24. Gazes
A world that was not Tartarus.
A place far from the surface of Hellas, where the age of myth was still in full swing.
Among the sacred twelve thrones, there were gods who filled only three of them.
"Is that true? Father."
A handsome-faced god asked. The god called Father toyed with a bolt of lightning as he answered.
"When it comes to sword and storm in the City of Light, what god could it be but that one?"
"This is troublesome. I deliberately avoided attaching an old place name precisely to avoid this kind of problem."
"Had we used the name Wilusa or Taruisa, heroes from beyond the sea would have crossed over as calamities."
While the two gods were exchanging opinions like that, the god seated on another throne, holding a trident, said to the two of them,
"Hmph, so it seems I was summoned because it concerns the City of Light. No matter how I look at it, isn't this your matter?"
So saying, the trident-bearing god looked toward the god called Father.
The god called Father fiddled with the lightning at his fingertips and agreed.
"The city precious to you is not the City of Light, but the city of the sea, the earth, and the labyrinth."
Though the god called Father conceded in that way, the trident god pressed him further instead.
"It is not only that. What that one is aiming for is your seat, is it not?"
At those words, the hand toying with the lightning stopped, and the god called Father agreed in silence.
The people of Hellas possessed a distinctive mythological perspective.
They interpreted the gods of other mythologies by mapping them onto the roles of gods within their own mythology.
This distinctive perspective, which would later be called the Greek interpretation, helped them seize thrones left without masters, but it did not strike down an enemy on its own when that master returned.*
These three had divided among themselves the positions of the three guardian deities who once protected Wilusa—the God of Light, the Storm God of the Army, and the god of the underground waterways—but only one seat was now under threat.
"Since that is how it stands, I shall take my leave."
The trident-bearing god departed just like that.
"Do you think the same?"
"How could that be? If that old god's followers invade, it is my city that will collapse."
The handsome god grumbled that they had built the walls together, yet there was not a shred of affection between them.
To the god who muttered in a dry, emotionless manner, the master of lightning asked,
"Is there a prophecy?"
"There is one who is receiving an oracle now."
The usurper of the Temple of Delphi, the one who issues prophecies, the shining one—that is, Phoebus.
The god called the God of Light in the final destination where the abandoned things of the world gather had issued a prophecy to his priestess who still remained on the surface,
and the followers of the old god who returned from the grave of the forsaken would seize the Authority of lightning and blood and seek to reduce the wall built by the gods to ashes.
Yet a foreign host led by the Lord of Phantasmal Dreams—those wrapped in threads the goddesses of fate had not woven upon the loom—had arrived. Even the raging storm would kneel at their feet and perish.
Such a prophecy was delivered to the two gods and to mortals.
"A foreign host, is it. It seems they are sufficiently equipped with the strength to stand against the great calamity."
"So it is."
"In that case, I will not send special support this time."
The master of lightning likewise agreed, and with that, the fate of the City of Light was decided.
Along with that, one god vanished from his throne.
"Foreigners."
The last remaining god stroked the lightning at his fingertips and reflected.
On the prophecy that foreigners who would one day arrive in Tartarus would descend into its deepest abyss and bring back what the gods desired.
***
After watching my classmates eat for a while, I returned to the inn where Tia was waiting.
"You're only coming now?"
"Sorry for making you wait."
I said that to Tia, who had taken off her armor and was waiting alone in the room.
"What, what do you mean, waiting?"
"Come on, you know."
When I hugged Tia, whose face was sulky, she scrunched up her face.
"Again, that big-breasted woman's smell!"
She really remembered and distinguished all of them.
"Then cover it up for me."
When I provoked her like that, Tia threw herself into my arms.
When I slipped a hand under her skirt, I felt moisture.
"You're already ready?"
"Wh-whose fault do you think that is?!"
Her saying that with a face dyed bright red was quite adorable.
The room was soon filled with wet, sticky sounds.
***
After devouring sweet, ripe Tia, then finishing dinner and my bath, I was just about to fall asleep when she tugged at my clothes.
"Do-hyeon."
"What is it, Tia?"
"Do-hyeon, in the end, you will fly farther than this."
Those words rang in my ears with several meanings.
The meaning that I would keep growing stronger and descend deep into the labyrinth.
The meaning that I would inevitably gain enough power to survive inside the bus when it eventually crashes, and return to Earth with that power.
The meaning that someday, I would be parted from Tia.
While I was lost in such thoughts, Tia continued speaking.
"When the time comes, do not hesitate. I do not want to hold you back."
"What are you talking about?"
I didn't want to abandon a woman who had come into my hands.
If she left on her own, that would be one thing, but if I had to let her go, that would only mean my own ability was lacking.
And Tia was clearly in my hands.
I held Tia's small body tight and said,
"I won't abandon you, Tia."
Tia curled up against me, and we shared each other's warmth.
"It's all right, Do-hyeon. I won't be a burden to you."
"I said you're not a burden."
Since she had come into my hands, I would take responsibility.
That was the bare minimum code I held myself to as a philanderer.
"Right. Thank you, Do-hyeon."
I held Tia, who said that with an expression that seemed not entirely convinced, even tighter.
So that the anxiety, whose source I could not tell, would melt away.
***
The next day, having postponed my appointment with Eira to the evening, I visited the Temple of the Travel God early in the morning.
Kwon Chae-a greeted me, Lee Se-rin glared at me as usual, and Yu-na waved both hands.
The other students were looking at me with oddly uncomfortable gazes.
"You came, Do-hyeon!"
"I promised, after all."
"So how do you plan to handle the training?"
"I plan to join a different party each day, rotating, and provide guidance."
"Then which party will you start with today?"
"I'll start with the party you're in. Since it has three members."
Kwon Chae-a's party consisted of three people: Kwon Chae-a herself and two students.
When my conversation with Kwon Chae-a ended, Yu-na came running over with quick little steps.
No—after fidgeting even more than before at a certain distance, she suddenly threw her body toward me.
"Do-hyeon~!"
I barely managed to catch Yu-na as she jumped into my arms. Fortunately, it seemed the Incubus Touch correction had kicked in because it was judged as an action necessary for sexual activity.
Without that correction, I might have fallen over, Yu-na. No, wait—maybe that was what you were aiming for?
"I missed you!"
Yu-na's voice, shouting while in my arms, was even more energetic than usual.
"It's only been a day?"
"Even so!"
As I held Yu-na tight and glanced sideways, Lee Se-rin was watching me as if she wanted to cut me down.
But even that gaze seemed cute now.
［Achievement］Pure Love
Condition: Obtain the first sexual experience of someone who likes you.
Thinking about how this Achievement had been completed, I couldn't say for certain, but wasn't this Lee Se-rin's own way of expressing affection?
However, while I was feeling Yu-na's body against my whole frame, Lee Se-rin's hand hovered toward her sword, so I set Yu-na down.
"By the way, class president. Is it okay to hug like this where everyone can see?"
"Huh? Weren't you fine with people watching, Do-hyeon?"
What exactly do you take me for?
"But Do-hyeon, you were like that with Tia too, and yesterday with the teacher... mmph, mmph."
I covered her mouth so the words wouldn't spread.
I had thought the relationship I formed with Kwon Chae-a hadn't been discovered because the room was well soundproofed, but it seemed the people who would notice had noticed after all.
With things like this, I could understand Park Min-a's attitude of screaming that I had no principles.
Though I didn't know why it was Park Min-a pointing it out rather than Lee Se-rin or Yu-na.
Around when I let go of Yu-na's mouth, Lee Se-rin approached, apparently thinking I was tormenting Yu-na.
"The gift. Thanks."
"Yeah, as long as you know."
Even knowing she likes me, it was oddly awkward.
"If you make Yu-na cry, I won't forgive you."
I had made her cry out on the bed several times, and I intended to keep doing so.
"Sure."
I agreed with Lee Se-rin's words.
My relationship with her was still unresolved.
If she opened her heart and came to me, she would become my woman like Tia or Yu-na, but her attitude remained the same.
Lee Se-rin soon left, taking Yu-na with her.
And after a while, as time passed, the priest of the Travel God began admitting adventurers,
"Then we'll go to the grasslands,"
"No. Let's go to the temple."
"Huh? Isn't the temple dangerous?"
"Because I'm here. And experiencing danger is the purpose of this training."
"Then send us to the temple."
Half-doubting my words, Kwon Chae-a's party nevertheless entered the temple.
I entered with them, smiling.
***
Unlike caves, where darkness filled every direction and no one challenged them unless the whole party had Darkvision, the temple continuously emitted light from stones embedded in the walls.
So parties with ambition tended to challenge the temple to build their skills,
but if asked whether it was a good hunting spot, I would answer no. Because the monsters that appeared here were undead.
"Kyaaaaah!"
"No one said they looked like that!"
"Calm down!"
A horde of skeletons and zombies rushed at us.
At the moving abominations themselves, the teacher and students screamed.
Unlike kobolds and goblins, these monsters were revolting just to look at, and the sight of them shrieking made me laugh involuntarily.
So Lee Se-rin's party had been dealing with things like this all along.
After savoring that sight for a moment,
"Blur."
First, I activated a spell to protect my body.
With the triple protection of Mage Armor, Swordmaster, and Blur, and with Shield on top of that if things got dangerous, there was almost no chance of taking damage from ordinary monsters.
"Everyone snap out of it! I'll block the front, so form up like I said earlier!"
I shouted at the students, who still hadn't come to their senses even as I approached the monsters.
"Choi Da-in! Front! Son Yu-ju! Back!"
Choi Da-in's class was Paladin.
It was classified as a priestly role, but it was an all-rounder position that could also serve as a warrior role.
Son Yu-ju's class was Warlock.
It was a magic class, but closer to a long-range attacker than a user of diverse spells, so she belonged in the back line.
Kwon Chae-a's Ranger was a technical class, but it could also serve as a warrior role. Among the three, there was no full warrior class, but with two semi-warrior classes included, the balance was not a bad combination.
I shouted once more at Choi Da-in, who was awkwardly trying to set her stance.
"Choi Da-in, forward! Teacher, support Choi Da-in!"
Perhaps thanks to the mental interference that had been present when entering the labyrinth, Choi Da-in came to her senses this time, raised her shield, and pressed close beside me.
"Didn't you hear what I said earlier?!"
"Huh?!"
"If you stand right next to me, you're fully exposed to enemy attacks!"
I shouted at Choi Da-in, who had made a mistake.
The temple passage was wide enough for two people to fight side by side only with difficulty.
That meant up to two monsters could stand at the front, and if things went wrong, one person would have to receive the attacks of two monsters alone.
So we had decided to set up our front line in an L-shape.
At the very front, I stood in the dangerous position where, if things went wrong, I could be surrounded by three monsters.
Conversely, because I occupied one spot, Choi Da-in stood at the front of the safe zone where there was only room for one monster to enter, and beside her, Kwon Chae-a stood in support with twin swords.
But Choi Da-in had pressed right next to me and exposed herself to the attacks of two monsters.
"S-sorry!"
Choi Da-in apologized as she pulled back.
"I told you not to move recklessly next to monsters!"
Adventurers and monsters all carry a source of mana called a mana circuit.
Accordingly, a mana field forms around them, and if you make a large movement inside that mana field, the mana leaking from the Primary Mana Circuit and the emergency mana gather together and give the enemy an opportunity to attack.
Simply put, if you suddenly pull away while stuck to an enemy, you receive an attack called an opportunity attack.
The touch of two zombies fell upon Choi Da-in.
"Eek!"
Choi Da-in screamed but blocked the attacks with her shield.
Fortunately, she took no damage before the battle even properly began.
"Well done! Hold your position!"
"Y-yeah."
Choi Da-in raised her shield with her mind half elsewhere.
But Choi Da-in, you need to look forward—what are you doing looking at me?
I was about to say something to Choi Da-in, who kept glancing my way, but gave up.
If she takes a hit like that, she'll snap out of it.