I adjusted my combat power.
When I came to, I was in a pure white space.
No matter where I looked, there was no end in sight, a completely white world so devoid of anything that I could almost fall into the illusion that I was inside pure white cream.
My mood was calm. Bizarrely, my spirits were high.
I was supposed to have been fighting Shugyu just seconds ago. And yet, the moment I was enveloped in the light emitted from the altar, I was here, the heat of battle and the heightened Mana had dissipated, and the wounds all over my body and the depleted Mana were gradually beginning to heal.
“…”
…Dangerous. I unconsciously stopped my hand as I tried to put my Knife back in its sheath. I didn’t like being forced into a state of calm, nor did I like having my battle interrupted.
What happened to the fight? Is everyone safe? Remembering that I had to go back immediately, I gripped my weapon again and was on guard when suddenly a voice echoed in my head.
“–It has been a long time. Well done for coming, child of the Moon Rose (Melrose)–“
I was wary of the voice, which was impossible to tell whether it was male, female, or elderly, and braced myself when I heard the voice in my head again.
“–You are very cautious, child of the Moon Rose (Melrose). There is no one here who will harm you. Because time is compressed here, the flow of time is different from the outside. You can rest assured–“
“…Child of Melrose?”
Apparently, this place was a space where my thoughts were accelerated by Body Enhancement, so I couldn’t be optimistic, but I was a little relieved.
Also, Melrose, I remember hearing from my master in an alchemy lecture that it was a flower that blooms only on full moon nights and can be used for both medicine and poison. What does it mean to be its child? As I muttered the name, the “voice” spun words again as if to answer my question.
“–Hundreds of seasons ago in this world, I gave that “name” to the daughter of a person who came here. That “hair color” of yours is proof that you are descended from that daughter. Undo that unsophisticated “ash” and show me the “rose”–“
“–Tch.”
The “ash” illusion that I had applied to my hair was forcibly dispelled. At that moment, influenced by the strong Mana Particles in this space, my pink hair sparkled vividly.
“–Welcome again, “living rose” with the same “color” as the rose I loved. What do you desire from me?–“
“…What are you?”
If it had come to this, there was only one “answer.” Still, in order to confirm the information, I dared to ask, and the presence that I had not felt until now was about to appear right in front of me.
“–Then I will answer directly. You should be able to withstand it–“
“Ugh!”
The presence that appeared in front of me instantly took the form of a beautiful young woman wearing something like a gorgeous ethnic costume, and I felt faint for a moment due to her overwhelming presence.
“–I am what you call the “Labyrinth Spirit”–“
She was completely different from the Spirits I knew. Her presence, her status, even her very existence.
Seeing her existence, one of the lectures I heard from my master came to mind. In this world, if a spiritual life form receives strong thoughts from a dead hero, its existence can be altered and remain in that land like a “local god.”
If that was the case, then this being might also be a fusion of the thoughts of the many royals and heroes who had died in this Dungeon, an “Heroic Spirit” or “Holy Spirit.”
I put strength in my stomach and confronted the Spirit head-on.
“…A Spirit that grants Divine Protection (Gift)?”
“–That’s right. For the past thousand years or so, you humans have challenged this dark and deep Labyrinth, and as a reward for those who have successfully reached my presence, I have invited them to this place and bestowed my Divine Protection (Gift). But not everyone. It seems that there has been some “cheating” going on for the past few hundred years–“
I knew it… she saw through it…
“Then why did you call me here?”
“–It’s not just you that I’ve invited. There are four people I’ve invited here–“
“…Four people?”
I can’t see anyone else besides me. Are they being hidden from view, or are they in different “positions”? This being could deal with four people in different places at the same time.
“–The number I choose is just a whim. There are times when I don’t call anyone. I found the way three of them sought power to be endearing. The other one, I found the way their soul existed to be interesting–“
Seeking strength… several faces came to mind at those words. But what does the way of the soul mean? Before that answer came to mind, the Spirit took a step forward.
“–“Humans” are endearing beings. Perhaps it is the thoughts of humans that make me think so, which shape me. Now, tell me your Desire. I will bestow my Divine Protection (Gift)–“
The Spirit said that she bestows Divine Protection (Gift) because she loves humans. The three people besides me… I don’t know if those people are the same people I imagined, but did they receive Divine Protection (Gift)?
But my answer has been decided from the beginning.
“I refuse.”
“–Why? Child of the Moon Rose (Melrose). Don’t “humans” want to accomplish something in their short lives? Humans without power die easily. Even if you gain power and your lifespan is reduced by fifty years, even if your soul is wounded, it’s just a matter of starting over as a winged insect in the next life–“
As expected, there is a big gap in perception between humans and Spirits when it comes to time and lifespan. Even though she says she loves people, she gave me the impression of a child who “keeps them carefully” without even knowing the lifespan of an insect.
Besides, the price of Divine Protection (Gift) is higher than I thought. Now that I know the truth, I can understand why the past heroes and excellent royals I learned about in history books had such short lives.
But that’s not it. The reason I refuse Divine Protection (Gift) is–
“I will get what I want with “my” own power. I have no intention of accomplishing anything with just the power given to me by others.”
The power given by “someone” can easily disappear at the whim of “someone.”
Elena was given the position of royalty by her parents, but even she would be easily discarded if it turned out that she didn’t have the power to match it. That’s why Elena and Carla are desperately struggling to find “their own” power.
I thought the Spirit would be upset by my rejection, but the Spirit’s eyes, which had been listening intently to my words, narrowed as if reminiscing, just like a human’s.
“–The daughter to whom I gave the name Moon Rose (Melrose) also said that she did not need excessive power such as Divine Protection (Gift). That is why I cherished her existence and gave her the name of the rose I loved. Therefore, I will also give you a “name” from me–“
“I don’t need it. What is that Melrose in the first place? Why do you give names to people?”
“–Melrose was just a rose in the fairy realm. It was taken out on a prankster’s whim and took root in the material world, albeit only slightly. Your hair color is “proof” that I gave you the name, and the fairies that appear in this land feel nostalgic for the same “color” as that rose. You probably haven’t been afflicted with illnesses by being pranked by fairies either, have you? That’s all it is, but it was a good gift for that girl who wished for the prosperity of her family–“
“…”
So that’s what this pink hair meant… Certainly, I haven’t even caught a cold since I was little, and I could sleep in the Forest in the middle of winter without any problems.
“–I was originally a Spirit who was close to humans. Humans devised techniques to fight, and when I and other Spirits named them, those techniques became Combat Arts. In a sense, giving a name is more natural than giving Divine Protection (Gift)–“
It is said that the single-syllable Non-Attribute Magic Combat Art became usable because the Spirit recognized the technique. I felt that was a little unnatural, but does that mean that there have been Spirits who loved humans like this Spirit from the past?
“–I have been watching you since you entered this Labyrinth. The child of the Moon Rose (Melrose) who uses the Combat Arts that I named here, and desperately struggles with unfinished techniques.
That’s why I want to give you a “name” too. That girl was like a “moon” illuminating the dark night. So are you. That is why I gave the girl the name “Moon Rose.” But unlike that girl, you who fight have the strength of heart like “iron.”
The name I give you is both a name that represents only you, and a name that makes the “technique” you use a Combat Art–“
The Spirit in the form of a beautiful young woman approached smoothly and touched my cheeks with the white fingertips of both hands as if caressing them.
“–Now, you may return to your battlefield. Humans can only come here once in a lifetime. It will not be possible to meet again. I hope you will stop defiling that Moon Rose hair with “ash.” Instead, I will give you a “color” that is unique to you in the name I give you. The “name” that I give you is–“
“Aria!!”
I hear Feld’s voice calling my name. The vision that had been blurred for a moment returned, and I was back in the Arena on the lowest level of the Dungeon.
The battle situation has not changed yet. Feld, Dolton, Mira, and Viro are all alive. Still, the reason Feld called my name was probably because I had disappeared from the spot for a few seconds.
The desperate situation continued—but I made it in time.
『BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!』
The “Shugyu,” who seemed to have lost sight of me, let out an angry roar upon finding me, and dashed forward like an arrow, halberd in hand.
I haven’t changed at all. Only my hair, which had been tainted with the gray illusion, had returned to a pinkish-blonde color.
My HP and Mana had recovered slightly, but it was no different from the beginning of the fight.
But my heart was calm. Without anger or hatred, “fighting spirit” welled up from the bottom of my heart, which was as still as the surface of a lake.
The blade of the halberd, whistling as it cut through the air, was swung down to slash my body diagonally. In that instant, I activated the [Combat Art] given to me by the Spirit, the same name as “me.”
“——【Iron Rose】——”
Clang!!
『Bumooo!?』
The halberd slammed violently into the stone floor, and Shugyu searched for me, who had disappeared from before his eyes in an instant.
『Gah!?』
At that moment, my Black Knife slashed Shugyu’s neck. Reacting instantly, Shugyu swung his halberd, but it cut through the air where I had been.
Evading Shugyu’s attack with high-speed movement, I kicked off the ground and slashed at the leg on the opposite side, where I instantly moved.
『BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!』
I watched with my eyes and dodged the halberd, which was being swung around wildly in an excited state, and slashed at Shugyu’s arms and legs while repeating high-speed movements.
The color of my hair changes from pink to a “iron” color like burnt ash.
The afterglow of light scattering from my iron-colored hair trailed behind me like a comet, and I stepped on the blade of the halberd that had been unleashed, using it as a stepping stone to jump over it.
An iron-colored comet dancing in the sky. The afterglow of light scattered like silver wings, and I slashed Shugyu’s right eye straight on, as if to cut through the painting of my cold-eyed self reflected in Shugyu’s eyes, who had a momentarily frightened look on his face.
【Aria (Alicia)】【Rank 4】
【Mana Capacity: 124/270】【HP: 159/210】
【Overall Combat Strength: 916 (During Special Body Enhancement: 1769)】
【Combat Art: Iron Rose /Limit 124 Second】
Aria’s counterattack begins, having acquired a new and unique Combat Art.
With this, all of Aria’s techniques from the plot stage are complete. It was a long road…
This power is a [Combat Art], not a [Divine Protection], so it can be used by people other than Aria. However, currently only Aria can see Mana Particles and extract impurities.
It is a continuous Combat Art with a time limit.
Next time, Part 1 Finale
Next update is scheduled for 12:00 tomorrow. Thank you for your support.
Supplement:
The effect of the Moon Rose—Melrose’s proof, the pink hair, is that it makes one less susceptible to viral diseases.
In this world, colds and the like are considered the mischief of fairies, and in a world where there are Mana Particles and the body is strengthened, one does not get sick very often. However, in reality, fairies disrupt the balance of Mana Particles in the body, causing illness.
Even so, if one repeatedly lives an unhealthy lifestyle, one will get sick regardless of the fairies, and not everything is the fault of the fairies, but just having this effect should have significantly increased the birth rate.