#########-Kouki-#########
Yuuki [Now, Kouki-kun!]
Yuuki-kun was standing confidently in front of me.
Yuuki [Try choosing one!]
Presented to me were a good amount of very flashy looking artifacts.
A great sword looking red one.
A long, rust colored spear with a very prominent blade at the tip that could pass as a short sword.
A long silver staff with a bluish mana crystal inside a small cage looking end at the tip.
A short blue wand, a bit too big to be a regular wand but too small to be a staff.
A golden folding fan one size too big.
A white hairpin adorned with a flower with a hint of a blue shade.
A white pendant with a pink wing pattern carved.
Even the unicorn artifact I saw before is sitting on the side looking disinterested.
I was for some reason being offered one of his artifacts as a gift.
Apparently, the scary sword Shimizu-kun have was made and given by Yuuki-kun.
When I asked about it this is where we got.
He was smiling with bright eyes like saying "They're super cool aren't they?".
Well they are cool but...
Kouki [...I'm happy for the sentiment but...]
Yuuki [...Oh... Ah, Right! You already have the holy sword, I guess you don't need one of these then]
He looked like he was about to get sad for a second but immediately smiled again.
Yeah, I already have a sword... Let's leave it at that...
Yuuki [Still, if you change your mind just tell me]
He smiled as he rubbed his cheek on the red great sword looking artifact...
I could swear it was hissing... Is that the smell of flesh burning?
Yukitoshi [...You done?]
Yukitoshi was standing on the side looking annoyed, one step away from going on his own.
Although, he apparently can't, he looks pale.
Yukitoshi never looked exactly lively but he didn't look as well as I remember.
Yukitoshi [Don't forget about the horse this time]
Apparently, they cleared Miledi-san's labyrinth before coming here.
I was impressed, Shimizu-kun obtained ancient magic.
Not surprised or shocked but impressed.
He already achieved what I couldn't.
The me in the past... Well, I DID feel it was unfair...
He also defeated Shizuku before we noticed she was there.
The Shizuku right now is not remotely as strong as she became in my memories, she doesn't even have the black sword but again, it was impressive.
She was down without a single scratch, he didn't even need to directly hurt her.
Maybe like with Nagumo-kun... There's something I couldn't see of him because I was full of myself...
We advanced down the labyrinth.
The unicorn artifact, Kirin, decimated the monsters barely after they appeared.
She didn't even distanced herself from us, theee monsters appeared-
*Bang* *Bang* *Bang*
The trio of monsters became paste on the floor and walls... if I said I saw her moving, it would be a lie.
At first I was ready to unsheathe the holy sword but between the lapse of time I grabbed the hilt and was even able to pull it, the dry sound followed by the wet sound reached my ears, the monsters that were there simply weren't anymore.
From small monsters that are only dangerous when in a group to monsters that are already troublesome alone mercilessly crushed in a blink one after the other.
Yukitoshi walked without interest.
Yuuki walked with a smile.
The aura was different but to me it meant that, for now at least, there's not even a reason to worry.
Now that I think about it, Kirin...-san fought head on with Tio-san and it didn't seem like she was losing.
It feels a bit strange, just walking behind as someone else is doing everything.
It feels uncomfortably familiar.
By the moment I noticed we were in the Behemoth area.
While I was wondering if it already respawned it appeared.
I unsheathed the holy sword and prepared to fight-
*Bang*
A loud dry sound followed by a wet spilling sound and a huge dark stain on the floor.
Kirin-san was standing on the other side of the bridge, on its metallic fangs, there was a shiny rock, the Behemoth's core.
*Crack*
She ate it.
Yuuki [Kouki-kun, do you mind if we go all the way to the 100 floor?]
He first looked at the bottomless pit, then he looked at the other side of the bridge and then looked at me.
Shimizu-kun looked back at us as if he didn't know what he was talking about.
Right, the entrance to the abyss is after clearing the 100 floor but Nagumo-kun fell from here.
Kouki [...Let's go for the 100th floor]
I don't know which is better but if the labyrinth has 100 floors then I would feel bad not clearing it all.
...Still, it is a bit uncomfortable.
I still don't get to do anything.
Isn't Kirin-san a bit too strong.
Kouki [...Do either of you... Have a person you like?]
I ended up asking the first thing that came to my mind.
Yuuki-kun looked at my with a relaxed but hard to read expression, Shimizu-kun looked at me with disgust.
Yuuki [I don't really know that many people...]
Yukitoshi [*Spit*]
The conversation died...
Kouki [So... Shimizu-kun, you were saved by Yuuki-kun in Ul, what exactly happened there?]
Yukitoshi [I made a deal with the demon race and killed a bunch of people]
Kouki [...I-is that so... But you stopped before hurting Aiko-senei and everyone else, right?]
Yukitoshi [I didn't thought? Nagumo got in the way]
...
Thinking about it, Shimizu-kun hurt Yue-san pretty bad before.
...Maybe I should have thought a bit longer before coming with them, maybe know them better?
I thought at first that having an easy time clearing the labyrinth would be better but not having something to do or something to talk about is painful...
We reached the 100th floor, it wasn't anything as dramatic as I thought it would.
Kirin-san was sent back to the treasure trove, she apparently got bored and decided to rest.
That's what Yuuki-kun said though.
Being honest I wouldn't blame her, she was doing everything and it didn't look like she was having fun doing it.
Is she not going to help anymore?
Yuuki stood at the center of the room.
Yuuki [Being honest, I've never reached this point so...]
He extended his hand forward.
Yuuki ["
The grey ball of light from before appeared again.
Grey colored light ran on the floor, walls and ceiling, it was like a scanner.
At the far end of the room, a magic formation that was not there before highlighted in gray light.
Yuuki [Okay, past this point is the real deal, the abyss is a place that is made to destroy your body and mind-... Shimizu-kun?]
Shimizu-kun just walked and stepped on the circle and disappeared in a flash of light.
Isn't that bad?
Yuuki [Wa-wa-wa-waiiiiiit!?]
Judging his reaction it definitely is bad.
Kouki [Let's follow him for now]
We walked to the magic circle and were engulfed in light.
When the light disappeared I was in a completely different place.
Kouki [It's a bit dark]
No only the light of the circle, the dimm but comfortable light present in the walls until now was gone.
There was light but nothing compared to before.
Yuuki ["
The translucent blade lit up in clear blue light.
The room became visible.
Did he seriously used it as a flashlight?
Shimizu-kun was a few steps further.
Yukitoshi [Oi, retard, give me a hand with this, I want them alive]
A few steps in front of him, there was something else.
??? [*grrrr*]
A wolf looking monster, three of them actually.
Yuuki moved immediately, he pulled something from his treasure trove.
The long rust colored spear.
Yuuki ["
He slammed the end of the spear on the floor and before the three wolfs could react the ground around them moved as if it was alive, restraining them completely with no effort.
The wolves were crying now, from monsters that could probably take a small army to defeat, to little dogs begging for mercy.
Yukitoshi [Good]
Shimizu-kun threw a pebble at each of them and the wolves fell asleep almost immediately.
Kouki [...You did that to Shizuku before, how does it work?]
Yukitoshi [...Hm? How...? I imbued magic into the pebbles by carving magic circle...-like marks on it? I guess runes would be more precise...]
He didn't even look at me as he answered.
Kouki [...That's quite impressive]
Yukitoshi [No really, normal pebbles on the road can only do so much, I can only use simple magic with it]
It didn't sound like modesty, he actually had a belittling tone.
Yukitoshi [...Although, this can be used as a catalyst, half as a replacement for the chant, the other half as a magic circle]
Shimizu-kun approached the wolves and dropped close to a dozen of pebbles around them.
Kouki [Shimizu-kun, are you going to-?]
Yukitoshi [Yes, shut up and wait in the corner with the retard]
Yuuki was looking with interest from the side, I did the same and immediately understood why.
The way Shimizu-kun was taking control of the wolves was dreadful but very interesting.
Thinking about it, I never paid attention to the magic of someone else like this.
I've seen Kaori using magic before but I never thought about actually paying attention.
If I'm honest, it's a bit fun.
I've seen artifacts that can reproduce magic or skills but the way he use it feels completely different.
When someone (Like Nagumo-kun) tries to add magic or skills into an artifact they try to make it as close to the real deal as possible.
What Shimizu-kun made me feel was... "Disposable" would be the word I would use.
He was done after close to ten minutes.
Yuuki-kun released the wolves and they walked around us as if waiting for orders.
Yukitoshi [Retard, what's the strongest thing in this floor]
That's a very good question.
Yuuki [The "Claw Bear", A big bear looking monster that throws wind blades from its claws]
Sounds strong.
Yukitoshi [How do this dogs compare]
Yuuki ["Twin-tailed wolves" are the weakest monster in the abyss, not the only monster that moves in packs but the only one that needs to]
That's not very reassuring.
Yukitoshi [... How many of this are out there]
Yuuki [There should be a lot]
Yukitoshi [Then let's get a few more]
The next hour or so was us looking for wolves, capturing them and having them join us.
Thanks to the grey ball of light, Tsukuyomi, we were able to find them quickly and avoided the other, more dangerous monsters.
When we were done, close to fifty wolves were under Shimizu-kun's comand.
Kouki [Isn't this a bit excessive]
I reached for a wolf and patted its head, this guys were quite cute.
My hand was tingling though, a familiar red colored static electricity ran on its fur.
Yukitoshi [Not enough, I want a few rabbits and the bear, I'm getting that bear even if I have to exchange it for the retard]
That didn't sound like a joke.
Also, isn't it a bit mean to call him retard?
I didn't ask because I didn't think I had to but, are they not friends?
The rabbits were quite fast and hard to follow but with the overwhelming number of wolves we captured half a dozen of them in no time.
Yuuki-kun didn't need to help, Shimizu-kun just commanded the wolves to corner the rabbits until they could restrain them.
Unlike the wolves that even if a monster restrained them directly could attack/protect themselves by generating electricity, the rabbits were done for when they were pinned down on the ground.
A few of our wolves were sacrificed though, it was a bit sad.
Shimizu-kun was ready to go for the bear monster but Yuuki-kun didn't allow him to go alone.
Again, he used the rusted spear artifact and captured the bear.
I wouldn't say it was harder but it was clear he was making sure the bear couldn't get away, half burying it on the ground until only it's head was sticking out.
We ended with 50~ wolves, 6 rabbits and one bear by the time we advanced to the next floor... And we almost lost the bear right away.
A lizard looking monster ambushed us, the bear was used as a shield and it took head on its magic eye attack.
The arms of the bear that it used to shield itself turned to stone.
Yuuki-kun pulled out a metallic vial and poured a potion looking substance on its arms and the bear was as good as new.
Apparently it was similar to the "Ambrosia" but better at healing abnormal status like petrification or poisoning.
We captured the lizard too.
The bear would be the tank and the lizard would be the first to attack.
Shimizu-kun didn't show any interest in capturing any other monsters so from that point on we just killed everything that moved.
There was a room where we didn't know what to do, apparently, if there's a spark, the whole thing will burn.
The wolves won't just be useless, they may get in the way.
Yukitoshi [...Then, let's just burn it down]
We retreated a few meters away from the entrance to the next floor.
Shimizu-kun commanded a wolf to go alone and then-
*BOOOM!!!*
The whole place trembled.
Kouki [Can the the floor collapse because of the explosion?]
Yuuki [...I wonder~?]
Luckily, the place didn't collapse with us.
The rest was without incident.
Big monsters, small monsters, one by one or in hordes.
Thanks to the lizard we just need to wait until a monster becomes stone, if it had a resistance skill or was smart enough to rip off one of its limbs on its own then Shimizu-kun just command the bear to attack while the wolves flanked it.
We passed by a big door, strangely, Yuuki-kun didn't even look at it.
Kouki [...That door-?]
I was about to ask when Shimizu-kun looked at the door and opened it.
Yukitoshi [...Nothing?]
Yeah, it was a huge dark space with nothing on it.
Yuuki [This place is... Well, We can take a break here]
He had an awkward expression but immediately smiled.
Is there something wrong with this room?
*Gurururu~*
...I haven't thought about it but I'm a bit hungry...
Yuuki-kun pulled out a metallic bench looking thing, and a flame generating artifact.
It was a grill.
He also pulled cooking tools, forks, knives, etc.
He then pulled out pieces of meat, vegetables, fruits and other things that looked like seasoning.
Kouki [Yuuki-kun, are you good at cooking?]
Yuuki [I wouldn't know if I'm good but Shimizu-kun doesn't complain]
For some reason that sounded reassuring.
Kouki [I don't know if I'm either but, do you need help with something?]
Yuuki [That would be great, please cut the vegetables in squares while I prepare the meat]
He passed a knife to me.
I chopped veggies while he seasoned the meat and smashed fruits and a pepper looking thing, probably to make sauce.
Shimizu-kun was just sitting without looking at us, leaning on the bear as if it was a expensive sofa while the wolves and rabbits rubbed against him.
I didn't notice before but he doesn't look good.
He's been the one doing almost everything so maybe he's just tired.
Yuuki-kun stuck the seasoned meat and the veggies on thin metal rods and put them on the grill.
... Close to hundred actually...
Mostly for the monsters.
They are pretty much cannon fodder, I guess the least we can do is feed them.
When the skewers were ready, Yuuki-kun pulled out a barrel of juice, Shimizu-kun cooled it down, Yuuki-kun poured it on metal cups and big plates for the wolves, rabbits and the lizard, he gave a whole barrel to the bear.
Kouki [This is a bit... How can I say it... Anticlimactic?]
Yuuki [Is that so?]
Kouki [I mean, this is "hell" you know? This is the abyss where Nagumo-kun changed]
Yuuki [It certainly is though?]
Kouki [I mean, we're eating skewers surrounded by dogs, rabbits, bears and a lizard]
Yukitoshi [Sounds like a school camping trip]
Kouki [There are school camping trips that have gone worse than this]
Yukitoshi [Maybe Nagumo is just a pussy]
Kouki [...I'm not sure that's the problem-]
Yukitoshi [So, Amanogawa, why did you come with us?]
That was a bit out of the blue.
Yuuki-kun had a complicated face, he probably didn't know what to say.
I actually haven't directly told them though.
Yukitoshi [The hero of the class leaving because a twerp sweet talked him?]
Kouki [Is... A bit complicated... I guess I came because they don't need me]
Yukitoshi [Is that so?]
Kouki [Nagumo is there, he's way stronger and can do a better job as a hero than I ever will, I may actually ruin everything if I stay...]
Strangely, it doesn't feel bad to say it, I actually feel relaxed, like a weight fell off from my shoulders.
Yukitoshi [Amanogawa, if you're as weak and useless as you say, I'm not going to keep you around]
...Weird, I felt a tingling sensation at the back of my head.
Kouki [I didn't mean it like that]
...Maybe I did?
Yukitoshi [It sounded like you wanted to be useless, am I wrong?]
Was that how I sounded?
Yukitoshi [Do you se this retard right here? The short one that looks like he would thank you for bullying him, he has black hair]
Yuuki [Hello]
Kouki [Y-yeah, I see him, he's the only other person here besides you and me]
Yukitoshi [I only keep him around because he's useful, not because he's talented, good at cooking or because of his face]
He took a bite of the skewer and drank the juice that he had left on the cup.
Yukitoshi [I don't care if you are a hero, I couldn't care less about your talent, I already have talent, what I want from you is competence]
He pointed the metallic stick at me.
Yukitoshi [If you came here to cry about how useless you are then go back]
Kouki [...Sorry]
It hit me when he said it like that.
The exploration of the Orcus labyrinth was easy for me because I haven't done anything.
The "Hero" class is the strongest, even if someone with another class trains for his whole life, a hero that trains a fraction of that may as well be unbeatable.
Is either of them stronger than me?
Yuuki-kun on his own is not.
I also don't think Shimizu-kun can fight me head on
Still, Yuuki-kun is resourceful and Shimizu-kun is skillful.
I haven't gotten in the way but I may as well not be here.
I should already know, a talented person with the wrong attitude will only get in the way sooner or later.
Kouki [Sorry, I got full of myself]
I almost made the same mistakes again.
Yukitoshi [If you really think so then you better get at least a broken arm by the time we clear the labyrinth]
Yuuki [Well, it's the truth that everything is going well, this place IS one of the most horrible places in the world, it feels weird to have everything going this well]
Yuuki-kun refilled Shimizu-kun's cup with a smile.
Yuuki [The last time I came here I was completely alone, it was awful... Compared to that, this does feel like camping with friends]
Thinking about it, I had the suspicion because of his artifacts but...
Kouki [Yuuki-kun, did you clear this labyrinth alone?]
Yuuki [Yes, it was 10 or so years ago]
Kouki [...How?]
Alone? The place that cost Nagumo-kun an arm and an eye?
Yuuki [Well... It took me a lot, more than a year]
More than a year? Alone?
Yuuki [In the early levels, I could crawl around without most monsters noticing me, I could just wait for the right time to ambush them. The wolves are the weakest in the abyss but the rabbits are easier to take down if you get your hands on them, they have good ears so it was quite hard to kill one though. Still, without a high level or a good weapon I couldn't hurt them, I could got for their eyes but monsters don't bleed to death that easily, specially from the eyes so more than going for their eyes, I had to aim for their brains, it was not that easy]
Kouki [...How did you kill the boss?]
Everything was already impressive enough but that's what I needed to hear the most.
Yuuki [Well... It wasn't that cool or impressive, I jut noticed that if the monster is too strong for me, I could trick it into killing itself, or in the case of the "Hydra", the boss of the labyrinth, I could look for a blind spot to attack it without it being able to attack me, the Hydra can regenerate it's own heads, that's why instead of simply attacking the heads, I grabbed onto it's back, the Hydra couldn't just throw flames at me if it could hurt it's main body, meanwhile I dug on its flesh with the weapons I had, if it tried to crush me I just dodged and continued attacking it, the only head I had to kill no matter what was the white one, that one uses healing magic, after that the silver head came out and it was awful, luckily, the silver head deemed me as a priority target and it ended up disintegrating the other heads while trying to hit me with it's breath-]
...
...I don't know what to say, what age was he if it was 10 years ago, 5, 6?
Kouki [T-thinking about it, why is this room empty? It looks like there's something important inside but there was nothing protecting it and there was nothing inside]
I tried changing the subject.
Yuuki [Oh, right, this is Yue-san's room, this is where she was confined for 300 years]
The subject became heavier.