Chapter 28: 28. Even a Crying Child Falls Silent...
Labyrinth entry and exit records are meticulously maintained.
That is because of the need to prevent the crimes that sprout up like mushrooms within the labyrinth, as well as the lunatics who enter the gate around the end of each month to investigate its secrets.
They say that, in the past, Northerners went in to prove their courage and vanished forever.
So then, let’s think about why I ended up like this.
My guess is that what I held in my hand earlier was... probably a fragment of a portal.
It was green, and it felt just like a portal, so that had to be it.
It must have been sucked into my inventory while I was fighting the mercenaries.
No wonder it got cut... This must be another kind of bug.
I cut it off and took it out, activating the [Transmigrant] title. Just now, did it activate because I used it from outside the labyrinth to outside the labyrinth?
Anyway...
A person who was definitely supposed to be outside came out of a portal?
Logically, they would assume I had slipped past all surveillance and secretly entered the labyrinth.
The fact that slipping past all surveillance was somehow the more plausible explanation...
Just thinking about it exhausted me. I was in a position where I couldn’t complain even if they branded me a criminal and punished me.
For now, the only person who knew this was the Guildmaster.
Convincing the Guildmaster would be easier than getting caught up in multiple investigations.
"Master? I definitely heard your voice..."
Judging by the footsteps, the soldiers still seemed to be in front of the portal.
I whispered softly into the Guildmaster’s ear.
"If you keep this matter a secret just this once..."
Tremble! Flinch! Flinch!
"I’ll accept any request you have, once."
The Guildmaster’s face turned bright red as she nodded.
Nod, nod.
When I gently let go of her, the Guildmaster opened her mouth.
"N-nothing happened... Ahem! Ahem! Nothing happened."
"Master? Were you there?"
Step, step.
The Guildmaster shouted at the soldiers who were trying to come around the pillar.
"Yes! Count Hardin! Ah, it’s nothing! Please don’t worry!"
At the mention of Count Hardin, the footsteps abruptly stopped.
"Ah, we should... contact..."
"Shh. Let’s leave them be..."
"R-right..."
After that, only the sound of the soldiers cautiously retreating echoed before all fell quiet.
For now, that was one burden off my chest.
The tension drained from my body, which had been stiff as a board.
Why was this harder than training...?
"Whew..."
"Um... Jang Ryu-o...?"
"Yes, so, what happened was..."
As I desperately tried to make up an excuse, the Guildmaster spoke in a trembling voice.
"Your posture is a little..."
Come to think of it, I had been clutching the Guildmaster tightly around the waist.
"I’m sorry!"
When I removed my hands, the Guildmaster flinched all over and jerked her hips away.
Her body, which had been pressed deeply against my pubic bone, sprang back with a shudder as though she had touched something filthy.
"Eek!"
That hurt a little... Though I had come back drenched in sweat.
"I-I’m truly sorry. I was in such a hurry..."
The Guildmaster rubbed her stomach and butt a few times while taking deep breaths.
"Hoo... N-no, it’s fine. More importantly, what happened? Did you perhaps sneak into the labyrinth..."
Ah, I couldn’t even imagine what excuse I was supposed to give for this.
The moment I said I had sneaked in, it seemed certain I would have to undergo an investigation...
Then I would have to explain every last part of what happened, but I wasn’t on my master’s level, so that was a little...
And what, was I supposed to say I tore off a portal and brought it with me? Since the [Transmigrant] title had activated, the entire Labyrinth City would be in an uproar.
If I used it brilliantly, it could bring enormous benefits. So I would hold off on that...
As my worries deepened, a commotion arose outside.
"Sword Saint!"
"Sword Saint, it is an honor to see you!"
"What brings you here..."
"Weren’t you living in seclusion..."
[Move aside.]
My master’s voice thundered through everyone’s minds.
"Urgh!"
"M-my head..."
"Sword Saint! Y-you mustn’t!"
Naturally, the Guildmaster and I both lowered our heads as our minds rang...
"Ugh..."
"A-Arin?!"
Hearing my voice, my master came running over while sniffing.
"Baby! Baby!!!"
My master fiercely pulled me into her embrace and tightly wrapped her tail around my waist.
Far tighter than all the times she had wrapped her tail around my waist before, as though she had been holding back until now.
Squeeze...
"Urk! Master..."
"M-master?! What?!"
The Guildmaster looked even more faint than she had when I came out of the portal.
Ignoring the Guildmaster entirely, my master murmured in a low voice.
"I-I thought I had lost you, baby... Haa... Are you hurt anywhere... Sniff... sniff?"
My master’s eyes widened as she stared intently at my face.
"Baby...?"
The soldiers came rushing in...
Rumble.
"Sword Saint! You can’t do this... Huh?"
The guards were thrown into confusion at the discovery that there was another person here.
"Why do I smell Sylvia..."
"I knew there was something unusual about him... The Sword Saint’s disciple?"
"A-a man? Why is he dressed like that..."
The situation was getting worse and worse.
I grabbed my master’s shoulders as she continued muttering.
"Master. I’m all right. Pull yourself together."
"Ah, right. That isn’t what matters... Come along, baby."
My master took my hand and tried to lead me away.
The gathered soldiers began whispering when they saw that.
"That person is the Sword Saint’s disciple..."
"Isn’t that him? The one who accepted a request from the House of Duke Velatus not long ago..."
"Eek! V-Velatus? Damn, that request must have been no joke?"
"If he’s the Sword Saint’s disciple, it makes sense that he accepted it..."
"He’s still got his head attached, after all..."
"Ah, so that was why all those knights were lined up last time..."
Even as they whispered, the soldiers flinched and opened a path for us.
Some looked at us with admiration, while others were full of questions but kept their mouths shut.
Watching the soldiers naturally line up in formation, I stood there with my mouth hanging open.
I had no idea my master was this famous... And her title was Sword Saint?
Just as I was beginning to grow curious about my master’s past...
"A-Arin! Have you been well?"
The Guildmaster spread both arms and blocked our way.
My master frowned slightly, then let out a sigh before speaking.
"Haa... Sylvia, it’s been a while. What do you need?"
My master did not look pleased, but seeing her hold it in, they apparently were not on particularly bad terms.
"Well... I need to speak with your disciple..."
The Guildmaster glanced at the soldiers nearby and the people gradually gathering around us.
"Would it be all right if I escorted you somewhere quiet? This does not seem like something to discuss in a place like this."
"Baby, do you have something to discuss with the Guildmaster?"
I could get out of this immediate situation if I wanted. What should I do at a time like this...?
I was going to make up an excuse anyway, so wouldn’t it be fine to get through this for now?
Then my master spoke quietly.
"If you are in trouble, I will help you. Do as your heart tells you."
Ah... She was simply adorable.
In any case, my attempt to slip away unnoticed had failed, and everyone had seen me.
At first they would be surprised, but eventually someone would begin wondering where exactly I had popped out from.
In that case... having one more ally would be better.
"I think it would be best to talk."
My master smiled gently and nodded.
"All right. Let’s do that."
Only then did the Guildmaster’s expression brighten a little.
"Whew... Thank you. I’ll escort you to the guild by carriage—"
"The guild... Baby, let’s run there."
"Yes."
Whoosh...
"...Huh?"
Murmur, murmur.
**
The inside of the guild was anything but peaceful as they investigated the Second Young Lady’s incident.
The receptionists handling the bare minimum of customer service, as well as those rushing busily around inside, let out mournful groans.
Amid them, Meidel, a receptionist and the Guildmaster’s secretary, called out to the others in a voice drained of all strength.
"Is there anyone who has organized the entry and exit records...?"
A woman shouldn’t be that listless...
One of the receptionists swallowed a sigh and brought the documents to Meidel.
A neatly organized and carefully stacked bundle of papers.
"Here it is."
The moment Meidel smiled and nodded...
Bang!
"Eeeek!"
Fwoosh!!
"Ah."
With a reaction fit for a cartoon, Meidel sent the documents exploding into the air like confetti.
They fluttered down, mixing together so thoroughly...
And the veins bulging on the receptionists’ foreheads mixed together just as nicely.
What audacious bitch would act so arrogantly in a guild full of killing machines...
"Gaaasp..."
"Eeeek!"
"Cough! Cough! S-Sword Saint!"
"S-Sword Saint?"
"I-it’s my first time seeing her in person..."
Inside the bustling guild, every gaze turned toward Arin.
Long hair flowing down from white fox ears. Yellow eyes like those of a nocturnal predator. A body that looked toned at a glance, with astonishing curves.
She had once lived in seclusion, but any guild personnel who had been around for a long time could not possibly fail to recognize her.
After all, once every few years, she would come in, toss down the heads of wanted criminals, and leave...
Heads with their eyes still open rolling along the floor... That was enough.
Those inexperienced brats were only darting their heads around like lizard girls at the ominous atmosphere.
A living legend, the first person to clear the eightieth floor, expedition member Arin.
The receptionists tried to fetch the Guildmaster immediately, but...
"The... master..."
"Out on business..."
"Ah..."
Thus, by a perfectly fair vote, Meidel was shoved forward.
"Eeeek! Me? Me? Really?"
"Come on, hurry up and go, Meidel!"
"What are you doing? You’re the secretary!"
"Waaah..."
She looked just like a lamb being offered as a sacrifice to a god.
As Meidel approached while trembling, Arin gestured toward the door.
"Your skill improves by the day... Hehe..."
Whoosh!
"Haa... It’s all thanks to you, Master."
"Who’s that man?"
"Arin’s husband? He’s quite pretty..."
"Wow... Look at that..."
"Shut up! Keep your eyes down! Shh..."
Meidel’s eyes darted busily between Ryu-o and Arin.
"Huh? You are...?"
"Huh? Hello, Secretary...? You’re the secretary, right?"
"Hm? Do you know each other?"
At Arin’s words, Meidel flinched before answering.
"W-we merely crossed paths..."
"She helped me register."
"Hmm..."
As Arin looked Meidel up and down, Meidel froze rigid as though she had been hunted by a basilisk.
As if she did not care at all, Arin headed toward the stairs.
"Nice to meet you. I arranged a meeting with the Guildmaster, so I’ll be upstairs."
The Guildmaster is absent.
"Yeees..."
The two of them were about to go up the stairs.
Then a woman with guts as big as a kraken stepped out to block Arin and Ryu-o.
"Arin! It is an honor to meet you! I am unworthy, but I am known as the Sword Demon..."
"? Get to the point."
She was an Eastern woman with black hair who looked somewhat older.
The woman, who wore a sword at her waist and stood with her fists clasped in salute, had gone stiff as her lips trembled.
"I am Yang Haeyeon... Would you permit me to receive some instruction from you?"
Arin stared at her with indifferent eyes, then simply brushed past her.
Crack!
As Yang Haeyeon turned around, overwhelmed by humiliation...
Sliiide... Clatter!
The sword at her waist slipped free and fell to the floor.
"..."
Ignoring the woman whose mouth had fallen open, Arin spoke.
"Let’s go upstairs already."
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