247 245. The Second Labyrinth City.txt (2/2)

What do you mean by a race that's as good as suicide?

'......, okay,'

Snow seemed to know what he wanted to know and backed off, looking very convinced. A lot of things didn't make sense to me, but Snow seemed to be different.

And now, Titi sums up everything we're talking about.

Hmm. I'm beginning to understand a lot of things. Do is the 'gardener', Snow is the 'bride', and Kanamin and Kounel are ...... the 'craftsman' in the grand scheme of things.

Well, that's something.

Thus, somehow the job suitability for all of them was decided. Only, Titi is still wrinkling her brow in thought.

''Still wondering what's bothering you?''

I'm just wondering what the vocation was for the boy's brother, Aydo. I think there's something more to it than being a Prime Minister.

Id's vocation. That sounded very important.

Rather, this was probably the main issue for Titi.

Thinking that this was about the upcoming battle, he accelerated his thoughts with all his might as if it were a battle.

''You looked smart enough to have been the 'Prime Minister'. At least, better than you.

It's because he was able to study since he was a child. There was a custom in that village for a person who could study to become a pastor, so was that his calling?

From the memories I got when I connected with Titi, I remembered the image of Ayde as a child. Certainly, that quiet boy would be able to calmly solve a lot of people's problems.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about that. ...... Come to think of it, under a tree with a white flower blooming like that one, Id always read a book.

He pointed ahead in the direction the carriage was traveling.

There was the same one that Titi had remembered.

The trees, which had been next to the gabled house where his grandfather and grandmother had lived, lined up near the street.

'Oh. I can't believe we've already come to see them. These trees are native to the north. They are especially common in the Viaisia area. They are called 'White Cherry Blossom' (Pieris Aysia). Aide's is also a white flowering tree (doliad), and maybe that's why he's quite fond of it.

You write ”White Cherry Blossom” and read it as ”Pieris Isia”. It certainly looks a bit like the cherry blossoms in my world. I know how I felt a thousand years ago when I translated it that way.

And that ”White Cherry Blossom” (Pieris Aysia) reminds me of the Aide - that white hair and long, thin body.

A year ago, it was near here that I met the Aide.

At that time, that guy was in a party full of 'Jewelculus' -.

Oh, by the way, he was called 'sir' by his friends. By my friends.

'Sir' then ......?

Hearing this, Titty brought her hand to her mouth and pondered as she ruminated, ”Hmm, hmm.

'Hmm. The Aide said that it is fun to teach someone. It's not just the pastor of the village, but also the teacher of the big city, who wanted to teach a lot of people. ...... I see. It's not a bad idea. Not bad.

Titi was satisfied with the answer she had reached, and smiled.

'Yeah, I think that's about right. I really do.'

I feel like I've made a very important decision now.

I feel that talking about the id is necessary for the upcoming encounter with my sister and brother, so I'll prompt a more detailed discussion.

'Hey, Titi. Let's talk more about the id. Since I'm about to meet that guy, I want to know as much as I can about him.

'Well, you're right: ....... Now let me tell you a story about my childhood id--

And I kept hearing about Aide's personality all the way to 'Second Maze City Daryl'.

Of course, that's not all, there were also times when Titty would ask me about her sister, Yotaki. As a result, I was immediately laughed at for being a ciscon, and by the way, it was well known that Titty was also a brahmin. The conversation got so heated that Snow and Kounell-chan, who were listening to the conversation with me, were drawn back by our bragging about our younger siblings.

Apparently, Snow and Kounell had older brothers and sisters too, but they couldn't understand what we were going through.

We had no choice but to work with Titi to tell them how wonderful family is.

Time passes as we spend such quality time together.

The carriage continues to push through the streets, and we can see the black clouds spreading in the distance from the Goshadai. From what Kounell-chan said, that must be the dark cloud above the Second Maze City of Daryl.

''There really is a black cloud ....... So that means we're about to arrive .......

It bears no resemblance to a normal cloudy sky.

It's not gray, it's a cloud as black as night.

Of course, the world would be as different as night once they got under that one.

And with that first destination in front of them, Titty in the carriage stood cautiously behind Kounell-chan.

''Would you please let go of my hand? I won't run away...''

No. You don't seem like the type of person who would lie without a second thought. I won't let him slip through my fingers again.

As expected of a demon king. Normally, people would be caught off guard by his appearance and tone of voice, but he never lets his guard down.

And you should call the child Titi. I hope you will live long enough to pass on the word ”Titi” to your future generations.

''You really don't like this Demon King-sama's honorific title, do you? I understand. Let's tell the story that the girl named Titty was a bit silly and jolly, a bit silly and jolly, who looked good in a gardener. This Kounel is responsible for her.

M. Foolishness is superfluous. The fool is ......

'Ouch!　I was trying to take my mind off of it and keep it light!

They were playing nicely together, so I focused on my destination. At least as long as Titi is there, Kounel-chan won't be able to escape.

The tension rises a bit in front of the approaching 'Second Maze City Daryl'.

Probably, there are two people over there, Maria and Reaper. Once we pick up those two, all we have to do is head straight north to 'Vyasia'.

Watching the landscape around the roadway change into a wasteland, I recall my memories of fighting the Palinkulon a year ago. That day, too, the world was as black as the dark clouds I can see now.

I've come back to the land of that battle after a year.

This uneven and distorted ground proves it.

Various emotions came and went in my heart, but I never stopped and kept driving the carriage forward.

◆◆◆◆◆ ...

Daryl, the second labyrinth city, is a city without walls or a barrier.

Basically, it has a reluctant attitude and welcomes many visitors. The purpose of this may be to gather skilled explorers to the front lines, but I'm afraid that enemy spies will be able to enter the city as much as they want.

However, it was convenient for us travelers, and we were able to enter the city without any problems. Then we quickly decide to get out of the carriage and explore the city. Kounel-chan's caravan is for resupplying and resting, but mine is to meet up with my friends.

According to Rastiara and Snow, Maria and the Reapers should be here .......

In order to find my friends, I expand Dimension into the dark and obscure city to find them.

However, the endless darkness makes me feel a bit gloomy. Even though it's only past noon, it feels like night. If this continues for a long time, it's going to take a lot of determination to live in this town.

I've been thinking about this for a while now, but Titty says the exact opposite.

”Oh, it's the same as then. It's a little nostalgic.

Instead of a gloomy mood, he looked happy.

To which Kounell-chan, who knows the same thousand years ago, replied.

''It's totally the same quality. But this isn't a good thing, so if you're happy like that, people will be scared of you again, saying, 'I'm still a demon king', right?

Mm-hmm. I'll be careful. ...... The world is becoming more poisonous again, isn't it? That's not good.

Yes, sir. The poison that leaked out of the world has become a dark cloud, wandering in search of its owner. It's making it easier to raise the level of all living things in the world. To be honest, it's dangerous. Also, perhaps, the birth rate of the 'Beastmen' is also increasing.

Kounell-chan speaks nonchalantly, but all of that information was very important.

Relying on that knowledge, I asked for further explanation.

'Kounel-chan. Why do you know why that happens ......?

'I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman, but I don't understand the reasoning behind this. But I'm guessing that the key word is the collapse of the earth. The one that applies to this time is the 'great disaster' of a year ago. If we go into more detail than this, only the apostle, the saint, or the chairman himself would know about it.

But he shakes his head that it is rather myself who can explain that in detail.

I'm sure that's true, and I don't pursue it any further.

Then, Kounel-chan looks around while walking and frowns.

''However, the Second Maze City ....... Compared to when I came here about six months ago, it's terrible .......

I don't know what happened six months ago, but I agreed with that statement.

Let me summarize the state of the city that can be gleaned from 《Dimension》.

First of all, this city is in the middle of a war zone, the front line.

As a result, there is not a single person walking the streets who is not armed, and the air is filled with more stuffiness than any other city.

But that's not to say it's not vibrant. It's all the voices of people who are full of life, if a little wild. There are not many children or women in the war-torn country due to the evacuation that is unique to the war zone.

Most of those children and women are probably new explorers who have been lured into the new labyrinth of the west. I have seen here and there since a while ago that the ”Confederacy” is trying to recruit these searchers on good terms.

It seems that the searchers here also serve as garrison soldiers.

The fact that this is both a labyrinth city and a war zone makes it a special situation.

And the townscape where the searchers sleep is also unique.

Basically, there are more tents than buildings, and most of the shops are in the form of bazaars.

This is because there is too little flat land due to the ”Great Calamity” caused by the Palinkulon. This is because there is no foothold on which to build a proper house.

I could also sense from the Dimension that they are clearing the land and planting trees, but it will take a few more years to completely return to normal.

Lastly, the 'Big Hole' in the center of the Second Maze City.

If the rumors are correct, the 'Great Hole' should be the 'Western Labyrinth', but...

'Hmm?　I'm sure there were more people there when the address came before. What the hell is ....... Oh, I just received a report.

One of the soldiers came up behind Kounel-chan and gave him an earful.

Apparently, they were sending people in before we entered the city. I wait for her to speak, admiring her lean skills.

''Well, um, it seems that the labyrinth is on lockdown right now: ......''

And I can see that the scene I grasped in the 《Dimension》 is not a mistake.

''Rumor has it that a 'witch with a grim reaper' or something like that has melted the doorway with fire magic. It is said that the surrounding area is a lava field and it will take some time before people can get through. ...... I guess you should go see this in person. Hey, I don't even believe my guess.

While receiving the report, Kounell-chan kept tilting her head. She repeatedly asked the private soldier who brought the story to her, ”Really?　Really, really? He asked back.

'I think what he's saying is true. I saw it in my Dimension.

The scene of the ”Big Hole” seen through the 《Dimension》 was all red.

The surrounding area of the Big Hole had been transformed into a sea of red lava.

Probably, there was a stone staircase that allowed people to go down to the bottom of the large hole in the past, but although some remnants of that staircase remain, everything is ruined by the red lava.

The scene reminded me of the vicinity of the twenty-fourth layer of the Allied 'Labyrinth'.

'If that's what the Chairman says, then it must be so. ...... I see. So it's a bit less crowded. The new labyrinth is the centerpiece of the city, but if it's sealed off, it's just a frontline danger zone. Here

Perhaps convinced by my follow-up, Kounel-chan made the soldier who reported to her step back.

''Let's go take a look, just in case. I'm probably sure of it, but I want Snow to be the judge.

I'm walking in the front of the pack, and I walk through the town based on the information I got from the Dimension.

Along the way, we were exposed to curious eyes many times, but by intimidating them with my magic and Titi's, we were able to proceed without causing any problems. It's helpful that they are all skilled explorers, so they sense our competence and don't get involved.

We pass through a bazaar of tents and a square where the drafting takes place, and then we reach the center of the city.

There was a gaping hole about a kilometer in diameter in the ground. And the red lava flowed around its perimeter, making it impossible to approach. Although he had seen it once in the 《Dimension》, when he approached it directly, the heat was tremendous. I could feel the will of 'she' who would have done this, who would definitely not allow anyone to enter the Western Labyrinth.

Snow, who must have felt this as well, is the first to speak out.

'Ka, Kanami, maybe this: ......'

Yeah, you think so too?

”It sounds like there's a rumor about a 'witch with a grim reaper': ....... I can't think of anything else: ......

But from what I've seen in the Dimension, I don't think there are two people in town. Where do you think they went?

'I was told you were here when I last got my letter: ....... I guess they've moved on. The next letter will probably go to Cork, which is kind of bad.

After confirming Snow, I'm convinced of the identity of the 'witch with the Grim Reaper'.

In addition, I'm a little troubled by the fact that I don't know where she's going.

But it's only slightly annoying.

My magic, which is 'the one that steals the reason of dimension', is suited to this kind of search for people. Immediately I check my status and ask Titi next to me for help.

It's a good idea to be able to have a look at it.　I'm going to be using a lot of my magic from now on.

Mmm-hmm?　Maybe you're going to use your big move here?

Yeah, I'll use the Dimension Graduate ”Prequel (Recall)”. The one I used when I fought you in the labyrinth.

Oh, you mean the one at ......?　But is it okay?　When I used that one, it looked like a lot of things were scraped off: ......

'Of course, I won't do it with all my might as I did then. I don't even want to do the 'drop' of my soul. The only thing I want to do is to use my existing magical power to find out what remains of the person who caused this tragedy. There are a lot of things I want to confirm as well.

As long as you don't go over the limit, all right. Very well. Leave it to the boy to be careful while you're using your magic.

Thank you. I'll get right on it then. --I'm going to get right on it.

I don't chant.

Approaching the very edge of the lava, I pour all of my magic power into the magic formula.

It's the same way I used it in the Battle of Titi.

Memories from paintings. A personality from the magical stone. I'm going to read information from their souls and remember the images.

With that magic--

The moment this sea of lava was born.

The magic that would have caused it.

The person who must have released the magic.

--And the person who would have released the magic.

That is the magic of the Dimension Graduate ”Prequel (Recall)”.

The ”now” and the ”past” are connected to each other.

And like a dream, the world I see is being repainted.

I know how the world I see is being repainted, just like a dream.