"We could take a vote, but I'm not reaaally sure that's the best idea in a life-or-death situation like this. If we vote the wrong way and end up... dead, I honestly don't know what I'd do, especially if I found myself on the losing side, having to fall with everyone else. Same goes for all of you; I shouldn't have suggested it in the first place. I'm soooo sorry!" Emma rambled, as usual.
She talked herself into a corner and wasted precious time, causing everyone to let out exasperated sighs in response.
"No need for any of that," Tadashi interjected. "I'll go ahead and take care of the beast myself. That way, you all will have a chance to escape if things go south."
"But then you'll—"
"I know the risks, but if Ryo could risk his life for us, I'm willing to do the same. I also want a moment to prove myself."
To an outsider, it sounded like a rather childish notion, yet the resolve in his voice was clear—he was genuinely willing to risk his life.
"Tch. Idiot! If you want to die, at least don't do it in front of us. You've got to be out of your goddamn mind to go near that thing alone without anyone to back you up!" Logan yelled, frustrated at Tadashi's recklessness.
"I agree. I can't say it makes any sense to approach it that way," Olivia added, her concern evident.
At their words, Tadashi shrugged and shook his head. "No, it might be foolish, as you all say, but someone has to do this. If everyone jumps in to attempt the same, and it still has something up its sleeve, it could wipe us all out. That would be regrettable. It's better this way."
There was some truth to his reasoning; it was indeed better for one person to take the risk than for the entire group to face annihilation. Mei understood this, and so did the others. Yet, perhaps it was the bond they'd formed during their travels or simple human instinct kicking in, but it felt profoundly wrong to let Tadashi march toward what could be his death. The guilt that would settle over them if he were to perish right before their eyes would be soul-crushing.
"Even so, it's reckless. We should reconsider; there has to be a better way to go about this. We should calm down and think!" Mei said, her expression one of deep concern.
"Hah," he let out a sigh. "We can't stand here wasting precious time arguing. I chose to do this; it was my decision. If that choice ends up being my undoing, then... I will accept it."
As he spoke, his eyes were slightly squinted and his gaze downcast, but the way he persisted in this argument made Mei suspect there had to be another reason behind his willingness to put himself in such danger. At the very least, they should prepare to protect him if they could. Perhaps they could save him at the last moment if something went wrong. They could only hope it wouldn't come to that—maybe he could finish off the monster without any resistance. Yes, that was the mindset they should adopt.
"Fine. It seems you've made up your mind. We'll back you up if it comes to that," Mei said, resigned but resolute.
"Alright, here," Logan said, handing him his longsword.
"This is..."
"You don't have a weapon, right? Use this. And if you end up croaking, don't make excuses like it's my sword's fault, you hear me?"
"I wouldn't dream of it."
He felt a bit conflicted receiving the sword, but since he was the one who insisted on ceasing the argument, he couldn't go back on those words now.
With that, Tadashi approached the Gorgon, walking steadily and carefully toward it, his longsword gripped tightly in hand. For precaution, he activated 『SHADOW STEALTH』, inching closer as the monster's cries of agony grew louder. It writhed in pain, blood dripping from its eyes, and the wounds on its body emitted the stench of charred flesh. Puddles of white liquid were scattered across the floor near it.
Tadashi got within two arm's lengths of the creature, positioning himself near its head, intent on finishing the job. He dodged some of the monster's violent swings, and just as he leaped beneath its head, he thought maybe he wouldn't even need to pierce it himself; the monster could harm itself with the way it thrashed about. But instead of waiting for it to swing down, he stabbed upwards with all his might.
But as he did, the monster deftly moved away with terrifying speed.
"What the hell just happened?" Tadashi exclaimed.
He couldn't believe it. No, this should've been expected, but how could it have known? He was invisible; it shouldn't even have eyes! So how was it able to evade his attack? Could it sense his killing intent? This wasn't some manga—how could that be the case? Or could it?
—This thing has been playing with us the whole time...
"Shit! Back him up!" Logan yelled, prompting everyone to spring into action and dash toward Tadashi's direction.
The monster bent its massive form, opening its gaping maw as if to swallow Tadashi whole, yet it froze mid-motion. Its mouth was agape, revealing a split tongue and a strange, glowing spiral pattern of flesh within.
—In the first place, it couldn't see us. I see, Those patterns on its face indicate infrared vision.
The patterns beneath its face were heat-sensing organs, similar to those found in a few snake species—which allow them to detect warmth even in complete darkness. The Gorgon bore a striking resemblance to a python in many ways. From the start, its eyes were solely used for this ability and served little else. Had they all decided to follow him, they would surely have been wiped out.
But this emotion, this love, wouldn't leave him. It pulled him forward, making his feet take steps before he even realized it. The love was undeniably powerful; it erased all thoughts from his mind, leaving only this overwhelming passion. It was thrilling, exciting, exhilarating. What an experience, he thought.
As he approached the creature's mouth, his cheeks flushed, and his eyes widened with a crazed, aching love. Yet, another emotion began to swell within him, growing stronger by the second—much stronger than the love he felt right now. What was this? Why did it twist his face into such an unbecoming expression? What was happening in the heart of Fujita Tadashi? Only he, the one experiencing these feelings, could recognize this powerful emotion that had always lingered beneath the surface.
Suddenly, he was jolted from his trance, but he continued to pretend as if he was enraptured, nearing the Gorgon.
"Wait! Wait! Mr. Fujita!" Olivia called out, her voice edged with urgency.
Both she and Logan sprinted after him, while Mei conjured dark flames and hurled them at the creature as she ran.
"Grand one, summon thy cold mist! Enshroud my foes in an icy grip! Frosty Mist!" Emma chanted as quickly as she could.
Ice mist billowed outwards, freezing the very ground beneath the snake's massive form; it was far more effective than it had been against the jeweled centipede.
"It's not frozen in place! It's moving, it's moving!" Emma screamed, struggling to keep pace as she lagged behind the group.
Impatient, the snake lunged to devour Tadashi and his kardia-magia in one swift motion. But Tadashi was prepared; he gripped his sword tightly, plunging it deep inside the creature's mouth before leaping upward and stabbing directly into the center of its forehead.
"KISSHISSEEE!!!"
The creature screeched once more before swinging its body in a precise arc. Its lower end struck Tadashi with tremendous force, sending him flying into a large, sturdy tree that broke his fall.
"GHK!"
He collapsed, but the Kardia-beast fell as well; perhaps that last attack had drained all the energy it could muster before succumbing to exhaustion.
"Tadashi!!" Mei cried out, terror etched across her face. She halted her attack and rushed in his direction.
Logan and Olivia saw it as a prime opportunity. After all, the monster was still breathing faintly. For good measure, Olivia plunged her blade through its neck, beheading it. For reasons that remained a mystery, Logan delivered a solid punch to the corpse. The beast was already dead, it was undeniably dead, but he continued to strike it, again and again, gritting his teeth, his face contorted with frustration.
"Fucking bastard, die! Fuck youuu!"
He kept up his assault while Emma and Olivia merely watched, stunned. He pounded the creature until his knuckles were bruised, yet he showed no signs of stopping.
"That's enough. Calm down. It's finished," Olivia said, pulling back his arm to halt his rampage. Her voice was cold and stern.
"Just one more hit. Let me hit it one more time. This... this..."
Logan was still furious and frustrated, and while they couldn't fully understand why this anger consumed him, they had an inkling. In a way, they felt it too.
This wasn't a floor master. Were they really expected to maintain this relentless, life-or-death struggle? How much longer could they endure this? Why did they have to go through it at all? The more they ventured into this world, the more they wished they had never become a part of it.
"I get why you're mad, but hurting yourself like this is just... improper," Olivia said, her expression shifting to one of concern. Despite the tremors in her arms and the tears brimming in her eyes, she was focused on him.
He pulled her close to his chest and comforted her, stroking her head as he regretted his display deeply.
"I'm sorry for showing you that side of me, especially when you're doing your best. That was probably unmanly, wasn't it?"
"No... it's fine. Let's just leave this place. I don't want to be here anymore."
"...."
He kissed her head and continued holding her tightly.
...
Ryo returned to regroup with his party, having caught glimpses of the fight as they moved deeper into the forest. The sounds of battle faded into the background, and he couldn't make out much of what had happened.
"I guess you all handled it better than I could have imagined. It's good to see you're all still in one piece," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
His gaze fell on Emma, who was sitting on the ground, relief evident on her face. Logan and Olivia were nearby, but then he noticed Tadashi lying down with his head in Mei's lap. He appeared to be injured, though it didn't seem life-threatening—at least, he hoped that was the case.
"He's getting real comfortable at least," Ryo muttered as he approached Mei and Tadashi.
"How's he doing? Is he alright?" Ryo inquired, concern creeping into his voice.
Mei looked up at him, her worry palpable. It was as if she'd just remembered something important.
"Ryo-bai, you're alright, right? You weren't caught in any crossfire or anything!" she exclaimed, her brow furrowing.
Ryo wished she wouldn't worry about him. Given the battle they'd just faced, he felt he should be the one asking about their safety. He gestured with his hands, pushing them forward repeatedly to calm her down.
"Hey, calm down! I should be the one asking if you're okay. I hid away from the fight, remember?"
As he spoke, Mei's shoulders relaxed a little, and she let out a sigh.
"Right, you hid away in cowardice. At least you're safe." She followed that up with a relieved, "Phew."
"No, no, that's not how it went! The plan—you remember that was the whole point. Don't twist this situation into one where I look bad, okay?" He gave her an exasperated look, covering his eyes with a hand.
"Well, if you have enough energy to joke around, you must be in great shape. Now, answer my initial question: what about him? Is he... alright?"
At his words, Mei grimaced. Seeing her expression, Ryo could only imagine the worst. Tadashi was unconscious, blood on his lips—maybe the situation wasn't as neatly resolved as he had thought.
"Don't tell me he's—"
"No, it's nothing fatal. Just a few broken ribs and a dislocated left shoulder. Aside from that, he'll be fine; it's just—"
If that was the case, why did she have that look on her face? Ryo began to wonder if there was more to what she wasn't saying.
"Don't tell me you feel guilty or something," he remarked, only to have Mei shoot a glare at him. His words, though thoughtless, seemed to have hit the mark or have been completely off base.
"It's just... I could've stopped him from acting recklessly, even if it meant doing so by force. Especially after seeing how things turned out. If he made one mistake, we'd be having an even more depressing conversation right about now."
Her expression softened as she voiced her thoughts, revealing the weight of her regrets. It was natural for her to feel that way, but Ryo knew this kind of thinking would only serve as a burden—especially down here in the Labyrinth.
He crouched down, placing his hands firmly on her shoulders.
"Listen to me. None of this is your fault. The moment you start thinking like that, it'll only serve to hurt you later on when things probably get worse. I watched that whole conversation. Fujita insisted on his actions; he is to blame for his own misfortune, not you. So stop sulking."
He said it as clearly and sternly as he could, locking his gaze onto hers without wavering for a second. She felt a bit overwhelmed by his tone and actions; a faint blush crept across her cheeks. From a distance, Emma let out a teasing, "Eek!" as she playfully placed her fingers on her lips.
He turned to Emma with a snort before redirecting his attention back to Mei, who carefully took his hands off her shoulders.
"I understand, that was a rather harsh way of putting it," she said, "but I appreciate your concern for my well-being. I'll heed your advice."
As she spoke, she closed her eyes and pretended to cough exaggeratedly.
—Worried, huh? I guess I was worried.
"Now, if you would allow me, I'd like to properly treat his wounds and help him rest. We need to head for the tenth layer posthaste."
Mei pulled her bag closer, took out bandages and a few safety pins, and carefully immobilized his left arm. She refrained from attempting to reconnect the joint to avoid causing him any more pain. Just as she wrapped him up, he stirred and woke.
"You're... good at this," he said, his voice a bit hoarse.
Her eyes widened slightly at his compliment. She then lifted him gently and offered him a liquid from a small bottle, explaining, "They say this acts as a painkiller, and it's more effective than what you'd find at a pharmacy."
"Well, my grandpa used to get hurt a lot around the house, so since I was little, I patched him up. Ever since then, I've known my way around a first aid kit," she replied with a hint of pride.
He chuckled softly. "And let me guess, you developed a passion for something like being a paramedic?"
As she placed a few cold packs on his ribs, she playfully poked at his chest to test his reaction.
"Ow, ow, ouch!" he exclaimed.
He grabbed her hand with his right hand, and for a brief moment, they fell silent, gazing at each other until she finally spoke, breaking the stillness.
"Something along those lines, yes. But that was a long time ago; I don't really want that kind of profession anymore."
"I see."
Across from them, clearly listening to their conversation, Ryo couldn't help but grunt.
"I'm beginning to think you're just pretending to be hurt so you can be babied by a pretty girl, huh? This is why I hate pretty boys."
Despite Ryo's jealousy, it was evident that Tadashi was straining himself as he spoke. Mei gently lowered him back onto her lap, allowing him to rest.
—Look at him salvaging a lap pillow after barely escaping death.
Ryo's displeasure only deepened, prompting a wry smile from Tadashi in response.
"Ooooooh, could it be? Could it be? Could it beee? Ghost boy is jeal-ous! Don't worry, I'll comfort you! I can give you a lap pillow too, if you want!" Emma said enthusiastically.
She grabbed Ryo by the arm and gently tapped her thighs, gesturing for him to lie down.
"You're an idiooooot!" he retorted, shoving her away and moving further from the group.
"Tsk, he didn't bite," Emma quipped.
"I don't think you're supposed to voice that part out," Mei sighed at Emma's remark.
"Hey, Ryo, if it helps, Olivia can give you a lap pillow!" Logan's voice reached Ryo's ears, but it only served to infuriate him. Olivia folded her arms, puffing out her ample chest in disapproval and turning away with a distinctive "hmph."
"Seriously! Stop trying to hook me up with your girlfriend! You're all idioooots!"
"But why are you so agitated? I did this for you back then, remember? What's so special about a lap pillow?"
"It wasn't…special! Wait, don't tell them that! What's wrong with you people?"
As the teasing of Ryo gradually subsided, the group decided to move a short distance away from where they had defeated the Gorgon, choosing to camp there for the night. After a bit of rest, they would head for the 10th layer once more.