Chapter 70

"......What is this place......? It's unusually dark here."

The place where the soldiers led me seemed to be somewhere underground.

We went back and forth in various directions, and I rode on the blue, glowing floor several times, so I completely lost track of where I was... In the end, I was brought to a very spacious cave-like space.

It was dim, and only the distant walls were barely visible in the faint sunlight filtering down from the upper floors.

"──This is the entrance to what was once called the 'Labyrinth of Lament.'"

One of the armored soldiers told me as I looked around.

"......Labyrinth? Was there a labyrinth in Misra too?"

"Don't you know such a thing──you ignorant fool.

Our capital of the Holy Kingdom of Misra was built on top of the 'Labyrinth of Lament,' which Pope Astilla conquered alone in the past. This is a place of historical significance──just being able to step into it is an honor."

Indeed, it did feel that way when I thought about it.

I had never properly entered a labyrinth before, so I didn't realize it.

Overall, it was old and had a different structure from what I had seen upstairs.

"......You. You seem quite relaxed...... Do you understand your situation?"

"......Situation......?"

I thought they said they would entertain me, so I came here.

......Was that not the case?

"──Enough. Proper questioning won't work with someone who is so disrespectful."

"Indeed, what were those dogs of the Kingdom of Creus thinking when they sent this one?

At the very least, they should have sent someone with a bit more common sense as an attendant."

"Indeed──it's going too far. Just allowing them to enter our sacred country is hard enough to forgive."

"Yes...... Let's finish this quickly. The longer we interact with heretics, the more our faith dulls."

"Yes, I want to get away from this barbarian man as soon as possible...... Lady, wouldn't it be better to get rid of him immediately?"

"......No. His Holiness ordered us to capture and present him."

"──Then, let's get started immediately."

They whispered to each other in low voices.

Their faces were hidden by peculiar helmets or masks, but it seemed that a few women were among them.

One of the soldiers pointed at me and said something.

"──Sorry, but this is our duty."

Suddenly, the soldier's fingertips glowed, and a bluish-white light, like a bolt of lightning, shot out.

The bluish-white light flew towards my body and clung to me like a living thing.

The moment the light hit my body, I lost control of my movements.

"──What──my body──?"

I felt as if all the strength was being drained from my body.

──What is this?

"Hehe, can't move, can you?

This is a barrier that even the deep abyss monster 'Minotaur' couldn't escape from.

No matter how much you've distinguished yourself in the war against the Empire, you can't even lift a finger──"

"No, I can still move."

When I exerted a little force, the blue light shattered.

"──What!?"

I couldn't see their expressions, but the soldiers who brought me here seemed surprised.

"......What was that just now?"

I checked my body, but there was nothing wrong.

"......What is that man? Why doesn't the capture barrier work on him?"

"Maybe the holy artifact is malfunctioning. Let me try."

They sent the same bluish-white light at me again.

A slightly brighter light covered my body, but it didn't hurt or itch at all.

It just felt a bit restrictive and drained my strength.

──I don't understand.

Is this what they call "entertainment"?

"......I'm sorry, but what is the meaning of this?"

To be honest, I'm confused.

......Now that I've been brought here, what am I supposed to do?

When I exerted a little more force, the bluish-white light scattered again.

They seemed surprised by this, but...... maybe I should have left it as it was?

The culture of the capital was already hard for me to understand, and the culture of Misra was even more so.

"......Why doesn't the capture barrier work?"

"Could it be that the kingdom has developed a holy artifact that resists barriers?"

"......It's possible. They have the 'Mystic Saint' Oaken."

"──There's no choice. We have to capture him directly."

"Should have done that from the beginning."

"Then──take your positions."

They quietly conversed and surrounded me with their weapons.

For some reason, the atmosphere around them seemed to become sharper.

──Suddenly.

In the dim space, I saw several small arrows flying towards me.

They were aiming precisely at my forehead, eyes, throat, and other vital points.

"Clang"

I deflected the arrows with my sword.

They weren't particularly fast, so I easily knocked them down, but at the same time, two armored soldiers leaped in front of me, swinging their long swords and dual swords.

When I noticed and dodged, several magic attacks flew from behind them.

──What an incredible coordination.

I couldn't see anyone casting magic from behind.

Their movements were so refined that I was impressed, but then, a soldier in peculiar armor who had somehow moved behind me thrust two spears at me simultaneously.

They were fast. If I wasn't careful, I might have been stabbed.

When I managed to evade the attack, four of them attacked me at once.

Their coordination was truly amazing.

Moreover, their movements became even sharper and faster.

However, they were fast, but──

──Not as fast as Gilbert.

"Clang"

I swung my sword and deflected all their attacks.

The four of them were thrown back and landed a short distance away.

"──You're better than I thought."

"......No way, to block all of that..."

"Maybe the rumors about that bumbling man being a hero weren't entirely false."

They didn't seem shaken.

The two in the back launched magic attacks again, and the remaining four closed the distance at the same time.

──Unrelenting attacks from six directions.

I was just defending against their intense attacks, but I had no idea why I was in this situation.

I was completely confused.

However, it was quite interesting to see such impressive skills, and I wasn't getting bored. As they kept attacking me relentlessly, my body started to warm up──

──And I started to enjoy it a little.

"I see──that's what you mean."

At that moment, I understood.

This was what they meant by "entertainment."

Culture changes with the place.

This was their way of entertaining guests.

──Finally, I understood.

When Reen told me that there was danger at the coming-of-age ceremony, I didn't understand what she meant──but this is what she was talking about.

Indeed, if I made a mistake, I could get seriously injured, but in a way──I might actually like this.

"......I'm sorry for not realizing your intentions sooner.

I'm not used to the culture of this country.

Is this what you meant by 'entertainment'?"

"──Yes, that's what it is.

Did you think we would entertain you with tea or something?"

"No, I prefer this way. This is fine."

"It's the Pope's consideration──you should be grateful."

The Pope.

Reen said that all conversations in this country were heard. Maybe he overheard my anxious conversation about the ball and took care of me?

──That must be it.

The Pope must be a very distinguished person.

To take such elaborate care of someone like me, who came along with Reen, is impressive. It's no wonder he is respected by the people.

I had said things like calling the Pope an old woman and her cherished painting a creepy skeleton, and he must have heard all of that...... but maybe he has already forgiven me.

"Yes, I'm grateful. At first, I was surprised, but──this is quite interesting."

That strange bluish-white light must have been the signal to start.

I immediately faced the six of them and readied my sword.

I shouldn't waste their consideration.

"──Let's continue.

From now on, I'll fight with all my strength.

Are you all coming at me together again?

It's fine if you do."

Based on how they fought earlier, I don't feel in danger, and they understand that this is a way to entertain guests.

There's no need to worry about fighting together.

"──You're taking us on seriously, you ignorant fool."

"Hehe, interesting. It's an event upstairs. Let's have a little fun here too. It's been a while since we've had a challenging opponent."

"Sigil, that's a bad habit."

"But we're doing the same thing, right?"

"True. But since he wants it, it might be fun to go along with it."

"......I'll introduce myself. It's a rare opportunity.

──Sigil of the 'Moment', I'm here."

"──Rai of the 'Heavenly Sword'."

"──Miranda of the 'Holy Scripture'."

"──Petra of the 'False Scripture'."

"──Ryuk of the 'Dead Thrust'."

"......Gelgnaen of the 'Mighty Spear'."

The man with dual swords whispered his name, and the others introduced themselves one by one.

But──there were too many to remember.

"We, the Twelve Apostles of the Holy Kingdom of Misra, the right wing──'The Crew of the Starboard Side' will be your opponents.

──Are you ready?"

The atmosphere around them became even more tense after their introductions.

Just introducing themselves had such an impact. Maybe that's the etiquette here.

Do I have something like that?

A nickname or title to use when introducing myself──?

──Come to think of it.

I had one.

A name I've wanted to use for a while.

Yes, I'll use it now.

So, imitating them, I tried to make it sound more impactful──

I swung my black sword with all my might and introduced myself.

"I am a common citizen of the Kingdom of Creus──Noll of the 'Pile Driver'."

The ground around me shook and cracked a bit because I swung too hard.

"──Pleased to meet you."

Introducing myself made me feel a bit more excited.

──I see.

This is another way to entertain guests.

It's indeed enjoyable.

There are still many things in the world that I don't know.

This is a celebration and a festival for the coming-of-age ceremony.

I should enjoy it.

"......So, who's coming first?

I don't mind if you all attack me together like before.

──It would be much more fun that way."

I gripped my black sword with all my might and readied it, facing the six who were about to entertain me.