Chapter 813: Hidden Story (5)
NPC.
Non-Player Character.
If this were a game, Arta was clearly an NPC. Or, to be more precise, a hidden piece... or in this world’s terms, maybe “Gavrilius’s Arrangement”?
Anyway, that part wasn’t what mattered.
“Is this place I’m in a labyrinth?”
I was genuinely surprised at Arta’s question. After all, whether it was a hidden piece, an “arrangement,” or an NPC, anything belonging to the labyrinth was never free from its laws.
In short, monsters couldn’t cross portals into other floors. The same went for intelligent monsters or NPCs. They couldn’t move between floors, and they believed the world within the labyrinth was the real world.
[It’s been a while since I’ve seen living beings. Where have you come from?] — The vampire in the Blood-Red Fortress had been like that.
[Dogs of the Empire, blinded by greed. Today I shall pass judgment on you.] — So had the Knight of the Apocalypse in the White Temple.
[...This is the labyrinth. I was exploring it when I met you.]
[Labyrinth...? What’s that?] — Even the vampire I met again on the first underground floor, or the duke who seemed to be the “original” of Cambormier, hadn’t been different in this regard.
Because of that, whenever I talked about the “present timeline’s” history, I never brought up the labyrinth.
But this guy... what was he?
[As I said earlier, my name is Arta.]
[Chief researcher at the First Arcane Engineering Institute!]
[Haha, not to brag, but above me there are only the Deputy Director and the Director.]
He seemed to believe this world inside the labyrinth was his own, and yet—
“What do you mean, asking if this is a labyrinth?”
“I mean exactly that. Please answer me — is this place I’m standing in part of a labyrinth?”
This guy knew about the labyrinth. I’d still need to check if his labyrinth and mine were the same thing, but still...
“...What’s a labyrinth?”
“Does [N O V E L I G H T] that mean... you know nothing about it?”
Hmm.
Something told me that if I just said yes, the conversation would end there. So I deliberately gave a loaded answer.
“That depends on your answer.”
I made it clear I wasn’t going to show my hand first. Arta stared at me for a moment, then spoke quickly.
“A labyrinth is an artificial dimension created through the power of the Source. We can shape the laws of the world within it. In a labyrinth, anything can be newly created, and one can freely move to any desired location. The ‘portal’ was a means of travel within labyrinths, devised by the Empire itself.”
The rapid-fire explanation was hard to follow, but for some reason it made my heart clench with unease.
“...The Empire made the labyrinth?”
“Yes. His Majesty desired to use the labyrinth to achieve infinite life, absolute authority, and a flawless paradise on earth under eternal control.”
“...”
“Because gods are far too flawed.”
Confusing. Honestly, I didn’t know whether he was telling the truth or just reciting some setting.
Still, there was one thing I was curious about — maybe not the most important thing to ask right now, but...
“Why call it a labyrinth?”
“...I don’t understand the question.”
“I mean, if he wanted to create a paradise, why name it ‘labyrinth’?”
“I don’t know why that’s important to you, but I’ll answer anyway.”
He didn’t hesitate.
“At the end of the labyrinth, there is always an answer.”
“...?”
“It’s an old proverb, even by our era’s standards. His Majesty spent his life seeking the answer to save this world. The great project to create paradise through an artificial dimension took the name ‘Labyrinth’ in accordance with that will.”
“...”
‘The day the sweat of the knowledge you have shed leads us to the end of the labyrinth, we shall finally head for the eternal paradise.’
“It’s part of the speech His Majesty gave our institute when he entrusted us with the task. Does that answer you?”
“...Enough.”
“Then, please answer me.”
He asked again.
“Is this inside a labyrinth?”
Honestly... I still wasn’t sure. If anything, I was more confused than before. But...
“Yeah. We’re inside a labyrinth.”
Fact was fact.
***
After I gave my answer, silence fell for a long time. Arta seemed deep in thought, and I didn’t interrupt.
Eventually...
“....”
“....”
It wasn’t either of us who broke it. Not Ainard, lacking tact, nor Raven, driven by academic curiosity.
Beep-beep-beep-beep, beep-beep-beep-beep—
An alarm, repeating in a fixed pattern.
The sound came from inside Arta’s coat. As my gaze shifted, he came out of his thoughts and spoke.
“It means my return time is near.”
“I see.”
I answered casually, but I was thinking. Should I just keep talking to him until his time ran out? Or... should I act on an earlier thought and make it so he couldn’t go back?
The second option had been something I’d only use if dragging him along didn’t trigger any events or rewards.
‘Well, that’s basically the case now.’
But unlike then, my priorities had changed. Back then, it was all about rewards and events. Now...
Now, the story he carried seemed more important — it might help uncover the secrets of this world.
‘In that case, knocking him out—’
I was about to make my decision when—
“Don’t.”
Arta cut into my thoughts, almost as if he’d read them.
For a moment, I wondered if he had some mind-reading magic tool, but thankfully, no.
“When you observe the future, you sometimes see people with that same look in their eyes.”
“...I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“Haha, then I’m glad. I’ve had experiences like this before, and I have various measures prepared for such situations.”
...Is that true?
No idea, but saying it to my face like that was effective — it made me hesitate more.
‘What do I do...?’
My internal debate flared up again. If this were a game, I wouldn’t even think twice — if it went wrong, I could just try again later.
“Why not set aside greed and use the little time left well — for both our sakes?”
Once again, he interrupted my thoughts with a suggestion. This time, I just spoke honestly.
“And what exactly do we get out of this?”
“Well, I know why today is the ‘Last Day.’”
“...What?”
“I didn’t understand it before, but once I realized this was inside a labyrinth, it became clear. Why this is happening.”
“...Fine. Let’s talk.”
In the end, I chose the peaceful route. His sudden shift from the bumbling attitude earlier to a sharp, calculated one... there were too many things that made me pause.
If he really had countermeasures, I wasn’t sure I could break through them. Going all-in when I didn’t even know what cards he had was risky.
“So, since time is short, shall we be fair and take turns asking questions?”
“Fine.”
Even the conversation method was settled — one I was very familiar with, from Aurell Gaviss to Ibaekho to the Round Table... For some reason, it happened often in this world.
Everyone here wanted things without giving anything up — not that I was any different.
‘Shame I don’t have [Broken Trust] right now...’
I’d used up the last charge and hadn’t been able to get another — the item was rare. Not that I knew if it would even work on him.
“Oh, then I’ll—”
“No, I’ll start.”
“...Please, go ahead.”
I already knew my first question — but I had no idea what kind of answer I’d get.
[Continue what you were about to say earlier. Why is today the ‘Last Day’?]
For security, I switched to the ancient language. Luckily, he understood my intent and turned off his translator to answer.
Not that the answer was what I wanted.
[Ask another question.]
[What?]
[Don’t worry. I’m not refusing to answer — just suggesting we delay that question.]
[Why?]
[Because there’s a high chance you’ll only truly understand my answer when the time comes.]
It felt suspicious, but I didn’t think he was just stalling, so I accepted it.
[Fine, then. What’s the name of this ‘His Majesty’ you mentioned earlier?]
Maybe I’d hear the names Immortal King or Dawn King.
[That’s the first I’ve heard those names...]
Unfortunately, the name he gave was one I’d never heard before.
‘Even the dynasty’s different — maybe it’s completely separate from the Kingdom of Lafdonia.’
And with that, my first question ended.
[Then it’s my turn.]
I listened carefully — in talks like this, the question itself was information. What would he be most curious about?
Soon, his mouth opened, and the answer came.
[Bjorn Yandel, have you ever seen, or heard of, a being from another dimension?]
The moment I heard it, my mind went blank. I couldn’t even guess where he was going with that.
[Please answer. It’s a matter of great importance.]
...Why the hell was that so important to him?