A hush filled the room, the air tense with the presence of that little box of protection. Rei Ao decided to break the awkward silence first.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Rei Ao, the one you made the deal with. This is Fujimiya Sumika, my girlfriend."
At hearing Rei Ao so openly declare her as his girlfriend, Sumika felt a surge of warmth and joy. It meant she wouldn't need to hide their relationship from anyone.
"I'm Marcille."
Marcille gripped her staff, nodding warily.
"So…you're Rei Ao?"
Rei Ao inclined his head slightly. He took in the meager wooden bedroom, which lacked any girlish decor—understandable for this world's setting. His gaze paused at a portrait on the wall depicting Marcille alongside a short-haired girl with light auburn hair.
"First, let's clarify the trade details."
"You plan to give up everything to bring Falin back, correct?"
Now that she realized the arrivals were real, living people, hope sparked within Marcille. She nodded resolutely:
"Yes! I'll pay any price."
"All right, then we'll head to the labyrinth."
Rei Ao could easily seize the world's essence right here, since crossing worlds was part of his ability, but he'd already told Sumika he'd show her around the labyrinth for fun—like a tourist trip.
"Yes! Let's go at once!"
Marcille, unable to wait another second, made for the door but was stopped by Rei Ao's hand on her arm.
"Huh?"
She turned, puzzled.
"What are you doing?"
"You're a bit too hasty, Marcille-san,"
Rei Ao said, pointing to her collar.
"I think you should maybe get dressed before heading to the labyrinth."
"…"
Marcille looked down. Her neckline had gaped open, revealing more than she intended. Realizing Rei Ao was male, she squeaked in alarm:
"Waaaah!!!"
…
A little later, outside:
Sumika gazed around at the moonlit structures, murmuring,
"This place is so completely different from our world."
She then glanced at Rei Ao.
"By the way, is Marcille-san truly an elf?"
"She's a half-elf, child of a human and an elf, so calling her an elf isn't entirely wrong."
"Oh, wow, that's amazing—especially those pointy ears…"
As they chatted, the door creaked open. Garbed in a blue mage's robe, Marcille emerged, face burning, tiptoeing over.
"Um, I…I'm ready now!"
Rei Ao nodded:
"All right, let's get going."
No sooner had they entered the labyrinth than—
Bzzt!!!
A shrill screech echoed, and a giant bat-like creature burst from the stone wall, its razor-sharp claws lunging straight for Marcille's throat!
"Eek! Careful!"
Sumika cried out, blanching at the monster.
Marcille instinctively raised her staff, but her incantation never formed because—
Rei Ao cast a glance at the creature.
"Begone."
No spells. No gestures. Instantly, in midair, the beast froze and was crushed by an invisible force into a cloud of bloody mist, dissolving into nothing.
Marcille gaped.
"How…how did you do that?"
She was certain Rei Ao had used no magic.
"Well, this is a cross-world deal," he said with a faint smile.
"If I had no ability, could I really take the contract?"
He gave Sumika a soft look:
"Not scared, I hope?"
Sumika, still clinging to his arm, sighed in relief.
"I was a bit startled, but with you here, I feel safe. That was so impressive—what did you do?"
"Nothing special, just a flick of a finger."
To him, such small fry could be obliterated with a breath.
"Let's keep going."
Marcille finally snapped out of her daze.
As they delved deeper, the temperature climbed. Strange red glyphs glowed on the walls, just as Marcille remembered. Only now, instead of her former companions, she had these mysterious visitors from another world. Oddly enough, their exploration felt neither tense nor perilous. If anything, it was so relaxed it felt like sightseeing.
Every time a monster appeared—be it a savage Minotaur, a swarm of gargoyles, or even the rumored magic-devouring shadow beasts—Rei Ao simply glanced or waved a hand, and those horrors that had taken countless adventurers' lives disintegrated into dust.
The most mind-boggling moment came when they passed a lava pool. A colossal lava troll leapt from molten rock, roaring and lunging at them. Rei Ao merely shot it a look, and that beast—capable of leveling a small city—burst into flame, reduced to ashes in a heartbeat.
A lava troll! Yet it posed no threat to them.
Continuing unimpeded, the air grew hotter, a sulfuric tang filling the corridors. Sumika was wide-eyed and intrigued, yet Rei Ao's protection kept her comfortable. Marcille's pulse, however, pounded ever faster. She sensed the same menace she had when facing the Fire Dragon. Until finally, they reached a vast cavern.
At the cavern's entrance lay countless bones, rusted weapons, and armor—gruesome evidence of defeated adventurers. Heat waves billowed from the cave, making breathing difficult.
"This…this is it…"
Marcille's voice trembled.
"That Fire Dragon must be inside. Falin—she…"
Rei Ao didn't respond. Leading Sumika, he strode straight in. Marcille inhaled sharply, then followed.
Inside was a huge lake of lava, with a small island of piled bones at its center. Coiled atop that mound was an enormous scarlet dragon. Its scales glowed like heated iron, its eyes two miniature suns, sparks escaping its nostrils.
Sensing intruders, the dragon reared its huge head.
"Roooaaaar!!!"
A deafening roar echoed through the cavern, nearly toppling Marcille—she clung to Rei Ao for support. The dragon's thunderous cry reverberated like falling skies.
Marcille's legs went weak. Memories of her previous horror flooded back. This was the monster that devoured Falin in a single bite!
~~~
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