Chapter 9 I'Ve Heard About Your Master
The [Holy City of Necronia], home to the [God's Remains Labyrinth], is a massive metropolis, the largest in the world.
Its population is no less than a million, and while the city is surrounded by a circular wall, its area is extremely vast. However, it goes without saying that it doesn't have the agricultural capacity to support a population of a million.
Almost all of the city's food and other necessities are imported.
Magic stones, materials, and items extracted from the labyrinth are exported, and the gold earned from these exports is used to import food and other goods.
Naturally, there are no farms or pastures within the city walls, nor do they extend outside of them. In Necronia, almost all industries revolve around the labyrinth.
Within the city walls, various facilities are crammed between the main thoroughfares, including residences, workshops, guild halls, government offices, and more.
And at the center of the circular city was the [Seal Temple], the entrance to the labyrinth.
It was a majestic and mysterious white marble structure.
The [Seal Temple], said to have been built by the Gods in ancient times, had not accumulated a single speck of dirt over the long years. In fact, even though a phenomenon called a Stampede, where monsters from the labyrinth overflowed onto the surface, had occurred just last year, there were no broken parts or even a single crack.
This fact alone was the best proof that the [Seal Temple] was a structure built by the Gods.
Anyway.
There were 4 mansions surrounding the [Seal Temple] to the north, east, south, and west, each with grounds so vast that it was hard to believe they were located within the city.
All 4 mansions were located in the city center, not far from the [Seal Temple].
In the [City of the God's Remains], which did not accept the rule of any nation, there was no royalty or nobility. However, there was an exception: 4 special bloodlines that could be considered a privileged class.
These were the 4 families that had their mansions around the [Seal Temple]:
"Caduceus of the North."
"Gridavor of the East."
"Kirke of the West."
"Aron of the South."
These 4 families are collectively known as the [Four Great Families of the Seals].
[God's Remains Labyrinth] was created by the remains of an ancient god. To maintain its seal, the bloodlines that were given special powers by the Gods are respected not only by the residents of Necronia but also by the nobles of neighboring countries.
In one of the corners of the [Four Great Families of the Seals], the grand mansion of Kirke in the west.
In a guest room in the mansion, a living room for socializing with guests, 2 women sat on sofas facing each other across a low table.
One was a beautiful swordsman with long, bright red hair tied in a ponytail.
She seemed to be in her early twenties, and her red eyes, matching her hair, were narrowed sharply.
She couldn't hide her displeasure, but the reason for that was the words spoken by the woman sitting opposite her.
"――I heard, Fiona. About your master. It's terrible. Even though we're friends, you kept it a secret from me."
Her words were laced with a teasing tone.
The speaker was a beauty with gorgeous blonde hair and golden eyes. She was about the same age as Fiona, but unlike Fiona's slender build, this woman had a voluptuous figure.
Not that she was by any means fat, but her waist was slim and her limbs were long and slender.
Perhaps because she was at home, she was wearing a loose, white, neat one-piece dress, but strangely enough, when this person wore it, the impression of neatness was blown away, and she even felt terribly seductive.
Eva Kirke.
That was her name.
A direct descendant of the Kirke family, one of the [Four Great Families of the Seals], and a woman highly regarded as the next head of the family.
"Don't be ridiculous. I've never called him my master. He's just bragging about it."
Fiona Ackerman, who had been listening to Eva's words sullenly, said, showing her displeasure on her face.
"At first I thought it was just a tall tale, but you seem to have lost to him many times, haven't you?"
Fiona's cheeks twitched at Eva's words, which she continued without seeming to care.
"If he's that strong, I'd like to meet him sometime. Fiona, won't you introduce me?"
"Why should I? If you want to meet him, go ahead and meet him yourself."
"Well, that's true, but if it's an introduction from a disciple, it should be easier to talk about what happens next, right?"
"Who's his disciple?!"
Fiona slams her fist on the low table.
But Eva doesn't even flinch, instead, she continues with a teasing smile.
"Oh? Are you unhappy with being called a disciple? ... Or maybe――is it that kind of relationship?"
"Huh!? Don't say stupid things! I'll blow you up!"
"Then it's fine by me. You introduced him to me. What are you so mad about?"
"It's because you're saying stupid things!!"
After expressing her anger for a while, Fiona sees that Eva is completely unfazed. She clicks her tongue and leans back in her chair.
Then, crossing her arms and fixing Eva with a sharp gaze, she asks,
"So, why do you want to meet him anyway?"
"Why, you ask? Isn't it obvious? The master of the Sword Dance Maiden who's been the talk of the town lately? Even if it wasn't me, I'd want to meet him."
"You're not that kind of fangirl, are you? Tell me the truth, the truth."
"Hmm, even if I tell you the truth. I'm really interested in someone stronger than you, isn't that the truth? And... well... I think that person might be "Extreme Sword"... what do you think?"
While speaking in a light, joking tone, Eva narrowed her eyes and observed Fiona's reaction.
――Extreme Sword.
It's an existence that is half-mythical, spoken of in hushed tones.
Rumors started circulating after last year's stampede. There's a rumor that a single person charged into an army of monsters and single-handedly defeated the Catastrophe-class monster that was the "core" of the stampede.
But it's just a rumor after all. There are almost no people who seriously believe it.
Especially those who have any experience in combat-related Jobs understand how absurd this rumor is. That's why everyone has concluded that it's impossible.
That's right.
"Surrounding the Catastrophe-class monster, the "Core," were dozens of Disaster-class monsters, and hundreds more monsters from floors 31 and above of the [God's Remains Labyrinth] were said to be surrounding them.
No way a human could survive, let alone defeat the "Core," by charging into that hell alone.
(But)
However, as a member of the [Four Great Families of the Seals], Eva had access to far more detailed and reliable information about last year's stampede than ordinary people or even explorers.
It was a fact that the "Core" of the stampede had been defeated by a single person or a small group of people.
Leaders like Eva referred to this individual or unidentified group as "Extreme Sword."
(I don't think he did it alone, though)
Eva suspected that Fiona's master might be a member of this "Extreme Sword." Or maybe even Fiona herself was a member of "Extreme Sword."
(I don't know why she's hiding it, though)
She couldn't understand why she would hide a feat that deserved praise.
Unknown identity. That's why they couldn't tell if they were an enemy or an ally of Necronia.
"Hey, Eva."
But Fiona herself said with a dumbfounded look.
"You're crazy to believe such a tall tale. There's no such thing as 'Extreme Sword.'."
(It doesn't sound like she's lying...)
At least Fiona herself seemed to believe it wholeheartedly.
This foul-mouthed friend had a strong personality, but she wasn't the kind of person who could lie with a straight face.
"And that guy... well, he's skilled, I'll give him that, but he's the kind of guy who hits the limit stamp in Basic Jobs. How could he possibly defeat the 'Core' of the stampede alone?"
"Oh, so that story was true?"
Fiona's words piqued her curiosity.
Eva gathered information, and there was a rumor that Fiona's master was Basic Jobs. However, she thought it was definitely a lie. How could Basic Jobs possibly win a mock battle against a Sword Dance Maiden, even if it was just a mock battle?
However, since Fiona is asserting it, then Basic Jobs must be real.
(No, is it possible that she is lying to me?)
The possibility that she is hiding his true identity.
In any case, her master has a secret.
Putting aside the true identity of "Extreme Sword," she's very interested in strong people. Especially in these times when a stampede has just occurred, they need as many strong people as possible to prepare for any new stampedes that may occur.
"Hey, Fiona?"
That's why Eva decided to go and see him in person after all.
However, she also felt the need to verify his strength directly. There seems to be little chance that he will be disappointing, but there is no point in meeting him if he is just another ordinary person.
"U-u-what is it...?"
Sensing a bad feeling, Fiona narrowed her eyes as Eva called her name in a cat-like voice. However, the voice was suddenly weak.
"I am your patron, aren't I...?"
Eva slowly raised her slender whitefish-like hand and pointed her index finger not at Fiona, but at the space next to her.
There, on the sofa, stood a pair of twin swords.
Needless to say, these were Fiona's weapons. She had originally used only one longsword, but as a result of awakening to her unique Jobs, she had been forced to change her weapons in order to make the most of the skills she had newly acquired.
Although Fiona is a solo explorer and earns a lot of money, there are things in this world that cannot be bought with money.
In fact, Fiona is quite loose with money and often finds herself short of cash.
The friend in front of her is the one who has helped her out countless times, and it was also the friend in front of her who used the Kirke family's connections to get her the twin swords that are now her main weapon.
Basically, Fiona is completely at Eva's mercy.
She can't bring herself to say no to anything Eva asks.
"W-what are you going to make me do...!?"
Fiona asked, clutching her twin swords to her chest like a protective mother. Eva chuckled softly.
"Relax. I'm not going to ask you to do anything difficult. I was just wondering if you could sneak me a peek at you and your master having a mock sword fight. Just keep it a secret from me, okay?"
Naturally, Fiona had no choice but to agree.
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