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”You shouldn’t rely too much on healing magic” was a common saying among Adventurers.
Closing wounds without disinfecting can cause illness, and if you lose a large amount of blood, you need to take medicine that can replenish blood. Similarly, in cases like when bones are broken, if you don’t properly set the bone, there’s a possibility it won’t return to its original condition.
Therefore, when you are injured in the labyrinth, you can’t just rely on recovery magic, the combination of potions, medicine, and rest at the Dungeon Oasis etc., is of vital importance.
However, Rowe and Berii were seriously wounded, and they lacked supplies and magic power.
If time just passed like this, their injuries would become life-threatening.
Because of this, even though they were given emergency treatment at the Dungeon Oasis on the 50th Floor, Yuika decided to end the labyrinth exploration.
“We will return to the surface as soon as possible. Darling, I’m sorry to overburden you, but can we rely on you for directions?”
Although he had barely regained consciousness, Rowe, who had lost a lot of blood, acknowledged with a pale face.
Yuika ordered the Lich to make a total of 50 Skeleton Soldiers form up as a squad. The strategy was to have the party members in the centre and rush up the labyrinth in one shot.
Skeleton Soldiers had no muscles and their joints were sharp. That feeling and the quality of the journey was extremely poor, but in this way, Rowe and Berii were carried.
In the event they encountered monsters, some Skeleton Soldiers detached to charge against them, while the main group carried on progressing. When they were unable to pull away, the Lich used attack magic to wipe them out.
Not only did the Lich have an extraordinary high level of magic power, it also possessed the passive Gift of [Magic Power Recovery], so it was able to use any amount of powerful dark-type attack magic.
Even Magikan was licking his lips at its abilities, but for some reason, Nuuk said, “this monster understands how humans feel”, praising it for something else entirely.
On their way back, they passed by several Adventurer parties in the middle and shallow layers. It was said that those individuals who came into contact with the Demonic Spirit of these deep layer monsters, collapsed, became incontinent, and prepared for their deaths.
This couldn’t just be passed over as a joke.
“A Lich is leading a troop of skeletons and attacking the surface!”
At a later date, such rumours circulated in the town of Tyros, causing a bit of a fuss.
Eventually, the correct information was published on a noticeboard under the names of the Adventurer’s Guild and “Twilight’s Sword”, but… that’s a story for another time.
–
Out-of-place, Rowe sighed helplessly on a luxurious bed.
The night of the 2nd day after achieving a miraculous survival. The promise he had with Mariete that he would immediately meet her after returning from the labyrinth was yet to be fulfilled.
Rowe was currently in an Adventurer-only treatment centre built near the entrance of the labyrinth. The facilities were well-equipped and the interior was sterile and bright. A former Adventurer with recovery related Gifts was stationed as a doctor, the costs were high, but there was no need to worry that he would be overcharged like some other clinic.
It looked like he was in a private room on the top floor for important personnel.
The treatment was exorbitant, and he was thrown into a ‘paradise bath’ filled with undiluted potions, made to drink large amounts of blood replenishments and was washed with so much recovery magic that it was enough to make him start hating it.
Thinking about the cost of treatment was enough to make him shudder.
By the end of the first day of hospitalisation, Rowe’s physical condition had recovered to almost perfect condition. Judging his own state, Rowe had requested his supervising doctor for permission to leave the hospital, but was quickly rejected.
According to the doctor, Rowe was just the patient, the client was “Twilight’s Sword”. That leader had strictly ordered to “not allow him to leave until he is completely cured”, it sounded like.
I’m grateful that you’re worried about my body, but I also have circumstances to worry about.
“By tomorrow, I must definitely leave the hospital.”
While apologising to his little sister in his heart, as he was about to prepare himself to sleep and reached for the lamp, a knock came from the door of his hospital room.
“…Darling, are you still up?”
“Hey, Yuika.”
Reunion for the first time in two days. And also the long-awaited partner.
As Rowe was about to ask her to please let him be discharged, he noticed.
The situation is quite different.
“Today, you’re not wearing your usual clothes huh?”
Yuika, who entered the hospital room, was wearing a slender, pure white dress. It was the first time he was seeing her wear a skirt. In her black, masculine clothes, she was gallant, and it looked like there were no better clothes that could fit her, but this was elegant — she felt like a strong-spirited lady.
“These clothes were prepared by Berii for the dinner party. I haven’t had the chance to wear them yet, so I tried them out. How is it?”
“It really suits you.”
However, it doesn’t look suitable for visiting someone at the hospital.
As Rowe was smiling in his head because such common sense didn’t apply to her, Yuika got on the bed and kneeled.
“I’m sorry, Darling.”
“…?”
“Without meeting, weren’t you lonely?”
–With her.
Sensing what she was implying, Rowe nodded instinctively.
To be honest, after being hospitalised, what he had been thinking of was 80% Mariete, 10% Yuika, and 10% the Dive Report.
However, he wasn’t green enough to reveal his confusion, and if he wasn’t capable of at least this much, he wouldn’t be able to go out with this unique woman.
“Did you settle your sleep deprivation?”
“I slept for a day and a half. I accompanied Berii during her treatment, then came here.”
“How’s Berii doing?”
“Fufu. She was weeping.”
Yuika grinned as if she was remembering the scene. .
The blonde female adventurer who slipped past death with Rowe, she had receiving a direct body slam from a Gargoyle, suffering broken arms and a broken left leg.
Expedient treatment of broken limbs required advanced recovery magic, and Berii was transferred to another clinic to receive treatment.
The procedure was completed without any problems, but as the affected areas had to be forcibly stretched and twisted, Berii screamed at the severe pain.
“She has a bit of a fever, but according to the doctor, it sounds like she can be discharged in a few days.”
“Is that so? That’s good.”
“Berii was grateful to Darling. Thanks to you, her life was saved. I heard that Darling was the one who dug that hole.”
After the labyrinth Collapse, Rowe dug a shallow cave into the softened walls. The strength of the monsters on the 50th Floor were overwhelming. Even handling just one would be tough, not to mention you would definitely be overrun if you were to be surrounded by multiple opponents. That’s why to fight them one-on-one, Rowe had prepared a chokepoint — a cave with only one entrance.
“And she said she wants to apologise.”
Probably about the attitude she had since they first met.
“Things have changed a lot.”
“…Well, we’ll have to see how it goes from now on, though.”
However, improving relationships with colleagues should always be welcomed.
“Maybe it’s selfish on my part, but if Berii comes to see you … will you accept her apology?”
“Yes, of course.”
After he nodded twice, Yuika smiled and stayed quiet in relief.
She looked down a bit, muttered a little something in her mouth, and then stared at Rowe.
After she was noticed, she took her eyes off him and looked down again.
This behaviour was in every way suspicious.
“There… isn’t it okay for me to go there?”
Yuika was already within arm’s reach. Rowe ended up stupidly wondering where exactly “there” referred to
“…Is it no good?”
“Eh, no — please”
Looking like she had readied herself, Yuika sneaked into the bed.
–The expensive-looking dress was wrinkled.
While he was surprised by her unexpected behaviour, Yuika wriggled next to Rowe and cleared her throat.
“W, well then. How’s Darling doing?”
A faint floral scent was drifting.
It might be due to the light from the lamp, but her white porcelain-like skin was tinged with scarlet, especially the ears that peeked out from her black hair.
Rowe once again thought that she was really beautiful.
Eyebrows that drew a graceful curve. Smoky eyelashes that covered her long and slim eyes. A strong, straight nose and flush lips. And a slender line connecting her ears to her cheeks and chin.
It was said that people with beautiful profiles are truly beautiful, he ended up convinced here that this was indeed true.
No matter where he looked, he saw harmony — she was perfect. Almost like a statue of a Goddess carved by an old master craftsman.
The fact that of all people, such a woman was his lover was strange enough to make him laugh.
“I’m already completely cured.”
Stretching both his out from under the sheets, Rowe showed that he could squeeze his fists.
To appeal that he could be discharged, he tried to sound strong and said.
“Even if it’s a Minotaur, I might be able to beat it.”
“…”
’So I can be discharged tomorrow’, he wasn’t able to continue.
Because Yuika pursed her lips and looked crestfallen.
“…Yuika?”
The beautiful Adventurer with black hair and black eyes said in a grave tone.
“…It’s my first time as an Adventurer.”
She confessed with a trembling voice.
“The first time, from the bottom of my heart — I felt so scared.”
Separated from Rowe and Berii, unable to join back together for more than half a day, Yuika was trapped in a horror she had never previously experienced. If it was going to be that painful, she would have rather wished that she could kill off her feelings.
“That’s why, in that passageway, when I heard the sounds of battle. I — I thought it was pointless to expect anything.”
If she had expected Rowe to survive and had these expectations betrayed, she wouldn’t have been able to stand back up again.
That’s what she had instinctively decided.
“What a joke. Even though I have to be the one that believes in Darling the most. Darling believed in me and always, always — tried to keep me alive. But for me, to not meet, or to never be able to see Darling again — I had already ended up thinking that way.”
Yuika apologised like a criminal confessing her sins.
“–sorry”
Ah, this girl was stupidly honest to a fault, what a perfectionist.
That’s why she was this strong — beautiful.
Rowe hugged Yuika’s shoulder and gently pulled her towards him.
Then he honestly conveyed his thoughts.
“I’m… not asking for something like blind love.”
Do your best in the situations you find yourself in.
Always think and then act.
To cease thinking and act like you were leaving all judgements to some unknown god of love would be to give up on your own possibilities.
“Besides, trust that comes after consideration and thought is something different.”
That’s why Yuika is fine the way she is.
“What I like is Yuika as you are now.”
“…”
Yuika looked up at Rowe with her face slightly tilted. Her face was on the verge of tears.
Of course, it wasn’t because of sadness.
“Darling…”
As though they couldn’t hold back, they put their lips over each other’s.
After a few light touches, like a young person’s greeting, Rowe slipped his tongue in.
Yuika reacted with surprise and her eyelashes fluttered, but after slight hesitation, she abandoned herself to Rowe and relaxed.
Every time Rowe’s fingers touched her ears or cheeks, Yuika reacted sensitively.
They were so absorbed in their fantasy that they even forgot to breath, as they felt each other’s feelings and warmth.
Eventually, the two regretfully separated.
“…”
Yuika, with her mouth slightly open, was breathing roughly. Her eyes that were usually strong-willed were wet with tears, and had a faint, heated gaze.
On the other hand, Rowe was smiling as though to reassure her….
–This is bad. I don’t know how to take off her dress.
Inwardly, he was in a cold sweat.
Until now, Rowe had never been acquainted with women who would attend luxurious events like parties.
Naturally, he had never removed things like dresses before, and what’s more, probably — Yuika was wearing one of the latest designs trending in the Royal Capital. He couldn’t even tell what was a knot or an accessory.
Let’s find the button while carassing around Yuika’s body.
No, in the first place, it may be the type without buttons.
After caressing around for a bit, if I still don’t understand, I’ll just honestly ask.
No, then the dress will get wrinkled–
When he was seriously worried about something silly, Yuika used a finger to lightly claw at Rowe’s chin.
“…Tae was saying.”
It was the name of a maid that sometimes appeared in Yuika’s conversations.
A middle-aged woman who is over 40, a passionate couple who had infused Yuika with many truths — not according to common sense, but her own perspective — about romance. .
“At times like this, women… should be like kittens, act spoiled.”
While her ears and cheeks were dyed bright red, Yuika rubbed her cheek against Rowe.
Certainly, it was kitten-like.
“So, Darling.”
Turning upward slightly, the kitten said.
“Be gentle, meow.”
“…”
It may be necessary to talk to that maid named Tae at least once.