Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: Solo Play
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"We've divided up the gold based on contributions again. We got a really good haul this time, but..."
Ermé wore a somewhat sad expression.
A massive pouch came into view.
"Glasses, you're in the negative for now. Keep working hard in the Labyrinth next time too."
"Urk...!"
Glasses pulled a miserable face.
"And Teresa, here's your 10% cut in gold."
"Yay."
Her expression was blank, her voice flat.
But I could tell she was pretty excited.
"The rest is here..."
Thud.
When Ermé set the pouch down on the table, it hit with a heavy thump.
"All of it goes to Yuseong."
"...All of it?"
"Yeah. I got my sword, and Glasses over there took the potions and skillbook."
"Ahem..."
"Haah, well, even if we're tired, we should probably set the next schedule."
"...I want to rest until tomorrow."
"That... Marcel's got a point. It's dangerous to push too hard without a break."
"Hold on, did you just call me Glasses...!"
"Anyway, let's schedule the next Labyrinth run for next week. How about Monday?"
"Sunday's not bad either. A three-day break sounds nice, but too much rest can make you rusty."
"Sunday works for me too."
Ermé nodded at Glasses and Teresa's opinions.
...Counting days works the same as in my past life, huh.
Well, it's a game world to begin with.
But then a thought crossed my mind.
Was this a game world based on reality, or a real world manifested from a game?
The thought flickered through, but right now, such musings felt like a luxury.
I calmly stretched my body.
Even after yesterday's fierce battle, it felt light and easy.
The others are worn out.
I wondered why I felt so fine, and realized it was because we'd divided roles perfectly, managing our stamina well.
"Alright, everyone must be tired, so let's call it here for today and head out. Yuseong, wanna go on a date with me...?"
"Ah, I've got some business at the Adventurer's Guild today."
"Hmm..."
Ermé gave me a lingering look, then flashed a bright smile and waved goodbye.
"Then I'll head out first. I was pretty worn out from the intense nights up until yesterday."
"Pfft!"
Glasses choked in panic at Ermé's words.
"Cough! Hack! Y-You guys! Even if I stepped aside, how'd you progress that fast in one day?!"
"Was it intense?"
Ignoring the flustered Glasses, Teresa asked. Ermé grinned slyly and glanced my way.
"Nothing happened. We just talked."
"Hic."
As I spoke while looking at Rosenta, she suddenly started hiccuping.
"It was intense yesterday~ Yuseong wanted me so bad, he looked at me with those desiring eyes and persuaded me."
Hic.
Rosenta said that, drunk as she was.
She was so polite yesterday.
Turning pain into pleasure was one thing, but getting drunk and turning into a split personality was another level.
"Then I'll head out first."
"Come back soon~."
I waved, and Ermé waved back daintily.
Glasses stared at me with a really weird look.
Must be a misunderstanding.
He was definitely under some big delusion.
After we parted ways.
I headed to the training grounds inside the Adventurer's Guild.
I'm diving into the Labyrinth today.
But what I'd gained from that masked guy yesterday nagged at me.
Body Techniques.
It seemed like a way to handle the body, and it looked pretty good.
I changed into training clothes and stood before the straw dummy.
I took a stance.
But I couldn't bring myself to strike the dummy.
"Rookie, back again today?"
It was because of Volkan, looking at me approvingly.
"Kids these days don't train this diligently."
"I'm pretty diligent."
"A bit cocky, but diligent at least."
-That guy's got some insight.
Rishiel nodded in agreement at Volkan's grumbling.
It was ridiculous.
I ignored them both and kicked the straw dummy.
"Hm...?"
What the guy did yesterday was mixing swordsmanship with body techniques—moving the feet for more dynamic action.
...It's harder than I thought?
But it must've looked different in Volkan's eyes.
"Rookie, what the hell did you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"How'd you level up or something in the meantime?"
"Haven't yet."
"Well, yeah, can't be that fast. But growing this quick?"
Volkan muttered in disbelief.
Rishiel nodded beside him.
-Incomprehensible growth rate. Even among us elves, few have such talent...
It made sense, of course.
Unlike others, I had all sorts of perks and bonuses.
If anything...
If I couldn't grow at this pace, that would be the problem.
That's how I saw it.
Anyway, I sweated it out with some body techniques, changed back to normal clothes, and took out the iron rings Volkan had given me.
...Feels lighter now.
My body felt unburdened.
Maybe because I'd worn the heavy things so long. Pretending to hide them in my clothes, I stashed them in the bag in my second space.
"Leaving already?"
"Gotta hit the Labyrinth today."
"Already? Didn't you just go yesterday?"
"Stamina's holding up better than expected."
"Stamina's fine? Oh, you were in the backline, huh? Still, how...?"
Volkan tilted his head at me.
"You don't look strained at all."
"Who dives into the Labyrinth overexerting themselves?"
"Plenty of idiots do. Even casual runs are risky, but some push because they're chased by something. Looks good short-term, but not long-term."
Even so.
Volkan said that, then eyed me.
"You don't seem to have packed much. Going with others?"
"Nah, the others are resting."
"Some could still go... Nah, maybe solo suits you better."
Volkan looked me over and said that.
Another party.
I didn't really need one.
But to keep perfect condition, at least someone for night watch.
Having Glasses made this easy.
He handled the whole watch with some innovative alarm spell.
Well, I could find someone decent enough.
As long as they pulled their weight a bit, I'd cover the rest.
With that mindset, I recruited a party.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ "Nice to meet ya. An archer, huh?"
I got pulled into a party by a friendly-seeming guy.
I eyed the party members.
A gloomy-looking man in a deep black robe.
A middle-aged guy with hand axes at his belt, and a young man with a massive shield strapped to his back.
And the two-handed sword guy on his back who dragged me here.
Three frontliners?
No mage or priest in sight. Not surprising.
Those classes were rare.
But something feels off.
They looked fine on the surface. But this party gave me a bad vibe.
Was I being too paranoid?
"Everyone, I brought our party's rear guard archer."
"Hmph, what archer actually pulls their weight? Lucky if they don't friendly fire."
"Ease up, James. I checked him out—this guy's got a rep."
"A rep?"
The middle-aged guy called James eyed me warily.
"The good kind."
"Then we're good."
"Anyway, let's get going. If he does half a share, the four of us are plenty."
"True that."
"...".
They seemed confident they could handle a full share each.
Fine then.
I headed into the Labyrinth with my new party members.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The Labyrinth is a place where time and space twist together.
That's why incidents happen often.
Not just that?
Lots of people go missing, and troubles inside are handled by an unwritten rule.
In the early days, that caused tons of issues.
The Adventurer's Guild tried everything to prevent it but realized they couldn't cover it all.
So instead, they turned a blind eye to killing attackers.
Thanks to artifacts in the Guild.
Anyway, incidents are common once you're inside.
This was my third time entering.
And.
I realized I had been really lucky so far.
"S-Save... Save me!"
"Five goblins...!"
"F-Fuck, if you run, how am I supposed to survive?!"
"...".
I was reminded once again.
Meeting Ermé was true fortune.
How does a party like this even exist?
It started off smoothly enough.
They talked big, and I got a bad feeling when they all clammed up entering the Labyrinth.
They talked that game—surely they have skills?
I thought.
Surprisingly.
They had no skills to speak of.
Two frontliners crumbled to three goblins, one got hurt.
Three goblins? Ermé could've swept them solo; I wouldn't even need to step in.
I should've bailed there.
Cut my losses, save myself or whatever.
But stupid sense of responsibility kicked in, so I lopped off a goblin head with my sword.
-I-Impressive. The rumors are true, a true powerhouse...!
That should've been it.
With their skills, clearing the Labyrinth would've been tough, so they'd go their way, I'd loop a bit solo and leave.
-That iron sword looks nice.
-Look closer—that robe's fancy too. Magic item?
Just showing one iron sword, and they plotted to backstab me.
That's why.
I had no choice.
"...".
I sighed at the bloodied pouches.
No end to the bad luck.
Maybe my people luck had been too good lately.
From Ermé on, my current party was solid.
...Lucia's still a question mark.
With that Execution Princess moniker, I didn't want to deal with her much.
Anyway, that's why.
I stood at a crossroads now.
Keep soloing the Labyrinth, or grab some loot and bail.
-Solo Labyrinth runs aren't bad experience.
Rishiel said.
-If it's too much, I'll guard at night. This spirit body doesn't sleep anyway.
Doesn't sleep?
-Yeah, not bad. Never needed sleep to begin with.
Really?
-Yeah, enough checking. Let's head deeper.
Rishiel spoke irritably. I nodded and pushed further into the Labyrinth.