Chapter 59: Help Me
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 59: Help Me
“Are you awake?”
“Ugh. Where am I...?”
“This is the relief station. Some people brought you in after you collapsed, Mr. Porter.”
“Ah, I see.”
When I opened my eyes, Erika, the pink-haired priestess, was looking down at me.
It seemed I was in a private room within the relief station. Usually, a twelve-person ward was the standard, but for some reason, I had been placed in a room all by myself.
“I’ve finished the basic treatment on your shoulder and side, but your internal organs were severely ruptured. You’ll need to recuperate for a while. Please be careful not to move too much.”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Don’t mention it. It’s a relief that your recovery rate is so high, Mr. Porter.”
Erika mentioned my recovery was excellent.
Was it really that good? Objectively speaking, my natural healing shouldn't have been that impressive. Perhaps this, too, was a side effect left behind by Shaka’s Remnant.
Enhanced muscle growth and increased recovery speed? Great Warrior Shaka really was the gift that kept on giving.
“Um, excuse me. How long has it been since I was brought here?”
“About three days. During that time, Lady Leah, Rika, Rien, and Miss Olivia have all stopped by. Oh, and the Guild Master visited as well.”
“Wait, three days have passed? Wow.”
“Yes. It seems Rien and Rika took care of informing the Magic Tower and the Martial Arts Hall, so you don’t need to worry too much. And regarding Miss Olivia...”
“What happened to Olivia? Did Yuria come back?”
“No, Miss Yuria hasn't returned yet, so we are looking after Miss Olivia. Lady Leah is keeping her close.”
“Ah. I see. Thank you. I don't know how to repay this...”
“It was Lady Leah’s decision. You can thank her when she visits later.”
“Yes, I’ll be sure to thank her. And thank you as well, Erika.”
“Oh, no. Hehe. It’s fine. There are other patients to attend to, so I’ll come back later. Here, the Guild Master left a copy of Monster Dismantling Savoring. You can read this while you rest.”
“Thank you.”
After delivering all the necessary information, Erika stepped out.
It seemed Lady Leah and my companions had handled most of the things I was worried about. Rika must have informed Gon, and Rien likely handled the Magic Tower. I felt relieved knowing that Lady Leah was personally looking after Olivia, the most important matter.
‘Still, to think three days have passed.’
Normally, I would have been at the Magic Tower today to conduct experiments on my Ability, but given my condition, I’d have to skip this week. I was supposed to enter the Labyrinth with the Young Lady’s Party, too. Looks like I’ll miss that as well.
Feeling a bit restless, I stared out the window. The moon was hanging in the night sky.
I really almost died. I was nearly murdered in that sudden ambush by the heretics. If I hadn't heard that voice at that moment—if I hadn't turned around—what would have happened? I probably would have been stabbed in the back and killed without any resistance.
‘It gives me the creeps.’
The thought of those crazy heretics roaming the streets at night made my skin crawl. How on earth did they get out of the Labyrinth? Ever since the heretics appeared, the guards should have been guarding the entrance more strictly than usual. Anyone unidentified or suspicious was supposed to be interrogated.
The fact that they managed to sneak out despite that meant their methods were incredibly cunning. It occurred to me that the city itself had become extremely dangerous since the Cataclysm.
It was a good thing I’d learned those techniques from Gon to deal with the rising difficulty. If I hadn't received that mental training from him, I probably would have died at the hands of those heretics. Being strong really is a good thing.
And the Villainesses were a huge help, too. If they hadn't warned me, I would have died without even being able to react. I suppose I can't view them as purely malevolent entities. If they’re helpful, it might not be a bad idea to try talking to them.
“Yawn. I’m sleepy.”
Enough brooding; time to sleep. My body felt heavy. It was best to call it a night.
Thud.
“What the—?!”
Just as I was about to drift off, something fell onto my head. Startled, thinking it was a bug, I leaped out of bed. Even though I was entering my seventh month of living in another world, I was still terrified of cockroaches.
“Shit...”
After calming my racing heart, I checked to see what had fallen on me so I could kill it... and I froze in horror.
“This is the Substitute Doll. Why is it here?”
The Substitute Doll I had bought from the Voodoo Shaman for one gold coin had somehow fallen onto my head, torn to shreds. Not only was the doll—which should have been inside its wooden box—ripped apart, but it had somehow flown to me while I was lying in the relief station ward.
The meaning behind this was clear.
“Ah.”
The Villainesses had found me.
What was worse was that it was the middle of the night, and I was alone in a private room. Yes, the torn doll had escaped the wooden box while I was sleeping alone. All my defensive measures against the Villainesses had failed.
—Hehehehe!
—Did you really think you could stop us with a piece of junk like that?
—Kid, you tried to be clever, but it’s useless.
Voices echoed. The temperature in the room plummeted.
“Agh! Erika! Erika, help me! Is anyone there?! Help!!!”
I screamed, hoping someone outside would hear me. I grabbed the doorknob and shook it frantically to escape. It wouldn't budge. The door was as solid as a concrete wall.
“Help me!”
No matter how much I shouted, there was no response. It was as if I were screaming inside a soundproof booth.
—Scream all day if you want. No one is coming.
—Hey, shorty. Stop resisting and come over here.
—It’s kind of cute seeing the brat crying like that. Want Big Sis to show you something good?
The voluptuous Villainesses were lounging on the bed, beckoning me. If I responded to their call, I’d be subjected to a spiritual haunting until my very soul was sucked dry.
‘What do I do? They’ve clearly come prepared.’
The Voodoo Shaman had told me: even if I encountered them again, I must never answer them.
—Hehehe. Kid. Did you think you’d be fine as long as you didn't answer?
—You actually believed that bald doll-fetishist? What do we call unverified information? A scam. Getting it now?
—Superstition, shamanism... it’s just nonsense spread by idiots who don't know a damn thing.
The Villainesses completely dismissed the Voodoo Shaman’s words. He said I’d be fine as long as I didn't answer, so why were they able to interfere with me even though I hadn't said a word? The door wouldn't open. No one was coming to help despite my shouting.
“Hey. Kid.”
“Gasp.”
Thinking I might as well try to break the door down, I pulled a club out of my Subspace Pocket. At that moment, the Substitute Doll lying on the bed opened its mouth. The shredded doll sat up on its own, its lips curling into a wide, eerie grin.
“The stuffing in this doll is actually quite good. Stitch it up and keep it with you. When the sun is up, let’s use this to talk.”
“....”
“If you don't answer, I’ll torment you. Whether you answer or not, you’re already caught in our web.”
I remained silent until the end. Whether the Voodoo Shaman was a fraud or not, I figured it was best not to give them a verbal response for now.
“Stubborn brat.”
The doll collapsed again.
—Fine. Don't answer. We told you we’d torment you if you didn't. I guess you want to be tormented.
—Ah~ is he that type? Hehehe. Nice, nice. I’m quite good at tormenting!
—The shorty is completely terrified. Look at that face. He looks like he’ll cry if I just poke him.
The Villainesses drifted toward me. Floating through the air, they grabbed my arms and dragged me toward the bed.
“No! Stop it!”
I twisted my body and resisted, but it was futile. Their strength was nonsensical, and I was tossed onto the bed.
“Ugh...!”
Two of the Villainesses pinned my arms, while the remaining one climbed on top of me and grabbed my face.
—Kid, don't cry. I’m not going to eat you. I’m just going to have a taste.
The grey-haired Villainess with bandages over her eyes flicked out a long, snake-like tongue and licked my face. A sticky fluid coated my skin. After meticulously licking my face several times, she even stole my lips.
“Mmph...!! Mmmph!!”
Her long tongue forced its way into my mouth. It toyed with my tongue before pulling it out and sucking on it for a long time. I felt like I was losing my mind. Some unknown liquid, rather than saliva, kept flowing from her tongue, and I was forced to swallow it.
—Hehehe. I can actually touch him. He’s soft.
—I told you. This brat owes us his life. We can interfere as much as we want.
—Hehehe. My turn next. I want a taste.
—Me too! Me too!
The Villainesses ignored my resistance and took turns sucking on my mouth. I felt like my vital energy was being drained. With them climbing all over me like giant dogs and licking my face, I couldn't even open my eyes.
—Phew. That was satisfying. So this is what a kiss tastes like.
—It’s on a whole different level than when we do it with each other!
—Gulp. Ha... I think I’m going to get addicted.
After playing with me for a long time, the Villainesses each shared their impressions. They looked incredibly satisfied.
But wait, I felt surprisingly fine. I thought my vital energy would be drained, but instead, I felt a surge of strength in my body. Did that saliva they forced me to swallow have some kind of effect? I wasn't sure, but I noticed the pain in my side had almost vanished.
—Hey. Kid.
“...Yes?”
—You owe us your life. You know that?
“W-well, I suppose so.”
Just before the heretics ambushed me, the Villainesses had alerted me to their presence. If not for them, I likely would have been killed without even leaving a corpse behind. They were indeed my saviors. The problem was that they were forcing me to repay the favor.
—We didn't save your life, kiss you, and treat you this well for no reason.
—The thing is, we’ve been caught up in something.
—Deep inside that Labyrinth, there’s someone who bound us to this smelly city.
—Either deal with that guy or find a way to break our shackles. If you don't do something...
—You’ll spend the rest of your life being licked and sucked by us until you die from exhaustion. Understand?
“Wait, what do you mean...?”
—Either catch that guy deep in the Labyrinth or find a way to set us free.
—You lived once thanks to us. If you don't want to die, pay your debt.
—That remnant of the warrior in your body didn't just activate on its own.
—Kid, who do you think sang the Warrior’s Song for you?
“Don't tell me... it was you...?”
—Now that you get it, get down into the Labyrinth and repay the favor. Free us from this city.
—Answer me, kid.
—Answer.
Was it really these women who sang the Warrior’s Song to draw out my potential while I was dying at the hands of the heretics? They had helped me far more than just revealing the heretics' location.
But the request to go deep into the Labyrinth was daunting. I had no idea how deep they wanted me to go.
“Why me, of all people?”
—Because you’re the only one who can see us properly.
—If you don't like it, find us another owner of the Spiritual Eye.
—Hehehe. But you know what? In the last 300 years, you’re the only one with a Spiritual Eye who can see us, feel us, and talk to us.
“Ah...”
I understood why they were obsessed with me. They had already waited 300 years. For all that time, these three had been searching for someone who could see and communicate with them.
“Wait a minute. I understand. I get that you want to be freed. I get all of it. But how deep is 'deep'? What floor do I have to go down to?”
—Well...
—The end. Shouldn't you go all the way to the end of the Labyrinth?
“Wait, what kind of thing do I have to kill that requires me to go to the end of the Labyrinth?!”
At my question, the Villainesses stopped laughing and answered.
—The one who created the rift in this land.
—The collector of mysteries.
—The conservationist of endangered species.
“No, what the hell is that?”
—Hmm. Ah! Right. You can just call him the Labyrinth Lord.
The Labyrinth Lord. The Villainesses were telling me to take down the Master of the Labyrinth.
“That’s impossible.”
I answered instantly. If I accepted a quest like this from them, my life would truly be fucked.
—There is no refusal.
—Please! Just do it!
—We’ll help you, kid. We’re not asking for free.
“No, how am I supposed to catch the Labyrinth Lord? Have all three of you lost your minds? Look at me. I almost died just struggling against some heretic bastards.”
—That’s just because you’re still weak.
—Hey, kid. You can do it if you try.
—A man who calls himself a warrior, getting scared before the fight even starts. Tsk, tsk.
I was so dumbfounded I was speechless. They were talking big since they weren't the ones going down there.
—Do you think we’re staying here because we don't want to go down?
—We tried. But we can't. We can't go down.
—Why do you think we’re earthbound spirits? We can't enter the Labyrinth at all.
“This is driving me crazy.”
There seemed to be no way out. The Villainesses had no hope other than me, and if I ignored their request, my life would likely fall into a pit of despair. In this intense standoff of stubbornness where no one would budge, I made a decision.
“Fine. I’ll... I’ll try. But let’s set the deadline as 'before I die.'”
—If you can't do it before you die, we get to take your soul, okay?
—If you fail to free us before you die, you’ll experience something far worse than wandering the underworld.
—If you say you’ll do it and then slack off or try to pull a fast one, our relationship is over that very day.
“Yeah, yeah, I get it!”
They were so terrifying I couldn't even think of tricking them. They had immediately seen through my plan to just live out my life and die of old age.
It seemed a new mission had been added to my life against my will. If a mission window existed, it would probably look like this:
Every single one of them was high difficulty. I couldn't help but think my life was truly cursed.
—We’ll leave for today.
—Remember. You have to catch the Labyrinth Lord.
—The longer you take, the more we’ll nag you.
Soon, the Villainesses vanished into the darkness. I picked up the doll lying there as if nothing had happened and sat back down on the bed.
I got into this mess because my Ability was too good. I guess this is the penalty of having an Ability.
It was a sleepless night.