Chapter 24

—I want to find fulfillment in love.

Upon hearing the details, it wasn’t as if Alti had a specific person she was in love with.

Of course, she said it would be ideal if she could fall in love and see it through herself. However, she spoke disparagingly of herself, as if she had given up on something, saying, “I’m not the kind of being that can experience love.”

So, as a compromise, the discussion turned toward me introducing her to someone who was already in love.

She claimed that if she could see and feel someone else’s love and witness its fulfillment, she would have no lingering regrets.

It was a nosy request.

And a highly suspicious one at that.

However, I thought Alti’s eyes were shining far too brightly for it to be a lie.

When she spoke of love, Alti displayed a level of innocence that matched her outward appearance.

She looked like a young girl in love with the very idea of romance.

I considered how to handle this request.

After thinking it over and over, I decided the most reasonable course of action was to pretend to take on the job.

Since she claimed to have no will to fight, I decided to pass on engaging her in combat for now.

The truth was, I felt a certain hesitation about pointing a blade at Alti when she had the face of a young girl. Furthermore, I calculated that as time passed and my level rose, the safety margin for a boss fight would only increase.

As a first step in pretending to cooperate, I began walking through the 11th floor with Alti.

Of course, I wasn’t taking everything she said at face value; I didn’t let my guard down.

I made Alti walk in front of me so I could monitor her from behind at all times. I avoided strong enemies and chose weaker ones that wouldn’t require too much of my focus.

Our warped, makeshift two-person party continued to talk as we traversed the 11th floor.

“—Basically, what I’m saying is… as a girl, it’s a bit much to think about dying without ever knowing love. That’s how I feel.”

“…Are you even at an age where you can call yourself a ‘girl’?”

“I’ve lived for at least a thousand years… I think?”

“Then you’re an old hag. You should just pass on to the afterlife already. It’d be for everyone’s sake.”

“How rude, Christ. Calling a lovable girl like me an old hag… Your way with women is non-existent.”

We had finished our brief introductions and were now calling each other by name.

By the way, fire was no longer leaking from Alti’s body.

She was wrapped tightly in bandages inscribed with flame-suppressing incantations (which I was somehow forced to help with), and she wore ordinary clothes over them. On top of that, she wore a cloak with the hood pulled low to hide her face.

I wanted to avoid anyone seeing me cooperating with a fire-person, so this arrangement worked out for me as well.

To a third party, we would look like nothing more than a man walking with a human girl.

“Mm. Monster detected ahead, Christ.”

“Right. Then we engage. I’ll support you from the back.”

Thus, our several-th battle with a monster began.

Of course, the monster was one I had specifically chosen using my “Dimension” magic.

I was picking our path to ensure we encountered monsters I could handle without having to drop my guard against Alti.

“Well then, here I go…!”

With a sword of flames in hand, Alti lunged at the monster.

She moved with speed rivaling Teida’s and slashed with a monster’s brute strength—in an instant, the monster was mortally wounded.

“—Ice Arrow.”

I threw a magical arrow to deliver the finishing blow, and the monster dissolved into light.

Alti picked up the dropped magic stone and tossed it to me.

Then, with a proud look on her face, she stared at me as I caught it. She looked like she wanted me to say something, so I gave her a half-hearted compliment.

“…Yeah, yeah. Great job. Amazing. Just keep moving.”

“Hmph. You’re quite cold to a well-meaning collaborator… You could at least praise me properly.”

“I did say you were amazing. You’re a boss monster, so being amazing is a given.”

“You really aren’t honest with yourself, are you, Christ?”

Alti slumped her shoulders with a sigh and began moving forward as instructed.

True to her word, Alti didn’t break her cooperative stance.

She was talkative, but she was showing through her actions a genuine will to contribute to my Labyrinth exploration.

That said, I couldn’t just trust her easily.

As long as she was a monster, I absolutely could not trust her no matter what… but I could feel that resolve weakening the more we interacted.

The only things judging Alti to be a monster were the “Display” and her own self-introduction. Without those, I would have judged Alti to be a demi-human unique to this world.

In this world, beastmen and dragonnewts—who weren’t much different from monsters in my eyes—were integrated into daily life. If I didn’t have the “Display,” and if Alti hadn’t called herself a monster but approached me with this friendly attitude, I have no doubt I would have formed a party with her without any suspicion.

Yes.

She was that close to being human. She spoke with intelligence just like a person, had emotions like a person, and possessed a form close to a person’s. That was what troubled me. It shook my heart and thinned my resolve. Was it really right to reject Alti? Was I committing a low, sub-human act? Was I unilaterally disparaging a “person” I could actually understand—

—Stop.

If I dwelled on this any further, there was a chance the skill “???” would go berserk.

Now that I knew its activation conditions, letting it run wild repeatedly would be the height of stupidity.

I didn’t need to be troubled.

I would stay wary of all monsters.

Adhering strictly to that would be easier, both mentally and physically.

I refortified my resolve.

I would not trust the monster known as Alti until the day she died. I would pretend to trust her while keeping her at a distance. I would buy time by pretending to accept her request, and raise my level until I was certain I could defeat her.

—If there ever comes a time to truly face her, it will be after that.

After that is fine.

“Alright, let’s keep going. It’s true that combat is easier thanks to you, Alti. The 11th floor is no problem, so let’s head to the 12th.”

“Hehe… You’ve finally warmed up to me, Christ. You can leave the 12th floor to me as well.”

Alti looked happy.

She laughed joyfully and took the lead.

Resisting the emotions swirling in my chest, I followed behind her, making sure not to look at her face.

“—Now, Christ!”

“Got it!”

I threw my sword, aiming for the forehead of a monster that looked like a giant gorilla.

The sword, thrown with all my strength, didn’t waver and pierced the monster’s head. Simultaneously, Alti pierced the monster’s torso with her sword of flames.

With its brain and heart destroyed, the monster immediately turned into light and vanished.

I retrieved my thrown sword and the magic stone. At the same time, I checked the change in my experience points on the “Display.” By the 12th floor, the experience gained from monsters had increased significantly. It didn’t seem like the experience was being penalized due to Alti’s assistance.

“The monsters on the 12th floor are a breeze too, Christ.”

“You’re right. It’s easy because you’re taking the front line, Alti.”

I acted as if I were gradually coming to trust her.

I performed the role of someone whose heart was being moved by Alti’s dedication.

“Heh, I suppose so. You can count on me.”

“You’re quite devoted, aren’t you…”

Alti believed my words and looked satisfied.

She was actively defeating monsters and maneuvering to ensure no attacks reached me.

However, I didn’t want to maintain this state forever.

Remaining on high alert for whenever Alti might turn on me and constantly worrying about my remaining MP was exhausting. I wanted to declare that I trusted her as soon as possible and wrap up the Labyrinth exploration.

Therefore, I decided to stage an “exit event” myself.

The plan was simple.

My plan was to let myself appear vulnerable to a common monster and force Alti to save me.

It was partly to save time, but mostly to gauge Alti’s true intentions.

If she saw the opening and attacked me, the situation would be simple. I would land a massive counter-blow on the trapped Alti. After that, I’d either fight it out or flee, as per my original plan.

If she tried to save me in that moment, the plan would be a success. I would heap praise on her, using it as “proof” that I now fully trusted her. Then, I’d pretend to take on her wish and suggest we move separately.

“Alright, let’s hunt some more monsters. I want to clear out the common ones on the 12th floor for future reference.”

“Understood.”

And so, we continued taking down monsters on the 12th floor.

Alti took on almost all the combat in the dangerous vanguard position, while I repeated the simple task of delivering the finishing blows.

Midway through, I picked out a suitable monster and moved to execute the plan.

“—Alti! That one’s fast! Let’s flank it together!!”

“Good idea. I’ll circle around to its back.”

I made the suggestion against a nimble, four-legged beast.

Since it was clearly a light-footed monster, Alti agreed without hesitation.

She used a unique footwork pattern to skillfully circle behind the beast.

As planned, Alti and I had the monster sandwiched between us. We both lunged at the monster simultaneously—or so I made it seem.

Part of it was that I had no intention of showing my full strength while Alti was watching… but more importantly, if I fought normally, the monster would be dead in seconds.

I deliberately interfered with Alti’s movements and let the monster slip away, making the battle turn for the worse.

Then, confirming Alti had put some distance between us, I let my sword be knocked away by the monster’s attack on purpose.

“Urgh—!”

Having “lost” my weapon, I groaned and exposed my defenseless self to the monster. At the same time, I moved my right hand behind my back, ready to pull a spare sword from my Inventory at a moment’s notice.

“—Dammit!”

I cursed my “blunder” and threw a glance toward Alti.

While pretending to signal for help, I watched closely to see what kind of emotion she would show and how she would move.

—Alti’s reaction was incredibly simple.

“Christ—!!”

With a panicked expression, she dashed forward at full speed.

Her target wasn’t me, but the beast.

She lunged with her sword of flames, throwing her entire body weight into the monster.

Thanks to that, I avoided the monster’s attack. I pulled my hand away from my Inventory, stood up, and ran toward my discarded sword.

Alti was locked in a scramble with the monster. In the extreme close-quarters struggle, she erupted with flames and used her fire sword to tear through the beast’s torso. Naturally, the monster dissolved into light and vanished.

The moment it was defeated, Alti immediately turned to me.

“Christ!! Are you alright!?”

No malice. No hostility.

Just words of pure concern for my safety.

That was Alti’s answer.

And that answer felt like it was accusing me.

A disgusting sensation, like black sludge seeping from the core of my body and filling my head, washed over me.

In this moment, I was the only filthy one here.

“…Y-yeah. I’m fine. Thanks, Alti. I can’t believe I actually had to be saved… I’m pathetic.”

“Are you safe…? Hehe, don’t worry about it. Saving you is a given since we’re allies, right?”

Saying it was a given, Alti laughed.

Despite her bandages being torn by the monster and blood trickling down, Alti had saved me.

Suddenly, I remembered the events on the 9th floor.

The slave being worked to death, me jumping out, and the sense of alienation that followed after I saved her.

If Alti had been there, would she have validated me?

“……!”

I immediately shook my head, pushing the irrelevant thought away.

I had to perform the role of trusting Alti, just as planned.

“Haha, a given, huh… Fine, I admit it. You really just want me to grant your wish, Alti. You don’t have a shred of hostility toward me…”

“Oh? Is that enough already? I was planning on taking a much longer approach…”

“If I kept being stubborn after all that, I’d be as pathetic as a child. I’ll trust you… a little.”

“Just a little? No, that’s plenty. After all, we are human and monster.”

Alti nodded happily.

I watched her, feeling miserable.

“But let’s call it a day. My MP is getting low, and my focus is slipping.”

In reality, I had more than half my MP left.

But if I was still keeping a potential fight with Alti in mind, this was my minimum safety line.

“Hm, understood… I guess that’s it for today.”

“Let’s head back. …Since we’re at it, I’ll listen to the details on the way.”

“Does that mean you’ll help with my wish?”

“I just said I’d trust you a little, didn’t I? Just talk.”

I sheathed my sword and began walking back as I listened.

“Hehehe, let’s see… Like I said earlier, the main thing will be observing a girl in love. As for the specific method, I’ll use my ability to possess them without being noticed. I have a parasitic capability, you see.”

“Possess? Wait, is there any harm to the girl being possessed?”

“None. I can provide assistance depending on the situation, but basically, there’s no harm. I’ll just be feeling the girl’s emotions. In that state, I intend to watch over her until her love is fulfilled.”

“I see…”

In short, if I could introduce her to someone in the middle of a romance, Alti wouldn’t leave that person’s side. During that time, I would be able to explore the Labyrinth in peace.

“Fine. I’ll look around for someone suitable.”

“Oh, really?”

“But I’m not the right person for this, you know? I’m clueless about romance and I don’t have many connections. If you’re okay with that.”

“No, it’s fine. I want you to fulfill my ‘Lingering Regret.’ …After all, you have a track record of granting Teida’s wish. Besides, I’m patient. I can wait decades if I have to.”

“So, if I find someone, what should I do?”

I moved to the main point.

If she said, “I’ll follow Christ 24/7 so it’s fine,” it was over. In that case, combat would be back on the table.

“In that case, let’s see… You can just report it to the flames on the 10th floor. I’ll be looking for someone myself, so I won’t always be there… but if you speak to the fire here, I should be able to respond no matter where I am.”

The conversation didn’t turn into her accompanying me.

I didn’t know if she was being considerate, but for now, I was relieved.

“Got it. I’ll do that. By the way, Alti. You say you’re looking for someone… in the Labyrinth?”

“No, in the town. My power drops significantly because of the barriers, but Guardians aren’t bound to the Labyrinth, so we can go outside.”

“That’s… quite a surprise.”

I had never heard anything like that, even in the taverns.

It was likely information that even the Labyrinth nations hadn’t grasped.

Thinking it was a good opportunity, I considered how much more information I could extract from her.

“Teida used to walk the town in a mask sometimes, too.”

“That’s terrifying. Anyway, I’ve been wondering, are there other Guardians besides you and Teida?”

“No, none. Pathetically enough, humans have only broken the seal up to the 23rd floor. One is released for every ten floors, so there are only two of us.”

Alti said “Humans need to try harder” with a look of disappointment.

It was unexpected.

I thought bosses were beings that existed solely to stop people from progressing, but it didn’t seem to be the case. From the way Alti spoke, it felt more like they were actually cooperating.

While we exchanged these small details, we reached the 10th floor.

As usual, the flames were roaring—a space that was difficult for a human to stay in.

“Do we part ways here?”

“No, I’m going to the surface. Since Christ introduced someone interesting to me today.”

“I did?”

I didn’t remember doing anything like that. I had no memory of making an introduction.

“That Franleure girl. That clumsy flame of love is just my type. Well, looking at it, it doesn’t have a chance of blooming. Hehehe, hehe.”

Alti gave a devious smile.

“Ah—that one.”

I felt dejected, remembering something I’d rather forget.

“Don’t call her ‘that one.’ From what I can see, that girl is head over heels for you.”

“Ehh…”

Having a fact I’d vaguely sensed but didn’t want to admit shoved in my face by Alti was painful.

“Hehe, I know you’re not interested. But it looks entertaining. I think I’ll play around near her for a bit.”

“Do as you like…”

Personally, it didn’t matter to me what happened to the troublesome Franleure.

Without a shred of conscience, I intended to hand Franleure over. However, the thought that Alti might actually “help” her was a bit scary.

We walked toward the surface, discussing the plans for fulfilling Alti’s wish.

Our policy for the surface was basically to act separately.

It was a relief that we agreed to just report back if we found a suitable person.

I would have to meet Alti periodically, but a path had opened up where I didn’t have to fight a Guardian—and I had even managed to keep her at a distance.

While I rejoiced in my heart that the “pretend-to-trust” strategy had succeeded, I also felt the mud of self-loathing accumulating at the bottom of my soul.

If I used the skill “???,” I could probably wipe this emotion away. But I wanted to avoid Confusion exceeding 10.00. Thinking like a gamer, I had a hunch that reaching the double digits might trigger some kind of condition.

Not yet…

The emotion isn’t fatal yet…

Telling myself that, I continued walking.

Together with Alti.

Along the path leading to the bright world above.