Chapter 112
Chapter 112
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Nymph Cultist and Pluto's Underground Labyrinth
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Exploring a dungeon required everyone to play their assigned roles.
First up in the front line was me. Since we didn't know what might come charging from ahead, my burly build made me perfect for blocking the way.
Right behind me stood Luna, holding the canary totem. If she sensed a threat, I could respond immediately.
Behind her, in the center of the formation, was Belmina, the mage we could call the key to conquering this labyrinth. A chanting mage was defenseless, so we positioned her in the middle where she could be protected from both front and rear.
Guarding her back was Paranoya, who wasn't much use otherwise. If worst came to worst, she could shield the mage with her body.
On top of that, since she'd once been a cultist in Pluto's temple, keeping her close to the powerful mage seemed like a good way to ensure she didn't try anything funny.
Bringing up the rear, guarding against attacks from behind, was the dwarf warrior Didier with his axe.
Excluding the uneasy Luna and Paranoya, our formation of two frontline warriors and one mage was reasonably stable.
"Just stick to the plan. If anything looks suspicious, don't touch it—tell me instead."
"Got it. Whew, this is tense. But with you up front, party leader, I feel solid."
Hoo.
Letting out a small sigh, I slowly moved my legs toward that gaping maw of an entrance, like the mouth of hell itself.
Step, step.
The moment we entered the labyrinth corridor from the reed field, a bizarre chill licked at my face, sending shivers down my spine.
It truly felt like stepping into another world. Staring into the pitch-black depths of that corridor only made me want to turn tail and run.
"Hoo... This place is suffocating. Honestly, I don't wanna go any deeper. I'd rather deal with those thieves from yesterday again."
Didier, who'd bravely faced down those thieves, swallowed hard like he was terrified. It was typical for first-timers in a labyrinth—no big deal.
"This is the infernal magic from deep underground... Feels kinda familiar. Chilly, but different from ice."
Was the mage Belmina sensing something else?
"Nymph. As a cultist, you must know a lot about underground labyrinths. What do you think of Kalan's labyrinth?"
"I-I don't know... Only silver-tier priests or higher are allowed in. This is my first time too..."
Apparently, even Syberal Paranoya was a labyrinth newbie.
Compared to Skizo or Somnia, Paranoya seemed more like someone playing at being a cultist.
Amid the group's somber mood, only Luna seemed oddly excited.
"Dark and damp—nice. Reminds me of Nox...! Ideophe had caves like this. Brings back memories."
As the daughter of the night goddess, maybe she didn't feel oppressed in the dark.
According to the encyclopedia, the night goddess Nox resided at the labyrinth's end, in Tartarus—the hell of this world.
For Luna, this expedition might feel like heading home to her mother's place. That explained why she wasn't scared.
"Alright, pushing deeper. Keep the torch from going out if you can."
Luna seemed fine despite my worries, so no reason to hold back.
* * *
Unlike our initial fears, the labyrinth exploration went smoothly. No gruesome traps or horrors in sight.
No matter how far we went, only scattered old jars greeted us.
"Hassan, so many jars!"
Crash.
Luna busily swung her silence totem, smashing jars left and right. Out popped shell-covered critters that all looked alike.
Gek, gek gek!
Dungeon creatures that made abandoned jars or chests their homes.
Mimics.
Gek gek, gi gek!
Shell-backed mimics like hermit crabs charged at us, jars on their backs. About the size of large dogs, they had some presence.
"You little shits!"
Whoosh, thwack, crash!
Gek!
My club shattered their jars, sending the mimics flipping belly-up like they'd passed out.
"Piece of cake. Those claws hurt if they grab you, so watch out. Avoid the claws, and they're nothing—don't freak."
"I was scared stiff, but this ain't bad. Mimics fetch good prices as cooking ingredients—freebies in here."
The dwarf chef Didier sliced open a mimic's body and stashed it in his bag.
"Ancient proto-script... Could be clues to infernal magic use. Gotta note this for the academy..."
Belmina scribbled notes on the wall's indecipherable letters or drawings.
The party adapted to the labyrinth in no time, their earlier fear now laughable.
This place was rated bronze-tier for a reason—low difficulty.
Plus, our group was promising bronze-tier adventurers from the guild, so things going easy made sense.
Gi gek!
The monsters? Just worthless mimics. Even back when I was a slave, I could take them barehanded—total pushovers.
A little shock, and they flipped and fainted. Kids could handle them if they knew how.
"Too easy."
Even with five people boosting the difficulty, this? Kinda deflating.
Easy meant quick clear, sure—but rewards would suck too.
Might end up with just junk and mimic corpses, no rare artifacts.
That it?
Feeling a bit bored with that thought.
"U-Um, Hassan... Can't we head back now...?"
Only Paranoya still trembled, unadjusted to the damp gloom.
Claustrophobic? Her wrists hadn't felt like it.
"I-I heard once. Cult priest Koma... Deep in his Kalan labyrinth lurks a t-terrifying monster... I sense Koma's magic here. This must be it!"
Hearing "cult priest Koma" made the necklace around my neck feel heavier.
This relic necklace had belonged to a female cult priest killed in this labyrinth. I'd forgotten, but yeah—Koma.
"K-Koma was the top necromancer among cultists. Whatever she's hiding down here... It ain't normal...!"
Paranoya was half-mad, twitching like she wanted to bolt for the exit.
But we were deep inside already. Turning back would take an hour.
I was about to ask the others' opinions when—
Tweet tweet tweet.
From the birdcage in Luna's hand, the night canary—dormant like asleep—suddenly screeched like a busted radio.
"Wh-What's with it? Didn't chirp at mimics. Thought it was broken."
Luna peered in, puzzled. Then her emerald eyes widened.
"M-MMonster...! Monster's coming! Hassan!"
Monster? Goblin? Skeleton? Bring it. We were in top form!
"Shit, now it feels like a real labyrinth. Everyone, brace! No telling where it'll come from!"
I shouted, pumped—then noticed something huge creaking from the dark ahead.
Drag. Drag.
Koma? No. Wait, who's this? Stranger. Dwarf, nymph, mage, two weird karmas...
The iron-scraping figure was massive. Just standing there crammed the wide corridor, suffocating.
We all froze, speechless, overwhelmed by its bulk.
Black-furred muscles, iron-plate hands with thick four fingers.
Drag drag.
Its long spear ended in a huge double-headed axe scraping sparks on the floor. A halberd?
Thick pillar legs ended in massive hooves.
One look: fucking nightmare monster.
Luna piped up at the sight.
"Th-That black fur... Hassan, i-is that a Samaritan too? Maybe we can talk it out? Same Samaritan!"
She thought the black fur meant Samaritan. What did "Samaritan" even mean in her head?
But no way—that thing was beast, not man. Samaritan were savages, but not this bad!
Worse: no head on those shoulders—just empty space! Headless mover!
"Fuck, it's a Minotaur Dullahan! Party leader! Run!"
At that, a bull head tucked at its side grinned, mouth gaping.
"No running. Straight to the Tartarus hole in my gut. That's my duty."
Drag drag!
Boom, crash, boom crash boom crash.
The axe scraped faster, sparks flying as it charged.
Its corridor-filling bulk rushing felt like jumping on train tracks to die.
"Ice Wall!"
Instantly, ice pillars erupted, blocking it from us.
"R-Run! Minos cows ain't something we can beat!"
ROOOAR!!
The black bull-man bellowed behind the ice. The roar shook the labyrinth, draining blood from our faces.
Crack. Craaack.
Axe swing? Cracks spidered the sturdy ice wall.
"Hurry! My spell won't hold long! Don't know how long till next chant..."
Words barely out—
Shatter.
The ice wall exploded.
"Mage, huh. Mages' hearts are nutritious. You first."
"Fuck, running just gets us caught! Party leader! Fight!"
Didier raised his axe, stance firm before the headless giant. The bull-thing hummed low, throaty.
"Dwarf, eh. Dwarves taste bad—not a fan. But you smell tasty. Special sauce?"
"Looks like a foodie monster! Think Didier, son of Troglzir, will be your meal?!"
"Full of vigor—good for the body. Didier, son of Troglzir. I am Crete's bull, guardian of karma. Asterius."
"Die, calf! Big-ass body! Tons of beef!"
Asterius, huh. Fine.
Thud.
Didier kicked off, leaping—axe swinging down on the massive torso.
Whoosh.
Blade inches from the bull's gloomy shoulder—
BAM!
Bull-pillar fist smashed Didier's tiny body into the wall.
"Gahk!"
"3 points. Legs—only one? Off-balance. If the rest match, disappointing."
Clang.
Headless bull stabbed its halberd into the floor, wagging its free hand mockingly.
"You there, big human. Black head fur's nice, but poor quality. 2 points. Good black fur needs care."
Fucking harsh grader.
But its focus on me over the soft girls? Small mercy.
"Luna, take the others and run back the way we came."
"B-But Hassan, that thing looks really strong...!"
"I'll buy time. Get them out!"
"Ha-Hassan—!"
"Miss Luna, run while he buys time! We'll all die otherwise!"
Cold ice mage Belmina grabbed Luna's shoulder, dragging her away. Good it didn't charge then—would've been disaster.
The giant watched calmly.
"Worth watching. Touching. But clichéd drama. 3 points."
"Thanks for the review, you headless fuck."
I gripped my club tight. My eyes flicked to warrior Didier groaning at the bull's feet.
Deaths on expedition? Party leader's failure. Can't ding my gold-tier path on this dump!
But Didier spat blood, guts and bones busted—no moving.
"Worried for your fallen comrade? No need. I don't take hostages or cheap tricks. I'm stronger anyway."
Fucking decapitated bull—sharp as hell.
Headless look was freaky, but yeah—this was a damn strong warrior like it claimed.
Legs shaking: Hippolytë or Skizo level.
If it charged with that bulk, how many seconds could I last? No winning by running.
How to drop it? Hide round corner, Nox's Veil ambush? But then Didier...
As I racked my brain—
"Now I get it."
Slowly, the head in its hand spoke.
"Missed it with pink-hair girl's karma mixed in. But now: you're Nox's kid. This karma feels like lowly Theseus."
"I'm Nox's kid? Wrong, moron! Zero points, asshole!"
The bull calf laughed, deep rumble.
"Puhuhu, lying? Can't fool my eyes. Night and dark birthed a throne-stealer. Hid in Saha world from rivals...!"
[Author's Note]
Mitchuri...
Going in...