Chapter 58: To the Labyrinth! (4)
Chapter 58: To the Labyrinth! (4)
The Infinite Labyrinth exists outside the law.
Some argue that Fermaton’s laws or the laws of the Kingdom should apply here, but no matter how you look at it, trying to enforce national laws in this "other world" is practically impossible.
Still, since everyone comes to the Infinite Labyrinth to make money, a few mutual rules exist under the pretext of maintaining a profitable environment.
Do not harm those working the manual labor shifts at the magic stone mines on the lower floors.
Do not recklessly steal or plunder the belongings of others within the labyrinth.
Do not attempt to kill people without cause.
The Infinite Labyrinth is a lawless zone, yet it possesses its own set of unspoken rules.
That is why these shameless pieces of filth are acting out, trying to "hunt" the members of my knight order.
Even this first basement floor is a place where Fermaton’s laws do not reach.
‘They’re targeting places where there are no guards.’
Right now, there are no other eyes here.
If they commit murder here and ensure there are no witnesses, the crime of murder technically doesn't exist.
The fact that someone died would be acknowledged, and while killing in the Infinite Labyrinth isn't exactly "not a crime," a conviction ultimately relies on "circumstantial evidence" and "witnesses."
Without definitive proof like Video Recording Magic Stones or image playback stones that can accurately store the situation as visual data, anything can happen in the Infinite Labyrinth.
So.
‘What should I do?’
Laura had already brushed them off without hesitation, but the bastards were still tailing us toward the gate leading further down.
"...What should we do, Lewd Man?"
[For now, we watch. Let's see how far they follow. More importantly, thanks to those guys, one thing has been confirmed. Isn't that right, Serica?]
"......."
Serica covered her face with her hand.
Since she was currently dressed quite differently from her usual appearance as the "Sword Maiden," the "would-be rapists" hadn't realized who she was at all.
[If they had realized, they wouldn't have even approached in the first place. They’d know their heads would fly off the moment they tried anything.]
"Trying something... Did they dare harbor lewd desires toward us, the Young Lord's women?"
"Captain. It’s more than just lewd desires; they intend to rape us."
"Even on the first floor?"
"Even on the first floor, there are plenty of dogs in heat looking for a gap when no one is around to target a party of only women."
Yurdias drew a dagger from the sheath strapped to her thigh.
"Shall I kill them?"
[I wonder.]
It wasn't that I was hesitating to kill them.
Nor was I hesitating to order my knights to do the deed.
[I think it would be better to make them suffer something more terrible than just dying here. There's no need for us to get our hands dirty if we don't have to.]
"What do you plan to do?"
[We’re going straight to the third floor. As far as I know, 'they' are on the third floor. Right, Serica?]
"If you mean those things... you are correct. I will lead the way immediately."
Clatter.
As soon as we reached the end of the tunnel, a wide cavern came into view.
A magic circle sat in the center, and beyond it, something resembling stairs leading downward was visible.
‘This is the boss room.’
The boss room located at the end of the cave.
The bosses that appear on the first floor are so weak that there are people who specialize in farming them.
"...! You've arrived."
[Shh. Speak through Laura. Right now, I am the knight order's Living Armor, Lewd Man.]
"...Understood. Knight Captain Laura. I received word. Will you be taking down the boss before you go?"
"No."
Laura gestured with her eyes toward the passage leading down, just as she had been instructed.
"We intend to go straight down to the third floor."
"Understood. It just so happens that the boss is about to be summoned..."
[Then we'll just take a quick look before we go.]
No sooner had I finished speaking.
Rumble—
The magic circle on the floor began to glow with a crimson light, and the people in the first-floor clearing began to draw their weapons one by one.
Pickaxes.
Everyone was clutching pickaxes, gripping the handles tightly as they waited for the smoke rising from the magic circle to dissipate.
Flash!
Along with the red light, an alien entity appeared from the magic circle—the boss.
It was...
"I've only heard rumors, but this is my first time seeing it."
"An 'Obelisk'."
[Hmm.]
I had confirmed it through the records.
It was an element that didn't exist in reality.
And it served as a reminder that this world was not a game.
"I'm glad it's not a boss mob."
[Did you say the boss mob only appears when certain conditions are met?]
"That's right. Unless you're intentionally trying to face a boss mob, there's no need to summon one. The Obelisk sprouts instead."
Yurdias licked her lips.
"When an Obelisk sprouts while mining magic stones in the quarry, you break it to harvest even more stones. That has been the repeating history of Fermaton’s lower floors for centuries."
[Anyone who has the strength to swing a pickaxe wants to work if it means making money. More accurately, they don't have many other job options, so as long as they can swing a pickaxe, they're set.]
Clang, clang, clang.
The people began to swing their pickaxes at the Obelisk.
It wasn't exactly a soulful display of labor; their eyes were filled with the look of people thinking, 'This sucks, but it's a job and I need the money.'
However, people like them were the pillars supporting the foundation of Fermaton’s economy.
Thanks to them, the commissions from the sale of the magic stones they mined flowed entirely into the Fermaton Count Family's coffers as taxes.
So, for my part, I was grateful to them.
However.
"...Sir Lewd Man. They are still trying to follow us."
[Instead of working hard with their pickaxes, they're bastards looking to stick their dicks into someone else's women. Tsk.]
They deserved to die.
[I should at least grant them a merciful death. Let's go, Captain Laura. To the third floor.]
"Yes! Then, we shall pass through the second floor and head down to the third."
Ah.
There were two reasons for stating the obvious.
One was to let the perverts eavesdropping behind us know our destination.
And the other...
[A labyrinth with warp gates is quite convenient.]
To think you can skip ahead every 5n+1 floors.
Seeing things like this made it feel like a remnant of a game, but...
‘This makes it a masterpiece.’
Because in PAO, you had to conquer every single floor from 1 to 100, one by one.
‘That piece of trash game didn't even have skip tickets.’
Reality truly is the best.
* * *
Infinite Labyrinth, 3rd Floor.
"Ugh, damn, she looks like she'd be perfect to strip down..."
The men continued to lick their lips as they followed the party of women walking far ahead.
A blonde woman with a rabbit headband.
A female thief with navy hair wearing skin-tight clothes.
And a silver-haired female swordsman in a black coat.
"What about the golem?"
"A golem is just a golem. Isn't it just for carrying luggage? It's just a porter."
"True. These days, female parties don't hire men even as porters. Tsk, what a waste. Back in the day, it was fun following behind the women as a porter and watching their asses jiggle."
The men continued to salivate as they stalked the three women.
It had been a while since they'd seen such high-grade women.
They didn't know how skilled the women were, but at the very least, women who went down 'without using a warp gate' couldn't possibly be strong.
"Hey. But that silver-haired one from earlier. Isn't that her?"
"Who?"
"You know, the Sword's Non-Virgin."
"Pfft. Why would the Sword's Non-Virgin be here doing this? She would've gone straight down to the 50th floor, not the 3rd."
If the silver-haired knight were truly the Sword Maiden...
They wouldn't have even thought about targeting her from behind in the first place.
"Have you ever seen a Sword Master playing in a toddler's swordsmanship class? It's the same thing. If the Sword Maiden were here, we'd all be fucked. Besides, do you know how many silver-haired female knights there are?"
"I guess that's true."
"That silver-haired one is mine. Hehe, it's been a while since I've had a proper taste... Huh?"
Clank.
Beyond the passage.
In a place they thought was a dead end, the steel golem—the Living Armor the group had seemingly left behind—stood blocking the way.
"What? Is it blocking the path and controlling the zone?"
"Let's sneak inside. Hehe, maybe they're taking a shower in the labyrinth or something?"
"Or maybe they're taking care of some urgent business."
The men slunk toward either side of the Living Armor.
And then.
Thump—!
"Gah—?!"
One of them coughed up blood from the Living Armor's sudden attack.
"W-wait a minute...! This thing is being controlled...!"
[You should have just left when you had the chance.]
Flash.
The inside of the Living Armor's helmet glowed with a crimson light.
[You are weak. But scum like you are the most dangerous.]
Thud, crack.
The Living Armor ruthlessly unleashed violence upon the men, slamming them into the ground.
The men were stunned by the overwhelming difference in power, and the Living Armor grabbed one of them by the collar and hoisted him up.
[From the looks of it, you're the type who hangs around the 10th floor backstabbing rookies, but you picked the wrong opponents.]
"Cough, ack...! H-hey, wait...!"
[If you're so desperate for sex that you've lost your minds, I'll make it happen for you.]
Clank.
The Living Armor hurled the man deep into the cave.
"Gah, ugh...!"
The man spat out the blood pooling in his mouth and tried to steady himself.
"Fuck, what is this!"
"What do you think? It's the result of judging your opponent with your dick instead of your eyes."
"You are...?"
The navy-haired thief wore a mocking smile.
"Did you think everyone farming on the 3rd floor was a newbie? Too bad."
Slither.
Something approached from behind the man.
"Since you tried to rape women, dying by being raped by monster girls shouldn't be too bad, right?"
"W-what...?!"
[It's a simple principle. The law doesn't apply in the Infinite Labyrinth.]
Clank.
[Isn't this a fitting end for bastards trying to lay hands on my women?]
The Living Armor poked its fist against the man's solar plexus, pushing him backward.
[Oh dear. To think you'll die while having sex with female monsters because your brain was eaten away by your dick. I suppose it's a 'good death' for someone like you.]
"A-aaaaagh!!!"
[Look on the bright side.]
Creeak.
[Isn't it better to be fucked to death than to be beaten to death?]