Chapter 16
Annihilation (1)
“The stairs are steep. Be careful.”
Holding up her long skirt with one hand and steadying herself against the wall with the other, Serena carefully descended the sharply sloping staircase.
If there were traps hidden on the walls or steps, it would be the perfect place to die.
‘In games, staircases usually don’t have traps. But in movies, giant boulders roll down from above or the stairs suddenly flatten out. Which one does harsh reality follow?’
Her heart pounded as she slowly stepped down.
Fortunately, no traps appeared before she reached the last step.
Serena let out a sigh of relief.
At the bottom of the stairs was an immediate passageway. Unlike the first floor, there was no lobby-like chamber—only a winding corridor stretching ahead.
“The atmosphere has changed.”
“It’s much darker.”
The second floor of the Huji Labyrinth was noticeably darker than the first. It felt almost like a cloudy night lit only by faint moonlight.
“These stones are expensive.”
It was still a stone structure, but unlike the rough rocks used on the first floor, the walls here were built from smooth, white stone.
“Be careful. It’s easy to slip.”
“Yes, Lady Serena.”
Although she hadn’t addressed anyone in particular, fortunately the person who needed to hear it understood.
The party glanced back at the staircase before cautiously making their way into the corridor.
After coming all this way down, turning back immediately would have been a waste.
“I wish for brilliant light.”
Serena recited the spell, creating a floating sphere of light that followed beside her.
The darkness retreated, revealing the corners and the ground around their feet.
“What’s that?”
“Huh? I can’t see very well.”
Because the stones were white, they almost overlooked them.
Thin, transparent threads stretched across the corners and floor.
They were spread everywhere like traps waiting to catch prey.
The moment Serena saw their pattern, she recognized them.
“Spider webs.”
People knowledgeable about spiders could supposedly identify the species just by looking at the web.
Unfortunately, nobody in the party was a spider expert.
Ralph brushed aside one of the webs with his wooden sword.
After touching it, his eyes widened.
“It’s incredibly sticky. If we step on this, it’ll be dangerous.”
“Are spider webs really that strong?”
Ralph held up his thumb and forefinger.
They were glued tightly together.
When he forced them apart, sticky strands stretched between them like adhesive.
“Does that mean there are spiders here?”
“They aren’t poisonous spiders… are they?”
Someone had once claimed that spiders which trapped prey in webs weren’t venomous.
The fact that the rumor ended with “someone said” made it obvious how unreliable it was.
‘I’ve watched documentaries about spiders… but I don’t remember anything useful.’
Besides, this wasn’t Earth.
Even if spider habits were different here, the creatures inside the Labyrinth weren’t ordinary spiders.
They were monsters.
“Let’s go a little farther.”
The party carefully avoided stepping on the webs covering the floor.
Whenever Serena or Philia accidentally stepped on one, their shoes nearly came off.
Ralph wore military boots.
Chrome wore heavy boots.
Lavenda wore strapped sandals.
Only Serena’s and Philia’s elegant shoes kept slipping off.
Walking slowly wasn’t much of a problem.
But if they had to run…
Losing a shoe would almost certainly make them fall.
“We can tie them on with string. Once we get back to the first floor, I’ll fix them.”
“I should shorten the hem of my dress while we’re at it. It’s far too long.”
Whether with a kitchen knife or a carving knife, cutting off some of the skirt would make moving easier.
She had fled the royal palace in such a hurry that she’d worn relatively simple clothing.
If she’d been dressed in her usual royal attire…
It would have been a disaster.
Tiny decorative shoes.
Flowing, extravagant dresses.
Sparkling jewelry.
A princess’s standard equipment had been designed for palace life—not exploring labyrinths.
“The passage is wider than on the first floor.”
If the first-floor corridor could fit four adults standing side by side, this one could probably fit seven or eight.
“But… isn’t the layout strange?”
Instead of running straight, the passage zigzagged diagonally.
Walls jutted out unexpectedly.
Random pillars stood in awkward places.
The walls and pillars blocked their view, casting deep shadows by obstructing Serena’s light.
Perfect places for something to leap out and ambush them.
And, as expected—
Screee!
“Ah!”
Walking at the front, Ralph was suddenly attacked by a black shape diving from above.
Fortunately, he reacted faster than he screamed.
His wooden sword swung instinctively, knocking the creature away.
Chirp.
The attacker was a giant spider.
Oddly enough, its cry sounded almost like a little bird’s.
The unnecessary cuteness only made it creepier.
It was about the same size as a Labyrinth Rat.
In other words…
About the size of a small dog.
It repeatedly bent and stretched its eight hairy legs.
Then, suddenly…
It spread all eight legs wide—
And died.
Seeing that horrifying sight, Philia staggered.
“Lavenda, support Countess Randy.”
Because Serena had ordered it beforehand, Philia didn’t collapse face-first onto the floor.
“It’s much less durable than the Labyrinth Rats.”
After examining the corpse, Ralph pointed to the impact mark.
“The head was crushed. It died in one hit.”
Thanks to Ralph’s consideration…
Serena ended up making eye contact with the dead spider.
Its large, clear eyes still retained their shine.
I want to faint too…
She only managed to stay conscious thanks to the mental endurance she’d built during her ordinary previous life.
“Was it poisonous?”
“I don’t know. I’ve heard large spiders usually aren’t poisonous…”
Once again…
It ended with “I’ve heard.”
Meaning nobody actually knew.
‘Tarantulas are huge, and they’re venomous…’
Whether tarantulas even existed in this world was another question.
Either way, caution was the safest approach.
“If it’s venomous, the fangs should be around here…”
“If you’re not sure, don’t touch it. You might get bitten.”
“Understood.”
As Serena, Ralph, and Chrome quietly examined the spider’s corpse…
Philia, who had finally regained consciousness, frowned.
“…Don’t tell me… we’re going to eat the spider?”
Her pearl-white face turned even paler.
Joining her hands desperately, she pleaded.
“I really hate spiders! I’d rather eat rats! I’ll eat rats! Please… let me eat rats instead!”
Falling into a Labyrinth and surviving on rat meat had already been horrifying.
To discover there was something even worse…
Philia’s mental strength plummeted.
Serena gestured for everyone to return to the first floor.
At least they had learned what monsters lived on the second floor.
And, as Philia had said…
If spiders weren’t edible, they still needed to hunt more rats for food.
‘Maybe we should just see what’s ahead first.’
Serena sent her light sphere farther down the passage.
She only wanted to see what lay beyond.
Then—
“Look!”
“It’s a door!”
Although it was far away and hidden by darkness…
There was definitely a door.
Whether it resembled the boss room door from the first floor or not…
It was clearly decorated.
“It looks similar to the door upstairs, doesn’t it?”
“My eyesight’s too poor to tell.”
“I’ll go check.”
“I can’t send the light that far by itself. I’ll have to come too.”
If Serena went…
Philia would naturally follow.
Ralph couldn’t protect both of them alone.
In the end, all five cautiously advanced together.
“Maybe this floor is smaller.”
“It might only look close. The path could curve around.”
As they continued walking…
The corridor gradually widened into a large chamber.
The poor lighting prevented them from seeing everything at once.
But the walls curved gently.
‘A circular room?’
Several passageways opened around the walls.
At the center stood another enormous stone structure.
The decorated door was attached to it.
Random pillars were scattered throughout the chamber here as well.
“There are passages everywhere.”
“Let’s inspect the door first.”
If this really led to the floor boss or the next staircase…
There was no need to explore the other paths first.
Serena approached the door.
Like the first-floor boss room, something had been carved into it.
‘It looks similar… but different.’
The carving was still too rough to clearly identify.
‘If only I could make a rubbing of it…’
“Do you think there’s another floor boss?”
“A giant spider?”
“If it’s the boss, it’ll definitely be poisonous.”
“So what should we do, Lady Serena?”
If they were going to fight a floor boss…
They should prepare first.
“Let’s head ba—”
Rumble…
Just as Serena was about to suggest retreating…
The sound of grinding stone echoed nearby.
The very door they had been examining…
Began to open.
It wasn’t pushed or pulled.
It slowly sank into the floor.
“Did someone touch it?”
“No!”
“Then why is it opening?!”
As the stone door descended…
The floor boss everyone had been wondering about finally appeared.
Because the door opened downward…
Their eyes met before its entire body was revealed.
Peekaboo.
A cow peeked out.
Not the gentle eyes of a harmless yellow cow.
Its enormous eyes—
Both the whites and pupils—
Were bloodshot as they glared directly at Serena.
A monster with the head of a bull.
Everyone thought of the same thing.
“A Minotaur!”
“Run!”
A Minotaur.
Far beyond anything their current party could defeat.
Without hesitation…
Everyone turned and fled in complete panic.
For a brief moment, Serena hoped reality would follow game rules.
Maybe the boss couldn’t leave its room.
Moooo!
The door finished sinking.
The monster snorted loudly through its nostrils, pawing the ground as though preparing to charge.
It felt as if it were mocking her for thinking this was a game.
Everyone sprinted toward the staircase leading back to the first floor.
Between them and the stairs stretched one long, straight corridor without a single corner.
If the Minotaur charged…
They would be knocked down like bowling pins.
“Split up! Scatter and run!”
The terrified party never even heard Serena’s command.
Thinking quickly, Serena grabbed the slowest person—Philia—and ran in a different direction.
Snort!
Damn it.
Splitting up increased the party’s overall chance of survival.
But it also greatly increased the chance that whoever was chased…
Would die.
The instant the door completely disappeared…
The Minotaur kicked its hind legs several times before launching forward like an arrow.
Its target—
The closest people.
Serena and Philia.
Determined that at least one of them should survive…
Serena shoved Philia away.
“You! Run that way!”
Fortunately…
Philia understood.
She ran in the direction Serena had pushed her.
Perhaps she believed her slower self should act as the decoy.
“Ugh!”
But in her desperate sprint…
Serena failed to notice the spider web stretched across the floor.
Her shoe came off.
The sticky web clung to her bare foot and tangled around her skirt.
She lost her balance—
And fell.
“Lady Serena!”
Philia, who had already been running away, immediately turned back.
“You idiot! Run!”
Lying on the ground…
Serena suddenly felt powerful vibrations approaching.
Then…
An unbearable pain exploded through the lower half of her body.
The Minotaur’s horn had pierced her.
It tore straight through her thigh…
Then ripped open her abdomen.
The pain was so overwhelming she couldn’t even scream.
No—
Her lungs had been punctured.
She physically couldn’t scream.
‘Am I… really going to die like this?’
The vibrations moved away.
The Minotaur had already gone in search of another target.
Philia…
Who had been standing nearby…
Was now lying beside Serena.
She didn’t even know when Philia had been impaled.
Her beautiful silver hair—
As dreamlike as ever—
Was soaked in blood.
The pale handmaid lay motionless in a pool of crimson.
She looked almost like a masterpiece painted on a canvas.
‘I was finally reborn…
As a princess…
I barely even got to live…
And now… I’m dying?’
Her sorrow was overwhelming.
Her consciousness slowly faded.
It hurt to think that all of her regret…
Her resentment…
Her anger…
Her sadness…
Would simply disappear the moment she died.
Now that death stood before her…
She was afraid.
She had experienced death once before.
She even remembered it.
Yet…
Death was still death.
The inevitable end that every mortal feared, avoided, worshipped, hated…
Yet could never escape.
‘What will I be reborn as next time?’
‘Another princess would be nice…’
No.
On second thought…
Princesses carried far too many responsibilities.
‘I’d rather be born as the daughter of a rich family.’
As long as she had endless money to spend…
She wouldn’t even mind if her family wasn’t happy.
‘After all…
I’ve never really known…
…what a happy family feels like.’
Serena slowly closed her eyes.
