Labyrinth Renovation – 048 | Sousaku – 創作

Episode 48: From Ziga Din’s Perspective

My name is Ziga Din.
A proud warrior of the Silver Wolf Clan.

I left my childhood friends and village with the goal of completely exploring the labyrinth, but I never imagined I would end up as a slave.

However, it is possible to buy yourself back.
It's frustrating to be owned by a weak person, but……

"Well then, Ziga-kun, I'll show you our secret. There's no turning back now～."

The girl who bought me was named Maho…… Female humans are generally weak, but even taking that into account, she is very young…… she's practically a child.
However, her apparent employer, Fiona-dono, the daughter of the lord of Dharma, is a magical warrior with a rank of 16.
I don't really understand the relationship between her and Maho. Apparently, they will explain it later……

"Then, let's hold hands."

It seems that the person Maho is holding hands with will use “teleportation magic” to send her somewhere.

Yeah. This man who calls himself Seir and wields teleportation magic is truly mysterious.
I've been a dungeon explorer for a long time, and even though I don't have any talent myself, I know what kinds of magic exist—―but there's definitely no such magic.
There is an escape spell that allows you to move outside the dungeon, but the one this man uses is not that simple.

――Isn't he some kind of monster?
That's not a human being. Although it resembles a human being, its magical power doesn't have the same color as humans.

The deeper you go, the magic power of the monsters changes from light pink to dark red.
However, the color of this man's magical power is――Black.

This is abnormal. There's no way someone like that exists.

In fact, just seeing Seir makes my hair stand on end. My whole body kept sounding alarm bells.
I can't beat this guy. If we fought, I'd be torn to pieces in a second.

This isn't just a hunch, it's a certainty.

So who exactly is Maho, the woman who has tamed such a man?
I don't know.
I wonder if I will understand it once I learn the secret she is referring to.

The teleport took only a split second.
In the blink of an eye, I realized I had been transported to a completely different place, and immediately felt a heavy magical pressure enveloping me.

――A labyrinth. It's also on a fairly deep floor. Even at the 16th layer of Merry Jane, I never felt such magical pressure. ……No, it's ridiculous to even compare it to something like that.
I am in a deep place that makes it even difficult to breathe.

It's a spacious room.
The ceilings are high, and the interior is exceptionally spacious for a labyrinth.

There was a huge building that seemed out of place. It is there, emitting light.
Maho and Fiona-dono, as well as that mysterious man, Seir, are also watching me closely, as if waiting for my reaction.

"T……This place……? "
"Where is it? You can tell, right? "
"A labyrinth…… I suppose. It should be on a pretty deep floor."
"That's correct! Welcome to the lowest layer of the Great Labyrinth of Melquodia! "

At first, I couldn't understand what Maho was saying.
Lowest layer……? She said that?

"Oh, he's freezing up, freezing up. That was a good reaction."
"Maho. You've got a bad personality, don't you? "
『That is the charm of Lady Maho.』
"Oh, Seir understands. This is humor, you know. You could also say that it's a kind of service aimed at creating a relaxed atmosphere……"
"I don't think Ziga-kun looks very relaxed at all."

The lowest layer... That's definitely what she said. However, if it is the lowest layer……
From the moment it was discovered, Melquodia was said to be a larger labyrinth than Merry Jane and Mathers. It is said to be the largest in the kingdom.
Merry Jane's official record is 28 floors underground. Even Mathers had 35 layers.
No one has reached the lowest layer yet. That's how harsh dungeon exploration is.

“So…… this means we're at least 35 floors below ground……? "

When I squeezed out a voice, Fiona-dono made an expression that was hard to describe.
Maho smiled happily.

"The answer is, roll drums, don don don don don don don don don dooon! It is the 101st floor! "
"What? 101? Are you joking? "

The lowest layer of Merry Jane and Mathers is estimated to be around the 40th floor.

Even if this really is the lowest layer of Melquodia's labyrinth, calling it the 101st underground floor is a terrible joke.
We have been risking our lives exploring the labyrinth for years, but we still haven't even reached the 20th floor.

Many of my friends died. Some people treated us like humans, even though we were beastfolk. There were those who dreamed of the future. There were people younger than me. Some returned to the countryside in despair.

Even as a joke, it's unacceptable for a child who seems to have never fought a monster before to be on the 101st floor.

"If my actions weren't restricted by the contract magic, I would have beaten you to a pulp. Your joke isn't even funny."
"Hmm? For real? Fiona, did I do something wrong? "
"I told you so. Normally, people would get angry, be dumbfounded, or laugh. For people who are seriously exploring, even if they are taken to the 101st floor in an instant and told, “This is the lowest layer,” they won't be happy at all! I think you should learn a little more common sense, Maho."
"Well, it's actually the 101st floor, so what can we do? Since he's going to be on the management side, he needs to know the messy behind-the-scenes stuff too."
"Well, yeah, that's true, but…… You're just being inconsiderate."
"Hey, hey, I'm just a clumsy person anyway."

To be honest, it's annoying, but from the conversation between Fiona-dono and Maho, they are not joking……or so it seems.
So, is it true? That man's teleportation magic seems to allow him to move anywhere, so does that mean he suddenly skipped everything and went straight to the lowest layer?

I don't know. A single thing.
But I absolutely refuse to recognize such a frivolous child as my master.
I am the son of the proud Silver Wolf Clan chieftain.

My master is myself.

"Master～～～～! Master～～～～～! "

Uh?

"Someone's coming. Large…… what is it……? A monster……? "
"Ah, I asked those kids to watch the house for me. They're not monsters."
"Those kids……? "

After a long life as an explorer, I've become quite sensitive to the footsteps of monsters.
The sound of claws hitting the ground, unique to monsters.
They are quite large. Running down the stairs.

"Master～～～! Welcome home, woof～～～! "
"Nya nya nya~."
"Gaah."

What appeared from the stairs were huge beasts.

However, they are not monsters.
The color of their magic is a transparent blue.

Among them, the one leading the pack stood out with a majestic build, its fur shining golden like a wheat field at harvest time. The fangs peeking from its mouth were as thick as the trunk of a large tree, yet sharpened like swords, exuding a fierce determination to crush any obstacle in its path.
It must be a very renowned lord of the forest.

"Master～! I want to be petted, woof～～～～! "
"Yosh, yosh, yosh, yosh. Pochi is still a mama's girl even though she's grown up."

W-w-w-w-w-what!
Would you believe it, the lord of the forest rushed over to Maho and even licked her face! That's the highest expression of affection for the Beast Tribe!

What's going on……⁉
Both the cat-shaped lord and the dragon-shaped lord reacted in the same way.
That's…… That's just like――

"Uh? Who's this, woof? "

The dog-shaped lord came toward me.
Its presence is so magnificent that it instills fear.
However, the color of its eyes is deep, giving it a thoughtful look that seems to see through everything.

"Sniff, sniff…… Smells like family, woof."
"Hello, my name is Ziga Din. You are……"
"I'm Pochi, woof! I'm Master's furry one! "
"Furry…… you say? "
"I'm a pet dog, woof! "
"Ah……pet……? So, does that mean you are Maho's slave too? "
"Uh? Hmmm～～～～? Probably so, woof! "

What on earth is going on here?!
They were my senior slaves……!
Not only did she have that mysterious being called Seir following her, but she was also someone who stood above all these esteemed ones――!

It seems that becoming a slave clouded my eyes and my heart.

That's right. Look closely. More closely.

Maho's smile, full of love. A relaxed stance. Intelligent eyes.
It was me who looked down on her because of her childish appearance……

I stood before Maho and knelt down.

"Maho-dono……No, Master. Please forgive my previous disrespect. I'm a man with nothing but fighting in my brain, but I will devote my entire life to you as your slave."
"Huh? What? What is it? So suddenly."

Ahh…… Even the confused master is charming.