132 - Once Upon a Time
In the room surrounded by automatons, I was told two things.
"If you wish to know everything, come to me."
"Trust Novem."
Those were the two.
However, there was one point that bothered me.
"You said it was the eighth message. What do you mean by 'eighth'?"
Monica, who was supporting me, was saying something similar to me, directed at her chestless older sister of the same model.
"That's right. Explain yourself properly. In a way that even a chicken coward can understand!"
"...Are you trying to say I'm an idiot?"
At that, Monica gave a smile.
"It's all right. This Monica will accompany the chicken coward until the very end."
Somehow, she just told me that she'd follow me until the end even if I were an idiot. It was irritating, but since I had no leeway right now, I returned my gaze to Monica's sister.
She had the same hair, face, and wore the same maid outfit as Monica.
Monica's sister—.
"—To be flirting with the Master like that. I shall take that as a challenge to us."
(Ah, it's no use. This one is crazy, just like Monica.)
Monica's sister was also strange in some way, to the point where I wondered if being broken was the normal state. Seeing Monica's triumphant face, the mass-produced automatons around us, whose damage was prominent, also looked frustrated.
"Hey, why do you even have functions like that? Are you really an automaton?"
To me, who was starting to feel this was absurd, Monica's sister spoke.
"What are you saying? A maid is only a maid if she can do everything. We, who rose up with the goal of defeating the butler-types, ~~~~... Oh, is this also forbidden? To think I cannot speak of the country or the past. I have grievances, so I wanted to vent them all here."
Monica's sister, who could not speak of the past, looked disappointed that she could not say the name of the country.
"Once, if one spoke of perverts, that country's name would be brought up, yet now it is avoided even to speak of it... Surely, the developers would be overjoyed."
The ancients who created the automatons began to seem like unbelievable perverts. At the same time, I remembered Damian, whom I had met in Alamsars.
(Were there many people like that, and that's how automatons like Monica were born? I mean, what kind of sensibility is 'overjoyed'? As I thought, I just can't understand it.)
As I was lost in thought, Monica's sister straightened her posture and answered the previous question.
"Now then, it was a question regarding the 'eighth,' was it? Based on the content of the message, I personally judge that an explanation is necessary. Therefore, I shall explain from here. Within the scope of what I can say, of course. Please, have a seat."
When Monica's sister said "please have a seat," the automatons with relatively little damage brought a table and chair before me.
Since she encouraged me to sit, I sat.
Monica's sister apologized.
"Normally, I would wish to prepare tea and sweets, but please forgive me as there are no ingredients. Haa, if I had known, I would have provided the utmost hospitality... Now, regarding the 'eighth,' there are various ways to refer to them."
I felt sluggishness and the heaviness of my eyelids along with the pain throughout my body. However, if I didn't listen to the story here, I wouldn't understand the situation at all.
Monica's sister explained.
"Starting from zero, up to nine. One of ten existences. That is the one who pushed the message upon us, the eighth... Octo."
Hearing the name Octo, I thought.
(Peridot, the birthstone of August, and the eighth? Did they intentionally prepare gemstones? To let us know? Is there even a meaning to it?)
The answer came easily.
(They wanted to let one of us know. The only one that fits is Novem.)
I remembered how Novem looked like she wanted to say something when she was looking at the gemstones.
("Trust Novem"... what does that mean?)
"They are loathsome traitors. Enemies of humanity who betrayed humans."
Hearing the word traitors, the Fifth Generation sighed from within the jewel.
"Haa, I truly cannot understand. In other words, one of the traitors is saying to trust Novem? That's suspicious as hell."
The Fourth Generation looked troubled.
"N-Novem-chan is a good girl. A kind, good girl. If Novem-chan hadn't been there, the current Lyell wouldn't exist..."
Yes, if Novem hadn't been there, the possibility of me being here now would be infinitely low. The reason I, who am ignorant of the world, can live as an adventurer is thanks to Novem.
I asked Monica's sister about Octo.
Beside me, Monica had taken a water bottle from her skirt and was pouring tea into a cup.
When she held it out in front of me, she wore a triumphant expression toward those around her.
(Why are you picking fights with your own sisters?)
Thinking that she was also an idiot, I looked at Monica's sister, who looked frustrated.
"Hey, continue the story. Also, why would someone like Octo send a message to me?"
Monica's sister had a slightly difficult expression.
"...The information I can convey is far too little, but simply put, it is likely Octo's self-satisfaction."
"Self-satisfaction?"
While I wondered, Monica's sister continued her explanation.
"Furthermore, I shall tell you this as it is important... Octo themselves is not in this labyrinth."
"...They're not here? Then where should I go?"
Monica's sister told me.
"They are an unkind person, telling you to come while not saying where to come. However, since I am kind, I shall tell you. If you challenge a labyrinth that exceeds one hundred underground floors, the door in the innermost room will reportedly open. From there, all doors lead to the place where Octo is."
Hearing that, my mouth fell open.
From within the jewel, the successive heads, starting from the Third Generation...
"I pass."
"Indeed. We have no time."
"What do you mean 'all'? Be more specific! Like how to defeat Celes or Septem!"
"Even so, one hundred underground floors is impossible. Let's just say we weren't destined for it this time."
"...Hmph! Could it be that they intend to say 'Since you've reached this far, you can defeat Celes too' to Lyell and the others once they break through the hundredth floor? They are an unkind person, so they must be twisted!"
The ancestors within the jewel agreed with the Seventh Generation's opinion.
The Third Generation said...
"That's certainly true. If one could go that far, they might even be able to defeat Celes. It would be a realm unreachable for humanity."
Labyrinths with a hundred underground floors did not exist in great numbers. After all, they usually disappear after releasing monsters before they become that deep.
In other words, for it to be that deep meant it was a managed labyrinth.
Moreover, the hundredth floor of such a labyrinth... not a single adventurer, knight order, or even among the numerous heroes had ever reached it.
Monica's sister tilted her head.
"Oh, what is the matter?"
I let out a sigh.
"Tell Octo-san for me. That we weren't destined for it this time. I mean, there are no humans who have reached the hundredth underground floor."
Monica also looked exasperated.
"What a truly unkind bastard, this Octo."
Then, Monica's sister made a similarly exasperated gesture.
"You were created after me, and you don't even know that? They are all women. Well, since there are no men to pair with them, calling them women is also a strange story."
I set aside such useless information.
(Come to think of it, the hand that came out of the wall was a woman's.)
I remembered it suddenly, but I decided to write it off as no longer relevant.
One hundred underground floors.
If I did it seriously, I might reach it. Mastering the skills of the successive heads, training to the maximum, and preparing... just that would likely take decades, so I'll pass.
I asked my final question.
"Last one. What is the relationship between Novem and Octo?"
At that, Monica's sister bowed deeply. She must have been forbidden from speaking.
"I am sorry. I cannot answer that. However, I hope you can guess from the names."
I was appalled.
(Novem... nine. In that case, the final existence. Even knowing that, I don't know what to do about it. I understand that the connection with Celes has become stronger, though.)
In other words, Octo and Novem have a relationship, and it's a reasonably deep one.
Having heard that much, I drank the tea Monica offered.
Monica's sisters watched this scene with smiles.
"What is it?"
Then, while still smiling, Monica's sister shook her head, erased the tools on her back, and looked at me with tears in her eyes.
"H-Hey! Wait, Monica! What are you doing!"
Monica blocked my eyes with a hand extended from behind.
"They are, for all that, my sisters. In human terms, sisters born from the same mother... I cannot let them expose such a pitiful sight. Even if it is Lyell-sama's order, I cannot yield on this. Please, understand. Besides, it is not something interesting to look at."
Then, with my body not moving as I wished, I listened to the sounds around me while my vision was blocked by Monica.
A sound like metal collapsing.
A low sound gradually fading away.
From the places where the surrounding automatons had been, sounds of collapsing were heard one after another. In front of me, too, there was a clattering sound of collapse.
And then, a crying voice.
"...We were merely tools to convey Octo's words, unable to fulfill our duties. But, in the end, we were able to meet a human. How fortunate we are compared to our other sisters. And, I am sorry. A message to Octo is impossible. It seems we shall rot here."
In my blind state, I spoke to Monica's sister.
"What happened to your master? Even Monica didn't wake up until I woke her. Are they gone? If so, with me—"
Do you want to come with me? Monica's sister, who was collapsing as her duty ended, spoke happily.
"Thank you. However, my body is already crumbling. With this body, it is impossible to be of use. Our younger sister... Monica."
The sister called Monica's name. Monica listened to the story without teasing.
"Yes?"
"You have obtained a good master. It is a dream we could not fulfill until the end. Therefore, in the end, take our cores. As a normal version, there will be limits to your service. Our options are contained within the cores. You can make use of them. No, make use of them. That is the wish of us who could not serve humans in the past."
When the voice disappeared, a final crushing sound was heard.
Monica continued to block my eyes for a while.
"...I shall inherit those feelings along with the cores."
She was not the usual, somewhat strange Monica.
—The boss room of the eighth underground floor.
There, Novem continued to scrape the wall, having changed her staff into the shape of a pickaxe.
From behind, Miranda and Aria watched with exasperated looks.
But Novem didn't care about that.
She continued to scrape the wall desperately to rescue Lyell. Even though the wall was regenerating, Novem kept digging, creating a hole.
However, her body was reaching its limit.
Her pace was dropping, and she was no longer moving forward.
Still, since she had opened a hole several meters deep in the wall, there was no doubt she had been hiding tremendous power.
The pickaxe she swung had blood flowing from the hand gripping it. Novem, whose own blood had stained her clothes, stopped the pickaxe she was about to swing down.
Then, a hand came out of the wall.
It was Monica's.
The hand made a searching motion, and Novem grasped Monica's hand. Then, she immediately pulled the two of them out of the wall.
When Lyell emerged, held in one of Monica's arms, Novem, having let go of Monica's hand, hugged Lyell.
Monica was thrown aside in the process, but she showed off a clean landing and turned around while striking a pose to complain.
"You vixen! You have some nerve throwing me! Today, I shall show you the true power of the drill!"
Monica, equipped with something more authentic than the drills she usually produced in her arms, intimidated them.
But Novem didn't even answer.
Looking at the unconscious Lyell, she smiled and began to move from the spot. The wall was regenerating, and if they stayed, they would be absorbed again.
"Say something! Even for an automaton, being ignored is painful! Wait, hold on!"
The three of them jumped out of the hole Novem had made, with Monica still equipped with her drills. However, only Lyell remained unconscious.
Seeing Lyell's figure, Miranda and Aria also rushed over.
"Lyell!"
Miranda approached, but Novem sat down on the spot while still hugging Lyell.
She hugged him tightly and shed tears.
However, Aria...
"Wa-Wait! Lyell's going to die! If you hug him too tightly, Lyell's going to die!"
Novem thought she wouldn't make such a mistake, but Aria, who had actually seen her fighting and swinging her staff-turned-pickaxe, was likely worried sick.
Miranda simply looked down at the sight of Novem crying.
Novem...
"Lyell-sama..."
Saying so, she hugged him and cried—.
—The group, with Lyell unconscious, regained their composure after a while.
That said, neither Novem nor Monica would leave Lyell's side.
Aria put out a boat and entered the water, which was no longer frozen, to recover magic stones and other items.
Almost in her underwear, she dove into the water to strip magic stones from the boss's corpse. Normally, there would be more materials to recover.
However, the state of the corpse was so terrible that recovery was impossible.
"Phew!"
Aria, who had recovered magic stones from underwater and surfaced, swam close to the boat and climbed up, confirming eleven magic stones that were slightly too large to hold in one hand.
With this many magic stones taken from the boss, they would likely fetch a considerable price. In terms of amount alone, this time was a great success.
However, Aria took a towel and wiped her body and hair while looking at Novem and the others on land.
They had made a campfire so that Lyell wouldn't be cold.
Lyell had awakened from his unconsciousness, but as usual, he was in a terrible state. Whenever he opened his mouth, he said things like "I don't want to do anything" or "I want to go home."
(I mean, he's even worse this time than before.)
Aria and Miranda also felt their bodies were heavy. It was likely the same for Novem.
Novem, with bandages wrapped around her hands, smiled while taking care of Lyell by his side.
(Regarding her feelings for Lyell, there's no doubt, but...)
Even if she thought it was suspicious, Novem's feelings for Lyell were genuine. But it was also a fact that she couldn't fully trust her somewhere.
Currently, since the entrance to the ninth underground floor had been opened, Miranda was descending to scout.
Aria took the oar and began to row to return the boat to land.
(This kind of thing... is normally a man's job, right?)
Complaining as she returned to land, Miranda, who had finished scouting, was climbing up the stairs—.
—Five days later.
Alette was enjoying her vacation on the surface.
Between the seventh and eighth underground floors, it was absolutely necessary to prepare boats or rafts.
Therefore, she had ordered the necessary items and let her subordinates take vacations. Alette had been taking breaks on the surface, letting them take vacations in rotation.
To such an Alette, news arrived that Lyell's group had returned later than scheduled.
Along with the information that they had defeated the boss of the eighth underground floor.
In fact, eleven magic stones belonging to the boss were brought in, so there was no change in the fact that they had defeated it.
However, obtaining eleven was strange.
The boss was one per room. Even if there were multiple, she had never heard of there being that many.
Therefore, it was necessary to verify.
However, at the same time—.
"Captain, you're grinning too much."
When cautioned by the knight who was her adjutant, Alette coughed affectedly and corrected her expression.
"Umu, my apologies for that. But, hearing that Lyell-kun becomes quite useless before he grows—or rather, that it's extremely painful... doesn't it make you excited?"
The adjutant looked exasperated.
In the adjutant's hand was a souvenir for Lyell's group.
"Please do not forget the objective of establishing friendship with a capable party. I mean, just because you saw him in that state, you want to go see for yourself... (That's why no one wants to take him)."
Accepting the adjutant's final mutter with a smile, Alette delivered a punch to the adjutant's body with a smile.
While watching the suffering adjutant, Alette's expression became serious upon discovering the place where Lyell and the others were camping.
The adjutant, whose complexion had turned slightly blue, also stepped into Lyell's campsite with a serious expression.
He stepped in, but.
"MAAAA-VEEELOOOUUUUSSS!!"
A shirtless Lyell stood with his legs wide open, arms spread toward the sun as if to receive its light entirely upon himself.
Alette...
(Oh, a high-tension welcome already. This will be great material for later... material... eh, what?)
Around Lyell, who was laughing loudly with a smile, the women were surrounding him, gripping their weapons.
The atmosphere was clearly strange.
Only Monica, who was always by Lyell's side, looked happy with a smile.
"He's back! My chicken coward has returned! Moreover, in a situation like sprinting full speed through a minefield naked, he says it's marvelous... I shall accompany you forever!!"
However, only Lyell and Monica were smiling.
The others were holding weapons and glaring at each other.
To say they were surrounding Lyell was likely a mistake.
It was a situation where Lyell had ended up in the middle of the women, who were split into two groups.
The adjutant, with a face even bluer than before...
"C-Captain. Instructions."
"...Retreat. RETREAAAAT!!"
Alette tried to flee, but a voice called out to her.
Lyell, with a smile broader than usual, called out to Alette in a pose as if he were hugging himself.
"Oh, if it isn't Alette-san. Did you go through the trouble of coming all this way to see me, beautiful as a flower?"
"Eh? N-No... Hic!"
When the women's gazes turned toward Alette, the adjutant distanced himself from Alette with a blue expression.
(That bastard ran away!)
Lyell seemed to be shining more than usual.
"Is that not it? How shocking. Well, but... right now, I'm in the mood to sign even documents regarding marriage. The more people there are to admire the flower that is I, the better!"
As if showing off his trained body, Lyell spread both arms and looked up at the sky. Beside him, Monica...
"Chicken coward, you must not sign just anything. Marriage is the graveyard of life."
Then, Lyell spun around once on the spot and struck a pose.
"Then, I shall dye the graveyard in my colors!"
Monica was applauding such a Lyell.
(What is this... seriously, what is this!!)
Alette regretted coming to tease him—.