I Work As A Healer In Another World’s Labyrinth City

Walking down the road that the dragons owner told us about, we came out on the main street before long. After that Ruruka guided me to the magic tool shop, and we reached it a few minutes ago. Presently, Im in the middle of scouring the shop for a particular magic tool.

Looks like it wasnt a lie that Ruruka also wanted to come see this store; she seems to be having fun looking at all the magic tools. After a while she approaches me holding one of them. Did she find what she was after?

Shiki, look, this magic tool is amazing! Just by putting mana into it, a magic toilet comes out!

Magic toilet?

What the heck is a magic toilet? Doubts spring to my mind in an instant, but when Ruruka infuses it with mana, a simple portable toilet hut like the kind youd find at a construction site appears.

The price is uwaah, 500,000 Zeni? Thats pretty high, but Shiki could afford it! Itd be convenient when youre exploring the labyrinth, right? Wont you buy it?

How can a single toilet go for 500,000 Zeni? No matter how you look at it, its a normal toilet.

I open the door to take a look and theres a lone Japanese-style toilet enshrined inside the half-tatami space. What about this is a magical toilet exactly? Whats next, a washlet?

Ah, maybe the inside of the toilet room is a safe zone with a barrier or something?

In that case I wouldnt have an issue with the high price anymore; that seems like itd have a certain amount of utility. But wait, no matter how safe it is, how would I like being cooped up in a portable toilet all alone with Yuel every time we take a break while exploring the labyrinth?

Something tells me I want to avoid that.

Nah, nothing like that. Ah, Shiki, be very careful where you step, ok? Cause if you fall in youll disappear.

I just heard some precarious words.

This toilet, whatever drops into it vanishes somewhere else by the power of magic. Thats the only effect, but you cant exactly flush with water in the labyrinth so its amazingly useful!

Put it back.

That does sound useful. It certainly does sound useful, yet the thought of spending 500,000 Zeni just for that is unbelievable. However, as if she didnt really intend to get me to buy it, Ruruka reluctantly puts the magic tool back where she found it.

Well, nows not the time for me to be concerned about items like that. The only thing Im seeking is a magic tool that increases mana capacity. By the way, theres a part of me that also wants to look for one with some sort of X-ray or clairvoyance power. Im not telling anyone what Id use it for.

And, as Im daydreaming while looking at magic tools I finally find it.

Even though it would absolutely be better for you to have huh, whatcha looking at, Shiki?

As for what Im looking at, its the mana-capacity-raising magic tool Ive been searching for. More precisely, Im looking at the the number of zeroes written on the price tag thats attached to the ring-shaped magic tool. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 zeroes. I must have made a mistake while counting.

The amount written on the price tag is 10,000,000 Zeni. In Japanese currency, thats a hundred million yen.

And I have around 2,500,000 Zeni in my wallet. Even though I received such a huge reward at the lords manor, it doesnt even cover half the price of this magic tool.

Isnt this thing a bit overpriced? As far as how expensive that is, I could easily buy several houses with that amount of money. I try looking for a slightly cheaper magic tool with a similar effect, but it seems this 10 million Zeni one that raises your mana capacity is the least expensive.

Yeah, this is too expensive.

Uwaah, Shiki, you wanted this ring? 10 million Zeni, huh thats unreasonable, shouldnt you give up on it?

Yeah, guess Id better give up on it. No, but if I give up here then I wont be able to resolve Eris troubles. Besides, outside of buying this magic tool, no other methods come to mind for how to increase the effectiveness of Eris healing magic without causing any future issues.

I might be screwed.

But man, why is it this expensive? Even though all it does is raise your mana capacity, no matter how you put it, 10 million Zeni is

No, maybe its a simple matter?

For a healer who can only use Heal, this magic tool could enable them to use High Heal. Thinking about it that way, I understand why the price was set like this.

Compared to the market price of around 400 Zeni for treatment with Heal, 50,000 Zeni is suitable for just a single use of High Heal to regenerate tissue. Just being able to use High Heal would be a huge boost to your daily income. And that will continue for the rest of your life.

If a healer such as Eris were to obtain this magic tool, her total lifetime income would skyrocket.

Its a straightforward concept. Wanting to improve the efficacy of your healing magic via a magic tool. A great number of people have gone down the same line of thought that I currently am.

Shiki, you have a lot of mana, so youll be fine without this kinda thing! More importantly, how about something like this one? Look, its not much, but its a bracelet that reduces the impact of a lethal blow.

Ah, no, its not for me this time, Im looking for a magic tool to give to Eris

To Eris-san?

I say it almost by reflex, then I realize. This isnt something I should be talking about.

Hold on, isnt the bracelet that Rurukas holding the same magic tool that Yuel and I had earlier? When I take a glance at it, the bracelet slips through Rurukas fingers. And makes a loud clang.

Spending 10 million Zeni on a ring, to give to Eris-san? Then that means, you and Eris-san really are

Ruruka mutters as her face turns pale. Uh oh.

Oi, Ruruka?

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That mistress thing so all along, all along it really was like that.

I get the feeling she ended up completely misinterpreting it. After that Ruruka takes a step back, then another. Shes chewing her lower lip in vexation, and trembling as she looks in my direction. Her condition is clearly abnormal.

!

Then, when our eyes meet, Ruruka races out of the store to try and run away.

Its a misunderstanding. Im telling you, its a misunderstanding.

Its not an engagement ring or anything. I just wanted to clear up Eris worries about her healing magic. I was about to say that, yet Ruruka is already outside the store.

For now, I can only chase after Ruruka as she runs away.

It might be fine to wait to solve this misunderstanding the next time we meet, but I dont know where Ruruka usually hangs out. If I wait for her to take action, its highly probable that well never meet again after today.

Besides, I get the feeling that she was clearly trying to hide her true feelings with that reaction. Even I can understand that. I cant afford not to chase after her here.

When I leave the store, I spy Ruruka running from the main street towards a narrow alley. Then, just before turning the corner, Ruruka glances back in my direction. Looks like shes noticed that Im following her.

But man, chasing after a girl whos running away kinda feels youthful. I mean, on the surface it seems criminal, but this time its youthful.

Despite those thoughts I continue to chase after Ruruka, and it doesnt take too long for me to catch up with her. I wonder if its like that? Maybe she actually wanted me to run after her, and secretly ran slowly because she was waiting for me?

Nah. That cant be it.

What the heck are you doing?

Dont ask.

After a bend in the alley I hit a dead end, and Ruruka is indeed there. However, all that I can see is her lower half, hanging out of a small window in one of the deserted houses along the back alley.

I can imagine what kind of situation led to this.

Ruruka was running away from me, but after the bend in the alley she ran into a dead end. Even in that situation, she was still trying to get away from me somehow. And her eyes fell upon a small window that was left open in a house that looked like it hadnt been used for a long time.

She contrived to shake me off by entering the house via that window and escaping through a different exit.

However Rurukas lower half is dangling from the window frame. Shes flailing her legs; looks like shes struggling to squeeze through. The result is failure; her hips are stuck in the window frame and shes unable to move.

Since the window frame is slightly high up, every time Ruruka exerts her strength to push through, her dangling legs jiggle comically.

What, you stuck?

Dont say anything.

She was probably in too much of a hurry to get away and misjudged the size of the window frame. Then her hips got tightly wedged in the window frame and rendered her unable to move.

Well if you cant move then thats just fine with me. You can hear me out just like that. What Aria said was a misunderstanding. In the first place, Im not getting engaged or anything to anyone right now, that was Aria jumping to conclusions.

Stop! Dont give me an explanation in this situation! I-I mean, look, if I cant even properly see your face

Having said that, all I can see right now is her ass.

Well, perhaps Im going about things in the wrong order. I should probably extricate Ruruka first.

Got it, wait a sec.

For starters, I try grabbing her legs and pulling.

Ow, that hurts, Shiki! Dont pull me! Right, push! Just a little further and I feel like I can get inside!

Just now she told me to push. I wonder if thats okay? To push somebody through when theyre stuck by their hips, where exactly should you push? Of course, you need to push their hips in the direction perpendicular to the building.

In other words, you push on their ass.

You dont mind that?

Eh What would I mind? Ah!

In a flash, I start pushing with both hands. I dont really want to do this, but Ruruka did tell me to push her. So I have to do it.

Wai, Shiki ah Sto Dont! Never mind, dont push me! Let go for now!

But I only push a little before Ruruka protests and shoves me away with her feet. Such a shame.

Although, what I felt from pushing a little was that beneath that softness there was a muscular springiness err, not that. It was that her waist was completely stuck in the window frame. Neither pushing nor pulling will work.

I might be able to pull her out with a few more people putting their backs into it, but even in that case Ruruka would likely give up from the pain before we get her free. I feel like my only option is to do something about the window frame.

Oh well, guess its impossible for me. Gimme a sec, Ill call some more people over.

And maybe I need to bring back some sort of tools too, Im at the limit of what I can do by myself. With that in mind, as Im about to step away,

Wait, wait, Shiki! Im begging you, dont leave me alone in alley like this when I cant move at all! What if a man happens to pass by when Im by myself and Does whatever he wants to me!

I hear Ruruka desperately call out to keep me from going. That serious atmosphere from when she ran away from the magic tool shop, I wonder where it went? All I can see now is a talking butt.

I guess pulling is no, but oh yeah, my clothes! Try pulling on my clothes!

I want to get Ruruka out somehow, but she doesnt like me touching her ass. I guess that means she thinks pulling on her clothes is less objectionable than pushing on her butt.

If you insist.

Although, even if she tells me to pull her clothes, which part should I pull on? Nah, theres only one choice. Her upper body is on the other side of the wall, and shes only wearing shorts on her lower body. Those must be what she meant for me to pull on.

I lay my hands on the shorts that Ruruka is wearing.

Dont touch me any more than you have to, okay?

I thought Id grab her shorts around her hips and pull from there, but I get a warning from Ruruka right before I do.

Got it.

Since theres no other option, I grab the pockets of her shorts and pull forcibly.

Ah, this is no good.

Rurukas shorts are going to come off before I can pull her out of the window frame. Or rather theyve already slipped off halfway, most unbecomingly. Id keep pulling like this, but I cant just strip Ruruka down to her panties.

Can I?

Wait, Shiki! Theyre coming off, theyre coming off!

Ruruka mustve felt her clothes coming off too; shes flailing her legs violently. I cant bear being kicked again. Ill back off temporarily.

Youre the one who told me to pull on your clothes

Man, it sure is going to be difficult to pull Ruruka out at this rate. Ah, thats right. If she hates being touched directly, I bet I could wrap a bunch of towels or something around her waist and pull her out that way. Ive got enough towels in my item box.

And, while Im considering that-

Ruruka keeps swinging her legs at the wrong place, trying to kick me. From the momentum shes putting into it, her shorts slip the rest of the way off and fall straight down.

Then, with a flop, the shorts hit the ground.

The frantic movement of Rurukas legs comes to a sudden halt.

Then theres a moment of silence.

Since I cant see her face and shes not making any noise, I dont know what kind of expression Ruruka is making right now. I wonder if shes angry? In a situation like this, should I avert my eyes, or gently put her shorts back on? I wonder which one would be better?

Meanwhile, Rurukas legs begin to tremble,

Ueeeh How could, how could this

and she starts to cry.

Wait, dont cry! Just be patient for a bit! Ill get you out right away!

Crying is unfair. She looks really pathetic now. It feels like a waste, but I quickly take a towel from my item box and wrap it around Rurukas waist. After that, I try pulling with all my strength.

Ouch! Shiki, that hurts, it hurts!

Yet shes still completely stuck and theres no sign of her coming free. But if I dont get Ruruka out as fast as possible, our relationship is no doubt going to get more awkward than ever.

Isnt there something, anything I can do to resolve this situation?

There is. That something is right here in my item box.

I temporarily remove my hands from Ruruka and take that out. Then I use the warm water magic tool to melt that to just the right consistency. What Ive just created is: slime lotion. By that, I was of course referring to Slime Jelly.

With the lotion completed, I dribble it onto the entire window frame around Rurukas hips.

Eh, Shiki, What are you doing!? Why does it feel so slimy! What are you planning to do to me while I cant move!? Shiki!?

Please answer me, Shiki!

Ruruka is yelling at the sudden sensation, but shell understand once I show her how effective this is. I believe in the Slime Jelly.

Once Rurukas hips get real intimate with the Slime Jelly, I pull on her with all my might. At which point-

-With an audible pop, Ruruka easily slides out of the window frame.

All right! Youre out!

On the verge of tears, Ruruka sits down on the ground with a dazed expression as if simply because she cant understand what just happened. After a bit of time passes, she checks her own appearance.

Im glad I could get you out. Seriously, you should be grateful for my quick thinking.

Ruruka looks at her clothes that have become sticky with slime lotion, and her shorts crumpled on the ground.

Yeah, thanks but, I could use an explanation

After Ruruka says that, her face makes a terribly complicated expression like she doesnt know whether to be pleased or angry.

Even though this time I only did what Ruruka told me to do, I wonder if the fact that she didnt timidly thank me is due to my usual behavior or the Slime Jelly?

After that, Ruruka stands up. Looks like she put her shorts back on underneath the towel while I wasnt looking.

Uwaah, Im all sticky

It couldnt be helped, there was no other way.

I know that, I know that, but wait a minute, what was that slimy stuff? Why did you have it with you?

Ruruka questions me.

Yeah, Look, Im not very strong so I cant fight that well, right? When Im running from monsters I scatter that on the ground to buy some time.

Thats not the only reason, but Im not telling a lie.

Huh, seems useful. I often have to run when I get surrounded, so tell me where I can buy it.

Lets talk about that next time. More importantly, lets go back to that store from before, there might be a good magic tool.

While we discuss, we retrace our steps together. I wasnt sure how things would end up when Ruruka ran away from that magic item shop, but I cleared up her misunderstanding somehow.

Incidentally, theres a part of me that wants to probe deeper into the reason she ran, but Ruruka seems a bit unstable today. And her misapprehension is resolved, so lets ask her about it again some other day. While Im thinking it over as we walk,

That talk about Eris-san earlier that youre not getting married, is it true?

Suddenly, in a weak voice that I almost fail to hear, Ruruka asks me something like that.

Its true. But why

I see.

As were walking, Ruruka tugs on my sleeve as if she wants to say something. When I turn my head to take a look, Ruruka is hanging her head down low.

I cant go back out onto the main street until I change my clothes.

What shes saying is quite natural. Certainly, theres no way a girl can go out onto the main street all sticky with Slime Jelly. But this is a problematic proposal. What might the problem be?

Its the building were standing in front of.

The location where Ruruka stopped me by pulling on my clothes.

Right in front of my eyes, theres an inn that provides baths.

That is to say, inns with baths are often used for that sort of thing. If you enter as a couple, theres only one thing one thing youre going to do there.

Thats right, huh. Youre all sticky, huh. You want to change clothes, huh.

Yeah, and I cant go out onto the main street like this.

I wonder what her goal is? No, theres no need to think about it, its gotta be that.

But is it okay? I feel like were moving a little too fast. Besides, I still dont know why Ruruka is treating me favorably, and I havent asked her the essential details.

I wonder if Im making a mistake? Should I let it happen? Yuel wont find out, will she?

While Im still ascertaining the present situation, I notice Rurukas ears turning slightly red. I cant see her expression with her head bowed, but I feel like her body is trembling a little.

This isnt the time for me to waver. Shes surely inviting me. Its decision time. And that very instant-

Ah, were already full. Sorry, please find another inn well, Im not sure if any other inns are available what with the festival going on, though.

-The clerk happens to come out of the inn, and mentions that to us.

Oh yeah, thats right. I completely forgot. As a consequence of the festival, the inns are mostly full now.

When I look over at Ruruka, shes also looking directly back at me. Her eyes are wide open, and her pupils are clearly darting around wildly. Did the situation finally sink in? She blushes deeper and deeper red.

Her face was already slightly reddened, but now its practically the color of an apple.

This is embarrassing.

Thats not it I R-really just wanted to change my clothes. Thats all!!!

Then Ruruka runs off somewhere again, screaming. Twice as fast as when she ran away from the magic item shop earlier. No doubt about it, shes sprinting at top speed. Thats an adventurer for you, I wont be able to catch up to that.

Ah, my apologies, did I say something bad?

The clerk says with a grin. You did. You totally did.

I stare dumbfounded at the end of the alley where Ruruka ran off.

What am I gonna do about this?

How the hell should I act with her the next time we meet?