The Prison of Erabon
"There is a labyrinth called the Prison of Erabon. It is located in the forest near Tyramore, and it is quite famous among adventurers."
Zaraxia calmly recited the information about the labyrinth near Tyramore.
"I've heard of it too! It seems to be the most famous labyrinth in these parts," Charbun, who was familiar with the rumors, chimed in.
They said that if you lost your way even once, you would wander for days.
The vines trapped intruders as if they were alive, and intermittent fog shrouded the surroundings, making it incredibly difficult to find a way out.
And at the heart of such a labyrinth, a certain gemstone was said to form.
"That would be the Blue Pulse. It's shaped like a heart, and they say you can feel a pulse when you hold it."
"...Is it just for show?"
"If you craft equipment with it, you can apparently make gear that self-regenerates even if it breaks."
Though it was still nothing more than a rumor, the blacksmith's soul was already yearning for it.
A comrade had shown such passion. How would Roan react?
"Let's go!"
Without a second thought, the expedition was underway.
"Ah, I shall remain here. Combat is not to my liking."
"What? You're backing out after just suggesting it? What kind of attitude is that?"
"It's fine, it's fine. Better than her tagging along and getting hurt for no reason."
Besides, she was the type of person who would accompany them when it truly mattered, even if she acted like this now, so there was no need to worry.
And in truth, she wasn't much of a fighter anyway!
At Roan's words, Jane let her rising temper simmer down.
Since he's putting it that way, she must really be terrible at fighting.
It was far better for her to wait behind than to drag them down.
"What about you, Rowell?"
"...I'm coming along."
It was absolutely not because he was looking forward to the eccentric blacksmith's creation.
...And he was absolutely not hoping that the gear would end up being made for him!
...
Leaving the sea behind, the party ventured into the forest and stood before the entrance of the labyrinth.
"It really feels like it's bound tight by vines."
"...It feels like it opened up slightly when we arrived. Is it just my imagination? It's almost as if it's inviting us in..."
"If it's opening up for us, all the better. Let's wrap this up quickly."
They were already at the edge of the world; getting stuck in a labyrinth would only delay any news reaching them.
Since they were currently searching for the seeds by scouring newspapers and chasing rumors, Roan intended to finish this Tyramore labyrinth run as quickly as possible.
"Ah, wa-wait a moment! I will go first! Since I am the scout!"
Following Charbun as he quickly took the lead, everyone stepped inside.
"...Fog."
The very first thing to greet them was a thick fog.
"There wasn't any outside... The environment has changed completely."
"The walls look suspicious too. The vines have clustered together to form sharp angles."
Rowell touched the vine-woven wall and immediately pulled his hand back.
"...Be careful not to touch them. They're poisonous."
It was a preliminary investigation made possible only because he was wearing his armor.
Neither Jane's magic nor Belgard's holy power had any notable effect on it.
Actually, there was an effect.
—Uwooo...
"...This is an ominous feeling. It might be bad to use magic recklessly."
It was because of this terrible premonition that they had half-sealed their powers.
Roan scanned the path ahead.
Through the fog-filled space, several gaping openings were visible.
"It seems like we're getting fork after fork, just like in the canyon."
"Th-then, I will...!"
"Do you sense anything?"
"That... I plan to find out starting now."
Rowell and Charbun awkwardly exchanged opinions.
But even if the two of them debated, the final decision always rested with Roan.
"So? What are you going to do, Del Roan?" Rowell asked him.
Though he was usually cynical and rebellious, when it came to the mission, he clearly relied on him.
And in moments like this, Roan's choice was always the same.
"Of course we trust Charbun."
Unconditional trust.
An attitude of believing in his comrades, even if they were pressed for time.
If anything, that attitude felt like a gentle push forward.
Since I believe in you this much, grow to match it.
"...Yes! I will do my best!"
And Charbun was more than willing to live up to those expectations.
Charbun began scouting.
Monster footprints, the flow of mana, the direction of the fog, and so on.
"...I think this way is best."
Taking everything into consideration, he pointed the party in a direction.
...
"Ugh...! I'm so sorry! I was wrong!"
"It's fine. It's a monster we can easily handle."
...
"Not here either..."
"But we found some herbs. I don't think it's too bad."
Of course, he was wrong far more often than not!
Charbun shrank back, disheartened by the consecutive failures.
Yet, no one scolded him.
Because they knew he was trying his best.
Because they knew he was the one feeling the weight of it the most.
Therefore, the best they could do was to trust him and pat him on the back.
"For a big guy, you sure are timid. Still, we're making progress one way or another, so hold your head up."
To see Rowell, who always acted like a lone wolf, offering comfort...
If they weren't in a labyrinth, Roan's tears would have burst forth instantly.
"That's right, Charbun. Everyone is patiently waiting, so keep up the—huh?"
Roan, wiping his blurring vision, let out a confused sound.
No matter how much he wiped, his vision remained hazy.
Even the voices of his comrades, with whom he had just been speaking, were completely gone.
"Huh? What's going on? Charbun? Jane? Belgard? Rowell?"
He called out their names, but no answer came.
There was only silence, with the quiet fog sweeping across the ground.
Ah, is this why it's called a prison? Solitary confinement.
A labyrinth that forcibly separated those who entered together.
Since Roan had experience with this type of labyrinth as well, he wasn't particularly surprised.
Furthermore, he wasn't all that worried about his comrades either.
Rowell is used to working alone anyway, and the others all have the strength to protect themselves.
If Zaraxia had come along, he would have been sweating bullets.
Her decision to stay behind instead of joining them turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Well, then I should find a way to break through this.
Roan surveyed his surroundings.
A wall of fog with no trace of human presence.
Poisonous vines and tangled, winding forks in the road.
Even his own footprints were scattered haphazardly.
It was clearly designed to make anyone lose their way.
If things go according to pattern, next up is...
—Grrrr...
As expected.
A labyrinth that deceived, trapped, and starved people to death.
Rather than unleashing powerful monsters, its focus was on instilling terror to make intruders flee in panic.
Once their energy is drained and their minds are broken, it will draw them toward the center.
And thus, they would walk straight into the maw of the labyrinth's boss on their own two feet.
Predictable.
In that case, what should he do?
"Ugh... Uaaah..."
Pretending to be flustered, pretending to be shocked, pretending to be paralyzed with fear.
He would put on a performance and wait for the monster's maw to swing wide open.
The plan was solid.
However, there was one problem: Roan's acting skills were utterly atrocious.
...Not yet?
And the fact that Roan was completely oblivious to his own terrible acting was another problem.
"Oh dear... My mind is slipping..."
Hoping that such a dreadful performance would actually work.
Did his wish somehow reach the heavens?
With a grinding creak, the vines blocking his path parted.
Then, light began to leak through the gaps in the fog.
As if tempting him: This is the exit. Come this way, and you shall live.
See? It works. I'm not bad at acting after all.
Roan completely failed to realize that this was simply the monster's own calculation.
Roan advanced toward the spreading pool of light.
Strangely, however, it felt as though it was getting darker.
A path of glowing vines that seemed endless no matter how far he walked.
The scent of damp earth and ancient wood drifted through the gaps.
"...Ah, looks like it's about time."
Muttering to himself, Roan drew the sword at his waist and swung.
—Crack!
The sound of dry wood splitting echoed, and the scenery before Roan's eyes inverted.
In his altered vision, what was burned into his retinas was tree bark shaped like a human face.
Its mouth was stretched wide open, enticing him to step inside its pitch-black trunk.
Just as Roan thought, it had been waiting for its prey to walk right in.
But the price of demanding an effortless meal was devastating.
Without even being able to let out a death rattle, the boss of the labyrinth met its end, sliced apart by his blade.
The Blue Pulse... She said it beats like a heart.
Not forgetting his objective, Roan stepped into the gaping mouth and retrieved the gemstone.
*Thump, thump.*
The blue gemstone was still pulsing in his hand.
It seemed to be the equivalent of the boss's heart.
The fog still isn't clearing, though.
The thick fog still blanketed the labyrinth.
It seemed the effect remained even after the boss's death.
Furthermore, none of his comrades had made it here yet.
...Actually, this is a good thing. It means they're holding their ground without breaking down.
They possessed mental fortitude strong enough to conquer it on their own once they figured out the trick.
That's my comrades for you.
Nodding in satisfaction, Roan thoroughly searched the labyrinth.
"Belgard. Wake up."
"Ugh...! To show me an illusion of Mr. Roan...! What a wicked labyrinth...!"
"It's really me. Look, I even found the Blue Pulse."
"Huh...?"
Erian Belgard.
"Rowell."
"Ha, of all things, the timid tattooed guy and the mage didn't appear. I suppose this place thinks I consider those two my comrades... Wrong. I've always been alone, then and now."
"...Was I like that too?"
"Yeah. But words won't work on him, so..."
—Thud!
"Gah...! Uh... Where am I..."
Cedric Rowell.
"Jane."
"Hmph, cheap tricks. I'll give you credit, though. It was a decent illusion. Adding Cedric Rowell was your fatal mistake, though."
"Are you picking a fight?"
"If you're the real Roan, you should be able to block this. Let's see you try."
—Whoosh!
—Clang!
"...What, you're real?"
Debi Jane.
"Charbun. Let's get ready to head out. We got what we came for."
"...Huh? Is it over?"
"Yeah. The others were wandering around, so I brought them along. You're the last one."
"Ah... So you solved it first... Understood."
Even Charbun, his shoulders slumped in disappointment at his inability to be of help, was gathered.
Having found all his comrades safe and sound, Roan headed back to their lodgings.
—Clang! Clang!
In the yard of the lodgings, someone was preparing materials.
She must have received some new inspiration in the meantime, as there were quite a few tools scattered around.
"Zaraxia."
Roan called her name.
About five times.
Only then did Zaraxia stop her hammering and look at him.
"...Oh? You're back? The thing I mentioned..."
"Of course I brought it. This is it, right? The pulsing blue gem."
Roan showed her the gem, which was still beating in his hand.
"Oh... Just like last time, you work incredibly fast."
Zaraxia quickly snatched the gem and examined it, as if measuring its shape.
"...I'm asking this now, but what are you planning to make with that gem?"
Jane asked the fundamental question.
"Equipment, of course. I'm going to forge a sword. A sword that regenerates itself even if it's chipped or broken."
"A sword...!"
Rowell's eyes gleamed.
A regenerating sword would undoubtedly pair perfectly with the overwhelming capabilities of his armor.
Jane, however, didn't seem particularly interested.
"Don't make that. Make a shield instead."
She flatly opposed the blacksmith's plan to craft a sword.