The labyrinth exploration was proceeding so smoothly it was almost anticlimactic.
Every monster we encountered was far from being a threat; they were all creatures we could pick off individually without even needing to coordinate our efforts. The layout of the passages was simple, lacking any significant branching paths. To top it off, there were no real traps to speak of, meaning there was almost nothing that could truly be considered dangerous.
A D-Rank Labyrinth. Its difficulty was certainly true to its reputation.
"Ugh... another tiny magic stone."
Rio let out what must have been her tenth sigh of the day as she opened yet another treasure chest.
Peering over her shoulder, I saw a magic stone inside the box emitting a dull glow. For the size of the chest, the stone was meager, and its quality left much to be desired.
"Well, that’s about what you’d expect."
It was a just-born labyrinth, after all. There was no point in hoping for high-value loot this early on.
Rio stood up, tucking the magic stone into her pocket regardless. Despite her complaining, she was clearly pragmatic enough to take the reward home.
"But still! Almost every treasure chest we've found so far has been like this! Couldn't they let me dream a little? You know, give me something... big! Like, pow!"
Rio spread her arms wide, her voice full of exaggerated drama.
She had been resigned to the first few chests, muttering that it "couldn't be helped," but after finding the same mediocre rewards over and over, she had finally reached her limit. She puffed out her cheeks, making her dissatisfaction plain to see.
"It’s not so bad, is it? Even a small magic stone like that is still a material for a magic tool, right?"
"I mean... yeah, but..."
I gave a wry smile as Rio slumped her shoulders and let out a theatrical sigh.
To be honest, I understood how she felt. You find a treasure chest after a long trek, your heart leaps as you reach for the lid in anticipation, only for your hopes to be dashed the moment you see the contents: either a cheap material you’ll just trade for cash, or a low-quality recovery potion that’s only useful in the very beginning. Getting your hopes up only to be let down was a common occurrence in this business.
It was especially noticeable in low-difficulty labyrinths. Since the conquest difficulty was low, the rewards were commensurate. Rare items that could make your dreams come true, or gear that could single-handedly overturn your combat capabilities, simply weren't lying around. It was a reality I had learned the hard way back in my gaming days.
While reflecting on those bitter memories of my previous life, I shifted my focus back to the path ahead.
"Anyway, don't let your guard down yet. It's a cliché for something troublesome to be waiting for us at the very end."
"Ugh... If it's the end, I'd much rather have a surprise like the treasure becoming super luxurious... instead of some annoying monster popping out..."
"Hehe... It will be fine, Rio. No matter what kind of monster appears, Lord Rai and I will sweep it aside!"
Exchanging such idle banter, we continued deeper into the labyrinth.
Rio had been grumbling about the loot at first, but she seemed to have changed her tune halfway through. Now she walked along muttering to herself, evaluating the quality and size of the magic stones she had collected.
"...Still, with this many materials, I might be able to finish a few prototypes once we get back."
"For someone who was complaining so much a minute ago, you’ve certainly turned a corner."
"Complaints and harvests are two different things! An inventor’s job is to make the most of whatever they can get their hands on!"
Rio spoke with her chest puffed out with pride. Her ability to pivot so quickly was definitely one of her strengths.
Our exploration continued in a manner so peaceful it was hard to believe we were inside a labyrinth at all, until we finally reached a wide-open chamber. The walls were scarred with deep cracks as if they had been struck by immense force, and the floor was marked with heavy footprints. It was exactly the sort of place one would expect for a final encounter.
"Is this the innermost depths?"
"Likely so."
I answered Lene’s question immediately while surveying the room.
"You two, look at that!" Rio’s voice echoed through the chamber.
She was pointing toward the far end of the room. Atop a crude dais that looked like it had been fashioned from packed earth stood a treasure chest that was surprisingly well-made.
"Well... that’s..."
"Yeah. A bit blatant, isn't it?"
Lene and I shared a wry smile. The innermost depths of a labyrinth and a conspicuous treasure chest—it was obvious what was coming next.
"Here it comes."
The moment I spoke, a heavy vibration shook the floor.
The ground just in front of the dais bulged upward, and a second later, a massive monster burst through the surface with a thunderous roar.
The creature shuddered to shake the dirt from its body before letting out another deafening howl.
It looked remarkably like a hedgehog. Its entire body was encased in a needle armor of spiked fur. While the red eyes peeking through the gaps were almost bead-like, the aura it exuded was purely ferocious. Its limbs were short but thick, and every time it stomped, a dull tremor pulsed through the ground. The needles covering its body seemed to be hardened, reflecting the light with a metallic sheen.
"Whoa... it looks almost cute, but it’s definitely raring to go."
"We must stay alert!"
Lene stepped forward. She leveled her greatsword, shifting into a combat-ready stance.
Seeing her move, the monster roared again, kicked off the ground, and initiated a high-speed charge. With its needles standing on end as it hurtled toward us, it looked like a massive, living burr.
I had no intention of being skewered. We all leaped to the side, clearing its path.
The mass of needles roared past us and slammed directly into the wall with a resounding crash.
"The power is decent, at least."
Cracks spider-webbed across the wall where the monster had hit, proving its destructive force. However, its trajectory was strictly linear and easy to avoid. If this creature followed the logic of my game knowledge, it wouldn't be able to correct its course once it started, nor would it have any attacks other than the charge. Once it built up momentum, a small impact wouldn't be enough to stop its headlong rush.
It was a troublesome trait, but as long as we had the Light Rod, the solution was simple.
"Rio. This Light Rod glows in proportion to the mana poured into it, right?"
"Eh? Ah, yeah, that’s right. That means... oh, I see!"
Rio caught onto my plan and smirked.
"Hehe... I like the way you think. Let's do it, Rai!"
"Wait, what? W-What are you two going to do...?"
While Rio was already on board, Lene looked back and forth between us, completely lost. Rio moved behind her and covered Lene’s large eyes with both hands.
"Wah!? Rio!? W-What are you doing!?"
"Just trust me, just trust me!"
Rio pulled Lene back a safe distance, then turned toward me and gave a sharp nod. She shut her own emerald eyes tight, signaling she was ready.
The monster regained its footing and squared its body toward us once more. After another roar, it kicked off into a straight-line charge.
"Now...!"
I waited until the monster was close enough, then turned my head away and thrust the Light Rod forward. At that exact moment, I poured every ounce of my mana into the device.
In an instant, a flash far beyond "blinding" erupted from the tip of the rod, washing the chamber in a white light as bright as high noon. It wasn't just illumination; it was a searing, brilliant burst of light.
The monster let out a roar that sounded more like a pained scream. Its red eyes had taken the flash head-on. While its momentum didn't stop, its trajectory veered wildly. It hurtled off in the wrong direction and slammed into the opposite wall with a bone-shaking "thoom" that I felt in my gut. Blinded and disoriented, the creature slumped to the ground, its legs flailing uselessly.
"Lene! Now!"
"Yes!"
Released from Rio’s grip, Lene sprinted forward. She closed the distance in an instant, leveling her greatsword horizontally. She aimed for the one spot the needle armor couldn't protect—the weak point on its soft abdomen.
"Haaaaaaaaah!"
With a sharp, spirited cry, she thrust her greatsword deep into the monster's belly. The creature thrashed its short legs in agony, but the struggle was brief. Lene ripped the blade out in a finishing sweep, and the monster died instantly. It went limp like a doll with its strings cut, then dissolved into black particles and vanished.
"...It is finished."
Lene took a breath, though she remained alert with her sword at the ready.
"Good work, Lene."
As I praised her, I scanned the room. I felt no further shifts in mana. It didn't look like there were any reinforcements or hidden traps left in the area.
"Man, that was easier than I thought!"
Rio, who had been shielding Lene’s eyes, let her expression brighten instantly.
"Using the Light Rod as a flash... that’s the kind of creative thinking we need! Hehe, I think my inventions and your tactics have great synergy, Rai!"
Rio skipped over to me, her voice full of cheer. Looking up at me, her emerald eyes practically radiated a demand for more praise.
"Yeah, it worked perfectly. You really saved us, Rio. Your magic tools are as impressive as ever."
"...!! Ehehe... ehehehe! Right? Right!?"
I gave a wry smile at Rio’s unabashed joy and then turned my attention to the treasure chest gleaming atop the dais.
Even for a D-Rank Labyrinth, this was the chest at the very end. I could only hope there was something truly valuable inside.
With a small spark of expectation, we made our way toward the final reward.