Chapter 67: How Very Romantic
Chapter 67: How Very Romantic
Top floor of Odilon’s mansion.
I was engaged in devotional practice for the Exalted One.
“First, I would like to convey my intention to participate in the guild war to Sir Targon.”
I said this while chewing a piece of cheese. Odilon casually sipped his wine.
“So you’re going after all.”
“Didn’t you already grant permission gladly?”
“I said, ‘Go ahead and try it if you want.’ Didn’t I? Were you too stupid to distinguish sincerity from sarcasm?”
“You respected my opinion instead of rejecting it coldly, so it’s practically the same as gladly granting permission.”
“…Fine. Do as you like.”
Behind the young master, Rosalia also shook her head slightly.
Since their reactions matched, perhaps I had contributed to their harmony.
Arteine, I have accomplished another good deed.
“You’re my business partner, but on paper you’re technically under me. After all, I founded the expedition.”
Watching Rosalia nervously pour wine as usual, Odilon spoke again.
“So I’ll be the one to meet Targon.”
“You’re going all the way to District Three? I’m worried you might collapse on the way.”
“…Rosalia will accompany me.”
“But is it really necessary for you to go personally, Young Master?”
“It is.”
Odilon gave a reassuring glance to the escort secretary who had just spilled wine and placed Comforter in his mouth.
“The Ashen Wolf Guild might try to force unfavorable terms onto you. It’s better to be cautious.”
“That makes sense.”
I was merely an explorer.
They were the Ashen Wolf Guild—one of the Milky Way factions of Pletika.
Guild Master Targon, a warrior of honor, did not scheme.
But the real problem was his secretary Elvira, a Jewel Elf who pursued profit with absolute precision.
If I wasn’t careful, I might happily sign a contract that turned me into an unpaid slave.
Ideally, I would discuss the contract personally.
But for now, it was wiser to follow Odilon’s decision.
“Understood. I’ll entrust the guild war contract entirely to you, Young Master. Handling troublesome paperwork for your explorers is already one of your responsibilities.”
“That’s right.”
Odilon nodded casually and exhaled the smoke he had been holding.
“And you said you plan to use the benefits provided by the Harmony Church?”
“That’s correct.”
Following the Exalted One’s will to maintain eye contact, I continued.
“As you already know, cultists who accumulate a certain level of reputation may participate in Service under the guidance of the Harmony Church.”
“Honestly ridiculous. They call that a benefit? At this rate they’ll start dragging cultists into forced labor and call it a blessing.”
A severe distrust of human relationships truly made him unmatched in sarcasm.
“Please don’t say that. This opportunity is extremely rare.”
“Opportunity? You mean taking care of sick people in the past?”
Nursing patients in a labyrinth set in a historical period.
That was the second-stage cultist reputation benefit provided by the Harmony Church.
Odilon rested his chin on his hand and smirked.
“Do whatever you want. I won’t stop you.”
“Hmm. Couldn’t you at least try to stop me?”
“Why? Don’t tell me you also dislike pointless caregiving.”
“That’s not it. If someone tries to stop you before doing difficult work, it actually makes the task feel heavier. Then when you complete it successfully later, the sense of accomplishment doubles.”
“……”
The young master, who had been grinning, covered his face.
The red-haired assassin also closed her eyes and shook her head slightly.
Arteine, I have once again achieved harmony.
“…Cultist Kar. Talking to you accumulates fatigue rapidly.”
Which meant I had special significance.
In other words, a compliment.
“Thank you. I’ll go prepare.”
“Wait.”
Odilon stopped me.
He frowned slightly.
“You said one of the Ashen Wolf Guild’s vice guild masters—Rigobert—was the traitor selling information outside.”
“That’s correct.”
“…Strange, isn’t it?”
I shrugged lightly.
“A subordinate who has been Targon’s closest companion since the guild’s early days suddenly betrays him. And even manages to evade the perception of a Level-9 Berserker. It’s unnatural.”
“Then what would be ‘natural’?”
“Something Targon has probably realized by now, even if only vaguely.”
Odilon set down Comforter and narrowed his eyes.
“The Six Apostles you mentioned before. They interfered, didn’t they?”
“……”
I had nothing to add.
It was already a perfect answer.
“That’s correct.”
I looked at Odilon and Rosalia once each, then raised my gaze toward the ceiling.
Beyond the roof, the moon was probably shining brightly in the sky.
“One of the Six Apostles we will eventually face can deceive even a Level-9 Berserker with superior senses.”
The deception that completely fooled Targon.
The terrifying precision that fooled the entire guild.
Honestly, an unpleasant enemy to face.
“Which makes them worth fighting.”
I intended to clear Nightmare Dungeon and prevent the world’s destruction.
Before that, I would eliminate all Six Apostles who tried to sabotage the exploration for their own purposes.
“You don’t regret sharing the secret that the world might end someday, do you?”
Odilon answered immediately without hesitation.
“Our family has always lived with heavy and cold truths without letting them affect daily life. Information is simply a means of making money.”
The escort secretary also spoke without hesitation.
“Not at all.”
I expected that answer.
But hearing it directly eased my mind.
“Good. Let’s work hard.”
In this world where labyrinths existed—rain that nourished my barren heart—
No one would be allowed to threaten the survival of this world.
Because I would not allow it.
The next morning.
I stood in front of my house in Cultist Town with the companions who would join the service mission.
“You should warm up thoroughly.”
First participant.
Me, Cultist Kar.
“A labyrinth that can only be entered with a cultist receiving benefits from the Harmony Church? Interesting.”
Second participant.
Black Mage Bartimir.
— …This looks like a hard journey.
“Still, we should do our best!”
Third participant and weapon.
Swordsman Pendrick, and the Ego Sword Astrimia of Joy.
The siblings had entered the final stage of basic training, so I planned to leave them behind.
Rosalia would accompany the young master to District Three.
So these were the only expedition members participating in this exploration and service.
— Kar, is there a specific reason we have to do this service?
While her boyfriend stretched, Astrimia voiced her question.
— I had Pendrick look into it. Apparently even Harmony Church members avoid it because it’s just pure suffering.
“Well… that’s correct.”
— …What?
“I’ll tell you in advance. You’re about to participate in a service that has absolutely no meaning or reward.”
Pendrick blinked calmly.
Bartimir raised the corner of his mouth.
“Furthermore, it won’t just be exhausting. You’ll face situations where your lives are in danger. You will repeatedly encounter life-threatening circumstances.”
— Wait. You’re saying we might die just from doing service…?
“That’s correct. Nevertheless, we must go.”
I made eye contact with each member.
Finally, I looked at Astrimia, resting inside the artifact sheath Hall of Swords.
“Because if we succeed, history will change.”
And that wasn’t all.
“You will obtain rewards that will benefit your future explorations for a long time. We will also become honored guests of the Harmony Church and receive treatment completely different from before. That could even lead to tremendous assistance during the future expedition of Nightmare Dungeon.”
— …Now I’m even more worried. This really is just service?
Astrimia shook slightly.
— Are we going to eliminate some ancient evil organization that’s been secretly operating for centuries?
“It’s just service. It’s simply far more dangerous than you can imagine. If anyone doesn’t want to go, say so now.”
Even after the warning, none refused.
“My life might be in danger? That sounds great!”
The demon who understood the true thrill of exploration answered immediately.
“I’m a bit nervous, but I’ll go. Captain never asks us to do impossible things.”
The monstrously talented swordsman smiled brightly.
Astrimia, however, hesitated for a long time before sighing mentally.
— I have to go just to see what happens. Knowing Kar, it’s obviously going to be extremely dangerous…!
《The Wise One’s eyes shine. They are extremely curious about what actions you will take to satisfy their thirst for new knowledge!》
I could guarantee they would not be disappointed.
Although some situations might make them slightly anxious.
“You’re already here!”
After a short wait, Valentin approached us.
“Good morning, Sir Valentin. A morning protected by Arteine.”
“Another morning under the gaze of the one who protects all!”
After our enthusiastic handshake, the bright-toothed holy knight introduced the two members of the Harmony Church standing behind him.
“This is Priest Lucius of the Inquiring Lantern. He will monitor potential labyrinth changes.”
“Greetings, explorer.”
The slightly sleepy priest bowed politely.
In fact, we had already met.
He was the labyrinth management priest responsible for the Nest of the Sneaking Ghoul Pack.
《Now you can exploit his mild personality and get close to him!》
Next was the holy knight who had visited with Valentin before.
Her eyes were extremely clear.
“This is Ilia. The youngest member of the Spear of Order.”
“Nice to meet you. Cultist of the Twisted Truth, Kar.”
Her greeting was identical to last time.
Her back was stiffly straight.
Despite being alive, she felt strangely mechanical.
《Holy Knight Ilia (Human, 22). A former criminal who received ‘order’ in her mind and became a holy knight. Followers of the hypocritical goddess are disgusting!》
Still, it was better than being imprisoned.
Then again, reforming oneself voluntarily would be an even greater challenge.
Next, I introduced my own companions.
“This gentle-looking demon black mage wrapped in bandages is Sir Bartimir.”
“Nice to meet you.”
Bartimir waved his hand lazily.
“Wow. You really do look… gentle.”
Ilia’s response sounded like an AI-generated reply.
Astrimia trembled slightly inside the sheath Hall of Swords.
“And this is Pendrick, a genius swordsman from the Eastern Continent.”
“…I’m not that impressive, but it’s nice to meet you.”
After introductions ended, Valentin spoke.
“I will guide you to the labyrinth now. Please follow me.”
The bright-toothed holy knight led us to the Artea Monastery.
More precisely, near it.
“Sir Valentin,” Pendrick asked politely, “I heard the labyrinth we’re entering recreates a location closely related to the Harmony Church. Is that true?”
“That’s correct.”
Valentin smiled brightly.
“Wow, that’s fascinating. How does a labyrinth related to the Harmony Church appear right next to its monastery?”
“Sometimes this happens due to certain mana flow anomalies that are difficult to explain theoretically. It isn’t common.”
There had been a video explaining that phenomenon.
But it was so complicated I remembered none of it.
“Over there!”
The gauntleted hand pointed at the labyrinth entrance.
A pure white pillar attached to the monastery wall.
Despite its simplicity, it carried a sense of dignity.
《Entrance to the Sanctuary of Restful Purification.》
Even near the entrance, no explorers were present.
Not everyone could enter.
And even if they could, few would want to.
“Greetings. Cultist of the Twisted Truth, Kar.”
The labyrinth management priest who had greeted Valentin turned to me and began asking questions rapidly.
“Are you truly volunteering for this service?”
“That’s correct.”
“You received sufficient explanation?”
“I was thoroughly informed.”
“Have you changed your mind?”
“I absolutely will not.”
“…Understood.”
After the priest stepped back, Astrimia whispered so only I could hear.
— What kind of labyrinth makes them question people that obsessively?
“They’re simply overreacting.”
— …I know by now that’s absolutely not true!
At that moment, Priest Lucius caught my eye.
He glanced nervously at Valentin and silently mouthed a warning.
Please run away. This labyrinth is truly horrible.
We had only met once.
Yet he was trying so sincerely to help.
I nodded energetically and replied silently.
Thank you. I will definitely go inside.
A horribly difficult labyrinth.
To me, that sounded like the most romantic confession imaginable.