091. Drifters #6
Guided by Ignis Ashbringer, we arrived at the location. There, we discovered the six corpses of Iara Un's party.
"They're unrecognizable..." Iara Un swept her gaze over the bodies, her eyes filled with horror.
The corpses were all charred black, making it impossible to tell who was who.
The Necro Puppeteer stared intently at Iara Un, then tugged lightly on the thread connected to Ignis and spoke.
[Ignis. Apologize.]
[...I'm sorry. It wasn't me—it was the original owner of this body—but I'll apologize anyway.]
Next, he tugged on the thread connected to Lilith.
For reference, Lilith Morphia had been turned into a puppet the moment she was killed.
[Lilith. You apologize too.]
Me toooo? From what I remember, I had nothing to do with those bodies. It was all Ignis's doinggg.
Do it anyway. Collective responsibility.
Got ittt. Sorryyyy...
"No need. I understand you're different beings from the original owners, despite sharing their appearances." Iara Un shook her head and said as much. Then she crouched down and gently touched her companions' bodies with her bare hands. Sorrow filled her face.
"Haah... If you'd just abandoned me and fled, at least you'd have survived... What a mess this is..."
About ten minutes passed—the time Iara Un spent praying in mourning. We waited silently.
"...The prayer is done. Thank you for waiting."
Finishing her prayer, Iara Un stood and bowed to me. She was polite too. It'd be great if someone like her became a Jo-ryeokja. For now, with no way to make her one, I just added her to the candidate list.
"Where should we bury the bodies? We can't take them back to their homeland..."
"I'll find a spot."
I had a place in mind: the prairie where I'd first met the Centaurides and Hedgehog Summoner God. Perfect for burials.
It'll be easy to dig there.
The Ancient Labyrinth's structure was inherently sturdy—unbreakable walls, indestructible ground. Sure, there were soft spots, but finding a deep-diggable one was tricky. I preferred deep burials. That's why the prairie came to mind. Hedgehog had mentioned its soil was diggable deep. Plus, it looked better than a cave.
"Centaurides. Mind if we bring dead bodies to the prairie?"
That's fine. As long as it's not killing in front of the Solorbs, it's usually allowed.
"Then we'll bury them there. Iara Un, gather the bodies. I'll guide you to a good spot."
"Ah, yes!"
And so we carried the six bodies to the prairie.
A vast plain unfolded beyond the massive door. Near the entrance. With the monsters' help, we dug six graves.
"Thank you. For helping with the graves too."
"No big deal. It's the least we could do. They're not outsiders to us."
It just meant our inner bond had grown strong. People with such pure hearts open my doors quickly.
Anyway, after the graves were done, Iara Un knelt once more and prayed.
In the midst of that...
That thing up there looks just like our Solorb. A friend ong.
Hm. Does that Solorb have its own inner world too? Intriguing.
Bastet Daong and Anubis Dragon muttered while gazing at the sky.
"Guys, don't stare. Getting tangled with that Solorb won't end well."
Got it ong.
Understood. Solorbs scare me too.
The other monsters lowered their gazes. Provoking a Solorb meant instant death, helpless as we'd be.
A bit later...
"The prayer's done. Thanks again for waiting."
Iara Un brushed dirt from her knees and stood. She scanned us monsters slowly, then fixed on me and bowed ninety degrees.
"Now I should return to my original world. Thank you so much. Explorer... no, Gauntlet."
I had no intention of holding her. Wishing we'd meet again someday, we parted slowly.
Afterward, Iara Un tore her return ticket, waved with a gentle smile, and returned to her homeland.
Drifter Count: 2
Now two drifters remained.
Day 49 in the labyrinth.
Mmm, yummy~.
Don't eat my share too.
Lilith and Ignis had adapted to our group in just a day. With their trash souls gone, reborn with only memories, their personalities improved dramatically—a bonus. Probably mimicking their master, the Necro Puppeteer.
Tamed monsters and Puppeteer's puppets—all gathered cozily, enjoying the meal without exclusion.
That's when a guest arrived at our shelter.
Drifter
A woman with "Drifter" floating above her head.
Creation God, Author of the Abyss. Niara Nephensis.
Threat level: A-grade. Actual threat: SS-grade.
She'd apparently tracked Ignis and Lilith after losing contact.
"You're... not Ignis or Lilith."
Niara instantly saw they were different beings. Unlike the other gods, her gaze locked on me from the start.
Her hollow eyes—whites only, no pupils—felt chilling, like peering into an abyss.
"Are you the explorer?"
"How'd you know?"
I stood as I replied. No sitting against her.
"It's obvious at a glance. Your aura stands out from the rest, and your soul's caliber is high."
"So, like the others, your goal is to kill me?"
"...You know. Sorry, but yes. To become the explorer, I must eliminate all existing ones. That's the only way, as far as I know. Please understand."
"At least you're honest, unlike some."
The seated monsters stopped eating, stood, and surrounded me protectively.
Watching, Niara stroked her face with slender fingers and spoke.
"Explorer with a noble, exalted soul. Allow me one proposal."
"Proposal?"
"Frankly, I lack confidence against your monsters. My power's weakened since encountering you. So, how about a one-on-one duel?"
"Quit the bullshit. Why would I fight you solo? You nuts?"
"...Hear me out. I know your power is sealed. Accept my proposal, and I'll release it."
"Release the seal?"
"Yes."
"......"
I fell silent briefly. Niara raised her right hand.
"No answer... tacit agreement? Good. I'll release your seal myself."
Snap—!
As she snapped her fingers...
Power from the unsealed portion flooded back through my body. She'd really done it.
"What... she actually unsealed it?"
"Seal-breaking is my specialty. Most seals unravel with just a glance and thought."
Incredible. Even one stage, undone so casually.
"Thanks. Never dreamed an enemy would unseal me."
She wanted me dead, but gratitude for the seal was gentlemanly.
"Now withdraw all monsters."
"What? Why?"
"Hm? We agreed—if I unsealed you, you'd duel me one-on-one."
"I said nothing."
Separate from thanks, I had zero plans for a solo fight.
Even at A-grade now, so was she—victory uncertain.
"Noble souls like us honor agreements."
"Told you, no agreement."
No promise, no acceptance. She unilaterally unsealed me, spouting nonsense about tacit consent.
"Besides, I only fight sure wins. No thanks to maybes."
Risking my neck? For what gain? Tamed monsters fight—that's the tamer way. I don't step up personally.
"...You're quite the scum. I like it."
Suddenly, Niara's eyes curved like crescent moons. Not angry—pleased.
She's nuts too, huh.