Labyrinth Renovation – 023 | Sousaku – 創作

Episode 23: Farewell, for now!



"Look, that thing. Fiona? "
"Ah……Ah, ah…………"
"What's wrong, Fiona? Is it something dangerous? "
"Ah, n-no…… I'm sorry. That's a transfer monument."
"We did it!　I knew it would be like that, see!?　What is the matter, Fiona?　You should be happier! "

　At one point I thought we might not make it, but we were able to make it safely to the level where the transfer monument is located.
　Fiona's attitude is worrying, but escape, we can escape!　I really miss the sun!

"It looks like there are no monsters here, so I wonder if it's okay to go inside?"
"Wait. I'll go check."
"Really?　Then, I'll leave it to you."

　Fiona headed off alone to the transfer monument.
　Then, she touched the stone to check something.

(Hmm……is she looking down?　Maybe bad news.)

　Fiona returned slowly.

"What happened? Couldn't you use it?　I thought that might happen because this wasn't the proper procedure, but……Seriously……? "
"No. I can use it."
"That's a good thing!　So, we're finally escaping? It felt long, but it was short."
"Maho. Come with me."

　At first glance, the transfer monument was just a black stone obelisk, but when Fiona touched it, white letters appeared on the top.

"One and…… five…… Yeah. And at the bottom…… 95!? "
"Maho, you can read, right?"
"Ah, that's true. I wonder why?　On closer inspection, they're completely different from Arabic numerals."

　It's strange, but I guess that when I was teleported here, I was naturally given those abilities.

"I don't really understand, but is this the 95th bottom floor?　That's really deep! "
"How do you use it?　Do you press the glowing part?　Tell them with words? "
"Maho, listen. I………… I was going to tell you……I couldn't say it……"
"Uh?　What's wrong, what's wrong?"
"The thing is…… You can't use it, Maho…… I…… I noticed this a while ago……But I couldn't tell you that it couldn't be used by you………… I didn't think I'd be able to make it this far, but you were amazing, Maho, and I didn't think I'd be able to actually make it all the way to the transfer monument…… I'm sorry………… I'm sorry…… Maho……"

　Fiona's eyes filled with tears, and she apologized like a dam bursting.
　I imagine she was conflicted for a long time.
　Is this the reason why she seemed strange from around the water level?

"Why can't I use it? "
"……About the transfer monuments. If you find one, you have to touch it and make it memorize your magical power…… I've reached the sixth layer, so I can skip to the first and fifth floors. But you……"
"Oh, I see…… That's what you meant."

　Why didn't you tell me earlier?　Was something I couldn't say, I didn't feel like blaming Fiona.
　Even though this was the only hope that pushed me to come here, I can't get myself to say it.

"Oh, is that why you gave me a magic bag? I'll need that to clear the remaining levels…… By the time I clear all 95 floors, I'll be a total gorilla."
"I'll be right back!　I'll sell the magic stones and hire a famous explorer to reach for the depths!　Besides, as soon as I buy weapons and armor, I'll be back!　Then, if we work on it together again……if we……then in no time…………Uwaaaaaa~!"

　I hugged Fiona, who had burst into tears.
　I'm not saying it's Fiona's fault, and one could argue that it is good if Fiona was saved.
　Plus, there are 95 floors remaining. The higher up you go, the easier it gets, and we've managed to get this far. I'm sure we can manage.

"……After all, I'm staying. I can't leave you alone, Maho."

　After crying for a moment, Fiona remarked.
　She's a sweet girl. Or maybe it's that she's easily swayed by emotions…… You wanted to be saved, and you wished for it at the lowest level, so you should be saved as you wished.
　I'm kind of a bonus in the first place.

"What are you talking about, dummy? Here, the magic stones."

　The magic stones were divided in half, and my portion was placed around the beds at the Hardware Store. I had no use for them, and I could have given them all to Fiona, but she adamantly refused.
　Fiona says that even half is a lot to exchange for cash, so I guess it's okay.
　Someday, for when I can get out of here.
　At least, if it makes Fiona feel better, so be it.

"Bye, Fiona."
"I'll definitely come back……! "
"Fiona. You don't have to worry about it. You have your own life to live, so forget about me and live yours."
"Fool.　Idiot, idiot, idiot, idiot!　Maho's an idiot!　I will definitely, definitely, definitely come back!　I'll be back with the most expensive weapons and armor and a pile of potions, so just be a big girl and wait for me! "
"What are you talking about? How many years do you think it would take to get to the top if you did that?　Fiona, you said you wanted to go to school, right?　You're not even in love yet, and you're going to get married, aren't you?　Now that you've been saved, you can forget about me! "
"How could I forget?　How could I forget…… I can't……"

　I'm in a bind, but thanks.
　As for me, now that this has happened, I want Fiona to forget about me and be happy. Because if she's with me, even if she gets out without dying, it's going to take years, and it's more likely that she'll die on the way out before then.
　I don't want to have to deal with that.
　She said she could sell the magic stones for a good price, and if she could use them to fund her wedding and be happy, I would desire nothing more.
　Fiona is a bit thoughtless, a bit weak-minded, and a bit of a sucker for contraband, but she's kind, she's beautiful, and she's my first friend in this world.

"Come on, come on. If you stay here, I'll keep getting soaked by your tears, go, go!　I have Pochi, Tama, Kaiser, Arrow, and even Hamu-chan and the others, so I'm fine."

　Even those children are fellow companions who can't get out of the dungeon.
　Either way, I can't leave them behind.

"Ah, but this magic registration thing,　I guess I should do it. Do I just touch it? "
"Yeah…… Just touch this part here and you'll be fine."
"Magic power, huh? I wonder if I have it, too."

　Now, if the transfer monument itself is not available, it will be hell.
　I would die if I had to walk through 100 levels on foot, no matter how many item bags I had.
　It's not that I've given up on it, but you know. Please, dungeon-chan.

　I touched the transfer monument with anticipation.
　……But nothing happened.

"Uhh, so that's a no?　Is it because I don't have magic power?　Or is there a way to get the magic power through? "
"I see. Maho has never even used magic. It's not that hard, it's like sending power through your body."
"Mmmm, power in the body. L-like this……? "

　It was then that I put all my strength into my hands and sent power into the transfer monument.
　The transfer monument vibrated, and the part of the monument where the numbers of the levels of the hierarchy appear flickered repeatedly, papa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa.
　Obviously, it behaves differently than when Fiona touched it.

"Is it broken!?　I knew it was too soon for earthlings to deal with mysterious teleporters from other worlds! "
"Awawawa, what should I do? Maybe it really is broken……"

　But then the transfer monument went quiet.

"W-what is it…… is it okay now?　Let's see……………… Hmm? "

　When I touched the transfer monument, all the numbers glowed.
　1, 5, 10, 15～～～～～90, 95 And even 101.

"…………Huh? "
"M-Maho……? "
"Hey, what do you think this means?　All…… are glowing, right? "
"Yeah…… M-maybe.…… You can transfer anywhere…… Something like that…………? "

　Why?　Is it buggy because I'm from another world and I touched it?

"Try saying, 『To the first floor』 as you touch it."
"I'm going to try this out of the blue……?　I hope it's not buggy and doesn't send me to some weird place……"
"I don't know!　I don’t know, but……Now we have no choice but to try it out, right……!? "
"I guess you're right."

　We had just done a tearful goodbye, and I didn't expect this.
　Well, but thanks for the bug or whatever. Here's hoping it goes without issue!

"To the first floor! "

　The next moment after I uttered that.
　I felt as if I were floating in an elevator, the surrounding landscape melting and then reassembling again.
　It was kind of awesome, and apparently, it really worked.
　I don't know if I'm on the first floor now, but at least I'm in a different place than I was earlier.
　Fiona isn't here either.

"Hmmm?　Is this the first floor?　Somehow………… The air feels so much lighter."

　As I was making these comments, Fiona appeared right next to me.
　She, too, must have been teleported by the transfer monument. In other words, this is the first floor, after all.

"Oh, we did it, we did it, we did it!　Maho!　We did it!　Whoaーーーーー!!!! "

　Fiona hugged me.
　She's crying again, but this time it's tears of joy.
　It still doesn't feel real to me.

"Wait, wait, wait, are you sure this is the first floor?　There are no other explorers or anything."
"This dungeon is not very popular. There are very few active explorers."
"I see. Hey, hey, let's go outside, quickly! "
"That's right!　Aha, ahahaha! "
"Ahahahaha! "
　
　We laughed for no reason and climbed the stairs right in front of us, still half-hugging each other.
　A dazzling light shone on the staircase.
　It was much warmer and more dazzling than fluorescent light, than a floodlight, than an LED.

　A warm, slightly earthy breeze caressed our cheeks outside as we walked through the labyrinth, running up the stairs, skipping two steps at a time.