REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, TWENTY-SIXTH FLOOR
After we finish gathering the walnuts from the Wallynuts, we head down to the twenty-sixth floor, and we encounter green reed-like monsters called Wet Sedges... and we just fight them in our usual way.
"Grraahhh!"
"Wind... Burst..." "Wind... Fragment..."
"Fire Storm!" "Fire Burst!"
Yomogi slams straight into the monsters with her fists, Kimberly casts Wind spell after Wind spell, and I face our opponents with my own Fire spells.
And along the way, we also gather their drop items, which are papyrus papers, until we reach the twenty-seventh floor.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, TWENTY-SEVENTH FLOOR
At this floor, we face human-sized squirrels with brown fur and red eyes called Bitter Gliders. But despite their moving fast, they're no match for us.
"Where are you going, you fluffy bastards?"
"Engage."
"Light Bean! And take this!"
Chantal leaps, and her daggers slice through mid-air as Pinna's Crawler Unit Two shoots out a glowing wire and brutally whips the monsters sideways into the wall many times, and I cast a Light Beam spell to blind the squirrels and let Yamitsuki finish the job.
And of course, we don't forget to collect their drop items, which are vairs. And just like Split Caterpillar's thread, Blitz Sheep's wool, Hando's nail, and Trull's leather, the girls say if the boutique will pay more for those vairs than the adventurer guild. With that, we continue to move forward until we reach the twenty-eighth floor.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, TWENTY-EIGHTH FLOOR
As we walk here, I suddenly become curious about something.
"Hey, why haven't we seen monsters with magic so far?"
Kimberly is the first one to answer.
"That's… because monsters… do not possess… elemental affinity… like humans… demis… or beastmen..."
"Really? Why?"
"I… do not… know... Motegi-sama..."
"I see..."
Chantal adds.
"Monsters survive in the wild or labyrinths, so they lean into whatever weird traits or abilities they've got. That's why their drop items are worth something, even if some of them aren't flashy."
Weird traits or abilities, huh?
I see, I've met many of them. From poisonous monsters like Poison Spider and Needle Bees, to monsters whose screeches can break your ears like Trumpet Crane, to Charm Roses with their hypnotic scent, to nut-shooting monsters like the Wallynuts recently.
Pinna explains.
"Monsters provide unique data due to their specialized physiology. Labyrinth-dwelling variants possess higher adaptability compared to open-environment breeds. This is due to the labyrinth functioning as a symbiotic sanctuary. Their relationship is mutual."
"What do you mean mutual?"
Then, Yomogi asks me.
"Motegi-chan, remember what I said about labyrinths having a will?"
"I do."
"If they're sanctuaries, then when a monster kills an adventurer, that life force feeds the labyrinth. But if it absorbs too much, something happens."
"Something?"
"It's called a 'shuffle.' The labyrinth releases the extra energy by creating new branch passages. And when that happens, the normal monster for a floor gets replaced by something else that's not supposed to be there, and it appears randomly."
"Ah, I see..."
So, if it's like if the monsters on the 27th floor are Bitter Gliders, then when that 'shuffle' happens, they become something else.
Then... when Yomogi said if she faced a roper at that full moon night back then, and it was before the eighth floor where Puncher Woods, the monsters that dropped rare flowers for Yomogi's son, appeared...
"Hey, Yomogi, did you think the roper you encountered here was also because of the 'shuffle'?"
She pauses and looks surprised for a moment before she finally speaks.
"Y-Yes... I think so, Motegi-chan..."
"I see..."
And somehow, I feel even more motivated to conquer this labyrinth and its every dirty tactic someday.
Moments later, Yomogi and Chantal halt us as the latter's ears twitch.
"I'm picking up something faint, but it sounds like a plant."
And Yomogi sniffs the air for confirmation.
"It smells like... moss?"
As Pinna's Observer Unit scans the path ahead, I ask her.
"Pinna?"
"Multiple targets approaching. Count: five. Species: Moss Mount."
Moments later, they slide into view. Damp mounds of moss with a single massive eyeball and a wide maw underneath, like ghosts that you usually see in cartoons.
And without hesitation, Yomogi and Chantal launch forward in sync.
"Grraahhh!"
Yomogi roars as she slams her fist into the first moss, then with a jumping spin, she whips around and drives a powerful kick straight into its side that sends it smacking into the stone wall.
"Hey, ugly! Open that mouth a little wider!"
Chantal taunts the next one as she lunges in, and with a fierce upward pull, her daggers tear the thing right in half from its maw.
Meanwhile, Pinna's Crawler Unit shoots two metallic marbles directly into the third monster's gaping mouth and lets it swallow them. Within seconds, the creature is pinned flat against the ground as a heavy gravitational field locks it in place.
"Wind... Blade..."
"Fire Ball!"
And lastly, it's Kimberly's turn with me, slicing and burning the final two monsters with our elemental spells.
When the fight ends, the monsters leave dark lumps as I examine one.
"Is this… peat?"
"Yes. It's often used... as fuel... Motegi-sama."
"Ah, I see..."
And then, more Moss Mounts appear as we press onward, and we continue to eliminate them and collect their peat.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, TWENTY-NINTH FLOOR
Arriving at the twenty-ninth floor, I open a teleportation portal in front of us.
"Should we head home now?"
"Yes!"
With that, we step into the portal together.
BACK AT MOTEGI'S HOUSE
Once we're out of the portal and arriving home, I immediately climb upstairs and say to the girls.
"I'll make dinner tonight, okay?"
And the girls are delighted.
"Yay! Thank you, Motegi-chan!"
"Don't make me wait too long, Motegi-kun."
"That… sounds lovely… Motegi-sama…"
"Understood, Master."
At the kitchen, I open the fridge and scan the contents inside.
Tonight, this is the perfect time to make curry, my long-time craving.
Yes, as a Japanese person, I do love how our people make their curry thick and sweet. However, every time I've introduced a new dish to the girls, I've gone with the authentic first, like Margherita or hot dogs, for example. So, instead of the Japanese version, I think I'll make Indian-style curry and let them taste the depth and heat of the real thing before we play with the branches.
And since the girls mentioned wanting to eat the Wallynuts' walnuts with chocolate earlier, I should probably use those in dessert too.
With that, I pull out all the ingredients and get to work.
First, I drizzle oil into the hot pan, then toss in cinnamon sticks, coriander seeds, bay leaves, and cardamom pods until they release a deep and fragrant aroma. Then, I add the chopped onions and sauté them until they turn golden and soft. After that, I add the grated garlic and ginger and chopped chilies, letting the smell deepen and stirring until everything softens.
Next, I add in the chunks of Blitz Sheep's meat, searing them until they brown evenly on all sides. Once they're done, I season with salt and pepper, then sprinkle in ground cumin, coriander, chili powder, turmeric, and finally the garam masala and curry powder I had prepared for this moment. Then, I continue to stir until it's fully combined before I pour in the chopped tomatoes and a little water. After that, I cover the pot and let it simmer.
With the curry bubbling away, I turn to the rice as I rinse a few cups of Heiligeichen's long-grain rice. I add water and let the rice cooker do its thing.
Yeah, I know if Indian people commonly use a stovepot. But since I've got the rice cooker here, why not go for something convenient, right?
After that, I check the curry, stir it again, and add in cubed potatoes. And then, I cover it again and let it simmer while I start prepping dessert.
First, I heat cream in a saucepan until it just begins to bubble at the edges. I turn off the heat and stir in finely chopped chocolate, mixing until it melts smoothly. I set it aside and started the next step.
Again, I know the usual filling is the chocolate hazelnut spread. But tonight, ganache is the faster option.
In a large bowl, I whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, a pinch of salt, flour, and a bit of melted butter until they become a smooth batter. I heat a small pan and drop in a little butter, and once it melts, I pour in a ladle of batter, swirling it quickly to coat the surface. I let it cook for about half a minute before flipping it on a large plate, and I repeat this five times.
Once they're done, I spoon ganache into each one, add banana slices and a handful of chopped walnuts, fold them over, and finish with a dusting of powdered sugar, and I plate them one by one.
When I return to the curry, the sauce has thickened, and both the meat and potatoes are tender. I fluff the rice in the cooker and spoon it onto five plates, topping each one generously with a ladle of the rich, spiced curry.
Finally, I carry the plates to the dining table, where the girls are already seated.
"Alright, dinner's ready, girls."
Yomogi leans forward with sparkling eyes.
"Motegi-chan, what are these? They smell amazing!"
Chantal is in awe, with her mouth slightly open.
"Did you just make both the main dish and dessert again, Motegi-kun? You're spoiling us!"
Kimberly studies the plates.
"They look… so... luxurious… Motegi-sama…"
Pinna looks at me curiously.
"Requesting confirmation of dish classification, Master."
I gesture first at the curry-topped rice.
"Okay, this one is curry rice."
And I motion to the folded, powdered desserts next.
"And these are crepes."
After I take my seat, I ask the girls.
"Should we eat now?"
"Yes!"
They say in unison, and each one raises her spoon and takes the first bite. And then...
"Mmmm!!"
Their eyes close with smiles blooming across all four faces. Yomogi is the first to speak.
"Motegi-chan, what is this flavor? It's so deep and warm! And did you put potatoes in too?"
"I did."
And she lights up even more.
"I love it!"
Chantal's cheeks puffed with food.
"Motegi-kun, this is honestly the best thing I've ever eaten. No contest."
"Ahaha... is that so? You're easy to sway with new foods, huh?"
Pinna swallows, then begins her usual evaluation.
"Meat texture: tender and fully permeated with seasoning. Spice profile: layered, with cumin and chili forming the primary sharp notes. Tomato adds balanced acidity, onion base provides underlying sweetness, and potato adds starch for cohesion. Overall integration of components results in a dish that exceeds typical culinary satisfaction parameters. Conclusion: beyond satisfactory."
And I can't help but laugh.
"Hahaha... beyond satisfactory? What is that? That's the first time you've said that, Pinna."
Meanwhile, Kimberly is fanning herself, and her face is red.
"Are you okay, Kimberly? I already toned down the chilies, you know?"
And she nods, although she's trembling.
"Yes. I'm... alright. It's spicy… but still… very delicious. I can handle it…"
"Okay, take your time."
Yeah, I think not everyone in this house is spice tolerant even though it's only a little.
With that, I finally take a bite and let the bold heat, rounded sweetness, and savory richness bloom in my mouth.
"Yeah, it's spicy and way better."
Sorry, Japanese curry.
I still love you, but this is on a different level entirely.
When everyone finishes, the forks lift again toward the crepes. And once again...
"Mmmm!!"
Their reactions mirror the curry: smiles of happiness with closed eyes.
Yomogi beams.
"It's so delicious! The walnuts are really good with chocolate!"
Chantal hums happily.
"It's different from the lava cake, but I still really like this one."
"You two like it, Yomogi, Chantal?"
And they nod vigorously in unison.
Kimberly looks at her crepe.
"To think… bananas... could become... something… this delightful. Thank you, Motegi-sama… for changing... my view…"
"You don't need to thank me. I'm just glad you enjoyed it."
And she just smiles.
Yeah, just like rice and soybeans, ever since I brought bananas from her villa, the girls slowly overcame their perception of the fruit as "elder food." At first, they didn't like how soft and mushy bananas could be. But after watching me eat bananas every day, they followed me and started warming up to the fruit.
Pinna finishes chewing before speaking.
"Batter: thin and evenly cooked. Chocolate: smooth with balanced sweetness. Walnuts add crisp contrast and banana provides creamy sweetness. Overall flavor distribution is harmonious. Conclusion: a balanced dessert."
"Thanks, Pinna."
I thank Pinna and finally try my own crepe, letting the chocolate melt on my tongue, the banana soften the richness, and the walnut give a pleasant crunch.
"Yeah, this one's delicious too..."
MOMENTS LATER
After dinner, we take some time to relax and let our full stomachs settle. Once we're ready, we all make our way to the bath, sinking into the warm water with a deep sigh and letting it sooth every muscle and melt away the fatigue.
Yomogi leans against the edge with her eyes half-lidded.
"Living with you, Motegi-chan… has given me so many new, unforgettable experiences. I never imagined I'd ever feel this happy again."
Chantal stretches her arms overhead.
"Same here. I never thought I'd end up living in a place this gorgeous, working as a store clerk, but still going on adventures, and eating amazing food every day. It feels unreal."
Kimberly smiles at me.
"Every day… with you… is so fulfilling… Motegi-sama. It feels like a happiness… that never ends… and always... makes me want… more…"
Pinna is the last one to speak.
"You are truly an extraordinarily rich data source, Master. I have never recorded such a high volume of emotional, sensory, and environmental inputs in a single day. This rate of experiential gain is unprecedented."
Then, I respond them back.
"Me too, Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna. I want to keep living like this with you all by my side."
And with that, our new home becomes even warmer now.