Week 3 (2)

It didn't take long for the owl-like monster to be sliced into pieces and fall apart.

Valerie leaped up stylishly, severing its windpipe, and landed lightly. Surprisingly, it was a one-hit kill.

The first reason that made it possible was the passive effect [Swiftness], which grants an extra Power Die when seizing the first turn.

On top of that, you couldn't overlook the fact that Valerie had been positioned at the front lines from the start.

It was thanks to Basiliki joining that Valerie's positioning had become more flexible.

The result was a monster that unleashed a whopping five Power Dice attack right from the first round's first turn.

Having accomplished this feat, Valerie scrunched up her face and said,

"Ugh, it looks so gross."

The deeper they went, the greater the Labyrinth's distortions became.

While most enemies on the 1st Layer—excluding a few high-risk ones—showed only minor mutations, the 2nd Layer featured far more grotesquely twisted creatures.

Take the Owlgaze they'd just dispatched without much trouble, for example.

At a glance, it looked no different from a normal owl, but paying even a little attention to its face made it clear it was a monster.

In place of where eyes should be was a raptor's distinctive curved beak.

Originally, bright yellow eyes would have gleamed fiercely there—or at least, that's what it must have been like, though now that it was in pieces, there was no way to know.

"...Battle, over."

With Ray's words, which sounded utterly deflated, the tension they'd barely built up fizzled out awkwardly, forcing them to drop their combat stances.

It wasn't even a tough opponent to begin with. Its gimmick was hiding and always triggering a 'Ambush' judgment to steal the first turn, but even that had been dodged by Valerie at the front with bullet-like reflexes.

Dodge, then counter with a one-shot kill. Textbook one-woman show.

In fact, this was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠one reason why they were gaining confidence in tackling the 2nd Layer.

After all, at this point, most enemies would struggle to withstand even a single barrage of five Power Dice fired off with virtually no penalties.

"Wow, as expected, Valerie-nim is so strong."

Basiliki exclaimed in genuine admiration.

Truth be told, not all Demidius looked down on other races without reason. Especially when it came to physical strength—they respected that even more.

The reason was obvious: their pride didn't stem from physical 'strength.'

...That said, I once again felt a sinister aura from somewhere and shuddered.

For some reason, ever since earlier, there was this piercing gaze staring right at us whenever there was a gap. I didn't know why, but it carried an intense yin energy.

No, actually, I knew the reason. Even the most oblivious person couldn't ignore this intense stare. I forcibly fixed my eyes on the ceiling. Scary, so scary.

"Hm, Master-nim?"

Basiliki, who was clinging tightly to my left arm and stuck right by my side, whispered in my ear.

"Ray-nim keeps looking over here..."

She couldn't possibly miss the blatant stare that even I could feel. Without thinking, I desperately made an excuse.

"W-Well...? Since this is the first expedition after Basiliki-ssi joined, maybe he's just trying to match our teamwork? Ha, haha."

It was such a lame excuse that even I felt pathetic saying it, but Basiliki seemed to buy it and smiled toward Ray, who was still subtly glancing our way.

She probably meant something like 'I'll do well, so don't worry,' but... who knows how effective that was.

For starters, Ray's gaze sharpened even more. It felt like it was poking holes in me. Can't you cut it out already?

"Moving out again."

Whether my desperate wish reached him or not, Ray soon gripped his greatsword anew and spoke. Meanwhile, Valerie, who had been nudging the corpse of the one-shot Owlgaze with her foot, shouted,

"Tch, bust."

"Monsters carrying Magic Stones aren't as common as you'd think. Too bad, but nothing we can do."

The drop rate for Magic Stones wasn't as high as one might hope. Especially from Ravel-rank—low-risk grade monsters like this one.

To expect any meaningful drop chance, it was better to hunt high-risk ones like Ursus or Sibilbark. At least Lurid-rank or above.

"Nothing, zilch. Let's go, Master-nim."

She roughly kicked the dissolving, energy-fading corpse and started advancing, twirling her dagger with a whoosh whoosh.

—And so, the party pressed forward once more.

*

What should those things even be called? Marbles? Rabbits?

Anyway, as those horrific things madly bounced around attacking, Ray felt an urge to avert his eyes without realizing it.

And who could blame him? It was a sight straight out of a nightmare.

From within shiny, egg-round shells, faint rabbit shapes flickered into view. What if you melted a live rabbit and trapped it in a sphere of oil? Would it look like that? He didn't want to think about it any further.

Movements that showed no shred of reason. While clashing with one in front, Ray took a ram from behind and let out a shallow groan. No real damage, but it felt awful.

There were four enemies in total, and that number had already been reduced by one thanks to Valerie bursting it right at the start.

Maybe because most monsters they'd fought in the Labyrinth so far appeared solo, the party struggled more than expected against these fast, lethal ones.

"Watch that side!"

"No problem."

At Ray's shout, Basiliki—who'd been glued to the Master's side—waved her hand. At the same moment, the rabbit-sphere charging at her distorted with a splat.

Not every magic user was a Demidius, but every ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Demidius used magic. What Basiliki had just shown was a prime example.

The thing, struck by an invisible blow in an instant, charged back in rage. But Basiliki hadn't moved a step; she simply extended her arm lightly.

Golden magic unfurled around her outstretched arm. It was inevitable ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠that the reckless charge halted in its tracks.

As a priestess, she wasn't exceptional at offense, but her style—luring enemy attacks and nullifying them with bolstered defense stats—was effective.

Bursting the sphere in front of him with a combo, Ray thought: She was definitely a capable comrade. ...Capable, but.

One succumbed to Kali's poison, its movements growing sluggish until it stopped dead. The last one was taken out in a single strike by Valerie, who dashed in like lightning once more.

With that, battle over.

Averting his eyes from the scattered corpses all around, Ray instinctively glanced to the rear, as had become habit.

As expected, there was Basiliki, casually linking arms with the Master and smiling with her eyes.

"Tsk."

Without thinking, Ray clicked his tongue. Who knew how many times now? At first, even he was taken aback, but now he didn't care.

Just seeing them like that made anger bubble up inside him nonstop. He was only human, after all; there was nothing he could do about it. At least, that's what Ray thought.

After rationalizing it that way, all that remained was his raw, honest reaction.

Was the Master really that oblivious?

...Am I the only one caring this much?

Up until now, he'd thought the Master was just good at acting nonchalant. With Valerie and Kali around, there was no need to advertise that they'd been intimate.

So he'd played it cool too. Even though his heart pounded the moment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠he saw the Master the next day. Even though his lower belly itched uncontrollably, leaving him at a loss.

"Master-nim, you're not hurt anywhere, right?"

"Yeah, well... thanks to you."

Their conversation carried clearly. For no reason, Ray subtly kicked a protruding rock on the floor.

Realizing how petty that was after doing it, Ray's face flushed as he stealthily blushed.

Just like that morning, rationally speaking, it wasn't an incomprehensible issue.

The Labyrinth's Madness must have hit Basiliki too, messing up a corner of her mind and making her flirt with the Master.

—That made sense. It all made...

"...Knight dude?"

"Huh?"

At Valerie's question, Ray snapped his head up, coming back to his senses. In a slightly flustered tone from his sudden movement, Valerie asked,

"Why are you gnawing on your nails like that? Something wrong?"

"What? Nails, what are you..."

Reflexively, Ray looked down at his hand. Unbeknownst to him, he'd chewed his nails ragged, leaving them looking pretty mangled.

Ah... this is bad. Ray squeezed his eyes shut. Now wasn't the time to get swept up in these emotions. They were on an expedition. He had to control himself. Deep breath, open eyes.

Commanding himself, Ray slowly opened his eyes. Better than before.

"...Thanks."

"Nah, I didn't really do anything..."

Valerie rolled her eyes around a bit anxiously. Ray just smirked and gripped his greatsword with both hands again.

"Advancing again."

Then, he faced forward once more—as a vanguard should.

...The dark emotions smoldering in his chest suppressed, for the time being.