Chapter 531 Labyrinth

A large number of mercenaries began to gather in front of the Ian Mercenary Group building.

In a typical invasion, these mercenaries would have been fighting atop the walls, but the walls had become meaningless in the current situation.

This time, they had to take on a different role instead of guarding the walls, so they assembled temporarily in a safe zone.

The assembly point was in front of the Ian Mercenary Group building.

Because of the supply warehouse, the street where the Ian Mercenary Group was located had been made into a safe zone where monsters did not pass through.

Frey looked back at the mercenaries, whose numbers had grown considerably, and spoke.

’Is everyone here now?’

’Shall we do a headcount?’

’Forget it. Those who haven’t shown up by now must have run into some trouble. The city is in this state, after all.’

There was no time to go out and meet those who hadn’t arrived.

Shaking her head, Frey spoke to the gathered mercenaries.

’Let’s just go with the ones we have. Is everyone ready?’

’We finished a long time ago. So, when do we leave?’

’I don’t know either. We can’t depart until that guy gets here.’

’...Excuse me, it will be more dangerous if we move recklessly right now.’

Soldiers guarding the nearby area asked the mercenaries who were having such a conversation.

Normally, during an invasion, it was over once you properly performed your assigned role... but in this situation, they couldn’t stand it without asking what kind of operation was going to take place.

Usually, for security reasons, the overall operation details weren’t just given out to anyone.

Even if it could be found, there were hardly any individuals who would read through that thick defense plan if they weren’t the commander or assigned to that mission.

’Where is everyone going in this situation?’

’To that.’

Frey pointed toward the massive pillar of fire in the north without saying much.

If the end of the world were to manifest in a physical form, it would surely look like this. A giant, ominous flame and shadow burning with such a presence.

It was the culprit of this current situation that no one could deny.

Pointing at it with her fingertip, Frey spoke.

’We have to resolve that somehow, don’t we?’

’That thing... by what means?’

’I don’t know that either. But fortunately, there’s someone who likely does.’

Frey did not have the knowledge or a particularly good idea that would come to mind to answer that question.

But fortunately, there was one good person in this city to whom such a solution could be entrusted. And coincidentally, that person had just arrived at the scene.

’You’re here. You guys are the latest.’

’I’m sorry. Some more things to prepare suddenly came up.’

Finally, Ian and Rin, along with Ria, arrived there.

* * *

’Haah....’

’Mika, are you okay? Why don’t you sleep a bit?’

Shaking her head at Airi’s suggestion, Mika let out a sigh and looked out from the spire.

The noise and clamor of constant battle were surging in from all directions of the city.

’What if I wake up and Labyrinth has fallen?’

’Then... I’ll wake you up in advance.’

Mika shook her head with an ’it’s fine’ expression.

Having activated the Great Magic and used up all her remaining mana, Mika essentially had nothing more she could do.

She was staying at the spire to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, but honestly, she didn’t feel like she could do anything more herself.

To be honest, she felt like collapsing and falling asleep just as Airi had said.

But in the middle of such a crisis.

Thinking about losing consciousness alone with such a giant monster in front of her, she could never comfortably lay her body down.

In the end, Mika was forcing herself to stay conscious by drinking potions.

Thus, Mika, who had nothing more to do, and Airi.

Airi didn’t know much about barrier magic, but since there was no other mage to stay by Mika’s side and assist her, she had ended up accompanying her regardless.

The two were watching the trends inside the city with grim expressions.

’Ah... it’s the Master.’

’What? Where?’

Airi, who was observing the outside through a window atop the spire, muttered. Mika raised her head sharply at those words.

’Over... over there....’

’I can’t see him? Where?’

’In front of our mercenary building...!’

Mika stuck close to Airi’s side and looked out.

Perhaps it was because Airi was originally an archer, even if she rarely picked up a bow lately. The place Airi was pointing to was too far for Mika to see clearly.

Airi described the scene there on Mika’s behalf.

’It looks like they’re about to go somewhere. Rin and Ria are beside him too.’

’To where?’

’I don’t know that much.... But seeing as other mercenaries have gathered too, won’t they be fighting the monsters...?’

All members, including Mika, were busy preparing for their own assigned tasks, so they didn’t know exactly what roles others had taken.

Unless they were operating together, there was no reason to stress over what other teams were doing.

Because of that, the two couldn’t predict where Rin and Ian planned to go.

Mika, narrowing her eyes, finally discovered Ian’s figure.

It wasn’t clearly visible because it was far, but thanks to Airi telling her the location, she could barely distinguish that it was Ian.

’Oh....’

Ria was in the middle of talking to people who looked like knights.

Beside her, Rin and Ian were standing side by side, having a conversation.

A very distant place.

It was a scene seen so far away and blurrily that even expressions couldn’t be made out properly, but Mika realized something upon seeing the two of them.

Mika’s intuition flashed as if she had been hit directly by a bolt of lightning.

Did Calliope, the [Suspicious Merchant] who sold the prophecy, say it? That when the time comes, you’ll naturally be able to realize it.

Right now was that time.

’Now....’

’Huh?’

’It’s now!’

Mika, who had been muttering, grabbed Airi’s shoulders and shook them as she shouted.

’Airi! It’s big trouble! Now is the time!’

’What? Wh-wh... what’s going on! I’m dizzy!’

’That prophecy! That’s right now!’

’What?!’

Airi barely understood the meaning of Mika’s words as she poured out the story frantically.

’Hurry and take that to the Master!’

’Th-that?’

’That thing we made! Quickly!’

Only then did Airi recall the research result the two of them had produced after much hardship. Ian needed to have it, and if they were late, everything would be in vain.

Unfortunately, the distance from the spire where the two were to where Ian was located was quite far.

Ian looked like he would move somewhere with the mercenaries at any moment....

Since there was no way Mika could make it in time, Airi had to run.

* * *

Fortunately for Airi, Ian and the mercenaries did not leave immediately.

Rin and Ian, who had unpacked the items brought from inside, were in the middle of preparing for departure in front of the mercenary group.

’So, next is defense penetration... red? Ah, no, is it orange...?’

’Not that one, start with the pale crimson one next to it.’

Rin, who had laid out numerous potions, hesitated as she picked up the potions one by one.

They were stat-boosting potions selected in a combination of high effects to avoid overlapping as much as possible.

It was a preparation stage that always occurred just before a major battle.

With her face slightly flushed, Rin quickly emptied the potion bottles one by one.

It was something she did occasionally... but this time she was very embarrassed because numerous mercenaries were all watching to see when Rin’s preparation would end.

’Is she a mage?’

’No... I heard she uses a magic sword.’

’Well, I guess it’s better to do whatever we can do now.’

Perhaps because this kind of doping was something mages did occasionally, their expressions weren’t ones of complete incomprehension.

Actually, there were a few mages in the corner doing similar things. It was a bit unfair since Rin was receiving all the attention, though.

After finishing all the preparations made in advance, Rin finally stood up from her seat.

’Is it done? Then everyone depart....’

’Wait a moment!’

Just as they had finally finished preparing for departure, someone suddenly called out to stop the mercenaries again.

The gazes of the gathered mercenaries all turned toward that direction at once.

’Hiek! I’m sorry!’

Airi, who had shouted to stop the mercenaries, flinched with a ’hiek’ when everyone’s eyes landed on her.

Frey, discovering Airi in such a state, asked.

’What is it, Airi. Do you want to go together by any chance?’

’A-ah, no. Th-this! M-Master! Please take this!’

Airi, receiving numerous gazes, hurriedly approached Ian with a flustered expression and held something out.

Ooh, is it a confession?

Is it a gift for a lover going out to a dangerous place?

The voices of numerous mercenaries, which had been buzzing with such a feeling, suddenly stopped.

It was immediately after they discovered the appearance of the object held in Airi’s hand.

’...A voodoo doll?’

’...’

Ian carefully took the object that looked like a voodoo doll.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[???]

- Legendary Item.

- No effect.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

...A legendary item?

Ian, who was about to tilt his head upon seeing the description of that item whose identity was completely unknown, concluded that this might be the object Mika and Airi had been researching together.

Ian nodded silently and tucked it into his bosom.

’M-Master.... Please be careful.’

’Thanks. You stay safe too, Airi.’

’Ye, yep....’

Waving his hand to Airi, Ian and the numerous mercenaries gathered at that spot moved their steps in unison.

Toward the North Gate.

* * *

’...This should be enough, right?’

After finishing the role of delivering that object to Ian.

Airi, who was returning to the spire, happened to hear a scream.

- Kyaaak!

’Who is it?’

A scream wasn’t particularly strange given the city’s current situation.

But what she just heard somehow sounded like children’s screams...?

Airi, thinking so, looked around while running across the rooftops.

’There really are kids...!’

Airi, discovering the figures of children in the distance, rushed out hurriedly.

And simultaneously, in another place.

’Priestess Priscia! There are children over there!’

’What did you say!’

One of the priests who had been bestowing blessings atop the hill overlooking the city discovered the figures of children fleeing in the distance.

The distance was a bit far, but because it was inside an empty city, the figures of the fleeing children were easily noticeable.

’Hadn’t everyone evacuated?’

’There must have been children who couldn’t escape in time. They were probably hiding somewhere because they were scared....’

...Then again. How could every single person without exception have evacuated in such a large city?

’I will go!’

Priscia, nodding her head, rushed out hurriedly toward that place.