Chapter 93: D-Rank Labyrinth — Cherry Cherry Orchard (5)
Chapter 93: D-Rank Labyrinth — Cherry Cherry Orchard (5)
The next day, after sleeping deeply thanks to the fatigue from battle.
“Please punish the bad children again today!”
As soon as morning broke, we set out again together with the Paper Fairy that had flown in.
It was a simple exploration: just advance while following the guide and eliminate the monsters along the way.
“There’s another bad child over there!”
The Paper Fairy pointed with its tiny hand toward a tree that had grown unusually tall.
—Kiiiik!
A monkey-like monster hung from the branches, its entire body covered in fur that resembled writhing tentacles.
Soul Rank: Level 4.
For a D-Rank labyrinth, it was not an easy opponent—but on our side we had a member that ordinary monsters could never face.
Thud!
While the Blind Crow distracted it, Rosalia threw a throwing dagger that pierced the monkey monster’s forehead.
The creature fell to the ground and died from the impact.
“Great! Now there’s only one bad friend left!”
The Paper Fairy spun around happily in place and began guiding us again.
The final destination we reached was a chocolate lake where marshmallow fish occasionally leaped from the water.
“Please punish that friend quickly!”
In the center of the lake.
A banana giraffe leisurely looked around with its long neck protruding above the water.
《Banana Giraffe Bana Na Nana (Level 4)》
《The leader specimen of Cherry Cherry Orchard. Since it even has a name, do not lower your guard!》
“A giraffe? Somehow this one looks a bit weak.”
“It’s too early to decide that.”
The monsters appearing in the seven-stage challenge that formed the clear conditions of Cherry Cherry Orchard became stronger toward the end.
Especially that last monster.
It was a named leader specimen.
A powerful enemy with the same conditions as the Bloodbird Blurrybe from the Banquet Hall of the Bloodbirds.
Considering that Soul Rank Level 3–4 was the appropriate strength for clearing a D-Rank labyrinth, it was absolutely not an easy monster to defeat.
“At least it isn’t very disgusting.”
“Wait a moment.”
I ordered the Blind Crow to lure it.
—Caw!
—Kweeeeerik!
With an indescribable cry, the Banana Giraffe came onto land.
Its body was composed entirely of human body parts.
Arms, faces, shoulders, thighs, hearts, brains, spines, leg bones.
All of them were parts of explorers who had previously entered the labyrinth.
“…Ah! Rosalia!”
At my sister’s horrified call, Rosalia rushed forward and kicked the creature.
The Banana Giraffe’s grotesque body toppled from the side kick, and its long neck plunged into the chocolate lake.
Was this some kind of fondue assassination technique?
“Red, need help?”
“…Just the attention.”
“Got it.”
An assassin is not specialized in frontal combat.
It is a class that truly demonstrates its strength only when a front-line fighter is present.
As Bartimir drew the Banana Giraffe’s attention, Rosalia steadily accumulated damage on its body.
Watching the battle, Marlin murmured blankly.
“It’s the final fight… but it feels too peaceful.”
“Even if it’s a named monster, it’s still Level 4. Rosalia is Level 6.”
Even the Bloodbird Blurrybe had required a fierce battle because I had taken the lead to gain experience points. If Rosalia had truly wanted to, she could have killed it easily.
While the assassin who ruled as the strongest member of the Moon Expedition fought, I approached the Paper Fairy.
There was something to do before the clear condition was fulfilled.
“Fairy.”
“Yes, friend! Did you call me?”
“You must have suffered greatly all this time.”
“What do you mean, friend?”
Before the Paper Fairy tilted its head in confusion, I bowed deeply.
“I came to offer condolences, Leader.”
“….”
The bright expression that had never left the Paper Fairy’s face instantly turned cold.
It looked as if it might cast a spell and explode my head at any moment.
Before that could happen, I pushed the undead forward.
Two undead former outlaws filled with the life-bearing flames of Sa · Yeom · Hwa.
“Condolence money.”
“…Life force.”
The Paper Fairy’s eyes flashed.
It waved its hands wildly through the air.
The cute scenery of Cherry Cherry Orchard split apart, revealing the desolate world beyond.
The forest surrounding the independent space where the fairy community lived.
An undead forest where spirits and animals had all fled, leaving only death.
“Thank you…”
The fairy whispered almost inaudibly and carried the two undead toward the outside.
As the split space closed again, a pink Mystery Tome and a key fell to the ground.
《First-Tier Common Mystery Tome — Good Good Friend Friend!》
《Creates a mental bridge between those who learn the same Mystery. Allows simple communication inside the mind.》
A Mystery extremely helpful for cooperation and unity within an expedition.
With this, the bond among our members would grow much deeper.
“…Kar.”
Marlin, who had been watching beside me, grabbed my sleeve.
“Was that just now a Hidden Piece?”
“That’s right. It required sacrificing at least two members.”
A Hidden Piece that activated only when companions were sacrificed.
For someone like me, who lived as a model cultist, it was an extremely troublesome type.
“What would you have done if we didn’t have those outlaw undead…?”
“In that case, I would have used a workaround and offered that Banana Giraffe over there. But then this reward wouldn’t have appeared.”
I picked up the key lying beside the Mystery Tome.
《??? — Key Leading Somewhere》
《Insert it into the proper place and a door will open. It appears to be used to open a labyrinth.》
An item used to unlock a labyrinth that could not yet be entered at this point.
But I would not go there yet.
Even with perfect preparation, A-Rank is still too much.
Someday.
When we had grown stronger and finally become Gold-Badge explorers.
That would be the day the resentment held by the leader fairy of Cherry Cherry Orchard would be resolved.
“Until next time, Leader.”
As I carefully placed the key into my spatial inventory, Rosalia cut off the Banana Giraffe’s long neck.
Clink.
A gate appeared.
It was time to return to the harsh routine of life after enjoying a rare leisurely vacation.
“Everyone, did you enjoy your vacation?”
D-Rank Labyrinth.
Cherry Cherry Orchard.
Clear complete—with the promise that next time we would meet the leader fairy’s true form, not merely the paper fairy.
The first thing I did after coming outside was a sacred act that only diligent explorers performed.
“We were attacked by an outlaw expedition.”
Reporting it.
“…I see.”
The sheep beastman employee who had been waiting outside Cherry Cherry Orchard stiffened and glared at the bound dog beastman.
Pierre, his arms tied behind his back, stared into empty space despite the murderous gaze directed at him.
The effect of Frozen Heart.
It allowed perfect rational judgment in any situation, but periodically caused madness that compelled the user to kill companions.
So that’s why he joined the Hyena Guild.
If you live as an outlaw where comrades constantly try to kill each other anyway, the penalty of Frozen Heart becomes meaningless.
That was why I raised “Hunter Pierre” as an outlaw character.
The Pierre before me had probably begun raiding others simply to freely kill his companions.
“…I apologize, Explorer.”
After glaring at the dog beastman for a long time, the sheep beastman employee bowed.
“I failed to filter out the outlaws. Compensation will be paid later.”
Tap.
Rosalia nudged my shoulder and pointed at the employee with her chin.
“So this is why you came on vacation to the Zone Five labyrinth?”
“It was one of several reasons.”
There was a high chance outlaws would follow me into the labyrinth, since I had been rising as a promising explorer.
So I deliberately came to Zone Five.
I was not the type to obsessively squeeze out every possible profit—but when benefits fell perfectly into place like this, I accepted them.
Conversely, I also had a strange fondness for unfair and absurd losses.
“That outlaw will be strictly punished by our Inter-Species Association.”
The employee extended a hand, as if asking for Pierre.
The effort to guarantee explorers’ exploration rights was appreciated—but that would be inconvenient.
I needed to hear what Pierre had to say.
“Sorry, but the punishment of this outlaw will be handled by the Harmony Church.”
Lucius, who had already received instructions from me before leaving the labyrinth, spoke.
“According to exploration law, the management group of the area normally handles outlaw punishment. However, if the victim expedition includes a priest or holy knight of the Harmony Church, the Church may exceptionally handle the matter.”
“….”
The employee narrowed his eyes at Lucius.
A disgusting human: strong negative impression.
A priest spreading the spirit of harmony: positive impression.
The total probably came out slightly negative—but perhaps unwilling to cause unnecessary conflict, the sheep beastman employee finally replied flatly.
“Fine. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. That’s just the law.”
The employee turned away with a slightly irritated expression.
“…Understood.”
Lucius gave a bitter smile and grabbed the rope binding Pierre.
“Good work, Priest.”
Even priests of the Harmony Church were treated like this.
Zone Five was a difficult place for ordinary human explorers to operate.
That was why every time I played a human cultist character, I always came here with great enthusiasm.
As I reflected on past memories of discrimination and contempt, Marlin poked my side.
“Kar, aren’t you going to sell the Hidden Piece information?”
“Cherry Cherry Orchard already has all its Hidden Pieces known. They’re easy to find.”
Activating them would normally lead to punishment by the Inter-Species Association because companions had to be sacrificed.
Of course, sacrificing the lives of outlaws was always considered innocent.
“You could also obtain an artifact besides the Mystery Tome and the key, but that requires pushing five companions into a pit. And only the first discoverer can obtain it, so it doesn’t really matter.”
“…Is that really easy?”
“For outlaws, it’s extremely easy.”
That was one advantage of outlaw activity.
Since they always explored with emergency robbery targets available, they rarely returned empty-handed.
“Patron, now that the vacation is over, are we returning?”
Abel tugged on my sleeve as he asked.
“Or will we wait until Pendrick finishes his training?”
I placed my hand on Abel’s head.
“Let’s go back. Pendrick will take a while.”
Martial Mysteries involving breathing cultivation were difficult to learn.
For a human—unlike elves or beastmen—even sensing natural mana was already a major hurdle.
“I agree with returning.”
The captured outlaw prisoner nodded.
“Zone Five is a place that calms the mind, but I don’t particularly like it. The narrow-minded aura of Metherd fills the air everywhere. I worship Talendros, who grants proper treatment as long as one maintains faithful devotion.”
“…Sister, could you make him stop talking?”
Rosalia immediately fulfilled the request of her good thief sister.
Thud!
Her powerful heel slammed into the back of the dog beastman outlaw’s head.
Pierre’s eyes rolled back instantly and he lost consciousness.
“I meant gag his mouth….”
“Sister, we still have to negotiate with him.”
“….”
Rosalia avoided eye contact and placed the unconscious dog beastman into her shadow.
“Ah! Living creatures can only be stored in the shadow when unconscious or dead, so you deliberately punished the outlaw with the Heel of Justice! After all, dragging him around tied up might cause misunderstandings.”
Nod.
“Just as expected from Rosalia! The strongest member of the Moon Expedition.”
I gave a thumbs-up to Rosalia, who nodded confidently.
“The vacation is over. Let’s return to our daily lives.”