The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed - Chapter 399
400 – Entering the Labyrinth
The gates of the imperial palace opened and we moved forward. Thanks to Raelan’s spectacular appearance as planned, no one tried to come close to us. So a big circle formed around us.
To prevent attempts to take advantage of this opportunity to break into the imperial palace, a direct path was created from the entrance of the imperial palace to the basement. I glanced at the face of the imperial wizard guarding the side of the road, and as expected, he looked tired.
As we were continuing down the road without stopping, someone approached us when no one had approached us. I didn’t know who they were at first because they were wearing robes like us, but I could easily guess that they were members of the church because the person in front was short and wearing a cat mask.
The church members covered their faces with masks, just like us. The person standing next to Estelle turned his head to me. The gaze that flew out of the darkness of the robe fell sharply on my face.
“I don’t know what it means.”
I could tell that the person glaring at me in a low voice was a man. I said with a stern face the words I did not know.
“Some meaning.”
“Is there any reason to waste time killing b*stards?”
“Do you agree that those who follow the cult should be abandoned?”
When I said that sarcastically, the man shrugged his shoulders.
“To some extent. Because they are the ones who cannot achieve anything on their own and just rely on the power of the church. These are trash that will be thrown away at the moment of promise anyway. Therefore, your actions cannot be considered effective enough to cause damage to the church.”
It is natural for the current denomination to feel that it has suffered no damage. Because it was carefully designed to make you feel that way. Raelan, Eunice, and Bella. Three of the world’s best strategists put their heads together to create a killing department to enable Lily to carry out her activities in a way that does not affect causality and probability as much as possible.
So, the people I killed were all people who would kill numerous people in the future or would be helpful to the church. It was a strategy that did not go against immediate probability and was a strategy to quietly gnaw away at the roots that were the basis for the growth of the denomination.
I decided there was no need to continue the conversation, so I turned my head away. The other person probably thought the same thing, so they walked on without saying a word. I glanced at Estelle from the corner of my eye. He seemed a little nervous because he was with the church.
I wanted to ask what the message you sent me meant, but that wasn’t the situation. I had no choice but to secretly pass on the note to Raelan who was next to me. Raelan checked the contents of the note and asked me a question.
“Did Estelle send you?”
“yes.”
“Does the Golden King have any other lovers besides Edio?”
“… “I heard you’re not a party?”
Raelan used magic to hover in the air toward the center of the cage and glanced over his shoulder at the Golden King who was following along comfortably. He made a hmm sound and used magic to burn the note.
“Then it’s a problem that you don’t really need to worry about. Because the Golden King has no reason to lie.”
“But the reason Estelle took the risk and warned… .”
Raelan said with a deep sigh.
“You still don’t know even though there are so many clues? “This is just Estelle’s misunderstanding.”
“… yes?”
“The Golden King himself said that his lover was Edith. We even saw the touching reunion between Edio and the Golden King with our own eyes. But Estelle didn’t see that reunion. “That’s where a misunderstanding arose.”
“Wait, then… “Are you referring to Eddie, the Golden King’s lover that Estelle spoke of?”
Raelan nodded as if it was obvious. I thought for a moment and realized something strange. Estelle clearly wrote that the religious leader had the Golden King’s lover. But Edio was with us not long ago. It was not something that could be called a simple misunderstanding.
As I explained my question in detail, Raelan frowned.
“… “Of course it’s a lie.”
“yes?”
“We have only one lover, Edio. If we consider the unchanging truth as a standard, the lover that the religious leader claims to have is bound to be fake. Or maybe she’s mistaken for the Golden King’s lover… .”
Raelan muttered something softly, his words trailing off.
“… “They may still be mistaken in thinking that they have him.”
“yes?”
“Shut up and don’t worry.”
“… .”
***
As I entered the basement and walked a little, the imperial palace wizard blocked my path. When we at the front stopped, we heard the people following us stop one after another.
I looked around, but because magic had blocked me from seeing the inside of the imperial palace, all I could see was myself wearing a mirror-like mask and countless people waiting to enter the labyrinth.
A wizard who seemed to be of high rank among the imperial wizards walked in front of us, stopped, raised his voice with magic, and spoke to everyone.
“Before entering the labyrinth, everyone will wear a special bracelet developed by the imperial family. This bracelet is an artifact developed by an imperial magician that can briefly unify the waves of magical energy to separate you from your companions when entering the labyrinth. Please remember that one person must put magic into everyone’s bracelets for them to work properly.”
After the wizard’s explanation was over, people asked questions as if they had been waiting.
“Is it okay for individuals participating as individuals not to wear bracelets?”
“no. The map record magic is engraved on the inside of the bracelet. “I hope that when I get out of the labyrinth, I will be able to retrieve the bracelet and create an elaborate map of the labyrinth.”
“What if I forget my bracelet in the labyrinth?”
“The bracelet is the property of the imperial family. Of course, anyone who returns from the labyrinth without a bracelet will be severely punished.”
After some explanation, the imperial wizard waved his wand. Then, a place that looked like a security checkpoint appeared in front of us. The wizard walked past there as if demonstrating and showing off the bracelet he wore on his wrist, visible to all.
“When you pass by here, your bracelet will automatically be put on. Occasionally, some people may not be able to wear the bracelet due to artifact malfunction. “Don’t panic, just move to the side and ask the driver to put the bracelet on.”
After finishing the explanation, the wizard motioned for us to leave. As I passed what looked like a security checkpoint, I saw a pure white bracelet on my wrist as explained. After confirming that everyone was wearing their bracelets without any problems, I, as the representative, infused magic into everyone’s bracelets.
Then the pure white bracelet turned black. I thought there was something wrong with its appearance, but when I looked around, it seemed like that was the case. After all preparations were completed, we followed the wizard who guided us to the entrance of the labyrinth by emitting light from his staff like a signalman.
And finally, I was able to reach the entrance to the labyrinth, which looked like a huge portal.
“That is the entrance to the labyrinth! Just go through the open door and you will be able to enter the labyrinth!”
At the wizard’s shout, everyone started running towards the entrance of the labyrinth, regardless of who was first.
***
The method of entering the labyrinth was unique. Contrary to what it looked like, the view did not suddenly change like a portal, but it felt like I was just passing through a short tunnel.
When I came out of the tunnel, the first thing that came was darkness. As Ellie used her magic to secure her vision, the image of a huge maze with no visible ceiling came into view.
I looked back without thinking, but the tunnel we came out of didn’t exist. You entered the labyrinth through a non-existent entrance. Fortunately, everyone entered the labyrinth without any problems.
“As explained in advance, the labyrinth moves according to Ross’s orders.”
Everyone nodded at Raelan’s words. As I watched them settle down, I took out the Imperial Guardian Golem from the space storage.
When the golem was finished operating by infusing magical energy, the Golden King used magic to climb onto the golem’s shoulder as if it were natural. It seems like walking in the labyrinth is a hassle. I didn’t expect the Golden King to be active on the first floor anyway.
After confirming that my colleagues were ready, I told everyone.
“We will keep running as planned with the golem in front of us. “If the road is blocked, I will take a detour to the nearest road.”
I know how to conquer the labyrinth. Because it was I who wrote about how Roel went through all the hardships to reach the fourth floor of the labyrinth. The name of the first floor is Infinite Maze. As the name suggests, it is a place where the maze continues infinitely.
There is no path to the second floor in this maze. The way to the second floor of the labyrinth is not to escape the infinite maze, but to travel 10km in the maze. If you meet the conditions, a portal to the second floor will appear in front of you.
Those who do not know the hidden conditions must step carefully into the darkness of the endless maze. Even simply moving around the numerous traps and monsters consumes physical and mental power.
Those who do not know the conditions of 10 km will wander endlessly, looking for the exit of a non-existent maze, and endlessly doubt whether they are on the right path. The wasted physical and mental power, as well as the endless maze and darkness, are what lead you towards destruction, not towards the exit.
However, the first floor was not a difficult place if you knew the hidden conditions. Just run until the portal to the second floor appears.
I shouted powerfully, leading the imperial guardian golem holding a shield and a sword.
“depart!”
As soon as I finished speaking, everyone started running forward.