Chapter 1052 - ........................
"...They haven't returned?"
About two hours later.
The end of the grand rest. Immediately after being told the confirmed information that Ashe had shared before resuming the conquest, I unintentionally let out a startled cry.
I wasn't the only one wondering what was going on.
Excluding Sora, who had been listening to the interrogation corner with the knight, the other two remained. Tora-kichi and Nia, who had no way of knowing, were also tilting their heads in confusion.
What were we talking about?
"Yes. He said we can only reclaim our Status when we touch a Wedge. ...That's what he said. So..."
"When we defeated Alistia-san, our stats surged... what entered us was something separate from our own Status? Like a bonus point?"
"Exactly. ...That's what he said."
"Wait, did you two have a fight?"
It was that kind of conversation.
The power bestowed upon our avatars as the previous battle ended. That wasn't our lost Status returning, but apparently something like a reward for breaking through the trial of the shadow doll, [Hero Alistia].
"Ah, well, I thought it felt a bit halfway. The increase was a bit too subtle for having overcome a life-or-death struggle... ah, I see, that makes sense."
While muttering to himself, Tora-kichi seemed to reach his own conclusion and stared at his hands as he opened and closed them.
"So it wasn't a return, but a souvenir. Well, I'm grateful for that."
As I listened to his mutterings, my mind followed with an inference.
"Estimated Level 50... divided into five parts for us. No wonder it favored Strength."
Exactly 10 levels worth. Exactly 100 Status points. I thought about the origin of the new abilities stacked within the hollow avatars.
A souvenir for us from the hero of the past who scattered into light...
...Well, I'd been told various things by Kendy-dono before the rest, so I didn't get too sentimental. Of course, it wasn't that I didn't feel anything, but...
"...Haru?"
"Hmm? Ah, don't worry."
I understood it wasn't something I should shoulder. ...Because as a result, while I was the one who delivered the final blow, she wasn't killed by me.
I gave a smile that matched my words to my partner, who had pulled my sleeve and called my name out of concern. I was emotionally involved, but not drowning in it.
When I turned my gaze from my cute partner back to our leader, my eyes met Garnet's. When I nodded to show I was fine, Ashe nodded back.
"From the conclusion... this person will tell us the story, but he won't tell us the settings."
She said that bluntly, piercing the knight with her gaze.
"Wait, did you really have a fight?"
"Wow, the Princess is clearly annoyed."
"How rare. Even I can read this expression."
"Ah, haha..."
We could only offer a few bewildered laughs or bitter smiles at her clear display. Kendy-dono, who was receiving the half-open eyes, stood tall and smiled calmly, but Ashe was showing a very rare face.
Sora-san, who knew the situation from listening in, only offered a laugh and no follow-up. So, I could roughly guess...
"...For now, I've gathered the information I thought was necessary. But everything else is on hold. In the end, new mysteries and questions just piled up... I'll think about them little by little."
"O-Oh... good job..."
While the situation and Ashe's expression were completely different from after the White Throne conquest... for those of us listening, it was a similar feeling.
The princess's lecture on her considerations would have to wait until after everything was finished.
"From here on, no more detours."
Beyond the long, long road from the square holding the mountain of rubble.
Beyond the white Wedge that separated the spaces with its curtain of light. Our princess's gaze led ours as she stared at the entrance to the maze that remained dark and open.
"I'll share the information. Conquest resumed."
*
In this space... the Realm, as Kendy-dono called it, we were required to travel around and conquer the trials presented by the Primeval Four Towers located in the East, West, South, and North.
East: [Hero Alistia].
West: [Sage Folkana].
South: [Emperor Revenant].
North: [Saintess Milfie].
The four original nations of the ancient age that became the foundation for the four current factions players belonged to.
Istia, Vestol, Sotalm, and Nortalia. We were to have an audience with the remnants of their original leaders, showing them the brilliance of the present.
According to Kendy-dono... or rather, Ashe's translation of Kendy-dono's story, it was highly likely that would be the climax.
Well, it would likely proceed mostly as expected.
Clear the gimmicks at the four locations and open the way. Then, at the fifth and final location we were aiming for, the finale would await.
Not just game tropes, but if we considered Arcadia tropes, it was easy to imagine... that some kind of major battle would occur.
As it turned out, such conquest missions were usually painful until the climax conditions were set. The very end would be a refreshing festival-like frenzy. That was the royal road.
And the Arcadia we knew loved such royal road templates.
While it threw out many surprises, it basically didn't miss the core points. Because we had such firm trust...
I couldn't help but feel that the path leading there would be incredibly tough.
"IS THIS WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT TOO!?"
"HE SAID IT, BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I IMAGINED...!"
"HA HA HA HA!"
"WHAT ARE YOU LAUGHING AT, YOU MEANINGFUL IDIOT KNIGHT!"
Noisy shouts of anger, pain, joy, and more anger echoed through the long, endless grand maze. And the massive tremors and the sound of countless running feet were exactly that.
A few minutes after bidding farewell to the East Castle ruins in the other world and diving through the barrier back into the maze zone.
We had begun a reenactment of the limit-death race with the one-eyed giant black masses that appeared from thin air... and that was within the range we had grown used to and could forgive.
But the additional uninvited guests (many of them) were a huge problem.
...!
"What the hell are those!? Creepy!"
"How should I know! Aren't they humans!?"
"No way! Every single one of them has too many parts! You idiot!"
If I had to describe them, they were mud dolls that were far too blasphemous.
For example, they had too many heads. Too many arms. Too many legs. They were the height of eeriness, with too many or too few parts everywhere, yet they were clearly recognizable as human forms made of black masses.
And there were countless numbers of them.
"Hey, Kendy-dono, you bastard! They're increasing! Is this okay!?"
"THERE SHOULD BE NO PROBLEM! NOT FOR ALL OF YOU!"
"I DON'T FEEL ANY BASIS FOR THAT AT ALL!"
As if responding to us running through, the monsters were born one after another from the maze walls. They were slammed onto the floor and immediately stood up to join the pursuit.
Honestly, if they were just following us, we'd just run. They were still at a speed we could barely outrun, the same as when there was only the giant one at the end, but...
"...! Haru..."
"From above! Baldy!"
"I told you I'm not bald! Thanks, Tiger Baldy!"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING TIGER BALDY... GAH, HOW ANNOYING!"
Sprinting at full speed with a body in my arms.
Before Sora, who was being carried thanks to the Strength I had received from the [Hero], could finish her warning, the protective intervention of a spearman blew away the pitch-black human-sized rain that fell from above.
This was it. They weren't just coming from behind, but countless numbers were spawning from the path ahead.
I can say it, right?
"GIVE ME A BREAK, ARCADIA!"
Estimated time to the next destination: unknown.
This laughably difficult conquest drama was likely only just beginning.