(Roxy POV)
Rikarisu.
I never thought I'd return to this city—not after what happened over two decades ago. But here I was, back within its towering walls, chasing a lead I wasn't even sure I could trust.
The streets felt eerily familiar. The twisting alleys, the market stalls, the lingering scent of grilled meat and damp stone—it was all the same, yet tinged with something more subdued, more melancholic.
Tallhand, Vierra, and I had come seeking information on the Labyrinth where Rudy was supposedly trapped. If luck was on my side, I might even find an old acquaintance willing to help.
"Whoa! What is that castle?" Vierra suddenly yelped, eyes locked onto the half-destroyed black-and-gold fortress looming in the distance.
"Kishirisu Castle," I answered, sparing it only a glance. "It belonged to the Demon Empress Kishirika Kishirisu. During the Laplace War, Rikarisu served as a stronghold for her forces. The damage you see is from that time."
Tallhand stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Strange they never rebuilt it."
"They say it stands as a reminder of the Empress's faded glory." I sighed. "But that's not our concern. Stay focused—we need information."
Vierra looked sheepish. "S-Sorry. It's just... it still hasn't really sunk in that we're on the Demon Continent."
I frowned. We had been traveling for days—surely, she'd had enough time to adjust. Still, I supposed it was natural to feel out of place.
We pressed on, my feet moving instinctively toward the Adventurers' Guild, guided by muscle memory from my younger days.
Inside, a tension I had anticipated—but hoped to avoid—settled over us.
Kagami hadn't sent us unprepared. He'd provided us with high-grade equipment, each piece carefully selected.
Tallhand wielded an improved version of his axe-staff, now doubling his magic output, paired with armor forged from Earth Dragon shell—light yet sturdy, thanks to intricate Magic Circles.
Vierra's turquoise armor, made of some unfamiliar lightweight material, molded perfectly to her form the moment she put it on. No matter how much her sister and I inspected it, we couldn't find the enchantments responsible. Her porcelain-white short sword was deceptively durable, able to withstand blows that should have shattered it.
As for me... extravagant didn't even begin to describe it.
I wore my usual robe with a gray King Dragon leather mantle that housed an automatic Gravity Magic shield against spells not cast by me. My staff featured three rings embedded with magic stones, each holding enough mana for a King-class spell, tripling my usual reserves. And as for my pointy hat, it is made of Blue Dragon leather and gives me improved vision in the dark.
And then there was the necklace. A green pearl, cool against my skin. Kagami had practically demanded I wear it. He never explained why. That alone made me wary.
With gear like this, we stood out. And the adventurers had noticed.
Conversations hushed. Eyes lingered.
Newcomers flaunting expensive equipment usually fell into one of two categories: overconfident fools or easy targets.
I sighed internally. Kagami hadn't considered how much of a walking bullseye he had made us. Then again... if even half of what the notes he slipped into my luggage during our escape from Millis was true, over-preparation might be necessary.
"Stay close," I murmured. "The adventurers here are rougher than in other continents. Just follow my lead and—"
"Well, well, well. If it isn't the puny Roxy Migurdia."
I stiffened. That voice—
Relief and irritation warred within me as a muscular man with the head of a horse sauntered forward, grinning like he owned the place.
Nokopora.
"Look at you," he drawled. "Still the same little runt, but now decked out like some big shot. You never learn how to stay out of trouble, do ya?"
I exhaled through my nose, forcing a smile. "It's good to see you alive and well too, Nokopora."
He snorted. "What's up with all the fancy gear? Trying to play hotshot?"
"For your information, I'm now a King-class Water Magician," I replied, keeping my tone calm, as I refused to yield to his mockery, even if he didn't intend it that way.
His ears flicked. "Oh? Is that so? Then why don't you and your friends take a seat and tell me what you've been up to?"
I eyed him warily. "This isn't like you. What happened?"
His grin faltered. His gaze shifted to the side, revealing a fresh scar running along his jaw.
"Ran into an adventurer duo," he muttered. "One of 'em scared the shit out of me. The other beat the shit out of me."
I chuckled. "Now that sounds more like you."
We sat. Tallhand and Vierra remained silent, unable to understand Demon God tongue, but they knew I was speaking to an old friend.
"So?" Nokopora leaned in, his grin returning. "What brings our sweet-toothed Migurdia back home?"
"Stop with the nicknames." I waved him off. "I'm looking for my disciple."
He blinked. "A teacher now, huh? You sure have grown. Well… except physically."
I felt a vein pop. That one actually hit the nerve. It's not my fault Migurds stop aging after their teen years, and he knows that very well.
"But," he continued, "if it's information you need, I might be your guy."
Relief washed over me. "Then tell me—what do you know about a place called White Fire Coffin?"
As soon as the words left my mouth, the chatter in the room died, and the air shifted. Eyes turned toward us, sharp with something I couldn't quite place.
Vierra tensed. "H-Hey, Roxy? What's going on?"
Even Nokopora's ever-present smirk had faded. He exhaled, tapping his fingers against the table.
"Hate to say it," he muttered, "but if your disciple went in there, he's probably dead. No—definitely dead with no hope of confirming it."
Oh no, what the notebook said wasn't exaggerated.
"Can you tell me what you know about it?"
His gaze snapped back to me, scrutinizing. "You serious?"
"I am."
He sighed. "Over fifty adventurers went in. Wiped out. Only two people ever made it back alive and couldn't even explain what happened. Blaze and his team entered four months ago—never heard from again. And don't even get me started on that Demon Lord who went in three months ago. She called that place a hassle to go through. Let that sink in. A literal Immortal Demon Lord calling that place a quote on quote hassle. That's gotta be enough reason NOT to go in there."
I clenched my fists. Kagami's notes had been right. The Demon Lord thing is disturbing, it doesn't change my mind.
"I'm still going."
Nokopora groaned. "Didn't you hear a word I just said? Give. It. Up."
Before I could argue, another voice cut in.
"You there. Migurd Magician."
A bald warrior stepped forward, eyes cold and calculating. He wore traditional clothing, which was usual to the Demon continent, with the addition of a headband and a plate at the front.
Something about this guy felt unsettling, but he seemed like one of those experienced types of warriors, so maybe it's just that he is intimidating to see.
Nokopora shot up from his seat, voice filled with contempt.
"Back off, bucko! Don't drag others into your obsession with that hellhole. You and your feisty little girl are already enough of a ruckus as it is."
I held up a hand before Nokopora could say anything else.
"At least let me hear what he has to say."
Nokopora turned to me, incredulous. "Roxy, you can't be serious—"
"I am serious." My voice was firm. "If he knows something, I want to hear it."
The bald warrior, unfazed by the argument, crossed his arms. "I intend to enter White Fire Coffin myself."
I narrowed my eyes. "You… what?"
"I was given instructions," he continued. "By someone untrustworthy, to wait at this city. He told me a group of experienced labyrinth divers would arrive soon. That I should join them."
A cold weight settled in my gut. "Was this person's name… Kagami?"
He looked tense—hesitating slightly before nodding at me.
I felt Tallhand shift beside me, while Vierra sucked in a sharp breath.
Before I could press further, Nokopora slammed a hand on the table, the sharp crack cutting through the hushed air of the guild.
"Oh, for fuck's sake, Roxy—are you seriously getting yourself tangled up in that man's business?" His tail flicked in agitation. "That place is suicide! I've told you already! Everyone who goes in there dies! And now you want to team up with some random guy just because he has the same loss of survival?"
I met his gaze, unwavering. "I have to do this."
"No, you don't!" He gestured wildly, ears twitching with frustration. "I don't know what kind of tricks that bastard Kagami pulled on you, but listen to me," he said before pointing at the bald man. "He is not someone you want to get tangled with! And neither is that damn Labyrinth worth your life!"
I clenched my jaw. "This isn't about anything meaningless like reputation. This is about my disciple. I came to the information that he is trapped in that Labyrinth."
He scoffed, rubbing his face. "Roxy, do you even hear yourself? Do you even know what you're trying to save them from? Do you have any proof they're still alive?"
I inhaled sharply, trying to keep my temper in check. "I believe he is."
"That's not good enough!"
For a long moment, we just stared at each other.
"I... can't. I have to go in and find out for myself."
He exhaled, long and heavy, then stood up.
"I want nothing to do with this." He turned away. "But do us both a favor. See if you can find something from Blaze while you're there. He and his party were one of the first ones to go in there half a year ago."
And just like that, he walked away.
I watched him go, something sinking in my chest. I had expected resistance. I had expected pushback. But I hadn't expected this.
For all his bluster, Nokopora had always been… well, Nokopora—a pain in the ass, but a reliable one.
To see him this serious, this adamant—it unsettled me, especially since Blaze was one of those who fell victim to the Labyrinth's cruelty.
"…You alright, Roxy?" Vierra asked cautiously.
I exhaled. "I'll be fine."
The bald warrior, who had remained silent through the exchange, finally spoke.
"Well?" His sharp eyes regarded me. "What now, Migurd magician?"
I turned to him, my resolve hardening.
"I think it's time you and I had a real conversation."
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