It's not an exaggeration to say that the labyrinth runaway is as feared as the natural disaster, it is a phenomenon unique to the labyrinth.

Demonic beasts that normally only exist in the maze are going to overflow outside the maze. This is the most important characteristic of the labyrinth runaway.
On top of that, the monsters that come out of the labyrinth, even goblins and hobgoblins, are in a mutated state that only super-difficult monsters could be in, and they are highly intelligent enough to move in groups without any problems.
Even if it's just a small labyrinth, if a labyrinth runaway occurs, it can crush two or three surrounding cities.

That's what I learned about labyrinthine runaway from books.
And indeed, it was very similar to the current state of the labyrinth city.

A hobgoblin with an unusually high level of intelligence and ability, and a rich who had perfected tactical-grade magic by taking away the orc's magic power.
No matter how you look at it, it's not just an ordinary event, and if it's a labyrinth runaway, there's an explanation for the situation.

But even though I understood that, I still couldn't accept my master's words.

''...... I can't believe that this labyrinth city's labyrinth is going out of control!

Back when I was facing off against the pack of demonic beasts, I once considered the possibility of a runaway labyrinth, but even then I quickly dismissed the idea as impossible. But even then, I immediately rejected the idea as impossible.
The reason for this is because the purpose of the Maze City is to suppress the Maze Runaway, and as far as I know, that role has been fulfilled until now.

The next moment, Narcena's words to her master unintentionally represented my inner feelings.

''The other day we defeated the super-difficult demon beast Phoenix, and other adventurers are also hunting inside the labyrinth! There's a reason why magic power can build up to the point where a labyrinthine runaway occurs in this situation: ......

It is said that the runaway labyrinth is caused by the magic power that is stored in the labyrinth exceeding a certain amount.
The overflowing of magical power in the labyrinth creates powerful monsters that can live outside the labyrinth, which leads to the overflowing of monsters outside the labyrinth.

In other words, the only way to prevent the runaway labyrinth from happening is to kill the monsters in the labyrinth and create new ones to consume their magical power.
That's why labyrinth cities are created around the labyrinth, and adventurers descend into the labyrinth to hunt demonic beasts.

Because of this knowledge, and knowing that the adventurers of this labyrinth city have defeated quite a few demonic beasts, Narcena and I couldn't believe our master's words.
The words of the labyrinth runaway that Master told us, while understanding that it was based on his experience of containing many labyrinth runaways until now.

We couldn't hide our confusion, but Master nodded his head in agreement and opened his mouth.

''Ah yes. Normally, there is no way that a labyrinth could run amok in this labyrinth city. After all, what we have here is the largest labyrinth we've ever found. There's no way that there hasn't been a meticulous defeat of the demonic beasts.

Master's words were an affirmation of Narcena and I's idea that a labyrinth runaway couldn't possibly occur in this situation.
If that was the case, then why did he tell us about the labyrinth runaway, I thought for a moment, but Master's story wasn't over yet.

But the situation that is happening now is definitely a labyrinth runaway. Or perhaps it could be another phenomenon similar to it, but that doesn't matter right now. What's important is that there's a crisis going on right now.

He told her that much, and for a moment Master stopped speaking.
It was as if he was hesitating about something.
But it was only for a short while, and Master opens his mouth again.

''──I believe that this situation was artificially caused.


Nah!

......... Huh?


The next moment, I couldn't mask my agitation at the words of that master.

Artificially causing this to happen? Did someone cause the labyrinth to run amok?

There was no way I could believe that.
I looked at Master's face, hoping it was a joke, but what I saw on his face was an expression of seriousness.

Master opened his mouth with that expression on his face.

''I know someone who could do that. And that person has been making some suspicious moves in recent times.''

...... Who is that?

Without pause, Master didn't immediately respond to the words I told him.
Instead, he asked a question.

"Hey, Raust. Do you know the art of lost and found?

...... Huh?

I didn't understand the question all of a sudden and let out a shaky voice.
However, I immediately decided that there is no way that my master would talk about something that is not related to me in this situation, so I called up the knowledge I had read in a book about lost and found technology in my head.

The technology that has been lost is an advanced technology left behind by a civilization that developed hundreds of years ago and is unthinkable from now on.
After all, they are dabbling in the labyrinth, which is also known as the divine realm.

The transition camp in this labyrinth city, also known as an elevator, is also a lost technology.
Without it, adventurers would have to pass through the depths of the grasslands where even super-difficult demonic beasts sometimes appear just to enter the labyrinth and get to the entrance of the original labyrinth.

Recalling that much, I still couldn't understand why this story was related to the current situation, and I asked back to my master.

''What's wrong with the lost technology?''

''The head of the guild branch of this labyrinth city may have known about the lost art and used that knowledge to launch a labyrinth runaway.

What about ......?

I couldn't suppress my voice of agitation at that master's words.
When it came to Narsena, I was stunned.

After a few moments, I sort out the information.

Master said earlier that the person who could cause a labyrinth runaway was making suspicious movements.
From that point of view, Master must have thought that the head of this labyrinth city's branch was the one who caused the labyrinth runaway.
But after understanding that much, I still couldn't accept Master's words.

It is true that the guild in this labyrinth city was clearly strange, even to me as a mere adventurer.
But even so, there didn't seem to be any reason for them to try to cause a labyrinth runaway.
What awaits us after the maze runaway is the enormous amount of damage.
I don't think there's any point in seeking such a thing.

In the first place, I couldn't even believe that the head of the guild branch possessed the lost technology.
It's called lost and found technology because he died hundreds of years ago.
I couldn't even believe that he had such a technique, and even if the Branch Chief really did have that technique, I didn't know if he could really cause a labyrinth runaway with the lost art.

Of course, it wasn't that I didn't believe in my master.
Looking at the serious expression on Master's face, I believed that he was serious, and that's why I couldn't help but be confused.
Narsena, who I could see from the side of my eyes, is just as confused as I am.

But Master didn't wait for us to cool down from our confusion.

That's why, from now on, our policy is to follow up on the disappearance of the branch chief and his entourage. Roust, you get ready now. Narsena, you and Ronaldo will take care of the defense.

What?

I'll be looking for you in ten minutes. Hurry.

The next moment after he said that, the master was in action.
He got up from his chair and left the room as it was.

'Ronald, you will protect this place with the adventurers.........'

I couldn't help but let out a sigh as I understood that I had missed the opportunity to hear a detailed explanation from my distant master's voice.

''Huh.''

With a heavy sigh, I turned my head to the side and met eyes with Narsena, who looked tired as well.
At that moment, our feelings were strangely conveyed to each other, and at the same time, Narsena and I both blew out.

And although we laughed for a little while, we couldn't stay there for long as we had to get ready right away, and I got up from my chair.
Finally, I opened my mouth to Narsena.

''If those demonic beasts come next, don't ever take it too far. You have Ronald-san here, so you should rely on him.

I'm fine. Your brother is the one who needs to be careful. ...... And it seems that the people in charge of the chapter are more of a doer than we thought.

I know. Well, I've got a mentor and I think I'll be fine.

So I laughed at Narcena and replied, but inside it was something else.
It's true that my master is one of the most talented people I know.
But that's why I felt a bit of anxiety in my heart.

It's true that master always has a tendency to not listen to others, but this time in particular, he seemed to be in a hurry.
Perhaps this time the situation was even more critical than he had imagined.

The thought that suddenly popped into his head continued to linger in his mind for a little while after that.