Dark Labyrinth
"We've arrived!"
Lee Guho shouted with a face full of joy, and Namgung Seojun smirked as he checked the city's sign. Prakoss, the massive city at the entrance to the 10th floor. After a long journey, Namgung Seojun's party had finally reached the 10th floor.
"Welcome! We greet your arrival to the 10th floor, Prakoss!"
The party entered the city amid the gate guards' welcoming words. Right from the entrance, touts were waiting for them.
"Adventurers, you've had a tough journey. Need an inn?"
"Selling key info from the 10th to 19th floors at bargain prices."
"Your group's a bit small... Need some companions? I can hook you up!"
"Sell your loot at our shop—we pay the highest prices. Let's deal right now!"
Brushing off the touts' pitches, Namgung Seojun and his crew headed deeper into the city. The path from the entrance to the center was a bustling market.
"Lunch specials on now! Groups of three or more get a discount!"
"Weapon appraisal here. Quality gear at low prices!"
"Skill books and special items for sale. Cheap deals!"
"Slaves for sale! From combat slaves to sex slaves—variety at low prices."
Countless merchants hawked an astonishing array of goods to the adventurers fresh off the road.
"Any parties need a warrior-class companion?"
"Need porters? Got ones with Strength over 20 waiting."
"I have ranged attack skills. I'll join a decent party."
"Veteran warrior party of three seeking a healer."
As the shopping district ended, it gave way to crowds of people seeking parties.
Namgung Seojun's party headed straight for the massive central temple. Long lines had already formed of people waiting to speak with the priests, and the group took their place at the end.
Gisohee glanced at the sign reading 'Baekhwa-yeon'—the name of the god ruling this city—and said, "Rank 87 god, huh."
A former human who had become a lesser goddess. Her rank was low, but she focused solely on Prakoss without scattering her attention to other cities or villages, turning it into a super-sized metropolis. That explained the enormous scale of the central temple and the abundance of priests.
"Next, please."
At the priest's call, the group approached her. Following Namgung Seojun's instructions, Kim Hoon handed over the bag containing the monster cores.
"One moment."
The priest chanted a spell, instantly assessing the corpses inside, then said, "You've worked hard on your climb. You've accumulated a total of 6,320 Merit Points. Five official party members, sixteen including slaves. Shall we divide them evenly among everyone?"
All the slaves' eyes locked onto Seojun at the priest's question—a pleading gaze begging for a share. He felt a pang of reluctance, but still asked the party, "Should we split it?"
The others pondered briefly at Namgung Seojun's question, but Jo Jaehun's words sealed it. "We've all survived some close calls. Might as well be generous, right?"
With the mood set, they decided. "Split it evenly."
"Wise choice. The goddess will bless you for it. We'll add a little extra. 400 Merit Points each to every party member."
And with that, the Merit Points tally was done.
The group headed next door to the temple's official merit shop.
"Selling loot."
"Welcome, welcome!"
The clerk greeted them warmly and spent a good while appraising the loot bags the porters pulled out. After thirty minutes, he announced the total.
"42 gold 55 silver."
"Can you throw in more Merit Points?"
Instead of haggling price, they asked for merits, and the merchant pulled out a 50-point Merit Points coupon. "You know the standard rate is 1 Merit Point per gold, right? Special deal—50 Merit Points."
With a nod, the merchant handed over the 42 gold 55 silver and the coupon, settling up on the spot.
"We'll set aside 12 gold 55 silver and the Merit Points coupon for party funds. The remaining 30 gold gets split by shares."
No complaints since it was the agreed split. With accounting done, Namgung Seojun's party rented a suitable house on the temple's recommendation. The three-story building was designed for adventurers: a large meeting room, living room, dining area, and kitchen on the first floor; five double rooms on the second; eight single rooms on the third.
Regular party members picked their preferred rooms first, sex slaves got doubles to serve the men, and the rest of the slaves took what was left. Yuki, the communal healer, was naturally assigned to the first-floor living room.
Once unpacked, the group gathered in the meeting room.
"We're resting up for a while."
Namgung Seojun's party had grinded through six tough months from the 1st to 10th floors. He planned a real break.
"We'll reorganize the party during the downtime."
The slaves tensed at "party reorganization"—it meant selling off the unneeded ones from this expedition.
After giving the party members time off, Namgung Seojun and Gisohee stepped out. The sun was still high—plenty of time to prep for the next climb.
"Welcome."
Entering the info guild, a young clerk at the counter greeted them politely.
"Need info for climbing from the 10th to 20th floors."
Seojun figured they'd plan the long haul, not just to the next city. The clerk replied brightly. "One moment."
He ducked inside and returned in a minute with a few sheets of paper. "2 gold to buy the info sheets, or 80 silver to read here."
"We'll read here."
Namgung Seojun and Gisohee sat in the chairs by the counter and scanned the intel. Floors 10 through 19 were dark, maze-like terrain.
"Huh? No actual walls, but the layout's tricky—you'll get lost without thinking ahead. Pitch-black darkness limits visibility too. Monsters and bandits set tons of traps?"
Tough section all around. And it specified key personnel needs.
"Direction sense, presence detection, trap detection, trap disarm—these four skills are must-haves."
To climb safely, the party needed all four. Plus more details. After reading it all, the two summarized on the spot.
"Gotta trim some party members first."
Few cities or villages between 10 and 20, but max distance was 10 days, so no need for a huge group. Limited visibility made big parties hard to manage anyway.
"Keep combat numbers steady, cut porters and sex slaves."
No long hauls meant frequent stops, less food to carry, easier lust management.
"Better to recruit party members or slaves with the skills this section needs."
Presence and trap detection could be covered by Seojun's Super Sense. But direction sense and trap disarm needed skill holders.
Leaving the info guild, the two headed to the temple to check prices on direction sense and trap disarm skills.
"Huh?? Trap disarm's only 1,000 Merit Points, but direction sense is a whopping 5,000."
Trap disarm was a Normal-grade skill at 1,000 points. Direction sense was Rare-grade at 5,000—pricey even for Rare, averaging 2,000.
"I'll buy the trap disarm skill for now."
Skill: Trap Disarm (A)
Grade: Normal
Mana Cost: 20
Disarms detected traps.
His Super Sense urged it was a smart pick, so Namgung Seojun bought trap disarm.
"We'll talk direction sense over with the party."
Gisohee agreed, and they left the temple.
Back at the house, Namgung Seojun called the party for a meeting.
"Floors 10 to 19 are dark and cramped. To command and move smoothly, we need to shrink the party and recruit for key skills."
Everyone nodded—sound, sensible plan.
"Down to about 10 members."
Meaning some slaves get sold. Lee Guho spoke up cautiously. "The slaves worked hard too. Sell to the temple even if it's a loss?"
Temple sales paid less than merchants but gave some Merit Points—and slaves preferred it. Temples respected their rights excessively. For 2nd-class slaves especially, it was salvation: indefinite enslavement otherwise, but temples freed them after a set period.
Namgung Seojun agreed. "Got it. We'll sell to the temple."
He needed Merit Points over cash right now, and Super Sense agreed.
The next morning, Namgung Seojun and the core members began slave interviews. First up: the three sex slaves, top priority for release.
With villages or cities every 2-5 days and Yuki around, sex slaves weren't essential for 10-19.
"Thanks for your hard work in the party. We'll pay your promised reward and sell you to the temple."
The three nodded calmly. They liked the party, but temple-bound meant no regrets.
Next: underperforming attackers Kayou Mitsuu and Wang Ja-hong, weakest porters Samuka Juzo and Park Do-bong.
"Thank you for sending us to the temple."
"It was a good time."
The four accepted their parting calmly.
Next: Li Zhangwei.
"Keep up the good combat work, Mr. Li."
Unique-skill holder, obvious keeper.
"Ms. Jin, you're good staying on as porter and sex slave, right?"
Jin So-young, regular porter doubling as sex slave, stayed.
Dmitri's turn.
"I busted my ass! Leveled to 12!"
"Got Handiwork at level 10—Normal-grade, but useful in combat or daily life."
"I pull my weight. Give me a bit more faith."
Kim Hoon teased as she pitched herself. "Hey, you wouldn't even fuck. What value's that?"
"Fuck... you think I'd take your tiny dick that's not even a real one?"
"What? My little brother's small? This thing holds its own anywhere!"
"That size? I could make you cum in my urethra, you fucker!"
They bickered endlessly, but Seojun acknowledged her talent.
"Wanna stick together?"
Consensus formed; she stayed.
Last interviewees: tail-ender Isu-yeon and guard Gaku. Seojun agonized longest over them—their styles clashed with party needs.
Growing party meant rear-guard tail-enders weren't vital. But Gaku progressed slowly, lacked drive. Isu-yeon? Tireless worker, smart, absorbed every lesson eagerly.
Isu-yeon first—rewarding her effort with choice.
Seojun laid out his dilemma upfront.
"You've done great so far. I'll sell you to the temple so you avoid sex slave duty. What do you want?"
She knew this was life's crossroads. She pondered.
Master Namgung Seojun is strict, but a truly great owner.
He taught sincerely for her growth. No other master did that for a striving slave. Treated slaves humanely—no favoritism between regulars and slaves. Strong, fair, leader, radiant. With him, she'd grow strong and shine too.
Gathering courage, she spoke. "Since joining, I've carried out Master's orders well. I can keep doing my role."
Calmly voicing resolve: "If you keep me, I'll devote everything in loyalty. I'll work harder, improve. Grow till everyone's satisfied. Please take me with you."
Her words impressed Seojun and the whole party. He smiled. "Good. Let's climb together."
Thus, Isu-yeon replaced Gaku in the party.