In a world of swords and magic, the trade-city of Averl stands above countless dungeons managed by the Adventurers' Guild. Jill, a slim young man who swings two steel blades, and Fina, a girl who wields a bow and enchantment magic, were forced into a partnership through an endless argument over splitting profits. Unable to be honest, they bicker constantly yet fight in perfect sync underground. Fina has fallen for Jill at first sight but hides it behind her sense of duty to her large family back
Each One's "Place to Return To - The Shadow Lurking at the Bottom of the Spiral: The Broken Sword and the Enchant of Tears
Since that rainy day, a thin, ice-like tension had been flowing between Jil and Fina.
Even when they met in the morning in front of the Railway Hands headquarters, they wouldn't look each other in the eye. Fina walked three steps ahead of Jil, and Jil followed behind her in silence. And yet, neither was ever absent. The requests they took on together, they still took on together.
The city of Avel was beginning to be wrapped in early summer warmth. On the cobblestones of the central district, morning market carts came and went, and the sweet scent of fruit drifted on the wind. The calls of the market, the sound of horses' hooves, the hammering of some craftsman somewhere. The city was bustling with life again today.
But around Jil and Fina alone, the air was heavy.
When the two entered the Railway Hands headquarters, about ten adventurers were already gathered in the first-floor tavern and waiting area. Some were knocking back ale from the morning, some were glaring at request sheets, some sat on the floor polishing their swords. A crowd had formed in front of the bulletin board by the wall.
"Hey, look at this. A new copper-rank request."
"Magic stone core retrieval on the tenth floor. Reward's twenty gold coins, they say."
"Twenty coins!? That's huge, but the tenth floor... that's Grandoll's territory, right?"
"Even silver-ranks struggle there, and they're posting it for copper-ranks?"
The murmur of the adventurers spread through the tavern.
Jil stopped in his tracks and looked at the bulletin board. Fina stopped as well, in the same way.
On the bulletin board, a single new request sheet was posted in a position more prominent than the others. It was a copper-rank request slip stamped with a red mark.
"Spiral Labyrinth, Tenth Floor, Magic Stone Core Retrieval. Reward: Twenty Gold Coins."
Beside Jil, he sensed Fina catch her breath.
(Twenty gold coins.)
Jil calculated in his head. One gold coin was ten silver coins. In other words, two hundred silver coins. Even split between the two of them, that was ten gold coins each. It was an amount they could barely reach after doing iron-rank requests for ten days straight.
But Jil also understood why such a sum was being offered. The tenth floor. Far too deep for copper-rank adventurers to step into. Floors six through fifteen were originally meant for copper-ranks. But beyond the tenth floor, monsters roamed that could kill even silver-ranks.
Especially Grandoll.
A crab-type humanoid monster four meters long with six arms. A carapace that repelled steel swords. A water-pressure cannon that could shatter rock. A tenacity that would chase down anyone who entered its territory until they died.
Jil looked at Fina's profile as she stood frozen in front of the bulletin board.
Her gold hair with hints of vermilion was tied in a ponytail again today. Her greenish-gray eyes stared fixedly at the request sheet. In her profile there was hesitation. But more than that, there was a strength, as if she had resolved herself to something.
(Fina.)
Jil was remembering her hometown. Nora Village. A small farming village about forty kilometers to the southwest. A letter had come saying her mother had collapsed. Five younger siblings. If Fina, the eldest daughter, didn't send money home, the family couldn't eat.
The reason she had fixed her eyes on this request, Jil understood painfully well.
"...You're going to take it?"
At Jil's voice, Fina's shoulders gave a small jolt. When she turned around, her eyes were slightly moist.
"...It's none of your business."
"It is my business. We're partners."
Fina bit her lip. She looked up at Jil as if she wanted to say something. But the words wouldn't come out easily.
"...I want to take this request."
The voice she finally squeezed out was hoarse.
"The tenth floor is dangerous. You understand that."
"I know that. But I need the money. If I don't go, my family... my mom..."
Fina clenched her fist tightly. Her fingertips had gone white.
Jil looked at that hand.
(I just need to protect her.)
That thought surfaced in Jil's mind.
(If I push myself recklessly, it'll work out somehow. If someone like me gets hurt in her place, that's enough.)
Jil nodded quietly.
"Understood. I'll go too. I can't let you go alone."
Fina looked at Jil in surprise.
"...Why. Didn't you start hating me?"
"I've never hated you. Not once."
At Jil's words, Fina looked blank for a moment. Then she turned bright red all the way to the tips of her ears and pointedly turned away.
"...I-I mean, whether you come or not, I was planning to go alone anyway."
"I see. But I'm going too."
"Do whatever you want!?"
Fina walked quickly toward the reception counter. Jil chased after her back.
Behind the reception counter was Mirene, her chestnut hair gathered in a bun. Her amber eyes narrowed slightly as she watched the two approach. She seemed to notice immediately that something was off between them.
"My, my, Jil and Fina. The air feels heavy today, doesn't it."
Mirene tilted her head a little and looked at the two alternately. On her left wrist was an old scar from her adventuring days. Her skill at organizing request sheets was the best in the guild.
"Mirene, I want to take this request."
Fina placed the request sheet she had taken from the bulletin board on the counter.
Mirene picked up the request sheet and furrowed her brow.
"...Spiral Labyrinth tenth floor, magic stone core retrieval. Fina, this is a copper-rank request. You two are still iron-rank, aren't you?"
"I know. But I need the money no matter what."
"I know you need money. You're always sending money back to your hometown. But the tenth floor is a place where even silver-ranks lose their lives."
Mirene's voice was serious. She was a former adventurer. Her words carried weight.
"Mirene. I'll protect her."
Jil stepped forward.
"Jil... I'm glad for your feelings. But you're still iron-rank too. Both of you, your abilities aren't enough."
"I know our abilities aren't enough. But we have to do this."
Jil's voice was quiet. But there was no hesitation in his eyes.
(I don't know if someone like me can be useful to her. But if I back down here, Fina will go alone. That's the one thing I absolutely can't allow.)
Mirene stared at Jil for a while. Then she let out a deep sigh.
"...You two really are two of a kind. Neither of you cares about yourselves at all."
"...Huh?"
"Fina. You push yourself for your family. Jil. You push yourself for Fina. ...Neither of you can become strong for anyone but someone else."
Mirene smiled sadly.
"...Fine. I'll accept the request slip. But promise me. If you think it's impossible, you will retreat. You will prioritize your lives above all else. This is an order from your receptionist."
"...I promise."
"I promise too."
Mirene signed the request slip. Behind the counter, the sound of her pen moving seemed strangely loud.
"...Please, come back safely. This is my personal request."
"...Thank you, Mirene."
Fina bowed deeply.
The adventurers around the reception began to stir.
"Hey, those two took the tenth floor, apparently."
"Iron-rank, are they insane?"
"The tenth floor is Grandoll's territory. They'll die."
Such voices could be heard. Fina clenched her fist.
(I won't lose. I absolutely won't lose.)
Jil was watching Fina's profile.
(I'll protect her. No matter what happens, her at least.)
The two left the guild.
Outside was filled with morning light. The bustle of the market, people coming and going. An ordinary Avel morning.
But the hearts of the two were strung tight with a tension unlike anything before.
"...Fina."
"What."
"Don't push yourself. If you die, it's meaningless."
"I don't want to hear that from you. You're the one who shouldn't be reckless."
"...I'll try."
"Don't say 'I'll try,' promise me!"
"...I promise. I won't let you die."
At Jil's words, Fina lost her voice for a moment.
(You always do that. You always stir up my heart.)
Fina hung her head. The tips of her ears grew gradually hotter.
"...I promise too. I won't let you die."
It was a small voice. But it was a certain voice.
The two began walking side by side.
Toward the entrance of the Spiral Labyrinth.
Toward the tenth floor.
To take the first step into a dangerous challenge.
Their footsteps were still trembling a little. But together, surely they would be all right.
That was what they wanted to believe.
——
The entrance of the Spiral Labyrinth was beneath the adventurers' plaza in the central district. Descending the stone stairs, a chilly air clung to the skin.
Magic stone lamps were lit at regular intervals along the walls, and a faint pale blue light illuminated the path underground.
First floor, second floor, third floor.
With each descent, the air grew damp and heavy. Glowing moss growing on the walls dimly illuminated the surroundings.
"From here on is copper-rank territory. Don't let your guard down."
"I know. You just keep your eyes forward."
Fina took the elven composite bow from her back and nocked an arrow. Her grandfather's keepsake. The weapon she trusted most.
The two descended the spiraling labyrinth in silence.
Sixth floor. Seventh floor. Eighth floor.
The surrounding temperature dropped further. Water droplets seeped from the walls, and the stone floor underfoot became slippery and treacherous.
Around the ninth floor, Jil sensed something strange.
"...Fina, stop."
Jil raised his right hand to halt Fina.
"...What? An enemy?"
Fina looked around with her bow still drawn.
It was quiet.
The sound of water dripping somewhere that had been audible until a moment ago had stopped completely.
The air was taut.
"...Something's coming."
Jil slowly drew the steel swords at his left and right hips. One in each hand. A two-sword stance.
That was when it happened.
Dooooon!!
A rumble echoed from deep in the cavern.
"!?"
Fina involuntarily stepped back.
The rumble drew closer and closer.
Doon! Doon! Doon!
The walls shook, and small stones fell from the ceiling.
And then, from the depths of the darkness, it appeared.
Four meters long. Six arms. A body close to humanoid. But its entire body was covered in a hard carapace like steel. On its crab-like head were glistening compound eyes. From its mouth, a foamy mucus dripped and drooled.
Grandoll.
The worst predator dwelling in the depths of the Spiral Labyrinth.
"Grandoll...!"
Fina's voice trembled.
Grandoll rolled its compound eyes and caught the two in its vision. It would never let those who invaded its territory escape. In its eyes was a clear intent to kill.
Giiiiiii!!
Grandoll let out an ear-splitting roar.
"Fina, stay back! I'll draw its attention!"
Jil kicked off the ground.
With both swords raised, he leaped into Grandoll's front.
"Uoooooooh!!"
Jil's slash struck Grandoll's carapace.
Gakiiiiin!!
Sparks flew.
But the steel sword only left a shallow scratch on the carapace and was repelled.
"...It's hard!?"
Jil immediately recovered his stance and swung down his second sword.
Gakiin!
Again, it was deflected.
"Kuh...!"
Grandoll swung one of its six arms down at Jil.
Zudooooon!!
Jil jumped to the side by a hair's breadth. The ground where he had been standing just moments before was shattered.
(Fast. Heavy. Hard. ...The scale is different.)
Jil broke out in a cold sweat as he put distance between himself and Grandoll.
"Jil! I'll cover you! Fall back!"
Fina's voice echoed through the cavern. She drew her bow tight and loosed an arrow.
Hyu!
The arrow flew accurately, aiming for Grandoll's compound eyes.
But Grandoll easily flicked the arrow away with one of its arms.
Kakiin!
"No way...! The arrows won't go through at all!"
The color drained from Fina's face.
Grandoll's compound eyes turned toward Fina this time.
"Fina! Run!"
Jil shouted.
Grandoll's arm reached toward Fina.
"Like I'll let you!"
Jil cut between Grandoll and Fina, crossing
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