Chapter 83

Once, this becomes a story of the past.

(This was supposed to be a single part, but it became quite long, so I've divided it into three parts.)

"I hope this exploration of the 'Labyrinth of Lament' goes well."

In the bustling tavern where adventurers gathered, a half-elf woman with a strikingly beautiful face and a gentle smile spoke softly to a small, wizard-like man and a slender man with distinctive light blue hair, who were sitting at the same table, drinking ale.

──It was just a casual wish for their own safe adventure.

However, the small man in front of her didn't seem to think so. He put down his ale-filled glass and laughed through his nose.

"──Ha, what are you talking about, Astira? It's bound to go well. We're a party with a track record of conquering many labyrinths, and above all, I, the 'Genius Mage' Oaken, am here."

Seeing the small man's usual confident smile and his arrogant words, the woman who had muttered earlier sighed softly.

"…Really, how can you say such embarrassing things so boldly, Oaken? In a way, I kind of admire you…?"

"Hmph──That's why you're still treated as second-rate, Astira? True greatness comes when reputation matches ability. You should learn from me a bit more."

"Yes, yes… But I wouldn't be happy to become famous for exaggerated claims. Your name is indeed well-known, but as a 'dubious man who only boasts in taverns.' I absolutely hate that, so I'll pass."

"…What…!?"

The wizard-like small man, shocked that the master of the tavern had met his gaze and then looked away, turned to the woman in white robes who appeared to be a cleric, who was checking some equipment with the slender man next to her.

"──By the way, Roy. Are you ready?"

"…Yes. I've checked the quantity of necessary tools and maintained the equipment. All that's left is to pack them in the bag… Oaken, most of these are your magical tools. Can't you do this yourself? Why do you always make me do it?"

"…Ha, it can't be helped, can it? Among the three of us, you're the best at handling magical tools. It's the right person for the job."

"…Aren't you supposed to be a genius in handling tools as well?"

"Hmph… I'm letting you handle this one point. Be grateful. You're a kind of genius too. Maybe it's in your blood or constitution, but you're fully qualified to handle my tools… I might even take you in when I become great in the future."

"…Hey, Oaken? Why are you so arrogant when you always have Roy prepare your tools? And the 'Dual Mage' thing… isn't that the 'Dual Casting' that no one has ever achieved? …You can't do it at all, can you? It's a fraud."

"Hmph, I'll be able to do it eventually. I'm a genius, after all. It's the same as saying my name now."

"…Ha. Talking to you is really tiring, Oaken. Roy, you don't need to take this seriously…?"

"It's fine. I only listen to 90% of it. I just feel sorry for the tools that are mishandled. He's usually just all talk, you know."

"Wh-What…!?

You've been ignoring my valuable advice this whole time…!!"

"Advice? It just sounds like nonsense to me."

"Listening to a bird's song would be more beneficial than your words without action."

"Ku… I'll cry…? When I'm treated this coldly, I… I'll cry…?"

Despite his arrogant attitude, Oaken, a man with a sensitive and easily hurt nature, was truly on the verge of tears.

──Annoying, arrogant, and a self-centered eccentric.

This oddball mage, Oaken, who was constantly called such names and shunned by almost everyone he met, was able to form a proper party as an 'adventurer' for the first time with these two people.

It had already been five years since the three of them formed their party.

"…Is it really okay, you two? I'm hurting and crying. You'll end up feeling sad too… …Are you really… okay with it?"

"It's fine."

"Please, go ahead. But if you cry, do it over there. I don't want to be considered a companion."

"……………………sniff"

They, the 'Cup of Wisdom,' had become a well-known party among adventurers in the northern continent.

Their party consisted of a mage, a cleric, and a scout, a rare and unbalanced composition.

Moreover, the three members were of different races.

──The rare 'Half-Elf' cleric, Astira.

──The 'Lepi' from a minority tribe in the northern continent, Roy.

──And the 'self-proclaimed genius' human, the mage Oaken.

It all started when Oaken, who was shunned by everyone due to his peculiar personality and was desperate for companions, forcibly brought Astira, who had come from a deep forest to the city and was nearly sold into slavery, and Roy, who had come from a deep mountain to the city and had become extremely distrustful of humans after being repeatedly deceived, into his own 'party.'

Two country bumpkins and an eccentric.

The cheap silver cup Oaken bought from a suspicious street vendor when they first met became the name of their adventurer party.

──'Cup of Wisdom.'

When they started using this name, they were a group of people with peculiar personalities, but miraculously, they meshed well with each other, grew stronger together, and eventually conquered several small labyrinths.

They would verbally abuse each other, but deep down, they cared for and trusted each other.

They, the 'Cup of Wisdom,' were a great team that anyone who saw them would envy.

"──Since we're ready, let's go."

"Ha, we'll conquer this one this time. As long as we don't make any mistakes, this labyrinth is a piece of cake. Just leave everything to me."

"…Keep talking. Don't trip in the dark this time… I won't help you if you fall again."

"Th-This time… please, Roy…?"

After preparing, they descended into the labyrinth as usual.

The labyrinth they were about to challenge was the 'Labyrinth of Lament,' a large labyrinth located to the west of the Kingdom of Crease.

It was said to be the largest labyrinth discovered so far, excluding the 'Labyrinth of No Return,' and was one of the most difficult and challenging labyrinths in the world.

But──

They were truly an excellent adventurer party.

Oaken, the mage, was considered top-tier in terms of magical prowess, despite being seen as suspicious due to his excessive talk.

He almost single-handedly eliminated the monsters in the labyrinth, and with Astira's support magic, they were invincible.

Roy, the scout, lacked combat skills but possessed all the qualities of a top-tier scout, including detection, crisis awareness, and the ability to detect and guide dangerous creatures. He also played a role in disrupting enemies during combat.

If someone made a mistake and got injured, Astira, the half-elf, would use her abundant magical power to heal them instantly, and they had conquered several small labyrinths almost unscathed.

Even the powerful guardians that protected the core of the labyrinth were no match for the three of them when they fought together.

Oaken, the mage, continuously unleashed spells with absurd and joke-like destructive power.

Astira, skilled in wind magic, used powerful support magic to nullify all attacks.

Roy, using his innate keen awareness and speed, made precise judgments and effectively disrupted and redirected attention.

With their clearly defined roles, they were incredibly strong when fighting together.

As long as they didn't make major mistakes and fought head-on, there were no enemies, even in the depths of challenging labyrinths.

Thus, they overcame all obstacles and reached the deepest part of the 'Labyrinth of Lament' in a short period.

"What… is this? Could this be the core of the labyrinth?"

Oaken, who led the way, entered a room filled with mysterious light and spoke softly.

What they saw there was a core far larger than any they had ever seen.

"Yeah, that's right. The material is the same as the one we saw before."

"…But it's huge. It's incomparable to what we've seen before."

"And this room… I feel a strange force field. There are no monsters here, unlike in other labyrinths."

"Ha, don't be afraid, Roy. If we destroy this, we'll be conquerors of the 'Labyrinth of Lament.' Let's break it and take it back quickly."

"…Yeah, let's finish it quickly and go back. Our food supplies are already running low. It's better to hurry."

With that, Roy and Oaken tried to approach the large blue crystal.

"Wait, Oaken, Roy. Something is wrong with this core."

"…What?"

"──Danger! Get away──!"

Astira, sensing something amiss, pushed Oaken away from the core.

"What, what's going on, Astira──? …Are you okay!?"

When he realized, Astira's body was half-swallowed by the blue crystal.

"…What is this… Is Astira okay?"

"Yes… somehow. But this is probably a trap of the labyrinth. I feel like I'm being drained of power."

"Damn! I thought there was no guardian, but it's a trap here…!!"

"…Oaken, Roy. Don't come closer. You'll be swallowed too."

"…Astira. Can you get out on your own? I can't do anything about magic traps."

"Seems impossible. I'm barely holding on… but I've already been drained of a lot of magic. I can't do anything."

"──Oaken, use magic to assist Astira from a distance."

"…I'm already doing it…!!"

In the tense situation, Roy sensed the approach of monsters.

"Bad… More monsters are coming. There are a lot of them."

"Damn…!! At a time like this…!!"

"I'll take care of them, Oaken. Can you assist Astira while doing this?"

"──Of course. Who do you think I am? Not a single one will get through. Give me proper support, Roy."

"Alright, I understand."

◇

Thus, a day passed with Astira half-swallowed by the crystal.

During that time, Oaken and Roy defeated several waves of monsters, but the battles seemed endless.

"Another wave is coming. Get ready, Oaken."

"Damn…! They're still coming?"

They fought against dozens of monsters, crushing them each time they surged.

But the monsters kept coming in an endless stream from the darkness.

They had been fighting for a day, almost without sleep or food, and had already battled hundreds of monsters, reaching their limits.

Oaken and Roy tried every possible means to free Astira from the crystal, but none of them worked.

All three of them were gradually wearing down, helpless.

"…Run, Oaken, Roy. This is an 'unmanageable situation.'

If we stay, you'll be in danger too──"

"Don't talk nonsense, Astira!! Don't give up!! I'll──!"

"Oaken, the next wave is coming. Get ready for battle."

"…Damn it!!"

Just as they had barely survived the last wave, another one came.

The frequency was clearly increasing, and the number of monsters in each wave was growing.

It was a desperate situation.

Their physical strength was at its limit.

Even in such a situation, Oaken kept talking to Astira, who was being swallowed by the blue crystal.

"…It's okay, Astira. I'll do something. Don't give up… I'll definitely save you."

But his face was already pale like a corpse, and it was clear that his magical power was exhausted.

The recovery potions were also depleted.

It was clear that there was nothing left they could do.

"…It's enough, Oaken. It's fine."

"What are you saying, Astira! I'll save you now. Watch me, I'll──"

"…It's no good, we need to retreat, Oaken. She's right, we're in danger too."

"Are you kidding, Roy! We can't leave a companion behind and run away here!!"

To the enraged Oaken, Astira spoke with a gentle smile.

"…It's fine. Run, Oaken.

We decided that in such situations, we should run, didn't we?

…It was good to be able to adventure with you. Hurry up."

"Oaken… Do as Astira says. Have you forgotten the vow we made before coming here…? You were the one who suggested it."

"Damn!! You're kidding──Damn!!"

Indeed, he had said it.

When you feel your life is in danger, run away quickly.

Everyone's life is the most important, so protect your own life.

If it gets dangerous, I'll be the first to run, so you should too.

There should be no hard feelings about it──

It was none other than Oaken himself who had suggested this.

"Vow!? I don't care about that! Astira, I'll definitely──!"

"──Sorry, Oaken."

Oaken was knocked unconscious by a powerful chop to the back of his head and collapsed into Roy's arms.

"──Thank you, Roy. Please take him outside."

"…Sorry, Astira. Forgive me."

"Hehe, it's fine, Roy. I asked you to do it──Please take care of yourself."

"Yeah, I won't forget you."

"And──"

Looking at Oaken, who had lost consciousness and was being carried by Roy, Astira smiled gently.

"Tell Oaken when he wakes up that I had a lot of fun adventuring with him."

"…Yeah. I understand."

With that, Roy, the scout, turned his back on Astira, who was being swallowed by the blue crystal, and carried Oaken out of the labyrinth.

◇◇◇

When he woke up, Oaken was lying on a bed in an inn.

Noticing the bandages and treatment on his body, Oaken jumped up in surprise.

"…Roy. Where are we? Why am I here?"

"You're awake, Oaken."

"Hey. Answer my question, Roy… What happened to Astira?"

After a moment of searching for words, Roy spoke in a low voice.

"──She's dead. She protected us."

The room fell silent at his words.

After confirming that there was no one else in the room, Oaken glared at Roy.

"Why… Roy. Why did you abandon her?"

"…It was her will. We would have all perished if we stayed. She saved us."

"…Are you kidding!!"

Oaken slammed his fist into the wall beside the bed.

Ignoring the blood seeping from his hand, which had embedded itself in the wooden wall, Oaken glared at Roy and shouted.

"Why did you stop me, Roy!! Why did you give up so quickly!! I could have saved her!! I could have… I could have definitely──!"

"Face reality, Oaken. You were exhausted. If we had stayed there, we would have definitely 'perished.' Her decision was correct."

"──Are you kidding? I can't accept that. I'm still──!"

"Admit it. It was clearly… our inadequacy. Try to understand her feelings. She left a message for you. At least listen to that before──"

"──That's enough. I understand."

"What… What do you understand?"

Oaken, with his bloodied palm facing Roy, spoke in a strained voice from the back of his throat.

"You… are no longer my companion. I don't want to associate with someone who so easily abandons a companion and runs away first. Never again."

"…I see…"

A heavy silence fell between the two.

Roy also spoke quietly.

"…I also don't want to be with someone who doesn't value the promises made with companions."

Hearing this, Oaken turned his back on Roy and slowly got out of the bed he had been lying in.

He picked up his belongings, which were neatly arranged nearby, and began to put them on.

"──Then it's settled. The 'Cup of Wisdom' is dissolved today."

"…Yeah. Do as you please… It was your idea to begin with… End it as you like."

"Yeah, we'll never gather again. I never want to see your face again."

With his wounds still unhealed, Oaken left the room.

Thus──that day, the powerful party 'Cup of Wisdom' was dissolved.

The death of a companion leading to a falling out among the other members and the sudden dissolution of the party is a common story among adventurers.

It's a story so common that it's not even worth mentioning as a topic of conversation.

One goes on a wandering journey, and one returns to their hometown.

Such a common end to the dreams of adventurers.

Thus, the story of the adventurer party 'Cup of Wisdom' came to an end.

──But the story didn't end there.

Their story didn't end; it was just beginning.

[Information Disclosure] (Added on 20200829)

Character design for one of the main characters, Ines.