Chapter 37: Healthy and Diligent Tastes
Chapter 37: Healthy and Diligent Tastes
A C-Rank Labyrinth was intended for intermediate explorers.
It was a difficulty recommended for explorers with a fair amount of experience.
If beginners entered, they would either be torn apart by monsters within a few hours or wander the labyrinth half-dead forever.
The appropriate level designated by the Royal Labyrinth Management Corps corresponded to Silver-Rank Explorers, roughly Level 5 or 6.
Only explorers at that level could conduct stable exploration.
“We need to enter a C-Rank labyrinth. Pendrick, what level are you?”
I asked while sipping a second cup of coffee—sweet enough after requesting about twenty more spoonfuls of sugar.
“…It’s a little embarrassing to say.”
Pendrick frowned slightly while chewing a biscuit.
“I’m still Level 1. Like I said earlier, I hardly ever had the chance to enter a labyrinth. Our guild has many explorer trainees like me, so we had to wait at least a month for our turn.”
This was not caused by a corrupt guildmaster.
Pletika was a city where aspiring explorers from across the continent gathered.
The so-called “Pletika Dream.”
Because thousands of labyrinths existed here, anyone with enough effort and a bit of luck could overturn their life.
As a result, the number of migrants increased every year.
Even the player character was originally set as a recent migrant.
Because of this situation, countless explorers like Pendrick had never even entered a labyrinth.
“Are you sure someone like me can go into a labyrinth with you?”
“Of course.”
I answered without hesitation.
Pendrick was not like ordinary explorer hopefuls.
Potential, traits, unique Mysteries, and a powerful artifact.
Even his appearance and personality—though unnecessary for exploration.
He possessed everything.
There was even a nickname for him.
“The adopted son of the developer Kato Roger.”
Even if his overflowing talent meant he would grow naturally on his own, I had no intention of raising him carelessly.
I intended to support him properly from the seedling explorer stage.
“You don’t need to worry.”
There was a fact that could restore Pendrick’s fallen confidence.
“I’m only Level 2 myself. At the moment, the only one suitable for a C-Rank labyrinth in our expedition is Rosalia, who is Level 5.”
—What? Really?
Pendrick stared with his mouth open.
But Astrimia was even more surprised.
—From your attitude and confidence, I assumed you were at least Level 7. Are you not afraid of failure, Kar?
“I dislike failure as much as anyone.”
Someone who felt no tension before an important moment was not optimistic—they were brain-damaged.
Of course I considered the possibility of things going wrong.
I simply focused on greater goals and ignored the difficult process in between.
“I like the passionate emotion that can only be felt when pushing forward to fulfill a labyrinth’s clear condition. I love the exhilaration of overcoming adversity and crisis.”
The thrill at the end of hardship.
That was why I played Nightmare Dungeon.
And why I liked the profession of explorer.
Perhaps moved by my sincerity, Astrimia muttered quietly.
—So in the end, you enjoy suffering?
“No.”
I immediately corrected the misunderstanding.
“I simply welcome the hardships that accompany the pursuit of a goal. I do not enjoy pain by itself.”
—…That still isn’t normal.
Clearly, she did not understand my feelings at all.
Well, what could an inanimate object know about the tension and excitement of risking one’s life?
—Anyway, is Pleasure Metropolis really a C-Rank labyrinth? Honestly, it’s hard to believe. No offense, but Lidni is a rather weak deity.
“Asmi, I feel a little doubtful too.”
Even the wise one could not always serve as the source of every piece of knowledge I possessed.
Still, I had more than one excuse.
“Of course there’s evidence.”
I casually pointed my thumb toward Rosalia, who had moved beside me to avoid Pendrick.
“Didn’t I say she’s the Faint Shadow of the youngest master of the Brites family?”
“Ah, the Brites family…!”
Excuse number two.
The Brites family.
A power that managed District Four of Pletika purely through selling information.
Just mentioning their name added credibility.
“Then it must be trustworthy!”
—Wait! The question changed from whether Pleasure Metropolis is truly C-Rank to whether that elf belongs to the Brites family!
So she wasn’t fooled.
Suspicious sword.
“You’re as sharp as your beauty suggests. You’re correct—there’s actually no evidence that could perfectly convince you.”
—…Is that so?
“But why does that matter?”
I dipped a biscuit deeply into my coffee before continuing.
“You’re going to enter the labyrinth with me anyway, aren’t you?”
—Well… yes.
“Then simply assume you’re being deceived. Even if I betray you, you could respond in time. I’m just a weak cultist.”
Pendrick smiled brightly at my flawless logic.
“Oh, that’s true!”
—WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT’S TRUE, YOU IDIOT?!
The Ego Sword struggled violently in Pendrick’s arms.
By the time I had finished half my new coffee, Astrimia finally calmed down and sighed mentally.
—…Fine. I’ll assume you’ll betray us at the critical moment.
“Yes. I am a notoriously wicked cultist, so it should be easy to imagine.”
—That only makes me more nervous…
Since Astrimia had been persuaded, I resumed the previous topic.
“Currently, only Rosalia—Level 5—is suitable for conquering a C-Rank labyrinth to remove the curse.”
Normally, such a party would either be wiped out or leave Rosalia as the sole survivor.
But exceptions existed.
“Although Pleasure Metropolis should technically be ranked C-Rank, its practical difficulty is closer to D-Rank.”
“Why?”
“Because thorough preparation drastically reduces the risk. It’s nowhere near the upper tier of C-Rank labyrinths.”
Even so, it would still be somewhat difficult for a Level-2 explorer.
But we could manage.
Even without Astrimia, I had cleared that labyrinth thousands of times while building the Immortal Cultist build.
“We plan to obtain special clothing inside. If everything goes according to plan, the labyrinth can be cleared safely.”
“And if the plan fails?”
At Pendrick’s sharp question, I held a brief moment of silence.
Did the answer really need to be spoken?
“Ah, so it’s a strategy that risks death. That’s exciting.”
As expected of Pendrick.
A swordsman whose mind had no place for pessimistic thoughts.
Satisfied, I finished my coffee in one gulp and stood up.
“Let’s move. We need to gather plenty of supplies.”
It was time for expedition shopping.
We visited an exploration supply shop on Eastern Lively Promenade.
Compared to the cultist shops in District Six, prices were higher—but the average quality was much better.
“Rosalia.”
I called the elf who was browsing the alchemical flowers and mushrooms section.
“We’re going to invest heavily for a safe expedition. Please give me some money. The young master gave you that allowance for situations like this, didn’t he?”
“….”
The red-haired assassin pulled a money pouch from her shadow and handed it to me slowly.
At the same time, she firmly shook her head while staring at me.
“You mean don’t spend too much? Understood. I’m a half-elf known for thrift and rational spending.”
Without hesitation, I took 300 gold from the pouch.
Rosalia trembled slightly and frowned deeply.
“So you’re saying: when I spend money you stop me, but when this blond hybrid spends it he scoops up gold like water?”
How could I explain this to an elf with poor financial awareness?
After thinking briefly, I realized explanation was unnecessary.
“…Big sister.”
It was time to use my secret weapon.
“You’ve been holding back from tasting that thing you’ve always wanted, because the young master and the butler forbade it, haven’t you?”
“…!”
Rosalia stared at me with the widest eyes I had ever seen.
“You don’t need to suppress your desires when you’re with me.”
Was this how ancient demons tempted other races?
I leaned close to the frozen elf and whispered.
“As expedition leader, I give permission. Buy whatever you want. I will keep it secret from the young master and the butler forever.”
“….”
Then I turned to the couple who had been watching us.
“Pendrick, Astrimia. Please keep this secret as well.”
“I don’t know what it is, but I’ll stay quiet!”
—I don’t even have a mouth!
Once confidentiality was secured, Rosalia’s previously silent gaze became slightly friendlier.
Tap, tap.
She lightly tapped my arm, then walked solemnly toward the section she wanted.
[Poisons and Toxic Substances]
Rows of bottles containing toxins for coating weapons or feeding monsters.
The red-haired elf carefully examined each poison.
To outsiders the actions might seem terrifying.
But now that I knew her better—
I could tell.
“You’re very excited.”
“Really? She looks the same as before.”
“If you look closely, her ears are trembling slightly.”
Pendrick chuckled softly as he watched Rosalia’s back.
“So she likes collecting poisons?”
“Something like that. But not exactly.”
She did collect poisons.
Inside her body.
“She likes consuming them.”
Rosalia was addicted to poison.
—…Does she possess some kind of poison immunity Mystery?
Even Astrimia sounded bewildered.
“Her Fresh Companion, the Crimson Death Rose, absorbs poison. During the process, the toxins torment her body for several minutes. She enjoys that.”
The poison could also be used in combat afterward, so the habit had practical benefits.
…Though her motivation was entirely personal taste.
—Then it’s still dangerous.
“Of course. If it were safe, it wouldn’t be enjoyable. For example, when eating a poisonous fish back in my homeland, I deliberately reminded myself that the toxin might not have been completely removed.”
—Why…?
“Because then you experience the joy of surviving death—even though it was just an ordinary meal.”
—……
Astrimia suddenly fell silent and whispered only to Pendrick.
—Neither of them are sane…
“In Pletika, personal preferences should be respected, Asmi.”
Honestly, dating an Ego Sword seemed stranger to me.
A shield would be understandable.
But a sword was far too sharp.
I shook my head lightly while looking at my companions.
“….”
An elf with twitching ears selecting poison.
“Let’s do our best.”
—Right….
A swordsman and Ego Sword couple whispering together.
Yes.
This is what an expedition should look like.
What a reliable lineup.