This Time Will Be Different (1)

Only one day remained until entering the Great Labyrinth. Every few days, while Yeriel rested at the knights' order, I had finally achieved a breakthrough in my stamina through what felt like real combat training with Ivelin. And then—

“Kuh!”

[Chaos claps with delight.]

Was it luck? I had finally obtained the trait I had been longing for from my one-on-one lessons with Rotten.

‘…No. It wasn’t because of something uncertain like luck.’

I had trained every single day until I collapsed from exhaustion. Regardless of my inexhaustible mana, sweat had dripped down to my chin and my head had spun from the strain. Even my right arm had grown so accustomed to channeling mana that swinging ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the sword the same way dozens of times a day made the fingers gripping the hilt go numb and loosen on their own. At worst, cramps would seize my arm and I would collapse while clutching it, my body trembling uncontrollably. So this trait… was purely the result of my own efforts, with no other interference.

One-hit kill. That was the first phrase that came to mind after reading the description to the end.

‘I won’t even dare to use it unless the situation is truly decisive.’

After using the technique, the blade would be destroyed. Even with Barak, it would take time to repair. Moreover, the thrusting motion itself created a massive opening if the attack missed. And on top of that, the trait had its own recoil.

“Judging by your expression and the fact that the sound just now was different, you must have succeeded in acquiring it. Did you feel something instinctively engraved into your body?”

“Haha, yes! It’s finally over. I was worried I might have to enter the labyrinth after all that suffering for nothing.”

Rotten patted my shoulder with a proud look after seeing my bright smile.

“Hmm. To think you would improve my livelihood and take it with you in just a few weeks… Your effort and talent exceed my imagination. Most people would have been scared and given up after collapsing so many times that their body wouldn’t move. Well done.”

“Hehe, you’re praising me too much.”

We laughed, creating a warm atmosphere, until Rotten spoke with a serious tone.

“If you intend to use that technique, you must do so with the resolve to kill. In other words, don’t use it unless you’re certain it will hit.”

“Of course. I know it’s a high-risk, high-reward technique with many openings.”

“No. You don’t know.”

His eyes darkened as he recalled something.

“Losing someone precious because of a single wrong choice made in the heat of the moment… is truly horrific.”

I closed my mouth, the laughter gone, and nodded heavily at Rotten’s regret-filled words.

“Hahaha. This old man is being overly sentimental. Go get some rest now! You said you’re departing tomorrow.”

Right. I should sleep early today. After hesitating while looking at his unusually drooping shoulders, I eventually bowed and went upstairs.

As soon as I entered the room, washed up, and sat on the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠bed, all sorts of good and bad thoughts surfaced in my mind—perhaps because it was the day before entering the Great Labyrinth.

“No, I’ve finished everything I needed to do. I’ve done my best in every way I could.”

That damned floor guardian. Even though I had personally finished it off and watched it die, its imposing figure had never left my mind throughout the grueling training. Even if a similar incident occurred on the lower floors again, next time there wouldn’t be mid-floor adventurers by our side. We would have to overcome it with only our own strength.

[Chaos encourages you, saying you can do it.]

‘Thank you, Chaos. This time, let’s keep going without stopping.’

Smack! I shook my head vigorously once, lay down, and closed my eyes.

***

The next day.

Strangely, my body felt incredibly refreshed.

“Hwaaam. I slept well. My condition is great.”

It was dawn, and outside was bustling with the sounds of adventurers moving about. The voices of parties chattering as they moved and the clatter of multiple carriages passing by strangely made me feel excited as well.

“Alright! I’ve stocked up on food, torches, and several spare potions of each grade. The watch and compass are fine, and the armor has been repaired and equipped.”

After finishing a hearty breakfast, we all checked our bags to make sure nothing was missing.

“Hehe, I think we’ve got everything. Let’s go quickly!”

“You seem more excited than usual, Yeriel? Did something good happen?”

“Nooo, it’s just… I think I’m finally done rolling around crying under my sister. Now I have to show results!”

She was brimming with motivation. A good look. Shall we check just how much she’s changed?

Wow, the trait was no joke. This was on the level of her being a completely different person compared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠to a month ago. Combined with the stat increases from training, most of Yeriel’s physical stats, which had been E-, had risen by one or two stages each.

“Yeriel, you really worked hard.”

“Huh? Ah, you saw the trait! Heh. How is it? Can you keep up with me by your side now?”

Lumia’s glare from beside her was sharp.

Oh! Not only had she evolved her existing black magic foundation trait, but reaching D-rank was said to be extremely slow without special equipment, items, or traits. Just like how I had struggled to raise my stamina, her mana—the most important stat for a mage—had increased by one stage. It was obvious she had been holed up in the inn practicing magic for weeks.

“You worked really hard too, Lumia. Great! Once we return safely this time, let’s go out together and explore various places without worrying about what others say.”

At the suggestion of going out, Lumia flinched.

“Anyway, the curse doesn’t work when you’re with me. Is there anywhere you’ve wanted to go?”

“U-uh. I-I like anywhere as long as it’s with you. Just… stay by my side.”

“Ahem! We don’t have time for this! If we don’t leave now, we’ll have to stand in line for hours. Let’s go quickly!”

Yeriel urged us with a raised voice.

“Tsk.”

Lumia clicked her tongue and muttered something short, but I couldn’t hear it so I let it pass.

“Well then, Rotten, we’ll be off now. It’ll probably take longer than last time.”

“Of course. Do you think I wouldn’t know that? I just hope you all return safely. Be careful, everyone.”

We each responded to his concern and left the inn.

‘This is my second time, but it’s still no joke.’

After taking a carriage from the lift station and getting off early amid the crowd, I saw adventurers of all kinds, just like last time.

“This time, I’m definitely going to pass the Gate of Proof and get rid of my lower-floor tag!”

“Ugh. How tedious. Do I have to keep running around the same floor and same section until I use up all my supplies again?”

“Fighting! Let’s all do our best this time and get good items and good traits!”

While standing in line waiting, I thought to myself. I didn’t know if some guards were taking bribes or if there were backdoors or secret agreements beneath the surface that I didn’t know about, but anyway, among those countless adventurers, there were human hunters, members of evil clans, or people from criminal organizations in the 8th district mixed in, right?

‘Please, this time, don’t get involved with anyone. I just want to break records like normal adventurers, farm to my heart’s content, and come out.’

Whirrr. Flash—!

The surface of the black portal rippled and began to emit a brilliant light. Soon, a commotion started from the front.

“Everyone, please maintain order!”

The line shrank at an increasingly rapid pace. Before long, it was our turn. We showed our badges.

“Party leader Aren and two others. Confirmed. May luck be with every step you adventurers take!”

I bowed in thanks to the guard, who spoke more warmly than the one last time, and took both of their hands.

“Alright, let’s go.”

Without hesitation, we entered the portal.

Whuuung—

***

“Huu.”

‘The nausea is definitely less than last time.’

Though I hadn’t ridden the portal many times, I was starting to get used to it. The 1st floor of the Great Labyrinth. I had returned to the place where I had fought desperately for my life.

The darkness obscuring my vision and the characteristically chilly air. Facing them with my entire body, I sharpened my senses.

Since this was my second entry, my judgment was quicker than before.

‘First, the torch.’

Releasing the hands we had been holding since entry, I lit the torch.

Fwoosh.

Thanks to the light driving away the darkness, my vision was secured.

“Everyone okay?”

“Yeah! No problems here.”

“Same for me. Also, I don’t sense any presence nearby.”

Good. No problems from the start. After taking out the map from my bag, I began examining our surroundings.

“Hmm, according to the map, we seem to have landed quite deep in the southern sector. We should reach the portal earlier than last time, right?”

Our starting point wasn’t near the center. That was fortunate. If I was reading the map correctly, we would only need to walk south for three or four days at most to reach the portal. This time, we could leave the 1st floor quickly.

“Everyone still remembers vividly what happened on the 1st floor last time, right? Still, let’s stay appropriately tense but not too scared.”

I added while looking at Lumia.

“Since we still haven’t recruited a separate scout, it looks like you’ll have to work a bit harder again this time, Lumia.”

I asked her to report immediately if she sensed any movement or presence.

“Alright, let’s move out.”

With me taking the lead, the party began advancing boldly through the darkness.

Thud.

“I sense the presence of monsters ahead. The number… six.”

I nodded at Lumia’s warning. The only monsters that appeared on the 1st floor were low-grade ones like ratmen and kobolds.

“Let’s go. To reach the 2nd floor, we need to keep moving diligently.”

As I walked forward, watching ahead, I indeed saw kobolds.

“I’m going first!”

Perhaps because I had become somewhat more proficient in mana manipulation, as long as I endured the slight exhilaration and the feeling of my blood boiling, maintaining Steel Body was no longer a burden—like breathing.

‘Now that we’ve entered the labyrinth, I should keep it active at all times except when sleeping.’

I summoned the greatsword to try it out in actual combat. Creak. Gripping the hilt firmly with both hands, I charged.

“Kyaeng?”

“Kyaa!”

The kobolds noticed me late and began barking, but it was already too late. I swung the greatsword heavily, infused with mana.

Whoosh!

“Kyaak!”

“Kyaeng!!”

With overwhelming force, I bisected the two leading monsters, tearing their bodies apart.

Splash!

The remaining kobolds stared in shock at their bisected kin.

“Hup!”

Using the momentum of the swing, I spun once and swung the greatsword horizontally again, charging fiercely.

Thud, with the sound of bursting flesh, three more met their end.

“K-Kyaeng.”

The last kobold, trembling, began backing away and then fled.

Huh? A monster running away?

“The invisible hand that grasps the night.”

The battle ended easily. I turned around and gave Lumia a thumbs-up. Lumia nodded with a face that held pride beneath her expressionless mask.

“You both worked hard! Hng. There was no need to cast buffs. I didn’t do anything at all.”

“Well, that just means dealing with 1st-floor monsters is easy at this level, doesn’t it?”

“Umm. Yeah, my sister also said the fewer times a priest has to step in inside the labyrinth, the better!”

Yeriel smiled brightly.

Right. That was correct. Whether it was buffs, healing, or barriers, a priest was a valuable asset just by existing. It was best for them to only act at critical moments while observing the battle.

‘That said, mages are just as valuable. In short, it’s about role division.’

Anyway, the results of rolling through the labyrinth last time and training rigorously in the city were clearly showing in this battle.

This was my current status window with Steel Body applied. I clenched my fist tightly and made a resolution.

‘I haven’t decided how many floors to go, but I will definitely break through at least the 3rd floor from my first return.’

It wasn’t just doable. I was confident that, as long as there were no variables, the 3rd floor was possible.

“Alright, let’s move again. We have a long way to go.”

I cut off the noses of the dead kobolds and put them in my bag.

‘Now, whether it’s the floor guardian or whatever, nothing on the 1st floor can stop me. I just have to be careful of people. Only people!’

Taking out the compass and map, I took a powerful step toward the south.