Chapter 6 Needless Worry
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Nothing at all happened, to a surprising degree.
It had already been four days since they entered the labyrinth. By now, they had cleared the twenty-third floor. They crossed seven floors on the first day and seven on the second. After that, the number of floors they could clear before each camp slowly went down, but only three more floors remained until their goal. The march was harder than in the upper floors, yet even so, they would reach the lowest of the shallow floors in just one more day.
If everything went well, they could arrive in five days. It almost never went that well, so they added three extra days. With the trip there and back, they planned for a little over half a month.
However, they now moved even faster than their best plan.
That day, after they finished the planned route and Yuuri told everyone to make camp, Fried came to speak.
”Yuuri, is it not too early to camp? You seem fine, and so do we,” Arman Fried-kyo said.
”Yes. But we need to prepare for each new floor,” Yuuri said in a gentle tone. “We do not have the right things ready to go on today.”
Yuuri turned down Arman Fried-kyo’s idea with care. If this were a forced march where speed was all that mattered, they would push on. But on this trip, the first rule was to move safely and step by step. There was no need to add danger by skipping the needed prep.
”I see. Thanks to your prep, we have escaped trouble many times,” Fried said with a small laugh. “We are also going much faster than the pace you first told us.”
”It is because all of you are too skilled,” Yuuri answered. “I have never seen such fast progress… To be honest, I did not expect so much strength from everyone.”
The kind of prep needed changed a lot based on the group’s strength, their number, and what they planned to do.
For a princess’s party, Yuuri had made many plans, from the fastest to slower but safer ones. Yet Princess Marina gave one clear order: everyone must follow Yuuri’s word. Because of that, they kept catching up to even Yuuri’s fastest plan.
Yuuri saw the skill of the princess’s chosen guards. It made Yuuri feel a little ashamed as a guide, but Arman Fried-kyo never tried to push for a harder march.
Later, when they reached the Safety Area (safe zone) with energy to spare, talk grew lively.
”No, really, Yuuri-dono saved us again today,” one knight said. “Who would think such a huge leech waited above us in the trees! Without your warning, we would have walked right under it.”
”You also guessed every danger spot so well,” another knight added. “We thought that with us here, no danger could ever reach Her Highness. We even felt we did not need a guide. I am ashamed of such pride.”
The knights often spoke about Yuuri’s skill. If they fought every monster, they would lose time again and again. But by following Yuuri’s signs, they passed trouble with ease. The knights judged people by fighting skill and magic, so seeing problems solved by a different kind of skill felt fresh and fun to them.
Yuuri felt proud to be seen as a skilled person by experts from another field.
Yuuri knew they had not used the knights’ full power yet, but since they were doing better than planned, it would be rude to refuse their praise.
”I also only knew the name of this job, a dungeon guide, but I did not know it was this great,” Princess Marina said with warm eyes. “Ashley brought Yuuri to us. I am thankful.”
”Y-You praise me too much… I only made the link…” Ashley said, her face red to the ears.
”No, no, not at all,” a knight replied. “Back at the swamp two days ago, your magic helped a lot. We heard you and Yuuri-dono thought up the idea to freeze the water.”
Marina and the knights praised Ashley, and she blushed even more. Seeing that, Yuuri felt happy and also a bit at ease, glad Ashley kept her pride. Yuuri believed themself to be a good guide, but not the best in the Guild. Even with Lady Roeni’s help, Ashley had chosen Yuuri and given them the chance to guide a princess. Yuuri hoped this was at least the start of paying back that favor.
And because of all that, the lack of trouble felt troubling.
The “evil one” was selfish, but did not seem to lie or trick. At least for now.
If Yuuri believed those words, then some danger should be near. A person who wanted harm inside a labyrinth had many ways: send monsters, use traps, or lead people into bad ground. Any of these would show some sign made by a person.
Yuuri used all their experience to search for such signs, but found none.
Even if killers planned to attack directly, there were only so many places to hide or times to strike inside a labyrinth.
Everything went too well, and the lack of any clue of danger made Yuuri restless.
Maybe that feeling showed on Yuuri’s face.
Maybe Yuuri’s eyes had been seeking help without knowing.
Princess Marina sat across the fire and watched Yuuri with a serious face.
”Yuuri, is something on your mind?” she asked in a low voice. “Since a while ago, you seem far away. Before we left, I ordered you to speak of any worry without hiding it.”
She spoke softly so her close aides would not join in, making it easier for Yuuri to answer. Yuuri was thankful, but the worry came from the “evil one’s” warning.
If Yuuri said the goddess had spoken, Marina would believe it. The knights would follow if Marina did. But they would also wonder why Yuuri could make Marina believe such an odd story.
As a guide, Yuuri wanted to avoid any split inside the group, since that would make the trip less safe.
In the end, Yuuri still did not know what danger the warning meant.
Even so, maybe it was better to share the worry of a commoner now. If Yuuri asked something that should not be asked, it might still answer Marina’s order to speak.
”…Then, please allow me to speak,” Yuuri began. “This time, Princess Marina entered the labyrinth to gain the right to the throne. For those who already have that right, it means one more person will stand at their side.”
At those words, a few knights half-rose, but Fried held them back with a hand. Yuuri did not know if they feared for Yuuri or found the words rude. Yet Marina had asked, so Yuuri went on.
”I do not understand palace politics well,” Yuuri said. “But even if they do not wish to harm Your Highness, they would still want to know your plans and your progress. So for the past two days, I have looked for signs of someone following or waiting for us.”
When Yuuri looked around, the knights now seemed to accept this. They saw Yuuri was not digging into the palace but only thinking of the job.
”And did you find any sign?” Marina asked.
”No. Not at all,” Yuuri answered. “I do not know if there is nothing, if I am not skilled enough, or if the other side is very good. I had no proof, so I could not report it.”
Marina listened in silence, then nodded a few times and opened her golden eyes wide.
”Indeed, my brother Marisio’s political ideas are hard to accept,” she said.
”Your Highness…!” Fried tried to stop her.
But Marina cut him off with one firm word.
”Quiet. I do not wish to begin a fight about politics here,” she said. “But Marisio already has the right to the throne. I do not. No matter how I speak, my words sound like a young girl’s foolish talk. The nobles at the palace think the same. So I must stand in the same place as my brother, then speak with him as an equal. Do not fear, Yuuri. My brother and I both wish for our country to grow and for our people to live in peace. Only the way is different. He would never send killers after me.”
Her expression suddenly softened.
When she acted like a princess, even her smile stayed sharp. But now Yuuri saw the gentle girl beneath the title. Yuuri felt this was her true heart. Marina trusted her brother. She waited for the day they could speak of the country’s future side by side, without any dislike.
”…I am glad to know my fear was needless,” Yuuri said. “Still, the labyrinth is full of danger. I will keep watching, if that is all right?”
”—Yes,” she replied.
Marina said no more about her brother.
One worry was gone, but Yuuri still had no clue about the warning.
Even so, Yuuri could not keep the same troubled face or ask again.
Even if danger still waited, it would not come now.
The heavy talk ended, and the group returned to sharing stories of the day. Yuuri joined in so no one would notice any more worry, hoping the talk would push the unease away.
—
Since Marina (and Ashley) were on official duty, and Yuuri, a commoner tasked with ensuring the group’s safety through discipline, couldn’t possibly flirt with the knights while ignoring them, the labyrinth exploration scenes were almost entirely cut. The story wasn’t progressing, and it felt like I’d be called out for claiming an episode that was just me talking to old men was a “Nocturne Novel.” So, since it was short, I decided to post the next episode along with this one. As a result, the volume was unexpectedly large…
Notes:
• Arman – Knight captain who escort Marina on the first mission.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Roeni – Guild receptionist, former adventurer, now a baroness—mentor to Yuuri.
• Marisio – Princess Marina’s older brother who already holds the right to the throne.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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