Chapter 81
Chapter 81
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 81
Chapter Title: Sophomore Jinx (1)
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Knowing my mental state was a bit frayed around the edges, Big Sister Cosetica suggested I take a trip into the labyrinth. They say even just yelling your head off and pounding on drums can melt away stress, right?
Taking her words in the best possible light—as in, "bash some monsters to clear your head"—I headed in alone.
Coming in with Riza or Big Sister Mina wouldn't have been a bad idea, but in my current state of maximum stress, tagging along with them would just mean showing off my worst side. So I decided to go solo.
I personally don't think overestimating your abilities and pushing too deep inside is a good idea, but Big Sister Cosetica assured me there wouldn't be any major issues as long as I didn't venture into the uncharted zones.
I had no intention of heading downward in a labyrinth where things could spiral out of control beyond simple combat anyway.
So, having entered this labyrinth of utterly unknown principles, I moved along slowly, scanning my surroundings.
I have no idea what kind of setup drives the labyrinths in this world, but if I had to pin it down, it felt like a mix of the dungeon systems from tabletop RPGs and the periodically resetting grind dungeons from JRPGs.
"Still pretty amazing, though."
Layers were connected by transfer gates in a style completely unlike human ones, and stepping through led to entirely different environments.
The structure clearly descended deeper underground, yet some layers had ceilings while the next might stretch into an endless sky. Some featured natural settings like forests or plains, while others resembled underground canals shaped by human hands.
No clue who or what created them, but one thing was certain: they weren't the work of humans or the goddess.
"Heave-ho."
This layer was a vast plain dotted with a massive rocky mountain. Climbing up to a midpoint on the slope, I sat for a break with a view so expansive it made me question if this was really inside the labyrinth, sipping coffee from my thermos. A horse-like monster approaching naturally got a dagger coated in aura hurled into its brow.
Considering the era, it could be called a more romantic age than modern times, but that didn't mean you could just kill people willy-nilly.
There might be cases in this unforgiving society where you beat someone half to death, but actually killing a person turned it into a whole different story.
In that sense—and this might be a rude thought—one reason adventurers couldn't quit dungeon crawling could be their inability to give up the dopamine rush from violence and slaughter.
There were tales of the labyrinth having a bewitching allure that drew people in. Whether that was a property of the labyrinth itself or just humans revealing their darkest sides unchecked, who knew.
A little time passed, and the corpse melted away like footage fast-forwarded, leaving behind a small gem.
As I'd discussed with Riza before, some layers turned food into the same stuff, though I didn't know the details.
"So this is the loot..."
People get rewarded for slaying monsters.
By who? Why? In a game, it'd make sense, but here in reality, it was bizarre enough to raise nothing but questions. It felt creepy, like some non-human, non-goddess entity was devouring the weak humans and forging stronger ones.
Demons and demon gods came to mind with "monsters," which only amplified the unease.
Well, the labyrinth managers surely considered what I'd thought of, so all I could do was trust their system.
As my thoughts wrapped up, a monster with a substantial presence appeared behind me.
No, calling it a monster felt off—it was a deer, but one that could pass for a divine beast if you placed it somewhere and lied about it.
A massive rack of antlers that would be cumbersome in real combat. Eyes brimming with near-sentience. And a gait elegant beyond what you'd expect from a wild creature.
Facing this deer that could pass for a transformed human or one possessed by a god, I readied a defensive stance with my left hand on the hilt of my shorter sword, approaching in as non-threatening a manner as possible.
If it attacked first, I'd fight without hesitation.
Otherwise, I'd try to communicate and send it on its way.
Just as my hand neared its antlers, the deer lowered its head, bringing the tip to my palm.
"Hm?"
I understood its meaning the instant my contract with the goddess within me resonated.
Back when I'd returned to the academy.
The synergy from Ermina supporting me had been tremendous. Energy that would normally shatter my body if I drew it out alone flowed through me almost effortlessly.
Powers of the goddess drew each other when gathered.
And the same phenomenon occurred between this deer and me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Story Timeline Anomaly Detected. Encountered a key lifeform from the Sequel. Unravel the labyrinth's secrets and locate the fragments of the Demon God and Goddess. Main Story Progress: ERROR Sequel Story Progress: 0%
A brain-melting pain hit once, and that damned status window popped up again.
Sequel—easy enough, the follow-up story. So my academy life and Ermina's chaotic romance were the main story, and this labyrinth was the stage for what came after.
No wonder even scouring the entire world setting turned up no place as weird as this. If it was the epilogue or sequel stage, it made perfect sense.
And if the journey involved finding Demon God and goddess fragments, then since such things wouldn't just drop in a normal labyrinth, maybe the labyrinth itself was born from them.
I tried to read it carefully and think it through, but the status window started its bullshit again, so I closed my eyes. Nothing ever changes with this thing.
Releasing the tension I'd unconsciously built up with deep breaths, I wondered what this deer was and reached out further—only for its antler to snap off into my hand. The majestic creature turned and departed without a backward glance.
"...So this is the clue."
I didn't know for sure, but given the resonance with the goddess's power, it had to be something related to her.
Indeed, a faint power emanated from it, and I felt confident it could handle me channeling energy into it.
Infusing the bare minimum of goddess power, the antler—not deer velvet or anything—melted down and seeped into the shorter sword gripped in my left hand.
What the hell is this?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Lebedev's Treasured Sword has received the Goddess's favor. The holy sword serves as a landmark for finding the Goddess's fragment and Demon God's fragment. Main Story Progress: ERROR Sequel Story Progress: 1%
1%? Talk about underwhelming. The status window was buzzing with excitement like when I first entered the academy, stirring up old memories and drawing a sigh from me. But if this place was truly the sequel's stage, didn't that mean another world-ending crisis was brewing?
Thinking of my café and its regulars in a city getting wrecked pissed me off plenty, so yeah, I figured I should muster some motivation.
"So this thing's the landmark."
If Lebedev's treasured sword became a holy sword, Dad would flip three somersaults in shock.
Imagining my stoic-faced father spinning wildly with his freakish athleticism brought a smirk, and I tested the blade by channeling bits of power here and there.
Not knowing its limits, I fed it power stingily like a cheapskate until, at about half strength, it glowed brightly and pointed like a compass.
Ah-ha. Simpler and more intuitive than expected.
The sword dimmed as the power waned and returned to my hand. Sheathing it, I chugged the last of the thermos coffee, brushed off my butt, and grabbed my gear.
Head back for now and think it over slowly.
Everyone knew I'd end up clashing with the demonkin anyway, so getting help wouldn't hurt.
With my bag lighter after eating and ditching trash, I set off again.
As I descended the mountainside, I ignored the deer peeking out to watch me and shoved the hyperactive status window to the corner of my vision. Activating the transfer gate, I headed upward.
Simple demon god worshippers: two.
And a status window telling me to find the Demon God's fragment.
Things weren't likely to resolve that easily.