Chapter 21: The Guild Master’s Daughter is a Nuisance
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 21: The Guild Master’s Daughter is a Nuisance
“Here are the supplies you’ll be carrying in.”
“Is this all of it?”
“For now, yes.”
Kaisen, the guild’s warehouse keeper, pointed toward the supplies piled high in the training ground behind the guild.
There were dozens of wooden crates. They likely contained food, various daily necessities, and other essentials.
“And take these as well.”
“Water bottles, I see.”
They were large glass bottles filled to the brim with water.
Securing drinking water in the Labyrinth is vital. Most water sources within the Labyrinth are either contaminated by monsters or have already been turned into monster nests, so one must bring water from the surface.
I myself usually pack at least ten waterskins before heading inside. Of course, if things get truly desperate, there’s no choice but to boil whatever water we find. Or, it’s even better if a priest capable of using the Art of Purification is with the party.
“The ones next to them are Strong Liquor. Be careful not to break them, and keep them away from any open flames.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Strong Liquor—high-proof alcohol.
It serves several purposes. For instance, it can be used to induce a stupor when someone is in extreme pain. Or, if someone is pushed to their mental limit, it can be used to force them to sleep. But its most common use is for disinfection. It’s poured over wounds to prevent infection.
Since there is always a shortage of priests, one must always be prepared for emergencies.
“And this.”
“Is this oil?”
“Yeah. Keep this away from fire, too. And don’t put it near the drinking water or the Strong Liquor. There are always idiots who get confused and drink it. No, I guarantee someone will.”
“Understood. I’ll be careful.”
To think there are people who would drink it despite the smell of oil. Then again, all sorts of bizarre things happen in the Labyrinth. I suppose someone whose nose is paralyzed for some reason, or someone who has lost their mind, might mistake oil for water and drink it.
“Well then, I’ll be going now.”
“Right. Come back alive.”
People in the Labyrinth City always tell those heading into the Labyrinth to "come back alive." It’s the simplest and most common greeting. Everyone shares the same wish: that the people they know don't die.
‘I hope nothing happens to me either.’
Praying for a bit of luck, I headed into the guild.
“You’ve arrived, Sion.”
“Yes, Guild Master. I’ve finished receiving the supplies.”
“Good. Then let us begin.”
Many people had already gathered in the guild. There were the adventurers who had joined the raid force, the Guild Master who rarely descended from the second floor, and even a fairly famous merchant guild master from the city.
“Sion, over here.”
“Coming.”
Rohan and the rest of the team were gathered as well. As I took my place among them, the Guild Master spoke.
“We will now begin the raid on the Underground City. Map out as much terrain as possible. Collect information on the sectors that have changed. I also ask that you investigate any newly appeared monsters.”
This was the first raid force since the Great Cataclysm. They could be considered a vanguard. If a proper exploration wasn't conducted, the Underground City would remain a place filled with unknown terrors.
“The leader of the raid force is the Gold Badge adventurer, Sola. His party, Morning Sun, will be the lead team. Follow their orders whenever possible.”
So the lead team was named after a certain beverage from Earth.
A raid force is essentially an organization formed by several different adventurer parties. Naturally, conflicts arise and opinions differ. Adventurers aren't soldiers, and a raid force isn't an army.
Because of this, the strongest and most experienced party becomes the lead team. If a dispute or a clash of opinions occurs, everyone follows the lead team’s judgment. Without at least that much discipline, the whole thing would eventually collapse.
“Now then. Come back alive.”
The Guild Master’s short speech ended. She didn't waste time dragging things out with flowery language. It was a very adventurer-like style. Adventurers hate long, complicated things.
Well then, shall we head to the Labyrinth?
“Hey, Sion.”
“Ah. Yuria.”
Before we could set off, the Guild Master’s daughter called out to me. She was a female swordsman characterized by her red hair and red eyes—looking exactly like Guild Master Moira—and her large chest.
Oh, and she had a bit of a fierce personality and was very assertive. The worst part was that she thought I had tried to seduce her mother.
“What is it...?”
“I was told to protect you during this raid.”
“Huh?”
“It’s an order from my mother. You don’t have a say in this.”
“Wait... then you’re going to be with me from start to finish...?”
“It means we’re going down together and coming back up together.”
“I should probably discuss this with my team leader, Rohan, first...”
“I already finished talking to Rohan while you were getting the supplies.”
“Oh, boy.”
I was stuck. This woman was a real nuisance. She’d get annoyed over the strangest things, try to interfere in weird ways, and she loved to boss me around and tease me whenever she got the chance. In many ways, she was a vixen who knew exactly how to drain a person's soul.
‘Still, she is a Silver Badge adventurer.’
Her strength was proven to some extent. Holding a Silver Badge meant she had the skill to roam the Underground City. Above all, she was a swordsman who might soon earn a Gold Badge. She wouldn't be a burden. It was just that she was annoying to deal with.
“Hey. Smile. Don’t make the atmosphere awkward.”
“Ha... hahaha.”
I laughed. What else could I do when told to laugh? If I made her angry, she’d sulk all day and be even more of a pain. She wasn't scary, just incredibly bothersome.
‘With Yuria included, that makes seven of us.’
It was essentially the size of two parties combined. Of course, since I was a porter and technically non-combatant, it was better not to count me in the numbers.
“By the way, I heard you gained another new Ability?”
“Huh? Where did you... Ah.”
The Guild Master must have told her. I can't believe that woman just hands out information about her guild's adventurers to her daughter like that. I wanted to go and complain, but I couldn't.
It was because the Guild Master had personally given me extra supplies earlier. The supplies I received today alone were worth a gold coin. Since she was so openly favoring me and looking after me, I’d look like an ungrateful jerk if I complained about her telling her daughter that I’d gained an Ability—not even the specific type, just the fact that I had one.
‘Besides, she’s not the type to tell anyone other than her daughter.’
The Guild Master wasn't someone who would go around leaking my information. She probably only mentioned it in passing to Yuria, her only flesh and blood. Yuria also had a sharp side toward others, so she wasn't the type to blab about my Ability elsewhere.
Most of all, the Guild Master’s goal was to tie me to the guild. Perhaps, since she couldn't seduce me herself, she was trying to bind me through her daughter. Yuria liked unusual people, so she would naturally take an interest in me since I had a unique Ability.
“What kind of Ability is it? Tell me.”
“No, why should I?”
“You won't tell me? Even after you learned all about my Ability? You’re a total thief, aren't you?”
“You’re the one who told me yours without me asking!”
“Hmph. There should be give and take. You’re always trying to take the profit for yourself. Hurry up and tell me. What’s with the secrets between us? If you keep acting like this, I’m going to tell everyone in town that you seduced my mom.”
“Gah...!!! You damn... I told you I didn't seduce her! Argh, stop poking my side!”
Yuria teased me, poking me in the ribs. We hadn't even entered the Labyrinth yet, but there was zero tension. It was always like this when I got involved with her. She was always thinking of ways to mess with me and play around.
“Ahem. Hey, Porter.”
“Huh? Ah, yes. Mr. Lewis.”
“Here. Take this luggage.”
While I was bickering with Yuria, Lewis, our team’s mage, cleared his throat and handed me a mountain of luggage. Wait, why is there so much?
‘High-end bedding and a pillow? What’s this? A washbasin? Detergent and a cosmetic set...? Is this old man actually concerned about his beauty?’
I had no idea why Lewis had so many miscellaneous items for a Labyrinth raid. Most of them were beauty-related products. He seemed incredibly concerned about his skin, perhaps because of his age. Could he be a lifelong bachelor? Well, there are many old maids and bachelors among mages. You could call it the result of pouring their entire youth into magic research.
“We’re almost there.”
Before long, the raid force entered the eastern district of the city. This was where the entrance to the upper floor Botanical Garden of the Labyrinth was located.
They likely chose this place instead of the Northern Underground Graveyard, where mental management is difficult due to the Departed; the filthy sewers; or the Breeding Grounds, where one must be wary of ambushes from Vorpal Rabbits. Of course, the Botanical Garden was just as dangerous, but it was at least cleaner than the other places. It was a place where plant sap sprayed instead of blood.
“Total raid force: 72 members. A total of 14 parties will enter the Labyrinth. Let’s find the location of the Transfer Stones quickly and meet on the 4th floor.”
Sola, the raid leader, briefly relayed the plan. It wasn't much of a plan. Each team would navigate down to the 4th floor on their own and then meet up to enter the Underground City together. Having 72 people crowding a narrow corridor would only make things more complicated, so they decided to descend by team until the 4th floor.
“We will judge the time using the hourglasses distributed beforehand. Aim to reach the 4th floor within seven hours. If you haven't arrived by then, it will be considered a failure. The teams that arrive first will proceed downward.”
Once the gate of a Transfer Stone in the Labyrinth is opened, it sends everyone to the same location until it closes. If a team failed to reach the 4th floor before the hourglass ran out, it meant they would have to enter the Underground City as an individual team. Their survival rate would plummet. In that case, it was better to just head back up.
“Well then, see you on the 4th floor.”
The team led by Sola entered the Labyrinth. They would have been warped to somewhere on the 1st floor of the Botanical Garden.
“It’s our turn.”
We were next. Rohan, our team leader, stepped forward.
The most important person in this raid was likely me. Since I was in charge of the supplies, I couldn't be allowed to die. Because of that, we had decided to receive help from Morning Sun, the lead party composed of Gold Badge adventurers.
The necklace Rohan held would point toward Sola’s location. Sola would be carrying the exact same item. It was an artifact called the 'Guardian of Connection,' which pointed to the location of its other half.
It was an item loaned out by the guild. Essentially, we would be under the protection of the Gold Badge party until we reached the Underground City.
Once we entered the Underground City and unpacked the supplies, that’s when the real work would begin.