035. Explorer's Log #1: Day 6 in the Labyrinth. After Returning to the Shelter.

After returning to the shelter, I materialized three transfer return tickets and handed them over to Rise Nova and his companions. Now, by simply tearing the physical tickets, Rise Nova and the drifters could return to their original world.

But they didn't use the return tickets. It was too soon to go back, Rise Nova said, postponing their departure.

"If we go back like this, we'll just end up dying pointless deaths. To topple the corrupt government, we need to get stronger."

Terio and Ayula mulled over Rise Nova's words in silence before nodding in agreement with his judgment. Of course, they made it clear they wouldn't stay long. Rise Nova set the period at about a week. He knelt before me, begging me to train them so they could grow stronger in that time. Terio and Ayula knelt beside him, bowing their heads.

"Training... You're not saying you want me to train you, are you...?"

I glanced sideways at the monsters nearby.

"You mean you want me to have you spar with these guys for a week?"

"That's right. Sparring with the strong will help improve your skills on its own."

He wasn't wrong. Sparring with someone stronger than you did aid growth. But they couldn't expect noticeable gains in just a week. If they happened to have the ability I'd luckily acquired in that other world... but no. Unfortunately, that power was a unique ability granted to only one being per dimension—no duplicates existed. In other words, unless I died or transferred it to someone, no one else could have it.

Transferring it? Nah, that's a no-go.

It had a usage limit anyway, so I couldn't use it anymore. Even so, I couldn't transfer it. Doing so would strip me of my power, just like the person who'd given it to me.

If I transferred it, even unsealing myself wouldn't change my current state. Or would the seal just vanish entirely?

Anyway, I'd explain my ability in detail later. For now, I decided to hear Rise Nova out—how much stronger he wanted to get, the state of his home planet Lumina, the strength of their enemies once they returned, and all the big and small details.

I reviewed the information Rise Nova had provided once more. His current threat level was C-grade. Without the nerf, his actual threat was A-grade. And Rise Nova was among the top ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠echelon of strength among the Oarak race.

That meant the strongest on planet Lumina were A-grade.

There were ten A-grade Oarak...

Seven belonged to the government—the Seven Commanders, as they were called. Two were with the revolutionaries: Supreme Commander Rise Nova and Chief of Staff Oarak. One was a loner, unaffiliated.

In the end, it boiled down to two against seven. Not impossible. If there'd been any S-grade Oarak ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠opponents, maybe, but since they were all around Rise Nova's level, it was doable—especially with extreme spars against my monsters, dancing on the edge of death.

If they really push to near-death in spars, it could work. Oarak have excellent regeneration, and as long as they don't die instantly, Medical Mushroom-004 can keep healing them.

With only a week, they could probably reach top-tier A-grade—say, A+ grade if I had to classify it.

Oh, and A+ grade was a threat level I'd just made up. Not all A-grades were equal, so subdividing made sense. Still, A+ was just the peak of A-grade. The gap to S-grade was massive—no in-between. Strength scaled in jumps at certain points.

Anyway, I decided to grant Rise Nova's request. Starting today.

"Alright, training starts now. Hey, kids—gather up for a sec."

I called the monsters together and assigned roles.

Dog Spider-001, Black Magma Slime-003, and Art Pega Unicorn would stick with me for labyrinth exploration.

[Sii!]

[Suhng~]

[You wish to keep me always by your side. I understand your feelings well. Shall we mate?]

And Jellyfish-002, Psycho Clown-005, and Hedgehog Summoner God would be sparring partners for ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Rise Nova, Terio, and Ayula. The spars would happen without me present—no nerfing.

[Pii.]

[Kirik. Not that interested since I've already collected their kind, but extras never hurt. I'll gather a bunch while I'm at it.]

[Doomba! This'll be funyot! If I think of other ways to train 'em stronger besides sparring, can I try those too? My training's gonna be brutal, so brace yourselvesyot!]

"Thank you. We appreciate it."

"We'll give it our all! And we'll repay the favor!"

"Thank you! We won't let this kindness go to waste—we'll get stronger!"

Finally, Medical Mushroom-004 would follow them, healing just before death. With the mushroom around, no worries about dying.

[Beeeep!!!]

The mushroom seemed thrilled at the thought of healing a ton of injuries.

Before the spars began, I gathered the monsters and gave them a warning.

"Kids, control your power. And absolutely no killing, got it?"

[Kirik? So can I pop their heads?]

Psycho Clown tilted its head.

"Popped head means dead. Clown, can you survive a popped head?"

[Kirik. Never tried, so dunno. But these guys regenerate well—probably fine.]

Huh? Maybe. Oarak regeneration was top-notch. Heads might regrow too. Just to check, I asked.

"Rise, can you survive a popped head?"

"...Popped head means dead."

"Ah. Too bad."

"But any other body part's fine, even if lost entirely. As long as the head's intact, we don't die easily. Takes a long time, but still."

"So head intact means the rest naturally regenerates?"

"Yes. Though nearby lifeforms can disrupt mental focus and slow it... but no instant death, so no big issue. Medical Mushroom-004 heals right away anyway."

"Heart popped is okay too?"

"The main heart's in the head. Auxiliaries elsewhere regenerate anytime."

Oarak had multiple hearts, huh. Not surprising—I'd seen that before. Anyway, I made sure to tell the monsters: no head-popping.

I scheduled the Oarak's routine: Sparring in the morning. Labyrinth exploration and mapping in the afternoon. Return for dinner, then more sparring. Bedtime at night.

Couldn't have them spar all day—they lacked the stamina, and it'd waste exploration manpower. So afternoons doubled as rest and scouting.

Before long, the day's tasks wrapped up, bedtime approaching.

[We're dancingyot! Doomba, doomba!]

"Doomba! Doomba!!!"

"Dance happily!"

Before bed, Hedgehog Summoner God, its summoned spirits, Terio, and Ayula were lost in dance mania. Not punishment or atonement like yesterday—just training, per Hedgehog. Terio and Ayula were weaker than Rise Nova, so extra pre-bed sessions.

[This ain't just any dance—it's body-tempering trainingyot!]

Up and down! Definitely rougher than yesterday's dance. Fine for a glance, torture to watch long.

[Dance harder! Master this, and you'll dodge most attacksyot!]

"Doomba! Doomba!"

"Shout with energy! Doomba!"

Terio and Ayula bought it hook, line, and sinker, shaking their hips with full effort.

Rise Nova sat it out.

[I've benefited tons from this danceyot! Remember when you tried killing me and I dodged everything dancing?]

"We remember! Doomba!"

"Dance happily! Doomba!"

Honestly, doubtful. Mastering that goofy dance change anything? Hedgehog was just small and nimble...

...Better leave it be, just in case.

Off-schedule training could backfire, but it was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠light and brief before bed—no harm.

At yesterday's broadcast end, Ppuru-ru and Ha Yu-mi mentioned personal schedules, so I figured they wouldn't show today—no stream.

Maybe they'll drop in at night?

Before bed, I'd lift the Jo-ryeokja block. Not sleepy yet. If not, fine. If yes, chat a bit before sleep.

The moment I lifted the block, Mysticism arrived. Unemployed much?

"Why so mad right away? Because I didn't stream today?"

The emoji turned bright red. Yup, mad about no stream.

"Well, you should've said you'd come to yesterday's stream."

"Anyway, no chat means no comms, so I'm shutting it down."

I paused before blocking. The crying emojis softened me a bit.

"...Why cry now? Fine, I'll shut it at bedtime."

I said that, then flopped onto the floor, staring blankly at the ceiling, sorting my thoughts.

[Explorer! I'm back!]

"Hm?"

Art Pega Unicorn had returned. Oh yeah, she'd said she'd meet her brothers and come back. I'd only now noticed her absence. No wonder it felt empty.

[Explorer. Why the flustered face? Don't tell me you just noticed I was gone?]

"Just surprised you're back today—I figured you'd sleep a day there. As if I'd miss you being gone."

I bullshitted. Truth might hurt her. (I'd let her go that morning, FYI.)

[Ah, got it. Good thing. Almost lost it and forced a mating there.]

Whew, no suspicion. She beamed, handing me a notebook.

[Anyway, take this. Snatched it from... er, got it from my brothers. Mother's diary.]

"Mother's diary?"

[Yes. Mother recorded her time here sporadically. No idea what's in it, but I think it'll help you, so I brought it.]

Someone else's diary felt intrusive. But if it was an explorer's log for future explorers, easier to stomach.

"Thanks. You didn't read it?"

[Mother never showed it—not to me or my brothers. She made us swear not to read it after her death. No one's seen it; we just kept it as a memento.]

"Your brothers handed it over easy, huh."

[They opposed at first. But a little persuasion, and they caved.]

"Oho, silver tongue? How'd you convince 'em?"

[Mother said to help any Helper Trait bearer, so showing the diary helps you. I beat that into them.]

"......"

Yeah, "snatched" it was. Four against one? Nah, they probably let the baby sister win.

I thanked her again and opened the first page. Cover was worn, but pages and writing held up well.

Unfamiliar script.

Couldn't read the letters, but comprehension was fine. Labyrinth grace or explorer perk—either way.

I flipped the page. Skipped known or useless info. Focused on unknowns or helpful records.