Chapter 6: The Unattractive Flower (2)
Chapter 6: The Unattractive Flower (2)
Translation: Godtl
Jurgen, who once roamed the Demon Realm as if it were his own backyard.
Having not visited since his inauguration as the Minister of Internal Affairs, this was effectively his first homecoming in a long while.
"Hoh."
Jurgen's eyes widened as he glanced around.
Demon Realms existed across the world in the form of pocket dimensions, each with its own distinct characteristics.
The Northern Labyrinth Demon Realm could be summed up in a single word:
A maze.
To elaborate—it was a deathly labyrinth of towering gray walls stretching endlessly to the ceiling, twisting in geometric patterns, filled with traps and monsters that could ambush you at any moment.
Given that the portal randomly placed adventurers on the first floor, it had once been considered one of the most perilous Demon Realms.
Just think about it.
Thick walls blocking your line of sight, monotonous terrain with no distinguishable landmarks to orient yourself.
Determining your starting point or current location was nearly impossible.
And on top of that, monsters would attack at every opportunity—this labyrinth had once been a terrifying hellscape that devoured countless adventurers whole.
...Or so it should have been.
But now, after returning after so long, the atmosphere had changed drastically.
"What are you doing? It's this way."
"Uh, uhh. Got it."
"Stop acting stupid and stick close behind me. Just follow the streetlights."
"Streetlights... in a Demon Realm...?"
For one thing, there was now an abundance of lighting.
The once-pitch-black darkness, where adventurers had to rely on dim lamps while trembling in fear, was now brightly illuminated by streetlamps.
But that wasn't all.
"Be careful not to get lost. If you're not careful, you could end up circling the same spot until you starve to death."
"Let's see... left it is."
[← 2nd Floor Portal] [1st Floor Dandelion Rest Area →]
"..."
At intersections that had once forced adventurers to gamble with their lives, signposts now stood prominently.
They were so well-maintained they practically gleamed.
"From here, we can cut straight through this way."
"Miss Penelope, shouldn't we still be cautious of traps?"
"That's ancient history. The Adventurer Guild cleared out all the traps along the main routes on the first floor ages ago."
There were even shortcuts—large holes punched straight through the maze walls to shorten travel time.
And no traps to worry about, apparently.
The remodeling was so thorough it could pass for a theme park based on the maze concept.
Any lingering tension had completely evaporated.
"Wasn't the Demon Realm supposed to be more dangerous?"
"It is dangerous. Ordinary people like you could easily lose their lives if they're not careful. You should be more grateful."
"Well, thanks then..."
But unlike Jurgen, Penelope moved forward cautiously, her cheeks stiff with tension as she scanned her surroundings.
Her breathing was heavier than usual, and cold sweat trickled down her forehead from the strain.
As she examined the map, she spoke.
"I'll avoid the routes where monsters frequently roam. I'll be fine, but you wouldn't be."
"Why worry when I have Miss Penelope with me?"
"Quiet. No backtalk—just follow the veteran's lead. Loud noises could attract monsters."
Indeed.
No one else would have noticed, but...
...Penelope was not a veteran Demon Realm explorer.
This was only her fourth time setting foot in a Demon Realm, and even that was after a year-long gap.
And even then, Penelope had never taken the initiative to do anything.
She had always been escorted by professional adventurer parties, silently walking along without ever engaging in combat with monsters.
For all intents and purposes, this might as well have been her first time.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous the Labyrinth Demon Realm is? A weakling like you would be torn to shreds before taking more than a few steps. You should be grateful to have an excellent guide like me."
At least her outfit didn't show sweat easily—that was something to be thankful for.
To hide her drenched back, soaked in cold sweat, Penelope puffed herself up as much as possible.
Jurgen was probably stepping into a Demon Realm for the first time anyway—there was no way he'd notice, right?
"I can hold my own in a fight, you know."
"As long as I'm here, that won't be necessary. Just focus on carrying your luggage properly."
"How reliable. You're amazing, Miss Penelope."
"Hmph~"
Though her nerves were so on edge that even the slightest sound made her head whip around, his reaction was satisfying enough.
If he was this impressed already, she'd be in trouble if he saw the real deal.
She couldn't wait to see his reaction when she spectacularly incinerated the monster later.
This country bumpkin probably had no idea how remarkable a 4th-Rank Alchemist truly was...
Once he witnessed the majesty of her magic, he'd instantly grasp Penelope's greatness.
"This way."
"Understood."
By the time they reached the second floor, Penelope was met with an unexpected situation.
"..."
"Is something wrong?"
"There... there are no monsters..."
None.
Not a single monster in sight.
They'd nearly traversed the entire second floor without encountering even a monster whelp.
"Another party must have cleared them already."
"Obviously. I know that."
"Isn't that for the best? Saves us the hassle of unnecessary battles. Our goal isn't the monsters anyway—it's the fourth-floor Reward Room."
"I said I know."
She knew.
But she'd wanted to show off her dazzling magic.
She'd even packed her alchemy catalysts to the brim in her Palette for this!
As she stewed in frustration over this anticlimax, Penelope's ears perked up sharply.
—Krrrrrrr...
A monster's cry, faint but unmistakable—far from any human presence.
Under normal circumstances, it might have been slightly frightening, but after such prolonged absence, it was almost welcome.
"It's coming."
"Stay behind me. Don't you dare panic and bolt."
As Penelope stepped forward valiantly, a grotesquely undulating monster came into view.
A bloated, ray-shaped abomination flapping its fins midair despite the absence of water.
Its body measured 2-3 meters, but with its sinuous, whip-like tail appendage, it easily spanned 8 meters.
A fish-type parasitic monster—the Labyrinth Ray.
Normally, these creatures clung to larger fish-type monsters like remoras.
They were only troublesome when attached to a host; their standalone combat capability was barely above that of a feral dog.
Hence their classification: "Nuisance"-grade.
The kind that, if reverse-summoned outside the Demon Realm, would cause nothing more than a minor disturbance.
"Just one? How underwhelming."
She was about to conclude she could handle this alone when—
—SHWIIING!
—SCREEEECH!!!
Two arrows streaked through the air with piercing whistles, striking the ray down mid-flight.
"What the—?"
While Penelope fumed over her stolen moment to shine, the arrows' owner sauntered into view.
"Apologies. Thought you were in danger."
"You alright? Must've given you quite a scare. Anyone hurt?"
The figure slinging a crossbow over their shoulder was, unsurprisingly, another adventurer.
Encounters between parties weren't uncommon in the Demon Realm—despite its vastness, adventurers were plentiful.
The party consisted of three burly men in lightweight leather armor.
Their slightly disheveled appearance and well-worn gear marked them as seasoned veterans.
The most conspicuously smug among them—a thick-browed pretty boy—stepped forward.
"An honor to meet you, miss. Shall we exchange introductions? I'm Ethan, the Battle Will of this party."
"Not interested."
"Oho, thorns on a lovely rose, eh? Still, hear me out—I, Ethan, hold a Silver Rank license—"
"Let's go. We've got ground to cover."
"Fair maiden? The Demon Realm's more perilous than you think."
"I said I don't care."
Penelope was no stranger to this kind of advance.
She knew the most effective response:
Absolute, glacial indifference.
"Aw, come on, don't be so cold."
Most would retreat from such bluntness, but Ethan persisted with slimy tenacity.
"Wouldn't you rather travel with reliable folks like us than that dim-witted pack mule?"
Penelope, who'd already turned to leave, froze mid-step.
"Listen, peasant. I just said I'm not interested."
"...P-peasant?"
"I don't need your pathetic help. Get lost."
Her voice dripped with frost, her gaze laced with contempt—a pressure that could freeze blood.
Ethan faltered for a moment.
Truth be told, what Ethan had done was considered taboo within the Labyrinth.
They weren't in any immediate danger, yet he'd outright tried to poach another party's prey, hadn't he?
On top of that, surrounding a grown noblewoman and making advances—there was no way that would leave a good impression.
But Penelope's anger wasn't solely because of that.
That was my chance at a rare beast!
Those smirking three had swooped in and ruined everything.
"...I was just trying to make a good offer. What a shame."
"Have a pleasant time, then."
"Tch!"
Penelope stared fixedly at Jurgen as Ethan and his trio retreated.
"Miss Penelope, don't you think you drove them off a bit too harshly?"
"What?"
"Not every adventurer in the Demon Realm is virtuous, no? Caution is good, but there's no need to make unnecessary enemies."
Though it was well-intentioned advice, Penelope promptly stomped on Jurgen's foot.
It was light, so it didn't hurt much.
"Is that what the man who got insulted to his face should be saying? Have you no pride? They called you a 'stupid-looking porter.'"
"Oh, so you got angry on my behalf? How touching."
"No? I was just annoyed at how their greasy eyes were sizing me up from head to toe."
Penelope snapped back sharply before striding ahead without another glance.
Now, thanks to those three, she'd have to search for the beast all over again.
To cut to the chase, by the time they reached the third floor, the two hadn't caught so much as a glimpse of the beast.
But by then, Penelope had already hidden any trace of irritation.
After all, anger drains stamina too, and Penelope was utterly exhausted.
"It's already night."
"Night?"
"Midnight, Miss Penelope."
Jurgen showed her his wristwatch.
Since the sky wasn't visible in the Labyrinth Demon Realm, distinguishing day from night wasn't precise.
But it was clear that her stamina had plummeted sharply past midnight.
Well, Penelope wasn't a skilled guide nor a physically trained knight.
Thanks to Viche driving away any beasts, they hadn't encountered any, but reaching the third floor in just six hours was remarkably good pacing for a beginner.
"How about we enter the fourth floor tomorrow? Let's rest a bit for now."
"Here?"
"Is there a rest area nearby?"
"No, the fastest route would take two hours."
"Then let's just sit over there and take a break."
"...Fine."
Penelope hesitated for a moment, lips twitching, before quietly relenting.
It was a little unexpected.
Based on the extensive "Penelope behavioral data" Jurgen had gathered so far, he'd expected her to grumble something like, You expect me to sleep out in the open like some vagrant?
"I'll prepare the campsite, so wait just a bit."
"Mm."
Penelope gave a weak reply before hugging her knees and leaning against the labyrinth wall.
There was a reason she was being so docile.
To be blunt, the fact that they had to camp out was entirely Penelope's fault.
Her pride had tripped her up.
Had they stuck to the original plan, they could've rested at the Adventurer Guild's designated shelter.
If she hadn't stubbornly wandered off-course searching for the beast, they'd have reached the fourth-floor shelter by now.
"..."
It was only natural for attendants to serve nobles.
But when a noble's recklessness forces their attendant to endure unnecessary hardship, they ought to take responsibility.
By preparing a suitable gift or bonus, for instance.
That was the mark of noble dignity.
Still, this was her first time camping in the wilderness.
Even during childhood hunts in the family's private hunting grounds, she'd always stayed in the lodge.
She had packed a blanket just in case, but what now?
Wouldn't her back ache terribly from sleeping on the hard ground?
This was the Demon Realm, not a rest area—she'd probably have to take watch shifts too.
And to think she was enduring all this for just one drink...
Even she couldn't help but let out a bitter chuckle at the thought.
"...!"
Lost in these musings, Penelope momentarily forgot her dignity and gaped blankly.
Because Jurgen, who had been rustling about, was finishing up the campsite preparations with remarkable skill.
He pulled out poles and canvas from his large backpack and effortlessly set up a makeshift tent.
After laying down firewood, he expertly kindled a campfire.
Subjectively, it hadn't even been ten minutes, yet a splendid campsite was already complete.
One glance was enough to tell this wasn't his first or second time doing this.
"You're quite skilled at camping, aren't you?"
"Done it often enough, I suppose. I brought a blanket too—use this to cover yourself."
"I brought my own blanket as well."
Jurgen shook his head after examining Penelope's blanket.
"That one's too thin."
"Too thin? It was expensive!"
"Purpose matters more than price. For situations like this, you want a blanket made of material that retains heat and resists moisture, not some fancy fabric."
Penelope accepted the blanket Jurgen handed her.
Compared to what she'd brought, it might as well have been a rag—but it was undeniably plush and warm.
"...It smells. Once we get out of here, I'll have to get you something more presentable."
"Don't complain too much and wait a little longer. I'm cooking now."
"Jerky and biscuits?"
"Don't be absurd. I've no desire to eat that two meals in a row."
He set up a stand over the crackling campfire and placed an overturned pot lid on it.
After greasing the surface, he sliced off a chunk of butter with his knife and dropped it in whole, then poured a thick batter from a thermos.
—Sizzle.
With the sound of oil spattering, an enticing aroma instantly began to spread.
The kind of smell that makes your stomach growl.
"What is that?"
"Potato pancakes, you might call them. Think of them as similar to hash browns."
Soon, golden-brown potato pancakes, fried to perfection, were served before Penelope.
She eyed the crispy, sizzling pancakes with curious fascination.
Despite the heavenly aroma, they didn't look particularly special at first glance.
"Good work. I'll enjoy this."
After thanking him, she took her first bite—
Crunch.
Penelope had no choice but to redefine what "crispy" meant.
The crunch was ear-ticklingly perfect.
Inside, the soft, sliced potatoes had a tender texture.
Though it was just potatoes, the rich, satisfying weight of it filled her entire mouth.
Just as the simple potato flavor was starting to verge on monotonous, the subtle fragrance of herbs made her crave another bite.
"Mmm...! Mmm-mmm!"
"Here's some chamomile tea to go with it."
Though she'd thought anything would taste good after exhaustion and hunger, this was beyond expectations.
The fatigue of the day seemed to melt away with the savory oil in her mouth.
Despite its simplicity, the flavor was incomparable to ordinary potato dishes.
There was only one regret—
If only she could have had this with cola...
"What did you do to these potatoes to make them taste like this?"
"Fried them in a mix of lard and butter."
"That's all?"
"Good butter makes all the difference. High-calorie food—it'll help with tomorrow's activities. How is it? Edible?"
"I-it's not bad."
Contrary to her begrudging assessment, Penelope devoured four more pancakes in no time.
"Now, get some rest. I'll take first watch."
"Wake me in three hours..."
"Will do."
Perhaps from the fullness, she curled up in the blanket and was out like a light in under thirty seconds, breathing softly.
"Well, she must be exhausted."
Anyone could tell she was a nobleman's daughter—how much hardship could she have endured?
Coming this far was half stubbornness, anyway.
"It's going to be a long night."
Though she'd asked to be woken for her turn at watch, he had no intention of doing so.
In times like these, it's only right for the elder to shoulder a little more hardship.
He pulled out a thermos of strong espresso he'd prepared earlier.
Coffee in the labyrinth had its own unique charm.
For the first time in a while, memories surfaced.
"Care to join me for a cup?"
Jurgen took a sip of coffee and spoke up.
"I've had the feeling you've been following us. No use skulking in the dark—come warm yourselves by the fire."
Thud. Thud.
As if answering his call, three men emerged from the shadows.
The same trio Penelope had slapped earlier that day.
Ethan's party.