—"Calm down, Rudeus," —Paul said in a deep voice. —"I'm also surprised he's here, but I don't understand why you're hitting him like that."
I clenched my teeth, the rage still burning in my chest.
Arthur said nothing. He lowered his gaze slightly, making no attempt to defend or justify himself. His silence weighed more than any excuse.
Paul sighed and scanned the labyrinth corridor, alert for any movement.
—"This is no place for an argument," —he continued. —"We're all tired, and Roxy has just recovered. If we keep this up, we're only going to attract trouble."
Then he turned to me, his expression calmer but firm.
—"Let's get out of this place and then we'll talk about everything."
A brief silence fell.
—"Are you okay, Arthur…?" —I heard Roxy's voice, thick with concern.
That…
That bothered me more than I wanted to admit.
An uncomfortable knot formed in my chest.
"Jealousy…? Yes. That was probably it."
Arthur looked up and traced a small, quiet half-smile, devoid of resentment.
—"I'm fine," —he said softly. —"I deserved it."
Those words…
They hit me harder than any reproach. He didn't try to justify himself. I don't understand what he's playing at...
It bewildered me. "What is he playing at…?"
I clenched my fists. "Calm down… it's Arthur. You've spent so much time with him. You should be happy… Roxy is alive. My goddess is alive."
I took a deep breath and stepped forward.
—"Roxy… I'm so glad you're—"
I didn't finish the sentence.
She took a step back.
Her expression changed. It wasn't fear... it was caution.
—"Excuse me," —she said in a polite but distant voice. —"I don't know you. And after what just happened… I'd prefer if you didn't get too close."
The world stopped.
"…You don't know me?"
I felt as if something was sinking in my stomach. The air suddenly left my lungs. The memory of her figure, her teachings, her voice calling my name… everything crashed against this reality
My legs trembled. Without being able to help it, I bent forward.
—"Ugh…!"
I vomited.
—"Hey, Rudeus! Are you okay?" —Elinalise exclaimed, grabbing my shoulder.
Roxy opened her eyes in surprise.
—"Rudeus…?" —she repeated the name, testing it. —"That… Rudeus?"
I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand, breathing with difficulty. She observed me more closely now. My face. My height. My voice.
Then, her eyes widened slowly.
—"Wait…"
She took a small step forward, hesitating.
—"Rudeus… Greyrat…?" —she asked. —"The boy… from Buena Village?"
A heavy silence fell between us. My chest tightened.
—"Yes…" —I replied with a raspy voice. —"It's me."
Roxy put a hand to her mouth.
—"It can't be…"
Her gaze trembled, caught between incredulity and confusion.
—"You were… so small…"
She watched me as if trying to fit two incompatible images together: the clumsy boy she remembered… and the adult standing before her.
—"You grew up way too fast…" —she added, almost in a whisper.
She didn't sound happy. She sounded… displaced.
—"I'm sorry…" —she said finally. —"I didn't recognize you."
I sighed with a bit more relief. I understand; it makes sense after all. She hasn't seen me since I was five years old.
—"Let's go, let's get out of here quickly," —Paul said.
....
Third Person: Arthur
Hours later…
The guild inn was filled with the usual murmur: the tired voices of adventurers, the clinking of mugs against wood, and the creaking of the floor under constant footsteps. A sharp contrast to the oppressive and deadly silence of the labyrinth they had left behind.
Arthur was sitting at the same table as the group, with Fenril lying nearby.
Roxy sat in the center, surrounded by Paul and Elinalise, still recovering. Her expression was calm but weary. From time to time, her gaze shifted between Arthur and Rudeus, as if she were trying to organize what had happened inside her head.
Rudeus remained near her, attentive to her every move… though Arthur noticed how, at irregular intervals, his gaze drifted toward him.
He felt it. That uncomfortable weight.
Arthur sighed slowly, resting his elbow on the table. " knew this would happen the moment I decided to follow him in secret."
He wanted to say something. To explain. To clear it all up. But how? He couldn't just tell him: "Hey, Rudeus. Your father is going to die if we don't intervene." How would he justify that?
Snapping him out of his thoughts, Lilia asked, clearly surprised:
—"Arthur… when did you arrive?"
Arthur blinked for a moment before answering. His usual smile appeared, light, almost carefree… but inside, he was tense.
—"Well…" —he said, scratching the back of his neck. —"I was worried."
Lilia watched him closely, as if trying to read between the lines. Finally, she sighed.
—"You've always been like this," —she murmured. —"You never know how to stay still."
Arthur managed a more sincere smile this time.
—"I guess it's a flaw."
—"Well, I'm going to sleep," —Roxy said, standing up. —"I'm still sleepy; after all, I could barely close my eyes in there."
She walked toward the lodging area of the guild. Her mind was confused and filled with images: on one hand, Arthur, the savior who had unexpectedly fulfilled a rescue fantasy; on the other, Rudeus, the important person
With that, the other members of the group who weren't drinking followed Roxy.
—"Arthur, come, let's talk for a bit," —Paul said in a low, grave voice, standing up and heading out of the main guild area.
Arthur followed him, a bit tense.
They stopped in a side alley, lit only by the faint moonlight and the city's streetlamps. The night air of Begaritto was fresh, a relief after the heat of the labyrinth.
—"I don't know what happened between you two, or why Rudeus hit you," —Paul began, hands in his pockets. —"But I'm glad to see you, kid. The more help we have to find Zenith, the better," —he said with a melancholic tone.
Arthur looked at him with determination.
—"Lord Paul," —Arthur said, straightening his back. —"I promise you that you will see your wife again."
Paul looked at him, slightly surprised by the seriousness and unwavering conviction in the young man's eyes. Then he smiled.
—"Thank you, Arthur. I know you're strong. Also, thank you for helping Roxy; I would have felt terrible if something had happened to her."
Arthur nodded.
—"Rest well. Tomorrow we go back in."
....
The Next Day
Arthur, along with Fenril, came down the stairs yawning. The inn was quieter at this hour; the murmur of the night had been replaced by the sound of plates and hushed voices.
Then he saw it. Roxy was standing in front of the table, bowing deeply.
—"I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble," —she said sincerely. —"If it weren't for you…"
—"Don't worry, without your help we wouldn't have reached the 3rd floor, so don't belittle yourself."
This put Roxy more at ease.
Arthur approached just as she finished bowing. Elinalise, Rudeus, Paul, and Talhand were sitting at the table.
—"Good morning," —Arthur greeted naturally
Roxy raised her head, and upon seeing him, her eyes softened.
—"Arthur…" —she said. —"Thank you. Truly. If it hadn't been for you… I would have died by now."
As she spoke, she moved a hand to her braid, clutching it with a gesture that was nervous but sincere. Arthur shook his head, brushing it off.
—"I only did what anyone would have done," —he replied. —"I'm glad you're okay."
From the other side of the table, Rudeus watched in silence. He saw how Roxy spoke to Arthur with gratitude. How her tone was warm. Natural.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable because she spoke to him distantly while speaking to Arthur naturally, Rudeus pressed his fingers against the table, looking away for an instant.
Arthur noticed. He said nothing. He simply took his seat calmly, as if he didn't perceive the tension… though in reality, he was very aware of it.
Paul broke the silence with a soft clap.
—"Right," —he said. —"Eat something. Today will be a long day."
Roxy nodded and sat down, setting her staff aside. Arthur took a cup and took a slow sip, letting the warmth clear his mind.
—"By the way…" —Roxy spoke suddenly, breaking the silence. —"There's something I've been wondering since yesterday."
She looked up at the group.
—"Since when have you known Arthur?"
Paul let out a small laugh.
—"Ah, him," —he said naturally. —"He's the boy I told you about. The one who was teaching magic to my girls." He placed a hand on Arthur's shoulder with familiarity. —"He's been with us for a while."
Roxy opened her eyes slightly and looked at Arthur again, this time with more attention.
—"I see…" She paused briefly. —"If I hadn't seen what he did inside the labyrinth… I would have been much more surprised."
Arthur tilted his head slightly, uncomfortable with the attention. After a while of talking, the rest of the group arrived.
The meeting had begun.
Arthur remained slightly leaned back in his chair, listening in silence. Fenril slept at his feet, indifferent to the murmur. He didn't intervene; he knew that in this space, the veterans took the lead.
—"We're going to give Roxy time to recover," —Gisu announced with a serious tone, —"but I think the best thing will be for us to return to the Labyrinth in three days."
Arthur barely raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
—"Doesn't that seem a bit rushed?" —Paul replied, crossing his arms.
Gisu explained calmly, talking about the mental pressure of labyrinths, the nerves, and the exhaustion. When Gisu mentioned the "curse" that prevented some adventurers from returning after a near-death experience, Arthur narrowed his eyes.
"So that's what they call it here…" It wasn't magic. Not really. It was fear that stayed etched in.
—"I agree," —Paul finally said, accepting the plan.
Arthur didn't intervene, but he made a mental note of the deadline: three days.
When the conversation turned to the group's formation, Arthur straightened his back a bit. Now he was interested. Talhand began to explain, using colored stones. Arthur watched how they were distributed, memorizing positions, possible routes, and blind spots.
Roxy as the primary offensive. Rudeus as direct support. Paul at the front.
—"I don't think it's necessary to protect Rudeus," —someone said. —"I can join the front line."
Arthur shook his head slightly, to himself. When Talhand finished explaining the formation, there was a brief silence.
—"Any questions?" —he asked.
Arthur hesitated for a second… and then spoke.
—"Just one," —he said in a quiet voice.
Several gazes turned toward him with curiosity.
—"If the enemies attack in large numbers," —he continued, —"and considering the traps of the Teleportation Labyrinth… who covers an unexpected rupture in the front line?"
Talhand watched him closely.
—"Good question."
Paul frowned thoughtfully.
—"Gisu detects, I hold," —Paul replied. —"That's been the plan so far."
Arthur nodded slowly.
—"I see," —he said. —"Then I'll be watching from the rear… in case anyone needs..."
After that meeting, everyone went their separate ways.
End of Chapter