Chapter 34
Chapter 34
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Abnormal Phenomenon
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Cradle consisted of a single guild.
And beneath it were countless clans.
The only organization worthy of being called a guild was the Adventurer's Guild.
Its power was truly terrifying.
Because it was made up solely of adventurers, it could topple an entire kingdom in the blink of an eye.
The master of Cradle.
The guild master.
She was a woman with a cold expression.
If Lucia's hair was a vivid crimson like fresh blood,
hers looked like it might burst into flames at any moment.
Her eyes were a striking golden hue. Unusual eyes. They gleamed gold, yet carried a reptilian chill.
Clack, clack.
She glanced my way as she walked.
'Am I imagining it?'
Her gaze seemed to linger on me just a bit.
By the time that thought crossed my mind, the guild master had taken her seat at the head of the table.
"It's been a while since we've all gathered. Good to see you."
A voice heavy with exhaustion.
Yet it carried a dignity unlike Volkan's. An irresistible charisma, perhaps.
'A Gift, huh.'
It felt like some kind of ability like that.
For someone like me to feel the urge to obey her unquestioningly.
"Everyone's tired and has their own tasks, so I'll keep this brief. From the first floor to the fifth in the Labyrinth, bizarre phenomena have been occurring."
"Specifically, the monsters inhabiting those floors are starting to display heightened intelligence. It began with boss monsters showing signs of leadership, and now all sorts of oddities are cropping up. But the most critical issue is that a large number of our low-level adventurers—our 'leechers,' as we call them—have been dying."
"That's why I believe the guild needs to step in. For the time being, we'll seal off the Labyrinth and thoroughly search floors one through five to analyze the cause."
"That's the reason I've called you all here."
The guild master looked upon us with impassive eyes.
"Any questions?"
"How long will this investigation take?"
"No idea. We'd like to wrap it up as quickly as possible, which is why we're pulling together high-ranking adventurers like you."
"But we don't have the top-tiers, do we?"
"They're all down in the Depths."
"Ugh..."
The Depths referred to the floors below the twentieth.
Only adventurers of Volkan's caliber were permitted there. It was a place where failing to stick together and follow the party leader's orders could wipe out an entire group.
'Even folks on Gramps Volkan's level can drop dead if they're not careful.'
It was a place aptly named the Depths. And it was why empires and kingdoms no longer fretted much over the Demon King.
Because if you gathered all the adventurers delving the Depths, they could take on the heroes who toppled the Demon King a millennium ago—even if those heroes showed up by the truckload.
"Anyway, this commission is high-rank. I'd appreciate it if you all gave it your all."
"A high-rank commission just for scouting floors one through five? The guild must really be sweating this one."
"High-rank means a nice chunk of contribution points, though."
The adventurers chatted casually.
Probably because they were all veterans who delved at least past the tenth floor.
'I could solo the first floor on my own anyway.'
That said, a few wore serious expressions.
One of them was Ermé.
'...If even she's looking grim, that's a little unsettling.'
Still, if we could somehow push through the unease, that'd be a relief.
"Then, with no further questions, proceed to your missions."
With that, the guild master exited.
The remaining adventurers exchanged light greetings.
'Doesn't seem like too grave an atmosphere.'
Most were loosening up, calling it a sweet gig.
"Rookies, you'll be thanking me after this one."
"...Doesn't feel like something worth celebrating."
"...Your 'feelings' matter now?"
Volkan blinked in surprise at my words.
Then his face grew solemn as he lapsed into thought.
"If it were anyone else talking, I'd tell 'em to quit yapping nonsense."
Volkan, showing an oddly trusting reaction to my words—like he found them suspicious.
It was disconcerting how seriously he was taking it.
"As expected, Yuseong feels uneasy about this mission too."
Expected? What expected?
I'm just saying it feels off based on your expression.
"Feeling anxious? You could always join our party if you'd like."
Lucia purred seductively, waving at me with a graceful flick of her hand.
Ermé promptly stepped in front of me, blocking her path.
"Sorry, but our Yuseong isn't some object up for grabs."
"Oh? I didn't say he was... Did that hit a nerve?"
"Ah, sorry. There's been someone tailing our Yuseong lately, so I must've overreacted."
"...See you later, then."
Lucia waved as she departed.
"That woman really rubs me the wrong way."
"...You're probably the only one who'd say that to the Execution Princess's face."
Glasses adjusted his specs as he spoke to Ermé. Teresa nodded quietly behind him.
'...What on earth did she do to get those two so fired up?'
A flicker of curiosity stirred.
"Shall we get going, then?"
At Ermé's words, our party nodded.
We headed down, got our stamps for five members, and made for the portal to the Labyrinth.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ The moment we entered the Labyrinth, I felt it.
'Something.'
My senses sharpened.
My body temperature dropped slightly.
Different from usual.
'The vibe's off.'
The instant we stepped in, I caught a whiff—like the scent of my own potential death today.
"...What is this?"
"W-Was the Labyrinth always this creepy?"
Glasses and Rozenta spoke in turn.
They must have sensed it too. Even Teresa was frowning faintly.
"...The atmosphere's definitely different."
"Last time I came alone, the goblins were acting weird."
"...Weird how?"
"Luring people out, digging traps, moving in groups."
"...Don't goblins normally do that?"
"It was more... professional."
"..."
Glasses pondered, looking conflicted.
Wondering if we were really cut out for this mission.
"Let's set our goal first."
"Our goal?"
"Survival above all else."
I said, scanning our surroundings.
Our party was weak. We'd stumbled into this somehow.
'They probably don't expect much from us anyway.'
Some took this incident seriously, sure. But no one thought we'd pull off anything major here.
Just some capable kids they threw in to build rapport or whatever.
'Still, we should rack up some results if we can.'
As long as our lives weren't on the line.
"Points of caution."
Ermé gathered the party and spoke quietly.
"Like what?"
"If you see any party member acting strangely or seeming entranced, run—no exceptions."
Ermé's tone was uncharacteristically firm.
She usually made careful suggestions. But this was closer to an order.
Perhaps sensing the gravity, everyone nodded with stiff expressions.
"And one more thing. If we get separated and reunite here, don't trust them outright. Just in case, let's set a password."
"A password...?"
Glasses asked, and Ermé nodded vigorously.
"No, better with actions. Draw an X on your wrists and wrap these bands around."
Ermé quickly distributed the bands. Then, using something like a Yuseong pen, she drew X's on our wrists.
'...So the enemies this time transform into party members.'
If Ermé was emphasizing it this much, it had to be true.
We wrapped the bands over the X's.
...But a strange sense of déjà vu hit me.
Like I'd seen this somewhere before.
"As party leader, one last thing. Our goal is investigation, but prioritize your own life above all."
"G-Got it."
Ermé repeated the warning to value their lives multiple times.
Her uncharacteristic behavior had everyone on edge.
Rozenta looked touched that the leader was prioritizing safety.
"Still, we're lucky. Nice to have someone with a conscience."
"Why's that?"
"In my old party, it was all about results no matter what. The leader saw sacrificing members as par for the course to boost his own record."
"What happened to him?"
"Obsessed with results, got backstabbed by a party member..."
Yeah, figures.
Things happen in the Labyrinth, after all.
"Alright, let's move out. Yuseong, if anything seems off—no matter how small—call it out immediately."
"Got it."
I took point.
Teresa followed, then Glasses and Rozenta, with Ermé at the rear.
"Here we go."
We advanced into the darkness.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ We hadn't gone far into the Labyrinth when the weirdness set in.
It was unnaturally silent.
Normally, we'd hear combat noises by now, even faintly.
'...Maybe because there are so few adventurers.'
Most had been evacuated.
The ones still here were at least level 3.
Even lowballing it, that meant their average level was higher than mine—the strongest in our party—giving them the edge.
So they were probably mowing down monsters before any real fights could echo.
We pressed forward.
After a bit, Rozenta spoke up uncertainly.
"...The Labyrinth is way too quiet."
"Suspiciously so, unlike usual."
"Probably because of all the high-rank adventurers."
Ermé shared my guess, yet she was incredibly tense despite it.
'...Making me wanna go home with how worked up she is.'
What the hell had happened in the Labyrinth to rattle her like this?
👻 Rishiel's Warning 👻 -My lord, just in case, you should stay alert. The Labyrinth is strange this time. '...I know.'
👻 Rishiel's Warning 👻 -Don't take the Labyrinth's anomalies lightly. They always come with victims. 'Understood.'
With Rishiel chiming in, my body tensed on instinct.
Our party proceeded cautiously for a while.
I sensed something ahead of us.
'Blood.'
Mixed with some foul, unidentified stench.
Blood smeared everywhere, as if a massacre had taken place.
But something was off.
There should have been corpses.
'None.'
Only blood remained. That's what made it strange. High-rank adventurers could slaughter goblins effortlessly—why bother taking the bodies? Loot would make more sense.
And the eerie silence.
The questions didn't linger long.
"..."
A human head lay there, dangling.
Nothing below it.
I remembered this man.
He'd been kind to me at the guild.
'Nation.'
The guy who'd introduced himself as Viola's brother and thanked me for pranking her with those snacks.
His face was frozen in horror.
Only his head remained.