The major clans in the labyrinth city also began their investigations by diving into the dungeons around the royal capital, but the first day ended without any problems. Although the specifications of the outside dungeon were different from the divine dungeon, the environment itself was not that different. The place where the Infinite Circle dived this time was an environment similar to the forest on the eleventh level.


''It's quite busy.''


　But even if the major clans of the labyrinth city conducted a joint investigation, no monsters appeared at all. At the end, most of them were distracted by the peace itself in the dungeon, to the point that even Garum lost concentration.


''Master, you're scaring my face off?　Are you mad at me?
No, I'm not mad at you at all.


　There are other major clan search groups, led by Diniel, and Garum is probably prepared to deal with monsters, even if he's out of his mind. And yet, not that he could do anything if he was always on his guard, but Tsutomu had no choice but to do so.

　In the dungeon outside, if someone dies, that's the end of it. Therefore, the healer would absolutely have to recover before someone died, and it would be essential to issue instructions. By pushing himself with such a sense of responsibility, Tsutomu was able to get more concentration than he usually did in his quest.

　However, the constant awareness of his own death and the death of his companions was a very tiring act, and although he wasn't even fighting a monster, he was exhausted. The clan members around him looked at Tsutomu as if they didn't understand.

　And so the dungeon was investigated for a day or two, but nothing unusual was found. However, the abnormal situation of monsters not existing in the dungeon was not resolved, and the days in the royal capital passed.


'Hi, Tsutomu. I'm here to get you.
I'm sorry, but you're coming with me.
Yes. Okay.
Oh well you're awfully straightforward with Babenberg.


　In the meantime, Tsutomu was once again invited to dinner by Brooklyn Cancelia. The only problem is that the head of the Babenberg family, who had been summoned to King's Landing, was kind enough to sit with him, which made Tsutomu feel a little relieved.

　The three of them sat down in front of a long table with more food than they could possibly eat, and the waiter poured a glass of red wine. Then Brooklyn finished his meal lightly and touched on the subject of the last Stampede.


'I heard you did a great job in the last Stampede,' he said. I heard that this one defeated the giant monster that attacked you while you were unceremoniously knocked unconscious after breaking the barrier?
''Well I was only doing light commanding. And I don't know much about magic, but it looked like the three members of the Babenberg family had sensed the monster's attack beforehand and gathered all the barriers in one place. If it wasn't for that spur-of-the-moment decision, the labyrinth city would have been obliterated by now.
'Heh. Well, it doesn't change the fact that we were defeated. That's why the labyrinth city owed the royal capital a huge debt, and here we are now, right?
..........


　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this. It's a good thing that they are both aristocrats who can use the same barrier magic, but it seems that the relationship between them is not that good.


It's a good thing that you're able to get a good deal more out of it. It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to find a way to get a good deal more money.


　Brooklyn looked at the head of the Babenberg family with eyes that looked like they were looking at a pathetic beggar, but he, the man in question, didn't seem particularly bothered by it and sipped at his wine glass. As Brooklyn revealed his displeasure at the sight of him, he wiped his mouth with a napkin.


'Brooklyn. You're young. I thought it would be easier for you to embrace the new era if you became one.
...a new era?
'The aristocratic society collapsed in the last revolution. We've already entered a new era.


　A few years after the creation of God's Dungeon, there was a revolution against the nobility. One of the three major noble families was murdered, and the oppressive middle-class nobles were hanged one after another.

　The Babenberg family, which was ruling the labyrinth city at that time, was also naturally subjected to a revolution. However, the Babenberg family had thought of the people's grasses and used the taxes they were collecting to implement various policies for the people. Because of their position as nobles, they did not stand on the same footing as the people, but they still did not do anything to make them suffer.

　So although there was a revolution in the labyrinth city itself, they were able to build a relationship of trust to the extent that an organization called the guard group was born from the searchers. Although they weren't the best of friends, the nobles were needed by the people. That's why the revolution was also small, so it didn't cause that much damage.

　However, the Babenberg family saw the chaotic situation in the royal capital to the revolution that took place in the labyrinth city, and they already realized that the aristocratic society that wielded magical privileges had collapsed. The divine dungeon had given the people a power comparable to that of the nobles, and their numbers were enormous. If the aristocracy imposed an oppressive rule, they could imagine a future where they would be wiped out by the powerful people.

　But the words of the head of the Babenberg family made Brooklyn look puzzled.


'Revolution?　I've already killed all those people.


　But against the Babenberg family, who had chosen to coexist with the explorers at the time of the revolution, the Kanchelsia family had chosen to be hostile. No matter how much skill and status they had acquired in the dungeons of the gods, their skills were not yet mature. The magic that had been used for hundreds of years was more mature in power.

　And Brooklyn's barrier magic was head and shoulders above what it had been before, so much so that she could be a woman and the head of the family. And during the revolution, Brooklyn's barrier magic alone was enough to destroy the revolutionary army.

　After that, the Kanchelsia family captured all the explorers who started the revolution and executed all those associated with them as well. The near-torture-like executions using invisible barrier magic greatly lowered the morale of the Revolutionary army and the Kanchelsia family had evacuated the revolution.

　After that, the Kanchelsia family continued to kill explorers involved in the revolution in a lucid manner, and also killed explorers who made statements that equated skill with magic. They also killed the knights who brought such explorers to them, and even crushed the nobles who favored the explorers.


''Did you get it right in the labyrinth city?　Babenberg. A nobleman cannot be defeated by an explorer's style. I will kill all the searchers who stand against the nobility.
''When the king is inviting the explorers to the royal capital, it's already over. Eighty levels of the divine dungeon have already been conquered now, and the level of the explorers has risen by several levels since the revolution. It won't be the same as it was before.
"The sooner you get old, the sooner you get defensive. I've heard old aristocrats say the same thing.
'As soon as God's Dungeon came out, humanity became equal. The time has come for everyone to wield power. Nobles are no longer special. They're just humans with a little useful power. In this Stampede, you will learn that.


　Brooklyn's neat face contorted like an evil demon and threw the glass of red wine towards the head of the house. It was prevented by a transparent barrier, and the piece of glass that flew towards Tsutomu was also popped by the barrier magic that had been put up before long. The red wine spread out on the desk through the barrier in a flurry.


''.........It's unpleasant. Very unpleasant. You're not even a nobleman anymore, you're a searcher's dog. You are a seeker's dog.
'It's just that the people also have a power comparable to magic. That's all.
Do you want to die in here?　Berbenberg. Anyone who equates magic with skill is determined to kill you.
"We fight here, I win. We have Tutum over here.
(Why are you bringing me into this on your own?)


　Tsutomu managed to keep his expression impassive, though he was inwardly poisoned by the fact that he was suddenly being made a spearhead. It's not that Tsutomu himself is a white mage, so he doesn't have that much power. He probably has no way to strike against barrier magic, so he will be killed without a means.

　When he saw Brooklyn, who had his hands in his pockets and was probably holding the magic stone, Tsutomu was thumping in a cold sweat. The air and silence that seemed to be about to burst at any moment lasted so long that I felt like I was going to stop breathing.

　As Tsutomu felt his stomach tighten up, Brooklyn finally took his hand out of his pocket. Then he clicked his tongue evasively.


'You are no longer a nobleman. Carve it into your heart.'
Yeah.
When the Stampede is over, you better be ready for it.


　When he said that, Brooklyn turned his attention to Tsutomu. Tsutomu, who was inwardly giggling, stiffened himself, but surprisingly, Brooklyn's expression was soft.


''Well you're someone I've never seen before. As far as I can see, you seem to be weaker than anyone else. It's not even worth considering. But because you're here now, I couldn't touch you. I don't know. It's strange. People are like grass, but I was hesitant to step on you.
.........
You know, I'd love to have you. I'll keep it for you when I bring down the Babenberg family. You'll look forward to it.


　After saying that with a crescent moon twisted in her mouth, Brooklyn walked away with a leisurely gait. Tsutomu, who finally took a breath of relief after she was out of sight, silently looked at the head of the Babenberg family.


''I'm sorry. I'm sorry I made you the spearhead. But it's also true that I can't win against Brooklyn on my own. I needed your presence.
''Well if I had to fight, I would have been killed in the blink of an eye. Me.


　With Tsutomu, who was the worst opponent of the Infinite Circle and would not even be able to beat most white mages, he would definitely be killed in a blink of an eye. But the head of the Babenberg family shook his head.


'Brooklyn is right, you are different. Your gallantry and insensitivity to magic seem unfathomable to the nobility. ........Now you've saved me twice.
'No, no, you're just bluffing. It really chilled my liver.
'Nevertheless, thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing you in this Stampede as well.
I don't want you to get your hopes up.


　With that, Tsutomu ended the conversation, apologized to the sommelier-like person who was cleaning up the spilled red wine, and went back to his room.

　A week later, he received a message from a city located in the south of the capital that he was in Hayama.