Chapter 82: ProofDay 94
“An important topic I keep forgetting to discuss is oatmeal. Are we having it too often? I like it, but I’m willing to try different things. Alina, please look into it.”
“Alright, David, I’ll take care of it.”
“The other topic is that I’ll take Sherry with me to show that the task has been completed. Sherry made the maps and will eventually act as our Adventurer when proof is needed. I won’t take anyone else as a guard since the real Adventurer won’t have space.”
Roxanne says, “The one who delivered the message looked frightened. That could be dangerous.”
“Noted, Roxanne. Sherry and I will wear armor and bring weapons. Unfortunately, I don’t know how long this will take. It could be an hour or all day. I don’t want the rest of you to wait anxiously. Just do something else near the property or leave a note if you go further away. Do not go to a byrinth without me — it will be too hard to find you.”
After putting on our armor, Sherry and I warp to central Curatar to wait for our ride. The usual guy arrives soon after with his guards.
“Hello, Sir. I can only take you and one other today.”
“Yes, exactly as expected. We are ready to go.”
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We join the Adventurer’s party and are taken to Crespy’s Labyrinth.
“Sir, are you prepared to introduce me to the start of the 23rd and 24th floors?”
“Yes. We will also show you to the 25th, since we had time to complete the 24th as well.”
“As you wish, Sir.”
We enter and I take us directly to the 23rd — anyone can select a floor on entry. [1] Once there, Sherry invokes Dungeon Walk to bring us to the 24th and then the 25th floor. After exiting, the Adventurer walks back in to confirm that he can enter the new floors.
“Alright, I have confirmed introduction to the required floors. You shall now be taken to His Lordship.”
We arrive just outside the castle, like before.
“Sir, it is acceptable to wear armor, but please store your weapons.”
“Certainly. Sherry, Item Box.”
The Adventurer leads us to a different area than where we had dinner. We wait briefly at the stereotypically rge doors. The room is functional, not ornate. Only the marquis, a scribe and a few guards are here, not Mirabel.
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As soon as we enter, the marquis turns to the scribe.
“We are assembled to confirm whether the task set to David Moreau has been completed according to the agreed terms.”
He then turns to the Adventurer.
“Martin, you were charged with verification. State your findings.”
“My Lord, I confirm that David Moreau has introduced us to the 23rd, 24th, as well as the 25th floors of Crespy’s Labyrinth.”
“Martin, did you have access to these floors prior to today?”
“No, My Lord. I had no knowledge beyond that of the 22nd floor.”
“David Moreau, do you dispute or add to this account?”
“I do not dispute it, My Lord.”
“The terms required introduction to the 23rd and 24th floors. You continued to the 25th. Expin.”
“I was able to, so I did, My Lord.”
The marquis almost smiles.
“The terms, as stated, appear satisfied.”
Then, the marquis’ expression turns serious again as he continues.
“Before I render judgment, a concern has been raised regarding completion of the task.”
(No great shock here.)
“It has been suggested that you possessed prior familiarity with the assigned floors. How do you answer?”
“I refute that cim, My Lord. I entered Crespy’s Labyrinth for the first time under the agreed terms. I also prepared rough maps of the floors we explored.”
“Very well. Show them to Martin.”
“Yes, My Lord.”
Martin takes the maps and pulls out one of his own. After a few moments, Martin reports.
“My Lord, there are no contradictions to our partial exploration of the 22nd floor.”
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The marquis announces, “The cim was lodged by Guye of House Rosel. Let him be admitted.”
The marquis motions for us to move to the side. We stand next to the wall and try to look neutral, uninvolved. Guye enters a moment ter in fine attire. Guye stands at the appropriate distance, nods and waits to be addressed.
“Guye de Rosel, you raised a concern. State it.”
“Yes, My Lord. While I was exploring Crespy’s Labyrinth, a party led by a commoner who identified himself as David Moreau requested introduction to the 24th floor. I granted it.”
“Was there anything of particur distinction about this man to lead you to conclude he was the same?”
“His appearance was simply that of a commoner, My Lord, but his companion was a distinctive wolf-kin woman.”
(As expected, someone saw us at the holiday fair.)
The marquis then turns to me, “David Moreau, what do you say to this?”
“I do not recognize this man, My Lord. If he believes we met, I ask that he specify the day and time.”
A bit shocked, Guye turns to look at me. Here I stand in my Sacred Robe next to a dwarf in battle armor. Not quite what he expected, even if he had seen me personally. After a bit too long of a pause, Guye turns back to the marquis with some loss of composure.
“My Lord, the man I encountered did not present himself in this manner.”
“Are you withdrawing your cim?”
Guye turns back to look at me and briefly smiles. Calmer this time, Guye answers the marquis.
“No, My Lord. I am certain that this is the same man. I was momentarily surprised by his change of clothing. This is the commoner Mage who identified himself as David Moreau three weeks ago.”
(That’s even before I met Mirabel. If I say that, it’ll just make me look like our chance encounter was part of a rger plot. I also can’t defend against a vague date. Guye’s party will back him up and no one else would be in the area. My word against a noble might not merit a formal hearing. Well, I’ll just stick to the basics.)
The marquis turns to me to ask, “David Moreau, do you still refute this cim?”
Calmly, I reply, “Yes, My Lord.”
(Please let me fight this creep in a duel.)
After a brief pause, the marquis makes his decision.
“The cim of prior knowledge does not invalidate the task. This matter is dismissed. House Rosel is excused.”
Guye nods, gnces at me and leaves. Once the doors close, the marquis announces.
“David Moreau, the task was completed within the specified terms.”
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“My Lord, I have the letters you asked for.”
The marquis motions for me to approach. I draw them out of the holder Alina made and hand them over.
He just checks that they seem to be letters and tells the scribe, “Two letters received.”
The marquis first looks at the seal for Rutina’s letter. There’s no particur reaction, but he certainly takes this seriously as he inspects the seal carefully in the light from the window. He puts it down and then picks up the duke’s letter. As expected, he actually shows a bit of a reaction — just raising his eyebrows, but it’s certainly a reaction. He inspects the duke’s seal even more carefully before putting it down. The procedure is slow and meticulous.
He carefully breaks the seal on Rutina’s letter, reads through it quickly and puts it down. After picking up the duke’s letter, there’s a slight pause before breaking the seal and another before opening. Reading appears more thorough as well, though no more emotions leak. He pces the second letter down and pauses.
The room is perfectly silent while the marquis appears to ponder. Several seconds pass with just a hint of a ‘hmm’.
“The letters are in order. David Moreau, you have met the conditions set before you. Your suit will not be opposed.”
The marquis sends for Mirabel. She enters a moment ter and stands beside me. Mirabel looks nervous, but says nothing. The marquis announces,
“This matter now proceeds to formal betrothal.”
Mirabel lets out a short sound of relief. She probably saw Guye here and feared the worst. Guye really did look and act creepy.
The marquis continues, “There will be no undue haste, but neither shall there be dey. Settlement terms will be reviewed by my steward. You are dismissed.”
We nod and leave before anything else happens. Sherry follows — I almost forgot she was here. Mirabel leads us to a quiet courtyard garden.
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Mirabel exhales. “Oh, I was so worried when Guye showed up. What happened?”
“He made up some fake story about introducing me to the floors himself. Your father dismissed it as irrelevant.”
“That’s wonderful, David. I guess you must have impressed him. And where did you get that incredible robe? Is that mithril?”
“Oh, this old thing? Just kidding, it really is wonderful. I got it as a reward from the duke.”
“David, I’m honestly embarrassed about how many things I’ve been wrong about. I really am sorry about all that. You’ve really impressed me.”
“Thanks, Mirabel. Keep that in mind when I screw up ter. Anyway, what’s next? I guess I can’t just bring you home with me, right?”
“Sorry, it’s important to keep things proper, especially before the formal announcement at the next council meeting.”
“What about meeting a steward?”
“I’ll arrange the meeting. Can you come back in three days? Morning would be best.”
“Certainly. I have an appointment with the persistent baron tomorrow anyway.”
“I don’t envy you. I have some things to arrange here too.”
“Alright, Mirabel. I’ll return in three days.”
We dare a little hug before Sherry and I walk out to meet Martin, the Adventurer.
Martin asks, “Back to Curatar, Sir?”
“Yes, thank you.”
Once we arrive, Martin asks in a less formal tone, “Could I keep the maps to make copies?”
“They are yours to keep. I had pnned to give them to you or His Lordship anyway.”
Martin nods and begins his chant to open his return portal. I take Sherry to a quiet spot and open a portal to go home.
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“Thanks for coming with me, Sherry. Sorry to make you stay for something so boring.”
“No, it was fine, David. It was nice to see you handle those nobles so easily. Even Alina would be impressed.”
“Before I need to be polite again tomorrow, I need to destroy something. Let’s gather the party so we can go to a byrinth.”
Soon we are back in Curatar’s Labyrinth. I bst the icky pnts with lightning and fire magic. Each one that turns into a puff of smoke heals my soul, bit by bit. Whatever I say to the others, there’s no way I could give this up completely. With the smooth, uncluttered ground, I could navigate this pce in a wheelchair. With some assistance, I could do this blind. I never expected to turn into such a hard-core gamer.
Just like Alina saw the monsters as little Jakobs, I realize that I’ve been picturing the Nepenthes as copies of Guye. What’s his interest in Mirabel? Is it just political or vengeance? Politically, they’ve basically lost. If it’s personal, House Rosel will suffer at my hand.
Sherry taps my arm. Oh, boss room already? OK, I’d better focus. No other parties waiting, but no need to rush in either.
“Sherry, do you know how many monsters will be in the boss room?”
“Yes, David. We should face two bosses and two attendants.” [2]
“Honestly, that’s like a normal bunch. I’ll start with a heavy magic attack to stun as many as possible. Vanguards block, Assassins circle around, and Sherry blocks for me. Concentrate most on those that aren’t stunned or petrified.”
The bosses are called Heliamphora — never heard of them. Nepenthes have bigger heads than Sarracenia and these are practically all head. [3] I’ll assume they’ll burn like the lesser versions.
A boss and attendant get stunned by the initial zap. The other two immediately after that by sword hits. Easy victory. Actually, boss fight seem easier than most normal encounters. The real risk is the inability to get away, of course.
“David, I found a crystal.”
“Thanks, Alina. You have such good eyesight.”
That’s another Carnivine Crystal. Maybe we’ll start finding more crystals on these higher floors. As tempting as this is, we should get back to working on Nordselm’s as our main target.
“Good work, everyone. Let’s go home.”
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It’s a bit ter than usual though not yet dark. We do the usual evening routine, where my part is to manage the tubs and pick what Sherry will enchant. This time, I ask for Zara’s gauntlets to be given minor petrification protection.
During dinner, Alina asks for an update on my meeting with the marquis.
“The outsider, Guye, tried to block me with an outright lie. Fortunately, the marquis ruled in my favor. He also liked the letters, especially the duke’s, of course. So, we are now officially engaged.”
“Why did you wait so long to tell us?”
“I needed to calm down first. This was harder than my hearing and trial combined.”
“Uh huh. When’s the wedding?”
“He said, ‘not too soon, not too te’, so I don’t really know. I’ll return in a few days to discuss details.”
“David, you don’t seem all that excited.”
“I’m more interested in the marriage than the wedding.”
“Well, learn to fake it. This is important.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
Zara asks, “Boss, where will party live when your wife comes?”
“Probably right here. The pn is to all live together.”
“Wife will allow that?”
“Yes, she is willing to try. Mirabel knows that I have responsibilities to all of you and to my work. She will neither be a noble nor a regur party member. In other words, she’ll be given certain privileges, but not become your boss.”
Sima asks, “Will Zasi get shell day?”
“Yes, Sima. Some of my time will be devoted to Mirabel, but I will not neglect any of you.”
Roxanne assures, “Lady Mirabel said that she won’t be greedy.”
“That’s all settled. Let’s go to the baths now.”
As special thanks to Sherry, I bring a bottle of mead.
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[1] In the LN, an old Adventurer was able to introduce a specific floor of Hawk Forest Labyrinth (v12 c5).[2] This is the st tier where the boss room configuration is known (v13 c2).[3] I chose heliamphora because they look like the next stage in the carnivorous pnt series.
