012. A Record from Another World #1

He rested his chin on his hand, pondering how to lure the apples. That's when it happened.

[Siii!]

The Dog Spider-001 suddenly darted forward. Straight toward the nearest apple tree.

[Piii!]

The Jellyfish-002 chased after the Dog Spider-001, flying toward the apple tree.

He was a bit taken aback but didn't try to stop them. These were wild monsters at heart, after all. They wouldn't charge headlong at something stronger than themselves.

'Did they judge that they could win even with those numbers?'

He hoped so. If they were just being dumb, they couldn't stick around as companions. He didn't need reckless allies.

'That's weird, though. The Dog Spider-001 isn't the aggressive type. Doesn't seem like the kind to charge without orders.'

The Dog Spider-001 and Jellyfish-002 reached the apple tree. He stayed put, observing their actions closely from a safe distance.

The Jellyfish-002 used magic to shake the tree. Apples hanging from the branches fell to the ground, rolling across the dirt.

It didn't look like the Jellyfish-002's levitation magic. The apples seemed to be floating on their own power.

But their freedom didn't last.

[Sisi!]

The Dog Spider-001's threads swiftly wrapped around the apples. They plummeted back to the ground.

...His kids had won, just like that. Without a proper fight.

He decided not to say, "Don't act on your own without my orders from now on." They followed him, but they weren't slaves. Their bond was more like friends than master and servant. Horizontal, not vertical.

'Still, gotta remind them to be more careful next time. Could get me in trouble.'

With that in mind, he arrived at the apple tree.

[Sii!]

[Piii!]

The Jellyfish-002 offered him an apple bound in threads. Since it was safe to touch, the Dog Spider-001 must have nullified its effects for the Jellyfish-002 too.

He carefully took one.

"It's a monster."

"You think I'm nuts...? Eat something rotten."

This one looked inedible. Its gross appearance wasn't the issue—it was rotting. Clearly poisonous.

"It's B-grade too."

"Probably needs specific conditions to unleash its full power."

"Some get strong only in special environments or by feeding on fear."

Not wrong. It was weak now. If you let your guard down and relaxed, its threat level dropped sharply.

But judging by its baseline state, his instincts still screamed B-grade.

Obvious reason: Its power wasn't sealed—it just hadn't met the conditions to activate. No telling when or how it might. Better stay cautious.

Sudden frantic messages. Mysticism even typed out words for once. That urgent?

He glanced back. One unbound apple caught his eye. It must've hidden while the others got caught.

The apple floated up, eyes gleaming, and summoned more apples around it. Unlike the rotten body, these looked fresh and vibrant.

[Pi?]

[Sii.]

Dog Spider-001 and Jellyfish-002 ignored them. Instinct told them these were weak.

"Not even F-grade."

He eyed the apples casually as they swarmed him.

Thud. Thud thud.

Not even ticklish. They bounced off and rolled away.

He picked up a summoned apple. Up close, zero threat.

Meaning: Even if the body powered up late, these summons wouldn't. Unless it made new ones.

"Guess when the rotten apple's weak, its summons suck too."

"This one might be edible, though?"

"Not rotten like the body."

"We'll see. First, grab that rotten summoner—"

Right then.

Near the apple tree, space warped and tore open. A portal emerged.

"...A dark portal. Guess this is a labyrinth after all."

Not his first time. Labyrinths spawned them occasionally. He'd seen two in his isekai days. Rare.

"Not sure, but they say it links to other dimensions."

"You could, but no clue where it goes. One-way trip. Gotta think carefully."

"Yeah. No one who crossed one in isekai ever came back."

Rumor: Unlike targeted portals, dark portals randomly linked to any world across dimensions. Speculation, but...

'Anywhere's gotta be better than this hellish labyrinth...'

Still, bad idea. Leaving meant losing explorer status and powers. He'd be a normal guy elsewhere. His first isekai survival was luck. Betting on miracle twice? Insane.

"No matter how I think, better not. Don't wanna gamble."

They ignored the dark portal. Just a guess it was one, and even if, could lead to uninhabitable hell.

"Alright, now grab that rotten apple... Huh?"

The summoner was already caught. Jellyfish-002 tentacle-gripped, shaking it like a toy.

"Already got it. Wondered why you were standing around gawking at the portal."

[Pii!]

The apple screamed as it became a plaything. Jellyfish-002 grinned innocently, shaking harder.

Then—dropped it by accident.

[Pi?!]

Jellyfish-002 reached to grab it again, but—

"Jellyfish-002, stop!"

[Pi, pii?]

He yelled in time. The apple's escape route: the dark portal.

It vanished into the dimension beyond. The portal evaporated.

"......"

"......"

"...Nothing."

Again. That uncanny sensation from yesterday hit again as the apple got sucked in.

Its threat level spiked. From B-grade to S-grade.

'Not a fluke yesterday?'

Couldn't ignore it now. He'd seen and felt it clearly. Denying was escapism.

'Wrap up morning scouting. Head back, sort my thoughts.'

Needed deeper analysis.

*

One year after the apple invasion. Humanity unleashed all its tech and finally felled it. Countless lives ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠lost, half the population gone—but victory was theirs.

History recorded this destroyer as "The Apple That Brings the End."

Apples became symbols of doom. Humans eradicated every one from the planet.

An apple that nearly doomed a planet. Born and raised in the Ancient Labyrinth.

There, a man bound its kin with threads. Munching summon apples, he began sketching in his notebook.