Chapter 23
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 23
Chapter Title: 1st Floor (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
To test the effects of my Technique special stat, which had risen by 2, I focused more than usual and moved silently, killing the sound of my footsteps.
My steps feel lighter.
I'd already confirmed through Camella and Sia that Technique boosted not just handiwork but everything I did, and now, trying it out, my movements had become even stealthier.
About five minutes after pushing ahead alone, the passage began to narrow bit by bit until it was barely wide enough for one person to squeeze through. Soon, it got so tight I had to turn sideways just to pass.
With the backpack getting in the way in the constricted space, I quietly slipped it off and set it down, drew my dagger, and pressed on. I reached what was no longer a passage but a mere crack in the wall and peered out.
"Kek!! Kep!! Kerrruk!!"
"Kep!! Keu!!"
Perfect.
In the center of a wide clearing about the size of a soccer field, goblins were gathered. The passage I was in was so narrow—relative to the clearing's area—that unless you looked closely, you'd miss it entirely. They hadn't noticed me.
Even with glowstones providing light, the monsters living in the Labyrinth didn't have great eyesight, so it was only natural they hadn't spotted me.
There looked to be around twenty of them. First, to check for other passages, I slipped out into the clearing just a bit.
Swoosh—
Having ditched the heavy backpack for near-silent movement, I scanned the surroundings from the clearing. Directly opposite the crack I'd emerged from, there was one large passage.
Recon...
Only twenty were visible right now, but they'd surely send some down that opposite passage for scouting, and there'd be intervals between those patrols. For now, I needed to head back and plan.
If Claude were here, we could've charged in, caused chaos while I flanked and disrupted from behind and the sides, and cleaned them up quick. But taking down twenty with three near-civilians was impossible.
And if a fight broke out and made noise, we didn't know the terrain on the other side of that passage. Best to retreat for now.
I slipped back into the crack slowly and returned to where the others waited.
"For now, let's fall back a bit."
I deliberately made some footstep noise as I approached the group's spot so I wouldn't startle them too badly. They jumped a little but didn't shout. We retreated about five minutes' walk to our first stopping point.
"Whew... alright."
In the middle of the passage, I set down my backpack and stacked Roy's and Robin's on top.
"Sis, light the lantern."
"Huh?.. Oh, yeah.."
Hiss!
We sat in a circle with our backs to the packs and I explained the situation ahead.
"Twenty minutes from the portal to here, and ten more to the crack opening onto the clearing."
They all looked relieved hearing that the passage narrowed to a crack, making it hard for goblins to find this side.
"First, we'll observe them until the 12-hour hourglass runs out."
"Why?"
I flashed a grin at Tanya, who was clinging to my side making a fuss about how scary it was.
"Because they send out patrols too, and we need to figure out shift changes, numbers, and when they sleep."
"Aha..."
"No day or night inside the Labyrinth, so once we know their sleep patterns, we hit them hard while they're out. Makes the fight way easier."
"Th-then...!"
"I'll keep watching, and you'll rotate one at a time with me."
I ordered the rest to set up sleeping spots or a base camp and assigned rotation order for scouting with me.
First Roy, then Robin, last Tanya.
It'd only been an hour since entering the Labyrinth, but Roy was in rough shape, so he went first. Tanya insisted on last, so that's how it shook out.
"Take off weapons, shields, breastplates—everything."
"B-bro... you mean go up close bare-handed?"
"Even if we get spotted by bad luck, I can hold the crack alone and pick 'em off one by one. We came to the Labyrinth—gotta bag at least one monster, right Robin?"
"Y-yeah!! Haha!!"
Robin wasn't as bad off as Roy, but he was spooked too. Trying to look good for Tanya, he blustered, but his shaking legs gave him away.
Even with packs blocking the center, lantern light could leak, so I pulled a tent from my gear—similar to an A-frame—and hung it between the walls without poles, like a curtain over the passage side.
"This way, even with the lantern on, they won't see us from there."
"Whoa!"
I handed Roy's hourglass from his belt to Robin and gave Tanya a sleeping bag from my pack.
"Huh? Why's it so thick.... Ah!"
"Heading out, sis."
"Mmph."
When Claude, Sia, and I explored, if we couldn't find a proper hideout or only had rabbit-hole nooks, I'd share my two-person bag with Claude. Tanya spotted it was thicker than the ones she bought yesterday and instantly got it—her lips curved up.
"Robin, settle in with sis for now. You eat after your shift, sis eats before swapping with Robin and comes to me."
"Got it!!"
"Yes, bro!"
"Roy, eat whenever after your shift."
"Okay..."
Tanya hummed cheerfully while setting up camp, Robin stuck to her like glue. I left them and headed out scouting with Roy.
As we neared the scouting spot, Roy's steps slowed more and more.
Even from a spot where the passage hadn't narrowed much, goblins were visible, so I put the trembling Roy behind me and began observing.
No bows.
Luckily, no one seemed to have ranged weapons like bows.
Clubs, daggers, one-handers, shields... A slightly bigger one sat on what looked like a crate or pile.
Three buckler-style one-hand shields, two larger ones covering the whole body, and the remaining fifteen armed with weapons.
"......"
Roy gasped at the occasional moving goblins, but quietly, so I just shushed him a few times and kept watching.
About halfway through the 4-hour hourglass, three goblins entered the clearing from the opposite passage.
"Kerik!! Kep!! Kewk!!"
"Keeek!! Kep!!"
Thud thud!!
The returnees approached the presumed leader sprawled in the center, gesturing reports. It just nodded vaguely.
Thwack!
"Kep!!"
Thud!!
"Kerrruk!!"
Splat!!
"Kyaek!!"
The three scouts flopped into empty spots. Leader kicked three others, who got up and headed into the passage.
Three for now.
Total twenty-three. Patrols of three.
I kept observing after that.
Step—step—
Robin had come and gone, and soon small, cautious footsteps approached. I turned to see Tanya trembling as she came toward me.
"Shhh...."
She flinched!
I gestured for her to stop, then slowly went to her position.
I signed for her to back up a bit, followed her rearward, and stood face-to-face.
Distance to the crack: about fifty meters. Passage width: just enough for two shoulders touching.
Flash!
Tanya had ditched her robe and come barefoot.
I lifted her into a standing carry, her arms around my neck, legs wrapped at my waist, torso pressed tight. I whispered hot breath into her ear.
"What're the two doing?"
"Eep! Th-they're both reading the parchment you gave 'em."
"Said to sleep."
"Oh... Prolly Robin eats then crashes, yeah."
"Yeah?"
"Hng... B-but... we don't hafta watch 'em? They're so gross-looking..."
"One sec."
While talking in my arms, she glanced at the goblins and her voice quivered. I spun us once so I faced them, her back to 'em.
"Phew..."
"Gonna sit—stay quiet."
"Mhm..."
I sank straight to the floor.
Seated cross-legged, I supported her butt with my hands to adjust. Tanya squirmed, clinging tighter.
In a facing seated position, she whispered cautiously.
"But... is it okay like this?"
"Huh? Oh... they're sleeping now."
"Really?"
After Roy's shift ended and before Robin arrived, the three patrol goblins returned, and three others left.
Soon after, they started dozing off one by one. I tested how close I could approach safely, confirming the outermost sleepers didn't wake even at five meters, then returned to the passage with the crack.
During Robin's four hours, no patrols returned. Now it was Tanya's turn.
"So we just confirm when they wake and head back."
"If they don't wake in 4..4 hours?"
"Check if they sleep same time tomorrow. If 8+ hours at the same time? Easy pickings."
Goblins didn't have 9-to-6 work-life balance; it varied wildly by group size, scale, leader's temper. Had to check.
Roy and Robin—already seeming weaker than expected—stood tense and terrified for four hours staring at goblins, returning exhausted. Must've scared Tanya half to death hearing that.
Told her it was fine to relax in my arms, and she melted, whining in a cutesy tone.
"Hngg... Scary.."
Tap tap—
"Sleeping bag set up good?"
"...Heehee."
Squeeze—
A light pat on her butt got a giggle and her rubbing her thighs against me.
Me? Eight hours here, no pack, bare, less taxing than normal scouting or fighting—still fresh.
Leaned on walls now and then, not bored much.
Reminded me of guard duty—shitty then, no girls. Here? Got one.
"Hup...!"
Grinning playfully as she carefully ground her crotch against mine, Tanya gauged my growing, hardening size and her eyes widened in surprise.
"Shh... Sis. Even asleep, big noise could kill us."
"...Hnnng...!"
She jolted at my words, buried her face in my shoulder, lips working silently.
Smack-smack—
No smooching sounds—instead, apologetic shoulder nibbles?
Her trembling body from fear got soft strokes to soothe.
Click—
I set the hourglass from my belt visibly on the floor.
Can't lose track of time—gotta check between play. Test how well Tanya holds back moans.