After that, having gotten into the groove of Labyrinth exploration, we continued to kick monsters aside as we advanced, eventually reaching the large room at the deepest level. In the deepest part of a Labyrinth exists a magical crystallization called a Labyrinth Core, which maintains the Labyrinth’s existence.
If it were an unconquered Labyrinth, a Labyrinth Guardian would block the adventurer’s path to protect the core. Unfortunately, since [The Magic Crystal Cave] has already been conquered, the Guardian’s territory is an empty shell.
“This is a Danger Level C Labyrinth Core……”
Linfa stares intently at the massive Labyrinth Core sitting before us.
“Is this your first time seeing a Danger Level C Core?”
“……Yeah, you got a problem with that?”
“No, I didn’t say a single word about a problem.”
I smiled wryly at his usual prickliness, and Linfa looked just the slightest bit embarrassed.
By the way, in addition to the strength of the monsters and the danger of the traps, the”depth”of a Labyrinth is also included in the danger rating setting. When it comes to Danger Level C, it boasts a considerable depth. So, having come all the way to the deepest part, do we have to walk all the way back through that uselessly long Labyrinth while beating down monsters? Not necessarily.
Surrounding the Labyrinth Core is a magic circle inscribed on the ground: the Return Circle. Conquered dungeons are equipped with this convenient feature that allows you to teleport instantly to the entrance. Teleportation magic is originally super high-difficulty and consumes mana like crazy, so you rarely see it, but this Return Circle connects to the Labyrinth Core to supplement the necessary mana, making it a revolutionary device that anyone can activate.
Mentally thanking this tool of civilization, I attempt to activate the Return Circle.
“……Hmm?”
It won’t activate.
“That’s strange……”
I crouch down to inspect the Return Circle. There doesn’t seem to be a problem with the circle itself, but mana isn’t being supplied from the Labyrinth Core……?
“H-Hey, isn’t something acting weird?”
“Yeah, it’s weird. The transfer circle isn’t starting.”
“No, not that! The Labyrinth Core is……!”
“What……?”
Prompted by his voice, I lift my head to look at the Labyrinth Core.
There, the Labyrinth Core was increasing in brilliance, swirling with overflowing mana.
“Wha……!?”
And then, the light burst. I instinctively covered my eyes against the torrent of light that was far too blinding.
This… this phenomenon is……!
As soon as the torrent subsided, I looked behind me. In the center of the large room, the overflowing light—pure magical energy—was gathering, forming a shape.
What should have been nothing more than a vague lump of light eventually dimmed its glow, tying together into a clear image.
I recognize this phenomenon. I recognize that existence. But, surely, no way.
Its height is probably about 1.5 times my own. A dazzlingly shining violet-blue exoskeleton, a pair of massive pincers, and a sharp needle at the tip of the long tail extending from its abdomen. Four pairs—eight red eyes—glowing eerily on its head.
Hyuu. The sound of Linfa swallowing a breath.
There is no mistake. Seeing that form, I was certain.
[The Magic Crystal Cave] Guardian — The Amethyst Scorpio.
It’s a Guardian resurrection. A”respawn.”
“No, way……”
Linfa groans quietly in the face of the Guardian that suddenly respawned.
The respawn Phenomenon. It refers to when a Labyrinth Guardian that has been defeated once revives again, but it’s not something that happens often. It’s a phenomenon that occurs in a chain reaction across multiple dungeons based on certain conditions.
Those conditions are extremely troublesome—rather, quite a major crisis—but let’s set that aside. Right now, the priority is the Guardian before our eyes.
The giant crystal scorpion, the Amethyst Scorpio, stood still as if blocking the path between us and the entrance. Although it showed no sign of attacking yet, surely it wouldn’t let us simply walk past it. In the first place, the gate connecting the large room to the path we came from had closed.
If the Guardian had repopped from the beginning, we could have just turned back without entering the room. But because it happened after we entered, we were trapped. What kind of timing is this?
Since the teleport circle still won’t activate, the only way to go home is to defeat this guy.
“Linfa, I’ll ask just in case, do you have experience fighting a Guardian?”
“O-Of course not!?”
“Just checking, just checking. I think you understand, but now that it’s come to this, a fight with that thing is unavoidable.”
“Unavoidable… that’s a Guardian!? What are just the two of us supposed to do!?”
“Like I said, we fight.”
Linfa froze with a look of disbelief. Well, I can understand the feeling.
The monsters that appear in [The Magic Crystal Cave] aren’t that powerful. The Labyrinth is Danger Level C, so that’s natural. A decent adventurer party can explore it without difficulty.
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However, the Guardian does not fit that danger level at all. Even if the Labyrinth’s danger level is low, when it comes to a Guardian, the appropriate adventurer rank is likely Upper B to A. And that is assuming you have a full team and are fully prepared.
In contrast, we are just two people. A Rank B and a Rank D. Objectively looking at it, this situation is checkmate. In fact, Linfa’s reaction is the normal one. Even so—
“We have to do it. Otherwise, we can’t go home.”
“Even so……! How can you be so calm—!”
“Because I’ve defeated it before.”
“—-Huh?”
“I have fought that guy and defeated him before. It was just two of us back then, too.”
“Wha…… huh……?”
Yes, I have confronted that guy in this same place once before. It’s a story from about five years ago, but… between the respawn timing and everything else, what a fateful story this is.
I stared once more at the giant crystal scorpion.
“I have a plan. Just listen.”
Saying that, I dared to lift the corners of my mouth into a smirk and began explaining the strategy.
Even though I said”plan”with a smug face, truthfully, it wasn’t anything grand. While I, who have experience fighting it in the past, hold off the scorpion like my life depends on it, Linfa will keep slamming it with high-power intermediate spirit arts. Although I gave detailed instructions on positioning, simply put, that was the whole story.
By the way, the giant scorpion didn’t move from its spot during that time. It seems it has no intention of moving unless we show a stance of challenging it. For a Guardian, it’s as dutifully polite as ever in the weirdest ways.
Linfa listened quietly during the explanation, but he still has a difficult expression on his face. I feel like his complexion, which was bad before the explanation, has gotten even worse.
“Well, I’ll give you signals as needed, and if you mess up a little I’ll manage somehow, so don’t feel too pressured. But I have to rely on you for the firepower……”
“…………About that.”
Linfa, who had been silent until then, opened her mouth as if having made a decision.
“I…… can only use lower-tier spirit arts.”
“…………What?”
Linfa can pull off a stunt like that, yet he can only use low-tier? Huh, is that even possible?
My thoughts momentarily froze at the sudden revelation of this shocking fact.
Contracting with a mid-tier spirit or higher—that is effectively the very first priority a Spirit User should aim for.
Low-tier spirits are omnipresent throughout the world, and contracting them is easy… in fact, a Spirit User doesn’t even really need a contract; if they just pass over some mana, the spirits will perform the arts for them.
I’ve heard you can struggle if your compatibility is bad, but given that Spirit Users themselves are rare, most people can manage a contract by the time they graduate from being a rookie.
Of course, just because you contract a mid-tier spirit doesn’t mean you can immediately use Mid-Tier Spirit Arts, but at the very least, watching Linfa up until now, I didn’t think he was incapable of it. Which means…
“You… haven’t been able to contract a mid-tier spirit?”
“……”
Linfa responded to my question with a weak nod.
Hmm… I see, so it’s that kind of pattern…
The reason Linfa had been getting by showing me only the bare minimum Low-Tier Spirit Arts wasn’t out of a consideration for efficiency, but simply because he couldn’t use Mid-Tier ones.
I apparently overlooked a possibility I should have guessed if I’d looked back and thought about it, blinding myself with my own standards. Or rather, having three whole days and not confirming that point at all… I’m too much of an idiot…
“…Are you exasperated? After acting all high and mighty, this is the state I’m in…”
“No, it’s not a problem. If that’s the case, there’s a way to work with it.”
“…Eh? H-how…? You don’t mean you intend to fight alone…!?”
“Me alone? No, impossible, impossible. I told you, I don’t have a finishing blow. That’s why, just like I said at the start, the firepower is on you, Linfa.”
“H-huh? But how…”
“Training.”
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