We stepped onto the dais together, coming to a halt before the treasure chest.
Unlike the crude containers we’d encountered on the way here, the one before us was clearly the "real deal." Its surface possessed a faint luster, and its metal fittings were perfectly aligned. The overall well-maintained appearance of the thing was strikingly similar to the chests I had seen many times back in the game.
It certainly had the presence fitting for something enshrined in the innermost depths.
"Hmm... it looks proper enough, at least," Rio muttered, resting her chin in her palm as she scrutinized the chest.
Perhaps because the loot we’d found along the way had been so lackluster, her expression showed no hint of anticipation. After watching the chest for a moment, a bright smile suddenly broke across her face.
"Well, we won't know until we open it! So, without further ado... the grand unveiling!"
She crouched in front of the treasure chest, checked for traps, and then swung it open.
Lifting the lid with a slow, deliberate movement, Rio peered inside and let out a short, "Oh... right."
Her voice didn't hold even a trace of joy.
"How is it?" I asked, leaning in from the side to look.
Just like the others, the chest contained only a single, low-purity magic stone. However, it was incomparably larger than the ones we’d found earlier. It wasn't just the size of a fist—it was large enough that you’d need both hands to carry it.
"...It's huge, isn't it?" Lene remarked.
"Yeah. If we're just talking about size... well, I guess it's a win," Rio replied with a wry smile.
She lifted the magic stone, weighing it in her hands as she inspected it. After a thorough look, she gave a small nod of satisfaction.
"The purity isn't high, but with this much mass, I can probably crush it and use the shards for all sorts of experiments."
She voiced her characteristically engineer-like opinion while standing up with the stone cradled in her arms. Then, she let her shoulders slump and heaved a heavy sigh. It was obvious she was disappointed that the contents were so meager compared to the chest's luxurious exterior.
"In the end, it was like this all the way to the finish line, huh... Well, I guess that's a D-Rank Labyrinth for you. I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up."
"True. Still, it's not like it's worthless."
"I know that, but still..." Rio puffed out her cheeks slightly as she readjusted her grip on the magic stone. "I mean... it wouldn't have hurt to have something that makes you go 'Whoa!!' at the very end! You know, like a proper reward for defeating a tough enemy!"
Lene and I could only manage wry smiles. I understood the sentiment. Coming all the way to the innermost depths and defeating the Dungeon Boss, only to receive a single low-purity magic stone... the reward didn't exactly match the labor. If I had encountered this in the game in my previous life, I have no doubt I would have had the same reaction as Rio from behind the screen.
"I think it has plenty of practical use, though..." Lene offered tentatively.
Rio glanced down at the magic stone and groaned. "Well, yeah. As research material, I'm actually happy with it. But from an adventurer's perspective, it's just not the same! You know? Gold and silver treasures! Or materials that look legendary just by glancing at them! Don't you think we deserved something like that?"
"I'll pass on the latter. Those are just a headache even if you do find them."
As I replied to Rio, my mind drifted back to the memories of my previous life. I’ll never forget it—the 'Magic Sword Creation' event that appeared toward the end of the game. You were required to obtain a 'Black Dragon's Fang,' a material that was dangerous in every sense of the word. Its hardness, mana conductivity, and durability were all off the charts... but it was a nightmare.
Not only did it require slaying a highest-tier monster like a Black Dragon, but the fang itself had the miserable property of attracting other monsters and inflicting status ailments on anyone carrying it. The struggle to get that thing back to town was something I never wanted to repeat.
"What's with that 'voice of experience' tone...?"
I shrugged and fell silent under Rio's suspicious gaze. She stared at me for a moment before saying, "Oh well." She readjusted the magic stone in her arms and looked up, seemingly pulling herself together.
"...Well, there's no use wishing for what we don't have." She gave a small shrug, and while her dissatisfaction hadn't completely vanished, there was a new lightness to her posture. "Besides, this is the main event!"
Rio held up the Return Device on her arm. The magic circle in the center glowed, and the needle pointed steadily in one direction. The magic stones embedded around the outer rim emitted a dull radiance.
"...Is it really going to be alright?" Lene asked.
"In theory, yes! I tested it near the workshop and it worked perfectly, so it'll be fine!"
Seeing Rio state it with such confidence, Lene breathed a sigh of relief. Beside her, I kept my eyes fixed on the device wrapped around my own arm, silently furrowing my brows.
In appearance, it was remarkably close to the finished product. The metal shell, the carved magic circle, the directional needle, and the ring of magic stones—the structure was almost identical to the device from the game. However, one tiny detail bothered me.
The light emitted by the stones and the radiance filling the magic circle were clearly duller than the finished product I remembered. In the game, the Return Device glowed vibrantly even in its standby state. It was a prototype, so some differences were expected, but as someone who knew what the final version looked like, it made me uneasy.
"Lord Rai?"
"...No, it's nothing," I replied, shaking my head to clear my thoughts. I was probably overthinking it. The theory was sound, the previous experiments had succeeded, and Rio was confident. I should trust her expertise. "Are you ready?"
"Of course!" Rio chirped, channeling mana into the bracelet.
Lene and I followed suit. The peripheral magic stones glowed faintly, and the central magic circle slowly activated. As I thought, the light felt a bit modest—a bit fragile.
For just a heartbeat, a nagging sensation lingered in the back of my mind. But then—
"Alright, here we go! Teleportation!"
With Rio's shout, the light swelled violently. My vision whited out, and the outlines of my body felt blurred. A weightless sensation, as if the ground had vanished, enveloped me. Then, just as quickly, the feeling of solid earth returned to my feet. The white glare faded, and the world took shape again.
Familiar ground, a clear blue sky, and the coordinate stake I had hammered in earlier. We had successfully teleported outside the labyrinth.
"Um... did it work...?" Lene’s voice drifted over, sounding relieved. It seemed she had made it back safely as well.
"Ahaha, see? I told you it’d be fine—" Rio started to boast, but her voice died in her throat. "...Wait, what?"
I noticed the abnormality at the same time she did. My body felt strangely... light.
More than that, I felt a distinct chill. A gentle breeze was blowing, but instead of brushing against my face, I felt it across my entire body. A very unpleasant realization began to dawn on me.
I slowly lowered my gaze. My body was completely unadorned.
"...Huh?"
My brain stalled for a second. Then, comprehension crashed into me.
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"
"Wait—wait a minute!? Why!? Why did this happen!?"
The twin screams of panic and confusion from beside me forced the reality of the situation home. I turned my head—and sure enough, both of them were in the same state. They were frantically trying to cover themselves with their hands.
I looked down at my feet. There, in a messy pile, lay three sets of clothes and equipment.
I took a long, quiet breath. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lene hurriedly crouching down while Rio grabbed for her clothes in a state of total panic.
"D-Don't look, please!!"
"I'm not looking! Besides, I'm in the same boat, okay!?"
Ignoring the frantic exchange, I silently reached down to pick up my clothes. I had a feeling I knew exactly what had gone wrong.
"Let's prioritize getting dressed," I said.
"You don't have to tell me that!! Waaah, don't look this way!!?"
I shrugged slightly at the immediate shout. It appeared the field test was a success, but calling it "perfect" would have been a massive overstatement. It was a very... complicated result.