Chapter 163 The Women’s Welcome
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Ngh…?” Alvia muttered.
”Ah…!”
”Lady Alvia!”
When I finally came to, I found myself sprawled out naked on the floor.
Where am I…? I surveyed my surroundings, and it appeared that everyone was at least safe.
Once everyone had fully roused themselves a short while later, I coordinated with Guru Esrain to determine our current status.
”So, we were all wiped out by that maid…” Alvia said.
”…Mm. Without question. The Magic Labyrinth King¹… an adversary we cannot afford to underestimate,” Esrain replied.
”………”
That much was certain. It was a bitter pill to swallow, but we were clearly no match for them.
They had maids of overwhelming power and young girls who had mastered flight sorcery. Furthermore, they kept a demon monster as a mere pet—a creature that our entire knighthood likely couldn’t defeat even if we banded together. I could easily fathom that they possessed strength far beyond human comprehension.
”It seems we’ve stumbled into the domain of a truly extraordinary entity…” Alvia noted quietly.
I scanned our environment once more, but neither the floor nor the ceiling possessed any windows. By all appearances, it was a perfectly sealed chamber. From where could they have possibly accommodated this many people?
Moreover, being stripped bare was incredibly disorienting. While having our weapons confiscated was a given, I never imagined every last stitch of clothing would be torn away…
We had been traversing the Demon Forest² for over five days. Even though we had periodically wiped ourselves down with river water, we fundamentally reeked of sweat. Additionally, the hair down there, which I typically keep groomed, had begun to grow out quite noticeably.
Looking at the others around me… as I feared, my own growth is much thicker… This really isn’t something I wish to have on display.
Regardless, there was no obvious means of escape. Just as I began to wonder if they intended to keep us entombed here until we succumbed to starvation, a metallic clunking sound resonated from the ceiling.
”What was that…?” Alvia asked.
”L-Look up there…!”
A section of the ceiling shifted and began to retract. Since I could see the sky, it likely connected to the outside world. Could this place be some sort of basement level…?
Six maids descended from the ceiling’s opening. They landed silently upon the floor and formed a precise horizontal line.
Following them, two flying girls drifted down from the aperture above.
”You girls are…!” Alvia exclaimed.
There was no mistaking them. It was the girl who carried the bow and a long-eared girl with an identical face. Their hairstyles were perfectly symmetrical; they must be twins.
The girls addressed us while remaining suspended in mid-air.
”I am Heliodor,” the first one said.
”And I am Lace Agate. Welcome, you fools,” the second one added.
Heliodor and Lace Agate… No matter how I looked at it, my eyes weren’t deceiving me; they were legitimately flying…
Beside me, Guru Esrain watched the pair with rapt attention.
”Who are you people?! What do you intend to do with us…?! Our investigation has already confirmed that the Magic Labyrinth King is the culprit who abducted Princess Liliarette⁵! To treat the knights of Lord Viorga⁴ in such a degrading manner—” Alvia shouted.
”Ugh, gross. Heliodor, doesn’t it smell absolutely putrid in here?” Lace Agate asked.
”It is indeed foul, Lace Agate. It appears these grime-covered animals are the source of the stench,” Heliodor replied.
Ngh…! So they have no intention of engaging in a civil discussion…! Does the Magic Labyrinth King truly intend to wage all-out war against our nation…?!
”Listen well, beasts. Since your current state is so wretched, the Magic Labyrinth King has deigned to grant you mercy before any formal dialogue takes place,” Lace Agate said.
”A minimum standard of grooming is required even to stand before the Great Magic Labyrinth King. Today will be specifically allocated for those preparations. …Look that way,” Heliodor directed.
Heliodor pointed a finger. As I followed her gaze, the previously featureless wall moved with a heavy rumble, transforming into a doorway leading elsewhere.
”Wh-What…?” Alvia gasped.
”The Magic Labyrinth King has prepared a large public bathhouse beyond that point,” Heliodor explained.
”It’s quite the extravagant welcome for mere beasts, isn’t it, Heliodor?” Lace Agate giggled.
”It simply illustrates how intolerable they are to look upon, Lace Agate,” Heliodor noted.
A public bathhouse…?! What are they playing at…?!
”First, proceed to the chamber ahead and cleanse your bodies,” Heliodor commanded.
”And one more thing. There are a few sorcerers among you, yes? If we detect even the slightest hint of sorcery being activated, we will unleash the Magic Labyrinth King’s pet into this room,” Lace Agate added with a sharp smirk.
”………!”
That massive spider demon monster…! They would turn it loose in this room with absolutely nowhere to run…?!
Every face in our party turned a ghostly pale, clearly desperate to avoid such a fate. If that thing were unleashed here, every single one of us would meet our end as its prey, without exception.
”That pet is quite something~. I’m certain it will rip your bellies open and greedily feast upon your internal organs,” Lace Agate said playfully.
”Even if those around you attempted to intervene, they wouldn’t be able to leave so much as a scratch on its hide. You would be forced to watch your comrades be devoured, until finally, you all perish,” Heliodor added coldly.
”Ngh…”
But the reality was that we had all survived despite being attacked by that demon monster previously. It must be true that it is the exceptionally well-trained pet of the Magic Labyrinth King.
If it weren’t, several of us would have been consumed by that beast already.
”You understand, don’t you? If you understand… then hurry up and get to the bath! The maids are standing guard, so long soaks are strictly forbidden!”
* * *
Beyond the door, a truly vast bathhouse lay before us. We listened as a maid who kept her eyes closed explained the operation of the showers and cleansers, and then everyone set about scrubbing their bodies.
Just how much wealth would be required to construct such a facility?! Hot water flowed instantly, and I could tell at a touch that the soaps were of the highest quality…!
Though we were in the heart of enemy territory, being able to wash ourselves with such an abundance of hot water for the first time in ages caused my heart to relax slightly. When we finally exited the bath, we found that clothing had been prepared for us.
The garments were pure white tunics of a very simple, sleeveless design. We cinched them at the waist with cloth, but the plunging necklines made our cleavage stand out quite prominently. Furthermore, because both sides were open, our breasts and thighs were clearly visible from certain angles.
Still, it was far better than remaining naked. Once everyone had finished dressing, we returned to the main hall. The twins, still hovering in the air, cast their eyes down upon us.
”Oh… you smell a bit more like humans now,” Lace Agate noted.
”This is at a level that is barely permissible for an audience with the Magic Labyrinth King. However, your nutritional status is not yet sufficient for a proper dialogue,” Heliodor said.
”Be grateful! The Magic Labyrinth King has seen fit to provide a meal to you trespassers!” Lace Agate declared.
With that, Lace Agate pointed toward a different wall. A section of it shifted, forming a door to another chamber.
”A meal has been prepared in the room ahead. There is ample time on this occasion. You would do well to eat slowly,” Lace Agate said.
Now… what manner of food would we be forced to consume? Regardless, it was a fact that we were famished, and I was grateful just to have something to eat. With that thought in mind, I led the way into the room.
”Wh-…!” Alvia gasped.
There stood an array of dishes that defied the imagination. Numerous large platters were arranged upon a truly magnificent table. There were many delicacies I had never laid eyes on, yet all of them emitted scents that powerfully whetted the appetite.
Further back, a variety of colorful beverages were also laid out. The maid with closed eyes appeared once more to provide an explanation.
”This is a buffet style. Please take a plate, serve yourselves as much as you desire, and enjoy your meal while standing. The beverages are also free-flowing, so please help yourselves as you wish,” the maid explained.
”…!!”
We immediately grabbed plates and began helping ourselves to the feast. As I had suspected, every single dish was unimaginably delicious.
”Lady Alvia…! What kind of dish is this?!” one of the knights asked.
”I don’t know… but… it’s all incredible…” Alvia replied.
”This drink is also wonderfully sweet and refreshing!” another added.
”This fruit… where on earth did it come from…?”
Despite the vast quantity, we devoured the entire spread in no time. Had I ever tasted such magnificent food in my life?
The revelations didn’t stop there. When we returned to the hall, yet another door to a separate room slid open.
Proceeding inside, we found rows upon rows of large, plush beds—the sort only high-ranking nobility would typically possess.
”Rest for the remainder of the day,” Heliodor said.
”Tomorrow, you will have an interview with the Magic Labyrinth King. Ensure you have fully recovered your strength by then,” Lace Agate added.
I tentatively touched the bedding and confirmed it was of exceptional quality, exactly as it appeared.
Even among the master furniture makers of the Royal Capital, this was a level that only those under exclusive contract to high nobility could produce. And they had so many of them…
”Lady Alvia… could it be that the Magic Labyrinth King is someone different from who we imagined…?” a knight asked.
”…I don’t know. Regardless, we will be granted an opportunity to speak tomorrow. Do not let your guard down until then,” Alvia replied.
However, one would not extend such hospitality to prisoners they intended to execute. If I had to venture a guess…
(Just as I suspected, the Magic Labyrinth King is inwardly trembling at the fact that we’ve come to reclaim Princess Liliarette. He wants to avoid a full-scale war with the Emmeld Kingdom³ led by Lord Viorga. That is why he is treating us as guests to buy himself time. He’s likely racking his brain at this very moment, trying to concoct an excuse for why he abducted the Princess in the first place.)
Hmph… if that’s how it is, I suppose we can afford to be quietly pampered for the time being.”
—
Summary:
Alvia and her knights wake up naked in a sealed room after being defeated by a maid. The twins Heliodor and Lace Agate appear, mocking their ‘beastly’ state and offering them a bath to clean up. After bathing and receiving revealing white tunics, the women are treated to an incredibly lavish buffet and high-quality beds. Alvia concludes that the Magic Labyrinth King is likely terrified of her kingdom and is using hospitality as a stalling tactic.
—
Character Insight:
Alvia shows a mix of knightly pride and extreme vulnerability, particularly regarding her body and personal grooming under the gaze of her captors. Her internal monologue reveals a massive cognitive dissonance; she interprets the King’s overwhelming luxury and kindness as a sign of ‘fear’ rather than absolute superiority. This delusional arrogance highlights her inability to comprehend the true gap in power between her kingdom and the Labyrinth.
—
Behind the Scene:
The transition from being ‘naked’ to wearing ‘revealing tunics’ is a common light novel trope used to maintain a sense of powerlessness and fanservice while moving the plot forward. The mention of ‘hair maintenance’ in the bath scene is a rare bit of realism added to ground the characters’ physical state after five days in the forest.
”focus”: “Author notes, trivia, or production facts (if known)”
—
T/L:
Notes:
• Alvia – A Captain in the White Lily Knights, a private military force loyal only to Princess Viorga. White haired, long hair. She is deeply devoted to Viorga and views all others, especially the exiled Cleonora and the incompetent Heroes, with disdain and suspicion. She is on a mission to verify Cleonora’s safety and the progress of the exile camp.The protagonist’s classmate and long-time crush since middle school. She is charismatic, a bit strong-willed, and has strong leadership qualities.
• Esrain – One of the four Great Gurus of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is the youngest among them and is considered to be at the peak of her magical power. She is quiet and conserves her energy for combat.
• Heliodor – The Iris version of magical girl with a yellow-green theme. Height 144cm, Bust size B. Wears a rock-style mini-skirt with belts on thighs and arms. Right eye covered by hair, back hair shoulder-length with green mesh and a ribbon-braid on the left. Transforms into the Magical Girl Heliodor, the Luminous Archer.
• Lace Agate – Magical girl Aris with elf-like long ears, 144 cm tall, A-cup, and a white-and-blue theme. She wears a leotard-style outfit with an open-front skirt cloth. Her pale blue hair has long bangs covering her left eye, shoulder-length back, blue highlights, and a ribboned braid on the right side.
• Liliarette – The other Princess, who sacrificed her ability to walk and her sorcery talent to save her sister, Cleonora. She is imprisoned in the East Tower and is being used as a political and monetary pawn by Viorga. C-cup, true golden hair, waist-length hair, the fringe was a slightly blunt, hair on her left side was braided to the chest.
• Viorga – The First Princess of the Emmeld Kingdom. She is a beautiful, young woman with long golden hair and sharp blue eyes, always dressed in an elaborate crimson and gold royal gown. She is utterly ruthless, viewing all people—including the summoned Heroes and her own family—as disposable assets in her political games. Looks like Aileen Lauren from certain series.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
Leave a Reply