Chapter 64
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Departure Preparations
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"Got the oil?"
"Hold on... here it is."
"Next, the rope?"
A large cloth was spread out on the floor of the lounge, with countless items lined up across it.
Tanya peered carefully at her list as she checked off each item.
"Next, smoke bombs."
"Smoke bombs? This one?"
"That's a flashbang. Be careful—if you drop it too hard, it'll go off."
"Ugh..."
Anne, who had been helping sort items from the front, carefully set the orb down.
These were items Tanya had grown familiar with, but to Anne's group, they were unfamiliar combat tools they'd never seen before.
Whenever Tanya called out an item and they couldn't find it, halting progress, Mika finally came over to help, unable to watch any longer.
Rin and Lia were off to the side inspecting their personal gear, but Mika had no special equipment to maintain, so she had time to spare.
Mika picked up two orbs from the floor that looked similar.
"Here, this is the Slow Orb. And this is the Weaken Orb."
"I-I can't tell the difference..."
"Look here—the mana circuits swirl like a vortex, but the direction..."
"......"
Anne, Karen, and Celia's faces grew darker as they listened to Mika's explanation.
"Hold on, Mika. Nobody distinguishes them like that. Just check the labels on the bottom and sort them."
"Oh, come on. They have names written on them."
"When do I have time to read labels? Looking at the circuits is faster."
"No one but a mage would know that!"
...Mika had come to help, but it didn't seem to speed things up much.
After all those twists and turns, Tanya finally stood up once the item check was complete and spoke to Ian.
"Captain. All checked."
"Nothing missing?"
"Yes. Everything on the list is here."
"Good work. We'll pack it up in the morning."
Ian set aside the book he'd been reading.
The desk was piled high with books, notebooks, documents—all the materials related to the labyrinth that Ian could gather right now.
Most of the information he already knew, but he was doing a final check for any discrepancies from reality or overlooked details.
When Ian looked up, he saw all his squad members gathered quietly in the lounge, having finished their preparations.
They were all looking at him naturally.
Ian addressed the full squad assembled in the lounge.
"Once we return from this expedition, we'll be promoted to C-rank."
C-rank.
It was a rank treated entirely differently from E or D, where beginner or rookie labels stuck.
Countless mercenary groups stalled out at D-rank and never advanced.
Once you hit C-rank with enough experience, you were called a veteran squad.
It was news worth celebrating, but they could guess what came next, so everyone waited with serious expressions.
"And after that, as I mentioned before... we'll enter the labyrinth."
Everyone nodded quietly.
They had already heard that upon reaching C-rank, they would challenge the labyrinth.
The labyrinth exploration.
Among those who came to Labyrinth City to become mercenaries, not one hadn't dreamed of it.
Adventure, fame, treasure.
How could anyone ignore a name that bundled everything a hot-blooded rookie mercenary desired?
But after experiencing real mercenary life, they realized how dangerous and unrealistic it was, quietly shelving the dream.
They said fewer than half of squads that challenged the labyrinth survived their first expedition unscathed.
Labyrinth explorers with over a year of experience were less than one in ten.
Entering such a labyrinth required more than ordinary resolve.
Ian asked one final time, reading their expressions.
"Everyone, no change of heart?"
"No."
They all nodded at Ian's question.
Ever since Ian first brought up the labyrinth, everyone had wrestled with it plenty.
Some pondered alone seriously before bed each night.
Others looked up materials on what the labyrinth was like.
They even discussed how they each felt about it.
This was the conclusion they'd reached after all that.
"We're all in. We trust you, Captain."
If this were any ordinary mercenary group, they never would have agreed—they'd have quit.
But it was Ian's proposal, so they leaned toward it.
He wasn't the type to blind himself with greed and endanger the squad, or make foolish calls that got members killed.
As everyone nodded with trust in Ian...
Tanya glanced sideways and asked curiously.
"...Why are you nodding? You're not even going."
"It means we trust the Captain that much too!"
Caught up in the mood, Anne's party members—who had been nodding solemnly from the side—spoke up.
The conversation lightened the serious atmosphere, turning it a bit rowdy.
Ian smiled faintly at the sight, sighing quietly to himself.
Whew.
Truth be told, Ian didn't particularly want to enter the labyrinth if he had a choice.
The labyrinth was filled with countless variables and irrational situations—no amount of preparation guaranteed safety.
If there were no time limit, Ian wouldn't have set foot in it until he and the entire squad reached max level.
Unfortunately.
Ian didn't have infinite time.
Ian picked up the item he'd set aside next to the labyrinth materials he'd been reviewing.
"But before that."
There was one last thing to wrap up before entering the labyrinth.
"First, we need to finish this expedition. Let me explain that."
Only C-ranks could enter the labyrinth, so they had to complete this promotion mission safely.
Ian unfolded the map he was holding.
The simple map of the Labyrinth City outskirts marked their destination.
The squad members gathered to peer at it.
"I specifically requested this as our promotion exam site."
"What kind of place is it?"
"A dungeon."
The marked spot was a location somewhat distant from Labyrinth City—a place commonly called a dungeon.
"Exploration's already complete, so no real dangers. It'll take about three days round trip."
It wasn't chosen for hidden rewards or special requests.
Ian had picked it to build dungeon exploration experience for himself and the squad.
This expedition was a promotion exam, but also a test for labyrinth access permission.
And preparation to help the squad adapt to labyrinth exploration.
"If it's already explored, isn't everything cleared out?"
"It's the closest thing to the real labyrinth around here. We'll test ourselves there before the actual one."
In terms of pure difficulty, between C and D-rank.
But due to the dungeon's unique environment, it rated as C overall.
Ian glanced at the mountain of gear they'd prepared today.
It was overkill for this place, but Ian had deliberately prepared as if heading into the labyrinth.
He planned to mimic exploration methods and combat as closely as possible.
The combat difficulty would be easier than the real labyrinth, but better practice than none.
"So treat it like the labyrinth. We need the practice now to avoid mistakes there."
"Yes. Got it."
They nodded with tense faces after Ian's explanation.
That covered everything that needed explaining for now.
Ian folded the map and stood first.
"It's late—time for bed. Rest well until departure."
"Yes. Good ni..."
As everyone rose to follow Ian, they froze at an odd sound.
-Thud thud thud.
Suddenly, someone was knocking on the door.
"......"
It was nearly dawn.
Far too late for visitors.
"I'll check it out."
Lia grabbed her sword and stood first.
"Wait, let's go together. Might be someone I know."
Ian rose to follow Lia.
Lia cautiously opened the front door.
Standing outside was a soldier in a coat.
"What is it?"
Lia asked, but the visitor said nothing, glancing past her toward the back.
His eyes met Ian's, who was behind her.
Confirming Ian, the soldier silently handed a wooden box to Lia.
Lia took it, a bit flustered, and watched the soldier turn and leave wordlessly, then looked to Ian.
"...What's this?"
"I have a feeling I know. Let's take it inside."
A suspicious box delivered by a soldier in the dead of night.
Ian set it on the table.
"No note on who sent it."
"Could it be dangerous?"
As everyone eyed the box suspiciously, Lia—who had an inkling from the soldier—met Ian's gaze.
Ian nodded in confirmation.
The wooden box was opened before everyone.
Inside was a worn lantern.
And three small glass vials filled with transparent liquid.
Leona's reply to Ian.
[Holy Flame]
✨ Brightness:15
🛢️ Oil Consumption:None
🔮 Special Ability:Consumes 1 Holy Oil to defend allies within brightness range from status ailments