Chapter 17

Four days later, Rambert visited the Ainzas Underground Labyrinth on the outskirts of the city of Ainzas, accompanied by Fiona and the other two members of her party.

The entrance to the underground labyrinth is a large stone staircase.

At the entrance to the underground labyrinth, officials lined up, and stakes were driven into the ground around the entrance to check those entering the labyrinth.

Here and there, parties of two to five adventurers would converse with the officials before entering the labyrinth.

(Hmm... It seems to be quite old, but it's still a place I've never seen before.)

He had thought it might be a place connected to him, but he had never heard of such a place during his lifetime.

It would make more sense to consider it a building constructed after Rambert's death.

There was also the possibility that it was hidden by a barrier or earth in the past, but Rambert was one of the Four Demon Generals of the Regius Kingdom.

It would be impossible for an individual to build such a large-scale facility, and if it were, it would have to involve some noble or the royal family. However, if that were the case, it wouldn't make sense for Rambert to know nothing about it.

He also couldn't imagine the royal family secretly building such a large-scale facility during the intense war.

“...Hm?”

As Rambert looked at the wall at the entrance to the underground labyrinth, he noticed a strange engraving of a smiling human-faced egg that had cracked open, revealing folded wings inside.

“What!? Why is that here!?”

Rambert couldn't help but shout loudly.

He then hurriedly jumped down the stairs and touched the wall with his hand.

He recognized this mark.

“Rambert!?”

Fiona called out and ran to the edge of the stairs.

“That, that's not good! Please come back up!”

(It's definitely it... This emblem belongs to the Sage Domenione!)

The Sage Domenione—during Rambert's lifetime, he was the supreme magician and a demon created by the war.

He developed many magical weapons and spells, contributing significantly to the Regius Kingdom's military strength, but due to his dangerous ideology, ambition, and repeated inhumane acts, he was considered the most dangerous person in the kingdom.

In the end, Rambert, under the orders of Aurelia, led his subordinates to raid the research facility and slay Domenione.

The scene Rambert witnessed then was something he didn't want to recall, even after experiencing many hellish battles.

Human bodies stitched together to create flesh golems, cruel traps that left bodies alive but not dead, and berserkers created by injecting drugs into the brains of subordinates.

Of the twenty subordinates he brought, all but Rambert were brutally killed by Domenione's wicked research products.

In the end, he brought it down to a one-on-one battle and killed Domenione, but the research facility collapsed, and Rambert himself narrowly escaped with his life.

(This emblem was one Domenione favored... This means it's his research facility! He could have built a second or third facility in secret, hidden from the royal family!)

As he thought this, his hands trembled. A man poked Rambert's back with a stick.

“Hey, you!”

The official, who was managing the entry of adventurers into the labyrinth, was irritated that Rambert seemed to be trying to enter without permission, and thought to push him over with the butt of a spear.

“Gah!”

But Rambert didn't budge, and the spear broke, causing the official to fall to the ground.

(Is this guy made of iron?)

The official, terrified by Rambert's toughness, was also irritated at being made to look foolish.

“...What, what's wrong?”

“You, you! Trying to enter the labyrinth without our permission, what are you thinking!?”

“Turn back the adventurers entering this labyrinth. This is not a place to explore casually. It will end in disaster.”

“Huh? What are you...”

As Rambert tried to persuade the official, Lloyd jumped down the stairs and tried to pull Rambert's arm.

“Hey, Rambert! Just back off! Damn it, he's not moving at all!”

“But the situation is...”

“Just do it! Before entering such a labyrinth, you need to prove your reason for entering and which guild you belong to, as Fiona said!”

“...Hmm”

Rambert, though reluctant, followed Lloyd back up the stairs of the labyrinth.

“Hmph... I thought you were someone else, but you're just from the 'Twilight of the Spirits' guild.”

The official, glancing at Rambert being led by Lloyd, muttered this.

“Damn it! Please, before you do anything strange, Rambert, consult with Fiona or me first!”

“Hey, Lloyd, is your guild under the watch of the officials?”

“Huh? N-no, that shouldn't be the case...”

“Good, then that's fine.”

Rambert looked at the official again.

The official, seeing Rambert's back, smiled thinly, but when their eyes met, he snorted and turned away.