Chapter 110: A Room You Can't Leave Without S.M. (2)

“Not yet?”

“We, we’re almost there.”

The Guild-affiliated pathfinder answered, trembling to Lydia’s repeated urging.

Flaming red hair and eyes of a different hue, standing out starkly alone. Her chest, proudly revealed thanks to her bikini armor, shook violently with her hurried steps.

Though short in stature, the sight of her carrying a massive greatsword on her shoulder was nothing short of intimidating.

In fact, she possessed the power of a walking heavy weapon and was recklessly exuding her aura, unlike her usual self.

To be precise, it would be more accurate to say she couldn’t control her aura and it was spilling everywhere.

The reason was simple. A request from the Guild. A crazy mage who killed five senior mages of the Magic Tower, stole the divine artifact they were guarding, and the highest-grade Magic Stone, and then fled.

The result of tracking Morgana Deathweaver indicated she had headed to the second floor of the Labyrinth.

That’s right. The same second floor where Jonah and Benny are adventuring.

Most of those who cause trouble in Pangrave and run away, head to the Labyrinth.

The city’s security system is more robust than one can imagine, and even if they manage to escape, there’s no suitable place to hide.

Due to the War of the Fallen Gods a thousand years ago, the habitable areas on the continent of Pan have significantly decreased. There were no places to hide from others’ eyes.

Thus, they head to the Labyrinth. Especially to the third floor and above, where the map is incomplete.

The Labyrinth is vast, complex, and poses dangers to both the escapee and the pursuer.

However, those who cause trouble in the first place are not the kind to fear danger.

To their eyes, it would look like a land of growth as well as a natural trap to fend off pursuers.

It’s no coincidence that the largest criminal organization on the Pan Continent, One Who Devours the Twilight, is hiding inside the Labyrinth.

But why would she head to the second floor, where the map is completely drawn, even though she isn’t lacking in ability?

This means that Morgana didn’t head to the Labyrinth simply to escape.

And Lydia, who had been in a party with Benny for a long time, knew well that what Morgana wanted most was her party members.

Benny is in danger. And Jonah, who is by her side, is no exception.

That ominous fact was driving Lydia’s mind.

As if to relieve the frustration swirling in her chest, Lydia swiftly cut down the kobold that appeared just in time.

Slash.

“Wow….”

The monster vanished without even a chance to scream. It is natural for a high-ranking adventurer active on the seventh floor to overpower a monster on the second floor with overwhelming force.

However, the speed invisible even to the eyes of a mid-tier adventurer of the fourth floor, who had officially received the title of ‘Pathfinder’ from the Guild for his tracking and trap-disarming skills, was certainly astonishing.

Of course, Lydia couldn’t even afford the time to be impressed.

“Just focus on finding the way. Which way at the next fork?”

“Oh, yes! Turn left!”

The Pathfinder was tracing Morgana’s tracks as quickly as possible. Watching this, the high-ranking adventurer who also received a request from the Guild, ‘Barbarian Hippolyte’, clicked her tongue.

“Tsk tsk. Why are you bullying that poor guide? You seem unusually sensitive today…frustrated?”

“It’s not like that.”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“Hey. No way. Even the most noble knight has desires, right? If you’re embarrassed, just leave it to this sister. I can satisfy even someone who’s a first-timer.”

“…What Morgana is aiming for is probably Benny.”

“Oh, um. Benny, the little spell caster who’s always with you? The one who carries around that disgusting slime in her shadow.”

“That’s right.”

“Sss. If your companion is in danger, that’s understandable. But you don’t need to worry too much, right? That little gal might be small, but she’s pretty useful among spell casters.”

“Hippolyte. You don’t know Morgana. She must be confident she can take them down before the pursuit catches up, which is why she’s doing something so reckless. …And it’s not just Benny who’s in danger.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

Hippolyte blinked and asked back.

Rough, unkempt hair. Draped over it, a golden lion’s hide. Wearing a tattered piece of cloth and holding a thick club, she was a renowned warrior… But she was not well-versed in rumors, living a life consumed by battles.

So, Lydia decided to explain a little.

“These days, I have someone I’m raising.”

“Like a disciple?”

“No. If I had to say… “

My little lord.

Lydia swallowed the words she was about to say and found a suitable term.

“A potential comrade. And a potential husband for Ellie?”

“Is he that good?! And a man, no less?!”

No matter how fast an adventurer grows by delving into Labyrinths, it takes a long time for a novice adventurer to stand shoulder to shoulder with a high-ranking adventurer who fights on the front lines.

To be considered a fellow candidate despite all that. It’s impossible unless he’s a genius among geniuses.

Moreover, he’s the man Ellie has her eye on. If something happens, Pangrave will surely be turned upside down.

Although it’s been quite some time since her retirement, the title of Hero still holds its value.

Hippolyte scratched her head and let out a deep sigh.

“Haa…if that’s the case, there’s no choice. It’s a shame, but we’ll have to give the guide the elixir I’ve been saving.”

“I’ve already given him the Sensory Expansion Elixir I had.”

Lydia always buys things that might be needed for Labyrinth exploration. Naturally, she carries potions for temporary buffs.

However, Hippolyte, instead of stepping back awkwardly, wore an even more triumphant expression.

“It’s not some cheap stuff sold at workshops. It’s Nemea’s Elixir.”

“…Are you really going to use that?”

“Yes. You owe me. You better remember that.”

“Thank you.”

This potion, made by the witches of Nemea, is several times more effective than anything available on the market.

These witches don’t reside in Pangrave and do not sell their potions to just anyone, making it impossible to acquire even with money.

Using this potion not in a life-or-death situation, but simply to find Lydia’s companion a little faster, is an immense favor.

But Hippolyte has always been that kind of woman.

To put it nicely, she is decisive; to put it bluntly, she is simple-minded. Yet, she matches her reputation as a barbarian with her exceptional action-taking ability.

Hippolyte took out a rugged glass bottle from her waist and called out to the Pathfinder, who was scouring the ground with intense focus.

“Hey, guide. Drink this….”

“I-I found it!”

“Huh?”

“I don’t know what it is, but suddenly there’s a strange phenomenon happening across the entire second floor! And everything is pointing in one direction! They hid their tracks meticulously, but it seems they couldn’t hide the aftermath of their actions!”

“…Oh, right. It’s good we found it quickly.”

Hippolyte awkwardly put the Nemea’s Elixir back. Lydia, bypassing her, shouted urgently.

“Where should we go?”

“Monsters! Head towards the direction where the monsters are gathering! Please, follow me!”

Unlike their cautious movements until now, the guide sprinted down the passage at full speed.

As someone specialized in agility among the adventurers on the fourth floor, their speed was incredible. Of course, it was nothing compared to high-ranking close-combat adventurers like Lydia and Hippolyte.

After a few powerful strides, the two caught up with the Pathfinder. The three of them became a single unit, madly rushing through the Labyrinth.

The more they ran, the more monsters appeared. However, the creatures shattered into pieces the moment they collided with Lydia and Hippolyte’s bodies, as if exploding on impact.

No one could obstruct their path.

How many times had they repeated this running? It seemed as if they had gathered every monster in the area, and now the passage was so cramped that the monsters themselves couldn’t move.

Lydia and Hippolyte shattered the monsters blocking their way in a single strike, destroying them down to their Magic Stones. The moment the blocked path was cleared…

-Roarrrr!!

A white cube emanating magical energy. A grotesque shadowy mass blocking its way.

With hundreds of eyes, dozens of mouths, and countless writhing tentacles, the immortal monster was tearing apart every monster that came at it.

Shadow. Drawn by the madness comparable to the deepest of monsters, all sorts of monsters had gathered.

Of course, none could match Shadow.

The monsters on the second floor couldn’t resist its sharp teeth and splitting tentacles, becoming mere chunks of flesh.

Shadow continued to massacre monsters, swallowing their corpses whole with the Magic Stones intact.

However, this was merely a secondary goal. It was akin to waving away flies that had gathered.

What Shadow was focusing on now was…

Boom!

- Screeeeech!!

…breaking the cube in front of it to reunite with its other half.

Well. To Lydia and Hippolyte, who were unaware of the circumstances, it seemed as though Shadow, free from Benny’s control, was rampaging indiscriminately.

“…Hippolyte.”

“I know.”

Both instinctively aimed their weapons. Above them, their respective auras flared up like wildfire.

It was a precautionary measure against any unforeseen situation. However, the shadow had a very simple behavioral pattern that reacted to others’ goodwill and hostility.

-Grrr…

Shadow turned its body to face the hostility directed at it.

Its numerous eyes, forming a bizarrely short human shape resembling Benny, squirmed and then focused on Lydia and Hippolyte.

At the eerie sight, Lydia gripped her greatsword tightly and whispered.

“Jonah… Benny…”

What kind of situation could make Shadow rampage alone?

Lydia desperately ignored the worst-case scenarios in her mind and ignited her aura even more fiercely.

Like a flame that devours everything in the world. As if to engrave her resolve upon the world.

“Here I go.”

With Lydia’s single statement, the battle that shook the entire Labyrinth began.

Inside the cube.

Jonah, whom Lydia was desperately searching for, was now…

“Ah, heads!”

“Wrong! It was tails!”

…coin flipping with Benny.

“Since you lost, take off one more!”

“Ugh…is this for real? Is this really real!”

For reference, the rule was that the loser had to undress.