◇ ◇ ◇
While Orun and Ozwell were locked in their life-or-death struggle, Fuuka—having subjugated the Black Dragon without breaking a sweat—stepped into the now-inert labyrinth.
The collapse of the surface had left the hills looking as though a massive hole had been torn into the sky. Fuuka scanned the landscape briefly before walking forward with purpose.
Waiting in her path were Lueria and Frederick, who had been resting in concealment.
"…Found by the worst possible opponent, I see," Lueria muttered weakly as Fuuka appeared before them.
"It’s been a while. I assume you're prepared to die?" Fuuka said tonelessly, her left hand gripping her sheathed katana.
Even if Lueria and Frederick had been in peak condition, the scales would have tipped in Fuuka’s favor in a head-on confrontation. In their current exhausted state, they stood no chance at all.
"…I’m well aware of how brazen I'm being. Even so, let me say this: we will give you every scrap of information we have. So please, I'm begging you. Take my life and be satisfied with that. Just let Fred go."
"What are you saying, Big Sis?! If anyone’s going to live, it should be you! Please, don't kill her—kill me instead!"
"Don't be ridiculous—!"
As the siblings argued over who would be the sacrifice, a flash of steel sliced through the air between them. The tree standing directly behind them split vertically with a sharp crack.
"Why are we talking about letting one of you go?"
Fuuka, the one responsible for the strike, returned her blade to its scabbard. She directed a chilling wave of bloodlust toward them as she continued.
"A year ago, during the Thanksgiving Festival in Tsutrail—if you hadn't interfered then, I could have finished off Philly Carpenter. If that had happened, the current situation would be vastly different. Do you understand that what you did is a problem far too serious to overlook?"
"…Yes. I understand. If Philly had died then, at least within the scope of what I can foresee, the war between the Empire and the Kingdom wouldn't have started this early. The power balance within the Cult would have shifted significantly as well. I know our sins are not light."
Sensing that Fuuka had no intention of showing mercy to either of them, Lueria answered the question directly. Both she and Frederick accepted their fate, their faces clouded with resignation.
"Good. If you understand, then this will be quick. I’ll at least kill you without making you suffer."
Fuuka loosened the blade from its scabbard, her right hand hovering over the hilt.
"I’m sorry, Caroline…" Lueria whispered. A single tear fell as she apologized to the sister she would never see again.
The blade lunged toward her throat—and stopped.
"………………Why…?"
Lueria let out a bewildered breath when she realized the katana had halted just as the edge grazed the skin of her neck.
Fuuka pulled the blade away, flicked off the trace of blood clinging to the steel, and sheathed it fully.
"Normally, I would have killed you without a second thought. But given the current circumstances, the current me doesn't have the right to decide your fate. That will be decided tomorrow. For today, stay hidden where no one will find you."
Fuuka explained her reasoning, but it was something neither Lueria nor Frederick could fathom. They remained frozen in confusion. Ignoring their bewildered expressions, Fuuka started to turn on her heel, then spoke once more as if remembering an afterthought.
"…I’m sure you realize this, but don't think you can run from us. You're free to move as long as you stay within the Count Claudel Territory, but the moment you cross the border, I will kill you."
"…So, we’re to hide somewhere in this territory until the Sword Princess comes for us tomorrow?" Frederick asked, trying to process the demand through his shock.
"Yes. That’s correct. Spend today recovering your strength. There’s a chance I’ll put you to work as soon as tomorrow arrives."
Having said all she needed to say, Fuuka finally turned away and began walking toward the labyrinth entrance.
◇ ◇ ◇
After hearing about Fuuka’s whereabouts from Haruto-san, I approached the labyrinth just as she was emerging.
"Fuuka!" I called out, running toward her.
"Orun. Did you defeat the Doctor?" she asked, noticing my approach.
"…Yeah. An intruder interfered at the end, but Ozwell is dead."
"I see. Good work, Orun."
As she spoke, the corners of Fuuka’s eyes softened and her mouth curved upward in a faint, rare smile. Seeing her smile and offer those words of appreciation made the heavy, complex knot in my chest loosen a little.
"Thanks. …Come to think of it, I was so focused on Ozwell, but you were the one who took down the Black Dragon. How did you manage it?"
"How…?" Fuuka tilted her head, her response utterly nonchalant. "I just walked up to it, then I cut its head off. Like normal."
"I-I see. Well, in any case, you were a huge help dealing with that thing. Thank you."
When I thanked her again, she shook her head slowly.
"Don't worry about it. It was a good opportunity for me to gauge the strength of a Deep Floor boss."
Fuuka’s clan, Copper Afterglow, had reached the 91st Floor of the Great Labyrinth of the South. Since the 91st Floor marked the beginning of the Deep Floors, and they were famous for not pushing into those depths, this must have been her first real encounter with a boss of that caliber.
I wasn't sure how much data she’d had on the Black Dragon beforehand, but considering it was her first time facing one, her true strength seemed bottomless.
"…Well then, shall we head back to Daluane? Our return to Tsutrail will probably be pushed to tomorrow. Are you and Haruto-san okay with that?"
The original plan was to finish reporting the labyrinth conquests to Princess Lucila and return to Tsutrail immediately, but we’d stepped in to help here when this mess started. The immediate threat was over, but since the city would still be in chaos, I figured we’d spend one more night in Daluane.
"Yes, that's fine," Fuuka replied.
With her confirmation, I began planning our schedule for the next day as we walked back toward Daluane together.