227 - What Awaits
The day after we held a meeting with the adventurers who had arrived on-site before us.
In the room next to the one we were using at the inn, a pair of adventurers pretending to be unrelated were staying as lookouts.
I was appalled by the strictness of the surveillance system.
"Do they really need to go this far?"
Maxim-san asked, placing a hand on his chin while looking at me.
"It simply means they value you that much. I hear you are a first-class adventurer party capable of breaking through the sixtieth floor of the labyrinth, so they likely won't neglect their preparations."
They couldn't hear the voices inside the room.
I had no intention of using such a room, and it seemed the adventurers had stormed in after we entered the inn, so they hadn't been able to prepare properly.
It was naive, if you will, but they had made sure not to take their eyes off us.
Damian sat in a chair, leaning forward as if hugging his staff. He was yawning, perhaps sleepy.
"Still, I wonder how they could claim the Queen is being held in a cave slightly away from town rather than in the castle's basement. At worst, we might have been buried alive."
There was a forest where the cave was located, and it seemed they were trying to lure us there. The adventurers who had arrived first claimed they had spent too much time searching and decided to rest for a while, making it appear as though they weren't moving.
As expected, they were out of their element. They were slippery characters, surrounding us and cheerfully starting a banquet after saying they were counting on the adventurers of the East Branch.
I picked up my notes.
"According to the information from Launo-san, the Queen is in the castle's dungeon. There's no mistake that she's imprisoned there, but it seems everyone—the Guild and the women of the castle—is under the influence of Larc's skill. I felt like I was being watched even in town, but they're probably just watching outsiders."
As I said this, Maxim-san laughed.
"I would like to rescue the Queen, achieve our original objective, and then make our escape. In terms of numbers alone, there are nearly a hundred of them. Between the main members and their reserves... their strength is considerable."
That strength forged in the labyrinth. And the adventurer party planning to attack us, who had continued to fight and grow repeatedly, was a troublesome existence.
Then, the Fifth Head gave me some advice.
...Lariel, they are certainly troublesome, but the opponents are professionals specializing in monsters within the labyrinth. They aren't professionals in anti-personnel combat.
Hearing that, I rolled the Orb with my fingertip to show my disagreement.
Within the labyrinth, conflicts between adventurers are common. I thought that those who had experienced such situations could not be underestimated.
However, the Third Head agreed with the Fifth Head's opinion.
To put it bluntly, their experience is skewed. You saw Marianne-chan's documents, right? She became first-class several years ago specializing in the labyrinth, but she gained her experience almost exclusively within the labyrinth. It's true that still makes one strong, though.
The Seventh Head also gave me advice.
Think carefully, Lariel. It is certainly important to gain experience by defeating monsters. However, consider the current situation where the continent is not ruled by adventurers. It is meaningless for only a small group to be strong. There are plenty of ways to handle this.
I took out Marianne-san's documents and looked through them again. This would serve as a trump card and would become necessary. Not just as information.
These were documents on adventurers managed by the Guild. I must not mistake how to use them.
"Between me, Damian, and Maxim-san. Plus, three automatons and four of Damian's golems. And the five of Erhart's group, who are the targets of protection. In terms of combat power, it's tight."
I judged that if we looked only at our own combat power, we were clearly inferior. If we fought head-on, defeat was certain.
I carefully tucked the documents into my bag.
"Let's put our hopes in Launo-san. Either way, there's no point in moving right now."
Maxim-san let his shoulders slump.
"Sigh, I wonder when I'll finally be able to reunite with the young lady."
He was depressed, saying so.
――The base prepared for the labyrinth subjugation.
At the base, Novem and the others had finished their preparations. They created walls like a simple fortress and set traps within the forest.
Novem was comparing the documents Lariel had obtained with the documents Launo had gathered. Nearby, Inis, Launo's housemate, and Clara were lighting their staffs.
Flipping through the documents, Novem discovered several discrepancies.
Around them, the Valkyries were on lookout, guarding the base located in the forest with lights lit.
The atmosphere was solemn, but Inis remained unfazed.
"...I see several discrepancies regarding the skills. Perhaps it's different when viewed from the outside versus the inside. Or perhaps false reports were intentionally made?"
Inis responded to that.
"There are no mistakes in the information Launo-san investigated. Besides, the results produced by the skills are the same."
Novem denied Inis's thought.
"That's not true. A small mistake can be fatal. However, as expected, there are many skill holders. Labyrinth-specialized adventurers might be dangerous. At this rate..."
Before Novem could continue, Inis spoke up.
"...May I ask one thing?"
Novem replied while checking the documents. He had checked the documents several times already, but he was doing it now because he had nothing else to do. Since Novem held the documents carefully and they were at hand, checking them was easy.
"Go ahead."
"Aren't you afraid of the Guild? In Beime, the Guild is a massive concentration of power for adventurers. Normally they provide kind support, but I've heard that if you become their enemy, they will crush you using any means necessary. In fact, even famous adventurers do not oppose the Guild. I hear the relationship between adventurers and the Guild is different elsewhere, but aren't you underestimating Beime?"
The one who answered Inis's question was Clara, who had been reading a book under the light. Having finished reading, she closed the book and placed it on the wooden box she was sitting on.
"It's true that the relationship differs in other cities and towns. The Guild where I was was cold toward adventurers. It was a city centered around the academy, after all."
Hearing that, Inis guessed Clara's hometown.
"Alamsars, right? I've heard the library is famous. Alamsars is certainly a large city, but Beime is even more so. No, it's on a different level. I've been wondering for a while, aren't Lariel-san and the others afraid of the Guild?"
Novem tidied the documents, carefully tucked them into his bag, and turned toward Inis. However, his expression was colder than usual.
"I know the Guild is in league with the merchants, and I know the merchants are terrifying. The Guild here has money and extensive support, so they likely have Sweepers. But――"
"But?"
Inis looked at Novem and tilted her head.
"――We have no intention of defeating Beime. We can't win, after all. Lariel-sama understands that too. What's important is what happens after."
Clara was reaching for her next book, and Novem seemed calm despite saying they couldn't win――.
――Cartaphus.
Inside Dingo's house, Launo was recalling Inis's prediction.
The skill――Information――is a skill that predicts the future from gathered information. This doesn't work well when used for gambling.
It only told him the result that it was certain Launo would lose more than he won, without even a dream of success.
However, the higher the accuracy of the gathered information, the more accurately the skill predicted the future.
Resting his chin on the back of the chair, sitting backward, Launo remembered Inis's words.
...This time, the Guild will crush Lariel-san and the others using any means necessary. Even if the attack fails, they will use the resulting damage to corner Lariel-san and the others. Lariel-san and the others will be exiled from Beime. This is to attract the interest of Celes of Banseime, who is a future trading partner for Beime. ――However.
If you weighed Lariel against Celes, it was natural for Beime to choose Celes, who offered more profit, no matter how much of a hero Lariel was.
Furthermore, Lariel was the person working behind the scenes to form the Four-Nation Alliance. If he disappeared, there was a high possibility that the plan would collapse.
The discussions had only just begun, and it wasn't all profit. Naturally, where there were merits, there were also demerits.
Within such relationships, the Four-Nation Alliance was attempting to materialize because of a single human, Lariel, for better or worse.
If that happened, the work for mercenary groups would increase due to skirmishes, as it had in the past. For Beime, having a war nearby was an important matter. Provided it was at a distance where they wouldn't be moderately dragged in.
(It's Inis's prediction. It probably won't be far off... but still, why are the predictions for Lariel's group expressed so ambiguously?)
Some decisive piece of information was missing. That's how Launo felt.
Even with Inis's skill, it was difficult to judge.
――However, Lariel-san is triggering this incident on purpose. He likely predicts the possibility of Banseime invading Beime, and may even think it's fine if Beime teams up with Banseime as a result. However, there is no doubt that the final victory will belong to Beime.
Despite being young, Lariel used such underhanded methods that Launo overlapped him with a cunning old man.
(The possibility that he has memories of a past life... no, that's not it.)
As he gave a wry smile at his own foolish thought, Dingo visited Launo.
"Hey, did you hear? A very solemn group at the port... Launo, are you laughing?"
Caught laughing by Dingo, Launo cleared his throat and decided to listen to the story from before.
"No, it's nothing. More importantly, what happened at the port?"
"Well, a ship from a great merchant house returned in a relatively short period. Then, sturdy men came off carrying weapons and such. Even when the soldiers checked, they insisted they were merchandise, and since they had documents prepared, they were allowed in. Honestly, they're stubborn to the end."
Launo knew the circumstances, and since he himself had sent bribes to the person in charge, he simply nodded.
"Well, this country has been inflexible since long ago. Some strange things never change."
Dingo looked at Launo sadly.
"Launo, you were pushed into dirty work because your skill wasn't suited for a knight. Even though it was a skill useful for scouting and intelligence. And then you were kicked out... you should have protested more."
"That's in the past. Besides, I have no intention of returning to being a knight. I don't have to do dirty work anymore, and finding people's weaknesses to make a little money suits my nature."
Launo was once a knight of Cartaphus. He had passion when he was young, but the skill that manifested was judged unnecessary for a knight, and he was pushed into dirty work.
Dingo let out a sigh.
"If you're fine with that, then it's fine. Still, things have been dangerous lately. I wonder if it's because of the rumor that the Queen will make whoever rescues her her husband? I mean, I wonder how such a rumor even spread."
Looking at the wriggling Dingo, Launo, knowing various behind-the-scenes details, struggled desperately to hold back his laughter――.
A few nights later.
I stood before the soldiers of Galleria who had arrived.
"I hope you were satisfied with the voyage? Still, Lord Reold is quite generous. The ones he sent are the elite soldiers of Galleria, I see."
The soldiers employed by the Archducal Family of Galleria.
A total of five hundred were transported by the Vera Trace.
Maxim-san had a subtle expression seeing that number.
"Are you really okay with inviting this many foreign soldiers into your own country? If it were me, I would absolutely stop it. Or rather, I'm surprised they overlooked it for a mere pittance."
Maxim-san, who had heard that the people of Cartaphus were scrupulously honest about decided matters, had a twitch in his cheek.
I shrugged.
"Well, they were mixed in with the crew. In reality, it felt like about twenty young men wanting to make a name for themselves entered the country."
Damian carried his staff on his shoulder and looked at the castle visible nearby.
"But I think it's impossible to take down this sturdy castle with five hundred people? You didn't prepare any secret weapons, right?"
I nodded at Damian's words, but it wasn't as if I had no means.
"Well, if we don't take care of this side first, the other side won't panic. I mean, no one would challenge an enemy more than double their number while waiting in a small group. I'd love to see the face of anyone who would."
Maxim-san looked at me, completely appalled.
"Lariel-dono, the current situation is worse than challenging an adventurer party. Challenging a castle with only five hundred people... the difficulty has skyrocketed. Shall I prepare a mirror for you?"
I had become quite close with Maxim-san.
However, it's not as if a castle is always prepared for war. Moreover, because it was a sturdy castle, there were means that worked.
"Well, there are various means for that. Also, Launo-san prepared a map of the castle, so it's fine. It's a straight shot to the dungeon."
Then, Erhart and the others, who had been shaken awake from their sleep, looked around in confusion.
"...Hey."
"Now then, I'll leave three hundred men to Maxim-san, so――"
"Hey!"
"No, questions while I'm explaining are... well, whatever. Yes, Erhart-kun."
When I called his name, Erhart pointed around.
"What is this situation! I mean, what happened to the rescue of the Queen! Why are we talking about attacking the castle!"
I shook my head.
"No, it's because the Queen is in the castle's dungeon. Besides, Erhart... numbers are important in battle."
Erhart ruffled his hair with both hands.
"How can I be convinced of that! Preparing that number of people must be difficult!"
The Fifth Head muttered from the Orb.
Well, preparing numbers is something we lords are better at than adventurers. Though we just borrowed them this time.
While I was getting them to accept leading five hundred men, a gathering of knights, soldiers, and other elites, the Seventh Head was excited.
Hehehe, this reminds me of the night we took back the fort dropped by Fanbayle. That day was also such a quiet night. We sneaked into the sturdy fort of those who were exhausted from rioting and beat them to a pulp. I've taken down quite a few forts and castles!
Just as the Fifth Head was strong in defensive battles, the Seventh Head was strong in siege warfare.
Mireia-san said.
Broad-kun, don't make a fuss just because it's your specialty. Well, once we reach the dungeon, the rest should be fine. Still, I wonder how those adventurers will move once they find out the Queen has been rescued? I'm looking forward to it. Surely, by now, the lookout children are trying to escape their ropes.
Her personality was as bad as ever. I had attacked the two adventurers acting as lookouts and tied them up with rope. I had knocked them unconscious, but perhaps by now they were reporting to their leader.
Well, it'll be over by the time they arrive. When there are many people, preparing is also difficult. Besides, since they're quite cautious, it's possible they'll move to gather information and then not move.
The Third Head laughed.
They wouldn't go to a place where traps are specifically prepared, right? I mean, rather than them running away, I want them to show the guts to attack Lariel. I'm really looking forward to it!
The Fifth Head, appalled, spoke for my feelings.
...You all really have wonderful personalities.
Mireia-san laughed.
Please don't praise me, Father.
The Third Head, understanding the Fifth Head's sarcasm, added.
Even so, I consider myself a serious and sincere person!
I thought to myself, "No you're not."