True Consciousness (6)

On the way back after entrusting Jirnier with my Armor for repairs.

“Ah! Mr. Balkan!”

“Goo…”

Balkan encountered Rubia, a blonde-haired, bun-headed noble lady, and Nuer, a Dark Elf mage.

“Have you finished processing the Black Dragon byproduct?”

When asked about the task they were assigned, Nuer nodded.

“Blacksmiths from all sorts of guilds and clans were lining up to buy it first. If you make an Artifact from the byproduct of a 32nd floor Monster, it’ll be an absurd item.”

“I’ve never seen such a passionate auction, I tell you! And someone raised the bid by 1.5 times the final price and bought it!”

“Even then, there were people who tried to chase after them, so it was quite something.”

Balkan was slightly surprised by Rubia and Nuer’s excitement, whether it was because of the profit earned from selling the byproduct or the heat of the auction.

The auction price for the Black Dragon byproduct would have already been considerable, but to raise it by half again.

A spending spree that even a wealthy person wouldn’t easily do.

Or an act filled with the determination to get their hands on the Black Dragon byproduct no matter what.

“So, who bid on it?”

“An employee from Jirnier’s Weaponry. He was trembling, saying he’d be fired if he didn’t manage to bid on it.”

“As expected of a blacksmith from the Depths! An incredible determination to create powerful weaponry…! Just how amazing of a weapon are they trying to make…! Even if I can’t buy it, I want to see it with my own eyes…”

“…”

Balkan simply scratched the back of his neck.

Under Jirnier’s goal of hoping that the weapons he made with his own hands would reach the end of the Labyrinth… and thanks to a bit of charm.

He had been receiving unilateral and enormous weapon support from a blacksmith envied by others.

Even if not this time, the person who would someday use the weapon made from that Black Dragon byproduct…

‘No, I have a lot of money now, I can’t be a freeloader.’

‘I’m joining the First Princess’s noble challenge towards the Labyrinth, so I should receive that much support.’

Shaking off the distracting thoughts that echoed in his head like the temptations of an angel and a demon, Balkan looked at his two party members.

“So, how much did it go for?”

“190 gold coins. Not even a Soulstone, and just for the tail and feet, it’s this much. It’s absurd.”

Nuer chuckled, saying it was indeed a Monster from the Depths.

Balkan also would have been stunned for dozens of minutes if it weren’t for the bounty he received for capturing Ignorion.

“Jubel said she’s graduating from being an Explorer and going to save money.”

“You met Jubel?”

“Just now. It seems she safely brought the injured back. She was still with your slave.”

“Perfect timing, I had something to talk about.”

“Talk about?”

Balkan nodded at Nuer’s question.

‘I’m the only one who mentioned the Omen Phenomenon of the Labyrinth, and that I’m going to perform the Pacification Ritual with the temple forces.’

He hadn’t yet obtained his party members’ permission.

Explorer Association reception room.

There were five party members in the room they were guided to for upper-tier Explorer parties.

Tanker Rubia. Swordsman Jubel. Mage Nuer. Supporter Denji.

And axe warrior and party leader Balkan.

Hitolis, who was originally the party’s priest, was half out of the party due to the heavy workload of the clergy, so it was right to consider these five as the current fixed party members.

“An Omen, and a Pacification Ritual…”

Jubel muttered lowly after hearing the story from the Labyrinth Entrance conference room.

“Smells like a load of crap.”

“It’ll be difficult.”

“Is it just going to be difficult? It’ll be damn difficult. Since I’m with you, I can get a sense of how much just by hearing your voice.”

Balkan chuckled at Jubel’s response.

There were more rough incidents than when they were the Joey Hogs party.

The explored floors also rose rapidly.

As Jubel said, this Omen was just as dangerous.

If things went wrong, the surface would become a Monster field.

The clergy’s Pacification Ritual to deploy the Holy Barrier to minimize the damage would be an arduous march that would involve fighting numerous Monsters.

He planned to cooperate with the clergy forces, including Celsia, and seek help from the 15th floor Eden Explorers.

If his party members joined in, it would be a great help mentally and in terms of teamwork.

“I won’t force you to participate. If you wish, you can leave Labyrinth City until the Omen Phenomenon subsides.”

These people were no longer simply replaceable party members.

Reliable comrades.

He didn’t want to create a situation where those people would be forced to take risks against their will.

“…I was honestly planning to go on a trip and rest after this Labyrinth run. To see the blue sea or the beautiful scenery outside Labyrinth City, and do some thrilling outdoor exposure. I’ve made a lot of money, so I can live like a nouveau riche without worrying about money anymore.”

Jubel put her feet on the table and swayed back and forth.

“I’ve earned enough money to live on for the rest of my life, even if I don’t have honor or power. I’ve also gained the power to overcome most unreasonable things. It’s the dream of most Explorers. I’m not even a thirty-year-old aunty yet, and I’ve already achieved it all.”

That was right.

The experience, power, and money gained as a party member of a prize-winning Explorer.

Most of our party members had obtained what most Explorers desired.

Unlike Rubia, who lived for noblesse oblige, or Nuer, who wanted to eliminate Demon Worshipers as a shadow of the Explorer Association.

For an Explorer like Jubel, who just lived life as it came, there was no longer any reason to take the risks of the Labyrinth.

“But then, what’s the fun in living?”

However, the mindset of a dopamine-addicted cow beastman who climaxes while milking in a crowded place was slightly different from ordinary Explorers.

“Huh? What’s the fun in living, our leader.”

Thud.

Jubel dropped her swaying legs and glared at the party leader.

“You made me like this. You showed the smiles of people to a loafer whose greatest happiness was just milking in a tavern.”

The ordinary Explorer had changed.

“You taught me the value of rescuing Explorers in danger and helping them. You taught me the pleasure of a snot-nosed kid thanking me and putting a flower headband on me.”

Memories gained from the journey so far.

Experiences of rescuing Explorers in danger, such as Aldente, Fusillini, and Germi.

The memory of a girl who had escaped death smiling and handing over a headband.

“You taught me all that, and now you’re telling me to drop out because it might be dangerous?”

Jubel scoffed and declared.

“I can’t do that. I’ll follow you even if you refuse.”

Immediately after Jubel’s declaration, the other party members’ declarations followed.

“The Labyrinth’s Omen is clearly a disaster for Labyrinth City. Rescuing powerless citizens from disaster damage is the noble mission of a noble! I, Rubia Steel! In the name of Grandma Mango Steel! In the name of my noble obligation as a noble! I will definitely protect this city!”

Rubia shook her blonde bun hair and shouted.

“Goo… I’m just an Explorer Association employee… Um… Well, if I do a good job, our leader will give me a Goo goo gaa gaa reward…”

The regressed Dark Elf Nuer trembled and looked at the party leader.

“A slave can’t be absent from where her master goes.”

Denji answered with a smile that seemed to ask what was obvious, as if saying she would be with him forever.

“…Ha.”

Balkan chuckled as he looked at them and spread his arms wide.

Seriously, he had good comrades.

“Everyone, come here. I really want to show you affection.”

How could he not give a hug to comrades who voluntarily risked danger with a noble golden spirit?

Bang!

Fwoosh!

Before he could finish speaking, Denji, Jubel, and Rubia, the three vanguards, rushed in headfirst, and Nuer silently prepared binding magic, wrapping himself and the party leader.

The hug with the party members, which became much stickier than expected, ended about 30 minutes later.

In front of the cozy winter night inn door.

“Oh… You’re, you’re back…?”

“Yes. I’m back.”

“…”

Unlike Balkan, who answered calmly and hugged Diana.

Denji, who had lipstick marks and moist, sticky liquid on various parts of her body, was silent at Diana’s question.

Even though her master had briefly allowed it, it was the price she paid for desperately protecting her master from the lewd party members who tried to leave a barrage of kisses and a wet pussy stamp with genuine juices.

The master’s body, wearing only short sleeves after taking off his Armor, was nothing short of a weapon to a creature called a female.

A body that had reached the pinnacle as a male, breaking down even sane reason and plunging insane females even further into hell.

‘If I had allowed even a little more hugging, a 5p orgy might have broken out…’

Later, maybe, but such a thing had to be avoided in a situation where they were leaving on a journey at noon tomorrow.

“Balkan. I, I have something to tell you…”

“Yes?”

“That…”

Diana, who had finished her I’m back hug with Balkan, looked at Balkan with an expression filled with a little worry and an overwhelming joy.

And, she carefully showed the object she was holding in her hand.

The moment Balkan saw it, he froze blankly.

The object, which had the unique light of a Relic, had a very similar appearance to ‘that’ in the modern era.

“At once, it happened…♡”

The pregnancy test with two red lines was announcing the birth of a new life.