Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: Preparing for the 6th Floor (4)
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Time rewinds to yesterday evening.
Since we were heading into the labyrinth tomorrow, we took a break from training with Ethelbert and helping out at the inn.
I was lounging around to rest my body and mind when I ran into the Joy Hog party and picked up everything I needed to know before going in.
"We just have to escort the academy students to the sixth floor and bring them back safe."
The request was straightforward.
While the academy students investigated the labyrinth's anomalies, we provided protection.
"Heard there are quite a few students? Like, almost twenty-five?"
"Five other explorer parties besides us took the job too. All fresh faces, no reformed types. They'll probably handle five students per party."
"Five parties? The academy must be serious about safety."
Not mid-tier explorers by any means, but the Joy Hog party ranked at the top of the seventh floor.
Hiring five parties of that caliber wasn't pocket change.
"Obviously. The academy's loaded, and word is a few of the students are nobles' kids."
Nobles. Even without much knowledge, the image was clear: arrogant, haughty, and prone to tantrums.
"So no injuries or deaths allowed. Got it."
"Imagine a noble throwing a fit over their kid coming back as a corpse? Ugh. Nightmare fuel."
"Exactly. Even if limbs go flying, keep them breathing. Fail that, and our heads might roll when we surface."
Joy Hog mimed slicing his throat.
They probably wouldn't outright kill us, but failure meant penalties just as bad.
"That said, they're big spenders. Nail the job, and it's two gold coins per party member. Plus, all the monsters we kill are ours, except a handful for research."
"T-Two gold... per person?!"
"Heh. Money shower! Jealous as hell. Though it keeps us fed."
Even on the seventh floor, two gold per head was near impossible without a miracle streak of soul stones.
Pampering some snot-nosed brats on the familiar sixth floor? An offer too sweet to pass up.
"On top of that, they're assigning an academy teaching assistant—a mage—for student oversight. Total overkill for the sixth."
"A TA can pull their weight down there. Still, less hands-on labyrinth time, so they'll defer to our orders and experience."
Getting all twenty-five students to the sixth floor and back in one piece? No walk in the park.
The labyrinth had a way of claiming four or five out of every ten rookies.
To boost survival odds, the academy promised all sorts of support for the escort explorers.
"Everything from fifth-floor fountain scrolls to supplies and rations. We're saving a fortune."
Stocking up for the sixth was grunt work enough, but with the academy covering it, prep was a breeze.
"Any other questions?"
I shook my head. The rest of the party did too.
No plan survived the labyrinth's chaos for long, no matter how airtight.
Just know we're escorting students with other explorer parties along for the ride?
Grasp the basics, then improvise and read the room—that was an explorer's core skill.
Maybe it was their three-plus years in; they all got it.
"Alright! Tomorrow, let's rake it in!"
"Ooooh!"
Clink!
No booze the night before a labyrinth dive, so we clinked milk mugs and chugged.
"How's my milk taste?"
The cow beastkin Jubbels's line after downing her milk turned my stomach. Separate issue.
"Balkan. A little gift for you."
The moment I opened the inn door, Diana—waiting right there—handed me something.
I took it with a blank stare.
Leather armor gleaming with a brilliant blue sheen.
"Made special with relic materials and minotaur hide. After... that day, when your breastplate got shredded... What do you think?"
That otherworldly glow? Only seen it on Zirnier Besil gear before.
Though way dimmer than my Great Helm.
With cognitive enhancement's insane insight, this leather armor was no ordinary piece.
I slipped it on over my t-shirt like I was entranced.
A tad snug at first, it stretched perfectly to hug my frame.
Compared to the iron breastplate's heft? Laughably light. Like wearing nothing, if I exaggerated.
Thump thump. Fist taps rang like a bell. Hardness no leather should have.
Featherweight like a shirt, tougher than iron plate.
"C-Can I really take this?! It's obviously way pricier than my old breastplate! I can't just accept it!"
Excitement had me blurting nonsense.
Diana watched me poke and prod in awe, smiling softly.
"Your safety matters more than a bit of coin. No need to feel bad—please take it. Know there's someone fretting over you getting hurt. Sorry it's not more."
Ahh, Diana! What are you...!
How could I just take it? I wanted to repay her somehow, but options were slim.
Diana had everything already, it seemed. So what could she lack?
"Eut..."
As I pondered, a sweet moan slipped from Diana's lips.
She clapped a hand over her mouth in surprise, but it was off from her usual poise.
At a glance, the graceful widow vibe with eyes softly shut—but...
"...Huu..."
Breath quickening with arousal, chest rising and falling sharper, eyes closed yet piercing right through me.
Lewd Frail Corruption Pattern Curse. Precursor symptoms!
Passed it off as fatigue before, but now aware of the curse? Crystal clear.
Building lust in her body, ramping up for the next frenzy.
What could I do for her right now?
One thing sprang to mind.
Arms wide.
"Diana. Mind if I give you a hug?"
I spread my arms and asked.
This world's experiences taught me my body held unusual worth.
Cognition let me track her gaze, eyes shut or not.
Starting at my open palms, trailing inward, settling on one spot. Her face flushed crimson.
"I'll help ease your lust."
"B-Balkan...! I didn't give you the armor for that...! Huit... Just wanted you safe...!"
"I know. Look at all you've given me already."
I spread my arms wider; her voice grew faint.
"So let me repay you, even just a little. The curse must hurt."
Truth? Seventy percent selfish, thirty percent curse cover.
Her fingertips twitched. Pure hesitation.
Body screaming to pounce, reason clamping down hard.
So I closed the gap.
Arms out, one step. Another.
Standing nose-to-nose, looking down at her.
"...Uuuu..."
Her quivering arms slid slowly under my armpits.
Pace glacial. Face etched with torment and doubt.
Squish—
"Huuuuung...!"
Couldn't wait—I pulled her into a tight embrace first. A deflating whoosh escaped her.
Her ample breasts mashed softly against the gifted leather, lower belly thumping wildly against mine.
"Hik, hiiik..."
Her hands never reached my back.
Arms locked straight out, frozen in my hold.
Wish I could've seen her face.
"The curse is rough, huh?"
"Hut, uuuh..."
"Hang on a sec. I'll fix the lust right away."
Nod. Nod.
She bobbed her head weakly amid the dumb moans.
We parted from the hug; she seized my wrist and dragged me off. Her bedroom.
No time to gawk despite first visit.
She pinned me to the wall the second we entered.
"Hut, sorry for dragging you... Your blessing feels so weird... Thought I'd drop in the hall..."
I nodded, focusing on Blessing of Radiance.
Shaaaa—
Practice paid off—light bloomed in my palm faster, smoother than ever.
Thump. Thump.
Her lower belly already bore the pervy womb-heart tattoo.
Kneeling for a closer look brought her smooth lower belly and Y-zone into view.
The form-fitting gray dress made her cute tummy rise and fall with each breath.
Last frenzy? Darkness and pink etched deep. Now? Barely visible up close.
Recent purge must've faded it.
Press—
"Nnghiiiit...!"
Light-clad hand on her soft, yielding belly—darkness frayed at once.
"B-Bal, kaan... Th-there... Huuut, gentler..."
"Ah. Sorry. Softer now."
We sweated it out, quelling the curse.
Darkness thrashed under the light barrage but faded fast.
Womb glyph gone, we sweat-drenched duo shared a quiet gaze and words.
Thud.
Shift hit sudden.
Tunneled on her womb, I clocked the outside presence late.
"Who's there!"
Rushed out—no one. Just a book by the door.
[Ellie Ordia: Portal and Dimensional Magic Research Journal 1]
A title I'd grown all too familiar with lately.
"Ellie..."
Diana clutched her forehead at the sight. Off-script for her.
Reaction sealed it: Ellie Ordia was indeed Diana Ordia's adopted daughter.
"...Bad blood between you two?"
Book hid the surname, skipped it at intros too.
Not the full story, but Ellie clearly kept distance.
"...You knew? About Ellie."
"Yeah. Ethelbert mentioned it offhand."
"...Back when I adopted her, things weren't so strained. We shared meals with laughs, bunked together on restless nights, and I'd teach her magic since she loved it..."
Diana's voice carried bitter nostalgia.
"But then... after academy started..."
She swallowed hard. Words dried up.
Her face—pure regret—said the rest.
"......"
Hit me kinda hard. First time seeing Diana like that.
Families came in all shapes. Orphans like me and sis. Everyday ones. Messy ones like these two.
Orphan me? Parent-kid drama's foreign territory.
Warm bonds, toxic ones—lost on me.
But this? Not right.
Hated seeing Diana hurt like that.
Ellie too. Short time, but I'd watched her.
Lighting up at my labyrinth tales, beaming over research—not a villain's vibe.
What drove that bright kid to bolt from the inn?
Maybe presumptuous, but I thought: Want to patch this family up.
Thirty minutes to labyrinth entry. Party not fully assembled.
Chat time vanishes inside. Now or never.
"Ellie. Quick word?"
The pale red-haired elf glanced up blankly.
"...No."
Not gonna be easy.