Published: March 21, 2026
"Does the ring really indicate this place, Master?"
Before the entrance to the Brute Labyrinth in Uruk, Uru looked up at me as if confirming.
Back then, the labyrinth's doors were broken and demonic beasts had poured out, but the doors had been repaired and were completely sealed.
As expected of the Adventurer Guild — they work fast.
There was no one around, so we could enter, but I didn't know if we could get out.
Unlike the Cantinen Labyrinth, there's no guarantee a magic circle sits on the lowest floor, so in a way this is a gamble.
I looked at my right index finger.
The light was pointing at the sealed door.
"Yeah, the light is definitely indicating the labyrinth's entrance."
Saying that, Uru made her body larger.
I opened the labyrinth door and rode on Uru's back.
"As planned, we'll go straight through."
"Leave it to me."
Our goal this time was to reach Amelia, so we had agreed beforehand to avoid fights we could avoid.
We had no idea how far down Amelia and that guy Aurum Trace were, so instead of carefully clearing each floor, we'd sprint through with Uru's legs except for boss fights.
I was fully recovered already and had said I could run at Uru's speed, but my overprotective familiar stubbornly refused to nod.
At this rate, you couldn't tell who the master was.
"…Wait a moment."
Just as we were about to run, I sensed something and stopped Uru.
I took out a hidden weapon and tossed it into a shadowed blind spot.
"Kya!?"
A small scream — a female beastman who had been peeking out stepped into the light.
Her face was hidden by a hood, but she was quite tall.
Slightly taller than me, perhaps.
I frowned.
That voice… it sounded familiar somehow…
"Who are you?"
Uru bared her teeth and growled.
The tone was so full of vigilance the air around us seemed to crackle.
Sure enough, the woman trembled in her knees and her face stiffened.
"Uru, lower your 'Intimidation' a bit. She won't be able to speak if it's too strong."
"I… understand."
When I told her, Uru reluctantly eased her intimidation.
Still, it was adjusted to be non-paralyzing.
"Um…"
A clear, bell-like voice rang out.
Finally, the source of my unease clicked into place.
"You were the one glaring at the heroes before we entered the Cantinen Labyrinth, weren't you?"
The hooded woman who had directed killing intent at us when we first left the Royal Castle.
The one who had said sacrifices were needed for the hero summon.
"I… it's not important now. Excuse me, may I accompany you?"
The hooded woman hesitated, then shook her head and spoke to us in a quiet voice.
"Not trustworthy. Also, we're in a hurry. We don't have time to deal with you."
Uru bluntly said exactly what I was thinking.
She is kind to Amelia and me, but a bit harsh with other people. Perhaps a leftover trait from her days as a demonic beast.
"Then shall I show my identity?"
Saying that, the woman let her hood fall back.
Cobalt-blue eyes pierced me.
"I'm Ria. Ria Lagoon. The first princess of the largest Beastmen territory nation, Uruk."
Her strong-willed eyes somewhat resembled Amelia's.
"Oh? Why is the first princess in a place like this?"
A husky dog beastman rumbled in his throat at Uru's intimidation.
From her frightened expression, it was clear she lacked much combat experience.
The current intimidation felt like that found in the upper layers of the Cantinen Labyrinth.
In other words, she's not much of a combatant.
That must be why she says she'll come along, aware she's not fit for battle.
"I wish to meet the Elf race princess, Lady Amelia."
"Lady Amelia!?"
Hearing those words while looking down, I realized I was losing my composure.
Uru, surprised by the unexpected reply, even let her intimidation drop.
I dismounted Uru.
Then I grabbed the beastman Ria by the collar.
"Ugh!?"
"Amelia stayed alone in the battlefield to buy time for fleeing beastmen, fighting thousands of demonic beasts… Sorry, but I don't think you have combat ability."
I pressed the hidden weapon to Ria's neck.
"Even if the Elf race and the Beastmen don't get along, is this the proper way to repay the Beastmen's savior? And how do you know Amelia was taken from here?"