Chapter 75
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 75
Chapter Title: Forest Layer (1)
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Vivian's mana training ended remarkably quickly, but it was the most rewarding session among all the practice I'd gone through so far.
In just a day or so, I'd grown on both the mana and physical fronts. On top of that, the [Sensory Block] skill had leveled up through Alensia.
The one puzzling thing was that [Lust Absorption] hadn't triggered on Vivian... I had no idea why. No, shouldn't it have activated after something like that handjob?
...Well, the criteria for [Lust Absorption] have always been all over the place. It doesn't even trigger when I massage Alensia's breasts sometimes.
What are the real conditions? It always worked when I used my dick. Such a shame. If it'd triggered on Vivian, I bet I'd have racked up a ton of experience.
Anyway, to test out my improved abilities, I grabbed the freshly repaired armor that arrived the day after Vivian's training and headed straight to the Labyrinth Guild. And...
"There are no parties available that suit you right now, Ian."
I couldn't find a party.
Back when I was a beginner adventurer, finding a party was a breeze. With the adventurer status Alensia had recommended me for, I could just use the Labyrinth Guild's party matching system and snag one easily. But...
"Intermediate adventurers and up mostly form fixed parties rather than temporary ones. Even when they do temp parties, they tend to avoid fresh intermediates like you, Ian..."
Looks like even the Labyrinth prefers veterans. I get it—no one wants to drag around someone unreliable or a total noob—but it sure puts me in a tough spot now that I'm the one struggling to find a group.
Even the recommendation from an advanced adventurer doesn't carry much weight at the intermediate level. Looks like I have to prove myself.
"Isn't there any way around it?"
"The guild recognizes the issue, so we try grouping people in the same boat or recommending parties with openings... but..."
The floors I was aiming for were the 11th. Maybe push to the 12th or 13th if things went well. The problem? Most adventurers active in that range were still combing the ruins that popped up on the 9th floor.
Tch. Since I'd never been past the 10th, I wanted to team up...
Should I ask Alensia? Feels kinda lame to bother her for this... Lena's intermediate too—maybe ask her to form a party? But I don't even know what floor she's on.
"Um..."
"Yes?"
As I pondered at the counter, a group of adventurers approached. I stepped aside thinking they wanted the counter, but no—they headed straight for me.
"Overheard you by accident, but you're a fresh intermediate adventurer, right?"
"Ah, yeah. First time past the 10th, so I was looking for a party."
"You look like frontline from your gear. Wanna team up with us? Our tank's out injured right now."
Caught off guard by the party invite, I sized up the guy who'd spoken and his crew. Two guys, one woman. The talker wore heavy plate with a massive shield on his back; the other guy had light gear and a bow; the woman held a staff, so probably a mage. All humans.
And my outfit... yeah, armor and sword scream frontline. Tank... I'm more rogue, but whatever.
"Oh, you're not frontline?"
"No, I am."
Hello, I'm Ian, the reliable tank. With all my resistance skills, this fits, right?
I checked the party info at the counter. They were a fixed party registered as 'Green Hood,' operating on the 12th floor with four members until their tank got injured and holed up at the temple for treatment.
They'd been active on the 12th for a while, with solid quest records in the guild logs—no red flags.
"So, target is the 12th floor?"
"Yeah. Don't worry—11th and 12th are similar difficulty. Terrain's alike too."
From the 11th floor on, the Labyrinth shifts to forest layers. That means diverse vegetation tailored to the environment, and a wide variety of quests available per floor.
That's why some parties stick to forest layers, repeating quests. This group seemed like one of them.
"Whoa, Ian, you passed the intermediate exam in under ten tries?"
From the moment he'd approached me, I'd noticed—the leader, this guy Dillon, had great people skills.
No snubbing the newbie intermediate like me; he praised me naturally, kept the convo flowing by shifting topics smoothly. The group dynamic seemed solid too.
"What was the previous tank like?"
"Oh, guy named Hanson. Like you, he was a close-range warrior with a longsword."
"What kind of injury keeps him out? Temples heal most stuff quick, right?"
"Well... he got a limb severed..."
"Ah."
Even with the temple's amazing healing magic, regenerating lost body parts isn't simple. It's pricey and takes time, from what I'd heard.
"...Can we drop that topic?"
The party's mage, Joan, cut in on me and Dillon. Her expression soured at the mention of Hanson—clearly uncomfortable.
I apologized quick and changed the subject.
The party formed up and moved out; we hit the portal to the 11th floor in no time. No big fights—just trash mobs—so I couldn't gauge their skills...
"Ready to go?"
At Dillon's cue, I stepped into the 11th floor portal. After all the bad luck I'd had, I hoped this Labyrinth run would be smooth.
"Boss."
"Yeah?"
In a grimy building in the eastern district of Labyrinth City, a ratkin man reported to a rough-looking guy.
"The mark took the bait."
"Hey, idiot—which 'mark'? We've got tons of jobs going."
"You know, the guy who found those ruins on the 9th."
"Oh, that one?"
Recently, a Labyrinth Guild employee desperate for cash had crossed into the eastern district to sell internal guild info. Lost it all gambling, apparently.
The info he peddled? Details on the first discoverer of the new ruins on the 9th.
Hunter Taka bought it quick before others caught on and went after the guy, but word was he got his ass handed to him by a beginner adventurer.
The guild employee, too dumb to quit, blew the payout gambling and slunk back to the east side...
"What'd we do with him again?"
"Beat the rest outta him and smashed his balls, boss."
The moron tried to haggle for fair pay, but this was the lawless east side. Why pay when torture makes 'em spill?
Tch... Taka's a moron, but no beginner should take him down. The guy's been solo, right?
"Yessir. Even when Taka grabbed him, he was operating alone."
Puffing his cigar, Harden, clan leader of the Black Swamp Clan, mulled over the intel on the guy.
Ian... Registered as an adventurer three years back but only started acting up recently. Buddies with that advanced adventurer called 'Iron Blood,' apparently. Skyrocketed to intermediate in record time, great talent. Rumor has it he survived Iron Blood's insane training too.
Guys like that? Don't poke unless you have to. They've got hidden aces. Taka was too cocky and paid for it. But we're not that stupid.
Still, too juicy a target to ignore. Unconfirmed, but he has a spatial expansion magic tool. No word on relics sold after the ruins find (his deal with Vivian was hush-hush).
"Who'd we send?"
"A party active on the 12th. Long-timers, so no suspicion."
"Hmph... reliable?"
"Borrowed cash from us for a member's treatment. Got dirt on each too—no betrayal risk."
"Skill level? Can't be half-assed if they downed Taka."
"12th floor vets—their chops could handle 16th or 17th. And it's three on one..."
"Fine, whatever."
Top-tier for blending in without raising flags. And disposable if needed.
Test the waters with 'em. Works? Great. Fails? No loss.
11th floor, Forest Layer.
Just as the first ten floors were caves, 11 and beyond are forests. Not in tens—up to 15th is forest territory.
And like goblins swarmed the caves, the forests had...
"Ent behind us!"
"Hup!"
Before the party's archer, Milton, could finish warning, my body was already moving. No need for [Limit Break]—my enhanced physique, infused with mana, surged forward and cleaved the ambushing ent in two.
Forest layers spawn mostly plant monsters. They blend with surroundings for camouflage—who knows when or where they'll pop.
"This ent's fruit..."
"Ah, I know. Good for cooking, right?"
"You know your stuff."
Saw it at Lilian's shop.
Man, long-time parties like this have insane teamwork. Milton signals quick, and the others react instantly. Dillon shields Joan with his big shield; she trusts him and casts steadily.
I slot in, taking out whatever Milton flags, and the mobs drop easy. They know the terrain cold—navigation's spot on.
"Ian, you're seriously skilled... Could've soloed no problem."
After the skirmish, Dillon approached with a warm smile and praise. The other two seemed to dodge talking to me, but this guy kept engaging.
"Little further and we're at the 12th. We have our usual campsite there—let's overnight."
We'd pushed to the 11th without rest; camping time. Deeper floors mean more nights in the Labyrinth, huh...
I nodded slightly, watching Dillon take point, then glanced back at the rear two. They avoided my eyes.
'Hmm...'
Leader overly accommodating. Others dodging my gaze.
...Paranoia?
...Maybe prep some countermeasures.
