Dumbfounded, I whispered.
"Right in the middle of the horde..."
"This is quite the pickle. I thought it'd be in the lab, but... not like this. Hmm."
"Isn't there some kind of method?"
"A method... hold on. I'm checking the database right now."
A database. So it existed.
I could tell it was operating a touch panel.
But all I could see was a rabbit desperately jumping around and slapping a console.
"...Wof. It's a gamble. Very dangerous, but there is a method."
"What is it?"
"To put it simply, I've found a way to temporarily shut down the Minos units. Use this, and all Minos units will be disabled for a set period."
"That includes the Infinite Spawn?"
"Yes. But it's only temporary."
So the plan was to shut down all Minos units temporarily, and while they were down, destroy the core system of the Infinite Spawn.
"Haiyarn. What happens if we destroy the core system of this Infinite Spawn?"
"Hmm? Well, first, the Infinite Spawn will definitely stop. At the same time, all Minos units should shut down as well."
"The Minos too?"
"They're essentially golems made from dungeon monsters. One of the reasons they were rejected as weapons is that they can't make independent judgments — their entire command structure funnels into a single point. In other words, the core system is the brain of every Minos unit. Destroy it, and all Minos units stop. Because they lose their brain."
"So I just need to destroy it, and that'll be the end of it?"
"Correct. But charging into the horde is suicide. It's the same even if they're temporarily stopped. Will you still go?"
"Yes. If there's even the slightest chance, I'll do it."
"...Fine. Take this with you."
Haiyarn tossed something to me.
Was this an earpiece?
"Put that in your ear, and you'll be able to hear my voice."
"Got it."
"You're not surprised."
"I've seen legendary-grade Relics and other things like that, so..."
"I see. Right, then. I want to stretch the window as long as possible. I've calculated the closest point to the objective. I'll guide you there."
"Understood."
"...Wof. I'm sorry."
Haiyarn apologized.
"Haiyarn. I'm heading out."
I gave a slight bow and broke into a run.
This happened because of me.
I never imagined it would come to this, but this was my responsibility.
My exploration had produced this outcome.
I'd even broken Mineha's spear.
So wanting to do something about it felt like the most natural thing in the world.
But there were limits. Everyone had things they could and couldn't do. Those limits existed.
I knew that.
Or did I really?
Minos units.
Pale-skinned Minotaurs. Look closely, and you could tell their pallid skin was metal.
Metallic Minotaurs stood in standby within a space enclosed by stone walls.
I activated the earpiece.
"Haiyarn."
"Sensitivity is good. Go ahead."
"I've reached the position."
Northeast. Exactly where I'd been instructed to go.
I used the Relic, the Wheel of Fortune.
"There it is!"
A blue light glowed to the direct west from here.
This was it. The Infinite Spawn's core system.
I steeled myself. I'm going in. I will destroy it.
"Right. I'm initiating the shutdown now. But there isn't much time. You might get surrounded by the horde before you reach the objective."
"I know."
When that happened, I'd use not just Banish but Generous too.
"Right. Shutting down Minos units. Three, two, one, zero."
The Minos units' movements seized up all at once, as if their batteries had died.
I was momentarily stunned.
"..."
"Wof, move!"
Oops. No time to waste. I plunged into the motionless horde.
I ran flat out. Minos units were everywhere — an eerie sight.
They stood motionless, like sculptures.
I sprinted desperately toward the blue light. I was closing in, but the Minos units were in my way.
I dispatched the nearest Minos unit with Banish and climbed over it.
More Minos units appeared like walls. Detour here. Climb here.
A chill ran through me at the thought of being attacked while climbing.
"Wof. Not there yet?"
"Not yet. The Minos units are in my way."
"They're about to... start moving again."
"Isn't that a bit too soon?"
"Hurry. Just hurry."
Easy for you to say — I was already running as fast as I could.
What the — I froze.
The closed eyes of the surrounding Minos units were opening.
No way. I raised my guard.
I gripped Agaro's modified knife in one hand and readied Banish with the other.
The Minos units began to move.
And I was the first thing they locked onto.
Of course. I was standing right in the middle of the enemy horde.
"Well, that didn't work at all."
Change of plans. I'd fight the horde to the bare minimum and push forward.
"Whoa!?"
I deflected the sudden sword strike from my left with Agaro's modified knife.
In that opening, I carved from its shoulder to its torso with Banish.
I sensed the attack from behind, dodged it, and erased part of the torso with Banish.
I blocked the attack from the right with Banish, then stabbed its chest with the knife.
I ignored the attacks coming from the left, the diagonal right, and behind, focusing purely on evasion as I chased the blue light.
"Hah!"
I erased the incoming spear with Banish.
That spear came flying from way too far away — wait, was that an arrow!?
One hit from something like that would be fatal.
I barely managed to deal with the spear-arrows raining down one after another using Banish.
But the attacks didn't let up.
Dodge and cut down, dodge and run, barely cut down, dodge and deflect — damn!
I caught a sword strike on the knife and erased a spear-arrow with Banish.
In that gap, another Minos unit slammed a fist into my gut with full force.
"Guaaah!"
What incredible power. I went flying and slammed into a wall. Bad. If I didn't move, another spear-arrow would come.
I activated Stillness. My mind went cold and calm, and the pain subsided as if it had been a lie.
But this was just masking it. It wouldn't last long.
I coughed up blood, got to my feet, dodged a spear-arrow, and erased a great axe with Banish.
The imprint of a fist was left in my leather armor. Every breath hurt. Hot. Something was broken.
The elixir... I reached into my pouch, but saw a Minotaur with a spear thrusting at me.
I barely caught it on the knife, but as I tumbled, the vial of elixir fell out and shattered.
Damn. What a waste. No choice — I grabbed the potion bottle and drank.
The heat subsided, but the pain wouldn't go away.
Should I use Generous here?
No, not yet. Not yet. I still wasn't close enough.
What if I used it and couldn't make it in the five minutes I had?
Besides, my fight with the King of Death Wind had weakened me... Stop. Stop that.
That line of thinking was no good.
Not yet. Not yet.
I'd use it after getting closer... It was my trump card.
"!?"
In that moment, almost on instinct, I braced myself.
I took a horizontally swung iron rod on my left gauntlet and was sent flying by the sheer force.
"Guwoaah—!!"
Where I landed, another Minotaur's axe was already coming down. I dodged with everything I had.
I got up, erased the approaching Minotaur's leg with Banish, and leaped away.
Bad. Dizziness was setting in. At a time like this, and I still wasn't caught up.
The blue light wasn't any closer.
Should I use it? Generous...
"!"
A spear-arrow flew at me, and I deflected it with the knife.
I was calm but couldn't stay calm. The pain made it impossible to focus.
"..."
I focused purely on evasion. Or rather, that was all I could do.
Dodge, evade, catch, deflect, erase, avoid, leap — and get closer to the blue light.
Dodge, avoid, catch, deflect — ugh, no time to use Generous.
Silent Move... no good. What if I failed?
Then a sharp pain lanced through my right leg.
"Guaaah!"
A spear-arrow had grazed my thigh and sliced through it.
I'd been using Danger Discernment and still didn't notice. I didn't notice.
I collapsed. The moment I did, my body was seized by an overwhelming wave of exhaustion.
I couldn't even move a single finger... The knife fell from my hand.
Had Stillness reached its time limit at just this moment?
Generous — the Minos units closing in through my fading vision.
No good... already... I murmured unconsciously.
"...I'm sorry..."
Then, a star twinkled.
In a dungeon with no stars, a star had glimmered.
Those countless stars annihilated every Minos unit closing in on me in an instant.
"...!?"
A star — no, something different. It was star-like but not a star.
It flickered as it traced a circle, keeping the Minos units at bay.
One that had approached carelessly was torn to shreds. What was that thing?
"What are you doing?"
Suddenly, a voice came from above me.
It was a flat voice — somewhere between bewildered and completely nonchalant.
A voice I recognized, one I knew well. But it was impossible.
She couldn't possibly be here.
"..."
Honey-colored hair and eyes shimmered dreamily in the starlight.
"Mineha..."
She was in her usual armor.
But gripped in her hand was a pale blue spear.