Chapter 73
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Labyrinth of Aukusol
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The Labyrinth of Aukusol
Thud, thud, thud, thud.
The number of men on horseback looked to be over a hundred. Their gray hoods and cloaks fluttered like flags as they charged toward our oasis like hounds.
Seeing their tattered hoods and cloaks, I knew who they were. They were the Sakpung Bandits, marauders active in this desert.
Hmm
The man beside me, Mokagun, grimaced and let out a groan.
Those are bandits who operate in the Siwara Desert. They call themselves the Sakpung Bandits, but to us, theyre just a bunch of thugs who shake people down.
What would you do if I told you I was on their side?
I may still be an inexperienced merchant, but Ive been told I have a good eye for people. Traveler, you are not the kind of person to associate with the likes of those bandits. I guarantee it.
Mokagun looked me in the eye and smiled with conviction.
Youre right. I have no connection with those bandits.
Of course. I never thought you would.
Mokaguns great success was due in part to his remarkable business acumen and substantial financial backing, but his eye for people was just as crucial. He was more than qualified to make such a statement.
Traveler, where were you headed?
Mokagun asked, glancing at my backpack and the sword hanging from my waist.
I was just wandering wherever my feet took me and ended up at this oasis.
Then you can just stay put. Theyre here to collect a toll from our guild. The Head Merchant will handle it.
Just as Mokagun said, the bandits who arrived at the oasis glanced at us once before losing interest and stopping their horses before the merchant caravan. They must have thought I was part of the guild.
Its been a while, Chieftain of the Sakpung.
Head Merchant Kendig, was your journey untroubled?
The bandit leader stopped his horse in front of the caravans head, Kendig. I had to chuckle at the way he put on airs, despite being just a thug here to extort money.
Were merely traveling the roads youve cleared for us, Chieftain. It was a comfortable journey.
Is that so?
But he looked a bit different from the bandit chief I had created. The one Id designed should have been in his fifties, but this man looked to be in his mid-thirties at most.
Creators Eye is activated.
Name: Pindolph
Traits: Huruka Swordsmanship, Desert Adaptation Lv. 3, Aura Adaptation Lv. 3, Quick Sword Lv. 3, Sword Form Change Lv. 2
Favorability: 0 (Neutral)
Current Mood: Uninterested.
What the hell? This isn't the bandit chief I created.
This man named Pindolph had a different name and age from the one Id designed, and his traits were far superior.
Sensing his aura with my internal energy, I found its quality and magnitude were too solid for him to be a mere bandit.
This is a humble sum, but its the toll. Please accept it.
Head Merchant Kendig handed Pindolph a plump pouch.
Hah, are you joking?
After opening the pouch, Pindolph smirked derisively and tossed it to the ground.
Just as you said. Truly humble.
Hmm
Kendig bit his lip at Pindolphs words. He was clearly feeling deeply insulted. But, ever the head merchant, Kendig quickly schooled his expression.
Time moves fast in the desert. The toll has gone up quite a bit since you were last here.
Then how much should we offer
Ill need more than double what you just gave me for the math to work out.
Kendig once again controlled his expression before pulling another pouch from his coat. He picked up the fallen pouch as well and handed both to Pindolph.
This should be enough.
Phew
Pindolph pocketed the two pouches with a grin. Kendig let out a sigh of relief at the sight.
But its a little short.
What?
Ugh.
Dammit.
Pindolphs unending demands made everyone in the caravan grit their teeth.
What do you mean, short? Thats four times the toll we paid last time!
Hmm, I heard some interesting news.
Pindolph bared his teeth in a grin as he looked over the merchants cargo.
Word is that you folks at the Sirion Guild struck a big deal with the Toraon Tribe. With a deal that big, shouldnt a little something fall our way?
Ugh
The faces of Kendig and the other merchants began to darken. Beside me, Mokaguns arms trembled with suppressed anger.
The bandits werent collecting a toll; they were blackmailing them.
The merchants had nearly twenty mercenaries with them, but they were hired to deal with monsters. Against over a hundred bandits, those mercenaries wouldn't last ten minutes.
The Sirion Guild had no choice but to give in to the bandits demands.
Understood
Kendig pulled another pouch from his coat. It seemed to be his personal funds. They might not see much profit from this trade, even if they completed it.
Hmm, still seems a bit lacking. Why dont you spend a little more?
Pindolph wasn't satisfied even with the additional money Kendig handed over.
Everyone realized it then. Pindolph hadn't come here just for the toll.
Chieftain, if you keep extorting money like this, no one will use this road.
Hehe, I dont care.
What on earth are you talking about
Because Im leaving.
Pindolph was now openly mocking Kendig.
Ive grown tired of this life of plunder in the desert. I was originally thinking of killing you all before I left, but then my men would have no way to make a living. While Im asking nicely, wouldnt it be better for you to generously fund my retirement?
Ugh
Kendig seemed to be weighing his options, but in the end, there was only one choice. Just as he reached into his coat to pull out more money
Hm?
Huh?
Kendig and Pindolph were standing at the entrance to the oasis when a man who had appeared out of nowhere walked right between them.
Hey, you
That crazy bastard!
The man, completely covered by a large cloak, didn't just walk past; he lightly brushed against Pindolph's shoulder as he entered the oasis.
Ha!
Schwing!
As Pindolph stared in disbelief, a quick-witted bandit drew his sword.
Keh-hat!
The bandit swung his sword, aiming not for the mans neck but his arm, as if intending to sever it and present it to Pindolph.
Pow!
Splat!
But before the bandit could even bring his sword down, his head was shattered by a single punch from the man.
It was a fist strike so fast and powerful that most people here didn't even see the man throw it.
A silence fell over everyone at the surreal sight.
Everyone except me.
Hes finally here.
A smile crept onto my face at the thought that Id found the one who took the key. Now, all I had to do was enter the labyrinth with him.
Creators Eye is activated.
Name: Ovis
Traits: Kamuri Killing Arts, Analysis Lv. 2, One-Point Strike Lv. 3, Concentration Lv. 3, Aura Application Lv. 3, Perception Lv. 3
Favorability: 0 (Neutral)
Current Mood: Uninterested.
Ovis.
This guy took the key?
To be honest, the thought of Ovis had crossed my mind when I saw the monsters head get smashed by a fist.
But I had dismissed the idea because Ovis was supposed to be locked up in a fighting arena far from here.
I had no idea why Ovis was here.
That guy
Ovis, that madman, was about to open the labyrinth right then and there, regardless of who was around.
Mokagun-nim.
Yes?
If you want to live, you need to stay right here.
I-I understand.
Mokagun swallowed hard at my serious tone. It was too late to get everyone else out of here.
You crazy bastard!
Son of a bitch!
The bandits rushed at Ovis, but without breaking his stride, Ovis blew the heads off all ten of them.
The clear oasis began to turn red with the blood of the bandits.
Splash.
Ovis paid no mind to what was behind him and walked straight into the oasis.
Shit, that son of a bitch! What are you all doing! Surround him!
Yes, sir!
Pindolph drew the scimitar at his waist and glared at the oasis. It looked like he planned to charge the moment Ovis reappeared.
Rumble.
Suddenly, the earth let out a cry.
Hes opened the labyrinth.
Rumble, rumble, rumble!
The oasisno, the entire desertwas shaking. This earthquake was the backlash from Ovis unsealing the labyrinth.
Wh-whats happening!
An earthquake!
The desert is shaking!
Mountains of sand collapsed, and new ones formed as the tremors grew more intense.
According to my design, the opened labyrinth pulls in everyone near the oasis.
In other words, the merchants and bandits would all be dragged into the labyrinth.
Rumble.
As the vibrations intensified, I could feel the sand pulling me downward.
Aaaah!
H-help me!
Im sinking!
The sand began to pull not just me, but everyone. I could have escaped if I wanted to, but I simply surrendered my body to the sands embrace as it pulled me in.
Mokagun-nim.
Yes? Yes!
Just let it take you. You cant escape anyway.
Wh-who are you
Before Mokagun could finish his question, I was swallowed by the sand.
Fwoosh.
The sand pulled me down, down, dragging me to some unknown place deep underground.
Thud!
After sliding endlessly down through the sand as if on a slide, my feet finally touched solid ground.
The Gate of Beginnings.
I was trapped in what looked like a transparent dome.
There were two other domes beside mine. In the center one, Pindolph was screaming his head off, and in the one on the far right, Ovis was staring up at the ceiling.
Thump.
Ugh!
Are you all right?
Ah, yes! Im Im fine.
Perhaps because he had been next to me, Mokagun also landed in my dome on the left.
Where in the world
I dont know either.
More people continued to fall. Most of the bandits and merchants landed in the center dome.
Splat!
Splat!
Ovis, without a second thought, immediately killed anyone who fell into his dome, whether they were merchants, bandits, or mercenaries.
You bastard!
Ill kill you!
Seeing this, Pindolph and his bandits attacked the dome, but their blows left not even a scratch.
Ten of them, huh.
Ten bandits had fallen into my dome as well.
Rumble, rumble.
About ten minutes after everyone had fallen, all the tremors stopped. The Einto Oasis outside would no longer exist.
Welcome to the Labyrinth of Aukusol.
Suddenly, a sound like the cavern itself was roaring echoed around us. It wasn't a sound heard with the ears, but one that resonated in the mind. The labyrinths spirit had begun its role.
Wh-what was that!
Whos there!
Aaaah!
The people who hadnt yet regained their senses screamed and pounded on the domes.
The path of the labyrinth will now be chosen. The first choice is given to the one who opened this labyrinth.
A choice? A labyrinth?
Let me out! You bastards!
Opener, choose one of three paths: Day, Night, or Dawn.
I choose Night.
While the others were lost in chaos, Ovis chose Night without a moments hesitation.
Next, choose between the paths of Day and Dawn.
The voice was now addressing the people in the central dome. The one in charge there was Pindolph. All eyes were on him.
A labyrinth, you say? I dont know what this is, but this is the kind of adventure Ive been hoping for! I choose Day!
Pindolph was obnoxiously loud even when making a choice. Adventure my ass. I wished hed just shut up.
You are automatically assigned the path of Dawn.
Dawn
Mokagun muttered as if in a trance.
The labyrinth will open in one hour. The one who reaches the end of the labyrinth will obtain a treasure beyond imagination.
Khahahaha! Excellent! This is the kind of adventure I wanted! Just when I was thinking of leaving this boring desert, an opportunity like this comes along!
Pindolph let out a maniacal laugh, a crazed look on his face.
Your goal must be the treasure in this labyrinth! Ill take your head and claim that treasure for myself!
Pindolph glared at Ovis in the next dome and licked his scimitar. Ovis showed no reaction to Pindolph, continuing to stare straight ahead.
You lot, get ready to move! Use the ones in front as bait to get through the traps!
Pindolph turned his head and ordered the bandits in our dome.
Understood!
Understood what?
Huh?
Smack!
Keuk!
I immediately sent my fist flying into the face of the bandit who had replied. Now that we were in the labyrinth, there was no need to pretend.
You filthy bandits are asking to die.
You bastard!
Die!
Pow! Pow! Pow!
I graciously gifted each of the charging bandits a punch.
What are you doing! Just kill him!
Aargh! You son of a bitch!
At Pindolphs command, the bandit I had first hit tried to draw his sword.
Youll really die if you draw that.
I enunciated each word calmly. This was my final warning to them.
Ugh
The frightened bandits froze in place.
That bastards nothing! Rush him all at once and tear him apart!
Schwing!
Schwing!
Emboldened by Pindolphs words, the bandits finally drew their scimitars.
Fine. Leaving loose ends isnt my style, anyway
I wanted to avoid killing if possible, but I had no intention of sparing those who came at me with swords drawn. Besides, it wasn't as if they were good people.
All of you, attack together!
Slice!
I drew the sword at my waist and slit the throat of the first bandit who charged.
Aaaargh! Robes!
Dammit!
Die!
Killing the nine remaining bandits, who were a mix of enraged and terrified at their comrade's death, was an easy task.
You! I wont let you get away with this. Ill hunt you down and kill you no matter where you go in this world! Ill make you regret being born alive!
After I had killed all the bandits, Pindolph glared at me as if he wanted to devour me, his eyes bloodshot.
Do whatever.
Grr!
There was no need to pay any attention to the likes of Pindolph. I looked at Ovis in the right-hand dome. He was staring only at the front of the dome, as if just waiting for the door to open.
Night.
The path Ovis on the right had chosen was a labyrinthine path filled with monsters. Not ordinary monsters, but ones that were difficult to defeat.
Day.
The path Pindolph in the center had chosen was filled with traps and puzzles. It required using ones head and navigating countless deadly traps with unwavering concentration.
Dawn, huh
In the original story, the protagonist chose Day, and his enemy chose Night.
The path of Dawn was one that had never been opened.
Dawn is between night and day.
It was obvious what would appear.
The time has come.
The path appointed to each of you shall now open.
The domes opened.
The paths diverged.