The Hero’s Brother Is Bound To Be Depressed

474 – Stagnant water in the labyrinth

Ellie narrowed her eyes and said as Ross suddenly muttered to himself and his expression changed.

“… Who are you talking to? “It’s also a bit strange.”

Ross cleared his throat and looked playful again.

“Uh huh, I just broke the fourth wall for a moment. Well, seeing as the connection was immediately disconnected… Can this magic only be maintained in my world? I had a lot more questions to ask… ! “Kabi!”

Ellie was about to open her mouth to point out her lack of serious attitude, but Ross cut her off in a rather serious voice.

“I’m sorry, but could you briefly explain the situation? Why did the last Ross enter the labyrinth and what problem has arisen now? “We have plenty of time to talk, so please organize your thoughts and explain in as much detail as possible.”

Ellie took a deep breath, took a moment to gather her thoughts, and then explained in as much detail as possible what had happened to Ross. Her relationship with herself, as well as the death of Luna, whom Ross loved, and the purpose of entering the labyrinth. Everything from the revealed identity of the cult leader to the precious relationships Ross lost in the labyrinth.

As Ross listened to all the explanations, the atmosphere was completely different from before and he felt like a different person. Ellie, who finished her explanation thinking that the dignity of an archmage still exists, shrugged her shoulders slightly at the sight of transparent blue eyes that seemed to look right through her.

“… “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Feeling a strange sense of anxiety, Ellie raised the corners of her mouth slightly and asked, and Ross smiled bitterly.

“I only found out now. “Your condition.”

“… .”

“Are you okay? No, can you hold on?”

“Yes, of course it’s okay.”

At Ellie’s bright answer, Ross lowered his head and rubbed his forehead with his fingertips.

“… “I don’t know the details, but I can guess that in that state of your body, it’s not just pain, but extreme pain that melts your bones and flesh.”

Ross raised his head and looked at Ellie, his eyes filled with concern and sympathy. Instead of avoiding that gaze, Ellie only maintained a faint smile.

“How on earth can I endure the pain of my internal organs being eaten away at every moment and my entire soul burning? That’s not a level that can simply be called mental strength. “He probably placed a certain curse or restriction on himself.”

Ross, who said that, found the correct answer before Ellie could answer.

“… I see, it’s Geass.”

“That’s right, because the ring wasn’t the only object imbued with the power of ‘Geas’ that Ross used. “I could barely find one.”

Ross’ eyes fell on the obsidian earrings on Ellie’s ears. Ross stared at Ellie for a moment, then let out a long sigh and a bitter laugh.

“… Honestly, I somewhat sympathize with what the religious leader said. The person I knew would never do something like this for me. So I’m curious. “Are you really doing it for Rothman’s sake?”

Ellie realized that this Ross was definitely different from the Ross she knew. Unlike Ross, who pretends not to know and chooses to swallow the pain himself, this Archmage gets to the point right away.

“… “It’s not just for Ross, it’s for everyone.”

“I see. “Then should I say it’s just like you?”

I got the answer I wanted, but Ross’ expression looked bitter. Ross, who was lost in thought for a moment while touching his chin, soon changed his expression and returned to his playful self.

“So, among the people who received Ross’s memories, who are still alive?”

“Eunice, Lamine… And Bella.”

“what—!!! Bella?”

Ellie asked with a puzzled look at Ross’s sudden reaction of being scared and screaming.

“Why are you so surprised?”

“No, did you even give your memories to that crazy yandere? “Is that why it got to this point?”

“Yandere… ? “W-what is that?”

Ross, who was silent for a moment while pounding his forehead with his fist, looked at Ellie and slid off the chair, his body limp like slime.

“It means a crazy b*tch who will do anything for Roel.”

“… “I heard there was no Roel in the world you were in?”

“That’s why I became even crazier! “Because the person I loved suddenly evaporated in an instant without saying a word!”

Ross adjusted his posture again and spoke firmly as if warning Ellie.

“Listen carefully. Bella, this crazy b*tch joined hands with the Demon King to get Roel back and sacrificed the entire human world. I failed to prevent destruction and was forced to flee into the labyrinth with the people. No matter how strong I am, according to the setting, the only one who can kill the Demon King is Roel, who holds the title of ‘Hero.’”

“… “You didn’t lose to the Demon King because of your skills?”

Ross exploded with anger at Ellie’s deep tackle.

“Hey, I haven’t been in serious mode even once since I became an archmage! In the first place, I was so strong that if I showed my true skills, the power of my magic would have destroyed the human world, not the Demon King! Entering the labyrinth was an inevitable choice!”

Ellie, who was watching with interest as Ross demonstrated various magic while demonstrating his strength, asked with a curious look.

“Did you also enter the labyrinth to get the Holy Grail?”

“… So I used this magic to kill the magic tower lords, huh? Holy Grail? There is no such thing in our world. “Entering the labyrinth was simply a choice to avoid destruction.”

Only then did Ellie remember that the other world of Ross was a place where discarded settings were not resurrected. “It’s a complicated story,” Ross said to Ellie, who covered her face with both hands on the table and did the same.

“Well, I understand that this is a special world where discarded settings have been revived. however… It’s the Holy Grail. “Does that really exist?”

Ellie’s brow furrowed reflexively.

“… Of course there is. Otherwise, why would the leader and Roel enter the labyrinth aiming for the Holy Grail?”

Ross said, tapping his cheek with his finger in response to Ellie’s question.

“The time I escaped into the labyrinth and survived was hundreds of years in my world. It’s play time that can be called the stagnant water in the labyrinth. Of course, it was possible thanks to the information of many readers… Anyway, I climbed the labyrinth to the end thousands of times, but it always ended on the 8th floor.”

“what… ?”

Ellie’s eyes shook greatly. If the labyrinth really only goes up to the 8th floor like Ross said… This means that Ross’s act of sacrificing a lot to obtain the Holy Grail was all in vain.

Ross continued.

“The concept of the 9th and 10th floors does not exist. In the first place, the 8th floor is the floor where everything was completely completed. Should I call it a kind of compensation room? After that, there is only one way to exit the labyrinth or the door to the first floor―――”

At the same time that Ross stopped talking, Ellie could also hear a sharp ringing in her ears. Ross, who had been blank-eyed for a moment, lifted her lowered face and looked at Ellie with clear eyes.

“Hehe, something really strange just happened to me? I now have information about the 9th and 10th floors of the labyrinth that didn’t exist in my head. He is even convinced that the Holy Grail is real! It seems like the administrator mustered the last of his strength and forcibly connected the broken fourth wall and passed on the information… Anyway, thank you for your valuable support, Patulga! Calculate the possible aftereffects yourself! “It’s the last time~!”

Ellie, who was looking at Ross shouting into space, urgently intervened.

“Sleep, wait… Fatulga?”

“what?”

“The manager… “You mean Fatulga?”

Ellie’s eyes turned to Fatulga’s magic book that was lying on the table. Ross followed that gaze and nodded as if it was natural.

“You didn’t know? The administrator’s nickname is Patulgaya. In the first place, Rosalyn’s magic book was from the Farrell family. “Roughly speaking, the role of the administrator is to secretly intervene in a world that has fallen into the trap of shackles and provide help to the world’s characters to break the shackles.”

With a face full of confusion, Ellie asked sincerely.

“What on earth is a manager?” ?”

“I don’t know exactly. I heard you’re a low-level manager at a company? Creation, reality, virtual, parallel, multiple… Well, he’s the person who manages all kinds of confusing worlds. Ugh! “Seeing the static electricity forming on my fingertips, I don’t think I should mention it any further.”

Ross, who was shaking his hands with a pained face, turned his head and looked at Ross lying on the bed.

“In my world, there was no cult leader, let alone Roel. He must have followed Roel because he knew he had abandoned our world. “He must be a difficult guy to deal with, seeing as he even killed the Controller beforehand.”

“… “Is there any way to wake Ross up again?”

Ross smiled brightly as he turned his head to Ellie, who was biting her lip.

“Hey, have you already forgotten who I am?”

Seeing Ross snapping his fingers, Ellie sighed and placed her hand on her forehead. She didn’t want to speak with her own mouth, but seeing Ross’ childish appearance, which gave off the impression that she had no intention of continuing the conversation until she spoke, she had no choice but to open her mouth.

“… Ma, the king of wizards!”

“okay! I am the king of wizards! A genius king who can even use magic belonging to the Adjuster’s [Power]! Nothing is impossible to me. Kuhahahahaha—!”

Ellie frowned at the childishness of using magic to make people laugh so loudly, then sighed and said.

“Yeah, I know you’re amazing. Wake up Ross right now.”

“Aha, but I can’t do it now.”

“… .”

As Ellie slowly raised the cane with a shadowy face, Ross hurriedly waved both hands and shouted urgently.

“Mi, you have to get ingredients from the labyrinth to wake it up! This can’t be helped! “You know that if you want to imitate the abilities of the Authority, it’s impossible with just regular magic!”

“… “Are you sure you can do it?”

To Eli, who pointed his wand as if suspicious, the King of Wizards said with the most handsome smile he could muster.

“Hey, are you ready to take the bus to the stagnant person in the labyrinth? “A limited express bus that never stops no matter how many times you ring the bell—keaaa!”

Ellie was unable to suppress her rising emotions and eventually threw a fire spell at Ross, who was holding the poop form.