Farewell Labyrinth, Day 11
Farewell Labyrinth, Day 11. Rise had discovered a door in Passage 8.
"I judged it too risky to explore beyond the door, so I just marked its location on the map and came back."
I took the map from Rise and checked it out. The door wasn't far off—not as distant as the one leading to the plain.
I figured the wandering Centaurides race might know something about this door. They'd roamed all over the labyrinth, which was why I'd assigned her as our guide too.
I called her over and showed her the map.
"Centaurides."
[Yes. Have you finally decided it's time to mate?]
"Cut the weird talk. Do you know where this door around here connects to?"
[You mean the door?]
Centaurides furrowed her brow and peered intently at the map.
[Hmm. Hard to tell from the map alone. It's not too far, so I'll go check it out myself.]
With that, she grabbed the map and dashed off toward Passage 8.
*
She returned not long after.
[Sorry, Explorer. That door on the map... I don't know it.]
"It's fine. Can't be helped if you don't."
I wasn't disappointed. No big deal if she didn't. Even as a nomadic race without a fixed home, she hadn't explored every inch of the labyrinth.
"Even they can't map the entire labyrinth. It's way bigger than you can imagine."
Centaurides handed the map back to me and scratched her head sheepishly. Her expression suggested her pride had taken a hit. Fair enough—she'd boasted about guiding us through anywhere since she'd wandered everywhere.
[Maybe it's been so long since I was there that I forgot. Opening the door and stepping through might jog my memory...]
"Nah. I'll check that door myself later and decide whether to open it. Don't worry about it now."
[...Understood.]
Should've made my own map. Need to get in the habit of recording things.
Centaurides mumbled that as she turned away with a sulky look. Then Dog Spider scurried up to her.
[Sii, sii!]
Dog Spider climbed onto Centaurides' back, stroking her hair with its legs to comfort her.
I nodded and passed Ha Yumi's words on to Centaurides.
[...Your supporter must be a kind soul, Explorer. Thank you for caring.]
Only then did Centaurides' face brighten a bit.
Labyrinth Day 12. While scouting Passage 8 in the morning, I found a pond.
I marked the pond's location on the map, then headed back to base for lunch. After eating, I brought all the monsters and Oarak to the pond in the afternoon.
"Whoa! Water here of all places!"
"Finally, we can wash up!"
"Thank goodness. I've been so itchy since yesterday."
Splash!
The Oarak stripped off their outer clothes and jumped in. Rise, unashamed thanks to her lush fur, went in fully nude, while Terio and Ayula kept their underwear on over key areas. Once they were in, the monsters followed one by one.
[Sii!]
[Pii!]
[Piii~]
Dog Spider, Jellyfish-002, Medical Mushroom-004.
After those three, [Terio! Ayula! Today I'll teach you an underwater dance! Watch closely and follow along-yot!]
Hedgehog Summoner God leaped high and dove into the pond. Then, [Hu, huph! Huuuph!!! The water's too deep-yot! I can't touch the bottom-yot! Save me-yot!!!]
It flailed desperately in the water, begging for help. Couldn't swim, apparently.
The pond wasn't deep at all. Hedgehog was just too small to reach.
Terio and Ayula clapped as they watched it thrash to stay afloat.
"Oh. Is that the underwater dance?"
"Quite flashy. I'll memorize it perfectly, Master."
[Phub! Quit the nonsense, phub! And... phuuub! Hurry up and save me-yot!!!]
Hedgehog was starting to sink.
[Phuuuub! Pull me out quick-yot!! This ain't a dance-yot!!!]
That's when Psycho Clown, giggling as it followed, scooped Hedgehog up with both hands.
[Kirik. You're an idiot.]
[Th-thanks-yot... Almost died there-yot!]
[Kirik. Your legs are short, so ride on my shoulder.]
[Got it-yot! But my legs are long-yot! I'm just short-yot!]
Only two monsters left out: Black Magma Slime-003 and Centaurides.
Centaurides was staring blankly at me instead of getting in.
"What? You not washing?"
[Waiting to go in with you, Explorer.]
"You could've gone ahead."
[I want to go together.]
"...Fine. I'll strip now, so wait a sec."
I dropped my pants.
Gulp. I heard her swallow.
Looking up, Centaurides was smacking her lips, staring fixed at my lower half.
"What're you looking at."
[Sorry.]
Centaurides blushed and turned away, muttering softly to herself.
[So hefty. Hehe.]
Crazy bitch. I heard it but pretended not to.
Anyway, that wrapped up prep for getting in. Wasn't wearing a shirt to begin with.
"How'm I supposed to with you all watching."
"Not telling me to block support and strip, at least."
I'd planned to block support briefly and strip fully at first. But then I remembered there were females among the Oarak—including that perv. So I skipped it.
Thus, panties on, I hugged Black Magma Slime to my chest and slipped into the pond. Only then did Centaurides join.
I hadn't brought the slime to wash it. There was another reason.
"Blmasl. Crank the heat just a tad?"
[Sung!]
Black Magma Slime loosened its power a bit. Steam began rising from the pond.
That was the point of bringing it.
"That's good. Perfect temp now."
[Sung!]
The chilly pond warmed to a cozy hot spring thanks to Blmasl's magma.
"The water's warm now!"
"Just right."
"Ahh... so nice and toasty..."
The Oarak seemed pleased. The monsters looked blissed out too as the water heated up.
Man, soaking in water after so long feels amazing.
The grimy feeling vanished completely. Warmth spread through me, melting away the fatigue.
"Appreciate it."
I asked Pruru to toss in a washbasin too while she was at it. Shampoo and such I'd use outside the pond—no contaminating the water.
All in all, a happy day with a long-overdue bath.
Labyrinth Day 13.
"Gauntlet Kong. We've been truly grateful. We'll never forget saving and sheltering us—we'll repay that grace someday."
It was time to say goodbye to the Oarak.