CH 48

A Trivial Happiness

After returning safely from the Labyrinth, “The Roots of the Divine Tree”, we headed back to the village once more.

Originally, we shouldn’t have returned to the village while our pursuers were nearby, but now we are in need of funds, so we have to take the risk. In order to receive the reward for defeating the Ogres, I went into the Guild and submitted the Ogres’ horns as evidence of defeating them.

“It seems that our pursuers aren’t staying in the village.”

I tell Mize, as I pocket the reward that the Guild gave.

“But we’ll still need to leave as soon as possible, right?”

“Yeah. Let’s buy what we need and leave right away.”

Compared to the ruckus in the Labyrinth, the scenery in the village is the image of peacefulness.

We must be careful not to be carried away by this tranquil atmosphere.

We split up to buy medicines and food. Afterwards, we head to the stables to procure a carriage. Fortunately, there was a merchant who was considering replacing his worn-out cart, so we were able to obtain it for a relatively cheap price after personally discussing it with him.

“With this, we were able to finish purchasing everything we need.”

“Yes.”

Mize says, holding a paper bag stuffed with medicines.

As we headed to the carriage, Mize suddenly stopped walking.

Mize, who had stopped, had her gaze glued to the accessories lined up at a street stall.

“Is there something you want?”

“Ah… No, it’s nothing.”

When Mize shyly shook her head, I inwardly realized that I had made a mistake.

That’s right… When I ask her questions like this, she would always refrain.

“Which one do you want?”

I ask Mize once more.

“Eh… N-no, that’s, I’m alright! I don’t particularly, want anything…”

“The reward this time has left us with enough money to spare. Since Mize also contributed, we can afford to splurge somewhat.”

Mize had described our elopement as our new everyday life.

So then, if we don’t relax every once in a while, our spirits won’t last.

“Then, I’ll take this…”

Mize reservedly picked up an accessory that was lined up on the shelf.

It was a somewhat nondescript, pitch-black bracelet.

“Are you sure you’re fine with this? Something with more intricate ornaments would be…”

“This one is fine. After all…”

Mize wears the accessory on her left arm.

Then, comparing it with my left arm, she says:

“Look– they match!”

Mize says delightedly.

Now that she mentioned it, the black bracelet that Mize picked up looked exactly like BF28 on my left arm.

As long as the person herself is satisfied with it, then it’s fine.

I inform the owner of the street stall of my intent to buy the bracelet, and hand over the money.

“Are the two of you travellers?”

As I receive the merchandise, the shopkeeper calls out to me.

“Yeah.”

“If you’re heading west, you better be careful. Some guys said that they saw something strange in the wastelands yesterday.”

“Something strange?”

“I’ve heard that there was a strange, floating pattern in the sky. And the next moment, the pattern started to glow, and a loud, ear-splitting roar could be heard. The guy I heard it from only saw it from afar, so he’s not sure what exactly had happened, but you should keep that in mind, just in case.”

“I see… Thanks for the info.”

“Hey, don’t worry about it. In a small village like this, it’s important to help each other out.”

After thanking the nice shopkeeper, I left that place.

Mize also bowed deeply and conveyed her gratitude.

“Where are we headed to next?”

Mize, who is sitting next to me on the driver’s seat, asks me as I operate the carriage.

“The distance is still too far for us to head directly to the Republic of Carnabun. Therefore, I’ve decided to head through via the crags in the middle. That place has a lot of cover, so even in the unlikely event that the enemy finds us, we will easily be able to deal with them.”

“When you say crags… do you mean this area marked in grey on the map?”

Mize says while spreading out the map in her hands.

Mm-hm. Mize nodded and abruptly smiles.

“… Fufu.”

“Is something the matter?”

“No, it’s…”

Mize closes the map and looks at the distant landscape.

“Staying in an unknown village, earning money from the Guild’s commissions… then after exploring a Labyrinth, we’re heading to a new land. This is just like having an adventure, isn’t it?”

“… You’re right. I would definitely call the accidental Labyrinth exploration we did the other day an adventure of its own.”

A colony of the Divine Herb Exa. When I saw that amazing spectacle, I honestly got goosebumps. The excitement I felt at that time could be said to be the real thrill of adventures.

Perhaps, no one has even discovered that place yet.

If it had been discovered, it wouldn’t have been left in that defenceless state.

“It’s ironic, isn’t it? I’ve come across what I’ve always yearned for, after I’ve been deprived of my everyday life.”

Mize says with a fleeting smile.

Her expression at that time, did not look very happy.

◆

Since we left the village, around 2 hours have passed.

“… It’s strange, isn’t it?”

Mize looks at the map with a grim expression beside me, who was driving the carriage.

“We should have seen the crags by now…”

“Yeah… It’s weird; all I see is wasteland.”

The map I obtained from the Guild was the latest version. There should have been no mistake with the information.

Despite the feeling that there was something unusual about it, we advanced forward in the carriage.

And there– we saw an unbelievable sight before us.

“What, is this…?”

The entire area had been erased completely, as if it had been hollowed out with an enormous spoon.

The surface of the ground was cleared out, and there was no sign of the crags that should have originally been there.

We stopped the carriage. Mize, who was beside me, was also lost for words at the sight in front of us.

In just one night, the entire terrain of this area had changed.

As for the cause– I had some idea.

“Don’t tell me… <Extremism>?”

It’s no exaggeration to say that this power is the ultimate weapon of the Kingdom.

The highest firepower of the True Soldiers’ Special Ops Organization. It reminds me of the person who excels the most in destructive abilities in the country.

There’s no mistaking it; it’s definitely her doing.

I remember the information we heard from the street stall. In the western wastelands, there was a floating pattern in the sky. That pattern seemed to glow, and in the next moment, a thundering roar was heard… All of this information was consistent with the phenomenon known as <Extremism>.

Since we were in the Labyrinth, we didn’t notice it, but the Organization had apparently deployed its ultimate weapon in order to capture us.

— Calm down. We’ve just lost the advantage of the terrain.

The scene that stretches out before us is appalling, but there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Although <Extremism> has enough firepower to change the terrain, the person who acted as its caster has a weakness– she cannot kill people directly. Last night, she must have destroyed the crags after confirming that we weren’t there.

“Tweight-san! There is something heading towards us!”

Mize says, pointing to the edge of the wastelands.

It’s too far away to be seen even if I use <Rage>. I release the miniaturization of BF28 and looked through the [Far-sighted Crystal].

“… This is the critical moment.”

There was a carriage approaching.

And– Oz was riding behind it.