Chapter 19 — The Silent Assassin Sister
Chapter 19 — The Silent Assassin Sister
“Abel, watch the house.”
Since Abel still did not have a class, I left him behind and took only Marlin to the meeting place.
First, we stopped by the exploration supply shop Sinister Gaze.
“Welcome! You’re back again?”
The shopkeeper, whose smiling eyes resembled those of a golden retriever, greeted us warmly as I examined the shelves of reagents.
Unfortunately nothing caught my interest this time, so I only purchased a few vials to hold blood used to mask the unpleasant smell of offerings.
Next I bought a candle set and a vitality recovery potion, which had been helpful during the previous exploration. I also picked up a mask to cover the nose and mouth.
That completed today’s shopping.
When we stepped outside, Marlin tilted her head.
“Don’t we need to bring things like pickaxes?”
“The labyrinth we’re entering today allows us to find the Hidden Piece without complicated methods like the Fire Ant Nest.”
“So it’ll be less exhausting.”
“….”
“…Wait, we still have to work hard, don’t we?”
Ignoring her persistence, I arrived at the destination.
Southwestern District 6.
A neighborhood marked by a large building pressed against the massive outer wall.
Because it bordered Cultist Town, an unpleasant district, the surrounding area was usually quiet. But this place was crowded and bustling with commerce.
“Why are there so many people?”
“Because of the labyrinth. [Grave of the Earth Elf] is the most popular among E-Rank labyrinths.”
“Because the clear condition is easy?”
“You finally have something in that head of yours. Correct. You only need to kill the monster called the Leader Specimen.”
A simple condition: defeat the boss.
That was the main reason it was classified as E-Rank.
“But that’s not the only reason.”
I bought a snack that looked like candied fruit and handed it to her.
“The labyrinth contains many valuable items. Mysteries, jewels, artifacts, strange relics, equipment, tools. In overall value it’s almost comparable to a D-Rank labyrinth.”
“Oh…”
Marlin chewed the sugar-coated fruit and stared at the entrance building with sparkling eyes.
“And there’s more. The structure is simple and intuitive. No complicated traps. No confusing paths. No sensory illusions. Just ordinary ruins.”
“That sounds like a very good labyrinth.”
“It is.”
“But it can’t be all advantages. Labyrinths never favor explorers completely.”
After a few days of studying labyrinthology she finally spoke like a proper explorer.
As a reward I bought a wide-brimmed hat and placed it on her head.
“The drawback… is that the monsters aren’t easy.”
“High level?”
“Most are Level 1, but Level 2 monsters also appear.”
“So weaker than Sneaking Ghouls?”
“But stronger than you. They’re formidable opponents for explorers who can’t survive D-Rank labyrinths.”
In other words, it served as a gatekeeper for low-level explorers.
Those who could clear Grave of the Earth Elf smoothly were ready for D-Rank labyrinths.
“Let’s go.”
Inside the building attached to the wall, the interior was plain and practical.
Explorers shouted loudly while recruiting temporary teammates, boasting about their abilities.
《Those with loud voices are all low-level. Noisy but worthless.》
Indeed, any companion recruited here would barely qualify as fourth-tier.
It was a scene clearly designed to prevent players from gaining easy advantages.
“This reminds me of when I first met you, Kar.”
Marlin suddenly spoke while watching the recruiters.
“When we entered the Sneaking Ghoul labyrinth?”
“No. Before that. When that unlucky orc gathered a temporary expedition.”
“….”
That was before the tutorial.
“To be honest, you were really scary back then.”
“How so? I must have been as polite as usual.”
I joked casually. Marlin snorted.
“You were quietly scary. Silent, gloomy eyes staring at me and Abel the whole time… and you worship Evil Gods…”
“Could you omit the last part?”
“But now I know you’re actually kind, even if you joke around like this. I guess you can’t judge people by appearances.”
“I was deliberately acting ominous to teach you that lesson.”
“Yes, yes.”
“Don’t mock your patron.”
I pulled down the brim of her hat and thought for a moment.
What kind of person had the original Kar been?
No information.
Even the Eye That Perceives Truth could not reveal his surname.
Perhaps the game might eventually hint at it, but it depended on race and random elements.
Meaningless speculation.
“Kar? Why are you making such a scary face?”
“I was thinking how to turn you into an excellent thief.”
I pushed her head lightly.
Instead of worrying about unanswered questions, it was better to focus on conquering labyrinths.
Tap.
While we waited, someone quietly tapped my shoulder.
Red hair and crimson eyes.
Rosalia.
“W-What?!”
Marlin jumped in surprise and hid behind me.
I patted her shoulder and gently moved her forward.
“Greetings. Rosalia. This is my ward, Marlin. Her class is Thief. She still lacks experience, so she will assist for now.”
“….”
The silent elf looked down at the tiger-beastwoman thief.
Marlin stiffened, then bowed awkwardly.
“H-Hello?”
Naturally, there was no reply.
But after three meetings, I could roughly read her subtle expressions.
“The assassin says she’s pleased to meet you as well.”
“…You just made that up.”
“No. Isn’t that correct?”
Rosalia stared at me for a moment.
Then nodded.
“See?”
“How can you tell…?”
Anyone who survived under a tyrannical manager learned this skill.
But explaining that would make no sense, so I used a convenient excuse.
“Lidni is extremely temperamental. A cultist must read subtle cues quickly, or their soul might be taken.”
《Do not slander the Wise One. Unlike the petty God of Nature, Lidni is gentle!》
“That Evil God sounds very difficult.”
“Sometimes childish, but very wise.”
Indeed, Lidni was wonderful.
A perfect universal excuse.
Ignoring the complaining text, I extended my hand.
“Rosalia. Whether we become long-term companions remains uncertain, but let us cooperate well during this expedition.”
“….”
She gazed into my eyes.
Then accepted the handshake.
“I’d prefer not to be too formal. May I call you sister?”
“….”
“Your silence means consent. Thank you, sister.”
Rosalia’s eyes lifted slightly.
Which likely meant she was pleased.
“Shall we go?”
With my two flawed companions, I moved toward the inner chamber.
The walls were bare stone.
At the bottom, stairs made of fine sand descended.
《Entrance to the [Grave of the Earth Elf].》
“Welcome, explorers.”
A labyrinth management priest checked our identification.
When Rosalia presented her silver-inlaid explorer badge, the priest asked,
“A silver-rank explorer. Your level?”
Rosalia raised all five fingers.
“Level 5. Confirmed.”
The waiting explorers murmured.
“Level 5 in an E-Rank labyrinth?”
“And a silver badge?”
“Someone passed that test after all…”
They gradually distanced themselves.
Marlin blinked.
“Why are they acting like that?”
“Labyrinths in District 6, managed by the Harmony Church, rarely assign responsibility for incidents inside. Restricting entry would violate their doctrine of harmony.”
“So if they enter with us, they might disappear without anyone knowing?”
“Exactly.”
A Level-5 explorer normally belonged in C-Rank labyrinths.
No one here could touch Rosalia.
“They chose the safe option—waiting until we clear the labyrinth.”
“I agree.”
The priest nodded.
“Will you enter, or hear the briefing?”
“I already know everything.”
“Very well. May your exploration be peaceful.”
Peaceful exploration.
What a ridiculous wish.
Real exploration meant danger—near death, injuries, mad monsters chasing you.
I climbed the sand stairs.
Soft grains shifted underfoot.
Eventually the scenery warped.
“…A wasteland?”
We stood on a vast barren plain.
Only empty land and a lonely ruin.
《E-Rank Labyrinth — Grave of the Earth Elf》
《Level-2 monsters frequently appear. It may be difficult at your current level. It is recommended to rely on the red-haired elf.》
Depending on Rosalia would make it easy.
But that would not win Odilon’s trust.
To win him over, I had to show something extraordinary.
“Sister, before we depart, I need a favor.”
I looked at Rosalia.
“Please cut me with your dagger.”