Chapter 156
Chapter 156. The Labyrinth's Symbiotic Species
After searching the pursuers, I obtained three healing potions.
One high-quality, two standard-quality.
Any high-quality potion is expensive—far beyond what an E-rank should carry.
That alone proved they weren't ordinary adventurers.
When I returned with the potions, the child's stamina had further depleted.
There wasn't much time left.
I circled the massive body and examined its condition.
Thanks to the mother's protection, there were few arrows lodged in it, and the burns were minor.
Realizing it couldn't be treated as-is, I first tried removing the arrows. They came out surprisingly easily.
Piercing wounds are often fatal, but the tough hide must have protected it.
The life-threatening injury was likely the wound on its leg.
Its right hind leg had been slashed, and though slow, the bleeding hadn't stopped.
Washing away the blood with [Pure Water], I saw the dark red flesh.
In cases like this, directly applying potions allows for concentrated healing.
But the wound was deep and wide.
Potions only contain enough to drink in one gulp—even all three might not be enough.
I poured the high-quality potion first, followed by the two standard ones.
The bleeding stopped, and so did the stamina drain.
The immediate crisis was averted, but other wounds remained.
I went to the warriors in chain and leather armor, nodded, and searched their belongings.
No healing potions in sight.
Empty vials nearby suggested they'd used them in the fight against the mother.
Next, I checked the scout and the charred mage—they had standard and crude potions. The mage's potion was burnt, likely degraded by fire.
Regretting leaving it to Salka, I took the potions and returned to the child.
Then, facing the giant creature, I pondered how to administer them.
Tossing them into its mouth might just make it spit them out.
After some thought, I tried casting [Operate Water] on a potion.
Surprisingly, the magic permeated, and crimson vines smoothly extended.
"Potions are magic tools too. Thought it'd reject it, but you never know until you try."
I manipulated the crude potion as well, creating two liquid orbs.
Now, just needed to deliver them deep into the throat—but time was short.
The mutant watched the floating crimson orbs with interest.
Amusing, but I couldn't afford it lunging.
Before instinct overpowered it, I guided the orbs into the child's mouth and released the magic deep inside.
It seemed to swallow properly—the effects appeared immediately.
The leg wound's dark redness faded, and the arrow wounds grew shallower.
Slowly, its stamina began rising.
This should suffice. Unless it pushes itself, it shouldn't worsen.
Now, for the finishing touch.
I activated [Appraisal] and scanned the surroundings.
Saelon grass could work even as-is, albeit weakly.
It should promote natural healing.
But I found none, so I kept [Appraisal] active as I walked.
It took several minutes to locate any.
After carefully gathering it, I looked around for more.
Nothing.
Had the cold wave affected even this place?
I couldn't stray far from the family, but—
As I hesitated, the mutant appeared beside me unnoticed.
It peered curiously at the Saelon grass.
"This is a healing potion ingredient. Consuming it raw still has restorative effects."
The mutant sniffed the grass, then trotted off lightly.
It stopped before a patch of lingering snow.
Suspecting the impossible, I brushed the snow aside—and found buried Saelon grass.
Did it track the scent?
I tried sniffing the grass and focusing, but detected nothing.
Even with a beastman's enhanced senses, wild beasts were on another level.
"If there's more, show me."
At my request, the mutant kept finding more Saelon grass.
Some were detectable with [Appraisal], but many hid under snow or bushes.
In situations like this, [Appraisal] was inconvenient.
It required visual confirmation—hidden things stayed hidden.
Returning with a large haul, I found the Elas Rhino child awake.
It was desperately nudging its mother, perhaps trying to rouse her.
For a moment, I couldn't bear it, but I restrained myself.
Monsters are living beings too. For nurturing species, familial bonds aren't strange.
Excessive empathy would make fighting when necessary impossible.
Noticing my approach, the child looked up.
Instantly, it glared fiercely and took a defensive stance before its mother.
The intense hostility made me halt.
Treatment was mostly done, and the pursuers were dealt with.
I didn't need to transport the family—and given this reaction, convincing it seemed unlikely.
As I stepped back, the mutant stepped forward in my place.
"Kyu."
An adorable sound.
But the child reacted completely differently.
Despite being on the verge of charging, it froze mid-stance.
Not intimidation—more like suppression.
Even a child Elas Rhino was massive. The mutant could crush it underfoot, yet it was utterly cowed.
Their difference in power and rank was vast. Had instinct made it recognize death?
But freezing meant it wouldn't eat.
I set the Saelon grass aside and approached the mother.
The child reacted immediately, but a single tail flick from the mutant made it freeze again.
"Sorry. This is all I can do."
As I spoke, I removed the arrows from the mother.
With each arrow, tension eased—by the end, hostility had vanished.
I gathered the Saelon grass and placed it before the child.
"You may not have an appetite, but please eat if you can."
Leaving those words, I headed to the adventurers.
I felt guilty toward the warrior and light warrior, but I needed to scavenge what gear I could.
Searching the adventurers and pursuers, I collected usable items.
Four magic tools recovered:
The light warrior had a one-handed axe with durability enhancement.
The scout had a slash-enhancing dagger.
Both were rank 2—mediocre, but handy for daily use.
The pursuers only had the [Pure Water] magic tool found earlier.
Named "Murmuring Necklace," it might be essential for long-term tracking.
Unnecessary for someone with my mana reserves, but potentially useful.
The best find was the warrior's "Gale Simitar."
Its [Wind Blade] skill increased swing speed and slightly boosted slash power.
Among magic tools, it was mid-tier at best, but its sleek, lightning-patterned design was eye-catching.
Also known as "Conrad's Sword," it wasn't ideal for carrying openly.
From the pursuers, I also took three antidote potions, daily supplies, and money.
Packing everything into a backpack, I turned back.
The child still lingered by its mother, uneaten Saelon grass before it.
It watched me approach but no longer threatened.
I stood by the mother and placed a hand on her bloodied body.
"Ironic coming from someone practically a bandit, but left like this, monsters or adventurers will defile you. Let me bury you."
No way it understood, and animal-type monsters likely lacked burial customs.
Yet, it seemed to grasp I meant to do something.
The Elas Rhino child stepped back slightly.
I nodded and cast [Operate Soil] with [Multiple Chant].
Countless earthen vines rose, sinking the mother's body with me.
Even after the massive Elas Rhino vanished below, I kept digging.
Noticing movement, I looked up—the child peered from the pit's edge, watching its mother.
At sufficient depth, I sealed it with [Earth Wall] and replaced the soil.
Finally, I covered the surface with gathered topsoil and snow.
The [Fireball]-scorched ground was uneven—hard to distinguish now.
With that, everything was done.
Now, would the child let me ride it? Unlikely.
Even if not an enemy, riding was different.
I'd wasted enough time—time to leave.
As I reached for the rope, the mutant guided the child over.
It nudged with its tail, suggesting I mount the family.
"Do you really understand? We can't even talk."
But the mutant's behavior didn't change.
Oddly, the Elas Rhino child waited expectantly too.
Even humans struggle with cross-cultural communication—more so for different monster species.
Yet, somehow, they'd reached an understanding.
First, I tried mounting just the board. As expected, it shook me off immediately.
No comprehension after all.
Several attempts later, it finally yielded to the mutant's "request" (read: intimidation).
Pitying the teary-eyed child, I finally headed south.
◇◇◇◇
Riding the Elas Rhino along the forest's edge, progress was smooth.
True to its title as "King of the Grasslands," its gait stayed steady under four riders' weight.
I'd feared it might reject me, but without enough rope to secure the board, falling would be problematic.
The mutant, meanwhile, perched atop its head like a guide.
Unexpectedly, the journey went well.
The Elas Rhino child gradually acclimated, ceasing resistance.
Partly due to the mutant's intimidation, but perhaps it was opening up to me.
The shallow meltwater pools were hard for it to drink from.
I lined a depression with a scavenged cloak and filled it with [Pure Water].
It seemed to particularly like that.
When I offered the untouched Saelon grass, it devoured it instantly.
After that, I searched during breaks, asking the mutant to guide us to more patches.
Thanks to that, its injuries improved significantly.
No new pursuers appeared.
It'd take days for their defeat to be noticed, and riding erased my tracks.
Taming a wild Elas Rhino was unthinkable—they'd need to rule it out first.
By then, we'd have gained considerable distance, making pursuit harder.
In the end, the mutant's plan worked perfectly.
We encountered no adventurers either.
Only monsters, most fleeing at the sight of the Elas Rhino.
The sole attacker was a Kackle.
Near the Atrald Mountains' foothills, it charged heedless of the size difference.
Their appetite is impressive, but fixated on the giant prey, it missed the monster on its head.
Before it got close, both legs were severed, its torso bisected.
Regardless, bird monsters they were.
The mutant and I ate the Kackle, the child ate Saelon grass, and we pressed on.
West of Fasden, we reached the Depthswood—gateway to the labyrinth.
From the Elas Rhino's back, I gazed at the long-unseen forest.
Less than a month since I'd been here, yet it felt nostalgic.
Was the symbiotic transformation affecting me?
As I mused, the mutant stood on hind legs, peering ahead.
The labyrinth was still distant—unlikely it could sense it.
Probably unsettled by the lack of creatures.
"Let's proceed."
Tilting its head, the mutant lightly tapped the child's head with a forepaw.
On cue, the Elas Rhino entered the Depthswood.
Sparse trees gradually thickened into proper forest.
The smooth grassland travel gave way to obstacles forcing detours.
Frustrating, but conversely, the child cleared terrain that would've required climbing with ease.
The ride was unexpectedly comfortable too.
The Elas Rhino's tough hide minimized swaying even in rough terrain.
For non-temperamental monsters, they might make ideal mounts.
The child advanced leisurely while the mutant grew tenser.
Soon, it crouched low, staring fixedly ahead.
My [Presence Detection] sensed nothing yet, but the mutant had noticed the labyrinth.
"It's fine. That thing isn't hostile."
The mutant looked up at me with crimson eyes.
Reassured, it reluctantly stood down—but remained wary.
Even as the child detoured, it kept staring forestward like a weathervane.
Honestly, I'd worried about reaching the labyrinth safely.
Exiting the grasslands was easy, but finding it in the vast forest would've been hard.
At worst, I'd considered sprinting with [Presence Detection] at full blast—the mutant's guidance spared me that.
About an hour later, my [Presence Detection] picked up the labyrinth.
I'd told the mutant it wasn't hostile, but I still scanned carefully.
If unchanged, negotiations were possible.
But it might've gained guardians in these few days.
If so, the symbiotic species had no place.
Approaching dispelled those worries.
Nothing lurked nearby, and nothing approached.
The labyrinth seemed to notice me too—its presence shifted faintly.
Upon arrival, what reached me felt like... joy?
Being welcomed was reassuring.
Unless it mistook me for bringing food.
That misunderstanding needed correcting first.
Dismounting, I faced the labyrinth.
"I wish to negotiate."
Confusion echoed back—same as before.
"As a symbiotic species, I'll cooperate. During my stay, I'll provide food. In exchange, protect my family. Duration—I can't say. Until things stabilize."
More confusion, tinged with slight disappointment.
But that vanished when I showed the Kackle.
"Start with this. Take it."
Tossing it into a side tunnel, the Kackle rolled in.
The moment it stopped, countless spikes impaled it, dragging it into the rocky surface.
The labyrinth's feeding—more violent than imagined.
"Do we have a deal?"
A new sensation came from the labyrinth—not confusion.
No hostility or refusal, so likely accepted. But—
"Let me be clear. Harm my family, and I'll destroy you. Even if it kills me."
The response came clearly this time.
Definitely acknowledgment.
With [Light] active, I carefully transported my family inside, mindful of the narrow passage.
The labyrinth didn't interfere, so I dragged the board to the deepest dead end.
Turning back, I realized only I'd entered.
The mutant refused to approach, and the Elas Rhino child was too big.
Nodding for them to wait, I unwrapped the shrouds.
My father, mother, and battered brother were revealed.
The sight left me speechless.
The strange companions had made me forget reality.
No—I'd been avoiding it.
Gazing silently, I noticed dirt on my mother's face.
Wetting clean cloth with [Pure Water], I wiped her face, then my father and brother.
Unlike my brother's cut-covered face, my parents looked unchanged from life.
From life—right.
Touching their cheeks, they were freezing.
As I held them, a thought came.
Since arriving in this world, I'd often found noble status bothersome.
As a commoner, I could've been an adventurer, living freely in towns like Seren.
Migrating when I pleased, maybe even exploring the Mez Riez region.
Yet, losing them like this wasn't what I'd wanted.
Was coming here truly right?
Maybe I should've stayed, freed Reidvolt.
My father would've wanted that.
And declaring abandonment of my status—had I considered that?
Had I...?
Under [Light]'s glow, I racked my brain.
Ah... I'd sought the labyrinth to buy time to think.
Abandoning my status was optimal, but alternatives might exist.
That's why I came.
But pondering brought no new ideas.
My thoughts scattered, leaving me blankly staring at my family.
As if my mind had shut down.
Come to think of it, this had happened before.
Back in Kelil Village.
[Mental Resistance] had suppressed my emotions too much, leading to poor choices and near-death by Sopric's poison.
So—was this the same?
Glancing back at the entrance, I checked my surroundings.
The mutant lurked at a distance, watching.
Even if Depthswood monsters came, it could handle them.
Taking deep breaths, I deactivated [Mental Resistance].
Instantly—a scream echoed.
Realizing it came from me, my world went dark.
◇◇◇◇
Countless fragments floated chaotically before vanishing.
Memories of this life and the last.
Blending together, filling my vision.
But my past life's memories were indistinct, muffled even when lips moved.
As I strained to listen, I noticed—
My current memories had lost sound too.
My father's troubled frown, mother's gentle smile, brother's exasperated grin.
Yet, I heard nothing.
Only waterfall-like noise drowned everything.
Somehow, it felt natural.
This was my life, my everything.
Whether comfortable or not, I simply drifted, immersed in memories.
Then, abruptly, they distorted.
Blurring, spreading.
Past-life memories melted; current ones lost form.
Even the noise faded rapidly.
I'd experienced this recently.
But unlike last time, there was no terror.
Instead, a warm, oddly soft sensation.
Then, everything vanished—and I opened my eyes.
A white expanse with red dots swaying.
As the sensation on my forehead faded, white turned to dark.
Guided by faint sunlight, I sat up.
Had... I passed out again?
Surveying the gloom, the mutant's whiteness stood out.
Despite its wariness, it must've worried and entered.
"I'm... fine now."
Smiling weakly, I checked the entrance.
[Light] had expired, but sunlight remained unchanged.
I'd likely been out mere minutes.
Then, the sunlight seemed to blur—I raised a hand to my face.
My temples were wet.
Wiping my cheeks confirmed it.
Had I been... crying?
No other issues, but [Mental Resistance] had reactivated.
Perhaps a defense mechanism as I fell.
Trying to recall what happened—I shuddered.
That was bad... Worse than Kelil or the mercenaries.
Sheer despair and rage.
Had I deactivated [Mental Resistance] in Reidvolt, I wouldn't be here.
I'd have rampaged mindlessly until killed.
And no matter how many residents died, I wouldn't have cared.
I couldn't forgive Baromat for killing my family and Lolan.
Nor the residents who obeyed Baromat and sold Lolan's ring without resistance.
Why should I risk my life for such people?
That was my true self.
Moments before blacking out, I'd seen it clearly.
I couldn't get involved with Reidvolt. Not now.
Breathing slowly, I faced the memories.
And understood another truth.
Why I'd sought the labyrinth.
Why I'd transported my family despite the risks.
Looking up, I addressed the presence I knew was there.
"Can you hear me, Chubby?!"
The mutant jumped at my sudden shout; the labyrinth trembled.
Undeterred, I continued.
"I refuse to accept this life! You promised Earth's god! Fulfill it! Protect my family's souls! One day, I will wake them!"
I knew Chubby wasn't at fault.
This was pure selfishness, a twisted wish.
But it was all I had.
And resurrection research was impossible in human society.
Hence, the labyrinth.
Until that day came, this would be my home.
Rising, I glared northwest.
My consciousness pierced through Depthswood, across grasslands, to the filthy town I'd lived in for three years.
Esard Saizit... Your research—I'll take it.