Chapter 14
Chapter 14
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: Labyrinth (2)
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I was chosen as the pathfinder—or more accurately, the meat shield—for the scouting party exploring the newly discovered labyrinth, forcing me to leave the city for a while.
After Taira introduced me to the scouting party members, I headed straight back to my room to pack my things.
Not that there was much to pack... just my axe.
Still, I needed to prepare properly.
Before setting out, I carefully inspected the condition of my axe.
'Round trip to the labyrinth, plus finishing the exploration... even being generous, it'll take about three days...'
That's when the daily quests suddenly popped into my head.
"Ah...! That means I won't be able to complete the quests...!"
I could manage the bodyweight workout somehow.
But Morduin's forge quest and Arkan's sexual harassment quest? Impossible.
And if I failed to complete them... I might lose the traits I'd gone to such lengths to earn.
Without hesitation, I dropped to one knee in a prayerful pose.
"Great ancestors... no, skip the formalities. You're listening, right?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Your voice echoes through the Feast of the Stars... Responding Ancestors: 3 I laid out my situation to them just like that.
"You're probably watching anyway, so you know what's going on... Your descendant is in a bind, unable to complete the tasks you entrusted him with..."
I pleaded with the same earnestness I'd felt when receiving their powers.
"If you have any conscience at all... please show some flexibility..."
Thankfully, they responded positively to my prayer.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal''s gift quest has been temporarily suspended! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin''s gift quest has been temporarily suspended! "Ooh...! As expected of the ancestors! I knew I could count on you!"
But oddly, there were only two quest suspension notices.
I stared intently into empty space for a moment.
"......"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' averts her gaze shyly. Looks like the one with the least conscience was the grand master of the fairies.
Figures. A hardass is a hardass.
'Well... I can knock out the bodyweight workout quickly enough anyway.'
Besides, the quest failure condition was worded like this:
—If you fail the daily quest, the granted gift may be reclaimed.
That meant it might not be reclaimed.
Of course. They couldn't seriously force bodyweight workouts on me.
Even if I failed the bodyweight workout quest on this trip, they wouldn't take away Quartet of the Wind.
With that, I finished up in my room and stepped out.
"...Packed everything?"
"Ah, yes, Lady Karga. ...It's just the axe anyway, so there wasn't much to pack."
"I see."
As I left the room, Karga was waiting there for some reason, her tail drooping.
"......"
She avoided my eyes silently for a moment, then subtly held out a bag toward me.
"Lady Karga? This is..."
"Some rations, a sleeping bag, and medical supplies."
"What? Why give something like this to a mongrel slave like me...?"
"You're my attendant. It'd be a problem if you went off and died on your own."
Karga's tail began to wag faintly, and she glanced up to meet my eyes.
"There'd be no one to brush my hair in the mornings without you."
"......"
Was this the power of Male Pheromone?
...No, from what I knew, Male Pheromone wasn't this effective.
This was Karga's pure goodwill.
I smiled happily and accepted the backpack.
"I'll return safely, Lady Karga."
"......Yeah. Make sure you do."
It was a nice mood booster before heading into the dangerous labyrinth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ After bidding Karga farewell, I followed the soldier waiting outside her door and was handed over to the scouting party.
"This is the control magic stone. Infuse it with mana and issue a command—if the slave disobeys, it'll feel intense pain. Same if it gets too far away."
"Got it. Thanks."
"Don't get any funny ideas, you. If you don't return within the allotted time, poison needles will come out of the restraints. Instant death for a mongrel like you. Remember that."
"Yes, sir."
And just like that, a steel collar—like an anti-bark device for dogs—was fastened around my neck.
'Disobey a command, and it's instant electric shock, huh...'
Since this was for rental outside the arena, it made sense.
A magic tool to prevent slaves from rebelling or fleeing.
It didn't hinder movement, but it left a nagging unease in the back of my mind.
...Hopefully it wouldn't malfunction and release the poison needles.
"If the slave causes any trouble, let us know when you return. We'll punish it."
"Good. Let's move. Hey, mongrel. Carry this luggage. You're the pack mule until we reach the labyrinth."
"Yes, sir."
The magic tool remote was handed over to what looked like an elf man.
Following the elf's orders, I shouldered a hefty load.
And with no introductions, we set off.
'Figures. Why bother introducing yourself to a slave.'
Since I was just meat shield fodder anyway, no need to learn my name.
So, for the six scouting party members, I decided to call the two leaders "Leader Elf" and "Leader Dwarf" for now.
"Hey, Kairel. How long to the labyrinth?"
"A full day. We'll arrive around dawn."
That's when Leader Dwarf asked Leader Elf about the travel time as he walked ahead.
Which let me learn Leader Elf's name was Kairel.
'Half elves and half dwarves, huh... Felt unusual when I first saw them, but it's a weird mix.'
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' eyes the dwarves uneasily. Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' glares subtly at the elves. The two ancestors watching me seemed displeased with the pairing too, showing discomfort toward both sides.
The messages carried a vibe like, 'How dare our noble race mix with those barbaric brutes!'
'What's in that labyrinth anyway...?'
Naturally, my curiosity about our destination grew.
A scouting party of elves and dwarves.
A labyrinth serious enough to put a mongrel slave up front as meat shield.
'Maybe some amazing item or another?'
I let a flicker of hopeful excitement bubble up.
That's when.
A glance.
'Hm...?'
A few elves and dwarves up ahead, weighed down by my heavy load as I trailed slightly behind, cast cautious looks my way.
'What is it...?'
Those gazes felt extremely wary.
Like walking with a dangerous wild beast at your back.
And soon, I realized why.
'Ahh... Male Pheromone.'
I'd forgotten.
Male Pheromone was an always-on passive skill.
It seduces females and cows males.
The elves and dwarves were no exception.
'Having a battle slave that emasculates you trailing behind would make anyone nervous.'
Great for combat, but in daily life like this, it bred needless tension.
I just wanted to finish the job quietly, but now they'd grown overly vigilant.
And as I'd predicted.
Once we paused for a break midway, they started snidely putting me down.
"Phew, tiring."
"Hah, that mongrel slave's living up to his mongrel name, lagging behind. Put some muscle into it."
"Yeah, that's why we paid big money to hire you."
As I set down the heavy load and settled in, barbs came from the ones who'd ignored me till now.
Then they launched into mocking me outright.
"Well, can't expect much from a mongrel. Haha, we're heroes' blood, noble race—totally different."
"Uhaha! Finally, someone I can talk to, long-ears! Yeah, a dwarf like me could carry that load one-handed and run!"
"Hahaha, saying that, maybe I was too harsh on the mongrel. He tried pretty hard for one."
"At that level, his bedroom game's gotta suck too, uhahaha!!"
"Right, right! Hahaha!"
Childish jabs flew.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend, they say.
The elves and dwarves, who'd normally tear into each other, were now chummy as could be.
'This is weird. I'm doing nothing, and watching them try so hard feels... odd.'
Must be the sheer power of Arkan's Male Pheromone gift.
They wouldn't normally show this much wariness toward a mere mongrel.
They were acting unnaturally tough to mask their intimidation.
"Speaking of, you know about that?"
"Hm? What?"
"Kuhuhu, that mongrel's down there. Word is, it's minnow-sized. Kuhahaha!"
"For real? Uhahaha! No wonder he's weak! Hahaha!"
"Makes sense—mongrels come from rutting with anything, no standards! Of course it'd be tiny! Kuhahaha!"
The elves and dwarves, deep into badmouthing mongrels, now hit where it hurt: a man's pride.
Trashing me among themselves seemed to ease their tension, letting them laugh freely.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' shouts at her descendants! Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' bares his teeth at his descendants! "Kuhuhuhu!"
"Uhahaha!"
Oblivious to their revered ancestors' fury, the elves and dwarves kept laughing at the crude jokes.
"Hm..."
Even so.
I couldn't just sit there after hearing them hit my manhood.
Swish...
"Hey, mongrel. Where you going?"
As I stood, Leader Elf Kairel called out, gripping the slave control magic tool warily.
"Just stepping away to the bathroom."
"Break's almost over. Can't go far."
"Then I'll handle it right nearby."
"...Stay in sight."
"Yes, sir."
Of course, that's what I'd planned anyway.
Step, step.
With permission, I walked a few paces to a nearby tree.
Then I undid my pants.
Sure enough, every elf and dwarf's gaze locked onto me.
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Ancestor 'Eternal Teacher of the Fairies' blushes and covers her mouth! Ancestor 'The Creating Mortal' pops his eyes wide! Ancestor 'First King of the Beastkin' nods proudly! "Fuu..."
A mighty stream hit the dirt, bringing sweet relief.
I finished neatly and returned to my spot.
"......"
"......"
"......"
The guys who'd been laughing moments ago now averted their eyes and shut up.
Then a mutter slipped out.
"...Fucking monster freak."
"...Giant? No, ogre mix or something?"
"Haa... shit..."
I smiled contentedly.
Don't underestimate mongrels again.
I'm truly mixed.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The scouting party pressed eastward, taking short breaks along the way.
As the sun set and deep night fell...
"We're here. Faster than expected."
We arrived at the labyrinth, our destination.
'Ruin-style labyrinth, huh...'
Having cleared all sorts during my player days, I was probably the most experienced here.
'...Gonna be packed inside...'
Just from the ruins' shape, I could tell.
Not a high-difficulty labyrinth.
But this was a monster rush type.
Normally, you'd bring a large force for this.
Not something for a seven-man party.
'Don't they know...? No, the elves said they'd scouted it thoroughly. They must know.'
Proof it was a monster habitat was everywhere near the entrance.
Goblin totems, crustacean monster shells, rocks melted by acid.
'Or... they know and are going in anyway? With the meat shield out front...?'
A twinge of unease hit me.
"Hey, mongrel. Time for you to take point. Hand out the gear, then you lead."
But slaves don't get a choice.
"What? You rebelling?"
"......No, sir."
I just gripped my axe tight, face tense, and walked past them.
'If shit hits the fan... screw the shackles, I'll run...'
Surviving came first, no matter what.