Madness of the Blue Blood Labyrinth - Chapter 29

Patients stuck in a hospital with nothing to do are usually desperate for conversation.

And me? I’m a Explorer. I have a treasure trove of stories that appeal to younger audiences—about as many as the volumes of that pirate manga that finally concluded with a grand finale after decades of serialization.

Time flew by as we talked.

—

“Oh, right—I brought you something.”

—

Of course, I hadn’t forgotten.

But to avoid any chance of rejection, I waited until general visiting hours were nearly over and casually brought it up. If she refused, I could always use time as an excuse to leave. A perfect plan—genius, even.

—

“Wait, is that… a *Majiba*?”

—

Majiba? What’s that…?

Oh, she means a *Magic Bag*. That’s what space-compression bags are called now?

Seems today’s middle schoolers have their own slang. The generational gap is real.

They say even a five-year age difference can feel like another world, and they’re not wrong.

—

“Yeah, just bought it yesterday. Still getting used to it.”

—

The bag was a sleek body-bag type with an internal capacity of about two tatami mats—plenty of room for the weapon I had on order.

Reaching into it felt like plunging my hand into a temperature less gel. It wasn’t wet, but it was definitely unsettling.

—

“By the way, sorry about before. Just giving you cash for a hospital gift was pretty lame.”

“…My parents nearly fainted when they opened the envelope. How much did you even put in there?”

—

I don’t remember.

—

A giant stuffed bear.

A basket of seasonal fruit.

An assorted set of donuts from a popular shop.

A voucher for a high-end spa that usually has a month-long waiting list.

A stack of light novels I saw prominently displayed at a bookstore.

—

I had no idea what a girl her age would like, so I asked Yoshida, the most shameless guy I know, for advice. Then I bought everything he suggested.

Her reaction? Her face was twitching.

—

“Damn, I forgot flowers. What a thoughtless guy I am.”

“Uh, no, it’s not that. It’s just… this is *too much*. That stuffed bear looks ridiculously expensive—I can’t accept this.”

—

What a modest, well-mannered kid.

But still, it would be a problem if she didn’t take it.

—

“All of this was bought with money I earned in the dungeon,” I explained.

“Huh?”

“Your brother sold me his Slot for far less than its market value—over 20 million yen lower, in fact—all for your sake. Because of that, I became a Explorer. It’s only fair that I give back, at least a little. That’s not so strange, is it?”

—

Giving up a talent that’s not easily obtained, even for the sake of his one and only sister, must have come with no small amount of inner conflict.

While our deal had been one of mutual benefit, I owed him a debt of gratitude and respect.

—

“Please accept it. As far as I’m concerned, I’m still in your family’s debt.”

—

After a moment of hesitation, Tsumugi nodded timidly.

What a good kid.

—

When I later tried to give her 800,000 yen—the leftover amount after buying weapons, armor, and the Magic Bag—she flatly refused.

It would’ve been a huge relief if she had taken it, but no dice.

—