Chapter 96: The Stirrings of New Malice

“So, have you managed to create the ultimate sword?” Claudia asked, grinning, as she sat idly in the blacksmith’s workshop. She knew he was troubled, yet she asked such a question. Lutz smiled wryly and replied, “I’ve grasped something like a hint. However, it’s just one of the many components and not a decisive factor.”

Recently, Lutz had fought and defeated the surviving kidnapper of the princess. There were things that could only be learned through serious battles, and experiencing the sensation of cutting someone with a renowned weapon was a valuable experience. Technically, it wasn’t a sword but an axe, but it didn’t change the fact that it was Lutz’s favorite weapon.

“I can’t bring myself to carry around a makeshift sword at this point. He’ll be my partner for a while,” Lutz said, glancing at the axe hanging on the wall. After the recent battle, he had removed the long handle, turning it into a length similar to a sword. Now he could hold it with both hands, just like a sword.

“I’ll probably attach a leather cover to the blade and carry it on my back when I’m not using it,” he continued.

“You’ll be exposing yourself as a suspicious person. What if you get caught by the knights?” Claudia remarked.

“I’m a knight too. Who do you think will catch me?” Lutz replied.

Although he didn’t hold an official title, he was treated as a knight since he became the Count’s appointed blacksmith. Moreover, Lutz was one of the heroes who rescued the princess. It was unlikely that he would be reprimanded for carrying a weapon.

“If I have the axe hanging on my waist, my belt will break, and I’ll become a suspicious person in a different sense,” Lutz chuckled.

“Walking around with a drawn weapon isn’t a good idea,” Claudia added.

While they were joking and laughing, someone knocked on the door without any courtesy.

“It’s me, Ricardo. Open up!”

Ricardo, the adventurer employed by the Count, entered the room without hesitation. Even though it was someone else’s house, he had gotten used to it.

“Hey there, hero. What brings you here today?” Lutz greeted him.

“I came to admire your smug face. Does that count as a reason?” Ricardo replied.

“Well, you’re done here. You can leave,” Lutz said.

“Hold on, hold on. Sorry about that. I’m free, so I came to hang out and grab a meal together,” Ricardo suggested.

It was almost lunchtime. He seemed to have planned it that way.

“You’ve got an arrogant attitude…” Lutz muttered. Nonetheless, Lutz and Claudia led Ricardo to the second-floor living room. It wasn’t the first time Ricardo had come to have lunch, as even a special soup plate was prepared for him.

“Ricardo-san, have you been hunting monsters recently?” Claudia asked as they sat around the dining table.

While enjoying the warm vegetable soup and salted herring fillets, along with soft bread and beer, Claudia inquired.

“I haven’t received any requests from the Count lately. It’s a good thing, I suppose…” Ricardo replied.

“Well, I’ve got something interesting for you. Why don’t we explore the labyrinth when you feel like it?” Claudia suggested.

“Only if I feel like it,” Ricardo replied nonchalantly.

Ricardo wasn’t particularly interested, as he disliked crowded places.

After rescuing the princess and receiving a generous reward from the Count, Ricardo planned to spend his time leisurely.

But within a few days, his faint dreams were shattered. He was summoned by Count Maximilian Zander in a manner that indicated something troublesome had occurred.

In the audience room were Maximilian, the enchantment artisan Gerhardt, the high-ranking knight Josel, and the summoned Ricardo.

In other words, it was the lineup for dealing with troublesome matters.

“I want you to investigate the labyrinth,” Maximilian declared.

“Investigate…?” Ricardo tilted his head in confusion at Gerhardt’s words.

Ricardo decided to remain silent about what he had heard from Claudia. He hoped that by looking proud, others would assume he was a top-notch adventurer.

“That labyrinth, you know, the number of people entering has increased significantly. It seems that a disproportionately low number of them are returning. On the worst days, only half make it back,” Maximilian explained.

“Even if we consider adventurers to be socially maladjusted individuals, who cares if they die? In fact, it would be convenient if they died quickly, considering our role in maintaining public order,” Josel remarked.

Ricardo’s response was surprisingly cold and dry compared to his peers. It was unclear whether he understood that he, too, was included among the socially maladjusted individuals or not.

Forty years ago, when Gerhardt was still an artisan, he knew that arguing was futile and continued with the discussion.

“While adventurers’ deaths may be their own responsibility, we must understand what is happening in the labyrinth. There are even rumors that they are being sacrificed to some cult,” Gerhardt explained.

“Is it appropriate to laugh at that?” Ricardo asked.

“It’s your job to make it laughable,” Gerhardt dismissed him with a wave of his hand.

With that, the conversation ended abruptly, and Ricardo was driven away as if he were a bother.

As Ricardo walked through the castle corridor, his footsteps felt as heavy as lead.

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