Chapter 97: Madonna Lily

“Gerhardt-sama, would you like to go exploring the labyrinth together?”

“No, I don’t.”

It happened a few days after the meeting with the Count.

Ricardo invited Gerhardt to accompany him on the exploration mission assigned by the Count. It would be reassuring to have Gerhardt, a former adventurer and the strongest swordsman in the Count’s territory, by his side. However, Gerhardt bluntly refused the invitation without hesitation.

It wasn’t just a rejection; it was a flat-out refusal.

“Why?” Ricardo asked.

“What do you think? Do you expect me to take an old man in his sixties to the labyrinth?” Gerhardt replied.

“I heard you had a great time at the bandit’s hideout…” Ricardo said.

“If I go all out for just an hour, maybe. But can I maintain that level of intensity for half a day or a whole day?” Gerhardt scoffed.

“Ugh…”

Knowing the harshness of exploring the labyrinth, Ricardo couldn’t say it was an easy task. The type of physical stamina required was different between momentarily going wild and advancing with a tense atmosphere.

“Also, your cursed sword is clearly meant for solo assaults. It would be dangerous for anyone to get involved,” Gerhardt added.

“As long as they stay within five meters, it’ll be fine!” Ricardo replied.

“You might end up dead if you accidentally get too close. I wouldn’t call that ‘fine,'” Gerhardt retorted.

Ricardo’s beloved sword, “Tsubaki,” was a cursed blade that compelled those nearby to commit suicide. No matter how cautious his companions were, once Ricardo unsheathed it, there was no turning back. He couldn’t fully entrust his life to them.

Gerhardt always wore accessories that provided resistance against mental abnormalities. They could protect him from curses for a few seconds at least. If Ricardo’s curse were to be directed at him, Gerhardt was prepared to cut him down regardless of the circumstances.

With such a relationship, it was clear that it wouldn’t be a pleasant picnic in any way.

“By the way…”

“Is there more!?”

“I’m on vacation. Even though it seems to have been forgotten, I am on vacation. You were present when I received permission from the Count, weren’t you?”

“…Oh, right, there was such a conversation.”

“For the aforementioned reasons, I can’t go. And you should stop inviting Josel as well. I said I would train him in enchantment, but we keep interrupting it. It’s starting to make me feel bad,” Gerhardt explained.

It would have been reassuring to have Josel, who was skilled in indoor battles, but someone else had already taken the initiative. However, even if Ricardo were to invite him, the problem regarding Tsubaki’s curse remained unresolved.

“If you want companions, look for them at the tavern, as any adventurer should,” Gerhardt said, giving his final piece of advice.

With that, Gerhardt left abruptly, and Ricardo’s footsteps felt heavy as he watched him walk away.

…

…That would save a lot of trouble.

Even if he mustered the courage to approach someone and say, “My sword is a bit cursed, but is that okay?”—there was no good outcome.

If only it were that easy to find reliable allies.

There was only one person Ricardo could rely on in such a situation. He understood Tsubaki’s curse and had a certain level of resistance. He could also handle weaponry.

The problem was that he wasn’t an adventurer. Ricardo would have to somehow convince him.

If it were just a matter of patrolling, it would be fine. But if they needed to investigate and possibly deal with issues deeper in the labyrinth, it would be disheartening to do it alone.

When Lutz asked Claudia for advice on the axe’s inscription, she laughed and raised two fingers. Apparently, she had already prepared two suggestions.

“Kubizuka” and “Shirayuri.” Which one is better?”

“They’re polar opposites, aren’t they? Can you tell me their meanings?” Lutz asked.

“Of course,” Claudia nodded.

“First, you made the axe as a grave marker for the returning soldiers, right?”

“That’s right.”

“It’s a grave for warriors, and it’s an axe that can cleanly decapitate someone in one strike. That’s why ‘Kubizuka’.”

“That’s a macabre joke. And what about ‘Shirayuri’?”

“It’s a flower dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a standard offering. It’s also called ‘Madonna Lily’.”

Lutz looked at the axe hanging on the wall. There was no other purpose for it besides killing people.

“So, which one will you choose? If you have other good ideas, that’s fine too,” Claudia suggested.

“Let’s go with Shirayuri.”

He wanted to make the name at least sound beautiful, as a way to mourn the dead. Kubizuka sounded too eerie, considering the purpose of the axe. Even though it might suit its function better.

“By the way, the flower language for Shirayuri is ‘Purity’ and ‘Dignity’,” Claudia added.

“It’s more similar to the image of a princess than a returning soldier,” Lutz remarked.

“It seems lacking in sensuality for a gift to a girl, doesn’t it?” Claudia said.

“I might give it to that guy,” Lutz suggested.

He was the last remaining member of the Kill-Code Squad who had pleaded for the situation of the returning soldiers. If he grew up to be a man who could carry everyone’s feelings, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to give it to him.

At that moment, it felt awkward to name the axe Kubizuka. Shirayuri seemed like a better choice.

Lutz stood up, intending to engrave the name on the axe. Then, he heard a loud knocking on the door—an unmistakable pattern he had grown accustomed to.

Before the person could introduce themselves, Lutz quickly removed the latch.

“What’s up? It’s still early for a meal,” Lutz said.

As expected, it was the adventurer Ricardo standing there.

“Stop saying it as if I come here every day just to eat,” Ricardo said.

“Oh, really? Try reflecting on your own actions and say the same line,” Lutz retorted.

“Shut up! The food here is too delicious. The soup at the tavern tastes sour and vomit-like.”

Ricardo entered without permission and casually sat on a nearby box.

“Lutz, let’s go on an adventure together!”

“I don’t want to, though…”

“Sorry, I worded it poorly. It’s not about opening new doors between men or anything like that.”

“You’re just making it worse,” Lutz said, coldly observed by Claudia. But Ricardo didn’t stop. As long as he didn’t stop, he hadn’t lost.

“Let’s explore the labyrinth together!”

“I don’t want to, though…”

“No, no, no, just listen to me first!”

Ricardo explained about the abnormal incidents happening in the labyrinth and the investigation request from the Count. It was almost like a forced request.

Would he be rejected just like Gerhardt? Ricardo was on guard, but to his surprise, Lutz…

“Hmm…”

…groaned.

The fact that he was considering it meant there was room for acceptance. Ricardo wondered why he felt that way despite not having anything to offer Lutz. This kind of conversation shouldn’t benefit Lutz in any way. Therefore, Ricardo had to appeal to his emotions.

Claudia noticed the change in Lutz, which was too obvious for her to miss, and asked straightforwardly, “Do you have something you want to do?”

“I want to get used to handling the axe… Or rather, I want to experience the exchange of life,” Lutz replied.

“Are you planning to do that against monsters?” Claudia asked.

“If I engage in serious battles, I can get closer to the legendary sword I desire, or at least, that’s how it feels…” Lutz’s voice gradually diminished. The image of the ultimate legendary sword remained veiled within Lutz.

The purpose was simply to fight. Having realized that, Ricardo began to highlight the allure of the labyrinth.

“The labyrinth is amazing! It might lead to hell itself, and monsters keep spawning endlessly. You can fight to your heart’s content, kill to your heart’s content!”

He may have gotten carried away with his words. Claudia gave him a stern glare.

“I don’t want Lutz to be in danger, but then again, is it right for a woman to stop a man from going into battle?” Claudia pondered aloud.

While twisting her long hair around her finger, she thought.

“Alright, here’s what we’ll do. We’ll investigate up to the third floor.”

Ricardo furrowed his brows at Claudia’s suggestion.

“Can we find the cause of the abnormal incidents in such a shallow area?”

“There should be some clues. It’s not just skilled adventurers who have gone missing, but also amateurs, right? So they couldn’t have gone deep into the labyrinth. It’s either a problem in the shallower areas or the emergence of kidnappers or something,” Claudia explained.

Upon hearing Claudia’s proposal, Lutz nodded deeply, as if agreeing.

“A picnic wouldn’t hurt. But can you handle it alone if we only go up to the third floor?”

Ricardo was not good at socializing, but his skills were reliable. He had ventured alone up to the fifth floor of the labyrinth before. So, perhaps it would be better if he went alone. He could activate Tsubaki’s curse at any time without having to consider his companions.

No, Ricardo reconsidered. They were investigating an unknown threat. There was no harm in being cautious.

He had a somewhat uneasy feeling. In such situations, he trusted his instincts as an adventurer.

“I don’t mind a picnic. Let’s go as two men, bringing a bento lunch,” Ricardo said, grinning.

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