Chapter 40: There Are No People
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 40: There Are No People
“In exchange for what I’ve done for you, there’s a request I’d like you to take on.”
“A request?”
“Yes. And I believe this request will provide the clues needed to solve the problems currently facing the Labyrinth City.”
“Problems facing the Labyrinth City...”
“There are roughly three.”
Moira began to explain the three major issues the city was currently grappling with.
First: the massive loss of mid-tier adventurers.
Too many mid-tier adventurers had died during the Cataclysm. This had resulted in a severe labor shortage and a vacuum of Silver Badges capable of exploring the Underground City.
“Assuming the Labyrinth City’s primary source of income lies within the Underground City, if this void in the Silver Badge rank persists, the city will slowly wither away.”
“That’s true... all the valuable stuff comes from the Underground City, after all.”
If there were no Silver Badges to traverse the Underground City, the economy would collapse, prices would skyrocket, and those who lived in symbiosis with adventurers would end up on the streets.
While Gold and Platinum Badges existed, Gold Badges were far fewer in number than Silver ones, and most Platinum Badges were either retired or had become so assimilated into the Labyrinth that they rarely emerged.
Ultimately, the most important factor for the Labyrinth City was the number of Silver Badges—the middle class that formed the foundation of the economy. Without them, the city would lose its self-sufficiency and inevitably be annexed or colonized by other nations.
“If things continue like this, the freedom of adventurers will vanish entirely. There’s no telling how external powers might intervene.”
“That wouldn’t be good.”
High-ranking powerhouses like Gold or Platinum Badges would likely still receive preferential treatment, but those below them would find it difficult to enjoy the same freedom they once had.
The second problem was just as grave.
The influx of new adventurers had been cut off.
Coupled with the massive loss of existing adventurers, the number of novices entering the Labyrinth City had shrunk drastically. The decrease in people aspiring to become adventurers was visible to the naked eye. It was as if everyone had been struck with a sudden terror of the Labyrinth.
“This is just as serious as the loss of mid-tier adventurers. If there are no new recruits, it means there’s no human resource pool to cultivate into the next generation of Silver Badges.”
For the Labyrinth City, which needed to quickly take in recruits and train them to the Silver Badge level—the standard for operating in the Underground City—this was a dire situation.
And finally, the third problem.
The increase in Labyrinth difficulty.
Due to the Cataclysm, variants had begun to appear, and the number of monsters even in the upper levels had surged, making survival difficult. Furthermore, entirely new, undiscovered zones had been added to the Underground City, driving the danger levels even higher.
This was the most critical issue.
“The first two problems can be solved temporarily by pulling in manpower somehow, but if we can’t lower the fundamental difficulty of the Labyrinth... the city will eventually sicken and die.”
Who would want to enter a Labyrinth where going in alive almost certainly meant coming out dead? This was the root of the problem. If the difficulty were lowered even slightly, people would line up to enter.
“And while this information hasn't been made public yet... the most serious issue regarding the difficulty spike from the Cataclysm is that heretics have taken root in the Underground City.”
“So, the rumors about heretics appearing were true?”
“A party from a raid force that returned recently reported an encounter. It seems those bastards have completely established themselves down there.”
“A new enemy... that isn't a monster.”
“Those who were supposedly exterminated long ago are now masquerading as monsters while wearing human skins. This is a significantly grave matter.”
Moira’s gaze turned incredibly cold. She seemed to be suppressing a deep-seated rage toward the heretics.
“Have you identified where they’re appearing?”
“We have a rough idea. They’re believed to be hiding below the known layer divisions of the Underground City—in new layers that haven't been fully mapped yet.”
It was already a massive headache that mutant monsters could speak the Continental Common Language. But now, people who were originally human had turned into monsters and appeared as enemies. The difficulty of the Underground City had essentially risen to a level comparable to the Deep Layers.
“Above all, they were originally human. Though they were consumed by the Labyrinth and returned as indigenous species of the Underground City, they still possess the abilities they had as humans.”
“Since they have human intelligence, it’ll be easier for them to deceive people. They’ll be able to use dark magic and sorcery too...”
“I suspect they might even be capable of layer division movement.”
Layer division movement.
This was a sort of authority granted only to humans who entered the Labyrinth. Only humans could move between layers using Transfer Stones. Because of this, monsters usually tried to 'regress' by attaching themselves to human bodies through possession or parasitism.
However, the heretics consumed by the Labyrinth were different. They had gained the ability to roam the Labyrinth freely of their own will. They could go up, and they could go down. Using the Underground City as a base, they would surely try to spread. Most dangerously, they could bring monsters from the Deep Layers up with them.
“This is insane. I assume this information is classified?”
“Of course. It must not be revealed to the public yet. Until we solve the immediate problems of the Labyrinth City, knowing about the heretics will do no good. They seem to be half-hiding for now anyway. Sigh...”
If news of the heretics spread before a solution was found, the chaos in the Labyrinth City would only intensify. The influx of new people would drop even further, and adventurers willing to descend to the Underground City would vanish.
Why did these problems have to happen in the era I transferred to?
If I had transferred ten years ago, I wouldn't have been caught up in this mess. But then again, if I had, I never would have met Yuria or the Young Lady.
“Anyway, to solve these problems, I want to entrust you with a request.”
A request to lower the Labyrinth's difficulty, increase the number of new adventurers, and ultimately resolve the issues plaguing the city.
“The content of the request is simple. Go down to the Underground City.”
Moira finally revealed the nature of the task. As repayment for getting him out of the cage, she wanted him to descend into the depths.
“Wait, hold on. I’m very grateful you got me out of that cell, but isn't asking me to go to the Underground City a bit much?”
I immediately raised an objection. Yes, I was thankful for being saved from a life behind bars. I was also very grateful that she had come running the moment I called. But I thought the price of entering the Underground City was too steep. It hadn't even been a week since I returned from there, and she was already telling me to go back.
“I’m not saying you have to go right this second. We plan to launch an Underground City Subjugation Campaign in a month. I want you to go down then as part of the supply and body recovery team.”
So they were holding a subjugation campaign after all. The prediction Rohan and I had made in the Labyrinth was spot on. We had guessed they would send a raid force as a vanguard to assess the situation and then launch a massive monster hunt.
A period of unlimited monster hunting and guaranteed buybacks.
This meant the Guild, the Merchant Alliance, and the Church would join forces to buy any monster carcasses adventurers hunted, regardless of the market price. Therefore, starting a subjugation campaign meant they were ready to open their coffers.
Currently, access to the Underground City was restricted to everyone except the raid forces. Adventurers below Gold Badge were being blocked from entering. However, once the subjugation campaign began, everyone who had been itching to enter would crawl back in.
With the notoriously wealthy Merchant Alliance and the Church involved, even if it was dangerous, adventurers who gambled their lives for money would dive in, knowing the risks. The compensation would be that high. If the price is right, an adventurer will risk their life.
This was likely a move to temporarily revitalize the Labyrinth City’s stagnant economy. Furthermore, they probably intended to sweep through the Labyrinth to lower the difficulty by thinning out the monster population, which had grown abnormally large.
“Furthermore, for this campaign, we’ve decided to pay a premium for mutant monster parts and offer additional rewards.”
“So, I’d be in charge of overall supplies while also handling body recovery.”
“Exactly. You’ll sign an exclusive contract with the Guild for the duration of the campaign and act as a Guild-affiliated porter. I’m not trying to put a leash on you permanently. I’m just asking you to do this for the duration of the campaign. What do you think?”
“What’s the pay?”
I wasn't going to let this slide just because she got me out of a cage once. Being the bridge and transport hub between the Labyrinth City and the Underground City was a big deal. I had to make sure the compensation was solid. As an adventurer, you have to rake it in whenever the opportunity arises.
“Pay, huh? Fine. You can marry into my family.”
What kind of nonsense was this?
“Dammit! I told you, I’m not into married women!”
This woman was asking me to marry her again. Was she crazy? Your daughter sitting right next to you is my girlfriend!
“If you marry me now, Yuria comes for free.”
“M-Mom! What are you saying?!”
“What?!”
What? Yuria comes for free?
Wait, hold on. Yuria is already free.
Right. As expected, Moira still didn't know about our relationship. I thought Yuria might have told her, but apparently not. How was I supposed to put this? If I said, 'Your daughter is already my slave,' my head would probably be rolling on the floor.
“L-Look, Guild Master. If you keep... you know, hitting on me like that, it makes things difficult for me.”
“Listen, Sion. It’s been over ten years since my husband passed away. If I’ve lived in solitude for that long, I’m practically a maiden again, aren't I? Let me have some happiness too. I want to meet a younger man.”
“No! What is this woman even saying?! Yuria! Your mom is acting weird!”
“Mom. No matter how you look at it, you’re not a maiden. Let’s not pretend to be one, for the sake of your conscience.”
“Bullshit. You’re both making a scene. Do you have any idea how many men in this city want me?”
I’m sure there were plenty. A widow as beautiful as Yuria? Even though she was in her forties, she looked like she was in her early to mid-twenties. She had an incredible figure, and to top it off, she was one of the strongest people in the Labyrinth City. I knew full well there were men everywhere who would drool at the chance to even meet her once.
“Sion. This is an opportunity. Take me, the Guild Master, and become the secret power and mastermind behind the Labyrinth City.”
“Mom...!”
“You stay out of this, Yuria! You’re an adult too. Since you’ve moved out, let’s go our separate ways. How long are you going to block me from getting a new husband?”
“No, that’s not it. Sigh... Honestly...”
Yuria, letting out a deep sigh at the Guild Master’s continued antics, stood up.
Thud.
She then sat down right next to me, pressing close and firmly grabbing my hand.
“Mom. I’m really sorry, but he’s already mine... He can’t be my stepdad...”
“...Huh? What?”
Moira’s expression contorted. At the same time, the Demon Eye hidden beneath her eyepatch flashed.
I shut my mouth tight. I couldn't even let out a breath.