Eve
by Afuhfuihgs
It didn’t work on the Lizardmen, but thanks to the guinea pig’s experience, we broke through the dwarves on the 5th floor and the frost giants on the 6th floor relatively easily, and arrived on the 7th floor. If it weren’t for the guinea pig, we wouldn’t have been able to arrive this early. Raellan and Ellie must have known that too, so they started treating him like a ‘companion’.
The first thing we did when we arrived on the 7th floor was prepare for camp. It was the guinea pig’s suggestion. We had lost our sense of time because the day and night, weather, and seasons kept changing on each floor, and it was only then that we realized a day had passed.
Everyone is used to forced marches, but since mental fatigue has a big impact on magic for wizards, we decided to rest in order to recover our depleted mental strength. Fortunately, the 7th floor was at night when we arrived.
“The 7th floor is ruled by the Naga race. There are soldiers with swords and hammers, but the most tricky thing is the Naga race’s unique magic.”
Sitting near the adventure campfire, eating the warm steak and pasta that I took out of the space warehouse, the guinea pig began to explain about the 7th floor.
“Still, with Ross’s space ability, it will be easier than other floors. You can ignore the Nagas who shoot magic from afar and move to the pillar with space magic.”
“What’s inside the pillar?”
At Raellan’s question, the guinea pig, who was twirling pasta noodles with a fork, answered.
“Last time, something like a structure was blocking the stairs. Fortunately, I was able to break through it with magic, but if they have a learning effect like the Lizardmen, something might have changed.”
While pouring Ellie some wine that was good to eat with, I praised the guinea pig without missing the timing.
“Still, we were able to come up quickly thanks to the guinea pig.”
“That’s the contract. When you arrive on the 6th floor of the labyrinth, don’t forget to keep your promise.”
With those words, we didn’t talk anymore. Raellan said he would check the terminal connected to the Demon King and moved away from us for a while, and the guinea pig, who had emptied the food neatly, lay down in the tent right away as if he had no concept of digestion.
Ellie helped me clean up. It was just gathering the used dishes and packaging containers in one place, but it’s human nature to feel grateful just for lending a hand. I felt grateful for Ellie’s suggestion to scout the area nearby to help with digestion, so there was no reason for me to refuse. There’s also something I want to ask.
I could hear the sound of insects chirping and a river flowing in the distance. Thanks to the full moon in the sky, the road wasn’t dark even without light. While we were walking around silently, Ellie, who was watching the movement of my hand, suddenly grabbed my hand at the right timing.
“It’s dark, so I think I’ll feel more comfortable if I hold your hand.”
I reflexively tried to pull my hand away at the sight of Ellie smiling softly, but I stared blankly at Ellie. I frowned slightly at the sight of Ellie giving strength to the hand we were holding under the moonlight.
“Really?”
“…Huh?”
“Does this really make you feel comfortable?”
At my question, Ellie distorted her lips and took a step closer to me. In that moment, the faintly felt strawberry scent mixed with my breath.
“Yeah, it’s very comfortable.”
I wanted to refute those words right away, but I glanced at the hand we were holding and nodded as if I understood.
“If it makes you comfortable, do it.”
“…”
Was it an unexpected answer? Ellie, who was pursing her lips, smiled, turned her body, and started walking again. As we were walking in step, Ellie, who was clenching her lips and thinking, brought up something from the past.
“Do you remember? When you kissed me before.”
It’s a question without context. I was even more convinced by Ellie’s appearance of bringing up a conversation topic that we both considered taboo without any hesitation. So I didn’t avoid it or distance myself as usual.
“Of course I remember. I can show you again if you want.”
I could feel a slight force in the hand we were holding. I glanced at Ellie, who was groaning at my answer. For a moment, I almost pulled my hand away at the sight of her blushing slightly and lowering her gaze as if she was embarrassed. Fortunately, Ellie didn’t notice.
“Do you know what kind of experience I had when I returned home from Paradise?”
I shook my head as I stepped on the moist soil.
“I don’t know. But I can predict that Roel was there.”
“Why? Because I’m a character who loves Roel?
At those words, I stopped walking. Ellie, who had also stopped walking, continued speaking while looking ahead without turning her body to me.
“That’s right, of course Roel-oppa was there. But you were there too. I’m greedy. I can’t be satisfied with just one person like Roel-oppa. Just like it’s not a sin for a man to have a lot of love, isn’t it okay for a woman to have two people she loves? It might be even better if they’re brothers with the same blood.”
Ellie, who was looking at me while saying that, was wearing a beautiful smile. My body reacted violently to the appearance of a shy girl confessing her true feelings under the moonlight. However, my reason thoroughly pushed away the body’s reaction and maintained reason.
“I love Luna. No, I only love Luna.”
“I know, but Luna won’t refuse me if you ask her to.”
She probably won’t. She’s someone who thinks about my happiness more than her own. So I have to do that too. Because I don’t want Luna to force herself to smile. This time, I took a step closer to Ellie. I looked straight into Ellie’s eyes, who was looking up at me slightly, and said.
“Do you want to repeat the same mistake?”
“I like to solve problems that I got wrong until I get the right answer.”
I smiled at Ellie’s brazen words.
“So, did you find the right answer?”
“Yeah, I don’t think I can give you up after all.”
I smiled softly at Ellie’s appearance of saying that while looking straight into my eyes. And I slowly tilted my head, slowly closed my eyes, and moved closer to Ellie’s lips.
Something soft touched my lips. It’s not moist, but it’s a squishy piece of flesh. My prediction was correct. No matter how quick-witted Ellie is, she seems to be embarrassed by my extreme behavior. I opened my eyes slightly and smiled at Ellie’s appearance of covering her lips with the back of her hand.
I asked Ellie, whose eyes were shaking with embarrassment.
“Ellie, why are you lying?”
“…What?”
“Why are you trying to make me hate you on purpose?”
Ellie twisted one corner of her mouth and scoffed as if she had heard something ridiculous. But that theatrical reaction only strengthens my guess.
“Do you want me to stay away from you?”
I caught a glimpse of Ellie biting her lip for a moment. Ellie answered with eyes that were suppressing the emotions that were rising up as she pursed her lips.
“…No, why would I do that? I was just embarrassed because you were doing it so suddenly, so I stopped you. I’m the type to lead, not the type to be led. I just want to kiss when I want to.”
A sweet whisper came from one corner of my heart that if I stimulated Ellie’s pride now, she would definitely kiss me as if to show me. But I didn’t do that. Because Ellie wasn’t Luna.
I pulled out the hand we were holding. When the warmth that was touching disappeared, I felt something like emptiness at my fingertips. I clenched my fist for no reason and said.
“I won’t hate you. If you act burdensome, I’ll slip away, and if you come close, I’ll distance myself that much… but I’ll eventually return to your side.”
“…”
“Because you’re always Ellie to me.”
The last words Ellie said while looking straight at me with eyes that resembled obsidian were these.
“…That’s right, I’m Ellie. The kind of person who always disappoints you, makes you have a hard time, and torments you. So you should be prepared too. Don’t forget how terrible I am.”
***
As planned by the guinea pig, we were able to quickly arrive at the pillar leading to the 8th floor through space magic. However, inside the pillar, barriers were installed on each staircase, and Naga soldiers were blocking the stairs. While my companions were blocking the Naga wizards who were following behind, I broke through the barriers with my own strength.
A giant shadow spear pierced through the barrier and created a path, and countless blades shredded all the Naga soldiers. Before the Naga wizards arrived at the pillar, we were finally able to arrive on the 8th floor. I opened the door and got out of the pillar, and I flinched in embarrassment at the scenery that appeared before my eyes.
“…What, what is it? This was definitely a floor where high elf civilization existed?”
As the guinea pig muttered in embarrassment, looking around, Raellan’s eyes lit up as he looked at the city in front of him.
“It’s unfamiliar, but it’s a place that remains in my memory. This is… similar to the new city where Jin Shi’an lived.”
“Wait, that means….”
Ellie trailed off as if she had remembered something. Raellan smiled bitterly and turned his gaze to me.
“I thought I would be waiting on the 10th floor, but I didn’t know I would meet you already.”
The one who was ruling the 8th floor was not an elf, but the leader of the Chaos Church.
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