Cecilia's Domain and a Sulky Bee
I followed Abraksas's bestie Cecilia even deeper into the labyrinth. The space that had been filled with roaring flames had now turned into a warm corridor. There were still a few skulls and bone decorations on the walls, but tiny flames danced over them, giving it a cozy feel instead. It was like a warm house decked out for Halloween.
"Here, Ukuku came out! Glessia unnie whoosh and bam! Took it down!" Cecilia scampered ahead, gesturing wildly with her hands. Her cloak was a bit too big for her tiny body, dragging on the floor without a care as it fluttered behind her. Every time she hopped up, it flapped like little wings.
"Levy unnie keeps saying she wants to go to Jibi!"
"Liandel ajusshi said I'd become the master and call him Mariandel!"
Cecilia kept chattering away. Her little mouth mangled the words, but that just made it cuter. She wielded terrifying power as the ruler now, yet her speech was pure baby talk. Honestly, I could barely make out what she was saying. Ukuku? Jibi? Mariandel? What the heck... I let it go in one ear and out the other. I just watched her bouncing along ahead.
Whew... At my age, already parenting... A six-year-old mom and a three-year-old daughter? What kind of joyless responsibility is this...!
"...so I ate it!"
Only the tail end of Cecilia's words reached my ears. Ate what...?
"Mommy! I did good, right?!"
Cecilia suddenly spun around and shouted. Her little face brimmed with hope, her round cheeks flushed pink. Her red eyes gazed at me, a mix of expectation and anxiety. She spread her tiny arms peeking from the cloak in a clear 'hug me!' gesture.
She was so adorable I forgot what to say for a moment. My mouth hung open as I just stared. Heavens... Was this level of cuteness even legally allowed...? My chest felt full to bursting. Like sweet syrup filling my whole body—warm, happy emotions welled up.
"...Ah, yeah! You did amazing! Cecilia's the best!"
I snapped out of it late and said. I had no idea what she'd done, but right then, I just wanted to hug her.
Squeeze!
"Heheeng!"
Cecilia beamed with satisfaction, puffing out her chest proudly. The cloak slipped a bit off her little shoulders, but that made her even cuter.
Yeah! With a daughter this adorable, parenting was great! And she was way stronger than me—no safety worries at all! What was I saying earlier? No joy? Nonsense! This was paradise!
Master and Nis watched us from behind with pleased smiles. Their eyes showed they were totally smitten with Cecilia.
"Looks like the grandma approves of her granddaughter?" Nis teased Master with a mischievous grin.
"That's not something an aunt-grandma should say."
Master shot back, a little flustered.
"If I'm aunt-grandma, then Frostia's the grandma."
"Grandma's better than aunt-grandma."
"So Frostia really is grandma, then?"
"I never said that."
...Huh? What was this? Their bickering went nowhere fast. Maybe because of the kid, but they both seemed kinda childish. It was the kind of exchange I'd never imagine from them normally.
As we descended the stairs, it grew warmer. The air carried a sweet scent, like standing in front of an oven baking cookies. Suddenly, my stomach growled.
We'd reached the deepest part of the labyrinth before I knew it.
"Whoa..."
My mouth fell open on its own. It was a massive cavern, surrounded by flames on all sides. But these weren't ordinary flames. They moved like living creatures, dancing and shifting. Sometimes forming human shapes, sometimes butterflies, or flowers. The most amazing part? They weren't hot at all. They felt like warm spring sunlight, cozy and gentle. The flames seemed to await orders from their ruler, Cecilia.
In the center of the cavern, Levy lay sprawled out sleeping. She must've been exhausted, her mouth slightly open in deep slumber. Liandel slept sitting beside her. Even his sleeping pose had a mage's dignity. Both looked peaceful, without a scratch.
Lote orbited them slowly. Its dark blue, superconductor-like body floating in the air resembled a little satellite. Lote's movements were always mesmerizing.
Wait... One's missing? Where's Glessia?
I looked around and spotted her in the farthest corner, head buried as she huddled. Totally unlike her usual arrogant, lazy vibe. Her little legs clutched her face, body curled tight against the wall. She looked just like... a sulky kid. Wings drooping, sharp stinger scraping the floor.
Why's she like that...?
But more importantly...
Their levels!? Levy and Liandel hit hero-tier levels! Lote and Glessia... that's practically Abraksas apostle level! They must've hyper-burned down here... Jealous...
Then Lote spotted me, zipped over fast—then U-turned and fled.
Eh?
"Oh, Lote, long time no see."
Nis greeted warmly. Ah, right... because of Nis.
"Lote, wait up!"
I shouted, and Levy and Liandel woke. Levy rubbed her eyes first, lit up seeing me—then froze spotting Master and Nis. Liandel reacted the same.
"R-Ricoris-nim. These people are...?"
Liandel asked cautiously, voice trembling a bit.
"Yup! It's Master and Nis!"
I introduced proudly. Introducing them to my companions felt special.
"You two are... the real legendary..."
Liandel trailed off, face full of fear and awe.
"Mm, so you're the ones."
Master eyed Liandel and Levy alternately.
"I heard the story. As Ricoris promised, I'll give you your reward."
Liandel and Levy's faces slowly relaxed, like kids expecting scolding but getting praise instead.
Now curiosity was about to explode. How they entered the labyrinth, how Cecilia became ruler, and why Glessia was sulking...
"Liandel, what the heck happened?"
Liandel hesitated.
"Well... it's a very long story. Is that alright?"
Long? Oh... no... I wanna hear, but...
"No way, I'm busy! Summarize—important stuff only!"
Gotta head back to Sia Kalt, visit Jenes Kingdom's lair, and eat—I'm starving! Piles of stuff to do!
Liandel nodded, looking a bit downcast. Demanding a summary from him, who loved detailed explanations, was cruel.
"Un... understood. I'll make it as short as possible."
Liandel began.
"First, the coachman got mind-controlled by a demon and brought us to the Land of Death. After we beat the demon, the bugs guided us here, and we kept going deeper."
Liandel paused for breath, then continued.
"The labyrinth interior was spectacular. Massive black marble pillars stood like a skeleton frame, and purple liquid dripped endlessly from the ceiling, forming puddles on the floor. Touching it burned the skin—like it had soul-corroding magic mixed in."
Liandel's eyes sparkled. His gestures grew bigger, voice heated.
"And there, swarms of demons and monsters awaited! At least twenty kinds poured out—the most impressive was the 'Skeleton Hydra.' Serpent bone body with seven skulls, each spewing blue flames that summoned souls..."
No... summarize...
But his happy face made it hard to interrupt.
"...Past the third hall, walls were crystals trapping souls. Ancient texts call them 'Demon Tears'—crystallized demon souls. Theoretically, refining them makes powerful magic catalysts..."
"Yawn..."
Nis yawned lightly, elegantly bored. Master had her eyes closed already.
Liandel startled, stopping. Sweat beaded on his forehead.
"S-Sorry! Summarizing again!"
He cleared his throat big, steeling himself. Pain from holding back details showed on his face.
"As we conquered deeper, Abraksas's voice rang out. Said he'd reconciled with Ricoris-nim, become besties... and made Cecilia his apostle..."
Eh? He announced the bestie thing to everyone, not just Cecilia? Geez... word'll spread across the continent... 'Whoa, Abraksas's bestie Ricoris!' Urgh...
"Eugh!"
"P-Pardon...?"
"N-Nothing. Just a horrific future flashed by..."
"Yes... Cecilia's apostle flames could burn souls, letting her defeat the ruler Ivolg, who commanded countless souls."
Liandel glanced at Master and Nis.
"But seeing Frostia-nim and Nis-nim now... Ivolg's aura wasn't even a fraction of yours."
His voice held bewilderment. Ah... the old ruler was weak compared to Master. And fighting with souls, but Cecilia got soul-burning powers? Total counter... Must've been unfair...
"Why's Glessia acting like that?"
I asked suddenly. Her timid look was too out of character.
"Ah..."
Levy glanced at Glessia and said.
"When Ivolg died, a jet-black gem-like labyrinth core appeared. Glessia lunged first, but..."
She checked Cecilia, then whispered.
"Cecilia blasted her with a flame storm and ate it. She's been like that since."
Sulking 'cause she didn't get the core? But Cecilia carried—shouldn't she get it? Hmm...
"Cecilia, did you fight Glessia over the ruler's core?"
Cecilia puffed her cheeks, face angry. Her red eyes blazed fiercer.
"I told you earlier! Glessia unnie said she'd eat the core, get stronger than Mommy, and slurp up all Mommy's honey every day! So I ate it to protect Mommy!"
"Eh."
Th-That was it!? That's what her "I did good?" meant! She stopped Glessia from becoming my honey slave-driver? For me?
My heart warmed.
"Sorry, Cecilia... I didn't hear properly earlier. You stopped a horrific honey criminal... You did great."
I stroked her little head. Her cheeks relaxed into a happy smile.
"Ung!"
Her pure heart melted mine. But Glessia was too much...
Wait, no way...
"Cecilia, was it Glessia who brought you guys here too?"
"Ung! Glessia unnie said we had to come!"
Glessia, the idiot culprit! Runaway ninja my ass! She plotted a coup!
Flutter flutter!
Amid the shock, Miel yanked my hair. Thump thump. Of course... Wonder what nonsense she'd write now. Her weird lines were starting to intrigue me.
...!? You coup traitor! Miel sensed my glare and fled fast. Wingbeats faded away.
Miel, reserve honey criminal... Gotta discipline the one who acted first!
"Hey! Glessia!"
My voice echoed through the cavern. Wall-hugging Glessia flinched.