Having grown up together since childhood, in that instant, she felt as if Kaori had become a different person.
The author is well aware that Shirazaki Kaori is a 'saintly' character; most authors would avoid such characters because writing them would definitely draw criticism from readers.
It's one of the top ten 'toxic points' in Fei Lu novels, but the author still tried to spend a considerable amount of effort on her, and this, one could say, started from the very beginning.
You should be able to feel it because the author wants to see what it feels like to transform such a 'saintly' character into a yandere.
The author believes this will make the plot more exciting and trusts that you will want to read such a story.
Of course, if you still don't like her in the end, then the author can only cut her storyline, after all, Shirazaki Kaori is not the main heroine.
Shrug. I've said so much, it should be enough to trick you into giving some flowers, tips, and review votes, right? Recommended.
Chapter 80: Searching for the Entrance?
Aiko-sensei fainted from severe mental shock, and the students and Temple Knights sent her back to the inn.
Everyone else also went back to inform their families about the defeat of the monster army.
Hiyama and the others followed Catherine, the head of the Adventure Guild, back to the Adventure Guild.
"You actually killed all the monsters."
"I still feel like I'm dreaming..."
Guild Master Catherine said with a bitter smile.
She had initially thought Hiyama's words were a joke, but reality slapped her hard in the face.
They truly, with only four people, managed to kill a hundred thousand monsters. Such strength, in any faction, would make them an absolute target for recruitment.
"Enough with the flattery. Where's my reward?"
"I've already prepared it for you."
Guild Master Catherine took out an envelope and said.
"Give this letter to the Adventure Guild Master in the central commercial city of Falian; he will arrange for you to become a Gold-ranked adventurer."
"However, I merely reported your achievements truthfully."
Guild Master Catherine said with a bitter smile, "Actually, with your achievements, you don't need my recommendation at all."
Hiyama took the envelope. His original planned route already included the central commercial city of Falian, as Falian was on the way to the Gurun Great Volcano.
However, before that, they still needed to clear an un-conquered labyrinth near Ulu Town—the Laisen Great Labyrinth had not yet been fully explored.
Before going to Falian, they needed to conquer the Laisen Great Labyrinth to obtain the Divine Era Magic within it.
The group left the Adventure Guild and walked to the town gate.
As heroes who saved the town, not many people came out to see them off, likely out of fear of their power.
But from afar, Hiyama still saw a figure who had been waiting there for a long time.
It was Shirazaki Kaori.
"Please, take me with you!"
Shirazaki Kaori said as she approached them.
"Hmph."
Miss Yue, beside him, let out a low hum and raised an eyebrow.
She said coldly, "You don't have the qualifications."
"Darling made you kill someone and you trembled. What makes you think you can?"
Facing her gaze, Kaori trembled all over. She bit her lip and lowered her head.
However, in the very next moment, she held back the tears that were almost about to fall and raised her face, her eyes shining brightly.
"I know I'm still far from... mature, but I will work hard to become the person Hiyama-kun needs."
"Please... please give me another chance...."
Kaori tried hard to suppress her almost trembling voice as she bowed to Hiyama.
"Don't forget, you've already sold yourself to me."
Hiyama said coldly, "I don't want to see something like that... a second time."
Kaori's heart trembled when she saw his gaze. She gritted her teeth and nodded firmly.
After Hiyama and the others left Brook's town, they drove the hummer off-road vehicle to the entrance of the Laisen Great Canyon, which they had visited before.
After passing through the cave that concealed the teleportation array to the Olucus Great Labyrinth, they traveled for about two more days to reach this vicinity.
In the Laisen Great Canyon, monsters attacked them as usual.
"Everyone, don't do anything! Leave this to Shea!"
Shea, who had previously been chased half to death by the monsters in the canyon, seemed to want revenge for last time. She spiritedly took out her hammer.
She charged alone into the monster horde.
Whenever Shea swung her warhammer with her immense arm strength, she would crush a monster.
The monsters that were attacked were helpless against the impact that far exceeded their endurance and thus met their demise.
"Ah ha ha ha ha!"
"All of you, die!"
Shea, as if venting her emotions, transformed into a violent rabbit, madly slaughtering the monsters.
Meanwhile, not far from her, there was a scene of peace and tranquility.
Under a white parasol, there was a white tea table.
On it were exquisite pastries and black tea, and a silver-haired maid stood beside it.
Miss Yue and Hiyama sat leisurely on equally white chairs, enjoying their afternoon tea, served by the maid.
"Eep..."
Miss Yue brought the teacup to her lips and gently blew on it, trying to take a small sip, but the tea might still have been a bit too hot for her.
Miss Yue stuck out her small cat-like tongue and let out a soft cry.
Hiyama couldn't help but shift his gaze from Shea to Miss Yue.
"Darling... how can we find the entrance to the Laisen Great Labyrinth?"
As if to cover her embarrassment, Miss Yue calmly placed the teacup on the table and asked.
"The Laisen Great Labyrinth is an unrecorded labyrinth; no one knows where it is."
"As far as I know, there are only two ways to find it...."
"One is to search for its labyrinth mark. For this, I've already had Tio carry Kaori and search from the sky."
"And the other...."
"Hiyama-sama!"
At this moment, Shea, who had finished her slaughter, ran over, panting, her two 'bunnies' bouncing as she ran.
"Shea has killed all the monsters."
Shea, her face flushed, leaned close to Hiyama, with an expression that screamed, "Praise me!"
Hiyama ruffled her hair and said with a smile, "You did well. Here, as a reward, have this cup of black tea."
"Ugh... Hiyama-sama, I'm very happy you're praising me, but Shea has already drunk so much black tea today...."
Shea complained.
This was the tenth cup of black tea Hiyama had 'rewarded' her with today.
"Hmm?"
Hiyama narrowed his eyes at her, revealing a hint of a terrifying smile.
"....I'll drink it then."
Shea shuddered and, as if resigned, picked up the teacup and drank it in one gulp.
"Ugh... I need to pee again."
Not long after drinking, Shea said, clutching her legs.
This was already the tenth time she had needed to pee today.
"Go on, quickly."
Hiyama said with an encouraging expression.
"Then Shea will be right back."
Shea, blushing, walked to a spot far away from Hiyama and Miss Yue.
Hiyama, meanwhile, narrowed his eyes, watching her leave, and took a small sip of his tea.
"Hiyama-sama! Miss Yue!"
"This is incredible! Please come here quickly!"
Shea shouted.
"What's wrong with Shea?"
Miss Yue asked with a puzzled expression.
Logically speaking, with Shea's current strength, which allows her to walk sideways in the Great Canyon, she shouldn't encounter any monsters that would make her shout like this.
What on earth happened? "Let's go, we can start conquering the Laisen Great Labyrinth."
Hiyama suddenly said.
When they arrived at the place where Shea had made the sound.
They saw a huge rock slab leaning against the canyon wall, and there was a gap between the wall and the slab.
Shea was waving her arms in front of that gap, her expression filled with excitement.
"Hiyama-sama, I found it!"
"It's all my doing!"
She said excitedly.
"This works too!"
Miss Yue was a bit dumbfounded. Who would have thought that the way to find the Great Labyrinth was by Shea needing to pee?! I know you don't like labyrinth plots, so I'll try to speed it up.
Chapter 81: By Luck?
"Here, here, I found it!"
Shea noisily pulled Hiyama and Miss Yue's hands. They were led by Shea to the gap in the rocks and discovered that the wall on the other side receded deeply, revealing a spacious area inside.
Then, they arrived at roughly the middle of that space.
Shea said nothing, but pointed proudly to a certain part of the wall.
It was a rectangular signboard, seemingly carved directly from the wall, with ornate decorations.
Conversely, it was inscribed with girlish, rounded handwriting.
—Welcome! Milady Reisen's Heart-Pounding Great Labyrinth!
"What the heck is this?"
"Is this really the entrance to the Great Labyrinth?"
Miss Yue said, speechless.
"This Great Labyrinth is indeed absurd, but the Divine Era Magic hidden within is very powerful."
Hiyama walked forward and tapped the wall behind the signboard. As soon as he touched it, the deeply recessed wall suddenly rotated once before his eyes.