NBAA Vol. 8 Chapter 5 Part 5
White Dragon turned its back and slowly left.
Reito and the others breathed a sigh of relief and sat down.
Everyone survived, but they were only safe while they were in the temple. If they go outside, White Dragon would target them again. Of course, it could be said that it was an unnecessary worry since they could safely move outside using the teleportation stone.
“I thought I was going to die…”
“But this one looks like she’s about to die.”
“Uuhh…”
“That’s right! We have to help her quickly!”
“Please calm down. It’s okay now.”
Honemin carrying Mina moved to the back of the building, and she guided them inside the temple.
The interior had an atmosphere reminiscent of ancient Rome. The pillars and walls were engraved with magic circles that were also present at the resting spot, and measures were taken to prevent monsters from visiting. There were also traces of human habitation, with normal human chairs, desks, and even bookshelves.
“Was Excalibur sealed here?”
“Yes. There’s a secret basement, and I got it there.”
“Whaaat?! A g-gargoyle?”
“It’s just a stone statue. How jumpy are you?”
“This pillar… has the Imperial crest engraved on it.”
“It seems to be a building built during the Imperial era.”
Honemin walked down the corridor without hesitation while explaining about the temple, and arrived at a large hall in the center of the temple.
~
The moment the door was opened, steam enveloped Reito and the others. When they checked inside, they found a marble hot spring.
“…Huh? What is this, a bathroom?”
“This is the place I was talking about, where any injury or illness can be cured.”
“It just looks like a hot spring…”
“Just trust me, come on, let’s carry Mina over here.”
Honemin carried Mina into the huge circular bath, and Reito checked the water.
Unlike the green medicinal bath on the third floor, it was white and the bottom was not visible. To be precise, it wasn’t that the water was murky, but that you couldn’t see the bottom, like a bottomless swamp.
“The bottom is quite deep. It may look like normal water, but it has incredible buoyancy, so your body will easily float up.”
“Oh…Have you ever been in it, Honemin?”
“Of course I have. It’s bones, but I still need to wash my body.”
“It looks like it has some kind of flavor. It looks like it could make bone soup.”
“How rude!”
Reito and the others stood in front of the hot spring, looking at Honemin. Just as they were wondering how she would treat them, Honemin picked up Mina and entered the hot spring with a great splash.
“Here!”
“What?”
“Wait a minute!”
Honemin, holding Mina, jumped into the hot spring, leaving a note with “Here!” written on it.
Reito and the others frantically looked into the hot spring. Just like in a horror movie, Honemin was sinking to the bottom with Mina in her arms.
Eventually, Mina, who should have lost consciousness, woke up.
“…Bwaaaaaaah⁉”
“Whoa, she came out!”
“Clack, clack, clack…!!”
“Whaaaaa!? A monster⁉”
Mina, who had regained consciousness, shook off the skeleton clinging to her back, and reached out to Reito as if asking for help. Reito quickly pulled her up.
Mina clung to him with her wet body, and pointed at the skeleton soaking in the hot spring with a surprised look on her face.
“W-Why is there a skeleton here?”
“Clack, clack…”
“Where did you get that towel from?”
The skeleton put the towel with the steam mark on it on her head and raised one leg like a synchronized swimmer. Despite being frightened by her, Mina realized that she could move her body.
“Huh? Why is my body…?”
“It seems like you’re really healed. But I can’t believe you recovered so easily…”
“That’s an amazing effect…”
“I told youu sooo. If we can get hereee, we’ll be fineee.”
“The letters are smudged and hard to read…”
The note was smudged because it’s wet.
Mina also noticed that the poison had been removed and looked confused.
“I’m pretty sure I was bitten by a giant lizard and couldn’t move my body…”
“Thank that skeleton over there. She saved you.”
“What?”
“Who are you calling a skeleton? I’m going to drag you in.”
“Hey, stop grabbing my legs!”
After that, Reito explained the situation to the confused Mina. Mina realized that she had caused trouble to many people and apologized to everyone.
“I’m so sorry! I made you go through so much trouble because of me…”
“Well, I’m glad we made it in time.”
“But why did you venture into a place like this on your own? Didn’t you listen to my advice?”
“That’s…”
Mina turned her face away at Shizune’s harsh words. Mina had been told that it was reckless for her to venture into the Great Labyrinth with her abilities, but she had still visited it.
Shizune let out a deep sigh.
“It seems that you came all the way here after following us, but this is how it turned out. Do you know how much we had to work to save you?”
“Shizune-sama, that’s…”
“You should stay quiet. I’m asking this girl.”
“Ahhh…”
Shizune brushed off Hanzo, who tried to shield Mina, and asked why she ventured into the Great Labyrinth. Mina seemed to have difficulty answering, but she told her slowly.
“I… I have to quit being an adventurer soon. So before that, I really wanted to challenge this Great Labyrinth where my father died!!”
“Eh? Quitting?”
“Well… my family has a lot of debt. I became an adventurer to pay off the debt, but I just can’t pay it off… but my mother is sick, so I’m the only one who can work…”
“Why did you get into debt…”
“A long time ago, when my father passed away and my mother was depressed, she started dating another man. But as soon as they got married, he took the money my father left behind and ran away, leaving only the debt… and I still can’t pay off the debt… my mother tried desperately to pay it off, but she pushed herself too hard and ruined her health, so I became an adventurer to support her.”
“That’s a terrible story…”
Everyone was silent as she told him, and Shizune also calmed down from her anger.
However, if Mina’s story was true, why would she quit being an adventurer, which brought in a high income? Reito asked.
“So why are you quitting being an adventurer? Aren’t you getting paid a fair amount for your current job?”
“My mother’s illness suddenly got worse, and the clinic told me she didn’t have much time left. So I wanted to at least be by her side…”
“Is that so…”
“Uuh… What a good girl.”
Dain was in tears when he realised the situation. Gonzo also sympathized with her, as he was the same as Mina in that he was supporting his family.
However, Shizune was the only one who gave her a stern warning.
“But that doesn’t excuse you from putting yourself in danger. You quit being an adventurer for your mother, so why would you risk your life? Even if you’re going into the Great Labyrinth to search for clues about your father, that’s far too reckless.”
“Ugh…”
“Who do you think would be sad if you died here? Your mother, right? Then stop putting your life on the line for no reason.”
“…I’m sorry.”
“There’s no point apologizing to me.”
“Yeah, that’s right… I’m sorry everyone. And thank you for saving me.”
Mina bowed to everyone, apologizing for the trouble she’d caused, and thanking them for saving her life.
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