Chapter 39 Rescue
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Yuuri had a rough idea where the scout had turned to stone. From the information he possessed, she was said to be near the exit of the “Safety Area,” and the goddess had guaranteed her survival.
If they simply walked around and hoped to find her, it would be very difficult. She had stayed hidden for eighty long years without any monster damaging her stone body. It had to be a place that kept her safe all this time.
So Yuuri tried to think about the circumstances under which the scout had been petrified. He had heard she acted as a decoy so her friends could escape. If he considered how petrification worked at that time, the answer would become clear.
In this hunt, they had forced their way through because everyone had the “Petrification Immunity” skill, so they still did not know the exact process by which a basilisk’s petrification led to hardening. However, Yuuri guessed that even after petrification began, a person could still move for a short time. If not, she could not have hidden in a place where she would not be found. If the change was instant, she would have fallen and broken right away.
If that was true, she had only a few seconds, or at most a few dozen seconds, to hide. And there were only a few places where she could stay unseen by monsters for eighty years.
”…The riverbed, you say? Understood. I will use ‘Presence Sense’ and move down the stream,” Ashley said.
Yuuri dismissed the idea of digging into the ground or finding a small cave by chance in those few seconds before petrification. Compared to those, the riverbed, hidden by the shimmering water surface, was the most convenient hiding place, as a stone body did not need to breathe.
After they overcame that forbidden secret ritual, the “Presence Sense” Yuuri granted Ashley was a skill any maze guide would dream of. And of course, since it was an active skill that could be used at will, it could not be shared.
”I am sorry. My range is still small…” she said.
”No, this is already a big help. She might even be buried in the earth. If you can search through cover, that is enough,” Yuuri said.
Ashley had just learned the skill, so her “Presence Sense” had a limited range. But that kind of inconvenience could be compensated for by how they used it, just as they had narrowed down the search area beforehand.
To tell the truth, such inconveniences also served as a reminder when using the “Familial Workshop.” For example, with any other skill, the person who received it would train diligently to gain its full potential. The skills acquired by servants were the same; if they needed to be grown and made more convenient, then, to varying degrees, the “Familial Workshop” was no different from many other skills.
This inconvenience, which demanded effort to grow, served as a reminder not to stray from who Yuuri was when he had no skills. Living with this overly convenient skill, he could not help but think this way.
”Ah! I sense someone! In the water… I feel it from that deeper part!” Ashley exclaimed.
Her voice pulled Yuuri out of his thoughts. They had walked for about five minutes from the exit of the “Safety Area.” It was a sufficient distance to draw monsters away from her friends.
Ashley pointed to the flowing river. It was a deep bend where the water curved.
”I see. The river’s flow obscures the bottom. If she hid in the riverbed sand, she could certainly evade the monsters,” Yuuri said.
”Whether there were aquatic monsters was a gamble, but the method of escaping into water under certain conditions is known. She managed to stay calm with so little time left,” Yuuri added.
Once the goddess guaranteed her survival, the scout had won her gamble. However, her judgment in choosing the right path many times before that was more than enough to earn Yuuri’s respect as a colleague.
”Do you want her as a servant?” Marina asked with a grin.
”Yes. I would very much like her to join us,” Yuuri replied.
Yuuri ignored Marina, who teased him, likely thinking he meant as a servant. He thought she would make a strong servant, but it was also true that he wished he could have explored the maze with her simply as a friend. However, the eighty-year gap would have prevented that anyway. Since his only choice now was to make her a servant or refuse and abandon her, any other scenario would be unfair to Marina and Ashley.
”I will go. You two, stay on guard,” Yuuri said.
”Isn’t it dangerous? I think I could protect us better if I went,” Marina said.
As Yuuri took a step, Marina admonished him, as if to cut off his lingering feelings. Certainly, if they only considered his safety, relying on Marina would be the safest option. However, given that the scout was unharmed, it was clear that the water was relatively safe. Moreover, if something were to happen, it would make more sense not to tie up the hands of those who could attack.
Yuuri stopped and gently patted Marina’s head as she looked up at him with concern, reassuring her.
”I’m sorry, but it would be bad if Ashley’s magic was our only means of attack. Thanks to you two, I have gained considerable blessings. I can hold out until you come to my aid,” Yuuri said.
Marina nodded reluctantly. Yuuri then smiled at Ashley, who looked worried, and walked back to the riverbank, where the water played a refreshing melody.
For a while, the shallow gravelly shore continued as Yuuri stepped into the current. However, halfway across the river, the water depth increased dramatically. With the water reaching his waist, he took a deep breath and plunged to the riverbed.
He swam through the clear water, heading in the direction Ashley had indicated. The water grew deeper and deeper. The bottom near the rocks on the opposite bank was already too deep to stand, a sandy area eroded by the current.
A sandy slope gradually deepened as he went further in. Yuuri turned his head to look at the evenly smoothed surface.
There she was.
Beyond the slope, he saw something that was clearly not just a pile of rocks.
A woman’s back. It looked exactly like a nude statue buried in the sand.
Yuuri set his feet on the riverbed and carefully brushed away the sand. He continued digging until he unearthed her entire body, and then he saw it.
Her arms were missing.
Yuuri doubted his eyes and instinctively ran his hand over the surface, feeling the rough texture of stone. He checked in fear, but fortunately, there were no breaks or cracks on her neck. However, his relief was short-lived; all four of the scout’s limbs were missing from the root.
Disappointment washed over him, accompanied by a sudden shortness of breath. Although his blessing allowed him to hold his breath for an astonishingly long time, his agitated state made his body crave air desperately.
He surfaced, confirmed his position, and swam back to Marina and Ashley.
Breathing heavily, Yuuri steadied himself in the shallows, his body completely drenched.
”You didn’t find her… and you look unwell. Did something happen?” Marina asked.
Seeing that he was still partially submerged, Marina seemed to sense something was wrong. Yuuri nodded vigorously, and after his breathing stabilized, he explained the situation.
”My word… So, what do you plan to do?” she asked.
”If she hasn’t returned to the maze, then she is undoubtedly alive. If she becomes a servant, her body might be reconstructed… No, I’m not sure about that. I’ll have to ask Shelm to intervene later. Can I count on your help?” Yuuri said.
Marina agreed, but all Yuuri could do was let out a heavy sigh, apprehensive about the future. At the very least, the option of breaking the petrification and then negotiating for her to become a servant was now gone. If her body were restored with missing limbs, she would die of blood loss instantly. Her broken limbs had likely returned to the maze long ago, so reattaching them now seemed impossible.
For now, Yuuri had to rescue her to proceed, so he dove back into the water, determined to bring her to safety.
Less than ten minutes later, the scout was finally brought to the surface for the first time in eighty years.
In truth, even with blessings, it was difficult to pull a stone statue the size of a person from underwater with poor footing. Looking back, it was fortunate that her missing limbs had made rescuing her from the water significantly easier.
And as Yuuri returned to the riverbank, holding the scout, who now fit perfectly in his arms, he was met not with cheers, but with shrill accusations from Ashley and Marina.
”W-why did you strip her naked!? It’s inappropriate to do that before she even becomes a servant!”
”Y-yes…! I understand she is very beautiful, but please show some restraint…!” Ashley added.
”Wait! She was naked from the start! …But why was she naked?” Yuuri said, puzzled.
Petrification was not a biological change, so normally, any equipment worn would also turn to stone. Considering the short sword she had been holding in her mouth, which she likely didn’t want to lose while digging, remained there, Yuuri couldn’t understand why only her clothes had vanished.
”Is that true? Yuuri has been losing his restraint lately. You shouldn’t do things that might raise suspicion,” Marina said.
”For now, we can’t leave her like this. Yuuri, we need clothes and blankets… and a stretcher would be helpful too. I think there was one in the changing room, so I’ll go get it,” Ashley said.
Ashley, who had restored their wet clothes with ‘Purify,’ returned to the workshop and disappeared. This left only Marina on guard, and Yuuri didn’t have the courage to object.
She was not yet a servant, so the scout must be carried on the five-minute walk to the ‘Safety Area.’ Although the fifty-eighth floor was dangerous, the basilisk that had guarded the entrance was defeated, and it would take at least another day for the maze’s restorative power to respawn it.
Given that Marina was likely on alert with ‘Enemy Detection,’ and she hadn’t said anything, it was safe as long as they didn’t move from there.
”Hmm… I knew it when Shelm recommended her, but that scout is beautiful, isn’t she?” Marina said.
Perhaps judging that there was no immediate danger, Marina peered at the scout in Yuuri’s arms. Drawn by her words, Yuuri observed the scout’s features again, which had been blurred underwater. She might look different when she returned to flesh, as her eyes were closed in stone, but her sharp, long eyes were perfectly described as dignified. Her mouth, still holding the short sword that escaped petrification, was not distorted, and her expression was serene.
Perhaps the scout understood that this would be her final expression. Whether seen by anyone or not, her face showed no agony, resentment, or fear; it was a face that had accepted her fate, perhaps even believing in her rescue.
”Ah. To be able to maintain such an expression even when about to be petrified… I think she’s remarkable,” Yuuri said.
”Hmm, in that sense… No, she is remarkable, but…” Marina mumbled.
Yuuri admitted the scout was beautiful, but he didn’t want to affirm it and compare. Besides, Marina and Ashley were also quite beautiful, and he didn’t choose servants based on looks. In this case, what captivated him even more was the nobility radiating from her serene expression.
Perhaps sensing Yuuri wouldn’t engage in a discussion about beauty, Marina’s gaze shifted to the short sword the scout held in her mouth, still untouched by petrification.
”M-more importantly, that short sword not only didn’t turn to stone but also hasn’t decayed in eighty years. It must be protected by an incredibly powerful spell,” she said.
”Ah, you can see her determination not to lose it. In fact, if she had held it in her hand, it would have returned to the maze along with her arm,” Yuuri said.
Yuuri wondered if she would tell him the origin of the short sword she tried so hard to protect once she became a servant. As he indulged in this thought, Marina looked down, appearing uncomfortable.
”What’s wrong? Is there something you’re finding difficult to say?” Yuuri asked.
”Eh? N-no, it’s nothing!” she replied, avoiding his gaze.
Even when Yuuri prompted her, Marina kept evading the question. She clearly didn’t want to reveal her true feelings, but there was only one reason a wise princess like her would hesitate. Precisely because it was so obvious, he had to approach her.
”Marina, come here. Ah, I can’t stand right now, so please crouch down beside me,” Yuuri said.
Marina obediently knelt before him. Yuuri reached out, wanting to use both hands, but he couldn’t let go of the scout’s neck. So, with one hand, he stroked Marina’s cheek. She laughed shyly and took his arm.
”Ahaha, it’s cold… What is it, all of a sudden?” she giggled.
”I respect you more than anyone,” Yuuri said, looking directly into her eyes.
Yuuri looked directly into Marina’s golden eyes. Her widened eyes and flushed cheeks told him that his approach was working.
”Ugh, am I that easy to read?” she whispered, her cheeks growing warmer.
”You usually speak clearly about complex matters. Conversely, when you’re vague, it’s easy to understand what you’re feeling,” Yuuri replied.
”What’s that?” she muttered discontentedly, but Marina was ashamed, recognizing her own weakness. Although she had become more proactive in physical intimacy recently, she hadn’t completely overcome her inexperience in romance. If she was trying to attract his attention in a clumsy way, her feelings were obvious.
Anxiety. She was worried about the scout becoming a rival for his affection.
Until now, she had always declared her love for Ashley. However, Marina, as a princess, possessed a nobility and courage that surpassed even Ashley’s. Yuuri had been astonished by her spirit many times before, and those feelings had surely been conveyed to her. That was what allowed her to accept being second, so to speak, as his emotional support.
However, the scout had now displayed a nobility and courage that impressed Marina, threatening her position.
For Marina, this was a romantic rival she had never anticipated.
She likely didn’t know how to deal with someone who could threaten her position in his heart.
There was a simple way to reassure her.
”Marina, I’ve come this far thanks to you. So please continue to support me from now on. If you were to leave me, I would be lost,” Yuuri said, holding her gaze.
”…F-fine. For my hopeless husband, I’ll stay with you forever,” she replied, her voice softening.
It was a simple request from a lover.
They both knew the exchange was somewhat contrived, but it was effective and easy to understand.
Marina, who was leaning against him while being mindful of the scout, felt deeply comforting. Her warmth filled his heart.
”You must be cold. You were in the water for so long,” Yuuri said, concern lacing his voice.
”That’s why you need to be pampered, Husband. You worked so hard for us,” she said, her voice gentle.
Unfortunately, with Marina clad in armor, only their faces could touch. However, that slight warmth filled his heart with a happiness that felt too precious to end before Ashley returned with the supplies.
Notes:
• Ashley – Count’s daughter, royal attendant, has a crush on Yuuri.
• Marina – First Princess of Restea—needs labyrinth escort.
• Shelm – Wicked Goddess, reincarnated Yuuri, manipulative, wants him to use his power.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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