▪︎Petal of salvation "25th Ventus "4:20pm (The Labyrinth Of Lethe Day 12)
Three days had already flown by since they arrived at the 10th layer. Traveling to the 11th layer was taking much longer than their previous journeys, primarily because the 10th layer was massive—far larger than any other layer they had encountered. Sprawling over approximately 50,000 square kilometers, this layer was more like a sprawling forest maze than the 6th to 9th layers, which, though tricky, had a more linear and structured path leading downward. In those layers, it was hard to miss the elevated lands marked by the chasm; it served as a prominent landmark. But down here, everything was different. There was no towering hill signaling the entrance to the 11th layer. To make matters even more daunting, they would have to face a floor master guarding the next layer, which would make their journey not just tedious but dangerous as well.
"There's a problem—I'm running out of food already. What I've got will only last for one more day," said Logan, rummaging through his bag and pulling out a single can of food.
Olivia: "Same here,"
Mei: "I'm ashamed to say it, but I only have one can left too."
Tadashi sighed: "I'm afraid I'm in the same boat."
Emma: "Saaame!"
Ryo: "Yeah,"
It wasn't just Logan; the entire party was running low on supplies. They were fortunate to have an endless supply of water thanks to their special water bottles, but the food situation was more critical. They would have to switch gears and hunt for food from now on.
This was far from ideal. The added task of hunting for food, coupled with fighting Kardia-beasts and navigating through this forest-like maze, simply piled on the inconveniences. However, given that they were in a forest, finding an edible Kardia-beast or two wouldn't be impossible.
"So, I suppose we'll be hunting for food right before setting up camp," said Tadashi, deep in thought.
"True, but meat spoils quickly," he continued, after a moment. "Even though this forest is quite cold and there are only stars in the sky, so we don't have to worry about sunlight speeding up the process, I still doubt any meat we manage to store will last more than a day at most. I think the best strategy is just to hunt for food each day and consume it before it can spoil."
Logan rested his chin on his hand as he responded to Tadashi. Both had come to the conclusion that they needed to hunt daily and in moderation, or risk wasting valuable food. However, constant hunting would not only slow them down—it would also take a toll on their bodies. This was especially critical in the labyrinth, where there was no telling when something like Saurians or the Gorgon might emerge from the shadows. They anticipated that the Kardia-beasts would grow significantly stronger the deeper they ventured.
"We could keep the Kardia-beast alive, right? That way, we wouldn't have to worry about it spoiling," Tadashi suggested.
Emma chimed in, eyes half-open and looking lazily in the boys' direction, "I get that you're all biiig, strong men and all, but I don't think you want to be lugging around extra weight every day. Wouldn't that be just as exhausting, huh?" There was a hint of sarcasm in her tone, which made her point all the more biting.
"I don't like her tone, but she's got a point," Logan admitted.
"..."
For reasons unknown, Emma merely grunted, refusing to even glance in Logan's direction. This response was becoming a pattern whenever he spoke to her or directed a comment her way. Ryo wondered if maybe she had a personal issue with Logan.
I guess she just doesn't like him very much.
Not everyone is obligated to be friends or open with everyone else. Often, just a glance at someone can reveal if they're not the type to get along. Of course, opinions can change after a real conversation, but sometimes those first impressions are reaffirmed. Some individuals mesh well with others, while some just clash due to personality differences, envy, or prior grievances.
It wasn't surprising that Emma, despite being somewhat of a social butterfly, now seemed to dislike Logan, especially since this behavior had only surfaced recently.
"In that case, what do we do next? Does anyone have suggestions?" Mei asked.
"You lot can be rather simple-minded; not everything has to revolve around meat, you know. We could also survive on edible vegetables or fruits. They're great for the skin, you see," Olivia added.
"That's one way we could approach it, but I want us to think about the lower layers, too. It's possible we won't be able to find food in some of the deeper levels," Mei cautioned.
"Yes, there's that... isn't there?"
Originally, they had envisioned hunting only in moderation, enough to fill their bellies for just a single day, a strategy that would inevitably cause them more stress on their journey. However, Tadashi proposed that they keep some kardia-beasts alive for future meals, a suggestion Emma quickly dismissed, arguing that it would have the same outcome as their initial plan. Olivia then suggested expanding their menu to include more than just meat. While this was a good and feasible idea, it was also met with skepticism, particularly considering Mei's thoughts about the future.
Just as their brainstorming session seemed to be hitting a dead end, Ryo, who had long been pondering their food supply issues, offered a timely solution.
"About the meat... What about jerky?"
The moment he spoke, everyone turned to face Ryo sharply. Their intense gazes made him shudder a bit, but soon their serious expressions morphed into sighs of relief.
"What a great idea! That's sooo smart; why didn't I think of that?" Emma exclaimed.
Why don't you think in the first place?
Ryo thought, but he kept that remark to himself.
Ryo's suggestion had provided the glimmer of hope they desperately needed. Still, Mei stood in contemplation, her arm half-folded beneath her ample chest while the other supported her chin.
"Considering you were the one who suggested this course of action, I assume you know how to make beef jerky out here in the wild?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I do, but it's a bit tricky in these conditions," Ryo replied calmly. "We could also make skewers; grilled or dried foods won't spoil as easily."
Mei looked at him for a moment, silent, then turned away, unwilling to face him.
"Well, I guess it's settled then. We'll go with that," she said.
Though her expression was hidden, the tone of her voice spoke volumes, soft and unconvinced, it was clear she had more to say but chose to hold back for the sake of wrapping up the conversation.
"We can also implement Olivia's idea," Ryo added. "Gathering edible vegetables and fruits would be wise too. They don't spoil as easily."
"Alright! The boys will go hunt docile and edible kardia-beasts while we girls scour the forest for fruits and veggies!" Emma declared energetically.
"Um… if I'm being honest, I'd like to join the girls," Ryo interjected. "None of you have any idea which plants are edible or poisonous, and since I'm not quite ready to die just yet, I'd be more than happy to help with that."
"Reaaally! Ryo, you must be one of the lazy types," Emma teased, a playful grin on her face.
"Say what you want, but I'm not letting a buffoon decide what goes in my mouth,"
"Ouch!"
"Very well then," Olivia continued. "We'll split the duties unevenly. Both Logan and Mr. Fujita will go for meat, while the rest of us will gather fruits and vegetables. Let's regroup back here by..."
Olivia's voice trailed off as she checked the time on her wristwatch. She rummaged through her backpack and pulled out the compass she had tucked away in a side pouch. Once she was ready, she resumed speaking.
"6:00. I've placed three light shards, so we'll know it's this spot."
With that, they split into two separate groups and set out to procure food.
...
Ryo and the girls walked for about thirty minutes before Ryo stumbled upon a spot with actual edible food. They decided this area was perfect for settling down and starting their foraging.
"This looks like a good spot," Ryo said, pointing toward the trees. "There are a couple of climbable trees with some peculiar fruits on them, and over there, we've got some bushes with bug berries and other things."
He gestured toward the trees above them and then to the bushes that caught the corner of their eyes.
"Okay then, we'll split into pairs. Olivia and I will gather the fruits, while the two of you head towards the bushes."
With that, they formed their pairs: Mei and Olivia would climb the trees for fruit, while Ryo and Emma would search the bushes for anything edible. The plan was to gather as much as possible, after which Ryo would sift through their findings to determine what was safe to eat. This strategy was more time-efficient than checking each item individually as they found it.
As Ryo and Emma began rummaging through the bushes, collecting berries and other items, a peculiar silence settled around them. Ryo found it unusually quiet, especially for someone like Emma. Her expression was difficult to read, and he realized that despite their journey together, he hardly knew anything about her. The more she sifted through the foliage, the more forlorn her side profile appeared.
"Hey, Ryo... once we get out of this place, once we leave this labyrinth and finally have our wishes granted, have you ever thought about what you'd wish for?" Her tone was uncharacteristically calm and serious.
"What I'd wish for?..."
"Yeah, don't you have something you really want right now? Or something you've always desired?"
He paused, realizing he hadn't even thought about it since coming to this place. Since learning that they would have a wish granted once they earned the Grand Narrator's favor, the concept of a wish hadn't crossed his mind.
Turning the question back around,
he asked,
"What about you? What are you hoping to get by the end of all this?"
"To go home."
"..."
Without a moment's hesitation, the girl responded. It was only natural for people to want to return home, especially after experiencing just how cruel this other world could be. The Lilies, normally summoned individuals unlike Ryo and his previous companions, who were supposed to be different, literally had the chance to have any wish granted, whether or not the information behind that wish was truthful. Yet, of all the possible desires one could think of, to choose, without hesitation, to simply return to one's original world seemed almost bold, or perhaps somewhat disingenuous, given the reason they were summoned in the first place. Surely, there should have been at least a moment's pause, a flicker of something more self-serving. Instead, there stood this girl.
"I want to go home! I don't want to stay here in this world. It was a mistake to bring me here. Unlike everyone else with that look on their faces, I'm just a normal girl. I have a loving family, a couple of friends from school, and long-time best friends. I have no reason, no reason at all... to wish for another world; my life was perfect just the way it was. The moment I was summoned to that dark place, I wondered why? What did I do? Why would I be punished like that? To have it all slip through my fingers against my will was just..."
"..."
Despite her words, she smiled, her eyes seemingly looking back into the past. Still, there was a sadness in her expression that he couldn't bear to observe for long. But before he could turn away, she caught his gaze with an inquisitive, "Oh?"
"Don't worry, I didn't have a boyfriend or anything."
"I didn't need to know that, thank you."
Are all Americans like this?
She giggled at his sharp retort, then resumed looking at him, this time with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, I just needed to get that off my chest for a bit."
"No, it's fine. That's how normal people do it—talking to someone about their feelings. I suppose I could learn a thing or two from you."
She squinted in thought, placing two fingers on her temple as if trying to peek into his mind.
"Hmmm, how normal people do it? Are you actually some kind of chuunibyou!?"
"Chuuni?"
He let out an exasperated sigh at that remark, continuing to rummage through the bushes.
"Now—"
"Now what?"
With a stern, serious tone that urged him to look her way, she faced him once more.
"I told you my wish, so tell me... whaaaat's yours?" She spoke in a childish tone, pouting slightly. He found it rather cute, but her words carried a weight that settled heavily on his shoulders.
"My... wish is…"
"Uh-huh, go on, go on!"
What was his wish? He had no need for wealth, and he certainly didn't crave fame. Maybe he could wish for a robotic left hand with a drill that could pierce the heavens, or perhaps a legendary sword of selection. But deep down, he realized there was nothing he truly wanted. At least he knew what he didn't want:
I must, no matter what, never return to my old world.
"My wish is..."
He needed an answer. Was there really nothing he desired? To be normal, to blend in with others, to be recognized; to have a proper childhood, a loving family, a better mindset; to improve himself, to change, to smile more, to laugh more...
If there were truly a way to shed all the dark feelings he had grown accustomed to, surely he would want that.
"Your wish is…?"
I want happiness. I don't just want a fleeting moment of it; I want it to be my norm. I want it in the morning when I wake up, at night when I go to rest. I want to feel it when I speak with another person, when I look them in the eye and respond to their smile.
I'm tired of being lonely, bored, and bitter. I'm so, so tired of crying myself to sleep every night, replaying the whys and hows of the day. I'm exhausted from being reminded of just how insignificant I am to everyone around me; I'm weary of feeling trapped, and I'm fed up with being accustomed to it all. I just want to be happy.
But I know, I know I can't rely on a God to grant my wishes, because then it would feel superficial, lukewarm, and partial. I want it to be bona fide. I... want the real deal.
It's already too late. I've been dealt a bad hand.
But for some reason, he couldn't voice these thoughts.
"I... don't know."
His gaze fell, and his voice came out hoarse. Emma sighed, clearly disappointed with his answer.
"Reaaally? I guess I'm not trustworthy enough."
She brushed it aside, noticing his struggle to answer her question. Perhaps she had touched on a difficult subject.
"It's not that... I just don't know."
"Well, I guess that's fine, too."
Ryo shook his head and rubbed the back of his hair sheepishly, as if trying to shake off the thoughts swirling in his mind. Noticing the heavy mood, he decided to change the subject.
"About Logan, did he do something to make you hate him?"
She tilted her head in confusion, not at the change in topic, but rather at the content of his question.
"I don't think it's gotten to the point where I hate him yet. I just don't feel safe around him; he seems like the type who keeps his brains tucked between his legs."
Her words sounded quite judgmental, but Ryo understood her perspective. In retrospect, he was indeed the one who had orchestrated the plan to spy on the girls while they bathed. It was only natural for her to be wary of him.
"Those words are pretty vulgar to come from a young girl's mouth. Ever heard of delicacy?" he said, trying to sound casual.
She grunted, her expression one of genuine annoyance. "Oh please, the way he looks at me and others is just creepy, you know? Plus, he's the one who orchestrated that whole stunt you guys pulled, right?"
You got me there, he is kinda irredeemable if you think about it
Ryo involuntarily nodded in agreement, eyes closed, as if he could relate to her claims.
"Howeeever," she began, "I didn't know you wanted to see me naked that bad."
She delivered her reply with a suggestive tone, and from Ryo's perspective, their faces were terrifyingly close.
This girl is also irredeemable. No really, are all Americans like this?
He would be lying if he said he wasn't interested in that kind of thing at the moment, but he chose to firmly deny it and pushed her face away.
"Nope, not a chance."
"Aww, maybe it wasn't me? Or could it have been?" she teased, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
What exactly was she getting at? He decided no matter how the situation looked, he would deny any accusations she made against him.
"Don't worry; I already know whose naked body you wanted to see so badly that you'd risk your head... it's Meeii!"
"You're getting ahead of yourself, don't you think? Don't go assuming things about people," he replied, trying to regain control of the conversation.
She pointed triumphantly in Mei's direction, a smile spreading across her face. "Speaking of Mei, I noticed that despite being acquainted, you guys don't see eye to eye."
She gave Ryo a look as if she were trying to analyze him, closely observing his every movement. Ryo, in response, struggled to meet her gaze.
"No... it's more like you're both doing it on purpose,"
Ryo turned away from her, focusing on picking berries from the bushes, clearly getting annoyed
"C'mon, don't be like that. Judging by your reaction, I'm guessing it's your fault,"
"As I said, don't go assuming things about people,"
"But am I wrong?"
"..."
As they spoke, Mei was climbing down from a nearby tree. Emma, who had caught wind of it, hurriedly jumped up, seized Ryo, and began shoving his back repeatedly. "Forget it, now go, go! Shu shu!"
Seriously, what's her problem? Though I guess she's giving me an opportunity here.
Emma joined Olivia and whispered something into her ear, and Olivia responded with a soft, understanding smile.
"Let's switch pairs. I and this enthusiastic one will do the picking over here, while both of you can go do the climbing and catching."
...
Ten minutes had passed since Ryo and Mei were paired together to gather fruits—Ryo would climb, and Mei would catch. They worked in repetitive silence, the only sound breaking the quiet was Ryo's occasional "catch" as he tossed down fruits.
I have to break the ice; otherwise, this opportunity will slip by without me doing anything.
Summoning his courage, he finally spoke up.
"So... um, I just wanted to say I'm sorry."
Mei, holding a gourd in her hand, shot him a cold look, as if to say, "It's about time."
"About what? What could it possibly be? Avoiding me after I woke up from a coma? Peeking at me while I bathed? Or taking this long to apologize? It surely can't be that, can it?" she retorted, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Ryo stared blankly at her, her unwavering gaze holding his own.
That's a lot of offenses; I guess I deserve this.
"Catch!"
He tossed a fruit her way, and she cleanly caught it, placing it beside the others.
"Everything, sorry about... everything," he said, meeting her gaze earnestly. No explanations or excuses were needed; all she needed to hear was his apology. Whether she would accept it and forgive him was another matter entirely.
"Hah."
She let out a deep sigh, closed her eyes for a moment, and then turned to face him with a cheeky grin.
"I've already forgiven you a long time ago."
"Huh?!"
"After all, it wouldn't make sense to hold a grudge while we're down here. It seems, however, that you can't quite be as mature."
As if to emphasize her point, she nodded and added, "Ryo-bai is Ryo-bai, after all—unforgivable."
"Don't just call me unforgivable after you said you've forgiven me!"
"Catch!"
After that exchange, they resumed their task, and Ryo began sorting the edible items from the pile they'd gathered.
Once they had finished, they made their way back to the meeting point.
...
Ryo's eyes slid open, his head still a bit foggy from the lack of much-needed rest. It was late at night when he stirred, and as he surveyed his surroundings, something felt off.
"There's no one keeping watch?" he muttered to himself, a growing sense of unease creeping in. Logan was supposed to be on watch at this hour if he remembered the order they had established.
But Logan was nowhere to be found. Not just Logan; Olivia was missing as well. Where had they gone?
After gathering food, they had decided to camp at the same spot where they had met up, as it had grown late by the time Ryo finished drying the meat and preparing the jerky and skewers.
To his right, he saw Mei and Emma sleeping side by side, their backs resting against a tree. Emma's head was nestled on Mei's shoulder.
When did they get so close?
To his left lay Tadashi, sleeping soundly on the ground. Ryo clicked his tongue at how proper his sleeping position was. Counting himself, only four out of their party were present around the fire.
They probably went to… do that…
Logan and Olivia had a habit of seeking out intimacy, even in the depths of this labyrinth; it was a trait he both envied and in a strange way admired the determination it took to be that persistent about it. He shook his head, trying to push aside his thoughts as he settled back down to sleep.
"Wait, I gotta go take a leak," he finally admitted to himself, getting up and heading deeper into the forest, just far enough to still see the campfire flickering behind him.
He found a perfect spot to relieve himself when suddenly…
Crunch!
He heard a noise coming from a little ahead. The cold wind blew a little more fiercely for a moment, and the chilly darkness of the forest felt even colder at night. Rubbing his arms to warm himself, he muttered, "Really chilly out tonight, especially away from the fire. Maybe that's why I want to pee so badly."
As he stepped closer to the source of the sound, it became more pronounced.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
The noise grew louder the closer he got. As he approached, two figures began to take shape before him. One was slender, a female silhouette sitting as if riding on horseback, while the other was an upright silhouette of a man.
Oh crap, I shouldn't walk into this.
Crunch!
But that sound, it wasn't the kind of noise that indicated intimacy. Was it unique to them? Perhaps a private kink? What were they up to?
Curiosity got the better of him, and he peered in for a better view.
What he saw took him by surprise: a slender bare back, it was Olivia. Her top clothes had been shed, leaving only her bra visible from behind.
Crunch! Crunch!
Logan was in a similar state, shirtless. They were kissing.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
No, they weren't kissing, that was...
—blood.
Vermilion juice trickled down from Logan's chest as Ryo's breathing grew ragged and faster. His threat perception kicked in, but that was not what really caught his attention.
"Hah-huh... Hah-huh..."
Warmth spread through his legs, and he heard the unsettling sound of something dripping down his leg.
I... pissed myself?
His teeth chattered as he flicked his eyes back to the horrific sight in front of him.
Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch! Crunch!
She was eating him. He was being eaten. Olivia Atsrid was eating Logan Snowfall.
Involuntarily, he stepped back and heard the telling crack of a twig beneath his foot.
A pair of eyes immediately shot toward him, blood staining her lower jaw. Looking at Logan, he noticed that about half of his face had been devoured; the exposed bones and tissue were horrifyingly visible.
Olivia, no—whatever this thing was, it opened its mouth or rather, its face, contorting in a way no human should be able to, and let out a loud, bone-chilling cry.
"Fuck."