Book 3: Chapter 10
Book 3: Chapter 10
I failed. I am glad to have noticed it at the last minute, but I feel completely outsmarted.
I was too distracted by the stone statues, but the trap was right in front of us. The “blade” was like a “hint”, and also was a “device” to mislead at the same time.
I wasn’t thinking “I’m so glad that we dodged it” or “Thankfully everyone is okay,” rather, one slight mistake will lead to death. I finally realized that this is what a dungeon is.
**
「There is a mechanical reaction from the front. I will take the lead and attack with magic first!」
Make the first move before the enemy approaches. Before being overwhelmed by the feeling of “Fear”.
I took down 3 automatons so far with pre-emptive strikes as we moved forward. I used Flame Tornado every time, but it was a necessary expense. When I got a little break, I leaned against a wall and exhaled deeply. My remaining mana is severely low. However, comparing it to the risk to our lives, I can’t afford to be stingy.
「Reiji-kun.」
A cup appeared in front of me.
「Don’t make such a grim face.」Non-san said, offering me a cup.
It contained a beverage mixed with brown cane sugar, water, and a pinch of rock salt. It’s similar to a sports drink and was a favorite of adventurers.
As I gulped it down, the balance between sweetness and saltiness spread across my mouth, and my body’s tiredness felt as though melting away.
「Thank you. Do I really have such a serious look?」
「…………」
Non-san sat next to me, with a smile. We were now in a small circular room. The walls were carved with the ancient language used by the Lev people a long time ago. Muge-san was trying to see if it can be deciphered even a little. Dante-san and Mimino-san were chatting at a distance, and Zerry-san was taking a nap.
「Since that trap, we haven’t come across anything too dangerous.」
「…………」
「You have been very careful and killed all the automatons that appeared in our way, but… it’s not good for you to be too tense like this.」
「I’m sorry… I’ll be careful. But it will be dangerous if I am not focused enough in a situation like that again.」
「Wrong.」
Eh…wrong?
As I thought that, Non-san held my face in both her hands.
「We are a party. Your worries are my worries. God told unto a saint as so, “When you get lost, talk to your neighbor, even if he’s an inexperienced person.” So please share your worries with me—even if I can’t be of help due to lack of power, I still want you to talk to me.」
Ah…
(So warm…)
The warmth from Non-san’s palms were transmitted to me.
That’s right! I am a party member of Silver Balance. But I was trying to do everything by myself.
(—I was conceited.)
With the power of【World Ruler】, I thought I could do anything. Magic, combat—anything. That’s why I was frustrated that I couldn’t read through the trap at that time, and I ended up going through the labyrinth with more tension than necessary.
Thinking about it, I got angry when Muge-san was ridiculed in the city and when Leon addressed Dante-san in the beginningーeven if that emotion came from the root of my heart, I acted a little too angrily and emotional.
In other words, I got carried away.
「Ah, I… I’m sorry.」
I was embarrassed. I felt that I had become stronger with the power I gained from【World Ruler】, which is not my own power.
True strength isーnot the fighting strength which can’t be seen with the eyes.
——Goodbye, little brother——.
That day when the riot broke out at the Sixth Mine, I didn’t take my sister’s hand.
4 years have passed since then.
Have I become stronger?
Strong enough to take Lark’s hand on that day?
(No. Not even close.)
I don’t have a heart – like Dante-san, who stands unfaltering no matter the enemy; like Mimino-san, who can accept and treat everyone with kindness; like Non-san, who abandoned everything and devoted her life for family.
「Reiji-kun…?」
I grit my teeth tightly, as my vision became blurry.
I was frustrated with myself, realizing my own immaturity.
I peeled Non-san’s hands from my cheeks. …I’m so stupid. I should’ve talked to everyone sooner. If I have the time to feel sorry for myself, I should instead spit out all the information I have and talk to everyone.
「Thank you, Non-san. I have snapped out of it.」
「That’s not what I mean–」
Non-san looked confused, but…
「Seriously, you hear 1 thing and realize 10. Kind of makes me lonely. You do know I am a nun who guides lost lambs, right?」she said, putting on a slightly sad smile.
「No! I only realized it because you talked to me, Non-san. I am truly grateful.」
「No, no… the best I can do is only quote words of the scriptures.」
「I think that is still wonderful. Being able to pass on the words of the scriptures at the right time like this, means that you studied a lot.」
「No. I did not study a lot, and this much knowledge is rudimentary.」
「No! You don’t have to be too humble–」
「—Ahem.」
Dante-san cleared his throat, standing next to us.
「Reiji… It looks like you’re getting along quite good with my daughter, eh?」
「Eh…?」
I noticed that I was talking to Non-san at a distance where our knees were touching each other, and above all, I was still holding Non-san’s hand.
「You can only do that once you go through her father first… Me. Even if you are members of the same party.」
Eek!? There is a vein popping on Dante-san’s forehead!?
That’s right, this person does not make distinctions when it comes to his daughter!
「Dad, there’s no problem with party members getting along well, is there?」
「That won’t do, Non. If you want to get along with Reiji-kun, you have to defeat me first!」
This time, Mimino-san stood in the way, with her arms folded.
「B-Both of you, please calm down first…」
While I was thinking about what to say next,
「Kuhahahaha…」
「Puhahahaha…」
Dante-san and Mimino-san burst into laughter simultaneously.
「Wahahaha. I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Don’t panic. It’s just a light teasing.」Dante-san said, laughing.
「Ahaha, I’m sorry, both of you. It just seemed like you two were talking about something important leaving out me and Dante. That is so bad.」
「M-Mou, you two…」
Non-san heavily heaved a sigh.
…Oh, they were just teasing? Yeah, I knew that. Honestly. I did. Yup. Though I did sense some seriousness in Dante-san’s eyes. Yup.
「…I would like to hear all of your opinions.」
I decided to talk about everything that was bothering me.
Since we came here, we haven’t come across the Labyrinth Capture Division that was ahead of us. Far from that, we couldn’t even find any traces.
We didn’t even run into Leon’s party whom we met earlier.
The fact that Zerry-san said, “The air has changed.”
And that automaton that controlled our emotions with only the words “be consumed by fear”.
All these seem to be disjointed, and as Dante-san said, “Anything may happen since it’s a dungeon.”
I don’t think that is the case, however.
There is a reason for each and every phenomenon.
And so, I came up with a theory.
「We are adventurers. On the other hand, we are also a party. I think this dungeon is also like that.」
When I said that, Zerry-san, who seemed to have awoken from all the noise, looked at me with a look that said “that doesn’t make any sense”.