Chapter 12
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Tower Genius Descends the Labyrinth
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Ambush from All Sides.
The moment the darkness was dispelled, Sylbian's heart seemed to freeze at the sight of the cave brimming with gremlins.
'This is already an army.'
And it was safe to assume a cursed gremlin leading this army existed.
"…Cherentia, when I give the signal, don't hesitate—pick me up and run."
The decision came swiftly.
This was a danger on an entirely different level from the few gremlins they'd faced moments ago.
"Understood."
Cherentia's response was just as immediate.
She let out a short breath, tensing every muscle in her body to enter a state of peak alertness.
――!
Her perked wolf ears showed no twitch, and her tail had gone completely still.
It was preparation for an explosive burst of movement.
At the same time, it positioned her to react instantly to Sylbian's signal.
Srulk―!
At that moment, Sylbian's intertwined hands twisted strangely as he prepared to cast Sacraria.
It was a motion hard to comprehend at first glance, but his eyes burned with unprecedented seriousness.
'Just one instant. That's all I need.'
If the horde of gremlins charged all at once, they'd inevitably get bogged down.
Even Cherentia couldn't carry him and outrun every last one to escape the cave.
So.
He had to neutralize the gremlins first.
Srulk!
His intertwined hands twisted a full 180 degrees, positioning his fingertips at opposite poles.
He then gently drew his hands to his chest and sank into focus.
Saaaaah…!
Fierce currents of mana began surging through his arms.
Opposing energies clashed endlessly within the intertwined flows.
'Only one thing I desire.'
And the time he needed to buy was but a fleeting moment.
That made it simple.
Even if his mana couldn't unleash its former glory, it was more than enough for this spell.
"Kyrk!"
"Kwirrrk!!!"
As if sensing the shift, the gremlins howled in unison and began advancing.
Yet, mindful of their comrades' gruesome fate, they didn't recklessly leap at the pair.
A razor-edge standoff.
The gremlins waited for the slightest opening from the two, while Sylbian and Cherentia stayed acutely aware of the monsters' threat.
"Gesente!"
With a resonant incantation, his intertwined hands snapped apart in an instant.
The mana currents in his arms erupted like a storm, surging outward in all directions.
They then slammed oppressively toward the gremlins along the cave walls.
Shoooooung――!!
"Kkirrk!!"
"Kkiririk……!!"
The storm-like blasts swept the gremlins away, sending them tumbling wildly through the cave.
Srulk!
Taking that as her cue, Cherentia spun around, scooped Sylbian into her arms, and kicked off the ground.
Thud!
She put so much force into her step that the ground rang out sharply.
With Sylbian cradled against her, Cherentia's form pierced the air like a loosed arrow.
"Hup!"
Having cast Gesente, Sylbian couldn't deploy Hesente—and he nearly choked on empty air.
Saaaa…!
The world blurred.
Even an illusion of time racing by gripped him.
Cherentia's speed was simply unbelievable as she devoured the distance.
'We can shake them off like this.'
Already pulling far ahead of the gremlins, he could finally breathe easy.
They'd never catch up at this rate.
With Cherentia's physical prowess, the cave entrance wouldn't be far now.
Tap! Tap…!
About twenty minutes after Cherentia began bounding from foothold to foothold.
They finally escaped the cave.
Sararak……!
Even after clearing the entrance, Cherentia didn't stop.
Sarak! Sararak!
Kicking off gnarled branches and pushing through underbrush, she ran another ten minutes before finally halting.
"Haa……."
Sylbian tumbled from her arms, gasping as if on the verge of collapse.
Cherentia gently patted his back to help him steady his breathing.
"Sorry. I knew it would strain you without Hesente, but I thought it was the only way to escape the danger."
"It's fine… I get it, haa……."
Still heaving, Sylbian peered at Cherentia through his disheveled silver hair.
Even she was breathing heavily—a rare sight.
It drove the point home.
'That was really dangerous.'
A split-second call could have led to disaster.
Sylbian turned his head to gaze at the distant cave entrance.
No gremlins had emerged yet, but his eyes still stung.
"Still, we should camp somewhere farther away."
"I agree completely. Reaching Soren by tonight is out of the question."
Forcing a march to Soren now wasn't feasible.
Gesente had consumed over half his mana.
And even Cherentia's temporary overexertion had taken its toll.
"Cherentia, sorry, but could I ask one favor?"
"Speak freely."
"…Think you could retrieve the backpack?"
They'd hidden it near the cave entrance.
Its contents were essential for the journey ahead.
"Ah."
Cherentia paused, glancing back toward the cave, and Sylbian's heart twinged with unease.
It might be too much to ask.
Just surviving the cave was a miracle.
But abandoning the pack would cost them dearly.
"It's possible, but we can't head straight back. Rest a bit, recover some stamina and mana first."
Sylbian blinked, staring at her anew.
He hadn't expected her to worry about him even now.
"…Thanks."
"Comrades look out for each other. No need to thank me."
Her matter-of-fact reply carried a weight that lingered in his mind.
Tadak, tak!
The campfire crackled softly as flames danced.
Deep into the night under its faint glow, Sylbian sat staring blankly at Cherentia across from him.
Fortunately, she'd retrieved the backpack without a scratch.
"Doesn't something feel off?"
Cherentia tossed a poker into the fire and spoke up.
"…Yeah, I think so too."
Sylbian shared her sentiment.
They'd escaped danger, which was a relief.
But the total lack of response from the monsters inside the cave nagged at him.
A quick glance showed no signs from the cave's direction—not even a hint of presence.
"No way the monsters just gave up on us."
They'd come quite far, but he still kept a sharp eye on the cave's direction.
With that many gremlins, he had to stay vigilant for any emergence.
Yet.
Even after a long stretch of time, the cave remained utterly still.
"We should stay on guard all night. I know you're exhausted, Sylbian, but no choice."
"That's fine. I agree."
Face-to-face, the night deepened.
Conversation was sparse.
Locked in heightened tension, they gradually fell silent to conserve energy.
In the enveloping quiet.
Cherentia subtly scanned their surroundings.
"……."
Amid faint breaths, she had fully unleashed her instincts.
An instinct typically awakened to protect kin.
It kept her body perpetually tensed for optimal action at any moment.
She was also keenly aware of their situation.
'Sylbian's worn out.'
His mana was likely near depleted.
Above all, physical fatigue weighed heavily on him.
Even now, with eyes open deep into the night, exhaustion was plain on his face.
"…I'm not sleeping, so don't worry."
Their eyes met suddenly, and Sylbian gave an awkward smile, shaking his head.
But it only heightened her concern.
"That's not what I mean. I just know your body isn't like mine."
"This isn't the time for that."
Sylbian's voice cooled sharply.
He knew she was looking out for him.
Her care warmed him, but he couldn't afford weakness now.
'Leaning on others.'
Not even before entering the labyrinth proper.
In crises like this, he had to steel himself more.
This much, he could endure.
Life in the Magic Tower hadn't been easy.
"I see. If your resolve is that firm, I won't say more."
Cherentia recognized his determination.
"Still, thanks for saying it, Cherentia."
"No. If anything, I spoke out of turn. If we get through tonight, we'll reach Soren tomorrow without issue."
Her words made Sylbian's eyes twitch.
He knew she meant well.
But in this moment, they struck differently.
'That's totally…….'
A blatant flag-planting line.
Memories from his past life surfaced now and then.
Words that didn't exist or fit here stayed unsaid.
But sometimes, like now, they loomed large.
"Cherentia, I think we need to prepare soon."
Sylbian said with resignation.
"Did you sense something!?"
She startled, and he steadied his breath.
"No, but something's definitely coming."
He didn't wish for crisis, but circumstance made it certain.
As if affirming his dread.
Saraks……!
An exceedingly faint presence began drifting in on the wind.