As we celebrated our victory over the Cerberus, a sudden rumbling sound began to echo.

The far wall crumbled, revealing a new space beyond it.

We all headed toward it.

Inside, there was a single stone tablet, a dagger, a sword, and a pure white magic stone.

On the ground, there was also a pattern that appeared to be a teleportation magic circle.

“The dagger, the sword, and the magic stone must be the dungeon rewards.

The magic circle is probably for returning.

As for this stone tablet... what could it be?”

Focusing on the most peculiar of the items, the stone tablet, I left the rest for later and examined it.

It contained information related to the dungeon.

“Hmm, let’s see...”

As I read further, I began to understand how this dungeon functioned.

While my initial assumptions were somewhat correct, it seemed I hadn’t fully grasped the whole picture.

“Ike, is there something important written on that tablet?” Elle asked.

I nodded in response.

“It seems the Tria Labyrinth was designed to be cleared by teams of three.”

“Teams of three...?”

“Exactly. Do you remember how we were split into three groups?

To proceed further—specifically, to activate the teleportation magic that connected to the next area—each person needed to stand within the red magic circles in that room.

Those claiming they couldn’t advance beyond the dungeon’s entrance must have been in parties of four or more. That would explain it.”

“I see... but if that’s the case, wouldn’t we be in the same situation?

Our party had six members: myself, Sheena, you, Flare, Tetra, and Lycia.”

“Think carefully. Among us, there were about three... exceptions, right?”

“Ah!”

Yes, the puppets.

Flare and Tetra were likely identified by the dungeon as non-human entities.

Looking back, the three groups that were formed were Ike and Tetra, Flare and Elle, and Lycia and Sheena.

If the dungeon recognized me, Elle, and Sheena as a single party, the discrepancy makes sense.

Further proof of this was in the three dungeon rewards.

The dagger was meant for Sheena, the sword for Elle, and the mysterious magic stone was likely prepared as my reward.

I shared these insights with the other five.

“So, that’s my hypothesis. Does anyone have an issue with dividing the rewards as I just explained?”

Elle hesitated and spoke apologetically.

“Honestly, Sheena and I didn’t contribute enough to claim two-thirds of the rewards.

While the dagger might not be useful to your group, wouldn’t it make more sense to give this sword to Flare instead?”

I could understand her reasoning.

But unfortunately, there was a fundamental flaw in her suggestion.

“Hmm. Sorry, Elle, but I probably can’t use that sword,” Flare replied.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, I could probably swing it around just fine, but not in battle or in situations outside of combat.

Uh... how should I explain this? Ike, help me out!”

“Sure, sure.

...You see, creating weapons for puppets is actually the job of a Doll Maker.

Weapons that can change size freely, just like puppets, aren’t exactly common.

A Doll Maker can solve that problem, though.”

“—I see!

Then, if it’s all right, I will use this sword as you suggested.”

And so, the division of the dungeon rewards was settled without issue.

The items were rewards for conquering a dungeon that required at least an A-rank level of strength.

They would undoubtedly prove useful to Elle and Sheena.

Now, there was just one unresolved matter:

The pure white magic stone I had received. What could it possibly be used for?

When we returned to town, I would need to ask someone knowledgeable about magic stones.

“Master, you forgot to pick this up,” Lycia said, suddenly appearing beside me and holding out the Cerberus’s magic stone.

“Ah, thank you.”

I took it from her, but the moment I did, something strange happened.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

“What is this...?”

As soon as the Cerberus’s magic stone touched the pure white one in my hand, it was absorbed into it.

In just a few seconds, the pure white stone had swallowed it completely, transforming into a red-black hue.

“A magic stone that stores other magic stones...?

No, that can’t be right.”

Though the mystery deepened, it didn’t seem to pose an immediate problem.

For now, I decided to let it be.

Afterward, we used the teleportation magic circle to return to the entrance of the Tria Labyrinth.