Book 2: Chapter 16

Book 2: Chapter 16

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Chapter 16 I Tried To Capture The Labyrinth At A Tremendous Pace

Beyond the door was a long, narrow passageway. On either side of the wall, there were magic lights at regular intervals, illuminating the surroundings, albeit dimly.

They were probably installed at the time when this place was built.

The fact that they were still in operation 4,000 years later showed just how advanced the ancient civilizations technology was.

The passageway was gently sloping downhill and curved sharply to the left.

I continued onward with Iris, Lily, and Surara in tow.

At the far end was a large door painted black.

On the doors surface, there were a number of alphabet-like letters engraved.

Ancient language. What in the world is written there?

I have learned some ancient languages. But this text is kind of weird.

Iris and Lily both tilt their heads.

The calamity cult used a special code.

Surara, still wearing his glasses, approached the black-painted door and turned his eyes to the words inscribed on it.

Let me decipher it now. Lets see

What did it say?

I also stared at the writing on the wall.

Then [Full Assist] was activated, and in an instant, the deciphering was complete.

No. 3 Underground Labyrinth Worship Center?

Master-san, have you already managed to decipher it?

Kou-san, thats great!

How about you, Surara-chan? Were you able to decipher it?

Yes. Its exactly as Master-san said, No. 3 Underground Labyrinth Worship Center.

What kind of place is that?

When I asked him this, Surara responded.

Its a pretty big one among the centers of the calamity cult. Ill explain it to you in a minute.

The following is a summary of Suraras story.

The Calamity cult worships the calamities as gods, and according to their own doctrine, they have been building suspicious facilities all over the world.

Among them, the underground labyrinth worship center was very distinctive, with the labyrinth set up to intercept intruders and a worship center at the lowest level.

When the labyrinthine chapel was completed, the believers would go into the chapel and hold a ceremony to praise the calamity.

Why go to the trouble of building a labyrinth?

I dont know all the details either. But some say that the labyrinths and traps were not only used to repel intruders but also to execute believers who escaped during the rituals.

What kind of rituals were they performing?

I dont want to imagine too much.

Its scary.

Lily gave a small shudder.

Anyway, whats beyond the door was a labyrinth full of traps.

I check the [Auto Mapping] again.

The blue-white window displayed a map of the entire labyrinth, and according to the map, this place had a structure just like a dungeon in an RPG.

There are four floors in total, and each floor is connected by a staircase.

The red light spot indicated that Elder Lichs location was shining on the fourth floor, the deepest floor.

So the boss character is on the deepest floor, huh?

Thats a common situation.

We were about to enter the first floor, which looked like a huge labyrinth according to the map.

A long and narrow passageway continues, and it is complicatedly divided into two several times in the middle.

The stairway leading to the lower floor is right in the labyrinths center, but it seems impossible to reach it by a straight path.

I feel like were getting lost

Iris said, looking at the map in the window.

I wonder how many hours it will take us to get through the whole labyrinth.

We cannot afford to be leisurely, can we?

Yeah, thats right.

I nodded at Lilys words.

Once the effect of the Yggdrasil branch wears off, the curse of the Black Death will turn Surier into a dead city.

We cant afford to waste time here.

Hey, Kou.

Iris said as if a thought had just occurred to her.

Isnt [Auto Mapping] supposed to be able to search for routes? How about using that?

Thats a good idea. But let me try one thing first.

I said that and took out a huge wooden hammer from my [Item Box].

A hikino wooden hammer.

It is one of the weapons I made with [Creation] when I first transferred to this world and its granted effect isWall Destruction S+. It is said to be extremely powerful when breaking walls.

It was an item of limited use, so it was of little use to me, but perhaps it could be useful.

I pushed open the black-painted door and stepped into the labyrinth.

In the end, we succeeded in taking a major shortcut.

Ooooohhh!

I swing the hammer down, and the labyrinths stone walls crumble and shatter like cookies.

Its quite exhilarating, to be honest.

Kou-san, you look like you are enjoying it

I never thought of that idea of breaking down walls to move forward

Master-san, you have a non-standard mind, too.

Is that a compliment?

Well, its Surara, so Im sure he didnt mean to offend.

I smiled wryly and raised the hammer and slammed it down again!

Bang!

The stone wall crumbled away with a single blow, and beyond it, I saw a descending staircase.

Now weve broken through the first floor.

Not much time has even passed.

If there were a time attack on this labyrinth, this would be the worlds fastest record.

No. Would we be disqualified for cheating?

Anyway, we headed down the stairs to the second floor.

According to the [Auto Mapping] map, this level consists of three rooms lined up vertically, each connected by a long, narrow passageway.

The room at the end of the stairs was covered with square tiles in a checkerboard pattern of white, black, white, and black

It looks like it could be a trap.

I know it.

Suraras glasses sparkled.

There are tiles in this room that, when stepped on, activate a trap. You have to walk to avoid them, or the ceiling will fall down on you.

How do you know?

One of the people who created the Helper Slime was a magician who was fighting against the Calamity cult. That person told us about the traps that are often set up in the strongholds of the Calamity cult for the sake of a master who will appear 4,000 years later. That person also taught me how to distinguish safe tiles, so please wait a moment.

In short, we just have to make sure we dont step on the dangerous tiles, right?

Yeah, thats right.

I see.

Iris nodded beside me on my left.

Apparently, she came to the same conclusion as I did.

On the other hand, Lily had no idea what we were talking about and had a curious expression on her face.

What exactly do you intend to do, Kou-san?

Youll know it when you see it. Kou can fly.

Eh Dont tell me youve got flying magic?

No, not like that.

I took out the Flying Potion from my [Item Box] and downed it in one gulp.

A mellow aroma spreads in my mouth.

Everybody, hold on to me.

Ill take the left arm.

Right arm, excuse me.

Ill be on your head, Master-san.

With Iris and Lily in my hands and Surara on my head, I kicked the ground with a thud.

The effect of theWind Blessing S+lifted my body up in the air.

Wow, youre really flying!

Lily exclaims in admiration.

We floated in the air and made it to the passageway on the other side of the room without stepping on a single tile.

Naturally, the ceiling didnt fall down.

The capture is complete.

I deactivated theWind Blessing S+and landed on the ground.

That was a great trick.

I was surprised

That was fluffy!

Well, now that weve saved some time, lets get cracking and move forward.

The next room is long and narrow, with ten steel turrets on each side, for a total of twenty.

I did a quick [Appraisal] and found that they were all magic laser turrets made of orichalcum.

What kind of room is this?

I ask Surara.

In this room, speed is of the essence. If you dont go through at once, the magic laser will burn you. So dont ever stop.

Why dont we just destroy them one by one?

Eh?

With Surala puzzled, I took out a hikino wooden axe from my [Item Box].

This is the weapon that killed Armored Bear with a single blow in my first battle in the other world, and it hasThrowing Critical A+andHit Correction S+attached to it.

Hey, Kou. Isnt that the branch you used to suppress the curse of the Black Death?

Yeah. Apparently, it can also purify the skeleton monster skeleton soldier.

It can do that? Thats an amazing branch

Iris sighs in admiration.

I have to admit, I, too, am amazed at the Yggdrasil branch. I didnt expect it to be so useful, even though it is still in the raw material stage.

My expectations for what kind of items I can make out of it with [Creation] are only getting bigger.

Well then, lets move on.

According to the [Auto Mapping] map, the room on the left was a dead end.

We took the front passage and stepped into the next room. It was a square stone room with narrow passageways on each side.

Skeleton soldiers popped out of the left and right corridors simultaneously, one by one.

A chance to test the Yggdrasil branch.

Iris and I look at each other for a moment.

You take the right side.

I understand.

No further words were needed. I took the Yggdrasil branch and started to run.

My target was the skeleton soldier on the left.

Gaaaaahhhh!

The skeleton soldier let out a cry and swung down its orichalcum sword. The slash was quite sharp, and a direct hit would have cut me in half from the skull.

But it was too late.

I avoided the slash just in time and pushed the Yggdrasil branch against the skeleton soldiers sternum.

The forced purification process is executed.

A flash of green popped.

Pop! The skeleton soldier was gone before it could make its final scream.

No resurrection occurred. It was a scene that could only be described as a forced purification.

Iris, holding the Dragon Gods shield in her left hand and a large red spear in her right hand, crossed over to the other skeleton soldier with light steps.

She moved with fluidity, her pony-tailed red hair fluttering as she moved.

Her figure was dignified and very beautiful.

I was tempted to admire her but now was not the time.

Iris!

Yes, please do the rest!

Just by calling her name, Iris seemed to have guessed everything. Breathtaking coordination is probably what I would call it.

Iris pushed the skeleton soldier away with a thud using her left-hand shield and then back-stepped away.

I run past her and quickly approach the skeleton soldier.

Got it!

Goooooo!

When the skeleton soldier regained its stance, I had already pressed the Yggdrasil branch against its ribs.

A flash of green popped, and the skeleton soldier disappeared.

No enemy reinforcements appear

For the moment, we can assume that the place is safe.

Thanks, Kou.

Nice moves there, too.

Iris and I raised our left hands to each other and gave each other a vigorous high-five.

Master-san and Iris-oneesan, youre breathing perfectly together!

Surara shouted happily.

Behind him, Lily looked surprised.

Kou-san, that branch is so powerful!

I was surprised too. I didnt expect it to be over in an instant.

Ill try my best to chant faster, too.

Lily seemed to be competing with the branches, her eyes shining with motivation.

Lily-oneechan! An ancient magician told me that fast speech is the best way to speed up your chanting!

Fast-speech, you say?

Yes!

Surara nodded, opened his mouth wide, and said,

Red water strider is delicious! [T/n: He said amenbo akaina oishi.]

Red water strider is delicious?

Are you eating it?

Iris couldnt help but put in a tsukkomi.

Perhaps the correct phrase is amenbo akaina aiueo, which is a vocal exercise, not a rapid speech exercise. [T/n: Click HERE for more info.]

After that, we continued to follow the shortest route to the downstairs, looking at the [Auto Mapping] map with my eyes to the side.

Each time we stepped into a new room, a number of skeleton soldiers attacked us, but we were able to get through them smoothly, thanks in part to the forced purification process of the branches.

Eventually, we reached the room before the last room.

Skeleton soldiers attacked or no.

We had killed about 30 or more of them, and they must have been wiped out by now.

Ara?

Iris suddenly shouted as if she had noticed something.

Hey, Kou. There wasnt a single trap on this floor, was there?

Certainly, yes.

Could a skeleton soldier be a replacement for a trap?

Lily tilted her head.

But I have a feeling that if they are going to intercept an intruder, it would be better to place the skeleton soldier and the trap together in the same room.

In that case, though, the skeleton soldier is likely to get caught in the trap.

Based on the battle so far, I think the skeleton soldier is not that clever a monster. Therefore, it seems highly likely that they will inadvertently self-destruct in a trap.

Anyway, the next room is the last one. Lets be on our guard.

We step into a narrow passageway. We went straight ahead, but then we came to a turn to the right.

Its a little scary not being able to see whats ahead.

I have a bad feeling about this.

I looked back at Iris, who seemed to be feeling the same thing I was, and said

It kind of makes my skin tingle. How about you, Lily?

I feel a lot of evil.

Master-san. Maybe there is a lot of undead waiting.

Thats a possibility.

I nodded to Suraras words.

After breaking through the third floor, were on the fourth floor, where Elder Lich is located.

Its kind of a standard thing with a large number of supporting characters waiting in front of the boss character.

I quietly stick my head out of the corner and look over there.

The distance to the last room is about ten meters. And inside the room, skeleton soldiers were gathering in droves.

There were probably more of them than we had defeated so far.

After thinking for a while, I said to the others,

Im going to surprise them from the front. At the count of five, I want you all to come with me.

Kou-san, isnt that called a frontal attack, not a surprise?

Lily makes a calm comment. Beside her, Iris nodded in agreement.

So youre going to use theGod Speed Blessing EX, right?

How did you figure that out?

Weve known each other for a long time. If you attack at super-speed, thats certainly a surprise attack.

Thats what I mean.

Be careful, Master-san.

Thank you, Surara. Well, Im off.

I told him that and ran out of the turn.

As soon as I ran into the last room, I immediately activatedGod Speed Blessing EX.

My concentration explodes, and my thoughts accelerate. In a world that seemed to stand still, only my body moved normally.

I look around at my surroundings. More than a hundred skeleton soldiers were waiting in ambush in the room.

With this number I can do it.

I set up the Yggdrasil branch and turned it into a gale.

Haaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh!

I swung the branch, and swung, and swung, and kept on swinging.

Then, I stopped just before the stairs and deactivatedGodspeed Blessing EX.

The next moment, the time that had stopped began to flow.

Popopopopopopopopop!

Over a hundred flowers of light bloomed at once. The scene was fantastic and beautiful.

Phew.

Is this a total annihilation?

No, there were only three of them left in the corner of the room.

Shaaaaaaaaaa!

Skeleton soldiers rush toward me with their orichalcum swords at the ready.

I didnt move on purpose.

There was no need to move.

Holy Lightning!

Lily, who came later, brandished her tin cane. A bolt of lightning shot out from the tip of the tin cane, obliterating the three skeleton soldiers.

Lily, nice follow-up.

Thank you very much. I did my best for a bit.

Lily rushed toward me and bowed her head.

Iris and Surara also came up behind her.

This must be the end of the third floor.

Master-san! Were almost there! Lets do our best!

Yeah, youre right. Lets have a strategy meeting while we wait for our magic to recover.