Chapter 16
Chapter 16
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 16
Chapter Title: Back to the Labyrinth
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A few days later, official notices were posted all throughout Labyrinth City.
-At 7:30 p.m. yesterday, the Wraith Knight wandering the top floor was subjugated by Phasis, a high-tier explorer of Golden Wing Guild. As of this moment, the Labyrinth City Association hereby declares the blockade lifted across the entire city.
"Finally, it's over!"
I shouted in joy upon seeing the notice plastered right in the middle of the main street.
Aren, who had been watching from beside me, broke into a bright smile.
"Now we can head back into the labyrinth."
"I thought I was going to die of boredom waiting."
I'd known when the blockade would be lifted, but actually waiting for that day was a whole different story.
I'd trained my body to kill time, but the impatience bubbling up from deep inside refused to subside.
And now, the long-awaited day had finally arrived.
Now the real labyrinth exploration begins.
"It'd be great if I could come along too. But I've got urgent business, so I'm taking a break from labyrinth work for a while."
"Can't be helped. Everyone has their own circumstances."
She hadn't said it outright, but I knew the truth: she'd sold off her magic power and couldn't use her abilities for the time being.
Going into the labyrinth in that state wouldn't help much anyway, so staying safely in the city was the right call.
"Next time an opportunity comes up, let's go together."
"Don't worry. Next time, I'll cling to your pant leg if I have to."
Aren's serious gaze made me scratch my head.
It was the moment when a new goal was etched onto my list: grow strong enough that bringing her along next time wouldn't be a problem.
...
After parting with Aren, I headed not straight to the labyrinth, but to the Association.
"Welcome to the Labyrinth City Association."
"Hello, Grace."
"Leon, right? But... did I ever tell you my name?"
"I figured it out when I saw you magnificently neutralize that unruly customer at the Association."
She's the only one in this city who can erode someone's magic power to render them helpless.
Anyone even slightly familiar with the city's affairs would know that.
She's the only one here with the ability to infiltrate an opponent's body with magic power and neutralize them.
Me? I'd met her once before, so it was easy to recall her name.
"It's been ages since I retired, so it's surprising anyone still remembers."
"I just happened to know. As someone aiming to be the greatest explorer, I make it a point to know these details."
"I see."
Grace nodded as if she understood.
She still looked like nothing more than a professional receptionist on the surface, but I caught her familiar habit underneath it all.
'Hands behind her back.'
She fidgeted with her fingers behind her back when she was anxious.
People admired high-tier explorers, but to her, it was a mark of disgrace.
It was a painful wound earned through the sacrifice of her comrades.
That's why I deliberately avoided mentioning those days—to not stir up her trauma.
"Anyway, I apologize once more for showing you such an unsightly side. As an Association receptionist, I should have exercised more restraint."
"No need to apologize. You were just doing your duty as a receptionist."
"...Thank you for understanding."
Did my words put her slightly at ease?
A small smile tugged at her lips.
"More importantly, what brings you here?"
"I came to pick up some requests before heading into the labyrinth."
"Understood. Turn right, and you'll find the bulletin board with the requests posted. Take a look."
Following her directions, I approached the large bulletin board.
From simple subjugation requests like goblin hunts and ghoul exterminations to searches for missing persons and artifact trades, a wide variety were listed.
'I think it was around here.'
Rummaging through my memory, I searched for the request I wanted and soon found the ones I was after, handing them to the counter.
"These three."
"Accepted. Then, right aw—"
Grace paused mid-sentence as she checked the papers.
"Looks like you grabbed the wrong request. Please put it back."
"This one?"
I held out the request illustrated with a beautiful flower bearing dewdrops like clusters of fruit, and Grace nodded.
"Yes. This one's prepared for mid-tier explorers. It's not suitable for you yet, Leon."
The Dawn Bud, a plant growing in the labyrinth's upper layers.
Though it was just a gathering request, venturing to the upper layers was suicidal for a newbie explorer, so Grace emphasized again that I shouldn't take it.
"No, I'll take this one."
I held out the request she'd rejected once more.
"I've heard rumors that this plant rarely grows on the top floor too. I'm picking it up to check that out."
"This is just a warning, but if you're thinking of going to the upper layers, reconsider. That place is never to be taken lightly."
"Don't worry. I just want to explore the labyrinth's environment in more detail."
A lie.
I'm definitely heading to the upper layers this time.
I just didn't tell her because I knew she'd desperately try to stop me.
And honestly, the idea that the upper layers are never easy to handle didn't really resonate with me.
The labyrinth's upper layers were home to a great forest.
Dangerous creatures roamed in droves, but the natural environment was similar to a tropical rainforest on the surface.
If you had the skills, clean water and food were plentiful.
For someone like me who'd conquered the labyrinth's depths, there was no easier place than the upper layers.
"Be careful. I'm warning you because there's no rank restriction on the request, but overconfidence can be poison."
"I'll keep that in mind."
It was advice born from her own hard-earned experience.
Of course I'd take it to heart.
And because I had, I could head to the upper layers with confidence.
"Then I'll be off."
"Come back safely."
I finished registering and left the Association.
From afar, I could see her hiding her anxious expression, but I turned away.
There wasn't much time in this run to focus purely on exploration, so I planned to squeeze every last drop out of it.
Labyrinth City's plaza was as lively as ever.
"Special armor from our shop—today only at this price!"
"Get your jerky here! Long-lasting, perfect for labyrinth expeditions!"
Novice explorers poked around here and there, diving into the portal amid tension and excitement.
The gendarmerie kept order, merchants hawked their wares energetically.
Leaving that peaceful scene behind, I stood before the portal.
The blue shimmer was a beautiful glow no matter how many times I saw it.
This light, which hadn't gone out once since the labyrinth's discovery, seemed like it would guard this spot forever.
But I knew.
One day, this light would turn black.
The moment the abyss's presence awoke and reached for the surface, the world would reach an irreversible point.
Even if conquering the heroines was my main goal, I couldn't ignore this ticking time bomb.
I had to move carefully yet swiftly, cutting the bomb's wires one by one to disarm it.
'If I fail, it's all over.'
A fact I'd learned through countless failures already.
And.
'I've got the confidence that I absolutely won't fail.'
I pushed even fleeting anxiety to the back burner.
Now was the time to move forward.
Just repeat what I'd done countless times—succeed, and that's that, right?
Regrets were long left in the distant past.
All that remained was unshakable confidence that I wouldn't fail.
Etching that vow deep in my heart, I leaped into the portal without hesitation.
In the pure white field of my vision, I opened my eyes.
"Grrrk!"
"What the hell is this?"
The moment I opened my eyes, yellowish fangs caked with rotten flesh filled my view.
Instinctively, I threw a punch.
Crunch!
Shattered teeth scattered everywhere as the black figure reeled backward.
It didn't even get out a proper screech before flying through the air.
"Kwak!"
"Woof woof!"
"...Noisy."
The labyrinth's scenery was different from my first time here.
Not the dark space lit by torches, but a hill with towering rocky peaks.
Fog Mountain, located in the top floor's western sector.
Far from Labyrinth Ksox at the center.
The mad-dog-like barking echoed.
Gnoll, the beastkin with hyena heads.
Spotting me invading their territory, they swarmed around, entering alert mode.
"Dropping right into a monster nest the moment I enter the labyrinth. Talk about rotten luck."
Dust rose as they charged.
Far more numerous than the goblins I'd faced before.
The ground shook with their advance, countless fangs bared toward me.
"Grrk."
From the pack emerged one that stood out.
A massive gnoll clad in iron armor, much larger than the rest.
I figured it was the rare leader of this monster nest.
A special specimen.
Probably came to check out the intruder report itself.
"Wow, thanks. You came right to me to die."
"Grrk!?"
One person dropping from the portal must've been quite the spectacle.
With so many underlings, it figured there was no danger and boldly stepped forward—so I'd respond in kind.
I didn't miss the chance, reaching out.
In an instant, I circled behind it, locked my arm around its throat, and grabbed its head.
Snap!
Bones twisted with a gruesome sound as the gnoll's neck spun around.
Instant death.
Its eyes stared blankly into space, tongue lolling as it crumpled to the ground.
"Sturdy armor, huh. Well, twisting the neck takes care of that."
"Woooo!"
Seeing their leader die, the gnolls howled like wolves and fell into disarray.
Chaos spread in seconds.
Their eyes blazed with rage, but their hesitant steps showed their will had been greatly shattered.
Ignoring them, I stripped the armor from the leader's corpse.
The iron clanged as it hit the ground, and I carefully set it down.
Taking it would come after dealing with these guys.
"What're you dawdling for? Come on, attack."
I beckoned with my finger, taunting them.
Even at that gesture, they didn't budge their heavy feet.
"Fine, then I'll come to you."
I kicked off and charged at them.