Chapter 38
Labyrinth Day 11.
Rize discovered a door in Cave No. 8.
“I judged that exploring beyond the door could be dangerous, so I marked its position on the map and came back.”
I received the map from Rize.
Looking at the map, the door wasn’t far away.
It was closer than the door leading to the fields.
【Mysticism】─
I thought the Centauress, a wandering tribe, might know about this door.
Since they’ve roamed all around the labyrinth.
So I assigned her the guide role.
I called her over and showed her the map.
“Centauress.”
[Yes. Have you finally decided to mate?]
“Stop with the weird comments. Do you happen to know where the door located around here leads to?”
[Are you talking about the door?]
The Centauress narrowed her eyes and examined the map closely.
[Hmm. I can’t tell just from the map. Since it’s not too far, I’ll go see it myself.]
She said that and dashed off to Passage No. 8 with the map in hand.
*
Not long after, the Centauress returned.
[I’m sorry, Explorer. The door marked on the map seems to be one I don’t know.]
“It’s okay. If you don’t know, it can’t be helped.”
I wasn’t disappointed.
Well, it’s possible she wouldn’t know.
Though the Centauress belongs to a nomadic tribe, she probably hasn’t explored the entire labyrinth.
“No matter what, she can’t have full knowledge of the labyrinth’s geography. It’s said to be unexpectedly vast, you know.”
The Centauress returned the map to me.
Then, she scratched her head awkwardly.
From her expression, she seemed a bit hurt in pride.
I could understand why.
She confidently declared that since she had roamed the labyrinth, she would take care of all the guidance.
[Maybe it’s been too long since I’ve been there, so I can’t remember. If I open the door and cross over, memories might come back…]
“It’s fine. I’ll decide later whether to go through that door or not, so just relax for now.”
[…Understood.]
If I had known this would happen, I should have made a map myself. I should get into the habit of recording.
The Centauress muttered that and turned her back with a sulky face.
Just then, a Dog Spider dashed over to her.
[Shii, shii!]
The Dog Spider climbed onto the Centauress’s back.
It comforted her by stroking her head with its legs.
After nodding, he conveyed Ha Yumi’s words to the Centauress.
[…Your assistant seems to be a really kind person. Thank you for your concern.]
Finally, the Centauress’s face lit up a bit.
*
Labyrinth Day 12.
While exploring Passage No. 8 in the morning, I discovered a pond.
【Mysticism】─
After marking the pond’s location on the map, I returned to my dwelling for lunch.
After finishing the meal, I took all the monsters and Orakans to the pond in the afternoon.
“Ooh! There’s water in such a place!”
“Finally, I can wash up!”
“What a relief. I’ve been so itchy since yesterday.”
Splash!
The Orakans took off their outer clothing and jumped into the pond.
Unlike Rize, who stripped down to their underwear without hesitation, Terio and Ayula wore underwear over their important parts.
After they entered…
The monsters started hopping into the pond one by one.
[Shii!]
[Pii!]
[Piiiii~]
Dog Spider, Jellyfish, Medical Mushroom.
After the three entered…
[Terio! Ayula! Today, I’ll teach you how to dance in the water! Watch carefully and follow along!]
Immediately, the Hedgehog Summoner jumped high and dove into the pond.
Then,
[Huh, Huff! Huff!!! The water’s so deep! I can’t float! Help me!!!]
She flailed underwater, desperately asking for help.
Looks like she can’t swim.
【Mysticism】─
Just so you know, the pond wasn’t deep.
It was just that the Hedgehog was small and couldn’t reach the bottom.
Terio and Ayula clapped as they watched the Hedgehog struggling to come up.
“Oh. Is that the dance you do in the water?”
“That’s quite a dazzling dance. I’ll memorize it, Master.”
[Phew! Stop the nonsense! Help me quickly!!!]
The Hedgehog started sinking more and more.
[Help me!!! This isn’t a dance!!!]
At that moment, the Psycho Clown, who had followed along giggling, lifted the Hedgehog with both hands.
[Kirik! You’re an idiot.]
[Th-thank you! I nearly drowned!]
[Kirik! Since your legs are short, just ride on my shoulders.]
[Got it! But my legs are long! I’m just short!]
Two monsters still hadn’t entered.
Only Black Magma Slime and the Centauress.
The Centauress was standing there, staring at me blankly without entering.
“What are you doing? Aren’t you going to wash?”
[I was waiting to enter together with you, Explorer.]
“You can just come in first.”
[I want to go in together.]
“…Alright. I’ll take off my clothes now, so just wait a bit.”
I pulled down my pants.
Swallow.
I heard a gulp.
Looking up, the Centauress was licking her lips, staring intently at my lower body.
“What are you looking at?”
[I’m sorry.]
The Centauress blushed and turned her head.
Then she muttered softly.
[It’s quite heavy. Hehe.]
Crazy girl.
I pretended not to hear it.
In any case, I was now ready to enter.
I hadn’t been wearing any top anyway.
“How can I? You guys are watching.”
“I wish you wouldn’t say something like blocking assistance until the end.”
【Pururu】─Haha;
At first, I thought about briefly blocking assistance to strip.
But then I realized there are females among the Orakans, so I gave up.
That pervert is also a woman.
So, I entered the pond, holding the Black Magma Slime under my arm.
Only then did the Centauress enter the pond.
The Slime wasn’t brought in to wash.
I had another purpose for bringing it along.
“Magma Slime, could you raise the heat just a little?”
[Sure!]
The Magma Slime released a bit of heat.
Just then, steam began to rise from the pond.
That was the reason I brought the Slime with me.
“Alright, that’s enough. This should do.”
[Sure!]
The cold pond transformed into a warm, cozy temperature like a hot spring thanks to the Magma Slime.
“The water has warmed up!”
“Perfect temperature!”
“Ah, it feels nice and warm…”
The Orakans reacted quite positively.
As the water warmed, the monsters also looked drowsy.
‘So refreshing to dip my body in water after a long time.’
The uncomfortable feeling vanished completely.
With the warmth spreading through my body, I felt fatigue melting away.
“That would be nice.”
I asked Pururu to send over a washing basin as well.
I need to use shampoo and body wash outside the pond.
Can’t have the water getting contaminated.
Anyway, today was a happy day as I could finally wash up after a long time.
*
Labyrinth Day 13.
“Thank you, Gauntlet. I will never forget the grace of saving us and providing for us. I vow to repay that grace for a lifetime.”
It was time to say goodbye to the Orakans.