Chapter 76
Chapter 76
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 76
Chapter Title: Eastern Fringe Candidate
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“Our goal is to reach the lowest floor of the Great Labyrinth, so the current strategy prioritizes pushing through the center. That’s why the outskirts remain largely uncharted territory.”
But this applied equally to the Great Labyrinth’s inhabitants—or more precisely, the Demon God’s minions.
Monsters lurked throughout the Great Labyrinth, but the true subordinates of the Demon God—the evil gods worthy of the name—had ascended from the deepest levels. They occupied the depths of the mid-layers and lower, but hadn’t fully conquered the outskirts.
“And the Hero’s party is currently located around here.”
The eastern outskirts of the 6th floor, the starting point of the mid-layers.
“Numerous heroes have already led angels toward candidate sites. A hero has been dispatched to the eastern candidate site we’d like the Hero to handle as well.”
Nearly ten lines radiated from the massive white pillar piercing the center, heading toward glowing points.
“The candidate site we’re requesting the Hero to investigate is located on the outskirts of the 10th floor. The fastest route would be to cut straight through the 10th floor... but there’s a slight problem with that.”
Gudel wiggled his fingers again, and red dots appeared en masse on the cross-section.
“Between the primordial forge candidate site and the center, the Demon God’s minions are heavily deployed. The same goes for the 11th floor and below—that is, the deeper mid-layers.”
From the cross-section alone, the east seemed like more of a hotly contested zone than the west.
[Indeed, I see what you mean. We’re to bypass the evil gods’ territory by skirting through the upper and mid-upper layers.]
Cheon-ho shared the same thought.
Just as the gods of the Labyrinth World had been unaware of the Plague God’s plot, the Demon God’s minions were likely ignorant of the God of Healing’s relic search plan.
There was no reason for them to guard an unknown candidate site when they knew nothing about it. If the bypass succeeded, they could achieve their goal with minimal losses.
[The deeper an entity has descended, the harder it is to climb back up. So we, already on the 6th floor, are the ideal choice.]
“We’ve roughly mapped the pillars in the east. I’ll transmit the map data to the Hero’s angel.”
Gudel’s words made Lucille tense up unconsciously, despite herself.
She was now a 5th-rank angel, equal in rank to Gudel, but having risen so suddenly, her mindset remained that of a 7th—no, 9th-rank angel.
“Forgive me, but given the mission’s nature, we can’t provide extensive troop support. Saschiell’s group and three angels from the outer branch will assist the Hero as is.”
The eastern outskirts, and the uppermost part of the mid-layers at that, lacked any notable heroes or angels.
Gudel himself had traveled a long way just to greet Cheon-ho’s party.
“Instead—and I hesitate to call it compensation—we’ve prepared other forms of support.”
First came supplies.
With sixteen members in the party, even one meal consumed staggering amounts of provisions.
They’d grown accustomed to monster cuisine, hunting on the spot to eat, but proper cooking required various ingredients.
The supply list Gudel handed to Lucille included not just food, but clothing and a wide array of sundries.
“Lucille, you’re now a 5th-rank angel. Your inventory level should have risen accordingly, so you can store it all.”
Intimidating in appearance though he was, Gudel was an angel through and through. His demeanor and tone toward Lucille were exceedingly gentle.
“Y-Yes! I’ll do my best.”
“I expect great things. You’re exceptionally talented, so I know you’ll excel.”
“Senior.”
Lucille’s eyes sparkled, and Gudel smiled. He turned back to Cheon-ho.
“The God of Healing has bestowed a banner. Plant it in the ground at your base camp’s center, and it will temporarily turn the surrounding area into the God of Healing’s domain. Angels’ powers will strengthen within, and you’ll gain access to the Angel Network.”
Lucille’s face lit up even more at the mention of the Angel Network.
If she were alone with Cheon-ho, she’d have blurted out “Really?!”
[In other words, a mobile Wi-Fi base station.]
[It seems useful in many ways.]
Access to the Angel Network meant communicating with the central angels.
“However, use it with caution. Suddenly unfurling the God of Healing’s holy aura in an area strong with evil gods’ influence would draw immense attention.”
Cheon-ho nodded again.
Gudel spoke nothing but sound advice from start to finish.
“Finally, I’ve transferred accumulation points to the Hero’s angel’s account.”
“Accumulation points?”
“Yes. You’ve achieved much in the lower layers. Completing quests or defeating the Demon God’s minions earns corresponding bounties—a sort of wanted reward.”
Gudel flicked his fingers, summoning a separate window listing the named monsters—named ones, that is—that Cheon-ho had slain, along with completed quests.
“You can spend the points via the Angel Network. Your angel will explain the details.”
“Yes, Hero. I’ll explain later.”
Lucille checked her account and beamed. The amount was substantial.
“That concludes my briefing. Any questions?”
“No, that’s fine. Thank you for the thorough explanation.”
“You’re welcome.”
Gudel smiled warmly, took a long breath, and bowed to Cheon-ho.
“Before I am an angel serving the God of Healing, as a being of the Labyrinth World, I thank you. Thanks to the Hero thwarting the Plague God’s scheme, the Labyrinth World is a little safer. Truly, thank you.”
“Ahem, just doing what was necessary.”
“But it’s no easy task. Even speaking as you do now is profoundly difficult.”
Gudel said, and Cheon-ho cleared his throat awkwardly.
It was all true, but having it praised so openly was embarrassing.
[Cute.]
Mitra chuckled as if seizing the moment, and Lucille gazed at Cheon-ho with eyes sparkling like Gudel’s.
“Ahem.”
“You must be fatigued, and I’ve taken too much of your time. I’ll withdraw now—rest well today. I’ll inform you when dinner is ready.”
With those gentle words, Gudel bowed once more to Cheon-ho and exited the tent.
If the God of Healing was a storm, Gudel was a gentle breeze.
“Angels are angels, huh.”
Cheon-ho muttered softly, sinking into the sofa’s backrest. Fatigue suddenly washed over him.
Not physical, but mental exhaustion.
[Your rank has risen repeatedly, so feeling weary is natural. Rest is best for now.]
As Mitra said. No bed, but the long sofa would do. He could probably lie down and nap decently.
But right then—
“Hero, shall I give you a lap pillow?”
Lucille offered, and Cheon-ho hurriedly activated his Poker Face. Her cheeks faintly flushed as she continued.
“Eizel said you’d love it...”
Ah, Eizel. Ah, Eizel.
Cheon-ho pictured Eizel flashing a thumbs-up, wearing a fatherly, manly grin for some reason.
“Ahem... If you would.”
Replying as calmly as possible, Cheon-ho watched Lucille smile brightly and pat her thigh lightly.
‘Ah, Eizel. Ah, Eizel.’
Cheon-ho carefully positioned himself and lay down.
Just lying sideways felt like a new world opening.
“Good night, Hero.”
Lucille looked down at him as she spoke, and Cheon-ho swallowed dryly.
He closed his eyes amid Mitra’s tsking sound.
And seconds later—
Cheon-ho faced his eternal dilemma.
Needing sleep, but sleep wouldn’t come.
Yet he couldn’t just get up either.
[...Let’s head to the mental world, then.]
Though Cheon-ho refused, Mitra insisted.
She guided him into the mental world.
* * *
The same blue sky and green meadow.
A cool, pleasant breeze.
Cheon-ho wore a sullen expression, while Mitra beamed.
[Better than wasting time staring blankly, isn’t it?]
Saying so, Mitra looked herself over. Having absorbed Rug’s holy sword Ernasa and received the God of Healing’s divine power, her form had changed considerably.
Still a young girl.
But no longer a mere scribble.
Even in black-and-white silhouette, she was unmistakably a cute girl in uniform.
[Hmm.]
Satisfied enough, Mitra crossed her arms firmly and eyed Cheon-ho. He sighed.
“Lap pillow...”
So soft. His head had nearly melted. Heaven.
[Look here. My form has changed a lot.]
Her spirits high, Mitra even spun in place.
But Cheon-ho’s expression barely shifted.
“Lap pillow...”
Lucille’s lap pillow. Lucille’s thigh.
Eizel had finally pulled her weight for once.
He’d been savoring the fruits of reaching the mid-layers.
[Sigh, really. Fine. I’ll do it, then.]
“What?”
[That... lap pillow thing. I’ll do it. Me. I have legs too.]
Patting her thigh, Mitra plopped down and beckoned Cheon-ho.
[C-Come here.]
Now seated, she fidgeted embarrassedly.
But instead of approaching, Cheon-ho narrowed his eyes. Mitra raised her voice.
[Hurry!]
“Hm.”
Her growth had eliminated emoji faces, but in their place, a blush colored her cheeks. Color support had kicked in, apparently.
“Come on, quick.”
Mitra patted her thigh, her face turning even redder—clearly mortified.
“Hm.”
Cheon-ho paused once more before approaching and lying down beside her.
Mitra exhaled softly, fiddling with his hair as she said,
[There, satisfied now?]
[It’s a lap pillow, same as before.]
Pillowed on Mitra’s thigh, Cheon-ho looked up at her face gazing down. Unlike with Lucille, Mitra’s features were clearly visible.
What to say?
After a moment’s thought, he answered honestly.
“It’s different.”
[D-Different?]
“Of course. How could it be the same?”
[I-Is that so...]
Even without emojis, her sulkiness was plain.
Cheon-ho chuckled softly.
“Well, it’s not bad.”
[Hmph.]
Now she was pleased. Such an easy-to-read holy sword.
So Cheon-ho decided not to complain further. It was Mitra’s earnest effort, after all.
“Then let’s proceed like this today.”
[Fine, no helping it. I’ll indulge you today.]
Posing dramatically, Mitra toyed with her fingers on his forehead, conjuring a window of light.
[First, allocate those skill points. You gained 3 new ones, right?]
“My rank rose, unlocking higher skills... but yes, as you say.”
From experience, the Hero skill upgrade principles boiled down to:
1. Skill points are gained only from level-ups or defeating strong foes.
2. Rank-ups enable higher skills.
3. Rank-ups sometimes auto-unlock specific skills.
Cheon-ho reviewed the skill tree with Mitra. The rank-up had added changes—a new row on the far right.
But this new row didn’t connect to the Hero’s ultimate, seemingly unrelated.
“The Hero’s Aura is now a separate skill under Hero’s Body.”
It appeared separately under Hero’s Body. Already mastered, it glowed as a box, now showing higher skills due to the rank-up.
[Allocate the 3 points first.]
“One to Thunder Dragon Sword, the Magic Sword’s upgrade. One to Extended Aura, the Hero’s Aura upgrade. And the last... Beastification?”
Upgrade to Beast’s Time.
A skill awakening dormant savagery, enhancing the user’s senses and physical abilities to beast-like levels.
Narrowing his eyes as he read Beastification’s description, Cheon-ho glanced up at Mitra.
“Mitra.”
[Beastification’s a solid choice. Leon used it often.]
“No, more than that. Is this even a Hero skill? It’s like it’s dying to turn you into a beast... Wait, don’t tell me the skill tree’s like this because of your tastes?”
[N-No, I didn’t design it that way.]
“It matches your tastes, though?”
[W-What are you saying?]
Mitra floundered wildly.
Cheon-ho narrowed his eyes again, and Mitra coughed awkwardly several times before continuing.
[Anyway, Beastification’s excellent. Your combat senses will sharpen immensely. So-called instincts will strengthen too.]
“Hm.”
As Mitra said, it seemed solid.
Hero’s Body being the physical enhancement tree, Beast’s Time and Beastification fit perfectly.
“Then we’ll go with Magic Sword, Beastification, and Extended Aura.”
[Good choices.]
After assigning them, new upgrades unlocked under Magic Sword and Extended Aura. Beastification’s upper skills remained locked, as he hadn’t mastered its parallel skills like Beast’s Time.
‘To reach the ultimate, I’ll need them all eventually.’
Just a question of order—he’d master every Hero skill in time.