Chapter 310: An Ordinary Explorer - 1
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 310: An Ordinary Explorer - 1
Two days earlier.
“F-Found it...!”
Mascena Labyrinth, 4th Floor.
“One, two...”
I was currently at the edge of the mountain region, gathering Gray Thornbush flowers. I’d ventured as far as the 5th floor to promote to Lead Grade, but honestly, I wondered if there was even any point.
“Ugh, only twelve...? I need to find one more bush...”
Since Labyrinth Jackal Alphas start appearing from the 5th floor, solo explorers like me don't easily set foot there. Encountering one is practically a death sentence, so until I obtain a powerful attack skill, staying safely on the 4th floor is for the best.
The request form called for thirty Gray Thornbush flower buds. Usually, a single bush yields about sixteen to eighteen.
*
[Request Form: 30 Gray Thornbush Flower Buds]
Reward: 15 Bronze Coins
Client: Mergo Morrison
Contractor: Rita
Issued by: Mascena Branch, Explorer’s Guild
*
Normally, finding two bushes would be enough, but I was out of luck today. Twelve from one and fifteen from another.
“Phew, I’ve been wandering for four hours already. I should sit and rest for a bit.”
I hooked my gathering dagger to my waist and pulled off my protective leather gloves.
After a quick glance around, I hiked up my long skirt to my waist, held it there, and crouched down in the thicket.
Trickle...
“Whew.”
It’s a skill that’s embarrassing to talk about and even more embarrassing to actually use. However, I had to admit it was incredibly useful.
“Activate.”
I channeled mana toward the small, clear puddle on the green grass. The liquid vanished instantly, and the surrounding scenery began to shimmer like a mirage as a translucent membrane covered a small area.
“A Urine Concealment Barrier... Why can’t I just use mana normally?”
It was a skill that set up a sort of domain, hiding one's presence and scent within a certain range. The cost was a bit of mana and... urine. To be honest, it was a bit awkward to use during party quests.
Contrary to what you’d expect, there was no smell, and nothing remained where I’d done my business, but still. It felt wrong to let other people inside.
Just think of it as an animal marking its territory, I told myself.
Rustle...
“Man, I’m exhausted.”
The end of November was fast approaching. I’m pretty sure I’d bragged at the start of the year that I’d reach Silver Grade by now.
I spread a mat under a thick tree trunk, leaned back, and pulled a thin piece of hardtack from my sack. I broke it into bite-sized pieces and popped one into my mouth.
“Mmm...”
They say the appropriate range for an Iron-grade explorer diving solo is the 4th to 6th floors. That’s probably because Wood-Guardian Great Lizards start appearing on the 7th.
I might be able to take one down with a party, but a two-meter-long lizard? My body would freeze the moment I saw it. If that thing flicked its tongue at me, I’d be too creeped out to move.
It would be different if I had a decent attack skill. Even the Labyrinth Jackal Alphas on the 5th floor were honestly too much for me. I only reached Iron Grade because of the years I’d put in, not because I was actually good at hunting monsters.
“This tastes bitter...”
I wrapped the unpleasantly bitter hardtack back in its white cloth and tucked it away. Then, I took out my compass and found a suitable twig to poke into the ground.
“Third week of November... Okay, so this is that direction.”
It was a way to tell the time, more or less. This was how explorers who lived hand-to-mouth usually got by. How could I afford something as expensive as a watch?
“2:00? Or is it 3:00?”
After taking a rough guess at the time, I lay down on the mat and closed my eyes. The barrier lasted for six hours. I’d take a nap for about an hour, find the rest of the request items, and then head back out.
“My legs hurt...”
I unlaced my knee-high leather boots and set them aside. I massaged my calves while curled up, then undid my short, low ponytail and closed my eyes.
On average, it takes about 14km to cross a single floor. Today felt a bit shorter thanks to some good luck, but that didn't mean I wasn't tired.
Zzz...
* * *
Rustle.
Sniff, sniff.
“Mnh...?”
I woke to a sound. The sky had turned pitch black. Right next to me, a Labyrinth Jackal was rummaging through the bushes at the edge of the barrier, sniffing around.
“A-A Jackal...!”
I bolted upright in a panic, but fortunately, the barrier hadn't expired yet. Labyrinth Jackals usually traveled alone or in pairs and didn't form large packs like wolves, so I was safe for now.
“C-Calm down, stay calm...!”
Even so, seeing one up close was terrifying. They were small, but a single bite would cause an infection, leaving me bedridden with a high fever and headache for days.
Getting a proper purification treatment would cost a fortune. After pulling on my boots and gloves, I carefully drew the one-handed sword from my waist. I stepped to the edge of the barrier and aimed the tip of my blade at the creature’s underbelly.
My sword was a cheap thing made by pouring scrap iron into a mold; it wouldn't be able to snap a spine or pierce ribs, but it could puncture thin belly skin.
“Hah!”
the moment the tip of my blade passed through the barrier, my concealment broke. The sharp point plunged into the Labyrinth Jackal’s underbelly.
Yelp! Ack...!!
“I did it...!”
My heart hammered against my ribs, and my breath came in ragged gasps. My body, already tense, suddenly felt the weight of exhaustion. I hadn't even stretched after waking up.
“Ow... Did I overextend my arm...?”
My right shoulder throbbed from the force of the thrust. To make matters worse, the sky was so dark I could barely see. I quickly gathered my things from inside the collapsing barrier and fled. If the scent of blood spread, other jackals might notice.
Because of my small stature, jackals easily looked down on me. Jackals were cowards, but I was a total coward. Beasts can sense a weaker being instantly.
“It’s so dark... Which way is the portal...?”
Since the barrier had still been up, it meant six hours hadn't passed yet. That meant it couldn't be later than 10:00 PM, no matter how long I’d slept. The days were getting shorter, so it was night, but I was still okay.
I’d used mana to create the barrier, but by now, it should have recovered...
“Wait, what...?”
It wasn't working. My Explorer’s Plate, which was supposed to point toward the portal, wouldn't activate. That meant I hadn't accumulated enough mana yet.
“Please...! Just once, can’t you just work?!”
Naturally, constructing the barrier consumed far more mana than the portal indicator. Doing it again was out of the question.
In the middle of the night, all alone. I had to survive the treacherous forests of the 4th floor. No barrier, total darkness, and my body aching all over.
“No, no...! I can do this...!”
I didn't want to use them, but I had a few more skills.
Rustle, rustle...
A torch would have been nice, but they were disposable and expensive. A torch made of oil-soaked linen wrapped around a sturdy oak branch cost five bronze coins each. That was a massive expense—a third of my total reward for the request.
“Found one.”
A small stone, just the right size to fit in my palm. I wiped the dirt off with the hem of my skirt as best as I could, then popped it into my mouth.
If I held a stone in my mouth for three minutes, my throwing accuracy would increase—it was a vague, mediocre skill. The taste of dirt and the rough texture of the stone against my tongue were unpleasant, but I couldn't survive without things like this.
After walking for a long time with a stone in my mouth, my legs were sore and my body felt heavy. The roof of my mouth was slightly raw and painful, but more than anything, the fact that I didn't know the way to the portal was taking a mental toll.
Please... anyone... I hope I run into someone...
Usually, about five hours after using the barrier, I’d have enough mana to check the portal’s direction. But it seemed that much time hadn't passed yet. I kept walking toward where the trees seemed less dense, but...
The plains aren't appearing... What’s going on?
I’d checked the portal’s direction as soon as I reached the 4th floor. I’d been searching for Gray Thornbushes while moving toward the portal, so how far away had I drifted?
I spent thirty minutes walking briskly through the forest, but the plains never appeared. I touched my Explorer’s Plate again to check the direction, but it still wouldn't work due to the lack of mana.
Rustle...
To make matters worse.
“Mmph?!”
I spotted another Labyrinth Jackal. Jackals were indeed cowards, but a jackal at night was a different story. They were cowards because they were smart and cautious. They knew very well that humans couldn't see in the dark.
This was when they were far more vicious and likely to strike first.
Growl...!
Should I run...?! I don't think I can outrun it!
I drew my sword from my left hip with my right hand and took the stone out of my mouth with my left. Enough time had passed that my throwing accuracy was nearly 100 percent.
When the jackal approaches, I’ll throw the stone at its eye first, then slash it.
My heart thundered. My already ragged breath grew even shallower. I focused my gaze on the creature as it nimbly wove through the low bushes, testing me.
Dash!!
Now...!
Labyrinth Jackals tend to lower their heads and charge right before they pounce. The moment I saw its head drop, I hurled the stone in my left hand at its eye.
Yelp!!
“Hyaaah!!”
From top-right to bottom-left. I swung my sword in a powerful diagonal arc, but the blade struck the jackal’s shoulder and bounced off. I was so nervous I hadn't aligned the edge properly.
However, the creature had just been struck in the shoulder by over a kilogram of iron. It let out a pained shriek and tumbled to the side. If I ran now...!
Crunch...!
“Aaaagh...!!!”
Jackals travel alone, or in pairs.
“L-Let go...!”
Sharp teeth sank into my thin ankle, feeling as if they would crush the bone. A Labyrinth Jackal, slightly larger than the previous one, began to savagely tear at my right ankle as I tried to run.
The pain sent me crashing to the ground, and I lost my grip on my sword. A man could have dealt significant damage to a medium-dog-sized jackal with a single kick, but for someone of my size, it was impossible.
My faded blonde hair, which I hadn't tied back yet, flickered at the edge of my vision. I tried to crawl toward my sword even as my ankle was being shredded, but...
“AAAAAAAH—!!!”
The other jackal from before lunged and bit into my outstretched right arm. It was smaller and weaker than the one on my ankle, but the pain of teeth sinking into a forearm covered only by a single layer of linen was excruciating.
It hurt even more than my ankle, where the teeth had only shallowly pierced through my thick leather boots.
“Help!!! Someone, please help me—!!!!!!”
My desperate plea echoed through the dark forest.
I could feel the blood draining from my body. My vision blurred, and lightheadedness set in. Because my heart was racing so fast, blood pumped even more quickly from my torn and mangled flesh.
Where did it all go wrong? Was it the bad luck of finding so few flowers? Or was it deciding to set up the barrier to rest?
Was it not being able to check the portal direction? Or sleeping too long?
“Help me...!! It hurts, help me...!!”
I screamed with a voice that was cracked and hoarse. Leaving my completely ruined right ankle behind, I felt the larger jackal approaching my throat.
I could feel its hot breath. It felt chilling as it touched my cold sweat and evaporated.
I’m going to die.
I desperately rolled onto my back and covered my throat with my left arm, but it wouldn't change anything.
“Hic...!!”
The creature, drooling from its wide-open maw, bared its teeth at me. But then—
“Haaah—!!”
Thump!
With a loud shout, the large Labyrinth Jackal was sent flying into the distance. I heard a pained whimper from behind me, and the agony in my right forearm began to subside.
Brilliantly bright, vivid golden twin-tails. Blue eyes. A confident, strong smile.
Heavy gauntlets that shone beautifully in the moonlight. And beautiful clothing in a unique style from the Far East.
“Y-You are...”
“Hey! Are you okay?!”
She was one of the city’s celebrities. A high-ranking explorer who belonged to the same party as the legendary Cobalt-grade explorer, and a woman known as one of the Twin Wings of the White Star.
“Lady Valeria...?!”
She was a Platinum-grade explorer. Valeria Lancaster.