Vol 3: Chapter 22
We were looking at the two letters in front of us that were delivered to Muge-san’s company.
One was a subpoena. There was a discrepancy in the testimony between the Rororo Company and the Muge Company(The real name of Muge-san’s company) regarding the negotiation of 1,000 Imperial gold coins. It was to enquire on that matter.
A legal lawsuit. The thief Rororo Company shamelessly lodged a complaint. It was even added that they were willing to accept settlement out of court.
And the other was a sealed letter sent from Her Highness Anastasia. The letter was strictly secured with both reading obstructing magic and the magic to know if the seal had been broken. Fortunately, there were no signs that the seal had been tampered with when we received it.
『I handed the bag to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty promised to re-investigate, but the problem is that Lulusha will not be able to return to her original position even if she turns out to be innocent, due to losing many personnel and failing the capture. But I am grateful for your work. I don’t have any assets in my current position, but I will send one bunch of my hair to reward you. You have my permission to use it as a magic catalyst or to sell it.』
Indeed, the contents of this letter should be strictly secured. Because Mimino-san suddenly screamed “Hair of a High Elf Royalty?!” and was shaking non-stop for a few minutes.
The High Elves who lead the elves have a unique mana which cannot be imitated. High Elf hair is especially useful when activating ancient elven magic tools.
Furthermore, there are also enthusiast collectors who collect various things. The price of High Elf hair could reach the moon if sold to them. It doesn’t have a market price in the first place.
However… I didn’t like either of those ideas.
This world is far inferior in ornaments and cosmetics compared to modern Japan. To look at it from another perspective, the quality of the material is most important, or rather people take pride in their own body. Which is completely fine. But the problem is… “hair” is extremely important to women. To think Her Highness Anastasia cut off her flawless hair, sank my heart.
I didn’t even want something like this.
I just wanted to meet Lulusha-san and talk about old man Hinga.
(Moreover… this trace…)
Another thing caught my attention. At the very end of what was written on this paper, Her Highness Anastasia had put the pen on the paper but then removed it—as if she wanted to write something, but stopped.
Her Highness Anastasia usually talks in writing, so she is very good at writing. Even though the sentences up to that point were written without any stagnation, did she miswrite at the very end?
「—So, what do you wish to do, Muge-san?」
Dante-san broached the subject.
We were still gathered in the warehouse of the company, passing around the pitcher with cold water and drinking it. What a hot day. It felt pretty good being under a shade, but even so, moving around just a little causes sweating.
「Well, of course I’ll fight! I will use the money from selling the parts obtained from the labyrinth to hire a lawyer, and get the money which was promised to us!」
Muge-san was full of motivation, punching the air like doing shadow boxing.
As Muge-san said, other than those used to upgrade Neko-chan, all the parts brought back from the labyrinth have been sold. It came to about 8 Imperial gold coins and change. Silver Balance received half of that. Muge-san said he would bear the cost of the parts used for Neko-chan, but Dantes said:
—Isn’t Neko-chan also a party member?
Therefore, it means that she (he?) also has a share.
Muge-san teared up a little when he heard that. Dante-san is cool at times like this… If only he didn’t drink alcohol…
Anyway, Muge-san had about 2 million yen(20k usd) on hand, so it seems to be enough money to fight one lawsuit. Well, if he wins the lawsuit, he’ll get 1,000 gold coins, so of course he’ll be motivated.
「What will your party do, Dante-san?」
「We… What will we do, Reiji?」
「…………」
I was staring at the letter from Her Highness Anastasia.
Miswriting. Or perhaps, she tried to write something but didn’t…?
(Her Highness Anastasia worked to help Lulusha-san, so it’s safe to say she’s an ally, but she seemed to feel indebted to us.)
I’d expected her to behave more haughty, since she’s royalty. But she seems to be really considerate of us.
「Muge-san, to meet Her Highness Anastasia–」
「No, we can’t! Impossible! Even looking at her from a distance should’ve been originally impossible for us. It’s not the same as dropping by the Labyrinth Administration Bureau.」
「…………」
Is it because Her Highness couldn’t meet us in person that she sent a sealed letter? The butler was quite angry.and opposed to meeting us last time.
(If so, what did she try to write? Lulusha-san’s unfavourable future? No, that’s already written. A request that would burden us? A request only we can undertake…)
「Ah! The labyrinth.」
「Reiji-kun? What is it?」
Mimino-san peered into my face. I’m troubled if I should tell her or not.
(No! Don’t lose yourself to doubt. I am a party member of Silver Balance. I should talk to everyone and rely on my party!)
I resolved myself and said.
「I think that Her Highness Anastasia might want us to completely capture the Labyrinth of Fear.」
Dante-san raised an eyebrow. Mimino-san eyes widened as if surprised.
「Why do you think so?」Non-san asked.
「Lulusha-san’s failure on the labyrinth capture is certainly a major impact. I think it will be quite difficult for her to live in this country due to that. The only way for her to make this right is to succeed in capturing the labyrinth, but she will no longer be given a capture team. So… 」
「…We’ll help to capture it in her stead and testify it was thanks to Lulusha-san?」
「Yes. I think Her Highness Anastasia couldn’t write that because it is a rather unreasonable proposal.」
When I said that, everyone kept silent as if thinking about it.
Surprisingly, the first person to speak was–
「Bocchan. Do you really need to do that?」
It was Zerry-san.
「Haven’t you done enough? I don’t even understand why it’s treason in the first place, but you already saved her life, correct? I don’t think even Lulusha-san would ask anymore than this from you. So, isn’t it enough if you just meet and talk to her like you came here for?」
「I……」
It is indeed as Zerry-san said.
However, the reason why Zerry-san can think of it like that is because she can wander from place to place around the world.
Lulusha-san was born and raised in this country. A lot of people are going to think and point out “she killed many of her friends” from now on. It’s going to be a ridiculously painful life.
I was born and raised in Japan, so I understand. It’s not that easy when people tell you, “You can just go abroad.” No, perhaps it’s surprisingly not that difficult when you actually do it. But I think it would be a terrible thing to say to Lulusha-san, who gave her all for the sake of her country.
Even as it is, Lulusha-san was probably treated like an outsider by the Lev people.
「Hey, hey, you two don’t have to think so hard. I’m actually surprised Zerry can think of something deep like that.」
Dante-san clapped his hands to break the heavy silence.
「Hey! I was actually called the “Strategic Zerry” in my mercenary days, ya know…」
「Anyway…」
Dante-san cutoff Zerry-san’s remarks.
「Listen, things are simple. There’s an unexplored labyrinth in front of us, and we have the right to enter. It comes down to whether we want to challenge it or not, that’s all. We are adventurers. What comes after that is up to you.」
When I heard that, I felt that a fog in front of me was clearing up.
That’s right. We are adventurers.
I forgot about such a simple thing.
「Dante-san, I–」
「Yes, yes. You wait a minute, Reiji. Mimino, what about you?」
「Hmm. I am a little interested about the dungeon magic, so I want to investigate it.」
Minino-san said while rotating her index finger in a circle.
「And you, Non?」Mimino-san asked.
「I want to go, of course. I don’t know when I’ll be called back to the church, after all. I have to go on adventures while I can.」
She put her palms together in front of her chest and smiled.
「What about Zerry-san?」Non-san asked.
「I give up. Since you all put it that way, there’s no reason not to challenge the labyrinth anymore.」
Zerry-san shrugged her shoulders, but didn’t particularly look displeased.
Finally, Dante-san.
「I guess it’s decided then. …Well, I would be lying if I said that I’m not worried about the Golden Brigade guys.」
Leon and Golden Brigade were still in the labyrinth. Polina-san said they had enough food in the labyrinth, and she went to contact the Labyrinth Administration Bureau to send out a rescue party, so she wasn’t here.
Polina-san had lost too much blood and shouldn’t move around too much for a few days, so it might be a good idea to leave her with Muge-san. She has a problem with accommodation, and Muge-san can feel secure having someone skilled like her around.
「Kuu, I will entrust Neko-chan to Reiji-san!」
Muge-san gave me the key to start Neko-chan – not a literal key, but a plate embedded with magic stone.
「Thank you, everyone! Muge-san, we’ll come back with Neko-chan’s load tray full of loot!」
「I’m looking forward to it! What an unbelievable profit to get loot without going in person!」
Muge-san smiled broadly.
「Okay, let’s get ready to leave.」Dante-san said.
「Right!」Mimino-san said.
「Okay!」Non-san smiled.
「Roger!」Zerry-san said.
I nodded to Dante-san’s words.
「Yes!」
Thus, Silver Balance set out to challenge the Labyrinth of Fear for the third time.
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