CH 27

Déjà Vu

“W-we somehow made it.”

“That was a close one…”

We jumped down to the floor of the Fifth Layer and confirmed that the Chimera and Hobgoblin we encountered in the Fourth Layer had given up on pursuing us.

“But Mize, how did you know about this escape route? It’s not here on the map…have you been here before?”

“No, that’s…I’ve never been here before. But, somehow, it felt like I knew about it…”

In response to Elysia’s question, Mize responds, as if she was wondering about it herself.

That behaviour made me voice a question that had been weighing on my mind for some time.

“You’ve said something similar before. The time we took the Basic Combat Ability Test at the Guild, you said you could anticipate the Golem’s movements…is it Déjà vu, or something like it?”

At my words, Mize gave an unsure nod.

“Yes, that might be so. It’s been happening a lot recently…the other day, during our Magical Pharmacy class. It happened during the time I made a Level 2 Potion.”

Speaking of which, Mize also created a Level 2 Potion in that class by coincidence.

At least, at the time, I thought it was just a coincidence, but I wonder if the same thing would happen successively.

“Mize, ever since you’ve come to school, you’ve often borrowed books from the library. Couldn’t you have unexpectedly stumbled across information about Pharmacy and Golems within those books?”

“Ah…n-now that you mention it, I feel that might be the case…”

Hearing Elysia’s opinion, Mize nods shyly.

“Well, I mean, suddenly remembering something you’ve read before isn’t unheard of.”

Gran says with a chuckle.

This matter should be put on hold for the time being. It isn’t something to be thinking about in the middle of a Labyrinth. Since it seems that Mize was also wondering about it herself, it is unlikely that I’ll get an answer even if I pry.

What I have to focus my attention on now– is how to deal with the bandits.

Immediately after we encountered and fled from the Chimera, I noticed the gazes of several bandits following us. Perhaps they feared that Mize would be killed by the Chimera, since if Mize had died, they wouldn’t be able to get their hands on the ransom. But immediately after we jumped off the suspension bridge-like passageway, I couldn’t feel their gazes anymore.

It seems like the bandits didn’t know about jumping off as a route to the Fifth Layer.

The bandits must be panicking right now at our unexpected behaviour.

— If I were to attack them, now is the time.

Following Elysia’s lead, we were making our way to our destination.

In the middle of this, I moved closer to Oz and whispered in her ear.

“Just in case, be ready with your [Communication Paper] at all times.”

“…Roger that. Are you making your move?”

“Yeah. If there are too many of them, I’ll call you. Until then, protect them.”

Oz nods her head.

Then, I call out to the three: Mize, Gran, and Elysia

“My bad, I need to use the toilet.”

It’s the standard excuse.

“Roger that. Should we wait for you here?”

“No, go ahead to the destination. I’ve memorized the map, so you don’t need to worry about me.”

Many Labyrinths that have completely been explored have toilets installed. In “The Swirling Depths of the Royal Tomb”, toilets have been installed in each layer.

After separating from the four of them, I begin to take independent action.

As I turn the corner of the passageway, out of the sight of the four– I use <Rage> to sprint.

When I reach the staircase connecting the Fourth and Fifth Layers, I feel the presence of a person.

“Where did those brats go!?”

“I don’t know; somewhere in the Fifth Layer!”

Bandits’ appearance confirmed. These are the men who, after we encountered the Chimera, stood back, drew their swords, and observed us.

They were 4 in number. They must have been divided into the front guard and rear guard, as there was a distance between the 2 groups of 2 men.

On both sides of the passage that the bandits were in, there was a total of 8 candlesticks furnished.

All of them were destroyed by <Bullet>.

“Wha!?”

“Damn, it’s the enemy!”

The vicinity was immediately swallowed by darkness, and I approached the enemy without making the sound of footsteps.

This terrain was convoluted and had lots of obstructions– the kind of battlefield I specialize in.

I pierce the group of 2 in front with a blade created by <Fixation>, killing them, before approaching the group of 2 in the rear.

The remaining 2 had already distanced themselves from me; they quickly went to opposite sides of the passageway and hidden themselves. It seems that they have taken up temporary positions, and there was no sign of their presence coming out.

I risk approaching the place I think the enemy is, making my footsteps known.

Then, as soon as I turn the corner of the passageway– the enemy swung his sword down at me, but the heel of my palm struck his stomach faster.

Without delay, I cut the second man with <Flash Blade>.

The bandit, who was crouched on the ground after receiving my palm strike to his stomach, let out a groan upon seeing his comrade cut into two pieces.

“W-why, was our location…”

“You lack training. Don’t hide when you hear footsteps.”

“Damn it…ugh!”

The man’s forehead was shot with <Bullet>.

At that moment, I heard something vibrate beside the man’s corpse.

In the darkness, I grope around to find the vibrating object.

I picked it up and found out that it was a [Communication Paper]. There was an incoming transmission from someone. I silently let magic power flow through the [Communication Paper].

“Oi! What’s going on!? Answer me!”

Apparently, the ones I just defeated were just scouts.

They are probably suspicious of the fact that they lost contact with their comrades and are now attempting to contact them in this manner.

“…tch. They were had.”

With those last words, the communication was cut off.

Perhaps reinforcements will be coming.

Even if I defeat them one by one, there may be no end to it.

It would be faster to just lure them into a large room and wipe them out.

I pull out my own [Communication Paper] from my pocket and let magic power flow through it. The recipient of the transmission is– Oz.

“Oz, where are you now?”

I ask as soon as the transmission connects.

“Let’s see, the second survey point. From the place we separated, it’s around the ten o’ clock direction.”

“So, over there…if it’s there, then Mize and the others should be safe for a while.”

One of the survey points that we were supposed to go to comes to mind. There is only one passageway that leads to that point. In other words, as long as that one passageway is protected, Mize and the others will be safe.

“There are a lot of enemies. Lend me a hand.”

“Roger that, I’ll be there soon.”

Author’s Note:

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