Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

The sun rose, the song ended, and the elegiac ceremony came to an end.

It's morning, and bathed in sunlight, I've arrived at the "First Cemetery," located in the southeastern part of the city. I've come with a bouquet of flowers to mourn the deceased adventurer, Miss Celia.

I visited the Delling Family a few hours earlier, and Mr. Edgar told me that she had been buried. He looked very haggard, and thanked me again when he saw me.

Following his explanation, I arrived at a corner of the cemetery.

In this narrow clearing stands an unmarked tombstone; this is the burial plot that the "Dellin Familia" bought for Miss Celia.

In this vast public cemetery known as the "Adventurers' Graveyard," countless similar tombstones stand side by side. Looking around, the stone steps and tombstones at one's feet are all made of white stone, which is the appearance of the world imagined by the people of the lower realm—"the Celestial Realm."

"..."

The air here is very clear, even a little chilly.

Through Lily's introduction, I bought a bouquet of flowers from a flower shop run by an elderly couple and placed it in front of the grave. Then I closed my eyes. Although I didn't know how to pray or mourn, I still expressed my condolences for my colleague.

After everything was settled, I slowly opened my eyes.

"This is my second time here..."

The first time was the day I first came to Orario.

I also came to this pure white cemetery, and even reached the dark tombstone deep inside—

"—?"

Remembering how clueless I was back then, I couldn't help but look deeper into the cemetery.

A young girl stood quietly in front of the tombstone, which she had assumed would be deserted.

(she is……)

It was a familiar-looking back view, and I walked forward in surprise.

I walked through the adventurers' tombstones and came to stand behind that person. The person in front of me noticed me and slowly turned around.

This is a golden-eyed, blonde girl whose beautiful long hair flows in the wind.

"Ms. Ais..."

The pure white sunlight shone between us, and Miss Ais looked at me with some surprise.

Under the glaring sunlight, I always felt that person seemed to be... crying.

"You are……"

Miss Ais blinked, and upon closer inspection, she realized she wasn't crying. Her face remained as calm as ever, just like the usual Miss Ais.

As if to dispel my illusion, she walked up to me.

"You're here to sweep the tombs too?"

"Yes, it is……"

"That's it..."

Miss Ais, who came before me, lowered her eyes.

We stood there silently for a moment, then she looked up.

"goodbye……"

She said a brief goodbye and then walked past me.

Miss Ais walked towards the entrance of the cemetery.

"..."

Watching her departing figure, I seemed to have something on my mind and looked ahead again.

I walked forward and observed carefully with my eyes wide open.

This is a 5-meter-high monument built of black stone.

Unlike the white tombstones of adventurers... these are the graves of "ancient" heroes.

Just like in the "Labyrinth Oratorio" that I loved so much in my childhood, these great heroes risked their lives on this land of Orario to stop the monsters surging out of the "cave" and save the world.

Coincidentally, I am now standing before the tombstones of heroes, just as I did on the day I first arrived and visited this cemetery.

(A dirge...? Did Miss Ais also offer flowers to the heroes...?)

The monument was covered with flowers, and many lit candles were also placed there.

Looking down at my feet, I shifted my gaze to the spot where that person had just been standing.

That is the deepest part of this forest of monuments—the name of a hero is engraved on them.

(Hero, Albert...?)

His name not only appears in "Heroes of the Labyrinth", but he is also a great hero praised in many fairy tales.

It was clear that the person was mourning the hero, because a newly placed bouquet of pure white flowers was swaying in the wind in front of the dark monument.

Just as I stood there silently reciting the hero's name...

Suddenly, a memory flashed through my mind.

(The great hero Albert... I remember there were also many other names in the book, such as Albert Oseres, the Sword Master... No, not just those, I remember there were also—)

I feel like I'm about to remember.

I once wrote something in one of the epic tales I've read so well—

That was the title recorded in the book "The Sacred Tale of the Labyrinth" that my grandfather gave me—

This great hero's title is—

"—The Mercenary King Valentinestan"

Poof.

I was deeply shocked after hearing that name.

He is the strongest hero to appear in the final chapter of "Labyrinth Oratorio".

He leads a group known in ancient times as "mercenaries" and "explorers"—in modern terms, adventurers.

In other words, he is truly the "King of Adventurers".

(Wallentstein...Wallentstein?)

I made this association as I trembled.

It's commonplace to label children as heroes these days, because people generally believe that doing so will bring them the protection of heroes.

But is what's happening right now... really just a coincidence?

That person is now one of the strongest adventurers and has been crowned with the title of the strongest hero.

In addition, "Sword Girl" Ais Wallenstein laid a bouquet of flowers at the tombstone of the mercenary king.

"..."

I slowly turned around to look.

The long golden hair on the other side of the line of sight had already disappeared into the distance.

She left me speechless and walked further and further away, until finally, the figure I had longed for disappeared into the morning glow.

Side Story: Sword Oratoria 6 Prologue - A Mid-Spring Night's Dream

The Taiwanese version is from the Kingdom of Light

Image source: Otonashi

Scan image: Wind

Input by: Xiaomantou

Photo editing: Hayami Iori

My vision was blurry.

The tinnitus doesn't stop.

Upon realizing the source of the constant shaking, the first feeling was nausea.

The intense shouts and the vibrations of countless feet pounding the ground.

The world, surrounded by stone, trembled, resonating with the shouts from afar. Iron bars adorned the small windows, the blue sky and sunlight outside remaining forever out of reach. The large, cold room, like a stone prison, was filled with the stench of mildew and rust.

Two machetes lay in the corner of the room, their blades gleaming, waiting to be used.

The scene shifted to another location.

The tactile sensation of a mask that narrows one's vision. Light shines through the repulsive gate. Pushing aside the darkness and passing through the gate, one is enveloped in an even more ferocious and foolish scream. The arena is packed with countless spectators.

Facing off enemies appearing at the two gates, gripping his weapon tightly, he ran towards them as they charged forward.

The enemies changed constantly, one after another. A pack of white wolves spitting large drops of saliva, a minotaur wielding a club, a dragon bound by chains, or a girl of their own kind. After a series of clanging swords and halberds, the last thing standing was always their own two legs.

As the loser lay at his feet, the moment the outcome was revealed, the arena erupted along with the burning sun.

—Flat-top, majestic! Flat-top, majestic! Flat-top, majestic!

A word that doesn't belong to the common language (Koine) was shouted repeatedly and rained down on him.

The blessings of the female warrior, which overwhelmed the audience, even shook the twilight sky.

The sky I looked up at was always an endless expanse of crimson.

Scene changes, scene changes.

A goddess with a hazy smile.

A female warrior, repeatedly knocking herself to the ground, looked down at her. She laughed. Cheers and roars filled the air, an unstoppable frenzy.

The indistinct screams and splattered blood disappeared into that space.

Reflected on the surface of the Brilliant Weapon is my own increasingly blurred vision.

A faded world that repeats the same period of time.

My gaze drifted down unintentionally.

What I saw was my own hands, stained red with blood—

Tiony woke up at that moment.

✿

"...This is terrible."

Tiony woke up, looked up at the ceiling of her room, and whispered.

His room at headquarters was dimly lit, the outside world shrouded in gloom before dawn. Turning his eyes, he saw the clock's short hand about to move to the number four.

"The expedition just ended..."

Lying in bed, enveloped in the unique weariness of waking up, Tiony lay on her back, frowning in disgust.

Then, "Bang!"

Suddenly, a pillow next to me flew in a parabolic arc.

Tiony caught it quickly.

She sat up without a word, glanced to the side, and saw her sister had kicked off the blanket and was fast asleep, sprawled out in a starfish position. Tiona shared a room with her at base camp.

Seeing her younger sister not only throwing pillows at people while half-asleep, but also with a flippant sleeping expression, Tione got furious and threw the pillow hard at her face. But the level one adventurer female warrior (Amazon) remained asleep and slapped the pillow back at her.

Seeing the pillow fall to the ground with a thud, Thione clicked her tongue.

"...This guy hasn't changed a bit since then."

After looking at her blood-related younger sister's face, she revealed a hint of annoyance and envy, and murmured:

"I'll go take a shower..."

Tiony sighed and got out of bed.

She took her change of clothes, dressed in what looked like underwear, and left the room.

"Tione... mmm..."

A few minutes later.