Chapter 52

"Thank you for coming, Lord Helian. I apologize for summoning you like this."

Three days after the labyrinth rampage.

When Helian visited the border lord's mansion again, the border lord, who was waiting in the VIP room, began with these words. Next to the border lord, his beloved daughter Shion sat quietly.

"The leader of the 'Golden Yellow Mountain' clan, Bigel, told me about your performance. It seems you did as well as any high-ranking adventurer. He even mentioned you as the greatest contributor. He said he would like to express his gratitude in person the next time he meets you."

"It was just a coincidence that I was there and got involved. If anyone deserves the title of greatest contributor, it should be Lord Bigel. I was merely a messenger, and I was helped by Lord Bigel's broad-mindedness."

"You are modest. I hear you had quite remarkable detection abilities."

"That was her power. I was just relaying messages."

Helian answered, glancing at Seres. Unlike the last time, Seres, freed from unnecessary caution, nodded in response. Compared to the previous meeting, where he was visibly on guard, this was a significant improvement.

The border lord nodded, saying "Hmm."

After a moment of silence, he abruptly said,

"---I had intended to abandon the residents of the labyrinth district."

"When I received the report of the labyrinth rampage, I ordered the knights to surround the labyrinth district. I strictly commanded them not to enter the labyrinth district until the encirclement was complete. It wasn't until the encirclement was finished that I started organizing a rescue team. To be honest, I thought more than half of those who couldn't escape would be casualties."

However, fortunately, that didn't happen.

The residents who couldn't escape were protected by those with the power to fight who happened to be there. A makeshift defensive line was established, and with the help of Helian and his group, they managed to buy time.

As a result, the number of deaths was kept to less than thirty, a negligible number in this region, and the damage was reported to be minimal compared to other labyrinth rampages. Historically, this was almost a remarkable achievement.

But that was only in hindsight.

From the beginning, the border lord had made a judgment to sacrifice the small to save the large. He decided to abandon the residents of the labyrinth district as soon as he received the first report of the rampage.

That's what he was saying.

"Do you have any anger towards me for that?"

The border lord's expression didn't change.

His usual cheerful smile was now hidden.

In response to the border lord's matter-of-fact question, Helian gave a straightforward answer.

"No. I understand it as a decision made by someone who governs the city."

Indeed, he could understand it.

In fact, the border lord's response was probably the best solution.

A labyrinth rampage, by its nature, is more like a biological disaster than a natural disaster like a fire or an earthquake. The most important thing in a biological disaster is to prevent the spread of damage.

Rescuing people trapped inside is a secondary concern.

It should only be done after the situation is under control to prevent the spread of damage. In that sense, the border lord's response was entirely correct.

Unlike someone who couldn't hold back, he made a calm and appropriate judgment as the ruler of this city.

Besides, it wasn't a matter for an outsider like him to comment on.

"I see. No, it was a silly question. Forget it."

The border lord said this and changed his expression.

So far, it had been just small talk.

From here on, it would be the main reason for the summons, and Helian braced himself.

"Well, the reason I called you here is no other. I want to borrow your strength, which was so effective in the recent incident. Specifically, I want you to accept a request from me."

A request. In this world, it refers to a contract that connects clients and adventurers through guilds like the Adventurer's Guild.

Adventurers in this world take on almost any job. While they generally take on jobs that require military force, in a broader sense, they can be considered jack-of-all-trades. However, they also have a professional aspect.

For example, there are abyss explorers who specialize in exploring the Abyss Forest, dungeon explorers who specialize in delving into dungeons, hunting adventurers who gather various materials in the wilderness, and combat adventurers who take on all combat-related tasks. There are experts in various fields.

However, Helian is a traveling merchant in this place.

He is not an adventurer.

"I apologize, but we are just merchants. It's out of our field. We don't have the confidence to take care of your precious daughter, nor can we take the responsibility."

"That's fine. At least, you don't need to take responsibility for my daughter's safety."

Helian was taken aback by the casual response.

The border lord was essentially saying that he didn't need to worry about Shion's life or death.

"To begin with, I don't intend to ask you to guard her. I will assign the knights to guard her."

"Then, what do you require of us?"

"To put it bluntly, you will be the vanguard. This will be a hunting request rather than a guard request. However, the target is not a specific creature but all the monsters you encounter in the dungeon. I want you to eliminate any obstacles that might hinder my daughter from reaching the altar."

In other words, it's a division of labor.

The knights will guard, and Helian will hunt.

In exchange for not having command over the knights, Helian will not have command over the knights either.

"You don't need to protect Lady Shion, then?"

"That's right. Even if my daughter ends up a tragic corpse, I will not hold you responsible in any way. I will make sure to include that in the contract."

That responsibility would be borne by the knights and Shion herself.

When Helian looked at Shion sitting next to the border lord, she nodded calmly.

"I am still a daughter of the Gardener family. With problems arising in Seals, how could I hide in the mansion out of self-preservation?"

"---That's right, Lord Helian."

It seemed that the matter had already been discussed internally.

The words of Glen Gardener, who was here as a lord and not a father, were unimaginable given his doting nature when Shion was first brought to the mansion. However, Shion seemed to accept it as a matter of course.

...Can it be cut off to this extent?

With that thought, the images of Reifa and Ririfa flashed in his mind.

"Well, I'm not particularly worried. With a skilled dungeon explorer who is familiar with this dungeon, reaching the thirtieth floor should be no problem. In fact, Shion has experience diving to the thirtieth floor with the protection of the knights before."

"---What if we decline this request?"

"In that case, I will have no choice but to give up and seal the dungeon. The knights currently stationed in Seals are excellent, but there are few outstanding individuals. I believe there will be no problem, but after the Behemoth incident, I don't want to take any risks without insurance."

It seems he is prepared for the suspension of magic stone supply.

And it seems there is no option to wait until the main force on standby in the border area can be recalled.

As the border lord himself said, this matter needs to be resolved quickly.

At least, the border lord, as the ruler of this city, has made that judgment.

"..."

Helian remained silent, picking up the teacup to buy time for a response.

When he tasted it, the contents of the cup had lost their heat.

It seemed a considerable amount of time had passed.

While feeling the warmth in his throat, Helian considered how to respond.

Probably, even if the supply of magic stones is delayed, it will be manageable.

While the industrial technology in this world is underdeveloped, the development of magical devices has progressed to a certain extent. No, it might be that the development of magical devices has reduced the need for industrial technology. Compared to the magical devices of Alkymaira, they are a few generations behind, but it is true that magical devices are used for water supply, lighting, and heating, which support daily life. And generally, such magical devices consume magic stones as fuel.

Therefore, it is unlikely that the border lord, who is sitting in front of him, has taken no measures at all. He must have emergency stockpiles, and even though the relationship with the kingdom is not good, he must have prepared means to secure supplies from the kingdom in emergencies.

However, as Alkymaira, who is struggling to increase food self-sufficiency due to the adverse effects of sudden transfer, shows, a decrease in resource self-sufficiency can lead to instability in the situation.

For Alkymaira, Seals is a planned base of operations in the human domain. It is undesirable for the local situation to be unstable. In fact, he explained this reason to his subordinates and changed the initial plan to intervene in the recent incident.

As a result, Helian's personal plan to act inconspicuously and steadily was completely derailed. He was in a position where he could no longer talk about negotiation practice as a mere traveling merchant. It was unacceptable to damage Alkymaira's interests any further. Considering the fact that he had attracted public attention, he had no choice but to revise his plan to sell a favor to the border lord and gain popularity among the local residents to aim for [dominance].

Sighing heavily in his heart at the conclusion he had reached, Helian placed the empty cup on the saucer and asked the border lord a question.

"---May I state my request for the reward upon completion of the request?"

The border lord nodded in satisfaction at the question.

...

The matter was settled, and Helian left the mansion after exchanging detailed conditions.

He had a strong feeling about the reward he requested, "At least this much is non-negotiable," but the border lord surprisingly agreed. He had thought his request was rather bold, but it seemed the border lord's pockets were deep. Or perhaps he took the situation very seriously.

While he felt mentally exhausted from the second meeting with the highest authority, he had no time to complain. After having Seres deploy a soundproofing spell, Helian switched his mindset and informed his subordinates.

"---As you heard. I'm tired of unexpected events, but I can't complain. To stabilize the situation in Seals, which is a planned base of operations in the human domain and a key point in the human domain, we will participate in the dungeon exploration."

"Hmm."

"The border lord said he wants to resolve this quickly, and I completely agree. Just like when we dealt with the labyrinth rampage, I don't mind showing our true strength up to the mid-C rank. I will finish this trivial matter quickly."

The three subordinates responded in unison, indicating their acceptance.

"By the way, regarding the evaluation of the combat abilities gained from the battle the other day, how accurate do you think it is? Seres."

"Regarding the border lord, it doesn't seem like everything was revealed, but I think about 80% of the basic combat power was discerned. As for the knights and adventurers, I'm 99% sure."

Helian checked the <Character Information> on the <Virtual Window> in his field of vision.

The threat level of the knights and adventurers displayed there was mostly D, with a few lower C ranks mixed in. The threat level of Glen Gardener, known as the Holy Sword Lord, was also rated as a lower B rank.

Even if there were aspects of basic combat power that were not discerned or hidden, it was likely that the upper B rank was the upper limit of human capabilities.

The border lord, who possesses personal combat power close to that of a fairy dragon, is an extraordinary existence when considered calmly. However, even with superhuman combat power, the Holy Sword Lord, who is considered the greatest hero of humanity, is not a threat to Alkymaira.

"In other words, even the humans who defeated the elves in the war of the past do not have the combat power to threaten Alkymaira."

This confirmed that Alkymaira has an absolute advantage in the military. Whether by chance or not, one of the goals has been almost achieved.

"..."

Just before leaving the central district, Helian turned his head.

In front of the wide avenue, wide enough for ten carriages to run side by side, stood the mansion of the border lord, towering like a castle.

Behind Helian's closed eyelids, the images of two leaders appeared.

---Glen Gardener is a great leader who guides the people.

A ruler with a firm resolve backed by a solid belief, the head of an old family that has governed the border city with a history of several hundred years to this day, and a hero who protects humanity.

---Reifa Rim Lastwood is a pillar of the people's hearts.

A person with an indomitable spirit that never breaks no matter what situation they are in, and a symbol of the Lastwood family, who, at the young age of fifteen, does not curse her own misfortune but strives to fulfill her duties as a queen.

---Then, what about me?

Mitsuhiko Misaki, who lacks the belief and fighting power of Glen Gardener and the indomitable spirit and pride of the royal family of Reifa Rim Lastwood.

As a king who commands creatures that are not even human, what kind of leader should Helian Edda Elsine aim to be?

"Lord Helian?"

"---No, it's nothing."

Helian turned forward to avoid Reeve's puzzled gaze.

While carrying a worry without an answer, he fixed his face forward and walked toward the temporary lodging.

---And.

Reeve opened her mouth as if to say something to Helian's back, but with a slightly lowered brow, she gave up and closed her mouth. Helian never noticed this.

...

---The next morning.

When Helian and his party arrived at the labyrinth, the most important facility in the labyrinth district, they saw the knights who were already well-prepared. Despite arriving thirty minutes before the scheduled time, they were ready to depart immediately.

In front of the entrance to the labyrinth, there were two men dressed differently from the knights.

One of them, a familiar bald-headed man, raised his arm to greet Helian and his party.

"Thanks for the other day, young master."

"---Lord Bigel?"

"Drop the 'lord' stuff, it makes my ass itch. Just call me Bigel. Nice to see you again, young master and the three of you."

"Does that mean the guides for the labyrinth are---"

"It's us. We've reached the deeper levels before. You can leave the traps and other troublesome mechanisms to us."

His partner raised his hand as if to say, "Hello."

He was holding a spear, which he didn't have before.

Bigel also had a longsword and was wearing scale armor, with numerous scars on it, clearly showing his experience in many battles.

"I would have preferred to enjoy my vacation, but I can't refuse a direct request from the Holy Sword Lord. Besides, I believe in paying back debts as soon as possible. I'll do a good job."

He patted his chest and smiled with his partner.

The fact that Bigel, an adventurer who is not affiliated with the city and a notable figure, would say such things shows that the border lord's popularity is indeed solid.

"This time, I am counting on you, Lord Helian."

Shion, who stepped forward in the path cleared by the knights, addressed them. She was wearing a ceremonial outfit, primarily white with accents of deep blue, and a sheer veil on her head.

"Likewise. Though I am but a humble person, I will do my best, Lady Shion."

Aware of the knights' gazes, he changed his tone and bowed.

With this, all the members for the dungeon expedition were in place.

In front of the wide-open entrance to the labyrinth, the expedition team reorganized their formation.

Helian and his party at the front, the two dungeon explorers standing side by side, and the knights forming a circle with Shion at the center.

"Then, everyone. We are about to perform the 'Tuning' ceremony. I sincerely hope that each of you will fulfill your roles for the sake of Seals."

The gathered people responded in their own ways.

Under the command of Shion, the border lord's daughter, they all stepped into the labyrinth.