The Fat Aristocrat Waltz in the Labyrinth - Chapter 74
Chapter 74: The fat aristocrat holds the glove
It took a long time to settle.
Mitrof was cautious of the dinoponera’s poison, and did not recklessly jump into combat. He steadily attacked with caution, relying on Canule’s shield and slowly but surely, like sticking a needle, to the point of saturation.
It was not a flashy or elegant way of fighting, but it was the most effective tactic when facing this monster.
Compared to the paraponera, it was certainly a terrifying ant. However, it was not as intense a battle as when they defeated the red-eyed troll known as a mutant.
Cutting off its wings and slicing off its legs, Mitrof finally decapitated the dinoponera’s head.
“… That was a good fight.”
Mitrof muttered with a sense of emotion. Canule, with her shield, and Mitrof, with his sword, relied on and supported each other. Even against the strong enemy dinoponera, there was no fear.
“… I feel fulfilled.”
Canule also had thoughts. The sense of accomplishment achieved by entrusting one’s life to one another in the labyrinth and fulfilling their own roles… It would never have been possible alone.
Through cooperation, they were able to reach places that they could never have reached alone. By contributing to such a mysterious phenomenon, both Canule and Mitrof were filled with a quiet exhilaration, like a blue flame.
“Well done.”
Blanc Manje walked towards them after the battle had ended.
Mitrof sheathed his rapier and turned around.
“Is the quest complete now?”
“Of course. Your teamwork was even better than I had imagined—you make a great party, and I am looking forward to what comes next.”
Mitrof nodded at Blanc Manje’s words.
Canule looked down. She didn’t mention that this was her last adventure.
“I wonder why you entrusted us with this quest…You won’t tell us, will you?”
Blanc Manje responded with silence, slightly tilting her head as if Mitrof’s suspicion was conveyed through the hood.
‘There must be some reason’—Mitrof thought.
Blanc Manje knew that Mitrof had picked up on something.
Regardless, there was no point in dwelling on it if Blanc Manje wouldn’t talk. It was simply something that Mitrof did not need to know at the moment. Either way, when he decided to take on this request, Mitrof had already decided not to delve too deeply.
“The reward, is it that?”
“Yes, let me hand it over to you here—Apélie.”
Apélie Tiff was standing behind her with a burlap bag on her chest.
Apélie Tiff approached Mitrof.
“… Mitrof, I am also grateful. I can now walk on the road.”
“Be careful not to be attacked by rabbits again.”
“I won’t be attacked—I’m not that foolish.”
Apélie Tiff pursed her lips, and her animal ears also showed signs of discontent.
Mitrof laughed. Apélie Tiff, who had seemed unfriendly when they first met, had become much more expressive.
“You are aware that amber is valuable—please be careful with handling it.”
“Yeah, don’t worry—I already have plans for it.”
“Ara… just for reference, may I ask about your handling of money? They say that it tells a lot about a person’s character.”
Mitrof laughed as he received the bag from Apélie Tiff. That was his answer to Blanc Manje.
?
After completing the procedures at the guild’s reception counter in the labyrinth and before heading outside, they crossed the hall. That was where they found him.
A fully cladded armor stood in the center of the hall. The mirror-like polished silver knight armor looked majestic, but it seemed out of place in the adventurer’s guild.
“… Brother.”
Canule’s voice was small. It was a delicate voice that contained more resignation than surprise.
There was no doubt that the knight was waiting for Mitrof and Canule. The two headed towards the knight.
“Surprisingly quick.”
The knight spoke calmly.
“How long have you been waiting?”
“What, just two hours ago.”
It seemed like he had been standing in public for two hours. Mitrof was amazed at his nerve.
“We still have time until the promised day, don’t we?”
“Of course, I remembered—but I forgot to specify the location and time. I was waiting to finalize the details.”
It was true that they had not specified the location or time. Both Mitrof and Canule thought that it was best if the knight did not show up. There was no reason for them to set the conditions themselves.
“So, what do we do now?”
The knight asked Canule.
Mitrof turned to Canule.
Canule was staring at the ground with clenched fists.
Their adventure, their dream-like reality, was coming to an end. The future that she had run away from had finally caught up with her.
“——Now, let’s go.”
Canule said.
“Is that what you want?”
The knight asked.
“Yes—I’ll start feeling nostalgic if I don’t.”
Adventurers are coming and going around them. Although some glance at Mitrof and his companions, no one stops to speak. Everyone has somewhere to go and somewhere to return to.
That is true for Canule too, as she has a place she must return to. Mitrof understands this.
Canule turned to Mitrof.
“Mitrof-sama…I…”
Her words caught in her throat, and she swallowed as if trying to suppress something welling up inside her.
“…I’m sorry—I don’t have the right words to say.”
Why were tears mixed in her voice? Was it because of sadness, pain, or not joy but pain?
“You cry more easily than I thought.”
Mitrof said this and pulled out a handkerchief from his pocket, offering it to Canule.
“…No, I’m not—I’m not crying.
“Take it.”
Canule received it, given to her with a forceful push, still confused.
Mitrof took a step closer to Canule.
“I hate to ask for a replacement, but can I have one of your gloves?”
“Gloves?”
Despite her confusion, Canule obediently complied. She hid her hands inside her robe, took off one of her gloves, and handed it to Mitrof.
“I guess this is an exchange of parting gifts…”
Without answering her suddenly disheartened voice, Mitrof’s expression became serious and his gaze sharp. Canule noticed that the atmosphere was much more tense than when they fought against the dinoponera.
“I think I owe you an apology—from now on, I’ll behave selfishly on my own.”
“Mitrof-sama——?”
“I hardly know what I want to do—but I know, without a doubt, that this is what I want to do.”
Mitrof turned on his heel, walked towards the knight in full armor standing in the way, and stood directly in front of him. He stared up at the helmet hiding the person’s face.
“The contract end date is not yet due, but there shouldn’t be any problem, right?”
The knight said.
“Yes, it’s actually perfect timing.”
Mitrof nodded in agreement.
“Hmm…?”
Mitrof lifted Canule’s glove beside his face.
It was a mannerism that Mitrof was taught repeatedly as a child, but he never had the opportunity to use it throughout his life.
His heartbeat was so intense that it felt like his heart was being pushed up his chest. Cold sweat broke out on his hand and back.
The person in front of him was a knight.
One who was born to fight, raised to fight, and wielded a polished silver sword. Compared to the knight, monsters were nothing. There was a sense of what was to come, just standing there facing each other. Even before the challenge, the result was obvious.
Still, there are times when you cannot back down, and Mitrof knew that.
Mitrof threw the glove he was holding at the knight’s feet.
“…I challenge you to a duel.”
The sound of Canule gasping came from behind him.