We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The three of us have a difficult journey.
“How are you planning to find the exit?”
“Fufu, fufufu, I have no idea.”
The endlessly continuing corridors show neither the way forward nor the way back. How can we conquer such a labyrinth?
“Are we going back?”
“Are we going forward?”
Astel and the Puppet King ask which way we are headed.
So, I say.
“Hmm. What should we do?”
When I smiled, Astel kicked my shin with all their might!
“Ouch! I was just kidding. You really kicked me, didn’t you? If it wasn’t Astel, I would have been seriously injured and unable to escape.”
If a Demon General had kicked me, my leg would have blown off, right?
Since Astel was weak, it only hurt.
I rub my aching leg and sit down on the floor of Knasha-chan’s insides.
“It’s easy to walk on, and surprisingly comfortable to sit on.”
Moreover, I feel a warmth from it.
If only we weren’t lost in this labyrinth, we could rest here leisurely.
“Speaking of which, I feel like I haven’t rested since yesterday. I’m so tired.”
“Then, would you care to rest on my lap?”
“If we laze around like that, we’ll get digested by this giant creature.”
Did I scare them too much?
Astel doesn’t seem to have much composure.
Speaking of which, it’s been quite some time since we were separated from Toris, our bodyguard, and Sheria, our best friend cat.
Usually, Astel, with their fickle personality like a cat, messes with those around them, but as they say, they are as weak as a human.
Perhaps their heart is also as weak as their appearance suggests?
I can’t bear to keep Astel so worried all the time.
“Wait here for a moment. I’ll try to find a clue.”
I politely decline the Puppet King’s lap pillow and straighten my posture.
Then, I read the Dragon Vein.
“The Treasure Orb Palace cannot sense what’s ahead. This must be the Spirit Tree’s defense capability. However, if I can read the Dragon Vein…”
The Spirit Tree and the Dragon Vein are inseparable.
The Spirit Tree that quietly breathes within Knasha-chan’s belly also benefits properly from the Dragon Vein.
Therefore, if I can correctly read the flow of the Dragon Vein, I should be able to return to the Spirit Tree.
However, how can we return to the upper floors from this one-way labyrinth corridor with no exit…
It was while reading the flow of the Dragon Vein and contemplating that.
“Is that an unusual ceiling over there?”
The corridor continues endlessly.
No matter how long we walk, there are no branching paths, no rooms, not even dead ends.
Unchanging walls, the same ceiling. The floor of Knasha-chan’s insides.
And the Dragon Vein flowing through it.
However, when I concentrate my consciousness, I feel a slight stagnation in the flow of the Dragon Vein.
It’s as if the flow is being intentionally obstructed…?
“Both of you, this way.”
I take Astel and the Puppet King with me to the unusual ceiling.
“And even if there is a hole in the ceiling, how do we open it?”
“Are we going to destroy the ceiling?”
To their questions, I confidently puff out my chest.
“Fufufufu. I know more about the Treasure Orb Palace than both of you.”
To open the unopened doors of the Treasure Orb Palace, one must recite words of blessing.
Mistral had said something about it depending on the Spirit Tree’s feelings, but at least it’s an effective method for now.
“Uh, Reverentially Offer…”
“Your incantation is worse than Priscilla-chan’s.”
“If this would open the path, wouldn’t a vertical shaft leading upwards have opened if we had chanted in the first large hall?”
“He’s a foolish Dragon King, after all. He definitely wouldn’t have noticed.”
“Fufu, fufufu. That is indeed unfortunate.”
“Hey, no bullying me, you two!”
I’m too distracted, and my heart isn’t in the words of blessing. Yes, I forgot during the time in the hall! But that was because I was flustered and left behind underground!
The two stare at me with white eyes as I make excuses.
“Ahem, let’s get back on track. Both of you, chant with me.”
The three of us chant words of blessing towards the ceiling.
After sincerely reciting the words twice.
While holding our breath and watching to see if the ceiling would change, a change appeared in the faintly luminous pearl-like ceiling.
Slowly, a small hole began to form in the ceiling. The hole, initially the size of a fingertip, soon widened. And then, it became large enough for a person to pass through.
“The ceiling isn’t as thick here as it was in the hall?”
Back then, the thick ceiling continued far above, and I wasn’t sure if Spatial Jump would even reach it. However, this vertical shaft isn’t that thick. And beyond the gaping vertical shaft, we could see the dimly glowing upper space characteristic of the Treasure Orb Palace.
“Oh, a hole really did open. Then, I’ll create a ladder.”
Astel, saying so, immediately created a ladder extending to the upper floor with Material Creation.
“You didn’t have to make a ladder of pearls…”
However, it’s a needlessly luxurious ladder. Still, I’m thankful.
“We could have just used Spatial Jump, you know?”
“You idiot. What if you teleported to an unknown place and there was a trap?”
“It would be troublesome if Elnea-sama flew up alone and the hole closed, leaving us behind.”
“You two are also thinking for yourselves, aren’t you?”
I don’t feel even a tiny bit of that worry, but these two, who haven’t had much direct interaction with the Spirit Tree, are being cautious because they don’t know what might happen. Actually, the reactions of these two are correct, and I’m being too careless. But it can’t be helped. Because the opponent is the Spirit Tree, after all?
“Well then, I’ll go up first, so you two follow me.”
It should be alright if we climb the ladder together. So, I put my foot on the ladder first. The upper floor, which I climbed carefully, turned out to be a large hall.
“We’ve emerged into a sealed hall.”
“There must be a passage hidden somewhere in here.”
“Elnea-sama, please.”
As the three of us safely ascended to the upper hall, the vertical shaft connecting to the lowest floor closed. At that moment, the pearl ladder created by Astel was absorbed by the Treasure Orb Palace.
“The Treasure Orb Palace has absorbed Astel’s creation and gained fearsome new power!”
“What nonsense are you spouting? Hurry up and find the next passage or vertical shaft.”
“Elnea-sama, please refrain from making jokes.”
“…Yes.”
*Sniffle*. Even though the two of them aren’t at ease, isn’t my treatment a bit rough? I realize anew, as I act with these two, how much Mistral and the others truly care for me at all times.
*Sob sob*, shoulders drooping, I still valiantly try my best. I want to reunite with everyone soon and be comforted for my troubles!
The hall led to a new corridor. The three of us chanted words of blessing and opened the hidden door. As we proceeded through the corridor, we looked for the next path.
There was a hidden passage in an unremarkable wall. Sometimes, a door leading to a large hall was hidden. A vertical shaft was hidden in the ceiling, or just when we thought we had climbed up, we found stairs leading back down. Nevertheless, we pressed on. Trusting the flow of the Dragon Vein.
“No, honestly, this is too long!”
“Fufufu, subjectively it feels like we’ve been wandering for more than half a day?”
“I-I never imagined it would be this tough!”
Still, if this is a labyrinth designed to repel illegal intruders, it’s not supposed to be easy to escape. Nonetheless, it’s truly long.
I still have stamina, but Astel and the Puppet King, who have physical abilities similar to humans, are becoming quite fatigued. We don’t have to worry about food and drinks as Astel provides them, but an endless exploration truly takes a toll on the spirit.
But, we have no choice but to move forward. Astel and the Puppet King also seem to understand this, as they didn’t stop walking despite their complaints.
And so, we finally arrived.
“Unlike before, we’ve come to a grand, impressive great door.”
Yes. In the long, long labyrinth, the end was not a hidden door, nor stairs, nor a large hall, but a large and magnificent door.
“The patterns on the surface are of the Spirit Tree.”
“Does that mean the place beyond this door is the Spirit Tree’s hall?”
“Hmm? But I don’t recall seeing such patterns when we first came here?”
We look up at the great door.
“In any case, let’s all chant words of blessing as we have done so far.”
Unfortunately, if someone slacks off, new paths won’t be shown. We learned this during our journey so far.
“Reverentially, reverentially…”
The three of us chant words of blessing in unison. Then, the great door slowly began to open.
“Ooh…!”
And then, we saw it.
Beyond the great door. Unlike the entrance door, there was a small space. And in it, a mountain of beautifully shining pearls!
“By any chance, is this the Treasure Vault of the Treasure Orb Palace!?”
I plunge into the treasure vault, passing through the opened great door.
“You have managed to reach this point.”
“That voice is the Spirit Tree!”
“Yes, I have been waiting for you.”
The Spirit Tree’s voice echoes from somewhere. But I can’t see the Spirit Tree’s form or roots?
“There is a staircase beyond this room. If you climb it, you can return to where everyone is waiting.”
“Oh, so we can really return? Then, what about this mountain of pearls in this room…?”
“It’s a small reward for everyone who explored so thoroughly. However, was it unexpected to have someone with the ability of Material Creation?”
“Ah.”
It’s only now that I realize I was the only one excited by the piled-up pearls. That’s right. To Astel, who can create matter, they are practically worthless, aren’t they?
“Fufu, fufufu. In this modern era, where the North Sea has been sealed for a long time, pearls harvested from the sea are very precious jewels, aren’t they? Pearls that are this round and beautifully shiny are truly national treasures.”
The Puppet King says so, but doesn’t seem particularly interested. The Puppet King looks like a young girl, after all. If their mental age is also like that of a young girl, perhaps treasures that adults would appreciate aren’t very appealing.
“Well, I certainly am very, very happy! May I have these as souvenirs for my wives?”
The labyrinth was tough, but if there’s a reward like this, it feels worthwhile. As I rejoice, the Spirit Tree says.
“While waiting for the three of you, everyone came here and took what they liked.”
“W-what!?”
I am stunned. But it’s plausible. If there’s a Spirit Tree hall beyond this, it’s not strange for everyone to have come before us. But then, my hardship…
“Kuhuhuhu, truly amusing.”
Then, a familiar mocking laughter echoes. As I hesitantly shift my gaze, I see her at the foot of the pearl mountain. A peerlessly beautiful woman in luxurious attire, who appears to have descended from the stairs.
“It’s useless to have flattering thoughts.”
“I-I only have a bad feeling!”
It goes without saying that the figure that appeared before us was the Giant Demon Lord. With a wicked smile befitting a Demon Lord, the Demon Lord declares.
“There is still plenty of time. Here, go again.”
“Aaaaaaaaah…!”
And then, a vertical shaft appears at my feet! I fall headfirst, alone, into the depths.
I messed up! I was careless, thinking it was just a show for the Spirit Tree to enjoy, but the Demon Lord was involved in this!!
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