New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (1/2 chapters)
Labyrinth Picnic 48th Floor
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Alba-san said we should head back, giving us a sense of relief.
“Shall we return then?” (Jack/Lost)
I suggested, but returning wasn’t as simple as saying so.
This is the Azarigrad Labyrinth. And to make things worse, the teleportation magic had sent us somewhere unknown.
The dim stone corridor. The only light came from the candles, and we couldn’t see far ahead, leaving us uncertain about what might be lurking there. Perhaps another swarm of Black Corpses might come after us.
Amidst all this, Taurus began fiddling with something in his pocket. The hurried clinking sound gave me a sense of urgency.
“Taurus, by the way, what floor is this?” (Lost)
“Well, about that… It seems the Geo Hundred (Floor Measuring Device) is broken.” (Taurus)
“Broken?” (Lost)
“According to this reading, it says we’re on the 48th floor.” (Taurus)
The 48th floor! …We were just on the 30th floor, so it’s only logical to assume the device is broken. But for some reason, I feel the reading might be accurate.
“What?! That surpasses the recorded 41st floor!” (Alba)
Alba-san suddenly stood up, raising her fist.
We’d gone beyond the lowest recorded floor… But that wouldn’t be officially documented unless we bring the device back. Unless we return, this floor wouldn’t count as discovered.
“I’m telling you, it’s broken.” (Lost)
“But it’s clear we’re not on the 30th floor anymore.” (Yustin)
Yustin, who had been silent, finally spoke up.
“No way, there’s no chance it’s the 48th floor, right?” (Lost)
“…The room earlier was a teleportation chamber. Getting sucked into it guarantees you’ll end up on another floor.” (Yustin)
“Another floor? Where?” (Lost)
“I don’t know. This is the Azalea Castle beneath the labyrinth, and its structure shifts drastically.” (Yustin)
Yustin explained in an oddly proud tone, but there was something unsettling about his childlike demeanor.
*Rustle…*
Suddenly, a sound like clothes brushing or wings flapping reached my ears.
*Rustle rustle…*
“Eek!” (Shia)
Shia let out a short shriek, her face pale as she stared into the dark depths of the corridor.
“Shia, what’s wrong?” (Lost)
“Giant… G…” (Shia)
“W-Wait… It finally showed up?” (Taurus)
Taurus exclaimed in surprise.
Giant G…! The one that drains magic power and is said to have 3,000 companions nearby upon sighting?!
I gazed into the darkness where Shia was staring. It was too dark to see clearly, but there was indeed something black writhing in the shadows. The thing slowly crawled closer. And it was on the ceiling. A long, long pair of antennae dangled downward, and the creature crept lazily along.
…Oh, a cockroach. So, Giant G refers to a giant cockroach.
“Kyaaaaaa!” (Alba)
“Yaaaaaaah!” (Shia)
Alba-san and Shia screamed the moment they saw the black creature. Both of them bolted in the opposite direction.
“Wait, wait. Why are you running?” (Lost)
“D-Damn it! It’s really here! Everyone, run for it!” (Taurus)
Taurus joined them, and the three ran off desperately. I stood there, stunned, watching them flee. Only Yustin and I were left behind. Yustin, just like when he defeated the Sarracenia, effortlessly incinerated the Giant G with fire magic. It seemed fire was indeed its weakness, as it died immediately upon being burned.
“That was anticlimactic.” (Lost)
“Indeed. With magic, that is. But its physical defense is top-notch. Swords and blades can’t harm it. Its armor is incredibly tough, which is why it’s called a Giant Guardian.” (Yustin)
I see. So, its official name is Giant Guardian. The G in Giant Guardian, huh? Since Giant also starts with G, it should technically be GG.
—
We chased after the three. Since Yustin wasn’t fast on his feet, I worried we might lose sight of them while running, but that didn’t happen. We quickly caught up to their backs. But something was strange. From my and Yustin’s perspective, the three seemed to be standing “parallel” to the ground.
“…?” (Lost)
It was as if they were sticking out from the wall.
“What’s that about?” (Lost)
“Hm?” (Taurus)
Taurus turned around. Even he looked surprised.
“Why are you guys standing on the wall?! Aren’t you falling?!” (Taurus)
“No, that’s you, Taurus.” (Lost)
I couldn’t grasp the situation. As I approached them, the three stood upright from the ground. But when I stepped back, they appeared to be standing parallel to the wall.
“The corridor… is twisted…” (Yustin)
Yustin murmured. The corridor twisted, and as we walked further, the ground would shift sideways until it seemed like we were hanging from the ceiling. Gravity completely ignored us, and depending on the corridor’s position, the ceiling could become the ground or the wall might be the floor. It was enough to make one’s head spin.
Moreover, in these twisted corridors, there are junctions like crossways or T-intersections. Taking a turn could make you appear to walk up or down a wall, depending on your original orientation. Eventually, it becomes impossible to discern which way is up or down.
“So, this is the essence of the Azarigrad Labyrinth.” (Lost)
Twisting corridors and ever-changing structures. It was growing increasingly doubtful whether we could make it back…
—
Exhausted, we finally gave up. We decided to spend the night. Shia strongly resisted staying the night in a place where GG could be lurking, but Taurus’s prepared tent and the sleeping bag Yustin suddenly produced calmed her down.
I finally realized Yustin was carrying far more items than should physically be possible. And he wasn’t even carrying a bag. If he was hiding his belongings, it would have to be under his robe, but it didn’t seem possible for everything he’d brought out to fit there.
When I pointed this out, Yustin confessed without hesitation.
“I am… a Dimensional Mage.” (Yustin)
“Dimensional Mage?” (Lost)
—”You are a wielder of imaginary dimensional magic.” (Kea)
A girl with soft, purple hair once said this to me.
Deja vu struck again, accompanied by a headache.
“The Transit Circle you know connects planes, basic two-dimensional teleportation.” (Yustin)
“…?” (Lost)
“But I can extend it to the third dimension. I can use three-dimensional space magic circles to connect spaces and store items in subspace.” (Yustin)
“Explain in simpler terms?” (Lost)
“I can create tunnels connecting different spaces. Using those, I can store items in a dimensional bag.” (Yustin)
A magical pocket and tunnels that lead anywhere? So, when he avoided the Black Corps bolts earlier, that was just a magic trick with his tunnels? That’s handy. No wonder he doesn’t need a bag. It would be incredibly useful for long journeys. By the way, this magic is apparently called “Portal Site”.
“Items stored in subspace don’t age or spoil. Want some food?” (Yustin)
Yustin said this as he pulled a skewered grilled fish from thin air and handed it to me. I was startled by the sudden appearance of food. It looked like a black rift had briefly opened in the air, from which he pulled the fish. I nervously accepted it, then enjoyed its delicious taste.
He can carry infinite items, and the food won’t spoil? What kind of cheat magic is that? I’m jealous. And the fish is excellent. Hooray for Dimensional Mages.
“Hm? Does that mean we could use your teleportation magic to leave the labyrinth?” (Lost)
I threw out a random question.
“I can’t open a tunnel to somewhere I can’t see.” (Yustin)
So, the entrance and exit of the tunnel must be within visible range. That’s a pity.
—
…It had been a full week since we were trapped in this twisted labyrinth. We reached the 30th floor in just a day, but it’s been six days since we were teleported here. The corridors were littered with skeletons. They were probably the remains of adventurers, like us, who had fallen victim to the teleportation circle trap. The sight of those piles of bones forced us to confront the thought of death.
It was likely due to the presence of the exceptional mage, Yustin, that we were able to continue exploring without panicking. The food problem was also solved thanks to Yustin’s subspace pocket.
The display of the magic tool Geo Hundred (Floor Measuring Device) that Taurus carried kept fluctuating slightly, bouncing between showing the 46th and 48th floors.
Is it really broken?
We encountered several GGs, but Yustin burned them all away, so it wasn’t much of an issue. However, every time it happened, Shia’s complexion worsened, and Alba-san’s irritation became increasingly apparent.
“…Ugh, I want to see the sun. Lost, can’t you just use your power to break through the walls?” (Alba)
Alba-san grumbled as she walked, her pace quickening as though she had given up thinking. Taurus then called for a stop.
“Hold on, we don’t even know if the ground is above us in the direction we think is up, you know? Besides, didn’t we pass through this path earlier? I feel like we went right at this crossroads before.” (Taurus)
“No, we turned right from a different angle earlier, so we entered downward here.” (Alba)
“How could we go downward by turning right, huh?!” (Taurus)
Alba-san’s anger was on the verge of exploding, while Taurus, serving as the mediator, stayed calm. Then, Yustin joined the discussion, and the three of them started bickering back and forth.
“This is a labyrinth with a shifting structure to begin with. As the distortion changes, the directions we turn, right or left, shift to up or down.” (Yustin)
Yustin took out some paper and a pen from his portal and started sketching something.
Amazing, that convenient pocket never fails to impress!
“You can’t think of this place the same way as a typical dungeon map. This is a three-dimensional labyrinth, not a flat one, so we need to think in three dimensions.” (Yustin)
Muttering to himself, Yustin kept adding details to a sheet of paper. On it, he had charted the paths we’d taken, the twists, the crossroads, and the T-junctions, all meticulously noted with lengths, heights, and depths in a cubic space. It looked like he had spent the past week calculating and compiling it.
Yustin, how can a kid like you be so smart?
“Yustin, you’re a smart one, aren’t you?” (Lost)
“I’m a great mage, after all. If I couldn’t draw something like a Timaeus geometric diagram, I wouldn’t be fit to call myself a mage.” (Yustin)
“I don’t really get it, but does that mean we’ll make it out of here?” (Lost)
“I’ve formulated and tested several hypotheses. It seems that in this area, only the way the paths twist changes.” (Yustin)
The way the paths twist changes… Even if we go through the same path, when we pass through again, it becomes a different route, and the directions we can turn shift.
Yustin assumed that the first floor we arrived at was the 48th and meticulously noted down the floor data from Taurus’s magic tool every time we moved forward. Using the number of our five-member party, he roughly calculated distances and angles of twists to construct the map.
“And this is the map I made.” (Yustin)
With a flourish, Yustin unfurled the dungeon map.
Normally, maps are drawn from a top-down perspective, but this one was illustrated as if viewed from the upper left, complete with depth. The lines marking the paths branched out not only left and right but also up and down, forming a tangled depiction of the massive labyrinth. But it is so overwhelmingly convoluted that we can’t make heads or tails of it.
“I can’t read this!” (Lost)
“No problem. I can read it. The unexplored area is ahead, where the path twists at a right angle to the right. At that point, turn left. From there, proceed to the next fork when the path isn’t twisted and go right. Beyond that, when the path twists at a right angle to the left, take the left route!” (Yustin)
In other words, incomprehensible.
“…Aaargh! Enough of this nonsense! I’m sick of it!” (Alba)
Alba-san finally snapped, grabbing the dungeon map and crumpling it in her hands. Yustin glared at her with fierce eyes.
“Ah…! Alba, what are you doing?!” (Lost)
“If we just break through the walls and escape, it’ll all be fine! Come on, Lost, you can do it with your power, right?!” (Alba)
“Give me back my map!” (Yustin)
“Wait, wait! Stop fighting!” (Taurus)
Alba-san and Yustin began quarreling over the labyrinth’s navigation. The still-short Yustin lunged at the much taller Alba-san. Taurus, the leader, tried to mediate, but in the process, he took the opportunity to grope Alba-san’s chest. Watching the scuffle, Shia and I were left dumbfounded.
Well, spending a whole week in a place like this could certainly drive anyone mad…
In the midst of the fight, Yustin dropped something with a thud.
“Hm? What’s this?” (Lost)
It was a thick book. I picked it up quietly. Made of high-quality parchment, its cover was hard coated. It looked extremely valuable.
As someone who reads as a hobby, I could tell. “The History and Culture of Azarigrad” costs 200,000 Solido. This must be worth 500,000 Solido… maybe even more.
I couldn’t resist opening it. The contents were more diagrammatic than textual, including drawings and details of monsters, their traits, and weaknesses. It also featured labyrinth exploration diagrams, adventure records, and conjectures about the characteristics of the 30th floor onward based on the layout of Azalea Castle.
“This is…” (Lost)
“A strategy guidebook, it seems.” (Shua)
Shia, peeking over my shoulder, murmured.
“A strategy guidebook?” (Lost)
“It’s a strategy guidebook for the Azarigrad Labyrinth.” (Shia)
“That kind of thing exists?!” (Lost)
“I’ve heard of such a book, but its rarity is so high that no one has actually seen a physical copy.” (Shia)
According to Shia, while the existence of the guidebook was well-known, its value made it almost mythical.
Why did Yustin have it?
“Ah! Lost…!” (Yustin)
“Yustin, what is this?” (Lost)
The fight seemed to have ended as Yustin froze and stared wide-eyed at the book in my hands, his face turning pale. Even Alba-san, while stepping on Taurus with one foot, was watching us.
“T-That is…” (Yustin)
But it made sense.
Yustin was exceptionally knowledgeable about the Azarigrad Labyrinth. Despite appearing inexperienced, he had an uncanny understanding of monster traits and even knew about the teleportation chambers within Azalea Castle. It all stemmed from this guidebook. From the very beginning.
“Why did you hide this?” (Lost)
“…” (Yustin)
So, he’s the type to go silent when cornered, huh.
“Yustin, depending on your excuse, I won’t let you off!” (Alba)
Alba-san raised her sword threateningly.
No, no, we’re not trying to corner him! Don’t escalate things, Alba-san!
“Honestly, this book has been a lifesaver. We’ve relied on Yustin since the 30th floor. I’m not blaming you. I’m just curious why you have something like this.” (Lost)
Yustin averted his eyes and remained silent. Just then, Taurus, having regained his composure, stood up and stepped forward with a smug grin. He butted into the conversation.
“I’ve got it figured out… That magic, that appearance, and now this book, it all adds up. You’re on a mission to observe the lower world, aren’t you?” (Taurus)
“What do you mean?” (Lost)
“Yustin’s probably a noble kid. Nobles get bored with their daily lives and sometimes want to mix with commoners. Maybe they just wanted to go on an adventure for once.” (Taurus)
That would explain why Yustin initially hid his identity under a hooded robe. And with the cheat-like magic of the portal, his basic needs were covered. Taurus’s theory seems plausible…
But then Yustin, still looking down, finally spoke up.
“You’re wrong!” (Yustin)
Oh, so it’s not that.
His voice was stronger and more adamant than we expected, as though we had touched a nerve. The air turned tense after Yustin’s outburst. Even Taurus fell silent, and no one said a word.
The righteous great mage seemed to still have the emotional immaturity of someone his age. Once he started being stubborn, he didn’t know how to handle it, pushing everyone around him away.
I get it. I’ve had moments like that too. But in a place where our lives were at stake, this tense atmosphere was bad news. Everyone seems to be mentally at their limit, so it might be better to hear the rest after we safely escape the labyrinth.
“I understand. You don’t have to tell me the details. But do you think we can escape from here using this book as a hint? How about that?” (Lost)
“…Probably.” (Yustin)
Alright, he replied. Good, keep it up.
“I see. Everyone is tired, and we want to escape quickly. You feel the same way, right, Yustin?” (Lost)
“Yeah… that’s why I made the map and spent the last week verifying what floor this is.” (Yustin)
I glanced at the crumpled map tightly gripped by Alba-san. Hearing those words, Alba-san also unfolded the paper with a slightly apologetic look.
That’s right. The strategy guide only covers up to the 41st floor. In other words, it doesn’t record anything beyond that. If we’re currently on the 48th floor, there’s nothing written about it in the book. Yustin must have spent the past week using reasoning and deduction.
“Yustin… I’m sorry, I let my emotions get the best of me.” (Alba)
“…No, I’m the one who should apologize. I’m sorry for hiding the existence of the strategy guide.” (Yustin)
Good. It looks like they made up. Just because Yustin read the strategy guide doesn’t change the fact that they are the brains of the operation. I’ll have to leave it to him.
—
The mage took the front in our unique formation as we cautiously advanced. The strategy guide provided detailed information about teleportation traps.
Apparently, teleportation circles connect the current floor to another floor. This means that even if you teleport, you can return to your original floor by using a different circle. However, the deeper you go, the more the structure of the labyrinth changes, making it less likely to return if you are teleported deep underground.
We followed Yustin’s instructions, and when the path split into two choices, I used my intuition skill to choose.
Right now, all we have to rely on is this kid’s intellect and my gut feeling. The pressure is intense.
However, thanks to Yustin’s hand-drawn map, the feeling of pressure didn’t last long. The door we hadn’t seen for the past week opened wide, waiting for us. Beyond it, stairs leading to a lower level awaited.
“…Yustin, you really are a genius.” (Lost)
“I’ve been saying that from the start, haven’t I?!” (Yustin)
Yustin’s face turned bright red, and he looked away huffily.
The genius mage Yustin has a tsundere personality.
With a sense of relief, we decided to descend the stairs. What awaited us at the bottom was a small room. Despite its size, the ceiling was surprisingly high, and the sense of openness made me feel a little lighter. After a week of twisted corridors, this open space felt refreshing.
And sure enough, there was a teleportation circle in the corner of the room.
Why is it in the corner of the room, though?
“What is this room? It looks like some sort of altar.” (Lost)
The magic circle was in the corner, and in the center of the room was a flat, thin pedestal. On top of it stood a divine-looking female sculpture, exuding a majestic atmosphere. The pedestal below the sculpture had a hole in it, as if something could be inserted. I recognized the woman in the sculpture.
“Sylphid-sama…?” (Lost)
It was a sculpture of Sylphid-sama, the forest spirit. It looked just like her.
It must have been made a long time ago, but Sylphid-sama hasn’t changed at all. She’s not a God, but she certainly exudes a godly aura.
Beneath the sculpture, there were short words written. I couldn’t read them, as I didn’t recognize the language. Shia, with her golden eyes, stared at the words and read them aloud.
“‘Volga of Wind, its power is the pursuit of principles’, it says.” (Shia)
“You can read that?” (Lost)
“Kind of.” (Shia)
“Kind of” sounds like she’s implying she can read it. This pedestal must be related to Volga somehow. Could the hole in the pedestal be for inserting Volga? Well, right now, we don’t have the luxury to dwell on that. Now that we’ve found the teleportation circle, we just need to get out of this floor as quickly as possible.
“So, this is one of the sealing chambers…” (Yustin)
But Yustin was still staring at the sculpture, muttering to themself. It didn’t seem like he had any intention of leaving.
“Yuu-chan, let’s go!” (Lost)
“Just a little bit, just a little bit, wait!” (Yustin)
Yustin hurriedly wrote something on a piece of paper.
Maybe he is sketching it? I can understand the impulse to draw such a majestic figure, but I might just take them to meet the real Sylphid-sama and ask for a modeling session as a thank-you. Yustin has worked hard enough to deserve that much.
—
After stepping onto the magic circle, we successfully returned to the 30th floor, right in front of Azalea Castle’s gate.
It was quite convenient that it teleported us directly to the castle gates. It felt warm, almost as if we had touched the kindness of Sylphid-sama’s statue in that room.
Beyond the gates lay a vast forest. It was the place where the giant Sarracenia and Grizzly Bears had appeared in large numbers.
Ah, how nostalgic… Even though we were still within the Azarigrad Labyrinth, the feeling of being outside is a relief.
From there, we mixed in some rest and playful moments, and gradually, we managed to escape the labyrinth. It took us another day to make it out.
In the end, Yustin never explained why he had the Azarigrad Labyrinth strategy guide or what reason they had for joining this expedition. But at this point, I didn’t care. What mattered most was that we had made it back safely. After all, we were just a random party. This was probably a one-time thing with Alba-san and Yustin.
I’ll just end it here without any regrets. That’s one of the nice things about being part of a random party.
It seemed like Taurus had gone to speak with the Adventurer Guild, but apparently, the Geo Hundred (Floor Measuring Device) was broken.
Our achievement of reaching the 48th floor wouldn’t be recorded.
Well, technically, it isn’t even the 48th floor. It feels kind of empty, but there’s nothing to be done about it. It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m in a state where I couldn’t care less about how things turn out. This was my first major adventure since coming to this city, and right now, I don’t care about Yustin’s goal or the record for reaching the lowest floor. I just want to get back to the inn and sleep in peace.
—
I went to the inn I always stay at and had a conversation with the receptionist I hadn’t seen in a while. She seemed to remember my distinct right arm and right cheek, and she said, “I thought you were dead”. That was a rather ominous thing to say, and I was a little hurt.
Then, I dived into the bed.
“Haahh…” (Lost)
I stretched and then just went to sleep. I was exhausted.
Sleeping on the hard ground in the labyrinth for the past week was unbearable. I’d be happy with a straw bed at this point. This humble inn feels like the finest hotel.
I wonder if Alba-san is satisfied with proving their strength. It is Shia who convinced her. Now that I think about it, Shia is just as angelic as always inside the labyrinth. Maybe I should ask her out on a date next time. I might be getting a little too bold.
But with Shia, if I show too much passion, I feel like she’d pull away. She doesn’t show much emotion. Come to think of it, I’ve seen her with a smirk, but I’ve never seen her genuinely laugh.
Maybe I’ll make it my goal to make her smile next time…
Just as I was closing my eyes, thinking about all these things, a loud crash suddenly made me jump awake. It seemed someone had barged into my room. I turned to look at the door.
“Lost! Come with me again into the labyrinth!” (Yustin)
It was Yustin, looking frantic.
How does he know my room number? Where does he get the energy for this? And, what exactly is he after?
All these questions rushed through my mind, and the answer that came to me was this:
“No.” (Lost)
I muttered this and lay back down.
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