The Nightmare of the Labyrinth ②
“Hmph. The location of the earth dragon’s corpse, as reported—this is certainly it, is it not?”
“Yes. It should be.”
“Nothing at all, splendidly.”
We stood in the main corridor, a wide passage.
A report had indicated that the peculiar monster had been encountered here.
Yet, while the nest said to have housed the earth dragon’s corpse had been located, nothing remained within.
No.
More accurately, apart from hardened fragments resembling discarded scraps, nothing else was present.
I re-examined the nest’s condition.
Judging by the impurities adhering to the threads and the internal state of the nest, it appeared abandoned.
No signs of recent use.
“It seems the nest has been relocated.”
“So it does. Then we have no choice but to search thoroughly.”
“Yes.”
We conducted a meticulous search of the surrounding area over several days.
No sign of the creature was found.
"Absent, it seems."
"Unusual. Guide. Is there any other location in this vicinity you have not yet searched?"
The four guides paused, then spoke in unison.
"Nearby, there is a path leading to the middle layer. Perhaps the creature has moved there?"
"But spiders are known to be vulnerable to fire. That possibility seemed unlikely. We dismissed it earlier."
Understood.
Low probability, but not impossible.
The middle layer of the Elro Great Labyrinth is known to be a hellish realm of molten magma saturating the surroundings.
Without proper equipment, reaching the middle layer is unfeasible.
Considering food supplies and the cumulative fatigue from daily searches, it is indeed time to withdraw.
"Very well. Let us investigate the path leading to the middle layer. If nothing is found, we shall return."
We were then guided along that path.
"Uwa!?!"
One of the guides walking ahead let out a cry and froze in an unnatural posture.
"What is it?"
"Can't... I don't know. Can't move."
"Wait!"
Reston stopped another guide from approaching recklessly.
"Shine the light. Look closely. It's very faint, but threads are strung across."
Following Reston’s instruction, I narrowed my focus.
Indeed, threads—occasionally reflecting light—were visible.
"What is this?"
"May have struck a trap."
Upon closer inspection, the threads formed a neat radial pattern.
A configuration unique to spiderwebs.
"Someone, cut the threads with a blade and assist."
A soldier swings his sword to free the guide ensnared in the threads.
However.
"Ah. Not cutting through?"
Lord Ronant murmurs in surprise.
The sword, like the guide, remains stuck in the threads, halted mid-motion.
The soldier struggles to pull the blade free, but it does not budge.
"Guide, this may grow warm—endure it."
"Y-yes."
Lord Ronant activates a fire spell.
Precise control intended: no injury to the guide, only the surrounding threads to be burned.
Apparently not.
"Hmm? Not burning at all?"
Perhaps due to the spell’s low rank, but the threads—supposedly flammable—remain intact.
"Raising intensity."
From Lord Ronant, flames surge toward the threads.
In the dark cavern, blinding light spills forth.
"Ach, overdid it."
The guide managed to escape, though a portion of their clothing was scorched.
The issue is that the flame has completely filled the passage beyond.
"Too late now."
"Yes. If the master was inside, they’d be furious."
In that case, friendly relations are no longer possible.
Domestication is, in practice, unattainable.
"Would be better if this place were abandoned entirely."
"Doesn’t seem likely. If it were, it would’ve responded by now—either the master is out, or this area’s been unused for good."
That would be ideal.
If the adventurers’ rumors are true, the rumored spider is roaming the labyrinth.
And almost certainly using teleportation.
No creature other than a human is known to wield teleportation—especially one so rare even among humans.
It is possible she is returning via teleportation at this very moment, having been out and about.
"Everyone—maintain combat readiness. Assume a state of preparedness for any eventuality."
He conveys this to the soldiers.
The thread burns out. The flame extinguishes.
Proceeding cautiously along the path where fire has died.
Ashes from the burned thread have spread over a wide area.
"Somewhat resistant to ignition, but once alight, it becomes brittle."
"Yes. That appears to be the case. It has spread quite far inward."
Advancing through what amounts to a vast stretch of corridor—broad enough to be called a nest—they emerge into a space resembling a large plaza.
"Where is this?"
"An entrance to the middle tier."
The guide responds.
Indeed, upon closer inspection, heat is detectable.
The path ahead slopes gently downward.
"Hm?"
Something lies there.
The slope made it hard to see, but it was clearly large in size.
"Everyone, prepare."
They formed a line and approached cautiously.
I stayed back with Lord Ronant and the guide, pulling a鉴定 stone from my pocket.
"Hmm. A鉴定 stone? Level nine, is it?"
"Summoners rely on鉴定. You too, Lord Ronant?"
"Indeed. Level nine."
"Remarkable. I use鉴定 stones frequently, so my proficiency has reached level three, but nine... that's far beyond me."
"Occasional use between spells. I only reached level nine at this age. Most would do better to rely on鉴定 stones."
"Yes. And how do we assess that?"
I pointed.
It was the corpse of a massive spider-like monster.
"The corpse of Arcatralect."
Arcatralect.
A monster one rank below Queen Taratekt, classified as Mythic-tier Over-S Rank.
Its danger level was S.
It lay dead in a shattered state.
"Moreover, do you see it? Signs of partial consumption."
Distance obscured the detail from my view, but it was clear to Lord Ronant.
"Then there exists a being capable of burying Arcatralect—and consuming it."
A chill ran through me.
Consume an S-rank monster?
Could such a creature possibly exist?
If we encountered such a being.
Impossible.
No matter how many elite troops we commanded, or how powerful the human mage was, there would be no victory against an entity of such a scale.
We must retreat.
But the decision came too late.
The embodiment of nightmares had already translocated into position.