Chapter 193: Grand Fountain (6)

Chapter 193: Grand Fountain
(6)

[Welcome.]

I
looked at her, who greeted me in the pure white world.

The
figure wrapped in light.

The
being who had some connection with Nam So-eun, my younger sister.

According
to Sloth, a fragment of the Earth Mother Goddess.

Although
her body enveloped in dazzling light was still hard to see clearly,
the lines seemed quite different from before.

Following
the silhouette of light were vulgar milk tanks and large hips.

From
her, who had been emanating sacred energy, came the scent of a lewd
female.

‘Is
it because of the avatar that Sloth said she gave?’

Since
that was the only thing that had changed, it probably was.

‘Then
was the fragment of the Earth Mother Goddess I’ve been seeing until
now flat-chested?’

Probably
so.

It
was sad that despite being called the Earth Mother Goddess, she had
such small breasts.

[To
think you’ve already come up to the 15th floor. Amazing-]

Her
calm voice speaking stopped, and her gaze followed mine to her body.

“…Hnngh.”

-Fwaaaash!

The
intensity of light emanating from her body increased after she let
out a small moan.

It
was hard to even make out her body’s silhouette.

I
slightly furrowed my brows at the feeling of having the sun right in
front of me.

[Th-that
moment just now… forget it.]

“Pardon?”

[Th-the
thing you saw earlier!]

She
shouted quietly and mumbled anxiously.

[Just
one day. For the first time in decades, just one day…After
resisting the tremendous temptation to properly rest for just one
day, why at that moment…! Ughhhh…!]

She
seemed to be talking about sleeping stretched out on the sofa.

[A-anyway.
Forget it.]

“Yes.
I will certainly forget the sight of the Earth Mother Goddess’s
fragment scratching her belly with hands that were eating potato
chips while sleeping stretched out.”

[……!!!]

Though
I said that, that scene wouldn’t easily be erased from my mind. It
was quite shocking after all.

‘…What
is this?’

For
some reason, a smile formed on my lips.

Should
I say it reminds me of old times?

Memories
with my younger sister come to mind.

The
sight of her suppressing her anger while not knowing what to do at
small pranks.

Seeing
her not completely disliking it despite that, emotions stir.

The
surprised look I saw just earlier too.

The
warm touch I felt before too.

When
I’m with this being, memories of the past that were gradually
becoming stained amidst the hardships of the labyrinth city rise to
the surface.

I
couldn’t tell whether this was remembering pleasant memories of the
past, or falling into anxiety from being unable to let go of
lingering attachments.

[…Did
you hear that I’m part of the Earth Mother Goddess from the demon of
Sloth?]

“Yes.
Wasn’t that your intention?”

I
tilted my head at her reaction that seemed like she didn’t want this
fact to be discovered.

The
moment she opened her eyes on the sofa, she sent me to where the
demon of Sloth was sealed.

I
thought it was definitely an action with some intention.

[…Y-yeah?
J-just, know only that much for now.]

Seeing
her speaking slowly, it didn’t seem to be entirely so.

‘Could
it be, it was a mistake made while half-asleep?’

I
wanted to believe that wasn’t the case.

“By
the way, this place seems a bit different from when we met on the
10th floor…”

Not
just her body, but the space of the fountain on the 15th floor was
also quite different from the 10th or 5th floors.

It
wasn’t bound like a birdcage, and felt spacious like a free space.

[This
is where I made a peace treaty with the demon of Sloth. It’s safer
than other floors. So, there’s a bit more freedom.]

A
peace treaty. Come to think of it, Sloth said something like that
too.

“Is
that also why no monsters appear on the 15th floor?”

[It’s
not completely unrelated. By the way… you made a contract?]

I
felt her gaze looking at my chest area.

The
feeling of having my heart dissected and opened up. The place that
aches whenever I make a contract with a demon.

“Yes.
I made a contract to receive part of her power if I fulfill the Demon
of Sloth’s request.”

[…A
demon’s power is dangerous. It will endlessly tempt and torment
people.]

Strong
power comes with strong risks, it was a natural principle.

Having
experienced almost losing my sanity occasionally due to the incubus’
curse, I could deeply relate to her words.

“Still,
I have things I must do.”

However,
even knowing the dangers, there are things that must be done.

In
this world power is everything.

Because
I need to reach the deepest part of the labyrinth, which is survival
of the fittest itself.

[…I’m
sorry.]

“Pardon?”

I
opened my eyes wide at the sudden apology.

Why
would she apologize when I’m the one making my way through the
labyrinth?

[…Mmm.
Nothing. More importantly, if you plan to handle a demon’s power,
there’s something that must be done.]

“Something
that must be done?”

She
nodded and emitted light from her hand.

My
eyes naturally went to that light which felt similar to the Blessing
of Radiance whenever I saw it.

“I
want you to hone and refine more precisely the grace I gave you.”

-A
Blessed One, is it?

I
recalled the first words the Demon of Sloth said to me.

The
Earth Mother Goddess whom the Earth Mother Church follows. Grace.
Dazzling light. The Blessing of Radiance bearing divine power.

“Could
it be…?”

Was
it not mere coincidence that I obtained the Blessing of Radiance in
the labyrinth?

[Not
just the grace, but everything you’ve gained while walking your
journey until now.]

What
exactly is this being, the Earth Mother Goddess?

Why
exactly does she reach out and offer advice to me, and no one else?

…Why
exactly.

Why
do I think of my disappeared younger sister whenever I see this
being?

-Fwaaaash!

In
the world instantly dyed in warm light, I desperately reached out
towards her who seemed like she could be grabbed right away.

Whoosh-

My
hand passed through her futilely.

No
matter how much I struggled, I couldn’t reach her.

[It’s
okay.]

However,

[…We
can meet again.]

The
voice I barely heard gave me hope.

[So,
see you again. ■■]

At
the same time as I felt the soft sensation that touched and left my
forehead along with a small warmth.

The
world was dyed in light.

***

It’s
cozy.

A
warm, soft yet firm pleasant sensation.

It
was a somewhat familiar sensation.

Having
my neck squeezed by these thighs, and receiving a lap pillow like
this after losing consciousness.

“…Are
you awake?”

When
I opened my eyes at the familiar voice, a woman with a familiar face
was looking down at me.

“…Master?”

“Yes.
My disciple. You slept for quite a long time.”

My
body twitched at the hand patting my head.

Looking
around, it was a place I’d never seen before.

Starlight
from the night sky shone through the tall trees.

It
was night. I thought I’d return right after falling asleep
momentarily, but quite some time had passed.

‘When
I only met the fragment of Earth Mother Goddess it was instant, is it
because I met the Demon of Sloth too?’

I
couldn’t know. But for now, the fact that time had passed was more
important.

“Why…no,
more importantly where is…?”

“This
is the forest on the outskirts of the 15th floor. A place where I
sometimes come to organize my thoughts.”

“Then
why am I here?”

I
clearly told Grumpy to take care of things and entered the fountain.

At
my words, Idelbert pulled something out from beside her.

A
damp shopping bag, and a cat tail anal plug and thick large black
anal beads that popped out through the torn bottom of the shopping
bag caught my eye.

“When
you were at the grand fountain with things like these, the church
paladins were trying to rush at you, foaming at the mouth.”

I
could roughly picture the situation.

The
Earth Mother Church that stays away from vulgar things.

Unlike
someone who was injured while leaking lots of breast milk, they
couldn’t stand the sight of some perfectly fine man entering the
grand fountain while holding lots of heinous adult products.

Seeing
trouble arise, Shuding probably called Idelbert or something.

“Still,
your slave follows you well. She fought quite well against the
paladins…no. Hmph. Of course a female should protect her male after
receiving his seed like that. Hmph.”

Idelbert
tried to praise Grumpy but stopped.

The
black cat tail swaying like a whip hitting the ground and the snorts
being blown out heavily were fierce.

“Then…has
the situation been resolved well?”

“Yes.
I spoke to them directly so don’t worry about it.”

“Ah…thank
you.”

“Enough.
What thanks.”

Though
speaking as if it was nothing, there was a slight hint of laughter in
Idelbert’s voice.

The
tail that was fiercely hitting the ground swayed gently for a moment.

Perhaps
Shuding explained things well?

It
seemed she had gotten over being upset a little.

“I
heard from Shuding. That you were trying to give me these?”

“…It
was out of consideration for you, Master.”

“Heh.
Crazy disciple. The more I see you, it seems you have a screw loose
somewhere in your head.”

“Do
you dislike it?”

“Hmph.
When did I say I dislike it?”

Idelbert
carefully brought the anal beads and plug to her chest as if someone
might take them away.

“…Well,
I’ll use them we…ugh. Damn. Damn it!”

-Thump.
Thump thump!

Idelbert
thumped my head.

Not
a serious punch, just slightly stinging.

By
Idelbert’s standards, it was probably a meow meow punch with barely
any strength.

Indeed,
saying she’ll use them well in this situation was a bit much.

“If
you don’t know how to use them, I’ll help you later.”

“…Eek.
Wh-what?!!”

I
smiled bitterly while looking at Idelbert who was greatly flustered.

And
with my head resting on her lap, I blankly looked up at the night
sky.

Though
no ceiling was visible in the wide open night sky, I felt trapped
here.

15th
floor.

Only
the 15th floor?

“Master.”

“Wh-what?”

“I…want
to become stronger.”

“……”

Empty
emotions were contained in the words I uttered.

“I
want to become much stronger than now, and reach the end of the
labyrinth.”

“……”

I
want to set foot in that place that even you barely reached.

“……”

Idelbert
who had been hesitating while clenching her fist for a moment.

-Thwack!

“Ugh…!”

Flicked
my forehead.

When
I blankly looked up, she was looking down at me with one corner of
her mouth raised in a smirk.

“A
guy who says he wants to become stronger is lying around blankly
wallowing in self-pity?”

“Ah,
no this is…”

“Kekek.
Follow me. This master will train her dull disciple properly.”

She
suddenly got up, grabbed my wrist and led me under the night sky.

Seeing
the smile that had settled on her lips by now, I followed her while
smiling bitterly.

“…?”

But,
the direction we were going was a bit strange.

Not
towards the mansion, but some forest path.

Something
blue rippled in the distance.

That
which had become very familiar by now.

“Master.
Why is there a portal…?”

“Yes.
I know. You said you want to become stronger?”

“Pardon?”

Well,
that’s true but. This is a bit too sudden-

-Grip!

Idelbert,
who firmly grabbed my hand, ran towards the portal at tremendous
speed.

“M-Master?!!!”

“Hold
on tight, disciple!!”

“Y-you’re
crazy!!! Kugh!”

-Fwaaaaaaash!

Along
with the floating sensation unique to portals, my vision changed
instantly.

I’m
setting foot on the 16th floor for the first time.