Chapter 17.1

The atmosphere afterward was, unsurprisingly, awkward.

Not only Arina but also the knights’ gazes were far from welcoming.

‘This is seriously irritating.’

On one hand, it was frustrating and unfair.

Despite coming here to help, I was blatantly subjected to suspicions akin to false accusations. It would be stranger if I didn’t feel upset.

Even if those suspicions were grounded in some semblance of a story.

‘I spent everything I had, risked my life, and came all this way because of them!’

Regret started creeping in as I reflected on the ordeal I’d endured to get here, beyond rational reasoning.

‘Everyone is doubting me. But they need me just as much as I need them right now. It’s like a symbiotic relationship between a crocodile and a bird. The Grand Duke spared me without further interrogation for that reason, didn’t she?’

That said, it was far too late to turn back now.

To escape this barrier and the labyrinthine wilderness, I needed strength, while the Grand Duke and the knights required supplies.

Like it or not, we were in this together. At least for now.

“Save the North, save the North!”

The desperate cry of the being that had possessed me echoed in my head once more.

‘At this rate, even if I escape the labyrinth, I’ll continue to be doubted. It might be better to move separately while figuring out a way to save the North.’

Saving the North was indeed my mission, and I would fulfill it.

However, it seemed impossible to continue working alongside the Northern Grand Duchess, Arina Rune Renslet.

‘Now that I think about it, those ten skilled individuals I saw before entering the barrier… I need to bring them up as well.’

I recalled the group that had targeted me right before I entered the barrier.

The more I thought about it, the more they seemed like the masterminds behind this incident.

‘But in this atmosphere…’

I started to part my lips but quickly closed them.

No matter what I said right now, I felt it would only fuel suspicion against me.

As I wrestled with these thoughts, time passed.

“We found it! The gap in the barrier!”

A jubilant cry came from none other than Balzac, the Frostblade of the North, proving his experience and skill.

The once-awkward atmosphere softened significantly.

Whoooosh…

A short distance away, the veteran knight Balzac was widening the gap in the barrier he had discovered.

With his eyes closed and both hands gripping his sword, he channeled mana throughout his body to expose the discrepancy between the barrier and the outside world.

“A day… Just a day…”

He explained that the process could proceed uninterrupted if they worked in shifts for a day each.

After Balzac, other knights would take turns for several hours, with Arina going last.

‘In the original timeline, did they fail to find the gap in the barrier? Or did they find it only to suffer another ambush?’

Given how dire their situation was before I arrived, it wouldn’t be surprising if they failed even after finding the gap.

‘Anyway, the Northern Grand Duchess has survived. This has bought the North some time.’

The process and results left a bitter taste, but the mission was a success.

‘Still, this discovery is going to raise more suspicions about me…’

Finding the gap was undoubtedly good news, but I felt uneasy.

‘Am I going to be interrogated as soon as we leave the labyrinth?’

The timing of the discovery, right after I joined, was too convenient.

Although Balzac, whom the Grand Duke and the knights trusted, was the one who discovered it, the circumstances were undeniably suspicious.

“When we exit the barrier, we must stay cautious.”

Not wanting to worsen their suspicion, I decided to address the matter I had hesitated to mention earlier.

“What do you mean?” Arina asked.

“Until now, I haven’t had the chance to mention it, but I saw a hostile party waiting outside the barrier.”

“A party?”

“They were highly skilled adventurers. I estimate there were ten of them, four of whom were mages.”

“Were they outside the abyss?”

“They appeared inside the abyss. The moment I approached the depths of the labyrinth, they charged at me with killing intent.”

Fortunately, the Grand Duke seemed to take my words seriously.

“That adventurer party could very well be behind this incident.”

“They’re most likely imperial adventurers,” another knight added.

Arina, surprisingly, nodded rather than expressing suspicion.

Could this passing remark have eased the tension?

“Two months, you say? No wonder everyone looks so gaunt and haggard.”

“So you’re saying it’s been only two weeks outside?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“They must have meticulously prepared this barrier.”

This revelation led to a casual exchange between me and Arina, marking the first signs of normal communication.

Perhaps she was trying to discern my identity and intentions through this conversation.

“What’s it like outside?” she asked.

“It’s not entirely peaceful, but overall, it’s the same as usual. Adventurers hunt and gather within the labyrinth, which keeps monsters from flooding into Haven. The cycle remains intact.”n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

“That’s a relief.”

Arina and the knights had been trapped inside the barrier for about two months, which explained their heightened tension and hostility.

This also revealed that time within the barrier flowed roughly four times faster than outside.

Given the cold, hunger, and sleeplessness they endured, their irritability and aggression were understandable.

—

Late at night, in the biting gray frost, I sat atop the driver’s seat of the golden carriage.

Despite the temptation, I couldn’t bring myself to enter the carriage.

In an environment rife with mutual suspicion, I couldn’t afford to lower my guard.

“Everyone, get ready!”

“This accursed barrier will soon be undone.”

Balzac’s steady voice carried over from a distance.

I looked up to see Arina, the last in line, focusing intently as she tore open the gap in the barrier.

‘About five hours must have passed outside.’

Preparing for what lay beyond the barrier, I readied a magical crossbow.

Whoooosh… Crackle!

Eventually, the dark gray sky began to crack like ice, sparks flying as it shattered.

Desolate sunlight seeped into the once-dark labyrinth, marking the end of a long night.

When I entered the barrier, it was morning. By now, it must have been between noon and evening outside.

Hooaahhhh!

Finally, the barrier was destroyed.

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