"Am I at ────?

　I'm in a strange place.
　I've been in a dark labyrinth for a while now, but it feels so bright and shadowy.

　There's no ceiling above me, and it's kind of hazy and cloudy, like a rainbow with seven different colors. ...... It's a very strange feeling.

　The ground is flat as far as the eye can see, and there is no end to it.
　There was no obstacle except a huge skeleton and a woman lying on the ground.
　...... I have no idea where I am.
　For now, I walked up to a woman I didn't know who was lying at the foot of a skeleton that I could see out of the corner of my eye, and she seemed to notice me too.

"Are you ────?

　The woman slowly raised herself up from the hard ground and turned her eyes to me.
　It was a woman who looked somewhat like the green-haired boy who had been talking to Lean so much yesterday.

I'm not sure what to make of it.
　Are ──── the people outside ...... Oaken and Roy safe?

"...... Oaken?

　I'm not sure about the labyrinth core, but I believe Oaken was the name of an old sorcerer instructor.

I've heard of Oaken, but do you know ...... him?
　The other Roy, I'm sorry, I don't know.
　I know ...... Rollo.

...... Roy is an adventurer from the Lepi tribe.
　He was a scout for our party.
　I see. ...... I hope he has managed to get out of this labyrinth too.
　...... How is Oaken?
　How long has it been since you've been out there?
　It seems like a long time to me.

I'm not sure about the time thing. .......
　I don't know much about time, but I'm sure old man Oaken is more than fine.

　Apparently, this woman was an acquaintance of the sorcerer's instructor.
　She seems to be quite young, about the same age as me. ...... I wonder if she just met him recently.
　Or did he take care of her when she was a child like me?

　The woman in front of me had a very surprised look on her face as I was thinking about the instructor.

"Oaken is ...... your grandfather ......?

Yes, but ...... what's wrong?
　I think the sorcerer instructor who took care of me was old enough to be picked up at any time,........
　Is it possible you have the wrong person?

"No. .......
　I think that's probably the Oaken I know.
　...... I see. Oh, so much.
　So ...... you are an adventurer too?
　Are you here to conquer the labyrinth?

I'm a bit of an adventurer myself, but I'm more of a wanderer.


　I didn't even intend to enter the labyrinth, but I feel like I've fallen into it for no apparent reason.
　...... What the hell is this place?
　I thought I touched a blue stone and suddenly I'm standing here.

You have touched the stone too? .......
　That stone is the core of the Labyrinth of Sorrows.
　But there seems to be more to it than that.
　I don't know what his intentions are, but I'm sure it's the core of a trap that the Dungeon Master has set to trap visitors here.

"Dungeon Master?

Yes ...... is the core of the labyrinth at the deepest part of the labyrinth. ────
　──── this(...).

　She then looked up at the huge skeleton sitting beside us.

In other words, it could be said that a powerful demon ...... was sealed by someone long ago in the innermost part of this Labyrinth of Sorrow.

"A demon ......?　It doesn't move and it looks dead to me.

Yes, it's a shell.
　There was once a terrible demon here.
　I fought it here once, but I was helpless. ...... But for some reason, it's still alive, and it's been trapped here for a long time.
　The contents of that demon have now escaped from this place and are doing something outside, but I don't know what.

"Out?　...... This is it?

　I looked up at the skeleton again.
　It was a really big skeleton.
　It was about twice the size of the goblin I knew.
　I don't think I've ever seen anything like it outside. .......

　No, it looks a lot like the skeleton in the painting I saw upstairs.
　I wonder what's going on here.

"Demon shells.

　I poked the skeleton's shin with the black sword in my hand to see what it looked like.
　Then I saw a light crack.

　Oh no.

　I may have hit it a little too hard.
　...... What if this wakes him up?

　The woman in front of me looked surprised when I was worried about her.

"──── What?

What's wrong with you?

No, it's just that no matter how hard I've tried, I've never been able to get a scratch on it. .......
　...... Speaking of which, what's with the sword ......?
　The more I look at it, the more I see that it is an amazing sword. ......?

　I'm not sure what to make of it.
　Well, it sure looks ...... amazing, and I think so too.

"...... this? 　To be honest, I don't really know what it is either.


　It was a gift. But it's useful in many ways.
　It's a little bit ugly and heavy, but it's good for ...... training and stuff.

"...... I see.
　But you are a little strange, aren't you?
　You don't seem to be in any hurry, even in this situation.
　Just being with you gives me a strange sense of security.

I was wondering what was going to happen to me when I was swallowed by that blue stone, but I was relieved to see that ──── there was a person at the end of it.
　I don't like the idea of being alone with this creepy skeleton.

"Hmmm, I see. You're a really interesting person.

　Then, as if remembering, he clapped his hands and looked at me.

"Oh, by the way, we haven't introduced ourselves yet, have we?

"Yes, we have. I'm Noor.
　I'm an adventurer in the kingdom of Crais. ...... Just in case.

　We've got a lot to introduce ourselves today.
　Well, I guess it's only natural since I'm in a different country.

"I see. Your name is Noll, right?

　When I finished introducing myself, the woman smiled kindly at me.
　The woman smiled kindly as I introduced myself, then brushed some dust off her clothes, straightened up, and told me her name.

My name is Astira.
　I'm Astira. I'm one of the members of the Cup of Wisdom, a party of adventurers I formed with Oaken and Roy.
　............ I used to be part of a somewhat famous party, you know?
　I'm sure not many people know about it anymore.

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