NOVEL NEXT Ch13 - Labyrinth Fall
Chapter 13: Labyrinth Fall
“Whoa!” “Ah!” “Kyahhh!!” “…Mmmph!”
While traveling through the forest, the group was suddenly struck by a floating sensation and found themselves buried in some soft, unidentifiable material inside a mysterious hole. Though it felt like they’d been falling for a long time, the spot where the hole must have been (now closed) was surprisingly close, just barely out of reach when they looked diagonally upward.
They seemed to have fallen into a cave shaped like an eggplant laid on its side. The entrance was where the stem would be, and the fluffy stuff, along with themselves, was located at the bottom, near the “tail.”
The space inside was quite spacious. The walls were illuminated by glowing moss, filling the area with a gentle, daylight-like light that made the atmosphere very comfortable. The soft material cushioning their fall was a giant mushroom with a texture like marshmallow. As Rena and the others landed, its spores scattered and sparkled in the air.
“Labyrinth Fall, huh? What a surprise!”
The slimes exhaled in relief and began to cheer playfully. It seemed they were familiar with this kind of space.
“Labyrinth Fall…? Ugh…”
On the other hand, Rena’s face was pale. After muttering a single word, she collapsed back onto the mushroom. Lucca looked similarly exhausted. For now, the only ones full of energy were the monsters.
“Are you all feeling unwell?” “…Are you okay?”
“Rena!”
“I think the feeling of falling for so long, and the short actual distance, confused our brains. That’s why we feel nauseous. I’m a bit dizzy myself. If we stay still for a while, we should feel better. Just relax and let go, okay, Rena?”
“Okay, doctor…”
“Phew…”
It seemed that everyone decided to rest their bodies against the mushroom.
Though they’d never seen this kind of strange giant white mushroom before, since Dr. Lucca had quickly scanned the area and said nothing, it was probably harmless.
“The entrance is closed, so the man-eating bear can’t follow us here. We can relax. Let’s take a break.”
“Okay… Ugh…”
She didn’t throw up.
Lily gently stroked her master’s black hair, and when Rena said, “Thank you, that’s so soothing,” the slimes seemed eager to join in. They rushed over, rubbing their gelatinous bodies against her hair, making it glossy. Not wanting to be outdone, Lily began to undo Rena’s braids and run a comb through her hair. The playful competition over grooming Rena’s hair made everyone, including the doctor, chuckle. Finally, they managed to relax a bit, loosening their long-held tension.
After a while of lounging around, Lucca was the first to open his eyes. Still lying down, he began examining their surroundings. He recalled the slimes’ mention of “Labyrinth Fall,” and, stroking his chin, he began to think. He had heard of it before, though this was his first time actually seeing one. From what he could tell, this place seemed to be a newly formed, immature labyrinth, with only the space visible to them existing.
Labyrinth Fall, a special kind of hole that leads to a labyrinth created by the world itself.
Though it’s a highly beneficial place, the entrances are often so small that they’re hard to find unless they’ve grown somewhat. Currently, only about ten such holes have been confirmed across the entire continent of Lanache. Since labyrinths grow very slowly, it’s possible that there are still many small, immature holes that haven’t been discovered yet.
In a relaxed tone, Lucca addressed the monsters and his companions.
“Shall I explain about this place? Are you calm enough to listen?”
“Yes!”
“Pafu-pafu!!”
“You two really like that, don’t you, Kureha and Izumi? I’d like you to share what you know later too, alright?”
“Leave it to us!”
“Lily’s new to this place, so I’ll just listen to everyone.”
“Alright.”
Once everyone had sat up, the Labyrinth Fall Lecture by Dr. Lucca began!
“I’ll explain about Labyrinth Fall. It refers to a special hole in the ground that connects to an alternate space. These holes can vary in size, ranging from around 1 meter in diameter to just a few centimeters.
Inside, you’ll find winding paths—sometimes resembling coastal walkways, rose garden paths, or ice caverns. These paths are often home to rare plants and creatures that you wouldn’t encounter on the surface, making them popular subjects for researchers. A fully developed labyrinth, where monsters are born, is called a Dungeon Fall, and those have become famous tourist spots that attract adventurers.
We don’t know when or where these holes will form, so deliberately finding a Labyrinth Fall is extremely difficult. Usually, they only become widely known when someone stumbles upon one by accident and sells the information to the government.
There’s also a limit to how many people can enter. In an immature labyrinth like this, even our small group might be pushing the limit. See how the entrance is already closed? That means no one else—people or monsters—can enter until we leave. So, for now, this is the safest refuge we could ask for.”
“Wow… We’re incredibly lucky to have stumbled into a place like this, aren’t we?”
“You really have a positive outlook, Rena… I’m impressed.”
“But we were being chased by a bear before this!” “Still, I think it’s more important that we were saved!”
“Maybe my generally poor luck combined with Rena’s desire for adventure somehow summoned the bear… but let’s not dwell on that.
That’s about all the information I have on Labyrinth Fall. Kureha, Izumi, what about you? You seemed familiar with this kind of place.”
“Of course!!”
The Kuu-Izumi duo puffed up proudly, their jewel-like bodies gleaming brightly in the glowing moss light.
“Near the plains of Danatzella, there are a few holes like this one!”
“A very, very small hole, just enough for us to fit inside—the Labyrinth Fall was like that!”
“A variety of monsters took turns using it as a bed!”
“Every time a monster inside came out, the ones outside would all dash toward the hole! They’d fight over the spot. It was like a race, and really fun to watch!”
“If you’re unlucky, you’d get ambushed and gobbled up the moment you stepped out of the hole, right?”
“‘But Kuu and Iz melted them down and ate them up instead! They’re strong, right? Heh!’”
“Wow, that’s amazing!” “So strong!”
“‘Heh heh heh!’”
“…I see.”
Apparently, monsters were utilizing the Labyrinth Fall in a way different from humans. In the wild, a safe place to sleep without worrying about being attacked is incredibly valuable. It seems there are more small holes like this that humans can’t use.
“That’s really interesting! I’ve never heard of information like that before. I guess there haven’t been many chances to hear from small monsters like this, so it probably wasn’t recorded,” Luca murmured quietly.
Hearing this, Rena asked curiously, “Hasn’t there ever been a monster tamer who tamed slimes or butterflies and got information about the Labyrinth Fall?”
“There might have been, but I’ve never heard of it. Besides, small monsters with intelligence high enough to converse smoothly, like Kureha and Izumi, are special. In a way, you could say they’re ‘abnormal species.’ Usually, small, young monsters have an initial intelligence score in the single digits, so even if they’re tamed, you’d only be able to communicate in broken sentences at best. Ah, as for why Lily can talk normally, it’s probably because of your blood.”
“…What?!”
“When monsters gain the essence of humans, they suddenly become more emotionally expressive. I think Rena’s gift, [Growth Boost], had a strong influence on Lily.”
Master glanced sideways at Lily.
“…I’m hungry. Hehe, Master.”
Lily gave a cute, shy smile. ▽Master has been asked for blood! ▽You’ve dug yourself into a hole!
“Oh no, I messed up…!”
“Bon appétit!”
“Ahhh, too fast… I wasn’t ready—wait, Lily, wait… Ahhh!”
“Hehehe.”
Smooooch!
…Once again, good job, Master. That’s a fine hole you’ve dug yourself into.
This time, it’s a scene of Lily in her fairy form feeding on Rena’s blood, and it looks rather… inappropriate. With a sweet smile, Lily’s small fangs pierce Rena’s neck, while Master writhes in pain and discomfort. It’s hard to tell who’s in charge here.
Apparently, the blood of a fresh high school girl was very tasty. After getting her fill, a satisfied Lily finally let go, and Rena, in a faint voice, addressed Luca.
“…Could we extend the break? I’m low on blood!”
It seems being fed on without a proper meal has left her slightly anemic. Luca, who had been quietly observing some mushrooms, said, “You really should speak up when you don’t want something,” making Rena falter with an “ugh.”
“Well, I don’t mind. I was planning to stay here for a few hours anyway. This is a rare chance to rest, so let’s take a nap.”
“Yay, nap time!”
“We have to wait for the bear to leave anyway… heh.”
“Great, let’s do that! I’ll set an alarm for about three hours from now.”
“An alarm?”
“A machine (smartphone) that plays a wake-up sound. I use this… It’s something I originally owned.”
“I see.”
Luca squinted at the smartphone and almost activated his magic eye, but then he averted his gaze, rubbed his eyes, and furrowed his brow.
“Luca? Are you okay?”
“Mm, sorry. I think I’ve been overusing my magic eye… My eyes are tired. It seems using [Trade] puts quite a strain on them.”
Rena watched him worriedly.
“Are you alright? Eye strain can become chronic, so let’s rest right away. You’ve been scouting for us this whole time—thank you so much, you’ve been a great help.”
“Shall I cool your eyes?” offered Izumi.
“That would be great. Izumi, could you?”
“Sure thing! Aqua!”
Izumi, now chilled, gently placed herself on Luca’s eyelids as he lay down. She spread her body softly so as not to be heavy—an instant cool eye mask.
“Ah, this feels amazing… So good…”
A deeply relaxed voice escaped from Luca, clearly enjoying the relief.
“Hehe, make sure to thank Iz plenty later! I’m gonna nap too.”
“Yeah, thanks…”
“Shall we take a nap too? We’ve set the alarm. Lily-chan, Kureha, come here. We’ll give Izumi lots of praise later.”
“Yayyy!”
“Good night!”
And so, the group decided to take a nap for a while in the safety of the Labyrinth Fall. For the first time in a long while, they were able to sleep deeply in a secure place. The soft white mushrooms gently swayed in rhythm with their breathing.
Exactly three hours later, Rena and the others woke up to the sound of the alarm.
The awakened slimes shook their bodies side to side… then stretched up tall, and suddenly—pop! The tops of their heads opened, and out flew shining gems.
▼ Kureha and Izumi spat out two gems each!
One red and one blue gem emerged from their respective bodies. Though not previously mentioned, the slimes had always produced gems like this after sleeping. Since it had been several days since their class change, the gems accumulated over time. This time, since the nap was short, the gems were smaller. They only produce gems once a day, so there won’t be more tonight.
When Luka, now recovered, appraised the gems, they were all of SSS premium quality—no scratches, cracks, or discoloration, making them top-grade materials for high-end accessories.
“Whoa…” Luka muttered in astonishment.
The gems produced this time were fire agate and aquamarine, which aren’t typically high-value stones. However, since the slimes would likely continue to evolve into higher-ranking monsters, the kind of luxurious gems they might create in the future could be unimaginable… reminding everyone just how exceptional these rare species of monsters were.
“As expected of Jewel Slimes. Yeah… they’re definitely going to be targeted…”
Luka’s face slightly twitched. Yeah, no kidding.
“We don’t want to be targeted…!”
“Yaaaah!”
“Then from now on, you mustn’t show these gems to anyone except trusted allies, okay? The gems are far too valuable, and it won’t be hard for people to figure out they’re connected to your Jewel Slimes. Be very cautious when selling or processing them. Lily, make sure to properly assess anyone we deal with.”
“Leave it to me! Hehe!” Lily confidently responded.
Hearing this, Luka exhaled in relief. It wouldn’t do for these innocent creatures to be exploited. He handed the gem pouch back to Rena.
However, Rena took out one of the larger gems and began comparing it to the slimes, alternating between the two.
Kureha and Izumi tilted their heads in confusion (or at least that’s what it seemed like).
“Sorry about this!”
Rena placed the slimes in her hands and started intensely observing them. The familiars blushed in embarrassment.
“W-what is it, Rena?” “If you stare at us like that, you’ll poke a hole in us!” “Ahhh!”
“Hmm… I think this could work!”
Ignoring their playful complaints, Rena turned around and proposed a new strategy to Luka-sensei.
“I’m thinking of creating a fake Jewel Slime corpse to deceive our pursuers! What do you think?”
“Whaaaaat?!”
That wording, Rena!
“Well… let’s try not to scare the slimes with the way we phrase things, okay? What you mean is creating a fake corpse using those gems, right? Can you explain how?”
“Yes!”
Rena placed the slimes on her lap, gestured for Luka and Lily to come closer, and began explaining. Though there wasn’t any need to be so secretive, Rena spoke in a hushed voice.
“Jewel Slimes have a gem core that’s surrounded by their gel-like body, right? I noticed that these gems they produce look very similar to their core. If we cover these gems with ‘slime gel,’ I think we can make a convincing fake Jewel Slime. If we leave it on the roadside, it could serve as a distraction for our pursuers.”
Rena’s plan seemed to have potential.
“I think it’s worth trying. What’s this ‘slime gel’?”
Luka, now intrigued, asked about the “slime gel” she mentioned. Normally, slimes produce edible “slime jelly,” but he’d never heard of this gel.
Rena, unfamiliar with common knowledge, muttered, “Huh?” and explained further.
“These slimes can make little round copies of themselves that look just like the real thing. When crushed, they turn into a soft gel, which I’ve been using as hair treatment—it makes your hair super shiny! Since they look so much like the real slimes, I figured we could embed the gems into them to make fakes.”
“Oh no, they’re going to split!” “Good luck!”
With Rena’s explanation finished, the slimes began splitting just in time. Luka observed with interest as the process began.
Unlike when they produce gems, the slimes stretched horizontally, elongating their bodies until—pop!—they split in two. The body that held the core was the main slime, and its size was slightly smaller but would eventually return to normal.
▼ Kureha and Izumi split! ▼ They made Slime Gel x2!
“Ta-da! We did it!” “Baby slimes!”
The copies were treated like little babies. But Rena wasted no time and swiftly embedded the gems into the gel, pushing them in deeply.
“Whaaat?! Babies!!”
“Looks good! Thanks, Kureha, Izumi! Great job splitting!”
“Anytime!”
“Their quick recovery never ceases to amaze me.”
“You should get used to it, Luka.”
“That’s a tall order.”
Setting aside the playful banter, the fake Jewel Slime “corpses” were successfully created. Now, all that remained was to set them up along the road. To do that, the group would have to leave the safety of the Mini Labyrinth Fall. The man-eating bear was surely long gone by now… or at least, they hoped. This wasn’t foreshadowing—definitely not.
After packing their bags and tucking the decoys into a pouch, the group took a deep breath and savored the air in this peaceful place for the last time. Finally, they headed toward the exit.