Rudeus Greyrat was an unusual existence. That was the first thought that came to the mind of Almanfi of the Bright when Rudeus Greyrat interacted with Lord Perugius for the first time.

Their first interaction was short, but more than enough for Almanfi to grasp a simple understanding of who Rudeus Greyrat was.

Careful, respectful, humble, patient and hard-working. But also distant, withdrawn, experienced and somber.

Things that are, more or less, unlike a child of his age. Some far more than others.

Almanfi never questioned it much himself at first. At the end of the day, the only thing that mattered to him was serving Lord Perugius, and he had no reason to question him, especially when he had gained the respect of The Armored Dragon King in less than a day, even wanting to keep an eye on him. Almanfi knew that was no small feat in its own right.

With that being said, he still found himself thinking about Rudeus Greyrat.

Almanfi knew more than enough that the boy was capable. Even without his help, was still slew through monsters that a vast majority would need a party to handle, let alone multiple of them. He had the skill and power of an individual who's lived and trained for decades on end.

His intelligence wasn't unbefitting of a child his age; Almanfi has seen children, mostly those of nobility, that were smarter than many, but Rudeus' knowledge was almost absurd. He'd have to have isolated himself somewhere for years to know what he knows at his age.

"Hey!"

Almanfi turned his head, eyeing the boy who had invaded his wonders walking up to his side, almost relieved that Almanfi hadn't wandered off or left him behind.

"Are you ready to go?" Almanfi asked in an almost robotic manner.

The boy nodded his head, an apologetic, lopsided smile adorning his expression as he faced the entrance to the Labyrinth. Like he's been here before.

Almanfi turned to face the entrance himself. He had numerous questions, and he knew Lord Perugius certainly did himself, but those can wait for another time.

With that, he followed Rudeus Greyrat into the Teleportation Labyrinth.

…

I didn't have a bad memory, but it wasn't the greatest under any circumstance.

There are many things I still remember, even now. Some good, a lot of bad, more or less the usual.

But the book about this Labyrinth wasn't one of them, and going through this Labyrinth was not a very fresh memory either. The only thing I still distinctly remember was the battle with the Hydra, and that was the very end.

Going through the Labyrinth was a little more challenging than before, basically.

The monsters within were no big deal, really. Though, with the much smaller area that is the inside of this Labyrinth and the large majority of them stalking within, it was a hindrance. I couldn't just let loose on them without caving the Labyrinth inside itself, though I don't doubt that me or Almanfi wouldn't survive.

Even so, the first three floors were simple enough to get through, albeit an annoyance. I wondered how Almanfi was feeling, but I won't be able to see anything as long as he had that fox mask on.

The hard part was the actual teleportation circles themselves. Some of them needed to be stepped on to progress into the necessary rooms, but we both ended up falling into some trapped rooms too. Almanfi even asked me if I knew where I was going. I couldn't give a very confident response to that.

"To your left." He called out.

I didn't need it, as I had my eye of foresight, but I appreciated it nonetheless. I readied a water magic spell instantly as I turned around to meet the monster of mud before me, a Mad Skull. An act of desperation, it must've been, considering how intelligent they are.

"Water Cannon." I said, calling forth the intermediate spell in my hand and launching it towards the monster. It destroyed the human skull embedded in its mud torso. I wish I could say I was a little more enthusiastic about it.

I turned back to Almanfi, who was cleaning his blade before placing it back in its sheath, the corpse of an Armored Warrior cut to pieces was splattered in front of him. "To the fifth floor?" He questioned, turning to face me.

I nodded.

…

"Stone Cannon." A sharp-pointed rock formed itself in front of me, rotating in a very drill-like manner before firing off. It annihilated the Armored Warrior, tearing a hole through it's torso clean before the creature fell and died from the shock of it all.

I did the same thing to two more of them, watching them die in vain. I conjured a fourth Stone Cannon for one that was behind me, but he was split in half from left to right diagonally before I could launch it.

The upper half slid off the body, revealing Almanfi's upper body before the legs of the monster collapsed to show the spirit's full figure and a sword soaked in its blood.

Another monster – a Devouring Devil, judging by its massive mouth and razor-sharp teeth – tried to sneak up on Almanfi from above, using its long limbs and pointed claws to scale the walls and ceiling, but was effectively cut down in the blink of an eye. Three pieces fell to the ground instantaneously; its body from its feet to its shoulders, its lower jaw, and the rest of its head.

The sight would've made any person at least a little nauseous. I know I would've been, but I don't think I can just be classified as just "any person" anymore.

"Oh, yeah." I remembered a question I had for him. "Is this your first time labyrinth diving?"

He nodded, putting his blade back in its sheath. "I've heard much about it before and after I started to serve Lord Perugius. But it surely doesn't seem as difficult as it's been made out to be."

"It's only natural, we're both stronger than most." I turned back to look at the scene behind us, we're multiple corpses of both Devouring Devils and Armored Warriors lay scattered across the ground and their blood staining the walls. There's certainly more beyond what I can see, too. "People usually end up diving into labyrinths with a party instead of just two people. Anyone who saw us go in probably thinks we're dead by now."

He hummed. "I can't see why people would still risk their lives for this, then.. On a normal occasion at least."

"High risk, high reward." I answered him. "Labyrinths are dangerous, people die all the time in them, especially in S-ranked ones like this one, but they get a lot of money and stuff for it. A lot of people are able to settle down and live the rest of their lives in peace by clearing through a high-ranked one like this."

At the very least, I thought they could. My father's two subordinates – two sisters, Vierra and Shierra, if memory serves right – did just that with their share of cash after saving my mother. I never interacted with them at all after that, it was our final goodbyes to each other and my father, but I hope they did well for themselves regardless.

I looked back to Almanfi. His fox mask did no service in telling me what he was doing, but he seemed to be thinking it over before shaking his head. "I couldn't imagine such a thing.."

I snorted. Of course. His mind was probably far too occupied with serving Lord Perugius before ever thinking about something normal people do. I quickly straightened my posture however as he shot a glare in my direction.

"Well.." I started as soon his glare withered down. "..I think it's time we climb to the sixth floor."

He looked around, as if he was trying to sense some sort of hidden danger, before relaxing soon after and facing me, nodding.

With that, we made our way to the sixth floor.

…

I stared at the corpse of a Devouring Devil. It was kept in place by an earth lancer piercing through and obliterating his stomach. its jaw hung open and its tongue sprawled outside of it, its eyes staring at my form greedily.

Hung, crucified and displayed for all to see what was left of it, only left there for anyone watching to mock and insult it for its failures.

Like my wife was.

I dissolved the earth lancer spell instantly, watching the monster's carcass dropping to the ground with a soft thud.

"Greyrat." I heard a voice call, and only then did I feel something run down my cheek.

I rubbed my face, my eyes. I was crying. I grimaced at the realization. "Sorry, sorry. I'm fine." Getting all depressed won't save my mother.

"..Very well." He said. "So, what do we do about this?"

Huh?

I looked to where Almanfi was to see three magic circles.

"Ah.." I sighed. Right, this thing. Last time I was here, me and the party took a large amount of time trying to decide which of these three would lead us to the seventh floor. Eventually, we narrowed it down to two. And then, to zero.

"It's none of these." I told him. Instead, it was a hidden staircase that led to a hidden room, with a circle that led to the seventh floor.

With that being known, I walked over to the area where the staircase was beneath, eyeing the ground and making sure it was exactly where it was last time before carving an X onto it.

I cast a Stone Cannon, watching it as it formed in front of my hand and aiming it precisely towards where the X was marked. Speed, rotation, power..

It launched, and a loud crash reverberated itself through the walls of the Labyrinth. Almanfi flew to my side in a burst of light.

"..I see." He only said, his voice laced in what sounded like genuine surprise as his fox mask stared down at the hidden staircase below. "How did you know about this?"

"The layout of the area looked familiar." I responded. It's what I said last time, too. Except the layout this time was far more familiar than before.

He stared at me for a moment before nodding, obviously still having doubt and more questions, but deciding to leave them for now as he descended the staircase. I followed behind him shortly after.

Right at the foot of the stairs was the blood-red teleportation circle. A two-way type one, and a warning.

"This is it." I said. Beyond this point is the Manatite Hydra, and the crystal that imprisons my mother currently.

We've been in this Labyrinth for a very short amount of time at this point. 7 hours at most, if I had to guess. We didn't bring any water or food. As soon as we entered, we both unanimously decided that we were completing this in one go.

For most adventuring parties, a Labyrinth of this scale would likely take days, maybe months to even get to this point.

"No going back now. On the other side is a Manatite Hydra, the guardian of the Teleportation Labyrinth, and my mother. Whether you do anything or not is up to you, it doesn't make much of a difference for me. If you do decide to do something, work to cut off its heads, it'll make things easier for me. Other than that, are you ready?"

He nodded without hesitation. Despite the fact that he is a servant first and foremost, even a warrior of his caliber could get a little excited at the prospect of something like a Manatite Hydra.

I turned back to the blood red teleportation circle. There was nothing for us to check. My armor was fine, the mana I still have is more than enough, and we haven't brung any supplies with us to look over. It's do or die now.

"Very well, then. Shall we?" I asked.

Almanfi nodded, stepping on to the teleportation circle and disappearing. I followed soon after.

Where I, and by extension Almanfi, ended up was akin to the reception hall of a palace in an oblong shape the size of a baseball field. Thick pillars decorated its sides and a ceiling so high you had to look straight up to see it. The floor was covered in tiles, each engraved in their own complex pattern.

I looked at Almanfi, no doubt looking over the area and comparing it to Perugius' Sky Fortress, and then in front to see a monster located within the confined depths of this room.

The monster was enormous, twice the size of a red wyrm. Even from afar, the shiny twinkle of its emerald green scales could be seen, along with its short, bulky body and the nine heads attached to their individual necks.

The Manatite Hydra.

Just beyond the hydra, however, was a crystal. One of incredible size, green in color and spikes that fanned outwards. It's size was incredible, only once I have seen it before.

But just like before though, the size did not matter. Rather, what was important was what was trapped within the crystal, displayed in such a magnificently dreamlike state.

My mother.

I looked over to Almanfi, watching him unsheathe his blade from its placeholder. He's decided to make himself useful. No words were needed.

I looked back to the Hydra, who was picking one of its heads up at the sudden trespassers of its labyrinth. The single head watched us with cold eyes as its other eight heads were in the process of getting up themselves.

The one head took notice of Almanfi's stance and my wand, and lunged itself towards Almanfi like a snake, its teeth sharp and its mouth wide. Anything caught between its jaws would no doubt be destroyed in an instant.

Almanfi dodged with relative ease, the speed difference being as absurd as it was. He moved to its side and swung his sword down with precision and grace, I watched Hydra's single head fall to ground with a loud Thud.

I was already forming fire magic in Aqua Heartia. "Exodus Flame." I recited the name of the spell.

A large wave of flame roared out of my wand towards the confines of its exposed neck, any of the other heads too slow to even think about stopping it. As soon as it made contact with the flesh, an explosion comparable to 5 missiles going off occurred. Much larger than a normal Exodus Flame should be. All the other heads screeched in pain.

A mushroom cloud formed, blood and scales flew out of it in all different directions, including mine.

The object that flew in my direction was moving at a very fast pace. I shifted my head to the side, dodging it easily, yet it still grazed my right cheek, forming a large yet shallow cut.

I heard a clang on the ground behind me, causing me to briefly turn my head towards the noise to find a scale from the Hydra's body a fair distance away. I grimaced, it certainly would of torn my head apart if I hadn't dodged.

I turned back to the Hydra, the smoke dissipating to reveal that not that the one neck wound burned and charred, but that the entire neck itself was completely gone, leaving only a short, cauterized stump where it used to be. I felt the cut on my cheek, leaking blood. I touched it with my hand not holding Aqua Heartia. It stung, comparable to that of a Bee's sting.

"Divine power is rich and nourishing, It offers the strength to rise again to those who have lost their strength. Healing." I muttered, feeling my cut close on itself. I looked at my reflection in Aqua Heartia to see the cut gone, leaving only small amounts of blood that is still smeared across my face.

We went through that pattern multiple times, minus me getting cut again by flying scales, until only one head remained. Looking at its body now, you likely wouldn't believe at first glance that it had seven other heads at all, all of the charred neck wounds from the other head simply look like burn marks from a distance.

The single head of the Hydra was certainly giving it its all. A series of emotions seemed to be flashing across its face as it glanced between me and Almanfi.

Frustration, at the fact that everything it tried to do, was effectively being nullified. Any sort of head-swinging it did got it cut off and cauterized, or it did nothing as we dodged. If it used its flame breath, it was blocked cleanly by me using an Earth Wall or Frost Nova. If it tried to eat the charred stumps where its other heads were, it was stopped by as the feasting head was cut off and charred.

Anger, at the fact that it was losing against two creatures that were, to it, weaker.

Fear, at the fact that it was gonna die.

It was breathing hard, almost hyperventilating, trying to decide what it should do against me and Almanfi as it wheezed, yet even it knew that it was over and done with. It lost, and it's gonna die for it.

And then, its head dropped to the ground.

The action surprised me even a little. I could hear Almanfi sheathe his sword at the notion. We both knew what that meant. It gave up.

I walked up to the Hydra, albeit slowly. It's head was massive up close, bigger than my currently 13 year old body. Its scales were roughly the size of my head.

Its eye watched me the whole time as I walked up to it. The Hydra was afraid of what I could do, but too tired to do anything about it. It silently begged me to at least make it painless.

Is this what bullies saw when the victim they were picking on just gave up?

It was nostalgic to look at, almost. Being humiliated like this, and being able to do nothing about it.

Being so weak to let this happen to you.

If I was anything like I was before, I would've been haunted looking at it. A reflection of me. But I'm not who I was before, not anymore.

I could only give it a cold, heartless look. I pitied it, but I can't feel bad for it if I tried, nor could I hate it for wanting to live. I charged a flame spell right over its eye, but not too close to get my hand ripped off if it ever shut it.

And then, I shoved it in.

"Fireball!"

Before it could even shut its eye at the pain, its head exploded as a fireball ripped out the other side of it.

I pulled my arm out carefully, now coated in blood, and still intact.

We won, ultimately. It wasn't anything great for me to feel good about though.

I'm not sure what I was expecting to feel. Grandeur, jovial, relief, satisfaction? I'm not sure. Stuff like this happens all the time though, expectations may always be different from reality, even if slight.

Not that it makes it any better.

The drop of a liquid brought me out of my stupor, and my head snapped to the source. To see a small puddle forming below as liquid continues to stream down to it, the source of the stream being a crystal. The crystal quickly became entirely liquid, and my mother's body was dropped into the puddle.

Ah.

It was strange, seeing her again. My body was moving before I could process it. Why was I moving so fast? I wasn't in a rush, or anything, really. She won't wake up if I get there faster.

Maybe I just wanted to see my mother again.

She wasn't awake. I knew she'd wake up eventually. Will she lose her memories this time? If she doesn't, will she remember me? I wasn't sure. No matter how talented I was in magic, I'll never be able to read her thoughts.

There are many things I wanna say, things I was too scared of saying before when Lilia left and brought her and my daughter with her. I never blamed her for it, nor ever hated her for it. I know that she took care of them both to the best of her abilities, even if I wasn't there to see it.

My mother was there to see me become this. My last, fresh memories of her were of her slapping me over and over and over again, non-verbally berating me to get my wife back, to get my shit together. Even then, I failed. My wife died, her corpse was getting laughed at by the entirety of Asura Kingdom. I failed to get my shit together, either. I put in the pieces in the wrong order, and became this. Is it fair to call myself Rudeus Greyrat still? Would she still even call me her son if she saw me like this?

No, she still would. She'd never disown me no matter what, even if she never remembered me. She'd hurt herself over it instead, viewing it as her failure that I turned out like this. That she could do nothing to stop this from happening.

I didn't like that at all.

My face was stiff and cold, yet tears still streamed down as I flipped her body onto her back. Unconscious yet breathing still. I brought my forehead to hers. It was cold, uninviting. I could only hope mine would warm it up. She was the best mother I could've possibly asked for. Even if my throat was ripped out, if my limbs were detached from my head, even after I was dead, I'd never trade her for the world.

"I'm sorry." I whispered, my voice hoarse from the tears.

What was I sorry for?

For failing her?

For failing my sisters?

For failing my wives?

For failing Lilia?

For failing to be the person she would've wanted her son to be?

I'm not sure. Perhaps, it was all five at once. Almanfi's judging gaze didn't stop my tears, nor did it stop the hold I had on her.

There are many things I still wanted to say. Things she'll never understand no matter how much she remembered, but that's fine. It'll always be fine. It won't stop me from loving her, from treasuring her existence.

She was too kind for this world, too kind for my father, too kind for me. I'll always be grateful for that, no matter how much she'd be disappointed in me now.

Hey, author guy here.

For those that don't know, this is actually the second version of this chapter. Something that was made very clear to me (by both reviewers and a reread through the diary sequence) when I posted the first version was how weak I portrayed (Future) Rudy to be. Mushoku Tensei isn't a very action-y series, it's certainly not why I personally love it, but that doesn't excuse how badly I portrayed that aspect of Future Rudeus's character. I almost considered trying to justify in the fifth chapter, but I quickly discarded it because no amount of justification would ever justify that.

So, while I am sorry for that, I also wanna thank those who did point that out to me. I definitely wouldn't have given a second thought about it otherwise.

Other than that, thanks for reading my fanfiction.