REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-SEVENTH FLOOR
After we slay all the returning Split Caterpillars and gather their threads, we head down to the thirty-seventh floor. And just as I expected, the monsters on this floor are Green Coils, reappearing from the fifth floor with more armies and aggression.
But still, our formation doesn't falter.
"Grrraahh!!"
"Make a way for Chantal-sama, will you?!"
"Wind... Fragment..." "Wind... Cannon..."
"Engage."
"Fire Burst!" "Now take this!"
Yomogi growls fiercely and drives her fists straight into the monsters, Chantal carves the tendrils like nothing with her daggers, Kimberly releases wave after wave of Wind spells, Pinna's Crawler Unit deploys tear gas in controlled bursts and clouds the monsters in stinging haze, and I join in with my own spellcasting and swings of Yamitsuki. And of course, we don't forget to gather the roots.
At one point, Salacia kneels beside Chantal, who was accidentally smacked by one of the tendrils.
"Heal."
Salacia's spell glows softly across Chantal's skin, and the latter's bruises are gone.
"Nice one, Salacia."
"Take this potion too, Chantal~..."
Then, Salacia slips a recovery potion with a smile, and Chantal drinks it, then she exhales a long, relieved sigh.
"Ahh… that's so refreshing... Your potions are always incredible!"
"Thank you, Chantal~..."
I'm collecting roots beside Yomogi, who suddenly giggles warmly.
"Fufufu..."
"What?"
"Nothing. Did you remember when I tried to trade a tendril for your soap back then?"
"Haha... yeah, I still remember."
I mean, I really do.
Back then, I was just a street vendor selling toiletries, preparing to move into my first tiny house the next day. Yomogi approached me shyly and asked if she could barter a Green Coil tendril for soap. When I told her the soap cost less and handed her change, the surprised look on her face was something impossible to forget.
It's still so strange because that small moment became the spark for everything. She became my first companion here, and then, she somehow pulled Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, and Salacia into my orbit.
And speaking about the tendril, I still kept the one Yomogi gave me in my dimensional inventory, and it remains as the only one I have. I know she said it could be turned into soap, I know I could duplicate it anytime with [Copier], and I know I could set my Luck to infinity and farm a dozen more.
But I never have.
That thing just stays inside like a lucky charm that keeps me fighting side by side at the labyrinth, working together at the store, and living a joyful life together with these girls.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-EIGHTH FLOOR
Arriving at the thirty-eighth floor, more returning monsters appear, and they're Poison Spiders this time, which are from the sixth floor. And since their webs are venomous and Water element can't purify poison, which also means Salacia can't help with that part, we decide to change our tactics.
"Engage."
WHAM!
"Kheeee...!!"
First, we let Pinna's Crawler Unit release its gravity marbles that slam and pin those spiders down into the ground with such force. And from there, it's all coordination.
"Grrraahh!!"
"Oh yeah, let's do this, baby!"
"Wind... Burst..." "Wind... Burst..."
"Earth Spikes!" "Haaahh!"
"Kheeee...!!" "Kheeee...!!" "Kheeee...!!"
Yomogi growls fiercely and drives her fists straight into the monsters, Chantal carves them like nothing with her daggers, Kimberly releases wave after wave of Wind spells, and I join in with my own spellcasting and swings of Yamitsuki. And of course, we don't forget to gather the spices.
Honestly, I've only used the spices once, and it was when I cooked soup in my old house. The taste wasn't bad, it's like a strange blend of the coolness of mint and the heat of pepper, with a faint cinnamon-like sweetness in the background. I know it's unique for everyone, but not quite for me. So I sold them, and maybe I'll do it again this time.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, THIRTY-NINTH FLOOR
Arriving at the thirty-ninth floor, more returning monsters appear, and they're Trulls this time, which are from the seventh floor. Those black bulls with their familiar twin horns and that red forehead spike don't welcome us nicely, so we face them head-on without hesitation.
And this time, there are multiple combos among us.
"Ghh... rrraahh!! Chantal!"
"Engage, Chantal."
"Hey, hey, don't just throw two, throw more of them!"
Yomogi grapples the bulls, flipping them into the air like they weigh nothing. Pinna's Crawler Unit releases a burst of wire snares, catching the bulls mid-charge and spinning them violently. Chantal's leaping by the time it peaks, blades flashing as she slices through their neck. Again and again, the three of them repeat the throw and finish perfectly in sync.
Meanwhile, Kimberly and I keep up the ranged pressure, casting spells in tandem.
"Wind... Fragment..." "Wind... Bullet..."
"Light Ball!" "Earth Spikes!"
"Guoooohh...!!" "Guoooohh...!!" "Guoooohh...!!"
And of course, we don't forget to gather the roots. At one point, Salacia kneels beside Yomogi, who got a cut from one of the Trulls' horns.
"Heal."
Salacia's spell glows softly across Yomogi's skin, and the latter's wounds are shut.
"Thank you, Salacia..."
"Take this potion too, Yomogi~..."
Then, Salacia slips a recovery potion with a smile, and Yomogi drinks it slowly, and then she lets out a soft, content sigh.
"Ahh… I feel better now. Thanks again."
"You're welcome. I'm happy to help the party~"
Then, I turn toward everyone.
"So... should we continue or go home?"
Yomogi doesn't even blink.
"I'll continue, Motegi-chan."
Chantal laughs.
"Hahahaha! Still got one more floor left in me, Motegi-kun."
Kimberly smiles.
"I want to... understand this loop... more… Motegi-sama…"
Pinna analyzes as usual.
"Salacia's presence is likely the contributing factor to enhanced stamina recovery. Emotional responses indicate elevated morale and restored mental energy."
And I turn to Salacia.
"What about you, Salacia?"
"If you're going, and everyone else is going~... then of course I'm going too, darling~..."
"Alright, let's go."
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, FORTIETH FLOOR
Arriving at the fortieth floor, Yomogi and Chantal stop in unison as the latter's ears twitch.
"They're coming."
And Yomogi sniffs the air, but as I expected, her expression shifts and she freezes.
"No way, it can't be…"
You're not wrong, Yomogi.
And just like that, six familiar towering trunks with boxing gloves shuffle into view. They're Puncher Woods, and they've returned from the eighth floor.
But honestly, I'm glad they can keep going even though the next floor will be the last one for today because now, we can face the monsters that matter the most to Yomogi as they drop the flowers for her son's grave back in Misdaras.
Without saying anything, I activate [Temporary Boost] and set all her stats to infinity, and more importantly, Luck. Then, I say something to her.
"This floor is yours, Yomogi."
"Motegi-chan..."
She turns slowly, and her eyes are glistening like she's touched. But then, Chantal places a firm hand on her shoulder.
"No, I won't let you do this alone, Yomogi."
Yomogi looks up, and Chantal smiles at her.
"That kid already felt like a nephew to me, remember? So let me act like a proper big aunt should."
Then, Chantal turns to me.
"Boost me too, Motegi-kun. Please."
And suddenly, Kimberly and Pinna step forward without a word with a resolute expression.
"I will… as well... Motegi-sama..."
"I request the same enhancement, Master."
Yomogi turns to them slowly, her eyes wide and her voice trembling.
"Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna… thank you…"
This is a little unexpected, but not surprising.
Chantal knew both Yomogi's husband and her son like they were family, so of course she'd stand beside her now.
Kimberly may not have known the details, but she knew a story about a storm that swept through a wolfkin village in Misdaras... and she was surprised when she realized that it was Yomogi's family.
As for Pinna, despite her logic circuits still learning what emotion really is, she somehow figured out what solidarity means and knows enough now to stand with someone who's feeling it.
"That's a good idea, all of you."
That's what I can say to them, and then I activate [Temporary Boost] again and set all their stats to infinity. And then, I turn to Salacia.
"They might not need healing this time. Hope you don't mind. I just… hope you understand."
"I don't fully understand what they feel, but even so, I can tell. They're strong enough to fight anything, darling."
"Thank you, Salacia. Appreciate it."
And with that, the four of them launch their attacks.
"Rrrhhhaaaaaghhhhhh!!"
Yomogi lunges forward and lets out a long, trembling growl like a crack that overflows with joy. She slams her fist into one of the Puncher Woods with full force, pounding against it relentlessly until it finally collapses under her fists.
"Engage."
BOOM!
BOOM!
Pinna's Crawler Unit launches two marbles, each one snapping into place against the trunk, and sends them to concussive explosions.
"Pinna, help me out!"
"Understood."
Chantal shouts, and Pinna instantly understands. Her Crawler Unit releases its wire, wrapping around the monsters' gloved arms and locking them in place.
"Checkmate!"
Chantal shouts and drives her daggers down. One slice, then another, then another — arms, trunks, all of it.
"Wind... Javelin…"
"Guoouoouoohhh...!!"
Finally, Kimberly's sharp javelin of compressed air shoots forward and pierces through one monster and the other one directly at its back.
And then, the white flowers drop where they died. Yomogi falls to her knees, reaching out and gathering all six as she pulls them into her arms and presses them against her chest. Chantal approaches slowly, kneeling beside her and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"With this, you won't have to come back every year anymore… you've got enough, Yomogi."
"Y-Yes. T-Twice now… I can't believe… it was this easy…"
The moment Chantal wraps her arms around her and pulls Yomogi close, Yomogi's dam bursts as she buries her face into Chantal's shoulder and cries freely. Chantal sniffles too, holding her tighter.
"Ahh… haa… thank you… thank you...!"
"Hhnnn… we've got you, Yomogi… we've got you…"
Kimberly smiles softly, brushing a tear from the corner of her eye, and Pinna observes them like she's trying to translate emotion through observation.
Then, I recall the first time we encountered these monsters. Yomogi only took two flowers and refused to pick more, and I respected that and didn't boost her anymore. We fought the rest normally, only collecting branches.
But ever since I learned about the loop mechanic, I knew the labyrinth would let us see these monsters again. And now, it's not just me who gives Yomogi a hand, but also Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, and even Salacia, who are always by her side.
Salacia wraps her arms around mine and presses herself close.
"Beautiful, isn't it? I'm lucky to have sisters like them."
Then, she looks up at me with a smile.
"Thank you, darling… for bringing them into my life."
"It's nothing, Salacia."
But deep down, I really want to keep this beautiful moment forever.
BACK AT MOTEGI'S HOUSE
After the girls gathered those flowers, the moment was too perfect to follow up with more fighting, and they silently agreed that was enough for today... so I teleported us home.
Right now, it's just me and Yomogi preparing dinner in the kitchen.
Our two kitchen ranges are already occupied, one for me and one for Yomogi. Inside her oven, she has a tray of asparagus waiting to be fully roasted. And inside my own, I'm halfway through baking a sponge cake. While we wait, we do separate things in our stoves.
Yomogi shifts her attention to a pile of peeled potatoes, slicing them into chunks and dropping them into a pot with salt and a splash of vinegar, bringing them to a boil. Then, she moves to the skillet, seasoning six thick Misdaras' steaks with salt and pepper. The moment the tallow in the pan has melted, she lays down the first cut and lets the fat sizzle. After that, she flips, bastes with butter, garlic, and herbs, then starts again with the next.
On my side, I'm working on the strawberries, sugar, and lemon juice as they're all bubbling in a pot, and I stir occasionally, watching it thicken slowly. Beside it, I've got chocolate melting down, and then I add in cocoa powder, milk, and powdered sugar and stir it all together until it becomes silky and rich.
Minutes later, I pull out the golden, soft cake and set it on the rack to rest. Yomogi does the same with the asparagus and places them off to the side.
When the last of the steaks finish, Yomogi drains the potatoes and mashes them, then mixes them with cream, butter, salt, and pepper until the texture is smooth.
Once the cake cools, I trim the edges and the top, then slice it in half. I spread the strawberry jam across one layer and place the other on top. Then, I cut it into six even squares. One by one, I dip them into the melted chocolate, coating every side, and roll them in Oserin's desiccated coconut until they're fully covered.
Finally, Yomogi lines up six large plates, adding steak, mashed potatoes, and the roasted asparagus on each one. I do the same with the cakes as I place one on each dessert plate, then top them with strawberry slices and curls of shaved chocolate bar for garnish.
"Shall we go to the table, Motegi-chan?"
"Yup, let's go."
Together, we carry everything out and place the dish at the dining table, where Chantal, Kimberly, Pinna, and Salacia are already seated. We all settle in and start on the main course first.
Chantal takes the first bite of her steak and moans delightfully.
"Oohhh... this is so juicy and tender! You're amazing, Yomogi!"
Kimberly takes a spoonful of mashed potatoes, her expression lighting up immediately.
"This is... wonderful… so smooth… so creamy… like clouds… but edible…"
Salacia hums with pleasure.
"Mmm... it's delicious. I could eat this every day, Yomogi..."
Pinna nods.
"Mashed potatoes: soft with balanced salt and cream. Steak: seared correctly, high internal moisture retention. Asparagus: evenly roasted, maintains snap. Overall: highly satisfactory in flavor and mouthfeel."
"I'm so happy everyone's enjoying it…"
Yomogi smiles brightly and turns to me next.
"Do you like it too, Motegi-chan?"
"Of course, you nailed it, Yomogi..."
"Fufufu… that makes me really happy…"
She goes back to her plate, joining the others as we all clear up the main course. And once it's time for dessert, I slide the six neat portions of chocolate-coated sponge cake, topped with sliced strawberries and a dusting of shaved chocolate.
Yomogi tilts her head.
"What is this, Motegi-chan?"
"It's called Lamington. And it's got all your favorite stuff... strawberries and chocolate."
Just hearing that is enough to spark excitement. They each take a bite without hesitation, and instantly, a perfect chorus of moans fills the room.
"Mmmmm!!"
And each girl gives her own reaction as usual.
"It's so creamy and sweet! The sponge is amazing, Motegi-chan!"
"This is the best dessert I've ever had, Motegi-kun!"
"The taste… matches its beauty… simply… delightful…"
"Is this coconut, darling~? I love coconut~..."
"Texture: soft interior, slight crunch from coconut exterior. Flavor balance: rich sweetness from chocolate offset by tartness of jam. Garnish enhances presentation and finish. Conclusion: highly satisfactory."
I chuckle and finally take a bite myself.
"Oh, wow... That's actually really good..."
Truth is, I've never eaten a Lamington before. I only learned about it when I watched a cheerful Kiwi chef make that on a TV show back in Japan. Because I still remembered the steps, I tried to recreate it here from scratch. First time making it, first time tasting it, and now I get it.