Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 124

Requests for adventurers affiliated with the guild varied widely, from protecting logistics routes and subjugating dangerous targets to guarding important individuals. The nature of these tasks differed greatly depending on the region and circumstances, and the adventurers’ guild branch in Bergana—home to a labyrinth—was particularly unique in this regard.

The Borgia Marquisate, rulers of the labyrinth city, weighed the exhaustion of their private soldiers against the monopoly of wealth the labyrinth promised. Ultimately, they chose to keep the labyrinth open instead of claiming exclusive rights. Their gamble paid off, as they successfully attracted workers from neighboring regions willing to undertake the perilous task of exploring the labyrinth’s depths.

Tasked with the labyrinth’s complicated management, maintenance, and operational duties, the Bergana Adventurers’ Guild branch—relatively young within the guild’s history—became the de facto subcontractor for these responsibilities. Naturally, with so many users relying on them, the branch hired additional clerks and staff on-site to ensure smooth operations.

One of these clerks was Lizzy, who was born and raised in the labyrinth city. Though her role primarily involved managing exploration requests, she also busied herself with preparing for ceremonies and events. Amid the never-ending duties, her greatest focus lay in supporting the explorers who challenged the labyrinth. As a non-combatant, Lizzy couldn’t assist them directly, but her weapon was information. She gathered vast amounts of both official and unofficial intelligence from adventurers, meticulously organizing and analyzing every shred of truth and rumor to provide explorers with reliable information.

If a single piece of advice could save a life, she didn’t care if others saw her as a nagging stickler. This mindset wasn’t only part of her nature—it had been solidified by a single tragic incident: the total annihilation of a promising young party, once expected to reach the labyrinth’s lower levels with ease. They vanished without a trace somewhere between the middle and lower levels. Though many admired their rapid progress, none dared voice concerns about their reckless pace.

Perhaps the pressure of high expectations blinded everyone, including Lizzy, who had been their assigned liaison. A part of her had sensed their recklessness but feared interfering would hinder their momentum. In the end, her hesitation led to a grim tragedy.

Everyone called it misfortune, but Lizzy couldn’t accept that. If someone—if she—had just spoken up, urging them to slow down and tread carefully, perhaps they wouldn’t have died. The regret of doing nothing pulled Lizzy out of the crowd of mere bystanders.

Now, Lizzy carried that regret in her heart. Her newest concern was a mercenary named Walm, a recent arrival in the labyrinth city. Though his appearance and stature were average, his worn equipment and clouded eyes spoke of harsh experiences no one with an easy life could possess. Most alarming was his exploration pattern—he plunged into the labyrinth alone, without a party, pushing deep toward the upper floors.

Despite providing him with all available information and advice, Lizzy couldn’t help but see echoes of the party she had once failed to save in his solitary back.

“I know I should stop him,” she muttered.

Many dive into the labyrinth chasing dreams, but Walm’s resolve carried a different weight. At first, she suspected he sought death. Yet, he showed no signs of a death wish. His unmatched skill and determination suggested he sought something within the labyrinth’s depths. Did she have the right to interfere from the safety of the guild? Still, her unease lingered. Unconsciously, she rubbed the bracelet on her wrist and let out a small sigh.

“Lizzy, you seem unusually restless,” came a voice.

“…What are you talking about?”

The voice belonged to Lavinia, Lizzy’s colleague at the reception desk, whose tone mixed concern with curiosity.

“Don’t play coy. That guy gave you a gift the other day, didn’t he? Now he hasn’t returned for days, and you can’t stop worrying.”

Lavinia, despite her easygoing nature, was an attentive coworker. However, her personal life was messy, and she had a penchant for gossip and curiosity. Probing into Lizzy’s affairs was nothing new.

“I don’t show favoritism. It’s the guild staff’s responsibility to worry when someone ventures alone for days without returning. Managing the labyrinth’s users is part of our duty… Though I won’t deny the gift.”

“People like you always fall for hopeless men. You probably think, ‘I have to support him, or he’ll fall apart.’—Hey, don’t glare at me, I’m just joking. But that mercenary Walm is dangerous. Normal people don’t stay alone in the labyrinth for days. It’s almost self-destructive.”

Lizzy wasn’t patient enough to let Lavinia’s teasing go unchallenged.

“I agree, but you’re rather talkative today. Did another man reject you?”

Lavinia clicked her tongue and exhaled in frustration.

“Ugh! You’re so unpleasant sometimes. Adventurers are hopeless. I love their finely tuned bodies, but most of them are unfaithful… Stop looking at me like that!”

Despite the teasing, Lizzy didn’t actually dislike these exchanges. Their lighthearted banter made the long hours of handling endless requests more bearable. Yet, their mundane routine was suddenly broken by the arrival of a guard and a healing mage rushing into the waiting room.

“This doesn’t look good.”

“That’s from the teleportation room—probably the exit. Hey, what’s going on?”

Lavinia called out to the rushing guards, and one of them, visibly agitated, answered in a rush.

“A Manhunt broke out on the 30th floor! It was Faust’s party, of all people. But get this—the new mercenary killed two of them despite being seriously wounded and forced three more to flee. It’s insane. The ‘Three Magic Attack’ just returned with two corpses through the teleportation room.”

“W-What?”

Lizzy couldn’t process the information fast enough. As her mind struggled to comprehend, dread crept deeper. While misconduct within the labyrinth wasn’t unheard of, those caught conducting Manhunts were imprisoned and eventually executed. But the idea that Faust—someone who had even served as a guild instructor—would commit such an atrocity was unthinkable. And the target of their hunt had been Walm.

“W-Walm… That’s the mercenary who gave you the bracelet, right? And Faust… a Manhunt? This is all too much at once.”

“Yes, that’s true. But Lavi, I’ve realized one thing—if we leave him alone, that man will die.”

They didn’t know the full story yet, but if Walm hadn’t ventured into the labyrinth alone, he might never have been targeted.

“You’re right. I get the feeling that when he has someone around, he works hard, but when he’s alone, he pushes himself too far—like someone who’ll collapse from overwork.”

Lizzy fully agreed with Lavinia’s assessment. Next time she saw him, she had to speak up. No amount of regret would bring him back if he died.

“I’ll talk to him at the reception desk.”

Whether driven by past regrets or genuine concern for Walm’s well-being, Lizzy couldn’t tell. Either way, the grim determination on her face told the story.

Translator – Lyxxna