Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Wonders Beneath

Though the journey was smooth with little to no accident, Iris still arrived at the Labyrinth of Love after three days. Vilia's and Lenmia's caves hid in a desolated corner of the Sinking Dark Forest, hidden from the attention of the Churches and far from the centre of the Crusade.

Along the way, she didn’t encounter any Monster Girl, which led her to speculate about how long she spent inside the Dreamscape. Even the flowers and plants in both caves had withered, so it must be at least a few days. It couldn't be too long because the Crusade was still ongoing, and they hadn't invaded the inner forest yet.

Like what the diary described, the entrance to the Labyrinth of Love was as ordinary as it could be. A small natural hill with countless bushes and vines crawling on their surface, producing arrays of colourful flowers, concealing the hidden passage behind their lush scenery. Iris would have missed it if not for the signs for which the diary said to watch for.

Beside the hill, a vast pond rested quietly, occasionally bubbling as the strange fish whose fins glowed in the dark came up and wiggled along with the bluish water plants. It was a deep underwater tunnel, where the water-oriented Monster Girls resided.

After waiting to no avail, Iris finally came out of her hiding place and walked toward the dirt hill, whose height was only triple her size. The dense layers of leaves and flowers and branches almost obstructed it from her view, but there was a unique scent permeating the atmosphere that led her to it.

The soft, lovely fragrance was the defining trait of the Labyrinth of Love. It radiated from the underground and spread outward, permeating the damp air of the Sinking Dark Forest. This mysterious scent only interacted with the Monster Girls, giving them an instinctive knowledge about the Labyrinth of Love, and if they chose to follow the path, they could come to join the society.

Iris tried to discern its content, but the scent was too faint to focus on, only feel. It didn't intrude into her sense but made itself comfortably in the background like a flowery perfume of an innocent maiden, not too pungent, not too light. She wouldn't have noticed it if Vilia hadn't told her about it and if her senses hadn't evolved as her power increased.

Standing in front of the hill, Iris touched the flourishing vines, feeling their unnaturally smooth exterior. Their mushy texture slightly sank as she pressed on them, her fingertips piercing into the cold nectar. A fruity scent exploded and cloaked the atmosphere with a soothing air that compelled Iris to stop playing and return. It was a spell that deterred the weak-willed Wild Beasts from entering mindlessly.

Iris remained unfretted as she pushed in her entire arm. Her body sank into the layers of grasses and flowers and vanished, passing through the thin membrane of illusionary magic.

Unlike the poor exterior, the inside softly glowed from the magical crystals that illuminated the natural yet tidy passage. On the walls, multiple artificial lamps made from stones and vines exuded colourful light, showing the way.

Iris surveyed her surrounding, then turned back to see the wall of dirt behind her. She couldn't sense any trace of magic or Corruption Power or Pure Power. The illusionary array blinded her even though she knew its function. The beings in the Labyrinth were strong. She must be careful not to get tricked and played by them.

She contemplated hiding the Shadow Heart Core, but a Slime Girl without a core would attract more attention than a Slime Girl with a strange core. She would be safe as long as no one who knew the existence of the Shadow Heart saw her.

Taking the chest with her, Iris strolled onward, admiring the crystal formation and exotic plants which sang melodies. Unlike the outside where danger loomed, the Labyrinth of Love filled Iris with security. She was safe, surrounded by her kind.

Iris met two Monster Girls guarding the true entrance of the Labyrinth. Behind them, the singular tunnel divided into multiple paths which led towards multiple terrains, each suitable for different types of Monster Girls.

The first Monster Girl, a Butterfly Girl, stopped fiddling with the yellow flower in her hand and turned to Iris. Her pair of dark orange eyes scanned Iris. She lightly bounced towards Iris as her antennae curled and unfolded, taking in the new, flavourful sensory.

"I have no recollection of your scent," the Butterfly Girl, Penlarin, said. "Welcome to the Labyrinth, Dear. It's uncommon to see a new one now that the Crusade has been going on for almost two weeks."

"My name is Iris, and I'm here to rejoin my sisters who arrived earlier." Iris reached inside her body, pulled out the chest, and took out a shiny crystal. "Sis Vilia told me about this place; she also gave me the identity crystal."

Penlarin took the crystal and smelt it thoroughly. After identifying the familiar scent, she reached inside the crevice between her big breasts and took out a slip of paper, which glowed as the Corruption Power surged into it.

As the paper touched the crystal, its soft colour dimmed before gleaming again.

"I'm sorry for your loss, Dear." Penlarin handed back the crystal. "No Monster Girls would give out their identity crystal to others unless they're never to return to the Labyrinth."

Iris knew, and she sighed as she put the chest back inside her slimy body. Her expression gave Penlarin a sense of melancholy, so much that she stepped forward and hugged Iris, folding her translucent wings inward.

Her honey scent diffused around Iris, soothing her mind, coaxing her to let go of all worry. The black-yellow silk dress pressed against Iris's bouncy membrane, yet the material strangely repelled the fluid from tainting it.

"An advice." Penlarin leant against Iris, brushing against her sensitive ear. "Don't let anyone come this close."

As Iris tensed, Penlarin pierced her sharp fingertips through Iris's membrane. The vibrant fingernails glided inside the blue viscous slime and hovered around Iris's core, gently squeezing it. Penlarin pushed her entire arm inside Iris and forcefully thrust it upward. Her fingers emerged from Iris's chest and seized her chin, pulling her close.

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"Especially a Slime Girl like you," she said. "Among the exotic Monster Girls, Slime Girls are the best. You reform no matter how many times we break you."

"Sis, please don't tease me," Iris said, quivering. "I'm just a weak Slime Girl."

Iris struggled. The faint, flowery fragrance diffused around her and stagnated her control over her slime, her body, and her mind. Penlarin was an experienced Transformation Phase Monster Girl. She could easily toy with Iris.

As Penlarin slowly leant on Iris, the Shadow Heart Core pulsated and pushed out a surge of foreign power undetected by everyone except Iris. The power swirled and severed the invisible threads of magic which restrained Iris. She immediately broke from the grasp and collapsed herself into a puddle of pinkish liquid, reforming a distance away.

Penlarin frowned. She wasn't expected that her prey would slip away so easily. She glanced behind her, and the second Monster Girl, Warnuli, laughed. The vines clung to her body shivered as her sharp voice echoed throughout the great tunnel. She walked towards Penlarin, her slender legs concealed under a veil of swaying leaves.

"I didn't expect you to be this bad," Warnuli said. "Can't even handle a newbie; your fingers have become dull."

"They still can make you willingly part your legs." Penlarin turned to Iris. "It wasn't just luck that you reach here."

"Penlia, you're slipping." Warnuli raised her hand and channelled her power. A small bush of leaves manifested from her palm and merged into a pink five-petal flower, which swayed in the windless air. She casually tossed it at Iris, who caught it in confusion. "A gift for showing me something interesting."

"Thank you both, Sisters," Iris stuttered and bowed. They were at the Transformation Phase, so she had to be careful. "I'll repay your kindness when I can."

"The Rainforest Layer," Warnuli said. "Come if you want to have some fun. I can arrange a thing or two for you. It's good to seek out different styles so you know all the ways you can seduce and capture hearts."

"Thank you for your invitation, Sisters," Iris said. "I'll keep your advice in mind."

"Now go," Penlarin said and stepped away from Iris, opening the path, raising her hands in that direction. "The middle tunnel leads to the Main City Layer, where all information about other Layers is. Follow the main road, and you will find the First Hall."

"Or you can learn it from us, with a small price of your singular, tender kiss," Warnuli said, giggling. "You are my favourite type: innocence, corruptible."

"I'll go to the Main City Layer, Sis. All my friends are waiting for me there." Before she went, Iris took out two colourful crystals and gifted them each to Penlarin and Warnuli. "I've taken too much of your time; please take them."

"Bribery? I like it." Penlarin took the yellow crystal and toyed with it, watching its glittering surface reflecting her face. "Flash news: an ambassador of the Broken Empire has recently arrived. She'll be staying at the Main City Layer. A strong one she is."

After giving thanks to both Monster Girls, Iris trodded through the middle tunnel, heading straight into the Main City Layer. Her speed picked up as she got farther from Penlarin and Warnuli, scared that they might change their mind. If not for the Shadow Heart Core, she might have to endure a sensual night with them.

The tunnel became wider and wider as she traversed through the darkness, which gradually brightened as the dark-brown, rough soil shifted its colour to black and smoothened. In front of Iris was a soft, flickering light that penetrated from the exit of the tunnel.

As she walked through the veil of darkness into the light, her face glowed from the pale light which radiated from the crystals in the sky, on the high-rising ceiling of the cave, whose size abruptly expanded as if it were another world underneath the material plane. Iris was standing on a hill, which overlooked the Main City in the distance.

Countless greenery surrounded her. She found nothing but bushes and leaves and occasionally lakes and hills in sight. The refreshing, clear air grazed her face, filling her with a chill that excited her pulsating heart. It was an underground forest within the forest, a world within a cave, a magical world!

"Vilia, it's even more beautiful than I remembered," Iris whispered.

She eagerly descended the hill, following the path which others made for the wandering Monster Girls to admire nature and reach the Main City safe and sound. It was indeed the paradise for the Monster Girls, akin to the second haven beside the Broken Empire.

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