(Roxy POV)
The man's name was Ruijerd, and he had been looking after Eris ever since she was teleported here over a year ago. Together, they had searched for Rudeus for days before coming across the Labyrinth, its ever-present thunderclouds looming ominously above it.
Kagami, in his slimy form, had taken Eris hostage to keep Ruijerd from entering. Instead, he ordered them to wait for professional reinforcements— [Fangs of the Black Wolf] and me. He provided them with adventurer cards, supplies, money, and other gear, instructing them to seek shelter in Rikarisu until further notice.
Fortunately, Ruijerd understood the Human God tongue, allowing Tallhand and Vierra to communicate with him. But something had been gnawing at me.
"Kagami dropped him into a Black Dragon's nest?!" Voerra said, shocked.
This crucial detail had been kept from us, making it even harder to trust him.
"Wait a minute," Tallhand interrupted. "So this White Fire Coffin thing is a Labyrinth after all? How did that place turn into one in the first place? It was just a nest before. That doesn't happen overnight."
"And why would Kagami help us?" Vierra added. "Sure, he aided in Fittoa's reconstruction and saved us in Millishion, but what's his angle?"
I already knew—I just didn't want to admit it. Kagami had never been the most trustworthy person.
"You," Ruijerd spoke, his posture unchanging in his chair. "You already knew, didn't you?"
Tallhand and Vierra looked at me, puzzled. I reached into my pouch and pulled out a small black notebook. The pages were filled with impossibly tiny, machine-printed text. The paper was unlike any I had ever seen—white as freshly fallen snow.
"He wrote that he wanted to awaken Rudeus's hidden power. And to do that, Rudeus needed a near-death experience."
"Hidden power?" Tallhand grumbled.
"Remember when Kagami said he had been inside Rudeus since birth? During Zenith's pregnancy, he was inside her before transferring to Rudeus. He's been monitoring him since he was little, knowing that something bigger lies deep within him."
"That was over eleven years ago," Tallhand countered. "And you believe that?"
"I had my doubts! But after hearing Ruijerd's description of the Labyrinth, I finally confirmed something."
I took a deep breath.
"Rudeus Greyrat has soul-manipulating powers. Powers that make him a blessed child. His abilities are an advanced form of Divine Strike Magic, but unlike that, his power isn't limited to spirits—he can use it on any living being. The white fire that engulfs those who perish inside the Labyrinth repurposes their souls, fueling his blessing."
"Are you saying the captain's son is devouring souls?" Vierra asked grimly.
"Not exactly. Souls are a form of mana, possibly an even purer version. The blessing absorbs that energy, storing it within Rudeus. Every death inside the Labyrinth strengthens it and expands it to go further down."
"How is that possible?" Ruijerd asked.
"Kagami explained that the Labyrinth is an extension of Rudeus's soul. He is its core. The walls and floors are like a body, and the mana flowing through it is connected to his soul. He isn't fully conscious of it, but the Labyrinth grows with every passing second, every death feeding its evolution—monster or person alike."
"That's horrifying!" Vierra exclaimed.
"Hold on," Tallhand said. "Even if its mana is tied to kid's soul, how does that reshape the environment?"
"It follows the principle of Dragonfolks's reincarnation technique. For a soul to be reborn, it must find a compatible vessel. The Labyrinth adapts on that basis, forcefully getting reconstructed to stabilize the influx of soul mana."
"So you're saying our biggest threat is a child's imagination? A smart one, by your accounts?" Tallhand asked.
"...Yes."
Admitting it wasn't easy. There was no way to sugarcoat this truth. No one can predict what Rudy is creating in there.
Tallhand rubbed his forehead. "That place could be something the world has never seen before."
Ruijerd crossed his arms. "This Kagami knows quite a lot."
"He's experimented with Rudeus's blessing ever since it awakened," I answered. "He managed to figure out how to connect people with the blessing. Thanks to that, even Rudeus's parents have received power boosts linked to abilities Rudeus has yet to use."
The silence that followed was heavy.
"How much of that notebook can we trust?" Vierra finally asked.
"Good question," Tallhand muttered. "Kagami plays both sides, showing up when it's convenient. Why document all this and let you have it?"
"He could be lying," Ruijerd said. "Manipulating us. I've seen this before. He has a hidden motive that he's using us for."
"Or it's half-truths," I admitted. "Enough facts to convince us, but just enough distortion to guide us toward his goal."
"And if it's all true?" Vierra challenged. "What then?"
"If Rudeus is truly this... soul-powered entity, then Kagami has a vested interest in his development. Whether to control, use, or challenge him, I don't know."
Ruijerd stood, his expression firm. "Speculation won't change anything, but I may have a lead—something tangible. Meet me at the city's exit. We'll know more soon."
That was all he said as he left the guild's building.
"Can we trust him?" Vierra anxiously asked.
"I feel like we can trust him more than Kagami," I replied, fully meaning what I said.
"I don't know," Tallhand said, stroking his beard. "I couldn't help but notice that he was hiding something. That friend of yours also reacted like the guy was nothing but trouble."
He was right. However, I wanted to continue trusting Ruijerd, a lingering doubt gnawed at me.
Nokopora's reaction hadn't been out of nowhere. He was a fool at times, but he was also an experienced adventurer. If he distrusted Ruijerd, there had to be a reason.
"You're not wrong," I admitted, exhaling. "But right now, we don't have many options."
Tallhand sighed. "Then we keep our guard up. If Ruijerd turns out to be hiding something dangerous, we pull out before it's too late."
"Agreed," Vierra added, though her expression remained uneasy.
We left the guild and made our way through the streets of Rikarisu.
***
By the time we reached the exit, the towering rock formations loomed overhead, casting long shadows in the fading light. The wind whistled softly through the cracks, carrying the scent of damp earth.
Then, movement caught my eye. A massive green lizard approached, its thick legs moving with surprising speed. Its scales shimmered under the moonlight, each step producing a dull thud.
Atop it sat Ruijerd—and a girl with striking red hair.
I squinted. She looked familiar. Then it clicked.
"Are you... Eris Boreas Greyrat?"
Her sharp gaze met mine. "Who wants to know?"
I held my ground. "I came with Sword King Ghislaine Dedoldia, the Boreas family's bodyguard."
Eris's eyes narrowed before she hopped off the lizard, standing before me.
"Where is she?" she demanded.
"That's where we're about to head. I'm sure if she had known you were here, she would have come as well."
Immediately, the girl's face lit up like any gleeful child would.
"Well then what are you waiting for. Get on!" she commenaded.
I gave a small, relieved smile and mounted the lizard and so did the other two.
"Where are we heading?" Ruijerd asked, pulling the leashes strapped to the lizard's mouth.
"West, but a little more to the south. The way there was without any bigger hills, so it should be relatively the same direction."
After giving the direction to the hut we came from, the lizard lifted it body and walked through the gate.
"Maybe things will go smoother from here," I muttered, immediately regretting it.
Once we were a few steps away from the gate, the beast surged forward like a living arrow, its body at a steady height as all four of its legs marched forward in a constant blur.
Wind whipped through my hair as I clung desperately to the saddle, and my other hand held my hat tight. My fingers ached from the strain, and my knuckles were white. Behind me, Tallhand looked ready to pass out, his face pale as his beard fluttered as much as my mantle.
"Where did you get this thing?!" Tallhand shouted.
Ruijerd, unfazed, responded calmly, "Kagami provided it a month ago. It has Earth Magic that allows it to propel itself forwards by shiting the ground beneath its feet."
Vierra groaned. "Of course he did!"
"Faster!" Eris usrged with a wide grin.
"No!" Tallhand protested. "We're already dying!"
"You guys are too slow!" Eris grumbled, virtually unfazed by this kind of speed.
By the gods, is she enjoying this?Can she even be called a noble lady at this point?
After an eternity, the lizard slowed. We arrived at a secluded hut hidden within dense foliage.
Relief washed over me as I dismounted, but my legs shook as if the bone had gone soft.
"Three hours," I muttered. "It took us three days before."
"Felt like three weeks," Tallhand said, still laying on the saddle with his rolling in its sockets.
Vierra staggered off and bolted for the apple trees that were surprisingly lushly planted next to the hut.
Eris, unaffected, practically skipped toward the hut.
"Told you it wasn't that bad!"
Moments later, she lost her balance and tripped. Serves her right. For someone so uncaningly energetic, it seems fair to see her take at least a little effect from this hell of a ride.
I exhaled. At least we had made it in one piece.
The door to the hut creaked open, and Paul stepped out, his sword in hand. Behind him, Zenith followed, her face lighting up the moment she saw Eris and the rest of us.
"You're back," Paul said, relief evident in his tone. He scanned our group quickly before his brow furrowed. "What is—"
Before he could finish, a sharp gagging sound cut through the moment. Vierra clutched her stomach and bolted to the nearest corner of the hut, falling to her knees as she retched violently.
"Vierra!" Shierra rushed to her sister's side, kneeling beside her.
The rest of us exchanged glances, concern creeping in.
"Is she okay?" Zenith asked, stepping forward.
Shierra rubbed Vierra's back, whispering something too low for us to hear. After a few moments, Vierra coughed, wiping her mouth before slumping against the wall.
"Too much… too fast," she muttered hoarsely.
I wasn't sure if she meant the lizard ride or something else. Either way, the exhaustion in her face told me we weren't done dealing with surprises yet.
Paul stepped forward, his expression shifting from relief to concern as he looked at me.
"Roxy," he said, his voice steady but strained, "any updates on Rudeus?"
I opened my mouth to answer, but my stomach twisted violently before I could form a single word. A sharp, unbearable nausea shot through me like a punch to the gut.
'Oh no!'
A cold sweat broke out across my skin as bile rose in my throat. Without another thought, I spun on my heel and sprinted to the opposite corner of the hut from Vierra, barely making it before I doubled over. My body heaved, my stomach emptying itself with a force that left me gasping for air.
Paul, Zenith, and the others stared, startled by its suddenness.
"Tallhand?" I heard Elinalise's voice.
When I turned, I saw Tallhand still mounted on the lizard, lying face down, motionless as Elinalise tried to get a reaction out of him.
Meanwhile, Ruijerd looked totally unfazed by this absurd speedy trip.
'What is wrong with him? Why didn't he warn us properly?'
"Urgh! *Blergh*!!!"
///