Chapter 42 : First Labyrinth Exploration (1)

If I were to guess the sense of unease Princess Kanabi is feeling, it might be akin to lying on a bed, preparing to enter the operating room.

There’s a risk of death during surgery, so it’s not certain whether one will wake up again.

In the end, the only thing we could do was spend time together, showing her she wasn’t alone.

“Has the medication for Princess Kanabi been prepared?”

As the day of the final battle approached, we frequently shared updates on each other’s situations.

The thing I was most concerned about was the “medicine” that Princess Lasiell mentioned.

Isn’t it absurd that a single medicine can make someone sleep for an entire year?

The plan was made on the assumption that such a medicine existed, but if it doesn’t work, all the preparations we’ve made so far will be for nothing.

“Of course. Without it, all our plans would fall apart, so we cannot neglect its management.”

“Honestly, it’s hard to believe that there’s a medicine that can put someone in a state of suspended animation for a year.”

I believed it because it was spoken by royalty.
If some commoner had said it, they would have been accused of scamming people.

“The medicine is so rare and valuable that even royalty can only use it once in their lifetime. One dose for my sister, one for me, so at most, we can use it for two years. A long time ago, an ancestor was afflicted with a disease, and this medicine was used to buy time until a cure could be found.”

They couldn’t have just left such a precious medicine lying around.

I was worried that the Deltrak Empire might be engaging in forbidden immortality research.

“Are you suggesting something strange?”

“Huh? What kind of suspicion do you mean…?”

“Our empire does not engage in forbidden, illegal activities. This medicine was discovered when the labyrinth opened in the past.”

“Ah!”

With the mention of the labyrinth, everything started to make sense.

“Of course, when the medicine was first discovered, there was a lot of research done. Perhaps they did things that should not have been done. But now, no one dares to research it, because we cannot produce the medicine in an unlimited quantity. The ingredients needed to make it only grow in the labyrinth.”

“…So, does that mean that with the labyrinth now open, the research might start again?”

Princess Lasiell’s eyes widened, as if she hadn’t considered that possibility.

“Uh…?”

“Didn’t the royal family ask for certain items to be brought?”

“There are records of failed research from long ago. Even after seeing those records, no one would continue the research.”

I wanted to believe that too.

Even though the divine being clearly forbids research on immortality, foolish humans continue to challenge the divine authority. I knew well from history how those who defied divine authority met their end.

“Those who research immortality end up losing even the life they have.”

Perhaps the divine being would take away those who dared to commit such an offense.

Challenging the prohibition meant forfeiting the blessing granted by the divine.

People don’t realize how precious something is until it’s lost.

To be out of the divine’s protection meant having to face the harsh winds of the world alone.

“The divine is merciful, but it will not be merciful to the foolish who commit evil acts.”

“If something like that happens in the royal family, I will stop it no matter what. I swear by the divine.”

I wasn’t sure if Princess Kanabi, whose life was at risk, or Princess Lasiell, who was still young and powerless, could stop it.

But the fact that she swore an oath meant I had to acknowledge that her feelings were sincere.

“I only hope that the Deltrak royal family does not commit such a foolish mistake.”

Princess Kanabi was in the panic room, the place where she would sleep for a year.

There, a bed I had prepared in advance was placed by itself.

Just in case Princess Kanabi woke up earlier than expected, I had filled the room with long-lasting preservation foods.

“It’s empty.”

As soon as Princess Kanabi entered the panic room, she muttered absentmindedly while looking at the empty space.

“If I had known this, I would have brought something! I didn’t expect much, but this is a bit too much!”

“Excuse me?”

I thought I had prepared more than enough, but both princesses gave harsh reviews.

“There’s not a shred of sentimentality here!”

“It’s fine. I’m only going to sleep, so what does it matter if it’s empty?”

I couldn’t help but wonder about her expression.

“This won’t do. I’ll go get some things.”

“If you keep coming and going, people will notice. Don’t come until I wake up.”

“I need to check that you’re okay, sister!”

“They’re probably desperate to find me. If I make any noticeable moves, they might follow me.”

“You promised you’d protect me. If you do whatever you want, you won’t live a peaceful life.”

“Still, please don’t tell me not to come at all for a whole year. I want to see your face at least once every few months to stay motivated.”

“If Father the Priest agrees, then you may do so.”

I had been sulking from the harsh comments about the panic room, but now I felt it was the right time to take action, so I spoke up.

“Would you like to try lying on the bed?”

The bed was the thing I had focused the most on in the panic room.

Since Princess Kanabi would be lying there for an entire year, I couldn’t afford to be careless.

It was impossible to get a bed used by royalty, so I managed to find one used by high-ranking nobles.

“Hm.”

Princess Kanabi sat down on the bed as I spoke.

Princess Lasiell also approached the bed, pressing it down and shining her eyes in curiosity.

“I was worried there wouldn’t be any attention to detail, but you did take care of the bed?”

“It’s a piece of furniture that will be used for a long time, so I thought it needed attention. Do you like it?”

“Thanks to you, it looks like it’ll be comfortable to sleep on. Thank you.”

Princess Kanabi finally acknowledged my efforts.

I smiled in relief, but then she took off her shoes and lay down on the bed.

“There’s no need to delay anymore.”

“Already? Let’s talk for a little longer before you take the medicine.”

Princess Lasiell seemed to have just realized how much it would hurt not to be able to talk with her sister for an entire year.

She held onto Princess Kanabi’s hand tightly, not letting go, and continued to delay her from taking the medicine.

“Are you feeling better now?”

As the moment to sleep approached, it seemed that Princess Kanabi had finally calmed down.

She stroked Princess Lasiell’s head with a composed expression.

Princess Lasiell, her eyes red with tears, spoke with a trembling voice.

“I’ll make sure to do it.”

“Of course. I believe in you. You can do it.”

“When I close my eyes and open them again, everything will have changed. Please don’t be too shocked, especially if I’ve grown too much.”

“I should have stayed by your side to watch you grow. I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”

In consideration for the sisters’ final moments together before sleep, I stepped aside.

The panic room was designed with the idea that residents might enter, so it wasn’t difficult to step out of the room.

I sat alone in another room, praying.

Once Princess Kanabi falls asleep, the real adventure in the labyrinth will begin.

I had no idea if we could solve Princess Kanabi’s curse or what would happen to me in the future.

‘Oh Sun God, I pray that your warm light will be with these poor sisters as they walk their paths.’

As my prayer ended, Princess Lasiell came to find me.

Now that the greetings were done, it was time to begin.

When I stepped outside, I saw that Princess Kanabi was holding a round pill in her hand while lying on the bed.

“Is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Don’t worry. Sleep well. When you wake up, I’ll bring good news.”

Princess Kanabi didn’t express it verbally, but sent me a trusting look.

She unwrapped the paper surrounding the medicine and quickly chewed it down.

After swallowing the pill, which looked like a medicinal tablet, Princess Kanani’s eyes began to soften rapidly.

It seemed like sleep was quickly overtaking her.

“…I’m sleepy.”

“Please lie down comfortably.”

“Sister!”

“Don’t act too hastily… always… act… with caution…”

With her hands resting on her stomach, Princess Kanabi closed her eyes.

From the sound of her breathing, it didn’t seem like she had stopped breathing yet.

“It seems she’s asleep.”

“Right now she’s asleep, but slowly everything will come to a halt. From then on, she won’t even breathe.”

Seeing someone’s functions completely stop, even in front of my own eyes, was a strange sight.

I stayed by her side until I could be certain that Princess Kanabi’s body had completely “stopped” in case of any unexpected situation.

“She really isn’t breathing.”

“When I was young, I saw the Great Empress use it from a distance. It looked just like this. I was so surprised, thinking she was dead.”

Her complexion had completely drained, and her skin had turned pale, the temperature of her body as cold as ice.

If anyone saw her, they would surely think that a dead body was lying in the bed.

Princess Lasiell couldn’t tear her eyes away from her sister, who looked so pale, for a long time.

Even I couldn’t have left my family’s side so easily if they had fallen asleep like that.

“Princess, you must go now. Everyone is waiting.”

“…Right. We can’t afford to start late after preparing for this for so many days.”

Princess Lasiell, forcing herself to look away from Princess Kanabi, left the panic room with me.

Once we stepped outside, I checked to make sure no one was around. Only the prayer hall had a crowd, while the surroundings were incredibly quiet.

“I’ll go gather the luggage.”

“Alright.”

I sent Princess Lasiell out of the temple first and went to gather my things.

“Father Arthur!!”

“Huh? Why are you all coming out here?”

Just as I was about to leave the temple, someone urgently called out to me.

When I turned around, a group of healer apprentices had gathered around me.