Chapter 164 Roeni’s Struggle Part Five: Miscalculation and a Glimmer of Hope
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A full day had passed since the meeting with the Count. The political situation was unsettlingly quiet.
Roeni had braced herself for an immediate summons to the Royal Castle, yet none came.
Surveillance set up by her people across the Royal Capital showed no frantic activity among the nobility, either. After making such a bold declaration to the Count, she couldn’t badger him with insistent calls, so there was nothing for it but to gather information discreetly and continue to pretend to be oblivious to the brewing storm.
”At least we’ve had some time to organize our own information, desu-wa,” Roeni mused.
”Yeah. It’s important to weather this political upheaval, but we can’t let the people working for us starve in the meantime,” her husband, the Baron, concurred. “I wanted to adjust the business before things got too frantic, to make sure we’re free to move as we need to.”
This crisis wasn’t merely about the disappearance of a single member of the Royal Family. Naturally, every noble associated with them would be impacted, and unfortunately, the shadow of trouble was sure to stretch even to the Baron Confianza’s house.
She needed to prevent their business interests from becoming a hindrance and amplifying the damage, but it was difficult to make massive changes before the coup’s execution was confirmed. Thus, the current eerie silence wasn’t entirely unwelcome; if viewed as a period of grace to prepare their affairs, it had its uses.
They had used the time they’d been given to rest and adjust work at the Guild, leading them to this very moment. Roeni had brought out even classified documents, ready and waiting for the summons.
Just then, a knock preceded the entrance of Sebastian, their butler, carrying the last anticipated piece of news. Roeni and her husband exchanged a quick nod.
”Please, show them right in here, desu-wa.”
”Understood. —Do step this way, if you please.”
Normally, guests would be shown to the formal parlor or reception room. However, since the study also functioned as the business office, Roeni preferred to save the closely-associated Hatcha and her partner the trouble of moving.
Their capable butler understood this, bowing and calling out to the hallway as soon as permission was granted. A blunt reply came from beyond the opened door, and the two accompanying adventurers were led into the study by Sebastian.
”Good morning, Hatcha. You look rested, hmm? And Turin, thank you for your hard work.”
”Morning-ssu. Thanks to the day off yesterday, I feel light as a feather, masaa. Nobody’s been tailing us since we left here, and our place hasn’t been trashed or nothing.” Hatcha declared.
”I-I’m back now, ma’am! I… I just got back from the Labyrinth and Hatcha-chan told me what happened, so I rushed here right away to report…” Turin stuttered, her demeanor hesitant.
In stark contrast to the easygoing Hatcha, Turin was subdued.
Her hair was a slightly muted blue, the opposite of her fiery, big-sister figure’s blazing red. This pair, whose appearances seemed to perfectly mirror their inner natures, left a strong impression on people.
They had a stellar record as adventurers and received many direct requests. The only slight drawback was Turin’s introverted nature, making her prone to hiding behind Hatcha, but that was a minor flaw considering her ability to traverse as far as the Twenty-Seventh Floor alone.
Roeni directed the contrasting duo to the central reception area and had them sit on the sofas. Sebastian swiftly offered tea and pastries, which seemed to ease the nervous Turin’s tension just a little.
”Yes, that’s helpful. Now, let’s get straight to the report. Did you find any signs of a struggle in that area?” Roeni pressed.
”…Well, there were no bodies or personal effects, obviously. If Roeni-san’s guess is right, it had been more than a day since the incident, after all.” Turin replied, her voice soft.
After a full day, anything left abandoned in the Labyrinth vanishes. This phenomenon, commonly called ‘returning to the Labyrinth,’ is known to everyone.
Calculating back from the time the Lord Fried¹ returned, even Turin’s renowned speed couldn’t reach the site before the deadline. Roeni had pushed them to go anyway, hoping for a survivor, but they hadn’t encountered anyone.
”…I see. But knowing that there was absolutely no trace when you arrived is valuable information, all the same. It stings, but it further strengthens the credibility that Arman is the culprit.” Roeni acknowledged.
”Uh, so, about that. First, since there were no bodies or bloodstains, the treason must have happened more than a day ago, that much is correct. But there were traces that looked like someone had visited afterward. …It’s this.”
Roeni had instructed Turin to document any evidence of ‘nothing’ being there, in case the enemy later claimed something had been found, turning the matter into a fruitless argument.
That was why, even when Turin began laying out the magic stones she’d paid for privately, Roeni hadn’t planned to look at them immediately, assuming the report of finding nothing was accurate. However, the mention of a third-party possibility made her stare intently at the recorded data.
”…No…! That’s not a sign that someone visited later. That’s a sign that a survivor—”
The magic stone displayed a crisp image of a Safety Area. Roeni understood what was in the image, but she couldn’t immediately conclude why that thing was there.
Yet, the person who could leave that behind—tracing the causality from there, a light suddenly appeared in the gloom! She reconstructed this unbelievable prediction in her mind, and just as she confirmed the glimmer of hope and was about to speak—
”—Madam! Master! A message from the Royal Castle!”
The voice, pitched high and desperate, was hurled from the hallway, muffled by the door.
A knock had barely preceded it, but the proper conduct of a retainer was to wait for the master’s permission, enter, and then state the business. Sebastian, above all, should know this.
The fact that protocol was abandoned meant a crisis of the highest order was unfolding.
Roeni silently erased the displayed image and hastily tucked the magic stone into a drawer. She then gave Sebastian a look, signaling him to open the door.
”Ah, please, stop! I asked you to wait in the parlor!” Sebastian cried out, his voice tight with alarm.
But the door the butler was rushing toward was violently thrown open, and a single soldier strode in from the hallway.
His uniform was ornate and ceremonial, a badge of authority that any noble in the Kingdom of Restea would recognize. But even so, because of that authority, he should not have burst into the private chambers of a titled person in such an unlawful manner.
Nevertheless, Roeni and her husband stood up, adhering to formal etiquette.
Startled, Hatcha and Turin quickly followed suit, retreating to the wall and standing stiffly against it. The soldier watched their sequence of actions with satisfaction, straightened his back with a practiced, military movement, and bellowed his mission with a well-trained voice.
”Hear ye! By the Edict of the King of the Kingdom of Restea, Valentia Rey Restea! Regarding the attack on Princess Marina Tway Restea within the Labyrinth, Roeni di Confianza is hereby commanded to present herself for immediate questioning as a key person of interest, having recommended the Labyrinth Guide who carried out the assault!”
”What?! Yuu-boy wouldn’t ever—” Hatcha snapped, her voice surging with immediate, furious defense.
”H-Hatcha-chan! That’s the King’s messenger! We can’t speak to—” Turin hissed, trying to pull her partner back.
They got us. The thought consumed Roeni’s mind, and she froze, robbed of speech.
Was it the sudden rush of blood leaving her head, or was it the shock that made Hatcha’s voice sound like a distant echo? She knew she had to immediately consent, but she swayed, completely forgetting the proper response.
”As a key person of interest, am I, her husband, permitted to accompany her, then?” Roeni’s husband quickly secured her arm, asking the messenger for confirmation.
”By Royal Statute, the accompaniment of a close relative is permitted!” the Messenger boomed.
Roeni dimly recognized her husband’s question from the corner of her mind. That was right.
Only the commoner Yuuri had been set up as the immediate culprit. The Prince’s faction had likely devised the scheme, but the Princess’s faction might not be innocent, either. After all, the Prince’s faction was still the largest in the Kingdom, regardless of how much right the Princess’s faction had on their side.
Even if the Princess’s party had lost their main figurehead, their strength was still inferior for an all-out fight. It would be a useful strategy for them to prioritize maintaining their current position and sacrifice Yuuri as a scapegoat to secure a quick resolution.
If the two major factions had reached such an agreement, a neutral Baron’s house couldn’t possibly defy the decision. If they protected the ‘culprit,’ they would be branded as accomplices and ruined. They would be forced to agree.
And even if that wasn’t the case, it was already incredibly difficult to clear Yuuri’s name. Once the Prince’s faction had declared, ‘The culprit is the Labyrinth Guide,’ they couldn’t possibly back down.
They would fabricate any evidence necessary to save face; nothing short of a recording of the Lord Fried committing the act himself would overturn the accusation.
The secret return of the bodyguard and the footage of the Prince’s faction member taking refuge at their mansion were now useless for cornering the enemy. Even the record Turin brought back, which hinted at a survivor, was too risky to present without knowing the Princess faction’s current position.
”…I understand. Then, please inform His Majesty that I will prepare myself as quickly as possible and present myself at the castle.” Roeni managed to articulate.
”Regrettably, Madam. I am commanded to accompany you to the castle myself,” the Messenger countered.
Even though they had been preempted, Roeni knew she couldn’t simply surrender. As she agreed to the summons, the expected petty command was attached—to prevent any time-wasting.
But she had anticipated this much; she no longer had time to send her people out to investigate anything. She only needed a moment to align the strategy among the people currently in this house.
”Even so, I will require a small amount of time. I am in my work-dress like this, and I am hardly dressed to meet His Majesty. Surely you wouldn’t suggest that a woman rush her preparations entirely?” Roeni asked, her voice calm but with an edge of challenge.
”…Do not forget that I have a duty to report to His Majesty,” the Messenger stated, reluctantly nodding.
Roeni clenched her fist in her lap, relieved that she had compromised for a conventional time for dressing. That brief respite was all she needed to make minimal preparations with the resources they had.
Relieved to have secured that minimal window, she instructed Sebastian to host the messenger in the parlor, ensuring he did not leave. Once the door closed and they listened for the receding footsteps, they huddled together again, forced to find a countermeasure for the sudden, alarming turn of events.
”Wh-wh-what are we gonna do, boss?! They’ve framed Yuu-boy as the culprit!” Hatcha exclaimed, her hands flying up in frustration.
”Calm yourself, Hatcha. With this, we have no time left to even ask the Count about the Princess faction’s true intentions. If we delay, they might restrict access to the ‘Gate’ as well. So, you must gather your party immediately after this, and once you’re ready, head into the Labyrinth right away. Hide yourselves in the Safety Areas on the Second and Third Floors. If you don’t hear from me within one day… go as deep as you can and search for the Princess. Turin, I know you just returned, and I’m sorry, but our only chance is to believe Her Highness is alive and find her.”
Roeni silenced the two of them, who were nodding but fearfully voicing their concerns, by handing them advance payment and a generous expense increase. Days had already passed since the Lord Fried’s rebellion; even if the Princess had escaped, she wouldn’t be able to survive without Yuuri’s help.
Conversely, finding the Princess meant securing both Yuuri and the person who could prove his innocence. If that also meant the restoration of the Confianza house’s honor, it was a cheap price, even at triple the usual rate.
”That’s all well and good, Roeni, but is there really a hope that Her Highness is still alive?” her husband wondered aloud.
”Yes. The contents of the record Turin brought back show us that they didn’t simply fall victim to Arman.”
Roeni retrieved the magic stone from the drawer and allowed everyone present to see the prediction that the messenger had interrupted. Every face in the room brightened, showing an affirmative reaction.
”The problem is, even if we’re sure that survivors exist, that alone doesn’t prove that Yuuri-kun wasn’t responsible for these crimes,” her husband pointed out.
”That’s the core of it, isn’t it? …Therefore, if the Princess’s faction has decided to abandon the boy during this summons, then our only choice is to have Her Highness herself clear his name.”
That was why Hatcha and her party needed to wait for one day within communication range.
If the situation at the Royal Castle allowed it, Roeni would happily order them to stand down. However, there was a chance she could be detained there, so having a large sum of money ready as an insurance policy was vital.
”Now, you two go. I have to prepare for the summons. The way things are going, they might drag me off while I’m still putting on my makeup, desu-wa.”
”Got it. We’ll rush our prep, but try to drop us a line, boss. Going down into the middle floors without knowing what happened to you and the Master—that’s gonna sting us, too.” Hatcha responded, showing her concern.
Roeni encouraged the concerned Hatcha to leave. After exchanging one last determined look with her husband, she galvanized her darkening spirits and began preparing for the fateful journey to the castle.
—
Summary:
The political tension tightens as Baroness Roeni is suddenly and officially implicated in the shocking Royal Princess Marina’s disappearance within the Labyrinth.
After a tense period of waiting, the quiet is shattered by a Royal Edict, commanding Roeni’s immediate presence at the castle for questioning as a key person of interest. This high-stakes development forces Roeni to abandon her initial strategy and make a desperate, two-pronged move: she must confront the powerful Prince’s Faction at the Royal Castle while simultaneously ordering her loyal adventurers, Hatcha and Turin, to immediately plunge into the dangerous depths of the Labyrinth (迷宮) on a desperate search for the missing Princess—the only person who can truly clear her Labyrinth Guide, Yuuri’s, name.
—
Character Insight:
Roeni’s character shines brightest in crisis. Her initial shock is immediately overcome by her strategic mind, viewing the political attack not as a defeat, but as a race against time.
Her loyalty to her Labyrinth Guide Yuuri, a commoner, is absolute, and she is willing to risk the entire Confianza house’s standing to prove his innocence. She leverages her noble status for mere minutes of extra time, demonstrating her sharp ability to negotiate even a royal decree, turning a simple dressing routine into a tactical moment to brief her allies.
—
Behind the Scene:
The Baroness and her husband successfully manage to keep their plans from the Royal Messenger and secure enough time for the adventurers, Hatcha and Turin, to act.
The key evidence is the magic stone recording, which shows an anomaly in the Safety Area of the Labyrinth, suggesting Princess Marina might have found a way to survive the initial assault and is not simply missing but actively evading detection. This unexpected sign of survival provides Roeni the hope she needs to move forward with a high-risk rescue mission.
Notes:
• Roeni – Guild receptionist, former adventurer, now a baroness—mentor to Yuuri. The wife of Baron Silcro Confianza, and effectively manages the labyrinth exploration business which is the foundation of their house’s power. She is a former adventurer, which gives her a practical, no-nonsense approach to problems. Look like Lisa from certain game, brown hair but neat hair.
• Hatcha – A trusted friend of Roeni from her adventuring days. She’s a quick, lightly armored swordswoman, characterized by her vibrant red hair and a distinct, large scar across her face that hints at a rough past and a violent capability.
• Ai – The recently-formed sub-divinity/ego who manages the world’s Skills. Her sudden, intense burst of divine will (‘ki’) almost bleached Yuuri’s wicked thoughts. Called Yuuri ‘Elder Brother’ and declared genuine affection and trust based on his efficiency with her Skills.
• Arman – Knight captain who escort Marina on the first mission.
• Restea – Yuuri’s homeland.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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