88. The mindset of a monk practicing the Way
88. The mindset of a monk practicing the Way
Everyone's asleep in the dead of night(?).
-swish
"... Hoo."
Without any recoil, Magna, who rose using only core power, said.
"I'm going crazy."
Magna couldn't fall into a deep sleep.
The temperature was perfect, not a single ray of light leaking in—it was the optimal sleeping environment, but what the hell...
"Snoooore..."
"... I'm going crazy."
The male beast sprawled out next to him, belly fully exposed, stinking up the place with his scent—enough to drive anyone insane.
Magna had never once resented being a Northerner.
On the contrary, he took pride in being a free Northerner at one with the land.
But today was the exception.
-flex! bulge!
Power surged into Magna's chiseled abs, screaming to just squeeze the shit out of that male right now.
Northerners had way more sex drive than ordinary races.
Their everyday lust was just a notch below a beastkin in heat.
This came from some past harsh environment bullshit... genetic evolution to pass on to the next generation or whatever...
But did Magna give a damn about genetic factors?
Nah, he just figured his folks back home were sex-crazed, so that's how Northerners rolled.
But he thought he was different.
Compared to his kin always yapping about sex sex sex, his interests lay elsewhere.
That was God. A Bible he stumbled upon had captured his heart.
The Warrior's Heart shouted in the North was spot-on like what the Main God taught us.
Punish evil, help the weak, never compromise.
The Main God... is a warrior. A great warrior beyond all respect.
His words had raised countless warriors to this day, so the Main God is great.
If you're gonna learn, Magna wanted to learn from the world's top-recognized warrior.
That's why she broke both arms fighting the chief and ran away from home.
However, this iron will and firm faith...
"Snoooore..."
"Grumble..."
Was on the verge of crumbling because of the prime male next to her reeking of scent—look at that sweat pooling in her collarbone, abs all bumpy and bulging, that V-line so damn sharp, is he begging to get eaten right now? Can't a guy sleep a little more modestly? Just flops down thoughtlessly...
Had already crumbled ages ago.
Today, the lust she'd been suppressing with prayer and Training exploded upon meeting Ryu-o.
But as someone following God's will, a comrade trusted by others, and a decent person, rape was out of the question.
Magna went far away so as not to wake her tired comrades, stripped down...
-swish... ...... slash slash slash slash slash!
"Urgh......"
And decided to handle it solo.
A judgment call because this would mess up the expedition otherwise.
Compared to the Northern average of 'rape,' Magna was super rational...
That rationality leading to jerking off horny during an expedition.
What the hell kind of place is the North...?
"Huaaahhh!!! Hoo... what time is it..."
"You slept too well..."
The comrades' voices as they started waking up.
I was just waking up myself.
I sat up and looked at my comrades.
"Oppa... yawn... the best..."
"If we're doing this, might as well carry a bed..."
They still seemed half out of it.
I shook Magna, who was still lying down, to wake her.
"Magna, get up... time to go."
-shake shake
"Cough!! Slurp!!"
Magna shot up like the director with sleep apnea...
-leap!
"Sorry!"
And suddenly apologized out of nowhere.
Must've been sleeping real deep.
7 hours in the Labyrinth without worries, totally understandable.
Plus, the sleeping bags were top-grade from the Duchy.
Totally out of it.
"...? Snap out of it. Time to eat and head to the 18th floor."
Magna looked at me, eyes twitching, then nodded.
"... Hoo. Yeah. Let's go."
We built a roaring fire, shoved smoked meat and veggies into the pot.
Sprinkled in a full set of silver-10-piece seasonings, poured water, and boiled it up.
Jenin blowing wind into the bonfire to amp the heat.
A faint breeze came from his hands.
-hum hum hum...
Jenin tilted his head, like even he found it ridiculous.
"Haha... can we really light a fire inside the Labyrinth..."
"Cave-type floors are tricky."
"I was careful even gnawing jerky on the run..."
"Slurp! That smell is insane..."
The vibe was like roommates pounding booze in a bachelor pad, then boiling hangover ramen the next day.
Everyone staring at the bubbling pot, swallowing hard...
-slurp!
"Mmm, all good. Hold out your bowls."
"Slurp... ohhh..."
I ladled soup into my comrades' sparkling bowls.
-scoop scoop scoop
"Mmm~ so tasty, oppa!"
"Nom nom nom nom! Slurrrrp!"
"Huh...? Isn't it, like, edible?"
"Tsk tsk, you haven't suffered, so edible to you. In the Labyrinth, this is gourmet!"
Jenin and Selana chowed down, Magna slurped it like it was vanishing before her eyes.
-nom nom nom
"Whew... one more bowl."
"Here."
Tasty as hell. Dried and ground shellfish adductor mixed with spices, right?
Looks reddish, but it's basically ramen broth seasoning.
MSG for sure... sticks right to your tongue, damn good.
It was in the supplies... but no one noticed?
'Tasty... but if we're eating this comfy, why not buy ready-made... nah.'
Wanted to carry ready-mades, but they take space and spoil quick...
Humans get greedier over time, huh.
I just ate gratefully.
And so we finished.
"Haa... thanks for the grub!"
"Nom... keeps lingering in my mind?"
"Just delicious."
Everyone lost in the aftertaste, staring blankly into space.
"Next time, bring dessert too, oppa?"
"Gongnyeonnim~ we got some rare tea at home recently! Next time that too..."
"Wanna sleep more."
They think this is a vacation?
"Tch! Everyone too relaxed? We're still in the Labyrinth! Pack up quick and prep to move!"
"N-no, just kidding..."
"S-sorry..."
"No excuses."
Feeling their own sloppiness, the comrades tidied up sharp.
"Alright, let's go. Goal: finish expedition and return in 24 hours! Got it!"
"""Yes!!"""
They listen well, couldn't help a slight chuckle.
"Ah, oppa smiled! Heehee~"
"Sigh..."
"Grumble..."
And so we headed to the 18th floor.
"Main God! Give me strength!!!"
"Oppa!!!"
I stepped on the shield Selana held.
"Hraaah!"
Selana timed my jump, thrusting the shield up.
-whoosh!
My footwork plus buffed Selana's power created insane acceleration.
As I flew through the air, Jenin aimed behind me.
"Air Blast!!"
-boom!
Acceleration on acceleration, my body flew at the moss-covered Stone Golem...
-rumble rumble rumble!!
'Warrior's Charge.'
With triple booster, before hitting the golem's chest, I twisted my wrist, activating Bug Sword.
Blue sword aura shredded the golem's chest...
-whoosh! shiririririk! crack crack crack!
Heavenly Demon ki from my legs exploded the golem's massive upper body.
-boom! clatter clatter...
"Oppa the beeeest!!!"
"Core! Gotta extract the core!"
As I landed, Magna rushed over and yanked the golem's core.
"Hup!"
The vine-wrapped core popped out...
-plop plop! keeeen...
The golem's wrecked vibrations stopped dead.
This was the 20th floor portal.
Normally, you'd bypass the golem and head to 20, but we did it for practice and farming.
Our teamwork was syncing better, so we tested if it worked...
And as you see, perfect results.
I grinned, slicing and storing the 20th floor portal.
"Good job everyone! One more floor and we're home!"
"Less than 2 days so far! From now on... no, eternal unbroken record!"
"Insane! I thought we'd take over a week!!!"
"The kids'll love it."
Unless top-tier explorers, our record won't break.
'Insane record... but, not too suspicious?'
Even for rookies, 20 floors in 48 hours looks physically tough.
We're not like Master or Cheon Hwa-ryeong level, kinda overdid it.
I decided to voice my thoughts honestly.
"Kids. Huddle up a sec."
"""Huh?"""
So I said...
"Thinking about it... yeah, too fast? Even the Duchy guarantee might raise eyebrows."
"I'd call it bullshit if those rumors flew."
"Fear the world's envy?"
"Not that, just annoying."
Worst case, might have to reveal my ability.
Insane record or compromise decently...
"For now, head to 19.5. Before boss, we'll plan and dive."
"S-so, push to finish as fast as possible?"
"Nah, if needed, dawdle past 20 on exploration."
"""Ah."""
Just kill time in the Labyrinth, no biggie.
I... got free Labyrinth entry.