Chapter 8
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Translator: Ebonarch
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Johnson's General Store (4)
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"Ca... Cain..."
"...Hm...?"
I cracked my eyes open at the sensation of someone tapping my shoulder. Sia was wrapped head to toe in the blanket, only her feet sticking out as she prodded me awake.
"What is it?"
"W-Well..."
Her pupils shook wildly in panic, her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment, and her delicate little hands clutched the blanket tight. Damn, now I want to jerk off too.
"You hurt somewhere?"
"Uh... Yeah??"
"Come here."
Swish.
I pulled Sia into my arms from where she was curled up at the edge of the bed.
"What's wrong? Something you can't even tell me?"
"I... I don't know what to do, Cain... Sob..."
Slipping—
As I gently patted her back, Sia burst into tears and let go of the blanket she'd been gripping, revealing her body.
Whoa, what a mess.
The pants she'd been wearing like underwear were soaked through like she'd pissed herself, and dried semen had trickled down to her thighs, crusting white against her skin.
"It... It's not my period or anything, but weird stuff came out... Hic!"
"Hm..."
I knew Claude had been whoring around at brothels with other women, but to protect Sia's innocence, I'd used the excuse of not properly sex-eduating her. So she was mistaking it for something else.
Plus, I'd deliberately made sure my underwear and pants were clean while hers were wrecked, leading her to think she'd ejaculated or something.
"Wh-What do I do? Is it... some disease?"
"Hold on. Let's skip gathering today just in case. And we'll go update your card too."
"B-But no curse appeared...?"
"You never know. I got a blessing and still puked blood and collapsed."
"Oh yeah... Okay... Sniff!"
"I'll head to the guild and come back. You rest up. Just in case, I'll swing by the church aid station and dig up some info."
"O-Okay..."
Money wasn't super tight, so we could hit the general store for gathering quests tomorrow and start the day after. Might as well give her a day off.
"And it's a secret from Claude, right?"
I pressed a finger to my lips and winked. Sia stopped crying, mimicked me, and smiled back.
"Hehe... Sniff! Thanks!!"
Whoosh!
Sia lunged at me with that pure, trusting look—like I was her hero Cain. But the emotion in her eyes wasn't affection. Kinda unsatisfying.
Someday, I'd turn that trusting gaze into one dripping with slutty lust.
Tomorrow, after helping at Johnson's with the warehouse, I'd take razors and shaving soap instead of repair pay.
This situation was mortifying for Sia, who always wanted to look good for Claude—something she'd never tell him. Perfect excuse to shave her bald and turn her into a total bitch.
"Go wash up quick. Let's head out."
"Got it!!"
While Sia got ready in her room, I dragged yesterday's empty wooden bucket into the hall, grabbed the fresh one by the door, showered, headed downstairs, ordered two breakfasts, and waited.
"Cain. How's the body?"
"Oh, Frank. Doing fine, sir."
Early morning, no other guests. A massive shadow loomed over my table. Looking up, Frank—the owner of Labyrinth's Footprint—approached with two plates of stew, bread, and salad.
The retired level 4 explorer was nearly 2 meters tall, with a scar slashing across his left cheek, giving him a terrifying look.
Clink—
"Slurp! Ahh... Stew's delicious as always."
"Good. Picked out the carrots for Sia's."
"Aw, don't do that. Spoils the kid."
"..."
Even my past-life tastes found his cooking insanely good.
"Dessert now okay?"
"Yeah... sure."
"Sweet drink then, please. Sia's not feeling great today."
"Got it."
"Here, 2 bronzes..."
"Nah."
About six months into our time in Labyrinth City, we'd found this inn. Frank was quiet and intimidating-looking, but the no-frills prices, solid basics, and food quality hooked me, Claude, and Sia into a long stay.
He'd sometimes gaze at Sia with a wistful look. Everyone in this city had a story, so I never pried.
"Cain, I'm out."
"Yeah, eat before it gets cold."
"Okay!"
"Frank said he pulled carrots from yours."
"Really?"
As Sia sat, Frank approached with the drinks finished.
Whip!
Flinch!
"Thanks, sir!!"
"Hmph. Here."
Clink—
"Huh? Didn't order this."
"Service."
Sia beamed as Frank turned back to the kitchen.
"Ehehe, service, Cain!!"
"I ordered it, but he wouldn't take my money."
"Whoa! Thanks, Cain!! I'll enjoy it."
We ate breakfast with the iced sweet fruit drink, then headed to the Explorer Guild.
Tap—
"Hm... No curse for you, Sia?"
"Ah... Good."
I didn't need to update my card, but couldn't leave anxious Sia alone. So the three of us—Mion included—stood before the machine like last time's ATM.
"Thanks, Mion."
"Ehehe, if you're grateful... you know."
"Know what?"
"Aw~"
Tap tap!
Mion smirked seductively, prodding my chest. I licked my lips.
"You know card updates are tough unless it's post-labyrinth return."
"Oh, right."
"Only Claude now... Oh yeah! After his layer reassignment, he paired with Hawk for a pickup party. You know?"
"Reassignment? Already?"
"City shook hard at midnight that day."
"Yeah! Super shaky."
Sia nodded along, glancing at me.
Claude's early-morning pickup party... Oh, right. I passed out from exhaustion. That dawn was reassignment day, delayed by Claude's screw-up schedule.
"Ah... I was so out of it from recovery, slept like a rock."
"Aha."
"Ah, got it."
"That's why the restaurant was empty this morning."
The labyrinth's reassignment made conquering tough.
Every 30 days, layer layouts fully reset. Miss the descent portal in a month? Start over.
Level 1 barely handles layer 1 monsters.
To conquer, find the next portal within 30 days.
Even big parties can't carry a month's supplies for all—too costly and heavy.
Most grind layer 1 for levels, stats, mana stones, gear till level 2, when monsters get easier, then push.
No one knows level-up or stat conditions. A cursed party member? Boot 'em. Delays recruiting, or stick together and wipe.
Even all level 2 with meh blessings or slow growth? Schedule slips, fatigue sets in.
Folks come dreaming of riches, charge deep... but hit reality at level 3-4, retire to shop or go home.
Or die as labyrinth fodder first.
...RPG nostalgia says level 1 sucks, but labyrinth earned its name.
Reassignments only hit layers 1-3 though. Kinda sus.
Our party's on 2, eyeing 3.
"Pickup party's two noob level 1s with zero labyrinth experience. Tomorrow or next, probably."
"Hmm~"
Mion's expression turned odd mid-chat.
"Something wrong, Mion?"
"Nah~ No other business then?"
Something off in her face, but no grounds to press.
"No."
"See you, Cain, Sia~ Oh, Claude's gear payments due next week."
"Yeah."
"Bye."
With her uneasy smile lingering, I left the guild, sent Sia home, and headed to the church aid station.
"Welcome, Brother Cain."
"Hello, Priest Julius."
I greeted the priest who'd mummified me in bandages after my blood-puking.
Julius was slim at 170cm, in ornate priest robes, with a bored look and monocle.
Purple hair, purple eyes... kinda alien.
"Reassignment must've pulled tons into the labyrinth. Fewer injured returns here."
"Yep. Haha. So what brings you, Brother Cain?"
Not a customer, his tone was reluctant.
My past-life social senses tingled—he was blatantly annoyed. Annoying prick.
"Nothing much... Any books from the church?"
"Books? The holy scriptures of the Goddess's word?"
"Yes."
"Perhaps joining our chu—"
I cut him off before his eyes lit with cultish zeal, like past-life evangelists.
"No, no. Not that. One party member's no believer but uses Recovery blessing."
"Ah... Miss Sia?"
Grind.
What, hates her? For cutting into his cash with me and Claude? Thinking back, we'd never seen his face when all three visited.
Thousands of explorers hit the aid station—memorizing faces and names? Creepy.
This guy's off too.
"Just for study. Can I borrow?"
"We have one... Return it."
"Thanks."
Borrowed the doctrine book from the money-grubbing priest and headed to the general store district.
"Camella's tomorrow, so today..."
I went to the scroll shop.
"None?"
"Ugh... Wait!"
The elderly owner grumbled, fetched a thick, yellowed book from storage.
"1 silver."
"It's falling apart—why—"
"Don't care. 1 silver or nothing."
Title: [Everything About Labyrinth City Rabidens!] For 1 silver? Insane.
Still, if it's from some story I know... whatever.
"Here."
"Thanks. Come again!!"
The stubborn owner, who'd refused to budge, packed it quick at my silver, bowing 90 degrees.
Feels scammy, but party funds aside, I had spare coin. Let it slide.
Time to read, plan good times with Camella tomorrow.