Volume 2 Chapter 32 Quest： Obsidian To Roses (Revisit) II
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
The ‘Labyrinth of Roses,’ visited after several weeks, had transformed completely from its previously gloomy appearance.
First of all, it wasn’t raining.
The surrounding landscape was neither dark nor oppressive, and green weeds had started growing here and there along the farm roads.
However, the biggest change was that all the walls that composed the labyrinth had been replaced with obsidian.
Under the blazing midday sunlight, the towering obsidian walls stood in their luxurious black, quietly set amid the wilderness.
It wouldn’t seem out of place if described as a piece of art.
Previously, approaching the area had been dangerous due to the vampiric monsters and wraith-type creatures that appeared in the rain, but now several guild staff members were patrolling the area, ensuring safety.
Of course, there were no signs of any bandits either.
”I’m Oswald. May I investigate the labyrinth?”
”Yes, I have been informed of this in advance. I will need to see permission from Her Excellency the Margrave and the Guild leader. Yes, that’s right. That’s fine.”
The staff member nodded once after verifying the letter presented by Aisha.
”If you plan to eat, please do so over by the riverbank. Eating is strictly prohibited inside the labyrinth. Drinking water is fine, but please refrain from any revelry. Also, disposing of food in the wilderness may attract wild Shield Cain or Wing Cain, so we would appreciate it if you could avoid that.”
”Are vampires still lurking around?”
”Yes. To begin with, the vampires around here are said to be the product of the ancient ‘Thorn Demon’, and it seems that only the wraiths were connected to the magic of the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’.”
”So the Wraiths won’t appear anymore, huh? Got it. Kian, Esther, did you hear that? We have to eat by the riverside. We’ll also need to clean up thoroughly afterward. The Cain type has a large body, so it needs 12 to 15 times the nutrients of a human each day. They are sensitive to the smell of food, not just blood, so be careful. From my research, some individuals can identify the smell of food even from 3 kilometers away.”
Oswald said with a serious expression.
It was an unnecessarily detailed comment.
’I had heard that he was doing the research just as a hobby…’
(Well, he came all the way here, even taking a break from bank duties. Clearly, it’s beyond just a hobby).
”Ms. Esther, what brings you here? Surely it’s not because you’re a vampire enthusiast like my lord?”
Aisha asked, her brown elf ears twitching.
Aliona sometimes made similar movements.
It was a reaction shown when curiosity or interest was piqued──.
”I’m here to search for the relics of the ‘Leanan sídhe’ that lived here. My father, Robert, had a deep connection with her.”
”If I recall correctly, your father was an adventurer.”
”That’s right. He said he was cared for by the ‘Leanan sídhe’ during his adventurer days, so he asked me to pay my respects.”
”Did a monster interfere with humans? That’s quite a rare case. I would like to talk to your father if I have the chance.”
Oswald said, stroking his chin with interest.
”For now, shall we have lunch by the riverside?”
”Yes, Kian is right. Let’s eat and then we’ll explore. I wonder if Esther will look for the remains of ‘Leanan sídhe’ and build a tomb for her?”
”Yes… Maybe it would be better to build a grave here too. I hope there’s something left in the mansion at the very back of the labyrinth.”
When Esther said this, the Guild staff member who was listening to the conversation next to her frowned.
”I’m sorry, but please stop entering the Western-style building. It’s very dangerous.”
”What do you mean?”
”The other day, a staff member who was investigating sustained terrible injuries. Before that, the research team dispatched by Her Excellency Maribel had touched a magic item within the mansion and received a curse.”
”I’ve never heard that Her Excellency sent a research team. …Oh, it must be the housekeeper or the female magician, right?”
”It’s Sir McCutchen the steward. She had declared that all rare magic items in the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’ should belong to the Margrave.”
With a sigh, the staff member continued.
”Even while cursed, the research team stuck labels saying ‘scheduled for retrieval’ all around the mansion and left. Therefore, even if one were to enter the mansion, a detailed investigation as Sir Oswald desires would likely be legally difficult.”
”So basically, we just need to avoid touching anything with a label on it, right? Like the furniture in the hallway?”
”That’s right.”
”Then there’s no problem. A little curse won’t affect me during the day. However, Esther, you might be in danger.”
”It seems dangerous for me to enter the mansion. Searching for relics sounds even riskier…”
Esther murmured with a troubled expression.
Then, a Guild staff member interjected.
”It should be fine as long as you stay around the flowerbed in front of the mansion.”
”Oh, in that case, I might as well create a small grave around that flowerbed…”
”Esther, I’ll go into the mansion with Sir Oswald and find the relics.”
”Are you sure?”
”There’s nothing good about it. That’s what you asked me to do. No problem. I’ll do it. If I have the Moon Earrings for these 3 days, no curses will work on me.”
”I’ll stay behind with Ms. Esther and prepare the grave. Staff member, can you dig a small hole near the flower bed?”
”Yes, no problem”
”That’s it.”
Oswald looked around.
”After dinner, we split into pairs and started working. Aisha will work on making a grave with Esther. We should probably find some pretty flowers somewhere. Meanwhile, Kian and I will explore the mansion. ──Are we going on a date, Kian?”
”A-a date!? Two guys…”
”Esther, I think Sir Oswald was speaking in riddles.”
”Ah…, that’s right. What on earth was I thinking?”
”Hahaha!”
Oswald laughed exaggeratedly and slipped past Kian.
It seemed he was heading toward the riverside behind the ‘Labyrinth of Roses.’
”Esther, let’s go.”
”Ah, yes.”
”I’ll start a fire with magic. We should be able to find some firewood around the riverside.”
”That sounds good, Ms. Aisha. I think we can find some. The last time we came, everything was soaked from the rain, but the weather is nice now.”
”Yeah, I also brought some herbs for tea!”
”A-as expected from the tavern maid. That’s wonderful!”
”Esther’s herbal tea is really delicious, by the way.”
”I’m looking forward to it. I’m not very good at handling herbs in general… I’ll make sure to learn how to brew some tasty tea.”
”Ahaha, I’m not sure how helpful I will be.”
Aisha and Esther engaged in lively conversation as they entered the narrow passage beside the labyrinth.
Kian followed closely behind them at a brisk pace.
He glanced at the intricately crafted wall of roses made of obsidian as they passed along the outer edge of the labyrinth.
’Such a twisted fate.’
(Yeah, that’s right.)
Kian nod once.
When he came here to conquer it a few weeks ago, he never expected to come back with such a group of people.
Kian gently touched the petals of the exquisite Roses made of obsidian.
(There are still many mysteries surrounding this place… I hope to find out more about the vampire and ‘Leanan sídhe’ I fought that night in the mansion.)
* * *
After lunch, the group immediately set off to the ruins of ‘Labyrinth of Roses.
The Wall of Roses, now a work of obsidian, was still as complicated as ever, but the layout of the passageways hadn’t changed and the strange mist hadn’t obscured the view like before.
Additionally, arrows marked signs set up by the Guild staff stood throughout the labyrinth, and in some plazas, large boards showing the labyrinth’s map and current location were leaning against structures.
It seemed that the Guild staff in Friedrich worked faster and more accurately than Kian had expected.
Even though it had been less than a month since Kian and the others cleared it, the atmosphere suggested that with a bit more effort, it could serve as a tourist attraction.
Although it was strictly managed, it seemed that there had indeed been several cases of thefts of the obsidian walls, and there were places where intricately crafted obsidian had been painfully scraped away.
This raises questions about the manners of the adventurers.
Earlier, the staff had asked them not to hold a drinking party in the labyrinth, and the fact that they received a warning suggests that there had been others who had actually done so.
It feels strange to even think of having a drinking party in a place like this, but…
”Wow, what a big mansion!”
Beyond the obsidian labyrinth…
After passing through several plazas, the view suddenly opened up to reveal a square Western-style mansion with a blue roof.
The walls were white and had many windows.
Kian remembered seeing it after defeating the vampire, and it was indeed big enough to leave Esther in awe.
There were several spires on both sides of the square mansion.
In the surrounding circular plaza, there was also a round waterway, which seemed to draw water from the river flowing behind it.
However, the flowerbeds scattered across the cobblestone path were clearly neglected, with only the black soil being leveled.
Several brand-new bags of fertilizer were placed here, probably brought in by the Guild staff.
Is this a request from someone?
”It’s a beautiful Western-style mansion. There’s a legend that an ancient Countess was imprisoned here, and it’s truly a place fit for a noble person to live.”
Oswald walked to the fountain in the center of the front yard.
There is water, but that’s it.
The pump mechanism doesn’t seem to be working.
”Is this the label that’s scheduled to be collected?”
Kian also approached the fountain and looked down at a piece of paper that was stuck haphazardly on the edge of the marble.
Indeed, it had Maribel’s seal on it.
It was questionable whether she had applied it herself.
”Is the fountain under control too? That damn steward is truly greedy. ──By the way, Aisha, this mansion reeks of money! Can’t we buy it for cheap from that steward?”
”Her subordinate’s research team is suffering from curses, so depending on negotiations, it might be possible. However, what will you do after buying it from Sir McCutchen?”
”Of course, I’ll refurbish it and sell it. First, we need to exorcise it. We have to remove the curse. After that, I’ll set up barriers and make the mansion and its surroundings livable. The cobblestones are in perfect condition, and there are water channels too. The scenery is wonderful, and the air is clean. If there are wealthy nobles who own carriages, they will definitely buy it!”
”What about the Adventurers’ Guild?”
”If I buy it from McCutchen, it’s mine. I’ll make everyone evacuate. I’ll just leave the beast-repelling barrier and incense, and drive everyone out. I won’t let them speak a single complaint.”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai. Thanks for reading.
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