A Misunderstood Mentor

iscovered this dungeon.
I push the front of that cross and, along with the sound of creaking iron, the floor gives way to a staircase.

“So this is the Demon lord’s labyrinth”
“That’s right”

Ten years ago, without realising, I explored this place with Nuruhachi and the others.
Did Nuruhachi come here knowing it was the Demon Lord’s Labyrinth I wonder.

Deep in the dark, with only the light of the lamps, I descend down the stone spiral staircase that seems to go on forever.

I can hear footsteps overlapping.
They must be following behind me.
It was like this too when I came with Nuruhachi and Rick and the others.
I’m always being protected by strong comrades.

After this let’s properly return together.
Feeling a sense of comfort from those overlapping footsteps, I continue to tread down the stairs.

We arrive at the innermost portion.
The extravagantly ornate double doors have not changed at all since ten years ago.

“Impossible, it won’t open”

That reminds me, at first no matter how much she tried, Nuruhachi was unable to open these doors.

“I can’t open it even with the mana I’ve stored to my limits.
It can’t be, are they still becoming stronger!?”

She said something like that.
As expected, Nuruhachi knew that this place was the Demon Lord’s Labyrinth.
After that, Rick, Sasha, Bartz all tried various ways to open the door but it didn’t budge.

“If it won’t open then it can’t be helped.
Let’s go back and eat”

As the others resigned themselves, I leaned against the door carefreely and tried to comfort everyone.

At that time, my body began to tilt.
With my weight against the door, it opened easily as if it wasn’t locked at all and I fell into the room.
There I met Alice for the first time.

Why was I the only one able to open the door I wonder.
If it’s the same as that time, the door should be simple to open.
Tense and uneasy, I put my hand on the door.

With the sound of rusted metal, the door opens easily.

At that moment, I hear a thump behind me.

“You can come out now.
I know you’ve been following me the whole time”
“Is that so, as expected of you”

!?
I look over my shoulder in a panic at the husky voice I wasn’t expecting.

“So you’ve returned here as I thought.
Demon lord Takumi”

With the Holy Sword Excalibur in hand and wearing a blue cape, the pretty boy with red hair, the Hero End, is standing there.

“H- Huh! Where’s Reia and Chiharu?”

Behind End, the sad faces of Reia and Chiharu, whose entry scene had been stolen, can be seen.

“I don’t need to wait for the great martial tournament.
I’ll defeat you here”

Facing against End with Excalibur drawn, I reflexively draw Demon Sword Karna.

“Takkun, this is bad”
“Aah, since he’s the hero right.
He must be fairly strong”
“Not that.
From inside the room beyond those doors.
There’s something”

With a sudden chill, as if shrouded in darkness, an eerie atmosphere floods out from within.
Instinctively I look towards the room.

In that moment, End makes a great swing with Excalibur towards the crown of my head.

Translator’s Notes:
1: Another made up name for an animal, maybe a bird of some kind.
2: Bloaters are a reference to an enemy that appears in dragon quest 7.

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