Chapter 67
Chapter 67
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 67
Chapter Title: Catch That Bastard (5)
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Maybe it was the early hour, but even on the day the labyrinth opened, the streets were still pretty empty.
That said, as we got closer to the labyrinth entrance, explorers started to appear here and there. What diligent folks.
'...Paladins? Priests? Why so many?'
Among them were about twenty people wearing familiar suits of armor and priestly robes.
They weren't part of an explorer party, judging by how they huddled together... Ah, and there was one familiar face.
A paladin in golden armor.
The female paladin who used to guard Senior Priest Seriph.
'Seriph herself isn't here, though.'
"You're here, Balkan. But why are you steaming like that? Excited? No way you just did it with the boss lady, right?"
As I eyed them curiously, Juben spotted me and came over.
I slipped a hand under my helmet. Even after walking so long, my face was still warm. My whole body was heated up, steaming visibly even in the cool dawn air.
Clear signs of excitement. Only one reason for that.
I recalled the moment Diana hugged me.
More than her soft chest, it was her gentle heart—her sincere warmth wrapping around me—that hit me hardest.
Diana had approached me from the start with nothing but pure kindness.
Until now... no, even now, I'd trusted her completely. But now, I felt like I could finally show her the real me.
I steeled my resolve.
...If this labyrinth run ended safely.
'I'll take off the helmet and face her properly.'
Thinking about it, our relationship had been so unreasonable.
Diana accepting someone whose face and identity she didn't even know suddenly felt incredible.
So I couldn't let someone like her get wasted on crude sex jokes.
"Juben. Watch your mouth. Or you'll go flying. Physically."
"S-sorry..."
Juben apologized, a bit of drool trickling out. Sharp instincts, despite the looks.
I glanced over and saw the rest of the party.
Our crew was pretty diligent too. Even our luggage lizardgirl Gregor was there—no one missing.
I exchanged quick greetings with the party, then pointed at the temple group.
"Who's that bunch? Why so many?"
"Temple folks here to investigate the labyrinth. You know, it's changed since the omens."
Hitoris shuddered, like bad memories were surfacing.
"New traps and monsters, plus some creepy-aura beasts. Probably here for that..."
That ominous darkness lurking in the shadows of certain monsters I'd seen before.
'Even the boss Minotaur wrapped itself in it right before dying.'
Other explorers hadn't noticed.
For some reason, only me and the temple priests reacted strongly, repulsed by it.
Hitoris figured the temple squad was probing that unknown phenomenon.
"I'm just a junior priest, so I don't know details, but I overheard seniors saying they'd split forces to the 12th floor. Mostly mid-rank priests and paladins..."
Hm. Got it. Not our concern anyway.
Mid priests and paladins were beyond our league.
Irrelevant to us slipping in quick to nab the outlaws...
"What're you doing here? Explorer, makes sense."
Someone called out to me mid-thought.
Not friendly, but not hostile either.
I turned toward the voice. Nate Elin stood there, arms crossed, giving me a slant-eyed glare.
"Gasp! S-Seriph Adelrine's paladin! Golden Guardian Knight! It's an honor, Nate Elin!"
Priest Hitoris bowed at lightning speed.
The others snuck peeks, then greeted her too.
But she ignored them, glaring only at me with that sour face.
What? Should I greet her?
"Long time no see."
"Tch."
Whatever bugged her, Nate Elin clicked her tongue at me.
'Paladins and their attitudes.'
Come to think of it, she'd shot me dirty looks whenever I talked to Seriph.
'Jealous I got that Mental Barrier miracle from Seriph?'
Plausible guess.
I recalled the faint tingle lingering in my fingertips.
The Mental Barrier miracle from Seriph still protected me.
"We're prepping to head in now. Spit it out if you've got business."
"B-Balkan!"
Hitoris tugged my arm cautiously, horrified at my tone toward a high-up.
Nate flicked a hand to silence Hitoris, eyes still locked on me.
"Not my words, but here's a warning."
"Warning?"
"Yeah. Don't die. Be a headache if you do."
We're not close enough for mutual life-worrying chit-chat.
Her awkward tone said it wasn't sincere concern.
If she really cared, she wouldn't say "headache."
'Why a headache if I die?'
Then it hit me—the white cat beastkin with her mechanical yet merciful smile.
Suspected Ethelbert's sister. Temple senior priest.
"Seriph's worried about me?"
"Tch. Yeah. No clue why she'd fret over a guy like you."
Nate Elin nodded, clearly displeased Seriph cared.
'Truth is, not that close to Seriph either.'
Only met twice.
Last time I got the miracle by fluke, but still not buddies.
'High-up interested in me? Good's good.'
No harm in prime connections.
"No plans to die."
Labyrinth runs always carry risk.
Explorers live amid crises.
But no intention of folding easy.
"Good enough."
Nate Elin turned to leave after my reply, then froze.
"..."
Like she had more to say but hated voicing it.
"Anything else?"
"...Hmph. After the labyrinth, swing by the temple. Seriph wants to see you."
"Gasp!"
Lowly priest Hitoris clapped a hand over her mouth. That shocking?
"I'll drop by later."
"Fine."
Nate Elin rejoined the temple squad and they plunged into the labyrinth.
"B-Balkan, sir!"
"Why the sudden honorifics, Hitoris?"
The party stared at me, eyes sparkling.
"N-No way you're on worrying terms with Saintess Seriph..."
"Heard of her. Deep faith, pure, top priest..."
"Ain't that just code for virgin?"
"Juben... how could you say that about the saintess..."
Seriph's rep was even bigger than I thought.
"So, Balkan, if we go to the temple with you, free blessing appraisals?"
Joie Hog drooled asking. Yeah, heard about that once.
"They stopped that?"
"Dropped it ages ago. Weird they offered free rare blessing/curse checks to begin with."
"Temple's brutal on billing."
"They even paid for novel ones. Odd, yeah. Took the cash though."
"Acted like hunting specific blessings or curses. Just speculation, old news now."
Acting like seeking certain blessings/curses...
[◆ ???'s Blessing]
– ???– Vitality +10 Strength +10 Agility +10
Joie Hog's casual words brought the status window blessing to mind.
– Head to the labyrinth. And get even stronger. That's my personal request.
Seriph's words from appraising my blessing echoed.
In hindsight, kinda out-of-left-field request.
When she checked my blessings, she hadn't seemed to notice the question-mark one.
'...But really?'
Back then, it felt distant.
Now, past LV 50 wasn't just time and grind.
'Someone like her couldn't manage her face in front of me?'
She could've hidden it completely if she tried.
'No way. Seriph...'
"Ah, here they come. Our joint party."
Joie Hog's voice cut through my thoughts.
I looked up. The guy's face from recent run-ins.
"Hah..."
A sigh escaped automatically.
Damn. Hoped the intel was wrong.
"Hah. Running into you here too?"
The pitiful inferiority-complex lump who'd bitched at me from the Union... okay, too harsh.
Just a bit dim guy. Gellan's party approached.
Human swordsman Gellan.
Human priest Hope.
Fox beastkin mage Fusilini.
Guide-cum-tank slime Ain Aldente.
Fewer numbers, but balanced comp.
Gear gleamed top-notch—near mid-rank explorer level.
'Not matching my helmet, axe, or leather armor, though.'
"Not a rattlesnake party, surprisingly?"
"Too ugly for rattlesnakes. That's pure skill grind. Otherwise, that face means criminal."
Ramel and Juben whispered behind me.
Rattlesnakes—cockroaches, slang for gold-digger parties. Queen bee vibe.
"Dangling dick as hostage, stringing along talent for a free ride. Tch. Proof dick equals power. Chicks can't unless top-tier."
*Ptooey!*
Juben spat, lamenting reality.
"...?"
I scratched my ear. Felt itchy. Who talking about me?
Anyway. Personalities aside, first impressions as explorers? Solid.
"We'll search for the fugitive outlaws together up to 7F. If he's dodged to 8F or below, we split—your party handles the rest."
Joie Hog's party scraped by old 8F, not post-omen.
I was new muscle, but untested past 7F.
Plus outlaws to fight.
No guarantees.
Thus, Gellan—11F veterans—solo from 8F on.
"Half pay even then? Sweet deal."
Half was still 50 silver, 2.5 contrib. Plenty tasty.
"Stick to briefed positions and watches!"
Everyone shifted to formation.
Tanks upfront: Joie Hog, slime tank Ain Aldente.
Then axe warrior me, swordsman Gellan.
Behind: priests, mages, luggage Gregor.
Rear guard: sword-aura Juben.
Under 15, so body-contact portal jump prep.
Gellan—who seemed primed for beef—mostly quiet, occasional glares aside.
'Expected Union-level drama.'
Trouble likely, but they looked serious about delving.
Hoo.
I sighed softly, glaring at the labyrinth portal.
Never got used to ditching peace for battlefield.
But push through. Dozens more hurdles ahead.
I gripped my belt twin axes tight and stepped through the portal.