CH 29

“…”

I move through the “Maze” in silence, eliminating every monster I come across.

Whether it’s thanks to this or not, my head is slowly cooling down.

“Hah hah…”

“Phew…”

In contrast to me, Toki-san and Sora-san, who have simply signed a normal contract with God, appear to be growing weary in both their bodies and spirits and their breathing is beginning to sound raspy.

Even if we haven’t yet encountered any other groups, I suppose we should consider leaving right now.

“Both of you. It’s time to pull out.”

“What!? We can still continue on, Akira onee-sama… ugh!?”

“I understand. Considering the journey back, I’m close to my limit.”

In reaction to Sora-san’s attempt to object to my suggestion, Toki-san covers her lips with her palm.

I do appreciate that you are trying to drive yourself to the edge, but now is not the time to push yourself too hard. That’s something that should be thought about and acted upon.

“Muu… I understand… huh!?”

“What’s wrong?”

“Well, just at the crossroads there, on the left, there is…”

And at this moment, Sora-san unexpectedly becomes somewhat pale and gestures with a trembling hand at the crossroads in the direction we are going.

She seems to have discovered something, and based on her response… I can assume what transpired.

“A corpse?”

“!?”

“Yes… there is a dead male candidate along with a lot of clay…”

“Okay. You don’t need to look any further. Toki-san. I’ll take a look.”

“Be careful. Akira-san.”

After receiving the anticipated reply, I pass the trembling Sora-san over to Toki-san and continue alone to the left at the crossroads.

“…”

There, I am confronted with the corpse of a male candidate with only his upper body and neck bent in a strange direction, and innumerable pieces of clay lying around the corpse.

I take a recognition card off the corpse after approaching it and verify the name on it.

It has Akakara Jiro’s name written on it, who belonged to the same group as Rizuo-kun.

In other words, if what Rizuo-kun claimed is genuine, Kakitori Kio’s metamorphosis into a monster and subsequent rampage occurred at this place.

[Even so, the monsters and this corpse were all struck by a single blow. That is quite an extraordinary power.]

“(Hypothetically speaking, would it be possible to win if I encountered him and fought him?)”

[I wouldn’t say it’s impossible, but it would be severe. If he approaches too closely, neither Akira nor I, who specialize in long-range combat, can prevail given he possesses a potent regenerating ability and a ludicrous strength.]

“(I see.)”

Ys speculates on the power of the being who did this to the corpse and the clay, and I ask her if I can put up a fight, but it seems to be a tough fight, judging from the bitterness in her voice.

After praying lightly over his corpse, I turn my back to the corpse and go back to the two of them.

And just as I catch sight of the two of them…

“An explosion!?”

“!?”

Our ears are pierced by the distant sound of an explosion that is unmistakably the result of a battle.

“Akira-san!”

“Akira onee-sama!”

As the two of them run up to me, I am in a state of disorientation.

There is no doubt in my mind that our allies are in the area where the sound of the explosion has reached us.

However, given that the corpse of Akakara Jiro has been found here, it is highly possible that Kakutori Kio is one of the hostiles.

Fighting this level of existence in a situation where both of them are exhausted is something to be avoided.

“Let’s go! We don’t have time to hesitate!”

“Come on, Akira onee-sama!”

But even so, they both take off running. There is no trace of exhaustion, only impatience on their faces.

They may have disregarded themselves in favor of saving their friends.

There is only one thing I can do in this circumstance.

“I get it. Let’s move.”

And then I set off with the two of them in the direction from which the sound of the explosion emanated.

————-

“That’s…”

By the time we draw near to the place where the explosion was heard, there is a strange-looking monster…. but one that is not listed in the textbook.

We keep a low profile in the passageway’s corner and observe it as it appears to be searching for something.

“Manmarinba.”

From the sphere sprouted dozens of thin metal tubes and two arms carrying plectrums, with several wooden planks of different lengths floating around it, which it occasionally struck with the plectrums in its arms.

Even if this sphere is a monster, the amount of red crystals that are sprouting from it rather than its appearance is what strikes me as odd.

Under normal circumstances, there is only one red crystal growing out of a monster’s body. But this one has at least two, from what I can see at this distance.

No matter how I think about it, this is something out of balance.

“(Ys. What is that monster? Why does it have more than one red crystal?)”

[It is likely that sphere is the master of this ‘Maze’. The master often has more than one red crystal.]

“(If it’s the master… does that mean this maze will disappear if that thing is defeated?)”

[That’s right. But it’s not that simple.]

When Ys says that much, a fireball like the one we have witnessed on occasion strikes the main body of the “Maze” and blasts it.

Toki-san and Sora-san both briefly exhibit delight upon seeing it, but their faces quickly become grave.

The reason is simple and clear.

“Mammariba.”

This is due to the fact that the master, who was supposed to be directly hit by the assault, sustained no damage at all.

”Ma, rinba!!”

[[[!?]]]

A tube that has grown out of the master’s body is aimed towards the direction of the fireball as if to launch a counterattack, and something with a great deal of noise and flashes of light is issued from it.

I don’t even need to think about what would happen… if that thing hit us.

“…Sora-san. Any idea where our allies are that should be nearby and under what circumstances?”

“Uh… they seem to be in the direction the sphere is facing, but they can’t escape because it’s a dead end. Also, there are several wounded.”

“I see… (Ys, can we beat that thing with our forces?)”

[It’s tough to say without knowing more about its abilities. However, it will perish like a typical monster if all the red crystals are crushed.]

“(I see.)”

When I ask Sora-san about the location and situation of the candidates who are supposed to be fighting against the master, I can understand why they don’t try to run away from that thing. I then ask Ys if it is possible to fight against that thing.

I should probably decide to leave if my group is all that’s on my mind.

But if we escape, the girls will be hunted down and killed by the master of this “Maze”.

I can’t allow that to happen, notwithstanding the fact that I have a contract with Ys. Besides, if we flee from this place, I will never be strong enough to fight that woman no matter how long time elapses.

If that’s the case…

“I got it. It will be a burden for both of you, but I’ll save everyone somehow.”

“Yes.”

“I understand.”

There is only one course of action that our group could take.