Chapter 108

Kelly, having delivered the final blow, let out a heated sigh as she looked up at the labyrinth ceiling—carved away by the blast—and the sky visible beyond it.

“Haa… that was truly great.”

Then, with a refreshing smile as clear as an autumn sky, she…

…toppled backward.

Thud.

Since we didn’t have a priest, we treated Kelly using the potions we brought and Ailet’s Body Activation (5th Circle). Strictly speaking, it wasn’t direct healing, but rather a spell that accelerated metabolism to make wounds heal faster.

Since it carries the risk of worsening injuries if used alone, it’s a spell usually combined with potions.

“This should prevent any scars from forming… clean. For now, roll her over to that corner until she wakes up.”

Once we confirmed Kelly’s recovery was underway, we approached the lion, who was foaming at the mouth and unconscious.

A consensus had formed that we couldn’t just leave him like that, regardless of how we decided to handle him later.

“His recovery ability was impressive… I wonder if that will recover too.”

Chel let out a smirk.

“Does it even matter if it doesn’t?”

“You say some terrifying things.”

“Well, think about it. Even if he recovers, what’s the point for this guy?”

“Why is there no point? Is there anything more important to a man than that?”

“Maybe for you, Orabeoni. But where on earth is this lion going to use it?”

Uh…?

“…Y-yeah. You’re right. Where would he use it?”

He mentioned he was a being created by the labyrinth specifically for the situation. That meant he was a new species unto himself—and the only one of his kind.

Suddenly, a tear came to my eye.

“What a wicked and cursed labyrinth. Even God made Eve after creating Adam to achieve the harmony of Yin and Yang… but they just plopped down one muscular brute without thinking about the future!? Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Ten minutes later.

Fortunately(?), the lion recovered safely.

Having confirmed this, Chel clapped her hands to draw the party’s attention.

“Alright, let’s wrap this up. The reason we didn’t just slit this tin-can lion’s throat and instead waited for him to wake up is… because everyone here, except Kelly, feels the same way about him. Right?”

Elizabeth’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as everyone nodded.

“Right. I want to have this interesting fellow tamed by our high-rank-but-still-a-brat tamer so we can take him outside. If that works… he’ll be a massive asset to the guild.”

She paused and looked back at Elizabeth.

“Of course, we have to ask the tamer herself. Though I think I already know the answer. Hey, brat. What do you think? Are you willing to take this guy in as a pet?”

“O-Of course!”

Elizabeth leaped up, her answer bordering on a scream. Whether it was a proposal she had been secretly craving or not, her face was full of joy.

“Honestly, I was keeping my mouth shut because I didn’t want to overstep… but if we can really do that…! He’s incomparable to someone like the late Pooh…!”

I understood her joy.

Though the girl was True Silver rank, that was only when she possessed a pet befitting that rank. After losing her Cyclops, her actual combat power was barely at the Platinum level.

“Besides, this lion is a high-class(?) monster that can’t even be compared to a Cyclops. He’s stronger, more righteous, smarter, better-looking, can communicate, and even transforms!?”

As Chel watched Elizabeth glow with delight, she asked flatly:

“But can you actually tame him? He’s a 9-Star monster. Isn’t the taming difficulty incredibly high?”

“Ah….”

Elizabeth’s excitement cooled slightly at those words. She fell into thought for a moment.

“Uh, well… this is a first for me too, so I can’t be 100% sure, but it should work. The most important thing in taming is gaining the subject’s ‘consent.’ The reason we beat monsters to within an inch of their lives to make them pets is to force that consent out of them, however grudgingly. But this lion already had a desire to leave the labyrinth. And he has plenty of goodwill toward us. I… I think the conditions are met. Yeah. Definitely!”

Ailet, who had been listening to the conversation, muttered quietly.

“I think it’s a bit much to expect ‘goodwill’ after what was done to him….”

Elizabeth blinked.

“Eh? He’s been restored, hasn’t he? Isn’t that enough?”

“Like hell it is.”

I reminded them of a fact they had forgotten.

“He was already unconscious when his groin was shattered. He probably won’t remember it.”

“Ah….”

“True….”

“I think I have a handle on what kind of guy he is. Let me try to persuade him.”

“Oh, you’ll do it, Mister?”

“Well, don’t get your hopes up too high.”

Chel asked, “And if it doesn’t work?”

I gave a bitter smile and shrugged.

“Then we have to kill him. He’s a monster, after all.”

The lion regained consciousness and opened his mouth with a dazed expression.

Umm. It appears I have lost.

Looking at his reaction, he really didn’t seem to remember. That was a stroke of luck.

“Yeah. You lost. You fought incredibly well. But she fought just a bit better.”

Umm….

“Even so, you’re strong. If you fought again, it might turn out completely differently. But a result is a result. You died today. The only reason you’re still breathing is the mercy of the woman who admired your talent.”

“…I accept my defeat.”

Now was the time to sell the story a little.

“Kelly struggled with whether to kill you or not. In the end, she lowered her weapon and said this:”

He’s too good to just kill. Orabeoni, I need to rest. Take care of the rest….

“Ah… she said that…?”

“She’s the one who spared you. What right do we, who were mere spectators, have to do otherwise?”

The lion closed his eyes slowly as I finished speaking.

I see. So, she acknowledged me. To be recognized by a warrior who has reached such a high and brilliant plane… I have received a gift far beyond what I deserve for my final moments.

“……”

Phew… Two years, was it? A short life. Yet, since I’ve received such a great gift at the end, I feel it was a decent life after all. Now, I am fully prepared… Go ahead and kill me.

I realized this was the most critical junction for taming the lion.

“Tsk. A youngster like you shouldn’t speak of death so easily.”

Hmm…?

“This life you’ve managed to hold onto—do you have no desire to live it a bit longer?”

The lion replied dejectedly.

Regardless of how I look or what I say, my essence is that of a monster. An enemy of humanity. Are you saying you would simply leave someone like me be?

“……”

Moreover, if it were before I met you, perhaps… but now that I know the joy of communication, I have no confidence in living alone among ‘monsters’ with whom I cannot speak or share thoughts. So… I appreciate the consideration, but please, just end it.

Yes. That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.

That dilemma had to come from the lion’s own mouth for the dynamic of us granting a favor—and him being indebted—to work.

“Then, what if you could become something other than a monster? What if, by doing so, you could live alongside us and others from now on? Would you have the will to live then?”

Is that… possible?

A longing for life began to bloom in the lion’s dull eyes.

‘Hook, line, and sinker.’

Well, the rest was incredibly simple. After introducing Elizabeth as a Tamer and explaining the profession in detail, the naive lion raised both paws and bit the hook.

W-with this, I can live among your kind?

I shook my head.

“I’d say it’s fifty-fifty.”

Fifty-fifty?

“To be honest, to others who don’t know you, you’ll still just be seen as Elizabeth’s pet. The interaction and empathy you crave will take a massive amount of effort and time. But I’ll promise you one thing: at least within our guild, I’ll make sure you’re treated as an equal to any other member, where you can laugh and chat together.”

…For now, that is more than enough. Thank you for your kindness.

“A name… a name… Since you’re the Iron Lion… Iron… Ah! I’ve got it! Your name from now on is Iron-Wubby!“

This brat. I knew it since the day she named a Cyclops ‘Pooh.’ You are officially banned from naming things.

Chel said in a flat tone, “Mm. Honestly, it feels like we did all the work only to give the prize away… but since he’s under a Geas, there shouldn’t be any issues. You know the deal, though, right, brat? You don’t get a share of the loot from this conquest.”

Elizabeth turned red and snapped, “Who are you calling a prize-taker!”

“You.”

“Uuu… Chel unnie. Honestly, isn’t it time you stopped picking on me? Even without the Geas… I, honestly, like this guild. Since I’m a bit of an outlier, other guilds just walked on eggshells around me while talking trash behind my back… but this place is completely different. Aside from everyone having a bit of a temper, you sisters are so strong that… it’s reassuring. Everyone treats me like a normal comrade, too…”

“……”

“A-and even if you act like you don’t, you take care of me at times like this… No! Anyway! That’s why I’ll do my best from now on! So just stop already!!”

“Quiet. We’ll see how you behave.”

“E-eeeek…!”

Well, it was noisy one way or another, but the conclusion was…

I, Leo, shall give my utmost devotion from this day forward!!

It ended well.

Ah, for the record, we went with the name Leo instead of Iron-Wubby.

So, with that, the labyrinth conquest is finally over—

Sir. There is one thing I am curious about….

“Hmm?”

Actually, I have found it strange since the moment I woke up… Now that the contract is complete, I understand the rising affection I feel for my master, Elizabeth, as her pet. But…

“Yeah?”

I do not know why my heart thumps, my body trembles with cold sweats, and my groin feels a chilling shiver every time I look at Lady Kelly.

“I-is that so? W-well, I wonder….”

That’s because your body still remembers that horrific axe-work, even if your mind doesn’t. But I couldn’t exactly tell him the truth… what should I use as an excuse?

“That… well, that is….”

“……”

To hell with it.

“…Maybe it’s love?”

The lion placed a paw gently over his heart.

I see. So this is love. Love….

“……”

I feel like I just did something truly terrible.

Elizabeth shouted with a face full of joy, “It’s over! We’re finally going home!!!”

With the lion tamed and the conquest complete, we each shouldered a backpack stuffed with treasure and exited the labyrinth through the hole in the ceiling.

And then…

“Huh…?”

“Hmm?”

“What is this?”

“This is…?”

The moment we reached the surface, under the wind-swept rain, we witnessed a sight that made us doubt our eyes.

Startled, I dropped the unconscious Kelly from my back. Chel ruffled her hair aggressively, letting out a bewildered cry.

“Where… is this?”