The Labyrinth and the Magic Book

In the faint morning light, the party packed their belongings and prepared to set out again.

Ruby looked at Mina, who stood quietly to one side with her hands bound by nearly invisible magic chains. Wrinkling her little nose, she asked, "Are we going back to the central city? With her?"

Lowell was unhurriedly checking his luggage. Without looking up, he said, "No. Our destination is Oysast, in the Holy City of Strahl region on the Northern Continent. It'll be the new headquarters of the Magic Association, and it'll come to be known as the city of magic. It's roughly along the way to defeating the Demon King."

He paused, glancing at the conspicuous pair of dark red horns on Mina's forehead, then at the silent Eisen beside him.

"Still, this demon's horns are a little too conspicuous." Lowell seemed to have a sudden idea and made a casual suggestion. "Come to think of it, your helmet has horns too, Eisen. They look about the same size, don't they? Why not lend it to her for now?"

Eisen silently glanced at Lowell, then slowly raised his hands, took off his old-fashioned helmet with its enormous curved horns, and held it out. His movements were decisive, without a trace of hesitation.

Lowell took the helmet, still warm from Eisen's body, and set it on Mina's head. It was a little too large and covered almost half her face, but her demon horns fit neatly inside its decorative horns. From the front, it really did look like a warrior's helmet in an unusual style. Then he took out a roomy gray traveling cloak and draped it over her, concealing the magic chains at her wrists.

Mina now looked rather strange: she had a dwarven warrior's horned helmet on her head, but wore plain cloth garments beneath it. She looked top-heavy, and the overall effect was mismatched. Still, her most conspicuous demonic features and her bound hands were finally hidden.

"It'll do, barely." Lowell stepped back twice and looked her over. "At least ordinary people won't see through it at a glance."

Mina seemed entirely indifferent to her new headgear. She simply stood there quietly, her purple eyes looking even more vacant in the helmet's shadow.

Several days later, following the map, the party entered a canyon filled with jagged rocks. According to their information, there was an ancient labyrinth here that had yet to be conquered.

The labyrinth's entrance was hidden behind a waterfall. At first, the passage was so narrow that it barely admitted a person, but after a few dozen steps, it opened up.

The interior was not completely dark. Moss that emitted a faint glow was embedded in the walls, and the air was damp and musty.

Himmel's party advanced cautiously. Himmel led with his sword, Heiter and Eisen guarded the flanks, and Ruby stayed in the middle. Frieren and Lowell remained at the rear, while Mina followed silently at Lowell's side, led by the magic chains.

The labyrinth's passages twisted and turned, with countless branches. Himmel, however, was full of enthusiasm and insisted on exploring them thoroughly.

After clearing out several groups of weak labyrinth monsters, they came to a relatively spacious hall. On one side was a staircase leading down into dark, unknown depths. At the other end, a winding passage led away, seemingly unexplored.

Himmel stood at the top of the stairs and looked down. Then he turned around, his trademark refreshing, slightly narcissistic smile on his face. Elegantly brushing the blue hair from his forehead, he made his decision:

"Ah, it looks like this is the way to the next floor. Good, but we need to double back first."

With his battle-axe over his shoulder, Eisen asked steadily, "Why? Isn't our objective the treasure that might be in the deepest part of the labyrinth? Wouldn't it be more efficient to explore downward directly?"

Himmel immediately struck an even more exaggerated pose, one hand on his hip and the other held high, as though making a declaration to an invisible audience. His eyes were bright and confident:

"Eisen! The true charm of a labyrinth lies in exploring every last part of it! Every shadow, every corner could hold an unexpected surprise or danger! That's the romance of adventure! How could a future legendary hero overlook any detail?"

Ruby watched with shining eyes and immediately applauded him. "Oh! So that's how it is! You're absolutely right, Himmel!... Ahem!" Realizing at once that she had lost her composure, she hurriedly cleared her throat, put her hands on her hips, and tried to look haughty. "No! I mean, Lady Ruby strongly agrees with that view! A spirit of exploration is essential!"

Heiter held his flask and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! That's right, that's right. That's the kind of guy he is! Once he sets his mind on 'perfect exploration,' there's no stopping him!"

At that moment, Mina, most of her face hidden by the helmet, slowly asked in her flat voice, which sounded slightly muffled inside it:

"Are humans... like this? Inefficient, but they call it... romance?"

Frieren, walking ahead of her, was looking down at some indistinct ancient markings on the wall. Without raising her head, she answered expressionlessly:

"Don't ask me. I'm an elf."

But as she spoke, she stopped, turned around, and walked toward Himmel. As she went, she said indifferently:

"Watch me put a stop to this pointless behavior of his..."

Just then, Himmel seemed to see through Frieren's thoughts. As she approached, he added in a seemingly casual tone:

"Besides, the unexplored branches on this floor might contain some... forgotten, one-of-a-kind notes on ancient everyday magic or how to make rare magic tools, don't you think?"

Before he had even finished speaking, the steadily walking Frieren's figure suddenly blurred.

In the next instant, she had appeared soundlessly at the entrance to the passage, her back to the others and one finger pointing ahead.

She turned her face halfway toward them, her emerald eyes glancing over in the dim light. There was a barely perceptible urgency in her voice:

"What are we waiting for? Let's get moving. Don't waste time."

Mina watched Frieren in silence, her eyes seeming to say, Weren't you going to stop his pointless behavior?

Lowell said, "...When did you learn teleportation magic? That clearly wasn't high-speed movement magic just now, was it?"

Eisen silently adjusted the position of his axe. Heiter's laughter caught in his throat and turned into a cough as he choked on his drink. Ruby blinked, looking from Himmel's triumphant smile to Frieren's seemingly calm yet eager figure ahead. Her little face was full of realization: So you can do that too.

Himmel elegantly dropped his pose and pointed his sword ahead, smiling brightly.

"It looks like we're in agreement. Let's go!"

The party set off again, this time heading straight for the branch that "might contain magic books." Frieren took the lead, walking considerably faster than usual and even passing Himmel. The labyrinth exploration seemed to have picked up speed in an instant because of an unexpected "lure."

The branch led deep into the labyrinth. The glowing moss on the walls was the only source of light, and the air was filled with dust and the smell of corroded metal. In the silence, only footsteps and breathing could be heard clearly.

Himmel walked at the front with his sword, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. Ruby followed close behind and to his side, the gem atop her staff giving off a steady glow that lit the way. Heiter and Eisen brought up the rear, while Frieren walked in the middle of the party, her gaze seemingly drifting over the patterns on the walls. Occasionally, she reached out to touch them lightly, as though sensing something. Lowell walked at the very back, leading the silent Mina, his expression as languid as ever.

"It seems no living thing has been through this passage for a long time," Eisen said, his deep voice echoing through the corridor. His heavy boots made almost no unnecessary noise as they struck the floor.

"Heh heh, maybe something good really was forgotten here!" Heiter took a swig of wine, his tone optimistic.

Suddenly, Himmel raised a hand, signaling the party to stop. At the end of the passage ahead was a larger circular stone hall. Two enormous statues stood in its center, covered in a thick layer of dust. They seemed to be sculptures of some kind of monster, crudely carved but menacing.

"Careful. They might be Gargoyles," Himmel said quietly, raising the tip of his sword slightly.

As though confirming his suspicion, the dust cascaded from the two statues the moment everyone stepped into the hall. Their stone shells cracked open, revealing pitch-black eyes gleaming red and sharp claws beneath! They let out low roars, beat their stone wings, and lunged at the party!

"Defend!" Himmel shouted, meeting one of them head-on.

The other Gargoyle cunningly circled around him and charged straight at Ruby and Frieren, who looked the "weakest."

"Don't even think about it!" Ruby reacted swiftly. Rather than attack, she struck her staff against the ground. "Arcane Barrier!"

A translucent magic shield appeared instantly in front of her and Frieren. The Gargoyle's claws raked fiercely across it, sending ripples over its surface, but failed to break through.

"Well done, Ruby!" Himmel caught sight of it during the fight and praised her sincerely. Taking advantage of the moment when the Gargoyle facing him was distracted by Ruby, he darted nimbly aside. His longsword traced a graceful arc and pierced the vulnerable joint at the base of its wing with precision!

"Roaaar!" The Gargoyle roared in pain, its movements faltering.

Almost at the same moment Himmel landed his blow, Ruby seized her chance. She dismissed the shield, pointed her staff at the wounded Gargoyle, and cried, "Take this! Arcane Missiles Volley!"

Several gleaming spheres of energy whistled past Himmel and struck the Gargoyle precisely in the head and chest, sending stone fragments flying and driving it staggering backward.

Himmel took the opportunity to finish it off with another stroke. He looked back at Ruby with an approving smile, his blue hair particularly dazzling in the faint light of the magic. "Beautiful cover and counterattack!"

Ruby's little face reddened, and she raised her chin with some pride. "Hmph~ Of course! Lady Ruby is very reliable!"

The other Gargoyle was also reduced to rubble beneath Eisen's battle-axe and Heiter's fists and feet, which carried holy power. The battle had been brief and efficient.

"Looks like this branch wasn't a waste of time. Where there are monsters, there's treasure," Heiter said cheerfully, brushing the dust off himself.

The party continued forward. A short corridor led from the back of the stone hall, and at its end stood a magnificent-looking treasure chest, edged in metal and set with several seemingly valuable gems.

"A treasure chest!" Ruby's eyes lit up, and she started forward.

"Wait, Ruby." Himmel cautiously stopped her and looked at Frieren. "Miss Frieren, take a look at this (see if there are any traps)..."

But Frieren's gaze was already fixed on the chest. A familiar gleam flickered in her emerald eyes, and the corners of her mouth rose uncontrollably. "Heh heh~ Treasure, treasure, here I come! Oho~"

She paid no attention to what Himmel was saying. As though drawn by invisible strings, she trotted straight toward the chest with light, almost skipping steps, her arms slightly spread and her eyes fixed on it.

"Ah... right, wait! Lady Frieren! There might be a trap!" Ruby hurriedly called out.

But it was already too late.

The moment Frieren's fingers touched the clasp—

"Click!"

The lid sprang open, becoming a huge mouth full of sharp teeth, and swallowed Frieren's entire upper body in the blink of an eye!

"It's dark! It's scary! Lowell! Help me!" Frieren's muffled, panicked cries for help immediately came from inside the Mimic, while her legs kicked helplessly outside.

Everyone: "..."

Ruby pressed one hand to her forehead, the corner of her mouth twitching. Her green eyes were full of helplessness and deep disillusionment as she muttered, "Lady Frieren... this is it?" At that moment, the image she had of the powerful elf mage seemed to shatter into pieces.

Lowell sighed, I knew this would happen written all over his face, and sauntered forward.

Just as he was about to act as usual, Frieren seemed to struggle even harder inside the chest, making the Mimic rock and bang into the wall beside it with a dull thud.

After the collision, Frieren's cries for help suddenly stopped.

Then came a strange rummaging sound from inside the Mimic, followed by Frieren's voice, calm again and even a little thoughtful. "...Hmm? That sound..."

Under everyone's puzzled gazes, Frieren seemed to adjust her position inside the chest. Her voice came through its wall, slightly muffled but clear. "Lowell, don't touch it yet."

Frieren's legs, sticking out beneath the Mimic, stopped kicking and instead lay sprawled on the ground in a rather undignified position. Her cheek seemed to be pressed tightly against the inside of the chest, and one hand was pressing hard against something on its inner wall.

"Here... the material and the echo aren't right. It's hollow," she muttered to herself.

Then her free hand reached out of the chest and felt along the wall it had just struck. She tapped it rhythmically several times with her knuckles.

"Thud, thud, thud... Found it, here. Click."

A faint mechanical sound came from inside the wall.

As everyone watched in surprise, the seemingly seamless wall beside the Mimic slowly slid open, revealing a hidden chamber! It was small, with a plain, old-looking wooden chest in the center.

Only then did Frieren let Lowell rescue her. Her silver hair was a mess and covered in slime, but she didn't care. She brushed the dust off herself and walked to the chamber. Looking at the real chest, she put her hands on her hips, a satisfied, slightly smug smile on her face.

"Heh heh~ Just as I thought. With such a conspicuous Mimic as a guard, the real treasure had to be hidden somewhere more secret."

She expertly checked the wooden chest and, after confirming there were no traps, opened it with ease. Inside were several ancient magic scrolls made from a special kind of beast hide, as well as a notebook with an indistinct cover and a faint fluctuation of magic.

Frieren picked up the notebook and leafed through it, her red eyes lighting up slightly. "Oh? A variant application of ancient barrier magic? Interesting."

Ruby watched Frieren's seamless progression from "danger" to "self-rescue" to "finding the real treasure," her mouth forming an O. Her earlier criticism was instantly forgotten, and her eyes filled with admiration. "L-Lady Frieren! Did you do it on purpose? To find the hidden door..."

Frieren put the notebook into her magic pocket and glanced at Ruby. "No, I just happened to get bitten again. Finding the hidden door was incidental," she said flatly.

But her slightly raised chin and cheerful tone clearly showed her pride: I got bitten, but I found something better.

Lowell held back a laugh and shook his head. He took out a handkerchief and handed it to her. "Wipe yourself off first. You're covered in slime."

Himmel and Heiter exchanged a smile as well. Eisen silently stepped forward and, without emotion, split the Mimic still playing dead in two with one swing of his axe.

"Let's go," Himmel said with a smile, putting away his longsword. "It looks like we've found quite a haul this time."

Frieren took the handkerchief and wiped her face haphazardly, then followed the party in a good mood, even humming a tuneless little song, a rare occurrence for her. Ruby followed at her side, the admiration in her eyes almost tangible.

Lowell looked at Frieren's back and smiled helplessly. Taking Mina's hand, he followed. Their exploration of the labyrinth continued toward its depths.