45 - A Woman's Back
Once we broke through the boss room of the thirtieth floor, things moved quickly from there.
By using my skill, I could ensure we started every battle with an advantage.
I could find the shortest route to the exit and reach our destination with the minimum number of encounters.
Confirming the types and numbers of enemies moving in groups...
Initiating combat after verifying those details was incredibly easy.
I carried only the bare minimum of luggage and changed my equipment to suit the opponent.
Whenever I found a group of monsters that didn't move much near the exit, I gave instructions to everyone.
"Clara, put out the light. Novem, prepare your magic. Fire attribute, please. Aria and Miranda-san, I'll leave the finishing blows to you. Damian-san, have the automaton hold a shield to block the enemy's charge. If you turn left at the corner, the enemies are just beyond it, so we'll use the same pattern as before."
The "same pattern" meant that I would fire an arrow equipped with an explosive device to initiate the battle.
We would launch a surprise attack and then strike the panicked monsters with magic.
Once they charged toward us, Aria and Miranda-san would deliver the finishing blows with direct attacks while the automata blocked the way.
"...I didn't know Miranda could fight this well,"
Aria said, looking at Miranda-san with a complicated expression.
"Oh? I didn't intend to keep it a secret, but there just wasn't an opportunity to tell you,"
Miranda-san replied with a smile. Seeing this, Aria spoke up.
"Have you changed a bit? Could it be that you're just hyped up because of a 'growth' spurt? Be careful, okay?"
Everyone experiences growth differently.
I've heard that many people feel their growth after fighting through a labyrinth. In such cases, they are usually removed from combat for a while to see how they fare.
(If I didn't have to conserve my own strength, I'd let her step back.)
Considering we had to face a boss, I needed to conserve as much stamina and mana as possible.
Checking my arrow count, I had a reasonable amount of leeway, even considering the duration of the trip.
(A mace is starting to be insufficient. If we're challenging the fortieth floor tomorrow...)
While contemplating a weapon change, I readied my bow and arrow, and Clara extinguished the light.
We advanced slowly to the corner, and once within range, I released an arrow.
As the sound of an explosion echoed, Clara relit the light.
The Second Generation spoke.
'It's over.'
As long as we didn't let our guard down, this battle, too, would end without us taking a single hit.
Having reached the thirty-ninth floor on the third day, we decided to rest for tomorrow, even if it was a bit early.
The food we brought wasn't just preserved rations.
We had brought regular ingredients as well, and the Seventh Generation's skill, [Box], kept them fresh.
Even regarding our meals, we were eating dishes that seemed unthinkable for a labyrinth.
We rested in a room near the entrance to the fortieth floor after defeating the surrounding monsters.
"To be honest, I underestimated you,"
Damian called out to me while I was resting.
"I have my skills, after all. Oh, and please keep it a secret."
When I told him to keep quiet, Damian pushed up his glasses with his index finger and spoke.
"I have no hobby of spreading rumors. It seems like it would be a pain if you became my enemy, so I won't."
Perhaps he evaluates me as being "a pain" to some extent.
(Even if I'm evaluated by this kind of person...)
As I thought that, Damian brought up the topic of the reward.
"Now then, about the magic. Can that wait until after we leave the labyrinth? I want to conserve my mana."
"Yes."
With that, Damian spoke about the main request.
"Since it looks like we'll achieve the request as we are, I'll tell you now: the reward this time isn't money. However, it's something of greater value."
The request form had stated an amount equivalent to a thousand gold coins.
It said that materials stripped from the boss of the fortieth floor were absolutely necessary.
(I knew it. The phrasing was subtle. In that case, what's the reward? A magic tool, or something of that sort?)
While I was guessing the reward, Damian spoke.
"What, seeing as you're not surprised, it seems you expected it. Well, that makes things easier... How about an automaton for the reward?"
"An automaton? Eh, isn't that..."
Isn't that something extremely rare?
As I was about to say that, Damian explained.
"The parts for the automaton are all there. We can collect quite a few of them here. All that's left is to flesh it out and activate it... but I didn't have a high-quality magic stone capable of storing the mana required for activation. That's why I made this request. I need some materials, but you can do whatever you like with the remaining materials. I can even help carry the luggage on the way back."
According to the guild's description, the boss of the fortieth floor was a giant in full armor. It was confirmed to be a troublesome existence that held a cylinder and fired attack magic from it.
I had heard that the armor worn by monsters sold for a high price.
"Will the academy permit the automaton?"
"Permit? There are plenty of them, so why not have one? It's not my taste, so you should take it. It seems a master-servant contract is used for the activation method, so blood will be necessary, though."
For a doll made with ancient technology, I found it slightly strange that it operated on magical technology.
I wondered why technology that had developed that far was lost in ancient times.
(Right, it wasn't well known.)
"Oh, that's right. If you're going to be around here for a while, come tell me your impressions of using it. I'll pay you an information fee then. Right now, I've used up my budget and things are tight."
Thinking that he really was a free spirit, I nodded.
Looking at Damian's automaton, it was a mass of iron armor.
It looked like it would be useful in combat.
(If I use it along with the golem magic, my combat power will increase all at once.)
While I was thinking such carefree thoughts, I decided to ask about something that had been bothering me.
"Damian-san, about those words you said in the boss room."
Damian thought for a moment, saying "...Hm?" and seemed not to remember.
"Never mind."
"Right. Well, I'm counting on you tomorrow as well. At this rate, I'm delighted that we might return earlier than planned."
Watching Damian walk away, I thought.
(...What did he mean by 'if I stay like this, I'll be ruined'?)
The morning of the fourth day.
After waking up and finishing our preparations, we entered the final preparations to challenge the boss.
I took out the luggage I had prepared for this day from the Box.
The Third Generation saw it and spoke.
'Lyell is truly vicious. To use things like wooden balls stuffed with gunpowder.'
The Fourth Generation was also appalled.
'True, with the Seventh Generation's skill, transporting them is possible. There's no worry about them exploding midway.'
The Second Generation—
'However, while it's good that we reached the boss on the fourth day, considering the return trip, a week really was necessary. I was careless.'
Yes.
The important thing in a labyrinth is that it doesn't end with diving in and defeating the boss.
Returning is also a hardship.
Luggage increases, equipment decreases, and movement speed drops; it can be said that the return trip is more dangerous than the journey there.
However, I was different.
I could keep luggage to a minimum with the Box and return via the shortest route.
Furthermore, I had defeated the monsters along the path I took.
Even if they had respawned, there wouldn't be more battles than on the way in. It was also possible to skillfully avoid them.
(The boss will be gone, so I'll make sure we can rest near the twentieth floor, where there are many adventurers, on the way back.)
Since there were bosses, we had been taking breaks like this before challenging them.
If not for that, we could have arrived here at an even earlier stage.
The problem was that there was a boss on the thirtieth floor.
(I can't use one of my trump cards anymore, but well, it's not a problem.)
I looked at the gunpowder-stuffed spheres I had taken out of the Box. I had prepared several of them; they were one of the tools used by adventurers.
They were used when troublesome monsters attacked.
However, they were difficult to manage, and there was a risk of them exploding if magic was used on them or by them. No sane adventurer would ever bring them into a labyrinth.
After finishing the final check, I put away the Box and handed the balls to everyone before descending into the boss room.
"Throw these once we arrive in the boss room. It seems they aren't very effective on the surface, but I've heard they work on the inside."
I had heard this from an adventurer who had reached the fiftieth floor.
As for whether they worked, he had answered that they did.
Damian received one and said, "I'll have the automaton throw it. I couldn't do it myself."
"Novem, Clara, have Aria throw yours. Once Aria throws hers, you can hand them over. Miranda-san, please attack the monster with fire attribute magic."
When I explained how everyone should move once we entered, they all nodded.
Or rather, the boss seemed to be considerably tough.
To face such a monster normally, it would be impossible unless seasoned veterans prepared and challenged it.
Why do boss-level monsters appear in the labyrinth?
I couldn't help but wonder.
"Basically, aim for the cylinder it's holding first. It's apparently like a cannon, but be careful because it seems the other side held a shield. It also apparently had a weapon like an axe, so after making it drop the cylinder—"
After confirming the final arrangements, we proceeded to challenge the boss of the fortieth floor.
The fortieth floor.
It was the same as the previous boss rooms.
The difference was the size—the width and the surrounding walls.
The passages, which until now had looked like metal plates haphazardly pasted together, had suddenly changed to being cleanly lined.
The atmosphere was completely different.
"This passage is long,"
Miranda-san muttered, and the others agreed.
The other companions, who couldn't see the map, were probably wondering where the enemy would appear.
Since I knew the distance in my head, I didn't feel nervous about such things.
"It's almost there. The enemy isn't in the center of the room, but in the back, so I'll set the trap first once we enter the room."
I was the decoy.
We couldn't have magic used on us while we were huddled together, so such a role was necessary.
However, I just had to use my skill to increase my movement speed and run around.
"Lyell-sama, please be careful."
"I know."
Worried by Novem, I simulated the battle many times in my head. The Second Generation's skill, which could roughly perceive the opponent's strength, was warning me of danger.
However, at the same time, I could judge that it wouldn't be difficult to defeat it with the current members.
For this reason, I had conserved the other companions as much as possible.
(I can't defeat it alone, huh.)
Even if I used magic, it seemed the opponent could block even magical attacks.
The adventurers who challenged it previously had apparently unleashed magic all at once.
However, they suffered great damage from a single magical strike.
I heard that the main members somehow held on, recovered, and continued attacking until it fell.
As I walked, the entrance to the room came into view.
The inside was dark and eerie.
Above all, I could hear the creepy sound of a living creature breathing.
"I'd heard about it, but it really gives me the creeps. From here on, the strength of the monsters seems to be on a whole different level."
When Damian spoke, Aria was regulating her breathing.
"Honestly, why did we take a request like this? We could have waited until we gained more strength."
Then, Miranda-san said with a smile,
"Aria, you're too nervous. We're prepared, so there's no need to worry so much."
"How can you be so lighthearted! Yesterday you were so..."
"Both of you, please be quiet."
When Clara cautioned the two, the area fell silent.
I slowly opened my mouth.
At the same time, using the Second Generation's skill [All] in its original way—
I increased the abilities of the entire party with the First Generation's skill [Full Over].
"Let's go."
I, who had spoken first, ran into the room and used my skill to make noise, making my presence known.
As something large began to move, I threw the wooden ball in my right hand.
The monster caught it with its shield, but upon realizing it was nothing, it began to take a stance toward me.
It held a large cylinder in its right hand, aiming it at me.
I immediately took wooden balls from the bag hanging at my waist and threw them one after another.
Moving along the wall of the circular room, by the time I had thrown the five wooden balls I held, I could visually confirm a strong light being directed toward me.
The Second Generation—
'This is quite bad. If you take this, the current Lyell will be finished in one hit.'
The Seventh Generation as well.
'Don't think about blocking it. Avoid it at all costs.'
I agreed with the opinions of the two giving advice.
"That's bad."
Cold sweat broke out.
Judging that a direct hit was dangerous, I immediately dashed away, and the strike fired from the cylinder flew toward me.
And at an incredible speed.
The mass of mana that slammed into the wall exploded, illuminating the room for just a moment.
What I saw, unlike before, was the figure of a monster wearing angular armor cleanly.
Something like tree branches were protruding from the joints.
"A plant-type monster wearing metal armor? What kind of joke is this, seriously!"
I used magic.
Not on the enemy. But on the wooden balls rolling beneath it.
"Fire Bullet!"
A fireball flew from my fingertip and hit a wooden ball directly.
It caused an explosion, which triggered the other wooden balls to explode as well.
Smoke billowed throughout the room.
The Fifth Generation spoke.
'The others can't confirm the enemy because of the smoke. Lyell, blow the smoke away.'
As instructed, I decided to blow away only the smoke.
As for the monster, it seemed it had let go of its shield due to the explosion at its feet.
"Drop the cylinder! Storm!"
A wind rose and blew the smoke away.
However, I still couldn't see the surroundings very well.
As expected, there seemed to be a problem with this method as well.
The Sixth Generation—
'You should have just packed them in a wooden box and had them carried. Lead it there and then BOOM.'
It was far too late now, but that method certainly would have worked.
However, I couldn't get that much gunpowder. Even if I could prepare it, it would only be one.
It was doubtful whether I could lead it skillfully, and it would have been dangerous if it were attacked and exploded while being carried.
The Third Generation looked at the surroundings—
'Look, Novem-chan and the others have arrived.'
Round objects were thrown one after another toward the monster, and Miranda-san was using magic from a place away from the group.
She likely judged that huddling in one place was dangerous.
At the same time, it was scary that Miranda-san's magic might react with the nearby gunpowder.
Fireballs and wooden balls hit the boss and exploded.
The angular armor didn't budge, but the joint of the right arm was blown away by the impact.
The cylinder fell to the ground.
The Fourth Generation gave instructions.
'Lyell, adjust the wind direction and flow the smoke into the back passage. At this rate, the visibility will be poor and we'll be unable to move.'
As I used magic to remove the smoke, the monster, which was on its knees, let out a roar.
When the helmet came off, the figure of a monster with a head like an insect became visible.
What a creepy fellow.
The Second Generation—
'Hey, Aria is—'
Aria, using her skill, threw a wooden ball with all her might.
That ball hit the mouth of the roaring monster, and it swallowed it.
Next, Novem used magic.
The surrounding wind swirled up toward the monster.
The high-difficulty magic was one that Celes used to use.
"Fire Storm... she could use it."
Flames swirled up with the wind. Fire was added to the wind, and the monster struggled within it.
The heat caused the room's temperature to rise all at once, and the monster's behavior became strange.
Its head was blown off.
The Fifth Generation speculated.
'Did the one Aria threw deliver the finishing blow? The credit this time goes to Aria.'
While looking at the burning monster, I breathed a sigh of relief after confirming it was already dead.
I hadn't expected Novem to be able to use magic like that, but since we won in the end, it wasn't a problem.
The first one to run over wasn't Novem, but Miranda-san.
"Good work!"
"It went well,"
I said to Miranda-san, and she nodded with a smile.
"It really did. I thought a plant-type monster had gotten in, but the head was an insect. Shannon would have fainted."
Apparently, Shannon hates bugs.
Looking at the motionless monster, Damian happily extinguished the fire with magic.
Although the inside was burning, the armor part was only dirty and had hardly melted.
Too sturdy.
Aria looked exhausted, perhaps because she had used a skill she wasn't accustomed to.
Novem and Clara were attending to Aria.
Miranda-san looked at Novem and muttered.
"...That girl is incredible. She's even more than I am."
Hearing that, I thought she was praising Novem.
"She's a reliable presence. In... various ways."
Vaguing my words, I also headed toward everyone. While thinking about having Damian carry the scattered metal armor, cylinder, and shield.
"...I'm so tired. I want to go home already."
"Oh, you!"
After defeating the boss of the fortieth floor, we returned to the upper floors without proceeding further.
If possible, I wanted to return to the vicinity of the twentieth floor within today and rest for one night—but here, a change began to occur in me.
Though not as much as before, I felt a terrible fatigue in my body.
I grew to hate moving my body, and walking became difficult as well.
I looked at Damian, who was overjoyed while holding a large magic stone, saying, "With this, the device to convert mana into electricity will be completed!"
(It's like a scene of a child who just had a toy bought for them.)
We had also collected the necessary materials from the monster, but it seemed the magic stone was the main goal.
He was probably happy that the device would be completed.
Damian was rejoicing innocently, but the automata were carrying the heavy armor the boss had been wearing.
The reward this time was an automaton and being taught Damian's magic.
However, that meant no income.
From my perspective, having paid a large sum for preparations, it was natural to want to recover as much as possible.
However—
"That armor is cool. The ruggedness of it is really great."
Aria, looking at me as I trudged along, shouted at me in irritation.
"Walk properly already!"
"...I can't find the motivation."
If there had been a man here, I felt like I'd want them to carry me on their back.
But the only man present was Damian, who was shorter than me.
Moreover, he was cradling the large magic stone, nuzzling it.
He probably couldn't see anything else.
(I wonder how he can move the automata in that state.)
Wondering about that, I squeezed out my remaining willpower to proceed through the labyrinth.
The fifth day.
In an even worse state, I was walking through the labyrinth leaning on Novem's shoulder.
Clara looked at me and grew genuinely worried.
"Your complexion is poor, Lyell-san."
"...I can't... anymore... ah, next is a right turn there."
Using my skill, I somehow gave instructions to everyone.
I could still use my skills, but the fatigue was gradually becoming severe. The mana recovery amount was low, and my body hurt uncontrollably.
"I wonder if Lyell-kun pushed himself too hard?"
When Miranda-san said that, Aria—
"He was like this before, too. It's terrible even after that."
"Is that so?"
It became too tedious to caution the companion who was revealing my secrets, so I kept my mouth shut.
Novem spoke to me.
"Lyell-sama, we've already reached the tenth floor, so just a little more patience."
Thanks to the many adventurers entering, the higher we went, the fewer monsters there were, and we could move with peace of mind.
Checking the surroundings with my skill, I could see yellow reactions here and there.
But—
"...I can't do it anymore..."
A weak complaint leaked from my mouth.
Hearing that, the Sixth Generation sighed.
'Lyell, endure just a little longer. Or rather, you're that type... the type to get quite sick before a growth spurt.'
The Fifth Generation was calm.
'That just means you'll grow that much, right? Endure it, thinking of it as a reaction. Or rather... the other members look strained too.'
Looking around, Novem was also enduring her strain.
Damian had become less talkative.
Aria was irritated.
Miranda-san's movements had lost their sharpness.
Clara's light was unstable.
Novem also seemed a bit strained. And yet, she was lending me her shoulder.
The Second Generation spoke.
'So this is what happens when everyone fights and gains a massive amount of experience. It'll be bad if we don't seriously increase the number of people. This is definitely related to Lyell's skill.'
The Third Generation had the same opinion.
'Rather, maybe they can't grow without this much experience... Even considering the other members have grown many times, this is only the second time for Lyell, right?'
Yes, I was about to experience my second growth spurt.
However... the problem was that this was only once, from the experience gained by fighting many battles in the labyrinth and winning against the bosses of the thirtieth and fortieth floors.
Moreover, after that, I would become so exhausted that I couldn't move.
The Seventh Generation chose their words carefully.
'...Lyell is like that. Look... as long as he doesn't mistake the timing of use, he's a precious combat asset. A few disadvantages are not a problem.'
The Fourth Generation spoke.
'Well, once he grows, he'll be fine for a while. But still...'
I was in a state where even taking a single step required considerable willpower.
Eventually, around the fifth floor, just as I felt I was okay, I lost consciousness.
I heard later that Novem and Miranda-san had carried me on their backs.
Damian's automata carried the heavy luggage, Damian refused, Aria was the combat strength for emergencies, and Clara had to provide support by keeping the light on.
Since Miranda-san volunteered, she and Novem apparently took turns carrying me.
Around the fifth floor, where adventurers were wandering about, I had exposed the sight of myself being carried on the backs of women.
My ancestors evaluated me in this labyrinth as follows.
'Being carried by girls, no way. I'm turned off.'
...So they said.
I think so too.