Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Sisters
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Sisters.
Finn.
A promising talent among promising talents who reached level 3 in his first year in the Labyrinth.
Currently, Cradle is in that era called the Blank Period—the time when monsters that caused disasters hundreds of years ago roamed free.
If there were as abundant a wealth of talent as in that era...
Finn would have received offers from countless clans.
"What the hell?"
But right now, all of Cradle's attention was focused on one place.
Starlight Spiral Clan.
The clan famous for making the guild master's and Volkan's eyes glaze over the instant they heard its name.
The Golden Witch, the clan's true master.
She had scouted him.
Honestly, he was thrilled.
It felt like his worth had finally been recognized.
However.
"...Han Yuseong."
He had only been in Cradle for a few months.
Yet rumors were flying everywhere that he had already hit level 4.
Finn didn't buy it.
That distant eastern continent was known as the [World Where the Labyrinths Were Unleashed].
He must have picked up some exotic secret technique there and hidden his true nature.
As a fellow clan member, Finn had plenty of suspicions about his background.
So he'd uncover the truth during this expedition.
That was the plan.
"This way."
"That's a trap."
"What's with the sudden lock?"
He strode forward without a moment's hesitation.
As if strolling through his own backyard, he blazed through the first floor of the Labyrinth.
"...Something's off."
Too fast.
He wondered if they were lost, but no one else seemed doubtful.
"Come to think of it, we were panicked escaping back then, but you found the way perfectly, didn't you?"
"Yuseong, nice pathfinding."
Teresa nodded in agreement at Viola's words.
Han Yuseong had never actually gotten lost.
If anything, he was the one finding hidden rooms.
The party members who'd traveled with him trusted him no matter where he led.
But to Finn...
"The Labyrinth goes through this quickly?"
They barely ran into any monsters along the way.
Even when they did, it was just one or two.
It felt like piercing straight through the entire path, diving deep into the Labyrinth.
Finn had never had an experience like this.
As if he were an adventurer who'd explored here for decades.
He navigated with effortless skill.
"We here?"
When they finally reached the boss room...
Finn had no choice but to admit it.
"Pathfinding on another level."
Even comparing him to Uncle Hansen felt unfair.
*
After waiting thirty minutes, Ermé's party appeared in the distance.
"Whoa, late as usual."
"Hmph. That guy's quick. Bet he had a prime starting point!"
"Yuseong, it was actually the farthest spot."
"...What?"
"Enough pointless bickering. Let's head down."
Ermé descended, leaving a stunned Hansen behind.
Hansen had always commanded top dollar as both a pathfinder and ranged dealer.
"...Time to negotiate his fee down."
Ermé had asked me before we came.
To show Hansen just a taste of my skills.
Might be a sad day for Uncle Hansen, but...
"It's Ermé's request."
I had no choice but to oblige.
Besides, some posturing was inevitable at the start.
"You scout this floor."
"Alternating shifts?"
"We need to sort who's superior first."
Hansen's words.
I loved contests like this.
Straightforward.
Do what I do best. Crush the opponent.
Piece of cake.
"Five enemies ahead."
"What? You spotted them already? They haven't even entered my range..."
Mid-sentence, Hansen's face twisted.
He stared at me like I was a monster.
"At this pace... you detected them at least 300 meters out?"
"Cave terrain echoes sound, so my detection range widens."
I brushed off Hansen's shocked outburst and nocked an arrow.
Kreeeak.
I drew the string. Crackle— Purple lightning gathered at the arrowhead.
Then a thought struck me.
Sword aura amps up when infused with fighting spirit.
What about arrows?
Creep.
Black energy coiled around the purple lightning. Dark purple bolts crackled everywhere.
The moment I released...
Kurrrroooom—!!!
Thunder roared, shredding the air around us.
The dark purple lightning devoured everything in its path.
What remained was the Labyrinth walls torn to shreds.
"..."
Everyone gawked blankly at the destruction I'd wrought.
"..."
I stared at it too.
"No, why."
-...Aren't you supposed to feel proud after a scene like this?
The holy sword spoke to me.
But a twinge of despair washed over me. I covered my face with both hands and thought.
"Even the mana stone shattered."
-...
The holy sword fell silent, speechless.
*
The power struggle after that was a breeze.
Hansen declared I'd handle the next floors after seeing my detection and that... snipe? (Not sure what else to call it.)
Ermé gave me a thumbs-up from behind.
"Sorry. Think I overdid it."
Hansen sulked, on the other hand.
Not all bad, though.
Finn, the guy with that punk underling vibe.
His gaze toward me had totally shifted.
"Bro, where you from?"
Too chummy now—that was the problem.
I sighed inwardly and replied.
"One of the villages on the western continent."
"Which one?"
"Memories faded. Village got wiped by bandits. Barely survived meeting my master."
Of course, none of that happened.
Just one of my fabricated backstories. Pieced together from Cradle intel and local lore.
Can't exactly say I fell into a game world with no hometown.
"Even if someone buys it."
Believers like that are the dangerous ones.
Anyway, we pressed on downward.
Before long, we hit the fourth floor—where I'd teamed up with Volkan to smash those elves.
Thud!
A gray-tinged Lizardman boss appeared.
"Huh, a boss for once?"
"Probably 'cause top clans are lying low after all the recent Labyrinth weirdness."
"Hmph. What's scary about those guys?"
Veronica snorted at Ermé's explanation and glanced my way.
But I was lost in other thoughts.
"Just a regular one this time."
I recalled that Dark Knight or whatever possessing the lizard, giving us hell.
-...Just checking, but how deep are your ties to those guys anyway?
"No clue. They just keep showing up."
Huge pain in the ass, honestly.
Don't want any connection.
Even when we grind them down...
"All they give is exp."
The only impressive drop was...
"...the Dark Knight."
And that was just 'cause it hoarded dead adventurers' loot like warehouse junk.
They weren't helpful to people at all. Just decent level fodder.
-Heh, talking about the Eternal Soldiers like that.
"Eternal Soldiers?"
-Name of that guy's legion. But right now, other priorities.
"Like wha—"
I was curious, but I got what the holy sword meant.
A woman stepped forward with the most confident smile imaginable.
"I've just been spectating so far, but let me show you why they call me the order's greatest Saintess."
Veronica advanced with light steps.
She swung her hand through empty air.
Fwoosh!
Dozens of light spears materialized before her at once.
Boom!
They rained down like an aerial bombardment.
"...Brutal."
Even I wouldn't dodge that barrage easily.
-Don't sweat it. This holy sword will teach you soon enough.
"Teach what?"
-That a hero's orthodox arts aren't limited to swordplay. Hmm. Actually about time to start.
Bang!
Veronica plunged a final spear several meters long.
The holy sword spoke to me at the same time.
-Hero's orthodox footwork. They call it foot technique in the east.
What the—
As I opened my mouth to ask...
Veronica sauntered over, beaming triumphantly.
"Impressed by my performance?"
Performance? Or a masterclass in power waste?
Unaware of my expression, Veronica snorted with supreme confidence.
"Feed me."
"...Sure."
At least eat up.
*
I got to work on dinner right away.
Night was falling soon anyway.
"More people? Or just higher levels?"
Resting on the fourth floor in under a day.
No wonder folks flock to clans.
"Ingredients here."
"...You prepared a ton."
Ermé pulled heaps of foodstuffs from her subspace pouch.
My occasional home cooking.
"What's so great about it?"
Local food's kinda bland, honestly.
Mine packs umami from elf tea arts—like heavy MSG.
"...Hmm. Thinking deeper, yeah, it's addictive."
By the time cooking wrapped, Ermé and Veronica were already at the table, waiting.
"Wh-what's that amazing smell?"
"...No wonder Ermé and Veronica lose it. This aroma? I get it."
"Hungry..."
"..."
Smart move making extras for everyone.
-You suit chef more than warrior.
"..."
Couldn't argue with the holy sword.
*
We carved downward like a hot knife through butter.
Blasted through the fifth floor's ant soldiers.
Entered the next: grassland field.
"Careful from here."
Ermé warned us.
The clan tensed up noticeably.
Sixth floor.
All monsters so far, plus imps—lesser demons.
Numbers were insane. Dozens per clash.
"Intervals short."
Prior floors: battles every thirty minutes.
Sixth onward: often every ten.
Seventh.
Ape Demon Beasts—monkey monsters.
Eighth.
Fire Bears—flaming-backed ursine horrors.
Ninth onward: half-trolls.
And the big tenth.
We ran into another party.
"Uh, oh."
The woman looked flustered.
Glanced aside: Veronica radiating annoyance.
Makes sense.
Because...
"Heard she's the Saintess Proxy."
Standing before us was Clara—possibly the real Saintess.
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