Chapter 42
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 42
Chapter Title: Ruins (1)
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Labyrinth Mutation.
Every certain period, the Labyrinth undergoes a mutation. Its structure changes, the ecosystem shifts, new structures and monsters are born, and precious treasures along with dangerous traps emerge.
New monsters that had never been discovered before can appear, or mysterious ruins can suddenly manifest.
Because of this, the Labyrinth Guild tends to discourage adventurers from entering right after a mutation occurs. Especially for beginner adventurers. It's because countless novice explorers die after encountering unfamiliar terrain and new monsters during these mutation periods.
"So.... I can't go in solo?"
"Yes. Right after a Labyrinth mutation, solo explorations by beginner adventurers are not permitted."
I'd commissioned Miranda to forge a new sword and, planning to train something else in its place, grabbed a bow and throwing daggers before heading to the Labyrinth. That's when the guide explained the mutation and blocked my path. I hadn't even mentioned wanting to go solo, but since I usually apply for solo entry, he must have assumed.
"During the initial phase of a mutation, many adventurers die due to the unfamiliar environment, but that's also when criminals run rampant. Adventurers flood in to claim something first in the new terrain for a big score, and plenty of them target fellow adventurers."
"What about the party matching system....?"
"Ah, speaking of which. Mr. Ian, you're registered as a rogue, right?"
I figured I'd take some entry-level requests and form a party to head in, but the guide looked at my adventurer's license, brightened up, and made a proposal.
In short, since exploration is essential in a freshly mutated Labyrinth, demand for rogues—who handle scouting or trap disarming—is high. With my solid credit from an advanced adventurer's recommendation and my recent troll slaying boosting my evaluation, they had a request to offer me.
"There are tons of Labyrinth exploration requests right now. Especially for rogues—they're overflowing. Among them, there's one to accompany an intermediate adventurer in exploring the 9th floor. How about taking it?"
"Accompany an intermediate adventurer?"
"Yes. Mutated Labyrinths are dangerous. Normally, guilds assign beginner adventurers to floors below the 10th, but we pair them with intermediates. It minimizes casualties."
The request involved reporting any newly discovered monsters, plants, or ruins found during exploration. It appealed as an official guild request, but accompanying an intermediate adventurer piqued my curiosity even more.
I'd planned to stick to floors below the 5th anyway since it was right after the mutation, but a chance to explore the 9th with an intermediate? Having received beginner training from the advanced adventurer Alensia, I was curious about intermediates too. I accepted on the spot.
"I'll take it."
"Great! Here's the request form. Your party members are waiting in the lounge."
It seemed the other adventurers had already accepted. I headed to the lounge where the party was waiting. An intermediate adventurer.... Wonder what they'd be like....
"Huh?"
"Whoa! I can't believe I'm on the same request as you, Mr. Ian! What a surprise!"
The member waiting in the lounge was Hiss. Not as the intermediate adventurer, but as another beginner who'd taken the request. Hiss was a rogue too, so with me, that made two. Were they prioritizing scouting for exploration, or just pairing two beginner rogues because one wasn't enough...?
"......Long time no see."
And standing beside Hiss was someone else I recognized. What can I say? It was Lena, the fox beastkin I'd run into before.
Come to think of it, Lena was an intermediate adventurer, right? She'd mentioned sometimes joining requests with beginners. But I never imagined the intermediate leading this one would be her.
"....Did you take this request knowing we'd be on it?"
"No way. The guide recommended it."
And she still gave off that man-hating vibe. Her eyes sharpened the moment I entered the room. Ah, already exhausting. Should I just cancel?
"Haha.... Hi there?"
"Oh, hello."
My attention was drawn to Lena and Hiss, but there was one more in the room. A black-haired warrior in heavy armor, giving off an Eastern vibe rare in Labyrinth City. Black hair was uncommon to begin with, and people with my Eastern features were even rarer.
"I'm Hiro. My deepest floor is the 10th, and I'm currently undergoing the intermediate adventurer promotion exam."
His speech was polite, but pride swelled in his voice when mentioning the exam. Wow. Jealous. I want to promote soon too. The troll slay had built up my record nicely, but when would I get there?
His name was Hiro? It had a subtle Japanese ring to it.
"Ah, I'm Ian. Deepest floor 9th, rogue. I have skills like [Scouting], [Trap Disarm], [Stealth], and so on."
Since he'd greeted first, I introduced myself. Subtly glancing at Lena and Hiss too, they reluctantly followed suit.
"...Lena. Intermediate adventurer. Mage."
It might sound like mere shyness at first glance, but.... Could she ease up on the expression? I'd thought she was prickly just with me before, but her glare at Hiro confirmed she just hated men.
"I'm Hiss! Rogue too, and.... I'm confident in detection! Nyaa!"
In stark contrast to Lena's attitude, Hiss stayed bright throughout. It kept the party atmosphere from souring. Whatever, as long as they're skilled. Unlike last time, no one was drinking, so Lena stayed quiet without complaining.
"Everyone got their gear ready?"
I spoke up, and no one objected.
"Then let's head in."
As if proving the mutation had occurred, the Labyrinth's terrain had changed, but the floors up to the 5th had already been explored while I was unconscious and learning to cook. We advanced without issue.
Aiming for the 9th, we avoided monsters as much as possible.
-Clatter. Clatter.
Then on the 5th floor, we encountered our first new monster unlike any before. Something like a skeleton model from my old school science room, shambling along with clattering sounds. First skeleton I'd seen.
Tensing up at the unfamiliar foe, I gripped my bow instead of my broken sword, but...
"Fireball!"
Lena's flames shot out the instant she spotted it, shattering the skeleton to pieces. First time meeting a proper mage?
With Lena jumping in to finish monsters before I could, I had nothing to do. Hiro, holding his sword up front, looked awkward and embarrassed too.
"Our goal is exploration. Don't waste time on trash like this—let's go."
Her tone felt a bit rude, but it proved her intermediate status. Her reaction time, chant speed, and spell power were no joke. With Lena, even the troll would've been easier. That fireball packed serious punch.
Afterward, as we climbed floors, we faced old monsters and new ones alike, but before we could even analyze them, Lena's single spell wiped them out.
Hiro, leading the way, ended up awkwardly holding his sword with nothing to do.
The least I could do was scouting and trap detection, but...
"I hear two up ahead!"
"Smells like goblins!"
"The floor ahead's covered pitfall! We'll go around, nyaa!"
I'd gained pride in my rogue skills lately, but Hiss spotted enemies and traps before I could act. Even using [Sensory Amplification] to scout maxed out, Hiss's senses outdid mine—even with higher skill levels, apparently—she handled everything first.
"Hiss has intermediate-level skills. She'd have promoted ages ago if not for... other reasons."
Lena explained Hiss's feats with a smug tone. She'd barely wanted to talk to me, but gushed about Hiss like a proud parent.
Other reasons, huh....
"Nyaa! Curse!"
While detecting traps, Hiss suddenly yelped and collapsed. Before I could react, Lena rushed over faster.
"You okay? Hiss!"
"Nyaa... [Itching Curse]. Hehe.."
Right, Hiss had unusually low resistance. Probably part of those 'other reasons.' Up close, a curse clung to her leg. Lena frantically dug out holy water from her bag.... Wait, isn't that mid-grade? That's expensive!
"Drink this, Hiss!"
"Nyaa... Lena, I'm fine."
Hiss insisted she was okay, but Lena fussed anyway. Low-grade holy water would've sufficed; this was overkill protection.
With Hiss refusing, Lena pouted. Hmm.... Oh yeah, Hiss already knew my skills from before.
Reforming positions, I approached Hiss as she scratched lightly, itchy.
"Ms. Hiss, want me to use that skill like last time?"
"Ah! Right, you have that itch-removing skill!"
It blocked senses, not just itch.... Whatever, close enough. I'd suggested it, but this time I wanted to test another skill.
[Heavenly Touch Lv. 1]
Upper skill of [Massage]. Corrects all hand-based actions. Adds healing and curse removal effects to massage actions.
I activated [Sensory Block] and touched Hiss's cursed leg while Lena looked away. But I wasn't blocking the itch.
Blocking tactile sense entirely, I massaged her leg. Naturally, [Heavenly Touch] triggered.
I'd never had occasion to use it before, but [Heavenly Touch] also had curse removal. I'd seen its healing on wounds, but never tried removal. Perfect chance.
A few kneads later, the curse's eerie aura faded. Confirming it gone, I released [Sensory Block] and withdrew my hand.
"Whoa! No more itching!"
I hadn't blocked itch specifically, but since it was fine, the removal worked perfectly. Even a minor curse like this lifts with a simple massage? Hmm, wonder about stronger ones...
No real battles—Lena handled all monsters—and we reached the 9th floor more easily than any prior exploration. Nearly died here last time, and back already.... With Lena, it'd be safe, at least.
Once on the 9th, I finally had work. Like Hiss, I activated [Scouting] to map terrain. With my best Dexterity, I took drawing the map. Along the way, I collected samples of new vegetation.
Lena held back on big spells here. We needed monster samples intact, and her magic obliterated them. Finally, Hiro stepped up to finish them.
In combat, Hiro shed his casual demeanor like a different person, displaying superb swordsmanship to dispatch foes.
"Still.... Lots of undead-type monsters here."
The 9th floor kills were mostly zombies and skeletons. They'd appeared on the 5th too—oddly heavy undead presence. Urks still showed, and we got one, but yeah.
"Nyaa! Everyone, come here!"
Hiss, scouting around, urgently called the party. Thinking crisis, we rushed over, but...
"...What is this?"
Amid the cave-like terrain, stark white stone stairs stood out, utterly alien.