Chapter 26
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Floor 3 - Lv.18 Gamer (4)
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Layer 3 was still the very beginning of the early game.
Getting caught up in the Abyss's time flow and wasting over a month here was a huge setback.
I knew it well, being a veteran Exile of many years.
Exiles who didn't settle down after reaching the kingdom and kept challenging onward died frequently, as expected.
That was why they tried to minimize the time it took to get there.
They shared information freely and exchanged know-how.
Quickly looting the first-floor maze, checking the theme on the second floor, and suiciding if it sucked.
That had become the standard strategy.
If a shitty theme popped up right from the first one, you couldn't even clear it, and playing it safe would drag the journey to the kingdom out endlessly.
That was the biggest reason you rarely saw veteran Exiles—those called seniors after 30 years—in the sections before the kingdom.
The ones with enough experience had either offed themselves for a new run or were sprinting deeper down below.
Skip what you can skip, grab what you need to grab.
That was speedrunning.
So the third layer I'd entered now had already been passed by plenty of people.
The ones moving at mediocre speeds or hesitating, scrimping on what they should spend, and failing to ditch what they should toss—they were the type.
A month later, the ones left here were one of two kinds.
Dumb or cautious.
Even back in my gaming days, there were people who didn't mesh with speedruns.
The type who combed every corner of the map for loot, unable to move on if even a single pixel stayed in shadow.
That didn't change much in the real-life Labyrinth.
The female archer was that type.
"You never know when something might happen, so shouldn't we prepare thoroughly?"
"But if you wipe a few times like that, you'll lose the will to live."
"I haven't been betrayed by caution yet."
"Fair enough."
If she'd seen beyond the kingdom, she'd run even if it meant running out of time, but oh well.
I'd given her advice.
To push faster since she had the skills.
And not to just scavenge scraps left by the veterans ahead.
But sticking to her own style was its own strength.
Exiles were, after all, those who'd abandoned the "sane human" style.
"So, what brings you here again?"
"Lend me your mage."
"Mage?"
"That small, cute one."
The female archer furrowed her brow in confusion.
"Didn't you say you didn't need any help?"
I chuckled and replied.
"The info you gave me was crap. I'm here to complain to your client."
"Client? We don't really have..."
"You're honestly squatting there feeding refugees while watching for chances to break through, right?"
"True enough."
She grinned slyly.
I pulled out one more arrow and held it out.
"Lend her to me."
"Not a loan—recruit her outright."
"Isn't that going too far?"
"Wouldn't she learn better from a senior like you?"
This guy was sharp. He didn't buy my claim of being 15 years in at all. He figured I was even more senior.
With brains like that, I'd probably keep running into him on future odd layers.
He must've thought the same, which was why he was offering up the mage.
Before layers got too deep, mage classes were more hindrance than help.
Of course, better than nothing, but no party leader could ignore the costs of feeding, housing, and arming a mage.
"We're good. We don't need a mage."
"Shame. What about me, then?"
"You're the leader— what about your party?"
The female archer replied without cracking her smile.
"How about my whole party?"
"So shameless it's kinda likable. Here, take these too."
I handed over a few more arrows. Unless an even-numbered layer with the "Girl Edition" showed up, this was basically freebies.
The female archer nodded, taking my consumables as a promise to meet again on layer 5.
Boss fights happened every five layers, when themes shifted.
Odd-layer bosses forced Exile teamwork, so building rapport like this mattered.
Of course, rotten apples would just skip somehow, but if you couldn't, you'd have to fight and win.
"Thank you. Seniors who look out for juniors are rare. We're so grateful."
"Yeah, yeah, enough. Go fetch the mage quick. I'll use her a bit and send her back."
She was clinging shamelessly now.
The female archer retreated with her affable smile intact.
The mage from the female archer's party was a small, cute girl.
Not even high school age—younger? Tough fate. How'd she end up dragged into the Labyrinth at that age?
But she didn't seem bold enough to pick the mage class tree from the start.
Frail impression, legs trembling.
Just super timid, sticking to the rear as a mage?
But she was six years in. A hero who'd challenged the Labyrinth that long.
Quiet strength on the outside, I figured.
The mage, clueless why she'd been dragged here, followed my orders for a more precise scan.
I taught her the tricks from scratch.
Whoever her magic teacher was, they hadn't done a great job.
The mage stared at me in shock.
"Senior... are you a mage?"
"Assassin. I've dabbled in mage stuff, though."
Even digging one well deep, who knows how far you'd go— and I'd only dabbled.
Her eyes filled with that kind of bewilderment.
I told her to shut up and scan as ordered.
The gap between relying purely on skills and truly understanding magic was huge.
After watching her handle it solo, I went to the Hunter.
"Going well?"
"Yeah. Sorta."
"Grrrrr."
From the vibe, he'd gotten wrecked by the Hunter.
No need to see it.
Started with "What are you?" then "Weapons are cheap," followed by getting bodied in bare-handed fisticuffs.
Level gap wasn't the only issue. Why multi-year Exiles kept getting stronger: experience etched into the body.
Knowing how to wield your strength.
Adapting to the Labyrinth's system, stats included.
Same stats, juniors rarely beat seniors.
Especially this first-run punk, judging by the vibe.
He looked beaten to a pulp.
But his street grit hadn't vanished.
Seeing me, he started growling.
Still clinging to nonexistent pride—born thug.
I glanced at the Hunter, who barked.
"Hey. Who you glaring at? Bow down."
The burly dark-skinned brute dropped his eyes quick. Already tamed.
Probably joined their side the same way. Built like a gang boss, but acting like a total lackey.
I started the solemn interview.
"Hey, become our party's warrior."
He blinked. Like he didn't get it.
The Hunter chimed in.
"This guy's our boss."
"I'll do it! I'll stake my life on it!"
I laughed heartily.
"Good fire. I'll introduce you to big sis later, kid."
"Yes, sir!"
First, time for conversion.
The Goddess of Chaos happily welcomed a new follower.
There was a bit of an interrogation—not quite.
Our big maknae was the type who shouldn't know certain facts.
The Hunter tilted his head.
"A guy claiming the Labyrinth is some world's game, and he's their leader? A 20-year vet?"
The Hunter laughed in disbelief.
Face like he'd never heard such nonsense.
Rarely, he sought my input.
"Boss, I've been here 12 years, first time hearing that. Sure, the Labyrinth has some game-like mechanics. But it's stark reality."
The maknae insisted again, looking wronged that he'd heard it that way.
The Hunter shut him down.
"Stick around this cursed place long enough, and folks go mad in all sorts of ways. Nothing weird about detailed delusions."
His words carried a hint of spat-out anger.
Like he couldn't stand anyone treating this as a game.
As if the Exile's desperate survival looked like a joke.
I awkwardly scratched my cheek. Our party's ranger had no idea the prime example was right in front of him.
This was why I never talked about it anywhere.
Easter egg stuff. Rarely, an NPC popped up with that backstory.
An Exile pulled in mid-gameplay.
Happened even in game days.
Should I spill it?
My first mental breakdown hit around year 24, meeting one such NPC.
Can't even recall the time wasted.
My psyche shattered.
Thinking I might be like that too—I couldn't bear it.
Just lying blankly on layer 1, falling.
Falling again.
Repeat.
Eventually, I couldn't even hit the start button in the dark, got forcibly ejected from the Labyrinth.
When I barely stood again, the trauma still crushed a corner of my mind endlessly.
I'd suspected it even before meeting him.
A crisis I might never recover from.
The biggest one, really.
Now? I don't sweat it much.
Rising from despair isn't just iron will.
I'm ordinary, I think.
Time healed it, that's all.
If you can't confirm it, best to ignore.
I'm human.
I always believe and act that way.
"Boss, why the sour face?"
The Hunter eyed me oddly.
"Nah. Nothing."
Damn, leaking through my expression?
「I think I get it, follower. Sweets for times like these. Sugar soothes the soul.」
'Goddess, no sweets before the kingdom.'
「Pity.」
Time to meet again, huh. Last time was about 20 years ago, yeah.
Once every 20 years or so—not bad.
Not bad... but.
Feels not okay.
"Sorry, gonna rest up."
The Hunter looked puzzled but nodded.
I explained what I'd tasked the borrowed mage with and asked him to cover a bit.
Entering the house where the Girl rested, worry hit me first.
"Uncle? Why the long face?"
Long face? Good no mirrors here.
If there were, who knows what I'd think of myself.
Surprise spread on the Girl's face.
Post-approval granted.
"Can I hug you a bit?"
"Uh? Why? But sure. Totally okay."
"Yeah. Yeah."
Holding the soft girl lifted my mood.
Feeling a bit better.
Clinging tight, I could almost feel her tiny heart thumping.
"Uncle, you're acting super weird right now, you know?"
"Yeah. Just a bit longer. Just like this."
Yeah, I know.
No basis left to believe I'm human.
Just an excuse to protect my mind.
How do other Exiles without such excuses endure?
No—maybe they have easy-to-ignore excuses usually, but rare hits hurt more.
No tolerance built.
I cried soundlessly. Tearlessly.
The Girl hugged back wordlessly.
After about 10 minutes, my heart settled a little.
Not my first time.
Heart plummeting to rock bottom.
Every Exile faces it once, and occasionally after.
I took deep breaths.
Reassembled my mind.
"Okay, feeling better now."
"Ugh, now I'm not okay."
The Girl covered her face quick.
Obvious anyway. Ears red. Flushed face cuter than ever today.
Her usual adorable gestures and cute face nearly stopped my heart.
Control emotions. Suspension bridge effect.
Love's not casual in the Labyrinth.
I only have three years left!
Down goes the mental shutter.
"Phew."
Less cute now. Good.
Then the Hunter burst in.
Borrowed mage with him.
"Boss! Big trouble!"
"What now?"
The mage answered.
"Senior! That group's attacking our camp!"
"Makes sense."
Thinking about it, yeah. They didn't occupy that spot just to block the path.
Seeing our maknae's dumbstruck face outside, he hadn't expected the raid either.
Perfect timing. Nothing clears a shitty mood like a fight.