“Tristis Island, a place filled with many unanswered questions for me…” If one were to name a location that captures the attention of every player and endlessly stimulates the spirit of challenge, it would undoubtedly be Tristis Island. It is often abbreviated as ‘Tri Land,’ and its Nas Labyrinth is a dungeon of notorious fame.
To begin with, it has a structure that goes underground, perfectly suited to the developers who had a passion for underground dungeons. Furthermore, at the entrance leading to the first basement level, there is a dimensional gate that changes colors every minute. This means that the labyrinth you enter one minute ago is different from the one you will enter now. The starting point of the labyrinth connected to the dimensional gate shifts every minute. For this reason, the Nas Labyrinth is known for being particularly difficult to navigate.
Even if one prepares strategies for either Type A or B labyrinths on the first basement level, luck could lead them to a Type Z labyrinth instead. The problem lies in the fact that you cannot match the color of the dimensional gate to the type of labyrinth. Yesterday’s red dimensional gate could have been Type A, while today’s black dimensional gate might also be Type A.
In the first page of the map, there were detailed notes interpreting the relationship between the date of the labyrinth’s floors and the color and type of the dimensional gate. It was quite lengthy! It seemed as though only someone who had directly designed this dungeon could write such clear and detailed information.
“This is top-secret information!” I instinctively sensed the importance of this information. Of course, even with the map, it would be unreasonable to venture into the Nas Labyrinth right now. After all, the dungeons from the first to the fifth floors have already been extensively explored, leaving minimal rewards. However, the time taken to strategize is considerable. To effectively tackle the Nas Labyrinth, one must set aside at least two months. Considering the possibility of getting lost inside, one should double that time as a buffer.
“And the Nas Labyrinth is rife with all sorts of schemes and underhanded tactics. Existing teams may set traps to attack new incoming teams.” If the dungeons belonging to a territory are safe zones meticulously managed under balanced order, the Nas Labyrinth is wild in every sense. As an unregulated free island, it doesn’t belong to any lord or nation. This was what hunters had always wished for, which is why it has never changed.
Thus, there is only one law established by the Continental Hunter Association regarding the Nas Labyrinth:
[Nas Labyrinth Declaration]
[The Nas Labyrinth belongs to all of Nas continent and is not affiliated with any specific faction or country. Any faction or nation that attempts to take control of the Nas Labyrinth shall be met with unity in driving them out. Moreover, they shall be defined as greedy wicked beings, and unforgiving terror may be rendered upon them without tarnishing one’s honor.]
With a swish, I folded the map. It was indeed vital information. It was akin to gaining knowledge that would allow one to speed down the highway when attempting to conquer the Nas Labyrinth in the future. But for now, it was impossible to pursue! I should wait for the right moment.
“By the way, it’s about time Chloe arrived…”
I glanced at the clock. I was never bound by time, but Chloe insisted on meeting in the early morning, so our rendezvous was rather delayed. The reason I had called her was simple.
I intended to determine her future after her priest contract with Ella had ended, allowing her more freedom. The goal was singular: to make her my companion. Chloe is to become the Queen of the Gray Elves and is an essential character in the storyline.
Hence!
Ever since the moment I laid eyes on her, the thought of ‘companion’ has been all that filled my mind.
“Whew. Whew.” Chloe’s breath grew increasingly ragged as she entered the lord’s estate. The thought of having a formal conversation alone with Jared made her heart race for no reason. However, she didn’t want to reveal this about herself. Displaying weakness was the last thing she desired. She wanted Jared to see her as strong, composed, and cold at all times. This was precisely how all Gray Elf women were expected to behave.
“I’m nervous.” Chloe kept clenching and unclenching her fists. This was her method of emotional control, normally used to alleviate tension. Perhaps due to her habits from childhood, she sometimes did it unconsciously! Since it was early morning, there was nobody around in or out of the estate. So, without paying attention to her surroundings, she was obsessively practicing her fist-clenching.
“Ah! Chloe! When did you arrive?”
“Ah.” Chloe hurriedly put her hands down at the cheerful voice greeting her from behind. Turning around, she saw Haze. She had been so busy studying healing spells lately that she was indeed awake at this hour!
“I just—just arrived.”
“Then you should head straight to the lord’s office! Why are you lingering here?”
“I’m not really lingering.”
“I mean, it’s already September, and the nights are quite chilly! If you keep exposing your stomach and waist like this, you might end up with a stomach ache!”
Thump!
“Ugh!” With Haze’s playful belly poke, Chloe let out a short groan. While Haze was wearing a warm winter maid outfit, Chloe had chosen thin, revealing clothes to feel lighter. It was indeed cold.
“Hurry in! The lord has been waiting for you!”
“Um, Haze.”
“Hmm? Calling my name like that suddenly is a bit scary…”
Haze flinched at Chloe, who maintained eye contact while calling her name. Given their differing personalities and mannerisms, they rarely had one-on-one conversations. So being alone like this felt rather awkward, despite Haze trying to lighten the mood.
“I have something to ask.”
“Sure! Ask away! I’m always happy to hear your questions! It’s rare to hear your voice, after all! Hoho.” Haze leaned in close to Chloe as if to listen attentively. As if to suggest that she could speak softly for secrecy, it was a gesture that made Chloe lower her voice to ask.
“Do you know why the lord wanted to see me today?”
In response, Haze chuckled softly.
“I wouldn’t know! How could I guess the lord’s innermost thoughts? But why? Is something bothering you?”
“If, just if, the lord were to tell me to leave the territory, what should I do? I still have so much to learn from her.”
“Fool.”
“...Huh?”
Haze’s answer to Chloe’s lengthy concern was merely that word: fool. Chloe tilted her head and squinted at Haze.
“That question is just too foolish! Chloe, you should say that straight to the lord! Be honest. You shouldn’t hide your true feelings.”
Saying this firmly, Haze felt a little pang in her heart. After all, she too had feelings—truths—she was hiding. But no matter how skilled one was at concealing their own mistakes, others' mistakes tended to be very visible! Haze raised her voice.
“The lord hates deceitful people. So don’t hide your feelings and show everything. Don’t even think about playing hard to get! Got it? Now I’m off! I have to train!”
“W-wait, Haze!”
Chloe couldn’t even find the chance to ask a meaningful question before Haze quickly jogged away. Haze didn’t even look back. Of course, there was a moment when she seemed to pause while walking.
“Hmm.”
Although her words were short and to the point, Haze certainly had a valid point. But, but… For Chloe, revealing her true feelings was an unfamiliar territory. It was due to the restrained emotional expressions imposed on her since childhood by her parents and siblings. It was no mere feeling that made Chloe despise her own smiling reflection in the mirror!
“Damn.”
Chloe bit her lips tightly and once again clenched her fists. Nonetheless, there was no avoiding the meeting time ahead.
The conversation between Chloe and me began at 2:30 AM. Certainly, this was an inappropriate hour for a young man and woman to be speaking together. Whispering sweet nothings in bed would have been one thing. Regardless, the lord’s estate was quiet inside and out. The only places with lights were the offices I was in and the training room where Haze was practicing.
“Chloe.”
“Yes.”
“How is your personal training these days? Did you practice the deception technique disguised as stealth that I mentioned last time?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm… Were there no issues? Any questions about psychological warfare for the deception or strategy tactics?”
“No.”
“Chloe, you foolish girl!”
“Yes?”
“Hmm… Perhaps I should seriously consider calling you ‘Nene Bot’ instead of Chloe.”
“That last remark doesn’t count.”
Though we exchanged silly banter, Chloe and I shared a laugh. It was a testament to our long-standing connection. I still vividly remembered the day I first met Chloe. At that time, she had looked like pure ice, sitting alongside Ella. She was a cold-eyed queen with whom it was hard to share even a single word. But now, we had drawn close enough to share playful jokes and laughter, even if Chloe’s smile seemed closer to an act than genuine.
“Let’s cut to the chase.”
“Yes.”
It was better to get straight to the point with her rather than embellishing with flowery language. Having learned much from my former mentor, Ella, I truly despised unnecessary formality or pretentious banter.
“The reason I called you today…”
“Yes.”
“I need your skills moving forward. Our territory needs talented individuals like you, Chloe.”
“…”
“I know you are of Gray Elf descent and may need to return to your clan’s land at any time.”
“So you propose this, knowing that?”
“Yes. You left your cherished hometown to gain experience in the human world, didn’t you? Everything that happens inside and outside the territory will greatly widen your perspective.”
I earnestly pitched my case. To be honest, it was all true. I wasn’t telling any lies. While running the territory was important, there were plenty of dungeons I wanted to conquer. Ultimately, I would tackle the Nas Labyrinth, the pinnacle of dungeon challenges, one day.
In dungeons filled with countless variables, having an assassin like Chloe would be an immense asset. Assassination could be conducted not just on people, but also against monsters. In fact, I had subtly gleaned her sentiment through Ella, and I expected that she would initially agree.
But then suddenly,
“I’ve never considered this… I don’t think it will work out. I was thinking of leaving tomorrow.”
“…Huh?”
This was strange. I was sure I had heard from Haze yesterday that she was preparing to venture into the Nightmare Forest with Haze, Isabel, and Lena. Could it be that she was trying to raise her value?
Chapter 97