Swallowed in Darkness
Before stepping into the labyrinth, we needed to gather every possible supply in Tilen.
The labyrinth was nothing like an ordinary cave.
The deeper you ventured, the rarer safe resting spots became, and it was common to remain trapped inside for days once an exploration began.
That made food and water absolute essentials. We packed long-lasting jerky, hardtack, dried fruits, and even medicinal herbs with meticulous care.
Because it was easy to lose all sense of direction inside, parchment for mapping, spare torches, and emergency rope were non-negotiable.
“This too! We have to buy this!”
Eleanor had already planted herself in front of a stall, arms overflowing with snacks of every kind.
“Those aren’t emergency rations. You just want to eat them.”
“If they can lift your mood in an emergency, then they are emergency rations.”
“I’ve never heard logic like that before.”
Lucrezia let out a sigh but eventually added a few of the items Eleanor had chosen to our supplies. Meanwhile, I focused entirely on checking our weapons.
Inside the labyrinth, the smallest mistake could cost a life.
Once our preparations were complete, we spent our final night in Tilen.
Contrary to what the knight order branch had told us, we encountered no other imperial knights on the road to the labyrinth.
“We might be the first ones.”
Eleanor’s observation made sense.
“So that’s the labyrinth…”
Following the location noted on the commission, we crossed the wasteland, slipped into a narrow canyon, and finally laid eyes on our destination. An involuntary sound of awe escaped me.
In the middle of the canyon cliff, a colossal entrance gaped open like a mouth. It was difficult to believe it had formed naturally.
The interior beyond the threshold lay submerged in pitch-black darkness. It radiated a sinister aura, as though some enormous beast had opened its jaws and was patiently waiting for prey.
“Ugh… It really does look like the inside of a monster’s mouth.”
Eleanor shuddered as she spoke.
“I feel the same.”
I shared her sentiment completely.
“Ready?”
Both women nodded silently. Together, we took our first step into the labyrinth’s gloom.
The interior was every bit as dark as it had appeared from outside. The only illumination came from the single torch Eleanor carried. As we had decided beforehand, Lucrezia and I—both specialized in physical reinforcement—took point and rear guard while Eleanor maintained the light source from the center.
“It’s darker than I expected.”
Eleanor raised the torch a little higher.
In most cave or underground explorations, the greatest danger wasn’t darkness itself. Sometimes light created the real problem. Areas untouched by illumination appeared even blacker, making hidden enemies nearly impossible to detect. In natural caves, jagged rocks and complex terrain turned every shadow into a lethal blind spot.
But the labyrinth was different. The walls and floor were unnaturally smooth, as if crafted by design, and the corridors maintained a consistent width. Unexpected shadows were comparatively rare. That said, we couldn’t afford to relax.
“Corner ahead.”
At my warning, Eleanor nodded. I pulled out one of our spare torches and hurled it past the bend.
Roll… roll…
The torch tumbled across the stone, casting light into the passage beyond. We waited. No movement.
“All clear.”
“Let’s move.”
We advanced slowly once more. Each flicker of the torch flame sent long shadows stretching down the immense corridors. No one could say what might be lurking beyond them.
“Stop.”
Lucrezia raised her hand, voice a hushed whisper. We froze instantly, lowering our stances and sharpening our focus so we could summon our magic at a moment’s notice.
A moment later…
Thud…! Thud…!
A heavy vibration rolled down the corridor, powerful enough to shake the ground. It sounded like a massive battering ram slamming into stone. Soon, two glowing red eyes emerged from the darkness. They hovered near the ceiling—clearly not human eyes.
“Large entity. Stay alert.”
Lucrezia adjusted her grip on her greatsword.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
The footsteps accelerated as the creature sensed us. I immediately threw another spare torch with all my strength.
The flame cut through the air.
Roll… roll…
It came to a stop beneath an enormous foot. The blazing light revealed the monster hidden in shadow.
“A minotaur…!”
The beast was massive enough to fill the entire corridor. Its dark-red fur covered a body that looked as solid as rock, every swollen muscle resembling welded chunks of iron. It possessed the head of a bull and the torso of a man. Two enormous horns curved forward from its brow, honed to spear-like points. Hot, bestial breath snorted from its jaws.
Huff! Huff!
Each exhalation sent clouds of steam billowing into the air. Most striking was the weapon clutched in its right hand—a colossal club that looked as if an entire tree trunk had been ripped from the ground. One swing could easily pulp several people.
Yet what overwhelmed us most was its sheer presence. It stood in the center of the passage like the labyrinth’s undisputed ruler, staring us down.
Its red eyes flashed.
And then—
“GUOOOOOOOOOOOOOH!”
The minotaur’s roar shook the corridor as it charged straight at us.
“Eleanor!”
That overwhelming mass looked ready to crush us flat. But Eleanor moved first.
“I’ll block it!”
Earth Barrier
Brown magical power erupted from her body like an explosion. In an instant it condensed into a towering wall between us and the minotaur—transparent, earthen-brown, and unyielding.
The moment the minotaur saw the barrier it lowered its head, horns aimed forward, and slammed into it at full speed.
BOOM!
The impact was strong enough to rattle the entire labyrinth. The barrier shuddered violently; dust cascaded from the ceiling. Yet not a single crack appeared in Eleanor’s magic.
“GUOOOH!”
The minotaur roared in fury and rammed the barrier again.
BOOM! BOOM!
It swung its club wildly, charged with its horns, and thrashed like a beast gone mad, but the wall refused to budge. Its momentum was completely broken.
“Now!”
At Eleanor’s shout, Lucrezia and I sprang forward together. Blue frost exploded from Lucrezia’s outstretched hand.
Frostbind
Crack… crackle… CRACK!
The minotaur’s right leg froze solid in an instant. It struggled to free itself, but it was already too late. I charged in while triggering my ability.
Future Sight
Dozens of possible futures unfolded before my eyes at once.
The future in which my skull was crushed by the club.
The future in which I was impaled on its horns.
The future in which I was slammed into the wall and every bone in my body shattered.
And within that storm of death, I found the single path that let me survive.
WHOOOSH!
The giant club whistled over my head. I dropped low and dove straight into the creature’s chest.
BOOM!
When the club smashed into the floor, the stone exploded into fragments. In that same instant I swung my sword.
Slice!
The minotaur’s right horn flew spinning into the air.
“GUWOOOOH!”
While it howled, Lucrezia thrust her hand forward again. The Roenheim family heirloom, Silver Fang, streaked through the air under her telekinetic control, blue frost coiling along its blade.
CRUNCH!
Silver Fang carved straight through the frozen right leg. The ice-weakened knee joint could not withstand the greatsword’s strike. The severed limb crashed to the ground, and the colossal body lost its balance.
THUD!
The minotaur dropped to one knee, shaking the entire labyrinth. At the same moment, Lucrezia kicked off the ground and leapt high. Silver Fang flew back into her grasp. She poured the full momentum of her descent into a downward slash, blue frost blazing along the edge.
Slice!
Silver sword-light cut through the darkness. The minotaur’s roar suddenly ceased.
“……”
Its red eyes trembled. A thin crimson line appeared across its throat.
Crunch.
The enormous head slid slowly from its shoulders.
THUD!
The severed head hit the floor, shaking the labyrinth once more. The headless giant followed, toppling forward.
BOOOOOOM!
A roar like a collapsing building echoed through the passage. Dark-red blood fountained from the severed neck, flooding across the stone. The massive carcass convulsed for a few moments, then lay still. The red glow in its eyes faded completely, and the overwhelming life force that had shaken the labyrinth vanished.
“It’s finished.”
Eleanor exhaled in relief. I flicked the blood from my blade and stared at the fallen minotaur. It was a commander-class monster, far above a hobgoblin in the hierarchy. Where hobgoblins gathered weaker creatures to swell their ranks, minotaurs dominated through raw power.
Even powerful monsters like orcs and trolls submitted to them. In some cases they led hordes hundreds strong—an army in all but name.
“A minotaur right at the entrance…”
Eleanor murmured, gazing at the severed head.
“It is strange,” Lucrezia agreed, expression hardening.
I fell silent, thinking. Something felt off. A commander-class entity like this should have generated numerous sighting reports around Tilen by now.
“Maybe it hadn’t emerged onto the surface yet.”
“Hm?”
“We simply had terrible luck.”
I pointed at the corpse.
“It’s still a commander-class monster. They said commander entities have been rising from the labyrinth more frequently lately. Perhaps this one was only now trying to head outside and happened to cross paths with us.”
The two women nodded. It was a plausible explanation.
“Then we must locate the source all the more urgently,” Eleanor said, face serious.
We collected what spoils we could and pressed onward. Battles continued several more times after that. Fortunately no additional commander-class monsters appeared, but the sheer number of lesser creatures was undeniable.
“Wait…”
After walking for some time, Lucrezia raised her hand. We halted.
“What is it?”
“I hear water.”
When I listened carefully, I caught the faint sound as well.
Trickle… trickle…
A tiny stream. We followed the noise until we found a narrow side passage branching from the main corridor. Inside lay a surprisingly open space. Water droplets fell from the ceiling, and a palm-wide stream flowed along the wall.
“Oh…”
Eleanor breathed in admiration. Compared to the cramped corridors we had traversed, this area felt almost spacious. More importantly, being slightly off the main path lowered the chance of discovery by other monsters.
I scanned the surroundings once more and nodded.
“Let’s rest here a short while.”
“Agreed!”
Eleanor set her pack down immediately. Lucrezia inspected the walls, choosing a defensible position. After hours of continuous fighting and exploration, we all needed a moment to recover.
We settled beside the little stream and prepared our first rest inside the labyrinth. Fatigue had built up more than I realized. Eleanor pulled out some dried fruit, popped it into her mouth, and sighed deeply.
“Haa… Just sitting down for a minute makes me feel human again.”
“Don’t rest too long. This place isn’t completely safe.”
“I know, I know.”
Even as she answered, Eleanor crouched by the stream and poked at the flowing water with her fingertips. The little brook was clearer than expected, emerging from a crack in the wall and running downward along a groove in the floor.
“Can we drink this…?”
“Let’s stick to the water we brought. Just to be safe…”
“Right. Kael.”
Eleanor took out her leather canteen and drank greedily. The prolonged fighting must have left her quite thirsty. After draining it, she glanced around, almost shyly.
“Kael… I’ll be right back. Just going a little ways ahead.”
“Where to?”
“Um… I need to take care of something private.”
Her cheeks had flushed faintly. I understood at once and nodded. We had been inside the labyrinth for quite a while; it was only natural.
“Don’t go far.”
“I’ll only be just over there.”
Eleanor picked up a torch and walked down a side path that branched away from the flowing water. Lucrezia and I deliberately looked elsewhere. Her footsteps gradually faded.
Splash… splash…
A faint sound reached us. Was she stepping in the water? But the noise was too heavy for that. My instincts instantly flared.
“…Lucrezia.”
“I heard it too.”
Lucrezia quietly rested her hand on Silver Fang’s hilt.
“Eleanor!”
I sprinted down the passage, calling her name. Even if I might embarrass her during a private moment, there was no time for hesitation.
“Eleanor!”
My voice echoed through the narrow tunnel. No reply came.
“Eleanor! Are you all right?”
Normally she would have answered with some teasing remark to fluster me. But now there was only silence. All I could hear were dripping water and my own footsteps.
A chill raced down my spine. I quickened my pace. A few more steps and I would reach the small chamber she had entered.
“……”
I gripped my sword hilt by reflex. Rounding the corner, I saw a fallen torch. It was the one Eleanor had carried. It lay against the wall, flame sputtering on the verge of extinction. The dim light barely illuminated the passage ahead.
“Eleanor?”
I took one more step and froze completely.
She was there—yet only part of her remained visible.
Her upper body had already been dragged into an enormous, unidentifiable mass of flesh. A gigantic maw had opened in the shadowed wall. Layers of glistening, moist meat spread wide, and from within, dozens of dark-red tentacles writhed, clutching Eleanor’s body.
“…Eleanor.”
My voice barely emerged. Now I understood why she had not answered my calls. She could not. Her torso had been swallowed deep inside the monster’s maw, and the rest of her was being pulled in inch by inch.
“No—!”
My mind snapped into focus. I drew my sword and charged.
“Lucrezia!”
My shout reverberated through the labyrinth. Several tentacles lashed toward me at once. I clenched my teeth and swung.
Slice!
The nearest tentacle fell, spraying dark-red fluid across the stone.
“Kael!”
“Lucrezia! We have to save her!”
I rushed forward desperately. Thicker tentacles whipped through the air.
Slice!
One swing severed several, but the fallen pieces wriggled on the ground, leaking sticky fluid, and began reattaching to one another.
“What the hell…!”
The severed tentacles squirmed like living worms, merging into thicker, tougher forms than before.
WHOOSH!
I twisted aside. The tentacle that missed me gouged a deep crater in the wall. A direct hit would have shattered bone.
“They reattach even after I cut them—damn it!”
Gritting my teeth, I pressed forward again. Eleanor had not been fully swallowed yet, but the tentacles from inside the maw were dragging her deeper.
There was no time. I activated my ability once more.
Future Sight
Dozens of futures flashed before me.
The future in which tentacles seized my leg.
The future in which my spine snapped.
The future in which I dropped my sword.
The future in which I was dragged into the maw alongside her.
I found the narrowest gap and threw myself through it.
Slice! Slice!
I cut relentlessly at the tentacles binding Eleanor. But every piece that fell to the floor immediately began wriggling toward her again. It was endless.
“Lucrezia!”
“I know.”
At that instant, freezing air surged from behind. Lucrezia extended her hand, and blue magic power flooded the entire corridor.
CRACKLE—CRACK—CRACK!
The writhing tentacles on the ground froze solid. The lumps of flesh trying to reconnect halted, trapped in ice. The monster twisted violently for the first time.
Gurgle…!
A grotesque cry erupted from deep inside the cavernous maw.
“It’s working!”
The tentacles dragging Eleanor slowed noticeably.
“Kael—now!”
At Lucrezia’s cry I leapt forward again. This time there was no hesitation. The frozen tentacles could no longer merge. Each swing of my sword shattered them into glittering fragments. I forced my way to the very edge of the monster’s mouth and saw the final tentacles still gripping Eleanor.
“Hold on just a little longer!”
I adjusted my grip and brought my blade down with all my strength against the tentacles now brittle with Lucrezia’s frost.
Gurgle—!
The monster screamed and thrashed wildly. Eleanor’s half-swallowed body shook violently in the air with every convulsion.
“Damn it…!”
I clenched my jaw. If this continued, it would be too late. The sticky fluid pouring from inside the creature was already melting her clothes. Her uniform hung in tatters, most of the fabric dissolved.
“Kael!”
Lucrezia thrust her hand forward once more. Blue frost exploded outward, coating both the tentacles and the gaping maw.
CRACKLE—CRACK—CRACK!
The monster’s movements froze mid-thrash. The tentacles halted in mid-air. The fleshy mass holding Eleanor slowed dramatically. I could not waste the opening.
I kicked off the ground and leapt.
“Haaah!”
Gripping the sword with both hands, I drove it straight into the monster.
Shunk!
The blade sank deep into wet, yielding flesh. A nauseating sensation crawled across my fingers.
GURGLE—!
The monster’s scream shook the entire labyrinth. Dark-red fluid exploded from the wound.
“Ugh!”
I shielded my face with my arm and staggered back. At that moment the maw gaped wide.
Splat!
Eleanor’s body was expelled in a rush of sticky fluid.
“Eleanor!”
The monster no longer wished to fight. Twisting its half-frozen bulk with desperate effort, it forced itself into a narrow crevice in the wall.
“—!”
Lucrezia hurled Silver Fang, but the creature was faster. By the time the blade scraped stone, the monster had already vanished into darkness, leaving only glistening trails of dark-red fluid behind.
“…Damn it.”
I lowered my sword, teeth clenched. There was no time to pursue the fleeing monster. I rushed to Eleanor where she lay collapsed on the floor.
“Eleanor. Wake up.”
“……”
She could not answer. Her face was blank, eyes staring vacantly into space. The monster’s fluid had melted most of her top; what remained was little more than rags. Only her lower garments still offered any modesty. I quickly looked away, removed my outer coat, and draped it over her.
“It’s all right. You’re out now.”
Whether she heard me or not, Eleanor remained unresponsive for a long time. Only the faint tremor of her breathing told me she still clung to consciousness. Lucrezia hurried over and examined her.
“Any wounds?”
“No major external injuries, but the shock appears severe.”
I held Eleanor more firmly. For now, we would have to suspend our labyrinth exploration until she regained her senses.