#########--#########
They entered the boss area.
It was very spacious, it actually looked like a throne room.
Yuuki was the one in front, Kouki was following a few steps behind on his right, Shimizu was on the far back behind them and the controlled monsters.
The Hydra was there, resting as if waiting for challengers.
There was something strange though.
Yukitoshi [...Three heads?]
Weird, the Hydra guarding the last room of the labyrinth should have six.
The white and black heads, their highest priority, were not there.
Red, blue and green.
Yukitoshi [...Isn't it a bit small? I was hoping for a Kaiju...]
It was a good distance away from them but although it was clearly bigger than the
'Something is not right'
The idea resounded in Yuuki's head.
He instinctively looked at the black spirit
Izanami [...?]
Yuuki decided to ignore the discomfort.
The Hydra is there, it's in their way to obtain the ancient magic and it should be defeated.
Kouki [...What should we do?]
Kouki was also confused, he had never seen the Hydra but still knew something was wrong.
He looked at Yuuki.
Yuuki [We defeat it]
Yuuki pulled out the blue colored wand, strange, both Kouki and Yukitoshi supposed he was going to use
Yukitoshi threw a good handful of pebbles, baptized as
The Hydra finally noticed their presence.
The moment it's 9 eyes detected the enemy, they prepared to attack.
Yuuki [("
")]Yuuki immediately burned his mana to the limit.
Pulled out a vial of "
Yuuki [("
Again dryed completely his mana pool and immediately drank another vial.
Yuuki [("
The red spirit, Susanoo, burned the stats that resulted of the skills he used to a new limit, not below what
Another vial.
Yuuki ["
The translucent blade was filled with clear blue mana.
The floor and wall, far but still in the direction where the blade was pointing at cracked.
For a moment it didn't look like a physical object but like a spell about to explode before it seemed to stabilize.
*Bang*
Yuuki disappeared.
The next instant, he was standing at the other end of the room.
One of the heads had disappeared.
Yuuki [...Eh?]
Weird, he was not expecting to actually kill a head in one hit, he only wanted to distract it.
Weird.
Why is the Hydra so weak?
Thinking about it, this can't be the
The Hydra is not a monster that can respawn after being killed...
...
...Wait a moment...
If the Hydra can't respawn, how did it appear to fight Nagumo Hajime?
Did Nagumo Hajime even fought the Hydra?
He definitely did.
The Nagumo Hajime he saw in Ul and in Orcus had an eye patch.
If he did, how?
Didn't Yuuki kill the Hydra?
...Did Yuuki kill the Hydra?
*-------_______++++----+-_________*
A thunderous roar from the lasting two heads.
The floor, the walls and ceiling were trembling.
It was not because of the roar, it was something else.
The wolves, rabbits, bear and lizard reacted with wariness.
Something was coming.
Kouki [Yuuki-kun! Should we retreat?!]
Yukitoshi [...I don't think we can]
The rumbling sound could also be heard from the entrance they used.
Another Hydra appeared.
It looked exactly the same as the one in the center of the room.
A third Hydra appeared crawling down one of the pillars.
Four, five, six...
A swarm of Hydras crawled into the room.
Yukitoshi [23, 24, 25... What a pain...]
Kouki [I think this is more than a pain]
Yukitoshi [Change the original strategy, the target is not an overwhelming single entity but numerous enemies]
He looked at the Hydra missing a head.
Yukitoshi [...It's not healing, let's just do as we did before, killing them before there's too many for us to fight]
*Snap*
With the dry sound of his fingers snapping, the wolves, rabbits, bear and lizard moved.
*Clap*
Then, Yukitoshi made strange signs with his hands.
He clapped his hands together before rotating them to different direction while the palms were still touching, the fingers bend like a cat's paw.
The marks in the Rune Stones in the floor lit up in black colored light.
For a moment Kouki was completely distracted by what he was doing, it took him a few seconds to understand he was doing magic.
Yukitoshi [Do you need an order too?]
Kouki [Sorry, don't mind me]
He unsheathed the holy sword.
And turned to a Hydra charging at him.
With a clean slash he split the body in half, the heads were unscratched but couldn't move.
With a second slash the three heads fell.
He immediately charged to the next Hydra.
Yuuki was still confused, there was something wrong with his head.
Is there something he's forgetting?
Yukitoshi [Retard, move]
Yuuki returned to reality.
They were surrounded by Hydras.
He reaffirmed his grip on the blue wand.
Yuuki ["
From the tip of the wand exploded a body of sky blue colored mana.
It charged at the Hydra that Yuuki had wounded and bit off its heads like a giand snake.
Yuuki swung the wand and the snake followed, chasing Hydras one after the other.
Yuuki and Kouki killed 10, 15, 20 Hydras in a few seconds.
They were definitely stronger than the other monsters in the labyrinth but far from what they expect from the boss of the labyrinth.
Still, the numbers weren't going down.
The only numbers going down were the monsters under them.
Monsters from the first floor of the abyss were little more than cannon fodder.
The bear, the last one standing was devoured by a pair of Hydras without being able to put much resistance.
Yukitoshi [...I'm done]
The aura of the whole room changed.
Yuuki and Kouki stoped.
The Hydras were acting strange, the numbers kept increasing but a few seconds after they mixed with the ones already in the room, they stopped and looked around confused.
One of the Hydras attacked another.
Not only one, multiple Hydras started killing each other.
Kouki [Shimizu-kun, did you-?]
Yukitoshi [Yeah, at lest this part of the plan was still... No, way more effective than it would have been against a single boss...]
His lips twisted in a grin.
Yuuki [There's a strange feeling, did the room became darker?]
Yukitoshi [Is a bit like a barrier, remember
Kouki [Incredible, did you think about that when we were planning a strategy?]
Yukitoshi [I told you I had tried it before, it was with Yaegashi by the way]
Kouki wanted to know what kind of illusion did he show to Shizuku but he probably will get angry so he stopped.
Yuuki [How is it not affecting us?]
Yukitoshi [It's called skill, is when you are good at doing something]
The number of Hydras diminished until only a few were left.
They had no problem finishing them off.
Kouki [Do these grow to become the boss?]
Yuuki [No, these are naturally born from the labyrinth, they probably made this floor they base now that Hydra is not here. They'll probably move somewhere else after they're to many to live here... Having so many running around free will probably affect the ecosystem though]
Yukitoshi [Still, even when something we didn't expect happened it was disappointing]
Kouki [It sounds like you wanted to have a hard time]
Yukitoshi [I do like wining, but it's more satisfying to win when it's difficult]
Kouki [That's a gamer's mentality if I ha-]
*Drip*
A strange sound of something spilling.
There was blood in the floor.
No a monster's, human blood.
*Thud*
Yukitoshi feel to his knees.
Kouki moved, grabbing onto him before his body could hit the ground.
Kouki [Shimizu-kun, What's wrong!? Can you hear me!?]
Yuuki ran over.
He analyzed him immediately.
He easily found the cause, something he had seen before.
Yuuki [He needs a place to lie down]
They immediately entered the last chamber of the Orcus Labyrinth, "The Maverick's Lair".
#########-Yuuki-#########
Kouki-kun put the unconscious Shimizu-kun in a certain bed that I guided him to.
I immediately stripped his upper body.
Kouki [...What is this...?]
The scar left by Nagumo Hajime was still there, but that wasn't what Kouki-kun was talking about.
Shimizu-kun's body had marks all over.
Veins, visible through his skin as if about to burst.
Huge bruises that made clear the veins will burst and that it will be pretty bad.
Yukitoshi [*Cough*]
He puked a huge load of blood.
Ears, nose, his closed eyes, he was bleeding from everywhere.
It wasn't only bleeding, it was like his body had been smashed inside out.
His magic circuit was burning.
Yuuki ["
I immediately started healing him.
Kouki [Why is he like this? Did he got hit by a weird attack from a monster?]
Yuuki [...No...]
This was no caused by a monster attack.
Kouki [Yuuki-kun, do you know what's happening to him?]
Yuuki [Yes, the problem is not what is happening... The problem is that I don't know why]
After the incident we had in the Orcus Labyrinth to save Cattleya-san, I noticed that Shimizu-kun was in a strange condition.
It was strange, but if I kept an eye on him, I thought I could take care of it if it happened again.
The problem was and still is that him being like this doesn't make sense.
Yuuki [It's like Shimizu-kun's body was being burned as a consequence of using a level of magic he shouldn't be able to]
Still, he didn't use anything as impressive as that.
Shimizu-kun is a magic genius, still, he only used magic that is in the range of possibility for him to use.
Kouki [Could the
Yuuki [No... It's the complete opposite actually]
I grabbed one of the Rune Stones.
Yuuki [This is the crystalization of "easing the strain" on spellcasting]
Shimizu Yukitoshi is a magic genius, this complete overhaul in magic technology is the proof of that.
Yuuki [If the concept of Rune Stones reach the outside world, it would be the end of the magic that has been known until now]
He thought and made this walking in the road, if it's properly studied and developed... The mages in ages to come would not only be the ones expected to have a staff or some kind of catalyst but also the less talented in magic that can more easily reach new heights thanks to this "disposable" artifact.
...That's precisely why I don't understand...
Yuuki [If Shimizu-kun passing his limits is not the reason of his current state... Then the only other cause is what happened to Nagumo Hajime]
Kouki [...You mean "becoming a monster"?]
I nodded.
Yuuki [But that doesn't make sense, Yukitoshi not only has not done anything to cause this change to happen, he shouldn't even know it's possible]
The reaction is becoming more severe, at this rate, he will reach a point when, unless there's some kind of intervention, he won't be able to use magic without his body breaking apart.
Still, I need to know, how did Shimizu-kun's body became like this without me noticing-
'Shimizu-kun, do you know what happens with a spell when you hinder the process before it's finished?'
Yuuki [...Ah...]
Kouki [Hm?]
Kouki-kun noticed my strange reaction.
Yuuki [...I think... No, I'm sure I know why Shimizu-kun's body became like this]
Kouki [You do? That's great! Then we can solve the cause-]
Yuuki [It's actually my fault]
Kouki [Eh?]
Judging by his reaction I was probably making a strange face.
I explained to him how it happened.
Yuuki [-And that's why right now, Shimizu-kun's magic circuit is working almost ten times harder and consuming ten times more mana to use low or middle rank magic]
Kouki [...Yuuki-kun... Are you actually... Not very smart?]
Yuuki [Eh? Did you think I was?]
That's weird, I don't think I ever acted as if I was specially smart.
Kouki [No, I mean, you yourself said it was SIMILAR to how Nagumo-kun became a monster, right?]
Yuuki [I haven't done it before, I thought that if I only affected the magic circuit and it's connection to his body minimally it wouldn't reach... Well, this point precisely...]
Hearing Kouki-kun saying it like that and replanting it in my head it DOES sound like this is how it was going to end.
Well, I'm good at
...Maybe I should have taken that in count beforehand...
Kouki [...Is there a way to solve it?]
Yuuki [Well, there actually is, in fact, we have a living example walking around somewhere]
Kouki [You mean Nagumo-kun?]
I nodded.
Yuuki [The only option we have is to forcefully accelerate the process in a controlled environment... Like, say, right here]
Kouki [A monster Shimizu-kun... I'm not dying to see another Nagumo-kun if I'm honest]
We have a solution so we waited until Shimizu-kun woke up to explain it to him.
Yukitoshi [So, the reason I've been dying for close to two weeks is because of you]
He was grabbing my head with a lot of strength, it was good seeing him this healthy so fast.
Yukitoshi [And? What's the solution?]
Yuuki [More than a solution, we can force it to happen faster, instead of in an unknown place and time, if it happens when we can use magic to respond accordingly...]
Yukitoshi [And if we don't?]
Yuuki [You will reach a point when realistically speaking, you won't be able to use the simplest magic without half killing yourself and if it's at a critical moment you may as well die]
Yukitoshi [You mentioned "becoming a monster", what does that mean?]
Kouki [It's like what happened to Nagumo-kun, I guess you noticed he had an image change, it happened when he ate monster meat, it caused to his body the same thing that is happening to yours right now]
Yukitoshi [Is that so?]
Yuuki [Being honest, I didn't want to put this in the table this early, specially reaching a point where you have no choice... Knowing you, the moment you hear that you can become stronger by eating monster meat, you would have ordered me to cook it for you]
I do feel bad, this happened because of my mistake.
Still, in a way, we ended at a point that probably was inevitable.
Yukitoshi [I see, I refuse]
Yuuki [I see, I'm not exactly surprised-...]
...
...Hm?
Yuuki [Shimizu-kun, can you say that again? I think I heard wrong]
Yukitoshi [I'm not interested in throwing away my humanity]
My stomach felt empty and cold when I heard his answer.
Kouki [...Shimizu-kun, can I ask you why exactly is that?]
Before I could say something, Kouki-kun asked with an equally surprised face.
Kouki [You want to kill Nagumo-kun, don't you? I won't say I'm in favor of that but, wouldn't becoming a monster like him be the most effective way?]
He took the question from my mouth.
Yukitoshi [Don't compare me to Nagumo, I don't need to become a monster to be strong]
His voice was calm but his words had a weight that simply couldn't be ignored.
I looked at Kouki-kun, he turned to look at me at the same time.
Our reaction was probably the same.
I don't know what Kouki-kun was thinking but I slowly understood what was happening in my own head.
I was feeling guilty.
I didn't expect Shimizu-kun's answer and reasoning at all.
His declaration was not only proof that I still didn't understand the person called Shimizu Yukitoshi...
It also meant that my mistake was going to take away from him something that he didn't want to lose.
Yuuki [...Sorry...]
That's the only word I could mutter.
Yukitoshi [Don't botter, if you don't know a wey to solve this then I'll just find one myself]
Again, he talked calmly.
Yuuki [...No...]
Yukitoshi [Hm?]
Yuuki [I did this, I won't leave my mistake for you to solve]
Yukitoshi [...And what are you planning to do?]
Yuuki [I don't know, but I'll make sure you don't have to throw away your humanity even if it's the last thing I do]
Yukitoshi [..I see, then I'll leave it to you...]
He fell back on the bed.
Yukitoshi [...Thinking about it, where are we? Where did you found this comfy bed?]
Yuuki [Oh, right, this is the deepest room in the Orcus Labyrinth, the Maverick's Lair, that's the bed that Hajime-san and Yue-san used after clearing the labyrinth]
Kouki [...I was fearing that so I didn't want to ask...]
When I noticed the bed was thrown directly to my face.
I'm glad Shimizu-kun is healthy again.
##################
Yukitoshi [What a complete waste of time]
After Shimizu recovered completely, we claimed our reward for conquering the labyrinth.
...The thing is...
Kouki [...I think I understand... Maybe? No, I'm sure I can use this magic]
Kouki-kun seems to have a good enough affinity with this magic.
So does Shimizu-kun...
Let's just say that is not as good as with gravity magic and he doesn't like that.
Yukitoshi [The only thing worth anything from coming to this labyrinth was Amanogawa and his actual worth is still undecided]
We did end up losing the army of monsters against the Hydras(mob type), we were expecting that though.
Still, creation magic is still a great asset.
Shimizu-kun is acting like that but I'm sure he probably will find a way to use it that I can't even imagine.
Yukitoshi [Isn't there something else we can take from here? A secret weapon or something?]
If there was something like that here, Hajime-san would have already taken it.
Kouki [Still... So that was Oscar Orcus...?]
The message, the will of the person that had created the labyrinth had ended right before they obtained the ancient magic.
Yukitoshi [Annoyingly good looking if you ask me, he kinda pissed me off]
Yukitoshi-kun looked around the room looking for something to take.
Yuuki [The last time I came here his skeleton was sitting on that chair actually, Hajime-san probably put him to rest somewhere]
More than probably, he actually did.
The Maverick's Lair became Oscar Orcus's proper burial site.
Yukitoshi [...I'm almost sure I've seen this one before... I can't pinpoint where though...]
Yukitoshi-kun found something.
A huge two-handed black sword.
If I'm not wrong that's the sword that can kill a dragon in a single swing... Or that's what it's supposed to be.
Kouki [Should we go and pay respects?]
Yuuki [I don't think there's a problem with that]
##################
In front of us was the grave of Oscar Orcus.
A monument was marking it's place so it was quite easy to find.
*Clap*
?
Kouki clapped his hands and closed his eyes.
Kouki [...Hm? Oh, we do this in our country to pay respects]
Yukitoshi-kun was not doing it though.
Although he was not saying anything so that may be something.
*Clap*
I clapped my hands together and closed my eyes.
Sorry for not doing this the last two times I was here.
Miledi-san is doing well.
Thanks for your hard work.
With this, the Orcus Labyrinth was officially conquered.
##################
Now we have a problem.
More than it being a problem, it's a hard decision...
What are we going to do next?
The exit of the labyrinth will teleport us pretty much to Miledi-san's place.
From there, we can go to most of the other labyrinths.
Still, going to the sea of trees would be a bit of a waste of time.
I don't have the proofs of conquering the labyrinths anymore, even if we go there we can't get in.
Will we go to
I guess that's the best option.
Yukitoshi [Let's go back to
Yukitoshi-kun said without much care.
Yuuki [I would love to go see Miledi-san, but why?]
He pointed at Kouki.
Yukitoshi [This useless Hero, he needs to learn
Yukitoshi-kun seems to want to have Kouki as our vanguard.
I'll admit that sounds ideal.
Having Kouki learn all the ancient magic in the labyrinths as a priority makes all the more sense.
Kouki [No, don't bother with me, we also don't have time]
I understand what he means, still, thanks to the fact that Cattleya-san didn't become a bridge between Nakamura Eri and the demon race we actually earned a bit of time.
I hope we did at least.
Yukitoshi ["Time"?]
He walked at Kouki and looked at him right in the eyes.
Yukitoshi [How much time we waste and whether it's worth it or not will depend on you]
It was not a suggestion and he was not asking.
Our next destination is the Reisen Labyrinth.