Chapter 250: Elder Lich Subjugation Battle (1)

Chapter 250: Elder Lich
Subjugation Battle (1)

15th
floor Eden’s center is a peaceful and safe area that stands out even
in Eden where outlaws and criminals run rampant, though there are no
monsters.

Moreover,
it’s prime real estate with the Adventurers’ Union just two blocks
away and the Earth Mother Goddess Order’s Eden branch on the adjacent
line.

I
looked up at the two-story building built in a place with security
comparable to the noble districts on the surface.

It
was just like the inn outside the labyrinth, making me wonder if I
was on the surface.

[Cozy
Winter Night Inn]

Even
with the exact same signboard.

“Could
it be here?”

“Yes.
The land was more expensive than expected, but it’s better to get
good land when buying. Hmm. The wood smell is nice since the building
is newly built.”

“You
built a completely new house?”

“Yes.
I asked someone skilled in construction magic. The interior layout is
slightly different, want to come see? Since the party members worked
hard too, take a good rest here today.”

The
party members, who had been blankly staring at the building from
afar, barely managed to nod at Diana’s words.

Although
adventurers earn more than other professions, building on such secure
land would inevitably impact finances even for a high-rank
adventurer.

However,
Diana’s calmly closed eyes showed no sign of such concerns.

“Just
how much money did she save before retiring…?”

“Well,
she was once among the most renowned adventurers, so perhaps it’s
natural…”

“Should
I try selling Tonton Milk too? Wonder if the taverns here would buy
it?”

“Would
they?”

“They
might?”

“…How
did the master travel the labyrinth with people like this…?”

Leaving
behind the party members’ envious and admiring gazes, Diana showed me
around the inn.

Overall,
it was similar to the Cozy Winter Night Inn Branch 1 on the surface.

The
first floor had tables for a tavern where guests could drink and
chat, and a spacious kitchen that fully reflected Diana’s love for
cooking.

The
second floor had lodging rooms like an inn, and my room was in the
same location.

However,
the interior was improved.

The
bed was soft yet perfectly embracing, clearly high-quality at first
glance, and the ceiling height and interior were more spacious,
giving a refreshing feeling even inside the room.

It
was an inn that felt familiar and comfortable on the outside while
warmly embracing guests inside, with Diana’s careful and meticulous
attention evident throughout.

I
laid my tired body down in the comfort of this new nest.

Although
exploration was quite smooth with Diana and Ellie present, advancing
to the 15th floor in three days was a fast enough march to be called
forced.

The
reason we advanced so quickly was all because of the Elder Lich.

Elder
Lich is an undead monster and a monster that uses necromancy and of
all places, this Elder Lich appeared in the swamp graveyard.

By
the time we reach the 19th floor, more than half of the corpses in
the swamp would likely be raised as Elder Lich’s subordinates.

Before
Elder Lich could increase its undead servants for protection and
weapons, we needed to quickly reach the 19th floor and crack its
skull.

So
we couldn’t take a leisurely rest. We had to sleep just one night in
a safe place and leave right away tomorrow.

“Master.
Wake up!”

Denshi
sat on my crotch and gently shook my waist.

Though
it felt like I had just closed my eyes briefly, a day had already
passed.

I,
who had suppressed my sexual desire through the Stigmata of Patience,
grabbed Denshi’s waist as it was, moved her aside, and got up.

“Were
you tired? You were sleeping like you were completely knocked out
yesterday.”

“I
guess I was a bit tired since it’s been a while. How are the party
members?”

“Everyone’s
getting their equipment ready and having breakfast. Thanks to Diana,
everyone slept well at the inn so they’re in good condition. They all
said they never expected such luxury in the labyrinth?”

While
chatting with Denshi, I gathered my equipment and went down to the
inn’s first floor.

“The
inns around here are going to be screwed?”

“The
ones that rip off adventurers? Serves them right. If they have eyes,
everyone will flock here. Just look at the facility difference.”

“Even
though it’s Eden’s safe zone, I never thought we could shower with
warm water in the labyrinth…At this level, isn’t it almost like the
Union Leader’s mansion…?”

Jubeel,
Nuer, and the others were chatting while eating sandwiches.

As
they said, there couldn’t be another inn in Eden with better
facilities and better value than this place.

The
inn’s owner was Diana, and I couldn’t help but feel my shoulders
rising with pride.

“Did
you sleep well, Balkan? We’re heading back to the 16th floor soon,
right?”

“Yes.
I should help with the inn’s opening preparations too, I’m sorry.”

“No
need to apologize for that. You should complete your received request
first. If anything, I’m sorry I can’t help.”

Diana
says she can’t carelessly hunt labyrinth monsters right now.

She
says it’s because she might get cursed again if she acts rashly,
which might be why Diana didn’t hunt a single monster on our way to
the 15th floor.

However,
as a junior adventurer, I was greatly impressed by her judgment and
the way she freely navigated the labyrinth like her own home.

“No,
it’s fine. I learned something even though it was brief.”

“Huhut.
Is that so? Ah. Eat breakfast before you go.”

“I’m
always grateful. I’ll eat well.”

I
filled my empty stomach with a sandwich Diana made, containing fresh
vegetables rare in the labyrinth and flavorful jambon.

It
was a taste that made me smile with each bite.

While
digesting after hastily devouring the sandwich, Diana handed over six
pouches.

“What’s
this?”

“It’s
jerky I made this time. Since food spoils more easily due to the
environment as you go towards the 19th floor, I made it to preserve
as long as possible, so eat a little whenever you’re bored or tired.”

“You
made this for all the party members too?”

“It’s
just a matter of making a bit more. Since they’re party members you
care about, I should take good care of them too, huut—”

I
tightly hugged Diana who only chose pretty words to say.

For
a moment, the females around held their breath, but I didn’t mind.

“Ba,
Balkan…? Ugh… eve, everyone is watching…”

“Let
them watch.”

“……”

After
hesitating briefly at those words, Diana carefully wrapped her hands
around my waist.

So
we continued our sticky, melting slug embrace for about ten minutes
in front of everyone, before finally separating, unable to hide our
reluctance.

“…Ahem.
Well. Shall we get going now?”

“Huut.
Ye, yes, we should probably go soon…”

“Waaah…
daddy dada…”

“…stepmother…”

“…master…”

It
was because we couldn’t overcome the gazes around us.

Still,
the “I’ll be back” hug helped relieve the tension.

After
distributing the jerky Diana made to the party members, I asked Diana
before departing for the 16th floor.

“What
are you going to do now?”

“Hmm?
Now I’ll clean up the remaining spots in the inn…need to stock up
on ingredients…and then…”

Diana,
who had been leisurely listing her tasks, opened her eyes slightly
and spoke calmly.

“I
should go see Idelbert.”

-Saaah…

Cold
magical energy flowed from around Diana.

My
spine chilled at the cold response that seemed to contain killing
intent.

Since
learning that I had wrapped Idelbert’s black cat tail around my hand
and had mating with squishing sounds in her rear, Diana occasionally
made such expressions.

Diana,
who instantly erased the cold expression from her face and gathered
up the magical energy she had inadvertently released…

As
if nothing had happened, closed her eyes and smiled gently.

“By
any chance, would you like to come along, Balkan?”

At
Diana’s question, Serif’s letter in my possession came to mind, but I
shook my head.

The
letter could be delivered later.

Not
only did I have things to do now, but more importantly…

My
instinct was strongly insisting that now was not the time to go
together.

“…I’ll
stop by after I return.”

“Mmm.
Good thinking. Be careful this time too.”

What
on earth was she planning to do, for Diana to say it was good
thinking?

After
tightly hugging Diana who was waving with a gentle smile, our party
headed back to the 16th floor portal.

***

Handing
over the jewel to the demon of sloth sleeping in the grand fountain
was also postponed to next time.

If
you put your feet in the grand fountain, you experience something
similar to fainting or falling into a deep sleep.

You
might regain consciousness quickly, but you could also faint for over
half a day like last time, so it was right to go after finishing
everything that needed to be done.

Since
we decided to do Ellie’s magic sample collection, which takes quite a
long time, when returning, we immediately crossed the 16th floor
portal.

Fortunately,
we didn’t fall from the sky like when I came with Idelbert.

However,

“Kieeeeek!!!”

Before
the hot and humid tropical climate of the 16th floor could envelop
our bodies, fierce winds poured down along with a sharp cry.

“One
wyvern ahead! Size between adult and hatchling!!!”

Before
it even entered my recognition range, Denshi with sensitive ears was
the first to alert us of the danger.

The
experienced party members prepared for battle without showing any
signs of panic.

“Damn.
Such shitty luck!”

“Wyvern…looks
like we’ll need to buy time until Nuer can use binding magic!”

“Already
fired one stock shot! But it’s too fast to hit!”

Jubeel,
Rubia, and Nuer frowned while clicking their tongues.

A
wyvern freely soaring through that vast sky at high speeds was
uniquely troublesome even among 16th floor monsters.

Still,
I stepped forward, satisfied seeing the party members engaging in
battle within 2 seconds of transfer.

As
the party leader, I couldn’t just stand still.

“I’ll
cut off one wing.”

“What?
How?”

“I’ve
done it before.”

I
drew my giant axe and prepared for battle.

While
planting my feet deep in the damp soft ground, waiting for the right
moment to charge in, the wyvern that met my eyes started trembling
its huge body while flying in the air.

“Ki,
kieeek…”

The
cry that had filled the sky until just now subdued like a frightened
girl.

My
eyes turned to the wyvern’s mouth that suddenly let out a fear-filled
cry.

As
if it had been completely smashed and was recovering, its teeth and
fangs were only half-grown.

Seeing
that appearance reminded me of one wyvern.

‘This
is the wyvern I beat the crap out of back then.’

It
was that wyvern I had coincidentally encountered when falling into
the 16th floor’s air.

‘You
managed to survive well.’

Well,
as a wyvern, a subspecies of dragon, it had intelligence exceeding
that of clever monkeys.

That
meant it had enough memory to remember the being that had rampaged in
its mouth and completely smashed its teeth last time.

And
that I hadn’t killed it and mercifully let it live.

It
would naturally remember that I had the ability to chase and kill it
right now too.

“Kieeek…”

Landing
on the ground after stopping its wing beats, it bowed its head to me
as if begging to spare its life.

“……”

“……”

I
nodded to the party members looking at me with dumbfounded faces.

“Looks
like we got ourselves a flying carriage.”