"The one who eliminated a Demon King's Army officer was a newcomer? Are you serious?"
"Is that information even reliable?"
"This is absolutely impossible!"
"Even Mitsurugi-sama can't guarantee a win against Hans. A newcomer? Come on!"
"Hey, hey... shhh, look at Mitsurugi-sama..."
Someone quietly reminded the group.
Everyone followed their gaze.
Mitsurugi stood there, frozen in place.
His eyes were full of disbelief.
Newcomer?
The word hit him like thunder, making his scalp go numb.
It wounded his young hero heart.
The one who defeated a Demon King Army officer... was a newbie adventurer???
How could that be?
If that were true, where was the dignity of a brave hero like him supposed to go?
No, no, no. There had to be some other explanation. Maybe Axel's adventurers worked together?
No way he did it solo...
As if reading his thoughts, Claire asked, "A newcomer? Are you sure? Were there any witnesses?"
"What was the situation on-site?"
Yes! What happened on-site?! Mitsurugi asked mentally, hopeful.
The knight responded, "Captain, almost all the adventurers in Axel witnessed it."
"As for the situation..."
The knight paused, carefully choosing his words.
"One hit. According to eyewitnesses, the boy used a single Explosion Magic to blow Hans to pieces…"
Ah?
Mitsurugi's eyes widened.
He understood every word, but somehow, strung together, they made no sense.
Blown to pieces in one hit?!
Do these people think Demon King Army officers are made of paper?
"How amazing!!!" Princess Iris clapped excitedly.
"Claire! I want to meet him!"
Claire had just managed to collect herself.
"Your Highness, the celebration banquet for Mitsurugi-sama isn't over yet."
Iris shook her head. "It's boring and no fun. I want to meet the person who did that!"
Claire kept trying, "Your Highness, as a royal, it's important to build ties with nobles and heroes."
"Even if you're not enjoying it, you mustn't act willfully."
Mitsurugi's eye twitched. Huh?
That... hurt.
Sorry my celebration banquet was so boring.
Claire continued, "And Lady Lalatina is still recovering."
"How about inviting her to bring that adventurer to your birthday party?"
Iris thought about it, then nodded. "Okay! Let's do that!"
---
Dustiness Family Estate
In a luxurious room, on a silken bed.
Darkness slowly opened her eyes.
"Lalatina, you're finally awake!"
She turned her head.
It was her father, Ignis, holding her hand, looking deeply concerned.
"Lalatina, you can't keep doing this. It's far too dangerous!"
"If an adventurer hadn't stepped in, you would've died! Do you understand that?!"
Darkness blinked.
Fragments returned to her memory.
Someone grabbing her by the legs… dragging her back…
Ignis gently tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
"You were rescued from the Demon King's Army. You really ought to thank him."
"And the princess even sent a letter. She's been worried about your condition."
Darkness sat up and lowered her gaze.
"I'm sorry to have worried Her Highness Iris."
"Father, please write to her and let her know I'm recovering well."
Ignis nodded. "Of course. I'll take care of it."
He walked to the window and drew open the curtains.
"But there's something else important."
"It's about the adventurer."
"Did something happen to him?"
A flicker of worry crossed Darkness's eyes.
Despite her, uh... tastes, her desire to protect others was genuine.
She never wanted someone else hurt just to save her.
Ignis shook his head.
"No. He wasn't even injured."
Darkness exhaled in relief.
"That's good... I'm glad no one got hurt."
"Wait..."
A realization hit her. She shot upright.
"Father... wasn't the enemy a Demon King Army officer?"
"No one was injured. Did the Royal Army arrive in time?"
"..."
Ignis hesitated, as if carefully choosing his words.
"Lalatina, by the time the Kingdom Army arrived... it was already over."
"What?!"
"Because that adventurer took down Hans, one of the Demon King's Army generals."
Darkness: "?"
Suddenly, she remembered.
That moment facing Hans.
An unbelievably powerful Explosion Magic had rained down from the sky.
It had shredded Hans to bits right in front of her.
That... was unleashed by an adventurer from Axel?
"I didn't realize Axel had such a powerful adventurer…"
"Was it a high-ranking one just passing through?"
Ignis shook his head.
"We investigated. He registered as an adventurer only three days ago."
"Even though his stats are exceptionally high, technically speaking, he's still a newbie."
Thunk.
Darkness froze.
She didn't even know what kind of expression to make.
"He killed a Demon King general in one shot without taking damage."
And he's a newcomer?!
Seeing his daughter's expression, Ignis sighed.
That was exactly how he looked when he first heard the news.
"Lalatina, do you understand now?"
"With that kind of strength, he's very likely a hero candidate."
"Princess Iris wants to meet him at her birthday banquet."
"And I'm assigning you the task of escorting him there."
Darkness: "Eh? Me?"
"Yes. He saved your life. You're the most suitable person to accompany him. Any objections?"
"No... Father."
Darkness shook her head, slightly dazed.
A brave...
"Indeed... only someone like that could be a brave."
"He might even become Her Highness Iris's future husband."
The Kingdom of Belzerg had long encouraged marriages with powerful heroes to enhance the royal bloodline's potential.
Ignis stepped forward and handed her a glass of water.
Darkness accepted it.
"Father, what's this adventurer's name?"
She took a sip to soothe her dry throat.
"His name is Chishiya Shuntaro. Ever heard of him?"
PFFT—!!!
Water sprayed everywhere from Darkness's mouth.
Who?!
Wasn't that the guy I ran into in the woods?!
Oh my god!!!
I was seen like that by the potential future consort of Princess Iris?!
AHHH—!!!
Darkness grabbed her head, face beet red.
She desperately wanted to crawl into a hole and disappear.
"Lalatina, what's wrong?"
Darkness forced a stiff smile.
"N-Nothing... Father. Please, just... leave me alone for now."
"I want some time to think..."
"Alright. Let me know if you need anything."
The door closed behind him.
Now alone in the room—
THUNK!
Darkness slammed her head against the wall.
I need to erase that memory!
He saw me like that... That's the guy I'll probably serve as a knight one day...
There's nothing more socially devastating in the world!!!
But it wasn't my fault! I was under illusion magic!
He'll believe me...
"..."
"LIKE HELL HE WILL!!!"
THUNK THUNK THUNK!
She banged her head against the wall repeatedly.
Five minutes later—
Darkness slumped onto the bed.
"Well... he does seem like a decent guy."
"He'd suit Princess Iris quite well."
"I need to thank him properly when I meet him."
Darkness smiled faintly.
---
The Labyrinth
Several days passed.
The surface structures were almost complete.
What was once an empty plain.
Was now shaping into a proper small town.
Yellow lines had been drawn across the ground for reserved building areas.
There were residential zones, commercial zones, research sectors...
As long as resources kept flowing, construction could continue.
There was a time when Chishiya believed in science.
Until he saw a group of ants build an entire city.
Without blueprints, without schematics, without structural calculations.
Chishiya opened his control panel.
[Chishiya Shuntaro]
[Core Employees: Megumin, Queen Ant, Wiz, Vanir, Kazuma, Aqua]
[Account: 300 million Eris (convertible to Reputation Points at 100:1)]
[Reputation Points: 2,000]
[Labyrinth Level: 1]
[Special Abilities: Explosion Magic Lover, Leadership, Lich's Blessing, Demon King's Blessing, Goddess of Luck's Blessing, Goddess of Water's Blessing]
"300 million Eris."
"That's enough to upgrade the Labyrinth."
"System, convert 200 million Eris into Reputation Points."
[Confirmed]
[Conversion in Progress…]
[Conversion Complete]
[Current Reputation Points: 2,000,000]
[Upgrade Requirement for Labyrinth Level 2: 500,000 Reputation Points]
[Proceed with Upgrade?]
"Yes."
[Confirmed. 500,000 Reputation Points consumed. Labyrinth Level Up successful.]
(To be continued.)
***
For every 100 PS = 1 extra chapter. Support me on P/treon to read 30+ advanced chapters: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves
(Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)