WHAM!
"Targets eliminated. Engage."
"My turn~... now, now, make way for us, okay~?"
The moment Pinna's gravitational force has pinned our four bothersome targets — the doppelgangers of Pinna, Salacia, and Lilith, and my own mage version — onto the ground with gravitational force, Pinna shouts to everyone.
Lilith reacts first as she raises her hand and coos to the six remaining doppelgangers, putting just enough illusion to make them stagger and easing us to finish this off.
"Grrraahh!!"
Yomogi roars and slams her fists into her staggered doppelganger multiple times and finishes with a powerful spinning kick that lands clean across the chest.
"Oi, you still trying? Hah!"
Chantal knocks both of the doppelganger's blades out of its hands, then stabs its body forward over and over again.
"Wind... Blade..."
Kimberly raises her hand, sending a gust towards her doppelganger. It tries to mirror her movement, but it's useless as the sharp wind slices clean through its body.
"Burn to ash, thou pale reflection! Fire Stratos!"
Manas raises her hand, engulfing Brunhild's weakened doppelganger in a layered column of fire.
"I do not feel remorse for striking down your duplicate, my Lord."
"Hahaha! I honestly don't know how I'm supposed to feel about that!"
Brunhild and I have our blades in hand, facing our selected targets.
"Haaaahhh!"
"Sorry, Manas!"
Brunhild swats my swordsman double's katana aside and drives her greatsword through its chest in a clean arc. At the same time, I twist, knock away Manas's doppelganger's shield, and slash through it from shoulder to hip.
Once it's done, Salacia lifts both arms.
"Wide Rejuvenation!"
A soft blue light spreads from her hands, washing over me, Yomogi, Chantal, Kimberly, Manas, and Brunhild, healing our wounds and lifting the battle haze from our minds.
"Thanks, Salacia."
"You're welcome~..."
Then, I pick up the stone plate left behind and turn to Brunhild.
"This makes five, right?"
"You are correct, my Lord. I shall explain what must be done with the plates shortly."
"Got it."
Then, we continue toward the gate of the last boss's area. Arriving there, we're just stunned.
Chantal and Yomogi are the first ones to break the silence.
"Whoa! This entrance is huge!"
"It's different. Not like any boss area we've been to..."
Kimberly and Salacia study the energy flow around the gate.
"This energy… inside… is quite… unsettling, Motegi-sama…"
"I feel it too. This place gives me a bad feeling, darling..."
Pinna, Manas, and Lilith then make everything clear.
"Once we cross this threshold, the final battle sequence will be initiated. All retreat options will be nullified."
"Verily… there is no going back after this, is there?"
"Once we step in, that's it..."
Honestly, everything they've said is all true. The entrance is far larger than any boss area we've seen. And once we enter, there's no turning back.
This will be the end... the final battle of the labyrinth.
"My Lord."
Brunhild's voice snaps me out of my thoughts. She points directly at the unfinished section of the engraving on the stone surface.
"That portion and the stone plate you hold. I believe they are meant to be joined."
"Okay."
With that, I lift the stone plate in my hand and carefully fit it into the recess she indicated. And Brunhild gestures again.
"The next one… here, my Lord."
"Got it."
I take the second plate and place it where she points. We repeat the process until the plates slot into place, forming a nearly complete pattern across the gate.
Nearly, and that's what makes us stop because there's still one empty space.
"Hey, Brunhild, didn't you say there were only five plates?"
"I did, and I am certain of it, my Lord. There should not be another. I... I do not understand this. We will have to wait for that."
"That?"
But before I start to ask, the gate reacts. Thin, straight lines of light begin to glow across the surface of the entrance. One by one, tiny dots illuminate, forming a circular array stretching around the unfinished engravings.
Then, Brunhild explains it to us.
"These markers represent the one hundred floors we have conquered. But something is wrong."
So, we all examine it closer, and everyone finds the missing details, starting from Yomogi...
"Motegi-chan, this one! The sixth dot... it's still dim."
To Chantal...
"Twelfth too. See? It's not lighting up."
To Kimberly...
"And… the twentieth… remains inactive…"
To Pinna...
"Dot number thirty is also unresponsive. This deviation suggests incomplete progression data or unresolved conditions."
To Salacia...
"This one here as well, darling. The forty-second."
To Manas...
"The fifty-sixth hath likewise failed to shine."
To Lilith...
"Honey… seventy-second. Still dark."
And finally, myself.
"And the ninetieth. Brunhild, what does this mean?"
Brunhild looks shaken from our discovery.
"I… I do not know. Why are there so many dimmed markers? What have we missed?"
So, I ask her again.
"The labyrinth you conquered in Turivel… did it have returning monsters?"
"No, my Lord. Once a monster was slain, it never returned."
"As I thought."
With that, Kimberly explains to Brunhild, shocking the latter.
"In this labyrinth… all monsters... we defeated... excluding... Doppelgangers—were returning ones. We didn't... face them... once… but twice. In the lower world… this phenomenon… is called… a 'loop'..."
"No way. Then, this is why the labyrinth has one hundred floors…"
And then, I suddenly remember what Yomogi used to say about 'shuffle." But before I can speak, she speaks exactly what I was thinking.
"Motegi-chan, could it be that these dimmed dots represent secret rooms?"
"They might be, Yomogi."
"If that's... the case… then... the secret rooms... would be located... on floors six… twelve… twenty… thirty… forty-two… fifty-six… seventy-two… and ninety, Motegi-sama…"
"You're right, Kimberly."
Again, Brunhild is confused, so Yomogi answers for her.
"What is this... 'shuffle'?"
"When a labyrinth absorbs too much life force, it releases the excess by restructuring itself. Creating new paths, hidden rooms, and abnormal encounters."
"I understand. If my conclusion is correct, then these secret rooms may contain the final missing key."
"We guess so, Brunhild..."
In the end, there's only one conclusion: our conquest is halted. Because before the final battle, we must uncover the secret rooms.
And that means...
"So... should we go home now?"
Everyone nods silently, and with that answer, I cast a teleportation spell for all of us to enter, ending our journey here as we make our way home.
BACK AT MOTEGI'S HOUSE
Arriving home, Puck immediately greets us with its cheerful chirps.
"Kyuu!"
"We're home, Puck."
"Kyuu! Kyuu!"
I crouch down and scoop Puck up, cradling the small, warm body against my chest. My fingers move automatically, rubbing along its fluffy back and sides.
"Kyuu!"
The girls gather around and rub Puck just as naturally. They're all smiling and doting, and yet… I can feel it because I also have the same feelings.
The fatigue and the aftershock of facing ourselves and clashing with perfect reflections that knew every move, every weakness. The disappointment and the quiet frustration of stopping just short of the end. Even Puck's chirping can't completely fill us up.
I know that playing with Puck alone isn't enough tonight, and I know what to do to lift our moods.
"I'll make dinner tonight, okay?"
The girls nod silently, and then I gently pass Puck into Pinna's arms.
"Please watch it for me."
"Understood, Master."
"Kyuu!"
Then, I turn away and head into the kitchen. Arriving there, I start pulling ingredients out of the fridge one by one. I don't want to cook anything heavy tonight, but I still want it to be incredible.
First up, I wash some Heiligeichen's short‑grain rice through cool water until the cloudiness fades away. Once it's clean, I transfer it into the rice cooker, add water, close the lid, and press the switch.
Then, I slice the best Misdaras's ribeye thinly. After that, I cut some lobster tails through the shells with scissors, leaving the tips intact, and then carefully removed the meat and deveined it.
Lobster is uncommon back home, but since this is a meal meant for our spirits, it feels right to choose this over shrimp tonight.
Vegetables come next. I slice the Lethal Lotuses' root thinly, soak them in vinegared water for five minutes, then lift them out and pat them dry.
Then, I wash some leaves thoroughly, patting them dry and barely managing to hold in a laugh.
Why is it funny?
Because those leaves are mugwort, or "yomogi," which coincidentally... I have a wolfkin with the same name living under the same roof here.
After that, I continue with slicing onions and spring onions.
Once all the things are cut, I prepare two bowls. In the first bowl, I pour soy sauce, sake, and sugar into a bowl, mixing until the sugar dissolves completely, and set it aside.
In the second bowl, I mix flour, eggs, plain ice soda water, and a few ice cubes, keeping the batter cold and light.
Oil heats in a large frying pan as I coat the lobster tails, lotus root, and mugwort lightly with cornstarch before dipping them into the batter. One by one, they go into the oil, frying until golden.
When that's done, I move to another pan and pour the sauce mixture. I scatter the beef and onions across the surface, turn on the heat, cover it, and let it cook for four minutes, skimming the scum as it rises. Four minutes later, spring onions go in, then the lid goes back on for one more minute.
After that, the rice is done cooking. I fluff it up gently and then start plating.
Nine bowls and a smaller one. Equal portions of rice for me and the girls with just a tiny serving of rice for Puck, yet I have sauce drizzled over each bowl. Generous portions of meat over the big bowl and a small one for Puck come next. Finally, I arrange the fried lobster tails, lotus root, and mugwort evenly across nine small plates... just nine, because I still won't serve fried food to Puck.
And sure, these fried goods usually need dipping sauce. But since it has the same base as the meat sauce, I think one is enough.
With everything ready, I call out to the girls.
"Everyone, can you help bring these out?"
"Yes!"
Each girl picks up a bowl and a plate, and I take a tray and carefully place my own bowl and plate onto it, along with the tiny one for Puck. Once we set everything on the table, I gesture to the steaming bowls.
"This one's called gyudon."
Then, I motion to the small plates filled with golden, crispy pieces.
"And this one's called tempura."
"Uwah! What is this, Motegi‑chan?!"
"It's called chicken teriyaki."
Chantal, Salacia, and Manas's faces light up instantly.
"Ohhh yes! There's so much meat!"
"And so much lobster too~!"
"This doth appear simple, yet verily, 'tis a feast most grand, mine king!"
Kimberly leans in, peering at her bowl.
"Did you use… soy sauce… again, Motegi-sama…?"
"Of course."
Suddenly, I feel Pinna's eyes locking onto me, sharp and serious.
"I repeat... fried foods are high in calories, Master. The oil retention increases energy density."
I raise both hands quickly, lowering my head slightly.
"It's just this once, I swear."
She stares for a second longer before nodding once.
"Permission granted, Master. On the basis of temporary morale restoration."
"Thank you, Pinna."
Lilith leans closer to her plate and breathes in deeply, then her body shudders as she holds a moan while biting her lip.
"Hnngg~… I can already feel how delicious this is even before tasting it, honey~..."
Brunhild smiles softly and places a hand over her heart.
"This sight alone lifts my spirit already, my Lord."
"Well, we won't just stare at it, right?"
Yomogi curiously points to a green tempura piece on her plate.
"Umm, is this… 'me,' Motegi-chan?"
"Ahaha... unfortunately, yeah. Sorry for frying 'you.'"
She puts a hand on her mouth, giggling sweetly.
"Ehehe... it's so funny to eat myself..."
Even Puck chirps in delight, like it knows what kind of joke we have.
"Kyuu!"
Then, I raise my chopsticks and declare to everyone.
"Well, let's dig in now, shall we?"
At once, the girls raise their own chopsticks... and the reaction is instant.
Chantal, Salacia, and Manas are utterly delighted with their bites.
"Mmmm! The meat's so tender! It's melting in my mouth!"
"Crunchy, juicy lobster... I love it~!"
"This combination… 'tis as though it were summoned from the heavens themselves!"
Kimberly, already on her second bite, closes her eyes as she speaks.
"Soy sauce… really uplifts such simple dishes…"
"It really does, right?"
Pinna sets her chopsticks down and begins analyzing without pause.
"Beef provides high protein and tender texture. Onion contributes essential sulfur compounds. Lobster tail adds lean protein and fatty acids. The fried coating introduces pleasing crunch and mouthfeel. Despite its elevated caloric profile, this meal achieves satisfactory culinary balance."
"Glad to hear it, Pinna."
Across from me, Lilith shudders again mid-chew, closing her eyes with a soft, sultry moan.
"Mmmhh~... as I thought, this is so delicious~…"
Brunhild finishes a bite and smiles at me.
"Thank you for the dinner, my Lord."
"You're welcome, Brunhild."
Yomogi's ears twitch happily as she chews on the tempura greens.
"Yomogi is so good!"
I can't help but laugh, and she responds with a wink and a giggle under a hand on her mouth.
"Which one? You or the veggie?"
"Fufufu... you do know the answer, right, Motegi-chan?"
"Hahaha! Okay, then."
Then, I turn to Puck, who is gleefully munching on its little bowl.
"You like it too, Puck?"
"Kyuu!"
"Eat a lot, okay?"
"Kyuu!"
Finally, I take a bite of my own. The gyudon is rich and practically melts. The tempura is light and crisp, a perfect counterbalance.
"This one never fails, does it?"
Back in Japan during my part-time konbini days, I used to pass that infamous gyudon restaurant chain on my way from college, and I'd sometimes sneak a visit when I wanted some fast, cheap meals. And now, I can confidently say that what I've made tonight has surpassed it.
With dinner done and our stomachs full, we move to the sofas and enjoy gentle cups of Mile Chamo tea in our hands quietly.
Yomogi and Chantal take a sip, their ears drooping contentedly.
"This feels so comforting, Motegi-chan…"
"It's like everything from the labyrinth just got wiped away, Motegi-kun..."
Kimberly and Pinna rest back against the cushion, holding their tea close to their lips.
"I… feel so calm now, Motegi-sama…"
"Body temperature stabilizing. Muscle fibers relaxing. Neurological stress response declining. This infusion is actively loosening my entire system."
Salacia and Manas both let out a sigh. The former's tentacle-hair sways, while the latter's voice rises resonantly with her sigh.
"Mmm~... I love this tea, darling…"
"'Twill ne'er rival the vigor of fine wine… yet 'tis a draught most acceptable."
Lilith shudders the moment the warmth hits her tongue, closing her eyes with a quiet, breathy moan.
"Mmmn~... this tea's making me melt, honey~…"
And Brunhild takes a careful sip, eyes closed in serenity with a smile.
"Tonight's meal has been truly splendid, my Lord."
I raise my cup and take a sip myself, letting the delicate floral notes spread through my chest.
"I'm really glad everyone's feeling better now."
And the girls all nod in quiet agreement.