Chapter 77

The phenomenon of a labyrinth going berserk can be said to be as feared as natural disasters, a unique occurrence specific to labyrinths.

Beasts that should only exist within the labyrinth overflow outside of it. This is the most prominent characteristic of a labyrinth going berserk.

Furthermore, even goblins and hobgoblins that emerge from the labyrinth have mutated into forms that should only be possible for extremely difficult beasts, and they possess a high level of intelligence that allows them to move in groups without any issues.

Even if it is a small labyrinth, if a labyrinth goes berserk, it can cause the destruction of two or three surrounding cities.

This is the knowledge about a labyrinth going berserk that I gained from books.

And indeed, the current state of the labyrinth city closely resembled it.

The hobgoblins, who possess an abnormal level of intelligence and strength, and the lich that completed a tactical-level magic by stealing the orc's magic power—none of this could be considered normal, and if it were a case of a labyrinth going berserk, it would explain the situation.

However, even while understanding this, I could not accept my master's words.

"…It's hard to believe that the labyrinth in this labyrinth city could go berserk!"

When I faced the swarm of beasts, I once considered the possibility of a labyrinth going berserk. However, I immediately dismissed the idea as impossible.

This is because the labyrinth city exists to suppress a labyrinth going berserk, and to my knowledge, it has always fulfilled its role.

The next moment, Narseena's words to my master inadvertently echoed my inner thoughts.

"Recently, we defeated the extremely difficult beast, Phoenix, and other adventurers are also hunting within the labyrinth! There's no way that enough magic power could accumulate to cause a labyrinth to go berserk in this situation…"

A labyrinth going berserk is said to occur when the magic power accumulated in the labyrinth exceeds a certain amount.

When the magic power within the labyrinth overflows, it creates powerful beasts that can survive outside the labyrinth, causing them to overflow outside as well.

In other words, to prevent a labyrinth from going berserk, it is necessary to prevent the accumulation of magic power within the labyrinth. The only method to do this is to kill the beasts within the labyrinth and create new ones to consume the magic power.

This is why labyrinth cities are born around labyrinths, and adventurers descend into the labyrinth to hunt beasts.

With this knowledge, and knowing that the adventurers in this labyrinth city have defeated a considerable number of beasts, Narseena and I could not believe my master's words.

Even while understanding that his words about a labyrinth going berserk were based on his experience of suppressing numerous such events.

My master nodded in agreement with our shaken state and spoke.

"Yes, that's right. Normally, it would be impossible for a labyrinth in this labyrinth city to go berserk. After all, this is the largest labyrinth ever discovered, and there's no way that thorough beast hunting hasn't been carried out."

My master's words affirmed our belief that a labyrinth going berserk in this situation was impossible.

But for a moment, I wondered why he would mention a labyrinth going berserk, but his story was not yet finished.

"But the current situation is definitely a labyrinth going berserk. Or perhaps it's a similar phenomenon, but that doesn't matter now. What's important is that a critical situation is occurring."

He paused for a moment, as if hesitating.

But it was only for a brief moment, and he spoke again.

"–I believe this situation was caused artificially."

"Wh-what!"

"…Eh?"

In the next moment, I could not hide my shock at my master's words.

Artificially causing this situation? Someone deliberately triggered a labyrinth going berserk?

It was impossible to believe.

I looked at my master's face, hoping it was a joke, but his expression was dead serious.

My master continued with the same expression.

"I know someone who could do this. And that person has been acting suspiciously recently."

"…Who is it?"

Without a moment's hesitation, my master did not immediately respond to my question.

Instead, he asked a question.

"Hey, Laust. Do you know about lost technologies?"

"…Eh?"

Confused by the sudden question, I let out a startled voice.

But I quickly realized that my master wouldn't bring up an unrelated topic in this situation, and I recalled the knowledge I had read in books about lost technologies.

Lost technologies are highly advanced techniques left behind by a civilization that flourished hundreds of years ago.

After all, they are capable of manipulating what is called the domain of the gods, the labyrinth.

The teleportation array in this labyrinth city, also known as the elevator, is a lost technology.

Without it, adventurers would have to travel through the grasslands, where even extremely difficult beasts sometimes appear, to reach the original entrance of the labyrinth.

Even after recalling this, I still couldn't understand how this related to the current situation, so I asked my master.

"What about lost technologies?"

"The branch guild leader of this labyrinth city knows about lost technologies and may have used that knowledge to cause a labyrinth to go berserk."

"…What?"

I couldn't suppress my shock at my master's words.

Narseena was speechless.

After a moment, I tried to organize the information.

My master said earlier that a person capable of causing a labyrinth to go berserk had been acting suspiciously.

From this, it seems that my master believes the branch guild leader of this labyrinth city caused the labyrinth to go berserk.

But even after understanding this, I still couldn't accept my master's words.

Indeed, the guild in this labyrinth city seemed obviously strange even to me, a mere adventurer.

But even so, I couldn't see any reason for them to cause a labyrinth to go berserk.

The aftermath of a labyrinth going berserk is catastrophic damage.

It seemed to me that there was no meaningful purpose for such an outcome.

Moreover, I couldn't believe that the branch guild leader possessed lost technologies.

They are called lost technologies because they were lost hundreds of years ago.

I couldn't believe that anyone could possess such technologies, and even if the branch leader did have them, I couldn't understand how they could use lost technologies to cause a labyrinth to go berserk.

Of course, I didn't doubt my master.

From the serious expression on his face, I believed he was sincere, and that was why I was so confused.

Narseena, who I could see out of the corner of my eye, was equally confused.

But my master didn't wait for us to calm down from our confusion.

"Therefore, our next step is to track the whereabouts of the missing branch leader and his subordinates. Laust, get ready immediately. Narseena, solidify the defenses with Ronaldo."

"Eh?"

"We'll start searching in ten minutes. Hurry up."

With those words, my master took action.

He stood up from his chair and left the room.

"Ronaldo, you will defend this place with the other adventurers…"

As my master's voice faded away, I realized I had missed the opportunity to ask for more details and sighed.

"Haah"

Our sighs overlapped, and I turned to see Narseena, who also looked exhausted.

At that moment, our feelings strangely resonated, and we both burst out laughing.

After laughing for a moment, we quickly got up to prepare, as we couldn't stay in one place for long.

I turned to Narseena and spoke.

"If the beasts come again, don't overexert yourself. With Ronaldo around, it's better to rely on him."

"I'll be fine. You be careful too. …It seems the branch leader is more capable than we thought."

"I understand. Well, with my master around, I think I'll be fine."

I smiled at Narseena, but my inner thoughts were different.

Indeed, my master is one of the most skilled people I know.

However, I felt a hint of unease in my chest, especially because he seemed unusually anxious this time.

Perhaps this situation is more critical than I imagined.

The thought that suddenly came to mind lingered in my head for a while.