187. Is That Really the Best Option?

At Helena’s words, my mind went blank for a moment.

Accelerating childbirth?

“Women normally undergo a nine-month pregnancy process. This would shorten that.”

“……”

A typical pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks.

Nine months and seven days of gestation before childbirth.

Helena said that process could be expedited.

I felt an instinctive revulsion at the idea.

Something about it didn’t sit right with me.

A small voice in my heart screamed that this was wrong.

This isn’t it.

Something about this feels fundamentally mistaken.

“Shortening the pregnancy period…?”

“Yes. Accelerating it.”

“Is that even possible?”

“Of course. It was commonly used in the old days. Births within two months. Adventurers are, after all, a profession that requires constant dungeon diving. Pregnancy is fatal to that. So they were forced to choose-either abort or deliver quickly.”

Abortion or accelerated birth.

This… this feels like treating people like livestock.

It’s efficient.

The optimal method.

But.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was wrong.

“Why… isn’t this method used anymore…?”

“Because life isn’t as harsh as it used to be. Times have changed. Back then, female adventurers worked themselves to death in the dungeons. Before Moira and Mabel purged the nobles and normalized the Labyrinth City. Everyone lived like that.”

“……”

“But now it’s different. There’s no reason to strain one’s body to deliver or terminate a child unnecessarily.”

“Wouldn’t this place excessive strain on Yuria’s body…?”

“Of course it would. That’s why you should discuss it with her directly. Ultimately, it’s between you and that child. Talk to Yuria. We need to proceed with the 6th floor conquest and advance to the 7th floor. Ask if she can deliver the child quickly.”

“……”

Helena laughed as she saw my frozen expression.

As if it was ridiculous.

“What? Didn’t you completely change your stance? You said it yourself. That you’d prioritize efficiency. That you’d discard your humanity.”

“That’s…”

“If you value efficiency, this is the way. If you’re going to abandon humanity and walk the Path of Tyranny, you must be ruthless even to yourself.”

She’s right.

I did decide to act that way.

But is that truly the correct answer?

The more I talked with Helena, the more something dark and festering within me squirmed.

I began to doubt whether this was truly the right path.

“You’re having second thoughts, aren’t you? Does the Path of Tyranny seem foolish now? To reign supreme above all else-didn’t you realize it would ultimately lead you to ruin?”

“……”

“If you’re going to exploit everything, don’t do it half-heartedly. How pathetic, to choose a path drenched in malice yet fear your women getting hurt. Recall that shameful expression. Remember your comrades’ deaths.”

“My comrades’ deaths…”

“How did they react? Did they accept death? Or did they resist?”

“Well…”

Except for Jack and Maximus, they all accepted it.

They considered their deaths inevitable, something necessary.

“They likely believed you’d resurrect them. Survival is paramount. Sometimes you must kill comrades to live. But drowning in defeat like you are now, ready to discard your humanity as if giving up-that’s just cowardly escape.”

I had no retort.

Because Helena was right.

I blamed this entire failure on my comrades.

Even though I was the team leader, even though my judgment was flawed, I rationalized that we lost because my teammates were weak.

I was about to betray comrades who trusted me enough to die for me.

Without even hearing their opinions.

Drowning in defeat, I tried to unilaterally decide their fate.

“It must have been a painful defeat. An accident in what you thought would be an easy snake nest conquest. Facing the 7th floor monsters in that state must have terrified you. You grew impatient, thinking the 7th floor was impossible in your current state. Am I wrong?”

“You’re right… I was impatient. I admit it. I was consumed by the thought that this couldn’t continue. That the Labyrinth… could collapse any moment.”

The Labyrinth will soon collapse.

We must stop it before then.

Because if it collapses, it’s all over.

That’s why I grew impatient.

Ready to discard my humanity.

Ready to betray my comrades for the sake of efficiency.

“I know an unbearably heavy burden rests on your shoulders. I know you fight bearing humanity’s future. But if you grind everything to dust in that process, what will remain? Nothing will stay by your side.”

As she said, by the time I achieved everything, what I sought to protect might already be ruined.

“I’m not saying the Path of Tyranny is entirely wrong. It might indeed be the fastest way to reach the Labyrinth’s deepest layers. But you must consider what you’ll lose in that process.”

“What I… will lose…”

“Yes. Abandoning humanity to chase efficiency means completely renouncing your own humanity. Don’t forget why you aimed for the deepest layers. Why you strive to reach that place.”

My reason for seeking the deepest layers.

The ultimate goal driving me to grit my teeth and fight to prevent humanity’s destruction.

“I wanted to protect the happiness of my future children and the family who believe in and follow me.”

That’s why I’m driving myself to the brink right now.

I’m striving for the safety of my descendants and family.

But abandoning humanity means pursuing the fastest, most efficient way to conquer the Labyrinth-and in doing so, grinding down everything I sought to protect, becoming nothing but a slaughtering machine that’s lost sight of its purpose.

Realizing this left me dizzy.

A train with broken brakes cannot stop.

If Helena hadn’t intervened here.

I might have committed acts no different from a demon’s, walking the Path of Tyranny without hesitation.

From a pure Labyrinth conquest perspective, that path might not be wrong.

But at its end, I would surely have been left in despair and regret.

As I came to this realization, Helena sighed deeply and gripped my shoulders firmly.

“Now then, let me ask again. Do you want to accelerate Yuria’s childbirth?”

I shook my head firmly in response.

“No. I don’t want to go that far.”

“Do you still believe your party members’ inadequacy caused this defeat?”

“No. Clearly, my flawed judgment and overestimation of the team were the problems.”

“That’s a relief. After all, I’m ultimately your bound familiar. Imagining what your corruption could bring is dizzying. But as your familiar, I can only advise. I can’t outright deny your choices. So remember this, Shion. The Labyrinth’s malice will lead you to ruin in countless ways. You must be wary of this.”

“Yes. Thank you, Helena. I’ll… keep that in mind.”

Thanks to Helena, the suffocating weight in my chest completely washed away.

Perhaps this discomfort was my conscience punishing me for my actions.

Ever since using Astral Projection, I’ve felt strangely uneasy.

Could that be related?

“You used Astral Projection?”

“Yes. For scouting…”

“That was certainly risky. In soul form, the Labyrinth’s malice could influence you more easily. Though I doubt that was the decisive factor.”

“Is that so.”

“Yes. Likely a combination of reasons. Using Astral Projection outside the 5th floor might be one. Or perhaps absorbing that human Kairan’s ability.”

“Kairan’s ability?”

“Yes. Abilities are essentially tattoos engraved on one’s soul. Forcibly tearing it away to absorb it could have side effects.”

“Wait. Then what about Moira’s ability…”

“Did you steal her Mystic Eyes?”

“No. Moira gave them to me.”

“Then it’s different. Taking them by force versus receiving them willingly reduces side effects. Moreover, considering Moira’s personality, she’s the last person who’d ever corrupt.”

Helena’s probably right.

Moira is strong. Her character is the farthest from corruption.

That’s why she can remain sane despite wielding multiple cursed swords and mystic eyes.

“If she were going to corrupt, she’d have become a Labyrinth-assimilated monster long ago. The fact she remains sane despite that many mystic eyes and abilities proves her strength.”

“I see…”

Forcibly stealing and absorbing abilities was problematic, and using Astral Projection without the Three Witches’ protection in an unauthorized area also contributed.

“Well, I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. So what now?”

I’ll need to resurrect the party members who entered the snake nest with me later.

Right now, purifying the snake nest takes priority.

“Please help me. We need to clear the snake nest. I owe my comrades vengeance.”

“Good. Let’s do that. I’ll help. Honestly, I’ve been waiting for you to say this. Gorgon? Serpent? I’ll split every snake’s head in half.”

Helena returned to the Bracelet of Growth.

I feel like I’ve gained an army.

With her by my side, I no longer fear losing to the 7th floor monsters.

“But we should still prepare thoroughly.”

Let’s gather more allies.

I’ll also stop forcibly extracting abilities through Arad immediately-who knows what side effects might arise.

If the Labyrinth’s malice is trying to break me this way.

Then I have no choice but to fight while maintaining my humanity to the end.

Let’s try it.

I’ll keep trying until it works-what else can I do?

This is simply my fate.