41 - Before Conquering the Labyrinth
"If she cannot be reformed, it will be necessary to gouge out Shannon's eyes."
Having been told that, I walked through Alamsars with a note in my hand, unable to organize my feelings.
It was past noon, and since it would be awkward to face Shannon at the mansion, I was looking for the location of the private academy Clara had told me about.
"Isn't that a bit too much...?"
The point I couldn't wrap my head around was whether it was necessary to gouge out eyes over mere pranks.
For Shannon, her eyes, which were originally blind, had become capable of capturing her surroundings to the extent that she could see through her skill.
Since the skill is activated through the eyes, if she is made blind... if they are gouged out, she will be unable to perceive information about her surroundings even if she has the skill.
That was the argument of the Fifth Head and the others.
To me, who was agonizing, the Sixth Head spoke.
"Are you still worrying? I understand how you feel, but for that girl, that power could become too much. It was only because Mireia had a personality like Shannon's older sister that my father and I could feel at ease even though she possessed that ability."
She seems to have been a kind person.
Given that the dry-natured Fifth Head did not lay a hand on Mireia despite thinking it unnecessary, I could understand that she had a personality like Miranda-san, the type to lose out.
The Fifth Head—.
"If left alone, it will stop being just pranks. We should crush potential future monsters while we still can."
I asked back in a low voice.
The street was crowded, and no one looked my way even when I spoke.
On the main street, several signs for private academies were displayed.
The slogans varied.
Some were suspicious, while others had eye-catching signs.
"A potential monster? I can't imagine her being on the level of Celes."
At my honest impression, the Fifth Head told me I was being soft.
"If the opponent uses a skill, she can perceive it and touch the flow of magical power. Right now it's just pranks from a distance, but if Mireia had felt like it, she could have even manipulated people's hearts. Because that girl was kind, she used that power to heal those with wounds in their hearts. Do you understand? It is too great a tool for that prankster girl."
The Sixth Head spoke.
"The head of the Sarkrai family at the time met her as part of her treatment. He fell in love with Mireia, and the talk proceeded straight to marriage. My father and I wanted to keep her by our side, but we sent her off thinking of Mireia's happiness."
Perhaps remembering those days, a hint of regret mixed into the Sixth Head's voice.
However, the Fifth Head was as usual.
"Since she married into the Sarkrais, who are called a prestigious family of civil officials, I think it was good for the Walt family in the end. Being able to associate with the robed nobility of Central is a big deal."
This one felt like the same as always.
It was typical of the Fifth Head, but—.
The Sixth Head spoke.
"If she gets serious, she'll be uncontrollable. The reason I taught the Third Head's skill was to counter Shannon."
It seems my duty is to somehow reform Shannon, who possesses too much power.
Even though she isn't actually seeing, the fact that Shannon, who can live normally, is pretending to be blind is eerie in itself.
I thought that perhaps she didn't want it to be known, but the pranks on us were escalating day by day.
Right now, since the three of us are outside, there's no problem, but if I left her with someone, it might be seriously dangerous.
(Can she touch the mind? No, does she touch it through magical power... either way, if I don't do something, her eyes...)
To be honest, I didn't want to do it.
But my ancestors were telling me to do it.
They weren't saying to gouge them out. But they said to reform her and somehow steer things in a direction where they don't have to be gouged out, and if that's impossible, it's pitiful, but...
That was the feeling.
(Why do I have to worry about something like this...)
How did it come to this?
If I leave the mansion now, will Shannon's consciousness shift away from us? If that happens... will Miranda-san be safe?
As such thoughts surfaced, I continued to agonize.
(In the first place... I can't imagine that girl becoming like Celes?)
The Celes I know was truly a monster.
Just as the First Generation, who called her a monster, said, that feeling of the surroundings being swept up just by her existing... when looking back from a distance, I realized it was abnormal, but while being there, I strangely didn't think it was.
However, Shannon didn't look like that kind of monster.
If told she was dangerous, she might be, but to me, it felt like they were being overly cautious.
(The Fifth and Sixth Heads might be seeing the shadow of Mireia-san in Shannon.)
I felt that the one I truly needed to worry about was someone like Mireia-san, who had mastered that skill called the Magic Eye.
And the one who resembled her was—.
While I was deep in thought, I heard the Third Head's voice.
"Lyell, isn't it here?"
"...It seems so."
I saw a swordsmanship dojo with a large sign.
It seemed to be the place where a former adventurer who opened a private academy was, as I had heard from Clara.
Shouts could be heard from inside.
"Your step isn't deep enough!"
"Yes!"
"Do you think you can survive the labyrinth with that! Raise your voice!"
"Yes!"
Hearing the shouts, I peeked into the dojo.
It seemed to be a dojo opened by a swordsman who had been a vanguard.
The Second Head looked at the dojo and said one thing—.
"...Eh, that's the swordsman who reached the fiftieth basement floor? Doesn't he look kind of weak?"
The Third Head agreed, but had a slightly different opinion.
"He looks that way, but maybe he's actually hiding his true strength? As a fellow swordsman, I'm curious. Though, he really doesn't seem that strong..."
The Fourth Head said.
"It's basically dojo swordsmanship. No, I'm not saying it's bad, but... since it's a story from five years ago, has his skill dulled from being away from actual combat?"
The Fifth Head said.
"Why doesn't Lyell just fight him?"
The Sixth Head...
"Indeed."
The Seventh Head...
"A dojo-breaker, is it? It might be good to try that while you're young. Lyell, since that's the case..."
"...What do you mean 'since that's the case'? Do you guys have some grudge against dojos? Why a dojo-breaker?"
As I accidentally spoke aloud, I locked eyes with a dojo student nearby. I had been asked just as he stepped outside.
"A-A dojo-breaker!! Sensei!! He's here! A dojo-breaker is here!"
I reached my hand toward the back of the student who ran inside, my mouth flapping as I made excuses, knowing he couldn't hear me.
"N-No, uh... that's not it..."
I heard the Third Head's voice.
"Now you can't run away, Lyell. Come on, steel yourself and show him the swordsmanship forged in actual combat! Don't lose to mere dojo swordsmanship!"
(...I also studied dojo swordsmanship until I went outside, though?)
Seeing the dojo become hectic, I ran away from the spot.
I fled.
The Sixth Head said.
"What, you're not doing it? How boring... this kind of thing is actually quite fun."
While running, I shouted.
"It's not fun at all! Why on earth should I have to be a dojo-breaker! I was planning to be taught various things!"
The students who leaped out of the dojo chased after me as I fled.
Their faces were bright red, perhaps from the rush of blood.
At this rate, it didn't seem like I'd be forgiven even if I made excuses.
Using the Fourth Head's skill [Speed], my running speed increased, and I escaped the pursuers and hid for a while.
Before returning to the mansion, I headed to the other private academy written in the note.
That was a place where a mage taught compounding, which they had become able to use after obtaining a skill.
There were many people with skills that excelled in such compounding, and since the academic city seemed to have many people with those kinds of skills, there were quite a few students.
A man wearing glasses and a robe offered me tea.
"It's herbal tea."
"Thank you. So, uh... I'd like to hear about the time you went to the lowest floor of the labyrinth?"
When I stated my business, I was told he would speak if I waited until the class ended.
I was allowed to wait in the classroom, and I waited for time to pass while listening to him talk.
"There are many such stories. However, I don't think I can be of much help. I did go, but at the time, I was support. I contributed to the party by illuminating the surroundings with magic or performing treatment."
"No, I just wanted to hear about the atmosphere and points to be careful of... At the dojo, I was mistaken for a dojo-breaker, so I couldn't hear anything."
When I said that, the man began to chuckle.
While I wondered why, he explained the situation.
"He was mainly a luggage carrier at the time. However, he also participated in combat, so it's not that he was weak. He was actually quite skilled. But he wasn't a main force of the party."
According to him, the main members had left Alamsars and headed for Beim.
In terms of numbers, it seemed to be a large group of nearly fifty people, but since support was important in the labyrinth, it seemed fewer than fifteen actually fought as the main force.
"They might be leading a mercenary group now. In many cases, it's more profitable than being an adventurer. Besides, skirmishes have been increasing in various regions."
The man said with a slightly sad expression.
"The medicines I make are selling like hotcakes. That's why students gather."
To the man who was smiling wryly, I asked about things to be careful of in the labyrinth.
The man said—.
"The labyrinth differs depending on the location. Especially in Alamsars, monster bosses block the way every ten floors. The bosses of the tenth and twentieth floors are often subjugated, but from the thirtieth floor onward, they remain unsubjugated."
"They respawn, right?"
"Yes, in about a week to ten days. However, what you have to be careful of are the bosses that remain unsubjugated. Over a long period of time, they become stronger. They're already powerful, so it's troublesome that they accumulate strength."
The man, who was warning me, continued to tell me things to be careful of as an adventurer.
"If you challenge the labyrinth, you might manifest a skill. Perhaps you already have one? But please be careful when you become strong through a skill. There are many skills where you feel your own power has increased, but many adventurers fail because of that. 'Skill' and 'growth'—those two things can sometimes drive adventurers mad."
The kind-looking man smiled and said, "Well, just think of it as advice from a senior."
The Seventh Head spoke.
"Hmm, he seems like a good adventurer. Most likely, he stayed in Alamsars because he didn't agree with his original party. Clara probably heard it through others and didn't know the details."
Clara wasn't particularly at fault, and since I received valuable information, I was grateful.
"Excuse me, I'd like to ask one last thing."
"What is it?"
I tried asking the man one last thing.
Since I had technically accepted Damian Barre's request, I intended to confirm.
"To reach a scale where you can defeat the boss of the fortieth floor, how large a party is necessary?"
The man thought for a moment, and then smiled.
He seemed to have realized it was a request from one of the Seven Sages of the academic city.
"You've accepted a request from Damian Barre? In our time, I feel we challenged it with nearly fifty people and it was barely enough. The story changes depending on how strong you are and how excellent your companions are, but with a basic group of six, it will be tough once you exceed the tenth basement floor. Even with talent, the twentieth basement floor would be the limit for six people. Rather than strength, it's difficult in terms of sustaining combat. It's possible if you push yourself, but as an adventurer, that's a failure."
It's not enough to just be strong.
If you don't earn, there's no meaning in being an adventurer.
If one gives up on materials and magic stones after defeating monsters, the man said that one could perhaps reach the boss of the thirtieth basement floor.
Since I was able to hear from the man, I thanked him and left the private academy.
I also purchased the medicines that were on sale, and the man urged me "not to overdo it."
On the way back to the mansion.
On a street where no one was present, I was testing the Fifth Head's new skill [Dimension] and the Sixth Head's skill [Spec].
As a more three-dimensional map floated in my head, I could finely perceive the reactions of those moving around the city.
Beyond the next corner were two men.
They were in their early teens and were playing.
Now able to obtain more complex information, I was confirming the usage of the skills.
"The amount of information increased all at once."
There were good things, but at the same time, a vast amount of information flowed into my head.
It took time to get used to it.
The Sixth Head gave me advice.
"Don't keep using the application skill recklessly. In some cases, just confirming in two dimensions is enough. The consumption of magical power is not negligible."
I intended to do as I was told.
However, since I was currently testing the use of the skills, I continued walking.
Once I passed the corner, as expected, two children were playing.
(...Isn't this skill actually considerably amazing? The Sixth Head told me absolutely not to reveal the detailed contents, but I understand a bit.)
The one who thought of the combined usage was the Sixth Head.
And the one who understood how amazing that was was also the Sixth Head.
Of course, the Fifth Head, who noticed it, was also amazing.
There are things you wouldn't notice by sensing them, but would notice by confirming them on a map.
Typical of the Fifth Head.
He probably thought this skill would be effective for governing or waging war, prioritizing efficiency.
The Second Head said to me.
"Now, Lyell. Have you steeled yourself? Though, first we have to grab evidence that Shannon can see."
Even to lecture her, it was necessary to strip away Shannon's disguise.
It was also necessary in order to tell Miranda-san the truth.
(It wouldn't be fun to be seen as making false accusations against the landlord's younger sister. Actually, it would be better not to get involved... but I'm indebted to Miranda-san.)
Novem and Aria basically handled the housework.
Miranda-san, who was busy studying at the academy, was very grateful to the two of them.
However, even from our perspective as people working as adventurers, it's different when meals are prepared upon our return.
Not only can we rest immediately, but it's also very reassuring.
The part where I was indebted to Miranda-san was also large.
If we left, Shannon would probably drive out servants one after another and trouble Miranda-san again.
(...I have to reform her.)
I thought about how to reform Shannon.