The Resurrected Immortal - Chapter 40: Arkys Great Labyrinth (8)
No one voiced any objections when Eunhyeon took over as the party's order caller at Alex's suggestion.
It was because the overwhelming power of his spear throw was still vividly etched in their minds.
That said, it wasn't as if there were zero complaints or doubts.
"Senior..."
Aisha sniffled, clutching Alex's sleeve. Her teary eyes made it seem like he was abandoning her for someone else, filling her with anxiety.
Alex gave a wry smile at her reaction and tried to persuade her.
"This could be a great opportunity for you too. I can't imitate his ridiculously overwhelming strength, but there's probably something you can learn. Watch and learn from him. I believe you can grow even more."
"O-Okay, I'll give it a try!"
Aisha clenched her fist, her sulky expression vanishing as motivation surged through her.
In expeditions, preemptively scouting threats and making snap judgments that could determine the party's survival were key qualities for an order caller.
Though Princess Yuria appeared to lead the party on the surface, Alex was the real leader, with Aisha handling orders.
Since joining the Royal Guard Knights, Aisha had been a rookie among the knight order's archers, but her skills were impressive—though her experience was still lacking.
She hesitated even when bold decisions were needed based on varied experiences, struggling to commit quickly.
What she lacked was experience, so Alex had no doubt she'd grow by observing and learning from Eunhyeon.
His assumption that Eunhyeon was seasoned in the order caller role was just a hunch, but it proved spot on.
'A good leader respects the order caller's authority, or so they say.'
[Not bad. He knows how to lead people.]
Verdandi, who rarely praised other humans, smiled as she looked at Alex.
'Hmm, that look in her eyes...'
Eunhyeon sensed a strange tension behind him and noticed Aisha's gaze toward Alex was anything but ordinary.
Harboring faint suspicions, he glanced at Alex's sister, Elenoa, who narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Alex and Aisha, sharing similar thoughts.
"You look like you've got something complicated on your mind."
"...No. It's just... You once mentioned a talented archer joining the knights—a girl your age you treated like a little sister. Turns out it was her."
"But why the sour face? You're past the age to get jealous over your brother being stolen away."
Elenoa frowned at Eunhyeon's words.
"Don't say silly things. Do I look like I'd think that way at my age? It's just... He's working so hard to protect Mother and me. If he's going to meet someone, I hoped it'd be a good woman."
Was it the caring heart of a sister thinking of her struggling brother?
"I see."
Eunhyeon nodded slightly.
"The Arkys Great Labyrinth is divided into three layers. As I explained earlier, this labyrinth was designed as trials for the heir of its master, Arkys, right?"
The party members nodded intently, focusing on Eunhyeon's words.
There was a huge difference between entering a dungeon with prior knowledge and charging in blind during an expedition.
This was also a clear mistake on Yuria's part—she knew a bit about the dungeon but hadn't shared it with her party to avoid suspicion, nearly dooming them through excessive caution.
Listening to Eunhyeon, Yuria bit her lip as realization dawned.
'Even if it raised suspicions, if I'd shared info like him... would we have avoided falling into those traps so pathetically...?'
Pondering this, Yuria listened closely to Eunhyeon's explanation.
His unnervingly detailed and accurate knowledge of the labyrinth was suspicious, but she prioritized hearing him out for now.
"Layer 1 basically has no magic beasts spawning."
"But we encountered several on the upper layer."
"Those come up from Layer 2. Layer 1, connected directly to the entrance, mainly features traps designed to wear you down."
Elenoa grimaced, recalling the vicious traps that had claimed four party members on Layer 1—including the pitfall that dropped them to Layer 2.
"Puppeteers stick to using their creations—let's call them 'golems'—in all activities, including scouting and searching. Same for you, Archer Aisha. Suppose you had a golem identical to yourself that you could control remotely with precision for scouting beasts or traps. How would that be?"
"Uh... It'd reduce risks and be super convenient, right?"
"That's one of a puppeteer's strengths. But it requires immense focus and talent to manipulate one precisely, making it a clear drawback—hard to use."
"That tough?"
"Moving your own body is easy, but precisely controlling dozens of joints on another object? Not so much."
Aisha tilted her head, not quite grasping it.
"So what's Layer 2, where we are now?"
"Simply put, it tests your strength. Are you strong? Or weak?"
"Simple enough."
"Hold up."
"What is it?"
"A trap. Follow me, Aisha."
"Yes, got it!"
Aisha tensed at being singled out and trailed behind Eunhyeon.
"This is an enchanted magic trap. If someone steps into the designated area and movement is detected..."
Eunhyeon picked up a nearby stone and flicked it toward the spot he'd pointed at.
Hiss—
Tiny holes in the walls on either side began spewing pure white smoke.
As the smoke filled the space, the labyrinth's temperature plummeted sharply. Eunhyeon and Aisha backed away to avoid contact.
Once the smoke cleared completely, Aisha paled at the walls frozen solid.
Not just her—the other party members also stiffened, imagining the fate if they'd blundered ahead blindly.
They felt lucky not to have triggered such traps so far.
"Let me teach you how to disarm it."
"Yes!"
Feeling her scouting skills fell short of Eunhyeon's, Aisha recalled Alex's encouragement, steeled herself, and focused intently.
From then on, while exploring, Eunhyeon let Aisha experience various traps firsthand and taught her disarming methods.
She picked up quickly, applying lessons immediately, absorbing his teachings eagerly.
"You schemed to hand over orders just to target her, huh?"
"I figured it'd be good experience at least."
Watching Aisha absorb lessons rapidly with enthusiasm, Merdin glanced sidelong at Alex.
"Anyway, that guy's gear is impressive. Way better than most veteran adventurers. Ever invited him to join the knights?"
Merdin was already quite taken with Eunhyeon.
Despite clearly being stronger and more experienced, he didn't boast or act arrogant. Instead, he guided Aisha's growth through hands-on traps, leaving a strong positive impression.
"He's not the type who wants that."
Alex had briefly considered how reassuring it'd be to have someone like Eunhyeon in the knights, but given his personality and ways, he hadn't bothered asking.
"Tch. What a shame. Guys like that don't come around often."
"Agreed."
Alex smiled wryly, concurring with Merdin.
"Magic beast ahead. Judging by traits, it's a minotaur."
'Beef's back. Perfect chance.'
Eunhyeon's eyes gleamed as he stared toward the detected minotaur.
[Child... You're still not giving up, huh.]
Ignoring Verdandi's pitying gaze and words, Eunhyeon addressed the tense party.
"Shall we try taking it down?"
"We nearly died to that thing up top..."
"This'll be different. I won't step in, but we've got a skilled priestess now."
"You weren't thrilled about me joining the expedition, but now you're putting me to good use."
Elenoa pouted mockingly at Eunhyeon, who chuckled back.
"You haven't experienced proper beast hunting, so I'm giving you a good lesson."
Her displeased glare shifted to tension.
The thud-thud vibrations evoked familiar memories.
Recalling the Layer 1 minotaur encounter, Elenoa gripped her staff tightly, eyes fixed on the dark ahead.
"Barbecue's beef tonight. Alright then."
Eunhyeon eyed the emerging minotaur in the shadows.
"Let's start the hunt."
Roooaaar!
The minotaur's bellow, snorting roughly, signaled combat's start.
The party, having faced it once, grimaced at the roar but didn't hesitate much, including Elenoa.
"Lady Elenoa, Goddess's Blessing."
As pre-planned for beast encounters, Eunhyeon called out, and Elenoa swiftly chanted her holy spell.
"Merciful Goddess, watch over these lambs under Your gaze, that none may harm them."
[Vesta's Blessing]
[Strength]
[Haste]
Vesta's blessing, manifested through Elenoa's prayer, enveloped the entire party.
Feeling overall physical enhancements—strength, agility, and more—Merdin shattered the tension with a grin.
"Been a while since I got a blessing like this. Your sister's no joke."
"Shut up with the nonsense. Get cocky, and I'll kill you."
"Yeees~"
"Aisha, nock arrow and stand by. Princess, prepare your highest-damage spell. Merdin, time it like I said."
"...Yes."
"Fine, let's do this."
Without Eunhyeon, Merdin would've been dead anyway.
Viewing it that way, he felt gratitude for the man who'd saved him.
Alex trusted him oddly, and he was leading them to gain experience—what reason to refuse?
Alex and Aisha felt the same.
This was the moment Princess Yuria's newly formed party began growing through Eunhyeon.
"Now—attack!"
At Eunhyeon's command, Merdin and Alex charged the minotaur.
Unlike their first shaky, life-on-the-line slaughter, this was familiar to Eunhyeon: a 'training' session for newbie adventurers.