50 Cockatrice garden (1/2)

Black haired wise man Chiyuki

The labyrinth is located in the center of the Minon plain.

I don't know when this labyrinth was created.

At least this labyrinth seems to have existed since before humans settled in the plain of Minon.

Some say that it was built by dwarves. One of the freedom fighters, a dwarf, says so, but there are no dwarves living in this labyrinth.

It seems that the dwarves' stories don't tell us anything definite about it.

However, we don't know who created this labyrinth, but we do know who the owner of this labyrinth is.

It is the Minotaur, a cow-headed human body demon.

Originally, there was a kingdom of minotaurs in this land, and no other demons could live here.

And this labyrinth seems to have been the capital of the Minotaur.

However, for some reason, the minotaurs all entered this labyrinth and almost never came out.

Eventually the land, which had no inhabitants, belonged to humans.

It is said that with the richness of the Minon Plain in their possession, humans began to prosper.

However, I heard that minotaurs still sometimes crawl out of the area with other demons.

Then they attack the nearest city of Thessia, kidnap humans and take them away.

Naturally, Thessia's freedom fighters go into the labyrinth to retrieve them, but they've never been able to save them.

However, when they enter the labyrinth, they realize something.

The plain of Minon is a rich land from the beginning.

Especially in the labyrinth in the center, the magical power of the earth gathers and crystallizes, which is why it is possible to get various rare ores.

Therefore, people who wanted to get rich began to enter the labyrinth.

Of course, this labyrinth is naturally dangerous because there are many monsters in it. Even so, there is no end to the number of people who enter the maze.

This labyrinth brings misfortune and desire to mankind at the same time.

We are going to enter the labyrinth from now on.

This labyrinth seems to be spreading underground, we don't know how big it is.

But it seems to be a huge labyrinth.

Even the part that is already on the surface of the ground is bigger than Thessia.

''Nao-san, how do you feel about it?''

I ask Nao.

Nao is looking at the labyrinth with a mouse on her chest.

The reason he has the mouse with him is because he couldn't find a place to leave it.

He thinks he should let it go somewhere, but Nao is so fond of the mouse that she won't let it go.

Well, he'll get tired of it someday.

''It's impossible ....... The whole place is warded. I don't know what's going on.

'Yes ....... My magic isn't working either.

The entire surface of this labyrinth is magically warded, so Nao cannot sense the inside.

Also, it is difficult to see inside because it is covered by a magical fog.

I also tried to see inside with Clairvoyance's magic, but it was no use.

If that's the case, I have no choice but to rely on my guide.

I look to the side.

There is Sizfe and her companions there.

There are five of Sisyphe's companions. All of them are women. It can be said that they are quite rare among the all-male freedom fighters.

Kayna, a female warrior with dark hair and brown skin and a spear on her back.

She is lightly armed, just like Sizfe. Her bare limbs are very healthy.

She is probably not the type to fight head-on with arm strength, but rather she fights in a way that uses quick movements to toy with her opponent. His legs are sleek and slender, and he seems to be very quick.

It is said that the shortest one with a child's face, dressed as a sorcerer, is called Madia. As you can see from his appearance, he looks like a sorcerer, but I don't feel a very strong magic power.

However, in this human world, those who can use magic are rare. Even if your magic power is weak, it's better to have a sorcerer as a companion. Besides, the girl named Madia is pretty, so everyone will want to have her as a companion.

And a priest named Leiria, who serves the Temple of Raina, seems to be an apostle. She said she heard the voice of an angel, so it seems that perhaps it wasn't Raina, but one of the angels who serve Raina who made her an angelic messenger.

It seems that she can use healing magic now that she's become an angelic messenger. Also, since she has a mace and a shield, she seems to be able to fight directly.

But since she is a messenger, her Lord can know what she does. Our activities will be known to Raina.

The one with the tattoos on her face and limbs is an elf named Nora.

Elves sometimes come out of the forest to join humans. Their purpose is usually male.

They are especially fond of handsome men, and some of them even make them sleep and kidnap them into the forest.

However, the elves that join the human race don't seem to do that. But I hear that when they have children, they return to the forest.

However, when I saw her teaming up with a woman, it seems she wasn't looking for a man. I don't know what she left the forest for.

And the tattoos I can see on her face are magical patterns that are meant to block her from communicating with spirits. I don't know why she was sealed off from magic.

I don't know much about elves, but was she punished for it? Well, but there's no point in worrying about it.

These are Sizfe's friends. And they are the guides to this labyrinth.

But there are others who will accompany us.

I look behind me.

There are about a hundred freedom fighters waiting there. They are led by the brave man of the earth, Gordan.

I'm not going to be the only one who has the ability to do this.

Then it seems like Sizfe doesn't have to be the guide. More likely, though, Rage would want Sizfe to guide him.

Also, another fire hero, Novis, came along with him. He seemed to be an acquaintance of Sizfe's.

He's a man who looks like a red-haired, arms-white boy who just grew up. He is called a brave man even though he is still young. So he must have quite a bit of talent.

And from what I can tell, he seems to have a thing for Sisyphe. I wish him good luck.

These are the members of the labyrinth search.

Is it okay if I go in like this?

I ask Sisyphe.

He says that the surface part of the building is not a maze and everything has been explored. There is a staircase that goes down to the basement of a huge building in the center, and we have to get to it. However, since many of the buildings on the surface of the ground have been destroyed, it seems that we can't go straight down there.

It would be faster if we could go from the air, but there was no way we could take this many people with us. We can't just go ahead of them, so we decide to walk on the surface.

Also, I heard that there is no evidence of humans being captured in the surface part of the ground until now, so there is a high possibility that the people of the Pasipaea Kingdom have been taken underground again this time.

If they've already explored it, there's probably no danger, but I'll ask just in case.

''That's the wise man. The surface part of the labyrinth is where the cockatrices live. We must avoid this demon as much as possible.

Sisyphe's words surprise me.

The cockatrice is a demon with the body of a chicken and the tail of a snake. It spits petrifying venom and eats its stoned victims in their stone form. Because of this, its bill is hard and sharp.

Cockatrices are quite strong enemies to ordinary humans. Honestly, I think it would be tough for Sizfe and the others to deal with it. How would they get into the labyrinth?

'Where the cockatrice lives?　How did you ever get into the labyrinth?

I utter a question.

'Yes, there aren't too many cockatrices. Besides, they aren't particularly dangerous if we don't find them, so if we encounter them, we'll run away and bypass them.

I think that's what Sisyphe said.

Cockatrices are dangerous, but not violent.

They're not particularly dangerous if you don't get close to them, he says.

Sisyphe says that even if they are attacked, if you run away as fast as you can, they won't chase you.

Also, Sisyphe says that the search for the surface of the earth was also carried out in such a way that the cockatrice would not find it.

''Isn't there anyone else?''

Basically, it's just the cockatrice. But if too many people go in at once, there's a risk of stimulating the cockatrice.

It seems that the cockatrice makes it impossible for dangerous demons to live on the surface.

But we'll have to figure out what to do about the cockatrice.

I see. ...... What do you think, Raige?　In the meantime, I think we should search the surface area as well.

I ask Rage.

'Yeah, well, we'll just go in in normal order. We'll divide up the number of men and go in sequentially to search the surface area. That way, we won't have to stimulate the cockatrice. Then, we'll gather at the central building. We can go ahead of you, but I'll leave it to you. Will you go?

Rage looks at Gordan and the others and says.

'Yes, leave it to me!　Let's go, bastards!

The freedom fighters led by Gaudin say so and divide their numbers and rush in.

When Gordan and his teammates rush in, Sisyphe and his teammates and Novice rush in next.

I'm sure you are able to annihilate the cockatrice. Why didn't you take the initiative and go?

I ask in a whisper beside Rage.

'It's a pain in the ass. Besides, I have a feeling that there's something going on. So I let them go first.

Rage says with a laugh.

'Already ....... Are Gordhan and his friends the canaries? Well, okay, but ......

It's better than us being in harm's way. Besides, I have a feeling that there's something in it for me, too.

And we too are headed to the labyrinth.

”Wow--!

As soon as I entered, I heard the loud screams of the freedom fighters.

Sure enough, there seemed to be something.

◆Sizfe, the freedom fighter girl.

Sisyphe, are you okay!

We're fine, sister Kayna!　But still, why are there so many goblins!

I shout.

The cockatrice should be the only thing on the surface. But when we entered the surface of the labyrinth, we were attacked by a group of goblins.

Around us, other freedom fighters are fighting the goblins. Since the surface portion of the labyrinth is covered by a magical fog, the visibility is poor and we were taken by surprise.

Come to think of it, the reason for Rage-sama to enter this labyrinth should have been to rescue the people of the Pasipaea Kingdom who were kidnapped by the goblins.

If that was the case, this goblin might be a slave goblin that escaped from the farm.

I slash the goblin that attacked me.

''Maddy!　It's okay!

Yeah, Shizu, I think.

You have to fight while protecting Maddie. She can't engage in direct combat, so it's dangerous to get into a melee.

Sister Kayna is the first one to advance behind us and alert us to see if anyone is coming to attack us from behind.

Sister Kayna is the quickest in Thessia. Most people are no match for Sister Kayna if they fight in a large area.

Kayna swings her spear and kicks away the goblins.

And Maddy uses her flashing magic to blind the goblins. She saves us.

”Goblins are annihilated!

Leiria-san proceeds to smash the goblins with her mace.

'You're still flying, Leiria-san: ......

Leiria is a priest in the service of the goddess Raina, and she hates demons.

In the past, she was attacked by demons and hated them, and when she sincerely wished to annihilate them, the angel answered her request.

Since she can use healing magic, it would really be better for her to be the rear guard. But she's stepping forward.

The one who supports her is Nora. She skillfully uses her bow and stiletto to defeat the goblins.

It seems that these two have been working together since before they met us. They breathe together perfectly.

The two of them play an active role in wading through the goblins.

But there's someone else who's even more active than the two of them. That person is Novice.

Novis is strong because he is called the ”Fire Brave”. Using fire magic and the sword, he defeats goblins one after another.

It's amazing, Novi-kun. You seem to be getting stronger than before.

Maddie looks at Novice and mutters to herself.

It's definitely amazing. Isn't he stronger than before?

I think when I see how Novis fights.

Ever since he was a little boy, Novice was amazing.

He was not only talented with a sword, but he was also talented with magic.

He learned sword from my father and magic from Madia's father.

I learned from him, along with Novice. But I had no talent.

I didn't have any arm strength. No matter how much I trained, I couldn't build muscle and I couldn't wield a real sword.

If I hadn't inherited my father's magical sword after he died from a demon injury, I would never have thought of becoming a freedom fighter.

I became a freedom fighter for a living.

My mother, who had remarried, asked me to come live with her, but I refused.

My father-in-law seems like a good man, but my father is enough for me to have only one.

When I became a freedom fighter, I was invited to join my sister Kayna, who was a freedom fighter with my father.

At that time, Novis had already become a freedom fighter and was working with sister Kayna on a request.

Magic warriors were rare, so Novis quickly became famous.

Then Madia joined him, and Leiria-san and Nora-san, who happened to work with him, joined him.

By the time Mr. Leiria and Nora joined them, Novis was known as the Fire Brave.

Then he started receiving requests individually and gradually began to act apart from us.

Novis, whom I hadn't seen in a long time, had become even stronger. I was almost jealous of the difference in talent.

'What's the matter, Siszfe?　Have you fallen in love with him again?

Novis chuckles when he realizes I'm looking at him.

'Huh?　What are you talking about, you idiot!

When did I fall in love with this guy? People call him the brave man of fire, but to me, he's a bad boy.

I don't know how many times he was mean to me when I was little. Sometimes he's still pretty mean to me.

I mean, Novice will always be a child. I wish he would take a lesson from Master Raige.

Master Raige was a very kind and gentlemanly man.

This reminds me of last night.

I wanted to talk to Master Raige more.

But I couldn't talk with him because the wise men were giving me a hard look. Besides, the princess of the kingdom of Pasiphaea came to visit her, and I had to leave immediately.

So I could hardly talk to Rage-sama.

It was a luxury to begin with, there was no way I could get along with such a nice man.

He wouldn't be able to take me seriously, since there were such beautiful people around in the first place.

We're willing to move on.

We can handle a goblin or two. The problem is that a number of shattered stone statues of goblins have fallen during the course of our progress.

It's definitely the work of the cockatrice.

The Demon Beast Cockatrice is difficult for us to win. I hope we don't encounter them, but that won't be the case. There are a lot of stone statues. They are definitely nearby.

'Moke --------!

Suddenly there is a loud squeal.

Then I hear the screams of the freedom fighters who came with me.