Chapter 77

Loro and I hurried deeper into the darkness.

We were running through the "Labyrinth of Lament," located beneath the nation of the Missra faith.

──There must be something deeper in there.

Following the instructions of Prince Rain, we were heading straight for our target inside the labyrinth.

"Are you okay, Loro?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. I can keep up with this."

I was able to move several times faster than a well-trained soldier due to the holy silver armor enchanted with magic that I wore.

Despite this, this child was keeping up with my near-full-speed mobility.

There were some concerns about acting alone, but he seemed much stronger than I had expected.

Rather, his growth was frighteningly fast.

It made me wonder what my childhood training days were for.

I had served the young Linneburg and understood that there were true "geniuses" in this world.

I thought there would be no one who could match such a person, but he, too, must be a kind of "genius."

While not particularly outstanding in combat ability, he excelled in everything else to an unbelievable degree.

Running at a considerable speed, he followed me silently, his movements refined to a degree unimaginable from his former self.

──And it had only been a few months since he was taken in by the Kingdom of Creuse, weak and frail. It could only be described as a natural talent.

"Is this the right direction?"

"Yeah, this is definitely it. Keep going this way."

Loro was holding the magical compass created by the Mage Saint Oaken.

A special magical device that allows the user to sense the same wavelength of magic as their own.

We used it to determine our path in the darkness.

While running, Loro looked at the magical device and pointed to the wall ahead.

"Beyond this."

"【Divine Sword】"

Following Loro's indication, I immediately destroyed the wall with the "Sword of Light."

By destroying all the walls and floors that obstructed us, we plunged straight into the depths of the labyrinth. The walls of the labyrinth, said to be as hard as the teeth of ancient dragons, second only to adamantite, were not easily broken down, but with me and the "Black Sword," it was a different story.

Therefore, the very simple order given to us by Prince Rain, the planner of this operation, was:

──Destroy all obstacles and push through.

"Everything has gone according to Prince Rain's predictions."

While running, I was inwardly impressed by the series of events so far.

I wasn't doubting, but I couldn't hide my surprise.

Before our departure, the prince had told us:

──We will probably have to face the nation of the Missra faith with just the four of us.

"For some reason, Pope Astira is very eager to have both Rine and Loro. The prince's proposal to Rine is probably just a pretext. There must be another purpose."

The prince continued:

"That country has a very significant dark secret.

It's something that the public will never be told, but this time it will be the key.

──The method for manufacturing the 'Heart of the Demon.'

Finding evidence of this and exposing it to the light is one of the conditions for our victory. The places that seem likely have already been searched by the units under the command of the 'Hidden Saint' Karoo.

What remains are the pope's and the prince's chambers, and the underground 'labyrinth.'

Most likely, all the major secrets are underground.

──We must find it at all costs.

This is the absolute condition for our country to survive with the 'demons' in the future."

The prince explained this to Loro, Linneburg, and me.

In terms of simple combat ability and military power, we are probably superior.

But our country is vulnerable in terms of resources and economy.

Even if we use every political means at our disposal, the small Kingdom of Creuse will inevitably be overwhelmed in the long run by the Missra faith nation, which has deep connections with many countries.

──The war between the Missra faith nation and the Kingdom of Creuse has already begun.

The first shot has been fired, and a fierce struggle for future dominance is taking place across the continent.

The more time we give the enemy, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us.

And yet, we have already given them more than enough time.

"Because the enemy already believes they can 'win' against our country.

They will surely reveal their true nature and show their fangs at some point──"

The prince speculated that it would be during the coming-of-age ceremony of Prince Terence, when they believed they had the target in their hands.

"──It will probably be the final negotiation at the audience with the pope.

The enemy will certainly make unreasonable demands.

We don't have to accept them.

But if it breaks down there, the war will move to the next phase."

──A full-scale war involving neighboring countries.

We need to make our move before that happens, the prince emphasized.

"──Loro is the key, huh."

"We need to obtain material that can be used to appeal to the people as a country that has accepted demons, with a legitimacy that anyone can understand.

We need to gain allies as soon as possible by obtaining an unshakable legitimacy that can be easily understood by the people.

What we can do first is to show that demons have the legitimacy of their own existence.

Even if it's just a gamble, there is no more effective means at the moment.

Our country is being targeted to form a circle of condemnation focused on the 'demons.'"

The prince concluded.

"Could that man have planned this far ahead?"

To be honest, I can't really believe it when I think about that man's usual behavior.

He doesn't seem like the type to be so calculating.

But this situation started with that man.

After repelling the invasion of the Magic Empire, that man refused all the enormous rewards that should have been given to him as a hero who saved the country and only wished for the acceptance of demons in the Kingdom of Creuse.

The king agreed, and despite opposition, the prince, princess, and all the subjects, including me, accepted it.

It was a decision that would determine the fate of the country.

──In the end, everything started from that man's request.

I never thought he would be the one to take the first action this time.

While we were receiving instructions from Prince Rain, that man seemed uninterested, chatting with the Mage Saint Oaken, but he must have been thinking of a plan while listening to the conversation.

Thinking back, that man's actions since we arrived in Missra were somewhat unnatural.

Immediately after warning Linneburg about the conversation in the carriage, he insulted the pope as an "old woman," and then stood in front of the "Saint Missra statue" in the corridor outside the room we were invited to, deliberately calling it a "creepy skeleton."

Of course, the surveillance that was supposed to be following us couldn't help but react.

As a result, we were led by the "Twelve Holy Saints" to the entrance of the "Labyrinth of Lament," where rough handling takes place.

Looking back, it was clearly a provocation.

As a result, the enemy's forces were divided, and this confusion was undoubtedly caused by it.

──After all, that man might be a strategist, despite appearing to be unthinking.

"What is that man really thinking?"

The words slipped out, but I didn't feel like blaming him.

He is probably pushing forward, destroying the labyrinth and heading deeper, just like us. I saw large holes that seemed to be made by him, leading straight to the depths below.

We can assume that the pursuers from the Missra faith nation have already been dispatched.

But they will surely be confused about which one to pursue.

──A large-scale diversion by a single person, even betraying his allies.

No one could have predicted such a bold move on the spur of the moment.

Whether or not this was all part of his plan, we can't afford to miss the opportunity he has created.

"Never increase the number of enemies.

This is a war, but it is also a political game.

Secure the target quickly without fighting and expose it to the light.

Our true enemy is limited time──never misjudge the enemy."

The prince strictly ordered us.

Following the order, to avoid contact with the pursuers, we rushed forward through the darkness at full speed.

"──Deeper in here."

I cut through the thick magic iron door that appeared in the direction Loro was guiding, without even trying to open it.

──No questions asked, a hard-line approach.

In the end, this is all I can do.

It might be a bit too forceful.

But now, even the time to push the door is precious.

As we continued to push forward without stopping, a much larger metal door appeared before us.

It looked more like a metal block covering a cave-like labyrinth, giving off a foreboding atmosphere as if something was sealed inside.

I sensed a bit of tension in Loro's demeanor in front of this door.

"……This is it. There's something beyond here."

"【Divine Sword】"

Without hesitation, I destroyed the massive metal door and created an opening large enough for the two of us to enter.

We cautiously looked around after entering the room.

Indeed, something was placed in this room-like space.

But it was too dark to see what it was.

"……Should we light it up?

Are you ready……?"

"……Yeah."

I took out a "small magical light" from a storage compartment hidden inside my armor and illuminated the area.

A blood-red, dazzling gemstone appeared.

It was──indeed, what we had expected.

But──this.

"……Is this really the right place?"

"Yeah……it is."

To reassure me, who had lost my words, and perhaps to convince himself, Loro slowly spoke, comparing the surroundings with the magical device in his hand.

"There's no mistake. All of these have the same magical wavelength as mine."

Loro's words sent a chill down my spine.

The space we had reached was paved with 'Hearts of the Demon,' known as ultra-pure magic stones, and in some places, they were piled up like mountains.

We had been informed in advance that this would be here, at our destination.

It was indeed what we had expected.

But, this……is too much.

Before our eyes was a mountain of red gems, piled up so high it seemed to reach the sky.

What this indicated was that all of this──

"Then, this is……"

"Yeah."

Loro quietly said, looking up at the mountain of red gems.

"I think this is my ancestors."

I was speechless for a while.

──We knew this.

When demons channel magic through their bodies, their blood solidifies and transforms into a special mineral.

This was known among a few people in the past, but it was concealed for a long time by the Missra faith nation, and those who cooperated were given enormous rewards, so no one knew about it anymore.

The Kingdom of Creuse received information from an old acquaintance of the Mage Saint Oaken, and a few key figures, including the king, were aware of this fact.

We were informed of this before coming here, so I thought I was prepared.

And yet──I couldn't move from the spot.

"This is the fate of the demons."

Loro knelt in the red gems, tears streaming down his face.

Around him were piles of clothes and human bones.

The demons were captured and sent to Missra, and their whereabouts became unknown, and no one could trace their fate after that.

This means──

"……Loro."

Knowing that my words would be of no comfort, I tried to find something to console him, but then I felt a sense of unease and looked around.

Looking into the darkness──I felt an even more desperate emotion.

Because──

"……What……"

Beyond that was a mountain of red gems, towering like a wall, even larger than what we had seen at the entrance.

It was certainly more than hundreds.

Thousands of lives, their fates──

The mountain of gems indicating their tragic fate continued endlessly into the darkness.

──This is too much.

The number. The quantity.

Even if you add up all the demons from the war that lasted for over two hundred years, spanning over a decade, it might not be enough.

Why.

Why is there such a large amount of this stored here.

"Ugh."

I felt a sudden urge to vomit and staggered.

To bring back the dark history of this country and use it as a bargaining chip.

That was the mission given to us by the prince.

Revealing this darkness would also bring great pain to Loro.

I knew this.

But, it was necessary for him to live.

Both Loro and I were prepared for this.

──But.

I lacked imagination.

This is too──

This is too──heavy for this child.

The demons were persecuted by many countries.

But that's not all.

They were captured for a purpose.

As raw materials for a highly profitable trade.

"……What……?"

While feeling a sense of despair, I suddenly sensed something moving in the darkness and strained my eyes.

When I realized what the shadow was, I was once again stunned.

"What is this──what is happening?"

I couldn't help but doubt my own eyes.

It was a horde of monsters.

A horde of particularly powerful monsters was walking towards us, emerging from the darkness.

But, monsters should not spawn here──

No, that can't be.

The labyrinth is usually cleared when its core is destroyed.

This is confirmed by the guild's specialized personnel, and it is considered "cleared."

The "Labyrinth of Lament" is said to have been cleared by Pope Astira alone in the past, and the resources from it were the foundation of the Missra faith nation.

This was about 250 years ago.

So, this labyrinth should have been dead for a long time, and no more monsters should spawn.

But──in front of me, various kinds of monstrous creatures, like those found in the depths of the "Labyrinth of No Return," were swarming.

This means──

"This labyrinth has not been cleared."

──This labyrinth is still alive.

Feeling a sense of shock, I protected Loro, who was crouching on the red gems, while being surrounded by dozens of monsters.

"What is going on in this country?"

In front of me, in the darkness, monsters continued to emerge endlessly.