Chapter 46

"......I am truly sorry."

In the deepest part of the guild, in a heavily guarded room, Hansam, a guild staff member, bowed his head to a certain person. His face had lost its color, perhaps due to a sense of guilt.

"You don't need to worry. It was all an unfortunate accident."

However, the old man, who was supposed to be receiving the apology, remained calm in contrast to Hansam. The old man, with his long white hair and ears that were unusually long for a human, smiled with a weariness that he couldn't hide.

"......You've done well in this impossible world."

"!"

Hansam's face contorted at the old man's words of kindness, as if he was moved by them.

"......But, this time, it's an unforgivable mistake."

But even so, Hansam did not turn a blind eye to his own mistake. His face, twisted with unhidden regret, opened to speak.

"......I gave information to a top-tier adventurer, and on top of that, I caused the hydra to mutate. It's a mistake that could have had irreversible consequences if I had made one wrong step."

"......Hansam."

At Hansam's words, the old man's face darkened. Indeed, Hansam's mistake could have seriously derailed their future plans.

This labyrinth city has independent power from the capital's guild headquarters. The materials from the monsters sent to other cities from this place are of such value. That's why the capital's guild is trying to bring this labyrinth city under its control.

......But if the labyrinth city's guild were to come under the control of the capital's guild, our plans would all come to a halt.

"......It's fine. As long as that man is there, the capital's guild won't be able to interfere with the labyrinth city."

However, even if the mistake was to be punished, it couldn't be Hansam. As long as that man was there, the authority of the labyrinth city wouldn't waver. After all, while the adventurer's guild is said to have independent power from the state, it still has to meet the state's demands to some extent. And as long as that's the case, the labyrinth city will be safe.

Moreover, the old man judged that the hydra's mutation was not Hansam's responsibility.

"Regarding the hydra's mutation, there was nothing you could do about it. You know that, right?"

"!"

At the old man's words, Hansam's face showed signs of agitation. Hansam also understood that while he had leaked information to Ralma, the hydra's mutation was something he couldn't control.

Hansam had discovered early on that Amhurst, a guild staff member, was trying to hide the hydra's existence. ...But even so, the reason he couldn't defeat the hydra before it mutated was due to a series of unfortunate events.

The absence of a party that could reliably defeat the hydra, the arrival of the top-tier adventurer Ralma in the labyrinth city, and the abnormally short period before the hydra's mutation.

Indeed, if the hydra had mutated, the damage could have been catastrophic. It's a common knowledge that once a super-difficult monster mutates, the surrounding towns would be destroyed.

"Hansam, I don't intend to blame you for the hydra incident."

However, the old man couldn't hold Hansam responsible for the hydra's mutation.

"......There isn't a single person who can blame you in this situation."

The hydra's mutation was that irregular. The reason the hydra mutated in such a short period was due to the sudden increase in magic power in the depths of the grasslands.

......And the increase in magic power in the depths of the grasslands pointed to something.

"......It seems the awakening is near."

At the old man's words, Hansam's face showed unmistakable agitation. The old man was certain that Hansam had reached the same conclusion as him.

"Hansam, I understand that you bear no responsibility. The few mistakes you've made while perfectly carrying out my requests. I have no intention of blaming you for them. ...No, we don't even have the luxury for that."

"......I understand."

After a moment of hesitation, Hansam nodded at the old man's words. The situation was closing in on them, and Hansam couldn't help but understand that.

"Is everything proceeding smoothly?"

At that moment, the old man asked Hansam, having confirmed his state.

"Yes. There are a few exceptionally skilled adventurers left, but I believe we can overlook such minimal damage in the worst case."

"......I see."

The old man responded to Hansam's words with a shadowed expression. ...A sense of helplessness for the future lingered in the old man's heart. He was driven by the impulse to at least let Hansam escape from the labyrinth city.

But understanding that it was impossible, the old man suppressed that thought deep in his heart.

"Then, our goal is almost within reach."

The next words the old man spoke made Hansam's face tense.

"Guild Master, I will stand by you until the end."

In the next moment, Hansam knelt on the spot, as if making a vow.

After a brief nod, the old man, the guild master of the labyrinth city, Mist, spoke.

"Until the labyrinth city falls, it's just a little more."

......A disaster far greater than the mutated hydra was approaching the labyrinth city.

With this, I will conclude the first chapter.

The second chapter is not a joke, but it is planned to be a situation far worse than the first chapter.

I have a feeling it will be quite long...

And as I work on the detailed structure of the second chapter and gradually correct the typos in the first chapter, I think I will update every three days.