/
The next morning.
A pair of innocent lovers come out of the treatment centre while arguing.
“Why didn’t you tell me!”
Like a threatening wild beast, the black-haired beauty bared her fangs.
“Well Yuika, you were trying so hard, and, you looked happy…”
“Uh~~~~~~”
With teary eyes, she let out a groan, but she didn’t let go of the hand holding him.
Last night, the two of them had connected together for the first time in a room at the treatment centre, and during the act, Yuika had acted adorably and pretended to be a kitten, going ‘mew mew, meow meow’.
And after that, she was suspicious.
She wondered if all the women in this world really did that.
When she asked the question embarrassedly in bed the morning after, Rowe had thought for a moment before answering.
‘Maybe it’s not that common.’
The kitten changed completely and became a black panther.
Every time she thought about what she did the previous night, her head steamed up and she wanted to scream.
“But well, it was adorable, so it’s fine–“
“Not fine! Not fine at all!”
She felt like this was enough embarrassment for one lifetime.
I can’t tell anyone about this, and I won’t write it in my diary. This secret must be taken to the grave. Of course, not only myself, but the other person, Darling must comply.
Possibly overwhelmed by the Divine Spirit leaking out from her entire  body, Rowe started acting somewhat cautiously, and said something that sounded like an excuse.
“It’s not like it caused trouble for anyone, and yeah — by sharing embarrassing secrets with each other, that’s how our feelings will grow stronger. Even for me, I couldn’t take off Yuika’s dress, so we’re even, ah ouch…”
――Tightened.
“It hurts! Y, Yuika — your hand!”
“The amount of embarrassment is entirely different!”
However, no matter how much she snapped at him, her memories of the past wouldn’t disappear, and she decided to make her Darling do something embarrassing next time, so Yuika decided to stop the attack.
She was more or less seriously angry, but most of it was her venting her anger to hide her shame.
In the first place, her intentions the previous night were blatant and transparent.
To wear clothes like a dress that she typically disliked and seldom wore, she even put on perfume and rushed into the room alone at night. What’s more, she had even climbed into the bed by herself.
It was a situation where she was pretty much declaring ‘please have me’.
To be honest, there was a part of her that thought she had let the blood rush to her head and lost her composure.
The first time they had dived into Tyros Labyrinth, Yuika had almost died after being poisoned by a plant-type monster; the second time they dived, a Labyrinth Collapse’occurred and left Rowe in a desperate predicament. It was almost a miracle that the two of them could still be together now. For the planned third dive that they would be embarking on, there was no guarantee that they would return safely.
That’s why she thought she didn’t want to leave any regrets.
And even though he was covered in wounds, Rowe continued to defend against the attacks of the monsters in the deep layers and clung on to his own life. Unlike his usual calm and shrewd appearance, the sight of him fiercely fighting as an Adventurer, full of battle spirit made her heart flutter, and she was filled with an indescribable emotion.
To put it bluntly, she fell in love again.
Less than a month after they had met, her feelings had already grown this much, and in a way that was half-like a trap, they had allowed each other to get into a physical relationship… On the one hand, she was surprised that she was this proactive when it came to matters of love, but on the other hand, she was also convinced that she had already found her destined partner.
Rowe had a family to protect, and Yuika had the objective of conquering labyrinths. They probably would not be able to stay together if they had to sacrifice the things dear to them, so they would have to do their best within what was possible.
Right now, I won’t let go of this hand.
Yuika vowed in her heart, but when they arrived in front of that house on the corner of the main street, she shook off Rowe’s hand and sprinted at full speed.
A small shadow was squatting at the entrance.
Mariete was crying.
The “Our Hero of Light” series was a picture book that is very popular in the Royal Capital, featuring stories about teenage Adventurers. The print was multicoloured and it had large letters for easy reading.
Mariete treasured this picture book that Yuika gave her as a gift. She probably not only liked the three main Adventurer characters, but also enjoyed the appearance of the older, gentle Sherpa character. When her brother dived into the labyrinth, it was this picture book that eased her loneliness.
However, the first volume of “Our Hero of Light” that she was holding against her chest was completely in tatters.
The spine had been torn, and the pages were ripped and folded. On the important cover was a mark like the sole of a shoe.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry……”
“Ah, you don’t have to apologise. Marin didn’t do anything bad!”
Even more flustered than when she was surrounded by monsters, Yuika was calming down the girl when two boys appeared at the entrance.
“Are you still crying?”
“Hey, crybaby Marin — geh.”
Two similar freckled faces.
Yuika’s slender eyes narrowed.
“Shit, run away!”
The boys escaped as soon as they saw Rowe and Yuika.
“…Was this done by the two of them?”
While sobbing and weeping, Mariete affirmed.
Mariette had been quietly reading her book in the corner of a room when their relative Murau’s sons’, Bar and Mitch, snatched away her book.
There was no way a 4 year old girl could resist 2 teenage boys. The boys teased Mariette, tore her book, and stepped on it.
“…Oh. It’s quite noisy, isn’t it?”
A middle-aged woman came over after hearing the commotion.
While coldly checking the surroundings, she reached out a hand to Rowe.
“What? You know that what kids say can’t be trusted, don’t you? Do you really want to quarrel with me?”
“No, I don’t.”
Saying that, Rowe took out several silver coins from his wallet and placed them on the woman’s palm.
“However, it seems to be true that Bar and Mitch were teasing Mariete while she was crying. Can you at least tell those 2 not to get involved with Mariette?”
“…Huh.”
The middle-aged woman twisted her mouth nervously and closed the front door a little violently.
Yuika glared at the door and then at Rowe.
Someone made Mariete, the most adorable girl in this world, cry. Shouldn’t we thoroughly investigate the cause and take proper measures to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen in the future?
“Let’s talk after we get home.”
Rowe greeted Mariete with “I’m back” and squatted with his back facing her.
“Well, Marin. Let’s go home.”
“–“
Mariette jumped on her brother’s back and used both hands and feet to hug him tightly.
“…home.”
Yuika’s anger didn’t subside. As soon as she entered the living room of Rowe’s house, “Darling is too soft!”, she insisted.
“Well, please sit down on the sofa. I’ll make you some tea now.”
She made Mariette, who was relieved that her brother was safe but still dispirited, sit next to her, and hugged Mariette’s shoulder as though she was protecting her lover. Then, while facing Rowe’s back, she took out her anger on him while he was boiling water.
Boys who bully such a young girl are despicable. At this rate, they won’t turn out well when they’re adults. For their own sake, they should be made aware of what they had done, and they should experience the same or greater pain that Marin suffered.
Specifically, after threatening with Divine Spirit, with a fist――
“If an advanced Adventurer does that to a normal child, it will be a big deal.”
Since Adventurers not only have their Status improved due to levelling, they also possess Gifts, there are strict regulations imposed on them by the law. If badly injured, they could be sued by Murau for huge compensation.
Rowe returned with a tray full of teacups. After arranging the teacups on the table, he carefully wiped off the dirt on the damaged picture book and put them together like a puzzle.
“The pages are all here, so if you take it to the bookstore, they can get it fixed.”
“……really?”
“Yeah. Though it might take a while.”
With tears in her big eyes, Mariete smiled in relief. Seeing that, Yuika calmed down a little.
“Darling. Do you always leave Marin at that house?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
Not only the children, but also that middle-aged woman who looked like their mother, had a terrible attitude. I can’t feel any sense of responsibility on her part towards someone else’s child. Those eyes — the eyes of a cold-blooded cheapskate, completely different from Rowe’s.
“With the amount I just gave you, surely you should be able to put Marin in a better childcare place. Shouldn’t you search for one as soon as possible?”
Rowe’s answer to her proposal was both simple and complicated.
“Murau is a relative.”
It had been arranged that if anything were to happen to Rowe in the labyrinth, Mariete will be entrusted to Murau’s house.
Unlike the Royal Capital, in such rural towns, facilities such as orphanages do not exist. In the worst case, children without relatives can be sold to someone, or there was a chance they would just starve to death.
But the lower or middle class Murau had a reputation to uphold.
For a relative — a blood-related relative, if she were to abuse such a child, or sell her off, she would be criticised by the peopel around her.
Therefore, Mariette’s minimum safety was at least guaranteed.
“You can’t cut ties so easily.”
“…”
Yuika was at a loss for words.
She was surprised by what he had said, but also at how Rowe mentioned his reasons without hiding anything from Mariete.
And then, she realised.
The one that was exposing Rowe’s life and Mariete’s living situation to danger was none other than her.
I have no right to be so self-righteous about Mariete’s care.
Isn’t it unforgivable hypocrisy to even hold Mariette’s shoulders like this now?
“There’s no need for Yuika to worry.”
The perceptive Rowe said in a very casual tone.
“I was the one who consented to this job. In terms of reward, I’ve received more than enough.”
“B, but. We are—”
Not just in a relationship of Adventurer and Sherpa.
“No. This is my own family’s circumstances.”
Rowe said firmly.
“It’s my fault that I can’t give Marin a different environment.”
Like a nail had been struck in my heart, I received a heavy shock.
I was pushed away ―― no, I guess he was asking me to step away.
“But, there’s no need to worry. I’m about to reach my goal.”
Yuika knew that Rowe was hoarding money, but had never asked what it was for.
“It’s shameful but. Our father was a drunkard…”
Rowe’s father was neither an Adventurer nor a Sherpa, but a craftsman — a carpenter. However, he was an alcoholic that destroyed his body. Driven by intoxication, he had conceived Mariete, but their mother could not withstand giving birth at an advanced age, and died soon after Mariete was born.
After that, his father became more and more addicted to alcohol, and Rowe thinking that ‘this won’t last long’ decided to raise his young sister on his own.
In fact, his father had drank so much alcohol that his hands had tremors and he could no longer work as a carpenter, he died of illness about half a year ago.
Rowe decided to become a Sherpa as it had a lower casualty rate than Adventurers, but higher income than ordinary occupations, and saved money while avoiding long dives into the labyrinth.
Remaining in the lower or middle layers might have guaranteed a relatively safe and sufficient living. However, there was a reason why he had become an advanced Sherpa and sought higher pay.
“…Emigrate?”
“Yes. I’m thinking of going to a bigger city.”
For the first time, Rowe voiced his wish.
“I want Mariette to go to school.”
There is no school in the town of Tyros. Because this is an Adventurer’s town, the number of permanent residents is low, and there is no need for schools. In that case, instead of a rural town that relied on a labyrinth, there is no choice but to move to more central locations with larger populations.
New land, new house, and expensive school fees and living expenses. As an Adventurer, even though he had improved Status and Gifts, it was unclear whether these costs could be supported through manual labour.
So Rowe set a savings goal.
“Thanks to Yuika’s request, adding on the rewards of the next dive — I can hit the target amount. It’ll take some time to clear this place out and decide where to move to, but at the very least, we won’t need to rely on heartless relatives.”
In other words, the next dive would be his last as a Sherpa, and he would retire and adopt another profession.
Yuika, who had been listening to Rowe speak, inadvertently interjected.
“If it’s money—”
And at that point, she suddenly shut her mouth.
It’s true that Rowe and I have become lovers. But it’s not a relationship where we unconditionally depend on each other. Rowe has strict ideas about things related to money, so precisely because of that, I don’t think he would tolerate charity from his lover.
The way that man smiled towards the silent Yuika reaffirmed her thoughts.
–Settle your own responsibilities.
Perhaps Rowe had been living like this ever since he decided to protect his little sister.
For the first time, Yuika felt as if she had touched on Rowe’s true nature as a human being.
And she felt a strong resentment that her own existence was not included in the future that this man was envisioning.
Earlier, Rowe had said, “my family’s circumstances”.
It meant that a lover was not officially a relative.
I can’t forgive that.
He may be being considerate of me, but that’s nothing more than — an insult to my own feelings.
“…”
Yuika slowly stood up and glared at Lowe.
“I–“
Full of determination.
“–propose marriage to Darling!”
Into the responsibilities this man is bearing, I will cut myself in.