Chapter 25 (1/2)

The Final Floor

“Eh-”

No one knew who that sound came from. It could have been anyone.

The tenth floor. It was an open cave with a smooth stone floor.

Pale light emanated from the stone. The area was around ten meters wide, with a staircase that lead downward in the corner.

And there was a mirror at the end of the staircase.

It seemed they could return to the ninth floor right now. Judging from their previous exploration, it wouldn’t be difficult to go further back up either.

“This is… a resting place?”

Though Ria muttered in doubt, she went along with it.

It was hard to take a break in a place like the ninth floor’s jungle. The enemies weren’t obviously visible. It probably wasn’t a trap either.

“There’s no signs of magical power. This is an ordinary place.”

Maal’s words proved it.

“Before the final boss, I guess we’re meant to get ready to go here?”

Thinking about it as though playing a game, Serge thought that given the nature of this labyrinth, it was probably like that.

“For now, let’s rest.”

Ria judged so. Though they had decided to advance, they originally planned to return right after, but it seemed they could sleep here.

Unfortunately, the stone floor was abnormally hard, so she was unable to dig a bath. They wiped down their equipment and bodies with water.

Laying out blankets, they laid down. The first to stand as lookouts were Maal and Ria. These two were best for the role because they were the least exhausted.

“I’m useless, aren’t I?”

Maal whispered in a weak voice.

Ria hugged Maal’s shoulder, slowly caressing her ear.

“It’s not like that.”

There were no lies in Ria’s words. If Maal weren’t there, the amount of time it took to explore the labyrinth would have been several times more. But, she knew that without it being said.

“Maal does things like cook and make camp, don’t you care for everyone? Only being able to fight isn’t a talent.”

Towards Maal, Ria was always gentle. A gentleness that one wouldn’t a.s.sociate with Ria-chan the Merciless.

“But, I also want to be useful in fights.”

It’s not that she didn’t understand that feeling.

“I’m also one of your comrades right?”

Before, she was just a tool. Locate traps, release them, and pick the locks on treasure chests.

But here, under Ria, everyone thought of her as a comrade. She understood that even without it being said.

Here, she wasn’t a tool. She wanted to become a comrade that could fight together with them.

“Then, special training when we return.”

“Yes!”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

Maal held her mouth shut in a hurry.

“Alright, let’s go!”

After sleeping, they didn’t feel mentally fatigued even though it didn’t appear in a numerical value. The group stepped onto the staircase leading down.

Rather than a labyrinth, this was like a pa.s.sage.

It was at most three meters wide. The ceiling was low, too. Though they thought it was a straight line at first, it bent very slightly to the left.

“A spiral staircase~? It feels somewhat like DNA, doesn’t it…”

Only Ria understood the word that Serge used. Though Ria wasn’t much a person interested in science, she still sometimes watched national broadcasted programs.

“Isn’t that a double helix? I think this is entirely different though.”

“Yeah, I was just saying that. But going down a spiral staircase into the ground, it’s somewhat like it’s heading to h.e.l.l. I have a bad feeling.”

He was likely being talkative due to being anxious. Not that she didn’t understand how he was feeling.

This labyrinth gave a feeling of being enclosed. Unlike the previous floors, it had the atmosphere of being impossible to return from.

“Ah, wait a second.”

Along the way, Serge stopped the group. After a moment of concentration, he checked it out using magic.

“It’s alright, the path behind us wasn’t closed off.”

“Incidentally, could you see what’s ahead of us?”

“Roger that.”

Serge’s magic was s.p.a.ce-time magic. Even if he couldn’t see it, he could understand what was in a s.p.a.ce as long as it wasn’t s.h.i.+elded.

“The depth is… about five castle gates worth. There’s probably something like a door at the end. If there’s a room on the other side of the wall, wouldn’t it be the size of five town blocks?”

There was probably a guardian in such a large place.

“I wonder if it’s a Dragon?”

Ria muttered. The group all looked reluctant.

What’s a Dragon? The strongest living creature in the world. It’s stronger than most demons.

After all, two thousand years ago and again a thousand years ago, there were large floods of demons. With the help of Darkness Dragon Valis’ strength, mankind finally won.

Casalia’s founder, Leyte Anaia, became Valis’ wife, giving birth to the second generation’s king. Ria’s ancestor.

“Well, though I said a Dragon that doesn’t mean it’s one of the Five G.o.d Dragons.”

Carlos knew of legends with knights battling dragons, so she continued.

“If a Five G.o.d Dragon came out, even I would escape.”

Even if Ria was entirely confident, she didn’t think she could compete with a G.o.d Dragon. It’s like telling a human to fight against a nuclear warhead.

“It’ll be fine if it’s an Earth Dragon though.”