"Ready, Yomogi?"
"Mmm."
The morning has come, and today marks the opening of the store. Motegi and Yomogi stand at the top of the stairs, and with her nod, they descend together. But just as they reach the store floor, a loud noise echoes from outside.
"Hey, when's it gonna open?!"
"I can't wait any longer!"
"I've been waiting since dawn!"
Through the window, he can see a long line of people is already waiting, crowding at his front door, their buzz of excitement is almost overwhelming.
"I didn't expect this many…"
"That's quite a crowd, Motegi-chan..."
Taking a deep breath, he unlatches the door and opens it wide, calling out loudly.
"All right, everyone! From this moment, the store is officially open for business!"
And just like that, the crowd flooded inside.
"Waaaahhhhhh!!!"
"Move, move!"
"Outta the way, I saw it first!"
"No! I want the mint toothpaste before it runs out!"
"Where's the shampoo?!"
Motegi quickly slides behind the counter. His expression remains calm as the room becomes a chaotic flurry. The soap bars, bottles of shampoo and sanitizer, and pouches of toothpaste and deodorant disappear in seconds.
"Everyone, please form a line, okay? Bring your items to the counter, and I'll handle your payment."
Soon enough, people line up with arms full of toiletries, tossing coins onto the counter one after another.
"Here's your change, sir. Come again soon!"
"Thank you!"
"Please tell your friends!"
Meanwhile, Yomogi quietly makes her way to the side of the store where one shelf displays a variety of shiny kitchenware and neatly arranged tableware. She clears her throat and puts the warmest smile on her face.
"Everyone, if you're done picking your toiletries, please take a look at our kitchenware and tableware section as well..."
The effect is immediate.
"Huh? Kitchenware?"
"They sell pots too?"
"Let's take a look."
The women in the store turn their heads. One by one, they peel away from the toiletries section and curiously drift toward her section.
"This pot can heat evenly and retains warmth, making it perfect for stews and soups. The surface won't flake, won't rust easily, and it's sturdy enough to last a lifetime. And the handle doesn't burn your hand, even after long cooking sessions."
"Oooohhh…"
"It feels so solid…"
Then, one woman asks, seemingly wanting to take it home, and Yomogi's answer shocks all of them.
"How much is this?"
"Only three silver coins."
"That cheap?!"
"For this quality?!"
And with that, the crowd grows even more as the women begin picking up the wooden ladles and utensils, wooden bowls and plates, marbled pans, shining kitchen knives, and trays, delightfully examining every piece. Yomogi stays calm, answering questions patiently with clear, soothing words, earning more surprised reactions from them because all of the products are affordable.
At the same time, the men in the store show a different kind of reaction, especially the adventurers.
"Wait a second…"
"Is that really her?"
"No way, is that Yomogi?"
"That former A-rank adventurer?"
"Why is she working here?"
Motegi, who overhears the conversation, is also surprised because he also doesn't expect that the woman who lives with him isn't just a strong adventurer, but her past itself isn't a joke too.
"A-rank, you say?"
Motegi overheard the sudden stir and turned, confused.
One of the adventurers steps closer and asks him.
"Hey, soap guy. You really don't know who she is?"
Motegi only shakes his head, still surprised and oblivious about it.
"That's Yomogi, she was famous among us adventurers. Gentle on the surface, but brutal in a fight. Rumor says her punches could shatter a magic barrier in one hit."
"Wow..."
Hearing that statement, Motegi somehow becomes intrigued and curious, as he wants to see how she fights, already wondering what it will be.
Yomogi, completely unaware of the buzz she's creating, still politely explains the cookware to the ladies. The adventurers, previously focused on hygiene, now begin drifting toward her section as well and stand behind the ladies, though not for the cookware.
"Just look at her…"
"She's even prettier up close…"
"Damn, that butt too..."
"That outfit… gods…"
The store clerk outfit, which is a modified maid uniform that Motegi has created the night before using his [Tailoring] skill, is undoubtedly sexy. It highlights Yomogi's natural curves, the maternal elegance of her figure, and the soft strength in her posture. Her ears twitch and her tail wags as she continues helping customers with her sweet voice and bright smiles, still oblivious if she's drawing more attention than just her reputation.
**********
Hours passed.
Customers come and go, their arms full of soap, shampoo, pans, and plates. Once the shelves are empty, I close the store. I turn to Yomogi, who is wiping her brows with the back of her hands.
"Thank you for your hard work, Yomogi!"
"You too, Motegi-chan!"
"Now, let's count our sales today."
"Yes!"
Then, I return to the counter, and Yomogi follows me as I want to announce our earnings.
"Okay, let's see. In total we get 50 bronze, 20 large bronze, 11 silver, and 6 large silver coins!"
"Amazing! Congratulations, Motegi-chan!"
On the opening day, I manage to earn about 73,500 yen. Most of the income comes from the toiletries, but the sales from the kitchenware and tableware section aren't far behind. And certainly, Yomogi, my first store clerk, also unexpectedly becomes an icon that leaves an unforgettable impression among my customers.
After that, I glance at Yomogi, who's looking at the afternoon sky, and I somehow know what she's thinking.
"Do you want to go to the labyrinth again?"
"Yes, I have to try finding the flower again."
"Yeah, of course you do."
Honestly, I really want to see how Yomogi fights. I mean, I already assume if she's strong, but when everyone says the same as me and amplifies it, I become even more curious.
But at the same time, I don't want to be a burden for her, as my rank is still F, and hers is A. And I don't want to shock her by suddenly revealing that I can enhance my stats to infinite with [Temporary Boost], at least not yet.
Still, I have to try.
"Hey, Yomogi. Can I join you? I mean... I want to see how a former A-rank adventurer fights."
She stops. Then, she chuckles bitterly.
"A-rank, huh? That title is all just in the past. What's standing in front of you is only a broken woman who's lost her edge."
I quickly deny it, like... How could she say that?
"That's not true. You're still strong, I know you are..."
Then, she chuckles again, though not bitter this time.
"Ara, is that so? You're really good at flattering, Motegi-chan."
Flattering?
Why would I do that?
I'm being genuine here.
She continues with a small sigh, and her tone shifts like a parent advising a child.
"Alright, I'll let you join me in the labyrinth. But don't be disappointed when you see me fight, okay? Still, I'll protect you with whatever I have."
"Yeah, thank you."
And with that, we make our way to the labyrinth.
REMANTIA'S LABYRINTH, FOURTH FLOOR
"Hey, Motegi-chan, did you know all labyrinths in this world follow the same pattern?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, they do. The first to third floors are always for beginners because there is one monster that appears. The first floor is for slimes, with a Mega Slime as the boss. The second floor is for skeletons, with a Skeleton Lord. Third floor is for goblins, and a Hobgoblin as the boss."
As we walk together in the dimly lit halls, Yomogi has been explaining lots of things about labyrinths to me.
"They're not just for training, they're also meant to get you used to boss battles. Once you defeat the boss on the third floor, a teleportation portal appears. From there, you can either go home or continue to the fourth floor. But if you choose to return, you don't have to repeat everything next time. You can jump straight to the fourth."
"Ah, I see..."
So basically, slimes, Mega Slime, skeletons, Skeleton Lord, goblins, and Hobgoblin are common in labyrinths' beginner levels. As for the teleportation portal, I think it's kinda like a checkpoint or a save button in the game that can keep your progress, and the fact that I encountered that portal yesterday and returned here with it again also confirms it.
Yomogi keeps walking in front of me and continues her explanations.
"From the fourth to the eighth floor, two monsters will appear. And there won't be another teleportation portal or boss area until you reach the end of the eighth floor. If you give up halfway before that, you'll have to start again from the fourth."
"Okay..."
"Then, from the ninth to the fifteenth floor, you'll face three monsters. Same rule. No teleportation portal or boss area until the end of the fifteenth floor."
Wait.
Two monsters from floors four to eight, three monsters from nine to fifteen… is it like an exponentiation?
Like, do the labyrinths follow the math concept?
If that's the case...
"Then, do the sixteenth to twenty-fourth floors have four monsters?"
"Yes. And from the twenty-fifth to the thirty-fifth, there will be five."
As I thought.
Her nod and smile confirm my theory.
"Then, how many floors does a labyrinth usually have?"
She pauses for a second, seemingly unsure.
"No one knows for sure. But most people believe that all labyrinths will stop growing at the hundredth floor. However, the labyrinth itself seems to have a will. It creates many secret rooms to confuse and trap those who try to conquer it. That's why nobody has ever reached the bottom."
"I see..."
A living labyrinth that grows and shifts, like it's trying not to lose.
What a dirty play...
"Where is the deepest you have gone before?"
"In the Misdaras' labyrinth, I reached the 24th floor with my husband."
"Just two of you?"
"Yes. And back then, our former village chief, my husband's grandfather, was a part of a full beastmen party who ever reached the 63rd floor."
I don't know what to say anymore.
She and her husband cleared the entire fourth-to-eighth and ninth-to-fifteenth sections and even the floors with four monsters inside. Just the two of them.
And I don't even want to imagine that beastmen party either, I think they're just in a different league.
"What about this labyrinth? How deep have you gone here?"
"I only reach the eighth floor here because that's where I get the flower."
"I see..."
Still, going solo and clearing the floors with two monsters inside annually doesn't make any difference either for me, so I'm even more excited to see her fight. And fortunately, that chance comes out quick.
"Wait, Motegi-chan..."
She stops and raises a hand towards me, sniffing the air like a wolf catching a scent.
"There's a monster coming..."
"Okay..."
I grip my katana tightly, and moments later, a giant green caterpillar, nearly two meters tall, crawls slowly across the floor in front of us. However, it feels strange because I still remember what she said before.
"Hey, Yomogi. You said there were supposed to be two monsters from the fourth to eighth floors, right?"
"Yes, there will be two."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
And then, the caterpillar split cleanly down the middle, dividing into two separate, identical creatures.
"Holy shit! That's gross!"
"Split Caterpillar. At the beginning, it looks like a giant caterpillar, but then it will split up, and we need to kill them at the same time."
Her explanations only make it more disgusting than it seems. But then, she asks me something that excites me without the need to answer.
"Motegi-chan, you want to see me fight, right? Then, watch."
She steps forward and grabs both caterpillars, hoisting them into the air like pillows. As they're still mid-air, she spins on her heel and twists her leg for a powerful spinning kick, shouting loudly.
"Haaah!!!"
"Kheeee...!!"
"Kheeee...!!"
Those caterpillars are sent into the stone wall, and the impact of her kick echoes with a thunderous crack. And just like that, they slump into the ground and die on the spot.
She turns back to me slowly, brushing her hair behind her ear.
"That… wasn't what you were expecting, right? I'm sorry if I disappointed you…"
Disappointed?
No, that's far from what I expected.
She just tosses two monsters and kicks them easily like that, but how is she still not confident in herself?
"That was awesome, you know?"
I blurt that out, and Yomogi's eyes widen a little, then she looks away with one hand brushing her cheek.
"E-Eh? Is that so?"
Once again, her ears twitch and her tail wags adorably. And the way she smiles sheepishly, clearly flattered and trying to hide it, somehow makes it look like her confidence is slowly returning.
"That was awesome! You were totally badass just now!"
"Thank you, Motegi-chan... I'll show you more next time, okay?"
"Yes!"
Then, I notice something on the ground, and I pick it up.
"A thread?"
"Yes, that's the Split Caterpillars' drop item. The adventurer guild offers a lower price, but you'll earn more if you sell it to the boutiques."
"Ah, I see..."
With that, I put the thread in my pocket, and we continue our journey.
MOMENTS LATER
"Haaah!"
We keep walking through the fourth floor, and more Split Caterpillars crawl out one after another. And just like before, Yomogi's heel and fist are always ready to step forward without hesitation.
As for me... well, let's just say that I'm content now. Being a guy who collects the spoils, the threads they dropped, is enough for me since I already get what I want anyway.
And now that I've seen enough, I think I can say this for sure: Yomogi is a front-line fighter.
From what I've observed, Yomogi isn't the type who needs to use spells or weapons. She's all about raw physical power — kicks, punches, grapples, and slams. Those are the signatures of a Brawler - high strength, high durability, and the confidence to charge in without flinching.
So, if I really want to assist her properly in a fight, then maybe using magic is better than using Yamitsuki.
"Hey, Yomogi. How do you use magic?"
"Ah, I actually don't know. I've never used it..."
"Is that so..."
"But I've heard a little about it. Magic spells are created by shaping your element into something you imagine."
Something you imagine, huh?
Maybe I should give it a try.
What about I start with Fire?
I raise my palm and imagine a small sphere forming there. Instantly, a ball of fire actually appears on my hand, shocking us both.
"Motegi-chan… You really did it…"
"Uh-huh?"
And just in time, two Split Caterpillars show up, crawling on the ground. Without hesitation, I throw that up straight at one of them.
Boom!
It doesn't die, but it's fine.
I summon another fireball and hurl it again.
Boom!
And again.
Boom!
"Kheeee...!!"
Finally, that caterpillar is dead after three strikes.
"The next one is you!"
"Kheeee...!!"
I turn to the last one and repeat the process. Three fireballs, just like before, and done. Then, I pick up their threads, and I find out if those are the last caterpillars as we somehow managed to enter the fifth floor.
But my curiosity is still burning even after my first magic spell.
"Hey, Yomogi. Do you know anything about the Cosmic element?"
"Cosmic? Hmm… I only know that it's the element of the harekin."
"Harekin?"
"Yes. They're known for their unique and acrobatic fighting style. The Cosmic element is related to gravity, time, and space. And I think that's why harekin can jump so high, like they're weightless."
Gravity, time, and space?
Gravity... okay, I get it.
Time and space... time and space... wait...
Then teleportation is included too, right?
Again, my curiosity gets the better of me as I put my hand toward the wall and imagine a portal. And just like that, a blue portal emerges from the wall, shocking her.
"Motegi-chan?! What is that?"
"I don't know. But there's only one way to find out."
I reach for her hand, and together, we step into the portal.
INSIDE MOTEGI'S RENTED PROPERTY
Once we step out, we stand in the middle of my house, or my living room to be exact.
"Ehhhh?! W-We're home? Motegi-chan, you teleported us!"
She is surprised and turns to me with her amber eyes sparkling.
"You really can use more than one element?"
"I guess so? Is that not normal?"
"No, but it's rare. Humans usually inherit only one element. Some, maybe three at most. But that's very rare. Demis and beastmen like me typically have just one. For example, my wolfkin race inherits Earth, but none of us can actually use magic."
"I see…"
Well, if I say to her now that I don't just have three but eight elements, it will shock her even more. So yeah, maybe it's best to not reveal it yet.
"Well then, keep what you see today a secret, okay?"
She smiles and nods, and that's enough for me.
"Of course, Motegi-chan!"
And that's how we end our labyrinth raid for today.