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Volume 11 Chapter 2 Part 7

I don’t have to keep it a secret from Roxanne and the girls, and I am all the happier for it.

Which reminds me, Gozer is here as well. Does it mean that Gozer is a member of the Empire Liberation Society as well?

「If that’s the case, then the admission test can be taken with all the Party Members, right?」

I continue to talk with Ester Baron who was introduced as the examiner by the Duke of Harz.

「Ordinarily, that is so. However, if you want to remove specific Party Members and take the test with the rest of the Party Members, then you can do that and I won’t object to it.」

「Okay, it’s good to know, but I will take the test with all of my Party Members.」

I denied in a hurry. It’s not like I asked this because I don’t want my Party Members to be
Noticed or anything. It would be difficult if I challenged the Labyrinth with fewer Party Members.

「In some cases, the Party Members are part of the Knight Order, which is allowed. Normally, however, the admission test is taken by the candidate’s Party as a whole. If you can’t arrange for independent Party Members to take on the admission test you’ll not be qualified to join the Society in the first place.」

「Can I bring helpers other than my own Party Members?」

「No, that’s not allowed.」

「Un, I see.」

Bringing as many helpers with you as you like would be straight up cheating indeed.

「There’s no use in cheating your way through the admission test. The Empire Liberation Society is not meant for those who don’t have the will to fight in the Labyrinths every day in the first place, so even if you manage to forcibly join it, there’ll be nothing in it for you.」

Noticing my expression, Ester adds another thing to his explanation.

After all, I can’t brag to the outsiders that I’m a member of the Empire Liberation Society, and it seems that due to their policies nobody is allowed to join them purely for show either.

If that’s the case, then there would be no need for the test. If someone thinks that they don’t have the required ability to fight in the Labyrinths up to the required floors, they won’t think about joining the Society in the first place.

「How do I take the admission test, exactly?」

「First, you will have to demonstrate your general ability to fight the monsters of the Labyrinths. After you show me your fighting style, you will then have to make your way to the Boss Room. For the current admission test, the venue is going to be located on the 33rd floor of the Labyrinth of Quratar. Before going to the proper Boss Room, if I judge that the level of your ability is inadequate, you might fail the test then and there with no questions asked. Even if I forcibly pitted you against the boss, it wouldn’t serve any real purpose. But if you are going to be able to clear the Boss Room, you’ll then have to move up to the 34th floor. If you defeat the Floor Boss of the 33rd floor and then join us on the 34th floor, then you’re going to pass the admission test.」

Because only one Party can enter the Boss Room, the Floor Boss battle won’t be invigilated by the examiner, and Ester Baron won’t be joining my Party either.

Although a referee in recommended for the test, observing from the back will work, too.

After all, it’s not safe for a one-man Party to enter the Labyrinth and its higher floors.

If I didn’t want to join, I could perform terribly during the test, but that’s not possible for me now.

Also, if I forcibly put myself in a pinch, that would mean needlessly putting my life at risk, and that’s definitely not something that I want to be doing of my own accord.

Neither I can allow myself to make the Duke, who recommended me for this admission test in the first place, lose face.

At the very least, I managed to ascertain that the Empire Liberation Society doesn’t seem to be some kind of shady organization.

Should I fight seriously then? Or should I not use magic at all and stick to physical combat only?

「When are you going to hold the admission test?」

「As long as it is convenient for you, then we can start right away.」

「Yes, that is fine by me.」

Because he will be observing the battles to assess our abilities, it might be better for me to not use magic after all, but I can still use Durandal.

There’s no need for us to do any warm up, and because Ester won’t be able to watch our battle against the Floor Boss, this means that I’ll be able to fight freely.

「Can you go to Quratar’s labyrinth? The entrance of 33rd floor, to be specific.」

「Yes, I can go to 33rd floor, since I enter Quratar’s Labyrinth on a regular basis.」

「Well then, I’ll meet you in the small room at the entrance of 33rd floor shortly.」

「Got it.」

Because I’m supposed to be entering entering the Labyrinths of Hartz Duchy, it may be taken wrongly that I have not reached Quratar’s Labyrinth’s 33rd floor yet, so I corrected his mistake.

Should I have told a lie that I haven’t been there?

I haven’t met anyone from the Harz duchy in Quratar’s Labyrinth. However, if the Duke and Gozer were already informed about iy, it would only create distrust between us.

I diligently explore Bode’s Labyrinth, too, so there’s no need for me to hide it.

Because of the admission test, many things that should have remained otherwise hidden had to come to light.

Had I not been to Quratar’s Labyrinth, he would probably have led me in after meeting outside of its main entrance.

It would have been troublesome, too, because I would have had to pay the entrance fee.

If we meet at 33rd floor, I will be able to enter for free.

Actually, if you enter the Labyrinth through the entrance, you will enter the small room through the black wall at the entrance of the floor. In case of 「Warp」 and 「Dungeon Walker」, however, a separate black wall is created in the small room.

If Ester Baron was waiting for me there, he would find out that I used different methods of travel to get there, so should I pay the entry fee and enter the Labyrinth safely then?

「Then I’ll go ahead and wait for you. Brocken, I’ll be off.」

「Right, see you later.」

Ester Baron bids farewell to the Duke of Hartz and leaves. So fast. He is already gone from the office.

「Well then.」

「Although I know it’ll be easy for Lord Michio, I will still wish you to do your best.」

「Keep calm during the test, please.」

I bow to the Duke and Gozer, and take my leave from the office as well.

When I go out to the corridor, I couldn’t see the figure of Baron Ester anywhere near.

I wonder if I’ll be able to reach Quratar’s 33rd floor before he does if I hurry up?

Because I’m not certain that I’ll reach before him, it’ll be risky. Should I avoid the risk and pay the entrance fee after all? It’s not that high a floor, after all, so it technically should be okay.

If I defeat the boss of 32nd floor, I’ll be able to enter the small room through the black wall at the entrance of 33rd floor. However, there’s no need to go to that extent.

What if we were to greet the Knight Order of Quratar after the test, and Ester might hear about it from them by accident?

Nope, it’s not an option either. Ester holds the position of Baron, after all.

After deciding to pay the entry fee, I leave the Bode castle and return home. Because we have an urgent business, I have Roxanne and the girls put off the cleaning and whatever else they were respectively doing at the time.

「The Duke of Harz has recommended me to some group called the Empire Liberation Society. Their objective is to mutually support those who fight in the Labyrinths.」

I bring it up to the four of them while cutting all the needless bits short. If I am to take my time, it’s better to explain it to them here at home.

「The Empire Liberation Society?」

「Only influential people are allowed to join this group. It’s amazing.」

「Is that so? As expected of master!」