Chapter 21: Run Away
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: Run Away
“Ah, uh…”
“G-good work.”
“Yeah. But why was I the only one working?”
“Nn…”
After finishing a sword dance as if possessed, I looked around to find the corpses of goblins, an unnamed female explorer who looked like a corpse herself, and Lis and Isolde, both wearing corpse-like expressions.
“Well, uh… that is…”
“No, I’m not complaining. I just wondered if you were hurt.”
“O-of course not! You did so well, Yoo Eon… that… we just didn’t have a chance to step in…?”
“Why are you suddenly using formal speech, Lis?”
Thinking she might have hit her head, I reached out. Lis flinched violently, scrambled backward, and then thrust her hand out to push my face away.
“Y-Yoo Eon! Why don’t you wipe your chin first?!”
“My chin? What the—?”
At some point, I had started drooling like a damn dog. Wait, could this be?
“Did I do something wrong during the fight?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong… but you were a bit excessively… wild.”
Right now, I was using the muscles and organs of a Direwolf Alpha. Even some of its blood.
Combined with the parts from the common individuals, a high percentage of my current physical makeup consisted of Direwolf components.
On top of that, I was infused with the mana of the night. It seemed I had momentarily lost my mind to the predatory instincts of a Direwolf.
“Are… are you okay?”
“Yeah. Just a few side effects. I’m back to normal now, so don’t worry.”
I flicked the blood off my blade and hung it loosely on its hook. If I sheathed it like this, the blood would coat the inside of the scabbard, and if I didn't clean it properly, it would rot and stink.
It was common sense to wait until I got outside to perform proper maintenance before sheathing it.
The moment you cut down a monster and perform a cool, cinematic sheathing move, you’re basically flushing the cost of a new scabbard down the drain and halving your sword’s lifespan. It’s so different from the comics—points deducted for lack of romanticism.
“Ah, well, I should check the other areas. You guys get this woman out of here.”
“Understood. Yoo Eon, you’re sure you’re okay?”
“Yes, of course. I just lost my head for a second.”
“Seriously. I thought it was some kind of curse skill that made you lose the ability to tell friend from foe.”
“I’m… sorry about that. Just wait outside for now. If there are any stragglers, I’ll handle them myself.”
Lis and Isolde picked up the victim together and headed toward the cave entrance. I accompanied them halfway, then turned back toward the left passage at the fork.
Even without a light, I could see fine thanks to the Direwolf eyes. In fact, being alone meant I didn't have to hold back.
“Not a single enemy in sight. I really am invincible.”
It seemed the forty goblins piled up back there were the whole lot. Usually, a goblin tribe using a cave as a nest consists of thirty to forty individuals.
Since I’d taken out an elite entity as well, that was likely all of them.
“But bingo. The bastards left some brats behind.”
The left passage had another fork. One path was so short I could see the end, so I popped in, and what do you know? A bunch of goblin young were shivering in fear.
They were so small and 'cute' that I felt a sudden, violent urge to snatch them up and grind their faces into the dirt.
“Wait, hold on. What’s wrong with me?”
Something was off. I knew Direwolves were hostile toward goblins, but was I really being influenced that strongly?
“Phew, calm down.”
Maybe I should stop using the Alpha’s organs for now. The danger was over, and the strength of a common individual was more than enough to carry these runts.
“Eight of them. They really… produced a lot.”
Come to think of it, the mothers who birthed these things were likely human women. I should watch my mouth.
“Whew… I hope I don’t start feeling some weird maternal instinct.”
I pulled a rope meant for mountain climbing out of my pouch and tied them all together in a row, like a string of dried yellow croakers.
They were only about the size of a human male’s waist. Individually, each one was barely the size of my forearm. Carrying the bundle, I headed down the path I hadn't explored yet.
“This is…”
Two naked women tied up, along with equipment that seemed to belong to other explorers. There were also four Explorer’s Plates. Judging by the fact that some of the gear looked like it belonged to a man, it seemed the male had died while the females were kept alive.
A one-man, three-woman party? A truly tragic end.
“Excuse me, are you alright?”
“Ah, aahhh…”
Both were alive. One was as still as a mouse, but I confirmed she was breathing.
I found some robes among the pile of gear, wrapped them around the women, and grabbed the knots to carry them like bags.
I’d have to call Garond to help move the rest of the equipment.
“Phew, I actually saved people.”
For the first time since entering the Labyrinth, I’d done something helpful for others. I felt so good I felt like I could belt out a tune.
“Super strong wolf!!! Crazy goblin!!!! Even if they block our path!! We aren't afraid at aaaallll!!!!”
The goblin runts in my hand flailed their arms in the air, clearly suffering from the assault on their eardrums. Beside them, one of the women wrapped in a robe seemed to wake up.
Maybe I should stop singing.
*
“You’re finally back.”
“Yes. I rescued the captive explorers as well.”
“Well done. I didn't expect you to handle it this perfectly.”
Garond gave me a thumbs-up and laughed heartily. I told him there was gear at the end of the left passage and suggested we go retrieve it together. Meanwhile, Lis and Isolde looked after the rescued women.
We gathered the iron one-handed sword I’d passed earlier, along with the clothes, armor, and weapons I’d seen inside, splitting the load between Garond and me.
We gave the weakened women a few sips of water and wrapped them in cloaks to keep them warm. Of course, we didn't forget to light a fire. I simply transferred the flame from a lantern to some paper and then to the firewood.
Since it was still night, it was risky to move with the traumatized survivors. It was easier for me in the dark, but not for the others.
“Let’s camp here for now. Everyone needs to recover.”
“Yes. Sounds good.”
It was a bit grim, but we set up camp near the entrance of the goblin cave. We moved the fire closer, and Garond started pulling all sorts of things out of his massive rucksack.
“Wait, you even carry a pot?”
“With this one thing, the variety of food you can eat in the Labyrinth increases exponentially.”
“You seem like quite the gourmet.”
Garond’s eyes widened at that, and then he let out a boisterous laugh.
“Do I look like one? Believe it or not, I’m actually a member of the Gourmet Clan!”
“Huh, there’s a clan like that?”
It was a bit different from the clans I’d imagined. I thought they were just groups of strong people obsessing over how to conquer the Labyrinth.
“Indeed. Clans are just groups of people doing what they want in the Labyrinth City.”
Apparently, the Gourmet Clan was normal compared to some of the ridiculous ones out there.
Wait, why the hell is there a Theater Clan in the Labyrinth City?
Clans were originally created for Labyrinth conquest, but over time, the scope broadened. Now, they were more like social clubs for people with similar hobbies or interests.
Of course, the massive explorer clans aimed at conquest occupied the actual clan buildings.
There were also small clans with no buildings at all, who just met up at inns or in the plazas.
“The Gourmet Clan has its own building. It’s quite a large organization.”
“There must be a lot of members.”
“That’s part of it, but we also make a lot of money. The restaurant run by the Gourmet Clan in the Northwest makes a fortune. Even the high-ups love it.”
“I see.”
“Do you know anyone who loves good food? Or perhaps yourself? If you’re interested, you’re welcome to join the Gourmet Clan anytime.”
Hmm, 'good food'? I don't know about that. But I did know someone who ate a hell of a lot of food.
“Do you know someone named Rubica?”
“…That female explorer is banned from the Gourmet Clan.”
“Ah, I guess something happened.”
“She ate. She ate far too much. Those were dishes prepared with the utmost care and soul. After devouring hundreds of plates… she dismissed them with a single, ‘It was good.’ That is an insult to all gourmets.”
“I see.”
“I believe I heard she’s still paying off the bill for what she ate that day.”
“Ouch.”
I should definitely avoid getting involved with Rubica.
*
Bubble, bubble.
“This is… amazing.”
“Does it taste alright? Glad to hear it.”
Thanks to the pot, we were able to have hot soup. Dried jerky lasts a long time, but it’s hard to eat and very salty.
However, if you boil jerky in water, that saltiness makes for a great broth. Since the fat is usually trimmed off to make jerky, it wasn't overly greasy.
“Kaaah.”
“You certainly make it look delicious.”
Soup is an essential part of a Korean meal. The jerky, softened by the boiling water, tasted excellent.
We also had some food left over from earlier. When I went back into the cave with Garond to get the gear, I’d grabbed some edible items from a storage-like area.
They looked like ordinary wild berries.
“We’ll have to spend the night here.”
“We should set a watch rotation.”
Lis poked at the burning logs with a thin twig, looking thoroughly displeased.
“You should sleep, Lis. I’ll take the watch.”
“Really?! Are you sure?!”
“Yoo Eon, bravado isn't always good. I know you’re strong, but if you don’t get enough sleep, you won’t be at your best.”
“It’s just that I’m more active at night.”
Hearing that, Isolde, who was sitting nearby, nudged Lis’s side and whispered something in her ear. I couldn't hear it over the crackling of the fire.
“Ah, um… then I’ll take the first shift! And make Isolde the second!”
“The watch order? Well… if that’s what you want.”
“When would you like your shift, Garond? If you want the fourth, we can do that.”
“If you say so.”
*
“Isolde, Isolde…!”
After two hours of watch, Lis woke Isolde.
“Nn… is it my turn already…?”
“Yeah…! Do you feel like the milk is coming…?”
“Ah… yes, a little.”
Taking advantage of the time when everyone was asleep, Lis had stayed up through the first watch to help Isolde with her curse.
Naturally, the first watch is the easiest, so Isolde, who was receiving help, had agreed to take the second watch.
Rustle.
As Isolde removed the leather armor covering her chest, she revealed a garment with buttons that allowed for easy access to her breasts.
Isolde hesitated for a moment with her hand on a button, glancing at Garond and Yoo Eon, who were lying on cloaks on the ground.
“Um… maybe we should move a little, just in case.”
“Ah, right.”
Lis and Isolde stepped slightly away from the cave entrance.
The moment they rounded a rocky path to the right of the entrance—
“Huh?”
“Wait…”
A massive bear was staring at the two women from the darkness, its eyes glowing with a faint light.
“Isolde. Am I just so tired that I’m seeing things…?”
“…Run, Lis. Go wake the others.”