42 41. Labyrinth temperature, battle temperature.txt (1/2)
We walk along the 23-layered 'right-of-way', catching our breath.
However, the more we walked, the less energy we had left. The temperature of the 23rd layer is abnormally high compared to the 22nd layer I just saw.
Rastiara flutters the front collar of her clothes and makes a disgusted expression. I can see from a distance that she's sweating several times more than I am. Apparently, she's sweaty.
'Hot, hot hot hot. ...... Christ, water.
Okay.
I use the bag to take out a leather water bottle from my 'belongings' and hand it over. I left it with Rastiara in the morning, and it's pretty solidly made.
Rastiara gulps down the water without any hesitation.
I ask him about the 23 layers, knowing that his personality is evident in the way he drinks.
I asked him about the 23rd layer. Why is it so hot in the 23rd layer?
Hmm, that's because there's magma flowing through the 24 layers.
Ma-magma? Did you see it?
'No, I heard about it from an explorer who comes to visit us. I only know up to layer 23.
Are you acquainted with the explorers who have gone to the 24th level?
You're the famous Glenn Walker. The most famous explorer or whatever they call him.
Glen Walker.
I believe that's the name of the record holder for the best labyrinth attack. But from what I've heard, he didn't get to the 23rd level.
I'm told he only made it to the 23rd level.
To be precise, you only managed to pull the ”righteous path” up to the 23rd layer, right?
In other words, the rumored 23rd layer means that he drew the 'path of righteousness'. Without the condition of pulling the 'right path', the strongest searcher, Glen, is said to be able to go even deeper.
I see. It's no wonder that Rastiara knows so much about this. I hear a lot of things from the world's top explorer.
Hmm, well. I'm almost certain my source is that guy.
So, what's he like?
I flirtatiously ask him about Mr. Glenn.
Apparently, I have a weakness for the title of 'strongest'. As someone who loves games and romance, I was very interested in Glenn.
'What kind,' he said, 'is ....... I can only describe him as a poor guy for my taste. He has an interesting life where no matter how far he goes, he never gets what he wants ....... If I had the talent for that, I'd be a little better ......
To Rastiara, Glen Walker seemed to be a less fortunate person. I was sure I was the kind of person who was talented, loved by the world, and had my way with everything.
It's the opposite of the 'strongest' I've ever imagined.
'Heh, I didn't know that: ......
'I'm feeble-minded, unattached, and love to self-sabotage. I'm a badass, but ...... well, I'm strong.
No, it doesn't sound strong at all.
In fact, it's not incredibly strong: ......
I can feel the 'strongest' in me crumbling.
The strongest person in this world doesn't seem to be able to live up to my expectations.
When I'm disappointed with the fragile reality, the magic Dimension finds the end of The Right Path.
The 23rd layer went smoothly as the enemies didn't come near the ”right path”. Rastiara and I arrived at the end of the righteous path without encountering any enemies.
So this is the goal. For now, we've accomplished our goal for today.
I get some sense of accomplishment.
I'm now on par with the current human race.
Okay. Okay, now let's move on to the 30th layer.
I don't like that.
I stop Rustyala as he tries to move further in.
It's a short one in terms of time, from 20 layers to here, but with so many first-time fights I'm getting tired. Furthermore, I was physically afraid to go to the deeper levels, the world I had never seen before.
I told Rastiara about it, but of course he didn't agree.
''Eh, she said we can still go! Look how healthy I am!
I was hoping you'd say that. Well...
In the end, we decided to take a break today and focus on exploring the 23 layers.
When I told Rustyala that since there are no ”right-of-way” signposts from here, the mapping process will follow us around, he reluctantly agreed.
Using that as a guide, Rastiara and I walk.
I rely on the 'map' to fill in the 23 layers of the map.
Fortunately, there were no monsters in the 23rd layer that posed a threat. Perhaps the huge monsters that appeared in layer 21 and 22 could not live in this hot layer. The monsters were all durable ones that could withstand these high temperatures and were not troublesome.
Most importantly, Rastiara's high attack power gives him an advantage in his search. This was because no matter how hard the enemies were, they were meaningless in front of Rastiara's foolish power.
As a result of the overall results, we determine that the main aim of this layer is to wear out the searchers due to high temperatures.
Stalling them with endurance-oriented enemies, the high temperatures deprive them of moisture and sap their strength. Depending on how you think about it, this might be more of a problem than the 21 and 22 layers.
'Oh, oh ....... Christ, water - ......
Every few minutes, Rastiala consumes a lot of water.
I'm thirsty too, and I rehydrate quite often, but not as often as Rastiara. Her poor fuel efficiency could create the worst situation in the 23 layers.
'Well, wait, Lastiara ....... Really, you're thirsty? At this rate, we'll run out of that much water, won't we?
I'm really, really thirsty.
After a few hours of walking around, I couldn't resist and asked Rastiara. But Rastiara is not joking; he is serious and begs me for water.
If you consume any more water, you'll have to go home.
Oh, did I drink that much?
Yeah. He looked dazed and gulped it down.
The speed at which this water is being consumed is enough to make us rethink our search plan.
The 24 layers we were about to head for were a magma zone, and the water we had on hand was far from enough.
We didn't want to get fatally injured because we were thirsty and dazed.
Hmmm. Is it because I'm a sweaty person?
'Looks like it. I don't think we're going to be able to continue our search without many times the amount of water we planned.
For me, I want to turn back now.
I don't want to fail due to unforeseen circumstances, but I don't want to fail due to predictable ill health.
...... are you leaving now?
You'll be out of water.
...... Is that what it's all about?
Rustyala was not happy, but thirst wasn't his thing, and his face clouded over at the thought of exploring without water.
'But I've got a pretty good idea of the twenty-three layers, too. We've had a good harvest.
'I've left the mapping to Christ, but is this really going to get me home right?'
Don't worry about it.
Explaining everything about the 'map' system would be a long story, so I'm just telling Rastiara that he can memorize the way. Rastiara has been walking around in a daze and seems to be anxious about not knowing the way back at all.
In order to counteract Rastiara's anxiety, I return to the way I came with a firm step.
◆◆◆◆◆
After ending our search, we headed to the magic Connection on the 20th level.
On the way back, we were attacked by many monsters, but they were all monsters we could deal with, so there was no problem.
However, the problem was the 20th layer, which was supposed to be empty.
I felt trapped by the magic 《Dimension》 and used my magic to examine the situation before entering the 20th level.
There's one girl knight there.
And there is a wolf with bluish fur.
A knight who can reach the 20th layer - perhaps it's the 'Seven Celestial Knights' in the sky.
I extend my magical senses from the 21st layer and 'gaze' at the girl knights.
[Status]
Name: Ragne Kaikwola HP152/153 MP34/34 Class: Knight
Level 16.
Strength 3.22 Strength 3.91 Skill 11.23 Speed 5.22 Wisdom 7.12 Magic 1.52 Qualities 1.12
Inherent skill: magic manipulation 2.11
Acquired Skill: Swordsmanship 0.52 Sacred Magic 1.02
[Status]
Name: Serra Raydiant HP252/256 MP43/101 Class: Knight
Level 21.
Strength 6.23 Strength 7.92 Skill 8.89 Speed 10.02 Wisdom 5.60 Magic 7.77 Elemental 1.57
Inherent skill: Intuition 1.77
Acquired skills: swordsmanship 2.12 sacred magic 0.89
The girl's knight was named Ragne and the wolf was named Sera.
''Huh? Is that wolf, Mr. Radiant?
That fact surprises me and I say it out loud.