Chapter of Slavery, Episode 2: Temporary Retreat from the Ancient Labyrinth

Bzzz, bzzz! The strange sound awoke me in the dream world, and I mumbled out loud. I sat up and... Oh, Marie was holding me in her arms. I remembered her reading me a book last night and decided to let her sleep some more.

I gently moved her arm aside and listened to the noise in the darkness.

“All... retrea... Bzzz!” The noise continued, mixed with what sounded like a man’s voice. Using the faint lighting, I turned to find the source of the noise was the Magic Tool on the table.

Ah, the comm link.

Judging by the time we fell asleep in Japan, it was probably seven in the morning or so.

The Magic Tool continued to emit the white noise, despite the early hour. We were in a small room on the second floor, and the walls may have been reflecting the radio waves or whatever the tool used. I had no idea how it actually worked, so that was just my guess.

I scratched my head in the darkness and turned to the side to find light peering in from the space under the door. Since it was bright on the other side, someone may have been passing by with a light.

I stood up, feeling along the walls as I moved toward the door and opened it. There, I found a large group holding things like lanterns.

“...Huh?” I said with surprise, but they also wore round-eyed expressions at the sudden appearance of a sleepy face. I stared at the lantern-wielding men, the cogs in my sleep-addled brain starting to turn.

Judging by the direction they were going, they were probably returning to the entrance. The “retrea...” I heard earlier was probably an order to retreat. I rubbed my eyes and looked around, and then, a voice called out to me.

“Huh? What are you doing here?”

“Oh, hello, Zera. *yawn*... Good morning.” I tried to stifle a yawn as I greeted him, and Zera, the leader of Team Bloodstone, shrugged with exasperation. He was a tall, black-haired man that we had retrieved in a rescue mission about a month or so back. Since then, we’d been talking to each other like this frequently.

Just then, I felt something lean onto me from behind. Mariabelle had finally woken up and staggered this way. She was probably still half-asleep and placed her chin on my shoulders to keep herself upright, then let out a big yawn.

“Aha, you look like you’re still asleep. Hurry up and get ready. We’re retreating temporarily to restore our energy.” We tilted our heads in confusion at the sudden comment.

It seemed things had been happening in our absence.

The raid parties were full of elites, but they’d been having trouble on the second floor, their energy and morale gradually depleting. They wanted to get through it as soon as possible, but they had been getting less and less efficient. That was why they had made the decision to retreat for now and recover their vitality.

After gathering up our belongings and leaving the room, we walked with Zera as he filled us in on what was going on.

“Huh, so we’re having a celebration for clearing the first floor this late?”

“Oh, don’t put it that way. We need some sort of reason to take a break so publicly.” He slapped my shoulder hard, making my eyes bulge from the impact. Looking around, I understood where he was coming from. We were in the middle of the crowd as we all climbed higher and higher, but many of the people around us wore weary expressions. It was clear that they needed rest.

Raiding labyrinths was hard work that required wandering around for long periods of time. One could hardly ever let their guard down while hearing someone’s screams in the distance.

As we talked, I sensed a dubious stare coming from behind me. When I turned around, I saw Marie looking at me with an exasperated look, several light spirits following close behind.

“Oh, you make it sound as if a labyrinth is so harsh and horrible and scary.” It wasn’t that arduous for us, of course. We had basically just wandered into this dream world for fun. Besides, this raid wasn’t an obligation for us, and honestly, we had the option to pull out at any time if we felt like it. But before I knew it, I was saying the complete opposite.

“Yeah, it’s incredible that such a rare labyrinth from ancient times still exists. From what I can tell, it seems to be equipped with exceptional air circulation and repair technology. The monsters are first-class quality, too. This labyrinth really is amazing.” I wasn’t sure if they understood, but I had been traveling all around the continent to find just this sort of place. Fighting powerful monsters, finding treasures, and steadily improving my own power... It truly was nothing short of a miracle that I ended up in such a place. Truly marvelous. I passionately explained as such, but Marie just shot a sharp look to Zera as if to say, “See?”

Whaaa? But you were enjoying it, too, Marie...

“I think I’m starting to understand this guy,” Zera said.

“Yes, he’s just as he seems. But please don’t worry; he’s a normal person once he steps foot outside of the labyrinth.”

“...”

For some reason, I felt rather alone despite being a member of the raid party. Wait, wasn’t Marie the one rushing me to go to the labyrinth before?

I nearly said so, but Marie hurriedly cut me off.

“Look, we’re almost above ground. Umm, it’s been a while since we’ve seen the sunlight. How refreshing. Yes, I can’t wait.” She sounded rather unenthusiastic just then, but it was possible that I was just imagining it. I looked toward the direction she was pointing to find a faint light shining down from the top of the spiral walkway. The lanterns and torches around us started to gradually extinguish, and the light spirits that had accompanied us were waving goodbye and vanishing.

We’d been looking forward to the ancient labyrinth, but we didn’t expect the raid to go on break the moment we got back. But if I looked visibly disappointed now, the elf would surely tease me again. And so, we continued to slowly make our ascent.

The sky above us was a brilliant white.

Fresh air flowed in, and as I pulled myself up by the rails to step outside, there was no longer a ceiling above us. I stretched out, feeling refreshed, and Marie and the others were doing the same.

“Ahh, I feel invigorated. It’s nice to be outside again. Look, the sky is cloudy. I wonder if Arilai will enter a rainy season soon, too.”

“I think so. The sunlight has been getting a lot weaker, and I think it’s gonna rain a lot from now on.” I breathed in air that had the scent of humidity and looked up to the sky again.

It would soon rain, causing seeds to sprout everywhere, and plants would grow in places other than the oasis in a few days. The rainy season was very precious for desert regions, and I figured people here approached it differently from how the rainy season was treated in Japan.

I noticed Zera staring at the scenery as well and called out to him.

“We’d been holed up in there for a whole month. I’m sure we need to get some rest, or it’ll start affecting peoples’ health.”

“Yeah, though personally, I don’t like to sit still for too long, or I’ll grow weak. So, you lot came from another country, right? Are you going to have somewhere to stay once we get back to Arilai?” Marie, the black cat, and I struggled to come up with an answer. Oh, and it was too dark to see earlier, but the cat familiar was with us in this world, too. We were able to summon it by using the collar in either Japan or the dream world, respectively.

Marie seemed to remember something and opened her mouth to speak.

“Why don’t we go to Mewi’s workshop? That place should have plenty of room. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind letting us stay there for a bit.”

“Oh, you’re right. Let’s stop by later.” The last time we visited Mewi’s workshop, we got the impression that it was far too big for someone to live in alone. We assumed he would gladly accept us, and Zera nodded when we explained as such.

“Got it. Come visit me if that ends up not working out. I can let a few guests stay, no problem. Oh, it’s about time to go.” The entire group seemed to make it above ground, and they had begun giving out orders and mobilizing. Our destination was far beyond the sand dunes, and I couldn’t blame Marie for letting out a big sigh.

“You don’t seem too happy, even though we’re about to get some rest, Mariabelle.”

“Oh, Doula! I’m sorry if I was making some sort of face.” Doula, the woman with red hair reaching down her back, had started walking beside us out of nowhere. We had retrieved her along with Zera during the most recent rescue mission.

A faint breeze was coming in from the east, rustling her fiery hair as it passed. She turned her steel-colored eyes toward me.

“Hello, Mister Sleepyhead. When is Team Amethyst going to wake up?”

“Huh? Do I still look that sleepy?” Everyone nodded at once, which was followed by cheerful laughter.

Being in a big group like this was nice every once in a while. It was only the three of us when we’d first arrived, but things were completely different now. Crossing the dunes may not have been so bad with lively and fun company, I thought.

And, by the way, Team Amethyst was going to wake up when Wridra joined us on Thursday.

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Once the presence of humans had left the ancient labyrinth, it returned back to its original atmosphere. There was complete silence and an ineffable pressure like someone had died somewhere. All of one’s senses indicated that these were no mere ruins that had decayed long ago.

As soon as the first floor had been cleared, the raid headquarters moved into this hall. Piles of rations and equipment had been prepared there, with several tents for sleeping in. The place was so full of items that there was hardly any place to stand. Suddenly, a crunching footstep could be heard.

The old man stroking his white beard as he glanced around was a renowned wizard and the coordinator of information among all teams. He had made a name for himself in wars and raids long ago, but he had moved into a support role in his old age.

“Something’s here.” Hakam, the supervisor of the raid, rose from behind the old man. He had an impressive, muscular build with sun-bronzed skin. The old man nodded, expression unchanging, at the sudden comment.

“Indeed. It seems to be enjoying getting in the way of our efforts.”

“I thought it was the bandits that were reported a while back, but something’s fishy,” Hakam replied. Indeed, something was off. A group had been interfering for some time, somehow evading the wizard’s watchful eye. This didn’t seem like the work of mere bandits, and the fact that they had been holed in for a whole month was odd in itself.

Mysterious incidents had been happening frequently, from booby-trapped doors to monster ambushes that seemed calculated to hostile ranged magic attacks appearing during combat. The biggest problem was the effect on troop morale. Little by little, their original plans were getting pushed back.

“Is someone supporting them? Or...”

“Something is going on. This is a labyrinth, but it smells like the all-too-familiar stench of the battlefield.” They had already been struggling to get to the bottom of the undying second floor master, Shirley. They couldn’t inflict much damage on it even with the power of priests, and even if they finished it off, the floor master would just reappear somewhere else.

Between the mysterious forces and the undying boss, there were many issues troubling them.

And that wasn’t all.

“An order from the royal family. We are to integrate forces from each faction.” Hakam shot a glare, wordlessly warning the old man not to complain. The old man also knew Hakam himself had tried many times to protest against the higher-ups, so he swallowed his words. The supervisor let out a long sigh and continued.

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“Aja, I have no faith in adventurers myself. I can’t rely on those who won’t even act unless they secure both safety and payment.” He would rather do the work himself than go through the trouble of preparing such things. Hakam was implying as such, and the white-haired old man nodded in agreement. Participating in the raid was one thing, but supervising and protecting the team on top of managing those responsibilities was simply foolish.

Hakam may have been old-fashioned, but he valued conviction above all else. Results were decided by the conviction of those who fought, and the lazy only dragged them down. He felt this applied not only to combat, but labyrinths as well. Those who mustered their courage to stand tall for their country rather than backing down out of fear were the warriors he loved and respected. The old man had been listening quietly, then muttered as he stroked his white beard.

“Hmm. Perhaps I will take a break and apply new military forces, then.”

“Hm? Oh, you mean that thing you mentioned before. Do you think that will be happening?” In response, the old man reached into his inside pocket, causing a metallic clinking sound. He then opened his wrinkled hand, and what appeared to be a large gemstone glowed dully. It was a Magic Stone that should have been lost long ago.

“Who knows? Someone deleted the records so thoroughly that I can’t even tell if it’s forbidden. But this is for me to worry about. You just sit back and look forward to it.” The old man grinned fearlessly, and Hakam shrugged with a sigh. For better or for worse, the old man tended to come up with ideas that disregarded common sense. He was a man who wasn’t subtle about his hatred for the royal family. There was a chance this could have ended up being a bigger deal than taking in the fighting forces of each faction, but the supervisor didn’t say anything in protest.

The ancient labyrinth was full of mysteries, including the insurgents, the Magic Stone, and the undying floor master. One thing was clear: this temporary break was not arranged merely to get some rest. Hakam’s eyes looked like those of a hawk until now, but his expression had softened upon taking his time off. He scratched his head.

“To think, the only bright side in all of this is that we were able to put up our base on the first floor before entering the rainy season.”

“You can say that again. I’d rather not get soaking wet in the rain.” They bared their teeth and laughed. They hadn’t smiled like that since those kids succeeded in their rescue mission. At times like this, it was up to the adults to show some spirit.

“All right. Let’s make sure they enjoy themselves, shall we?”

“Ahaha, I like that look you get when you cook up these sorts of plans. Well then, I will bring the drinks for the celebration.” They continued talking, and before they knew it, the two were looking forward to their first vacation in a long time.

With problems and sorrow to deal with, the way home may have felt like there was a long road ahead, but that was the nature of life. There was happiness to be found within pain and pain within happiness.

With those thoughts in mind, the remaining two left the base behind.

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The animal stepping on to the sand with a thud was known as a Fugoi. It got its name from the odd snorting noise it made when adjusting its body temperature by opening and closing its nose. I had heard that they were designed to resist the intense heat of the desert. It moved rather slowly as it deliberately stomped its large feet, but they were well-liked by the army and merchants alike for their ability to carry large loads. Its rough, thick skin was somewhat reminiscent of rhinos in the zoo. It pulled a cart with the ropes tied around its body, and an elf girl sat between some of the many bags of cargo.

She sat with her feet adjacent to each other and let out a big sigh. The water spirit Undine floated around in the air, waving its tail as if trying to cheer up its unenthused master. The black cat, however, slept in the girl’s lap with no regard for her current state. As for me, I had no place to sit, so I was walking on the sand.

“I’m sorry for taking it easy while you have to walk. I should train a bit so I don’t tire out so easily.” She furrowed her brows apologetically as she said this, but I knew she had tried her best to walk, despite her lack of physical endurance. Not only was there no need for her to apologize, I thought she deserved praise.

“It’s okay, I’m used to traveling. It wasn’t too hot on the way here. I actually think it was just right, with the rainy season going on.”

“Yes, I’m glad we didn’t have to shrivel up into prunes on the way here. Though, we’re very behind compared to everyone else. I hope no one will get upset.” With that, Marie turned to face the direction we were headed. The sand and rocks were barely recognizable as the path we were supposed to follow, and many gentle slopes could be seen overlapping each other. The Arilai army was nowhere in sight, of course.

Perhaps the coachman felt us staring, because he turned and began to speak.

“Arilai will be in view once we pass those hills over there. Your friends who went on ahead should have arrived there by now. All the goods on this cart would’ve been flying off the shelves if we got there in time for the triumphant return.” He laughed in a gruff voice. He had a white beard on his chin, which was wavering in the desert wind.

“I see. We’re grateful that you’re giving us a ride, but did we end up inconveniencing you?”

“This Fugoi isn’t gonna go any slower just because we added an elf girl as a passenger. Besides, we couldn’t just leave two kids behind in the desert. Ain’t that right?” It may have just been coincidence, but the animal blew air out of its nose as if in agreement, making Marie and me laugh.

“We would’ve been able to sleep as much as we wanted and joined them if today was a weekend.”

“Yes, it’s too bad. No matter how early we sleep, we can only spend half a day here. We can’t let people see us going to sleep in order to keep our secret, so we need to stay separated from others.”

“Yeah, I know it’s an inconvenience in that sense. It’s not as if we’re in a hurry, and I’d rather avoid a raucous welcome for our return. I think we can both agree there.” Marie raised her hand in agreement, and our little review meeting came to an end. Feeling the cool breeze and hearing the occasional sound of the Fugoi blowing out air, we decided to enjoy the trip to our destination.

When we crossed the hills, the country of Arilai came into view, just as the old coachman had said.

We heard the sound of bells chiming in the wind.

The main entrance opened, and we could see people celebrating the return even from here. The occasion for the grand-scale celebration was the conquest of the first floor of the ancient labyrinth. Three floor masters had been defeated, and the treasure hall had been opened. Overcoming the high difficulty had paid off in the form of countless treasures, Magic Stones, mysterious items and books, and other various spoils, and the citizens were shocked to find out all this had been obtained already from only the first floor.

I was surprised by the flashy celebrations, but maybe that was to be expected. The only other way to make such returns would be through war or the production of things like jewelry, so there was no reason not to be thrilled about it. The other elite squad members were welcomed as heroes. As for us, having come from another country, our greeting was rather perfunctory. Well, we had arrived much later, and it was hard to see us as anything other than two kids who just happened to wander in. I didn’t think we wouldn’t even be recognized as a member of the raid parties, though.

“Farewell. Be sure to buy plenty of my wares if we ever meet again.”

“Yes, thank you. Until we meet again!” We bowed and parted ways with the old merchant.

Everyone was still riled up from the heroes’ welcome, and the citizens were talking excitedly among each other. Marie gave one look around, then turned her gaze toward me.

“Let’s go to Mewi’s workshop, then. My bottom hurts from sitting on the cart for so long, so I’d like to rest up.”

“Sounds good. The workshop is in the outskirts of town. Let’s follow that path out.” Mewi, the child of the Neko tribe, was in a rather unique situation. He had the rare ability to refine Magic Stones and was affiliated with demons, which were considered a threat to humankind. Because of this, we had to trek through the rough sands along the deserted path just to get to his place. Marie must have been tired from traveling so much. It seemed like her white hair had lost its luster, and there was an air of exhaustion about her. She let out a tired sigh.

“We’re almost there; you can do it. I can brew us some tea when we get there.”

“Yes, I’ll be okay. I’ll show everyone that elves are strong and good at hunting, since we grew up in the forests.”

R-Right... that’s not all too convincing when you can hardly walk straight. Besides, I couldn’t recall ever seeing Marie wielding a bow. I asked her about it, and she nodded as if the answer was obvious.

“No, I’m too afraid to go hunting. The strings on bows are too tight for me to draw, and if you miss the target’s heart with those small arrows, you’ll end up being the one in danger. No thank you.”

“Hmm, but Koopahs are far stronger than boars, you know...”

“I’m used to them already. They’re like tadpoles once you’re used to them, and they’re not very smart, so they charge straight at you. But we already cleared the first floor, so I don’t think we’ll be running into any more.” She laughed awkwardly, as if to say it was a shame, because they were good for farming experience points. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that, but I did basically say the same thing when I first introduced her to those monsters, so I let it slide.

As our conversation went on, I started to hear the sound of a familiar running river. The Neko tribe’s workshop should have been just around the corner. The temperature here was cool, thanks to it being located next to the river, and it seemed like the ideal place to rest up from our journey. And so, we arrived at the corner with light steps.

Then, Marie crumpled to her knees.

“No way...”

“Whoa. Maybe it’s because they brought back so many Magic Stones. There’s a huge line in front of the workshop.” I couldn’t help but say it out loud in surprise. There was a group of what seemed to be government officials crowding the front of the workshop with guards surrounding the area. This was nothing short of a nightmare for both of us, who were weary from travel.

“Oh, careful. Are you okay, Marie? Come on, try to stand.”

“Uuu, we can’t even say hello to him after walking all the way here? This is too much...” I touched Marie on the shoulder as she sat in a squat, but she was so dejected, it seemed like she was going to roll over on the ground. There were tears welling up in her purple eyes as she looked up at me, and all I could feel was sympathy for her.

But if the workshop was no longer an option as a place to stay for the night, the only alternative I could think of was to find a cheap inn in town. Since travelers were highly unusual in this country, lodging facilities were very hard to find. It was going to be difficult to cheer Marie up from her exhausted state.

“Hmm, should we use my skill, Trayn, the Journey’s Guide, to take us to your home country? But we have that celebration party tomorrow, and I can only choose travel shrines as a destination, so we’d have to walk through the desert again.” The girl shook her head sideways in protest. I couldn’t blame her. That would’ve been too much even for me, and she normally would have scolded me for even suggesting it. That only left...

“Oh, didn’t Zera offer his place for us to stay in?” Marie raised her head as soon as I said so.

That large man, Zera, had helped us once before. He set up a tent in the campgrounds for us and even lent us lavish furnishings. She seemed to be remembering this, and I saw life quickly returning to her purple eyes.

“He’s really rich, isn’t he?”

“Y-Yeah. I thought I could hear the greed in your words just now. Maybe I’m imagining it?” Elves usually tended to prefer a rather simple lifestyle, but it seemed I hadn’t misheard her. Marie pulled herself up with her staff against the ground, then flashed a brisk smile.

“We should hurry, then. Before we get all dried up in the sun.”

“Umm, but it’s pretty cloudy right now. Oh well, I guess it won’t hurt to take someone up on their kindness once in a while.” Marie nodded in wholehearted agreement and began walking with renewed energy.

The thought crossed my mind that Zera probably wasn’t simply wealthy. I had heard that, unlike merchants, he was able to live such a lifestyle due to his martial prowess.

Well, it was probably better to show her rather than attempt to explain it. And so, I adjusted my bag on my back and walked after Marie.

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The Thousand household.

Countless heroes had been born in this household, and it had a deep history full of war and bloodshed.

Those who lacked the ability were deemed unworthy to name themselves a member of the household, and anyone who married into the family was also expected to be capable of battle. As the strong continued to pass their blood down generations, it brought about a change.

“The Thousand family’s blood is alive.”

Such rumors began circulating due to the fact that certain techniques were only passed down among the exceptionally talented of their bloodline. Thousand Burst, which had been previously seen in the labyrinth, was one of them. It was believed to be the steel will of the warrior made manifest.

It filled the caster’s body with energy, and as it was unleashed, the spray of blood ripped through anything it touched. When a group of soldiers on the battlefield were found dead with blade wounds all over their body, it was said that someone of the Thousand household could have been found there.

As I recalled such rumors, I heard a bird chirping overhead and looked up. The bird looked like a chick with yellow feathers that were not unlike the color of the desert, and it rested atop a large tree branch. Mansions could be seen ahead, and the sight was much different from what I’d been seeing in Arilai thus far.

“Wow, I didn’t expect a place like this! It feels a bit cooler with all these trees here. Is this where the rich people live?”

“It’s definitely cooler here. See? There are special waterways all over to help the heat escape. You usually can’t get to them because entry is forbidden, though.” A spear-wielding guard shot a glance in our direction. As I had mentioned, they were standing watch to make sure the general population didn’t try to enter. But having gotten an invitation from the household with a bloody yet prestigious history, we were an exception.

The upscale area was visible past the iron gates. The shrubbery and build of the mansions made it hard to believe this was a desert country. Marie stood next to me, shading her eyes with her hands and staring curiously.

“Oh, maybe she’s here to greet us. She’s heading right this way.” I turned to look and found a woman jogging toward our direction. The guards let her pass, and the woman stopped right in front of us. Her hair was a dark brown that fell right around her shoulders, and she reminded me somewhat of Kaoruko, the librarian. Breezy attire seemed to be the preferred style in this region. Her clothes had a relaxed cut with bright-colored fabric decorated with cultural embroidery. She smiled softly, then bowed her head politely.

“Thank you for waiting. You must be Lord Kazuhiho and Lady Marie.”

“Yes, we’re sorry for reaching out so suddenly.”

“Please, not at all. Lord Zera was positively delighted, and we are also glad to welcome you.” She spoke clearly and briskly, and I took her to be just as straitlaced as Kaoruko was. Her posture was impeccable as she bowed her head, and there was a dignified air about her.

“This way, if you please.” Following her guidance, we finally stepped foot into the upscale area.

The brick-paved path was lined with trees, each of which were well-maintained. The waterway flowed gently beside our feet, and not only was the atmosphere here different, but the temperature was completely different from the other regions we’d visited. Marie looked timid in her mannerisms and was looking around restlessly like a country girl visiting the big city for the first time.

“Is there a water source nearby for this waterway to draw from?”

“There is a river along the south side, but we cannot use it directly due to the difference in elevation. We are drawing the waterway from far upstream. Drinking water is drawn from an underground source. Both of these things require many people to keep maintained.”

I see. It looks like they have plenty of water on hand, but this is the result of lots of hard work. It made me fully realize that this really was an area for rich folks. I glanced to my side to find the elf girl’s eyes glimmering with fascination as I had expected.

“This place seems like a nice place to live. I had no idea such a place existed in a desert country with such intense heat.”

“Many people who are important to this country live here, so the royal family has prepared accommodations fit for the work they do. I serve the Thousand household, which has made many great accomplishments across many years of war.” She puffed out her chest proudly as she spoke. There was a shade of pink to her cheeks, perhaps because she was glad to be able to brag about her master.

The servant woman was a bit older than us, and she had a calm air about her. She stood with her back straight and gave the impression of being highly competent. As I observed her mannerisms while she talked to Marie, I wondered if the servants of a household of fighters were also skilled in combat.

“You must be very wealthy. I suppose you can’t judge a book by... Oh, excuse me. That was rude of me.”

“Oh, not at all. Lord Zera is a very kind person. He’s very loyal, and he knows how to treat women with respect. Though, he may seem rather unrefined at first glance.” Marie quickly shut her mouth, and the woman giggled. Her indigo eyes then turned toward me.

“Words cannot express how grateful I am toward you for saving Lord Zera. I am truly happy to have been able to meet you.”

“We just happened to run into him and ended up being very lucky, really.”

“Yes, a wonderfully fortunate happenstance, indeed. This must be the blessing of the Land God.” I waved my hands to indicate that this wasn’t the case, but she already seemed convinced. At this rate, it felt like she was going to claim I was an envoy of God, which made me a bit uncomfortable, as someone who was born and raised in Japan. I’d grown up not paying much heed to temples, shrines, or Christmas, after all.

The woman stopped walking in front of the Thousand house. The greenery growing behind the iron gates reminded me of southern countries, and there was even a fountain placed at the center. The garden was well cared for, and the two-story mansion was built with closely lined stones. To the left, another separate building could be seen.

“Whoa... We seem really out of place here.”

“Um, are you sure it’s fine that we’re here in robes?”

The servant lady giggled and said, “Please, think nothing of it,” then guided us to the other side of the lot.

The paths around the mansion were also well-maintained. The gardener who kept this place probably had a playful desire to entertain any visitors who came by. We passed through some shrubs that were blocking our view and found ourselves dumbstruck at the sight of a clear pond stretching before us.

“Wow, they made a pond in a desert! Look, is that an arbor over there? And that classy building over there! Ah... If I lived in a place like this, I think I’d get too accustomed to the luxury.” The servant lady must have found Marie’s reaction entertaining, because she couldn’t hold in her laughter. She then placed a foot on a crossing stone and turned around.

“This is where I will be taking my leave. Lord Kazuhiho, Lady Mariabelle, please enjoy your stay.” She said it so naturally, but we only froze in response. This place was some distance away from the mansion and was likely made as a place to greet important visitors. They had let us in so easily, and the lady told us to enjoy ourselves, so maybe she understood how we felt.

Mariabelle turned to face me, and her face was flush with excitement, as expected. Her eyes were shining like big amethyst crystals.

And so, I found myself sitting on a couch under a roof.

We were kind of zoning out for a while, but suddenly we came to at the same time. I never knew that people just sat there in a daze when they were in an exceptionally nice environment. Just then, Marie stood up and walked toward the edge of the arbor. There was nowhere to stand beyond that edge, only water where small silver fish swam around.

The breeze was refreshing, and I couldn’t believe we were in a harsh environment like a desert. We could even hear birds singing, and it was as if we had wandered into a luxury resort.

“This is amazing! I want to be rich someday!” Marie said as she turned around with an innocent smile.

Hmm... It’s hard to believe such a crude comment is coming from an elf. But as a humble salaryman, I fully understood how she felt.

This pond and its surroundings were made as a reception area, and the mansion proper was on the other side. There were fruits laid out on a table, and the wind carried the faint smell of incense. It felt like the perfect place to welcome visitors.

Marie grasped one of the fruits in hand and took a bite, but her happy expression suddenly soured, and she pursed her lips before swallowing the bite.

“...This is no good, I’m too used to sweet fruits, like Japanese apples. Not only is this not sweet enough, it’s far too tart. Unforgivable.”

“Well, I figured they wouldn’t be able to beat fruits from Japan.” There was something odd about Japanese fruits, as if they were the result of a search for the ultimate sugar content and flavor. They were basically expected to be modified to improve upon the original by making them sweeter without being excessively heavy in taste.

Marie looked like she would break out in a jig just a moment ago, but she sat down on a chair with a calm expression.

“Ah, that just reminded me. I’m not supposed to expect much from food in this world. It’s disappointing to know that no matter how rich you are, you can’t even have delicious food here.”

“I don’t know. Arilai is relatively rich in spices, so I’m sure they’ll have good food. But judging by how Zera is, I feel like he’s just gonna offer us some meat for food.” As we were talking, a shadow loomed over the black cat that had been curled up on a cushion. It was laying there blissfully with drool coming out of its mouth, but then it got suddenly scooped up by the newcomer.

“Well, I can’t deny that.” The cat was caught off guard, and it flailed around in the air as a large man held it in his arms. He seemed to find this amusing and flashed a smile. It was someone we had seen in the labyrinth many times and the very man who had invited us to the mansion.

“Oh, hello, Zera.”

“Hey. Sorry for the wait. My talk with my old man went on longer than expected.” Zera was wearing a black suit with the collar done up, and there was a different, dignified air about him from when we saw him in the labyrinth. Despite that, his curious expression as he stared at the cat gave him away as the same old Zera.

“Hmm? What kind of animal are ya? You remind me of the Neko tribe.” He stared intently at Wridra’s face but quickly got a swipe of its nails across his face. The Arkdragon was kind at heart, but she was still unaccustomed to humans. It used this opportunity to escape into Marie’s awaiting arms.

“Ow... Oh, I almost forgot. You can stay as long as you want until we depart again, but I gotta ask you not to get near that big building tonight. Things might get a little dicey there.”

“Dicey? Is something happening tonight?” The big building he was referring to was the residential building they must have been living in. I could see the two-story building from here, located between the pond and the woods, but I wondered what he meant by his statement.

I asked him out of curiosity, but his face suddenly slackened in a grin.

“Ahem, this is more of an internal matter. Doula will be visiting soon to say hello to my parents. It’s been hard to find time to return from the labyrinth lately, you know? She insists it’s better to do this sooner rather than later.” Marie and I immediately realized what was going on.

The two had seemed to be moments from getting married, and they had been getting closer by the day. So, they had to be on their way to tying the knot.

“Congratulations! Wait, why do you say it’s going to get dicey?”

“Well, it’s just a hunch I have. My family has a long history that can be a bit of a pain in the ass.” It seemed he had no intention of elaborating, so we just tilted our heads and let it go. I remembered hearing that the Thousand household expected women marrying into the family to be strong, but they weren’t going to test her power, were they? Marie and I exchanged looks that said, “No way, they wouldn’t...” but Zera said nothing to deny it. He muttered, “Something like that...” and just then, we heard a carriage arriving at the premises.

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Doula felt as if she was stepping into battle.

Her dress felt heavy, like a suit of armor, and the long sleeves she was unaccustomed to felt awkwardly tight around her arms. The corset was uncomfortably tight around her well-trained body, and the clothing that accentuated her breasts felt disgraceful as a woman whose place was on the battlefield. Luckily, it wasn’t excessively revealing, since it was designed to cover up the scars on her skin.

The black carriage, her clothes—everything felt so stifling. Not to mention the sky of the rainy season seen through the window was dark and nearing sundown, and she couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

Another thing annoying her was the curious stare she felt from the companion riding with her.

“...What’s that look for?” The words, full of displeasure, seemed to leak out of their own accord. The waiting maid stared at her without faltering. In fact, she leaned in closer as she looked on with interest blazing in her eyes.

“I simply could not believe it! Lady Doula, who was expected to be a virgin to her grave, is going to visit a man! Who would have guessed?!”

“I never said that. I got invited to a dinner, that’s all. Why don’t you go home already?” Doula shot her a look of annoyance, but the waiting maid was unconcerned. Her face was freckled like Doula’s, and she seemed a bit younger than her. She would have read the room and kept quiet if someone else was there, but since they were alone, she didn’t hold back from sticking her neck into things. The waiting maid waved her feet back and forth joyously as she continued staring at Doula.

“But tomorrow is the big day, isn’t it? There will be many people at the celebration. I will make arrangements to ensure your outfit matches Lord Zera’s.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave that to you...” Doula replied listlessly as she sat with her head resting on her hand, then let out a sigh toward the window.

She didn’t come from a wealthy household. Though her house had a long history, it wasn’t blessed with a skilled male, and it continued on by burning through its meager savings. This was why Doula, the oldest female of the house, had continually strived to be stronger even than any man.

It was uncommon for women to learn how to fight in this country. Yet, with unrelenting determination and effort, Doula’s skill achieved exceptional grades in mock war exercises, and she had been recognized for the various new battle tactics she had come up with.

There were many who had been stricken by the sight of her courageous and calm demeanor as she took lead and masterfully controlled holy barriers. But her unwavering desire to be stronger than any man took precedence over any attempts at romance, so there had never been a hint of such things in the past...

Suddenly, Doula realized the waiting maid was grinning at her mistress again.

“Hm? What is it?”

“Oh, nothing at all.” Earlier, the maid had been given an order to prepare an outfit matching Zera’s. They were attending a celebration party hosted by the royal family, which meant they were to attend together, where they would be announcing that they would be getting married soon. Doula wasn’t exactly an expert of social practices, but even she should have had some idea of what was to be expected. Not only did she not deny it, but she gave a positive response... The waiting maid figured that meant this was the real deal.

And yet, things weren’t so simple.

If Doula was to marry into that house, she would need to prove her strength to the master there. The rumors that the Thousand household sought ‘strong blood’ rather than social standing, appearance, or education were quite plausible. This meant it would be hard for the waiting maid to assist Doula with her knowledge. Marrying into a household with such a bloody history was not a simple matter.

The obstacles ahead were far from small.

There may have been conflicts ahead.

But the waiting maid knew in her heart that this was the path for her mistress to find happiness. Deep inside, she wished they weren’t dealing with such a difficult household and that they could simply focus on having fun instead.

＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋　＋

Hoot, hoot.

Just when I was starting to get used to this luxurious comfort, Marie heard an unfamiliar bird cry and looked up to the night sky. The room was detached from the main building, as it was surrounded by the pond and illuminated with a lantern, but it was too dark to see in the moonless night. This resting area, protected by its roof and pillars, had a sense of spaciousness that couldn’t have been found in Japan. That was why I stayed there with the elf and black cat until it got dark instead of going back to the main building, but then we made an unexpected discovery.

“An owl?”

“That came from pretty close by. I wonder if there are owls in deserts, too?” As she said so, Marie’s long ears perked up, trying to pick up a faint noise.

She then stood up from the thickly cushioned long chair and closed the book she had taken from the ancient labyrinth. She loved to read in both Japan and the dream world, and I thought that was the best way to spend time in the rainy season.

I followed her and stood with her at the edge of the pond, and then I heard the same sound from up in the night sky.

“Yeah, it sounds like an owl, though I can’t be a hundred percent sure, since they’re pretty rare in Japan.”

“I haven’t seen many of them since leaving the elven forest either. I wonder if it wouldn’t mind coming over here to pay us a visit.” To owls, night was an important time in which they hunted for food. I doubted it would come over just to hang out with us. I considered such thoughts as I picked up the fruit on the table, then handed it to the confused-looking Marie.

“Owls in the desert are pretty uncommon, and I’ve heard they like to eat fruits. I don’t know too much about the birds in this world, but maybe it’ll come over to eat this.”

“Oh, I would love that. Umm... Here’s some delicious fruit for you... Though, it isn’t not as good as the ones in Japan.” The elf held it up in both hands, lifting it toward the sky.

She looked adorable, and the sight made me want to protectively watch over her forever.

Marie’s appearance was changing by the day. I’d noticed that her body was taking on a feminine softness to it, and her facial features, attitude, and even her voice were different from a few months ago. I had heard that elves lived for a long time, but their growth was accelerated once they left the forest. It was as if the forest was their cradle, and they learn and mature into adults as they learn about the wide world.

Such thoughts were on my mind as I noted her long indoor wear and fairy-like side profile. I considered how I would continue to appreciate her beauty as she grew by the day.

Flap, flap, flap...

I heard a noise from above and looked up to the sky.

It was too dark to see for the most part, but the faint view of a bird flapping its wings entered my vision. We watched wordlessly as it eventually turned to change its trajectory, and then...

Flap! The owl folded its wings as it landed on the elf girl’s arm, looking at us with what seemed to be a surprised expression. It stared at us with its big, round eyes. Its wings were the color of a sparrow’s, and it was small enough to hold in one hand. It tilted its head at her as if to ask, “Aren’t you gonna give me the fruit?”

“Ah, whoa...” Marie’s amethyst eyes widened as she felt the little creature’s weight on her arm. She looked at me, silently asking me what to do, and I gestured for her to give the bird its treat. The desert owl accepted the offering of fruit with its beak, then flapped away into the night again.

It left behind Marie, standing with a blank expression, and the black cat, curled up on a cushion. Wridra peeked open one eye, but closed it soon after and began nodding off to sleep. Marie finally opened her mouth to speak.

“We just saw an owl.”

“We sure did. I’m surprised it was so small.” Marie nodded happily, then stared at her now-empty hand.

“It’s been so long since I left the elven forest. Remember how I was known as a misanthropist? Everyone there assumed that I wouldn’t get along with anyone outside, and I’d come back home right away.”

“I’m not sure if I buy that you’re a misanthropist. It doesn’t seem that way to me.” I took her hand as she cocked her head at me, and then I used a handkerchief to wipe the red fruit juices from her hand. Her soft hand was now clean, although a faint, sweet scent lingered. “There are all sorts of people out there. Maybe you just have a good eye for people.”

“Hehe, I hope that’s true. I was serious when I said I wanted to live in the Koto Ward. I want to stay there and become friends with all the neighbors.” Yeah, if she really hated people, she wouldn’t have been able to say that with such a beautiful smile. At the very least, Marie had developed a good relationship with everyone she had met in Japan so far. The fact that she had learned how to speak and read Japanese proved that she hoped to become a part of the community.

“All I can say is, have as much fun as you can. You have the ability to draw others to you, so I think the results will follow naturally. Just like with that owl earlier.”

“Haha, you always do this. I’m going to end up spoiled if you keep complimenting me like this. Do you ever think about anything besides how to keep me entertained?” Actually, I did enjoy watching her pouty and exhausted in the desert, but I decided to keep that to myself.

We were enjoying our time in peace for some time longer when we noticed a commotion and turned around to find someone’s shadow walking across the other side of the woods. All we could tell from where we were was that a woman in a dress was leading the way, and a man walked behind her.

“Could that be Zera?”

“Then maybe the woman is Doula. She should have been at the dinner to introduce herself, if I’m not mistaken.” We both tilted our heads as we watched, and then Zera grabbed onto the woman’s hand. After a short exchange, the woman in the dress changed her direction, seeming to have reconsidered, then came stomping our way.

“Wait, is she coming toward us?”

“I can’t tell from here, it looks like she’s upset from the way she’s walking.” She eventually made her way to the pond and lightly hopped across the crossing stones, and the woman with the fiery-red hair approached us. The dress seemed heavy, but she moved with ease in it. As I stood there appreciating this fact, the duo’s voices finally came into earshot.

“Hey, calm down, Doula.”

“I am calm. I’m perfectly calm. Good evening, you two. Sorry to disturb you. I actually have a request.” Doula was illuminated by the light of the arbor, her cheeks flush and her eyes sharp. There was an intensity about her, as if she was about to go charging into a labyrinth. I was a bit taken aback by her aggressive demeanor, but I wanted to know what the nature of this request was.

Now the center of attention, she rolled up the sleeves of her dress to reveal her bare skin and well-shaped muscles.

“Let’s all cooperate together to defeat the second floor master. I’m going to prove my abilities to the master of this household.” We looked at her, our eyes round and full of confusion. How did a pre-marital greeting end up leading to this conclusion? I glanced at Zera, but he only gave me a nonverbal apology, and I could only tilt my head questioningly again.

But seeing the angry, razor-sharp look in Doula’s eyes as she breathed out of her nose with agitation made it hard for me to ask her anything. There was no time for consideration. The woman’s face, beautifully done up with makeup, moved in closer, and her sharp, commanding voice called out,

“Team Amethyst, my Team Andalusite, and Zera’s Team Bloodstone. I am requesting for these three teams to form a cooperative raid team.” She slammed the table, causing Zera and me to respond with a “Yes!” and “R-Right,” respectively.

I finally understood. It was a fact that this household sought only the strong, and the head of the house must have provoked Doula by telling her to prove her abilities in the ancient labyrinth in order to marry Zera.

But judging by the usually calm woman’s seething rage, I could only imagine how brutal the dinner must have been. It was a good thing we were hanging out all the way out here, as Zera had advised, but it seemed we were going to end up being dragged into their affairs anyway. Though, I had to admit, I was feeling a little excited about the prospect of forming a raid team alliance for the first time in my life.

Now, it was bedtime for good boys and girls. Rather, it was about time we headed back to my world to get back to work.

I slid into the high-quality bed, enjoying the feel of the silky sheets. As I basked in the comfort, I found that the thin down quilt was astonishingly light. It seemed great at regulating heat while being nice and airy, too.

I flipped over the quilt, and Marie’s face popped out from underneath. She smiled, as if to say, “Isn’t it amazing?” and I nodded in response.

“Rich people’s houses are really nice.”

“I love the fancy bed. I wish I could take the whole thing back to your room. Oh, maybe it would take up too much room.” She giggled, then buried her head into the pillow.

The faint lights glowing around the ceiling were coming from light spirits. They blinked like fireflies, seeming to understand that we would be going to bed soon.

“Hehe, Doula sure was intense earlier, wasn’t she? I mean, I would be annoyed if I was told to go defeat the floor master, too.” Marie whispered as such, and we happened to let out a small sigh in unison.

It seemed the condition for marrying into the Thousand household was indeed just that. Supposedly, Doula and Zera were harshly criticized and told that their marriage couldn’t be approved when they ended up needing to be rescued back in the labyrinth.

“I never would have thought their marriage would get shot down because we helped them.”

“There’s not much that could be done about that. It wasn’t as if we had any other choice in that situation.” According to the master of the Thousand household, Doula’s family standing wasn’t an issue, but he couldn’t welcome anyone who carried such a shame in their history. Dishonor like that could only be washed away in blood, it seemed.

Seeing how the master of the house was taking such a stubborn attitude, Doula had apparently left her seat as soon as the dinner ended. After enduring such an unwelcoming attitude, she had no choice but to leave in anger.

“An alliance raid, huh? That does sound exciting, but we need to make sure our secret isn’t discovered.”

“Yes, we can’t let anyone know that we can travel to Japan. We may be spending time with others for days at a time, so we’ll have to be careful. I see you sleeping without a care in the world, Wridra, but this involves you, too.” She flipped the blanket over to reveal the black cat slumbering peacefully.

This was the familiar of the Arkdragon herself, who would be rejoining us in a few days. It would be a huge issue if everyone found out the grand dragon had been tagging along. Such powerful beings could affect everyone around them with their very existence.

One of the cat’s eyes opened and glanced toward us. It seemed to tell us, “There’s nothing to worry about,” which gave us a bit of relief.

“Well, I’m relieved if Wridra thinks it will be fine. Most things you say end up coming true. Sometimes I wonder if you’re some sort of prophet.” Marie let out a small yawn. Since we would be getting ready to sleep soon, she reached out toward the cat’s collar as usual. Flipping off the switch when leaving this world was part of our daily routine. But surprisingly, the cat resisted the attempt by hiding deeper into the blanket.

“Hm? What’s wrong? You want to stay like that tonight?”

“Oh, maybe it wants to keep watch for us while we sleep like in the labyrinth?”

“Meow.”

It seemed that was the case. Marie looked at me with confusion, and I decided to explain in place of Wridra. If I guessed wrong, Wridra would surely correct me anyway.

“This building is for guests, but someone will probably come wake us up later. I don’t know what will happen, but maybe Wridra will cover things up for us while we sleep?” I shot the cat a glance, and it nodded in agreement.

It was the same deal back in the labyrinth. Our location was transmitted to the other teams and headquarters through the Magic Tool, but Wridra had controlled the outgoing information for us while we slept.

“You really are brilliant, aren’t you? Come here, Wridra. I’ll give you some well-deserved pats.” The cat walked over with a reluctant expression, but as a cat lover, Marie’s pats were quite advanced. As Marie delivered on her promise, the cat purred uncontrollably as it squirmed around in delight. Wridra’s main body was probably giggling back at her dragon’s den, too.

I may have been slow to pick up on certain things, but even I got the picture as I watched them interact. Wridra’s whelps would settle down soon, and she would soon be reunited with the elf. We had made promises to visit an amusement park, and it made me smile to see them playing around as if they couldn’t wait for the fun to begin. That was probably part of why the dragon was so protective of Marie.

“Let me get some pats in, too. Whoa, your stomach is so warm.” The cat purred, letting me touch its defenseless stomach without resistance. Its fur was so soft that I wanted to bury my face in it, but... Wridra was technically someone’s wife, and I thought that might have been a bad idea.

“All things considered, you’re the overprotective type, aren’t you, Wridra?” Considering the characteristics of her body, it would normally be better for her to avoid people in general, but the cat insisted that wasn’t necessary. There was a glint of intelligence in its large eyes, and there was a deep sense of tolerance to it that was uncharacteristic of a kitten.

It opened its paws wide, and I tried to figure out what the gesture meant.

“Wait, do you mean I can stick my face in your fur? Um, then don’t mind if I do...” I buried my face in the cat’s chest, letting myself become enshrouded in its softness.

Whoa, that feels nice. The comforting warmth and smell of the sun in combination with the softness of a kitten felt almost addictive. The cat’s paws with tiny claws held on to me, and its cheerful purring threatened to lull me to sleep.

“I can’t wait to see you again in a few days, Wridra,” I found myself blurting quietly.

It meowed back in agreement.

Wridra probably felt the same way. She had acquired maternal instincts for us somewhere along the line, and she must have been looking forward to seeing us, which explained why she watched over us until the morning. Though, she really didn’t need to worry about us so much.

“Well, let’s go to sleep soon. We’ve been up pretty late.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The cat curled up nearby, and the bed creaked as Marie moved closer. She placed a hand next to my face and looked up at me, her silhouette outlined with a faint light.

But for some reason, she didn’t embrace me like she usually did.

The gentle sound of rain could be heard from outside as Marie and I stared at each other. I wondered why she wasn’t saying anything when her pretty lips finally spoke.

“You’re so small and cute in your dreams.” With that, she slowly moved toward me.

My heart thumped as I waited, and the girl’s body pressed against me, her soft arms holding me in an embrace. Her smooth hair fell upon my collarbone, and as I narrowed my eyes at the sensation, she placed her thigh on top of me.

Ah, she’s so attractive. So much so that even her breath felt steamy.

Her lustrous skin, the look in her eyes as she looked at me... I couldn’t help my heart from drumming with her body so close to mine.

Then, I felt her chest press against that pounding heart in my chest.

“Good night.”

“Good night, Marie. Though, we’ll just be waking up in Japan again.” Her giggle tickled my ear.

The light spirit eventually vanished, and my thoughts began to slow. Waking from a dream was a strange feeling. It was almost as if the outlines of my body gradually faded away. Maybe the process of melting was part of the ritual of departing into the world I came from. I still recognized the softness I held in my arms, but that, too, grew more and more vague.

We sank down, eventually waking in the sunlight.