Chapter 329 Fourth Floor Investigation Team (Part II)
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
(Elberhardt’s POV)
First, we teleported to the ‘Raetia Great Labyrinth Base’, added the food and supplies prepared by Milia to our luggage, and then teleported again to the Fourth Floor.
”That feeling of flying or falling… experiencing it continuously is quite something…”
No one responded to my mumbling.
”What’s with everyone’s cold reactions… huh!?”
I pressed my head and opened my eyes slightly.
Before me lay an astonishing landscape.
”Th-this is…!”
I understood well why everyone was silent.
──Before us stretched vast grasslands and forests.
(This really looks like land formed in a volcanic crater)
A green land formed by the giant caldera.
Beyond the forest, a lake could also be seen.
”I can’t believe this is the Fourth Floor of the underground labyrinth.”
Even the usually calm Shinji was filled with astonishment, his voice trembling.
”I didn’t doubt Liz-Liz and the others’ reports, but… this is beyond what I imagined.”
Milia murmured this and turned to look back.
”A large door… if we open this…”
Hearing Milia’s words, Knight Müller opened the door.
”The corridor continues… the fact that it goes slightly upward means it’s definitely a corridor leading to the Third Floor…”
Milia nodded as if she understood, looking at the darkness beyond the door.
”Shall we go ahead and check it out?”
”No, let’s not. I don’t want to encounter any strange floor bosses.”
I shrugged my shoulders at Knight Müller.
”Shall we go down?”
Knight Müller asked as if to confirm.
”Yeah. Let’s move on.”
Shinji followed behind Knight Müller and 3 soldiers.
”I’ll walk at the very back. Come on, Milia, ladies first.”
Maybe she didn’t hear my joke, but Milia’s expression was filled with anticipation as she followed Shinji and the others.
(Well, I’m excited too, though)
Following Milia’s back, I also went down the gentle slope.
* * *
”It’s just plain ‘dirt’, huh?”
We, who had come down from the cliff, each examined our feet.
Yeah.
It feels like ‘dirt’ when I touch it with my hands.
”And there are short grass-like plants. This land seems good for grazing.”
Milia stood up and gazed into the distance.
”It seems there are animals too… Is that… horses?”
In the distance, a herd of about a dozen horses was galloping.
We decided to head towards the forest for now.
”Is it not better to enter the forest after nightfall?”
Milia suggested.
It seems she wants to confirm the changes in the sky over time.
”Just as Kazumie and the others said, I can really feel the magical power in this space. But it’s not an aggressive feeling… how should I put it…”
”I can feel it too. Maybe this magical power seems to support the environment and ecosystem of this world.”
”Yes! That’s it!”
It seems I was able to supplement what Milia wanted to say.
”I’ll set up a monster-repelling barrier, so why don’t we relax here until night? I think it would be nice, like a picnic.”
Saying that, Milia lay down on the grass and stared at the sky.
”I’ll lay out the canvas sheet, so you can lie down there…”
With a weary expression, Shinji unloaded the luggage and took out the sheet.
”Is 2 sheets enough?”
Knight Müller also unloaded his luggage.
The soldiers followed suit, unloading their gear and laying out another sheet.
”I’m going to look for some creatures.”
”I’ll accompany you. ──You all stay here and guard the lord and Lady Milia.”
Knight Müller instructed the 3 soldiers and followed me.
”Van, don’t go too far.”
Shinji, sitting on the sheet, called out to me.
I waved my hand and decided to walk towards the forest with Knight Müller.
* * *
”So, Minister, how are you feeling?”
Knight Müller asked as we walked into the forest.
”Yeah. I feel completely fine. Since I’m a half-blood, the effects of the sun are smaller compared to purebloods like Barbara.”
My condition is extremely good.
Even though it’s daytime, it feels as fulfilling as night.
”Not just a little; I’m not affected at all. This shouldn’t be a problem for the ‘hidden one (vampire)’ either.”
”I hope this can become your ideal place.”
I nodded deeply at Sir Müller’s words.
* * *
While investigating the area around the forest, a rabbit-like creature appeared a little distance away.
(Sorry about that…)
I threw my knife and hunted the rabbit.
”It doesn’t seem to be a monster created by miasma.”
Sir Müller peered at me as I examined the rabbit, which was bleeding and dying.
”Yeah. It looks like an ordinary rabbit. On top of that──”
Even though we should be inside a maze, the so-called ‘being devoured by the dungeon’ phenomenon isn’t happening either.
”As expected, it seems this place is within the maze, yet it is a space unaffected by the maze’s usual rules.”
Sir Müller looked up at the sky.
”Earlier, I heard something flapping in the forest. It seems like there are birds here too.”
Listening to his words, I placed my hands together over the rabbit.
I had taken its life for the sake of my investigation.
I quickly bled it out and decided to gratefully have it for dinner.
”It seems like regular living creatures are present.”
”Yes. However, as the minister mentioned earlier, if this is an ecosystem ‘maintained by magical power,’ then its balance must be quite delicate. Or perhaps, even if the balance tips a little, the magical power manages to restore it?”
Perhaps what the Knight Müller wants to say is whether we can be self-sufficient in this land.
That’s probably it.
”I also want to explore and investigate that area.”
”If hunting is possible… immigration here will progress smoothly.”
”I want a mercy big enough to encompass the lives of 30 to 40 people.”
With the bled-out rabbit in my hands, I returned with Knight Müller to where Shinji and the others were.
* * *
”Seems like it was just an ordinary wild animal.”
Shinji laughs when he sees the rabbit I’m holding.
”You don’t have to force yourself to be self-sufficient, you know.”
Milia sits up.
”It’s tough to investigate how much the ecosystem maintained by magical power can repair itself.”
”Yeah. I hope this overwhelming magical power is generous enough to support a small settlement and the lives of 30 to 40 ‘hidden ones’…”
Shinji probably wants to create a settlement for the ‘hidden ones’ here as well.
”If we expand the teleportation circle leading here, it would make bringing in supplies easier. Let’s try it when we get back.”
Milia seems to have a lot to take care of.
”To avoid a future where adventurers come this far and recklessly destroy the environment…”
”Yeah. It would be best if Barbara and the other ‘hidden ones’ could take on the role of guardians here.”
Shinji’s concerns are quite valid.
Rather than letting it be destroyed indiscriminately, borrowing a little from the nature here would help protect it.
”I’ll go pick up Barbara when night falls. It depends on her and the hidden ones.”
Milia said that while looking at the sky.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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