The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 34
Chapter 34: The fat aristocrat can make friends.
The next day, the three of them continued to explore the fifth underground floor. All they could find were ochre boars, and still, there was no sign of blue deer. They couldn’t even find any traces of them.
Only the horns and meat of ochre boars were piling up, and Canule was already carrying a large load.
“Should we go down?”
Mitrof suggested it while they were looking at the map in the break room. Although there were unexplored areas, they could hardly expect to find conveniently placed blue deer that had not been seen up until this point.
“…Well. It might be better to hope that some stray blue deer survived downstairs—it’s pointless to keep hunting boars forever.”
“What about the ‘Guardian’?” Mitrof asked because of his lack of knowledge.
“That powerful monster is said to be on a floor where the layers change in the labyrinth, right?—I heard there’s no need to force oneself to fight it.”
Unexpectedly, Canule answered Mitrof.
“That’s right—it’s one of the most mysterious monsters that exist—even if you defeat it, it’ll revive the next day.”
“…It’ll revive?”
“That’s what they say—there are various rumors that some kind of relic is involved, or that it’s a curse from ancient magic. To challenge a guardian, you need to apply to the guild—It’s by appointment only.”
“…It’s like a high-end restaurant.”
Canule chuckled at Mitrof’s grumbling.
“In any case, it’s okay to put the guardian aside for now—it’s not a safe opponent to suddenly fight, and it’s very dangerous—you can advance without defeating it.”
Although they had carefully explored each floor so far, leaving unexplored guardians behind made Mitrof feel regretful, like he had halfway fulfilled his desires. However, both Mitrof and Grace had someone they needed to search for.
It was a fact that there was no point in staying too long if they couldn’t find them on the fifth underground floor, especially since Grace was under a clear time constraint. They had to find a blue deer fawn, an ingredient for medicine, and return before the Divine Tree withered.
The three of them headed towards the stairs and descended to the 6th floor. In the square before the stairs, adventurers were resting individually.
Mitrof, who had just finished taking a break, went by them.
At that moment, someone called out to him.
“Oh, it’s Mitrof!”
When he turned to the cheerful voice, there was Mikel sitting on the floor, chewing on an apple. Of course, the other members of “Wolves Wind” were also gathered around.
Mikel called out to his comrades and stood up, walking over to Mitrof.
“Mikel, were you also on the 6th floor?”
“I’m still looking for the troll today—the troll doesn’t seem to be anywhere above the 5th floor—but if adventurers can make it up to the 6th floor, they can handle trolls and either fight or run away. If we weren’t looking for this floor, we’d have to give up too.”
“Crunch,” Mikel said, biting the apple. He then looked behind Mitrof at Grace and Canule, tilting his head.
“You’re a three-person party, huh?—Are you rushing too much to the 6th floor?—Are you okay?”
Mikel asked, not making fun of them but genuinely worried.
Mitrof doesn’t know the standards of the labyrinth. He hesitated a little, wondering if their three-person party was too small or if their exploration pace was too fast, or both.
“If we sense any danger, we will turn around immediately.”
“I see. Besides, there aren’t even any blue deer on the 5th floor right now. It might be more efficient to do it on the 6th floor. By the way…”
Mikel put his arm around Mitrof’s shoulder and brought his face closer.
“Hey, are you dating that gorgeous elf?”
“Oink.”
To an unexpected question, he felt like he was about to blow snot out of his nose.
“W-What are you asking!—There’s no way I could be dating her!”
“For real? You’re not in love?—Are you really keeping up with things?”
“That’s rude?!—Having such frivolous feelings and falling in love with a woman so easily goes against chivalry!”
Mitrof replied with a panting breath. Of course, it was spoken in a low voice.
Respecting women was a natural manner for nobles. While he remained faithful to his own self-interest, there was a strong moral code that he stubbornly upheld. These were based on the customs and chivalry practiced by medieval knights, which Mitrof had strictly learned from a young age.
“Man, you’re so uptight.”
Mikel laughed heartily.
“It’s not that my head is too hard, you guys are just too soft.”
Mitrof said sullenly.
“Seriously, falling in love so easily and getting flustered over romantic love affects a man’s reputation.”
“That kind of thinking is silly.”
Mikel slapped Mitrof’s arm with a snap. He was amazed at the elasticity of the arm, but he had enough common sense and consideration not to tease Mitrof too much.
“Well, we’ll be on the sixth floor today, so if we pass by somewhere, let’s help each other if we run into trouble.”
“Sure,” and Mikel left .
“…He’s such a laid-back guy.”
This is the first time Mitrov has ever met someone with such a personality. He does not know how to behave as a non-aristocratic person.
“Mitrof, you have made a friend.”
“What did you say?”
Mitrov turned around in surprise, and for some reason, Grace was looking back at him with a soft smile.
“No?—It looked like you were very close.”
Grace turned to Canule, who obediently nodded and said, “Yes.”
“I thought he was Mitrov-sama’s friend, but they aren’t?”
“A friend?”
Mitrov was at a loss for words and looked back, perplexed.
Mitrov knew the meaning of the word “friend.” However, he had never used that term before.
He had interacted with boys his age, but they all carried their family names on their backs. As the child of an aristocrat, there was no room for fostering friendship.
However, Mitrov was no longer a nobleman.
Mikel was not a noble either.
“I never signed a contract to be friends with Mikel.”
Mitrof says, rubbing his chin.
“Fufu” Grace chuckled softly and spoke to Mitrof gently as if talking to a child, “Listen, Mitrof. Friendship is not a contract. It just happens naturally—if you think the same way as your friend and they feel the same way as you do, then that’s what friendship is.”
Mitrof groaned.
Friendship was something strange and abstract to him.
Mitrof doesn’t know for sure, nor can he guess what Mikel thinks.
It felt as unsatisfying as when they came down from the sixth floor, leaving an unexplored area behind.
Mitrof headed towards “Wolves Wind” alone. His party members noticed him and looked at him curiously, and Mikel also noticed.
Mitrof asked Mikel seriously.
“Mikel—I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but are we friends?”
After a short pause, Mikel burst out laughing, holding onto his stomach. He stood up and playfully slapped Mitrof’s shoulder while laughing, “Hahaha!”
Grace and Canule were watching the scene from a little further away. They exchanged looks, wondering what kind of relationship Mitrof and Mikel had.
After the laughter subsided, Mitrof returned with an uncertain expression. He furrowed his brow and met Grace and Canule’s gaze, saying, “Apparently, Mikel and I have become friends—It’s my first time experiencing this—honestly, I’m confused.”
Mitrof was serious, but Grace and Canule couldn’t help laughing a little.
With an uncertain expression, Mitrof pouted his bottom lip.