Chapter 56: To the Labyrinth! (2)
Chapter 56: To the Labyrinth! (2)
The Infinite Labyrinth.
The main gate of the old Fermaton Count’s castle served as its entrance. As one descended into the depths, new floors would open, and the labyrinth's monsters would greet the adventurers.
And here, in the early hours of the dawn, a group of women dressed in very peculiar attire entered the first floor of the Infinite Labyrinth.
"I am definitely going to have a word with the Captain and Lady Hania later."
Serica, an expert in clearing the Infinite Labyrinth, issued a stern warning from the very first floor.
"If things get dangerous, get behind me."
Her voice was gallant and dignified.
Had she been wearing heavy armor like the Living Armor standing behind her, rather than the strange clothes she currently wore—clothes entirely ill-suited for the Infinite Labyrinth—she would have looked truly solemn.
"Serica."
"Yes, Captain."
"Did you really have to wear that?"
"......."
Serica frowned at Laura’s words.
"The problem is coming to the labyrinth in a bunny girl outfit."
Laura.
She was wearing a bunny girl outfit underneath her black coat.
Serica’s head was still spinning from the sight of her dressed exactly as she did when roaming the Lord’s Castle.
"I just have to not get hit. I’m an archer, after all."
"Then what about Lady Hania?"
"I’m a thief, so..."
Yurdias also pointed to her own outfit.
Her full-body bodysuit was tight enough, but the "hard" leather gear she wore over it—which looked like something out of a lewd roleplay—clearly didn't offer much in the way of defense.
"Can't we just dodge all the attacks?"
"Do you have any idea how many people have died in the Infinite Labyrinth with such a complacent attitude...!"
[Do not worry.]
A low voice echoed from behind Serica.
It was unmistakably a man's voice—the voice of Ruji Fermaton.
[I am here.]
"Young Lord..."
[If things get hairy, I’ll use my body as a shield, so don't you worry.]
The Living Armor raised its arms and puffed out its chest.
Though it was an empty tin can inside—a steel golem that couldn't even move unless mana was supplied to the magic circles within—it was undoubtedly moving according to Ruji’s will.
[I will protect you. That is why I came along.]
"Young Lord..."
[Laura. I forgot to mention, but from here on out, don't call me 'Young Lord.' Call me 'Lewd Man.']
The Living Armor pointed to itself with its thumb.
[Yes, I am! My name is... 'Lewd Man'!]
"What on earth is that supposed to be?"
[It has no special meaning. Giving it meaning would only risk revealing my identity. Don't you think 'Sex Master' is a better alias than something like 'Pejirur Marton'?]
"Thieves like us would figure that out instantly. We can spot an anagram a mile away."
[True.]
Thump.
The Living Armor clenched its fists, flexing its pectorals—no, its breastplate.
[No one will ever suspect that I, Lewd Man, am actually Ruji. They’ll just think I’m some bodyguard hired to protect his knight order.]
"A Lord acting as a bodyguard for his own knights..."
[Before they are a knight order, they are my women.]
Clang, clang.
The Living Armor smashed its fists together.
Soon, giggling monsters began to emerge from the shadows in the distance.
"Goblins..."
[I am Lewd Man. I protect my women.]
Thump, thump.
The Living Armor began to march toward the goblins, gradually picking up speed into a run.
[Dictator Lord Pound!!]
KRA-KOOM!!
The Living Armor’s fist slammed into a goblin’s face.
The goblin was sent flying backward instantly, and green blood dripped from the Living Armor’s knuckles.
[How dare a mere goblin stand in my way.]
"...Um, Captain."
"What is it, Yurdias?"
"...Doesn't he seem like a different person? I mean, wouldn't anyone know who he is the moment he shouts 'Dictator Lord'?"
As Yurdias spoke cautiously, Laura shrugged with a smile.
"Just let him enjoy himself. People grow through trial and error."
"......Captain?"
"Everyone has times when they need to blow off some steam."
"......Well, I suppose I can understand that."
Serica pulled her coat tighter.
She blushed slightly as she stole a glance at what she was wearing underneath.
"And it’s not like it’s a bad thing. Since it’s a Living Armor, he won't get hurt or die; it just costs a bit of money to maintain the suit."
Laura clasped her hands in front of her chest and gave a giddy smile.
"A man who sends his very soul to fight because he can't be there in person to protect his women... Ah, he’s so dreamy...!"
"...It certainly performs like a Living Armor sent from the Magic Tower. Especially one supported by Astarotte."
Serica tilted her head as she watched the Living Armor kick a remaining goblin in the knee before smashing it down with an elbow.
"That fighting style is..."
[O-RA!]
With a mysterious battle cry, the Living Armor thrust its fist forward.
The punch struck the goblin’s abdomen, creating a shockwave that sent the creature flying into a far wall.
[Ah, wait. Now that I think about it, 'Dictator Lord' might be too much of a hint.]
"He’s just excited right now. He’ll adjust as we work our way down from the first floor. And of course..."
Click.
Laura reached inside her coat and pulled out a small orb, crushing it in her hand.
"So will we."
Flash!
A golden bow materialized in Laura’s hand, and she immediately drew the string made of pure mana.
"Let’s take our time as we descend to test our strength."
Twang!
The moment Laura released the string, a golden trail of light flashed through the air, grazing the Living Armor’s side.
Thwack!
The golden arrow pierced the forehead of a goblin that was about to swing a hammer at the Living Armor’s thigh. The Living Armor then raised its hand high and brought it down like a blade.
[Headshot!]
Crunch.
[Well done, Laura! Hmm... I suppose I shouldn't just call you Laura either.]
Clank, clank.
The Living Armor walked up to Laura. It started to reach out to pat her head but pulled back, instead extending a timidly clenched fist toward her.
[Excellent marksmanship, Captain!]
"Captain..."
[For now, I am also 'part of the knight order' here. Even if I am a Living Armor.]
The Living Armor shook its fist up and down, and Laura lightly bumped her fist against its gauntlet.
[I look forward to working with you, Captain. Same goes for you, Yurdias and Serica.]
Though their official titles were different...
The Fermaton Knights.
They made their entry into the first floor of the Infinite Labyrinth with ease.
* * *
"The Living Armor’s performance is perfect."
It had been a week since Serica joined.
I had finished the best preparations I could manage.
One of those preparations was something I had asked Astarotte about when I first entered the Magic Tower.
A 'Living Armor.'
Astarotte had said it was impossible, but thanks to the support of the Tower Master, Barbas, I was able to support the knights by controlling the Living Armor directly from my office in the Lord’s Castle.
Though only four of them had entered the labyrinth.
The one person I had tentatively planned to include, Astarotte, was currently sitting on top of me in my chair, pressed tightly against me.
"I am sorry, Young Lord."
"There is nothing to be sorry for. I cannot force my disciple to do the impossible."
Astarotte bowed her head in apology.
She hadn't done anything wrong, but she still hadn't found the resolve to overcome the curse of becoming a succubus.
In other words, she was still afraid to enter the labyrinth.
Because she feared the curse more than she trusted her ability to overcome it, she remained here in my office.
"Instead, I will do my absolute best to assist you from here."
"Right. Let’s see how well we can control this Living Armor Barbas sent us."
There was no need for a long-winded explanation.
Operating the Living Armor was a collaboration between Astarotte and me.
By maintaining physical contact with me, Astarotte channeled mana to the Living Armor, while I sat in my chair and operated it using a very special magic tool—a 'Controller.'
It was like playing Labyrinth Souls.
I called it a controller for convenience, but its actual name was a 'Golem Controller.'
'There was a character like that among the 3-Stars.'
The Golemancer.
A character designed with a "gamer" concept to appeal to mecha enthusiasts.
—Labyrinth Breakthrough! Crimson Ganna!
The concept was great, but the character was eventually sidelined due to mediocre performance. However, thanks to that character's existence, I was able to control the Living Armor this easily.
"I’ll have to thank the Tower Master. I should treat her to a meal later."
"Are you... planning to go after my grandmother too...?"
"Now, now. What are you thinking?"
I wasn't lusting after Barbas [Grandmother] (☆).
"It’s just a meal. A way to show my gratitude. Only young beauties can have sex with me."
I was actually lusting after the real Barbas—Astarotte’s older sister.
"The day may come when I need to ask the Tower Master for help in clearing the Infinite Labyrinth. And the day may come when you enter the labyrinth as well. It might not be now, but who knows what the future holds?"
I looked forward to the day I could have a "sister sandwich" in the sex room with a virgin witch and her succubus sister.
"So until then—though I don't know if that day will ever come—please do your best to help me operate the Living Armor."
"...Understood."
Grip.
Astarotte took hold of the control stick.
Just as a pilot grabs a flight stick to maneuver, Astarotte gripped the handle and focused on the mana being transmitted to the Living Armor.
And what was that handle?
"Please tell me immediately if you feel like you're going to ejaculate."
"I won't finish just from having it tucked between your thighs. Haha."
The "handle"—the mana replicator—that Astarotte was holding...
Was my cock, standing tall and proud between her legs.