Prologue (2/2)

“Yeah! I’eon Master ru the treasure of the labyrinth back to us”

Everyone in the city had high expectations for the «Imperial Exploration Squad», they were the elite arh the so-called i from it’s interiors to the outside world

I was so proud that nored the worried pleas of erous and wavedas forward as I could from the terrace

“Fathe---r, look over here~! Fathe------r!”

Apparently he had heard me, since he turned around and looked up to the terrace He lifted his strong ar at me and my mother

I was so glad he had seen us I turned around and told my mom “Dad noticed us!” with the happiest voice I ever had

However, her lips were tre further away from us

“M- Mo? Aren’t you happy?”

“…I beg you, «Goddes of the Moon Freiya», protect Alec and his father”

I clearly heard her say that Her face that had shown joy until a while ago, was now unusually overcome by uneasiness

“Moht? Dad will definitely return, right?”

“Yes He will be alright Your dad is stronger than anyone…that’s e should pray”

“Okay”

I silently joined my hands and closed my eyes, then I prayed to the «Goddes of the Moon Freiya» who I’d always pictured as eon, and for his safety

I felt a bit of unrest fro, but I still beilieved in the words of my father

The pro, a moment before he had to leave

“I promise I’ll come back” He had said

That’s why, he would surely come back

There hadn’t been a single time he had broken a promise

I knew that the «Sword Labyrinth» he was headed to was a place inhabited by er, sturdier than anyone No monster would be a worthy enemy for him I belived so

That’s why I hadn’t even iined it’d all come to this end

I never iined that this day would be the last day I would see my father---

---One year later, the «Imperial Exploration Squad» came back

Contrary to the expectations of everyone, it wasn’t a ‘Triumphal return’, but a crude ‘retreat’

The firmly build elite exploration army composed of dozens of renown nobles had been reduced to only three people The injuries they carried were such that it was a miracle they were even alive

Between the three survivors there was one youngat him was painful

I asked him if he had seen ritted his teeth and with a broken voice

“…Your father…Gil died…I couldn’t help him…I’m so sorry…”

Yes, like I said, I guess I’ll never forget what happened that day