kscans

Chapter 192 - The Captain of the Royal Guard, and the Crystal Palace

The next morning, I was woken by a loud pounding on my door. Famu, who was already up and praying, opened it to find the innkeeper.

"There's a guest for you in the dining hall. You should go see them right away."

The old man, who usually spoke to me informally, sounded strangely formal and tense.

Even when Marmi or Maryanne were around, his attitude never changed. Who could possibly make him so anxious that he'd come all the way to summon me?

I had a feeling I was about to get dragged into more trouble. Was there no peace in this city?

I woke up Mizuki, Myra, and Marmi, who were sleeping beside me, and we headed to the dining hall.

A bearded, dog-eared knight was there. He had drooping, dark brown ears. The wrinkles etched on his face suggested he was approaching old age. His features were deep-set, and though his eyes were sunken, a sharp, black glint peeked out from within. Above all, he was huge. Rippling muscles pushed against his chainmail, over which he wore a surcoat. He looked every bit the knight of my imagination, yet he carried no shield, and hanging at his waist was a katana. The scabbard was thick and long, befitting his frame.

He radiated an intense aura. The other customers were avoiding him, eating at tables far away. That man was sitting ramrod straight in a chair, devouring a kebab sandwich.

I knew at a glance. This was a man with power rivaling Aidan or Avea. No, given his overwhelming presence, he might even be stronger. He was a knight of the One-Land family's royal guard, the same man who had been glaring at me nonstop.

I glanced at the innkeeper, who gestured to indicate that this was the man who had summoned me.

I wanted to run. I wanted nothing to do with him. I yawned, feigning nonchalance, and tried to walk out of the inn as if I hadn't seen him. A hand with fingers as hard as rock clamped down on my shoulder.

"And where do you think you're going?"

he asked in a deep voice that matched his physique.

"W-Well… I was hungry, so I was just going out to get something…"

"Guests get breakfast for free. The kebabs here are quite good. You should sit here and have one."

"Ah… right…"

I looked to Famu and the others for help, but they just stood there, stunned by the turn of events.

Reluctantly, I sat down in front of the knight, and Famu and the others followed suit. As we did, our food, which we normally had to get ourselves, was brought to us by the innkeeper. Breakfast was supposed to be bread and soup, but we were served the same kebab sandwiches and ayran he was having.

Famu immediately started gulping down her ayran.

"Is something the matter…?"

She looked at me suspiciously. Her usual gourmet report didn't follow. I wiped the white foam from around her mouth. Just then, a loud throat-clearing echoed through the dining hall.

"Eek!"

I heard the innkeeper let out a yelp. Or maybe it was me.

I hesitantly looked at the bearded man.

"I am Trusar, Captain of the One-Land Royal Guard."

"So, Trusar-san, why are you here…?"

"You are to be Maryanne-sama's husband! Do not add '-san' to my name!"

he suddenly roared. I straightened my posture. A kebab sandwich was offered to me. I had completely lost my appetite due to his presence, but fearing he would yell again, I took it and brought it to my mouth. It was dry and pasty.

"Maryanne-sama has begun her official duties today. However, Mash-dono, she was worried about you and assigned me as your guard."

That was the last thing I needed.

"I-I see. But I'm not planning on doing anything dangerous today. So you don't need to worry, you can go back."

"I cannot do that. The fact that you showed concern for Maryanne-sama and helped establish her as the family head is a great kindness to us retainers. I will guard you until I have repaid that debt."

Hearing that, I looked to Famu and the others for help. But they didn't seem to have any objections. They didn't even seem particularly scared of Trusar.

"So, what are your plans for today?"

he asked. I was at a loss. I wanted to ask Marmi's mother, Marina, if she could do anything about Famu's curse. I wanted to see our new house. After last night's conversation about Patricia, I wanted to confirm how she really felt. I also remembered being asked to visit the church and one of the Four Regent Families, the dwarf Katarzyna Sky-Lot. And I wanted to explore the city to get used to it sooner.

As I hesitated, Trusar's lips curled into a grin.

"Come to think of it, Mash-dono, you are an adventurer who has just arrived in this city, aren't you? In that case, I have the perfect place to show you."

"Where?"

"The Crystal Palace."

We had come to the area controlled by the human Air-Ally family. In a district known as Crystal Square, brothels lined the streets. Though they were called brothels, their construction was no different from the inn where we were staying. However, the lime mortar on the outer walls was meticulously applied, giving them a bright, luxurious feel.

The first floor was a tavern, just like elsewhere, and it seemed you could buy the waitresses who worked there. Apparently, you could also stay as a regular guest, but I remembered Shizuka proudly explaining that most of the customers came for the women.

For now, the area was sparsely populated, and there were few people in the taverns. It didn't have the garishness of Longhorn Street. I wondered if the atmosphere would change at night.

Most of the people walking on the street looked like adventurers, and they were all heading toward the center of Crystal Square. This was the area directly beneath the Crystal Palace, where there was a pyramid-like altar about ten meters on each side. Polished white limestone blocks were stacked up, making it seem to shine. A staircase led to the top, where a black circle, the entrance to the labyrinth, seemed to be.

Trusar spoke to some nearby adventurers for a moment before quickly returning.

"Alright, two adventurers have agreed to take us. We'll split into two groups of three and enter the dungeon."

"Wait, you don't mean the first floor, do you?"

"The fortieth floor."

"What! We'll die if we go there!"

"It's fine. Maryanne-sama told me that the other hero is a warrior strong enough to defeat the Area Guardian of Richel's fortieth floor dungeon by himself. Besides, you have Mo-sama of the Star Union family with you."

Trusar glanced at her, and she nodded with a smug look. She was skilled, but her level as a mage was low. She should have little combat experience. Wasn't she afraid of monsters? I felt a slight urge to see her face contorted in fear after a near-death experience. But it would be troublesome if she came to hate me, so I'd save that for after we'd done some lewd things.

"Hold on, our party is separated from our mage and priestess, and Mo only just joined us three days ago."

I tried to resist, though I was half-resigned to the futility of it.

"That's fine too. I heard you formed a party when you took the promotion test on the Longhorn Trail."

"Guh…"

On the way here, Trusar had been flanked by Famu and Mizuki, chatting with them amicably. Mizuki was the type to get along with anyone, but it was surprising to see Famu seem so fond of Trusar.

The two of them must have told him everything. It was possible that information about us was reaching Yuki at this level of detail as well.

Trusar, Mizuki, and Famu went in one group, while I, Myra, and Marmi went in another, and we teleported to the fortieth floor of the dungeon.

The dungeon corridor had a stone-paved floor, but the walls and ceiling were made of crystal glass. I tapped the wall lightly, but it showed no sign of breaking. Through the crystal glass, I could see a maze of corridors and hallways from other floors, stretching out in countless layers of pale blue. However, I couldn't see any other adventurers or prowling monsters. The world visible beyond the crystal glass might have been an illusion. Where the corridors ended, there was no view of Miglutt, only a blue-black expanse like outer space.

I changed the party registration to include myself, Famu, Mizuki, Myra, Marmi, and Trusar. As I took out the katana I received from Maryanne from my storage, I remembered the sword Laciel had entrusted to me for Mizuki.

When I took it out, I noticed a paper bag I didn't recognize inside. It was probably also for Mizuki.

"Mizuki, I forgot I was holding onto a sword for you from Laciel."

I handed her the sword along with the paper bag.

She took the sword and drew it from its scabbard as if to inspect it.

"This is…"

Mizuki murmured, as if sighing. It must have been imbued with magic. The blade had a luster different from the dull sheen of metal. And I noticed an inscription carved into it.

"Our Lord God is the One and Only, Without Form, Void Yet Spirit-Filled."

I couldn't read it myself, but Myra, who was looking over my shoulder, read it aloud.

"Huh?"

I thought I might have mistaken it for Akitsuki Uta's sword and searched my storage, but Uta's sword was there too. I took it out and confirmed the blade. The same inscription was carved on it as well.

"Mash, you said it means something like 'God is the one and only existence, has no form, and exists as a spirit,' right?"

Myra asked, tilting her head.

The sword Laciel sent for Mizuki also had the same inscription. Countless gods exist in this world. She, too, was one of them.

"The fact that she went out of her way to send this must mean she has something she wants to convey. Maybe my interpretation was wrong, and there's another meaning hidden in it… Perhaps there's a god who created Laciel and the others."

Since the inscription was on a sword sent by Laciel, I should consider it her message. It seemed to imply that it had nothing to do with the god of my original world.

"In the myths, it's said that in the beginning there were two primordial gods, who gave birth to the five creator gods, and the five creator gods in turn gave birth to the Fifty Gods. But even the first gods were two,"

Myra replied.

"Is my interpretation wrong after all… or does it refer to the monotheistic god of the world we came from, just as I first thought? But why would Laciel…?"

I didn't know how to interpret it. I couldn't come up with anything. As I was thinking, I noticed Marmi staring at me.

"…Mash, a sword just like this is enshrined in the government building."

She was talking about the dome-shaped building where Laciel and I had been. It was once the royal castle, but the family line had died out, and it now housed the senate and other central government functions.

"Could it be Okita Soji's sword?"

"…That's what they say."

Marmi nodded. What was Laciel trying to tell successive generations of transferrers by inscribing this on their swords?

"Come to think of it, there was a paper bag, right? Maybe there's a hint inside."

At my words, Mizuki hurriedly peeked inside the bag. But in that instant, she crumpled it in her hand and stored it away in her storage along with the sword.

"W-What? What was in it?"

Mizuki's face turned bright red as she approached me. She brought her mouth close to my ear. Seeing this, Famu and Myra, and then Marmi, who saw their actions, also leaned in.

"…It was the underwear I asked Laciel for."

Everyone sighed at Mizuki's words. Just then, I noticed Trusar staring at me.

"What is it?"

"We've got monsters."

I hurriedly prepared for battle. A monster appeared from straight ahead. At first glance, it was a slime-like creature, slithering across the floor.

Its gelatinous body was about the size of a child, with a large single eye and numerous long, tentacle-like appendages.

"A type of Roper. A Slime Roper,"

Trusar's low voice rumbled. Hearing him, Myra readied her mace.

"S-So gross!"

Mizuki also readied her one-handed sword and shield. Famu and Marmi followed her lead.

I thought there was only one, but a second and third emerged from where they had been hiding behind the first.

The single eye of the lead Roper began to flicker. A giant fireball appeared above its head.

Marmi stepped in front of us and raised her wand. A magic barrier materialized. In response, the second and third Ropers also created fireballs.

"…Here they come!"

Simultaneous with Marmi's voice, the three Ropers launched their fireballs.

The three fireballs merged, swirling into a vortex of flame that filled the corridor and crashed into the magic barrier. With a deafening impact, the barrier shattered.

"Now's our chance!"

Mizuki leaped into the still-burning flames. Famu followed close behind her.

"Myra, provide support. Mo, prepare a magic attack. Trusar…"

Hearing my words, Trusar grinned, gripped his katana with his left hand, and placed his thumb on the guard.

"Leave one to me. You all take care of the remaining two!"

Trusar's body seemed to float. With a light, feathery movement, he dashed toward the enemy.

The flames began to die down. Mizuki and Famu were each handling one. They tried to strike at the main bodies, but the Ropers kept them at bay by extending their countless tentacles and whipping them in retaliation. Even when Famu and the others cut them off, the tentacles immediately grew back from the severed parts and lashed out, cutting through the air.

That sound changed to a sharp crack as one whipped at Mizuki. She just barely blocked it with her shield. She couldn't have seen it coming; it was pure instinct. The impact was too strong, and her body tilted.

"Mizuki!"

"I'm fine!"

While still off-balance, she swung her sword and cut off a tentacle. However, the tentacle regenerated from the severed part and attacked Mizuki again. She gritted her teeth and blocked it with her shield.

The situation was the same for Famu. She dodged the tentacle attacks with her natural agility, but she couldn't get close.

Trying to get behind the two of them, the remaining Roper moved to flank them. It moved like a slug, but its speed was considerable. Trusar went after that one.

He advanced as if gliding over the ground, landing only on the balls of his feet, paying no mind to his footwork. The moment the Roper unleashed its countless tentacles, his bright blade danced. Severed tentacles flew through the air, and green liquid sprayed from the cuts.

He weaved through them and slashed at the Roper's body. The main body split in two at the same time the scattered tentacles hit the ground. He flicked his katana to shake off the monster's bodily fluids and sheathed it.

As I watched, I switched to my bow, took an arrow from my storage, and nocked it.

"Famu!"

Hearing my call, she quickly dodged aside. I fired an arrow through the opening she created.

The arrow, aided by wind magic, flew straight and pierced the Roper's eye. In that instant, the monster's tentacles stopped moving. Famu didn't miss the opportunity and slashed at the monster's main body. One strike wasn't enough, so she attacked again and again.

And the Roper vanished.

The last one was trying to create a fireball while keeping Mizuki at bay with its tentacles. But before it could, a fireball launched by Marmi scored a direct hit on the Roper's main body. Even as it was engulfed in flames, the monster writhed and tried to counterattack, but Mizuki finished it off with a slash.

"Looks like there's no problem,"

Trusar muttered, having observed us.

"This way."

He jerked his chin in a direction and started walking. Reluctantly, we all followed behind him.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Even when I called out to him, he didn't stop walking.

"What a strange question. When you enter a dungeon, where else would you go but the Area Guardian's room?"

"What did you say?!"

At times like this, I wished from the bottom of my heart that Hyakka were here. She would have delivered a brilliant "Why, you!"

retort and landed a blow on this old man. I didn't have the courage, but she could do it.

Just then, he stopped. A short distance away stood a knight in grimy plate mail, holding a greatsword. Except, he had no head.

And behind him was another Roper.