Episode 8. Labyrinth City (1)
Ever since reincarnating into this world, there were exactly two things I couldn't get used to. One was the lack of flush toilets, and the other...
Rumble! Rumble! Rumble!
'Ugh! My head's gonna split!'
It was a terribly bumpy carriage. Today, like always, I was rattling along the road with the carriage's vibrations. To be precise, it'd been about two weeks of this nonstop jolting.
If I'd just been a medieval native, I might've thought this was fine. But knowing the plush comfort of cars and trains from my modern life? Pure torture.
Even more shocking was that this merchant caravan's carriage was considered top-tier. The caravan leader who'd given me a ride—owner of a major contract with a big trading company—pulled an expensive horse and used the smoothest ride available. And that horse? "High-performance" meant it had permanent magic buffs enchanted on it.
Even with all that, this was the best the medieval world had to offer—top 1% luxury. But to a guy who'd tasted true smoothness...
'Damn it, why do the merchants have to come this way!'
It was cold comfort to my ex-modern sensibilities.
As I pondered how to keep my ass from flying off the seat amid the endless shaking, voices called from outside— the mercenary guards on escort duty.
"Caravan leader! We're almost there!"
"Oh, finally!"
The leader's joyful shout had me poking my head out the window to check the scenery too.
"Whoa!"
My eyes went wide at the sight unfolding before us. Towering walls that seemed to scrape the sky, emblazoned with the adventurer emblem symbolizing Labyrinth City. And...
'Is that seriously a monster bone?'
Hung on the walls: massive bones from some colossal beast.
'That's Labyrinth City!'
Just seeing it made my heart race. Sure, there was that minor detail about the timeline being off, but [Let's Explore the Labyrinth in a Reversed World!] was still one of my favorite novels. Getting isekai'd into its setting? Of course I was pumped.
Though that wasn't the only reason.
'I roughly know where the protagonist's party grabs their hidden pieces.'
To survive, I'd have no choice but to snag those hidden pieces myself. My body was nowhere near mage or knight level—not even low-tier warrior or amateur spellcaster. Hidden pieces were my ticket out.
Of course, it wouldn't just be blindly chasing them.
'Gotta level up my alchemy along the way.'
Like my master said, my alchemy talent was sky-high (though she never quite put it that bluntly). Hone it enough, and I could craft whatever the protagonist's party needed. If not? Oh well.
Either way, this was my fresh start in Labyrinth City.
Right after entering Labyrinth City, I thanked the burly caravan leader who'd brought me this far, then headed straight for the must-visit spot before diving into the Labyrinth.
The place you have to hit before entering the Labyrinth? Obviously...
"Welcome! This is the Ikebnia Adventurer's Guild Central Branch."
...the Adventurer's Guild.
I gawked at the shiny guild hall, taking it all in, then told the receptionist my business.
"Hi. I'm here to register as an adventurer."
"Ah, a new adventurer! Please wait just a moment. I'll fetch the forms."
I nodded at her friendly response and waited. She handed over the paperwork with a basic rundown.
"Adventurer ranks are divided into seven levels, from lowest to highest: F, D, C, B, A, S, and Special."
Yeah, pretty much the standard setup we all know. But Special rank was a bit different.
Special wasn't about raw combat power—it went to people the city couldn't function without. You couldn't just grind to S-rank and expect it.
After the rank explanation came the usual spiel on becoming an adventurer. The key takeaway? To promote, you needed achievements or endorsements. No connections like me? Forget fast-tracking.
Eh, I knew all this already—no surprises.
Once the final brief was done, I filled out the forms and got my fresh adventurer registration card. F-rank meant it was wooden, apparently. Higher ranks and experience upgraded the material and color.
With my shiny new proof of adventurer status in hand, I tossed it into my sub-space and headed to my next stop.
"You're really sure about this place?"
"Yes."
"Ha, but this spot..."
"Ghosts or not, doesn't matter. Just sign already."
"Understood."
Next up: the real estate office—for the house with the hidden piece. After taking ownership from the landlord, I looked up at my new digs.
A modest two-story place. Normally way out of my price range.
'My own house...'
Doing things here I'd never dreamed of pre-isekai. Should I be thrilled or bummed? Pointless overthinking—I shook it off.
But a twinge of bitterness hit anyway.
'Hoped the protagonist might be around already. Nope.'
This world had no protagonist yet. Makes sense—my master mentioned the year 1693. The novel's hero starts shining around 1712. We were at least 10-20 years out from canon.
I'd held out a sliver of hope, so yeah, mild letdown.
'Not the time for disappointment.'
No time to mope. House secured—now for the last piece...
Time to recruit Labyrinth party members.
Party members were essential for dungeon crawling in the Labyrinth. Non-negotiable. Couldn't survive solo.
The Labyrinth was a true maze—different biomes, monsters, and ruins per floor. Most monsters were brainless, but they could still ambush or night raid.
Going alone? Straight-up suicide.
So recruiting allies made sense. But...
"Heh heh! Hey, cute little elf boy! Wanna have some fun with big sis?"
"Kekeke, this psycho's hitting on kids again."
"Aw c'mon, look how tasty he is."
"Freaky shota-con bitch, heh."
"So what? Wanna party up with us? I'll show ya a good time."
...not these kinds of creeps.
I brushed off the annoying mercenaries clinging to me and headed for the guild counter. Note: this wasn't the central branch—this was the eastern branch right by the Labyrinth entrance.
Two guilds? Yep. This one bought monster byproducts from Labyrinth runs or city outskirts and shipped 'em out. Central handled admin.
Reason for the split? Simple.
Bam!
"Hey! You ignoring me?!"
Could you process paperwork with lunatics like this around?
I silently glared at the suddenly agro thug adventurer. My master always said I smiled too softly, but that was wrong. I reserved it for trustworthy folks like her—these types got the ice-cold stare.
My glare screamed "back off and move along," but...
"Heh heh, think that'll scare me?!"
The thug blocked my path. Fury rising, I furrowed my brows, ready to discipline them with my now-decently-formed Black Hand—
"St-stop that!"
A figure in a white cloak jumped between us. The thug's face twisted in obvious panic at the newcomer.
"Tch, no next time, bitch."
"You too, Lina."
He clicked his tongue and backed off.
As the thug slunk away, the mysterious woman—definitely female—caught her breath with a relieved look.
"Phew, ha!"
"Thanks for the help."
Help was help—I gave my thanks.
She beamed back. "Hehe, no problem! Sorry I couldn't stop 'em sooner."
"Nah, couldn't be helped. Too dicey to jump in right away."
"Thanks for understanding."
Quick thanks exchanged, I moved to leave. No interest in more drama—my goal was party recruitment, not thug entanglements.
"Um, but... are you here looking for a party?"
"Yeah."
"Ah! I see! Then... wanna team up with me?!"
...until that offer dropped.