Chapter 91. Drifters #6
Led by Ignis, we arrived at the location.
There, we found the six corpses of Iara’s party members.
“They’re unrecognizable…”
Iara scanned the bodies with eyes filled with horror.
The bodies had been burnt to a crisp, making it impossible to distinguish who was who.
【Bubble Bubble】─They’ve just turned into lumps of charcoal.
【Pururu】─Ugh, Ignis is a heartless bastard.
【Mysticism】─😠
【Rizenova】─In that state, retrieving the bodies holds little significance.
【Yumi】─It’s not meaningless. At least they can be mourned and buried properly.
Necro Puppet Master, who had been silently watching Iara, gently tugged the thread connected to Ignis and spoke.
［Ignis. Apologize.］
［…I apologize. While it wasn’t my doing, but the original owner of this body, I’ll still offer my apologies.］
Next, he tugged the thread connected to Lilith.
By the way, Lilith Morphea had been turned into a puppet the moment she was killed.
［Lilith. You apologize too.］
［Me toooo? From what I remember, I had nothing to do with those corpses though. It was all Ignis’s doingoo.］
［Do it anyway. Collective responsibility.］
［Fineee. I’m sorryyy…］
“No, you don’t have to apologize. I’m fully aware that you are different beings, only resembling your original bodies,” Iara said, shaking her head.
After that, she crouched down and began to caress the remains of her comrades with her bare hands.
Her face was filled with sorrow.
“Haa… If only you had left me and run away, you could have survived… What a mess…”
【Pururu】─Iara’s personality is seriously admirable. If it were me, I’d be like, ‘Serves you right, idiots,’ and feel good about it.
【Yumi】─You’re trash.
【Mysticism】─Pur-trash.
【Rizenova】─Pururu’s character is deplorable.
【Bubble Bubble】─Pururu’s just being honest. It’s natural to think that way. Who would mourn someone who betrayed them? I wouldn’t either.
【Pururu】─Elise and I think alike.
【Mysticism】─😶
For about 10 minutes, Iara mourned and prayed for her fallen comrades.
We waited silently for her to finish.
“…The prayer is over. Thank you for waiting,” Iara said, standing up and bowing her head toward me.
She was an incredibly polite person.
It would be nice to have someone like her as an Assistant.
For now, though, I didn’t have a way to recruit her as an Assistant, so I simply marked her as a potential candidate.
“But where should I bury the bodies? I can’t take them back to their homeland…”
“I’ll find a place for you.”
I had a location in mind.
The plains where I first met the Centaurides and the Hedgehog Summoner—it would be the perfect place to bury the bodies.
‘We can easily bury them there.’
The Ancient Labyrinth was fundamentally designed with solid structures.
There were many places with impenetrable walls or indestructible ground.
Of course, there were also quite a few soft spots.
However, finding a place where you could dig deep into the ground was a bit challenging.
I wanted to bury the bodies as deep as possible.
That’s why I thought of the plains.
The Hedgehog once told me that there were many areas in the plains where the ground could be dug deeply.
Plus, burying them in the open plains was a more fitting scene than in some cave.
“Centaurides. Is there any issue with bringing dead bodies to the plains?”
［That is permissible. As long as no killing is done directly in front of Solorb, most things are allowed.］
“Then we’ll bury them there. Iara, please gather the bodies. I’ll guide you to a good place for the burial.”
“Ah, okay!”
So, we gathered the six bodies and moved to the plains.
***
Opening the massive door revealed a vast field.
Not far from the entrance, with the help of the monsters, we dug six graves.
“Thank you for helping with the grave digging as well.”
“No need to thank me. It’s only right to help with this. We’re not strangers, after all.”
【Pururu】─?? We’re not strangers?
【Bubble Bubble】─Then what kind of relationship is it?
【Rizenova】─Could it be that something happened between them while the stream was off?
【Yumi】─That’s absurd. ㅡㅡ
【Mysticism】─😠 Suspicious. What happened while the broadcast was off last night?
When I said we weren’t strangers, I just meant that we’d developed some internal bond of trust.
I tend to open my heart more quickly to people with such a kind disposition.
Anyway, after finishing the graves, Iara once again knelt before them to offer prayers.
Meanwhile,
［That thing up there looks just like our Solorb. It’s a friend, meow.］
［Hmm. I wonder if that Solorb also contains an independent world inside it. I’m curious.］
Bastet Daong and the Anubis Dragon murmured as they looked up at the sky.
“Guys, don’t look at it. There’s nothing good about getting involved with that Solorb.”
［Got it, meow.］
［Understood. Solorb is scary.］
All the other monsters lowered their gazes as well.
If we accidentally angered Solorb, we’d die instantly without being able to do anything.
After some time passed,
“The prayer is finished. Thank you for waiting again.”
Iara dusted off the dirt from her knees and stood up.
She took a long look at all the monsters, then fixed her gaze on me, bowing at a 90-degree angle.
“I guess I’ll return to the world I came from now. Thank you so much for everything, Explorer… No, Gauntlet.”
【Pururu】─At least stay for dinner!
【Mysticism】─Stay a little longer!
I didn’t intend to stop her.
We exchanged slow, heartfelt farewells, hoping to meet again someday.
Afterward,
Iara Yoon tore her Return Ticket, waved to us with a peaceful smile, and returned to her home world.
『Number of Drifters: 2』
Now, there were only two Drifters left.
***
Labyrinth, Day 49.
［Om nom nom. Deliciousss.］
［Don’t eat my portion too.］
Lilith and Ignis had adapted to our group in just one day.
With their rotten souls gone and only memories remaining, they were reborn with surprisingly good personalities.
It must be thanks to their master, the Necro Puppet Master, whose nature they’ve adopted.
【Pururu】─Even the corpses are getting fed.
【Yumi】─They may be corpses, but they’re not much different from living beings. They have lively bodies, and while they lack souls, they still have their own wills.
【Pururu】─But I heard they don’t need to eat to survive.
【Bubble Bubble】─That doesn’t mean they can’t taste food. It’s not nice to exclude them when everyone else is eating.
Among the tamed monsters and the Puppet Master’s puppets, everyone was gathered and enjoying their meal without leaving anyone out.
That’s when a guest arrived at our hideout.
『Drifter』
A woman with the word ‘Drifter’ floating above her head.
The Creator God, Author of the Abyss,
Niara Nepensis.
Her danger level was A-rank.
Her actual threat level was SS-rank.
It seemed she had tracked Ignis and Lilith after losing contact with them.
“The ones over there… I see they are no longer Ignis and Lilith.”
Niara immediately realized that Ignis and Lilith had become different entities.
And unlike the other gods,
Niara’s gaze was fixed on me from the very beginning.
Her hollow eyes, showing only whites, were eerie, as if they contained the deep abyss itself.
“Are you the Explorer?”
“How did you know?”
I answered as I rose from my seat.
She wasn’t someone I could face while sitting down.
“One glance is all it takes. Your energy is different from the others, and your soul is also of a higher caliber.”
“So, is your goal the same as the others, to kill me?”
“…You already know. Yes, I intend to do so. To become an Explorer, I must eliminate all current Explorers. As far as I know, that’s the only way to become one. I hope you understand.”
“Well, at least you’re honest about it. Unlike some others.”
All the monsters stopped eating and stood up to surround me, ready to protect me.
Watching this, Niara lightly brushed her face with a slender hand and spoke again.
“Explorer, with your noble and exalted soul, I have a proposal.”
“A proposal?”
“Honestly, I don’t have confidence that I can win against the monsters you command. Also, my strength has been weakened ever since I encountered you. So, I would like to suggest a one-on-one battle.”
“Why are you talking so much nonsense? Why would I fight you one-on-one? Are you crazy?”
“…Let me finish. I am aware that your power is sealed. If you accept my proposal, I will release that seal for you.”
“You’ll release my seal?”
“That’s right.”
“…”
I remained silent for a moment
.
Then, Niara raised her right hand.
“Since you’re not responding… Shall I take your silence as tacit consent? Very well, I shall release your seal myself.”
*Snap!*
As soon as Niara snapped her fingers,
【Pururu】─Huh? One of the seals on Gaon’s back just disappeared!!!
【Bubble Bubble】─She really did release it?
【Mysticism】─There are only three seals left! 😮
【Rizenova】─Oh ho. With another seal released, Gaon is now in Stage 2 Unleashed mode.
【Yumi】─So, Gaon’s A-rank now?
I could feel a portion of my sealed power returning to my body.
She really had undone one of my seals.
“What the… You actually released it?”
“Releasing seals is my specialty. I can unlock most seals with just a glance and a thought.”
It was impressive.
Even if it was just one stage, she had so effortlessly undone the seal.
“Thanks. I never imagined my enemy would free my seal.”
Though she was my enemy,
I still expressed my gratitude, as a gentleman should, for undoing my seal.
“Now, have your monsters stand down.”
“What are you talking about? Why would I pull back my monsters?”
“Hmm? Didn’t we make an agreement? I would release your seal, and you would fight me one-on-one.”
“I didn’t say anything like that.”
Regardless of my gratitude,
I had no intention of fighting her one-on-one.
Even though I was now A-rank,
Niara was also A-rank, and there was no guarantee of victory.
“Those with noble souls like ours must honor their promises.”
“I told you, I never agreed to anything.”
I hadn’t made any promises, nor had I accepted her proposal.
She had released my seal on her own, spouting nonsense about ‘tacit consent.’
“Besides, I only fight battles I’m sure I can win. I don’t engage in fights where I might lose or where the outcome is uncertain.”
【Bubble Bubble】─?
A life-or-death battle?
Why would I bother with that?
What’s in it for me?
Fighting is the job of my tamed monsters.
As a Monster Tamer, it’s only right for me to leave the fighting to them.
“…You’re quite a piece of trash. I like it.”
【Pururu】─??? Why does she like that?
Suddenly, Niara’s eyes curved into crescent shapes.
Instead of getting angry, she seemed pleased.
It looked like she wasn’t entirely sane either.