As the flirtatious atmosphere slowly faded, Hana finally stepped out of Haruto's embrace.
She had sensed another presence nearby.
With a teasing expression still lingering on her face, she turned away and whistled into the distance, looking far too satisfied with herself.
Haruto glanced toward the place where the black orb had once floated.
It was gone.
Vanished without a trace.
A faint uneasiness settled in his chest. But he knew this was inevitable. Sooner or later, they would have to face the Crimson Battalion again.
For now... this moment was enough.
Haruto reached for Hana's hand, gently intertwining his fingers with hers. He started with her pinky. When she didn't pull away, he slowly intertwined the rest of their fingers.
The sudden gesture caught her off guard for a second.
But strangely enough, it felt natural.
Even though they had already accepted their feelings, the reality of it still felt dreamlike to both of them. They had wanted this for so long... yet now that it had finally happened, neither of them knew what to do.
So they simply acted the way they always had.
Just with a little more sass mixed in.
They wondered if this was really how couples were supposed to behave... but honestly, neither of them had the slightest clue what couples actually did.
And there wasn't exactly anyone around they could ask.
They were simply two inexperienced idiots who had just realized they loved each other.
Maybe that was enough.
Maybe... they just needed time.
After all, this was their life.
Let them write their own story.
Just as it was meant to be.
---
Suddenly—
A massive burst of wind exploded from the rubble of a nearby collapsed tunnel.
Rocks blasted outward, scattering across the ground as clouds of dust and debris filled the chamber.
Then a figure emerged from the smoke.
Haruna.
Her cursed sword rested in her hand as she stepped out of the ruined tunnel.
The moment she saw him, her eyes widened.
"Master!"
She immediately sprinted forward, worry written all over her face.
Haruto barely had time to react before she reached him and wrapped her arms around him tightly.
The embrace felt familiar.
Comforting.
Seeing that Haruki was still with her filled him with relief.
Haruna looked up at him from within his arms.
Haruto smiled warmly.
"Great work out there. You two handled everything on your own. I'm proud of you."
He gently patted her head.
Haruna instantly blushed, her shoulders tensing as she received the acknowledgment she had been craving.
"Um... I..."
A different voice spoke.
Haruki.
Her voice was quiet.
Uneasy.
Haruto immediately noticed.
"You okay? Did something happen?"
Haruki hesitated.
Her lips parted slightly, but the words refused to come out. After a moment of awkward stuttering, she finally forced herself to speak.
"I... just wanted to say... I'm sorry."
Haruto blinked.
"...Sorry?"
His confusion only made her more irritated.
"I was the one who forced you to come in here, remember?" she said, clearly troubled.
"So that's what this is about?" Haruto replied calmly.
Haruna quickly jumped in.
"P-please, Master! Could you forgive Miss Haru just this once? She didn't do anything wrong. She even saved my life just a moment ago!"
That immediately caught Haruto's attention.
"...Saved you?"
Haruna nodded quickly.
"Just earlier, I was ambushed by curse goblins. The invisible ones. One of them was about to strike my heart when Miss Haru took control of my body and countered their attacks. If it weren't for her, I would've died several times. So please, Master—"
"Wait. Hold on."
Haruto raised a hand.
"...I honestly have no idea what you're talking about."
Haruki was stunned.
"Did you imagine something, Haru?" he asked bluntly.
"W-what?! Don't you remember?! I was the one who forced you to open that door! If we were even a little weaker, one of us could've died!"
Haruto shrugged.
"What are you even saying? We were supposed to come in here."
He gestured around them.
"The labyrinth was shifting. It's probably completely different outside by now. If we had stayed out there, things might've been worse."
Then he lightly tapped the mask on Haruna's face.
His voice softened.
"You know... one delusional person per team is already enough."
He smiled.
"You did great. Just take it easy, okay?"
Haruki froze for a second.
Then quietly mumbled,
"...O-okay."
Just like that, the tension drained from her mind.
His approval alone was enough to calm her.
Unbeknownst to her, however, Haruto was quietly analyzing her.
Now that he had far greater control over his abilities, there was no harm in testing something.
Streams of data flowed through his mind.
Patterns.
Signals.
Fragments of Astron reactions.
Then something clicked.
A small smile crept onto his face.
But before he could say anything—
Hana walked up behind them.
She carried a massive greatsword in one hand.
The blade was damaged, chipped along the edge, but still recognizable.
Haruto's eyes widened slightly.
"Wait... is that what I think it is?"
He immediately remembered the sword that had been embedded in the chest of the headless boss monster.
That ant had defeated it like it was nothing.
If creatures like that existed in numbers...
Then he was in danger.
Constantly.
Which left him with only one conclusion.
Haruto's gaze hardened slightly.
He must grow stronger.
...
"Pretty cool, right?"
Hana's cheerful voice echoed through the debris-covered chamber.
She proudly swung the massive greatsword onto her shoulder, striking exaggerated poses as she showed off her new form to Haruna and Haruki.
Haruna stared in open fascination.
Her eyes sparkled as she observed Hana's body carefully.
She had heard rumors before. Stories about slimes evolving into powerful gluttonous creatures, sometimes even gaining humanoid shapes. But this... this was something else entirely.
Hana's form looked too perfect.
Almost natural.
Perhaps it was because she had once been human at heart.
That was the only explanation Haruna could think of.
Everything about it fascinated her. And now she was experiencing things she had never even imagined were possible.
She could hardly wait to return home and tell everyone what had happened.
Haruto, however, remained serious.
"You know," he began, "there was someone from the Crimson Battalion."
The atmosphere shifted immediately.
"We dealt with him," he continued, "but we couldn't get any information out of him."
Haruna frowned.
"The battalion...? But what were they doing here? Was it a soldier... or a worker?"
Haruto scratched his head as he tried to recall the creature.
"Well... it had sharp claws. Walked on two legs. It somehow evolved after consuming a blood orb." He paused, remembering something. "Oh, and it grew wings."
Haruna's eyes widened.
"W-wings?"
Haruto blinked at her reaction.
"Yeah. Pretty big ones. I figured it was some kind of drone or something."
In our world, drones were male ants. Their only role was reproduction. They left the colony during mating flights, and after that their existence barely mattered.
But in a fantasy world… a winged ant that evolved beyond its limits could become something far more dangerous.
But in a fantasy world, such roles could take on entirely different meanings.
A winged ant that evolved beyond its original form could become something far more terrifying.
A being recognized not merely as a drone...
...but as a king, standing beside the queen herself.
And the one he'd fought before was disturbingly similar to the ones he'd seen in those very stories. So it's not absurd to think that'd they're just that strong.
Haruna's expression darkened.
Concern flickered in her eyes.
Haruto noticed immediately.
"Uh... did I mess something up?" he asked cautiously.
He didn't know if killing that creature had been the right decision.
What if it had been a mistake?
Haruna quickly shook her head.
"N-no! Of course not!"
She hesitated.
"But... if it truly was a general or a royal drone... then this could become very troublesome."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Especially if the Empress realizes someone deliberately killed one of her kin."
Haruto frowned.
He already suspected something like that.
The pheromone wave the creature had released earlier had clearly been a distress signal.
There was a good chance the Crimson Battalion already knew.
But...
Whether that thing lived or died didn't really change anything.
The truth was harsh.
They were already in danger.
The moment they left this labyrinth, they would be stepping straight into the middle of the forest's conflict.
Eventually, they would be forced to choose a side.
And logically speaking...
The winning side would probably be the Crimson Battalion.
But now things were different.
Haruna was part of his family.
And that meant her enemies were his enemies.
Supporting the battalion was no longer an option.
That didn't mean he wanted to get dragged into a war either.
He simply didn't want to run headfirst into danger without a reason.
So he asked the simplest question he could.
"Do you think... we should leave this place?"
Haruna hesitated.
Memories of her tribe and friends flashed through her mind.
Her master's will meant everything to her, but...
"I... I don't want to run away," she said nervously.
She braced herself for his anger.
But instead—
"Well, that settles it."
Haruna blinked in surprise.
"But we still need somewhere to live," Haruto added casually. He tilted his head slightly. "...Do you know a place where we could stay?"
Haruna froze.
He had actually asked for her opinion.
"I... Y-yes!" she stuttered, her eyes lighting up. "My tribe! You can come to my tribe! They would be honored to welcome the god's apostle!"
"N-no. No."
Haruto immediately rejected the idea.
"I can visit your tribe," he clarified, "but I'm definitely not introducing myself as some kind of apostle."
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Honestly, I don't even know what I am. And announcing something like that would just attract unwanted attention."
The memory of the ant's words resurfaced.
Dragon-born.
Maybe it was connected to Charybdis.
Maybe it was just coincidence.
Either way, the whole apostle thing was far too much.
Haruna nodded respectfully.
"That is wise," she admitted.
Though internally, she admired him even more for it.
In truth, Haruto simply had no desire to carry such a massive responsibility.
So he changed the subject.
"Anyway, that's not our problem right now. Let's just find the exit first."
Haruna looked up at him.
"...So you're coming with me, Master?"
There was a hint of worry in her voice.
The thought that he might leave her behind had crossed her mind.
Even though that didn't make much sense anymore.
Still...
It was strangely sweet.
Haruto gave a small, awkward smile.
"Hey. We're in this together, alright? No need to be scared. We'll figure things out when we get there."
For now, his only goal was simple.
Escape this place safely.
Everything else could come later.
Suddenly—
"Hey! I've got an idea!"
Hana raised her hand excitedly.
"Instead of going to some village or whatever... why don't we make our own group?"
She gasped dramatically as another idea struck.
"Ooooh! We could call it the Kanzaki— uh... wait..." She tapped her chin. "The Kanzaki Federation! That sounds cool, right?"
"Hell no."
Haruto rejected it instantly.
Clearly another one of Hana's ridiculous schemes.
She was definitely plotting something.
He sighed and began walking away.
"We can talk about that later. Let's just get out of here before something else shows up."
Haruna followed obediently.
Hana sulked for a moment before trailing behind them.
But then her eyes lit up again.
"Wait, listen to this!"
She clasped her hands together, eyes closed in imagination.
"Picture this. A giant tree mansion!"
She stretched her arms outward dramatically.
"Built into an enormous ancient tree! Multiple levels, spiral staircases inside the trunk, hanging bridges between branches, glowing lantern fruits lighting everything up! A huge balcony overlooking the forest, a training platform on one branch, maybe even a little workshop for you, Haruto!"
She grinned mischievously.
"Perfect secret base."
Haruto sighed.
"Can you stay quiet for five minutes?"
"...Fine," she muttered.
At that moment, Haruto's eyes glowed faintly blue.
Lines of Astrons flowed through the chamber like invisible currents.
He followed the trail.
It led straight behind the throne.
As he stepped past it, something revealed itself.
A stone door.
Perfectly hidden within the wall.
Now glowing runes slowly illuminated its surface.
Haruto, Hana, and the pair of Haruna and Haruki stood before it.
"It feels the same as the last one," Haruto said quietly. "This might be the exit."
Haruna inhaled slowly.
Then nodded.
This time, she would be more cautious.
"Be careful," Haruki said softly.
Haruto chuckled.
"Don't worry. If something happens again, we'll handle it better this time."
Haruki sighed quietly.
Trapped within the mask, she felt powerless.
At least she wasn't a burden.
Haruto understood that feeling all too well.
And now that he had begun to understand Astrons... he was determined to change that.
He took Hana's hand.
Their eyes met.
A small smile formed on her lips.
That was all the confirmation he needed.
Haruto stepped forward and pressed his hand against the stone door.
The Crimson Empress could do whatever she wanted.
But Haruto had been given a second life.
A true chance to start over.
And this time...
He would not repeat the mistakes of his past.
If the ants stood in his way—
He would simply become strong enough to crush them.
The same went for humans.
Or anything else that tried to block the path toward the world he wanted to create.
The runes pulsed with light.
The door creaked open slightly.
Then space twisted violently around the four of them.
Reality collapsed inward like a collapsing star—
And in the next instant, they vanished.
Leaving only the silent throne behind.
...
As warped space twisted the fate of the four who had escaped the labyrinth, another story quietly began to unfold beyond its walls.
Far away from the ancient maze, a vast mountain range stretched across the frozen horizon.
It was known throughout the Great Forest as the Mountain of Death.
The Scarlet-Black Mountains.
One of the many wonders that dotted the wilderness.
But this place was no natural marvel.
It was a fortress.
A domain.
The gifted territory of the Crimson Battalion.
Night still ruled the sky.
The blizzard that had ravaged the mountains hours earlier was slowly fading, leaving behind a bitter wind that carried soft flakes of snow through the air.
Every surface was buried beneath layers of white.
The towering trees scattered across the foothills stood frozen and silent, their branches sagging under the weight of fresh snow. Even the jagged slopes of the mountains themselves were dusted in pale frost.
Yet the mountains were far from lifeless.
Across their massive bodies were countless openings.
Caverns.
Tunnels.
Gigantic holes carved deep into the stone.
From afar, the mountains resembled something unnatural.
A monstrous ant colony scaled to the size of a mountain range.
Like a colossal termite nest that had grown directly from the earth.
Movement filled the snowy terrain.
Crimson ants scuttled across the ground and stone, walking on their many limbs as they carried materials through the tunnels and across the slopes. Their chitin reflected faintly in the moonlight as they worked tirelessly through the night.
But they were not the only laborers.
Among them moved various magic beasts.
Creatures that should have ruled the forest on their own were instead forced into servitude. Heavy thorned collars wrapped tightly around their necks, glowing faintly with restraining magic.
The beasts hauled stone, dragged resources, and carved paths through the frozen ground.
Towering beside them were taller figures.
Insectoid beings that stood upright, their dark exoskeletons reflecting faint shades of black beneath the moonlight. Their bodies were shaped more like warriors than beasts.
They carried long pole-like weapons, directing the enslaved monsters with sharp commands and occasional strikes.
Above all these mountains, one peak stood higher than the rest.
The tallest of the Scarlet-Black Mountains.
At its summit, a chamber had been carved directly into the stone.
And upon the balcony of that chamber stood a figure that ruled them all.
The Crimson Empress.
She stood beneath the pale moonlight, a glass of crimson wine held elegantly in one hand.
Her form was… unsettling.
Parts of her body bore a disturbingly human beauty.
Smooth skin framed portions of her face and neck. Long strands of black hair fell over her shoulders, contrasting sharply with the deep crimson chitin that covered the rest of her body.
Her figure was graceful.
Alluring.
Yet undeniably monstrous.
Four powerful arms extended from her torso. Two rested calmly before her, one holding the wine glass while another idly traced its rim.
The remaining limbs rested along her back like folded blades.
Her eyes glowed with a deep black-red hue.
Ancient.
Predatory.
She gently swirled the wine in her glass.
The liquid danced along the crystal walls as she watched the stars above.
A curved smile lingered across her lips.
Then—
Footsteps echoed from the tunnel behind her.
The Empress tilted her head slightly.
The playful smile faded, replaced with quiet seriousness.
A figure emerged from the tunnel.
A winged insectoid warrior stepped into the chamber.
Her exoskeleton shimmered with a faint blue tint, and her eyes glowed with a striking golden-red light.
She walked forward before dropping to one knee.
"My Empress…"
The queen slowly turned toward her.
"Speak."
Her voice was calm.
Yet it carried the weight of absolute authority.
"Did you reach the rookie?"
The blue warrior kept her head lowered.
"Yes… but there was an issue, Your Highness."
The Empress' eyes narrowed slightly.
"An issue?"
The commander hesitated.
"The general was recovered. However… his injuries are catastrophic."
She swallowed before continuing.
"His body was crushed and nearly destroyed while attempting to protect the labyrinth core."
"Crushed?"
The Empress repeated the word slowly.
Her gaze drifted momentarily toward the distant forest.
"I provided him with a complete map of the labyrinth."
Her tone grew colder.
"And yet he still failed to avoid its traps?"
The commander lowered her head even further.
"Forgive me, Your Highness. My incompetence led to the failure of my subordinate. I swear this will not happen again."
"No."
The Empress interrupted.
"It is not your fault."
She leaned against the balcony railing.
"The Chaos Maw was created by our lord himself."
Her eyes reflected faint moonlight.
"Its defenses would naturally be… perfect."
She exhaled softly.
"But at least we obtained what we wanted."
Her gaze slowly returned to the commander.
"…We did, correct?"
The warrior stiffened slightly before quickly nodding.
"Y-Yes, Your Highness."
She carefully presented an object wrapped in cloth.
The Empress reached out.
Slowly unwrapping the cloth, she revealed a deep crimson orb.
An Orb made of the lord's own blood.
Condensed power formed from the labyrinth's core.
The queen delicately lifted it between two fingers.
"So this is it…"
Her voice softened.
"…the last remaining essence of lord Charybdis."
She raised the orb toward the distant starlight.
Yet the sphere was so densely condensed that not a single ray of light passed through it.
Her expression changed.
For the first time that night…
The Empress looked truly delighted.
She pressed the orb gently against her chest.
"Finally…"
A soft breath escaped her lips.
"I have waited for you… for such a very long time."
The commander quietly watched the exchange.
Even after serving her for years…
The Empress' obsession with their ancient lord was still unsettling.
Then suddenly, the queen turned her gaze back toward her.
"The rookie."
Her voice returned to its calm authority.
"Did you place him inside a recovery chamber?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"He will recover within several days and return to his full health."
The commander paused before asking,
"Would you like to see him once he awakens?"
The Empress chuckled softly.
"Of course."
"Even if he proved incompetent… he still succeeded in delivering our lord's essence."
She smiled faintly.
"That deserves a reward."
The commander bowed once more.
"I shall prepare everything immediately, Your Highness."
She rose before disappearing back down the tunnel.
The Empress remained alone beneath the fading night sky.
She looked down at the crimson orb in her hand one last time.
Her eyes softened.
"Soon…"
"…I will stand beside you."
She lifted the nearby bottle and poured fresh wine into her glass.
Then, without hesitation—
She dropped the orb into the liquid.
The crimson sphere dissolved instantly.
Blending perfectly with the wine.
The Empress let out a quiet laugh.
"So you have accepted me… my lord?"
Her voice trembled slightly.
Not with fear.
But with devotion.
"It fills me with the most joy... to know that to this day, I still am your most beloved creation."
With one smooth motion, she raised the glass and drank.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
The wine slid down her throat in long, controlled gulps until the glass was empty.
One final drop clung to her lip.
She caught it with her tongue.
Then pressed a hand gently against her stomach.
A strange warmth spread through her body.
Something stirred within her.
Something new.
A playful smile curled across her lips.
The horizon beyond the mountains began to glow faintly.
Dawn was arriving.
The storm had passed.
And the first rays of sunlight touched the frozen world.
A new day had begun.
The Empress poured herself another drink.
She raised the glass toward the rising sun.
"To the new world…"
And somewhere far away, four unsuspecting lives had already begun to move it forward.
...