REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-THIRD FLOOR
Once the store is closed, we shift to our usual labyrinth run with bright spirit, especially after we earned about 580,000 yen in total sales and my "moist wood" gimmick idea really turned out to be a success.
Right now, Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, and I explore the thirty-third floor with our new member, Salacia, who joins us for the first time. Our formation is slightly different today: up front, Yomogi and Chantal walk side by side with Pinna's Observer Unit floating between them as usual. Just behind, Kimberly walks next to Pinna, with the latter's Crawler Unit slithering on the ground between them. And finally, there are me and Salacia in the rear.
Of course, Yomogi's loosely worn orange bridal robe, Chantal's purple bikini armor, Kimberly's golden halter dress with that signature deep neckline and slits so high, and Pinna's green circuit-laced bodysuit return to view. As for Salacia, she wears the exact same blue seashell bikini top and tiny microskirt bottom like when she was first transformed into her current form and clings to my arm as her chest is pressing into me.
"Darling~… darling~… darling~…"
Since she said she can use healing and craft potions, I've been wondering if maybe she's a Medic class.
But so far, my biggest challenge here is getting used to how glued to me she is.
Suddenly, the girls in front of me come to a stop, and I can see Chantal's ears twitch and Yomogi sniffs the air.
"Sounds like buzzing…"
"You're right, Chantal. They're close."
As Pinna's Observer Unit already scans ahead, I ask her and Kimberly.
"Pinna, what do you see?"
"Multiple entities detected. Count: five. Species: Super Scarabs. Airborne. Approaching rapidly."
"Got it. What do they drop, Kimberly?"
"They drop… wings… used for... accessories. And jewelry stores… pay more... than the guild... Motegi-sama..."
"Okay."
And just like that, five massive beetles come into view, their armored bodies glinting and wings humming like sawblades. Then, I turn to Salacia.
"Salacia, can you?"
"Yes, darling..."
She lets go of my arm as we prepare for a strike, and Chantal turns back to Pinna.
"Pinna?"
"Crawler Unit Two has initiated its mission protocol."
Then, Pinna's Crawler Unit Two launches two glowing wires that lash forward and clamp onto two of the scarabs midair, dragging them straight into Yomogi and Chantal's kill zone.
"Grrraahh!!"
Yomogi growls first as her knuckles smash into the scarab's shell with a crack, sending the massive insect hurtling upward and crashing into the ceiling.
"Woohoo!!"
Chantal whoops with wild joy, her daggers slashing the second one mercilessly.
Then, I turn to Kimberly silently, and she nods without saying a word as we raise our hands together.
"Fire Storm!"
"Wind... Fragment…"
My flames burn one scarab, and Kimberly's gusts tear apart another one. And finally, Pinna's Crawler Unit fires another wire to the last scarab, snaring and spinning the insect midair, then slamming it against the dungeon walls over and over again until it goes limp.
After that, we reach forward to collect the drop items, grabbing their small, glimmering wings. But then, I hear Salacia's concerned voice, and I turn around to see what happens.
"Yomogi… your hand…"
From there, I can see a dark bruise is already forming across Yomogi's knuckles, and yet she reassures Salacia with her usual gentle smile.
"Ah, I'm fine, Salacia. That's normal for me."
"No, you shouldn't let it stay like that. I'll heal you."
Then, Salacia lifts one hand and brings it closer to Yomogi's bruise as she casts a familiar Water element spell.
"Heal."
In an instant, the bruise fades away with a soft glow, leaving her skin looking untouched. Once it's done, Yomogi flexes her fingers and giggles.
"Oh… that's actually better than before. Thank you, Salacia."
"You're welcome, Yomogi."
Honestly, a healing spell is not surprising for me because I've seen it many times in games and anime before, and I also can cast it myself. But somehow, watching it done by a true healer like Salacia just hits differently because it feels like she knows more than me. And the fact that the healing spell in this world is from Water element and associated with merfolk, and a kraken like Salacia, instead of the clerics or priests I usually see in games, makes it more amazing.
"You're incredible, Salacia."
And she beams joyfully from my praise.
"Thank you, darling~"
And with that, we continue to push forward as more and more scarabs come out.
"Grrraahh!!"
"Come to mama, you buzzy bugs!"
"Engage."
WHAM!
Pinna's Crawler Unit keeps doing what it does best, launching wire snares that hook onto the scarabs and drag them right into the kill zone. Yomogi's fists and kicks meet them with crushing force, while Chantal's blades follow up with smooth slashes that leave nothing behind. And sometimes, Pinna's Crawler Unit also unleashes its gravitational force, crushing the scarabs into the ground with bone-shattering force and pinning them flatly in place.
"Wind... Burst..." "Wind... Bullet..." "Wind... Ball..."
"Earth Bullet!" "And take this!"
Kimberly casts Wind spell after Wind spell as usual as I switch between spellcasting and swordplay with Yamitsuki. And of course, we don't forget to collect the wings.
And at one point, we make a stop to rest as Salacia kneels beside Yomogi, tending the latter's bruised hand and foot.
"Heal."
A soft blue light washes over Yomogi's hand, and all the swellings vanish.
"Thank you again, Salacia."
"You fight up close, so I'll keep healing you, Yomogi."
Then, she turns to me.
"Darling, are you hurt?"
"No, I'm good."
But her silver eyes narrow, serious.
"Really?"
"Yeah, really."
"Is that so? Fine, then."
And suddenly, Chantal and Kimberly sigh blissfully across from us as they lower their flask.
"Yaah.... Salacia's potion is the best I've ever had!"
"Yes… no bitterness… like drinking... springwater…"
"Thank you, everyone!"
Actually, I don't really need a potion since Yamitsuki absorbs HP and MP in each kill, but still, I'm curious to taste it.
When the liquid hits my mouth, I'm mind-blown. It's cool, mildly sweet with almost no aftertaste, and it's exactly like that blue-label sports drink from Japan... the one whose commercials usually feature running idols on the beach. And the fact that she made this with the sea plants from her underwater garden makes it unreal, it's like she basically recreated a modern drink that doesn't exist in this world without knowing it.
"This is amazing, Salacia. I really like it."
"You do?!"
And just like that, Salacia launches herself at me and nuzzles against me again.
"Thank you, darling~! I'm glad you like it~!"
I laugh, and I think it's normal that she's got every right to be proud.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-FOURTH FLOOR
Arriving at the thirty-fourth floor, the front pair stops in our tracks again as Chantal's ears twitch and Yomogi sniffs the air.
"They're here..."
"Mmm… smells like kaki!"
Kaki?
And as usual, I turn to Pinna and Kimberly for confirmation.
"What do you see, Pinna?"
"Multiple entities detected. Count: five. Species: Kooky Kaki. Mobility: erratic bounce-hop pattern."
"Their… rare drop… is the fruit. And it's… incredibly… sweet, Motegi-sama…"
Okay, that settles it.
Then, I silently activate [Temporary Boost] and set everyone's stats, mine included but not Salacia's, to infinity.
It's not because I'm neglecting Salacia, but because floors 25 to 35 are when five monsters are spawned on each floor. We've got six members in our party, so we have an advantage in numbers. That's why for now, Salacia, our dedicated healer, doesn't need to be boosted unless we're diving beyond these floors.
And once they know the boost is flowing through them, Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, and Pinna turn at me.
"Thank you, Motegi-chan!"
"You're the best, Motegi-kun!"
"As expected... of you, Motegi-sama..."
"Combat advantage secured, Master."
A moment later, five giant persimmons with glossy orange bodies bounce into view. And again, we don't waste time to spring into action.
"Grrraahh!!"
Yomogi growls, driving her fist straight into the first persimmon, detonating its body into a spray of bright orange pulp.
"Gimme that fruit!"
Chantal shouts as her daggers carve cleanly through the second persimmon.
"Wind... Javelin..."
"Earth Bullet!"
Kimberly and I lift our hands and shoot our respective spells forward. Kimberly's long spear of compressed air skewers the third persimmon as my volley of stone rounds tears into the fourth persimmon's body.
WHAM!
Pinna's Crawler Unit finishes the last one as it's slammed flat against the ground with a powerful gravitational force.
Salacia's eyes shine as she watches us.
"Amazing… truly amazing…"
Then, we collect the dropped fruit. Once we regroup, Salacia immediately rushes to Yomogi and grabs her hand.
"There's… no bruise at all. How is that possible?"
"Fufu... surprised, Salacia?"
Watching them, I can't help but wonder. Maybe because Yomogi's stats are set to infinity, it's not just her strength that skyrockets, even the force distribution in her punches must make her not bruise herself anymore.
Chantal laughs proudly as Kimberly agrees.
"Hahaha...! That's Motegi-kun's magic at work, Salacia!"
"Yes… all thanks… to him…"
Salacia just stares at me, speechless and eyes wide.
And with that, we continue to push forward as more and more persimmons come out and I keep activating [Temporary Boost] all the time, so the monsters can drop their fruits and we can collect the fruits along the way.
"Grrraahh!!"
"Get away, get away, get away!"
"Wind... Cannon..." "Wind... Burst..."
"Engage."
WHAM!
Yomogi crashes through enemies with her punches and kicks, Chantal darts between them with her blades, Kimberly's Wind spells erupt one after another, and Pinna's Crawler Unit sends another gravitational field that crushes everything.
"Lightning Bolt!" "Haahh!"
I switch between spellcasting and slashing with Yamitsuki. As for Salacia... yeah, she has nothing to do actually for now.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-FIFTH FLOOR
Arriving at the thirty-fifth floor, we're stopping in our tracks again. But instead of Yomogi and Chantal who inform of the danger ahead, it's Pinna instead through her Observer Unit.
"Everyone. Stop."
And it's Yomogi this time who asks Pinna.
"Pinna? What do you see?"
"Multiple entities detected. Count: five. Species: Hairlooms. Threat level: lethal."
The moment she says the name, Yomogi stiffens.
Chantal mutters.
"You've gotta be kidding me…"
Even Kimberly looks shaken.
"Hairlooms... here...?"
Meanwhile, Salacia and I just stare at each other in confusion. And I have to ask what they mean.
"Umm... what are Hairlooms?"
Kimberly and Chantal turn toward me with equally stern expressions.
"They are extremely long… autonomous hair strands. They wrap around... the neck… to choke… and suffocate..."
"The worst part is... they don't rush out like normal monsters, they wait until someone walks under them. That's why they're considered the deadliest things in all labyrinths."
"So that means we have to move toward them?"
"Affirmative, Master. Their ambush behavior requires forward movement for engagement."
Salacia squeezes my arm and quivers.
"Will it really be okay?"
And Yomogi reassures her.
"We'll be fine, Salacia. Motegi-chan is with us."
With that, we walk forward, and it doesn't take long for me to notice them.
Five impossibly long blonde, braided strands hang from the ceiling like monstrous ropes, and their ends brush the ground, and I freeze immediately.
"What the hell…"
They somehow remind me of Hando monster, but instead of fingers, it's hair. And it feels like someone murdered Rapunzel and turned her braids into creepy traps.
Then, the braids move as one darts straight toward Yomogi. She lifts her arms to shield her neck, but the hair coils around her wrists in return, tightening instantly and yanking her forward as she struggles to try pulling the braid down.
"Nnghh... gaahhhh!!!"
"Hang on! I'm coming!"
Chantal shouts as she launches herself toward Yomogi, but before she reaches her, another hair drops, aiming right for her throat.
"Wind... Wall..."
Luckily, Kimberly's spell manages to form a protective barrier just in time. The braid slams into it and recoils violently, and Chantal exhales shakily.
"Hahh… thanks, Kimberly!"
"Quick…"
"Got it!"
Chantal dives in and slices clean through the braid, trapping Yomogi, and Yomogi collapses onto her knees with a gasp.
"Ah!"
Salacia is at her side immediately.
"I'll heal you, Yomogi! Heal."
Salacia cups Yomogi's reddened wrists gently, and in an instant, a soothing glow spreads over the bruised skin and erases the damage in seconds.
"Thank you, Salacia…"
Yeah, this is going to be troublesome, and there's only one way to defeat it.
With that, I silently activate [Temporary Boost] again and set Yomogi's, Chantal's, Kimberly's, Pinna's, and my own stats to infinity.
Once it's done, we lead the charge. But then the same thing happens as the previous Hairloom darts straight toward Yomogi and coils around her wrists, although the result is different this time.
"Nnghh... gaahhhh!!!"
She growls and successfully yanks the braid down, tearing it loose from the ceiling and slamming it into the ground.
At the same time, Pinna's Crawler Unit launches forward and shoots a glowing wire that clamps onto a second braid.
"Initiate Cosmic charge."
And suddenly, the unit glows and pulls the braid downward, ripping it free with a crack and sending it crashing into the ground.
The third one drops toward Chantal, snaring her leg.
"Not today!"
She easily pulls her leg and rips the braid off, then she slams one dagger down to pin it to the ground like an anchor. And then, she plants her foot on the tensioned braid and vaults upward in a blur.
"I'm gonna make you bald!"
Her second dagger slices the braid clean off at the ceiling, and she lands in a crouch beside the heavy rope of hair.
And finally, it's my turn with Kimberly.
"Fire Storm!"
"Wind... Blade..."
Kimberly's wind carves one braid while my fire burns the last one.
Then, something like round nuts drops onto the ground from the vanishing hair, and we immediately rush forward to take it. However, Yomogi is in disbelief.
"No way…"
So is Chantal.
"Is this… the Fruit of Luck?"
Kimberly's eyes are also wide.
"I… can't believe... the Hairlooms… dropped these…"
And I blink in confusion, which then Pinna explains.
"Wait... what does that mean?"
"Hairlooms are the only labyrinth monster classified with zero loot value. That is why most adventurers avoid engaging them because the risk outweighs the reward."
"I see..."
As I look down at the nut in my hand, I think I need it too because my real stats, especially my luck, aren't strong enough, as the only thing that keeps me going forward is the [Temporary Boost]. So, I think a little boost outside from skill won't be a problem.
"Can I eat it?"
"Of course you can, Motegi-chan!"
"How much would the adventurer guild pay for this?"
"A great deal… it's a rare… luck-enhancing item…"
But then, Chantal and Pinna suggest something to me.
"But I wouldn't sell it if I were you, Motegi-kun."
"I agree. Consuming it for personal stat improvement yields far greater long-term utility than guild payout."
Yeah, me too.
Then, the girls each lift their nuts and bite down. And before I eat mine, I silently activate [Copier] to create a second one, which I then hand the duplicate to Salacia.
"For you, Salacia."
"Thank you, darling~!"
As we bite down together, I can feel the taste is really similar to macadamia nuts. And weirdly enough, this is probably the first time we've gotten a drop and just eaten it on the spot.
Once we're all done munching, I glance at everyone.
"Shall we continue?"
"Yes!"
And with that, we press deeper into the thirty-fifth floor and gather more Fruit of Luck together.