Chapter 47: Let's Take It Easy
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 47: Let's Take It Easy
“Is she asleep?”
“Yeah. I think she’s out cold.”
After tucking Olivia into the guest room, I stepped back out.
There was something I needed to discuss with Yuria privately.
“Sion, what are you planning to do now?”
As I sat at the table, Yuria poured me a glass of wine and asked the question.
Watching the aroma drift from the low-alcohol wine, I realized she wanted to know our future course of action.
“I’m not sure. What should we do?”
Yuria was in the same boat as me.
Not only were we lovers, but we now shared the secret of Olivia.
We had reached a point where betrayal was no longer an option.
If either of us were to breathe a word about Olivia’s existence to the outside world, a bloodbath would sweep through the Labyrinth City.
It might even be difficult to tell Lady Leah or the Guild Master.
These were things that couldn't be shared with anyone unless I was absolutely certain they were my people.
‘I can’t let her be discovered. Not Olivia’s existence, nor her vast knowledge of the Labyrinth. This belongs to me... no, to Yuria and me.’
Was the knowledge Olivia possessed really worth killing over?
Of course. Did people still think human life was precious here?
This was the Labyrinth City, a place where they even dragged the dead back to life with the Art of Resurrection just to put them to work again.
Knowledge was power, and knowing a single route that others didn't could change your entire life.
To say nothing of the weaknesses and uses of new monsters no one had ever seen, or information on makeshift dungeons.
This wasn't the kind of knowledge you could put a price on.
If rumors of Olivia’s existence and her knowledge spread through the Labyrinth City, adventurers wouldn't hesitate to turn their blades on one another to claim her.
In the end, Olivia would fall into the hands of the city’s big shots, becoming nothing more than a totem to be modified and toyed with until she spat out every last bit of information.
And in that process, there was no telling what would happen to Yuria and me.
The Labyrinth City was that kind of place.
Behind the glamour of the night streets, death was rampant.
If you got your hands on an elixir or a rare treasure, you had to hide it at all costs.
An adventurer who stumbled upon a Hidden Piece in the Labyrinth had to watch their back every night.
You never knew when, where, or by whom it might be stolen.
Nothing was more dangerous than flaunting your wealth or your luck.
A comrade you were laughing and exploring the Labyrinth with just moments ago could easily drive a knife into your back.
Of course, the existence of the Guild significantly reduced such incidents.
But what if the information was something even the Guild would covet?
What if it was something that would make every powerhouse in the Labyrinth City salivate?
‘The mere thought is terrifying.’
Today, a massive Hidden Piece named Olivia had fallen into our hands.
A Labyrinth Walkthrough obtained for the ridiculously low price of 22 gold.
She didn't remember everything perfectly, but the information she had managed to recall so far had all been true.
If we used Olivia’s knowledge to raid the Underground City, just how much could we gain?
‘Money would never be an issue again. I might even become one of the renowned powerhouses of the Labyrinth City.’
That was why the information Olivia provided must not be revealed to the world yet.
It seemed best for us to monopolize it in every way possible.
There was no need to share it with others.
A Hidden Piece always tasted best when you kept it all for yourself.
‘And I need to get as strong as possible while I have Olivia to myself. It would be even better if I became strong enough to ignore threats from Platinum Badges.’
To protect what I had, I needed overwhelming power.
And to gain that power, I needed a "team" of my own that I could trust.
“We need a team if we’re going to properly strip the Underground City bare.”
Yuria and I couldn't wander the vast and dangerous Underground City alone.
Ultimately, for a successful walkthrough, we needed a team composed of adventurers at the Silver Badge rank or higher.
A team that could share Olivia’s information and be trusted.
I desperately needed people who wouldn't betray me.
A few names immediately came to mind.
‘What about Lady Leah?’
She liked me.
But was it the same kind of blind, devoted love that Yuria had?
Wasn't Lady Leah’s love closer to a typical one-sided crush?
I felt it was premature to share Olivia’s information with the Lady’s party right now.
‘The Lady’s party members will ultimately follow her will.’
I couldn't trust them until I could trust the Lady completely.
Then, could I trust Guild Master Moira?
‘There’s a high possibility that her wanting a physical relationship with me is purely for pleasure and satisfying her desires.’
Moira wouldn't love me blindly.
She likely just chose me as a kept man because she was lonely, I seemed easy to handle, and I happened to be her type.
Furthermore, the Guild Master was someone capable of sacrificing the few for the sake of the many.
I couldn't entrust Olivia to her.
She might sacrifice Olivia for the sake of the Guild or the Labyrinth City.
So, that left only one option.
“It’ll have to be slaves, then.”
“I suppose so. In the end, you need people who won't betray you, Sion. But you know, right?”
“Yeah. I’m well aware that the quality of slaves is abysmal.”
Most slaves sold at the trader's were bottom-of-the-barrel trash who couldn't even function as adventurers.
People with no skill, no luck, and nothing to their names but their bodies.
I didn't think for a second that simply handing them a weapon would make them capable of exploring the Underground City.
If it were that easy, the large merchant alliances would have already formed and operated slave exploration teams.
Being an adventurer required talent, after all.
The ability to handle one's body and the quick wit to react to crises.
Or perhaps exceptional magical power or high mental strength. Or even divine power and faith.
You could only make a living as an adventurer if you excelled in at least one of those areas compared to an ordinary person.
Most of those who had tumbled down into the hands of slave traders had nothing.
You didn't become a slave just because you lacked money.
If you lacked money but had skill, the Church would have picked you up first.
In the end, finding someone to run the Labyrinth with at a slave shop was a difficult task.
There were very few people I could trust.
But even if I tried to use slaves I could trust, they lacked the ability.
“Maybe it really is better to win over Lady Leah.”
“Can she be trusted?”
“I think she’s trustworthy.”
“Hmm. That woman. She definitely likes you, doesn't she?”
“Yeah...”
Yuria had already noticed.
The feelings Leah harbored for me.
And she probably noticed that I was trying to use those feelings.
I felt a bitter taste in my mouth. Reflecting on my attempt to manipulate someone’s emotions made me feel uneasy.
But to monopolize the hidden elements of the Underground City... I didn't have much of a choice.
“But Sion, is the daughter of the House of Lionel actually capable?”
“She’s calm and quite quick-witted. If I can train her well, she should be able to pull her weight. If I train her as much as possible before the subjugation campaign...”
“The subjugation campaign starts next month, Sion. Can you make the Lionel daughter a Silver Badge by then?”
“It’ll be hard to reach Silver in a month. But if we use the high-concentration training method Olivia mentioned... entering the Underground City might be possible within a month.”
“Hmm. Still, it’s dangerous. The things we’re trying to take now aren't things you can get just by slapping on a Silver Badge. You know that, right?”
Yuria was right.
I nodded.
There were so many things within reach.
I just wasn't sure if I could actually grab them all.
However, if I could get everything...
At the very least, Yuria and I could quickly rise to Platinum Badge status.
If we became Platinum Badges...
I could make Yuria’s dream come true.
Yuria, who said she wanted to see the 7th floor.
To descend below the Underground City and reach the 7th floor, being a Gold Badge wasn't enough.
More than anything, to satisfy Lady Leah’s conditions, I had to reach at least Gold.
My head was spinning.
I felt rushed. My heart felt heavy.
I wanted to enter the Labyrinth quickly and seize the Hidden Pieces before anyone else.
I felt like only then would a bright future be waiting for us.
“What do you think, Yuria?”
“Me? About what?”
“Just... everything ahead. The direction we should take. Things like that. I want to know what you think. My head is a mess.”
At my question, Yuria thought for a moment before speaking.
“Nothing’s changed for me. I still want to go down to the 7th floor. But I’m not about to stake my life on it. To me, the 7th floor is just a dream, a small wish.”
“A dream... a wish?”
“Yeah. I just want to see the scenery my mother saw. If you ask if I’m willing to die to see it... well, not really. And it’s the same for the spider nests or snake dens Olivia mentioned. I’m just curious about what those new places look like. That’s all.”
Dreams and wishes.
Curiosity and wonder.
The reason she entered the Labyrinth.
It was pure adventure.
Because she genuinely loved adventuring.
It wasn't even about gaining or bringing something back from the 7th floor.
It was just a small desire to see the view.
“Olivia’s stories alone aren't enough. That’s just in the realm of knowledge. I won't be satisfied until I see it for myself. But you know, I don't have to see it. It’s not worth dying for. I enjoy the time I spend with you like this, too. What about you?”
“...”
I was momentarily speechless at Yuria’s question.
“Sion, you look like you’re overthinking things right now.”
“Really? Do I?”
“Yeah. You’re not acting like your usual self. It’s like... you’re possessed by something.”
Yuria gripped my hand tightly.
Our hands intertwined.
I could feel Yuria’s warmth.
It warmed my heart.
At the same time, I felt my head clear up a bit.
Yuria continued to fiddle with my hand as she asked.
“Sion, why do you enter the Labyrinth?”
“Me?”
“Yeah. Your goal.”
“My goal... The reason I wanted to enter the Labyrinth was...”
At first, it was for money.
Because I wanted even a single piece of bread.
I entered the Labyrinth as a porter for that reason.
Because I was starving.
I entered the Labyrinth knowing I might die.
But what about now?
Now that I had money, why was I trying to enter the Labyrinth?
For more money?
To fulfill Yuria’s dream?
To officially date Lady Leah?
No. That wasn't it.
The reason I was trying to enter the Labyrinth now...
The reason I wanted to go down to the Underground City was...
Perhaps it was greed.
A desire for monopoly, stemming from the superiority of having knowledge others didn't.
Maybe that was what was driving me into the Labyrinth.
“You look like your mind is in a tangle.”
Yuria stared at me intently.
Her red eyes seemed to be peering into my inner self.
Just as Moira used her Demon Eye to discern someone’s intentions.
It felt as if Yuria was reading my thoughts.
“Don't be in such a rush. Getting ahead doesn't necessarily mean you’ll find happiness.”
“But...”
“So what if we miss out on a few Hidden Pieces? The adventurers of the previous generation already took all the ones in the upper levels. Have you ever felt like it was a waste that they took them?”
“Well... no. They discovered them a long time ago.”
“Exactly. That’s how it is. If others get to a Hidden Piece first, does it cause us any direct harm?”
“Not particularly. I’d be envious, though.”
“Right. It just ends with being a bit envious. Is it worth risking your life for? No. You can't just assume you’ll always be resurrected. Right? You could die for good trying to get a Hidden Piece. Or you could end up broken. Like Olivia.”
“You’re right.”
Yuria was absolutely right.
Just look at Olivia.
Didn't she die and come back four times trying to monopolize the Labyrinth’s secrets, only to end up broken like she was now?
“And Sion, have you ever heard the saying that artifacts choose their own masters?”
“That’s something Lady Moira told me once.”
It was something she had mentioned in passing when I asked about her magic sword.
That the treasures born of the Labyrinth choose their own masters.
“Exactly. My mom said the same thing. No matter how hard you struggle to get something, it eventually finds the owner fate intended for it.”
She might be right.
Struggling because I wanted something didn't guarantee I would get it.
“More than anything, you already have enough to be the envy of others, even without those Hidden Pieces. Look at me. Who’s holding the greatest Hidden Piece in the Labyrinth City right now?”
At Yuria’s question, my perspective shifted slightly.
I see.
The greatest fortune that any man living in the Labyrinth City would be most envious of was sitting right in front of me.
“My hand. You’re holding my hand.”
“Exactly. That’s it. Sion, in the end, everything goes into the hands of the person it’s meant for, according to the natural order. If you struggle to take something that isn't yours... you’ll eventually be swallowed by the Labyrinth. Just like Olivia.”
I nodded at Yuria’s words.
Just because I had information others didn't, thinking I could monopolize every Hidden Piece was nothing more than wishful thinking.
The Labyrinth was cruel and cold.
It wasn't kind enough to let one person take everything for themselves.
Above all, the moment you were consumed by petty greed, you became prey for the Labyrinth.
“It was greed. Thank you, Yuria.”
“Hehe. Now you sound like the usual Sion. You’re greedy for money, but you’re not the type to let that greed consume you. Let’s take it easy. That’s what you always used to say, isn't it? Take it easy.”
Yuria smiled brightly.
I felt so ashamed of myself for thinking about driving Lady Leah and her companions—who hadn't even been in the Labyrinth City for a month—into the depths, all because I was obsessed with the idea of monopolizing the Hidden Pieces faster than anyone else.
To think I was going to exploit the feelings Lady Leah had for me.
That was definitely the wrong way to go about it. Yuria had kindly pointed that out.
She told me not to be blinded by the desire for monopoly and swallowed by the Labyrinth.
She told me not to abandon my humanity.
Yes, let’s not move too hastily.
It wasn't like anyone was chasing me, nor was I competing with anyone.
A Hidden Piece was great if I could get it.
But not getting one didn't mean my life would be thrown into the gutter right now.
And even without a Hidden Piece, I should be able to reach Gold Badge within six months.
I had believed I could reach Gold in six months even before I met Olivia.
I shouldn't let my life be swayed by Olivia’s existence.
Since things had turned out this way, let’s regain my original mindset.
Before I met Lady Leah and got caught up in the upheaval, I was different.
I was just a porter who went into the Labyrinth at his own pace, unburdened by anything.
I wasn't someone who moved for the sake of monopolizing Hidden Pieces or gaining more wealth and fame.
I must have made too much money lately.
This porter had gotten a real taste for gold.
I’ll regain that mindset, just as Yuria said.
If you lose your composure, your vision narrows and your thoughts become petty.
I might need to reach Gold within six months to persuade Lady Leah’s family, but driving her into a death trap for that purpose was putting the cart before the horse.
“I should go register at the Martial Arts Hall tomorrow.”
“Yes, yes. Good thinking. I’ll help you with your training too.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I was planning on resting until the subjugation campaign starts anyway. And if my boyfriend is getting serious about working out, of course I should help. But my methods might be a bit rough.”
“Rough?”
“I’m going to teach you exactly what I learned from my mom. You can't cry halfway through, okay?”
“Wait. Yuria. On second thought, I think it’s better if I just train at the Martial Arts Hall by myself.”
“What are you so scared of! Come here!”
Yuria grabbed my hand.
I was hoisted up and pulled into her embrace.
“I’m helping you train, so just say yes. Master, answer me.”
“Hey. Using 'Master' only at times like this is cheating.”
“So, are you going to answer or not?”
“O-okay. But, Yuria. I can't breathe. I think I’m going to die.”
“You don't like being in my arms? Should I give you a windmill spin?”
“No, it’s actually kind of nice being smothered. Sorry.”
Yuria grinned and threw me onto the bed.
“Gah...!!!”
“Hehe. I’ve been waiting for Olivia to fall asleep.”
“W-wait a second, Yuria.”
“Stay still, Master. I followed you around all day looking at slaves and even gave you counseling. It’s time for me to have some fun too.”
“Whoa...! You sound like an old man...!”
“Hehehe. Master, I’m not letting you sleep tonight.”
“Gah...! Is this a reversal of the master-servant relationship?!”
Yuria’s hands began to strip off my clothes.
My shirt was half-torn, and even my belt was ripped away.
Just as I was starting to get a little excited at the thought of being taken by Yuria however she pleased, someone knocked on the front door.
Knock, knock, knock.
“Huh? What. Who is it?”
“Haa...”
Leaving me on the bed, Yuria picked up her sword and approached the front door.
She looked incredibly displeased that her time with me had been interrupted.
She looked ready to cut down anyone who turned out to be a peddler or an uninvited guest.
“Who is it? At this hour.”
Yuria’s voice was thick with irritation.
Soon, a voice answered from outside the door.
—Is this the residence of Miss Yuria?
This voice...
‘Lady Leah...?!’
Come to think of it, Lady Leah had said she wanted to meet Yuria separately.
It seemed today was the day.