Chapter 535
Chapter 535
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 535
Chapter Title: Reincarnated as the Plum Blossom Sword Master in a Count's Family
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We arrived at Belvat Labyrinth City two days later than planned.
It was unavoidable.
On the way here, Yuria and I kept locking eyes, and once we did, there was no letting it slide. We'd have sex every time we walked the road. It was the same in the village we stopped at midway—a total sex marathon. We were a bit late, but I had no regrets.
Unlike regular territories, Belvat Labyrinth City had no lord. Territories normally had nobles to rule them, but labyrinth cities were operated by the Adventurer's Guild.
The guild collected taxes, deducted the set operating budget, and sent the rest to the royal family.
'In the past, no nobles wanted labyrinth cities, so the guild ended up as their owners.'
The city was stable now, but it hadn't always been that way. Monsters used to pour out of the labyrinth frequently, and the nobles who didn't want to deal with the damage would relinquish the cities or dump them on someone else.
"No nobles around gives it a strange kind of energy."
I could see adventurers milling about. Armed with armor and weapons, they reminded me of hunters from my old world. Thinking about it, adventurers and hunters did similar work.
"Yeah. But there are slaves."
Following Yuria's gaze, I spotted burly slaves pulling wagons along the roadside. Their ragged clothes and the chain marks on their ankles made it obvious.
"Guess the slaves want to play nobles too."
Slaves were everywhere, so it wasn't strange. If anything, they burned through slaves fast in labyrinth cities, for various monster-related reasons.
"Master. Shall we head straight into the labyrinth?"
"No. Let's secure a place to stay first and enter tomorrow."
We weren't here for a standard labyrinth run. We needed to make some preparations.
We booked the city's most luxurious hotel and headed to the Adventurer's Guild.
I'd hoped for a pretty female receptionist, but unfortunately, it was all men. I approached one who looked idle.
"Welcome. How can I assist you?"
Yuria and I casually flashed our Ruby-rank adventurer badges. His body went rigid.
We'd used makeup techniques to alter our faces slightly.
I looked a bit older, and Yuria had her face mostly hidden under a deep black robe.
"James, adventurer from the north. The companion beside me is Yura, same rank."
"Welcome, James. Yura. I'll notify the branch chief right away."
"No need. I have no business with the chief."
"Th-then what business do you have...?"
He stammered. Ruby rank meant at least low-tier Aura Expert level.
"You're too tense. Relax. I'm not here to make outrageous demands of the guild."
"If there's anything I can help with, I'll do so with utmost sincerity."
"We've come to experience Belvat Labyrinth. We'll explore it to a certain extent and then leave promptly. Problem is, we don't know the paths or the detailed info on Belvat Labyrinth."
"Understood. You're looking for a guide, James."
"Glad you're quick on the uptake."
We needed a guide because we had zero info on the labyrinth. Hiring one was way faster than scouting it ourselves.
"I'll have a list of guide candidates ready by tomorrow. Any specific types you're after?"
"No major preferences. Just not incompetent."
"Uh... what pay range are you thinking? Skilled adventurers won't work for low wages."
The value of talent was the same here or back home.
"How much does a guide usually cost?"
"A standard guide asks 500,000 Ner per day."
"Pricey."
"Only veteran adventurers can handle guide duty."
"30 million Ner for a week."
"Th-that's too much. For that, you could hire an entire adventurer party."
"If they're worth it, that's not a bad deal. I'll come back tomorrow at this time."
I toured the labyrinth city with Yuria before heading back to our lodging.
The next day.
Unlike yesterday, the guild was packed. The moment I stepped in, all eyes turned to us.
"The employer's finally here."
"Ruby rank, huh? The presence is something else."
"I've lived in Belvat Labyrinth City for over ten years! Guiding paths is my specialty! Pick me!"
It was chaos all around. As I frowned, a guild staffer hurried over.
"S-sorry, James. Word got out about the high pay, so... a lot of adventurers gathered."
"It's fine. Actually, not a bad thing. I can just pick from the crowd. Does the guild have an unused room? I'd like to interview them privately."
"Yes! There's one available now. It's a bit messy, so just 10 minutes! Please wait 10 minutes!"
The guild staff bustled about. If I weren't loaded and Ruby rank, I wouldn't get this treatment.
I cut Silvers and below without interviews. Real adventurers started at Gold. Everyone knew that.
No other Rubies in the crowd; all that remained were Gold-ranks.
"Please pick our Medri Travelers party. We've been to the deepest floor of Belvat Labyrinth."
Belvat Labyrinth's lowest floor was the 30th. The攻略 route was known, so a well-prepped Gold party could reach it.
"Medri Travelers...? What does that mean?"
"All five of us hail from the mountain village of Medri."
I eyed their appearances. All burly, swarthy men. What reason did I have to travel with five sweaty guys?
"No good. Too many of you."
"Huh? Too many? We're all pros who've攻略ed Belvat Labyrinth for over three years! Few parties can clear it as safely as us!"
"I'm not hiring for safe clears. We want someone stealthy and quick. Three would be ideal. Can two of you step aside?"
"That's..."
The party leader was at a loss for words.
Human relations were delicate. One tiny thing could crack them. And party leaders had to guard against that most of all.
Three out of five.
Two dropped.
If the pay got split including the dropouts, the three would resent it. Why do they get a cut for doing nothing?
If the dropouts got nothing, they'd feel abandoned by the party.
I could see it: party members already eyeing each other warily.
The leader finally sighed.
"...We'll pass this time."
"Leader! 30 million Ner!"
"We could earn that in a few months. Adventurers can't chase money alone."
The leader soothed his grumbling members and left the room. I interviewed others, but few impressed me.
Until they walked in.
"Hello~"
"It's the Vinerad sisters!"
They were identical twins. Mid-twenties beauties with light brown hair, pale skin, and red lips. Light leather armor with daggers and bows marked them as rangers specializing in scouting and detection.
Names: Heli and Kelly. They boasted five years living here and knowing every path in Belvat Labyrinth.
Heli was the older sister.
"Know every path in the dungeon...? No exaggerating. This job is very important to us."
"It's important to us too. 30 million Ner on the line—no way we'd lie."
"Our combat's weak. But pathfinding and trap disarming? We're way better than other adventurers. Guaranteed."
I wondered if identical twins tasted the same down there.
I nodded while thinking that.
I wanted a guide who knew the labyrinth paths inside out. Two was perfect, and they came with the rarity of twin beauties. No reason to refuse.
'Saying they're hired on the spot would be suspicious.'
After some questions, I gave the word.
"Heli. Kelly. Looking forward to working with you."
"Speak casually. You're Ruby rank."
"Yeah, casual's easier."
Ranks were basically castes among adventurers.
"Will do. Starts tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. We're here to experience the labyrinth—focus on exploring it, not hunting monsters."
"The whole week like that?"
Heli, the older one, asked. I shook my head.
"First four days, focus on upper and middle floors. Last three, camp in the dungeon and check the lower ones."
"Sounds risky. But you're both Ruby rank, right? We'll trust and follow."
Kelly, the younger, said firmly. She seemed more reliable than her sister.
We chatted a bit more, then parted.
Right after, a guild staffer approached me.
"James. The Vinerad sisters have a bad reputation among adventurers."
"Bad rep? Why?"
"They betrayed a party once. And... rumors of ties to criminals."
"Their skills fake?"
"No. Solid Gold rank. Top-tier guides."
"Doesn't matter. I hired them for pathfinding. Let's go, Yura."
"Yes."
We entered Belvat Labyrinth.
The place was packed with rock walls and reeked of blood. Hundreds of monsters were born and died here every day.
"Honestly, I don't get you two, James. Why pay big to 'experience' the labyrinth...? Something special here?"
Heli said. I secretly scanned her body. B-cup breasts. Adventurer fit—tight and toned. Her ass looked just right size, firm in those leather pants.
"Labyrinth experience aids growth. And we're adventurers. Our goal: every labyrinth on the continent."
"Noble goal. But Yura's so quiet... What's your relationship? Lovers?"
"Something like that."
Like most labyrinths, monsters got stronger deeper in.
Floor 1 often had monsters weaker than goblins.
"Floor 1 monsters are Floating Slimes. Just like the name—floating slimes. Hit the core right, and they're easy."
"I want to check every corner of floor 1. Any hidden spots?"
"No hiddens or traps on 1 through 5."
"Really?"
We reached floor 6 in four hours. Not focused on hunting, so we moved fast.
In a spot on floor 6, Yuria sent me a private telepathic message.
-...Master. Found it. On the ceiling.
I glanced up without alerting Heli and Kelly. A 4-meter-high domed ceiling. Graffiti-like text on the side wall.
'First sentence.'
One of the seven sentences we had to find in this labyrinth.
'Finding's not enough. Gotta activate it.'
Activating was simple: touch and infuse mana.
"Heli. Kelly. Got a word."
While I held their attention, Yuria used magic to leap to the ceiling and activate the text.
Smooth success.