Chapter 35: D-Rank Labyrinth — Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds (5)
Chapter 35: D-Rank Labyrinth — Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds (5)
Fwoooosh!
Flames burst forth, scorching the Bloodbird’s tongue and palate with a burning, spicy heat.
Fire and lightning.
Two different forces began roasting the Bloodbird.
Its exterior and interior were being evenly cooked.
—Kweee…!!
The Bloodbird stomped both legs frantically, letting out a harsh cry of pain before flapping its wings.
It intended to drag me into the sky—its own domain.
That could not be allowed.
I pressed the seashell from my pouch onto my jaw and shouted.
“Big sister!”
Before I even finished speaking, Rosalia was already charging at the Bloodbird.
Crunch!
Another heavy kick slammed into its body.
The Bloodbird was sent flying in mid-takeoff and splashed straight into the sea beyond the cliff.
Of course, I went with it—still skewered on its beak.
—Kweeeek!
The Bloodbird thrashed desperately after the sudden forced plunge.
It looked exactly like a giant red swan, but apparently it could not swim at all.
“You should’ve explored the ocean once in a while. The corpse-eating fish down here are pretty cute.”
This is why lacking cultural experiences only harms yourself.
While it twisted wildly, I slipped my body free from its beak.
《Remaining Life Force: 20/100》
《Remaining Mental Force: 30/100》
“Thanks.”
Even though I had been pressing the attack the entire time, I nearly died.
A Level-3 named boss monster truly was formidable.
For my current self, it was a difficult opponent.
And that was precisely why—
A faint smile formed on my lips.
Monsters should be like this…!
I did not want an easy victory.
A life-threatening struggle where a monster endangered your life, reduced your vitality to the brink, and blurred your consciousness.
Dangerous, thrilling, and intense—that was the only kind of battle worthy of being called a proper strategy.
“Bloodbird.”
Grabbing the creature’s body as it struggled to flap its wings, I converted my entire body into lightning.
Crackle!
Dark lightning met the sea—its natural companion for conduction—and went wild with excitement.
“Try to endure.”
A brutal duel began.
One of us would die before it ended.
The time limit was the moment my mental force reached zero.
“If you’re still alive when that happens, I’ll count it as your win.”
But if the Bloodbird collapsed first, the victory would be mine.
—Kweeeeek!
“Right, right. Let’s accept the result in the spirit of fair sportsmanship.”
The outcome would soon be decided.
Perhaps instinctively sensing that its life was in danger, the Bloodbird suddenly slashed its claws.
Just as its massive talons were about to tear my body—
A throwing dagger struck the water’s surface.
Swoooosh.
From the dagger’s shadow, the red-haired elf burst forth and leaped.
“….”
Her mere appearance carried such killing intent that the Bloodbird hesitated.
“Thank you.”
Without wasting the opening created by the Level-5 assassin, I transformed into lightning and pierced straight through the Bloodbird’s body.
KRAAACK!
Even after that electrifying body slam, it did not fall.
—Kweee….
Staggering, it barely managed to move and lifted me with its beak.
It probably intended to chew and swallow the prey that had tormented it.
“You’re quite patient….”
I had to admit its tenacity for enduring the agony of electrocution.
But the battle was not decided yet.
After all, I never said I would surrender if lightning alone failed.
“Go.”
—Kraaak!
The blind crow that had been waiting its turn burst from my right eye socket and dove into the Bloodbird’s mouth.
It was not volunteering as an appetizer.
Crunch. Crunch.
Its exterior had become tough enough to withstand Rosalia’s kicks.
But what about the inside?
CRUNCH!
Blood began pouring from the Bloodbird’s mouth.
—Kweeeek!
It shook its head, wings, and legs in agony.
Keeping my distance, I soon saw a small beak poke out after devouring its right eye.
—Kraaak!
The crow consumed the other eye as well, then burst through the top of its skull and soared upward.
Unlike the Bloodbird, which never returned to the sky.
—Kwek….
With a hole blasted through its skull, the Bloodbird collapsed sideways.
Ziiing.
A gate leading outside appeared above the charred corpse.
At the same time, the sky turned blood-red.
Bloodbird Blurrybe.
After a fierce struggle—
The hunt was successful.
The adrenaline flooding my body gradually subsided, and the aftermath of the intense battle arrived.
Ugh… my head….
A splitting headache stabbed my brain like giant spikes.
—Kraaak!
The Eye That Perceives Truth, apparently drunk on victory after performing aerial acrobatics overhead, hurried back into my eye socket and displayed a message.
《Remaining Mental Force: 7/100》
《If the Bloodbird had fallen even slightly later, you would have died. Praise your capable assistant!》
It seemed to return quickly not out of concern for me, but to claim credit.
“Yeah, thanks a lot.”
《Ahem. :)》
While I lay blankly on the water’s surface with a pounding headache, Rosalia approached and dragged me onto the Bloodbird’s body.
As I was pulled along, I spoke.
“Cut into the plump area near the Bloodbird’s rear. The Magic Stone and Bloodstone should both be there.”
The red-haired elf cut deeply into the flesh with her dagger and retrieved blue and red stones.
The blue one was a Magic Stone.
Quite large—valuable enough to sell for a good price.
But still cheaper than the red one.
《Gem — Bloodstone》
《A gemstone formed from the accumulated blood the Bloodbird has consumed. A rare and precious material coveted by mages, alchemists, and jewelers.》
The Bloodstone had high demand but only one source—the Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds—so it sold for a considerable price.
“….”
Rosalia stared at the gem, which resembled the color of her hair and eyes, then strode over and placed it in my arms.
Then she tapped the area near my heart where I had been pierced earlier.
“AAAH! Are you trying to kill me?!”
“….”
“Don’t glare at me like that. Yes, I’m exaggerating—but you don’t have to look at me like I’m pathetic.”
Meeting the assassin’s strange gaze, I spread my arms.
“I can’t move properly. Please carry me. As always, thank you.”
After activating the “please carry me” pose, Rosalia studied my face briefly before lifting me.
A princess carry.
Surprisingly stable.
“Let’s go rest. We still have to recruit Pendrick, and we have plenty to do.”
D-Rank Labyrinth.
Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds.
It hurt a little, but the mission was completed safely—and we obtained a Bloodstone as well.
Labyrinth cleared.
Jewelsmith Guild Headquarters.
“…Eric.”
When I placed the body of the young jeweler, now turned to mineral, on the table, Guildmaster Tavirek and the guild members’ expressions darkened.
They must have been holding onto a faint hope.
Perhaps he had somehow survived in the labyrinth.
Crushing that hope was unfortunate.
But it could not be helped.
I was merely a cultist who sacrificed the living—not a saint who resurrected the dead.
“Good work.”
Tavirek wiped the moisture from his eyes and handed me a neatly wrapped bundle of gold coins.
“Here’s the quest payment. Ten gold.”
Rosalia glanced at me, then at her own shadow.
Compared to the five hundred gold allowance given by the young master, the amount seemed trivial.
“Thank you.”
It was not much.
But retrieving the corpse had merely been an excuse to reach District Three.
If money had mattered, I would have taken a quest with a far higher reward.
Besides, I had gained a Mystery for Pendrick and a Bloodstone.
Thinking of it as a service done for the young jeweler who died meaninglessly in the labyrinth balanced things out.
“And as promised, we’ll provide one tool crafted by our guild.”
The jeweler class specialized in crafting jewelry and equipment using refined gemstones.
Tavirek gestured toward the guild’s street-side display stall.
Bracelets, necklaces, gloves, belts—various items set with gemstones and precious metals.
Honestly, even flattery would struggle to call their quality impressive.
“Pick anything you like! Every one of them is useful.”
Perhaps unable to lie outright, Tavirek did not boast—as dwarves often did—that they were masterpieces inspired by Solmir himself.
While examining the items slowly, I spoke.
“Would it be possible to commission a custom piece?”
“Of course! What do you need?”
I glanced briefly at the gloves Tavirek had shown earlier.
A spatial storage device.
Essentially an inventory.
“I’d like a tool that allows me to take out and store items conveniently—like your gloves.”
“Ah, something like this? Of course we can make that. What form do you want?”
There was one piece of equipment I had wanted since the moment I awakened as the cultist Kar.
“I need a ceremonial stole. A long strip of cloth worn around the neck like a scarf.”
A stole.
A symbol of clergy.
Wearing it made rituals and prayers easier by strengthening communication with divine beings.
It also looked rather impressive.
“That wouldn’t be difficult. But we’ll need a gemstone from a monster found in a labyrinth.”
“Would something like this work?”
When I produced the Bloodstone, Tavirek’s eyes widened.
“Oh ho! A Bloodstone! That’s more than enough. Give me a few days and I’ll craft something at least of masterpiece quality!”
Judging by the other items, it was hard to believe.
But I decided to trust him.
Trusting someone cost nothing.
“Work begins today. Come check on the progress in five days!”
“Very well.”
After leaving the Jewelsmith Guild headquarters, I headed to the inn The Sheep’s Roar, where Pendrick was staying.
Tap, tap.
Rosalia, walking silently beside me, looked toward the inn and shrugged slightly.
“You’re wondering if Pendrick has made his decision already? It’s only been half a day—you’re too impatient. We should stroll through the market, eat snacks, maybe watch a play, and wait peacefully.”
“….”
I suggested spending a few days enjoying ourselves, but the humorless assassin simply stared at me.
She would not budge.
At this rate, I might soon need to deploy a secret method guaranteed to tempt this elf.
“Well, honestly, he’s probably already decided.”
Pendrick was desperate.
His cursed lover was slowly dying.
Creak.
When we entered the inn, a swordsman with an appearance that Sue’je might appreciate approached us.
He clutched a sword wrapped tightly in cloth.
“Pendrick.”
“Ah, Cultist Kar! You’re here.”
“Why are you holding your sword?”
“I thought you might arrive soon.”
Pendrick smiled brightly as he met my gaze.
“I’ll join your expedition team. You’ll really pay my contract penalty, right?”
Rosalia’s eyes widened slightly.
I nodded with a sinister cultist’s smile.
“Of course. Excellent. A wise decision.”
“Then please keep your promise.”
Pendrick’s expression stiffened slightly as he held out the sword wrapped in thick cloth.
From within the layers of fabric, a faint voice emerged.
—Are you… the cultist who promised to cure me?
Pendrick’s lover was an Ego Sword.