Akashi shook off his pants as if it were nothing and stood up, stretching his body into a “ㄱ” shape. His movements were so natural that I almost let it slide without thought.
“Why is this guy here? I was sure he shamelessly went in as the vanguard and collapsed from hunger while wandering somewhere in the labyrinth!”
I had barely begun to wonder when Akashi looked at the wall I had broken through and muttered something discontentedly.
“Tsk. The labyrinth was meant to be solved with wisdom, not brute force. Show some respect for the designers’ intentions. Though, it’s partly their fault for not anticipating this kind of thing.”
“…Akashi? Is that really you, Akashi? Or… does it even matter why you’re here?”
“Hey, why wouldn’t I be allowed here? And obviously, it’s really me. That name, which only the street trash dare not falsely claim, rightfully belongs to that guy.”
With an air of confidence, Akashi spoke, leaving Myungho and Yuna utterly baffled.
“Hold on! Myungho, step back. How do we know if this is really him or not?! There’s no way he could have navigated the labyrinth alone and waited here ahead of us. It’s probably a fake that has infiltrated our minds and disguised itself convincingly!”
Yuna suddenly pulled out her bow and aimed it at Akashi with a determined look. Myungho, though unsure what she was talking about, seemed convinced and stayed silent. Akashi wore an expression of exasperation.
“Haha, caught me, huh. I thought it was perfect~ Guess there’s nothing I can do. Umm, grrr…”
Akashi suddenly clamped his hands over his mouth and began trembling all over. What is this? Could Yuna’s suspicion be correct?
Though I’m not quite sure what anyone was thinking, judging by the weapons pointed at him, they likely suspected he was a monster imitating someone else.
Since I wasn’t sure either, I raised my greatsword high, ready to cleave him in two at any moment.
After convulsing for a moment as if something was about to burst out, Akashi straightened up and snapped his middle finger with his right hand.
“I don’t have the patience to explain again to such dimwits. If you still don’t believe me, shoot already.”
“…Yuna, lower your bow. That’s definitely Akashi. No one else irritates people like that.”
“That’s true. So, how exactly did you get here, Akashi? Did you already know the layout or something…?”
When Myungho was 100% certain it was Akashi, he lowered his sword. Honestly, given the wizard’s capabilities, it wasn’t hard to believe he found a way to wait here using methods beyond our understanding.
The same guy who skillfully navigated through the blizzard and the Fungus Palace against those slimes. He must have done some secret shenanigans again.
“Not really. I just know a bit about how dwarves play around with dimensions. Don’t ask. Even I don’t fully understand it. Maybe an old master would know more, but my late-life memory is riddled with holes.”
“So… you manipulated a dimensional portal to get here early? Without magic power, how…”
“Well, it’s not magic, so that’s why. I don’t plan to explain, and even if I did, your heads wouldn’t understand. Let’s end this conversation here. Just take care of this puppet and call out the worms. I’m too tired to move.”
As soon as the hard work was done, the place grew awkwardly quiet. To pass the time, Akashi whittled a small stone into a cute snail shape when Myungho suddenly called out to him.
Oh, are they finally going to break open that coffin and retrieve what’s inside? Turning my shoulders, I asked if it was my turn to act, but an unexpected reply came back.
“Akashi says your hand needs to be placed on it. So, let’s put that down first. Solving everything with force would be nice, but we can’t risk damaging what’s inside.”
Is it blood instead of force? Since the key required blood from the start, it doesn’t seem strange…
But is it okay to use such valuable blood so casually? At this point, I was seriously considering charging per drop—though, since he’s a comrade, he probably wouldn’t accept payment. Still, if it’s something Akashi asks for, I feel oddly compelled to charge.
Nevertheless, since Myungho requested it, I obediently placed my scaly palm on the cylinder.
Suddenly, my hand sank into the cylinder, and an unknown needle pierced through it.
“Ouch… What is this? Why won’t it come out!”
Caught off guard by the sudden occurrence, I tried twisting with all my strength to pull it out, but the cylinder didn’t budge an inch.
Even channeling mana and scales onto my other hand and striking it forcefully only made it wobble slightly without leaving a scratch. When Myungho called Yuna to help pull me, it proved futile.
What is this? Why is it so solid?!
Trying different methods, like distorting the floor or ceiling to shatter the cylinder, also failed. Moreover, injecting mana into it proved impossible.
Could it not be made of stone?
While chaos reigned outside, the inside of the cylinder remained eerily calm. The needle that pierced my hand withdrew, allowing my blood to flow into the container. Once it had collected enough, the cylinder finally released my arm.
Still pulling on me, Myungho and Yuna stumbled backward. Since Yuna was pulling from another side, she didn’t fall, but Myungho, who was pulling directly behind me, ended up sprawled beneath me.
“…Ow ow ow. Uh, it’s out! Alterra, are you alright?! Was anything strange injected…?”
Even while sprawled beneath me, Myungho worried more about me and inquired about my condition. Judging by his empty chatter, he seems unharmed.
Still, I quickly moved aside, concerned he might find my weight bothersome.
“No, nothing like that. It just wanted to extract my blood… Wait a sec. Where did my blood go?”
The interior of the cylinder, which had turned slightly red from my blood, was now clear again as if nothing had happened. Hmm. Where did my blood go?
Blood doesn’t evaporate or disappear after shedding like scales, but I soon figured out where it went.
The girl inside the cylinder began to stir. First her fingers, then her wrists, elbows—she moved them around as if waking up from a long sleep.
Then, our eyes met. Her deep blue irises, complementing her long lilac hair, stared directly at me.
Soon, the water in the cylinder slowly drained, and the girl gently stepped down to the ground. Despite being submerged, her clothes were inexplicably dry.
Everything about her was mysterious. She drank my blood and woke up instantly, yet her clothes remained perfectly dry.
No one dared approach the girl until the cylinder disappeared into the ceiling. Yuna tensed up, bow in hand, while Akashi simply watched disinterestedly.
And then, the girl sang.
—
It was unmistakably a song—a hauntingly beautiful melody I’d never heard before. Yet, it was also speech.
She was confused, asking where she was, where her master was, and why she was surrounded by strange races.
Not knowing where to begin answering, I hesitated until Akashi nudged my ribs and whispered.
“Well, typical hobby of those guys. Hey, do me a favor and relay this message: Your master is gone, so take on the duty of reproduction.”
How could Akashi understand her song? Putting that aside, reproduction?
“Reproduction?? Hey, you said it was a doll. What exactly is it supposed to reproduce?”
Although she looked indistinguishable from a living person, I assumed she was merely a highly lifelike doll due to Akashi’s description.
But based on what Akashi said, it sounded like she could indeed reproduce.
“I can’t sing, so share my insight. You owe me.”
His words were so grating that I ignored him and introduced myself, but the girl only repeated the same mechanical questions.
Where is her master? Why is she surrounded by strange races? Oh, and how does she know her master’s language?
“I told you, that thing is pretty limited in function. Don’t expect too much.”
Sigh. Since Akashi seemed to know something, I half-believed him and passed on his message.
Upon hearing this, the doll appeared shocked, covering her face with her hands before standing up and asking again.
Who are you?
“I am the wingless omnipotent. That should suffice, and you will serve me. Although it consumes immense mana and requires regular offerings of dragon blood, remember how you always sang about wanting a healer? This will fulfill your desires. Among others.”
Having delivered his lines, Akashi strolled leisurely out of the cave without explaining anything important.
Annoying as ever, he only shared what suited him, but he was right—it was better to have a healer, and this girl was worth the effort we went through to find her.
Other desires? What other desires? Akashi, you’re deliberately complicating things and poking at sensitive spots.
The girl then gracefully curtsied, holding her skirt, and replied—or rather, sang—that she would serve me as her master.
Both Yuna and Alterra stared at me as if I were some strange creature.
Hmm.
…Was finding this girl truly worth all the trouble?
“…Ahem. Well, I’ll explain later, but let’s follow Akashi for now! Knowing him, he might leave without us!”
Attempting to shift the uneasy atmosphere and create a slight sense of urgency, I hurriedly followed Akashi out of the cave, only to find him already waiting with a dimensional portal open.
…Damn, things never go as planned.
“What? Did you think I’d run off on my own? I’m not that reckless. Besides… I still need you guys.”
“…”
Myungho. Don’t scare us unnecessarily. Though, this is entirely Akashi’s fault… Yes. Let’s just blame Akashi.
Let’s leave it at that. With that resolution in mind, I crossed through the dimensional portal.
Emerging on the other side after passing through a space resembling the cosmos, we found numerous monsters, two members of the Demon Tribe, and the Sword Witch facing off.
We’re returning.
—
