Deeper and Deeper

Rumors about the labyrinth have been passed down since ancient times.

They say a legendary monster lives there, or that vast riches lie buried inside... or that an artifact with special powers is hidden within...!

Amazing, Princess!

So there might be a relic there.

Maybe. The information we obtained had that sort of feel to it...

Hmph. Getting excited about going somewhere dark and musty. Do you really think relics are that easy to find?

We don't know, so we're going to check. It'd be nice if we found a clue about the Holy Sword too.

In any case, prepare yourselves. The labyrinth is more terrifying than any ruins or dungeon.

Eek! Arrows are raining down!

A-A boulder is rolling this way, Princess!

Whoa... Traps everywhere, right from the entrance. This is way more impressive than I expected.

Ethan, you somehow look happy...?

I wouldn't say happy, but it is interesting. I used to have a bit of a dream about labyrinths like this.

Still, this is reality, so we'd better be careful. Don't touch anything carelessly, and let's move slowly.

I-I'm here, so it'll be all right! I'll do something somehow.

More importantly, shall we eat before we move on? I'm starting to get hungry.

...Hey, it has only been an hour since we ate our boxed lunches.

I need to eat more to recover my strength... Huh?!

Mushrooms! There are mushrooms here! Woohoohoo!

Hey! I just said we should be careful! Besides, those are so colorful they're obviously poisonous...

Nonsense! If I eat them and digest them, that'll solve everything! Nom nom!

Where did the person who told us to brace ourselves go...?

Haa... I barely survived. Still a long way to go, though.

You seem to be all right.

Y-Yeah...? Were they not poisonous mushrooms?

L-Let me have some too...

...! This tastes better than I thought!

What? No way...

So there were some unexpectedly safe ones too... I'll take some as food.

I'll help you.

Ah! There's a well!

I was thirsty after eating those mushrooms. Perfect timing.

Mm!

Haa... It feels like my fatigue is melting away.

Yeah. Let's fill up some water too.

...Wait!

Yes?

The mushrooms were fine. Maybe that was exactly why a polluted well showed up next.

We can't let our guard down here. Let's not drink this water.

Hmph. How needlessly cautious. Don't regret it later.

Should we look for another path?

We only have so much time. Besides, look at that... One of the three is definitely a device that opens the way.

Take this! The red one must be the real thing!

Hyaaaah!! H-Hot! It's hot, you single-celled squid! Aaaah!!

Whew, that was tense.

Stop making that perverted face and get moving.

Let's see, what about this one...

...Gyaaaagh!!!

E-Ethan?!

Be careful, Princess! It's enchanted with lightning magic...!

The request was to explore the labyrinth and uncover what was going on inside... but after barely getting past one floor, I already feel exhausted.

I know...

Ethan! Goblins!

Yeah... Of course there are...

M-Monsters too?! What do we do now?

Where did the person who said she'd do something somehow go...?

Ugh... I'm tired...

What are you talking about? We just started. Stop whining and get up!

Did you hear that? There was a scream from deeper inside...!

Could it be another adventurer party? I heard many adventurers have been coming here since this entrance was discovered.

What is everyone thinking? No matter how curious you are... this is the labyrinth!

Let's hurry and save them!

Oh, please... Save me too. I'm dying.

We can't rest here, Morgana. Stop sounding like an old lady and hang in there a little longer.

Let's rest when we reach somewhere with water, Morgana.

I'll pick lots of mushrooms for you! Please hang in there...!

Urgh...

...Fine, so stop staring at me. Your kindness feels especially burdensome today.

I-It's a golden goblin!

Whoa... It's bright enough that we don't need a lantern. How much could we make if we sold that thing?

What? Sell it? Not defeat it?

Obviously I mean after we defeat it. Look, it's loaded with treasure!

E-Ethan, your eyes are sparkling far too much...

Snap out of it!

Huh...?

Take this!

Morgana? I... What just happened to me? I spaced out for a second.

You looked even stupider than usual. Obviously, the treasure bewitched you.

They say you shouldn't take just anything out of the labyrinth. Some people are bewitched by treasure and wander forever.

Ah! The golden goblin is glaring at us!

An attack is coming! Dodge!

So there are things we can take out, and things we can't...

That could have been terrible if we'd been bewitched...

There's a small lake up ahead. Let's rest there.

There really is water here! I can't believe there's such a spacious area inside the labyrinth...

Whew... This place is no joke. And it goes even deeper below...

It wouldn't be a labyrinth otherwise. The maze must be no ordinary one either.

How did this place even come to be? It's too huge to seem man-made...

Who knows? Ancient times had all sorts of beings.

Still, we're lucky to have Bedi with us. The power of the World Tree can guide us down the right path too.

I-I'm embarrassed, Princess... All I can really do is find traces of mana...

Mushrooms, mushrooms.

Why has she turned into a mushroom addict?

Because this is all there is to eat.

Don't talk like that was always the case. You're the one who ate all the boxed lunches.

As long as we don't get lost in the maze, we should be able to finish the exploration up to the expected point safely. Let's hurry and get back.

Hmph. What kind of fool gets lost in a labyrinth?

We must not let our guard down. Each floor here is incredibly vast.

The information delivered to the Adventurers' Guild mentioned floor 30. We're on floor 22 now. There's not much left!

But Ria said they found a route down to floor 50.

Right. That's why I'm expecting a relic. You saw the map, didn't you?

If we can just get that far... that will probably be the end.

Wait a moment! Are you telling me to go that deep while eating nothing but mushrooms?

That's why I said...!

...Huh?

Uh...?

M-Masteeer!

Waaah!

E-Ethan! That person is...

Ah, well... How do I put this...

Palamedes?!

Honestly! Palamedes! How can you run off so wildly like that? Think about the people trying to keep up with you!

Oh my... There are plenty of good research materials here too.

Rita?! And Rachel too...! What is going on here?

Rita?

Ah! E-Elizabeth...!

Swordbringer. Fancy meeting you in a place like this.

I've always been interested in the monsters that exist in the labyrinth. So I came to gather materials.

It's also a good place to obtain all kinds of medicinal ingredients. Especially those mushrooms... They're used as ingredients in restorative tonics.

I see... No wonder I felt energized.

What about you, Rita? How did you get here?

I'm serving as Rachel's guard. I've been training to become a great swordswoman like Elizabeth...

Well... I have no money, so I have to take any work I can... Haa...

I suppose every party is short on funds...

It wasn't supposed to be like this! But business hasn't been great... and then I got scammed by a bad merchant... Grrr!

...Is getting scammed some kind of tradition for noble girls of Britannia?

Ugh...

Then what about Palamedes? Are you with them too?

Huh? No, Master! I met them here and started traveling with them!

Huh? Then you don't have any companions?

No!

Even though you came into the labyrinth?

Yes!

Why...?

It's a place with a vast maze and all kinds of traps. On top of that, there are plenty of monsters that can serve as training!

So I came here for exercise! I did get lost and wandered around, though...

Well, when we found her, she was covered in tears and snot. She was so clingy that we had no choice but to bring her along.

Heehee.

It's true! I survived thanks to both of you, you know? Hehe...

Haa... I'm finally full.

Goodness... You ate all of that?

As expected of Morgana...

Getting lost in a place like this. I never thought an idiot like that would actually show up.

Don't just criticize her. Give her some advice. If you're full, act like a proper adult.

Hmm... Shall I?

This Fairy Queen Morgana shall teach you. For example... this stone tablet!

It says you must never press it, right?

Y-Yes!

Most traps are this obvious. As long as you keep your head on straight, there's no way you could ever fall for one!

You pressed it...?

E-Ethan...

Ah, I'm not even surprised anymore.

Princess... Something is about to happen, so I'll hold your hand tight... Sniff...!

Bedi!

Princess!

It's great that you're looking after each other, but look after that idiot fairy too!

M-Master!

I have to look after the idiots on this side. Let's meet below!

B-Be careful, Ethan! I'll keep a close eye on Morgana so she doesn't cause another accident!

That was just a mistake!

Haa... to think I'd end up traveling with someone like you... Just don't be a nuisance.

I'm looking forward to this, Swordbringer.

Me too, Master! I'll serve you well!

...

Huh? A cat! It's a cat! Meow!

Why is there a cat in the labyrinth?

W-Wait! Don't just follow it! We need to go this way!

Ah... we're trapped.

...Palamedes?

I-I'm sorry, Master! It was so cute, I got carried away!

There's something written here... Hmm... A room you can't leave unless you make a sacrifice...?

Looks like we've fallen into an annoying trap. What are we supposed to sacrifice?

Sob... then in this place, this unworthy disciple shall...

Hey! Hey! Could you not start stripping all of a sudden?

Huh? But if it's a sacrifice, then surely... um... you have to offer something precious. I read that in a book from the Eastern Empire once...

Th-There's no way it means sacrificing something like that!

You're so noisy. Look properly! It says to choose one of the two.

You're right. Hmm... food and sleep? If you could choose only one a day, which would you pick?

You won't die just because you skip a meal. Even if we go hungry, it'd be better to reach the deepest part of the labyrinth quickly.

I agree, Master. You absolutely have to sleep, but you can endure skipping meals...!

This one's easy. Who's going to sleep here? I'll give up sleep!

Good night...

At least think about it first!

Let's decide unanimously and get out before that musclehead falls asleep.

That was a pointless waste of time. Still, at least we haven't lost our way.

It's a relief you were here, Swordbringer.

Though I don't know if our remaining food will last until we get there...

Food? Wasn't there plenty in the backpack Rachel is carrying?

Ah, this backpack is...

Maybe it's because I relaxed, but I'm starving...! Do you have something like chicken breast?

Palamedes! Wait!

I need to work out, so nothing fattening... protein! Protein! Prote...?!

Ah, she fainted.

Honestly, Palamedes... you spilled everything.

Being a monster scholar really isn't something just anyone can do...

The same goes for you, Swordbringer.

Pfft, true.

Wait.

I don't think this is the time to be chatting so loudly. Doesn't that statue... seem suspicious?

It's a goddess statue, isn't it?

...But it's strange. A goddess statue that's crying?

There's writing here...

"All who enter this path, shall you submit to fate"? Hmph, how obvious.

It means we're getting close to the deeper levels.

At a glance it looks like a warning, but it's really a sign that we found the right path. If we keep going down like this, we should arrive without trouble.

Assuming we're fine in this condition.

We just need to stay sharp. So get up now, Palamedes. It's only going to get more dangerous from here.

Mmm... Master?

It's another goddess statue!

This time it's a goddess statue in prayer.

You call it a goddess statue, but it's kind of creepy.

That's because you've got too many sins on your conscience. It's a prayer of repentance.

It probably means we should press on through the labyrinth in despair and reflect on our sins.

I-I don't have anything weighing on my conscience, you know?

Master, are there any goddess statues of working out?

As if there would be!

The demon of the labyrinth... I knew that thing would show up.

This won't be an easy opponent...

Are you scared?

N-No way! I can take down something like that just fine!

Those horns would make excellent materials. Let's catch it somehow...!

Huh?! Master! Behind it, I can see another goddess statue!

A clear sign that we're on the right path. Come on, let's go!

Understood!

Grrrrooooar!!

It looks like this is the last place.

Hmm... there might be some rumored treasure in there...

Do you think any treasure is still left?

There's a good chance. Most adventurers never made it this far.

This is the 50th floor... no, the 51st, right? Hmm... any farther than this seems dangerous.

No path beyond this has ever been found. We only planned to come this far too. Still, it'd be nice if there were a holy relic or something...

Then we should open it right away! I'll take point, Master!

Huh?! Wait! If you just open doors in a labyrinth without thinking, then...

Kyaa?! Hyaaah! Y-You can see it! Hwaaaah...!!

D-Don't move! If you move, it'll be harder to get you down!

H-How am I supposed not to move?!

R-Right! Think of it as training! Exercise! It's exercise!

E-Exercise...

...As if it is! Kyaaaah!

Hngh?! Th-The vines tangled around my body are getting tighter... ahh...!

Damn it, Rita! Rachel! Grab each side!

Hyaah?! Y-You can't pull like that! It feels weird!!

Don't move, Palamedes!

Good grief... what kind of embarrassing spectacle is this?

Ugh...!

Haa... haa... I'm gonna die...

I-I'm sorry, Master... Ugh...!

Haa, enough... Still, it looks like that released the lock.

We wasted too much time. It'll be a problem if we're late, so shall we move?

Tch... what a bust. This room feels completely hollow.

Still, making it all the way to the end of the labyrinth... that's amazing.

Ethan!

Oh, Elizabeth! You made it here safely. I guess it went pretty smoothly?

Haa, we had a really hard time... There was a suspicious cup, and Morgana drank it and got sick...

Ugh, my stomach...

...

There was a card lying face-down on the floor, and then the Princess turned it over... sob...!

B-Bedi... I couldn't help it. I was too curious.

...I can tell how rough it was without even seeing it. Still, I'm glad you made it here safely.

But... we couldn't find any holy relic or sacred treasure with special power...

But we did find silver bars and an expensive-looking mirror! That's still a decent haul.

Hmm... that's nice, but it would've been even better if there had been a holy relic.

My stomach hurts... We've done everything, so let's just go back and rest...

Even if I wanted to keep looking around, I guess that's not happening. We should withdraw from here. What are you all going to do?

I've gathered plenty of research materials, so I can head back.

Is that... a Minotaur Horn...? When did you...

While you were finding the way, Swordbringer, I quickly took it and packed it away... Hehe...!

If the client says they're going back, then of course I'm going back too.

Um... Elizabeth...!

Huh?

Next time, let's definitely go on an adventure together!

Hehe, sounds good.

So then, it's about time we...

M-Master! Ask me too!

...What about you?

I'll stay here and continue my training! If I can't find the way, then I should at least train my lower body! There are lots of stairs, after all.

I knew that's what you'd say, which is why I didn't ask...

Sheesh, whatever. Let's go back, take a nice hot bath, and get something to eat!

Huff... huff... I feel like my body has become even stronger.

If Master could see me now, I'm sure I'd be praised.

Huh? Did someone make a fire here...?