Day 74 of the Labyrinth.
Today was the day I decided to use the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket.
And for this exploration, I had to go in person.
Because only I can use the vending machine.
So, I decided to bring along all the monsters with exceptional combat abilities.
No matter how much I claim to be S-Class right now.
Even if I’ve become somewhat comparable to SSS-Class monsters in terms of actual danger level…
I cannot let my guard down.
There’s no telling when and what variables might arise.
As I always say, it’s best to be as cautious as possible regarding safety. There’s absolutely no downside to that.
So, early this morning.
I turned on the broadcast as usual.
【Mysticism】─🌞 Good morning!
【Yumi】─Did you sleep well?
【Pururu】─Hey, you started early today.
【Boglebogle】─Looks like we got up at the same time. Did we share a connection?
【Rize Nova】─Don’t fool yourself; we were not connected at all.
【Mirstin】─What is up with these people? Why are they all coming in as soon as the broadcast turns on?
【Luna-chan】─We arrived just after it started, didn’t we? o_O
I immediately summoned all the headquarters monsters.
[Summoning complete.]
[Ready for departure.]
[All clear.]
[Slightly sleepy.]
Beginning with the orderly gathered Iris.
[I’m ready, Father.]
[Dad! I woke up early and drank lots of vending machine juice!]
Kinogine Aracne.
Blood Jellyfish Princess.
[Sniff~]
[Bee bee!]
[I don’t really have anything to prepare. I can leave right away.]
Black Magma Slime.
Medical Mushroom.
Bastet Daong.
“I’m ready too.”
[Our son looks handsome even in the morning. Hehe.]
Azelas and Niarah Nepensys.
[Explorer, I’ve prepared the necessary items for the data collection.]
Artpega Unibacon.
【Luna-chan】─It feels reassuring seeing everyone gathered! >_*
Like the Wandering Merchant Tracking Ticket.
The Vending Machine Tracking Ticket also guided the way with a voice.
Following the voice guidance, we entered Passage No. 5.
In Cave No. 5, a vast underground world awaited us, filled with countless apple trees and inhabited by Poison Apples.
Thus, we arrived at the Apple Farm.
[Woosh! Long time no see!]
The administrator of the Apple Farm.
The Poison Apple that I’ve tamed greeted me happily.
Though it showed no hostility after being tamed, its expression was still toxic; now, however, it appeared much more tranquil than before.
For reference.
To differentiate it from the other Poison Apples, I named it ‘Po-Ae.’
“Po-Ae. Long time no··· or rather, how have you been?”
[Very well! Have you come to pick apples again? I’ve carefully sorted out the most delicious ones! The quality of the summoned beings is excellent too!]
【Pururu】─You traitor, offering kin.
【Mysticism】─Despicable! 😠
【Mirstin】─Seriously, that’s what a scoundrel would do. Typically, those types strike from behind.
【Yumi】─You don’t need to worry about betrayal. Tamed monsters have never been known to betray us.
The carefully selected Poison Apples were eager to recommend themselves to me.
Seeing such a creature, the other Poison Apples ground their teeth in envy.
[That traitor···.]
[Woom, woom···!]
The Poison Apples glared at us fiercely.
But as I cast a sidelong glance, they averted their eyes in a hurry as if they’d never looked.
[…That explorer seems stronger each time I see him. I don’t know their identity.]
[They seem like a monster…]
I withdrew my gaze.
Then I addressed Po-Ae.
“No need for recommendations. I didn’t come here for apples today.”
[What? Then why are you here?]
“I was just passing through. I used the Vending Machine Tracking Ticket, and it guided me this way.”
Currently, the guidance voice indicated to move deeper beyond the apple farm.
It seemed we had to go further from here.
If I had known this would happen, I would have just taken the Warp Device.
I hesitated momentarily before moving my feet.
Then I looked back at Po-Ae and asked.
“Oh right, Po-Ae.”
[Woom?]
“If I keep going straight from here, do you know what’s ahead?”
I thought that I would likely need to move to another location beyond the apple farm to find the vending machine.
In other words, it meant I’d be entering unexplored territory.
So, it was better to gather some information beforehand if possible.
【Pururu】─What could it know? It’s just hanging there, unable to move.
【Yumi】─You never know. It could have a surprising amount of knowledge.
【Mirstin】─Can Poison Apples die if they fall from the tree?
【Mysticism】─They’ll die if too long without the tree! 😠
【Boglebogle】─I heard if they don’t meet the conditions for showing their original power within a certain period after falling from the tree, they die.
【Rize Nova】─Last time Po-Ae said, that condition is based on the panic of another creature or something.
【Mirstin】─Hmm. If they die from being away for too long, it suggests they’ll be fine for a brief time after falling from the tree. So, wouldn’t occasional outings be possible? They can just return to the tree before their life expires and hang again.
【Mysticism】─😮 Oh wow! That makes sense!
【Rize Nova】─I’m not sure if that’s possible, but I do know they shouldn’t stray too far from the tree. Long-term excursions likely wouldn’t be feasible.
【Luna-chan】─So, it seems Pururu was right to say it wouldn’t know a lot. o_O
Po-Ae seemed to ponder for a moment.
And, not long after, as if recalling something, it answered my question.
[Woom! I believe there’s a door at the end of the direction you’re pointing! But what lies beyond that door, I don’t know… Except that the Rock Makers came through that door, I don’t know anything else.]
No helpful information was obtained.
Unfortunately, it couldn’t be helped.
We just had to check it out ourselves.
I politely thanked Po-Ae, then continued moving with the monsters I was with to the location indicated by the voice guide.
Then time passed.
We reached a dead end.
To be precise, there was a massive door blocking the passage.
【Pururu】─What’s that door? It gives me goosebumps.
【Mysticism】─😨
【Mirstin】─It’s clearly different from the doors we’ve seen so far. It looks terrifying.
【Yumi】─It looks like a hellish gate…
An overwhelmingly large door filled my sight.
The uneven surface of the door made of black iron and red stone had various shaped skulls and sharp spikes embedded in it.
And the gigantic handle twisted like a snake, with a red gemstone embedded in the snake’s eye, radiating an ominous glow.
Just as Ha Yumi said.
This door looked just like an entrance to hell.
