Chapter 222 The Mystery of the Dungeon Core
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
A heavy silence settled over the room before Count Alegria finally let out a long, weary breath.
Leaning back into his chair, he stared at the ceiling and pinched the bridge of his nose as though trying to squeeze the exhaustion from his skull. By the time he straightened and swept his gaze across the room, the other three had unconsciously adjusted their posture, unwilling to invite any more displeasure than they already had.
”I understand the gist of the situation,” the Count said in an even tone. “However, I will have to take the matter regarding my daughter back with me. This is not a decision I can make on the spot. …You mentioned that you are currently the only one capable of moving freely, but my daughter will eventually come to see me as well, correct?”
”Ha. Everyone else remains in the deepest reaches of the Labyrinth,” Suzuri replied, maintaining her flawless composure. “Since securing the Labyrinth was originally Marina-sama’s strategy for a political comeback, they cannot return openly until their control over it has stabilized to a certain degree. The fact that I can move freely should serve as evidence that our plans are progressing smoothly, but it will still be some time before we can disclose everything to His Majesty or the members of the Princess’s Faction.”
Whenever the conversation approached the subject of the dungeon core, Suzuri’s explanations became noticeably less precise.
Even so, everyone present understood one uncomfortable reality. A Labyrinth was an existence beyond ordinary human understanding, and if someone truly stood at its center as its master, no kingdom could realistically govern them through laws alone. The Royal Capital Labyrinth had been regarded as unconquerable for generations, which meant no law had ever been written for the day someone actually succeeded. The kingdom would undoubtedly make demands once the truth emerged, especially with the safety of its citizens at stake, but those discussions would ultimately become negotiations. Until Princess Marina firmly established control over the Labyrinth, neither side possessed enough leverage to dictate terms.
That reality gave Suzuri’s request for patience a certain amount of credibility. The Labyrinth remained open just as it always had, and for now, there was no immediate crisis demanding action.
”Hmm. So you still will not reveal your hand…” Count Alegria sighed, leaning forward. “Suzuri, I do not mean to doubt you at this stage, but everything you have shown us remains circumstantial. There are no obvious contradictions, yet one could still argue that you are nothing more than an exceptionally talented swindler. That is why I need something. Anything. Before I report to His Majesty, I require proof convincing enough for me to believe that you truly conquered the Labyrinth alongside Her Highness.”
”I see…” Suzuri lowered her eyes. “Had I brought some personal belonging from one of them, this conversation would have been far simpler. Unfortunately, meeting you here today was completely unexpected. …Still, since my own lack of preparation has invited unnecessary suspicion, it is only proper that I make amends.”
Originally, she had intended to negotiate only with the Baron’s household and keep matters manageable. After stumbling upon Arman’s attempted ambush, however, she had chosen to remain and face the Count directly despite the complications that followed. Yet whenever the discussion drifted beyond a certain point, her words slowed, as though she had reached a boundary she could not cross.
”Ordinarily, this is something Marina-sama should reveal herself during negotiations,” Suzuri said as she rose to her feet. “However, proving that the Labyrinth is truly under our control should ease the minds of those who still support Her Ladyship.”
Moving around the sofa, she stopped beside the wall before turning back toward them. Then she offered a deep, flawless bow—the kind practiced by the palace maids themselves.
”Since there are no outside eyes upon us, this is the perfect opportunity to verify my claims. However, I ask that none of this reaches Paradis-sama’s faction.”
The gesture was familiar to anyone who frequented the royal palace. Yet seeing Suzuri execute it so naturally made it impossible to believe she had learned it casually. Every movement flowed with practiced elegance, revealing years of discipline hidden beneath her ordinary appearance.
Then she raised a hand and drew a line through empty air.
”W-What is this?!” Silcro blurted.
The three spectators recoiled at once.
They were all familiar with skills and magic. They had witnessed monsters, miracles, and countless supernatural phenomena. Yet what unfolded before them belonged to none of those categories.
As Suzuri’s finger completed its motion, space itself seemed to split apart. A stone archway emerged from nothingness, taking shape piece by piece as though invisible craftsmen were assembling it before their eyes. Objects of such size rarely appeared through magic, and when they did, destruction usually followed. This was different. Every section locked into place with impossible precision until a complete structure stood where there had been only empty space moments earlier.
”C-Could it be… even though it’s so small?!” Roeni whispered, unable to tear her eyes away.
Anyone living in the Royal Capital would have recognized it immediately.
Although scaled down to fit within the room, the structure was unmistakable. Beyond the archway, the study wall had vanished entirely. In its place stretched an immense open expanse that reached far beyond the mansion grounds before ending at a distant white wall.
”Is this… a Gate…?” Roeni breathed. “And that wall… the Safety Area…? Do not tell me we can enter the Labyrinth from here.”
”Please step inside,” Suzuri said as she passed through without hesitation.
After walking several paces into the strange space, she turned back toward them.
”It may feel unsettling, but seeing it for yourselves will be far more convincing than any explanation I can offer.”
The effect left them speechless. Although they knew it was only a matter of perspective, seeing a familiar corner of the study open into an entirely different world left their minds struggling to keep pace with reality.
”I-I shall go first and confirm that it is safe,” Roeni declared.
”A-Ah. Please do…” Silcro replied quickly. “I am counting on you.”
They had demanded proof. Now that Suzuri had laid her hand on the table, they could hardly refuse to inspect it.
Roeni stepped through the miniature Gate and immediately found herself standing within a familiar Safety Area. There were no adventurers in sight, and silence stretched across the empty space.
”W-Which floor is this supposed to be, kashira?” she asked while scanning her surroundings.
”We are between the fifty-eighth and fifty-ninth floors,” Suzuri replied, gesturing toward the wilderness beyond. “As you can see, the jungle of the upper floor lies just outside.”
Back in her adventuring days, this was a place she had dreamed of reaching.
She could only look beyond the Safety Area’s boundary, yet every adventurer longed to stand at humanity’s deepest frontier. At the time, however, Silcro had been courting her with all the determination he possessed, and she had not been willing to gamble her life so recklessly.
In the end, she abandoned any hope of carving her name into history.
Never had she imagined she would one day stand beyond the point where humanity itself had stalled.
”R-Roeni, dear!” Silcro called from the study. “If you’ve confirmed it is safe, would you mind coming back for a moment, yo?!”
”Ah! Yes, of course… Oh…”
Reluctance tugged at her feet.
”Do not worry,” Suzuri said with a faint smile. “Now that the path has been opened, I will leave it in place until the Count is satisfied.”
A small pang of guilt stirred within her. She had reached this place without overcoming any of the hardships endured by those who had truly conquered it. Even so, the sight before her filled her with a sense of wonder she could not suppress. Outside of Yuuri’s party, no one else had ever stood here.
Only when Silcro called again did she snap back to reality.
Flushing in embarrassment, she hurried toward the Gate.
Years had passed since she last entered a dungeon, yet she still remembered the unique calm of a Safety Area overlooking a field filled with deadly monsters. Even if the Gate vanished forever the moment she returned to the study, she was already willing to swear that Suzuri had truly been part of the group that conquered the Labyrinth. Still, the blood of an adventurer had not entirely left her, and she found herself stealing one last glance at the unknown frontier before stepping through.
Back in the study, Count Alegria immediately studied her expression.
”How was it, de-aru?”
”Yes. There appear to be no immediate dangers,” Roeni answered. “Most remarkably, it connects directly to the Safety Area beyond the one where Suzuri-san was petrified. The location itself is secure, but if the Gate were closed from this side, returning to the surface would become effectively impossible.”
The warning was deliberate.
Even if Suzuri truly belonged to the Labyrinth Master’s faction, caution remained necessary. Should her claims regarding Princess Marina prove false, anyone trapped inside that isolated sanctuary would have no practical means of escape.
The Count acknowledged her warning with a slight nod before gripping his sword and stepping through the Gate himself.
”I shall remain here,” Silcro announced while taking up position beside the archway. “Someone needs to watch for emergencies or unexpected visitors, kai? Go accompany His Excellency.”
”Y-Yes. Thank you very much.”
Even if the Count judged the place safe, he could not be left unguarded. Once again, her husband had seen straight through her lingering adventurer’s curiosity.
A short while later, she rejoined the Count near the entrance to the fifty-eighth floor. By then, Suzuri had already begun explaining the characteristics of the stratum, and the Count listened with visible interest.
”So, even the petrification effect is blocked inside the Safety Area, de-aru?”
”Ha. We have tested it ourselves,” Suzuri replied. “Only the branches extending beyond the entrance line become petrified. As long as you remain within the Safety Area, you will be unharmed even if a petrifying gaze reaches you from outside.”
Merely observing an empty sanctuary would not satisfy the Count. If he wished to understand the Labyrinth, he needed to examine the dangers beyond its walls as well.
”I see…” The Count turned toward Roeni. “Dame Roeni, do you truly believe this is the Labyrinth?”
”Without question,” she answered. “Although I have never visited the fifty-eighth floor myself, the scenery perfectly matches the Guild’s records. Furthermore, the layout of every Safety Area is identical. I believe it is safe to conclude that Suzuri-san possesses the authority to move freely throughout the Royal Capital Labyrinth.”
At last, the mystery surrounding Suzuri’s movements made sense.
She clearly possessed some method of concealing herself, but the Appraisal users stationed near the Guild’s Gate should have detected her eventually. If she had attempted to leave through the first floor, an enormous report would have followed.
The answer stood before them.
Suzuri did not need to use the front entrance.
She could simply create another.
No wonder she wished to keep that ability secret until Princess Marina chose to reveal it herself. If such a power became public knowledge too soon, convincing the Prince’s Faction to accept it would be nearly impossible.
”Is that so, de-aru…” Count Alegria murmured as he gazed into the distant jungle. “…Then I suppose you cannot take me directly to the dungeon core either?”
”My deepest apologies.” Suzuri bowed. “At present, no one may pass through to the core. I would dearly love to reunite you with Ashley-dono, but he too has more than enough on his hands.”
”Can you at least tell us what is happening to Yuuri?” Roeni asked.
Now that the truth of Suzuri’s connection had been laid bare, she could not stop herself from asking. Even if the odds were slim, she wanted to know what had become of the young man who had sacrificed himself to the dungeon core.
Suzuri answered with silence.
She simply lowered her head and remained motionless.
The gesture spoke more loudly than any explanation.
Everything about her behavior suggested that she was trying to buy time. Perhaps the dungeon core remained unstable. Perhaps something else was happening beyond their reach. Whatever the truth was, she clearly had no intention of revealing it today.
Roeni found herself thinking of Yuuri, Ashley, and the road that had led them here.
No one knew exactly what happened to a person who fused with a dungeon core, yet examples from other nations offered little hope. Most records suggested that the individual’s consciousness eventually disappeared.
If that fate truly awaited Yuuri, what thoughts had crossed Ashley’s and Suzuri’s minds as they watched him walk toward it?
Watching Suzuri stand there with her head bowed, guarding those answers in silence, Roeni found that she could not bring herself to ask again.
The quiet that followed felt heavier than any words she might have spoken.
—
Summary:
Manifesting a downscaled functional Gate inside Count Alegria’s office, Suzuri proves that his faction has successfully conquered and seized absolute administrative control of the deep labyrinth layers. This physical confirmation allows the retired female adventurer Roeni to step through the threshold into the 58th floor safety zone, verifying its geographic reality through the official historical archives of the guild. Although the physical reality of their victory stands completely undeniable, Suzuri firmly denies the party access to the central dungeon core chamber where their young companion Yuuri is currently merging, leaving the structural transformation of his physical body and consciousness an unresolved variable.
—
Trivia:
The Royal Capital Labyrinth was long officially considered completely un-conquerable by the nation’s military and guilds.
Because the labyrinth was deemed impossible to complete, the kingdom has absolutely no existing legal statutes or explicit laws prohibiting its conquest.
Suzuri demonstrates perfect courtly bowing manners, revealing that he received direct, intensive training from a highly positioned royal castle teacher.
Normal gate usage through the front entryway of the first floor automatically flags any high-capacity adventurer via Appraisal guards.
Labyrinth safety zones have fixed architectural mechanics that prevent external magical status afflictions, such as petrification, from crossing their boundaries.
Merging with a dungeon core historically results in the absolute, permanent loss of an individual’s personal memory and consciousness across other nations.
—
Translation Notes:
Notes:
• Count Alegria – Count Alegria, a high-ranking noble of the Princess’s faction, presents a strict, aristocratic exterior with short silver hair and immaculate dark three-piece suits. He depends on Roeni for security and political leverage. Beneath his rigid facade, he is a fiercely loyal, deeply concerned father to his daughter Ashley, currently struggling to reconcile facts with the possibility of her sacrifice.
• Alegria – Count Alegria, a high-ranking noble and protective father to Ashley, is a pillar of the Princess’s Faction. Recognizable by his short silver hair, sharp features, and immaculate dark three-piece suits, he is a loyal royalist known for his resolute attitude and masterful political interrogation. He relies on Roeni for security and leverage to corner the Marquis and safeguard his daughter.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea and leader of the Marina-dono faction. She is a figure of high standing who successfully conquered the Labyrinth alongside her escort group, cementing her identity as both royalty and a capable leader.
• Suzuri – A tall, statuesque shinobi with ink-black hair, pale skin, and a toned form, she is a legendary scout who survived 80 years of Labyrinth petrification. Master of skills like Darkness Wrap, this nameless young woman now serves as Yuuri’s fiercely loyal herald. She reveals Labyrinth secrets and selflessly competes for his favor, balancing her mature devotion with her roles as servant and informant.
• Arman – Towering, scar-scarred knight in polished steel armor and a dented helm, cloaked in tattered fabric, wields a greatsword. Once Marina’s loyal escort and the narrator’s closest friend, he was cast out three months ago and now serves Marquis Kimble as an assassin. Missing one hand, he uses Rigid Body to fortify his muscular frame, fighting a losing duel with a mysterious scout while seeking quiet redemption. Currently captured and held within a Packing Box, he has become a target of high-level political tension.
• Paradis – Suzuri’s companion and part of her labyrinth exploration group, he is a person privy to information about the Labyrinth and the Princess. After drawing a monster away to protect her allies, Suzuri deeply hoped for his safety.
• Silcro – Baron Confianza, a short, rotund quiet genius and loyal Princess’s faction member, heads his house, administering thousands of livelihoods. Behind his unassuming look lies a sharp mind thrust into dangerous politics. Husband to Roeni, his greatest asset and observer from his past, he hosts Count Alegria, managing domestic tensions while acting as a guest or intermediary questioning a secret dungeon core.
• Roeni – Baroness of Confianza, an inner-circle noble knowledgeable about the Princess’s situation, is a sharp, no-nonsense leader with neat brown hair and a time-freezing Concentration ability. Alongside her companion—Silcro’s manager seeking Labyrinth truths—she runs her family firm with military precision. A former guild receptionist and mentor to Yuuri, she now faces monsters and assassins with resolve.
• Yuuri – An arrogant commoner who conquered the Labyrinth, this youth feigned being “Skillless” to hide high-level garment and intimacy skills, now framing him as the skill distribution mastermind. Dismissed by the Count as untalented, Roeni’s student commands Yui, Suzuri, and a bound girl, treating his wives and servants with a fiercely possessive, dominant aura as their master.
• Ashley – Daughter of Count Alegria, this poised, fiercely loyal noblewoman in elegant attire has a dignified, spirited presence. Once an adventurer in the Royal Capital Labyrinth, she now serves as a royal attendant. She secretly admires Yuuri, is noted as a potential aide for his future dressing duties, and maintains deep relationships with others through her unwavering devotion and service.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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