Leaving the Second Labyrinth City Daril, we headed straight north, without any detours.
This meant passing through the border between the warring Northern Alliance and Southern Alliance, a zone of intense conflict. However, with my magic, Dimension, it wasn’t a major problem.
I had experience passing through similar battlefields a year ago, and more importantly, this time I had two reassuring allies with me.
Rouge-chan of the Northern Alliance and Snow of the Southern Alliance.
By cross-referencing the information these two possessed, we were able to avoid dangerous areas in advance. Along the way, we encountered military encampments and checkpoints, but thanks to them, we were never detained.
It was a little worrying to travel through a battlefield in just one carriage, but it was a journey with not many obstacles. We soon crossed the border between the countries and succeeded in entering Viaisia.
Then, skipping the scattered towns and villages of Viais, we headed straight for the Royal Capital in the center of the country without looking aside. Knowing Aid was at Viais Castle, we had no need to stop in any other towns.
Thus, after several days, we arrived near the center of Viais. We were almost at the Royal Capital where Aid’s Viais Castle stood.
From the driver’s seat of the carriage I was running, I gazed at the road and the vast plains of Viais.
Unlike the ravaged battlefields we had been traveling through until yesterday, the road we were currently on was a beautiful paved path created between towns for trade.
The plains also seemed even more beautiful, perhaps because we had moved away from the battlefield. The dark colors of the vegetation stood out against the light, skin-toned road, providing a feast for the eyes.
From that scenery, I could tell we had come quite deep into Viais.
Rouge-chan, sitting next to me, seemed to feel it too, and let out a deep sigh, releasing her tension.
“—Phew. Okay, I think we’ve mostly cleared the dangerous war zones now…? Aikawa Kanami, you don’t need to use your scouting magic anymore.”
“Understood. …Thanks to you, Rouge-chan, we really got through the checkpoints so smoothly. I’m grateful.”
While thanking her for her help along the way, I scaled down the Dimension that had been spread out to avoid encountering any third parties.
Viais has many flat areas and the roads are easy to remember.
From here on, I’ll rely on the map in my hand and focus on recovering my MP. Now that we’ve come this far, we should be able to reach the Royal Capital just by following Rouge-chan’s directions as a local.
Taking turns driving the carriage and scouting until now, I can finally get some rest.
However, as we two felt relieved, a voice arose from inside the carriage, warning us not to let our guard down.
“Wait, wait, both of you! Have you really left the battlefield? You aren’t lying to a child, are you?”
Titty poked her face out of the carriage window, looking around with concern and meticulously confirming our surroundings.
Both I and Rouge-chan couldn’t help but look at her strangely.
“We’ve passed all the dangerous areas already. Didn’t we go through several checkpoints yesterday? That’s it. Titty.”
“Um, big sister, was there something bothering you?”
With these two-pronged responses, Titty calmed her gaze, which had been sweeping the surroundings, and took a breath.
“—I see. …So, this is what war is like ‘now.’……”
From her reaction, I realized there was a difference in our perceptions.
Come to think of it, when I retraced Titty’s memories in the labyrinth, the only war she truly witnessed was when she, as the Thief of Principles, had achieved an overwhelming victory. I hadn’t seen a war in its true sense from a thousand years ago.
Was The war Titty experienced in the ‘past’ so different from the war ‘now’?
“—We’ve passed through pleasant towns and villages ever since. Even in a country during wartime, it’s like night and day compared to a thousand years ago.”
Titty smiled slightly, looking relieved, yet also a little unconvinced.
“Is it that different?”
To be honest, the towns and villages we passed through all seemed anxious and filled with a murderous aura. Some villages were completely devastated by the war.
We felt like we had been passing through unsettling places continuously. Yet, Titty even called them ‘pleasant towns and villages.’
“Ah, it is different. Frankly, at this scale of conflict, I think one Thief of Principles could end it quickly. That’s how—warm it is.”
She stated it clearly.
Titty was probably the most accustomed to war on this continent. If she said so, it was likely true.
“This… ‘this much’…?”
Rouge-chan was stunned, her mouth agape, at that statement.
I could calmly understand Titty’s words, but she didn’t seem to.
“—Yes, this much. There’s too little hatred. Honestly, I almost doubted if we were really at war while passing through the battlefield. While wars do have kinds, you should understand that this situation is abnormal.”
“I don’t know because this is the only war I know… but if you say so, big sister, then perhaps…?”
Rouge-chan couldn’t strongly retort to the war veteran and muttered with a hint of dissatisfaction. In a sense, it was as if the wars they had been fighting were being called ‘child’s play.’ It was natural for her face to twist slightly with dissatisfaction.
“Let me see… Aid, he said he was active in the Allied Nations and the South at first…”
“Yeah, Ragune-chan said that in the Allied Nations.”
“Then, Aid’s influence is undoubtedly reaching the leadership of the Southern Alliance. They are waging a meticulously calculated war with mutual consent. …However, will the plan for ‘Demon Return’ actually succeed with a war of this scale? If they are selecting talented individuals, shouldn’t it be a much more fierce battle to the death…?”
Muttering to herself, Titty began to ponder. She seemed desperate to understand her younger brother’s thoughts. I tried to help her by broadening the conversation.
“Snow, what do you think?”
“Maybe they’ve made arrangements behind the scenes to avoid mutual destruction. Being the leader of the Southern Alliance… perhaps they’ve appeased some Elders in Fuziaze? Maybe Aid was also negotiating with Lady Rustiara.”
Without much thought, Snow listed the individuals in positions above her, the Deputy Commander.
She seemed to acknowledge that there was information unknown to those fighting on the front lines. Titty’s speculation gained a touch of reality.
“You think so too, even from your perspective, Snow…”
Perhaps Aid wanted to prolong the war to keep Titty’s role active. Why did the Southern Alliance agree to this? Was there some significant benefit? Following Titty’s example, I began to ponder the thoughts of those waging war.
“—Hmm? Is it a little noisy outside? What’s going on?”
Just then, Titty, who had been murmuring in the back of the carriage, suddenly looked up.
It seems he could discern the strange sounds from afar. He has good ears.
“Ah, we’re getting closer to the town. I believe it’s the last town we’ll be able to stop by. If you’d like to rest, shall we go through it?”
“No, I don’t need to rest… Let’s go in. The air feels a little different than before.”
“The air is different? …Understood. Rouge, please help if anything happens.”
With those keen ears, Titty sensed something was off about this last town.
While entrusting any potential issues to Rouge, who had wide connections within the Northern Alliance, she turned the horse towards the town.
After scouting the town with Dimension, it wasn’t particularly large.
It was a town situated alone in the plains, with just over a hundred houses. It was surrounded by stone outer walls.
Perhaps because it was closest to the Royal Capital, the town didn’t feel rustic. All the buildings were made of splendid brick, making “town” a more fitting description than “village.”
Like the Allied Nations, the town was crisscrossed with Magic Stone Lines, and even had cobblestone main streets.
Judging from the surrounding fields, it appeared they were engaged in livestock farming, but the land wasn’t extensive enough to sustain their lifestyle solely on that.
As a precaution against traps, they thoroughly permeated the area with Dimension.
At the edge of town, they found an unusually large building. An immense amount of food was stored there.
Perhaps it was being used as a trading post. The town itself could be some kind of warehouse. Or perhaps—
“—Huh? There are… a lot of people?”
While surveying the town, they noticed that the number of houses didn’t match the number of townspeople. This area was outside the war zone, and not heavily garrisoned with soldiers. They couldn’t understand why there was an excess of townsfolk.
As they pondered this mystery, the carriage arrived at the town.
Given the wartime situation, it was natural to be stopped by someone resembling a military police officer and told to halt. However, as soon as Rouge spoke, they were recognized and allowed to pass. They had heard she was Aid’s aide for a long time, but her extensive connections were surprising time and again.
Thanks to Rouge, we were able to enter the town with the carriage and proceeded while looking around.
Just as Titty had heard from afar, the town was unusually bustling.
Even Rouge didn’t seem to know the reason for this.
“Please wait a moment, Aikawa Kanami. I’ll go ask.”
Though they considered gathering information with magic, given the impending duel, they decided to leave it to her. They wanted to approach the duel with their MP gauge full if possible.
Rouge, having disembarked from the carriage, approached and spoke to a familiar face walking through the town. From their appearance, they seemed to be another Magic Stone Human.
The Magic Stone Human’s attire exuded an air of dignity, suggesting they held some important position.
“Hey, what’s going on?”
“Oh, Rouge…? Weren’t you supposed to be infiltrating the south about a month ago to meet that witch? Why are you here?”
The Magic Stone Human, dressed in a way that didn’t suit the town, looked surprised and tilted their head.
Rouge replied with a smile.
“I met someone better than the witch, so I was just on my way back to the Royal Capital. What about you? You’re supposed to be working at the castle in the Royal Capital, aren’t you? Why are you here?”
“Hmm. […] Well, it’s technically being treated as an evacuation drill.”
“An evacuation drill? At a time like this?”
“Yeah. A plan scheduled from before was implemented under the pretext of conducting a ‘Castle Activation Experiment.’ So, everyone from the Royal Capital is coming to borrow lodging in the surrounding towns.”
“Activating the ‘Castle’… But if it’s a pretext, then…”
At this point, their voices lowered. They intended to have a private conversation, but with Dimension, it was audible.
” […] I’m telling you because you have the right to know, Rouge, but the Royal Capital is currently in a crisis situation equivalent to the assumed pattern B. Those with considerable authority know this is a real evacuation.”
“It’s assumed pattern B that Professor Aid was thinking of, which means… the enemy’s main force is approaching the Royal Capital.”
Speaking thus, Rouge glanced towards us.
She seemed to realize that we were the danger comparable to that enemy main force. Understanding the reason for this peculiar evacuation, she decided to end the conversation.
“Thanks. Now I understand the meaning of this strange situation. I’ll evacuate immediately too.”
“No, I have to gather everyone. See you soon.”
Rouge quickly parted ways with her acquaintance, the Magic Stone Human, and returned to the carriage. As she climbed into the driver’s seat, they asked about the meaning of the word they hadn’t understood earlier.
“Hey, Rouge. I sort of understand that the castle people are evacuating, but what about the ‘Castle Activation Experiment’?”
“The ‘Castle’ refers to Viaisia Castle in the Royal Capital. However, that’s no ordinary castle. It’s a massive Magic Tool made with a vast number of magic arrays and plants… It seems Professor Aid is ‘activating’ that ‘Castle’ in preparation for your duel, Aikawa Kanami.”
Rouge explained with a very serious expression.
Then, they recalled Viaisia Castle, located behind the 66th Floor of the labyrinth. However, during the fight with Titty, it had never shown any signs that could be called “activation.”
Recalling carefully, when the area behind the 66th Floor was engulfed in flames due to Nosfy’s scheme a few days ago, only the castle remained unharmed. This meant that during the fall of Viaisia a thousand years ago, perhaps the flames had not reached the castle?
…Then, in the original history, what happened to “Viaisia Castle” in the end?
They glanced at Titty, who was listening nearby, but she shook her head, replying, “I don’t know.” Having left the battlefield midway, she likely hadn’t clearly witnessed the end of Viaisia.
“Be careful, Aikawa Kanami. If that ‘Castle’ activates, the Professor will become the ‘Tree Fork Piercing the Heavens’ from Fuziaze’s legends. Its power is as described in the legends.”
Rouge conveyed the danger, but they still couldn’t quite grasp it.
“You mean… a tree that’s large enough to crush that town? Was that Aid’s true form?”
To their question, their sister Titty immediately responded.
“Wait, he’s just a subspecies of Treant! He shouldn’t be able to grow that large—”
“To be precise, it becomes ‘Viaisia Castle merged with the Professor,’ I think. In any case, it becomes a state almost too incredible to describe in words. I’ve heard that the Professor fought against the enemy army in that state at the very end, a thousand years ago.”
Rouge answered Titty’s counter with all the knowledge she possessed. It seemed the reason for the consistently vague descriptions was that she had never witnessed the “activation” herself and had only heard about it from others.
However, Titty and they accepted this.
There was something that made the impossible story seem plausible.
“Hmm. It seems like it was magic that Aid devised alone after the children disappeared.”
This is the magic of Aid alone.
I can only imagine a little of what Aid thought as he continued to fight in that war a thousand years ago, after the Ruling King of the North disappeared.
Surely he must have sworn that he would protect the North, even if he were alone. Perhaps at the end of that oath, after thinking and thinking and thinking, he devised that magic to merge with the castle.
However, it feels a little sad, as if he clung to Viaisia Castle, which remained after losing his dependable companions.
“A castle… But from what I’ve heard, it seems like magic meant for an army, so it might not be a problem for us.”
“Eh, not a problem…? It grows so large it reaches the sky?”
“If it’s just big, it’s just a target. Titti here could probably break it with a single kick.”
Perhaps it might even be weak to my Distance Mute. If it has truly merged with the castle, there’s a chance I could extract Aid’s soul just by touching its edge.
Seeing my casual demeanor, Rouge seemed to realize I wasn’t lying. She recoiled slightly, distancing herself from me.
“As expected of legendary heroes… Speaking of which, ancient legends from a thousand years ago mentioned the ground splitting with a mere finger…”
Titty then responded.
“Indeed. If one is a child, such a feat is possible.”
She answered with a hint of pride about her past transgression of splitting the land.
Seeing Titty, Rouge turned her gaze anxiously towards the carriage behind her and pleaded.
“Um, elder sister… If possible, please ensure the town below the castle remains unharmed…”
“I am sorry. If we fight with all our might, it will undoubtedly not remain unharmed. Honestly, I feel like this town itself may not last much longer.”
“Eh, you don’t mean… the shockwaves will reach here from the Royal Capital…?”
“Yes.”
“Ngh…!!”
Rouge was speechless. She trembled, realizing that the power of the legends she had dismissed as exaggerated fairy tales was real.
Titty seemed to recognize that this was the emotion of fear. She showed a consideration she might not have had a short while ago and spoke gently to Rouge.
“Rouge, you don’t need to force yourself to come with the children. Waiting here in this town is also an option.”
“…No. I’m going. …I’m definitely going. There are things I need to talk to my teacher about.”
It was a powerful reply. It seemed that despite her fear, there was something more important she couldn’t abandon.
After witnessing Rouge’s resolve, Titty nodded and turned her gaze to me.
“Hmm.”
It seemed she was seeking my opinion as well.
From a safety perspective, the best course of action would be to forcibly leave Rouge in this town.
However, I immediately nodded in agreement.
“I agree with her. In fact, I want her to come. I believe there are things only Rouge can do.”
The magic “Dimension – Decisive Calculation (Prelude)”, which I activated yesterday in a moment of calm, had told me that Rouge would be necessary for the upcoming battle.
I had learned from my battle with Titty to use my greatest magic before a decisive battle, so I performed “Future Sight” thoroughly on the way.
I am not holding back or being careless now.
However, unlike the fight with Titty, I am not using the Incantation for the Price, so the future I can see is narrower than before.
Without the Incantation, even consuming all my current Magic Power, I can only faintly glimpse the futures of my companions here—and it makes it a little easier to discern the best choices that lead to victory.
It was a powerful magic in the battle against Titty, but in its intended use, it is vague. Most of its effects are along the lines of “I have a vague idea,” and it offers no sense of security.
Yet, even so, beyond the faintly glimpsed future—next to the possibility of victory, Rouge’s figure is undeniable.
Titty, who knows the effects of my magic firsthand, nodded in agreement, seemingly trusting me.
And with the discussion about the castle and Aid concluded, the carriage suddenly fell silent.
As the battle approached, everyone’s tension grew.
Naturally, the voices of the townspeople began to reach us inside the carriage, as we quietly proceeded through the town.
These were the voices of the people living in Viaisia now.
Slightly curious, I recalled the voices of those who had lived in Viaisia long ago, whom I met in the labyrinth, and listened to them using Dimension.
Most of them were about the current situation in Viaisia.
First, I heard the voices of middle-aged men, likely part of the military in the Royal Capital—their casual conversation while on guard duty.
“Hey. Is it really okay for us to be away from the Royal Capital at this time…? Even with the Ruling King protecting us, isn’t it dangerous?”
“Yeah. You haven’t seen the Ruling King’s power, have you? I’ll tell you this for sure: as long as the Ruling King is here, the Royal Capital is safe.”
One worried about the current situation, the other refuted.
Hearing the words “Ruling King,” I scowled. It’s probably not about Titty behind us, but about my sister.
“I participated in the naval battle half a year ago. That’s when I saw the Ruling King’s power with my own eyes. The Ruling King’s power that instantly froze the enemy’s massive fleet… She can fight a war alone. Even if we’re attacked from the south right now, the Ruling King can handle it.”
“I’ve heard that story before, but is it true…? If it’s not a lie, then the current Ruling King really could be a reincarnation of the ‘Thousand-Year Ruling King’ passed down in the North…”
As Rustyara and the others had told me, Hidaki, who became the Ruling King, seemed to possess overwhelming power.
However, I found it questionable that my sister had awakened and was wielding that power as the Ruling King. I recalled from the memories of Primordial Kanami a thousand years ago that Hidaki was supposed to awaken only after reaching the deepest part of the labyrinth.
Perhaps it’s different with the power of Aid, the Thief of the Laws of Wood.
I continued to listen to the men’s conversation, contemplating the state of the Ruling King I would likely encounter.
“Given that Lord Aid is by her side, there’s a possibility she’s the real deal. After all, Lord Aid is undoubtedly the Chancellor of the North from a thousand years ago…”
“The real Chancellor of the North from a thousand years ago…? What does that mean?”
“A year ago, there was talk about the Sword Saint of the South from a thousand years ago appearing at a Dance Battle Tournament in the frontier, right? Lord Aid is the same kind of existence. Even the enemy Southern Alliance acknowledges this.”
“Haha, the story about a Sword Saint being resurrected is just frontier gossip, isn’t it? It’s hard to tell how much of it is true.”
“…Well, I suppose it’s understandable to think that way. However, you’ll know it when you see Lord Aid. She is the true Chancellor from the legend of the Ruling King passed down in this North.”
“No, we’ve known how amazing our Chancellor is for the past year, even without meeting him. Thanks to him, we’ve finally gained an advantage against the Southern Alliance. It’s thanks to him that we can live and laugh like this. Honestly, regardless of whether he’s the ‘Thousand-Year Chancellor of the North’ or not, the Chancellor is genuine to us.”
“…That’s true. Either way, Aid-dono is our Chancellor. As long as Aid-dono and the Ruling King are in the castle, we’re safe.”
“Perhaps I’m just worrying too much. It’s something the Chancellor would do. That means there’s a guarantee of safety, right?”
And with that, the two men, having reached a satisfactory conclusion, laughed together.
The presence of the Ruling King, who possessed overwhelming power, and the Chancellor, who supported the country, seemed to create an absolute sense of security.
That’s why, even though their country’s capital was empty, the people smiled with ease and kept the town bright.
Next, the voices of people approaching from the right and left were also cheerful.
A nearly ripe beastkin woman and a girl, who appeared to be a Magic Stone Human, were talking intimately in front of a certain house. It seemed the Magic Stone Human was helping with a large amount of laundry using water magic.
“–Wow. Your magic is really convenient, you know.”
“I studied at the Royal Capital, so I’m confident in my magic.”
“As expected, students from the Royal Capital are amazing. I’m sorry. For making you use your precious magic for something like this…”
“No, you can use me even more. It’s only natural since you’re taking care of me during the ‘Castle’s Activation Experiment’.”
“Then, I might ask you to help with that over there next.”
“Leave it to me.”
Having watched the Magic Stone Human accept the next task with a smile, the voices of children walking on the street could be heard. As they walked, their beast ears moving joyfully, the essence of this town and country gradually became apparent.
“–Hey, is it true that that big castle will move? Can we see it too?”
“Hmm, I’m not interested. To be honest, I wish they’d spend more money on food than on experiments to move the castle.”
“Eh? You eat that much already and you still want more…?”
“Ever since I started being able to eat my fill recently, eating has become my goal in life… I want to eat more and more delicious things…”
“More delicious things, huh… Oh, the new fruit that arrived from the Royal Capital the other day was also delicious, wasn’t it? I heard it’ll be cultivated in this town next year?”
“Eh, really? Where? Which farm?”
“Then, shall we go see it now?”
The voices, which showed no sign of the abnormality of the Royal Capital, let alone war.
As they watched the children who had run off energetically, voices could be heard from inside the carriage. It was Titty and Snow.
“…When you’re near the Royal Capital, Aid’s influence is strong. He’s trusted by the people. The smooth progress of this absurd evacuation is likely due to his efforts.”
“While I was the Commander-in-Chief, I heard about Aid’s achievements from merchants many times. He was rumored to be governing justly in various places.”
Both of them seemed to be listening, just like me.
If I think about it, everyone except me is a beastkin with strong blood. Their sensory organs surpass those of humans, so perhaps they can’t help but overhear the town’s conversations.
Thus, while listening to the voices of the northern people, we passed through the final town.
It was a peaceful town.
There were no abnormalities, and we passed through the town without stopping the carriage once… and left.
Upon entering the street outside the town, I informed everyone of the remaining journey.
“…With this, all that’s left is the Royal Capital where Aid and the others are waiting.”
Looking at the map, the current town and the Royal Capital appeared to be so close they were neighbors. Titty, realizing that the journey’s end was near, began to talk about her impressions of Viais so far.
“It was a country with a lot of greenery and seemed prosperous… Unlike the Allied Nations, there were more Magic Stone Humans and beastkin here?”
Rouge, who lives in the current Viais, answered the former ruler’s assessment.
“Since the teacher gave preferential treatment to those with special origins, it naturally became that way.”
“I see…”
Titty nodded briefly and leaned out of the carriage window as if to take a last look, letting the scenery of Viais sink into her eyes.
Following her example, I also gazed at the surrounding scenery from the driver’s seat.
It was truly a beautiful day.
The sky was blue, the wind was cool, and the sun warmed our bodies moderately. It was such pleasant weather for travel that it was hard to believe there was a war going on nearby, and just riding on the street was refreshing.
If I looked closely, several rivers flowed through the open plains. Scattered trees, including White Cherry, lined the landscape, and it was clear that it was a blessed land, provided one didn’t consider that the national border was near.
It strongly resembled Titty’s homeland that I had seen in the labyrinth. Because we had shared memories through our Connection, I could understand a little of her feelings as she let the long green hair flutter in the wind. Her feelings as she gazed at the plains, as if searching for her former home—just a little—
“Titty, are you nostalgic?”
“Ah, I am a little nostalgic… However, while I am nostalgic, ‘this place’ is different. It’s completely unlike the barren plains of before. When the child was alive, there were no magnificent towns like the one we just passed. There were only a few small settlements that couldn’t even be called villages.”
On our way here, we saw several of what Titty called ‘good towns and villages’ from a distance. Naturally, compared to a thousand years ago, the area was simply larger, and the cultural level was higher. Of course, it was to be expected. It couldn’t be the same. This place was different from Titty’s Viais.
“Kanamin, ‘this place’ is the ideal Viais. You could say it’s a country that no longer needs any intervention. There is no hunger, no discrimination. The conflicts with the South are as good as nonexistent. Frankly, it’s too different from the Viais the child lived in. Of course, I’m not saying that’s bad, and I truly think it’s for the best. …However, even so, the child wouldn’t wish to return to ‘this’ Viais. Because there is no child’s home here.”
She shook her head firmly. She clearly stated that Aid’s wish – to start over ‘here’ – was wrong.
These were words from Titty that would have been unthinkable when she was in the labyrinth. She had probably grown. She would never again throw a tantrum and try to escape into a false world. Even if it was her younger brother’s plea—no, precisely because it was her real younger brother’s plea, she would not do it again.
Titty was heading for her true ‘homeland’. From her words, I understood that Titty was aiming for her own ‘homeland,’ completely unrelated to anything like ‘country,’ ‘king,’ or ‘chancellor.’
And so, the carriage proceeded through the plains.
I let Rouge handle the driver, and I performed some light stretches and confirmed the magic I would be using.
Since a Guardian awaited us on the 40th Floor of the labyrinth, we were currently no different from Explorers just before that floor.
As befitting Explorers, we had already finished strategizing for the battle.
We had shared the information I gained through clairvoyance on the way here, and we had decided on our responses to unforeseen circumstances.
As we were rocked by the carriage, I finished the final checks with my companions—and then, we arrived.
First, what I saw from a distance was a castle wall. A wooden wall, the same size as the Viaisia city recreated in the labyrinth, stretched horizontally along the horizon of the plains.
The brownish-black wall extending to the sides looked like a series of watchtowers. And since the roofs of those watchtowers were dyed green by natural leaves, anyone who didn’t know the situation might mistake it for a strange forest spreading across the plains.
It wasn’t a particularly high wall, but it completely enclosed the vast Royal Capital. However, I could see the aforementioned “castle” towering in the center of the capital. It looked no different from Viaisia Castle as I had seen it in the labyrinth. Its size, immoveable and sturdy—it was obvious at a glance that it would be impossible to destroy without extraordinary effort.
Carefully searching for differences from the thousand-year-old castle, we approached the Royal Capital and arrived at the entrance—before that giant wooden gate.
The gate was wide open, revealing the city within.
Above all else, it was remarkably quiet. There was no human voice whatsoever.
Inside, the scenery was more magnificent than the city on the 66th Floor of the labyrinth. Fitting for a Royal Capital, it was lined with many elaborate, tall houses. Their appearance reminded me of Fuziaze in the Allied Nations. If there was a difference, it was the gentle construction integrated with nature, and the scent of the trees, flowers, and earth planted in the city that seemed to reach even outside the castle walls.
On the gravelly main street, I could see the “Magic Stone Line,” characteristic of this era, laid out. The “Magic Stone Line” stretched straight, reaching to the Viaisia Castle that stood in the center.
Before this scene, Titty was the first to murmur with emotion.
“…We’ve finally arrived.”
Finally… The words were short. Titty had lived through a thousand years in “Viaisia of a Thousand Years Ago.” Her expression was bright, but the deep emotion behind it was not easily decipherable. A thousand years and a bit had passed since she last fled Viaisia Castle—she had finally returned.
“Haha. But it’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t it? What is this castle wall? It’s true that Aid’s magic could build it cheaply and on the spot… but wouldn’t it be easily destroyed by fire?”
Titty laughed, making a light joke. To avoid casting a shadow on the end of our journey, I also stopped the carriage with a cheerful expression.
“Wow, he made the castle wall with his wood magic, huh… I’ve never seen a wall made of wood before.”
We stopped the carriage in front of the gate and dismounted, maintaining our vigilance. Then, as if standing right before the 40th Floor where the Guardian awaited, I chanted my usual magic.
“Alright, I’ll do a scan before we go in. —Magic: Dimension.”
Having conserved my magic power throughout the day, my MP was full as planned. I used that magic to fill every corner of the Royal Capital.
As per the prior information, there were no people in the Royal Capital. The evacuation of the townspeople to each town had been completed. Among the rows of houses, inns, and the shopping district on the main street—I searched everywhere but found no one. It was a strange sensation, to be in what was undeniably a prosperous and vibrant castle town, yet to hear not a single human voice.
“There’s really no one here. Right now, inside the castle town… —!”
Mid-scan, Dimension detected a human figure, and I faltered. At a diner on the side of the main street leading to the castle—they were sitting boldly at the outdoor tables on the terrace. My cautious search from the corners of the town had delayed my discovery slightly.
A girl with short blond hair tied back. A girl with long black hair hanging loosely. The two were relaxing at the outdoor tables on the main street, like young ladies enjoying a leisurely afternoon tea party. The blond-haired girl wore a cute dress without a sword at her waist, displaying a feminine expression. The black-haired girl wore a pre-era tunic that didn’t seem to suit a Foreigner, her eyes half-closed with a listless expression. Both were dressed in a way I’d never seen—but I couldn’t mistake them. Absolutely not.
“—Dia!! Hidaki!!”
I shouted their names and immediately tensed my legs, ready to run.
“Wait, Uzunami!”
Before I could, Titty shouted and stopped me. She called me by my given name, not my nickname, and confirmed with an extremely serious voice.
“Perhaps… once you enter, there’s no turning back? This will likely be the last time we can talk leisurely.”
“…It’s okay. All the preparations were done on the way.”
I had no intention of forcing the issue. I had no hesitation, my mind was at ease, and my HP and MP were sufficient—I could face the Guardian battle in the best physical condition I’d ever been in.
“I have no intention of retreating, nor of losing. I’ve decided I will definitely get those two back. Isn’t that right, Titty?”
“It seems I was thoughtlessly delaying you. Then, very well. …Snow, you are to follow and protect Rouge. Basically, the fight will be handled by the child and Kanami. Now, let’s go in!”
Titty smirked, a combative grin on her face. Despite the confirmation, she clearly had no intention of hesitating either. She fell into step beside me, and we ran ahead together. We passed through the wide-open main gate of the Royal Capital, traversed the street, and arrived at the diner that had been observed by Dimension.
—And there, I was reunited.
“This way.”
Seeing us appear from the south of the Royal Capital, Dia stood up from her seat to welcome me. She faced me, beckoning with a cheerful expression. The wind billowed the hem of her light beige dress, revealing her slender arms and legs. Her appearance was so different from the Dia in my memory.
“Di, Dia…”
—I called her name without thinking, to confirm.
“Ah, it’s been a while, Kanami.”
She called me back by my name. That alone was so nostalgic it made my body tremble. At the same time, a chill ran down my spine. It was because there was no trace of surprise in Dia’s expression as she called my name. As I had expected, she was clearly acting strangely. Despite this being our reunion after an unwanted parting in the port town of Cork a year ago, she was far too calm.
“—…!!”
I immediately refocused my relaxed thoughts. I considered this not a reunion with companions in a town, but facing the Guardian’s “Ordeal” in a realm akin to a labyrinth. With that in mind, I slowly approached Dia.
