Depths of the Otherworldly Labyrinth (WN) – Chapter 233

After that confession, I don’t remember much of what happened.

All I know is where I am now.

The din of the tavern echoes in my ears. The clinking of dishes. The sound of people chewing their food heartily, heedless of etiquette. The loosened tongues from alcohol, accompanied by booming laughter. Sometimes, angry shouts would be met with cheers and amusement. It’s the background music of people enjoying their well-earned rest at the end of the day.

This is a tavern.
And it’s nighttime.
The rough adventurers, having finished their exploration of the labyrinth, are here, reveling in the fact that they are alive. More than half of the noise is laughter. Just being here would lift anyone’s spirits. Everyone comes here for that peculiar sense of exhilaration, drowning their sorrows in drink.

However, I—

“Ugh, whoa, that’s rough… What happened, Christ kid?”

Amidst the clamor, I hear the voice of an acquaintance, the warrior Crow.
But my vision is still pitch black, and the world is consumed by darkness.
Still lying face down on the table, I don’t even have the energy to lift my head to greet him. Even when Lynn, the staff member, approached, it was the same.

“Huh? What’s this? Christ-kun, what happened…?”

After that confession at the great cathedral, we were given a generous reception and then politely sent on our way.
However, the memories of that reception and the journey home are blurred by shock. I don’t remember what happened after that, or where I went.

“Did you go to your ex-girlfriend to beg for her back, and get rejected harshly…?”

Titty voices the reason for my shock without hesitation.
A sadness like being stabbed in the back with a dagger washes over me.

“Pfft, puk! Seriously? Is that story for real?”
“Ehh?! Eeeeeh!?”

Then, Crow and Lynn exclaim loudly, twisting the dagger in my back. I want to believe it’s my imagination that their voices carry a hint of glee.

“At least, that’s how it looked to me, a mere child.”
“Haha, that’s hilarious— I mean, my condolences!”
“Ehh, why!? Hey, Titty-san, why, why!?”

Lifting my face is now impossible.
No, I had no intention of moving in the first place…

“Oh, is that what this is about… Alright, I’m going back to the shop. You guys, I’ll leave it to you.”

It seems the shop manager also came to check on me out of concern.
But as soon as he realized it was about a love affair, he withdrew. I knew it from the sound of his retreating footsteps.

“Shop manager, you can’t just leave it to us… U-um, Christ-kun, cheer up! You have so many girls, Christ-kun! I heard you’ve been charming them everywhere!”

Lynn, who was left to handle the situation, offers a terrifying form of encouragement.
I thought I had no desire to do anything, but this misunderstanding was so dangerous I felt compelled to correct it, and slowly began to move my body and mouth.

“I-I don’t… That’s just slander…”

Seeing that I reacted after being so still, Crow followed up with his own encouragement.

“Christ kid, it’s not just one girl! If you’re feeling down, I’ll take you somewhere good! A place to clear your head and find your next woman!”
“No… I’ll pass on that…”

But all their encouragement was so completely off the mark it was baffling.

“Kanamin! This is what happens when you try to have an affair! This time, say those words to our friend Nosfy! I think oddly enough, everything will work out and you’ll be happy!”
“Titty, please be quiet for a moment.”
“Wha-!? You’re harsh only to me!?”

Everything Titty says is problematic.
I appreciate her kindness in calling Nosfy a friend, but her choice of words was undeniably terrible.

When I quieted Titty with a low voice, it was Liner’s turn next.
However, unlike everyone else, his voice was serious.

“So, what are you going to do now, my master? Are you going to stop here? Or are you going to give up on Rustiara completely?”

His voice brought back a sliver of my composure and strength.
I thought Liner, a knight, was testing me, his master.
I had an obligation to answer him.

I knew it from the beginning.
Nothing could go perfectly.
The world isn’t kind, so it’s natural to stumble countless times as long as you live. That’s precisely why you must always keep your heart strong and look ahead.

“No, Liner. You’re both wrong…!”

I stood up straight, raised my head, and looked at Liner.
Emerging from the darkness, I saw the light of the world.
The daze was over. I had had enough time to organize my thoughts.

“I didn’t confess with such a half-hearted feeling that I could give up so easily. And of course, I have no intention of stopping.”
“Oh? If it’s neither, then what will you do?”
“I’ll take some time, and then I’ll go talk to her again, in perfect condition. Today, I think the problem was rushing the confession. And there were other things to discuss.”
“…You’re going to confess again?”
“Of course. I believe Rustiara is the one destined person for me in this world. I have no intention of ending it today.”

The answer that came from organizing my thoughts was one. That is, that’s how it is.
Thanks to Liner, the words that had been stuck in my throat finally came out smoothly.

Ah, that’s right.
People should be united with their one destined soulmate.
And for me, that destined person was Rustiara.
Perhaps because my Skill “???” became “Oathbound of the Deepest Part,” or perhaps because my heart grew stronger after overcoming the battle with Palinkron. Or perhaps for some other reason. Now, finally, I realize it and am certain of it.

“Destined person…? But she rejected you so decisively. She must think it’s over.”
“No, thinking back now calmly, I think there was another reason for her rejection just now… At that time, Rustiara was angry with me. It didn’t feel like it was just about my flippancy. If I can fix that, then perhaps—”
“But you might be rejected again and again. No matter how hard you try, the possibility of it all being in vain seems high. Even so…?”

I’m trying to speak positively, but Liner keeps confirming with a grim expression. He might think I’m a pathetic, clingy man.
But my feelings won’t change.
Of course. If you could give up on the person you love just because your confession was rejected, it wouldn’t be love or affection from the start.

“Even so. Even if I’m rejected repeatedly, I don’t care. Even if it’s all for nothing. Because I’m not saying I like Rustiara for any reward. —Even if this feeling is something that will never be fulfilled, my thoughts won’t change. No matter the outcome, I will continue to wish for Rustiara’s happiness until I die. That much is absolute.”

So, I clearly told Liner what was obvious.

“…H-huh. You think that way, Christ…? Is this you not accepting the breakup? No, it’s not that you’re not accepting it, it’s more like… Hmm… Well, if that’s how Christ feels, then that’s fine too. …No matter how heavy the topic, I will cooperate.”

Liner, who had a grim expression, shrugged as if giving up. He seemed to have a lot he wanted to say personally, but he stepped back and promised his cooperation.

“Thank you, Liner. I knew you would understand.”
It’s reassuring to have this reliable knight as an ally.
With Liner by my side, I gain the courage to persevere.

“No, I’ll cooperate, but I don’t understand your peculiar view on romance… I’ll cooperate, but…”

And so, master and subordinate shook hands.
With the future policy clearly decided, vitality returned to my body. I stopped bowing my head and looked around at the faces of those nearby.

“Oh! Kanamin is back! Back, back!”
“Christ-kun, you’re so devoted… Or rather, is this devotion?”

Titty and Lynn rejoiced at my recovery, and then Crow put his arms around my shoulders, holding mugs of ale in both hands. Looking closely, Crow’s face was red. He seemed to have been drunk for quite some time.

“You’re back! I don’t know why, but drink up! Drink! Whether to forget or to celebrate, drinking is the best!”
“That’s right! Sometimes that might be good too! After all, this is a tavern!”

This is how problems are often solved here. Lynn agreed.
The white foam of the ale presented before my eyes rose with the aroma of barley.

“Alcohol…?”

It’s a completely unfamiliar drink.
I never even took a sip while working.

“I’m already drinking! Hmm, the sake tastes good with Kanamin’s money! Alcohol is good for forgetting unpleasant things!”

Many people drink to forget unpleasant things.
I saw many people who used alcohol to their advantage to start anew while I was working. Rather than forgetting, most people used it as a trigger to switch gears.
Perhaps because of my experience working at a tavern, I’m not that opposed to alcohol. Of course, excluding those who get overly drunk and bother others.

And my memory of today… it’s bad. Really bad.
A desperate, clumsy confession, an earnest plea to be with her, a firm rejection, and myself in embarrassed, dazed despair…

The ale in front of me suddenly looked appealing.

If I can switch my mood, I want to.
By my age, in my world, I shouldn’t be drinking this, but in this world, there are no age restrictions. There were days in my world when it was fine to drink without ceremony. As long as you use it properly, I don’t think it’s something to be so avoided.

“W-well then, since it’s offered, let’s have just a little…”

It was an invitation from Crow, a senior explorer.
Without outright refusing, I accepted a mug of ale.

I stare at it for a few seconds.
And then I let the liquid flow from my throat to my stomach.

Gulp, gulp, my Adam’s apple bobs.
It’s bitter, of course… but it’s refreshing.
The ale I swallow feels like it’s washing away all the stagnation clinging to my throat and body.
After finishing the mug of wooden cup, I fill my lungs with the cheerful atmosphere of the tavern.

“—Gulp. Ahhh.”
“Oh. Good drinking.”

My drinking method seemed to be correct. I didn’t work at a tavern for nothing.

A bitterness still lingers on the back of my tongue. But it’s not unpleasant. In fact, I even feel a sense of exhilaration. This is alcohol. Ale, huh? Well…

“This is my first time drinking alcohol, but it’s not bad.”
“—Wh-!? It’s your first time!?”

When I honestly admit it’s my first experience, the people around me look at me with curiosity. However, among them, only Liner lets out a voice of panic.

Indeed, I know it’s unusual for my age. But my sister strictly forbade me in my original world.
But strangely, I didn’t feel like adhering to that today. It’s as if something that had always bound me has come undone… an unprecedented sense of liberation. A mug or two of alcohol shouldn’t be a cause for such a fuss.

“C-Christ… are you alright? Are you really alright drinking alcohol?”
“I’m fine. At my age, everyone drinks. Besides, my body is quite sturdy.”
“If you’re fine, then good… but it could be a problem depending on how you get drunk…”

Only Liner persistently tried to dissuade me from drinking, in a roundabout way. But after Crow and the others went to such lengths, I had no intention of stopping after just one mug. Even the sensible Lynn is encouraging it, so it should be fine.

“I won’t drink more than is necessary. If I feel sick, I’ll stop immediately, so don’t worry, Liner.”
“No, isn’t this your first time experiencing drunkenness? You might not be able to tell if you’re drunk or not?”
“I think I can tell that much at least…”

I focus on the changes in my body.

My stomach is starting to feel a little warm. But it’s not an unpleasant warmth.
Even though it’s late at night and chilly, I feel like I’m basking in the warm spring sunshine within my body. My blood circulation is probably improving.

I don’t feel any decline in judgment yet. On the contrary, I feel like my head is clearer.
I feel no danger at all.
Most importantly, I have “Display.” If “Dead Drunk” appears in the Status Ailment section, I’ll stop there. The preventative measures are complete.

“H-hey, Christ. Your face is getting red. You should get used to it gradually—”
“Wait! Don’t stop him, Liner! This child will ensure he’s safe! If Kanamin goes wild, this child will restrain him!”
And then Liner is finally caught by Titty.

“Ah! Hey, let go! Restrain me if I get wild!? Are you going to start a battle like in the 66th Floor here!?”
“It’s okay, it’s okay! Liner is just worrying too much! That kind of battle doesn’t happen often!”
“If it wasn’t Christ and you drinking, I wouldn’t be worried! But it’s Christ and you, right!? If something happens, I’ll be the one left to clean up the mess!?”
“Fuhaha, even so, this child is an experienced drinker! I won’t be overcome by alcohol, so rest assured!”
“Really!? Your face is red! Your clothes are coming undone!? Looking at you now, I can’t trust you one bit!”
“M-my? M-mm? Indeed, my alcohol decomposition is slower than before…? Is it because the Guardian’s power has waned after the battle in the 66th Floor…?”

During Titty’s memory journey the other day, she couldn’t tolerate any poisons. But now, it seems slightly different. She appears to be genuinely affected by the alcohol.

“See! It’s not working, is it! For the safety of the shop— or rather, for the safety of this country, don’t drink! At least one of you stop drinking!”
“Haha, are you worried about that? Destroying the shop… No way, impossible!”
“That casual tone scares me! N-no, it’s no good!”

Although Titty spoke cheerfully with a red face, realizing that Liner would seriously take away the alcohol, she coughed and began to propose earnestly.

“—Ahem. However, Liner, if we let him get drunk, Kanamin’s true self might emerge. His true feelings, which he always hides, should spill out. What do you say? Doesn’t it sound interesting?”
“Christ’s true feelings…?”

Liner stopped dead in his tracks.
However, this makes me sound like a cold person who doesn’t open up to others. I assert to both of them, with a strangely rising laughter, that I have moved on from that.

“Haha, I always speak my true feelings. This is my true self.”
“That’s naive, Kanamin! Everyone has something they suppress! Unconsciously, you know!”
“E-eh…”

When it comes to unconscious things, I can’t retort.
But it is indeed an interesting story. A fascinating story. If I could know my own true feelings, which I myself don’t know, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. I’m curious too.

“Hmm, something unconsciously suppressed… Is it good to know that…?”
“That’s right, that’s right! Don’t overthink it! Anyway, let’s drink today! Come to think of it, we haven’t celebrated our return to the surface! We’ll be busy again starting tomorrow, so today should be fine!”

Titty simply seemed eager to make a fuss.
While I was in a gloomy mood due to the failed confession, she, having escaped a thousand years of underground life, probably felt like drinking until morning.
I felt bad for Titty to be the only one with a dark face.

“A celebration… Ah, it’s true we haven’t celebrated Titty’s return.”

This is much better than sulking.
Reason dictates that I must cast aside my regrets and start anew.

“—Then Titty, let’s toast.”

To move forward, I order another mug of ale.
My judgment… should still be fine.
—Probably.

Seeing this, Liner finally gives up.

“Sigh, I guess I have no choice… You’re both already quite drunk… But as a backup, I alone will absolutely not drink.”
He then asks Lynn for water. Naturally, Titty intercepts it.

“Ah, not water, but Liner, give him one too. Lynn-chan~.”
“Ah, seriously! You never listen! I said I’m not drinking!”
“Ehh, in this situation, only one person isn’t drinking? That’s totally unacceptable…”
“If I wake up and the shop is gone, or worse, the earth splits open! For world peace, I’ll drink!!”
“Now, now, don’t say that. Just a little. Here, just one sip. Just a lick, that’s all.”

And then Titty and Liner start grappling. Titty tries to get him to drink, while Liner firmly resists. Seeing them, I chuckle.

Thanks to my companions, I can feel my darkened world brightening.
I can feel myself slowly recovering, influenced by the people at the tavern.
Perhaps because I’ve grown in this different world, my emotional wounds heal faster.
Or rather, to be honest, this level of shock isn’t new to me. It’s just that the *type* of shock is something I never encountered with the “???” skill, which surprised me.

As I declared earlier—even if this feeling is something that will never be fulfilled, my thoughts won’t change. I will continue to think of Rustiara. That alone is enough.
I haven’t lost my companions, my memories, or my reason for existing. I am full of hope.

With that conclusion, I continue to drink.
Of course, during that time, Rustiara’s words cross my mind repeatedly. “—But, I’m not fond of Kanami,” and “Let’s say goodbye.”

I have no intention of forgetting with the help of alcohol. There’s no need to postpone it with the “Oathbound of the Deepest Part” skill.
I will face it head-on—and then, I will analyze.
That is my way of fighting.

Why was I “rejected”?
No, why was Rustiara angry?
Thinking back calmly now, I feel a slight incongruity in Rustiara’s reaction. At that moment, Rustiara’s lips were undoubtedly curved slightly. She didn’t seem displeased by the affection directed at her. Yet, the next moment, she became angry.
So— the timing of her anger was far too sudden.

Perhaps it’s thanks to the alcohol, but I can think calmly.
My agitation is minimal. Compared to when I was debating with Palinkron, I still have leeway.

I think it’s an unwelcome sense of calm, but I’m grateful for it nonetheless. And while chatting with everyone at the tavern and my companions, I immerse myself in thought.

—But, it’s getting late.

There was no time to find the answer.
In fact, my thoughts are starting to spin fruitlessly, and I get the feeling I’m going in circles.
While laughing, I feel consciousness beginning to drift away.

After several hours of chatting at the tavern, I feel the world receding from both my thoughts and vision, and I clutch my head.

“Huh, my eyes… Huh…?”

Ah, I guess I’m just tired from everything today, and I give in to the sleepiness.
It’s only the second day since I escaped my underground life.
My body must be crying out for rest.

Without thinking too deeply, I surrender to sleep.
To end the day—

—That was sleepiness, or the precursor to being dead drunk.
My judgment was impaired, so I couldn’t tell the difference.
And I would find out the next day.

I’ve been given character design materials for the commercial book, and I’ve been told I can use them, so I’ll post them at appropriate times.