Vol 3: Chapter 4

「..Movement within the Empire is restricted. Please be sure to put on this bracelet and do not remove it. Also, please return this bracelet before leaving the Empire. If you do leave the Empire without removing it, an extremely loud alarm will sound off. The bracelet will be rented on your guild plate and the data will be removed when you return it.」

The bracelet given by the Lev citizen had a hinge on one side, and was something that could not be opened without using a key.

Although it looked like a simple silver bracelet,【World Ruler】indicated that magic was engraved on the side that touches the arm.

(This is a GPS-like function. Also, records the wearer’s emotions and vital responses?)

I associated it with a smartwatch, but some functions have much higher performance than that.

It’s amazing to think they developed something like this.

(But it feels unpleasant to have my information recorded.)

I wrapped a bandage on my arm and then fastened the bracelet over it.

「All right, please come this way.」

The elderly Lev citizen, who looked more like a scholar rather than a staff of the Adventurer’s guild, wore dark blue robes. The pure white beard stretching down from his chin indicated that he was old, probably—I was honestly quite impressed by the beard.

We stood in front of a huge towering wall. An iron door was installed there, and about five Lev guards were guarding it. A tunnel, wide enough for a carriage to pass through, was opened.

While being wary of the guards, we, Silver Balance, went inside.

The length of the tunnel was about 50 meters with magic lamps lit up at 5 meter intervals.

(There is wind..)

Dry wind blew from the other side.

The light at the end of the tunnel was dazzling, causing me to squint my eyes.

「Welcome to the Lev Magic Empire.」

The guild staff said, as he turned around towards us at the exit.

I nearly raised my voice in awe.

Reddish-brown cliffs stretched to the left and right, and continued all the way to the other side.

The land surrounded by cliffs was the Lev Magic Empire.

There were dozens of magic airships flying in the sky, but it seemed that those were carrying things rather than people.

Most of the buildings were 5-storeys or more, probably mixed and hardened with the soil that came out of the reddish-brown cliffs, and all of them were dark red.

Window panes, which are rare in other countries and only used for elegance, were so common here, and used abundantly to reflect sunlight.

And.. it was not carriages that treaded paved grounds, but cars.

「It’s not using a steam engine.. but moving by sorcery..」

「Hou, you seem quite knowledgeable. The six-wheeled vehicle, powered by a “Magi Engine”, has become the primary means of transportation in the Empire. Now then, it seems that your welcoming party is here.」

The scholar-like guild staff pointed to Muge-san, who came riding on Neko-chan while waving “Hey?!”.

..Hmm, the other Lev citizens frown when they look at Neko-chan. And there are no other steam cars running—oh, Neko-chan is in a bad mood, the engine just stopped.

「..Well then, try not to cause any troubles.」

The scholar-like guild staff quickly turned away and returned to the tunnel.

And we approached Muge-san.

**

「Oh, thank you so much. Dante-san is so strong.」

After that, Dante-san had to push Neko-chan all the way cause she was dead silent. The judging looks from the people around us was painful, but anyway, we arrived at the store run by Muge-san.

The store, which was located on the outer edge of the city, had a huge warehouse in the back, where Neko-chan, coal, and goods were stored. Coming this far out of the city, the roads were not paved. Trees and overgrown grass was everywhere. And the cliff that surrounded the Empire can be seen in the immediate vicinity.

(That place over there.. they’re making a hole in the cliff.)

A crane was installed on the cliff, and I could see luggage and people going up and down. Such sights were everywhere on the cliffs. And there was a hole in the middle of the wall, making me wonder if there was something inside.

Is it a storage? Or maybe a silo? I wonder if they’re using the cliff since land is limited in this country. No, if that was the case, then they should just dig underground.

「So, Muge-san, why did you request for us this time?」

There was an old table in the warehouse, and we sat on the small chairs around it. Muge-san carried over a pitcher with ice and water—condensed vapour gathered on the surface of the iron-make pitcher. Dante-san poured the water from the pitcher into an iron cup, and drank three glasses at once.

「..I sold the Gigaboar, but it sold for much higher than I initially expected.」

「..? Isn’t that good news?」

「Yes, it was indeed–Oh, by the way, I didn’t try to talk down the price with you, ok, Dante-san?」

「I know.」

Dante-san simply laughed at Muge-san who sincerely rationalized his action. Muge-san then moistened his throat with iced water before continuing – Lev citizens may not be as good at thermoregulating as reptiles, so it seems that fluid intake is absolutely necessary.

「A big incident happened while we were out in the caravan.」

「Incident?」

「Yes. The Empire’s strategic weapon, the magic airship “Queen of the Night”, was stolen.」

「Oh..?」

Dante-san looked at us with an eyebrow raised, but I was also troubled as to how to respond. Did Muge-san pay a fee to the guild to call us here to talk about that?

「Even among magic airships, Queen of the Night employs the latest and newest technology. Its silver hull is so mellow and beautiful that drinking alcohol while gazing at the airship came into fashion, especially during the night flight of its demonstration after completion.」

「And you’re saying such a big piece of tech was stolen. So, can we get into the main subject now?」

「..The one who robbed it seems to be from a bandit group. But leaving that aside for now, His Majesty the Emperor was very angry about this.. and he passed down an imperial command.」

—To create a new airship equipped with technology that surpasses “Queen of the Night”.

「Did you know that the technological development of the Lev Magic Empire is brought about by nine labyrinths?」

「Labyrinths?」

Dante-san seems to have never heard of it.

Muge-san explained that the magic technology used in the Empire is being researched by imitating and analyzing the magic items found in the labyrinths. And there are 9 such labyrinths.

Labyrinth of Love ○ Completed capture.

Labyrinth of Hatred △ Under capture.

Labyrinth of Worship ○ Completed capture.

Labyrinth of Grief ○ Completed capture.

Labyrinth of Wrath x Collapsed.

Labyrinth of Madness △ Under capture.

Labyrinth of Craving x Unexplored.

Labyrinth of Sympathy △ Under capture

Labyrinth of Fear △ Under capture

「These are collectively called the ‘Labyrinth of 9 Emotions’ and exist within the cliffs that surround this country—the “Lev Cliff”.」

「Ah.. So that’s why there is a hole in the cliff?」

「Indeed, there are holes to capture the dungeon. However, many of the holes are used to grow our staple food, mica mushrooms.」

I learned for the first time that mushrooms were the staple food of Lev citizens.

It seems to be the staple food just because it’s easy to cultivate. But Muge-san usually prefers bread and meat, he told us

「We decided to capture the four labyrinths, Hate, Madness, Sympathy, and Fear all at once. To that end, the strength of the Empire wasn’t enough, so we recruited adventurers from outside.」

「So that’s the reason adventurers are gathered outside, huh.」Dante-san said, and Muge-san nodded.

「It seems that each of these four labyrinths is being worked on by “Division 1” to “Division 4” of the “Labyrinth Capture Bureau” respectively.. And that is why, Reiji-san..」

「Yes?」

「What was the name of the person you wanted to meet?」

「——」

I was taken aback.

The daughter of old man Hinga has already died, and his granddaughter cannot be visited due to “authority’s instructions”.

If the “authority” was having its hands full with public affairs, it’d make sense that they can’t arrange a meeting.

「It’s Lulusha-san.」

「That person is half human and half Lev.. right?」Muge-san said in response.

「Yes.」

「Just as I thought.」he said, while nodding to himself.

「I heard that the chief of “Division 4 of Labyrinth Capture Bureau” is of a human mix.. called Lulusha-san. That person is currently in the Labyrinth of Fear.」