Rain 1

‘Go on! Eat it!’

As I was making honey, a large hornet slowly approached my petals.

‘Uh… just a moment…?’

When I saw it up close, it was bigger than I thought…?

Its head is as big as my flower!

In my confusion, the hornet’s proboscis extended.

That tongue was also impressively large.

Several dozen times larger than that of other insects!

‘No! That’s too much!’

Slurp!

‘Hwaa!’

The massive tongue dug into my weak spot.

And it began to messily lap up my nectar along with my pollen!

Slurp, slurp!

‘Ugh! Eww…!’

“Look at that, Rico seems to be really enjoying it.”

“Yes, her whole body is trembling with joy.”

“Yes. Thanks to her, I’ve learned something new.”

‘No way!’

There’s no way I’d enjoy this!

My body just reacted on its own!

Before I could explain to Master and Nis, the hornet resumed its assault.

‘Wait! You know I’m struggling because of the pollen’s will!’

Slurp, slurp, slurp!

‘Woo!’ 

…

Slurp, slurp, slurp!!!

Slurp, slurp, slurp!!!

‘Uuuuu…’

…

‘Huff… huff…’

Is it finally over…?

《No… I don’t like such roughness…! I prefer gentle touches!》

“Huhu, really? Then it’s my turn again?”

“I’ll join in.”

‘Eh…’

No, not again…!

It’s really too much this time…!

Rub, rub!

Pat, pat!

‘Ew!’

…

‘Hoo… hoo…’

Is it really over now…?

Master and Nis were gazing at me with warm smiles.

And the large hornet was lying on the ground, contentedly rubbing its belly with its six legs.

What the…?

Is it human…?

How did that small hornet become so strong?

《Master-nim!》

“Yes? Did you enjoy it that much? You’re even acting cute.”

‘Eh!’

Oh no!

I’m so out of it because of that giant hornet!

《That’s true! This hornet was really weak a few months ago!》

“Hmmm?”

“Oh?”

Master and Nis both sparkled with interest.

《How did it become so strong?》

“Well… shall we take a look?”

Huh?

Take a look?

Nis began to lift her dress and approach the hornet.

《Wait! No dissection!》

“Why not? Such a valuable specimen is worth studying…”

《No! This one will be our strongest warrior!》

The sound of roots scraping the ground was more urgent than usual.

Nis sighed regretfully.

We can’t kill this talent, or rather, this prodigy, by dissecting it!

Master also gazed at the hornet with interest.

The hornet seemed to notice the gaze and slightly folded its wings as if greeting.

“Hmmm… Let’s take a closer look.”

Master approached the hornet.

If it were any other insect, it would tremble before the Absolute, but this one was surprisingly calm.

In fact, it seemed to greet Master by folding its wings.

“It’s female.”

‘Good…’

A sigh of relief escaped.

It’s female, really lucky!

If it were male and that rough…

Horrible!

Master’s gaze sharpened.

“Oh? I sense the magic of the Solhan Pass Guardians.”

《Huh?》

“It seems this one has eaten them.”

My petals trembled with excitement.

《What’s Solhan Pass?》

“It’s a massive ice gorge surrounding Shia Kalt.”

Nis elegantly explained.

“It’s like our fence.”

My petals widened in surprise.

So even that massive gorge is Master’s territory?

Amazing…!

‘Wow! Landlord! I love you!’

The large hornet was still lying on the ground, happily fluttering its wings.

Such a powerful being becoming a member of our insect army!

《I want to name it!》

The sound of roots scraping the ground was excited.

“What name would be good?”

Nis smiled as if amused.

“Hmm, Glacia.”

At Master’s word, everyone turned.

The hornet’s compound eyes also sparkled.

《Wow! Perfect!》

Glacia fluttered its wings in delight.

Then-

Flutter, flutter!

A small butterfly began to frantically circle around my petals.

Its wingbeats were more urgent than usual.

‘Huh? Do you want a name too?’

***

Finally, we arrived.

As we entered the village entrance, the long journey finally came to an end.

The village was livelier than expected.

Children running in the alleys, merchants shouting their wares.

The atmosphere was peaceful.

“Perhaps because the hero and saint visited?”

Adrian scratched his chin and said.

The potion pouch in his hand rattled.

“It seems so. They say the villages they visit have a different atmosphere.”

Hawin nodded.

That rumor…

That’s why we came here.

To get stronger.

A sigh escaped.

The stamina spent crossing Solhan Pass hit us all at once.

Especially the battle with the Frost Wolf was tough.

Our current strength wasn’t enough.

“We need to rest. Let’s find an inn first.”

Moonlight Rest Inn.

The largest inn in the village.

As the door opened, warm air rushed in.

Our frozen bodies slowly thawed.

“Welcome~”

A hearty landlady welcomed us.

The restaurant smelled of hearty meals.

It had been a while since we’d had a proper meal.

“Let’s have a meal too.”

“Yes, please.”

As we sat down, my gaze involuntarily turned to a corner.

A man with a scruffy beard was drinking alone.

His appearance seemed ordinary, but his eyes were sharp.

He wore a robe, likely a magician.

“That person…” Hawin whispered.

“He’s Adrian, the magician of the A-rank adventurer party ‘Indomitable Will’.”

My heart raced.

Up to this point, we’d heard all the rumors.

The flower that the saint and hero met.

And the ‘Indomitable Will’ party that appeared in those rumors.

Was it coincidence? Or fate?

“Let’s go.”

I swallowed hard and approached Adrian’s table.

“Excuse me. May I ask about the rumored… flower?”

Adrian placed his cup down and looked at us with sharp eyes.

The gaze made me tense.

“Oh… the rumor has spread that far already?”

“Yes, quite far.”

I answered while sweating.

Will he turn us down like this?

Adrian sighed and continued.

“Our party and another party met it directly, but I can’t tell you the details.”

My heart sank-

“What about an S-grade Mana Awakening Potion?”

Adrian quickly interjected.

His hand held a glowing blue potion.

Our last trump card.

Adrian’s eyes sparkled.

We can’t back down now.

If we miss this chance, coming here would be meaningless.

“… Can you keep the secret?”

We all nodded.

Adrian looked around and lowered his voice.

“I can’t say much. But this much…”

I leaned in to catch Adrian’s words.

Each word was precious.

“I’ve walked the path of magic for 60 years. I never believed in gods. But…”

Adrian’s voice trembled.

60 years… nearly three times my age.

Such a great magician trembling like this.

“After eating the flower’s nectar… I gained some divine power. I didn’t understand it at first, but it became clear over time. It’s inexplicable.”

My eyes widened.

Magic and divine power are opposites.

A magician gaining divine power?

It was impossible.

“Even more surprising was the change in Marianne, the former priestess, the saint, and the hero. Their divine power increased explosively.”

Adrian emptied his cup and continued.

“It seems especially effective for those who believe in the God of Light.”

I glanced at my companions.

Alchemist Adrian, archer Hawin.

None of us were priests.

‘Then… even if we meet the flower, the effect won’t be great.’

But it was too late.

We nearly died three times crossing Solhan Pass.

We couldn’t turn back.

“Still…”

I clenched my fists.

Even a small effect would be good.

If we can get even a bit stronger…

“We’ll go meet it.”

Adrian and Hawin nodded.

We already knew.

Our current strength was insufficient.

We had to get stronger.

“Then…”

Adrian raised his empty cup.

“Good luck to you. And…”

He looked at us with meaningful eyes.

“Come back alive.”

The words sent chills down my spine.

Even an A-rank adventurer party would be so cautious.

Can we handle it?

But our resolve was set.

We came here ready to die.

“Thank you.”

…

Early morning.

The endless snow-capped Shia Kalt Mountains stretched before us.

As we took our first step-

“Look!”

Hawin shouted.

We turned to see a knight staggering down.

His clothes were bloodstained.

“Help… please…”

The knight murmured and collapsed.

Adrian quickly checked his condition.

“He’s seriously injured.”

Adrian carefully examined the knight.

His body was covered in wounds, and he showed signs of hypothermia.

“We need to use a high-grade life recovery potion.”

Adrian pulled out a red-glowing vial.

One of the potions we made last night.

Even after using the first vial, the knight’s condition was unstable, so we used a second one.

“Cough…!”

Color returned to the knight’s face.

He barely opened his eyes.

“Thank… you.”

“No need. But what happened?”

“Help…!”

The knight sat up urgently.

Despite the pain, he seemed indifferent.

“The entrance of the labyrinth… my comrade…”

Hawin and I exchanged glances.

We originally planned to investigate the entire mountain range.

Since the flower’s location was unclear.

But now…

Our destination was clear.

And it was by chance…

“Understood. We’ll help.”

I nodded.

As we moved quickly, the knight introduced himself.

“I’m Claus of the Genes Kingdom’s 2nd Knight Order.”

And he began to tell what happened in the labyrinth.

Each word weighed heavily on my feet.

“The flower… it wasn’t just a flower. It was the king of insects.”

Claus’s voice trembled.

“40 elite knights… in an instant…”

He paused, then continued.

“Hundreds of insects moved with perfect organization. And the poison from the flower… flesh rotting away…”

Adrian looked at me.

His eyes showed wavering.

What we heard yesterday and this were too different.

We heard it was a holy flower that strengthens divine power.

But this was like… a disaster.

Hawin’s grip on his bow tightened.

His face also showed the same thoughts.

“I and Sir Edgar were the only survivors. But now Sir Edgar is at the labyrinth entrance with a giant hornet…”

A chill ran down my spine.

What we sought.

Was it not a blessing but fear?

But we couldn’t turn back.

Perhaps the greater the danger, the more power we could gain.

As I thought this, Adrian and Hawin’s eyes changed.

They seemed to have the same thought.

“We have twelve potions. It’s enough.”

Adrian checked his pockets.

His voice no longer held hesitation.

Finally, we arrived at the labyrinth entrance.

But only an eerie silence filled the air.

Battle scars were everywhere.

Frozen rocks, deep gashes, and bloodstains scattered around.

“Sir Edgar…!”

Claus called out, looking around, but there was no answer.

Only the cold wind replied.

Adrian and Hawin’s expressions grew more tense.

Yet, our journey, already begun, couldn’t be reversed. The greater the danger, the more potential for gain.

The labyrinth entrance yawned like an abyss.