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#227. Labyrinth and Records (1)
Day 3 after the Upssence attack.
The World Tree focuses on revitalizing the forest, whether by amplifying sunlight or providing nutrients to the soil.
But strictly speaking, it cannot be said that the silence was broken.
Because he didn’t respond to any more conversations, as if he were dead.
Greene guessed.
“I wonder if he decided to use all his remaining energy to tend the forest. He said that even conversation drains a lot of his energy. Maybe he just doesn’t have the energy left to talk.”
“… It’s difficult.”
[I remembered. It was you.]
You just keep your mouth shut and don’t even answer what that means.
It was no different from just raising curiosity and then running away irresponsibly.
“Ray, are you thinking of cutting down the World Tree with a saw right now? You shouldn’t do that.”
“… … .”
“Of course, setting fire to it is not allowed.”
“… … .”
“Ray?”
“… … .”
“No.”
The boy was distraught, but he thought that Greene’s guess that the World Tree’s energy had run out was reasonable.
After all, the World Tree was an old tree that had reached the end of its life.
“The World Tree and the Stone of Life will no longer accept mana.”
“Why is that? The mana isn’t being absorbed and is just circling around the sphere. This has never happened before.”
It wasn’t just Greene who couldn’t explain the phenomenon.
Even the older elves in the village, including Gant and Gwendel, did not know the reason.
Woof──!
“… … .”
Ray stared blankly at the green mana bouncing off the World Tree.
The sight also seemed to show a determined attitude to endure the rest of one’s life without any outside help.
Or, it could be seen as a weakness that did not even have the strength to accept the mana of the life stone.
That’s what I thought.
Perhaps the miraculous event that occurred on the day of Upss*x’s attack was the last flame that burned down the World Tree.
“The structure of the labyrinth has changed…!”
So I was curious.
You moved the labyrinth?
I don’t know for sure, but it’s definitely something that drains more energy than just conversation.
In front of the World Tree where we arrived quickly, there were already many elves gathered.
“What happened?”
“Oh, you’re here.”
Gant, who was the least surprised and shocked in the bowl, explained to Ray.
All the roads that had been blocked since the silence of the World Tree were opened last night.
The person who went in to check the situation suddenly sensed the path changing again and quickly got out.
The current labyrinth has been completely redesigned.
“Does the original structure change often?”
“There have been occasional small changes to the path, but this is the first time in the history of the Last Forest that a path has changed on such a large scale. At least as far as I know. This is because the elves were able to freely enter and exit the archives and use the interior spaces with the animals of the forest.”
…this is the first time there has been such a large-scale change.
In other words, there must be a special reason for the World Tree’s actions.
‘There is no reason to reveal a path that did not exist before, even if it means exhausting one’s energy…’
Ray, who was lost in thought, turned his gaze to the entrance of the labyrinth.
Inside the black hole.
From somewhere deep within the labyrinth, a presence was calling out to me.
It was a truly strange sensation, sometimes seen as a halo, sometimes heard as an echo, sometimes smelled as the smell of stone.
“Are you thinking of going in now?”
Gantt’s voice was heard.
Ray came to his senses and found himself standing in front of a hole.
“I don’t recommend going straight into it. The labyrinth is vast. The paths don’t just extend left, right, forward, and backward, but also up and down. There are steep stairs and steep downhill slopes.”
“… … .”
“Without guidance from the World Tree, it’s only a matter of time before we’ll be lost. So until we deploy personnel and complete some experiments and exploration─”
“No. I don’t think I have time for that.”
Ray was looking into the hole, floating a ball of light.
Gantt, who came closer, saw the vines and walls moving quietly inside.
“Oh no, the road is changing again…?”
“I think it’s just returning to its original structure, not creating a new structure.”
“Based on the location of the opening and closing passages, that seems right. It closes the passage that was opened right away… I think it would be right to assume that there is some inevitable reason rather than a simple whim of the World Tree.”
Ray agreed with that.
Unless the World Tree was showing off its strength, there was no reason to waste energy opening and closing the passage.
Rather, it was that kind of impression.
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‘It’s like opening a tightly locked door wide, then holding it shut with all my might.’
Ray concluded.
“If you don’t go now, you may never have the chance to explore the newly discovered area.”
“I agree with you, but this is too risky.”
You might discover new records from ancient times or relics with powerful powers.
However, since there is no guarantee that the World Tree will show you the way, if you don’t get out in time, you may be trapped in the labyrinth forever.
“… … .”
Gant looked back at the elves.
But there was no one to support him.
The idea that they might feel lonely until their last moment of death, separated from the group, was a source of fear for the elves who had a strong sense of belonging.
Gantt said, regaining his gaze.
“It seems that none of us can enter the labyrinth right now. I recommend that you don’t enter either, Ray… but judging from the look in your eyes, you seem to have already made up your mind.”
“Once our Ray decides, he never changes! Right…?”
Veronica, who had been proudly standing next to him, looked at him with a slump in her chest as she realized what was about to happen.
The elves quickly made the best preparations they could.
Gantt handed over the bag.
“These are foods that are very filling relative to their volume. At the current rate, the road will likely be blocked within a few hours, but there’s a chance they’ll be able to stay longer.”
The boy’s eyes met the fruits and vegetables in the bag.
“… … .”
─Hello, I am full of vitamins…!
clattering!
A pack of jerky stolen from an elf poured out, blocking the mouths of fruits and vegetables.
Next, elves with exploration experience approached and handed us equipment.
“This is a directional device. When you inject mana into it, it generates a sound and moves forward, and it bounces back by hitting the wall of the passage to indicate the distance.”
“oh.”
“This is a cloak with a thermal enchantment. It will help maintain body temperature as the temperature inside the labyrinth is low.”
“oh.”
“This is a squirrel sculpture carved from wood. It doesn’t have any special function, but I brought it here to show off.”
“oh.”
Next, Gwendel approached.
“I was so confused after I regained consciousness that I couldn’t apologize. First, I want to apologize. Even if I was under the enemy’s magic, it doesn’t change the fact that I tried to harm Ray. Also, thank you for repelling the attackers and finding the children.”
Gwendel bowed her head deeply.
Then he bent his knees and put his palms on the ground as if calling out something.
Then soon.
Woof!
Two small animals appeared, rippling with mana, and landed on her palm.
Its basic appearance was identical to that of a mouse, but it had a long, pointed nose and a pouch on its stomach.
Swish.
Gwendel lifted her bent body.
Ray asked, looking at the unidentified animals washing their little hands on her palm.
“Is it a mouse?”
“It’s a gray pocket shrew.”
According to what followed, it was an animal that was extremely good at finding its way.
It is said that they have an extremely developed sense of smell and direction, and are always able to move towards their target by the shortest route.
“They are basically difficult spirits, but since Ray has already established a rapport with the highest level spirits, you should be able to communicate with them sufficiently. Would you like to tap their pointed noses with your finger?”
Ray followed Gwendel’s instructions.
Bam! Crunch!
He said this while looking at the predators dangling from his fingers.
“What is it?”
“That was not a knock, that was a tap. Again, a little more gently.”
After a few more tries, I was able to hear a pleasant cry.
“Knowing how to greet wild spirits will help you make a good impression when you encounter them. Spirits will lend their power to those they like, even if they don’t have a contract with you.”
“Greetings differ depending on the species of animal?”
“That’s right. With a few exceptions, most spirits still have strong animal instincts. The only difference is that their intelligence is more developed and their personalities are more demanding. When you come back, I’ll teach you everything I know about spirits.”
Ray put the gnats that were licking his hands into his pocket.
The last one to arrive was Veronica.
“Are you really going in…?”
Just looking at his expression, it seemed like he was being sent off to a battlefield.
“Call from inside. I have to go.”
“Call? Who? The World Tree?”
“It’s not the World Tree. I don’t know what it is either.”
I don’t know what it is either.
Where can you find such irresponsible words?
Veronica bit her lip, but she knew better than anyone that she couldn’t stop Ray’s path.
Also, I didn’t want to do that.
I didn’t want to be a bother.
‘Ray is always like that. He jumps into danger, fights, gets hurt without any hesitation, and… .’
… and eventually come back having accomplished something.
Thinking about it that way made me feel a little better.
“If you feel like it’s not going to work, you have to come back right away. Okay?”
“okay.”
“Phew, look how you answer so nonchalantly. Am I the only one worried? Just me?”
“Well, I’m not worried about myself.”
“If you make a mistake, you could get lost and trapped in a labyrinth.”
“I am confident that I will never lose my way.”
“Thanks to the spirits and equipment?”
Ray shook his head and answered.
“Because I can find you wherever you are.”
Veronica, taken by surprise, melted away.
“Veronica! Come to your senses!”
“Get a stretcher! Get a stretcher!”
“Your breathing rate is too high! Your heart rate is also too high!”
Ray stared into Veronica’s white sun, which was emitting a strong light.
This was something I just recently learned.
That the position of a white sun can be detected from any distance.
I couldn’t figure out why, but I could only intuitively feel that it was some kind of power separate from magic.
Ray, who had his bag on his back and his exploration gear on his belt, finally grabbed his sketchbook and pencil.
and.
widely.
Entered the labyrinth.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
───!
─────!
As I walked, the voice behind me grew distant.
The hole in the dome through which the light from outside enters also became smaller.
‘…Somehow the fireflies’ light feels weaker than usual.’
Ray, who had been floating a ball of light, initially focused on walking wherever his feet took him and feeling the presence calling him.
And soon I realized.
‘Similar.’
The feeling I had before going down to the underground of the ruins, and very much.
It was at that moment that Ray quickly took out Upscess’ notebook and opened it.