Published: March 21, 2026
Amelia moved far better than I expected. Because she was royal, I’d assumed she’d scream and run in panic, but I apparently underestimated her.
“Amelia, three coming at you.”
“Hm. No problem. ‘Gravity.’”
With gravity magic she crushed the three at once. The large rat-like demonic beasts squished together in a gory mess.
“Doesn’t look very tasty.”
“No, I’m not mad.”
Amelia averted her eyes and pouted, but my one remark made her expression light up. As always, she was delightfully easy to read.
“How many floors are we up to?”
“Sixty-two. I want to reach seventy today, but that might be tough.”
“If it’s me and Akira, we can do it. The strongest pair.”
Where does she get that confidence? I silently patted Amelia’s head. The moment I did, her mood brightened. Her cheeks even flushed a little, but I’m not vain enough to misinterpret it. It’s probably just hot inside the labyrinth.
“By the way, have you been drinking enough?”
“Yeah…why do you keep telling me to drink frequently?”
“In case you get dehydrated. Well, inside a labyrinth you should worry more about demonic beasts than dehydration, but you can’t be too careful.”
“That’s lame…isn’t it?”
It seems this world doesn’t have the concept of heatstroke. Medical tech doesn’t seem advanced either. There’s always healing magic if things get bad.
“Have you ever felt unwell when you haven’t drunk water on hot days?”
“…Yes.”
“That’s what heatstroke is. You could even die.”
“I thought it was some epidemic when young elves would suddenly fall ill and die on hot days, but it was actually…heatstroke.”
She seemed to accept the explanation.
I once almost got heatstroke when I was busy with part-time work and neglected hydration. It was rough. My clingy little sister cried nonstop and I made my mother do all the housework. Since then I’ve been overly particular about managing my health.
“If you understand, drink water often.”
“Got it.”
I threw a hidden weapon. It struck the forehead of a demonic beast peeking around a distant corner.
My skill levels and class level are steadily rising. It’s a race between hitting my level goal and clearing the labyrinth.
“You know a country similar to the world Akira came from…or rather, the country?”
“Huh? Did a summoned hero found a country before we were summoned?”
“Yes. I think it’s a country on the Human race’s side of the Elf territory.”
From Amelia’s description, there’s a nation among the Humans that’s basically like Edo-period Japan.
“The country’s name is ‘Yamato.’ They mainly eat rice—the rice Akira said he wanted.”
“Alright. Once we get out of the labyrinth, let’s go there.”
“Mhm. I thought you’d say that, Akira.”
I want rice. I’m tired of bread. Japanese people are made of rice and miso soup. I can’t live without rice. Rice forever.
Ahem—my suppressed emotions nearly exploded. Dangerous, dangerous.
“There’s a popular ‘onsen’ too, so let’s go together? Although they’re usually gender-separated, there’s something called ‘mixed bathing.’”
“Amelia, do you know what mixed bathing means?”
“Bathing together naked in the hot water?”
“…”
No way. A plain-looking guy like me can’t handle mixed bathing with a beauty like Amelia. The stares from others would be unbearable. Doesn’t she remember she’s an elf?
Still, she really seemed to be looking forward to it.
“F-for now, I’ll pass.”
“Tell me your answer before we leave the labyrinth.”
“I’ll…do my best.”
I wish the labyrinth would just keep going.
Even while we talked, we continued to slaughter demonic beasts efficiently.
“…So far, the deepest layer the Human race has reached is the twentieth floor. And that was with a raid group, so Akira’s combat power is on a different level from theirs.”
I looked at Amelia, surprised by the sudden comment. She was looking at me earnestly. Encouraged by her seriousness, I told her something I hadn’t even told classmates.