Chapter 78

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Originally, we were already prepared for battle, so my master and I finished our preparations in less than ten minutes and left the Adventurers' Guild.

However, even after a few minutes had passed, my master continued to walk around as if searching for something and did not leave the Adventurers' Guild.

Seeing my master's behavior, I couldn't help but tilt my head.

If the branch managers had caused the labyrinth to go berserk, wouldn't they be trying to escape from the Labyrinth City?

I couldn't see any point in searching this place so thoroughly.

I was torn about whether I should tell him this.

It was then that my master spoke up.

"Alright. I found it."

"……Huh?"

While I was still confused, my master pressed his hand against the ground.

In the next moment, a spell was activated, and the earth beneath his hand began to rise.

Surprised by my master's sudden action, I opened my mouth.

"Master? What are you……!"

However, I couldn't finish my sentence.

In the middle of speaking, I saw something that made my eyes widen.

It was a hollow space beneath the raised earth.

The space, illuminated by a faint light, was clearly not a natural formation.

Beneath the earth was a passage that had been constructed by human hands.

"What is this……"

Standing in front of the passage, I couldn't hide my shock.

Not only was there a passage beneath the earth, but the passage itself was extremely unusual.

The passage was reinforced on all sides by something that looked like white stone.

In the dimly lit passage, it was hard to tell what it was, but seeing the white stone that emitted a slight luster, I understood.

This was something that couldn't be achieved even with magic skills in the current civilization.

It was clearly made with technology far beyond what we have today.

While I was still in shock, my master showed no signs of it.

Shaking off the dirt from his hands, he stood up and spoke.

"The branch managers are at the end of this passage. It took some time to find them because my magic perception was being interfered with. They must have prepared an escape route."

"Wha! ……Did the branch managers make this?"

"Yes, most likely. This is a passage made using lost technology."

"Is this lost technology……"

Hearing my master's words and seeing the passage, a fragment of lost technology, I finally understood.

I couldn't tell if this was powerful enough to cause the current situation, but lost technology was clearly a highly advanced technology far beyond human comprehension.

When I reached this conclusion, I couldn't help but voice a question I had been harboring.

"What do you plan to do with the branch managers, Master? Is lost technology something that can control the labyrinth's berserk state?"

Even after seeing the passage, a product of lost technology, I couldn't believe that it could control the labyrinth's berserk state.

The horde of monsters led by the lich would have surely devastated the Labyrinth City if my master and the others hadn't been there.

After seeing that, I couldn't believe that humans could do anything to the labyrinth, no matter how advanced the technology.

However, my master, who knew more about lost technology, might have a reason to believe that it could control the labyrinth's berserk state.

Unable to suppress my curiosity, I asked.

My master, however, quickly dashed my hopes.

"No. It's absolutely impossible. The labyrinth's mechanism is beyond human control. The only way to stop the labyrinth's berserk state is to destroy its core. To be honest, even we can't destroy the core of a labyrinth of this scale."

"……What?"

My thoughts came to a halt at my master's words.

The reason my master was looking for the branch managers who possessed lost technology. I thought it was to control the labyrinth's berserk state.

Therefore, I was shocked when my master declared it impossible.

If that's the case, why are we looking for the branch managers?

Is there any way to deal with the current situation?

My mind was dominated by these thoughts, and I lost the composure to question my master.

Ignoring my state, my master continued.

"Besides, I don't even think it's possible to cause the labyrinth to go berserk using lost technology. It wouldn't be that easy."

"……"

……I was beyond surprised and could only feel confused at my master's words, which contradicted what he had just said.

I knew that this person's way of thinking was different from mine.

With his overwhelming knowledge and experience, he could think ten steps ahead while I was still on the first step.

Therefore, I couldn't understand the true meaning of my master's words, which were ten steps ahead of my thinking.

Still, I wished he could explain the current situation in a more orderly manner.

I couldn't help but grimace at my master's usual behavior.

I even thought that my master might be quite relaxed, but it was only for a moment. The atmosphere around my master suddenly changed.

With a tense expression on his handsome face, my master fiddled with his red braided ponytail and spoke.

"……But, this time might be an exception. No matter how well-versed in lost technology a person is, I don't think they could cause the labyrinth to go berserk. But, the branch manager of this Labyrinth City is a different story."

After a pause, my master continued with a serious expression.

"– If it were that man, I could believe he caused the labyrinth to go berserk."

"……!"

I gasped at my master's words.

The branch manager of the Labyrinth City. The only image I had of him was that of someone using guild staff to do something.

I didn't even know his appearance or abilities, and to be honest, Hansam left a stronger impression on me.

However, my image of him changed dramatically.

The tension in my master's words clearly conveyed that the branch manager was not to be underestimated.

With that atmosphere, my master continued.

"Even if this berserk state wasn't caused by human intervention, that man would have certainly detected it. His actions are likely related to the labyrinth's berserk state."

My perception of the branch manager's abilities was being revised upward.

Perhaps, my underestimation of him was part of his plan.

Gradually, the tension inside me grew.

At that moment, my master's lips curved into a smile.

"……Huh?"

It was a fierce smile that didn't match the desperate situation he was describing.

Surprised by this unexpected expression, I let out a small sound, and my master, still with a combative look, spoke.

"Then, there's no way he wouldn't have prepared an escape route."

"───!"

At that moment, I finally understood the reason my master was looking for the branch managers.

My master had never intended to stay in the Labyrinth City and try to control the berserk state.

His goal was only one: to negotiate with the branch managers and use the escape route they had prepared to leave the Labyrinth City.

I smiled, seeing the light in this desperate situation.

Considering the escape route prepared by the branch manager who possessed lost technology, it would be much safer than trying to evacuate the city while protecting the people.

There were concerns.

The possibility of a successful negotiation was low, and there was a high chance of a battle.

If it came to that, we would have to face the branch manager, whose combat skills were unknown, and Hansam, who was known to be strong.

Still, we had a top-tier adventurer on our side.

It wasn't a hopeless fight.

But! My thoughts were changed by the next words my master said.

"This time, we will avoid combat as much as possible."

It was an uncharacteristically cautious statement from my master.

It seemed like a joke, and I smiled, intending to respond lightly.

It was then that I noticed the extreme tension in my master's fierce smile, something I had never seen before.

"……Master?"

"Remember one thing."

In a stern voice, my master responded to my call.

"The branch manager's close staff don't know, but if you and I were to fight the branch manager, our chances of winning are less than thirty percent."

"……Huh?"

I finally realized the seriousness of the situation.

The sense of crisis I had felt towards the branch manager was far too naive.

"Let's go."

With those words, my master descended into the passage, and I could only stare at his back in a daze.

I apologize for the delay in updates.

I was in a near-death state due to a combination of a cold and hay fever.

If I need to take a sudden break, I will report it on my activity page, so please check my profile page.

I will do my best to ensure the next update is on time, despite the challenges!

P.S. On my activity page, I recommend "Maou-sama Kansatsu Nikki" by Mr. Penguin, which is a real masterpiece. I highly recommend it!