Chapter 107
Chapter 107
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 107
Chapter Title: Villainess
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Villainess.
I gazed at the Blackhope Duke.
The Blackhope Duke, a pillar of the empire.
He had earned his ducal title with a single sword, standing shoulder to shoulder with Volkan in rank.
Who was the Blackhope Duke?
A figure shrouded in rampant rumors.
Yet those rumors were utterly terrifying.
They said he had wiped out ten thousand troops with one swing of his blade.
Even now, his true power remained unfathomable.
'He's definitely weaker than the sight I witnessed of Yeonhwa.'
But the gap in strength was stark and clear.
No one could deny that the man before me was a monster.
And such a being was entering the Labyrinth with us?
-This is a golden opportunity.
The Holy Sword said as much.
-You can steal others' experience just by 'watching' them. Copy that guy's power to your heart's content.
The Holy Sword spoke calmly.
But having spent some time with it, I could sense something off.
A voice laced with irritation somewhere.
It almost made me feel like I was doing something wicked.
-Huh? Even if you're my disciple, isn't that a bit too cheeky? How could you master the breathing technique in one go after I personally guided your energy flow!
'......'
That was the issue?
No, if you'd taught me that much from the start, it'd be weirder if I couldn't.
The Holy Sword had been incredibly thorough in its instruction.
Unlike the steps and swordsmanship it conveyed verbally.
For the breathing, it had directly guided the energy and aided me.
As that thought crossed my mind, the Holy Sword let out a hollow laugh.
-Even the First Hero wasn't as devious as you.
'You've been going on about the First Hero like you know him inside out from way back.'
-Hm? Of course. After all, I was the divine sword that inspired the First Hero's legend.
'Divine sword?'
-Yes. I became a divine sword and swept the battlefields alongside him. That's why, unlike other divine artifacts, I mastered orthodox techniques.
'Is that all?'
-Is that all?!
The Holy Sword flew into a rage at my words.
-You know better than anyone how superior the breathing, steps, and sword power are!
'But I want more of a thief vibe.'
The First Hero didn't seem like someone who'd swept everything like a pure swordsman.
If he had, why divide the divine artifacts into four?
Knight, thief, priest, mage.
They were perfectly tailored to each class role.
Did the First Hero truly conquer all with just a sword?
-No. He had prowess in magic too and wielded divine power. He was near an all-master.
'All-master?'
-Yes. But unlike you, he never learned thief skills. He was thief-adjacent, more like an archer, but ranged attacks were handled by magic.
'So no one mastered the thief path?'
-Correct. But you might reach its end.
The sword muttered in an oddly suggestive tone.
It seemed to have sealed away some memories midway, yet recalled my Steal Strike clearly.
I shot the Holy Sword a suspicious glance.
Then turned back to the Blackhope Duke.
"How will we divide the team?"
"Yeonhwa and you. We haven't decided on anyone else yet."
Not a bad split.
With the Blackhope Duke, we lacked nothing in raw power. So we needed to fill other roles.
'I'll handle scouting and the like.'
The gaps were mage and priest.
I had candidates in mind for those.
"Fine, this kid won't be dead weight at least, so take him no matter what."
Volkan said, slapping my back heartily.
I wouldn't be dead weight, sure.
The Blackhope Duke eyed me suspiciously.
"This kid's that exceptional?"
"Yeah, with him, you won't have to worry about getting lost."
"Hard to believe he reached this level with just one sword."
The Blackhope Duke looked at me dubiously.
But soon his expression shifted to one of resignation.
"You don't spout nonsense lightly, but it's still hard to buy. Still, I'll trust you."
The Blackhope Duke said that and turned away.
"Then let's head out."
"Just the three of us?"
"Yeah. A mage or priest would be nice, but anyone skilled enough to help me has heavy hips anyway."
With those words, the Blackhope Duke led us off.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Deep inside the damp cave.
A place thick with moisture and swirling dust.
There, I slowly opened my eyes.
The Labyrinth's first floor scatters you at random spots.
The binding magic gathers the entire party in one place.
Looking around, the Blackhope Duke and Yeonhwa watched me calmly.
Their gazes differed sharply.
The Duke's said, show me what you can do.
Yeonhwa's brimmed with anticipation.
'This position...'
We were quite far from the boss room.
I got my bearings and led the group forward.
"Quick at finding direction."
"I'm used to it."
"Heard you've only been here a few months."
"Even pros do at least this much, right?"
There were professional guides, after all. This should be basic for them.
With that thought, I stepped ahead.
The interior was pleasantly monster-free for my senses.
No people.
'First time only one team enters the Labyrinth like this.'
Tight control.
They'd deployed the Blackhope Duke to investigate the cause.
If it seemed dangerous, they'd commit full force immediately.
That force included Volkan, the Guild Master, and one hidden figure within the guild.
We reached the first-floor boss room swiftly.
Me, specialized in speed; Yeonhwa, with solid base stamina; and the Blackhope Duke, leagues above us in level.
It'd be weird if we were slow.
"You really got here straight away."
"Impressive."
Suspicion turned to conviction in their eyes.
Yeonhwa gazed at me with sparkling eyes.
'......It's just pathfinding.'
-The problem is most can't even do that properly. That elf archer we hired to reach the 20th floor took nearly twice as long as you guys on the first.
'Was he good in combat?'
-No, he was exceptional in multiple areas.
'......?'
I eyed the Holy Sword suspiciously.
Exceptional in many ways should've made it faster.
Our group entered the boss room.
"We arrived faster than expected, so you two can take the lead."
"How do you want to handle it?"
Deciding who'd take the boss.
I pondered briefly but shook my head.
'Nothing good drops from the Goblin King anyway.'
Yeonhwa stepped forward.
She slew the boss, and we descended.
2nd floor: Hobgoblins.
3rd floor: Arachnes.
4th floor: Lizardmen.
5th floor: Ant Soldiers.
6th floor: Field.
From here, previous monsters mixed in, plus Imps.
7th floor: Ape Demon Beasts, monkey-like horrors.
8th floor: Fire Bears that spewed flames from their mouths.
9th floor: Trolls that regenerated unless decapitated.
10th floor: Harpies swarming the skies, a real annoyance.
Whoosh.
The Blackhope Duke swung his sword—slash—and the airborne harpies dropped dead.
'What sword art was that?'
-Impressively advanced. Around mid-tier level 9.
The Holy Sword said admiringly.
"No notable gains."
The Duke said indifferently.
Boss monsters dropped skillbooks infused with their traits—none this time.
No unique weapons from champion bosses either.
'Total bust?'
How could we hit blanks ten times in a row?
I glanced at Yeonhwa. She tilted her head at my look, then smiled with her eyes.
'Better not let her handle it from now on.'
11th floor: Field Graveyard.
Undead spawn here: Banshees, Undead, Dark Knights.
All annoying types. Minotaurs and Werewolves too, apparently.
'Didn't see those last time.'
Might encounter them this run.
As we descended, an eerie sensation hit.
Like someone watching us.
-You feel that? Hm, nothing on my end.
The Holy Sword called it strange.
-But your senses are opening to 'souls' now. Trust them.
I drew a throwing dagger from my pocket.
'Shadow Dance.'
Shadows writhed.
Darkness rippled over the dagger.
'Pierce infusion.'
Pierce over explosion.
Stealth ambush was key here.
This field graveyard brimmed with shadows.
Shadow Dance cloaked the dagger in darkness, erasing its form.
'So that's how 'stealth' gets applied.'
I admired inwardly, gazing at it. Instinct told me it could pierce most defenses.
'Then.'
Time to test.
I raised my arm and hurled the dagger like lightning.
The blade cut through the dark.
It pierced whatever had sent that eerie gaze.
-Kieeeek!!!
A shriek erupted.
Then—snip.
The cry cut off, morphing into a bluish something swallowed by the Labyrinth wall.
"......"
The Blackhope Duke's face hardened gravely at the sight.
"What was that?"
"Felt a gaze, so I attacked just in case......"
Didn't expect a hit.
My senses had caught it faintly; I was half-doubting.
But the scream confirmed it.
As I smugly admired my handiwork.
"How'd you do that?"
"......?"
"I couldn't even properly detect that thing."
"Miss?"
"No."
That's serious.
Our strongest, the Duke, couldn't sense it.
'Then when those Eternal Soldiers died.'
They'd tried to escape their souls.
I'd stolen them with Steal Strike.
In other words, even someone like the Duke couldn't detect or slay their souls.
'......The "Eternal" title isn't for show.'
A truly terrifying army.
But in a way, I was their natural predator.
"I knew you had odd gifts, but this level of ability......"
"......Thief-related gifts."
"Hm?"
The Duke's eyes widened at my words.
As if he hadn't expected that answer.
"Didn't Volkan tell you?"
"He said something weird. That you're a sword master but could switch to thief."
Idle chatter.
The Duke stroked his beard as he added that.
"No, I really have what it takes to be the Thief Hero."
"............Huh?"
"You felt it coming here. Pathfinding."
"Oh."
"Don't believe me? I can demonstrate."
"Ah, no—if you have that skill, thief?"
The Duke spoke in disbelief.
I got it.
'Volkan's not the most reliable.'
Still, to convince him, I'd need to show something.
'Hm?'
Gazing at the Duke's dumbfounded face.
I spotted a fleeting opening.
'Steal Strike.'
A sensation of my hand dipping into void.
I withdrew it and spoke to the Duke.
"For example, stealing others' items like this......"
I dangled the small dagger I'd swiped from him.
"Is possible."
"......"
The Blackhope Duke just gaped.
Staring at me with a stunned look.