Chapter 200: O Glorious Lady Iresha, Shall We Have an Adventure of Our Own?

Threats?

Curses?

Barefaced mockery?

By now, Oshu could barely register what anyone was saying. All that echoed in his mind was that thunderous accusation—its aftershock still reverberating through his consciousness.

"You two… You actually slept together?! You stole my Iresha! Damn you, Lin Wei—and you, you faithless woman!"

Betrayal.

This was betrayal. Worse, it was humiliation. Betrayal of him, the Hero. Adultery.

The shame of being cuckolded detonated within Oshu, his fury rising so violently that all reason was swept away, even here before the assembled crowd.

With a snarl, he drew the Hero’s greatsword. Holy Light surged in his palm, the radiance so blinding that those nearby felt the raw destructive power pulsing beneath its surface. The glow drew every gaze in the shadowed depths of the abyss.

“Calm down, Oshu,” came Eileen’s soft warning, her voice reeling him back from the brink.

She frowned at the intensity of his Holy Light, stepping back half a pace, but quickly masked it with a lazy, teasing smile. Her fingers brushed lightly against Oshu’s arm, her tone gentle—almost languid, the kind of voice that drew people in.

“Iresha was never your property. And with all these people watching, starting a fight would only ruin your reputation. At least wait until we reach the seventh floor—find your chance there.”

“But… I grew up with her! She’s my childhood friend—”

“Hah? Who the hell wants to be your childhood friend? That’s been the bane of my life! What does any of that have to do with me? Don’t make me sick—just shut up, will you? If you’re so desperate, why not chase after Eileen with Rein?”

Oshu’s anger was cooling, but Iresha, standing behind Lin Wei’s protective stance, looked ready to erupt with disgust.

“Wait, what? Is the Hero actually a scumbag?”

“Gross… He acts like his childhood friend is his possession, and they’re all sharing the same woman in their party? That’s just nasty.”

“But Eileen was talking about that elf, right? Honestly, she’s got a body to die for. If I were him, I wouldn’t say no either…”

The crowd’s gossip battered Oshu like a hailstorm, drowning him in shame. He was used to adoration, not ridicule. His Holy Light flickered unsteadily with every spike of emotion. Anger and humiliation twisted in his chest, but he dared not utter a word that might further damage his image.

What were these people even gossiping about? Wasn’t it natural for the Hero to be surrounded by women? He was the world’s savior, chosen to defeat the Demon Lord—why should these petty matters cause such a stir?

“Damn it… Damn you, Lin Wei. Damn all these brainless adventurers.”

“How dare you judge me, the Hero? When you’re all writhing under the demons’ claws, you’ll be on your knees begging for mercy, and I won’t spare a single one of you!”

And especially—especially that bastard, Lin Wei.

The killing intent in his eyes blazed, wild and unrestrained.

Once inside the Labyrinth, Lin Wei would be dead. Oshu would see for himself how long this upstart could stand against the power bestowed by Goddess Alicia. When the time came, even if Lin Wei begged for mercy, he would not leave alive.

...

“Portal inspection complete! Second group of adventurers, prepare to enter!”

The Adventurers’ Guild staffer’s voice finally drew the crowd’s attention. Oshu, still seething, shot Lin Wei a murderous glare, then turned it on Iresha, who had dared to defy him in front of everyone.

“You’ll regret this, Iresha. I, Oshu, have never accepted anyone’s leftovers. Even if you beg me with your childhood friend act, I—augh!”

A sharp, wrenching pain exploded in his abdomen.

Lin Wei, unable to hold himself back, kicked him square in the gut. He’d meant to wait until they were inside the Labyrinth, but Oshu’s words were so vile, so utterly infuriating, that Lin Wei’s patience snapped.

“I couldn’t take it anymore… Is this guy actually brain-dead?”

While Oshu writhed on the ground, howling in agony, Lin Wei strode over and kicked him flat. Under the stunned gazes of countless adventurers, Lin Wei stomped on Oshu’s face, grinding it into the dirt, then seized Iresha’s hand with a possessive squeeze.

“Iresha is my companion, and I value her deeply. If you ever call her ‘used goods’ again, you’ll beg for death.”

“Seriously, how did someone like you become the Hero? Who approved this—was it the Archbishop? You’re not even fit to be a demon spy. If Great Pope Selena knew what kind of person the Hero truly was…”

“She’d have stripped you of your Holy Light and sent you to the Borderlands for Atonement. You’d never show your face before me again.”

He couldn’t hold back. Not for a second longer.

As the Demon Lord, Lin Wei considered himself patient—but with an idiot like this, three seconds was generous. He’d kill him in one.

He knew this public spectacle would draw attention, and if the Hero died in the Labyrinth, suspicion would fall on him. But he simply could not stomach another word.

“You really are asking for it, calling Iresha ‘used goods.’”

“So, Hero—where’s that power you’re so proud of? Weren’t you going to show me the legacy of Goddess Alicia?”

“I’m the Honor Knight of the Holy See. I want to see if your so-called legacy can even touch me. No, trash like you should go straight to the hells!”

“Lin… Lin Wei, calm down! Don’t let this idiot get to you!”

Oshu’s pained groans were satisfying, but Iresha, seeing the crowd gathering, instinctively grabbed Lin Wei’s wrist, afraid he’d be accused of assaulting the Hero.

“If that guy can be the Hero, then hell, I could do it too!”

“Is this really the kind of talent the Archbishop picks? He’s so easily beaten…”

“And the one beating him up is clergy? Now that’s what I call justice and light—way more reliable than this half-baked Hero!”

Normally, a Hero commanded admiration. But Oshu’s arrogance and self-obsession had turned the crowd against him. Now, watching a clergy member publicly beat him down, the adventurers couldn’t help but approve.

“Whew… That guy’s mouth is insufferable. I lost my temper for a second.”

“And the Hero’s companions? Not one of them lifted a finger to help. Rein, in particular, looked like she was trying not to cheer.”

Looks like the Hero’s Party had a rough night. Who knows how they’re holding it together—maybe they’re banking on that elf again?

“Whatever, I’ll let you off for now. Let’s go check out the seventh floor.”

Without waiting for a reply, Lin Wei took Iresha and Yalis by the hand and strode off. Beating up Oshu felt good, but he hadn’t planned to cripple the Hero in front of everyone.

“After all, the Hero can wield the legacy power of Goddess Alicia. If he pulls off some ‘power of friendship’ trick at the last moment, even I could be caught off guard… I can’t exactly knock him out and drag him away in public.”

If not for the risk that the Hero’s status might trigger some third-party intervention, I’d have finished him already. If he makes it out of the Borderlands and into the Northern Countries, I’ll eat my hat.

“Damn it… Come back here!” Oshu’s belated roar echoed behind them.

But before he could stagger upright, Lin Wei and his companions had vanished from view—leaving the Hero with no way to pursue.

...

Seventh Floor

Lava Platform

A faint ripple of spatial energy shimmered across the magical array, and as the vast space unfolded before him, Lin Wei took in his surroundings with a measured gaze.

Scorching lava flowed in every direction, the heat so intense that moisture visibly evaporated from his skin. He stood on a massive platform, a solitary island adrift in a sea of molten rock—a sight that would leave anyone awestruck by its peril.

“So this is the seventh floor?” Iresha, still reeling from Lin Wei’s defense, was the first to regain her composure. The proud flush on her face faded, replaced by wary vigilance.

“Yeah… Judging by the portal and the descriptions, this is it.”

“A floating platform above a lava sea, brutal environment, and traces of demonic presence… you mean those corpses at the edge?”

She pointed to a heap of mangled remains nearby. Lin Wei approached, frowning.

Definitely demon corpses. As the former Demon Lord, he recognized them instantly—likely from a lich or similar creature.

But something else caught his attention: deep within the remains, faint black specks, like stubborn ink stains refusing to fade.

“Is that… remnants of evil god’s energy?”

“The demons are working with the Cult of the Evil God. Isn’t it normal to find traces of that energy?” Iresha asked, missing the nuance.

“Normally, yes. But this residue’s been here for years—it’s not fresh.”

“Judging by the state of the corpses, this happened a while ago. The evil god’s energy played a part then, but it’s mostly faded now. Still… have you noticed something?”

Lin Wei met Iresha’s gaze. Under other circumstances, being this close might have made her blush, but now every instinct screamed caution.

“What is it?”

“It’s too quiet. We’re the second group to arrive, so where’s the first? Where did everyone go?”

Iresha looked puzzled. The faint scent of her hair, sharpened by the heat, was oddly distracting—but Lin Wei forced himself to focus.

“If I were the Adventurers’ Guild, I’d have stationed a squad here for emergencies and to guard the portal. But there are no city guards, no adventurers—just an empty platform and these bones. Not even signs of a fight. There’s no way everyone just left to explore deeper—this doesn’t add up. Watch out—!”

The answer revealed itself in the next instant.

A surge of violent spatial energy—like a hurricane tearing through reality—erupted from the corpses, swallowing the three of them whole.

“Shit… It’s all connected?”

Lin Wei raised his hand, ready to shatter the spatial storm, but realized with a jolt that the energy was fused with the entire platform. Destroy it, and the whole area would collapse, trapping everyone—including later arrivals—in the lava.

“No time—Yalis!”

“Follow the guidance, get out of the Labyrinth, and warn the others! Tell Commander Meilin the demons are setting ambushes—go!”

The portal behind them showed no sign of returning them to safety. If something happened here, the fifth floor’s safe zone would likely be attacked next—but Lin Wei’s magic and guidance should be enough to get Yalis out.

“Mr. Lin Wei!!!”

With a gasp, Yalis was enveloped in a cocoon of energy and whisked away toward the portal, her body shielded and sent back to the entrance. With the Flight Spell he’d granted her, she could escape in moments.

“Well then, city girl, looks like you’re diving deeper with me.”

In the next instant, Lin Wei wrapped Iresha in his energy. The two of them were swept up in the spatial maelstrom, vanishing from the platform.

...

Darkness.

“Cough—Lin Wei, are you alright? Lin Wei!”

The pitch-black void was suffocating. As the spatial energy faded, Iresha dragged herself up from the rubble, coughing up dust. Her last memory before teleporting was Lin Wei holding her tightly, pouring every ounce of his power into shielding her.

“A trap…? Is this the deeper Labyrinth? Why is it always space traps with you, Lin Wei?”

It had happened before in the Lotai Labyrinth. Now, even in the Northern Countries, they’d landed in another one.

And Lin Wei—he’d burned through everything to protect her. What if something had gone wrong?

“Hey, country boy, where are you? I’m coming to find you right now!”

“Right behind you, city girl… And honestly, if you know you’re this prone to spatial mishaps, maybe you should light a few more candles to Goddess Alicia at the Holy See. This is getting out of hand.”

His teasing voice drifted over, and she spun around. Seeing his familiar silhouette, illuminated by a simple light spell, Iresha’s relief was overwhelming. She threw herself at him.

“Ugh… You scared me half to death.”

“I thought you’d been teleported somewhere else! You spent so much energy protecting me—what if you’d fallen into a monster’s nest?”

She hugged him tightly, heart pounding. Even knowing Lin Wei was far stronger than her, she couldn’t help but worry after such a close call.

“Haha, it’s not that bad. Spatial magic like this is nothing to me. Even if I’d ended up somewhere else, I would have found you in no time.”

Lin Wei hadn’t expected her to throw herself into his arms, but the softness of her hair, the scent of her skin—different from Veya or Yalis—was intoxicating in its own way. The embrace was warm, the moment oddly comforting.

“Glad you’re alright.”

The hug didn’t last long, but the relief lingered. Iresha took a deep breath against his shoulder, savoring his presence. After being rescued twice by this “country boy,” she allowed herself a moment of selfishness before reluctantly letting go. Her eyes, already rimmed red, shimmered with unshed tears.

“So, Her Highness the proud Princess actually worried about a bumpkin like me?”

Lin Wei wiped the tears from her cheeks, grinning.

“Kind of makes me nostalgic for when we first met. Want to go back to bickering with me again?”

“Go to hell! Why would I pick a fight with you for no reason?”

Her words were sharp, but Lin Wei’s gentle tone made her feel safe, as always.

She glared at him, then huffed and looked around, her adventurer’s instincts taking over.

“How are you feeling? And where are we, exactly? Did you get Yalis out?”

“Yeah. The Saintess was too far away to save directly, but someone had to get out and warn the Adventurers’ Guild. As for me, I’m totally fine.”

A spatial trap of this level couldn’t even scratch me—unless I stood still and let it.

“If I hadn’t been worried about the platform collapsing and killing a bunch of adventurers, I wouldn’t have bothered dodging. Guess I’ve grown soft since returning to the human world…”

“As for our location—let’s see… Looks like we’re on the tenth floor. We’re deep in, no turning back now.”

From the darkness ahead, the guttural growls of monsters echoed. Lin Wei’s sand table projection mapped the area, revealing a grisly scene: more than a dozen adventurer corpses strewn about, monsters feasting on the dead—and on each other.

“The… tenth floor?!”

Everyone knew the Adventurers’ Guild had only mapped up to the ninth floor. The tenth was a true dead end—no one had ever returned from here. It was a monster’s playground.

And now she and Lin Wei were trapped here?

“Is there even a way out?”

“This is insane… Damn demons, setting traps—what are they after? Surely not just a bunch of low-level adventurers…”

No, the target wasn’t random adventurers, and certainly not the Demon Lord himself—these tricks wouldn’t even tickle him.

“My guess is, they’re after the Saintess. Maybe planning to use her to threaten the Griffin Duke… If this really is the work of the Cult of the Evil God and the demons.”

Lin Wei’s answer was curt. These schemes had been brewing for years, right under his nose while he was Demon Lord. Who knew what the idiotic Four Heavenly Kings had plotted with the demons?

“Whether we can escape is still up in the air, but I’ll do my best.”

“But first, we need to get out of here and look for any survivors.”

“Let’s head this way.”

With his sand table projection, Lin Wei could read the whole area at a glance. He tapped Iresha’s forehead, sharing his vision, then strode forward.

“There are thirteen monsters ahead. Let’s clear them out—a good chance to warm up.”

“They’re all Level 70. Be careful… We don’t want any surprises.”