Hey. Why would Christ decide to go into the maze?
'Why? ....... I'm just trying to live, but .......

　On the way back from a very successful labyrinthine search, me and Diah were talking about a bland story.

'To live ......?　Christ is handy, and he doesn't need to go to the trouble of making money in the labyrinth, does he?　I can actually work in a bar and I'm a good cook.
'Sure, you're right, but ....... But I still have to dive into the labyrinth. What can I say ...... as myself, to live?

　In order to 'live as Aikawa Uzumi', I must capture the labyrinth.
　I have to get rid of this joke of a name, Christ, as soon as possible. That's the true answer ......, but because I couldn't convey it as it was, my response was awfully abstract.

As myself, to live ......?

　It's no wonder the question mark on Dia's face is there.
　Hastily I ask back, trying to move the conversation to the next.

'Speaking of which, how are things going with Dear?　Why are you in the maze?
...... I'm simple. I want my money.

　Come to think of it, she had said before that she wanted money and power.
　That seems to be such a sure guideline in life that Dia can answer without hesitation.

'Yeah, you said you wanted money and power ....... But why do you want money and power so badly?
'It's another simple reason. With those two, you can have it all. Honor, status, women, food, freedom, happiness... you can have it all. So I want it.

　Dia spun the words like a grudge.
　You can feel something similar to an obsession or grudge there. It can be seen that Dia has some circumstances in the past and is obsessed with money and power.

　However, our relationship is still too young to hear the details of the situation.

'It's quite a mundane dream: ......
'Maybe so. But isn't that what a man's dream is all about?
'No, I don't think so: ......
No. In his heart of hearts, Christ would want to be a part of it. No, he would want to have money, a big house, good women, and good food. That's what every human being wants.
'Hmmm, maybe so: ......

　I don't have good feelings about those desires, probably because of the values (morals) that were constructed in the original world. In the original world, clean houses and good food were commonplace. So they valued spiritual fulfillment more than material fulfillment.

　I wonder if it was because I was too immersed in the sweet world to think that there were more important things than money and greed.

'In my hometown, the guy with money and power could do whatever he wanted. Because of his private army, no one could stand against him. He's a lord, he can fleece his people as much as he likes. He also kept beautiful-faced slaves around him as he lusted after money. The guy could live as he wanted and he was happier than anyone else. ...... This country is also crawling with guys like that. The aristocrats, the millionaires, and those who won a fortune in the labyrinth - the so-called rich people.

　As if to appeal to something, Dia keeps talking.

'I will join that rich man. And with that power, I will make sure no one can stand against me. And they'll recognize me. And then I'll finally be recognized as 'me'. ......

　With a strong will, Dear finished his monologue.

　I may have been wrong about Dia.
　A child who keeps herself in check by continuing to be vain because she is lacking in ability.
　To be honest, I thought of her that way. But that core is solid. Whatever that goal is, it's looking firmly ahead and going straight ahead.

'That's great, Dia is ....... Unlike me, she's not at all mindless .......
"...... No, no!　I don't think I'm very good at anything at all!　I don't have the power or the money yet!　I know exactly what I'm doing right now, I'm just getting by because of Christ!

　Deere shook her head in an awkward way, thinking she had gotten too hot and talked too much.

''--!

　I felt that close to Dia's heart - I felt dizzy (・・・・・・・).

　Those powerful words undermined the precautionary wire that I had unconsciously put up in my mind.

　I know exactly what Dear said.
　It is true that the happiness you describe is one way to go.
　In this world, I should be able to obtain that money and power with ease. It's not so far off in the future now. It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can get your hands on it.

　If and when that happens in the future.
　When I have money and power, when no one can stand against me, when I have status and honor, when I can choose all the women I want, when I can live a life of luxury, when I can satisfy all of my greed.
　Still, do I want to 'return'?

　I was shocked that I was guided by Dia's words to a very human concern -- the question of whether or not I wanted to return. I was unconsciously shaken to the core.

'Christ......?　You okay? There's something blue in your face.
...... No, I'm fine.

　One's dreams and ambitions are not to be listened to lightly.
　As I reflected on that, I muttered as I squeezed out.

　When I'm in touch with Dia's 'humanity', I feel a crack in my psyche (mind) as I continue to perform game-like optimal behavior. I'm about to misjudge the conditions of achievement in this other world. My current important achievement condition is .......

It's okay, it's ......

　The dizziness only got stronger as I repeated the process.
　So I decided to part ways with Dia in a hurry, citing my lack of MP and my poor health.

　My short goodbye message, "See you later ......", to which Dia said, "...... Okay, see you tomorrow!　Christ rest well, too! I shouted back. She looks ready to do it again tomorrow.

　After making that too-straight Dia with a smile, I walked out of the town - alone.

　When I checked my status, I found that I had accumulated enough experience to level up.
　However, I couldn't bring myself to do a game-like level up right now.

'............'

　Up until now, I've been thinking only about 'clearing the game'.
　I've been looking at the city to clear the maze, gathering information to clear the maze, and working to clear the maze.

　But today, I wanted to look at the city without thinking about those things.

　I know that even I know that.
　I'm sure it's because I've touched on Dia's raw emotions as a human being.

　That's why - the young man with the sword on his back, who just passed by in front of me now, I'm wondering what kind of place he was born in and what kind of wishes he has for his life. I'm also wondering what kind of character the beastly woman who passed by next is and what purpose she is walking for.

'Oh ......'

　Somewhere in the back of my mind, I understood that these strangers, who I had dismissed as NPCs (non-player characters), were living as one human being with blood in their veins.

　I felt nauseated.
　A sense of unreality was being painted over into a sense of reality, and a sense of reality into a sense of unreality.
　At the end of such a feeling, I--.


A skill? ?" is out of control.
　Stabilize your mind in exchange for some emotion.
　You get a +1.00 correction to confusion.


　-- with the 'display', the mood reverses and the nausea subsides.

　It couldn't be helped.
　At some point, I had to end this game feeling (role-playing).
　It was just that it was a little too soon.

　I look at the waves of people in the vibrant town.
　I will observe them not only in a game-like way, expressed only by the numbers in the 'display', but also in a proper way of living as people.

　That's right: .......
　Today, I'm going to change my mind and go somewhere I've never been before .......

　With that in mind, I jump into that wave of people to embrace the other world.
　The first step of life in another world is now, here and now, a little at a time.


　◆◆◆◆◆


　On the way to that first walk in the other world, the skill "?" changed my mind, and I stopped by the church to properly level up. I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.

　--And when I saw a human being in chains, I stopped.

　I'm sure you'll find that slaves are a natural part of Dia's story.
　Even in the history of my world, slaves existed.
　In the same way, slaves probably existed in this world as well.

　Today's walk was devoted solely to observation in order to feel close to the people of another world, but the existence of slaves gave me a great hint of the labyrinth's conquest.

　Even though I hated myself for tying all matters to the labyrinth, I became immersed in the practicality of it.

　Maybe it's because of the skill I just activated, "? I was able to think very calmly, perhaps because of the skill '?
　In this other world filled with a sense of reality, I play out a rational calculation.

　I can find slaves with talents suitable for the labyrinth in the 'display'.
　In other words, asking those selected slaves to capture the labyrinth, which is my objective, is not a bad option. It's a cynical plan that I came up with, but I thought it was worth considering.

　I immediately walked to the unsafe side of the Valt and looked for a place where I could find information about slaves.

　People who seemed to be slaves were traveling in wagons.
　I use the Dimension to determine their destination.
　They are going down an alleyway where I wouldn't normally find them, and going through an underground passage. I follow it carefully and find a simple, old door in the stone wall. It's not a building I would have found without knowing about it beforehand.

　I observe the inside of the building with Dimension and figure out that it's a slave auction house, but I don't have enough MP left to figure out how deep it is. I spot the person who seems to be in charge of serving customers at the entrance, and I decide to enter the building, proudly posing as a customer.

　The inside of the building was opulent, like an aristocrat's mansion in a movie.
　A corridor so deep that it's hard to tell how far it goes, leads from the entrance to two hands.

''-- This is, sir. What can I do for you at this early hour?

　A nice-looking man greeted me as I walked in with a curtsy.

'...... was recommended to me by an acquaintance. I just wanted to check up on you.

　For now, I'll be gathering information with my mouth.
　I've gained confidence through my several labyrinth explorations, so even if things get rough, as long as I can keep on running away, I don't think there will be any problems with my current situation.

　Also, I'm confident in my 'acting' to a certain extent.
　Even though I'm young in years, I fabricate an atmosphere that I have the financial resources to be able to come here.
　My height is close to that of an adult, so as long as I have a good attitude, I should be able to succeed.

'I see. But we're only open late at night, so there's only so much you can see while the sun is high.
...... Okay. Then can I ask you to show me a little bit of selfishness now for that night?
Of course, sir.

　I thought they would be evil for being a customer who wasn't worth the money, but they allowed me to ask questions more easily than I expected.
　Maybe it's the high price per customer.
　I try not to be suspicious of the questions I choose to ask.

'Right. First of all, what I'm wondering is--
Yes, that's--

　-- and I observe the surroundings while proceeding with the conversation to gather information.

　Right now, within the reach of the 《Dimension》, the slaves who were carried by the carriage just now have been grasped. It seems that they are currently in the process of adjusting their appearance. In order to improve the appearance of the goods, bathing, makeup and decorating are being done.

　The number of slaves in chains exceeds several dozen.
　I continue to observe the treatment of the slaves and continue to get information from the man who serves them.

　Then, after a bit of time has passed, a slave appears in the lobby where the customer service man and I are talking.
　I knew that the slave was lost because I had grasped it in the 《Dimension》. For a long time now, she has been walking around this large mansion by herself.

　She is a young black-haired girl.
　Her dark eyes were vacant and her body was emaciated.
　I'm not sure if they've finished decorating, or if they're just wearing a shabby cloth.

...... Is that a slave in there?

　I ask the question knowingly.
　Then I immediately 'gaze' and see the general status.


[Status]
　Name: Maria Distras HP 39/41 MP 35/35 Class: slave
　Level 3.
　Strength 0.89 Strength 2.01 Skill 1.23 Speed 0.73 Wisdom 1.07 Magic 1.91 Qualities 1.52
　State: confusion 0.56 lethargy 1.02
　Inherent skill: penetrating eye 1.43
　Acquired skill: hunting 0.67 cooking 1.07


　Three skills and a rare magic power. He has above average talent.
　However, if you compare it to yourself and Dia, there's definitely a difference between heaven and earth.
　It's far from substandard.

''Ah, I'm ....... I'm .......

　My first reaction was to a slave named Maria.
　The color returned to her empty eyes and she stared at me.
　It's like I found something shiny - with a look on my face.

'I'm sorry ....... Hey, someone!　Get that slave in the back!

　The man who was serving her also noticed her and snapped his hand to call someone from the back.

　Still, the slave girl continues to look at me.
　Then, falteringly, she mutters.

'...... My name is Maria. My name is Maria.

　Me and the slave girl were far apart, but I could still hear her clearly.
　In a thin voice, she uttered a name that is often seen in this other world.

　I was puzzled by the sudden introduction of myself - perhaps because of the customs of my former world, I would say my name back as if I were caught.

'I'm Christ but ......'

　I realized I made a mistake by saying my name.
　There is nothing good about publishing your name in a place like this.
　No matter how much I was confused by the suddenness of the situation, I was too careless.

　While regretting this, the slave girl is taken away by a human who comes out of the back.
　While being taken away, the slave girl kept looking at me during that time.

　For one reason or another (・・・・・・・・・), I couldn't take my eyes off the girl.
　I don't want to guess what her eyes wanted.

　The man who was serving her wiped his forehead and stated his apologies.

'I'm sorry, sir. I'm sorry for the unseemly part: ......'
No, no. ......

　I find myself more upset than I thought I would be.
　Is it because of the empty eyes of that girl, Maria? Maybe I was too nervous for this place, or maybe I'm still tired from the labyrinth exploration.

　Anyway, I could confirm now that I'm 'displaying' the status of my slave.
　Next time I come back, it seems I won't have a problem finding a talented slave.
　It's best not to stay any longer.

''Now, let's move on to the next explanation--''
No, no problem. We'll come back to it for today. I know everything I need to know.
'...... thank you very much. Well, we look forward to seeing you again.

　With the man who reverently curtsies to me, I walk out of the shop with my back to him.

　My knowledge of slaves is well gained and I'm doing well.
　But I'm not in a good mood.

　The sun is going down, and I turn to the bar where I work.

　My feet are unusually heavy.
　But I was desperate to move the heavy leg, looking only forward.
　It was as if I was dragging my shackles.