"As expected, that was fast."
Apparently, it was still considered fast.
"I see."
"Someone might come through here at any moment. Once we’re outside, we’ll head to the Lodge in the Imperial Capital. Take the Adventurer from my party and go on ahead."
"Understood."
Estel urged me toward the exit.
He was right; you never knew who might pop into the entrance room at any time. Since we were going to discuss my initiation into the Society, it would be bad if anyone overheard us. I wondered if this "Lodge" was a private villa owned by the Baron. Nobles probably required that sort of thing when they stayed in the capital.
Estel and his group exited through the black wall. After dismissing Durandal, we followed them out.
Once we were back outside the labyrinth, their Explorer began chanting the Party Formation Spell. He was likely removing the Adventurer from their group. Estel’s party included both an Explorer and an Adventurer, which was what made this maneuver possible.
Once he finished, I chanted the Party Formation Spell as well and added the Adventurer to my own party.
Leaving us to it, Estel strode briskly into the Knight Order station. I hurried after him and saw him presenting an emblem to the station knight. I wondered if it was similar to the Harz Ducal House emblem I had on loan.
"I wish to use the transfer wall."
"Sir! Of course, Your Excellency."
The station knight responded with a deep, respectful bow the moment he saw the emblem. It seemed even more effective than the Duke's crest. Well, Estel was a Baron in his own right, so it was likely the combined weight of his status and the emblem itself. It was a good thing I'd bothered to pay the entrance fee earlier.
"Now then, Michio, you and your party go first."
The knight guided us to the inner room of the station, and Estel turned to address us. Was he sending us ahead so he could check the labyrinth records to see if we’d actually entered through the front gate? No, he probably wouldn't go to that much trouble unless he already suspected something.
The real reason was simpler: since the Adventurer from his party was currently in mine, the Baron had no way to travel. That was why he was sending us on ahead.
The Adventurer chanted the Field Walk spell, manifesting a black wall in the room. Following his lead, we stepped into the darkness.