The next morning, Benny showed up at the meeting place in the square with a sulky face.
“Hey! Jonah! You seriously aren’t going to learn the 1/16 scale Dragon Acid… are you?”
Of course, I went from grumbling to suddenly being startled as I turned to Karen who was standing next to me.
With her tall stature, tired expression, and dark circles under her eyes—wearing Inquisitor clothing no less—she gave off a commanding presence.
Benny, on high alert, opened her mouth in a haughty manner like an angry cat.
“Who are you? What is an Inquisitor doing in our party?”
“Good day. It’s been a few weeks since we last met at the Cradle Association.”
Karen didn’t pay Benny’s attitude any mind. I recall hearing that Inquisitors often draw suspicion.
Benny tilted her head, then her eyes widened in the shape of a heart.
“Oh! That Inquisitor? The one on Jonah’s side?”
“Thank you for remembering me.”
Karen nodded politely. With Benny having acknowledged her, she returned to her usual self and continued.
“So, why is an ally like you here?”
“Oh, I’ll explain. But not here, in the labyrinth.”
With that, she grabbed Benny’s hand and pulled her towards the labyrinth.
*
Bantering back and forth.
We shrugged among the cubic buildings at the entrance of the third floor.
“… That’s how it is.”
“No way, you had trouble with regular mobs and now you’re poking at a disaster?”
“Hey! When did I say I was poking at a disaster? I just wanted to check the status!”
“Do you know the location?”
“Not a clue! Hey, Karen, do you know?”
“I don’t know either.”
Benny looked at Karen and me as if we were pitiful. I grinned at her.
“Benny, no matter what’s in the labyrinth or how severe the seal, it’s all in the hands of the Goddess of Love, right?”
“Uh, true? She’s too busy managing the labyrinth to exert influence outside.”
“So, can’t we just ask the Goddess directly?”
“… What did you think I just said? That’s exactly what we can’t do!”
“Haah. Benny… Vanitas Benibeni. My foolish mage.”
“W-What’s with the sudden statement? And Jonah, you’re not a mage!”
“Forget about that! Think about it. Who am I?”
“Jonah.”
“Not my name, my title… you know, something like that.”
“Adventurer?”
“No! Not that! Hint: Religion!”
“A fraud claiming to be the World Tree’s agent?”
“I’m not a fraud! I’ve never directly called myself an agent! I just didn’t correct the misunderstanding!”
Benny shook her head vehemently and sighed.
“Aren’t they the same thing?”
“No, they’re not. And since you really seem clueless, I have to say it myself. Ahem.”
Striking a pose, I lightly cleared my throat. Then, I pulled out the portable Goddess statue from my pocket and shouted.
“I am the one receiving the love of the Goddess of Love! This magical conch… no, the cuddly Goddess will tell me the answer!”
“… Does that change the meaning when you fix it like that?!”
Benny looked aghast at the blasphemous statement while glancing nervously at Karen. However, our Inquisitor was looking up at the Goddess statue with a reverent expression.
The statue itself seemed to be saying, “Trust in me,” posing with its chest puffed out.
Only then did Benny’s eyes widen in awe.
“Oh! Jonah, you’re something like a saint!”
“Exactly! I’m that saintly person!”
I followed up by tapping the Goddess statue’s behind.
“If there’s something you don’t know, you can ask then! It seems simple communication is possible in the labyrinth, albeit with some limitations on revelations! Of course, both the Goddess and I need to brace ourselves for significant miracles.”
“Your tone makes it sound like you’ve experienced a revelation before?”
“Well, I have actually. When I went to save Benny, I received a revelation while fleeing and turned back! The normalization of space isn’t just a force in the divine object, but a miracle granted by the Goddess at that moment.”
“Is that so?! I was destined to die originally?!”
“Hey. Fate doesn’t exist. Only circumstances do. And circumstances can be overcome.”
I decided to handle all possible setups… the situations that could lead to an incident I’d initiated. In fact, I had already stopped some of them.
For me, destiny was not something grand. It’s a concept that shouldn’t be monumental.
I glanced at Benny, who still looked stunned, and Karen, who was infinitely supportive of whatever I did. I also took a look at Lydia, who seemed to just be following along without any thoughts.
“So, you know, don’t worry about the small stuff. Most importantly, I’m not saying we’ll go right now; I just think we should deal with the monsters first and check the results of our recent training.”
“We’ve only trained one day. What are you going to do if you still struggle?”
“Well, then… I’ll just stick closely to you or Benny.”
“Jonah, I’ll protect you! Mages are weak in close combat. Ahem.”
After listening quietly to our conversation, Lydia chimed in. She seemed adamant about not suggesting we go back, prompting Benny to sigh deeply and nod.
“Ugh. Alright, fine. Let’s try it your way, Jonah. But just in case, don’t head out in front when we get near the seal, got it?”
“Yes. Don’t worry about me.”
With the intent to be trusted, I puffed my chest out like the Goddess statue, but for some reason, Benny’s sigh deepened.
Ignoring that, I looked up at the sky.
The tall clock tower visible in the distance. The World Tree on the first floor, the heartbeat sound on the second floor—this clock tower is the center of the third floor.
Connecting to the bottom of the moat I had half given up on, of the castle. Naturally, inside, the God of Mechanical Devices’ spirit lies asleep.
I wouldn’t head there today, but just wanted to confirm the direction.
“Well then, let’s start heading out.”
With a bright smile, I took the lead, keeping an eye out for any dangers, while the three followed in my wake.
Just when I was feeling a little more secure with my backup, we encountered the weakest monster of the third floor: the Human Golem.
-Creeeek! Chiiiik!
The sound of gears grinding and gas hissing accompanied the appearance of a large metal chunk enveloped in white vapor.
It looked sturdy, possibly a dwarf in life, short vertically but stout horizontally. However.
“Phew. Benny, I’m counting on you.”
“You could just grab me sometime and learn!”
While grumbling, Benny cast a spell over the Greatsword I had previously summoned. The repugnant smell surrounding the sword was indeed reassuring.
So now, all that remained was to test it out.
“Let’s go!”
I gripped the Greatsword firmly and charged toward the Human Golem.
At first, I kept the blade level just above the ground, ready to swing at any moment.
Sure enough, as I began my charge, the Human Golem launched a rocket punch at me.
Swaaaap!
With a tremendous force that could crush anything it hit. But if it was aiming for my head, the counter was simple.
As its fist came within my range.
“Hah!”
I swung the Greatsword diagonally. It traced a precise path at just the right moment.
To this point, this was routine for me. I’ve done this many times, even when awkwardly swinging the Greatsword.
But now, I had learned to swing properly from Lydia, and also how to appropriately handle a lighter Greatsword just for me.
Clank!
As the rocket punch struck the Greatsword, it erupted in a vicious shower of sparks, the sword ready to deflect it as I twisted my waist.
With the broad side of the Greatsword, I subtly pushed the back of the rocket punch, feeling the impact.
As soon as I confirmed that sensation, I spun around on the spot without losing speed.
Guided by the Greatsword, the trajectory of the rocket punch curved in a wide arc, and like a circling hawk, it launched right back toward the Human Golem.
-Kijkeek!
The surprised Human Golem produced an utterly mechanical sound, not realizing its own fist was coming back.
That enormous steel fist struck hard against its chest.
Ka-boom!
The Human Golem staggered as it felt the repercussions of its own force.
Exactly! This was the correct way to wield the massive weapon I’d learned from Lydia!
With a dagger, I could merely parry or avoid, but with a Greatsword, I could do much more.
With the weight of the Greatsword barely felt by me, that was even more so.
What I’d attempted for the first time—returning a projectile—was a success, so now what was left was set in stone.
Taking a giant step, I twisted my waist with everything I had. The Greatsword lifted high until it was horizontal to the ground.
Even my muscles, enhanced with various powers, were about to scream. But, like a released spring, I unleashed my waist in one fluid motion.
Kaang!
The sensation of crushing something. The Minotaur Greatsword accurately slammed into the side of the Human Golem.
It didn’t feel particularly heavy to me, but it was more than enough force in reality.
Yet this was just the beginning.
Chieeeeeek!
The acidic solution I’d smeared on the Greatsword started to smoke as it corroded the thick glove. And then.
Puff!
The Greatsword penetrated right through the glove and crushed the brain responsible for “human” inside the Human Golem.
While it wasn’t a one-hit knockdown, it was a significant improvement compared to last time.
One day wasn’t much, but the training definitely had its impact.
“Wait?!”
I didn’t anticipate the materials for loot would dissolve in that acidic solution.
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