Chapter 171 Roeni’s Struggle Part Twelve꞉ The Burden of Concerned Fathers
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
My husband and I exchanged a nod over the desk. Though we were technically in the position to receive gratitude, we were still standing before the King of this nation.
Our actions had been driven by personal loyalty and righteous indignation, but to deem the result positive, we had to show respect to the ruler whose governance allowed for it. Proper etiquette would demand we rise from the long chair and kneel, but since the free will we exercised was what turned into service for the Crown, we deliberately stayed seated, simply adjusting our posture.
After we offered this abbreviated, yet perfectly acceptable, formal acceptance, Valentio smiled with clear satisfaction and bowed deeply once more.
”I thank you again, Roeni-dono,” the King proclaimed, his voice laced with genuine relief. “Without the report from the Alegria Count, I would have suspected the Marquis but still unjustly mistreated innocents as his pawns. Even if Marina were to return alive, my standing would have fallen into disgrace.”
”Your words are too generous, Your Majesty,” I admitted, maintaining a humble tone. “Given our personal circumstances, it was an intolerable situation. Furthermore, to remain silent while a person we know well is unjustly disgraced would only invite further exploitation in the future.”
I accepted his gratitude, but my true motivation, I knew, was simply protecting someone dear to me.
When I presented my actions with this humility, King Valentio nodded strongly, acknowledging that such goodwill was the most gratifying kind of service. He then turned his attention to my husband, offering his thanks and praise.
”And Baron, you as well,” the King pronounced. “Though Roeni-dono took the central role in this effort, it could not have been achieved without your understanding and support. The way the Baron House works in partnership, hand-in-hand, is itself worthy of praise.”
”Yes, Your Majesty,” Silcro acknowledged, his posture ramrod straight. “I am honored to receive your words directly. Being a man of such meager talent, I rely greatly on my wife’s strength every day, and her guidance is what brought about this success.”
Sitting across the table from the King, Silcro’s usually unflappable face was tight with strain. I offered a small, knowing wry smile at his tension. A figure like me, who valued skill over rank, felt no anxiety over being assessed for my work.
But, to put it harshly, a Baron House is nothing more than a nameless, common element to the King. A Baron doesn’t even have the authority to request an audience with the King, and no previous Confianza Baron has received the King’s direct thanks more than a handful of times in history. Blessed with this exceptionally rare chance, even Silcro, whose personal creed is steadfast consistency, was finding it impossible to remain calm.
”Hmm, I look forward to the Confianza Baron House’s continued contributions,” the King stated, his tone shifting. “…And now, Roeni-dono. I am eager to receive your advice on the matter of rescuing Marina—”
Though he had to demonstrate the Royal Authority, the King could not prolong the formalities, given his daughter’s plight. From my perspective, the sooner we moved past the stiff ceremony, the better, and I quietly breathed a sigh of relief.
As I did, Valentio rang a small bell, and officials who seemed tasked with practical matters began streaming into the reception room. Seeing them, however, my tension vanished, replaced by the anticipation of performing my specialty—the real work.
”—So, you believe they can survive for at least a month?” the King inquired, his voice low with concentration.
”Yes. Provided the Labyrinth Guide¹ is unharmed, they can secure food and water every two or three layers, no matter where they are in the Middle Layers,” I confirmed. “With Her Highness and Ashley-jou’s combat ability, they won’t be overwhelmed unless they are near the very bottom of the Middle Layers. They will likely move to a suitable Safety Area² to use as a base, prepare, and then head for the Upper Layers. Regardless of the political upheaval above ground, their situation will only worsen if they remain in the Labyrinth. They will want to reserve enough energy and strength to handle trouble when they encounter someone and try to gather information.”
Everyone fell silent, the scratching of pens against paper the only sound, as I continued the consultation with King Valentio. The information we had was fragmentary at best.
While having any information was fortunate, the various situations we had to consider meant we had to insert many assumptions, which made the effort tremendously complex. Therefore, I strongly advised focusing on two primary scenarios.
One was the situation where one of the two women who escaped from the Fried Lord had already succumbed. If they cannot return under their own power, the only chance for survival is to remain in a Safety Area and wait.
The second was the situation we had just discussed: all three survivors aiming for the surface. Other possibilities, such as both women or Yuuri alone having fallen, offered no realistic chance for long-term survival in the Labyrinth, so I only mentioned them briefly.
”If they are alive, they are most likely in a Safety Area or along the lines connecting them. Conversely, if your search fails to find Her Highness by the fifty-seventh layer, I regret to say the situation will be hopeless,” I stated plainly.
”I understand. You don’t need to worry about that. It is out of our hands,” the King resignedly responded. “For now, as Roeni-dono advises, let us plan to dispatch a rescue team to the fifty-seventh layer within one month, at the latest. The period of house arrest I placed on the Aprelton Marquis also lasts for one month. If we dither beyond that, we do not know what kind of schemes he might devise.”
In essence, if the rescue team secured the Princess within the month, the Marquis couldn’t boldly make a move immediately after his freedom, even if they were not on the surface yet, to avoid revealing his hand.
He would certainly understand this and begin his next conspiracy with invisible groundwork. The problem was that even that invisible work could endanger the Princess and the rescue party.
”You are making sure the Marquis cannot receive any information after leaving the chamber, yes?” I asked, seeking confirmation.
”That is correct,” Valentio affirmed. “I have had my most trusted unit secure his person. Even his meals, while he is confined to his room, must pass through them. …However, knowing him, I am plagued by the thought that he has some secret method to transmit information from his room. Yet, since he has not been implicated in the conspiracy itself, a search of his home is impossible.”
There is always a loophole.
Especially for someone so skilled in plotting, he would undoubtedly have prepared one or two countermeasures for when suspicion was cast on him. I was relieved the King shared this concern, as it meant I could offer my next advice without sounding as if I was insulting the Royal Guard’s counter-intelligence.
”Then, assuming the Marquis can issue external instructions, there is one way he could circumvent our plans,” I suggested. “We assume Princess Marina is in the Middle Layers, and blocking the Middle Layer entrance seems wise to prevent the Prince’s faction from interfering. But, there are several random-warp traps in the Upper Layers. If used intentionally, he could send his elite forces into the Middle Layers without passing through our checkpoints. Of course, they wouldn’t know their destination, and the risk of losing their forces or exposing their plans makes it a difficult move. However, given his decisiveness and his deep knowledge of the Labyrinth, I cannot dismiss the possibility that he would execute it…”
”Mmm,” the King grumbled, troubled. “It gives one a headache to consider how many ways the Labyrinth can be used for mischief. Though, even in that case, couldn’t we just post soldiers at the Upper Layer traps? The Guild would share information with us if it came as a Royal Command, regardless of their own interests.”
Given the Guard’s internal compromises, it was clear that factional influence existed within the Guild. Valentio argued that they wouldn’t dare refuse the King’s request for information, but unfortunately, the problem lay outside the scope of human management.
”Your Majesty,” I spoke with a grave tone, “I must insist: the Labyrinth is immensely vast. The area currently used by the citizens to extract resources is only a limited range, a few kilometers from each layer’s Safety Area. What we generally consider a single layer is that range, yet no one has ever found the true end of any layer. If that is the case, there are countless unaccounted-for traps. Dozens of new ones are reported yearly, and we cannot say for certain that random-warp traps known only to the Marquis don’t exist.”
”Hmph. The more I hear, the greater my headache grows,” the King sighed, frustrated. “Thinking of it as resource-rich territory should make me happy as a King, I suppose. …Very well, I accept your warning that we must be cautious. All we can do is instruct the search party to be aware of the possibility of assassins’ attacks. And perhaps give them something easily identifiable as coming from my personal forces, considering Marina may have already run into such attackers.”
If you start doubting every small detail, you’ll never finish.
But, since the King had just been exploited where he harbored no suspicion, it was better to be too nervous than complacent. As the final arrangements began to take shape, I decided it was time to reveal my own contingency to Valentio, ensuring its greater effectiveness.
”About that, Your Majesty,” I interjected. “I have already deployed a party of trustworthy adventurers to a Safety Area in the Labyrinth. My instructions to them were to descend into the Middle Layers and protect Her Highness if they had no contact from me after one day. They are acquainted with Yuuri, the Labyrinth Guide, and one of them is the person who followed Arman Fried from the ‘Gate’ with me. Might I ask for the official, formal approval for this party to assist in Her Highness’s search?”
”Oho,” Valentio breathed out, impressed. “You even prepared a move in case you failed to manage the assembly yourself. It’s true that the Marquis’s sudden plea delayed our ability to share information. To have prepared the best possible contingency in such an uncertain situation is truly admirable. …Very well. The more hands we have for the search, the better. And since you risked a dangerous pursuit with this individual, they are clearly trustworthy. I will immediately prepare the necessary permits for the checkpoints. Clerks—get on this—”
Knowing that forces were already deployed when they were so short-handed, Valentio’s expression brightened with relief as he granted the permission.
He immediately gave instructions to the waiting officials, detailing the conditions. As the highly capable clerks processed the information at a startling speed, a temporary silence fell over the room.
”Mmm. Speaking of the Guide—Yuuri, was it?” the King mused. “I heard he is Skill-less³. Yet, he can lead the way into the Labyrinth? Though you vouch for him, I find it hard to believe.”
”The Guide’s job is to avoid traps and monster ambushes through cultivated knowledge and experience,” I explained. “If one cannot do that, being Skill-less or having a mediocre Blessing makes little difference.”
We couldn’t move to a new topic until the administrative work was complete. To fill the time, Valentio inquired about Yuuri, whose background had not been fully touched upon amidst the crisis.
Unsurprisingly, the first thing he brought up was Yuuri’s lack of a Skill. While being Skill-less isn’t a direct target of scorn in the Kingdom of Restea, the advantage of a strengthened body from a Divine Blessing is generally preferred in dangerous professions. The King didn’t express displeasure that a man without a Blessing held his daughter’s fate, but he was clearly fascinated by the technical skill that allowed it.
The Alegria Count, who had been watching from the King’s side, seemed to share this curiosity, looking intently at the documents in his hand and commenting with deep feeling.
”I must say, my daughter choosing a Skill-less person from this list is quite something. …Ah, wait. Didn’t Fried mention he was a commoner from his fief? Alegria Territory, Cantero Village… Hmm? That is my territory, but something is familiar. What was that place… Ah, that must be the village where I once took my daughter for a holiday! She became rather attached to a boy there and dragged him around everywhere! Could it be…!”
His stern, composed face, which had been perfectly maintained while observing the situation with the King, vanished.
The Count’s expressions—from suspicion to realization to doubt—were so wildly changing, I almost burst out laughing. But, since I would soon have to defend my younger brother-figure in the inevitable family conflict, I concentrated fiercely, holding my expression still.
”Nuh. The Guide and Ashley-jou are acquainted?” the King questioned, taken aback. “Did you know this, Roeni-dono?”
”Yes, Your Majesty. At the meeting, Ashley-jou showed particular interest. When I told her his history, she insisted we employ him,” I hurriedly explained. “B-but, please be assured! The ultimate deciding factor was still his skill and proven ability! If you have any doubt, his activity logs are kept at the Guild…”
Though I knew it would happen, the friendly atmosphere snapped into a sudden, tense silence.
I frantically argued that his professional dedication made him trustworthy, but the Count’s eyebrows, the classic sign of a father concerned about his daughter’s bad habits, remained severely furrowed. I could feel the court officials around us growing quieter, their efficient pace seemingly slowing.
This tension was compounded by the presence of the other concerned father, the King himself, who still wore a hearty, bold smile, yet a silent pressure emanated from the depths of his golden eyes.
”Ha ha ha, do not worry, Count,” the King boomed, the sound heavy. “Ashley-jou used all that Magic, you know. Her Blessing must have improved exponentially with the growth of her Skill. Yuuri, or whatever his name is, surely understands that he is outmatched in strength. Is that not right, Roeni-dono?”
”O-of course, Your Majesty! A Labyrinth Guide must maintain his composure even in dire straits! I am absolutely confident that he will not stray from his professional path!” I proclaimed, praying it was true.
”T-that is true, but… Hnnn… Even so…” the Count muttered, still unconvinced.
It was true. Yuuri knew his place, and he couldn’t possibly match Ashley-jou’s power. There shouldn’t be a problem, but my woman’s intuition screamed that the true aggressor might be Ashley, who was decidedly a carnivorous type⁴.
If they were forced to the lower parts of the Middle Layer and reached an extreme state, wouldn’t Yuuri be the one unable to resist? But of course, I could not say such a thing to a father whose eyes were clouded by the protective love for his daughter. All I could do was repeat my claim that a professional was sure to hold the line.
”Hmm, hmm. If Roeni-dono says so, no mistake can happen,” the King assented, his voice now firm. “Count, why are you still grumbling like that? Do you not trust your own daughter—?”
I wondered just how uninhibited Ashley had been in Yuuri’s hometown ten years ago. The faint hint of obsession beneath her demure attitude toward Yuuri made the Count’s concern painfully understandable.
What’s more, if their lives were in danger, the sense of urgency might rise, driving them to cross the line for one last, profound memory. But, if these two were safe, the Princess, the most formidable fighter, should also be fine, and I could only hope that the famously intelligent Royal Daughter would stop them.
(You, Yuuri, made me say all this. If anything happens with Ashley-jou, you’ll have me to deal with!)
He usually tries his best to be a gentleman, but it’s a semi-public secret among women who know him that he’s not entirely uninterested in women. That’s why I worried that in an extreme situation, if Ashley pressed him, he wouldn’t be able to refuse. And if the Princess judged their safe return was the priority, she might even silently condone it.
The current crisis had brought Roeni and the Baron House great fame. While it wasn’t the goal, to be held in such high regard by the King was a genuine point of pride for a mere noble. But precisely because of that, my only, gnawing anxiety was that my brother-figure and the lovely daughter who befriended him might ruin themselves and taint this success at the last moment.
—
Summary:
The chapter crackles with political tension as Baroness Roeni and her husband, Silcro, stand before King Valentio to receive thanks for uncovering the plot against Princess Marina. The formality is stifling, especially for the nervous Baron Silcro, but Roeni quickly steers the discussion toward the urgent matter of the rescue plan.
Roeni, leveraging her extensive Labyrinth knowledge, outlines the two main scenarios for the Princess’s survival and warns the King about the constant dangers of the vast, trap-filled Dungeon. She expertly maneuvers the King toward prioritizing a fast-acting rescue team before the house-arrested Marquis can unleash more schemes. In a move of brilliant foresight, she reveals that she has already deployed her own trusted adventurers, securing the King’s official blessing for her personal team.
—
Character Insight:
Yuuri, the Skill-less Labyrinth Guide, becomes the unexpected focus. While Roeni confidently vouches for his expertise, the noble fathers—King Valentio and Count Alegria—cannot shake their suspicion that a lack of Divine Blessing makes him a liability in this dangerous situation.
For Count Alegria, the concern is much more personal; he realizes that Yuuri is the boy his daughter, Ashley, was deeply attached to years ago. His professional worry instantly becomes a panicked, protective father’s concern, amplified by the King’s hearty but unnerving confidence that the highly-skilled Ashley would surely overpower Yuuri. Roeni, caught between defending her friend and her growing fear of the two young people crossing a romantic line in the extreme conditions of the Labyrinth, struggles to reassure the King and the Count.
—
Behind the Scenes:
The King’s decree has set a strict one-month deadline for the rescue to avoid falling back into the Marquis’s political traps.
The core of the chapter shows high-ranking officials scrambling to execute Roeni’s tactical advice, highlighting the immediate real-world consequences of her strategic mind. The final internal thoughts reveal Roeni’s deeper, more personal anxiety—that the success of the Baron House will be jeopardized not by political enemies, but by the unpredictable, intimate actions of two young people in a life-or-death situation, making a great victory feel utterly precarious.
* * *
T/L_Note
1 Labyrinth Guide is the translated term for Meikyuu Annainin (迷宮案内人), a specialist in navigating the vast, magical Dungeons in this world. ↩
2 Safety Area is the translated term for Safety Area (セーフティエリア), a specific, known, relatively secure location within each layer of the Labyrinth where adventurers can rest and re-stock. ↩
3 Skill-less is the direct translation of the term Skill Nashi (スキル無し), which denotes a person born without a Divine Skill or Blessing, a significant factor in a world where magic and skills are common. ↩
4 Carnivorous type is a common Japanese term, Nikushokukei (肉食系), referring to someone who is aggressive or forward in pursuing romantic relationships, often associated with a dominant personality. ↩
Notes:
• Valentio – The current King of Restea. A large, imposing man with sun-gold hair and a crown, he commands authority, though his current actions reveal a deep-seated agitation, likely due to the political crisis and the uncertainty surrounding his daughter, Marina’s, fate. Looks like King Bradley from certain series.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• 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.
• Silcro – The Baron Confianza, the quiet genius whose family’s survival depends on their exploitation of the Royal Labyrinth. He is short and round, a look that sometimes causes people to underestimate him, which he uses to his advantage. He is utterly devoted to his wife, Roeni, who he sees as his greatest asset and love.
• 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.
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Arman – Knight captain who escort Marina on the first mission.
• Restea – Yuuri’s homeland.
• Count Alegria – A distinguished noble and a key figure in the Princess Faction. He is known for his strict outward demeanor but possesses a kind heart and a fierce loyalty to his only daughter, Ashley. He has short, neatly trimmed silver hair and wears exquisitely tailored, dark three-piece suits and look like like Vayne Solidor.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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