The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 71
Chapter 71: The fat aristocrat is troubled by the content of the request
Mitrof frowned slightly and nodded.
“The ant is not a paraponera, is it?”
“Yes, of course—what I want to request from Mitrof-san is the extermination of a ‘dinoponera’.”
“That’s a name I’ve never heard before—there should only be paraponeras on the 11th floor.”
“That’s true on the ‘surface’.”
The phrase ‘surface’ left Mitrof with doubts.
“Mitrof-san, I heard that you exterminated the red-eyed troll.”
“…You know a lot.”
“It’s been a rumor for a while.”
“It’s good to hear a good rumor.”
“Of course, it’s a good rumor.”
The way she said it, leaving a sweet aftertaste, was both delightful and suspicious.
“Is there a connection between the red-eyed troll and the ant?”
“No, not directly—however, have you ever wondered how the red-eyed troll moved between floors?”
“…There’s a rumor about a loophole in the monster’s system.”
“Yes, that’s correct.”
Blanc Manje nodded gracefully while spreading both hands.
“And here it is.”
What Mitrof remembered was the word Poisson, the merchant he spoke with earlier, mentioned.
“The ‘special zone’?”
“Ara, you already know that name—we also call it the ‘loophole’ or the ‘back,’ but outsiders all refer to it as the ‘labyrinth special zone.'”
“…I’ve never heard of it before.”
“Well, that’s to be expected—knowledge and information are not meant to be shared with those who don’t need to know.”
Blanc Manje placed a hand over her mouth. Her fingers were invisible due to the length of her robes.
“The ‘back’ has a completely different ecology than the ‘front’ of the labyrinth. It connects top and bottom and even allows monsters to move about. And as for the blocked side passages on the ‘front’?—All of them lead to the ‘back.'”
‘I see,’ Mitrof understood. The reason why the upper floors’ side passages remained closed for so long was not only due to unexplored areas.
It seemed that it was connected to the back of the labyrinth, which the guild did not openly disclose, so it was left as is. The side tunnel that Mitrof and Grace had found before was also a “back road.”
Waiting for Mitrof’s understanding, Blanc Manje continued speaking.
“There are monsters in the ‘back’ that are different from those in the ‘front.'”
“So, that’s the dinoponera.”
Blanc Manje nodded.
“Dinoponera are superior species of paraponera—they are large, have strong poison, and have sharp mandibles. Ordinary people like us have no chance of winning against them.”
“Why do you want to subjugate it?—Won’t it just go somewhere else if left alone?”
“Of course, if it were a normal monster, there would be no problem—but that one——it’s a ‘winged’ one.”
The term “winged” is familiar to Mitrof. It refers to adventurers who have obtained the mark of wings. Mitrof descended to the 11th floor to obtain those wings.
Blanc Manje shook her head as if she had just thought of something related to what Mitrof was thinking.
“The ‘winged’ I refer to is the ant queen—it literally has wings growing from its bodies.”
“…So it can fly?”
“No, it cannot—the ‘winged’ ant eventually sheds its wings, builds a nest, breeds many ants, and reigns as queen.”
Mitrof is not familiar with the ecology of insects. He only has general knowledge. Bees and ants have a “queen” as their leader. The queen gives birth to offspring and forms a colony. Gradually, the nest becomes huge… What would happen if ants of that size built a nest?
The vivid image is that of the paraponera that poisoned him. His arm still hurts. The dinoponera is even larger than that. Just imagining them swarming caused a chill to run down his spine.
“Wouldn’t that be a major undertaking?—Shouldn’t we ask for assistance from the guild?”
“Of course, that would typically be the appropriate course of action, but there are some circumstances—I don’t mind explaining, but I don’t want to waste Mitrof-san’s valuable time.”
Indirectly, she meant she didn’t intend to provide further details, and Mitrof was skilled at picking up on such conversations.
“Why ask us?—There are plenty of suitable adventurers out there, aren’t there?”
“Apélie Tiff regards you as a good person—she has a good eye for judging character.”
While not untrue, that wasn’t the only reason. That was Mitrof’s assessment of the situation. However, it didn’t seem like she was trying to trap him or use him for any nefarious purposes.
If Mitrof had status, money, or power, he would have been more suspicious. But as a third son, a disowned noble, and a fledgling adventurer, he had no value for time-wasting schemes. Mitrof was objectively calculating his usefulness.
“We’re terribly troubled by the ‘winged’ ones lurking near our residence—If found, we would be attacked, and residents may have no choice but to flee to the ‘front’, which could cause a commotion—and if a nest is made, we would lose our place to live.”
Mitrof thought Apélie Tiff was being referred to when she mentioned fleeing to the ‘front’.
Blanc Manje raised a finger hidden under her robe’s hem. The fabric was smooth like silk, allowing the shape of the finger to be visible.
“The extermination of the ‘winged’ dinoponera… and the reward is a small bag of ‘amber’. What do you think?”
‘Is it a gain or a loss?—Should I accept or refuse? Is there any other intention?’
Mitrof thought about it. However, even after thinking, a quick decision was not possible. There were too many unknown factors. Mitrof didn’t possess most of the information Blanc Manje had. It was impossible to compete.
“Truly, this is a difficult business negotiation.”
“Oh, this is not a ‘business negotiation.’ A ‘business negotiation’ would be something pursued by merchants seeking mutual benefits.”
“So what is this, then?”
“Mitrof-san is an adventurer, and I am a troubled citizen—this is a quest request.”
Blanc Manje laughed like a ringing bell.
Mitrof rolled the word ‘quest’ around in his mouth. ‘Quest, huh?’
“May I ask one thing before I answer?”
“Feel free.”
“What exactly is ‘amber’?”
“Ara, don’t you know?—It’s like sweet nectar,” Blanc Manje answered easily, interjecting a word.