S28 Escape from the Elrow Labyrinth

After encountering the remnants of the nightmare, the subsequent journey proceeded with astonishing smoothness.

The newly evolved earth dragon appeared to have been consuming other monsters, leaving almost none behind in the main passage.

Thanks to this, combat encounters were few, and we did not face any major threats.

Perhaps it was not solely due to the earth dragon's influence.

The remnants of the nightmare.

That entity must have been present—only then could the monsters have fled or been eliminated.

After that, Busgas’s speech diminished.

He spoke only what was necessary, maintaining constant vigilance.

He still conveyed essential information clearly, but no longer laughed freely as he had before.

His demeanor resembled that of a warrior traversing a battlefield.

Inspired by Busgas’s demeanor, conversation among us also dwindled.

The tension intensified as the exit drew near.

The unease of being within a dangerous labyrinth, and the anticipation of soon stepping onto a real battlefield.

These merged. Faces grew increasingly strained.

"Then, we’re close to the exit now."

At the likely final campfire, Busgas spoke.

"Regarding the exit—there is only one passage out from this side."

"So we’ll use that passage?"

"Correct."

"Then it is indeed a dangerous place?"

"Affirmative."

Busgas nodded gravely.

"If an escape route were safe, more people would use it. The fact that it isn’t used means either it’s unknown or too dangerous to traverse. Only two possibilities exist."

Busgas unfolded a map.

"See. This is where we are now."

He pointed to a location.

It was already near the exit.

Recognition of their current location crystallized. Only then did the realization finally settle: they had reached this point.

"This is the passage we must breach."

The spot Busgas indicated.

It had opened into a wide space.

"A vertical shaft. One of several in the Great Labyrinth, connecting upper and lower levels. This shaft also extends to the surface. Ascend here, and we emerge aboveground."

Vertical shaft.

A term heard before—legendary, a massive chasm said to link the upper levels with the uncharted, perilous lower reaches.

Those who descended into it rarely returned.

But this time, they would not descend.

They would ascend.

Busgas called it dangerous.

There was a reason.

"What dangers does the shaft hold?"

Ah. First, you must pass through the hazardous zone before the vertical shaft. This is it.

The map indicated a wide open space directly before the vertical shaft.

“An Elerofellect nest.”

“Elerofellect?”

“A虫-like creature with numerous legs. Each individual is weak, but they are numerous, and they inflict paralysis status effects. Their legs are fast—once caught, you’ll be paralyzed and swarmed.”

“Ugh.”

Kathia let out a small groan, imagining the scene.

“The only effective counter is wide-area attacks to eliminate them all at once.”

“Ah. I see.”

Indeed, normally this would be dangerous.

But with this party, it should be manageable.

After all, most members here possess high-damage area-of-effect elimination magic.

I, Katia, the teacher, Ana—four of us activating magic simultaneously should cover a substantial area.

Even if we miss any targets, Hyarins’s impenetrable defense and Basgas’s support will hold.

There should be no issue.

“First, that is the initial barrier.”

“Initial… so there is more?”

“The second barrier—the nest of Finjigoad.”

We wait for Basgas’s next words.

Finjigoad are not exclusive to the Elro Great Labyrinth, but those within it nest in vertical shafts and operate from those as bases. The reason remains unclear—nearly every vertical shaft contains a Finjigoad nest. Finjigoad are insectoid creatures capable of flight, equipped with toxic stingers. Individual threat level is rated D, but they typically form squads led by evolved specimens. These squads attack in coordinated fashion. To reach the exit, one must repel their assaults while scaling the vertical walls.

The Elro Great Labyrinth showed no inclination to release us easily.

“Hiiiiiiiiii!”

Kathia’s scream escaped her lips.

Not particularly skilled with insects in my previous life, but ever since arriving here, I’ve grown even more averse to them.

I can understand the sentiment, at least.

Seeing this scene, even those not particularly averse to insects would feel revulsion.

Before me, a vast swarm of insects pressed tightly together.

Monsters resembling the centipedes from my original world.

They writhed in overlapping layers, filling the entire field of view.

A scream would be inevitable.

We had planned, as originally intended, to sequentially unleash area-of-effect magic to clear the horde.

But.

"Ah! No! Impossible! Impossible!!"

Cathia was losing control, firing magic indiscriminately.

Each successive spell rapidly reduced the number of centipede-like monsters.

"Um, isn't fire dangerous in a cave like this?"

"Probably safe. Magic fire in this world doesn't burn oxygen to produce carbon dioxide."

"Wait? Really?"

"Yes. I haven't studied it in detail, but it's more accurate to say the phenomenon of fire occurs rather than a precise mechanism. Immature magic users sometimes produce carbon dioxide, but the exact conditions remain unclear. Katia’s skill level should prevent such emissions. No need to worry."

"Strange."

"Strange. It's unclear how fire could arise without combustion of carbon. The mechanism by which immature magic produces carbon dioxide is equally unclear. It doesn't resemble hydrogen combustion either. If we start questioning such things, we end up asking what magic even is. From a world where science exists, this is hard to accept. But I suppose one must simply accept it as part of the system."

While muttering such idle remarks, Katia had already burned through the entire horde of monsters alone.

Looking down.

A bottomless darkness yawned open beneath.

Looking up.

A faint ray of sunlight pierced through, and between it, countless shadows darted.

Bees.

Their forms resembled bees from the original world.

Except their size was incomparable.

Nearly twice my length.

A massive monster. Countless shadows darted through it—bees. Their forms resembled bees from the original world. Except their size was incomparable. Nearly twice my length.

Cathia, who disliked insects, turned pale again. But due to her earlier rampage, her energy to protest had diminished significantly.

Whether fortunate or not, Cathia lacked the strength to struggle. She merely observed the swarm of bees.

"Then, this is our moment to prove ourselves."

"Yes."

Hyrilis and I moved forward.

Running through the air.

Aerial movement, granted by the Spatial Mobility skill.

Spatial Mobility is convenient. But its acquisition is difficult.

Only I and Hyrilis can engage in combat using Spatial Mobility.

Cathia possesses the skill as well. But after her earlier barrage of magic, she has expended too much energy. She will remain in the rear this time.

The strategy is straightforward.

Use Spatial Mobility to intercept the monsters approaching from the air. In the opening created, the other members will scale the wall.

Climbing the wall is no easy task. Both I and Syrilis must maintain Spatial Mobility throughout, which is equally taxing.

The plan is not as simple as it sounds.

What worries me is Sophia, but since Baskgas is at her side, I believe she will be safe unless something extreme occurs.

A few bees suddenly flew toward us.

Closer inspection reveals they are quite large.

Six bees.

One of them emits a strong presence.

It appears this individual is the leader.

My sword slices through the leader bee.

I swung lightly, testing its strength, yet it fell instantly.

Each bee seems insignificant on its own.

But dealing with two or more simultaneously would be problematic.

Syrilis and I alternate covering each other, eliminating the bees one by one with precision.

The final bee fell just as the next swarm arrived.

"Little time for rest, it seems."

"Indeed."

We reduce their numbers before they close in with holy light magic.

But the swarm appears to have fully recognized us as enemies—suddenly, a massive number of bees surge forward.

We reduce their numbers with area-effect magic, but the initial quantity is too great; the effect feels negligible.

We repel them with magic and blade, yet some slip past to our rear.

The teacher’s wind magic strikes them down.

"Leave the rear to me! I can hover with magic for a short time!"

With the teacher’s support, Syrilis and I focus solely on eliminating the bees.

We dispatch the successive swarms with mechanical precision.

Just as sustained spatial maneuvering begins to strain us, the end finally becomes visible.

The exit.

Basgas ascends first, pulling Ana up by her hand.

Then, seeing Katia, the teacher, and Hyrlins head toward the exit, I cast the final area-effect spell at the approaching swarm and leap through the exit.

Sunlight, unseen for several days, floods in.

It is evening. The sky is tinted crimson.

No time for reflection. We move away from the exit.

Bees may pursue us again if we remain. The Empire may have set an ambush.

No Imperial troops are visible at present, but caution is required.

"There’s one of my hideouts on this side. Let’s go there today."

I accept Basgas’s proposal.

Thus, we succeed in escaping the prolonged labyrinth existence.