Chapter 48
Chapter 48
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Darkness Parts
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3rd Layer.
Darkness splits.
I definitely felt it that way.
The dark labyrinth seemed just a little brighter.
At the same time, the Arachne Queen's body cleaved in half.
'...Mr. Yuseong.'
Ermé looked toward Han Yuseong.
A fist-sized hole gaped in the middle of his abdomen.
Yet Ermé stared with trembling eyes at the sword technique Han Yuseong had unleashed.
The exclusive art usable only by the Orc Hero and the Beastkin Hero—Black Sea.
How the hell had he done it?
'...I get using Dark Moon.'
Rishiel, who would later make a name as a swordswoman on Volkan's level.
She recalled Dark Moon, obtained while slaying that elf.
Ermé gazed at Han Yuseong with slightly shadowed eyes.
In her memories, there had been one swordsman.
A monster who had integrated the sword arts of every race to bar their path.
'...No way.'
She had never seen the man's face.
He always wandered about in some bizarre mask.
But that monster had made them fail.
-You think you can take down the King of the Abyss with this paltry showing? Folding to the Demon King's lackeys, and your boasts carry such bravado.
Was Han Yuseong that same man?
'No.'
That existence and Han Yuseong were similar, yet different.
That one had been the Sword Hero. But what of Han Yuseong now?
Sword or bow—he was flawless in every way.
The other crushed all foes solely through swordsmanship.
Han Yuseong, if need be, started with stealth to disrupt enemies, sniped as a marksman, and wielded the blade besides.
'That guy's swordsmanship might edge it out.'
But Han Yuseong now felt different from that brute.
From the savage who had forsaken everything.
Han Yuseong, pressing forward with his party—different.
'What an idiot.'
Ermé berated herself.
To liken a damned cur like that to a man of Han Yuseong's character.
She shook off her blade, watching Rozenta rush to Han Yuseong and begin healing.
It was thick with Poison Arachne blood.
Their blood carried a mild venom—hardly ideal for a sword. A champion blade wouldn't corrode from a mere smearing.
'Still, better safe.'
Ermé dashed toward the huddled Poison Arachne.
Rozenta had hurried over, leaving a slight gap punched through.
To seal it off, she needed to move faster.
-You lot, saving the world? This drivel's grown too tiresome to stomach.
The man's sword swung toward the hero party.
-So die right here.
His blade pierced the hero party's throats.
Ermé had deliberately scrubbed it from memory.
Right now, keeping Han Yuseong alive took precedence.
*
"...".
I woke suddenly.
From the chill, perhaps. Inns stayed perpetually warm through magic.
Why had I passed out here?
The thought hit, and I bolted upright in alarm.
'...The Arachne Queen.'
Dead.
I'd seen it split in two.
But my wound? Its silk had speared straight through my torso.
A fist-sized hole punched clean through my body.
'...Huh?'
No pain.
I glanced down at myself—smooth as could be.
Like fresh skin had regrown.
'Time hasn't passed much.'
The analog clock Ermé had given me to track labyrinth time, just in case.
Not a huge span had elapsed.
I scanned my surroundings.
The others slumbered deeply. No telltale stir of the newly roused.
Glasses slept with his specs on.
'Doesn't he love those glasses a bit too much?'
A touch absurd.
I rose and replayed the battle in my head.
Not bad up to the midpoint.
The snag? Poison Arachne Queen.
'...Honestly.'
I'd grown complacent.
Things had gone smoothly enough that life here felt a cakewalk.
No need to push hard, yet I'd shouldered the Queen solo.
Glasses right there—I'd rushed to wrap it quick.
A touch more detached recon of the surroundings.
With Ermé, no injuries.
'Overtrusted Rozenta.'
Believing her divine power, I'd flung my body bolder.
Bit by bit.
More strain than I'd figured.
Led to a rotten outcome.
I'd taken a near-fatal wound.
Rozenta likely burned through heaps of divine power as a result.
'...Mana.'
Mana brimmed decently. About 50% daily refill—now roughly 60%.
-...Awake, huh.
Rishiel stood beside me.
-Your face says no nagging needed.
'...Yeah. Same choice if rewound.'
Queen flanked the rear—Glasses fell to me to shield.
I owed Glasses.
Unsure if "debt" fit, but when the Skeleton Horse targeted me, he'd tried saving my hide.
'Could he have survived?'
Its strikes, its speed.
Likely held aces in reserve. Odds I'd have escaped? Slim.
Mid-thought, Glasses cracked his eyes. He trudged over.
"Awake?"
"Yeah. Up early?"
"You usually burn mana to collapse. This time, I lived thanks to you."
"Repays your last save, somewhat."
"...Thinking that?"
"My life's pricey."
I meant it.
Boundlessly grateful to Glasses for the one life-debt.
I shut my eyes calmly.
Seemed fine, yet drowsiness poured in.
'Stamina dipped?'
Level 3 didn't make me superhuman proper.
Superhuman next to norms, sure.
'Still feels a hair short.'
The Sword King's presence.
Execution Princess Lucia's vibe.
'Fair enough—even rainy said Level 3.'
Nation's sis, Rebelion affiliate presumed.
Handier than expected, but capped there.
Glasses meshed better with our crew.
One more elemental spell, and he'd be golden.
A yawn crept up unbidden.
Usually pulled night watch hereabouts, but Glasses' spells let us crash worry-free.
I burrowed into my sleeping bag and conked out.
*
"...".
Morning brought Teresa's face into view.
Silver bob-cut hair, blue eyes mirroring mine.
Teresa, eyes open on me, still cupped my cheek in her hand.
"...What?"
"Touching your cheek."
Why touch it, though.
I started to retort, then dropped it.
Everyone else packed sleeping bags. Teresa finished hers.
I wriggled out sluggish-like. Ermé shot me a pouty glare.
Why the face at me?
"...Why?"
"Breakfast... tastes like nothing."
Labyrinth life.
Her eyes lingered pointedly on me. She sidled close, whispered in my ear.
"I'll keep it secret from the others, so just me?"
"...".
Unbelievable.
How'd she think it'd stay hidden?
"Party leader's call."
"That ain't bad."
Fair.
Ermé frontlined as leader, handled plenty.
For the party's gain, not hers.
'Using authority for grub, though.'
Just MSG kick.
'...Tasty kick.'
No ingredients now, though.
Told her—Ermé deflated.
"Then together after the labyrinth."
"Sure."
"Oh, right. Rewards dropped."
"Rewards? What kind?"
"Good stuff."
Her beaming grin sold it—real good.
'Rewards at last.'
I followed the party's lead to it.
"Hope it's useful for the members."
"Not peeked?"
"All agreed to open together. Can't reseal once popped. Delay too long, rewards vanish."
Neat setup.
Past-life chicken delivery vibes, though—stickers 'cause couriers pilfered.
Anyway, cracked the chest.
Five reward items.
Three silk garments, spider silk, three potions gleamed.
Two of three clothes women's cut. Our party's female-heavy—fine.
'Three potions, one silk.'
Potions all vitality elixirs. Lowest-grade to low-grade, each +3 bump.
'...Why same as lowest?'
Level scaling? Probe later.
I eyed the spider silk.
🛡️ ITEM 🛡️ Silk Shooter ◇ A thread with steel-like hardness. Overflowing with elasticity. '...This tempts.'
Touched the silk lightly.
Insane bounce, yet unlike wire. Wire made a weapon; this—attach to gear or snare foes.
'...Got [That] from gift pick.'
Made this a must.
Glanced 'round—most eyed the elixirs.
Made sense. Elixirs juiced tough-to-raise stats.
I coveted 'em too, honestly.
But instinct said no wild gains for me.
Volkan's recent elixir, maybe.
'Party growth presses harder.'
And something more urgent beckoned.
Silk Shooter weapon.
With it, fun plays possible.
Needed gear too.
Silk felt steel-tough.
Touched a garment. Cloth on sight, but Rogue Mastery screamed special.
Soft, yet blocked solid hits.
Pity the gender split.
Presumed women's—frills galore.
"Hmm... Such refined garb at a glance."
Glasses thought different, apparently.
I craved plain tee vibes.
He eyed the frilly tee.
"Shirts to Rozenta, Marcel, and Yuseong, then."
"Fine garb like this works, but plain for Rozenta—Yuseong eyeing it, fine?"
"I fancy frills too."
"Yuseong, trade? Can't say it outright, but."
"Hard pass."
I pulled a real sour face.
Medieval types loved that flash.
What's the appeal?
"Fair—you pull off anything sans flair."
Satisfied-regret mix in his gaze.
Silk garb mine.
As they eyed elixirs, I slipped a hand onto the silk.
"Yuseong skips elixir?"
"Won't hit hard for me."
"Hit? Recent prime potion?"
Prime as prime gets.
Yielding intent, extended hand.
"Yuseong max contrib on Queen skipped, so next..."
I watched them divvy blankly, eyes back on silk.
Thread-thin.
Pulled spare wire from Durin.
Trap wire entrance-side, spares good.
Held Silk Shooter and wire both hands, pondered.
'Bout time to try.'
Skeleton Horse rewards: random gift, choice gift.
I'd picked one.
'Perfect spot now.'
The new gift, [Synthesis].