The Labyrinth Lord Departs
Originally, we had planned to leave right away with Pelt, but Suli and Lehatna were so reluctant to see us go after just one night that it felt wrong to depart so soon.
Surprisingly, even Snow seemed regretful about leaving this quickly.
Was it because she had taken such a liking to her new friend, Leysia?
I suddenly grew curious about what the two of them had talked about.
It might be worth finding out if the opportunity arose.
In the end, we decided to stay a while longer at Lehatna's lair.
Quite some time had passed.
What started as "just one more day" amid Suli's whining had stretched into a considerable stay at Lehatna's lair.
As life here grew increasingly familiar, I sensed it was finally time to go.
Home was secure, guarded by reliable allies starting with Wise Scale, so there was no real worry—but we couldn't leave it vacant forever.
Snow seemed to feel the same; it was time to head back for good.
Suli and Lehatna were predictably saddened by our decision, but they both knew we'd stayed far longer than planned.
Since I'd mentioned from time to time that we'd leave when the moment came, their regret didn't lead to much resistance.
Pelt had been ready to depart at any moment, so no extra time was needed there.
Naturally, Deabel, Pelt's younger sister, decided to join us as well.
A few other monsters chose to follow too, but I had no reason to refuse.
More minions walking right into my service suited me just fine.
Snow showed no opposition either.
If anything, she seemed pleased.
Managing vast territory was easier with more hands, after all.
[Come to think of it, this lady hasn't mentioned it yet. This lady is now the ruler of a zone. Not long after you left, a voice reached out to me.]
Snow's sudden transmission prompted me to quickly consult the Labyrinth Will.
[Yeah, that's right. When you killed Seong Jae-myeong, she became the area boss. She was the strongest in the Snow Mountain Zone after you.]
The Labyrinth Will confirmed it without hesitation, then continued as if it had just remembered.
[By the way, how about becoming the Labyrinth Lord? The position has been empty since the last Dragon King.]
I frowned slightly at the casual tone.
Wasn't this a pretty big deal to discuss so lightly?
[Eh, the Dungeon Boss role won't be that useful for a while anyway. Even without it, you're still the strongest inside me, and it'll take hunters at least a few hundred years to seriously challenge you.]
'...A few hundred years? That long?'
[Even with status windows, SSS-rank isn't something you hit easily. Look at yourself—you'd know. Without the Dragon Heart, how long do you think it'd take normally? At least another century, right?]
His usual calm demeanor made me nod naturally.
A century felt like a stretch from my perspective, but he didn't seem to be exaggerating.
He'd always told the truth so far.
[I have no reason to lie to you.]
'...True enough.'
As I slowly nodded, he paused before continuing.
[Anyway, it'll take hunters a long time to contend with you properly. They'd need at least as many SS-ranks as there are S-ranks now.]
'As many as current S-ranks... Hard to imagine.'
[Exactly—it's that distant a future. I or the others might manage things occasionally, so it could take even longer.]
'Manage? What's that mean?'
[Exactly what it sounds like. We intervene directly to adjust hunter numbers and levels.]
'Hm. Sounds like you've done it a few times already.'
[Most of what you call 'labyrinth anomalies' are management. High-rank monsters popping up in low-level floors? That's part of it too.]
I nodded thoughtfully.
After all the investigations that yielded nothing conclusive, the cause of labyrinth anomalies was finally clear.
[So, really not interested in Labyrinth Lord?]
'No real need. Any perks?]
[Hm. You'd get stronger inside me, at least?]
'That's it?]
[Yeah, pretty much.]
'Hm... Any downsides to taking the position?]
[None. It's just proof you're the strongest monster inside me. No suppression or anything like you're worried about. If I wanted that, I'd have done it ages ago.]
I nodded again.
Fair point.
'Fine. I'll take it. Labyrinth Lord it is.'
[Good choice.]
You have become the Labyrinth Lord (Dungeon Boss) of the Seoul Great Labyrinth.
All stats and skills are enhanced within the Seoul Great Labyrinth.
All stats and skills receive bonuses in combat against hostile intruders in the labyrinth.
A strange vitality coursed through my body as the status notifications rang in my mind.
I hadn't tested my strength yet, so it was hard to quantify, but I definitely felt stronger than before.
I wondered if anyone could even fight me now.
Inside the Seoul Great Labyrinth, I was undoubtedly the strongest.
[You're still far from the old Dragon King.]
'That much? How strong was he exactly?'
[In his prime? No contest. Near death in his later years? About even, maybe leaning your way.]
Rather than bruised pride, genuine curiosity stirred.
It was a shame I'd never get to face him.
[Don't sweat it too much. If not here, other labyrinths have plenty.]
'So, lots in other labyrinths?]
[At least one, maybe two or three per.]
I pondered quietly.
There were eight labyrinths on the level of the Seoul Great Labyrinth.
That meant at least eight SSS-rank monsters out there...
Tension and anticipation welled up.
The day to fill my empty Yeoui-ju felt close.
[Don't rush. You've only been SSS-rank a short while. With your status window and me, time is on your side.]
His gentle reminder calmed my emotions.
No need to hurry, as he said.
Other SSS-ranks being stronger made sense; I had time, and it favored me.
Better focus on the present than some uncertain future.
Cherish time with Suli and the family.
Much time had passed since returning from Lehatna's lair.
The monsters who'd followed me, including Pelt, had fully adapted to the Snow Mountain Zone.
They got along well enough with the existing ones, like the Lizardmen, and now often moved in groups together.
At the Labyrinth's urging, we'd shifted residence to the zone's final floor, the 84th, and traversed from start to end, subjugating countless monsters alongside Snow.
Lehatna and Leysia had visited first at times, and I'd occasionally checked on Arde's subordinates in the Lava Zone.
With so much time gone, a lot had happened.
Explaining it all would take days without sleep.
Though too much to detail fully, one thing was certain: every moment had been joyful and precious.
From our new home on the 84th floor, I gazed quietly outside.
The vast plains where I'd once clashed with Seong Jae-myeong stretched into view.
A gentle flurry of snow blew in, warmer than usual.
As I watched absently, realization dawned.
It was time to move again.
Snow, beside me, picked up on my mood right away.
After so much shared time, she knew me inside out.
[Shall we depart?]
[...Feels like the moment's come.]
[We've only just settled into the new nest... Leaving before we've even grown attached.]
[Sorry about that.]
[Does that mean you're not sorry about the rest?]
I clamped my mouth shut at her sharp retort.
That wasn't it at all, but her fierce glare silenced me.
I was overwhelmingly strong now, yet I always felt small before her.
[Enough. Talking to you just hurts my mouth... So, when were you planning to leave?]
[Right when we decide.]
[Hm. Short notice, then. But with the others, no issue.]
[...What do you mean?]
[Hm? Obviously, this lady's coming too. Any problem?]
[...The kids?]
[Of course they'll come. Were you thinking of leaving this lady and the children behind?]
Her steady gaze kept me from admitting it.
Saying yes would've meant days of nagging, delaying everything.
Experience had taught me silence was best here.
Snow snorted softly, as if she'd known all along.
[So now you know. With the Yeoui-ju this time, no special prep needed. We'll see Hwa-yeong's face after so long—a relaxing trip.]
I stayed quiet as she hummed happily, a rare spark of excitement in her.
Her and the kids joining wasn't a problem per se, but I'd never imagined it, leaving me flustered.
This outing wasn't a casual trip like last time, so I'd assumed they'd stay...
[She's worried about you.]
I tilted my head at the now-familiar voice of the Labyrinth Will.
'What do you mean?'
[Just that. She knows you lost your partner. She doesn't know I'm with you, so she's uneasy sending you alone.]
'...I see.'
As I nodded slowly, I glanced at Snow.
She was already instructing Pelt and Wise Scale on preparations.
Her bustling figure warmed my heart.
[Abandoning such a devoted wife to make kids with old dragons... Poor Snow.]
I frowned faintly at the quiet voice in my head.
'Don't spread baseless rumors.'
[It was just the other day she and Leysia, that old dragon, had a huge fight over it. Baseless?]
The memory surfaced unbidden: Snow and Leysia clashing viciously on the snowy plain where I'd fought Seong Jae-myeong.
Though stronger as zone ruler, Snow had charged fearlessly at the superior Leysia.
My intervention ended it, but a real fight would've caused serious harm.
Who could've guessed those close friends would go at it so fiercely?
Snow's bloodthirsty roar from that day still echoed in my ears.
I'd never give her reason to get mad again.
I ignored what sounded like mocking laughter from the Labyrinth Will—as if that'll go as planned—pretending not to hear.
He hadn't started that way, but this guy was starting to resemble my old partners, and not in the good ways.
With preparations complete, Snow, the kids, and I left home.
Thanks to the Yeoui-ju, reaching the 1st floor was instantaneous.
The outside world, after over a year, was as noisy and chaotic as ever.
Utterly unchanged from my last memory.