ALAITD

chapter 24

Chapter 24: No obstacles on the true path

“Can I borrow the map, Leon? Oh, it’s actually pretty rough.”

“As long as you can read it.”

Dee compared his map to the one Leonhardt had created during the exploration.

Lysette glanced around the corner at the work.

Dee’s map was meticulous. It looked like the actual passages had been written down. There were numerous notes about trap locations and so on.

Leonhardt’s map, on the other hand, is a crude map with lines and forks, spaces, and dead ends representing roads. The map is rough compared to Dee’s map, but there is no excess or deficiency.

“You two are amazing.”

“If you’re going diving, you should know how to map a labyrinth—let’s see, the only other area we haven’t explored is this one.”

They compare the two maps and determine which areas have not yet been explored.

And they make their way to an unexplored area, but the paths are still the same and unchanged. They would get lost if they didn’t have a map.

Lysette and the others come to a stop just before a fork in the road.

There were two choices in front of them. Above them is a sign.

“There it is again, that signboard. [No Obstacles on the Path of Truth]”

“There must be numerous traps—can you take the lead, Dee?”

“…Alright, but if you leave it to me, please follow my instructions.”

“Yes, of course.”

“Never go wandering.”

Dee says firmly, looking around and leaning against the wall. He picks up a throwing knife and begins tapping the handle here and there against the wall.

—Does he listen to the sound?

“…Maybe this way.”

Dee points down the path.

“Be careful, don’t put your hands on the wall, because there’s a trap there—spears and arrows will be thrown at you.”

“Y-Yes.”

Another fork in the road then appears. Again they follow Dee’s instructions.

“Stop! There’s an Arachne thread at your feet. If you are caught, you will be hanged.”

Although Dee points, Lysette doesn’t notice the thread.

But if she concentrates and looks closely, she can see a thread glinting in the light and rising slightly off the ground.

—If I hadn’t been told, I never would have noticed it.

“…My last group got lost here for a long time. We followed the board, but turned back when we hit a trap.”

Dee chuckles as they proceed.

“I think this is the right way to go, though. It’s just a guess. More traps will come up. Do you want to go back?”

“Why? I’ll leave it up to Dee so you can go your own way. Leon doesn’t seem to mind, does he?”

Dee looks at Leonhardt with slightly worried eyes.

“Experience and intuition are the sources of knowledge. And intuition backed by experience is very accurate. It pays to have faith.”

“You’re exaggerating—you can tell me when we’re safely through this.”