Chapter 17: Severance
“Son-in-law.”
I felt a tight grip on my hand. It was Sensei. In my grasp was the Wish Orb.
“Son-in-law, I understand your feelings all too well. If my Master or Sena were in a similar situation, I would do the same as you.”
“Then!!”
She shook her head, looking directly into my eyes.
“That is a treasure equal to your life. It should not be used here. Do you understand?”
“But Mika—”
“Leave the matter of the current Saintess Mika to me.”
“Huh?”
“What do you mean by ‘huh’? I said to leave it to me.”
That meant—
“I will handle it somehow. I will remove the worries before you, so that your kind heart remains unclouded.”
“Sensei!!”
In a moment of impulse, I hugged Sensei tightly. For a while, she remained silent, patting my back as if soothing a child. Eventually, she said,
“Well, that should be enough… Besides, you have places to go, right?”
She turned her face away and gently pushed me back. She was right. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was not the end of the Sealed Labyrinth. My instincts might be correct.
“Sensei, there were four boss monsters in this Sealed Labyrinth. Each one was a monster we faced directly.”
She nodded and encouraged me to continue.
“Strangely, we fought the Crystal Humanoid when Mika was with us, the Angel when we were with Angelica, and the No-Skill when we were with Eris. This can’t just be coincidence.”
“And what do you think, Master?”
Sensei asked me.
“The Sealed Labyrinth is peering into our hearts.”
I was sure my thoughts were correct.
“Indeed, Sensei mentioned that when the Sealed Labyrinth appeared, a plague famine spread, causing many deaths. Not only that, there was a graveyard near the Sealed Labyrinth.”
As I spoke, it seemed Sensei realized something.
“Death spread, and the people felt fear. The Sealed Labyrinth understood that emotion. That’s why the monsters born from it were Corpse Persons and Bone Warriors.”
“I see. So, something similar happened this time as well?”
“Yes. This time, the Sealed Labyrinth produced boss monsters based on their fears.”
When I thought about it that way, everything made sense. At the very least, Mika felt fear towards the Crystal Humanoid, Angelica towards the Angel, and Eris towards the Dragonbone Swordsman.
“I see. Your prediction is likely correct.”
Then, as if she realized something, Sensei asked me,
“Then, what did you, Son-in-law, fear?”
I gasped at her question. It was a complete blind spot.
What was I afraid of───
“No, never mind. Let’s stop chatting here.”
She was right. I had already informed Sensei of our destination.
The Sealed Labyrinth was not over yet. To be precise, the ominous aura typical of the Labyrinth had completely dissipated here, but fierce battles must still be raging with Virtuous and Arrogance.
“Then, Sensei! I’m off!”
As I announced to Sensei, at that moment,
“I’m coming too.”
It was Angelica who raised her voice.
Angelica’s voice was followed by Ash standing up.
“Row-kun, it’s not over yet, right? I can’t let my dear friend go alone.”
I looked at the two of them, but they were in no condition to fight. Both showed clear signs of mana depletion. Their faces were pale, and their lips had turned a shade of purple, as if they were suffering from low body temperature. Especially Ash, who looked so weak it was a wonder she could even stand.
“I can’t take you two with me. There are greater dangers ahead.”
“But!”
Angelica raised her voice in protest. At that moment, Sensei, who had been observing the situation, turned her gaze to them and spoke slowly.
“Ash, you understand, right? You need to rest now.”
As she said this, Sensei embraced Ash from the front, and Ash’s body went limp, collapsing like a marionette with its strings cut.
“I’ll keep a close watch here. You said your name was Angelica? You truly resemble Scarlet. I would love to talk more with your Master, but time does not allow it.”
Sensei extended her hand toward Angelica. Then, the Healing Magic that I had relied on so many times enveloped Angelica. The symptoms of mana depletion that had been so pronounced on her pale cheeks began to flush with color.
“Please take care of Ichiro.”
Sensei bowed her head to Angelica.
“Of course. For the sake of my friend (Mika). And to understand what is happening to me as well.”
From her words, I sensed a strength that was absent when she was with the Ryuguin. More than anything─── she said it was for her friend.
A woman who could become furious for the sake of her friend─── that was the Angelica I once knew.
“Angelica. It might be hard, but please bear with it.”
Of course, I didn’t wait for a reply.
“What? What is it? What is it?”
Ignoring her panicked questions, I hoisted her onto my shoulder in a classic bridal carry.
“Sensei! Once again! I’m off!”
With Sensei waving goodbye behind me, I left the place, carrying the struggling Angelica on my shoulder like a sack of rice.