Chapter 25: The Healer Envies the Porter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 25: The Healer Envies the Porter
“Ngh... Th-there...! Haaah... Hngh... Sluuurp... Haa... Haa... Haa...”
“Hey, stay still for a second.”
“Ugh, ah...!!”
After our meal, Yuria kept pestering me for a massage, so I was currently kneading her calves... but she was making some very strange noises.
Wait, did this girl seriously just... finish from a calf massage?
No way. Surely not.
“Ahem.”
“Hooo...”
“Well, now. Cough.”
Lewis, Hachi, and Rohan were stealing glances at the twitching Yuria, while Horaru was completely preoccupied with eating honey. Being a beastman, he really marched to the beat of his own drum.
And then there was the healer, Yata...
“Um... excuse me... I’m actually quite good at massages too... I even have a masseuse license...”
“No thanks, Yata,” Yuria shot him down instantly.
“Ah... okay.”
Rejected. She didn't even hesitate.
“I mean, Yuria, wouldn't it be better to get a massage from a professional?” I asked.
“Forget it. A porter is good enough for a massage.”
“Is that porter discrimination?”
“No, it’s not discrimination. I just want you to do it.”
“Hah...”
To be honest, Yuria was right. In a typical party, the porter is the handyman. From cooking to every other chore imaginable, the porter handles it all.
More importantly, in the last battle, all I did was freeze up while Hachi protected me. I felt like I hadn't even pulled my own weight. It was embarrassing.
Of course, no one expects a porter to have combat prowess, so the party members didn't say anything, but... how should I put it? I just felt a sense of inferiority.
I didn't realize I’d be this helpless.
I’d managed to hold my own to some extent in the Upper Levels, but now that we were down in the Underground City, the reality that I was merely a Bronze Badge adventurer hit home.
The beasts either dodged my slingshot entirely or shrugged off the hits. Even when I tried to stab them with a knife, piercing their hides was so difficult that I couldn't deal any real damage. I felt keenly that I wasn't able to utilize my potential properly.
I realized I needed to learn how to use my muscles systematically. Watching Yuria carve through the Garums single-handedly made me feel a twinge of impatience.
I need to get stronger.
Once this trip to the Labyrinth is over, I’m definitely signing up for a swordsmanship dojo or learning some form of martial arts. I can't keep relying on the instincts I used in the Upper Levels. The Underground City was not a place to enter with such a complacent mindset.
I wish a combat-oriented Ability would manifest.
For some reason, I only seemed to get utility-based Abilities, which was disappointing in many ways. Not that I disliked the Subspace Pocket, of course.
“Sion, how many monster corpses did you manage to collect?”
“I grabbed everything I could reach. I think it’s over thirty. I haven't properly identified all the species yet, but I tried to get as many Hati corpses as possible. I’d say at least ten.”
Garums, Hatis, and Guluns. I’d stuffed their corpses into the pocket as I found them. I made sure to prioritize the Hatis.
“I see. Ten Hati corpses is quite good.”
“Long live the Subspace Pocket!”
Rohan nodded in satisfaction, and Horaru praised the wonders of the Ability. There was a specific reason we had to collect the Hatis.
Among the three types of beast monsters, the Hati was the most expensive. Their fur is pitch black, and since they are the rarest of the three in the Plaza Section, they fetch a high price.
In contrast, the Garums—the wild dogs—were the cheapest. Their fur was a mottled, muddy color, and because they were so overwhelmingly numerous, the supply was high, making them relatively cheap.
As for the Guluns...
Guluns were quite large and hideous. If a Garum looked like a typical fighting dog and a Hati looked like a handsome wolf, a Gulun was a canine monster that looked like a total mess. There wasn't a perfect word for them, so people often just called them wolves, but it would be more accurate to describe them as a bulldog’s head attached to a large wolf’s body.
Regardless, Gulun hides sold well too. It was just that the Hati hides were so luxurious that the Guluns tended to be overshadowed.
“By the way, I saw a few Hatis vanish instantly earlier. What was that?”
“Are you talking about Shadow Hiding?”
“Shadow Hiding?”
“It’s a unique ability of the Hatis. They can hide within the darkness. If you don't know about it, you’re likely to get killed, so be careful.”
“Aha.”
So that was a Hati ability. No wonder I was startled when they suddenly vanished from my sight.
“And the Guluns have heads harder than rocks. If they ram into you, it’s over. Keep that in mind too.”
“I knew that, but...”
“Hey! Even if you knew, couldn't you just say thanks for telling me? You’re making me feel awkward!”
“Sorry?”
“Ugh, whatever.”
As Yuria said, the Guluns' heads were incredibly hard. They weren't the type of monster you could kill by cracking their skulls with a stone. Even a slingshot hit to the head wouldn't take them down. It was most effective to aim for the heart or pierce vital spots like the mouth or eyes.
“I suspect High Orcs will start appearing soon,” Rohan noted.
“High Orcs often tame Garums to use them. If we get too close, there’s a high chance we’ll be spotted first. It’ll be a real problem if the Orcs swarm us.”
“Given the numbers we’re seeing now, it looks like Orcs will be crawling out in droves too.”
“Sigh... this is driving me crazy.”
“Still, they’re hostile toward Hatis and Guluns. If we play our cards right, we might be able to bait them into fighting each other,” Lewis suggested.
As Lewis said, High Orcs engage in territorial disputes with the other two beast types, excluding the Garums. To exploit this, Horaru’s role as a Druid was crucial.
“Horaru.”
“Ooh?”
“We’ll need your help again.”
“Mm. Okay. But Porter.”
“Yes?”
“Do you have... one more jar of honey...?”
“Ah, yes... I do, but... we have to deduct this from your share of the rewards later.”
“Understood. Everyone agrees?”
“Can't be helped. The Druid’s role is vital.”
“Honey is expensive, so I agree.”
“I-I’m sorry... you can take it out of my pay...”
“Forget it. We’ll take it out of the party’s common funds. Just eat your fill without worrying, Horaru.”
“Hehe...”
Honey was a luxury. Even though there were beekeepers living near the Labyrinth City, honey remained expensive.
Rohan is remarkably fair in these matters.
He might not be great at managing the team’s morale, but he was meticulous when it came to dividing rewards. Since we used the honey to protect the mental state of Horaru, who played a vital role in the party, it was only right that the cost came out of the common fund rather than his personal pocket.
“Anyway, to continue. Our goal is ultimately to recover the corpses of our hidden comrades, so there’s no need for us to fight the Orcs directly.”
Rohan’s plan was to have Horaru use a Garum he’d successfully communed with to lure a pack of Hatis or Guluns into attacking the High Orcs first. If we tried to face every single Orc ourselves, we’d hit our physical limits, and if they called for reinforcements, there was a high chance we’d be wiped out.
The Labyrinth was currently in an unprecedented state of monster overpopulation. Therefore, we needed to use the Druid’s abilities to whittle down their strength first, either to avoid a fight or to gain an advantage.
Looking at it this way, this was a very well-composed Plaza Section raid team. Including a Druid to exploit the abundance of beasts and an Earth Mage skilled at blocking entrances was a stroke of genius. It was just that there were so many monsters that their brilliance wasn't quite shining through yet.
“Honestly, I think there are more monsters now than right after the Labyrinth Eruption.”
“Indeed. It wasn't even this bad back then. It feels like the numbers have surged in just the last few days.”
“You don't think... a new boss-class entity has been born, do you?”
“Whoa, Lewis. Don't say such terrifying things. It’s good to assume the worst in the Labyrinth, but... ugh. Just the thought is gruesome.”
Rohan shuddered. We were already struggling as it was; a new boss monster would be a nightmare.
“Still, given the drastic surge in monsters, once the raid force finishes their exploration of the Underground City, a massive subjugation campaign might begin.”
“You mean the unlimited monster hunting period?”
“Yeah. A guaranteed buyback festival.”
A Subjugation Campaign. Also known as the unlimited monster hunting period. It refers to a time when the Guild sets a maximum purchase price for monster parts, regardless of the current market rate.
Since the price of monster parts fluctuates with the market, adventurers tend to avoid hunting certain monsters when they aren't selling well. However, if the Adventurer’s Guild, the Merchant Alliance, and the Church step in to guarantee a maximum price, adventurers will flock to hunt them since they don't have to worry about market rates.
The Merchant Alliance might take a bit of a loss, but they were willing to make the sacrifice if they felt the Labyrinth needed a cleanup for long-term stability. After all, they could only make money if there were adventurers willing to enter the Labyrinth.
And the Church, if they had any shame, would have to contribute funds too. Since the Resurrection Spell wasn't welcomed anywhere except the Labyrinth City, they had to maintain their image if they wanted to keep doing business here.
Besides, I can't even fathom the profit margins they make on Resurrection Spells.
The reason Resurrection Spells were expensive wasn't because the materials were costly. It was simply because the Goddess Church was the only group with a 'near-perfect resurrection technique.' This meant they likely set the prices however they pleased due to their technological monopoly.
Maybe they calculated 100 gold as the absolute maximum an adventurer could pay after years of labor.
They’d squeeze the money out one way or another. And if there was absolutely no way to get paid, only then would they sell the person to a slave trader.
In other words, slaves were essentially the clearance items the Church had given up on. That’s probably why they were sold for less than the minimum resurrection cost of 100 gold.
Because of that, most of the people who end up with slave traders are...
People who have absolutely no relatives to pay off their debt, people with physical defects that make them unfit for the mines, or people who don't even have the skills to survive the Upper Levels of the Labyrinth.
Since those with Silver or Gold Badges would do whatever it takes to pay off the resurrection fee and escape the debt...
The ones who tumble all the way down to the slave traders are mostly novice adventurers below that rank, or those who lacked the skill to enter the Labyrinth in the first place. Furthermore, since men were almost always sent straight to the mines, the ratio of women at the slave traders was significantly higher. The Church found uses for men since they could be put to work in many places, but women with no abilities were simply released as slaves.
This wasn't official information, but it was my assessment. It was just the theory of a porter six months into this other world, but I was fairly certain it was the truth.
“Let’s set the watch rotation. Everyone looks exhausted.”
“Good idea.”
It was finally time to sleep. With so many people, there were plenty of hands for the watch, so I’d probably get a decent amount of sleep.
*
“Mmm...?”
I woke up feeling a weight on my chest, only to find something hugging me. It was incredibly cozy, warm, and soft. Wait... Horaru???
Terrified by the thought, I immediately opened my eyes to check who was clinging to me.
Oh, what the. It was just Yuria.
Yuria was fast asleep, mouth slightly open, drooling, and even snoring a little. She was sleeping in a completely unrestrained, free-spirited manner. I hadn't realized she could be this defenseless.
“Ugh. Hey. Move over.”
“Mmm... nooo...”
When I tried to push her away, she only hugged me tighter. Her scent was certainly pleasant. Had she said her Ability was Scent Removal? Regardless, even after rolling around in the Labyrinth, she didn't even smell like sweat. Come to think of it, there hadn't been any bad odor when I was massaging her calves earlier, either.
“Are you awake...?”
“Ah, Yata.”
Yata was on the last watch. That meant it was almost time for everyone to get up.
As I lifted my head while still being hugged by Yuria, my eyes met Yata’s, and his face turned bright red.
“I-I’ve never seen the Guild Master’s daughter... act so... friendly with someone before...”
“Is that so?”
“Yes... I-I’ve been on a few Labyrinth trips with her... hehe... but she doesn't really remember me...”
“Aha.”
This guy, Yata. Does he actually like Yuria?
“W-well... she’s saved me a few times, you see. I guess you could say... I admire her...”
“I see.”
“Yes... because she’s so cool. Miss Yuria looks so full of life when she’s fighting...”
He really did like her. Man, I didn't know what to say to that. From what I knew, Yuria liked the energetic types. Yata was far too timid and lacked masculinity. If anything, he was delicate, almost like a girl.
“Ah, time’s up... I should probably start waking everyone...”
“Yeah. Come on, everyone. Wake up.”
I helped Yata wake the rest of the group. It was time to head back into the Labyrinth. We’d likely be able to recover the bodies sometime today.
So far, other than the sheer number of monsters, there hadn't been any major random bullshit. I just hoped the recovery mission would end without any further issues.