Dungeon Sherpa

Two days have passed since the outbreak of the Labyrinth Collapse, Yuika, Nuuk, and Magikan, the 3 of them were in the midst of extreme exhaustion and irritability. 

　After the fierce battle with the Lich, they had dashed around the 50th Floor almost entirely without sleep. 

　They had already discovered the spiral path connecting the floors as well as the Dungeon Oasis, secured a base and a path of retreat, but until now had still not yet discovered Rowe and Berii. 

“…Nuuk, which way?”

　Stopped at a passageway, Yuika asked.

　In front of them were 3 separate paths.

　Nuuk’s “Enemy Search” was literally a Gift that searches for the enemies’ — monsters’ Demonic Spirit. Its usefulness was placed among the top 5 best support Gifts. However, the unfortunate thing was that it could not search for missing comrades. 

　In the lead, Nuuk’s spine chilled and he was in cold sweat. 

　Pressing his back as though burning him was a smouldering Divine Spirit. 

　Asking which path put him in a tough spot, but he was in a situation where he couldn’t just answer that he didn’t know. 

“Right path, let’s go.”

　Without even looking back, Nuuk made a decision, but after progressing for a while–

“…We have come to a dead end.”

　After quickly turning, he saw a floating Sage. 

　His cane was hooked to the collarbone of one the numerous Skeleton Soldiers that had been summoned. 

　On his face appeared something that looked like a smile, but his body was clad in a Divine Spirit that conveyed the exact opposite of the shown in his expression. This one was like a bed of nails, a prickly Divine Spirit. 

“My, my apologies”

　Yuika, next to him, had clear eye bags under her eyes, and blankly stared at him. 

“Why apologise. It’s not really your bad, right?”

“That is true. The path, you only made a mistake, did you not?”

　With a mask-like smile, Magikan laughed as though teasing him. 

　Heavy Divine Spirit and sharp Divine Spirit. 

　Nuuk gulped and swallowed his saliva.

“Let’s, let’s return.”

　–How did it come to this.

　After the Labyrinth Collapse settled, when they had first started searching for Rowe and Berii, these comrades were still hoping for their safety, trusting and encouraging each other. 

　However, after about half a day, Yuika, and then Magikan began to lose their temper.

　For one, the lover, for the other, the daughter, whose lives were hanging on the edge, so it was more natural than natural. Conversations were cut short, occasionally tongues started clicking. During battles, they mainly brute forced their way through, and they no longer cooperated. 

　Nuuk also had hopes for the pair’s safety. 

　Berii was the frank type, and though she sometimes failed in public relations work, her ability as an Adventurer was top notch. Among these members who prioritised rationality, she was the only one who showed her naivety and selfishness, contributing to livening the atmosphere within the party — although her recent words and actions were somewhat dubious. 

　Above all, the extent of her adoration towards Yuika did not lose out to anyone.  

　She was the perfect person to entrust the role of Yuika’s escort, not only in the labyrinths, but also in her private time.

　And Rowe had the great achievement of saving Yuika’s life in the previous exploration. 

　There could be no doubt that he was an excellent Sherpa, and the terrifying Gift that he possessed had become an indispensable part of “Twilight’s Sword’s” labyrinth challenge. 

　Regarding his relationship with Yuika… honestly, it was quite problematic, but as long as they kept it in moderation, it could be tolerated to a certain extent. 

　At least, until Tyros Labyrinth was cleared, he could be thought of as a very necessary element for the party.

　He also seemed to be raising his young sister, so it would be desirable for him to return safely. 

　……and along with that rucksack. 

　This pragmatic way of thinking was not too good. 

‘For the sake of returning to the surface, we require Rowe’s luggage’.

　I had carelessly ended up letting that come out from my mouth. 

　Yuika, who normally should have been good at separating her reason and emotions, ended up questioning me with a voice that sounded like she was trying to suppress her anger. 

“Even if Darling isn’t safe, as long as the luggage comes back… you mean?’

　I did not say that. 

　Even with food and potions, it would be nearly impossible to escape from these layers without a Sherpa. When I emphasised that I truly wanted Rowe to be safe, next was then Magikan, who spoke after a dry laugh. 

“Ho ho. Then, will my little girl not be coming along?”

　I did not say that. 

　After that, Nuuk controlled himself as best as he could from idle chatter, and while feeling a dull pain in his stomach, decided to devote himself fully to searching for them.

　Although it definitely wouldn’t come from his mouth, Nuuk was prepared to acknowledge that their survival was already hopeless. 

　If only about half a day, or in other words, if they had miraculously gone without encountering any monsters, they might have still been able to safely pass through this ordeal. 

　However, two full days had already gone by. Given the density of monsters residing on this floor, it was definitely impossible. Targeted by a crowd of monsters, and likely unable to properly resist…

　No, there was no meaning in such imagining. 

　Either way, they couldn’t return to the surface without searching for Rowe, Berii, and the luggage. 

“Monsters. Probably 3.”

　The information he conveyed to my comrades was unexpectedly wrong.

　In the middle of the passageway stood a huge beast obstructing the way. 

　There was only a single monster — however, there were 3 heads attached to the body. 

　Body size similar to a cow, ferocious fangs that surpassed a lion’s. Bright red eyes, occasionally releasing flames. 

　Nuuk turned the pages of the Monster Book in his mind. 

　This monster also known as the “Guard Dog of Hell”, possessed the same Gift as Salamanders, [Artillery]. Moreover, it could launch them from its 3 heads at the same time, forming a whirlpool of intense flames, at a temperature enough to melt even iron. 

“Black Princess! That guy is a Cer–“

“’Lichy’, do it.”

　Following Yuika’s orders, the Lich behind skillfully used the fingers of both hands to draw a magic formation at high speed. 

“’Bottomless Swamp’…”

　The 3-headed monster, who felt the danger, tried to leap but was unsuccessful. 

　At the same time an oval magic formation floated around its feet, suddenly, the ground had liquified. 

　A dense mist-like black smoke blew, forming a dark coloured swamp. 

　Panicking, struggling, suffering, the monster somehow managed to put its front feet on the edge of the swamp, but Yuika kicked it off.

　She then further stepped on the centre head, and pressed down her weight. 

　Unable to even respond with [Artillery], while staring at Yuika, the 3-headed beast sank into the swamp of darkness.

　As though nothing had happened, Yuika and Magikan carried on moving.

“…Cerberus, that was.”

　The one that responded to Nuuk’s pathetic murmurs was not a human, but only “Lichy”, the Lich. 

　Perhaps a delusion, he or maybe she, as though empathizing with Nuuk’s emotions, nodded.