Chapter 1
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 1
Chapter Title: Awakening
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In the dark, damp labyrinth, a dimly lit passage illuminated by the faint glow of luminescent stones embedded sporadically in the walls revealed a man and woman facing off against monsters.
"Grk! It's poison! Sia, hurry!"
"Eek! W-wait... just a moment."
The blond man at the front, battling small monsters with green skin, shouted to the woman behind him.
The woman, gripping a wooden staff as tall as herself, closed her eyes and focused her mind.
Hummm—
Just as a bright energy like hazy mist began to form around the woman—who stood with her eyes shut and staff in hand, resembling someone in prayer—one of the monsters targeted her from a blind spot and lunged.
"Kieeeek!!!"
"Kyaaah!!!"
Splurt!!
"Grrrk!!!"
"Ca... Cain!!"
"Claude, you almost got Sia in danger by jumping in like that again."
Right before the small monster could pounce on the woman, a man named Cain emerged stealthily from the darkness, stabbed its throat with a dagger, and batted it aside before scolding the frontline Claude.
"Ugh... Sorry."
"Sia, start your chant again. Claude! Dodge that thing."
"Huh?"
Whoosh!!!
"Hey! Wait a sec!!!"
Cain quickly pulled something from his massive backpack and hurled it forward. Realizing what 'that thing' was, Claude freaked out, swung his sword forward with all his might to create distance from the monsters, then crouched down on the spot, huddling his body.
Clang!!
Booom!!!
"""""Kieeeek!!!!""""
What fell to the ground ahead from the man's hand was a flask containing a thick orange liquid.
As the flask shattered on impact, a massive explosion erupted with a deafening roar, accompanied by the monsters' screams.
Claude's face paled as he watched the monsters writhing on the ground, engulfed in flames and dying. He spat out a stream of blood.
"Cough!"
"Sia, detoxify him and take a seat to rest."
"O-okay! Got it, Cain."
Hummm!
A beam of light emerged from Sia's body and enveloped Claude.
Claude's complexion brightened as the black blood stopped flowing from his mouth, and he flopped down spread-eagled on the spot.
Cain approached him.
"Jeez, look at you. What a mess."
"H-hey!! Wasn't that thrown too close? I almost got caught in it too!!"
"What are you talking about? I wouldn't have used it if you hadn't pushed yourself right up to the exit."
"Do you know how expensive that stuff is?"
"Urgh!! Hoo... Sorry."
"You should apologize to Sia, not me?"
"Oh."
Thud.
As Cain headed toward the monsters—now reduced to charred remains—he forcibly yanked Claude to his feet and gave him a slight shove toward where Sia was sitting.
"Sia. Sorry, I was too reckless."
"N-no? It's fine, Claude... hehe..."
Claude wore an awkward, sheepish expression, while Sia's eyes gazing at him sparkled so moistly they seemed ready to sprout hearts, her cheeks flushed pink.
"Tch..."
Cain glanced sideways at the two, sighed, and began extracting mana stones from the monsters' foreheads.
"I still have no idea what this means... damn blessing."
Every time Cain harvested a mana stone and stored it in his collection bag, strange, unreadable letters floated into his vision. He shook his head and continued the task.
"...Phew! Done! Get ready to go."
"Yeah, Sia, let's head out now."
"Okay!"
Sia and Claude, now over the fear of the ambush and giggling with their eyes fixed on each other, approached Cain.
"Cain, how much time left?"
Cain pulled a scrap of paper from his pocket and checked it under the lantern light in response to Claude's question.
"Hmm... About 20 minutes?"
"Cool. Let's take it slow then. I'll take point again."
Claude inspected his gear, drew his sword, and slowly advanced to the front once more.
"Cain!"
Grab!
Sia, who had been at the rear, rushed to Cain and tightly gripped his hand.
"It was... so scary... hiiing..."
"Hold hands with Claude."
"B-but..."
Sia looked at Cain with a relaxed expression, different from how she acted around Claude.
Cain sighed once more and gripped her hand firmly in return.
"Because of your complex?"
"Yeah... Eek! H-hand... with Claude..."
Imagining holding hands with Claude turned Sia's face bright red in an instant.
"Hurry up and follow. Grab the lantern too."
"Right!"
Cain glanced briefly at Sia, who now walked beside him holding her staff and lantern in one hand, then focused on the rear while following the cautiously advancing Claude from behind, moving slowly.
"Hey, Cain."
"What?"
The three arrived before the blue portal leading to the layer transfer hall. Claude spoke while looking at Cain.
"Isn't it about time for your level to go up?"
"Hmm... Yeah. Sia just did hers recently, so it should be my turn."
"You're slow, man. Level up quick or we'll ditch you."
"Bull. Without me, you'd go bankrupt in less than a month."
"Urk! True... Anyway, wanna hit the Pleasure House after you level up? My treat to celebrate."
"..."
Sia's expression darkened at the mention of the Pleasure House, and she bowed her head.
"Nah, no complex like yours, so why bother?"
"Tsk tsk, that's why you're a virgin..."
"Shut it and let's get out. Sia's exhausted."
"Right."
As Claude kept talking, Cain felt Sia's hand trembling in his grip.
Cain cut him off curtly and stepped through the portal.
Hummmm!
"Urghhh! Didn't feel like I grew much today."
After passing through the portal and sheathing his sword on his back, Claude rolled his shoulders and grumbled.
"Just you? Sia and I are still wiped."
"Y-yeah, Claude..."
"Ahaha! Sorry!"
The three emerged into a massive hall via the portal. Numerous other portals and people surrounded them.
"Hey~ Claude! Hitting the Pleasure House today?"
"Old man, Pleasure House right off the bat."
"Kekeke. Overheard the boss—two new faces debuting tonight? Oh! Cain and Sia too!"
A stocky middle-aged man with a massive axe on his back approached, greeting them familiarly.
Cain and Sia gave half-hearted nods without responding.
"Cain's about to level up, was gonna treat him to the Pleasure House for it, but he says no."
"Oh? Claude's paying? Then lemme—"
"Nah, you've been crawling the labyrinth years longer than us. Don't leech off the juniors, old man."
"I've hooked you up with plenty of shops!! And spots I yielded reservations for—gimme half at least."
"Hmm..."
As the two bickered, Cain noticed Sia's expression souring further and interrupted to speak to Claude.
"Claude, no need for the Aid Station?"
"Huh? Oh, detox's done, just need rest. Only minor scratches, no need."
"Cool. Let's head out then. Bye, Hawk."
"Take care..."
"See ya, Claude! Haha!"
Leaving the hearty old man behind, the three walked toward the city exit.
"Phew... Why am I so tense?"
"No big deal."
"What if you get another weird blessing like last time? Aren't you worried?"
"Eh... Not really yet?"
"Fair enough..."
At the north end of the layer transfer hall, Claude chattered nervously beside Cain as they headed for the massive archway exit looming about 10 meters high.
"Good work, everyone. Exchange counter then inn."
"Yeah. Cain, talk later for a bit..."
Claude whispered to Cain, lowering his voice so Sia couldn't hear.
"Hey, if you're gonna whisper, keep it down about the old man and the Pleasure House too."
"...!"
"Talk at the inn."
Just as Cain snapped irritably at Claude, the three passed through the entrance into the city.
Whoosh!!!
"Oh! Knew you could do it, Cain!!"
"Woo!"
A fierce light burst from Cain's body, drawing eyes from those around.
Claude kept yelling that he believed in him, while Sia pumped her fists beside him, cheering Cain on.
"What, level up?"
"Oh... Isn't that Claude's party?"
"Already? Heard they've been in the labyrinth less than two years."
"But that guy's supposed to be thief-class, all stamina and no real talent?"
"Just a dagger lugger, kek."
"Well, the leader's..."
"Fuck, what'd you say?"
Overhearing some onlookers badmouthing Cain, Claude scowled and approached them.
"N-nothing. Ahem!"
"Cut the crap. About Cain?"
"C-Claude! Calm down!"
"Talking shit right next to us? Scram."
Thanks to Sia following and desperately holding Claude back, it didn't escalate to a fight. The instigators were chased off, ending the scuffle.
"Sia, wonder what blessing Cain'll get?"
"D-dunno?"
"As long as it's not some freakish one like his second."
"Y-yeah! Collapsing again would be bad."
As the light from Cain's body began seeping back into him, Claude and Sia speculated about his new blessing.
"Urk.... Uwaaaaaah!!!"
Thud!!
"Cain!!!"
"Kyaaah!!"
Cain spewed blood from all orifices and collapsed to the ground.
"A-Aid Station!!! Sia, grab the bags and follow! I'll go ahead!!"
"Caaaain!!!!"
Claude hoisted Cain over his shoulder and bolted to the nearest Aid Station. Tears streaming, Sia wailed for a while before gathering Cain's dropped gear, slinging it on, and staggering after them.
"What, no complex and still like that after getting a blessing? Ever seen that?"
"Nah... weird..."
The two men who had badmouthed Cain earlier gossiped as they watched Sia limp toward the Aid Station, then entered the layer transfer hall for the labyrinth.