[Ding! Couronne Dola has joined the Chat Group!]
[Ding! Marcille Donato has joined the Chat Group!]
"Hmm?"
Roused by the commotion in the group chat, Rei Ao stirred from his tender milieu. Getting up, he slipped away from Mana, who woke at the sa ti. She rely shifted slightly in response to the movent below, then looked at him with sultry eyes.
"Darling, it appears there are new mbers in the chat."
"Yes, I saw."
Rei Ao didn't hasten to greet them. First, he brought the still-sleeping Shinomiya Ayase and Tsugumi into the subgroup.
[Ding! You have chosen to invite Tsugumi and Shinomiya Ayase to the Trade Chat Group's subgroup!]
Only then did he open the main chat to check the two newcors' info. Just by looking at their nas, he made so guesses:
[Na]: Couronne Dola
[Level]: 0
[Ability]: None
[Na]: Marcille Donato
[Level]: 13
[Ability]: "Half-Elf," "Black Magic," "Elven Magic"
[Possession]: "Magic Staff"
If his suspicions were correct, Couronne Dola might be from No Ga No Life. And Marcille, who could use elven and black magic, might hail from Delicious in Dungeon (Dungeon shi) or a similar fantasy series. That was his hypothesis based on their nas and basic stats, anyway.
He was about to post in the chat group when he noticed Mana quietly slipping downward. Softly nestling her hair aside, she whispered:
"Darling, just focus on your business—I'll help tidy things up."
With that, she sank lower.
"… …"
She called it "tidying," but really it was an irresistible seduction. Rei Ao did not protest. He simply enjoyed the lightning sensation and reached out to squeeze the "large pillow" beneath. Then he opened the chat:
Rei Ao: "@Couronne Dola, @Marcille, welco to the Trade Chat Group."
…
Another World…
A well-known labyrinth stood in this world—a living dungeon rumored to be the result of ancient magic civilization (or a powerful sorcerer).
It continually regenerated and reshaped itself. Not just a physical structure, it behaved like a magical creature: generating monsters, traps, and treasures to lure in adventurers.
Despite its lethal dangers, people poured in seeking the fabled "Golden Country" of an ancient kingdom said to lie deep inside.
Supposedly, it contained limitless wealth and the secret of eternal life, attracting countless explorers—many of whom perished or turned into monsters themselves.
The labyrinth teed with all sorts of monsters, including mighty dragons. Ordinarily, adventurers wouldn't expect to et such a fearso beast in the shallower levels, but fate had other plans for one party, who found themselves face-to-face with a Fire Dragon!
"Run!"
Laios, clad in knightly armor, shouted. The sudden appearance of a Fire Dragon sent them into a frenzy.
Their team boasted varied talents: him as leader and warrior; a half-elf spellcaster nad Marcille; a half dwarf thief, Chilchuck, skilled in disarming traps and locks; Laios's younger sister, Falin, versed in exorcism magic; a dwarven bow-fighter nad Namari; and an eastern-style swordsman, the tall Shuro.
Yet even such a diverse group, after extended labyrinth exploration, had neither the reserves nor equipnt to face a Fire Dragon.
"Rooaaar!!!"
The Fire Dragon, burning crimson, roared and spewed flas like a torrent of molten lava.
"Get down!"
Laios yelled. The party mbers dived or sought cover. Marcille attempted water-elent magic to extinguish the flas and clear a path—but the Fire Dragon lunged at the unguarded Falin. Marcille panicked.
"Falin!"
She tried casting again, even though her mana was nearly depleted and forcing a spell could badly injure her. Just then:
[Ding! Welco to the Trade Chat Group!]
A blink of confusion broke her concentration. She watched helplessly as the Dragon's jaws closed around Falin.
"Falin!!!"
Laios's anguished roar echoed. Marcille's mind went blank.
"Retreat! Everyone, fall back!"
Chilchuck's shout reverberated in the corridor. He lobbed three smoke bombs, filling the tunnel with purple fog. Frozen in shock, Marcille felt soone yank her by the collar.
"My sister!"
Laios's sword clattered on the ground. He struggled to charge into the smoke, but Namari grabbed him:
"Roooaaar!!!"
Dragonfire dislodged stalactites from the ceiling, spearing the ground where they had just stood.
"Left corridor, thirty ters, then a fork!"
Chilchuck's voice sounded hoarse from inhaling smoke. Coughing and staggering, Marcille and the others fled, heat pursuing them like a living thing. Finally, they saw daylight at the labyrinth's exit. Marcille collapsed, chest burning with the taste of blood.
"Cough… cough!!!"
She heaved as they tumbled out. Shuro's face was grim, clutching his broken sword hilt.
"A fully-grown (adult) Fire Dragon…that level's way beyond us."
His voice shook with frustration.
"And we've used so many resources in the labyrinth, we're out of strength."
Namari stared hollowly at her axe's lted remains.
"We need to go back."
Laios's words made them all turn. His brows, half-scorched and face blistered, shone with a fierce desperation.
"Right now, imdiately! Falin might still be alive. Dragons take ti to digest—"
"Are you insane?!"
Shuro seized Laios by the collar, yanking him up.
"My blade got destroyed by its scales; Mari's axe is molten slag. Chilchack's exhausted. Marcille's mana is gone. What do we have left to fight it?!"
He glared at Laios.
"I…"
Laios's eyes went vacant. Shuro's points were all too true. They had no way to face that Fire Dragon without rest and new equipnt.
"I'm leaving the party."
" too."
Before he could talk about regrouping, Namari and Shuro both chose to leave. They had their own plans—one unwilling to gamble further, one seeking another path to find Falin. No one had any right to stop them. Once their footsteps faded among the forest, Marcille broke into sobs.
"Falin…"
She was consud by regret. If only she hadn't hesitated, she might've cast a spell to save Falin. She couldn't help loathing herself, even though she likely couldn't have changed a thing in that mont, given her depleted mana.
~~~
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