Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: The Fruit Bears
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"I can't believe something like that happened while I was out cold."
Elia seemed to have no memory of what went down back then.
I tried to smile, but my lips twisted upward like a crumpled sheet of paper.
"Makes sense that you wouldn't know, sis. Even I was shocked when that flower suddenly bloomed on your body out of nowhere."
"Anyway, our little Rion went all out to help you, right? I'm just thrilled."
Elia's hand descended lightly onto Rion's head, feather-soft.
The way she gently stroked her little sister's hair looked so warm, like a mother soothing a newborn babe.
"But Rion, I keep telling you—when something like this happens, you can't let your emotions get the better of you. The right call is to stay cool, get out of the labyrinth, and report it to the guild."
"Sis, not this again. Always the same nagging..."
Rion pouted, her voice laced with complaint.
Elia gave an awkward smile at her childlike whining.
For a moment, her lips parted as if she were about to say something, but she quickly thought better of it and clamped them shut.
Instead, she clapped her hands and grinned at me, chuckling merrily.
"More importantly, who's this guy? Some secret boyfriend you've been hiding?"
"Sis! Don't say such rude things!"
Rion shot back fiercely at Elia's teasing joke.
The older sister getting teased, the younger one yelling...
I just watched their sisterly squabble with a blank expression.
'Now this is a first.'
It was a complete reversal from the dynamic I'd seen in all my previous regressions.
Nothing like Elia clinging to me while Rion growled at me from the sidelines.
The pattern was flipped.
'Or maybe this is the real deal?'
All my past labyrinth runs had ended in failure. If this was finally the proper storyline kicking in, then this might be the chemistry these two originally had in the game.
As someone who'd never played it, I'd probably never know for sure—but eventually, everything would come into focus.
"Leon Star. Just your average explorer."
I bowed deeply, aiming for maximum humility.
"Elia Fleur. Take good care of my little sister, will you?"
"Sis!"
Elia responded to my greeting with a refined smile.
Rion's protests followed right after, but she ignored them and pressed on.
"Leon Star, was it? Not a name I recognize. Mind telling me your affiliation?"
She was still smiling brightly on the surface, but I wasn't dull enough to miss the intent lurking underneath.
'She's suspicious.'
In the labyrinth, monsters and traps weren't the only dangers—people could be just as treacherous.
There was nothing less trustworthy than an unknown face.
A mysterious explorer hanging out in the upper levels, where only veterans tread.
She was basically demanding I prove I wasn't approaching them with shady motives.
'She doesn't even know my name, so she's probably been deep in the labyrinth for quite a while.'
Rescuing Aren from that wraith knight had made my name pretty well-known around the city.
For these sisters—who seemed plugged into the news—not to know meant they'd been grinding away in the labyrinth the whole time I was making waves.
'Makes sense. As mid-tier explorers, they might not have heard about the lockdown on the topmost floors.'
Or maybe they knew and just blew it off.
It wouldn't apply to them anyway.
"The Labyrinth City Association can vouch for my credentials. Just drop my name at reception, and they'll fill you in."
"Gotta say, that's hard to buy."
"Let's head up to the city and check together. You don't look like you're in any shape to keep exploring right now—am I wrong?"
No matter how skilled these sisters were, pushing on in their current state would be tough.
The smart move was to get out with me.
Besides, now that Plateria's awake, lingering in the upper levels wasn't wise.
The flowers would soon wilt, fruits would form, and the aftermath would sweep the entire area.
It'd be over in less than a day, but better to dodge the storm before it hit full force.
"I get why you're wary. But how about we all head out together for now?"
"..."
Elia still wasn't dropping her guard.
I'd saved them, sure—but whether I was trustworthy? That was still up in the air.
"Sis, hold on a sec."
Rion cut in between us.
"I know what you're thinking, but this guy's not the type you're imagining."
She jumped to my defense with gusto.
It was such an unexpected sight that I was left dumbfounded.
"He saved my life, and he came with me to rescue you when that monster grabbed you. I get why you're cautious, sis, but trust him just this once."
"Oh my."
Even Elia looked genuinely surprised by Rion's reaction—it was clearly a first for her too.
"My little sis changed while I was out. Have you really fallen for this Leon guy?"
"It's not like that!"
Rion's face turned beet red, like a ripe tomato.
She denied it vehemently, but that expression was impossible to hide—anyone else would read it as a yes.
'You were this easy a girl?'
Was this really the Rion I knew?
I nearly blurted out, Who are you?
"If my sister vouches for you, then fine."
With that, Elia bowed her head to me.
"Sorry for doubting you. With all the explorers in the labyrinth who approach with ulterior motives, I guess I got defensive without thinking."
"No worries. As a fellow explorer, I get it nine times out of ten. Thanks for giving me the benefit of the doubt now."
Thanks to Rion sticking up for me, I managed to shake off Elia's suspicions.
Now we just had to team up and get out of this labyrinth.
"Alright, let's head to the city as soon as you're ready! You okay, sis? Anywhere hurting?"
"A bit dizzy, but I can manage. Won't be using magic for a while, but moving's no problem."
Elia tried to ease her sister's worries by standing and spinning around to show she was fine.
"Ack!"
"Whoa, sis!"
But her legs gave out mid-spin, and she plopped down on her butt.
Her snow-white hair danced in the breeze before settling softly, and Rion rushed to help her up.
"Don't push yourself if you're not okay! You nearly gave me a heart attack!"
"Heh heh, I was trying to play it cool, but I just ended up showing my clumsy side to you."
Elia laughed sheepishly, and Rion sighed as she looked at her.
"I know the nearest return stone location. Follow me, and I'll guide you."
"Thanks. This'll make it a lot easier."
"No problem. But I do have a favor to ask—think you could help me out?"
"A favor? After you saved our lives? Of course. Name it."
She sounded like she'd hand over her liver or gall bladder if asked—over the top, but I knew it came from the heart, so I nodded.
"I'll explain on the way. Let's get moving."
...
I led them toward the labyrinth's exit.
As we pushed through the underbrush, Elia shot me doubtful glances about the path, but I shut that down clean with results.
"Here we are."
Breaking through the dense foliage revealed a small clearing.
In its center stood a mystical structure.
The sisters couldn't hide their astonishment at the sight.
"Wait, is that a return stone? There was one around here?"
"It's in the heart of the upper levels. Ride this, and we skip straight to the city—no top floor needed."
I beckoned them over and placed my hand on the pillar.
A wave of golden light enveloped me, and when I opened my eyes, I was in the city square.
The sisters followed suit, arriving right after.
Both wore dazed expressions, like they couldn't believe it was real.
They still hadn't processed escaping the labyrinth.
"I figured it'd take at least four days to get out."
"I still can't wrap my head around it."
Finding our way was child's play for someone like me, who had the full layout memorized—return stones and all.
Hunting down hidden ones unknown even to the city? That was my specialty.
"There are several hidden return stones in the upper levels. They're just few and far between, tucked away in dangerous spots like around hives, so they're hard to find."
"Just who the hell are you...?"
"An ordinary explorer, like you. That answer your question?"
"...I'll drop it."
Rion opted for silence over more prying, closing her half-open mouth.
Pumping another explorer for their trade secrets—knowledge that was basically proprietary—was incredibly rude.
She seemed to realize it belatedly and didn't press further.
"Anyway, I owe you big time in all sorts of ways."
"It was fun for me too. Scored some good stuff thanks to you."
"But seriously, you sure that's enough?"
"It's plenty. This is more than fair."
I glanced at the plant root in my hand.
The root of the Plateria flower I'd pulled from Elia's body.
A spirit herb that boosted mana and stamina noticeably even raw—and I had several bundles of it.
Hand it to Aren, and she'd turn it into potions with effects far beyond the norm. I tucked the precious ingredients deep in my pocket.
'Not a bad haul.'
For Plateria awakening, it wrapped up smoothly enough.
No skills or artifacts, but I saved the heroines and snagged some spirit herbs—solid gains.
Was this labyrinth run ending peacefully?
That's what I was thinking.
"Help! Somebody, please!"
A commotion broke out.
Gendarmes were rushing around—must've been a bunch of casualties.
Injured explorers returning to the city was routine. None of my business, so I was gonna walk on by.
Until I glanced at the wounded man as I passed.
'...Hold up.'
He was mummified, shriveled dry as a husk.
Life drained clean out, skin and bones left behind.
And atop that emaciated frame hung a head-sized red fruit.
Red veins pulsed around it like a heartbeat, writhing.
Crack!
Then it began to split open, ever so slightly.