The Labyrinth (1)
Three days after diving into the Labyrinth, the Theseus party had successfully cleared the first floor and reached the second.
“It’s a portal.”
“I’ve got a rough feel for it. Let’s head back for now.”
The Labyrinth, which seemed to have no end to its floors, used the portals found on each level as checkpoints, allowing adventurers to resume their challenge from that point. The first floor was vast, but it only contained low-to-mid-tier monsters, so they had progressed quickly. At most, they had encountered earth sprites and wild beasts. They were told the difficulty would increase exponentially starting from the third floor. They decided to prepare for resupply.
Surprisingly, the Labyrinth was located in the center of the city. The city itself was a bizarre structure where commercial districts thrived around a massive prison located underground. When they emerged, a street fight was breaking out in front of a tavern. It was a common sight by now.
“What a foul-smelling city.”
“It’s a city fit for scum to live in.”
The streets were filled with taverns. Homeless people were sprawled everywhere, and crime was rampant.
“You’re the hero from Athens, right? Hey, spare a coin. I’m a hero, too. But because of a curse trait, I can’t go out on subjugations.”
“Really? That’s terrible.”
As the healer Pio reached for her purse, Theseus dragged her away and hurried down the street. He ignored the shouting behind them. It was obviously a scam. Theseus was already fed up with Crete. If not for the commission, it was a place he would never have wanted to visit for tourism.
“Passing hero, you must be hungry. Why not have a meal before you go?”
Suddenly, a clear, ringing voice that didn’t fit the street reached them. He had assumed it was a prostitute soliciting business, but that wasn’t the case. He saw a woman providing free meals to the homeless. She was dressed in proper Cretan attire. Only then did Theseus realize she was wearing a quite beautiful skirt.
“Is this volunteer work?”
“Yes. There are so many people who are too busy to even manage a single meal, aren’t there? Please, try some. It’s warm.”
Perhaps it wasn’t a city where only malice existed. Theseus accepted the milk porridge the woman offered and drank it.
“…Hmm.”
His body, exhausted from fighting magical beasts, quickly felt relaxed. Feeling better, he took an interest in the woman.
“I don’t intend to criticize your attitude of practicing good deeds, but this street seems inappropriate for a woman like you to walk alone.”
Theseus regretted the meddling as soon as the words left his mouth. However, the woman replied with a smile, showing no sign of offense.
“Hehe, thank you for your concern. It might look bad to an outsider, but I like this street. It’s the city where I was born and raised.”
“Is that so.”
“And I’m capable enough to protect myself.”
In the woman’s eyes, white mana swirled and sparkled. It meant she possessed the qualities of a hero. The white color signified that she carried the blood of Zeus.
“Impressive.”
“Hehe, you too, hero.”
While continuing his resupply at a shop, Theseus received a summons from the Cretan military.
“The King wants to see me?”
He didn’t have a guess as to the reason, but he had no reason to refuse. The Knossos Palace, located not far from the Labyrinth, was humbler than he had expected. It was a modest sight for the center of debauchery.
“Welcome, Theseus of the Arrow Rain. I have heard you are a renowned hero.”
King Minos treated Theseus as a guest of honor. He began to tell the story of how the Cretan city-state had become the Labyrinth city it was today. In truth, Theseus didn’t have much interest, so he listened half-heartedly. It was said to be when King Minos, who had unified and revived Crete—which had been living in scattered village units—was building the capital. As an island, Crete had developed fisheries and grown by engaging in full-scale exports to Troy and Greece. Seeing this, the god Poseidon demanded unreasonable taxes, and the King failed to meet the quota. The story went that the first Minotaur, now the magical beast of the Labyrinth abyss called the King, was sent as divine punishment.
“At the time, we were fortunately in the middle of constructing a massive prison in the city. It was a facility to house prisoners and slaves resulting from the unification of Crete. Through the heroic efforts of heroes, we were able to trap the Minotaur King in the prison, the Labyrinth.”
“Then does that mean Crete overcame the divine punishment?”
The King nodded. Theseus, finding it interesting that they shared a similar situation to his own homeland, perked up.
“As you know, the prison was encroached upon by mana and transformed into the Labyrinth as it is now. The one who appeared to utilize this Labyrinth afterward is the current god, Dionysus.”
“Utilize the Labyrinth?”
“The Minotaur King is a very dangerous magical beast. It is presumed to possess terrifying mana capable of sinking the entire island of Crete. Because of this, all sorts of magical beasts are drawn to the Labyrinth, and heroes head underground for subjugation.”
“That means…”
“The Labyrinth has become a breeding ground where mana is generated infinitely. It must be a perfect mana power source for Olympus. Since heroes and magical beasts circulate infinitely, mana is constantly generated.”
Theseus let out a hollow laugh. The Labyrinth, where countless heroes descended in search of magical beasts and rewards, was also in the palm of the gods’ hands.
“Just how much mana does Olympus need to keep creating things like this?”
“I do not know. But one thing is certain: as long as that Labyrinth does not disappear, there is no future for Crete. I beg of you, Sir Theseus.”
King Minos spoke earnestly.
“I have heard you are one of the bravest heroes in Greece. Please, subjugate the Minotaur King. As long as it is under the influence of Dionysus… the citizens of Crete will continue to suffer, intoxicated by debauchery. I did not want to build a city like this.”
The King’s genuine concern for his city and citizens was conveyed.
“What a waste of time.”
“Sir Theseus…!”
She opened her fan.
“I came to this distant land from the beginning to subjugate that bull-head. I have no intention of returning empty-handed.”
“Oh, ohhh…! I beg of you…!”
Theseus left the palace with his party. That was right. Even after hearing the background, his goal hadn’t changed. He would prove he was a great hero through this expedition. That thought had been in his head from the start.
“Aren’t you the hero I met during the day? What an interesting coincidence.”
The woman who had been volunteering was returning to the palace.
“You, were you a maid of the palace?”
“Princess!”
However, the real maids flocked to her and supported her from behind. Theseus realized her identity and bowed his head in respect.
“I have committed a rudeness. I am Theseus, a hero of Beta from Troezen, Greece.”
“Hehe, no. It’s my fault for not telling you. I am the First Princess, Ariadne.”
Ariadne greeted him with dignity, lifting her skirt slightly.
“Does the Princess go out for inspections herself?”
“Who else would do it if I didn’t?”
“You could just have your subordinates do it.”
“Because this is my city.”
Her eyes were endlessly transparent. In that firm expression, Theseus felt a strange emotion.
‘…A princess.’
Ariadne, who had the qualities to become a hero but chose a position of power for the sake of the people. She was a figure walking the exact opposite path while having the same conditions as Theseus.
“Are you satisfied with your life as a princess?”
“Hehe, hero, you ask strange questions. I’ve never heard a question like that before.”
Ariadne answered politely.
“I am more than satisfied. I think this position, where I can do more than others, is a blessing.”
“That was helpful.”
“Ah, wait a moment.”
Ariadne placed something in Theseus’s hand as he was about to leave. It was a rice cake she had made herself.
“Please pack enough food when you go to the Labyrinth. You can’t return by portal from the fifth floor down.”
“…That’s a fact I didn’t know. Thank you, miss.”
*Swish.* Theseus reached out and wiped the dust from Ariadne’s face.
“See you again.”
“Yes. Please return safely.”
And so, Theseus left the short encounter behind and headed for the Labyrinth.
***
“Hey, I’ve been thinking.”
*Crunch!* Sisyphus said, shattering the skeleton that appeared before his eyes as they entered the third floor.
“Do we really have to find all the mazes and stairs to the next floor like this?”
“Is there a better way? We need to hit the 5th-floor portal at least once. They say it only becomes a base if you do, because only those who have been there once can return.”
“That just means we need to go underground, right?”
“I suppose?”
Sisyphus clenched his right hand tightly. Before Cassandra could say anything, he slammed it powerfully toward the floor.
―KWA-ANG!!
The stone structure, dozens of meters thick, collapsed, leaving a gaping hole.
“Let’s go down.”
“I guess so. We could have just done this from the start instead of going around.”
“Whoa. Give me a warning next time. But how do we get down there? Did you happen to bring a rope… wait, why are you grabbing my waist, Kyaaak!”
Sisyphus hoisted Cassandra up and descended to the 4th floor in one go. He did the same thing once more to reach the 5th floor.
“M-my heart is pounding. It’s good we got here fast, but you’re too barbaric.”
“It’s better than wandering through a maze for ages. If the body is bad, the head suffers.”
“Sisyphus, undead are swarming over there.”
―KAA-AK!
Entering the 5th floor, the undead skeleton soldiers suddenly increased in grade. Compared to the 3rd floor, where they were weak because they were bare-bodied, they were now wearing scavenged armor and aiming bows at them. The location they dropped into was also much grander. There were bottomless falling traps, platforms they had to jump over, and stone statues the size of multi-story buildings everywhere.
“Now this feels like a real Labyrinth.”
“Arrows are flying, arrows!”
Cassandra shouted urgently while casting a defensive magic circle. Clea had already climbed the wall and was riding on top of one of the statues.
“Sisyphus, this way!”
“Hmm.”
*Whoosh!* Sisyphus soared and arrived at the statue.
“It’s a Zeus statue, just in time. I like it.”
Front Kick
Without hesitation, Sisyphus kicked the head of the statue Clea pointed to. *Kwang!* He grabbed the large head that had fallen off.
“Hup.”
Throw
*Whoosh!* Zeus’s head flew toward the skeleton archers. *Crash!* The skeleton soldiers couldn’t even scream as they flew like bowling pins and fell off the cliff.
“Rocks are the best, after all.”
Where is the portal? As Sisyphus looked around, someone shouted from below.
“What are you doing, you idiots!!”
A middle-aged man was jumping up and down, giving Sisyphus the finger.
“You shouldn’t break through traps like that. You’ve destroyed the path!”
“Hmm.”
*Swish.* Sisyphus landed in front of the man.
“Huck. W-what.”
“What does it matter how we break through? As long as we get there, that’s enough.”
“What? Are you guys first-timers in the Labyrinth? You’ll never survive with that complacent attitude. You have to jump over that trap properly to reach the next point. How do you plan to cross now?”
“How do you know that?”
“I’m a veteran of this Labyrinth. I’m like an angel who helps beginners like you not die for no reason. Now, if you understand, make sure to step on the next foothold. It’s dangerous if you don’t.”
The man giggled, his lips curling up. His buckteeth sparkled in the torchlight. Sisyphus examined the floor and walls. Protruding floor tiles and holes in the walls. No matter how he looked at it, it was a primitive trap that would shoot spears if pressed.
“Sisyphus!”
Cassandra shouted urgently.
“That man’s words… ugh, you must listen! If we go the way he says, we’ll be safe!”
Sisyphus’s thick eyebrows twisted.
“Haha, the lady knows her stuff. That’s right, you have to listen to me… wait, what?”
*Thud.* Sisyphus’s large hand landed on the man’s shoulder.
―Grip….
“Hey.”
“Ah, yes.”
“What’s your name?”
“…Haha, does that matter? I’m just a nameless, kind helper.”
“Daedalus, right?”
As Sisyphus mentioned the name, the man clamped his mouth shut. Daedalus. The name of the insane genius engineer who designed the Labyrinth of Crete.
“Were you killing off newcomers here because you couldn’t stand seeing the Labyrinth you designed being cleared?”
“N-no. I was…”
“Good.”
Sisyphus grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and lifted him up.
“Clea. We’ve got a map. Let’s keep moving.”