we were ambushed by the Laughing Foxes last time.

“Don’t complain so much — everyone’s doing their best in there.”

“Well, I mean, sure, but y’know...”

With Reid reminding him, Midors had no choice but to agree.

Those who are outside include me, Midors, Reid, Ryan, and Adolf. Yup, sausage party.

It’s a reasonable lineup, though. Ryan is the one in command, and Midors is a mage who’s able to connect a Teleportation Spell Circle in this location to the one the other group would set up in the Labyrinth’s deepest room. And thinking in terms of raw power levels, it was natural to leave me here and send Pochi in there.

Guarding the entrance is also an important role, since it helps prevent intruders from ambushing the group inside. As some of us know from already having explored it once, there’s really not much open space inside the Labyrinth. That’s the reason we decided on diving into two groups — a decision we were able to make thanks to our current manpower.

At one point, Adolf walked over to me and cheerfully said,

“Sir Asley! I’m ready!”

He’s the one I’ve interacted with the most over the past two days... And he came to me probably because he knew his level was the lowest, and that he was the least experienced combatant.

Indeed, I have been occasionally sparring with everyone, not just Adolf, to pass the time. The warriors got to keep themselves active, and doing this also helps undo the seal on my arcane energy.

Everyone has their own fighting style — Ryan is dexterous, Reid is on the rough side, Midors’ is a mix between a frontline fighter and a mage, and Adolf is still learning. All of them serve as references as I gradually optimize my movements.

I actually can feel my body’s strength distribution become more balanced and flexible. I do understand why Minerva said that I’m more suited to be a warrior, but at the end of the day, I absolutely can’t just go into the fight against Lucifer without my arcane arts.

...Hmm? I sense something...

“Sorry, Adolf, the sparring will have to wait.”

“Huh?”

“Enemies?”

“Yes, Sir Ryan. Seven of them... all close to SS-ranked in power.”

“Oh-ho...”

Ryan rubbed his own chin — for what reason, I can’t really tell, but it probably doesn’t matter right now.

What’s important now is the monsters — we have to wipe them out. Because of how aggressive and empowered they have become, they will attack discriminately upon even detecting human scent. According to a Telepathic Call I’ve received from Warren, the situation has been getting tense everywhere.

The master of the Adventurers’ Guild, Scott, has sent his trusted adventurers to the Resistance’s hideout to perform Limit Breakthroughs. Those adventurers were then sent to be in charge of defending each town and village, apparently.

Oh, really... If that’s the case, then why would she call me a fool so much that the associated title became unremovable?

As I groaned to myself, I noticed Midors in the corner of my eye, looking at me silently.

“Midors?”

I turned to him, but he remained silent.

So I proceeded to look at Ryan and the others, prompting Ryan to speak up on my behalf.

“Midors, is something the matter?”

Midors then replied — not to Ryan, but to me. Well, rather than reply, it was more like setting up a question.

“...Well, I gotta ask something since no one’s asking it. Bear with me here, Asley, ’cause you gotta say it in a way that I understand...”

“What is it?”

“What Sir Ryan just said — about humanity’s light of hope? I get that. You’re gonna become real powerful when you get your arcane energy back. I know, because I’m a mage as well. So I gotta ask you this...”

It took me just a few moments to come up with a guess as to what Midors was trying to say.

And sure enough, what Midors proceeded to ask was quiet yet heavy — and simple yet difficult.

“...Can we actually win?”

Everyone has wondered that, but none has dared to ask it until now.

“W-what the hell are you saying? It’s not about can or can’t — we HAVE TO win!”

“Reid, that isn’t what Midors is asking.”

Reid’s statement, which came off as him trying to put a lid on the issue, was interrupted by Ryan.

And indeed, Midors was not asking whether or not we have to win. It’s not about what we want, but rather whether or not we have enough power to achieve it.

Reid’s answer could be considered a valid one even to that question, yes, but it’s a muddled one at best.

And despite the similar wording, it’s different from what my old War Demon Emperor friend would say. It’s just not the kind of answer Midors is looking for.

“...If my Arcane Energy were to return, my chance of winning would be about ten percent... on a good day.”

Hearing my answer, Ryan closed his eyes, Reid opened his eyes wide, and Adolf cast his eyes down.

Midors, however, looked calmly at me and proceeded to ask another question.

“Why?”

...Now then, where should I even begin with my explanation?