To the Wind Labyrinth, Part 2

Azu and the others arrived at the Wind Labyrinth.

The labyrinth wasn't particularly crowded.

They'd traveled from the capital to a satellite city before heading here, but just as they'd been told beforehand, most adventurers had gone to the Earth Labyrinth instead.

The materials obtainable here were in demand among those adventurers as well.

Just as they were about to head inside, Alexia spoke up.

"You know what I always think?"

"What?"

"That man has a nose for money, doesn't he."

"Does he? I can't really tell."

Azu tilted her head.

In truth, Azu had little experience handling money herself.

She'd actually dealt with it more since becoming a slave than she ever had before.

To Azu, money was something Master gave her that she spent at markets and shops. That was about it.

"Any normal person would go to the Earth Labyrinth even without proper gear. A freshly expanded labyrinth is a goldmine, after all."

"And everyone really is over there."

"Right. But here we are at the Wind Labyrinth. I checked the market prices myself, and we can make steady profit here."

They chatted as they entered. The interior was bright enough that they didn't need torches.

Walls in an overall green hue stretched deep into the distance.

After walking through the corridors for a while, they'd arrive at a small chamber, then continue down another corridor. That was the labyrinth's basic structure.

While they were talking, a wind-clad sphere came flying at them from ahead, and Azu cut it clean in two.

A small green stone dropped to the ground.

Azu picked it up and held it aloft.

It was a dull green stone. She could feel a faint breeze against her hand.

"Wow, this is amazing. Wind is coming out of this stone!"

"That's a Wind Elemental. Though the quality is garbage."

"Garbage…?"

"Good magic stones and elementals are much prettier. Like gemstones."

"Something to look forward to, then."

Azu stuffed the stone into her backpack.

"The quality's only this bad because we're still near the entrance. According to our intel, the magic stones and elementals from the third floor onward are the ones being actively traded. Even junk stones sell if you collect enough."

"Then let's keep moving!"

"I'll handle monster detection. The front's all yours."

Elza took the lead.

This time, Elza had a fire-attribute shield equipped in one hand.

A shield didn't suit Azu's build or fighting style.

They swept through low-threat monsters like wind-attribute Goblins and Rat Monsters, barely slowing down.

Azu picked up small wind magic stones and elementals, tucking them into her backpack as she went.

When they ascended to the second floor, they emerged into a wide room.

Despite being inside a sealed structure, wind swirled through the space.

A strange place. Living up to its name, the Wind Labyrinth had a particularly strong wind element.

Starting from the second floor, the monsters changed as well.

Among them were tiny monsters, barely visible.

"Ow! Huh? Ouch!"

Azu looked around frantically, but there was nothing there.

Yet something kept hitting her, making her yelp each time.

Eventually she started spinning in circles.

Alexia pointed her right index finger at Azu and finished a brief incantation.

Small flames flared up around Azu and quickly burned out.

"Eek?! What was that?"

"Bug Monsters. Too small to see easily."

"Bugs…"

Azu's face fell, old memories resurfacing.

"Well, as you just saw, they're weak. Even if you leave them alone, they only sting a little."

"I hate bugs. Bug Monsters especially…"

"Look, look, Azu-chan!"

Elza thrust her shield at the empty air, and its surface erupted in flames.

Charred remains fluttered to the ground.

"They go down that easily?"

"Fun, right?"

"Come now, let's keep moving."

The second floor was thick with Bug Monsters carrying wind elements, and Azu swung her sword around in half-frantic frustration.

Her blade cut through the Bug Monsters with ease.

A large Butterfly Monster came fluttering toward them on the wind.

Azu had just relaxed, thinking a butterfly was at least better than bugs, only to get showered in sleep-inducing scale powder and fall fast asleep.

The Butterfly Monster was blasted away by Alexia's fireball, scales and all.

"It hurts…"

Azu pressed the lump on her head from when she'd collapsed.

"I'll heal you right up. Hehehe."

"Please don't laugh, Elza-san."

Azu sulked at being laughed at.

Elza's healing miracle made the lump shrink away in no time, freeing Azu from the pain.

"Thank you!"

"Azu-chan is such a good girl."

"Ah, you're squeezing too tight!"

Elza pulled Azu into a hug.

"Now, now. It's too early for a break."

Alexia clapped her hands, urging them onward.

Once Azu started prioritizing the Butterfly Monsters and cutting them down first, the problems stopped.

"Hm?"

"What is it, Azu?"

Alexia called out. She'd watched Azu fell several Butterfly Monsters in one sweep, pick up a small wind magic stone, then freeze in place.

"Well, um… I feel like I'm somehow connected to my sword. What is this?"

"Oh, I see. I figured it was about time, but your growth really is fast."

Alexia sounded impressed.

Azu, meanwhile, had no idea what was happening and didn't know what to do with this strange sensation.

"Your magic power crossed the threshold. Up until now you had too little to channel any into the sword, but it's increased. Congratulations."

"Way to go!"

"Really?"

"Your slashes should hit harder now. We're on the third floor, so let's do a test run."

Azu nodded, wearing an expression that said she half understood and half didn't.

But if she'd grown stronger, that made her happy. It meant she could be even more useful to Master.