The group stood before a massive door.
Beyond it, a winding staircase covered in moss and weathered by time led downward to the next level of the ruins.
"Lady Frieren, this should lead to the next floor," Fern said, her tone even.
"It does seem that way," Frieren replied flatly, gazing at the staircase for a long moment before abruptly turning on her heel.
"Let's go. This isn't the right path."
"…What?" Fern blinked, her confusion plain as she hurried to catch up with Frieren.
"What are you doing, Lady Frieren?" she asked, bewildered. "Aren't we supposed to be heading for the deepest part of the ruins?"
Frieren's lips curved ever so slightly, as though Fern's words had stirred up an old memory.
"When are you going to get it, Fern…" Frieren said in a tone that was almost teasing, imitating a voice from long ago. "The point of a labyrinth is to explore every level thoroughly before moving on. That's just common sense for adventurers."
"I'd say that's a questionable kind of 'common sense,'" Aesc remarked, smiling as she listened to their exchange.
It brought back memories. Hadn't Himmel and Eisen once had a similar conversation?
Just then, a glint of light caught Aesc's eye. She stopped in her tracks, her gaze sharpening.
"…What is it? Did you see something?"
The other three turned to follow Aesc's line of sight.
Crawling out from a crack in the wall was a small creature that resembled a spider, but its body gleamed like polished gemstones. It skittered along the wall, heading toward the staircase leading to the next floor.
Fern tilted her head, unable to recall seeing such a creature before.
"What is that?"
"That's a gem beetle," Aesc explained. "A very rare type of monster. It's no surprise you've never seen one."
Both Fern and Stark seemed intrigued, so Frieren elaborated.
"Gem beetles are extremely weak monsters—so weak that even ordinary people could kill them. They're incredibly rare, though, and they don't attack humans. They're only interested in shiny objects like gemstones. Their nests are always filled with treasure: jewels, gold, and other precious metals."
"Really? That's amazing!" Fern said, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Gem beetles usually move in swarms," Aesc added. "Which means this ruin has likely been turned into their nest."
"And if this is their nest," Frieren continued, "then it probably has a Gem Beetle Queen."
"A Gem Beetle Queen?" Fern asked.
Frieren nodded. "The queen is the one that gives birth to all the other gem beetles. She doesn't leave the nest but sends her beetles out to gather gemstones, gold, and rare metals to bring back to her."
"So, wherever the queen is, there'll be a ton of treasure, right?" Stark asked, gulping audibly. "If we take down the queen, we'd hit the jackpot, wouldn't we?"
Excitement lit up Stark's face for a moment before Frieren poured cold water on his enthusiasm.
"I wouldn't count on that."
"…Why not?"
Meeting Stark's disappointed gaze, Frieren explained calmly.
"The Gem Beetle Queen's diet consists entirely of precious metals, which makes her carapace not only incredibly tough but also extremely smooth. Physical attacks are almost useless against her."
"Then what about magic?" Stark asked, still hopeful.
"Magic isn't much better," Frieren said, shaking her head. "The queen's carapace absorbs a portion of any magical attack, using it to build resistance. Once she's fully adapted to a particular type of magic, it won't affect her at all."
As Frieren's words sank in, both Fern and Stark exchanged incredulous looks.
"Isn't that… kind of broken?" Fern muttered.
As if expecting their reaction, Aesc nodded in agreement with Frieren's explanation, dispelling any doubts that she might be exaggerating.
"While the Gem Beetle Queen doesn't actively attack humans and rarely leaves her nest, her defensive capabilities are almost unparalleled," Frieren concluded with a sigh. "That's why, even though her nest is full of treasure, no one ever bothers trying to take it."
Seeing Stark's crestfallen expression, Aesc quipped, "He looks so disappointed."
She could understand, though. Nothing stung more than being broke while staring at untouchable riches.
As Fern tried to console Stark, Aesc seemed to remember something. She stepped over to Fern and gently took her hand, startling the younger mage.
"Lady Aesc?" Fern asked, puzzled.
Aesc pulled up Fern's sleeve, revealing a bracelet adorned with a mirrored lotus design. Seeing it still securely in place, she let out a small sigh of relief.
That bracelet was a gift Stark had picked out for Fern. She treasured it deeply.
Aesc still remembered the time Stark, lacking any social finesse, had suggested Fern replace it with a prettier one. Fern had been so furious she ignored him for half a day, and only Aesc's intervention had prevented a full-blown "cold war."
"This was the first gift Stark gave me," Fern had said back then. Aesc had no doubt she'd be devastated if it were ever lost.
So why haven't these two gotten married yet? Aesc thought with exasperation. Keeping the audience in suspense like this—what's the point?!
"We were just attacked by a monster that puts people to sleep, right? You should check if anything's missing from your belongings," Aesc advised. "There's a chance the gem beetles stole something while we were out."
Taking her advice, Frieren, Fern, and Stark began inspecting their possessions.
Fern and Stark didn't find anything missing, which earned an approving nod from Aesc. But when she noticed Frieren staring blankly at her open pack, an ominous feeling crept over her.
"What is it? Did you lose something?"
"…It's nothing important," Frieren replied, closing her pack and turning to meet Aesc's gaze. "Let's keep exploring this floor."
Aesc narrowed her eyes, studying Frieren's face. She didn't buy it for a second. Without another word, she grabbed Frieren's hand.
"Tell me what you lost."
"I said it's nothing important… And even if the gem beetles took it while we were asleep, it's probably already with the queen by now. There's no way to get it back—"
"That's for me to worry about. Just tell me what it was."
Stark and Fern exchanged uneasy glances. It was rare to see Aesc this agitated.
After a long pause, Frieren finally relented.
"It was… a ring. The one Himmel gave me. It had a flower design, like Fern's bracelet."
Frieren's quiet admission made Stark and Fern freeze.
Standing behind Aesc, they suddenly felt as though her silhouette had grown unbearably large, radiating an intimidating pressure.
Without another word, Aesc released Frieren's hand and began walking toward the door that led to the next floor.
"Lady Aesc… where are you going?" Fern asked hesitantly.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Aesc turned her head, her face icy and unyielding.
Her expression was so cold it felt as though the air itself had frozen, like the onset of the apocalyptic winter foretold in Norse mythology—the Fimbulwinter.
"I'm going to kill that queen."
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T/N: remember guys shippers are dangerous!