The [Hero’s Apocalypse] was divided into four (4) different eras with their own corresponding significance in the grand scheme of history.
The Genesis Era (also known as the Era of Origin), the believed-to-be undocumented ancient years veiled in ominous mysteries.
The Divinity Era (also known as the Era of Black and White Divinity), the time of good and evil, when holy wars in the name of heavens were in everyday life of civilization.
The Ascension Era (also known as the Era of Founding Hero), the light in the darkness that transpired around two thousand years ago and had given birth to the Seven Hero Bloodlines as per the Founding Hero’s will in the name of the Goddess of Light.
The Era of Eternal Conflict (presently known as the Eternal Cycle), something that was filled with the advancement of civilization in terms of magical technology, humanity’s technological innovations, and the rise and stabilization of orthodox religions and unending conflict between humanity and demonkind.
"Then which era the White Princess belongs to?"
For this expedition, the entire military force was divided into four forces, with each force having its corresponding crucial role. In the [Raid Force], which possessed 99 people, including me as its sole leader, one person asked such a simple yet significant question.
In the middle of the night, as we set up tents to camp and rest, I faced the 98 of them, who were quietly and intently listening to the information I was carefully delivering.
Looking at my sister, whose expression was filled with genuine wonder, I said with a solemn expression,
"The remnants of the White Princess Labyrinth once belonged to the Divinity Era, roughly tens of thousands of years ago before the First Hero was even born..."
Every information I had for this expedition was due to the [True Hero]’s journey throughout the original story, something I had read numerous times.
Becoming a temporary inquisitor of the Church of Luminary as her main commission in the Hero Academy’s [Commission Semester], Alana Sol Astraea managed to persecute numerous hidden cults worshipping either recorded evil deities or deities that were born from the cultists’ own insanity.
In one of Alana’s journeys, she discovered an underground archive containing many historical records of the ancient eras. Though these deemed heretical records were eventually preserved to the critical level, piquing her interest, she had promptly read about several labyrinths and their corresponding locations across the Continent of Divinica.
’One of them was the White Princess Labyrinth... and regarding its accuracy, I’m certain it’ll be there...’
Considering the time she explored the Dark Forest for the sake of getting stronger and fulfilling the missions given by the Goddess of Light, as the True Hero, she reached for the labyrinths her mind vividly remembered just based on the information she briefly acquired.
’Among the labyrinths Alana had explored, the White Princess Labyrinth was a place she did not reach... because I remember she had been urgently summoned by the Church due to the sudden appearance of one of the Demon God’s Apostle.’
If I said this was not a gamble based on that information alone, I would be lying.
However, pattern-wise, it would be there.
’It has to be there...’ I steeled my resolve.
The Raid Force – or the advance party that would deal with whatever threat to be encountered, especially the possibility of any haunted residing in the White Princess Labyrinth.
The Backup Force – fifty men of various specializations such as ’messengers’ and ’scouts’ carefully marching on the rear of Raid Force for any potential uninvited guests.
The Food Supply Force – one hundred personnel in numerous horse-driven wagons filled with supplies such as food reserves for every existing force, especially the one marching in front.
The Regulatory Force – the remaining fifty to sixty men in charge of the Eshu County’s security and order in the absence of its lord. It was insufficient, but considering Lugh’s generosity and the opportunities he had provided since he arrived, the people themselves chose to uproot anything that would disrupt their own peace.
If someone tried to do anything stupid, the soldiers wouldn’t even need to step in to settle the situation.
An unnamed woman in her early twenties, one who belonged to the [Raid Force], jotted down in her mind every bit of information that her seemingly crazy new lord blabbered given the chance.
"You are Yena, right?" Drowned in her thoughts, another female soldier, one of the five squad leaders, pulled her up to reality.
"Ah...? Yes, why?" Yena didn’t deny it.
Looking at the source of the voice, as they sat in front of a bonfire, Yena saw a pair of unusual grey-hued eyes and fluttering long dark strands under the starry night.
It was Azrabel, whose expression seemed to be always dull.
"You’re one of the slaves from the Golden Crown, right? Where did you come from? How did you become a slave? You see, it seems our lord was scammed by that merchant guild for dumping rapists and cold-blooded murderers in the mix. From fifty to forty-five... considering the price of one slave, it’s costly. But among the ranks, it’s eventually revealed that every slave was a part of some sort of deal? I guess our lord can strike a high-stakes trade even with the famous Golden Crown, huh..."
Yena’s mouth was agape, unable to process what she had just heard... No, it’s not the message, but rather Azrabel herself.
’I-Is she this talkative...? What the hell’s up with this woman?’ Yena muttered.
All this time, she had observed closely every squad leader appointed by their young lord.
It was the first time she saw Azrabel babble this way.
"Ah... W-wait, I’ll have to... you know." Yena abruptly stood, clutching her abdomen for a moment, before leaving to walk towards the dim bushes and trees, serving as the perimeters of the camp.
In this part of the forest, just several meters from the camp, Yena quietly moved and gently whistled.
In the next moment, as she stretched her hand into nothingness, a smooth flapping of wings echoed in her ears. Subsequently, a pigeon gently landed on her forearm before she whispered to it...
Or at least she tried to when a dagger brushed past her skin, piercing the helpless bird.
Yena then heard a cold voice from behind.
"The lord was right... it seems the Golden Crown couldn’t just leave the territory peacefully... so they planted a spy."
Looking at Azrabel who swiftly arrived, Yena’s eyes widened in horror.
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
’What just happened? Did I get caught? What went wrong?!’ She racked her mind, thinking of any possibility. But she could not come up with rational reasons.
"There’s no use denying it."
It was then that a voice from above prompted Yena to look up, seeing Lugh lying leisurely on a thick tree branch as if it were the most normal thing to sleep on.
"You can go back. I don’t know if you’ll be safe though."