The First Return (5)
After hearing my explanation, everyone froze as though struck by lightning. “In a situation like that…” He didn’t sound at all certain he could keep from resenting me—the very person who had recommended the assignment. When he failed to finish the thought, I gave an understanding nod.
“Exactly. That’s why I can’t simply tell you to go. And to be honest, I don’t believe there’s any need to force the issue. Your growth won’t stop simply because you stay out of the Labyrinth, will it?”
The chicks nodded vigorously. That’s right, that’s right.
“Besides, if all of you leave, the temple won’t be able to function properly.”
“Ah! I hadn’t thought of that.”
The chicks looked quietly pleased to hear that the temple would struggle without them. After pouring their hearts into their work, who wouldn’t feel a thrill at being told their role was indispensable?
If I had stopped there, they would have dropped the idea of entering the Labyrinth. But conversations must always be heard to the end.
“Still, I believe overcoming fear is a magnificent accomplishment. Not just anyone can do it. Because you’ve summoned such courage, I’m certain Father will reward those who return from the Labyrinth with a fine gift.”
“Uwaaaah! My dilemma isn’t solved at all!”
The chicks clutched their heads in frustration, their worries still unresolved. Even if they asked around for advice, those inclined to go would volunteer for the subjugation force, while those who disliked the idea would ultimately withdraw.
I’ve made it clear that staying behind isn’t wrong, so they’ll choose wisely.
Whatever decision the chicks reached, my role remained the same: to pray for the safe return of those who left and to cheer them on with all my heart.
Because I had left the Evil God Altar matter in Priest Cardon’s capable hands, I spent the rest of the day with a lighter heart, making sure the temple was running smoothly. Only when night had grown deep did I move to check on Princess Canaby. The location had to remain hidden from others, so I proceeded with extreme caution.
Once inside the underground panic room, I first examined Princess Canaby’s condition.
She’s undisturbed.
Of course, calling her state “undisturbed” wasn’t entirely accurate. She existed in a place between life and death—how could anyone describe that as fine? By “undisturbed,” I simply meant no one had harmed her and she continued to lie quietly in bed.
“No signs of intrusion. No signs of movement.”
If anything serious happened to Princess Canaby while she remained defenseless for a full year—like the princess asleep in the woods—it would cause an uproar.
“Seeing her like this reminds me of her time in the hospital ward. We had so many long, meandering conversations.”
Though it hadn’t been long, the sight of her lying there like a living statue filled me with pity, and I found myself speaking to her. They said some patients in vegetative states remained mentally awake and could hear everything. I wondered if that was true for her.
“It has been roughly a month since you fell asleep, Your Highness. The first Labyrinth subjugation ended in failure. I expected it to fail from the start, but I never imagined a trap would be the cause. Princess Reciel has grown quite downcast, and I’m worried about her. Still, please don’t worry too much. From what I’ve seen, she is maturing beautifully.”
If Princess Canaby had one overriding concern, it would be her younger sister. Burdening a girl who still looked so young with such heavy responsibility could hardly be easy. So I offered what comfort I could by telling her that Reciel was doing well.
I took Princess Canaby’s wrist and sent a thread of divine power through her body to examine her internally.
How remarkable.
Normally, lying motionless in one position would cause bedsores and severe muscle atrophy, requiring intensive rehabilitation. I had used divine power to protect her body and minimize those effects.
Yet there’s been no change at all.
Princess Canaby’s body remained exactly as it had been the moment she swallowed the pill and fell asleep—perfectly suspended, untouched by time. Realizing my divine power was having no effect, I gently withdrew it.
“Your physical condition is normal. Or rather, it feels strange to call this normal, but in any case there are no serious problems.”
Believing this would set her mind at ease, I prepared to leave the room.
“Time has passed more quickly than I expected. I must return now. The next time I visit will be after the second subjugation ends. Please forgive me for not being able to come more often; security demands it.”
“Are you truly saying an Evil God Altar has emerged from the Labyrinth?”
“Yes. These are the items used as sacrifices on the altar.”
What might look like priceless jewels to ordinary eyes appeared only as ominous, repulsive objects to the priests. They spilled across the floor with a clatter.
“…The evidence is irrefutable.”
“Indeed.”
Several people present clearly wished to deny the report. The emergence of the Evil God’s power beyond the Labyrinth signaled the beginning of chaos throughout the world. To priests grown complacent in peace, it was a truth they desperately wanted to reject.
“Does anyone doubt the contents of the report?”
The appearance of an Evil God Altar was an incident the Holy Empire treated with extreme sensitivity. The information had therefore reached the Pope with utmost speed, and he had summoned every cardinal from across the realm. He was curious to hear their thoughts on an Evil God Altar found inside the Labyrinth.
“It appears highly likely to be true.”
Cardinal Blowon—white-haired, wrinkled, back bent with age—spoke first, leaning on his cane. “I doubt anyone here has worse eyesight than this old man, so I expect no objections.”
With those words he preemptively silenced any potential dissent, declaring that no one present could possibly see less clearly than the eldest among them.
“It is reassuring to see you all in good health.”
The Pope, who had been listening quietly, offered a faint smile. With Cardinal Blowon’s affirmation, securing the cooperation of the others would be far simpler. The old cardinal rarely voiced opinions, but once he did, his stubbornness was legendary.
“We must act with all possible haste. Every item emerging from the Labyrinth must be inspected rigorously, and every person entering it must be examined with the greatest care!”
Thump! Cardinal Blowon slammed his cane against the floor to emphasize his point.
Only then did the other cardinals, who had remained silent, begin to speak.
“The Labyrinth is a neutral zone visited by many nations. If we follow Cardinal Blowon’s suggestion, we will face protests from every direction. No matter how noble the cause, we cannot ignore diplomacy entirely.”
“Is this the time to worry about diplomacy? This is not a quarrel between countries—it is a matter that could destroy the world!”
Cardinal Blowon glared at his colleague as though ready to kill him, insisting once more that they must push forward without delay.
“I am not saying we should do nothing. I merely mean we should share the situation with other nations and allow time to obtain their understanding.”
Intimidated by the fierce gaze, the other man hurried to explain himself.
“While we waste time with such delays, what if the items from the Evil God Altar spread?! How do you intend to save those who suffer because of them?! And if information leaks to the heretics while we scatter it everywhere, what then!”
Once word got out, the heretics who worshipped the Evil God would swarm into the Labyrinth seeking the altars. To ordinary people the objects were utterly sinister, but to heretics they were powerful tools for increasing their strength.
“We cannot allow the followers of the Evil God to set foot inside the Labyrinth!”
That was indeed the most urgent priority.
“Cardinal Wey, I leave the diplomatic matters to you. Please proceed as quickly as possible. You have many connections across the various nations, do you not?”
“Yes. If we stress the urgency, I believe we can make the necessary contacts.”
Without needing lengthy instructions from the Pope, the cardinals naturally divided the tasks among themselves. Some took charge of diplomacy, others volunteered to track down any Evil God Altar items already circulating in the markets, and still others offered to monitor the movements of known heretics.
Only when everything had been arranged did the Pope finally open his mouth again, his voice heavy.
“Ever since the Labyrinth opened, the temple has remained in a state of constant emergency. The prophecy foretold that events within it would hasten the world’s destruction, so we maintained the alert despite the hardship. And now, at last, the true form of that prophecy has been revealed to us.”
The revelation that the world would perish if the Labyrinth opened had been received three hundred years earlier. After three centuries of sealing, the Labyrinth had reopened. The theologians had debated many times whether the ancient prophecy still held. Now the Pope gave his answer.
“I hereby officially recognize that the revival of the Labyrinth has also revived the revelation given to that person. It is clear that our destruction lies waiting inside the Labyrinth.”
The cardinals sighed at the Pope’s declaration. How many could hear that chaos was finally beginning and not let out a breath of resignation?
“We must locate the revelation bearers who will seal the Labyrinth.”
Revelation bearers—simply put, they were the figures known as “heroes” in fairy tales. To close the Labyrinth, they would need to gather a great number of exceptionally talented individuals and form a dedicated subjugation force.
“Just as our predecessors did three hundred years ago, we too shall seal the Labyrinth.”
Because historical records existed, they believed the task would not be overly difficult.
“Rather than sealing it, why not destroy the Labyrinth entirely?”
It seemed the Pope was not alone in this thought. Cardinal Wey spoke with a gleam of fierce ambition in his eyes.
“Have you not read the records? Our ancestors failed to destroy it and barely succeeded in sealing it away.”
“Those records are three hundred years old. The Holy Empire has grown far stronger since then. I see no reason we cannot destroy the Labyrinth.”
The suggestion to destroy rather than merely seal it caused the other cardinals’ ears to prick up with interest.