As he wiped the sweat from his brow, a woman came into the garden, where such a peaceful atmosphere was flowing.

"Good day, Christophe-sama, Sylvia, and Fana. The time for departure is approaching, so I have come to say goodbye."

The voice belonged to Ester, who was clad in functional yet elegant light armor suitable for expeditions.

She was scheduled to leave the Labyrinth City for a while, starting today, on a request from her clan.

Wiping his sweat, Christophe smiles at Ester.

"Good morning, Ester. You are on an expedition starting today, right?"

When he spoke to her, Ester looked at Christophe with slightly teary eyes and replied in a faint voice.

"...Yes, that's right. Christophe-sama... I'm afraid the destination for this expedition might be a bit too much for my abilities... The thought of encountering a terrifying monster makes me so anxious that I can barely sleep at night..."

Ester's face crumpled as if she were about to burst into tears, and she lightly dabbed her eyes with her sleeve. Beside her, Sylvia and Fana whispered quietly to each other.

"...And yet, you are the one who's always happily going on high-difficulty expeditions."

"That's true. There's probably nothing that would worry that Ester."

"Rather, it's the monsters who are going to encounter Ester from now on who are the ones to be pitied."

Unaware of their whispers, Ester took a step closer to Christophe and looked up at him with teary eyes.

"If it's not too much trouble, could you perhaps give this Ester a powerful hug, something that would give me the courage to set off on my journey? If I could feel your warmth, Christophe-sama, I'm sure I could face any difficulty..."

"That's a bit much, especially since I'm sweating right now. It would be a shame to get it dirty before you leave."

At Ester's words, Christophe couldn't help but gasp. No matter how much it was to give himself courage, he was resistant to hugging a beautiful woman of a marriageable age.

As Christophe struggled for an answer, Ester noticed the sweat beading on his forehead and let out a small chuckle.

"Oh, Christophe-sama. Please, don't worry about the sweat. Perhaps that will also be a delightful pre-departure tasting for me. Yes, it will surely be a fragrance I will never forget... a scent of unforgettable memories..."

"Ester, what on earth are you talking about?"

"That's right, Ester. Aren't you keeping everyone in the clan waiting? Go on, hurry up and get going."

Sylvia and Fana immediately interjected with sharp retorts. Like older sisters scolding a mischievous younger sibling, they gently but firmly secured Ester's sides with an undeniable force, guiding her towards the gate.

"Well, Sylvia, Fana. Isn't that a bit forceful? I haven't even finished my important, important pre-departure greetings with Christophe-sama..."

Ester didn't put up much resistance, but she puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction and looked reluctant to leave.

Her large eyes were filled with lingering attachment. However, Sylvia and the others forcefully pushed forward.

"Okay, okay. Have a good day, Ester. I'm wishing you good luck."

"I don't think it will be a problem for you, but be careful on the way."

Sylvia waved, and Fana, though reserved, offered words of concern.

Escorted towards the gate, Ester glances back only once.

And then, her pleading voice echoed through the garden.

"I will certainly achieve results that will satisfy Christophe-sama and return safely. So, please... wait for me."

"Then, please be careful and have a good trip."

"Yes, of course."

Ester smiled with a very bright smile and set off on the expedition. As he waved until he couldn't see her anymore,

"...Shall we eat right now?"

Nodding at Sylvia's words, they headed into the mansion.

As the three of them sat down for breakfast, the fragrant smell of freshly baked bread gently tickled their nostrils. Today's soup was also full of vegetables and had a mild flavor.

As they enjoyed their meal, Christophe opened his mouth as if to ask the two of them a question.

"Oh, that's right, Ester was going to investigate a newly discovered dungeon, wasn't she?"

"Yes, that's right. It's an investigation of a newly discovered dungeon in a nearby territory. The scale is still unknown, but she has been assigned to be part of the initial survey team."

"A new dungeon, huh... Dungeons are basically over once you destroy the dungeon core, which is usually at the deepest part, right?"

In response to Christophe's question, Fana adds an explanation to clarify.

"That's right, as expected of Master... That's the basic structure. If you destroy the dungeon core, the Labyrinth will cease activity and eventually disappear. Currently, no Labyrinth larger than this Labyrinth of Arcadia has been confirmed, but when a new dungeon is discovered, the standard procedure is to aim for the destruction of the core first."

"...Right. Because the deepest part of the Labyrinth of Arcadia is still unknown, and many clans are aiming for it. That's an incredible story, isn't it?"

"That's how it goes. Of course, the official reason is that they want to understand the internal structure so they can destroy the dungeon core at any time in case of an emergency, but many clans and adventurers often dive in to make their mark in history."

"I see. That's certainly a bit tempting, isn't it?"

As Christophe nodded during his exchange with Fana, Sylvia continued as if to correct him.

Chapter 28