Chapter 81

When the branch manager informed them that there was no escape route, even the master momentarily widened his eyes in surprise.

If there really was no escape route, it would mean the entire operation would collapse from the ground up.

However, there was no way they could swallow such information without question.

"Who would believe such a thing?"

The master glared at the branch manager with a cold gaze.

"Do you think you can deceive us with such a lie? You said you knew about the labyrinth’s rampage from the beginning, yet now you claim there is no escape route prepared?"

Killer intent leaked from the master, and the room was once again filled with tension.

"Stop treating us like fools."

In line with the master’s glare at the branch manager, I silently raised my fighting spirit.

While we must avoid combat at all costs in this situation, if the other side knew this, it would lose its threatening effect.

Therefore, the master and I feigned being on the brink of combat, openly displaying our fighting spirit.

Facing our fighting spirit, Banzam’s face tensed, and the tension made my body stiffen as well.

I could tell even the master, who had experienced far more battles than I, was tense.

Amidst this, only the branch manager remained calm.

"I am truly hurt to be misunderstood like this."

In the tense atmosphere, the branch manager pasted on a troubled smile.

"I merely realized that such a situation could occur given my position as branch manager. I didn’t even have a firm conviction about it."

Then, he turned his sharp gaze to me and continued.

"Moreover, regarding the signs, I believe the adventurers of the Labyrinth City are more knowledgeable. What do you think? – Hero who defeated the hydra that mutated in a short period of time?"

"…Huh?"

Caught off guard by the sudden question, I was bewildered.

The master also gave me a look as if to ask if I knew something, but I had no clue.

I had some knowledge about the labyrinth’s rampage, but there was nothing in that knowledge about the triggers for it.

There was no way I could have detected the triggers for the labyrinth’s rampage.

I thought the branch manager was trying to provoke me.

Just as I was about to think this, I realized something.

"Hydra that mutated in a short period of time…!"

Instantly, memories that had been pushed to the back of my mind due to the labyrinth’s rampage resurfaced.

They were about the super-difficult monsters that had plagued us.

That hydra, and the phoenix we defeated with Sieg and the others, had both mutated at an unprecedented speed.

The unease about the rapid mutation of those super-difficult monsters had been temporarily suppressed by the ban on entering the labyrinth and the labyrinth’s rampage.

But as the memories resurfaced and connected with the branch manager’s words, everything fell into place.

"…Are you saying that all the abnormalities in the monsters were signs of the labyrinth’s rampage?"

"Hmm?"

I asked in a daze, having reached a conclusion I never imagined, but the branch manager did not confirm it.

"However, the labyrinth’s rampage is the only explanation for the current situation, where too many inexplicable events have occurred, such as intermediate adventurers dying in the upper levels of the labyrinth."

The branch manager’s words reminded me of the incident where Maernel and the others came to apologize for not killing me.

At that time, I had heard that intermediate adventurers were dying frequently in the upper levels of the labyrinth, but I had forgotten about it, thinking it was just a mistake on their part.

But now, after defeating the hobgoblins that had come to the city, I realized the truth.

"Those hobgoblins were killing intermediate adventurers…?"

Recalling the hobgoblins who had weapons and attacked Maernel and the others, I announced it.

If that was the case, it explained why the hobgoblins had weapons.

The abnormalities were more widespread than I had imagined.

As I was shaken by the possibility that they were connected to the labyrinth’s rampage, the branch manager smiled, as if seeking my agreement.

"Do you understand now? I merely thought that the labyrinth’s rampage could occur based on the abnormalities so far. I didn’t prepare an escape route based on such a hypothesis."

"…!"

The branch manager’s words were not entirely unreasonable.

It was not unreasonable to imagine the labyrinth’s rampage from the abnormalities so far.

Moreover, it was not impossible to think that they did not prepare an escape route based on a hypothesis.

Still, I could not trust the branch manager’s words.

I stared at the branch manager, who still maintained his smile in this situation.

The branch manager claimed he only knew the possibility of the labyrinth’s rampage, but I did not believe that was all.

The branch manager’s calm demeanor seemed to indicate that he was certain the labyrinth’s rampage would occur.

Moreover, I only felt distrust towards the guild at this point.

The master, standing beside me, whispered to me.

"…Rau, don’t trust Mist’s words."

Hearing this, I understood that the master also did not trust the branch manager, and I nodded slightly.

Then, I glared at the branch manager.

"I’m sorry, but even if your words are true, I cannot trust you."

"…!"

My words made Hansam, who was beside the branch manager, react, glaring at me with anger.

But I judged that it would not cause any real harm and continued to speak to the branch manager.

"When the labyrinth’s rampage occurred, you disappeared, leaving the other guild staff behind. And even though you realized the possibility of the labyrinth’s rampage, you took no action. There’s no way I can trust your words."

I calmly told the branch manager.

No matter what, I would not trust his words.

"Wasn’t my judgment at that time appropriate?"

Even after being told this, the branch manager’s attitude towards me did not change.

If anything, he smiled even more warmly at me.

"The reason Hansam and I disappeared this time is that we judged that staying at the guild would waste time and prevent us from getting accurate information about the labyrinth’s rampage. You know their incompetence, don’t you?"

I did not respond to the branch manager’s words, but I could not deny that they were true.

The guild staff and top adventurers in this labyrinth city were of low level.

They were only thinking about wealth and fame.

In this situation, they would only think about their own survival and bring biased information to the branch manager.

However, the branch manager and Hansam were no different from them.

Unaware of my thoughts, the branch manager continued.

"Also, I want to correct one thing. I have been taking action since I realized the possibility of the labyrinth’s rampage."

"…! Stop telling pointless lies!"

I felt frustrated at the branch manager’s next words.

As far as my memory served, there was no recollection of the guild taking any useful action.

On the contrary, I had only suffered.

Therefore, my words to the branch manager were cold.

"Or are you saying that all the arbitrary actions you took against us and the people of the city were for the labyrinth’s rampage?"

It was just sarcasm.

When the people of the city sought help.

When the entry and exit to the labyrinth were banned.

I knew very well that these were not out of good intentions.

"Yes, that’s right."

"……What?"

…Therefore, I could not hide my shock at the branch manager’s next response.

Without taking his eyes off me, the branch manager stated firmly.

"Not allowing materials to flow into the city and the unfair punishment of you were all measures to reduce the number of victims in case of an emergency."

I am truly sorry for the delay in updating!

It took more time than expected to organize the foreshadowing, so updates might be a bit delayed for a while…