Chapter 39

It was night by the time we arrived at the manor.

Strangely, the impression of that house—so simple it bordered on stark—didn’t change at all whether seen under the sun or by the light of the moon. Perhaps its extreme simplicity prevented it from projecting anything other than the mere fact of being a building. It possessed neither the brightness of day nor the eeriness of night.

Guided by Hunt, we passed through the hall where we’d first been told about the qualifiers and were shown into a guest room further inside.

Though called a guest room, it was just a vast, unremarkable space containing nothing but a large table made of silver-tree wood and several sofas.

“Ah, you’ve arrived. Please, make yourselves comfortable.”

Bent welcomed us. He was already waiting in the room, wrapped in a bathrobe that looked to be made of sheep’s wool.

We took our seats wherever we felt like it. Somehow, Eni and I ended up sitting on the same sofa.

“Please stay at my manor tonight. I used to dabble in adventuring myself, you see. From my perspective, you all are respected friends for clearing those qualifiers.”

“Here you are.”

Hunt, who had vanished after showing us in, reappeared out of nowhere. He held a tray of glasses in one hand and a bottle in the other. He set the tray on the table, distributed the glasses, and went around pouring an amber liquid from the bottle.

“Our mead is a masterpiece; peddlers come all the way from other countries just to buy it. First of all, the alcohol content is on another level. I don’t dilute it like other spirits.”

Bent spoke in high spirits. Once he confirmed that everyone, including Hunt, had a glass of mead in hand, he raised his own.

“Now then, let us drink. Cheers!”

At Bent’s lead, everyone tilted their glasses.

“So, have you brave souls who survived the qualifiers introduced yourselves to one another yet?”

“Like we’d bother doing something like that.”

The one speaking so casually to his future employer was Jin.

“Hmm, is that so? What a waste. You had plenty of chances to talk during the carriage ride and in the depths of the Ancient Stone Castle.”

“Some idiot was unconscious, you see.”

Eni couldn’t help herself; she gave me a teasing side-eye.

“Well, sorry about that.”

I apologized anyway. It was true that I’d passed out, and it seemed I’d kept everyone waiting because of it.

“Ah, well, no matter. Since the timing is right, allow me to introduce everyone myself. From the moment I received Hunt’s report via fast horse until you arrived, I’ve been reviewing your backgrounds. Truly, you are a formidable group. Just reading your histories was entertaining.”

The alcohol must have hit him quickly, as Bent’s round face was already flushing red.

“First, you. Van Holmes. Everyone knows the name. You’re a celebrity. I’m glad you came. Also known as Van the Reformer. Not an adventurer, but a detective. One of the Seven Detectives of Pangea.”

“H-Hello.”

Being introduced, I gave a tentative nod to everyone who had stood up.

Whether from embarrassment or the alcohol, my cheeks felt hot.

Probably both. The mead was, as Bent said, incredibly strong.

“And beside him is Eni. She’s still young, but already famous as a Flame Elementalist. Born into a family of adventurers, she’s been active since she was a child. Born in this country, if I recall correctly?”

“Yes.”

With a slight flush on her cheeks, Eni took another sip of the mead.

“Jin. It’s heartening to have a renowned adventurer like you participating. A veteran who can handle any situation. There were rumors you’d quit adventuring to be scouted by the Church?”

“Who knows? I just go where the money is. But I’ll tell you one thing: as long as I’m on board, this job is as good as done.”

Watching Jin act so high and mighty with a glass in his hand made me a little annoyed.

Look at him acting tough, even though he was just running around in circles doing nothing during that incident.

“How reliable. And then… ah, I couldn’t find any records on you. A man of mystery. Watch Houou.”

Bent turned his gaze toward a tall man lingering in the corner of the room. He was truly tall—easily over two meters. It seemed the blood of the Giant race ran thin in his veins.

Wrapped in a gray cloak with a spear nearly as long as his height strapped to his back, the man gave no reaction to being addressed. He simply tilted his glass mechanically.

“But having cleared the qualifiers, your strength is proven. I have high expectations.”

“Understood.”

Watch replied shortly in a low, heavy voice that perfectly matched his short hair, angular face, and the deep furrow between his brows.

He appeared young, but his aura was so mature it was hard to tell his actual age.

“By the way, having a surname suggests nobility, perhaps? Based on the characters for ‘Houou,’ you seem to be from Isu. Forgive my lack of study; I am not yet familiar with the Houou family.”

“It is a house that no longer exists.”

“Ah, my apologies for asking something so unpleasant.”

The man in the kinagashi watched the exchange between the apologizing Bent and Watch with narrowed eyes.

“That’s right. Speaking of people from Isu, you’re one as well. Henya.”

At the introduction, the man in the casual kimono, Henya, shifted his gaze away from Watch.

“Yeah, that’s right. Though I’m just a commoner.”

Henya flashed a twitchy, cramped smile.

“But a famous one. Strictly speaking, you aren’t an adventurer, are you? Is this your first time diving into a dungeon?”

“Yeah. It’s part of my warrior’s pilgrimage.”

“Splendid. It’s heartening to have a senior disciple of Master Sekiun, the royal instructor of Isu, joining us. I look forward to seeing the skills of a Sekiun-style master.”

“Hah, a ‘master,’ is it?”

Henya muttered with a look of derision, his eyes inexplicably drifting back toward Watch.

“Shirona the Medic. A talented woman from our own country who was once even scouted to be a court physician. I was surprised when I first heard you’d turned that down to travel the land as a Medic, but I’m glad to see you’ve found great success in that field as well.”

“Thank you.”

Despite the alcohol, Shirona’s face remained a mask of pure white as she gave a seated bow.

“Mora. You and I go way back. More as a Digger than an adventurer, though. You were a big help last year.”

“Don’t worry about it! Ahaha!”

The one laughing merrily with a bright red face was a petite girl. No—judging by Bent’s words, she might look like a girl but was likely of a significant age. Hobbit blood? No, that wasn’t it. If she was a Digger, she was probably a Dwarf.

A Digger is, as the name implies, someone whose profession is digging holes. They dig tunnels or develop mines; you could call them specialists of the earth. In the past, it was a trade held by many Dwarves who excelled at blacksmithing, and I’d heard it remains a preferred occupation for humans with Dwarven traits.

Mora was a small woman with a baby face; her reddish-brown curly hair and baggy overalls gave her the look of a mechanic.

She had placed a large bag on the floor, and I remembered the heavy thud it made when she set it down. It likely contained pickaxes or other heavy equipment. I also recalled her carrying it effortlessly with one hand until we entered the guest room.

Her physical strength was probably nothing short of extraordinary.

“For my lot, digging holes and diving into dungeons are one and the same! I’m just happy for the opportunity. If Boss Bent is involved, it must be a massive job. I’m looking forward to it!”

Bent gave a wry smile as he watched Mora bounce around in her small frame.

“Heh, I am well aware that your skills are top-tier, both as a Digger and an adventurer. I’m counting on you again. And Kijiitsu. Since I put out a call for detectives, I thought someone from Django’s school might show up, but I never imagined you would come. I’ve heard many rumors, but this is our first time meeting in person. A pleasure.”

“A pleasure.”

It was the first time I’d heard Kijiitsu’s voice, and the intonation was unnatural. “Monotone” would be the best way to describe it. The man, adorned from head to toe in feathers, merely held his glass without taking a single sip.

Kijiitsu didn’t make eye contact with anyone; he simply stared at the golden liquid in his glass as if looking at something mysterious.

“Brad. As a long-time friend, I’m glad you’re staying with us. You are one of this country’s top-class adventurers and a collaborator in my business ventures. I can trust a man who served as my son’s tutor in the adventuring arts.”

“I’ve had quite enough of babysitting, though.”

Brad swayed pleasantly, his glass already empty.

“These nine people shall be my partners for this job. Truly, I am grateful to have such an excellent group assembled. I must thank the Gods.”

“Father, it’s time.”

Hunt quietly prompted Bent, who was speaking with increasing fervor and a flushed face.

“Hmm? Oh, right, of course. Forgive me. I should get to the business at hand.”

He drained his mead in one gulp.

“Then, let me explain the task I wish to request of you, my chosen elite. Since I’ve gathered such skilled adventurers, the goal is obviously a dungeon conquest. The truth is, I recently spent a fortune to purchase a certain dungeon, and I would very much like for you to conquer it.”

“That’s a strange story. You want us to conquer it and bring back every treasure we find inside? On a fixed salary?”

Jin tilted his head.

He was right; something about this sounded off.

If the dungeon was high-difficulty, veteran adventurers would swarm it eventually anyway. All Bent would have to do is trade with them once they returned.

Unless he knew for a fact that something he absolutely had to have was sleeping inside?

But based on the way Bent was talking, it wasn’t about items. It was simply…

“No, it’s about the conquest itself. Of course, I’ll need items as proof of your victory and a map of the deepest level, but the core requirement is simply the fact that you all conquered that dungeon.”

“What’s that supposed to mean? There aren’t many unconquered dungeons left, but they do exist. But because they haven’t been cleared yet, they have… what do you call it? Brand value. People think there might be treasures at the bottom that no one has ever seen. It’s one thing for people to clear them on their own, but I’ve never heard of an owner spending a fortune just to have someone beat it. It just kills the dungeon’s ability to draw a crowd.”

To Jin’s rapid-fire questioning, Bent replied:

“Sharp as ever. As expected of a battle-hardened veteran like Jin. Yes, normally you would be right. However, the place I want you to conquer is no ordinary dungeon. In fact, for several of you, it is a dungeon with which you share a certain… history.”

Bent paused for a moment, then lowered his voice as if revealing a grand, dark secret.

“The ‘Labyrinth of the Earth’—or perhaps this name is more familiar: the ‘Underearth Labyrinth of No Return.’”

The moment those words left his lips, the air in the guest room shifted.

Jin was struck dumb, his hand frozen while stroking his beard. His eyes narrowed into sharp slits.

Eni’s body stiffened as she swallowed hard.

Kijiitsu didn’t move an inch. However, a small crack spiderwebbed across the glass he was gripping.

Henya covered his mouth with his hand as if deep in thought while staring at Watch, and Watch himself closed his eyes and let out a long, deep breath.

Mora’s eyes widened in shock. Yet, a faint, almost gleeful smile touched her lips.

I couldn’t read Shirona’s expression behind her robe, but I could tell her body had momentarily locked up.

And Brad… Brad was glaring at the ceiling. He was staring it down as if some mortal enemy were lurking right there.

As I looked around at the bizarre reactions of the group, my eyes met Hunt’s, who had been observing the scene just as I had.

His eyes were quiet. It felt as though he were peering directly into my inner thoughts.

“I want you all to conquer the Underearth Labyrinth of No Return.”

Bent declared once more.