Chapter 75: The Labyrinth of Dreams Part 3

I didn't know how much time had passed. After all, this was literally a "dream". Having endured the gazes of the portraits for a while, I stopped walking because the endless succession of portraits had suddenly disappeared. Now, in place of the portraits, "doors" occupied the lengthy corridor.

The doors varied greatly in appearance. Some were made of wood, others of stone; some were merely draped with a curtain, some transparent, some opaque, and some were so bizarre that it was hard to tell if they were doors at all.

A diverse array of doors stretched out in a line. Perhaps the only shared trait was that each door bore the name of a family.

Most likely, these doors guarded the inherited knowledge, memories, and "secrets" of each family.

Most of the doors were securely locked. Only members of the respective families or the Queen herself could open these locked doors. I passed quickly by these locked doors. Even the door of the Sylvanus family who had lent me the flower pot would not open to my touch so I had no choice but to move on.

However, occasionally, there were doors that were wide open. Old doors, broken doors too. These probably belonged to "banished" families. Even though they were open and I could enter, there was nothing of use inside them. There was only dust floating around. Ah, and sometimes there was a black lump wriggling inside. No attacks happened, but it still gave me an uneasy feeling, as if it was watching me just like the portraits.

Let's just do some light exploration today and then head back.

I had no idea how vast the labyrinth of dreams was, so I hurried my steps with the intention of just taking a quick look around before Ayla would wake me up. Despite walking endlessly, the corridor seemed to have no end. Elves were the second most prosperous race on the continent after humans, so it was understandable that numerous families existed…. but this was still too much.

-Whoooooo…

-Pop.

-Pop!

Just as I was starting to feel tired, a strange whistling sound accompanied the butterflies that were following me, and they began to buzz busily around. With a sense of hope, I quickened my slow pace and finally!

The end of the corridor came into view.

"Ah, it's incredibly long."

At the end of the corridor was a vast hall, and in the center of the hall, something familiar was placed.

-Sssshhhh!

It was the fully blossomed Guardian Tree.

From somewhere in the endless ceiling, silver water was falling onto the Guardian Tree.

Holy water…

It was the same water used in the Ritual of Proof. Even in the labyrinth of dreams, it was perfectly reproduced. The Guardian Tree looked exactly the same…

I watched the Guardian Tree for a long time, then reached out my hand. I wanted to see if the Guardian Tree would respond to me, just like it did during the Ritual of Proof.

It seems impossible to use my skills here, but let's see…

-Oooom…

Contrary to my tension, the moment my hand touched it, the Guardian Tree began to vibrate slightly. Then suddenly,

-Pop!!!!

Just like during the Ritual of Proof, not just one but many buds on each branch burst open.

The previously barren branches were suffused with a green light, and soon, round petals reminiscent of silver bells began to bloom. It was a sight just as marvelous upon a second look.

-Sssshhhh…

But that was not all.

As an abundance of flowers enveloped the entire Guardian Tree, golden flags began to descend from the ceiling. The flags were adorned with Queen Dianta's flower emblem and they fluttered softly between the petals. I stood there with a dazed look on my face and just watched the spectacle.

-Whoooooo…

The whistle sounded again but this time more clearly. I looked in the direction from which the sound came.

"…Stairs?"

There was a transparent staircase that seemed to be made of crystal. The stairs that were built to go around and around the guardian tree were so high that it was impossible to tell where they ended.

Just when I thought the corridor had ended, now there were stairs…

I looked up with a sense of resignation. I had no idea how long it would take. It would be good if I could find something before morning.

I began to ascend the crystal staircase slowly. The butterflies continued to follow me.

How much time had passed?

It seems I've easily surpassed a hundred steps.

Looking down, I saw the Guardian Tree shining faintly from a dizzying distance. I felt dizzy for a moment. Oh, shit. Don't look down. Let's walk while looking upward.

After walking, walking, and walking some more.

-Hwiiiiiii!

This time, a more cheerful whistle reached my ears. I quickly looked up to scan my surroundings. And far away, a group of butterflies was fluttering around. I cautiously approached the area.

"...!"

It was strange.

The surroundings which had been brightly lit just a moment ago turned into darkness as soon as I came down from the crystal stairs. After walking about three steps, the surroundings were wrapped in pitch-black darkness, and I could no longer tell where the crystal staircase was anymore. Damn it, it was like being in a dungeon that wasn't a dungeon. I relied on the light from the fluttering butterflies nearby to move forward.

Beyond the thick darkness I had pushed through…

-…You are?

There stood a beautiful woman with golden hair longer than she was tall. Her ears were unusually long and pointed, much like those of a butterfly. Naturally, she was an elf. Butterflies fluttered around her.

Of course, I recognized who this woman was.

"Nice to meet you, Your Majesty."

The Elf Queen, Dianta.

She looked at me with eyes so clear they were almost transparent.

-How did you come to be here…?

"I was asked to come."

Her expression was unreadable. I quietly waited for her to continue.

-So, you came here because you were asked to?

It was a weak voice that sounded almost like a laugh. I nodded my head.

-In the labyrinth of dreams, the one not chosen…

-Could it be because of 'that incident'…?

-Ah, of course…

The Queen murmured to herself for a while. It didn't seem like a major issue at first glance… Why was the Sylvanus family so worried about her?

-Fate has led you here…

-Good. I needed help…

Typical of a grand Queen. I was silently listening to the Queen's words when I noticed something strange.

"Your Majesty, your legs…"

The Queen's legs had hardened like wood and were rooting into the ground.

Upon closer inspection, I could see what looked like black thorny vines sprouting from the ground, climbing up her legs and binding her up to her knees. Feeling that something was seriously wrong, I reached for the vines. Then.

-Whaaack!!!!

The black thorny vines lashed out like whips. They grew longer and longer and began to constrict the Queen's body. The Queen who was just about to speak to me groaned in pain.

-No…!

"Wa-Wait, just a moment! There must be some way!"

-'He' has noticed…

"He? Who is he?"

-Run. If he finds you, you too…

Before the Queen could finish her words, a vast darkness revealed itself.

– Find 'Grizel'. And…

The darkness swallowed the Queen's body. She barely managed to stretch out her hand and chant something. Suddenly, the fluttering butterflies around her caused a massive explosion. I was blown back by the shock and began to fall.

Sh*t!

My body fell endlessly. There was no magical power here to stop the fall, and at this height, death seemed inevitable. Maybe it would be alright since this was a dream? But if my brain perceived death in the dream as real…

I might actually die!

Just as the ground rushed closer and closer.

– Kungg!

– Kung, kung!

A sound as familiar as an alarm clock struck my ears. I "opened my eyes" reflexively. That meant I really "opened my eyes". The dream landscape melted away like snow, and what I saw was the warm sunlight pouring in through the window and Ayla looking down at me.

"Huff…"

…I survived. I thought I was really going to die. I swallowed dryly. I then rolled off the bed and my back hurt just like someone with severe sleep issues.

"Ah, ouch…"

Ayla carefully grabbed my clothes and helped me up as I lay upside down. I sat dazedly while staring at the guardian tree branch in the pot on the nightstand. The butterfly made of light perched on the tip of the branch quietly vanished.

"…. She said to find Grizel."

To ensure I wouldn't forget the Queen's words, I carefully penned the name "Grizel" into the quest section of the old book.

The Elf Queen, master of the Labyrinth of Dreams, is held captive by something. What exactly is happening?

As described in the quest section, the Labyrinth of Dreams was a place where a powerful barrier created by ancient elf magic was active. It was a kind of mental realm where it was difficult to wield any power unless you were very skilled.

In such a space, someone was holding the Elf Queen captive.

"It seems more serious than I thought…"

Currently, there was no more information available. It would have been better if I could have spoken with the Elf Queen at length.

For now, it seemed my only option was to meet again with the Sylvanus family.

– Gurgle…

… Though I need to eat first.

***

"Indeed, that's what happened."

After hearing my story, Mrs. Sylvanus nodded her head as if she understood everything.

"Yes. It seemed there was nothing more I could do."

"...."

"Perhaps, for such an important matter, it might be better to seek someone else…"

"No."

Mrs. Sylvanus's blue eyes looked at me. They were now filled with a stronger conviction than before.

"You said you saw the doors."

"…Yes? Yes."

"All elves who enter the Labyrinth of Dreams wake up 'inside' their own 'door'."

"Huh?"

"They can only move within the space assigned to their lineage. But you…"

"..."

"You roamed freely 'outside' the doors. Just like…"

Like the Queen. Perhaps thinking her words were disrespectful, Mrs. Sylvanus paused for a moment.

"The likelihood of Darion's words being correct has increased. You might indeed be a descendant of the ancient elves."

"..."

"Even if you're not a descendant, the fact that you are a noble who can help us remains unchanged."

"That's…"

"If you are the key to saving Her Majesty the Queen, we cannot give up."

"..."

"We will provide whatever you desire. Please accept…. this request."

[A chain quest has appeared: Find the Queen!]