Fanfic: Barberian

Chapter 124: Let's go to the Labyrinth

When I returned from dropping off Zirnier, I was greeted with an incredible view.

"Ogogogogok...!

Jubeel raised her head and rolled her eyes as a huge gush of white milk spurted from her udder, soaking the table.

"Wow."

Ellie, who had been staring at the scene in dumbfounded admiration, squeezed Jubeel's udder like a rag.

Koooowwww.

"Ooohhhhhhhhh!"

"Hyaaaaahhhh! Fuck, Jubeel woke up a demon!"

"Earth Mother. Earth Mother."

"The party's reputation... this is over."

Jubeel, the cowgirl, shakes her entire body in a fits of convulsions, and Lammel, the harpy mage, cries out at the top of her lungs.

Hitolis, a catgirl and junior cleric of the Cult of Earth Mother, holds still, closes her eyes, and prays to the gods.

The party's leader, dwarven tanker Joy Hog, wiped her forehead and worried about the party's reputation, which had nowhere to go but down.

Those who had been eating and drinking at the tavern had long since fled in disgust from the breast milk fountain show.

"Mmmm... if you press here like this...?"

Every time Ellie squeezed Jubeel's udder, her eyes widened with curiosity and a month's worth of breast milk spilled out.

Like a victim of a bloody murder, Jubeel slumped over in a pool of her own milk.

"No, this, what the fuck?"

Faced with the task of cleaning up the mess, I broke out in a cold sweat as I looked at Ellie, the culprit.

Wiping Jubeel's breast milk off her hands with an expressionless face, Ellie spotted me and smiled broadly.

"Ah, oppa, you're home?"

"Ellie. What the hell are you doing...?"

"Oh... Ms. Jubeel kept telling me... about this stuff, and she kept telling me to try it out, so I did..."

Ellie looked down at Jubeel with emotionless eyes for a moment, and then perked up her ears in an innocent manner.

"So this is what happened? Hehe."

For some reason, a prickle of goosebumps rose from the depths of my balls.

She's a wizard, after all but this was a little too much, even for her experimental spirit.

"Didn't she tell you to try it?"

"Um, I'm good just the way I am. It's not like I'm lacking in anything, right?"

Ellie is a half-elf.

She is not a long-lived species, but she has the beauty of an elf to the point of death.

Her elven blood gives her a flawless appearance, and for Ellie, it's not something that can diminish her confidence.

In a strange way, she was an alpha female.

"Hmm... I still need to work on myself to become a more suitable girl for my oppa."

Seeing Ellie muttering with a suddenly serious face, the party members who were trembling at the sight of her spoke up one by one.

"Mee, the Labyrinth City's real genius has arrived."

"Mm, if she's good at that, is she good at that too...? Or is it just pure talent...? Hot, what am I, a priest, talking about...!"

"That's pure talent. Jubeel woke up someone she shouldn't have, girl or boy, she'll have them all in her hands...!"

I looked around.

There was no way Diana would let this happen.

I turned around as soon as I heard a soft gasp from behind me.

Diana covered her chest as she saw Ellie, her face expressionless, mercilessly squeezing her breast.

Hmph, hmph.

A shaking waist and arms desperately covering her breasts.

The sweet, sticky pheromones of arousal wafting uniquely among the scent of Jubeel's breast milk.

Diana was turned on by the sight of Ellie squeezing the other woman's udder.

Diana swallowed hard, dazed, and ran back to her room in the kitchen.

What the hell was she going to do in there?

After stopping my mind from wandering, I wiped my forehead and summarized the situation.

"Jubeel. Get up and drink some of that breast milk that spilled out or put it back in."

"Uh-oh-"

After fetching the bucket, I pulled a frantic Jubeel to her feet and mopped the floor with her.

"Mee, I'm sorry, oppa. I couldn't help myself, so ..."

"Don't be sorry, it's okay, it's Jubeel who forced you."

"Isn't that right...?!"

Ellie, who was also clinging to me, helped me clean up the mess.

After the mess was cleaned up, our party naturally gathered together.

Originally, we were supposed to meet to make plans for today's labyrinth expedition, but I was sidetracked after acting as Zirnier's drinking buddy.

"Hmmm. Anyway, I've heard what everyone has to say, so we'll aim for the twelfth floor this time."

"I have no objection."

"I agree."

After much deliberation, I agreed to take on the 12th floor.

It was a bit of a challenge, but not an impossible mission.

We were a party of low-level explorers at the top of their game, even if we looked like this.

"Especially after obtaining the Blessing of Sword Qi, Jubeel should be able to become a mid-level explorer as soon as she accumulates enough contributions."

...Jubeel herself argued.

"Your conscience has been shaken."

"Yes, it was."

After it was passed over as nothing serious, the briefing continued.

"Beyond the tenth floor, the environment and seasons change dramatically from floor to floor, so come prepared. I've written down the essential items, okay?"

Joy Hog said, waving a piece of paper in her hand.

After the tenth floor, there are additional seasons in addition to the terrain changes.

Spring. Motherfucker (Summer). Fall. Motherfucker (Winter).

Each floor has a fixed season.

The 11th and 12th floors, which we're going to be going through, are fall and winter, respectively.

So we had to pack more heating tools, warmth, and food.

'I always have to be prepared.'

It was a good opportunity to use my savings and the subspace backpack Professor Mankostil had given me.

"Then please take care of me."

Ellie, who had been listening to our conversation from the sidelines, jerked her head toward the party.

I stared at her blankly.

"...Why do you want us to take care of you?"

"Well… I received an offer to join the party."

"What?!"

I glared at Joy Hog, my eyes widening.

I told her not to be so greedy!

"Uh, don't get me wrong. Ellie made the first offer. She wants to go into the Labyrinth, too. We have no reason to refuse. The academy's valedictorian is coming with us, though only for two months."

"Ellie!"

I yelled at Ellie.

The Labyrinth was not a place to go for fun, it was a place where you didn't know when or where you died.

That was the Labyrinth.

"Hee-hee. You're worried?"

Ellie looked at me and smirked.

"I'm not kidding, Ellie. The Labyrinth is really dangerous."

"I know the Labyrinth is dangerous, I've been in it before."

"It's different now."

"Yes. Last time, I was escorted in, but actually being exposed to the dangers of the Labyrinth is another story."

Ellie continued with calm eyes.

"Compared to oppa and the other explorers who have felt the various dangers of the Labyrinth so far, I may still be a child who doesn't know what she's doing."

"..."

"But I can't stay a kid forever, can I? I have to go through hardships and dangers to become an adult."

I closed my mouth to say, "You don't have to go through hardships to become an adult."

Acknowledgment is acknowledgment.

Acknowledging the risks that are coming.

Accepting my inexperience and moving on.

I thought of Ellie, who had been kidnapped by outlaws not long ago.

Panicked, frightened, and in tears... Ellie had calmly prepared her arrows for a counterattack.

Perhaps she had realized her own inadequacies after that day.

Perhaps it was that experience that sparked his interest in the Labyrinth.

The Labyrinth offers a variety of rewards in exchange for risk.

Blessings from the gods, curses from the demons and priceless artifacts and jewels.

Many enter the Labyrinth in search of glory.

"And then there's the portal research you asked me to do. I've searched through books and manuscripts in the Academy's Great Library, but I'm afraid I'll have to go to the Labyrinth and see it with my own eyes to research it further."

"...Whoops."

I let out a heavy sigh.

As much as I was worried about Ellie, I couldn't ignore her usefulness.

"You worry a lot. Well, as an explorer, it's not bad to be prepared for danger."

"It's not uncommon for mages to hire escorts to enter the Labyrinth for research purposes."

"Yes. Some research wizards have no combat skills, but Ellie melted that minotaur halfway to death, so she's more than capable of fighting."

"Huh."

I glanced at the party members, who were all chiming in, then sighed and nodded, not sure what to make of this strongly held opinion.

Eventually, I was persuaded.

"Okay, let's go."

"Yay!"

I nudged Ellie, who was in super-positive mode with a wide smile on her face.

"Stick with me and don't do anything too dangerous. Okay?"

"Hee-hee. Sure."

Ellie chuckled, sounding rather pleased.

"It's only two months, but we'll have two mages in a party of junior explorers. Luxurious. Luxurious."

"Besides, you're a senior graduate. In a few years, the high tier explorer parties will be lining up to invite you."

Ellie wasn't the only one who was happy.

The party members also seemed to see the power boost as a positive thing.

Certainly, a party with two mages is rare, even among mid-level explorers.

"Well, I guess we should raise a glass to our newest party member, Ellie."

Joy Hog muttered, which meant she wanted a drink.

There's only one thing for me to do.

I brought five beers and slammed them down on the table.

"Here's to the Labyrinth and Ellie!"

"To the glorious future of the party!"

The glasses clinked with a jubilant clatter, and we chugged the carbonation down our throats, reveling in the moment.

A week later, the portal to the Labyrinth opened and we were in front of the Labyrinth Entrance Portal.

"Ah~ I want to have a full and loving, heartfelt, and passionate sex with my master..."

"What the hell are you talking about...! Come to your senses...!"

"No. But that Intert bitch said she was testing me and told me to go to the labyrinth… Haa… I haven't even seen the master's face yet…"

As Denshi entered the Labyrinth with the Chirp Chirp, little fairy wind valley's, she thought of the man in her heart and wished for him.

'I wish I could see my master in the labyrinth.'

Chapter 125: The 12th floor (1)

A place immersed in deep darkness.

Only a few strands of candlelight illuminated the place where the dank darkness descended.

"The clan you were contracting with disappeared?"

The woman holding the candle frowned, shining her light on the man who jerked his head toward her.

Horns protruded from the top of his head and wings flapped behind his back.

It was the Incubus Ain.

The face that was filled with fear was also revealed, and Incubus Ain opened his mouth again.

"Yes, yes! I went there during the slave tribute period, and all the key executives, including Vesta, the leader, had disappeared."

"Hmph..."

Hearing the woman's low moan, Incubus Ain shuddered even more and quickly recited his report.

"Uh, there are many suspicious circumstances. The last trace was at the Academy, but unless she had lost her mind to some extent, she would not have targeted the Academy..."

Incubus Ain clicked his tongue inwardly as he reported to the woman.

He had misjudged.

Vesta, the head of the Blues Clan, had been supplying quality slaves for years for nothing more than power.

He was right that she had made a foolish choice for the sake of greater power, or that she had made a major mistake for fear of not being able to deliver the slaves in time.

But right now, there were more important matters than that.

"So. What about the orb she was carrying?"

"...That, and the orb, are gone."

"..."

The woman grinded her teeth.

Hearing that, the Incubus Ain was even more terrified and lowered his head.

[The orb] is a precious item.

It shouldn't be lost so futilely, and it must be recovered.

The woman held the candle closer to the man's eyes.

Tap-tap-tap-tap

Incubus Ain swallowed hard as he watched the candle flicker.

He didn't mind that the fire was about to burst into a huge blaze and engulf him.

He was glad it ended there.

The number of men who have been forever ruined by the woman is well over three digits.

And today, if he made a mistake, he could be one of them.

Fortunately, a look of relief spread across Incubus Ain's face as he heard the woman's next words.

"The 'regular meeting' is just around the corner, and now this… it's a bitter pill to swallow, isn't it?"

Incubus Ain immediately understood the woman's intentions.

She wanted him to go and retrieve the orb immediately.

"I'll definitely get it back."

Fortunately, there was a silver lining.

Before any trace of the Blues Clan's visit to the Academy could be found, the clan's slave house was raided by a group of mysterious figures.

The raiders were a mid-level explorer, Wind Valley's Chirp Chirp, and a nameless maiden with the skills of a top-tier low-level explorer.

The clan's behavior had become more urgent since then, and Incubus Ain surmised that they had probably taken the orb.

"Do you think you can do it alone?"

"I will get it back."

"It's good that you're so motivated, but I want to be sure."

The woman stamped her heel on the ground, and a great surge of negative energy rose around Incubus Ain.

Emerging from the nose-pricklingly thick aura were three succubi.

-Hmph!

The incubus man immediately avoided the succubi's gaze.

The succubi's aura was dizzying to look at.

If he were a normal human male, the mere sight of them would have caused his mind to collapse and turn him into an idiot.

Without a massive libido and the physical ability to handle it, it was nearly impossible for anyone, male or female, to survive them.

"Thank you, my lord, for your generous support. O worshiper of the great [Lust]."

"What? You too are one of his followers. Aren't you one of his kind who walks the same path?"

The woman's expression hardened sharply as she looked at Incubus Ain, speaking benevolently.

"But the price of failure is one you will not fully bear."

"...! Yes, yes!!!"

With a look of horror on his face, incubus Ain rushed out of the room with the succubi the woman had given him.

He followed their trail to the Labyrinth.

***

I stretched as soon as I woke up. My early night was worth it and I felt refreshed.

Next to me was the letter from Professor Mankostil that I had fallen asleep reading yesterday.

The letter talked about a strange organization called the Devil Worshippers.

However, the note didn't give much information.

-Beware of those who call themselves fanatics with black orbs.

That was the only message left.

'Still, I hope I'm not being unnecessarily cautious.'

I filed the letter away and set it on my desk.

'The Scroll of Weakness Detection is gone.'

I finished reading the Scroll of Weakness Detection that Idelbert had given me yesterday along with the letter.

Then the magic book transformed into magic and permeated my body.

'I'll be able to use it whenever I want.'

Since it's called Weakness Detection, I'll be able to use it in battle.

Yawning, I stretched and washed my face with the lukewarm water Ellie had brought me beforehand and gave myself a quick wipe down.

It pained me to think that such simple pleasures as showering and drying off would be denied me in the Labyrinth, but it's something that can't be helped.

As a side note, Ellie was so traumatized by the day she saw my cock when she brought me water that she always brought me face water before I even woke up.

Once I was properly cleaned up, I gathered my gear.

I put on gaiters made of minotaur hide, iron thigh and arm guards.

All three were quality pieces of equipment that I'd spent a few gold coins on. They weighed a little, but they were safe.

Next, I donned the leather armor Zirnier had handed me and placed my helmet on my head.

The Great Helm, the first of Zirnier's children, glowed an even more dazzling blue than before, after being repaired by her.

'It seems to have a slightly increased perceptual range.'

It wasn't a dramatic change, but it was an admirable evolution, considering the relic alloy reinforcements that had made it stronger.

At my waist was a battle axe about the length of my arm. It was also an artifact hatchet with a gigantization feature that Zirnier had repaired for me.

On my back was my Bernie, an oversized axe that measured a massive one meter and eighty centimeters in length.

I paid 50 silver coins to the harpy wizard Lammel for an enchantment that allows me to strap the weapon to my back, which seems to be quite useful.

All in all, it added weight to my gear, but it wasn't a big deal.

"It's light, it's light."

This is thanks to my subspace backpack.

Even though it contained daily necessities, various foods, intermediate healing potions, a map, and winter gear, it felt as if it contained nothing.

'It must have weighed at least 20 kilograms.'

Without the weight reduction of the subspace backpack, I might have had to give up a shield or an axe.

It's not easy to march with a backpack for hours, let alone weeks.

All set, I looked in the mirror.

"I look like shit."

I saw a gaunt man, like the leader of a savage tribe preparing to go to war.

The sight made me feel a bit bittersweet.

I wondered if it was a good thing that I was adapting so well to this savage world.

"That's good. I adapted and didn't lose it."

Feeling a bit bloody, I quickly cleared my head and walked out of the room.

"Hey, Balkan. I'm going to bring you breakfast, but you can stay with Ellie for a while."

"Balkan. Come on, foster mom is going to make you a milk latte for dessert."

Immediately, the mother and daughter greeted me with good morning greetings.

It's a happy, laid-back morning that has been repeated over the past few days.

Naturally, my eyes were drawn to Ellie's outfit.

A crisp white shirt and flowing tennis skirt.

Potion bottles tied to a loose belt and a brown robe draped lightly over her shoulders.

She was dressed exactly as she had been when we first met. But this.

"It's the Academy uniform."

"It may look like it, but it's the finest Arachne silk. It's probably stronger than most leather armor."

"Is it?"

Then there was no problem. It's not like a mage is going to be on the battlefield. As long as it was Arachne silk, she would be protected.

"You're wearing a hat, too?"

"Hee-hee. What do you think? A wizard looks good in a long-brimmed hat."

Ellie lifted the brim of her hat with her index finger and gave me a provocative smile.

"That's cute."

"…"

I laughed and patted her head like a naughty child, and she pressed the brim of her hat down to hide her blush.

"Here you go."

Diana, who had arrived with the meal, stepped between me and Ellie.

"Thank you as always, Diana."

"Hoo-hoo. Enjoy."

On the days we entered the Labyrinth, Diana always made me a special breakfast course.

Thanks to her, I can start the day with a full stomach.

I can only be grateful for her grace.

First I had salad with a refreshing dressing to whet the appetite.

The main course of the day is a thick steak cooked in the confit technique and served with mashed potatoes.

On the side, garnishes such as tomatoes and shallots were served with just a touch of salt and pepper.

The exterior of the meat was nicely seared to the point that when I scratched it lightly with my knife, it made a crispy sound like it was fried.

When I cut into the thick slices, I could see a pink gradient in the center. It was evenly grilled.

I took a big bite and the juices burst in my mouth with every bite.

It was watery, probably because Diana had grilled it.

"What do you think? Is it good? Does it have any flavor?"

I asked Diana, who was watching me eat with a smirk on her face and closed eyes.

"It's perfect, right down to the doneness of the vegetables."

"Hoo-hoo, I'm glad to hear that. Eat up, Ellie. There's more."

"Yeah."

Ellie munched beside me.

Elves are supposed to be vegetarians, but apparently they're not.

When the meal was over, I had a milk latte for dessert.

"Wow. I like how sweet this is."

"Well, is it?"

I wonder if she has a sweet tooth. Ellie drank her milk latte with a happy face.

I took a sip of my coffee, too. The right amount of caffeine helps to wake me up.

-Gulp.

"…"

I took a sip and lifted my mouth from the cup.

This sweet yet deep flavor, it's something you can't get from ordinary milk.

I didn't milk it myself, so I didn't get any extra stats, but…

I immediately realized that the milk in this latte was not just any milk.

"..."

"..."

I exchanged a wordless glance with Diana.

Breast milk with no stat bonus.

Was it worth drinking?

'It's a reward.'

It's not as if I'm blinded by strength and forcefully squeezing it out.

I just drank it gratefully.

I stare at Diana for a moment, unable to make eye contact, and then shove a full cup of her breast milk coffee down my throat.

-Gulp. Gulp.

Diana's face flushed even deeper as I gulped it down with a deliberate noise.

-Thud!

"Huh."

"…"

"I drink it well, Diana."

"Uh, yeah…"

After enjoying a short tea break and chatting for a while, Ellie and I got up to leave.

"Ellie. I think you'll do well, but you should always be careful and vigilant in the Labyrinth."

"Yes. Of course."

"Good. Take care."

"Neeeeet… Ugh…"

Diana, who had been counseling with a worried face, scooped Ellie into her arms.

Pressed against her adoptive mother's chest, Ellie groaned in pain and hugged Diana tightly.

As I watched the polar bears lose their habitat, I realized that Diana's gaze was directed at me.

Sure enough, she smiled and gently beckoned me over, as if to say, "Welcome. "

I cautiously stepped between the mother and daughter.

"Huh…"

"Hmph…"

I opened my arms wide and hugged both Ellie and Diana tightly at the same time.

I could feel Ellie's warm body heat on my left and Diana's strong female pheromones on my right.

We hugged each other as tightly as if we were real family, sharing our body heat, and then slowly, without warning, we fell apart.

"…Da, I'm going!"

A red-faced Ellie ran out of the inn in a hurry. Diana looked at her and smiled.

Her smile soon turned to me.

"Take care of her, Balkan."

"Don't worry too much. Even if she looks like that, Ellie can handle herself."

"Hoo-hoo, right?"

"Of course."

I grabbed the doorknob to leave the inn.

"Balkan."

Just before I opened the door, Diana stopped me, gently grabbing my hand.

"..."

She said nothing to me however her hand trembled pitifully and her face flushed, but it was clear what she wanted.

We stared at each other for a moment, then casually leaned our heads closer and locked lips.

It wasn't a passionate mating kiss.

It was a tender, sweet, chaste kiss that promised to return safely.

Gently, I put my hands around her waist and pulled her into a hug.

I felt her touch on my back and then, without realizing it, my tense shoulders relaxed.

It was a hug that we shared every time I entered the labyrinth.

For me, it was now a sacred ritual.

"I'll be back."

"I'll wait."

We looked at each other and smiled.

"...Come on, oppa."

-Hmph.

I turned around and saw Ellie, cheeks puffed out, watching me and Diana hug.

We awkwardly giggled and pulled away.

We walked out of the inn, away from Diana, who was waving goodbye, and made our way to the entrance, which was packed with explorers trying to enter the Labyrinth.

"There you are."

The party had already arrived, all of them heavily laden with luggage.

Front line tank. Vanguard axe warrior. Two mages. Priest. Rear guard and swordsman.

The party mix couldn't be better.

"Let's go, Ellie."

"Yes!"

Me, Ellie, and the rest of the Joy Hog party clung to each other without a word.

As we stepped toward the Labyrinth Entrance Portal, the air and surroundings changed with a slight sense of floating.

The air was cool yet cold, unfamiliar yet familiar.

-You're going to the twelfth floor, then this miracle should do the trick.

The previous day, when I went to the temple, the warm miracle I received from Serif pushed away the cold air.

"Good start, we're near the descent portal."

Joy Hog briefed, looking around and comparing maps.

"All right, then. Let's go."

Now that we had a long, well-deserved rest, it was time to get back to fucking work.

Chapter 126: The 12th floor (2)

When I first fell into the labyrinth, goblins were a menacing enough foe.

-Tsk!

But in hindsight, it wasn't even on the axis of danger.

It is not easy to conserve stamina when using Bernie from the first floor.

It's also a waste of power to use her on goblins.

I struck the goblin in the neck with the hatchet at my waist and continued through the labyrinth.

"Waaaah!"

I shouldn't have been particularly surprised or reacted, but Ellie, standing behind me, looked at me with a dazed admiration.

It's not every day you see a sight like this, and for good reason.

We reached the edge of the floor at a brisk pace.

The descent portal glowed with blue light.

"Please wait a moment. I need to take a sample of the magic around the portal."

Ellie pulled out the empty potion vial she kept tied to her belt.

"I see. I'll take a break then."

"I guess I'll finally get to put my stuff down. Phew."

The pace of the party slowed slightly, but none of the party members grumbled at Ellie's words.

After all, researching portals was one of the reasons she joined the party in the first place.

No one wanted to offend a mage, who was a valuable resource.

The party took their places and took a short break, keeping a watchful eye on their surroundings.

"Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Oh, oppa, umm, just watch from my side."

Ellie gingerly touched the magic around the portal.

After the Wisdom stat in the status window went up slightly, I was able to feel the magic a little more clearly.

Still, with no magical knowledge, I couldn't tell exactly what she was doing.

"Magic power changes slightly depending on where it is."

As if she had noticed, Ellie explained.

"In desert regions, magic holds heat, and in cold regions, it holds cold."

"You mean it's affected by its surroundings?"

"Yes. That's why mages build up a reservoir of energy within their bodies, and use it to manipulate their magic."

Following Ellie's guidance, the blue grains that had been lingering near the portal began to slowly flow into the potion bottle.

"The magic I build up in my body through my own efforts is my own magic, unaffected by the world around me, and I can use it to interfere with the magic around me."

Ellie grinned, as if to say, "I'm pretty amazing."

"That's right. No ordinary wizard can do something that advanced. They just memorize books, carve out circuits, and spit out cookie-cutter magic."

Lammel, the harpy mage who had come out to watch Ellie, agreed.

So, that was an advanced technique.

I stared down at my palm.

'My magic.'

If I could clearly understand that, wouldn't I be able to use something like the sword ki?

I also heard that the basis of sword ki is one's own magical power.

-Pfft.

Ellie carefully capped the potion bottle.

"Are you done?"

"No. I need to go outside and take a closer look with my lab equipment, and take samples from the other floors."

"We'd better get up, then."

Like soldiers taking a break in the middle of a march, the party members who had been lying down with their backpacks on grunted and pushed themselves up.

Sure enough, as we headed deeper into the Labyrinth, our packs, even when streamlined as much as possible, seemed quite heavy.

As I strapped on my feather-light subspace backpack, I felt a strange sense of superiority.

"You, Balkan. You're giving me a bad vibe."

"Hmmm. Come on. Let's go."

I coughed and went straight to the next floor.

***

I spent three days in the labyrinth.

Second floor, then third, then fourth.

The party reached the end of the fourth floor with little difficulty.

"Is it a coincidence? I don't see any monsters imbued with magi."

"Yeah, well, there were at least three of them on every level last time we went through the labyrinth."

Joy Hogg and Lammel talked quietly as they rested.

The magi-clad beasts had been sparse since the Omen.

Since the appearance of the Temple Investigators, or more precisely, since the day Serif and Idelbert met and talked.

For ten years, the darkness of the Labyrinth had been gradually forgotten.

The existence of the Magi began to be known again, even among low- and mid-level explorers.

There are three main characteristics known to the world:

-A monster with magi is stronger than a normal monster.

-Resistant to physical attacks and magic.

-Weak to holy power.

"Well. It's probably best if we don't meet them."

"That's true."

As annoying as they are to deal with, it's a good thing we didn't run into any of the magi infused ones on the fourth floor.

"I'm done taking samples."

Ellie has finished sampling the magic from the up and down portals on the fourth floor.

The party stood back up and prepared to head to the fifth floor.

"Fuck. I'm so fucking tired."

"...Sorta, kinda, kinda scary, hmm..."

Lammel and Hitolis held their breath in silence.

The party almost got wiped out on the fifth floor during the last labyrinth.

Lammel lost her leg and was crippled, and Hitolis was somehow tainted and nearly turned into an idiot.

'I was even cursed.'

It was a situation where they were so traumatized that they couldn't take a step forward.

"Holy shit, Lammel! Hitolis! I like you guys!"

Our party had a mental care machine for great mental defense.

"Eww! Ewww! Joohahahahaha!"

"Ouch, you crazy bitch, you're splashing breast milk on the staff!"

Jubeel lightened the mood by spitting out her breast milk.

In exchange for the foul smell of breast milk, the party came to life.

"Can I help you?"

"...khem. Mmm, I'm sorry. I won't take it out again."

Suddenly revitalized by Ellie's words, Jubeel put her clothes back on and hugged her chest tightly.

Ellie was a surprisingly good counter to Jubeel.

Forming up again, the party crossed the descent portal with their hands on each other's bodies.

-Woof!

The fifth floor was reached with a slight feeling of floating.

Without bothering to look around, we tore through the fountain travel scroll to the edge of the floor.

The multiple-of-5 floors with fountains were convenient because they allowed you to skip the tedious exploration process.

-Wheeeeeeee-!

Ellie glanced behind her as she gathered the samples once more, and heard a strange wind noise.

At the time, it sounded like the wind was whistling through the labyrinth.

-Boo-boo-boo

Bernie on my back rattled as if in resonance with the wind.

It wasn't the wind, but the axe itself that was vibrating after a humiliating tremor, as if helpless with shame.

[...subject, over, bastard...]

I heard a voice in my head but it didn't come through my ears.

It was a strange sensation, like a direct slap to the brain but the voice was familiar and unfamiliar at the same time.

It was Bernie's voice.

I instinctively pulled Bernie away.

"Go, what the hell, Balkan!"

"Is it an attack?!"

The party looked around quickly at my sudden action, but there was no sign of any explorers coming or going, let alone a beast.

"...No. It's not an attack...Bernie..."

I stood still, staring at Bernie.

The giant, oversized axe rattled as if it were making an announcement.

[I'm going to make you regret doing this to my body... for sure...]

The voice slammed into my head like a telepath.

[What the hell are you talking about after keeping your mouth shut all this time?]

I thought to myself, and realized that I could get through to Bernie.

[Hey, you! Use respect when calling this body, not that stupid Bernie name!]

Bernie was still not on the subject of tools.

There's nothing like violence to make someone understand their situation.

I think she needs to be punished.

-Taaak!

[Kkwowow...?!]

I hit the golden ornament in the center of the axe, and immediately a pitiful groan echoed in my head.

After a short, sharp groan, Bernie's response faded again.

What the hell.

No way, did she pass out?

After just one night?

"Bernie? The Bernion from that fairy tale?"

"Isn't that the giant lumberjack and his axe? What a great sense of naming. It suits you well."

"No, it's not Bernion, it's Bernie..."

"I, I think it suits you well!"

"..."

Maybe the name Bernie was too cute.

The party members and Ellie were already calling Bernie "Bernion" when they saw her.

I sighed and put Bernie back on my back.

Bernie, the talking oversized axe.

Formerly, the Gluttony demon.

I'm sure she's deeply entangled in the Labyrinth, but her pride is still too strong to let her speak.

'Let's take it one step at a time, surely, without stumbling in our impatience.'

I took a quick breath, cleared my head, and focused on the task at hand: exploring the labyrinth.

And so another week passed.

***

Ssshhhhh!!!

A sharp sound ripped through the air.

The ceiling of the labyrinth opened, and a hail of arrows rained down from above.

"Wind Cutter!"

Lammel, who had used all her stored mana, looked to the sky and hastily cast a spell.

"Deep Wind!"

Ellie joined in, casting her wind elemental magic.

Wind blades and dense air stretched out from below to meet the arrow baptism.

-Ting! Ting! Whiz!

A few arrows bounced off the wind, changing their trajectory but the trap on the ninth floor was no joke.

There were still more arrows raining down on us than we had neutralized.

"This way!!! Shields up!!!"

Joy Hog, the forward, shouted as she ran to protect those behind her.

Lammel and Jubeel quickly clustered around her.

Joy Hog's shield glowed blue and grew in size.

It was a defensive artifact but it's small.

-Boom!

The arrow traps that had fallen from the ceiling of the Labyrinth were still raining down.

And there are still three figures who have yet to reach Joy Hog's shield, Hitolis the priest, Ellie the wizard and me.

We'll be in trouble if they're injured.

"Ellie! Hitolis! Get down!"

I shouted at them both, swinging the Bunny with all my might.

Luckily, Ellie has cast a spell, so the amount of arrows coming at them is less than the amount hitting the ground around them.

I steady myself with my lower body, hold my core, and rotate my waist and arms like a batter swinging a bat.

I engage every muscle in my body, all at once and explosively.

My body, which has just begun to step into the realm of superhumans, generates a gust of wind with the swing of an oversized axe.

-Whooooooo!

The fierce wind from the axe deflected the arrow's trajectory.

-Pabababab!

The rain of arrows aimed at the two of them fell to the ground without piercing their bodies.

Once I was sure they were safe, I put the artifact axe I'd unsheathed above my head.

"Enlarge."

I muttered a small incantation, and the magic drained from me, the axe blade growing to cover my body.

-Thud! Thud!

I braced myself for the weight of the blade and for the heavy vibrations.

The rain of arrows scraped against the blade and fell to the ground.

My patience was short-lived.

Thrrrr-

The axe, now back to its original size, was strapped back to my belt and I looked around.

There were arrow marks everywhere, like the floor after a rain shower.

"Is everyone okay?!"

I shouted for confirmation, and Joy Hog, Lammel, and Jubeel crawled out from under the shield that rose like a turtle's shell.

"Damn. That was dangerous. The further we go, the harder it is to detect traps."

"So, no injuries, thank goodness."

"I saw it. Balkan just swung his axe, and the wind blew it right into the-"

She seemed unharmed considering the way she rambles.

I quickly checked on Ellie and Hitolis.

"Phew, phew."

"Thank God, we made it. We were almost late for the barrier."

Hitolis and Ellie breathed a sigh of relief inside the hastily constructed barrier.

I exhaled as well.

This labyrinth never lets me relax.

"Poisoned arrow… sniff sniff. Oh. This is a stimulant."

Joy Hog pulled an arrow from the ground and sniffed it.

She pulled out a small vial and wiped the arrowhead clean of the stimulant.

As I watched the pink liquid drip into the vial, I asked.

"...Why are you taking that?"

"Because the stuff in the Labyrinth is far more effective than the stuff you can buy on the market, whether it's poison or aphrodisiac."

Joy Hog grinned sinisterly.

"It's also used to mate livestock, and to make a night of it even more intense. It's very effective."

"Oh."

"It's quite salty when gathered and sold, so be quick. The poison can also be used to coat weapons for combat."

The reason for entering the Labyrinth was to obtain blessings or artifacts, but primarily to earn a living.

Money is the reason for fulfilling various requests and taking various risks.

Having solved the immediate danger, the party, in true explorer fashion, plucked the arrows from the ground like women gathering the harvest.

"Ahem!"

A startled voice came from behind them.

All eyes in the party turned toward the arrow.

Ellie, who had been the first to help, hastily hid her hands behind her back under their gazes.

Such awkward behavior.

...What?

I quickly walked over to her.

"Ellie. Let me see your hand."

"Mmm. It's no big deal..."

"Come on!"

I shouted, and Ellie held out her hand, which she had carefully hidden behind her back.

There was a tiny scar on her fingertip.

On top of the scar, where an arrowhead had grazed it, was a thin layer of pink liquid, also known as Labyrinth aphrodisiac.

I quickly checked Ellie's face.

"Why, why do you look like that?"

Her breathing quickened a little.

Chapter 127: The 12th floor (3)

"Under the power of the divine light, may the Mother Goddess bless you. Temperance of sexual desire."

At the prayer of Hitolis, a faithful priest of the virginity-oriented Cult of Mother Goddess, a powder of light descended upon Ellie's head.

Ellie's dazed expression changed for the better, drooling from her mouth.

"Is that the miracle that priests and paladins use to suppress their lust?"

"Indeed. Sounds like a bunch of obsessive virgins."

Joy Hog and Lammel looked at Hitolis and nodded.

"Hitolis. Did you suppress the full effect of the aphrodisiac?"

Hitolis shook her head in confusion at my question.

"I gave her some first aid, but the Labyrinth's aphrodisiac is very strong."

She swallowed the last part and looked at Ellie.

The nape of her neck and long elfin ears were still red, proof that the effects of the aphrodisiac hadn't completely worn off.

"Is there anything else we can do?"

"There are only two ways out of this: we can either make a quick trip to the fountain on the tenth floor of the Labyrinth and bathe in its healing waters, or-"

Hitolis left it at that and swallowed hard.

She seemed very reluctant to speak in her own words.

Seeing the look on her face, Jubeel opened her mouth.

"Or poke it deep into her womb with a baby-producing stick, and chew it cool."

"Lord, Jubeel, you're so vulgar!"

"Well. Did I say the wrong thing?"

"T, you didn't say anything wrong, but you did say something wrong."

"What are you going to do, Balkan?"

The party's eyes turned to me, the only clean slate in the party.

"This stimulant is quite effective. Once you start, you will have to have sex in this spot for at least three days and nights without sleeping. Of course, it must be vaginal sex. Only when the uterus is filled with semen will it be recognized as 'real sex'."

Once you're in a relationship, you're in it for the long haul.

I weighed the risks of the relationship, the fatigue that would come afterward, and the dangers that would arise during the relationship.

"Let's get to the 10th floor as fast as we can."

"Tch."

The rest of the party clicked their tongues. Well, they were just being verbal.

"I thought about it carefully. Masturbation might be fine, but in a labyrinth, having sex is too risky."

Sex in the Labyrinth, with all its dangers?

I didn't have to think long to realize it was insane.

'If you have tremendous confidence in your abilities, then you might not know.'

Sadly, this was not true for me today.

Having made my decision, it was time to move.

"I'll carry Ellie. My back is light thanks to the subspace backpack."

"No. I'll carry her. It's not safe for you to lift her."

"What?"

I was about to pick Ellie up with room to spare, but Joy Hog stopped me.

"What good does a female who has been on estrogen get from being carried on your back and smelling the stinky scent of a male who hasn't washed for a week?"

"Don't try to seduce Ellie, who is barely holding on to her senses. It'll only speed up ovulation and make her even hornier."

"Come on, her breasts pressed tightly against your back muscles, it'll be dangerous..."

"Yeah. It is dangerous.."

Joy Hog, Lammel, Hitolis, and Jubeel, the four female party members all nodded in agreement.

"...Yes, well. Okay, let's go."

I scratched the nape of my neck in embarrassment.

The Labyrinth it's not so easy after all.

***

Still on the ninth floor, Ellie's sticky moans echoed through the labyrinth.

"Ellie. Just a little quieter. I know it's hard, but hang in there."

"Whew… Yeah…"

Ellie replied, gasping for breath.

As much as we'd like to speed up, it's hard to do it.

The ninth floor is a little smaller than the average floor, but it has a higher percentage of traps.

It feels similar to the second floor, but the level of traps is much higher than it was seven floors ago.

We'll need to tread carefully at all times to avoid dangerous traps such as beast traps, arrow traps, detonators, and transition traps.

"Six minotaurs up ahead!!!"

"Purrrrrr!"

On top of that, there were oncoming monsters to deal with.

No, not goblins or other mobs, but minotaurs.

If I hadn't had my cognition fully activated, I would have been in a lot of trouble with the surprise attack and traps.

The minotaur horde, realizing the ambush, immediately charged at us.

"Purrrrrrr!"

In response, I pulled Bernie from my back and swung it at the first minotaur to jump in.

-Zzzzzzzzzzzz!!!

With a resounding crack, the minotaur's upper torso was ripped off.

The explosive power from her enormous size and weight was already beyond the power of a normal axe.

"Purrrrrr!"

The vanguard lunged forward and the instinctively terrified minotaurs paused for a moment.

No doubt, it was a golden opportunity.

"Lammel! Now!"

"Fireball!"

With a short shout, Lammel unleashed her magic.

The minotaurs hit by the blazing fireball let out a terrible scream and the two furthest forward were killed instantly.

The remaining three were engulfed in flames.

"Purrrrrr!"

The three flaming minotaurs charged like warriors facing death.

As if to say, "Feel our pain."

-Pow!

Joy Hog, who had left Ellie with Hitolis, knocked two of them back with her shield.

"Purrrrrrr!"

"Don't you dare!"

One broke through the restraint and Jubeel charged him, but.

"What?!"

The blade, surrounded by a cloudy sword energy, failed to strike the minotaur's neck and bounced away.

Immediately afterward, the flames surrounding the minotaur gradually died down.

Magi was revealed on the left side of the body.

"Hitolis!"

"The forces of Mother Goddess."

Hitolis' Holy Power buff.

Jubeel's blade is imbued with the holy power of pure white light.

[Blessing of Radiance]

I joined in, and I cast my own Blessing of Radiance on Bernie.

[Aaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!]

I could hear Bernie's screams, but for now, I focused on the situation and swung my axe.

Zzzzzzzzzz!

Jubeel's sword sliced through the minotaur's magi stained neck, and my axe sliced through its waist.

Joy Hog soon followed.

-Thud!

The battle was over, and I drove my axe into the ground.

"We've still got a way to go to the descent portal. Maybe we should rest here for the night."

"Why don't we just rest for a while, grab what we need, and make a quick trip to the tenth floor?"

Joy Hog shook her head at my suggestion.

"I'd love to, but Hitolis and Lammel are at their wits' end. It's dangerous to move any further today, and we might run into another trap up ahead. This area seems to be trap-free, so it's a good place to rest."

Clerics and mages have lower stamina than the main combatants, and when their stamina drops, the entire party's performance suffers.

Going forward with less than full stamina and conditioning could put the party in greater danger than I had imagined.

The leader of the party is Joy Hog and she spoke reasonably and convincingly.

Still, there was a nagging feeling in the pit of my stomach, probably because I was worried about Ellie.

"I see, I was being overly ambitious."

"It's okay. It's the owner's daughter, I get it."

Joy Hog was a fairly common-sensical and decent dwarf when she wasn't drinking.

Fortunately, she was sympathetic.

Afterward, the party butchered the minotaur's carcass, stripped it of its most profitable parts, and prepared to set up shop.

"Ugh. It's the ninth floor after all. Good quality minotaur hide, huh?"

"Four of them were burned to a crisp, but I guess they're still a little salty. As expected, the pay is different when you get close to the middle class."

I looked around at Joy Hog and Jubeel cleaning up the byproducts, Lammel preparing a quick meal, and Hitolis tending to Ellie, then back at Bernie.

'After the fifth floor, and again on the sixth, there's a monster with magi.'

The frequency of encounters was similar to the previous labyrinth, but there was one oddity.

During this labyrinth exploration, I have not once seen a monster with magi below the 5th floor.

Is that really a coincidence?

[You've fallen into this state, so you've influenced the labyrinth in some way, haven't you? Huh?]

Tsk!

[Keuhieeeeet?!]

I wiped the blood from the blade of my axe and slapped the golden ornament with my blessed hand, making it vibrate and let out a low moan.

With Gluttony slain, no magi monsters will appear below the fifth floor.

Though it was only speculation at the moment, it was quite plausible.

'Idelbert said that she would reveal the secrets of the Labyrinth to me when I become a top-tier Intermediate explorer, so I should be able to get answers to many questions then.'

So for now, let's just worry about growing to a higher realm.

"A vibrating axe. That's interesting."

"Might be useful."

Each of the party members looked at the axe in admiration.

Certainly, it's not as majestic as it looks.

"Isn't it cool, she's shy even though she looks like this."

-Taaaaah!

[Hiiiit...!]

I flicked the gold ornament so they could get a better look at Bernie.

[...Hooh, you stupid, foolish bastard... Heheh... Hooh, you'll regret it, blood, mortal subject... How dare you use this body like a lowly whore...!]

Hoooooooo!

[Hooooooong?!]

"Oooh. Balkan, you're touching it so hard."

"...What is it? Why is water actually coming out of the axe blade?"

"Hmm. A substitute for drinking water? That's a great feature. I won't have to worry about dying of thirst in the Labyrinth."

[...]

After a reasonable amount of deliberation, I put the stunned Bernie back on my back.

We ate a light meal and retired to bed.

Except for Ellie, I was the first one to go to bed, and I woke up according to my usual routine.

"Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo."

After a night's rest, the other party members recovered, but Ellie's condition worsened.

"Heh, heh, heh."

With her mouth open in a daze, Ellie reached out and flicked her nipple with her own hand.

Koooooowwww!

"Huh?! Hiiit?!"

With a powerful splash, her skirt rose slightly and then sank.

Even Jubeel was frightened, and the hand of a misguided genius was upon her.

The results were plain to see.

Overnight, Ellie's skirt had soaked through and had already faded.

I swallowed hard and walked over to the disheveled woman.

"...Ellie. Are you okay, are you awake?"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."

"How many fingers do you see?"

I held up one finger in front of Ellie and waved it.

"Oppa's dick...? Uhhhh."

He seemed to be losing his mind.

Ellie's eyes narrowed as she realized the embarrassment of her absurd answer.

She pressed her wizard hat down tightly to hide her face.

"Do you think you can hold out?"

"I can stand it... I'm sorry for being a burden..."

Ellie replied, tightening her grip on the hand that was unconsciously moving to her nipple.

"It's okay, it's not a party that's going to collapse because you're a burden, just relax."

She seemed sad that she had caused trouble to the party, so I patted her on the head to tell her not to worry.

"Heeeeeeeee?!"

Ellie's whole body shook, and she cried out.

"..."

I looked at Ellie's condition, which was worse than I could have imagined.

Ellie again received the miracle of sexual abstinence from Hitolis.

We resumed our trek back up the ninth floor, and after half a day of traveling, we reached the end of the floor.

We found a portal to the tenth floor, but Ellie was too foggy to take a magic sample.

"Joy Hog. Hold on."

I called Joy Hog over to talk to her separately.

"...What do you mean, if you go to the tenth floor, you might pass out for a while?"

She looked at me with a questioning look on her face.

When I had reached the 5th floor through the transition trap, I had been knocked unconscious and passed out.

The tenth floor is a multiple of five, the second floor after the fifth.

It's a place that [the one wrapped in light] told me was dangerous.

There, I didn't know what else could happen to me but it's good to be insured against anything.

"It's a bit complicated to explain. It's not that I don't want to, I just don't know where to start."

"...Hmm. The multiples of 5 can be skipped with the fountain scroll, so that shouldn't be a problem. Got it."

Joy Hog nodded, unperturbed by what might have seemed like a questionable statement.

The trust we built up over time had paid off.

It was nice to have a trusted party in times like this.

"Come on, then."

Holding onto each other to keep from falling, we stepped through the descent portal to the tenth floor.

-Whoosh.

With a slight feeling of floating.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

At a speed barely perceptible to me, a tremendous impact hit my body.

"Kahak?!"

"What, what, Balkan..."

The party members' voices quickly faded away.

In an instant, my entire body relaxed.

-Kudududud. Dududududud.

Unusual sounds came from my joints, muscles, etc.

"Ugh!"

Along with tremendous pain, enough to send my consciousness flying.

I desperately clung to my fading consciousness and through the unexpected pain, I quickly scanned my surroundings and racked my brain to assess the situation.

'There are no enemies around.'

That meant I wasn't being attacked from the outside.

In other words, something was happening inside my body.

"..."

I collapsed, unable to scream, and stifled the vomit that was about to rise.

[???'s blessings respond to your growth.]

[Reorganizing your body to be more efficient.]

An unfamiliar phrase flashed before my eyes.

Chapter 128: The 12th floor (4)

I stared blankly at the words in front of me.

Reorganizing my body to be more efficient?

The meaning of the sentence was immediately obvious.

Ding. Tut-tut-tut!

"Crunch!"

It feels like my body is being torn apart alive.

Muscle fibers, cartilage, bones, blood vessels, and even nerves.

It feels like everything that was slightly twisted and distorted is being put back into place one by one.

Over the course of our lives, we accumulate incorrect postures, behaviors, and habits that slowly break down our bodies.

However, no one is able to observe them completely and obsessively.

The pain that comes from the accumulation of these little things doesn't show up right away.

They accumulate and accumulate over a long period of time, interfering at the most crucial moments.

Tsk. Tsk, tsk, tsk!

And the "body reorganization" that is happening to me now, it feels like my body that was about to collapse is being forcibly torn apart prematurely.

Literally, my body is being reorganized to be more efficient…but the touch was not gentle at all.

It was like, 'Fuck. I should just pass out!'

This is what it feels like when your body is on fire from the inside.

Every time my muscle fibers regenerated correctly, every time my bones and nerves aligned, my body burned from the inside.

"Jubeel! Move the fountain, scroll-"

"It's already torn! Come on-"

I heard the urgent voices of my party members.

Soon, I felt like I was drowning.

I had fallen into the healing waters of the 10th Floor Fountain.

As I quickly gulped down the water, the burning pain gradually diminished.

I was out of pain for now.

As I bathed in the healing water, relieved, my earlier speculation came back to me.

Upon entering the multiplier of 5 floors and touching the fountain for the first time I might be able to meet [the Light-Bathed One]

***

Thrrrr-

Someone stroked my head gently.

[You've worked hard.]

A tickling, wistful touch.

A warm, nostalgic touch.

My heart melts at the words, "You've worked hard."

At the same time, my mind became clearer and clearer.

As soon as I opened my eyes, I saw a woman bathed in a dazzling light.

[You're already on the tenth floor.]

I could hear the woman's voice clearly, whereas before it had been muffled by noise.

The more I enter this mysterious space, the more the censorship is lifted.

I asked in a slightly subdued voice.

"Who the hell are you?"

-Hush.

The woman brought her index finger, wrapped in light, to my lips.

With her other hand, she pointed to the sky.

At that touch, I spontaneously lifted my head and looked up.

Outside the cage of light in which the woman and I were seated, there were all sorts of unwelcoming energies.

They were very similar to Magi, and they were radiating a sinister energy toward this cage.

[There is much more I wish to tell you, but there is much more I cannot tell you at this time, I'm sorry.]

I nodded slowly at the woman's words.

The warning the woman gave me last time was that the 5th floor is dangerous.

With those words, this cage nearly collapsed in on itself.

Who are you, why did you contact me, why are you helping me, and so on…

There were so many questions I wanted to ask, but I held my tongue.

I knew enough from her behavior to realize that she was trying to help me in some way.

[Time. Write. Twice. Chance. Ask.]

Is there a limit to the number of sentences she can say?

The woman's words were extremely short, but I interpreted them appropriately.

'Does it mean I have two chances to ask something?'

Perhaps, the things I was just thinking about wouldn't be answered if I asked.

If so, I needed an answer that would turn my immediate speculation into certainty.

After some thought, I decided on a question to ask the woman.

"Is the condition for meeting you, to enter the multiplier of 5 floors for the first time and touch the fountain?"

"For now. That's all."

The woman nodded.

The reason she'd added the word 'now' was obvious.

Just before being eaten by Gluttony, the woman told me there were no more miracles left.

There were other ways to make contact besides reaching the fountain, but I guess that means I've exhausted all of those opportunities now.

On the 5th and 10th floors, I had already come into contact with the fountain and met the woman.

15th floor, 20th floor, 25th floor, 30th floor.

If I continue exploring the Labyrinth, I have four more chances to meet the woman.

And for me, I needed motivation to continue meeting her.

Should I say it or not?

It's a question I shouldn't have to ask now, but I felt like it would be a relief.

After a long hesitation, I opened my mouth.

"Are you, are you related to my sister?"

The woman's body shuddered at my words.

The light that enveloped her wavered slightly.

In that split second, the corners of the woman's mouth, which had been shrouded by the light, turned up ever so slightly.

A smile.

She was smiling, very faintly.

[Curious?]

I was half-assured by the woman's question.

This mysterious woman was somehow related to my sister.

"Yes. I'm curious."

My sister's whereabouts was the most important thing I wanted to know right now, and the biggest reason for entering this dangerous labyrinth.

"It's the most important thing to me."

The woman's smile deepened a little more at my answer.

Sigh.

She moved closer to me, inch by inch.

Kaang! Kaang!

A violent force from outside struck the cage of light.

But the woman didn't even pay attention to it, her eyes only on me.

Thrust.

The woman's arms, enveloped in light, wrapped around my neck.

I didn't resist.

-Kwuuk.

A light embrace.

My tense mind relaxed, and a warmth akin to holy power seeped into my body.

After holding me tightly for a moment, the woman whispered softly in my ear.

"Come to the depths of the Labyrinth."

Her hot breath mingled with my desperate pleas.

"Then, you will have what you desire most."

Immediately after she said that she hugged me as if to crush my body.

"Ugh?!"

The woman, suddenly stronger, muttered in a frosty voice.

"And woman. Don't have too many—"

The woman tried to say something, but her voice was no longer audible.

Sighing heavily, she wordlessly hugged me tightly once more, then gently pulled away as if to say goodbye.

Or, as if she hoped I'd come back for more.

The woman waved at me.

With that, my consciousness returned to the fountain.

***

"Balkan, wake up!"

I opened my eyes once more, and Joy Hog was in my face.

"Shit. Hmmm. Sorry."

I don't know about Zirnier, the half-dwarf, but I can't stand the sight of Joy Hog's face up close.

When I regained my senses, I took stock of my surroundings.

Ellie was lying next to me.

No longer masturbating her nipples, she was relaxed and soaking in the healing waters of the fountain.

Hitolis gave me a brief update on Ellie's condition.

"She's doing much better, and the healing water has washed away most of the aphrodisiac."

"So, she's fine now?"

"Mm... but she's been infected by the aphrodisiac for two days, so there might be some lingering side effects if she's unlucky... but she should be fine for now."

It wasn't long after Hitolis' explanation that Ellie opened her eyes.

"Ah... here...?"

Apparently, her memory of the time she was infected by the aphrodisiac was fuzzy.

We explained to her what was going on.

Of course, we didn't mention the frantic nipple-slapping and sneaky masturbation in the middle of the night.

It was too gruesome a story for a young Ellie to handle.

"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay. It's okay."

"It's admirable that you didn't rape a passing man."

The party accepted Ellie's apology.

Being the closest to a woman's primal instincts, they were more forgiving of her mistake.

Now that Ellie had recovered and was rested, there was no reason to linger at the fountain.

The party packed up again and prepared to head to the eleventh floor.

From the 11th floor onward, the floors are seasonal.

The 11th floor is fall and the 12th floor is winter.

It made more sense to bundle up and cross the descent portal ahead of time.

Ta-da!

I hopped from the fountain to dry off my leather armor and put on my winter gear.

The water-soaked leather armor was quite heavy.

I'm going to have a hard time managing this.

As I casually rummaged through my subspace backpack for a change of clothes, I felt a strange gaze upon me.

"..."

"..."

Ellie and the rest of the party stared at me blankly.

"Why? What's wrong?"

"...Uhhhh."

Ellie looked up at me, confused.

"Oppa. You look like you're ... taller?"

"...I'm taller?"

I shook my head at Ellie's words, and then felt a twinge of discomfort as my body shifted.

Sure enough, my vision was a little higher.

Maybe three centimeters?

My height wasn't the only thing that had changed.

My movements are much lighter.

My limbs are more elastic, and my movements are strangely more natural.

Boom!

I swung the artifact axe in the air to test it out, and the motion was cleaner than before.

Looking at my forearms, the muscles seem to have changed shape slightly but not in a bad way.

It feels more aesthetically pleasing and more functional at the same time.

There's no change in the status window, but overall, the body's functionality has increased.

I sneakily turn around and look at my lower half.

'...Thicker.'

Even without an erection, it had gained a bit more length and girth.

'Is this the effect of the body realignment?'

Something similar happened on the fifth floor, but maybe I didn't notice because my growth was small.

'This is... good.'

Isn't this practically free body realignment?

I still don't know exactly what to make of the question mark blessing, but I have to take what I can get.

'Serif said she'd tell me about the blessing someday.'

As I felt today, it was definitely a blessing that helped me.

"Somehow, it feels like your body has become more arousing."

"As if your body was made by God ..."

"That's blasphemy, that God made such an erotic body. If God's taste is that kind of body, isn't he just a rug wannabe female?"

"That, don't say that, Jubeel. It's really blasphemy..."

"I, please don't say such bad things to my oppa."

"Honestly, it's factual..."

As I listened to the party members stare at my body and chatter, I donned a cold-weather suit made from the skin and fur of a winter bear.

'Winters in the Labyrinth are cold.'

If I was going to survive, I had to be prepared.

I stared alone at the descent portal to the eleventh floor.

-Come to the depths of the Labyrinth.

I could still hear the woman's voice in my ears, her breath hot and sharp.

-Yes, you'll get what you want most.

The Abyss of the Labyrinth…deep, deep underground, filled with evil and darkness.

I have a clue to find my sister.

-Kaaaah!

My clenched hands shook uncontrollably.

The joy of finally finding a clue to my sister soon became the fuel that set my body on fire.

"Just a little longer."

I'll find her, I promise. 

Chapter 129: The 12th floor (5)

A chill ran across my cheek.

It felt as if I had been cut by a blade.

Beyond the 11th floor of the fall was the 12th floor where winter reigned and it was a snowfield.

Ellie stared at it, mesmerized by the majestic sight before her.

Indeed. The Labyrinth is mysterious.

Bony undead and bull monsters lurked in the dank marshes.

Small, green demons dwell in cold, dreary caves.

Mysterious portals beyond the current magical understanding of mankind, and a variety of traps that could hardly have been created by humans…all of it felt so foreign to Ellie.

At the same time, it was also incomparably intriguing.

Carefully, Ellie touched the potion vial strapped to her belt.

She gazed at the portal magic that filled it.

'I wonder if I can solve this mystery.'

As she turned her head absentmindedly, she saw a figure being hit by the sharp wind like a blade.

He had a broad, massive back, supporting a massive axe.

The man with the strong back asked her to do him a favor.

'Can you reveal the secrets of the Labyrinth and study the Portal?'

'It's not whether I can.'

Ellie shook her head.

'I must.'

No need for uncertain assumptions.

Even if it takes months or years, the inscrutable phenomenon of the portal would be deciphered for the sake of the man who had smiled and stroked her hair that day.

Ellie's gaze naturally turned to him.

As he passed the 10th floor, his already tall height grew even bigger, so Ellie had to look up at him for a long time.

Every time her eyes traced his body, her heart pounded a little faster.

His already perfect body became more artistic.

What female wouldn't blush at the sight of such a truly masculine body? Ellie wasn't sure.

At least her heart was beating like crazy now.

Just the thought of him made her body heat up and her nipples stand erect, a side effect of the aphrodisiac.

His gaze, however, was blank.

Ever since he crossed the tenth floor, he seemed to be looking somewhere else.

Suh-

Such thoughts were quickly blown away by the bitter cold of the snowy field.

He took a step forward, and the rest of the party naturally followed.

Ellie, fists clenched tightly, quickly followed behind him.

***

~The 12th Floor~

They've heard stories from some of the mid-level explorers who come and go from Diana's tavern, but they can't judge the labyrinth based on those stories.

"Is this… the entrance to the middle floors?"

"It's bigger than I imagined."

The first thing they noticed was the majestic scenery.

The first through eleventh floors were also spacious, but that's just the total distance.

Even though there were dangers such as mazes and traps, they had a strong feeling of following the 'wide cave' while exploring.

The 12th floor, the middle floor, was a different story.

The surroundings are wide open, with no cave walls to restrict your view and behavior.

Most importantly, there is no 'ceiling'.

"Is that the sky?"

A blue sky filled with clouds came into view and there's even a sun.

It was a view they couldn't see on the previous floors, where the ceiling was blocked.

"What kind of principle makes that possible...?"

"If we knew that, we would have been labyrinth scholars. Would we have been rolling around as explorers?"

"That makes fucking sense."

It was like playing a side-scrolling game and then playing a massive open-world game.

There was so much more to care about.

Joy Hog, our guide, pulled a map out of her backpack.

The map was quite large…something that big would be hard to carry.

An artifact map would have been handy, but the floors were so massive that we'd have to buy our own.

As with anything with the word "exclusive" on it, it was going to cost a lot of money, and our party didn't have the funds for such an expensive item.

"Got it. Tsk. We're a long way from this portal, all the way out in the middle of nowhere."

It was disappointing news, but not the kind of news that makes us want to hit the ground and mourn.

We'd be entering labyrinths dozens of times, falling through floors hundreds of times.

You can't be an explorer if you sweat the small stuff.

"This is the first time we're exploring the middle floors properly, so we'll be as cautious as possible."

"Good. It never hurts to be cautious."

The party nods at the simple suggestion.

The environment has changed, but the task remains the same.

Be wary of the dangers around you, and make your way through the labyrinth without dying.

"Since we're on the outskirts, why don't we harvest some winter saplings and winter flowers?"

Joy Hog chuckles as she pulls out the request form.

It's always a shame to leave out something that pays the bills.

Making money is the primary goal of most explorers.

For me, it's a close second. I've invested a lot in equipment, and I need to make money again.

"Great! We can sell Winter Saplings in the market at the price of 30 silver for five bundles."

"Winter Saplings are used in black magic and command spells to raise corpses, and winter flowers are also in high demand for their ability to make your dick cold and allow for unusual play."

"Hmph, that would be a good trade!"

There are many winter trees on the outskirts of Tier 12.

They are native to the area, so we should be able to find quality winter saplings and winter flowers.

We have a rough plan for our exploration.

We'll walk up and around the outskirts, looking for winter saplings and flowers.

With a plan in place, there was no reason to stand still.

The party set off on their way.

***

-Swoosh. Swoosh.

Our footprints carved into the fresh snow, and soon we were on the outskirts of a clearing of winter trees.

Winter trees were different from ordinary trees.

They were not green and brown, but clear and blue, like the midwinter sky.

The trees were tall enough to tower over me, but they didn't obstruct my view too much because of their midwinter appearance.

"Even if we cut them down, we can't carry something that big. Smaller ones are more marketable."

We worked in groups to find the smaller saplings.

We'd be more efficient if we split up, but this is a labyrinth.

If we were to be attacked by a monster while scattered, we'd be torn apart.

Footprints were imprinted in the snow.

There are even footprints on the 12th floor.

Since no one has reached the state of 'stepping on snow without leaving a trace,' it is impossible to erase traces perfectly.

The more we stick together, the better our chances of survival.

"Found it! Winter flower!"

"There's a sapling to the east, too."

Jubeel and I shouted at the same time.

It wasn't hard to find, as there were plenty of people to check in different places.

"This little tree is worth six silver coins."

We carefully cleared the snow around the tree and dug with Bernie.

[Ew! How dare you use my body for digging!]

I ignored Bernie's comment and focused on the task at hand.

Those who have dug in the winter know how cold it is. They know how cold the ground is in winter.

-Kaang! Kaang!

"Damn it. It won't work with a sword."

Jubeel, who was beside me, helping me dig with her sword, clicked her tongue.

It's almost glacial at this point.

I swung my oversized axe in silence.

-Pow!

Bernie glided smoothly over the frozen ground.

In just four strokes, I was able to pull the sapling completely out of the ground.

"What kind of power is ...?"

"Well, the weapon is good."

"If it were all about the weapon, everyone would have stolen an incredible sword and lived off it. It's just that you're like a monster. A body that's not only enticing but also vicious. That's scary."

Jubeel stuck her tongue out at me as he casually scanned my body.

Certainly, my physical prowess, which was already excellent after my physical realignment on the tenth floor, was even better.

I carried Bernie on my back with one hand. Now I can swing Bernie around easily with one hand.

"I'll put the seedlings in my backpack."

"Thanks. The subspace backpack is definitely more comfortable!"

Everyone has a lot of stuff in their backpacks, so I put the seedlings in my subspace backpack.

Considering the convenience of storage and the possibility of damaging the goods, it was the right decision.

"Oppa. Here's a winter flower."

Ellie picked a winter flower that could make the cock cold and brought it to me.

"Yep. Thanks for the trouble. Give it to me."

I took the flowers from Ellie and took stock of her appearance.

She was in her school uniform, wearing a thick fur coat, thick socks, and long winter boots.

'You're going to smell like sweat when you take it off.'

No, Ellie's face was not greasy after a week in the Labyrinth. As an elf, she would smell like grass.

But apart from that, her bare elven ears and cheeks were flushed red.

"Are you cold?"

It wasn't just Ellie; the rest of the party was chilled to the bone.

No matter how much winter gear and tools they wore, unless they brought artifact or relic-level equipment, they couldn't fully withstand the cold of the 12th floor.

Of course, that wasn't the case for me.

-Whoosh.

The chilly wind that had been blowing at me was instantly pushed back.

Because the miracle of warmth I received from Serif was working properly, I didn't feel cold right now.

Ellie shook her head, a tongue-in-cheek remark, but she didn't care.

"Oh, no!"

Ellie exclaimed, and produced a small flame in her hand.

"I can melt it with a tiny fireball..."

"...Crazy, how is that possible..."

Looking at Ellie, the harpy mage Lammel was silently amazed.

Apparently it was not a normal skill.

The party spent the next four hours walking the outskirts, harvesting winter seedlings and flowers.

"Seven saplings and three flowers?"

The saplings alone are worth 42 silver coins. The flowers are slightly less expensive than the saplings, costing two silver coins per flower, for a total of 48 silver coins.

We're lucky, we've earned half a gold coin in just four hours.

"Crazy!"

"Is this why everyone is gritting their teeth and trying to become a top explorer?"

"It's different. It's different."

Everyone's mouths dropped open at the enormous amount of money.

Suddenly, I remembered the time I explored the labyrinth with Grumpy.

In our second trip through the labyrinth, we had risked everything to get five silver coins.

Now we have nearly ten times that amount.

'I wonder what she's doing now.'

I was just curious because she had a lot of potential but suddenly fell off.

I peeked into her status window for the first time in a while.

[Bonded Slave: Denshi LV.31]

TLN: Denshi is her real name, while Kachil is the name she used as a slave and the MC calls her Grumpy.

The slave contract was still in place.

I was about to close the status window when I realized that it was still open.

[Denshi Lv.31]

[Stamina:(7) Strength:(10+2) Dexterity:(21+15) Wisdom:(2+10) Finesse:(7)]

[Blessings and Curses currently possessed by Denshi: 3]

[◆ Curse of the 30th Puppet]

"What?"

I look at the details of the status window.

Even the stat distribution is crazy.

Until now, I was far away so I could only see her name and level.

"...What?"

I looked around quickly.

The status window in front of me meant only one thing.

'Grumpy is nearby.'

Not too far away!

-Aaaahhhhhhhhhh!

As soon as I realized that, I heard a sound that ripped through the air.

-Kaang!

I quickly drew Bernie and parried the arrow.

A heavy vibration traveled through the axe.

This was no ordinary arrow.

I immediately activated my perception and glared at the direction the arrow came from.

"Cheruk. Cheruk."

A white-skinned monster with a hobgoblin-like appearance held a pure white bow in its hand.

"Chhhhhh."

The creature stood atop a winter tree, sneering down at me.

"Who's that?"

"It's a snow kobold!!! All hands, prepare for battle!"

Joy Hog, realizing the situation, shouted urgently to the party.

-Thump!

The party instantly readied their weapons.

I grabbed my axe again.

I've finally located Grumpy and there's no time to be tied down by those guys.

'Did the party members call Bernie, Bernion?'

The giant woodcutter, there's never been a better time for that nickname.

The snowy kobold has strung up her bow.

-Squeak.

I grabbed Bernie and prepared to pounce.

[Huh…?! Yes, you…! Be a little more gentle!]

I hear Bernie's whining in my head, and I tighten my grip on the oversized axe.

Ziying-!

As I aimed at the target, a crosshair appeared, like the scope of a sniper rifle.

The crosshairs darted in and out of my vision.

-Clang.

It floated in the corner of the ice tree's base.

That was the magical effects of Weakness Detection and that's where the ice tree's weakness is.

As the snowy kobold's arrow left the bowstring, I sprinted and swung my axe.

-Kaaaaaaaa!

The face of the snowy kobold perched on the treetop turned in horror as the giant ice tree began to tilt in an instant.