Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Short Preparation
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"Floor 2. Can we clear it?"
We discussed our next goal. The topic was the Labyrinth's second floor.
"2... Floor 2!"
"I think we're more than ready."
Even on the same topic, reactions were split right down the middle.
It made sense, really. Jermi had only just gone into the Labyrinth once and come back out—a total newbie.
Kakchi, on the other hand, had plenty of experience trudging through it as a slave.
'Though she's never been past the third floor anyway.'
Put another way, it meant she had a solid grasp on everything up to the second.
"When I was rolling around like a dog under Deluna, we pushed all the way to the third floor with that party. We never even dreamed of the fourth, but with the three of us? Second floor's totally doable."
Kakchi jumped right in.
"Sure, Deluna's group had her as the mage and a bunch of meat shields for swordsmen... but our setup isn't half bad either."
Frontline warrior, spear user, archer兼guide.
Hard to find a more stable trio than that.
The only thing we'd want is a priest, but good luck finding one of those.
'Priests and mages are rarer than other classes anyway.'
High demand, low supply.
Priests and mages don't bother with floors one or two unless they've got some special motive like slave hunting, like Deluna.
Especially the real deal—they're in parties tackling five floors and up, from what I've heard.
Suddenly, I missed Adolf, but then I remembered she was scraping by on random matchmaking as a priest herself. Poof, gone from my mind.
"Won't I just be dead weight on the second floor...?"
Jermi looked worried he'd drag us down, same as he had on the first. But with that experience buff, he wasn't falling behind anytime soon.
A few more Labyrinth runs, and he'd probably have the highest level among us.
"Second floor's crawling with goblins too."
"Guess we have no choice then, those bastards..."
I hit his berserk button, and Jermi ground his teeth while caressing his backpack like it was precious.
"...Just to be safe, what's in that backpack–"
"Curious?"
"Ah, no. Nothing."
Something about it made me hesitate, like shiny bald Anya's head might pop out.
Anyway, with that, our next Labyrinth dive was set: second floor target.
Not arrogance. We'd weighed our options carefully.
"Think of the second floor as the first shrunk down a bit, with traps added."
We had the firepower for goblin trash mobs, no problem.
"And the trap-filled second floor? That's my territory."
Kakchi had cleared it dozens of times as a guide.
After a quick briefing, we split up, agreeing to meet on the day the Labyrinth opened for the week.
"But why're you following me?"
For some reason, Kakchi was trailing right behind me.
"Huh? Where's a slave supposed to go without her master?"
She shot back with a blank stare, like I was the weird one.
The big reason I'd taken her as a slave was backstab prevention and easy command relay. Seemed like in this world, slaves were treated like property, straight up.
"I gave you money. Just get your own inn room."
"A slave can't book a proper room solo..."
She looked crestfallen for a second. Hit a little close to home.
I'd been street trash too, before Diana took me in.
"So. Can't we just live together?"
"Nah. No way."
Right as a flicker of pity sparked, she shattered it with talk of chastity be damned.
Kakchi was a woman with a weird head and odder guts, but her looks? Solid. Better than solid.
Fine in a stress-pit like the Labyrinth, but sharing a room outside—alone? No confidence I'd survive the night unscathed...
"Tch... Fine, a hundred steps back: next room over from you, master. Better than trekking back and forth, right?"
"What's this back-and-forth even for?"
"Eh, life's unpredictable. Bound to happen sometime. Heh."
She wasn't backing down easy.
I could order her to sleep elsewhere, but wasting emotion on this? Pass.
"...Sigh. Fine, I'll ask the innkeeper where I'm staying. But no guarantees."
"Yay!"
Kakchi threw her arms wide in glee, bouncing around. I yanked her collar to rein her in.
The leather grip settled naturally in my palm.
Getting the hang of it already. Felt like walking a dog.
Strolling the quiet streets, Cozy Winter Night inn came into view quick.
I pushed the door open. Diana was wiping down tables for dinner rush.
"Back home, Diana."
"Ah. Balkan, you're b–"
Thud.
Her rag slipped from her hand to the floor.
Diana's gaze creaked like an unoiled pedal toward Kakchi beside me.
Then to the collar. Then to my hand gripping it.
Back to me.
"...Balkan?"
That's when I saw how this looked from the outside.
Not normal, that's for sure.
"Ah. She's our new party member兼slave. Name's Kakchi... er, Densi."
I dropped the collar quick and explained.
Slavery's legal here. Common as dirt on the market street.
Wasn't doing anything wrong, but her stare made me feel guilty as hell.
[...Just now, a nickname...?]
Diana mouthed something, but some weird barrier muffled it.
"Nice to meet you! Auntie!"
Kakchi bowed deep. Diana's perpetual squint-smile cracked wide open, revealing sharp amber eyes.
"...What did you just call me?"
Kakchi looked up with a smug grin.
"Auntie? ...Ah, right. Boss lady then?"
"......"
Diana's smile vanished. Her upturned lips went rigid. Those narrowed eyes? Ice cold.
"Eek–"
I yanked Kakchi's collar hard.
What the hell? Why pick now to go nuts?
"Sorry, Diana. She's not housebroken yet. My bad on her behalf."
I shoved Kakchi's head down, bowing with her.
"No place to go, ended up her owner. Any spare rooms? I'll pay, of course."
"Double room! Got a double, auntie? Big fluffy bed. Twin's fine too."
"Shut it for once, will ya...?"
Every word from her twisted Diana's face darker.
Never seen that look in the past month.
'Not just her face, either.'
Chill leaked from Diana, her neat hair floating slightly.
"...Well. You're a fun one."
Her expression screamed not fun, but she glared at Kakchi anyway. Eyes open, vibe totally flipped. Honestly, scary.
"You look down on your luck, but tough break—no rooms left."
"...Really, master? Wait, slaves are property anyway. We can share. One bed together?"
"Our inn's one room per person. Slaves not allowed."
Lie. Cozy Winter Night had plenty of triples and quads.
But from now on? Singles only. Diana said so.
"......"
"......"
Diana and Kakchi crossed arms, glaring daggers. Comic-book sparks would've flown.
Atmosphere wrecked. Couldn't breathe.
Customers around? They'd choke on food.
I couldn't take it—yanked Kakchi's collar and dragged her out.
She glared back at Diana the whole way, arms still crossed.
Out in the inn alley, air finally cleared.
"Hey. What the hell was that...?"
Guts to mouth off to Diana? Ah, right. No status screen. Clueless idiot. Fine, I get it. But no next time.
"That lady back there's the innkeeper?"
"Yeah. She's like a benefactor to me. Apologize later, got it?"
"...Her?"
What did she even see in Diana?
"Master, I'm not usually like this. But..."
Kakchi stewed arms-crossed awhile, then burst.
"That bitch is dangerous. Face screams psycho murderess crammed with kill-lust. Rabid bitch."
Unhinged nonsense.
Kakchi checked into another inn a block away.
I vouched for her slave status, then headed back to Diana's.
"...I'm fine, really. No clue how you ended up with a... well, a slave like that, but everyone's got their story."
"Appreciate you seeing it that way, but..."
"Yeah. Totally. Don't worry about me."
That 'word' hit her hard—she looked anything but fine. I comforted her anyway.
Nothing special to say or do, so I just stayed by her side.
"..."
Diana stayed quiet, but it seemed to help. Her smile crept back bit by bit.
Separately, I wondered: how old is she?
Rumors said Labyrinth runs slowed aging, piquing curiosity. But asking now? Crossed-river no-return. Zipped it.
Time flew to dinner rush.
Time to switch from baby explorer Balkan to Cozy Winter Night tavern part-timer Balkan.
Sunset faded to dusk, customers flooding in like tide.
"Table six, eight—snacks up!"
"Got it!"
I hustled: served menus, cleaned between orders. Good daily pay meant no slacking.
Sun down, stars out.
No streetlights, so moonlight blazed. No time to admire—pushed by rowdy drunks' laughter, handled the troublemakers.
Screech–
Diana's cooking skills suddenly wowed me.
Late-night crowds non-stop. Top-tier pub in Valerus, earned it.
Draws unusual crowds too.
A woman in a bizarre mask and cloak hiding her body.
From the glimpse: golden hair to her waist, light tan skin.
One half of the mysterious duo that drops by Diana's now and then.
Usually, one shows, Diana ghosts in—takes orders, serves solo. Today? Mental damage kept her kitchen-bound.
Stoves firing away. Food still awhile off.
I approached the masked woman.
"Order, ma'am?"
"The usual."
What's the usual, lady?
Blanking for a split second, she didn't even glance up, just tilted her head slightly.
Still bowed, so probably only saw my gut and below.
"What. Not Diana? Huh. Figures. Dog wouldn't call me 'customer'."
She snickered to herself, then slowly looked up at me.
"You're that guy Diana rescued, the part-ti–"
And froze.
"......"
Felt a weird gaze from that eyeless, noseless mask. Perception perk? Direction faintly clear.
Most stares would've slid bodyward slow. Hers locked on my head.
I touched my face unconsciously. Helm still on tight.
The Great Helm from before the Labyrinth.
The staring contest between masked woman and helmed man ended with her scoff.
"That helm... you bought it?"
What? Helm talk out of nowhere.
Couldn't ignore, though. Smartest spend in Labyrinth City: this helm.
Effects aside, design nailed my taste. Super satisfied.
"Yep. Drip check?"
She chuckled at my confident tone.
"Kid. You got taste after all?"