Chapter 159 \n“Do you know the true meaning of a Manuke? It refers to a person from a different world – a trespasser who managed to cross the border between worlds.” \n
From what Zephanel said, she knew I was a Manuke, and she deduced that I was someone from another world because of that? I had thought it was just a derogatory term here. But for her to call those who came from another world a trespasser, there must have been someone big that’d happened in the past that stemmed from another otherworlder.
I could feel the magic power that shook the air around the Chancellor. If I had the ability to see and feel the mana, I might’ve trembled from the pressure. And I heard the faint sound of something shifting overhead. Instantly, I looked to the ceiling, I changed my view to thermals, and saw a heat source behind a small gap in the ceiling board… Was that some kind of ninja? Looking around the reception room, there was indeed only me and the chancellor. But in the next room, separated from this room by a fusuma, was the presence of someone else.
“Relax, I’m not going to harm you just yet.”
“… ‘Yet’…”
“Indeed. It will be decided once we know where you came from, and what you’re going to do in this world. Everything you say here will not spread outside. Nor what I will do to you here. It is all under this one’s jurisdiction.”
“… Is being a trespasser really that dangerous?”
“What is dangerous is the person. Power is neither good nor bad. With the will of man, it can lean either way. Therefore, I want to see whether you are a trespasser at heart.”
“I… Maybe, maybe I came from the same world as the founding king did– Maybe. But perhaps it’s a slightly different world.”
“What do you think of this mansion?”
“It looks so much like a building from my homeworld…”
“I see. Do you recognize the name ‘ESO’?” \n
“‘ESO’? No, I don’t. I don’t think there was such a name in my homeworld. But if you insist… I came from ‘VMB’.”
ESO… I believe there might’ve been a game with that abbreviation a long time ago. When VRMMO had just started to become a trend. Perhaps the founding king was sent to this world while playing ESO, similar to what happened to me. I don’t know what led to the establishment of the country afterward, but he was probably convinced that someone like he would appear again. Thus, probably entrusted the matter to Chancellor Zephanell.
I heard that His Excellency had lived far beyond the life of an elf. Furthermore, your appearance. Is it related to ESO?”
“This one is immortal, but not always. Do you seek immortality?”
“No, I don’t want it.”
“Then… What about your two identities?”
“… Did Ashley tell you about it?”
“Do not blame A-Chan. This one’s order is absolute in her clan. Was it Shaft, or something along that line?”
“… Yes, that’s right.”
“Then what exactly happened when you conquered the Wolf Fang Labyrinth?”
Was it about the sender of that email? The [ U N K N O W N] who behaved like some sort of god in this world? It was a mysterious existence that only contacted me after I cleared that labyrinth. \n“I received a letter. Probably from the existence that controls this world.”
“… Then, let this one tell you this: this one was given immortality by that existence.”
“Just what in the world is that existence?”
“No idea. This one did not know either. However, be wary about it, and be careful of what you wish for.”
Be careful of what I wish for… It’d certainly sent me a lot of useful advice and items. However, I still didn’t know the reason for it. Perhaps it was dangerous to simply think of it as some sort of bonus for completing the labyrinth.
“Now let us return to the main topic. Schwartz Powder, being a trespasser, you should possess a special power. What do you intend to do with that power?”
“… My current goal is just to live in this world. I can’t return to my world after all. So, I have no choice but to stay. What I intend to do is conquer all the labyrinths. Someone sent me to this world and intended to use me as a labyrinth boss to harm this world. I’d like to put a stop to that – if possible.”
“Are you saying that you will use that power of yours for this world? Are you saying that you are willing to sacrifice yourself for the peace of this world, is that it?”
“I never intended to make such a sacrifice. Neither do I have the desire to be some sort of hero — All I can do is wield my power for my friends, which happens to benefit this world. And perhaps, find a way to return home.”
“Friend… Ah, A-chan!”
“It’s not just for Ashley…”\n\n“I am not going to align myself with Kurtmerga, or any country for that matter.”
“So, you wish for freedom?”
“Well, you can put it like that. As I said before. My goal is to conquer all the labyrinths. If I take root in a country and build a home there, wouldn’t I lose the will to continue? Also, once I put myself under the asylum of a country, would they not be interested in using my ‘Trespasser’ powers to their own ends? Even if I limited it to knowledge, my freedom would still be lost.”
“Well, indeed, that is certainly true — Very well then, you may do as you like.”
Chancellor Zephanel acknowledged my reply quite easily. She had the shadow ninja surround me in the case I wanted to pick a fight. But she seemed unwilling to resort to force before she ascended by goal.
“Do you not wonder why I acknowledged you so easily? Well, that is certainly the case, however, ‘he’ told this one that if the ‘Trespasser’ seeks freedom, then this one should give it.”
“… I should thank the founding king.”
“That was all I could say. Zephanel was faithful to that person — the founding king. She had continued to watch over the nation and guided it in the direction that person wanted all this time. Therefore, he had also entrusted the matter of the trespassers to her. I doubt that I was the first person to be asked those questions. There must’ve been more in the past that were taken here and asked the very same questions.
I didn’t know the results of the judging, but before I knew it, Zephanel had already retracted her power. The signs of the people who guarded the room next door had also disappeared. This was the end of it.
“Speaking of which, A-chan is a good woman. If you want her, you should just go and tell her.”
Ah, she said something outrageous as she walked out.