Blood-Drenched Sands
On the blood-soaked sand plain, we left the eyeless corpses behind. Yeah. Eyes. Today, a human eye got etched onto my left arm. My feelings about it haven't changed. Hmm. What can I say. It's kinda gross. But it's not like I'm freaking out or anything. Once I actually fed it, there wasn't much of a sensation. Come to think of it, it's weird that everything else works fine except for human eyes. Especially in the labyrinth, where there's not much Dusty can eat. So from now on, I'll just feed it whenever I can. Its power was getting stronger, and it felt like its fuel efficiency was dropping more and more.
From inside the bandages wrapped around my left arm, I could feel Dusty—sated after a long time—rolling its pupils around contentedly. When I unwrapped the bandages, my eyes met its pupil. A red iris. Maybe the red pupil of a knife's edge. Creepy.
"Hey. I told you not to keep popping out."
I jabbed the pupil with my finger, shoving it back in. It shed a few tears and slithered down my arm, vanishing.
I pulled out the map of the 2nd layer from my pocket and unfolded it. It was from the bags of those thugs who ambushed us. Way better quality than the crude map we'd gotten from the guild as a beginner's kit. I took out the compass from my bosom. This was from the guild's beginner set too. The needle jittered a bit, but it was fine for getting our bearings.
The new map was definitely different. Unlike the ragged scrap of parchment for the 1st layer, it detailed the major landmarks and terrain of the 2nd layer pretty thoroughly. Even the "temple ruins" we'd just collapsed were marked in red ink, so it was clearly worth the money.
"Hmm, let's see. If we head northwest from here…."
Turn northwest. Then you'll reach the safe zone and return stone.
We just kept walking endlessly.
"Ah, this is heavy as hell."
I stuffed the map back in my pocket and readjusted the straps of the backpack weighing down my shoulders. Moss and dirt from the 1st layer. Magic stones swept up from the Minotaur room, plus stuff from those thugs. I'd ditched the bulky weapons and gear, but it was still this much. At this point, it felt less like a backpack and more like hauling a rice sack.
"…This is too much. Dusty, just eat it."
Halfway to our goal, I fed Dusty all the magic stones except the one from the Minotaur. Its eye curved into a happy crescent. Now we'd ditched the gear, fed the stones, and tossed anything else too heavy. All that was left was the moss, dirt, and the Minotaur's magic stone.
My money….
Watching gold coins' worth of magic stones vanish in real time made my stomach hurt.
"Evel, moss or dirt—which do you want?"
"Moss."
"Damn it."
Shouldn't have asked. I dragged the dirt sack along the ground as we pressed on. Much better. Still heavy, though. Exactly as heavy as those mercenaries we'd lost. My feet sank deep into the sand. With my mana depleted, my physical stats had tanked, making the weight feel two or three times heavier than usual.
Wait a sec, now that I think about it….
Why was I doing this the hard way? I glanced down at my bandaged left arm. Through the battles, I'd realized something new: Dusty's stamina and my mana were completely separate. I just sent a tiny bit of mana to my left arm as a signal, and everything after that was pure Dusty. Like a lighter, basically. I flick the flint with mana to spark the flame, but the gas inside keeps it burning. Of course, the gas mileage sucked, so it burned out fast and whined about being hungry… but still.
It shouldn't take much to drag this luggage. It had just scarfed down a bunch of magic stones, after all. I could feel its vitality brimming through the bandages.
"Dusty, you carry it."
Sssslither. At my call, a few chains crept out from the shadows. They coiled around the moss and dirt sacks, dragging them across the sand, leaving long trails.
Comfortable now. Should've done this ages ago. No, I should've done this from the start! Then I could've kept their gear, and didn't need to feed Dusty all those stones!
My money!!
It hurt worse than heartburn—my guts were twisting. If I'd used my brain sooner, I could've walked out with a dozen gold coins' worth of stones and decent weapons!
Indignant, I glared down at Dusty.
"Dusty."
—Vrrr?
"Spit it out."
—…….
Dusty ignored me.
"Spit it out. Puke it up. Give me back my magic stones, you gluttonous parasite—!"
That's when Evel tugged my sleeve.
"Uh, Iris. Over there."
"……?"
Far off, the safe zone where we'd started was visible. And the tall rectangular return stone.
"………."
It had been five minutes since Dusty started dragging the luggage with its chains.
# Screeech.
We pushed open the adventurer guild doors and stepped inside. Dragging the dirt sack laboriously to the counter, the receptionist woman with her trailing speech habit greeted us.
"Where do I submit collection requests?"
"Ah, over there."
Luckily, her bad habit didn't kick in this time. She pointed with a practiced gesture.
It was the "request settlement counter." We rubbed our stiff shoulders and lined up at the end of the queue. With reorganization coming up soon, the line wasn't too long. Soon it was our turn. I plopped the dirt sack on the counter with a thud. Evel neatly placed her moss sack beside it.
"Eastern Labyrinth, 1st layer dirt and moss collection request."
The clerk behind the counter roughly checked the dirt particles and moss condition, then slammed a stamp in the ledger.
Clink.
The drawer opened, and 25 copper coins slid across the counter.
"………."
I stared at the dull copper coins. 25 coppers. For all that hell, just 25 coppers.
"Haa."
A sigh escaped me. Suddenly, the harsh lives of newbie adventurers scraping by on 1st-layer dirt hit home. No wonder they all go crazy and backstab each other.
"Good work. Confirm your reward. Next…."
"Wait a sec."
I cut him off, opened my backpack, and pulled out what was inside. The only magic stone I'd saved from the 2nd layer, not feeding it to Dusty, along with the dirt and moss.
Thud!
A head-sized massive magic stone hit the counter.
"Not a request item, but do you buy these here too?"
The clerk's hand froze mid-paperwork.
"This… the size and mana purity… at least 3rd-layer gatekeeper level…?"
He leaned over the counter, staring holes into the stone. Then he alternated shocked glances between me and it.
What? His eyes said he never expected a dirt-hauler like me to bring something like this. Fair enough—our grubby state was pretty rough. Time to buy some gear and clothes soon. You don't get this treatment if you look put-together.
"Hold on."
The clerk went upstairs. Soon, Guild Master Rainerus came down.
"Sorry, do your staff always dump everything on the guild master?"
"Keep it brief."
"This. How much?"
"Hmm."
He cleared his throat and eyed the stone. His fatigued gaze sharpened instantly.
"Judging by the mana tangles and size, a Minotaur core."
He could tell that too? Surprisingly expert moment. He gently stroked it, muttering.
"Didn't expect something like this right before reorganization. You went to the 3rd layer?"
"No. Caught it on the 2nd."
"2nd layer?"
He tilted his head quizzically.
"There was this huge temple-looking place out in the open, so we went in—trap."
"…You had rotten luck. You two took it down?"
"Mercenaries were with us at first, but they all died."
"……I see."
His eyes darkened briefly. He got the picture.
"Still, ignoring my advice so thoroughly. Wizards and their stubbornness."
"Advice?"
"Reorganization's around the corner—don't go deep, watch out for people."
"Oh."
Was that it? Whatever.
"We made it out fine."
"Yeah, true. Just be careful next time."
He chuckled and shrugged. Then refocused on the stone.
"Minotaur cores are in high demand at forges for weapon refining. Especially now, with reorganization drying up supply—name your price."
He spread his fingers: five.
"This size? 20 gold. Guild doesn't usually buy this big, but I can broker with big traders or smithies. Know a few places desperate for cores."
"Commission?"
"Ten percent."
"Pass."
Thieves. I'd sell it myself. Wasn't planning to sell right away anyway. I had some coin left, and it made good emergency rations for Dusty if needed.
Okay. Decided. Keeping this for now.
I turned from the counter without hesitation. Rainerus didn't stop me. As I walked away, a cluster in the lobby corner caught my eye. Tables packed full. Like a barrier kept everyone away—total loser zone.
"Hahaha! Fools! Betting against this! My victory!"
"Heh, hehehe… lucky this time… Sigurd…."
"S-so, Sogon…! Sogon…!"
"The lady says this is cheating."
Some lunatics running a gambling den smack in the middle of the table.
"What! Calling noble Sigurd de Lavallière a filthy cheat, you mute!"
"Sogonsogon!"
"The lady says shut your mouth or die!"
"Hah! All prim and proper till you show your true colors! Come at me then!"
"Hehehe… no fighting… pot's still huge…."
As I watched, Sigurd shot up from his seat and our eyes met.
"Oh, what? Mortal Iris, Evel. Back from the labyrinth? You look like hell."
"…Yeah, whatever."
"Fits a clueless hack like you perfectly! Hahaha!"
…Rough day all around. I rummaged in my bosom, pulled out parchment, and scribbled. Content: Don't kill Sigurd.
"Hehehe… whatcha writing?"
"Privacy."
"Hehehe… right…."
The gambling nut Do… whatever came over. What was his name again?
"Hehehe… Doal."
"Got it, Doal. Sorry, but if you're gonna laugh, make it confident? This one's too creepy."
"Hohohoho…! Better?"
"Much."
Emperor of awkward laughs. After fixing his chuckle and humoring Sigurd a bit, we left the guild.
Exhausted to death. Wanted food and sleep, stat.
"Evel. Hungry?"
"Yeah. Want meat."
"Me too."
Under the long-stretching sunset, we walked hand in hand.