Helios Orb Chronicle – Chapter 299

The day after receiving the request from Hilde to investigate the Krater Labyrinth, we headed there with permission from His Majesty Emperor Reinhardt.

This time, the members are myself, Prim, Mana, Yuri, Meena, Flam, Lydia, Ludia, Athena, Aria, Mako, Marisa, Viola, Eos, Rika, Hilde, and Mirei, a total of 17 people.

“Lady Hilde and Lady Rika are quite fortunate to have gotten permission to participate.”

“I agree. I think Hilde was able to participate because it concerns domestic affairs and she has almost finished the handover to His Highness Brynhild. I thought I’d be staying behind due to my duties as provincial governor.”

As Rika said, Hilde has largely completed her handover to the next queen, His Highness Brynhild, before the subjugation of Solemne.
However, due to the matters of Solemne’s governance, Hilde’s participation should have been impossible. But since the investigation was being conducted by Wing Crest, which possesses ten Ancient Class adventurers, and it also served as a vacation before heading to Solemne, His Highness Brynhild granted permission.
Mirei accompanied them as Hilde’s butler.

Even so, Hilde and Mirei’s companionship is still understandable.
I also feel fortunate that Rika’s participation was permitted.

“For me, it’s similar to Hilde’s situation, it’s partly a vacation. Although I may be away from Feel for a long time, the reason is the war with Solemne, so Count Sofia and Viscount Archlight readily agreed.”

Rika is the head of the Marquis Amatista family and the provincial governor of Feel, so she cannot leave her territory, the Marquisate of Amatista and Feel, without permission.
However, since they had just recently married, and the war with Solemne had safely concluded, Count Sofia and Viscount Archlight, who are also provincial governors of Feel, readily allowed Rika to join.
Since they would only be inside the Krater Labyrinth for about three days, it was treated as a complete vacation, and Rika was happy to be able to participate.
Therefore, proper notification was also given to Ms. Elisabeth at Memoria, the capital of the Marquisate of Amatista.

“It’s a memorable occasion, with both of Yamato’s wives joining so soon.”

“That’s true. Besides, we’re only going for three days, so it shouldn’t significantly interfere with our duties.”

Indeed.
Since marrying Rika, I can no longer be uninvolved in the management of territories, so I can simply help out if anything comes up. This time, I’ll take advantage of the kindness of Count Sofia and Viscount Archlight.

“So, this is the entrance to the Krater Labyrinth?”

“Yes. As reported, it’s a snow cave.”

The entrance to the Krater Labyrinth was a mound-like snow cave, inside which stood a temple-like structure.

“We will eventually have to dispatch Sabers, but given the location, it will take time.”

“It’s the Golud Great Glacier. We weren’t attacked by monsters on the way, but the monsters here are formidable, so it would be difficult for ordinary hunters or Sabers.”

“We don’t have time this time, but I’d like to conquer it once things calm down.”

As Mana mentioned, the Golud Great Glacier has many S-rank monsters, but G-rank monsters are also not uncommon.
Hunters in Torencia sometimes refrain from hunting even S-rank monsters, so not many people would come to a labyrinth located here.
Fortunately, Certina, who has evolved into an Ancient Lamia, lives in Krater, so minor incidents can be handled. However, the location is too dangerous to leave unattended.
As Flam said, it should be thoroughly conquered when there is time.

“Before we enter, let’s confirm. We have three days for this investigation. We will break through the first and second layers within today, and spend half a day to a full day on the third layer and beyond.”

“Yes. Our goal is to reach the fifth layer, but that’s as much as possible. This time, the investigation takes priority.”

“Understood.”

The first layer is said to be a snow and ice region, and the second layer a volcanic region, but the Saber’s Guild hasn’t investigated in detail.
The monsters appearing are said to be C to S-rank monsters inhabiting Torencia in the first layer, and B to G-rank monsters inhabiting the Seryado Volcano in the second layer. The reason the Saber’s Guild gave up their investigation was the giant lizard seen in the second layer, so the possibility of troublesome monsters in the first layer cannot be denied.

“While the first layer can’t be underestimated, the first problem is the giant lizard in the second layer.”

“Indeed. From what you’ve said, it sounds like a Saur species, but there are no Saur species in the Seryado Volcano.”

“That’s right. Yet, there’s something like that. We have to assume there’s something similar in the first layer too, or even we might suffer unexpected damage.”

As Rika, Meena, and Ludia say, we need to be extremely cautious on the way.
Therefore, the Tree-made Multi-functional Beast Carriage will be pulled by Jade, Viola will be the driver, and five people will be in charge of surveillance from the observation deck.
The observation deck is 18 square meters, which is spacious enough for five people, and several people will also be stationed on the front and rear decks, so it should be fine unless an unusually formidable monster attacks.

“With the observation deck and five people on watch, we’re unlikely to miss any monsters. The problem might be from underground?”

“That’s true. Fortunately, this beast carriage is made of sacred trees and jade silver, so it won’t be destroyed immediately.”

“Indeed.”

“We mustn’t be overconfident, but even so, ordinary attacks, even from underground, should be fine. If the beast carriage is lifted, that would be dangerous.”

Monsters that live underground are often enormous.

“Shall we go then?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go. Viola, please.”

“Understood.”

Viola, seated in the driver’s seat, signaled Jade, and we entered the Krater Labyrinth.

Side: Yuri

The first layer of the Krater Labyrinth was a snow and ice region, just as Lady Hilde had informed me beforehand.

“I thought the first layer would be the Golud Great Glacier since the second layer resembles the Seryado Volcano.”

“Yes, this looks like Torencia.”

While the Golud Great Glacier is within Torencia, it might be more accurate to say it resembles Aura Island.
Come to think of it, the monsters appearing are common in Torencia.

“I see, that’s true.”

“Indeed. There are forests and probably ponds, so we can probably expect Torencia’s monsters.”

“That seems like a good plan.”

The others also nodded in agreement with Ludia and Flam’s opinions, and I share the same sentiment.
Viola gave the command, and the beast carriage, pulled by Jade, began to move along the paved road within the labyrinth.

“They’ve arrived already.”

For a while, the scenery was of snowy landscapes common in Torencia, but less than 30 minutes in, Prim Sister discovered a monster.

“It’s a White Wolf, no, an Ice Wolf.”

An Ice Wolf would be a B-rank monster, I believe.
Lady Hilde mentioned that subspecies of the Wolf Species with ice attributes inhabit Torencia, and that the I-rank Snow Wolf and C-rank White Wolf are often hunted.
However, when rare species like the Ice Wolf appear, high-class adventurers are dispatched for designated hunting requests.
I was surprised when I heard about it, as such rare species requiring designated requests are uncommon in Amister.

“There are quite a few of them. There are some White Wolves mixed in, but it seems to be a pack of about 30.”

“This would be tough for Normal Class adventurers!”

According to Meena’s count, there are over 20 White Wolves and around 10 Ice Wolves.
A pack of Wolf Species typically averages around 10 individuals, so this pack is about three times its usual size. However, a normal pack usually contains only one, or at most two rare species. So, in terms of combat power, this pack is more than five times as strong.

“Indeed. Or rather, even for High Class adventurers, this number would require them to brace for at least one or two injuries without the use of alloy.”

High Class adventurers can defeat B-rank monsters without much effort, but they are said to be able to handle at most three at a time. Encounters with packs of this size would undoubtedly lead them to retreat.
Therefore, as Athena says, it would be fortunate if it only resulted in one or two injuries.

Of course, that’s all before the alloy is completed.
Thanks to the alloy proposed by Lord Yamato and completed by Edward, High Class adventurers can now utilize their magic power to its fullest.
Therefore, for monsters of B-rank, no matter how many there are, they are no longer a significant obstacle for High Class adventurers wielding alloy weapons.
In fact, many High Class adventurers in the Amister Alliance who participated in the war against Solemne have successfully defeated even G-rank monsters individually.

“That’s true. The Saber’s Guild report didn’t mention Ice Wolves, so they were either lucky to avoid them or they’ve only recently appeared.”

As Prim Sister mentioned, the Sabers belonging to the Saber’s Guild, Krater Branch, who conducted a preliminary investigation of the Krater Labyrinth, did not report the presence of Ice Wolves.
Within a labyrinth, even when targeting a specific monster, it’s possible not to encounter it for several days, or even weeks. So, the possibility that they simply weren’t encountered is quite high.
And the possibility that they’ve only recently appeared cannot be dismissed either.

However, discussing it won’t reveal the truth.
More importantly, the priority now is to defeat the pack of Ice Wolves and White Wolves.
As I thought this, Lady Hilde, Rika, Marisa, and Mirei jumped from the deck and began felling the Wolf Species one after another.
Viola also provided magical support from the driver’s seat, and Aria was casting spells from the observation deck.
I was the only one left behind…
No, there are still six Ice Wolves remaining.
I must provide support with my contracted spirit, Lux.

With Bestowed Magic, Spirit Magic, one person can contract with one spirit.
Spirits also have ranks, classified by mineral names similar to Guild ranks, and are called Souleurs ranks.
Spirits up to B-rank are palm-sized, and even S-rank spirits are not much larger than small monsters.
Spirits up to G-rank have only one attribute, but when they evolve to P-rank, they can also use other attributes supplementarily.
There are only a few individuals in history who have contracted with P-rank or higher spirits, so much is unknown about them.
The known individuals are Lunaria, the first Pope of Basion, and Yukari, who is the same wife as Eliel, the first Queen of Torencia, and is from the same world as Lord Yamato. I’ve heard there are a few others.
As for M-rank Souleurs or higher, there is almost no information.
Lux, with whom I am contracted, grew along with my evolution into a Human-Half High Elf and has become a G-rank Souleur.

Lux’s water attribute magic poured down on the Ice Wolves like rain, hindering their movements.
I unleashed my Unique Magic, Heavy Rain Thorns, at those Ice Wolves.
They are thinner and sharper than Aqua Arrows, so their killing power isn’t high, but I compensate by raining them down like a storm.
As a result, the Ice Wolves, with countless water needles emerging from their bodies, met their end.

“You’ve improved, Yuri.”

“I feel like you could use a little more decisiveness.”

My sister and Prim Sister praised me, patting my head.
I would like to increase my attack power a bit more, but for now, I’ll be satisfied with this.