Chapter 32
Chapter 32
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 32
Chapter Title: Labyrinth Arc (1)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
She pointed with her finger to a table in one corner of the bar from behind the counter.
"The party of four sitting over there mainly takes on monster subjugation requests."
I followed the tip of her finger with my gaze.
One handsome man and three pretty women. They looked just like the protagonist's harem party from a typical fantasy novel.
For some reason, a sense of rejection welled up in me.
It was an instinct that told me I didn't belong there.
The warm, harmonious atmosphere flowing between them was utterly different from the eight years I'd experienced.
I also felt uneasy about ending up in some bitter position, and the outfits and figures of the female members seemed like something best avoided.
"And the four at that table over there focus mainly on labyrinth exploration."
This time, a cold air emanated from the spot she indicated.
It was a party consisting solely of four men.
Their faces were serious as they spread out a map and discussed something.
For some reason, that side felt more fitting for me, so I nodded unconsciously.
'But a labyrinth...'
Other than what I'd vaguely heard from Kiru in the past, I knew nothing about labyrinths.
So I asked the clerk.
"Do you know anything about the labyrinth?"
"Hmm, not in detail, but I've heard it's a place crawling with undead called 'Revenants.' They say relics from the 'Lost Age' turn up there sometimes."
Revenants. Like zombies, maybe.
And what was this Lost Age?
Questions piled up, but I'd gotten enough information already.
It was time to move.
"That's plenty. Thank you."
The clerk smiled and headed off to other customers.
I downed the rest of my beer in one go and stood from my seat. A slight tension wrapped around my entire body, making the pub's noise feel distant.
'Feels like I'm heading to a job interview...'
After a deep breath, I approached the table of the second party the clerk had mentioned—the four men doing labyrinth exploration.
"Excuse me."
At my voice, the four men's gazes turned to me in unison from their conversation. Their eyes held wariness toward an outsider mixed with a hint of curiosity.
"Who might you be?"
The man who seemed to be the leader—a guy with a scruffy beard that looked prickly—crossed his arms and scanned me from head to toe.
"I'm Gray, a Rank 5 mercenary who just advanced to upper-class warrior. I heard you're looking for party members recently."
"We are, yeah. But do you know what kind of party we are?"
"I asked the clerk about parties recruiting, and she said you folks mainly do labyrinth exploration."
"You heard right. Yeah, we're the Uncommons, a labyrinth exploration specialist party. Interested in labyrinths?"
"To be honest, I know next to nothing about them. But I want to gain experience through a party and grow quickly to pull my weight."
'Better to be upfront about not knowing. Any lie would get found out fast anyway and just erode trust.'
I couldn't tell what the leader thought of my honesty, but he nodded slightly.
Then the questions continued.
"What weapons do you use?"
"Left 'em at the inn, but I wield a thick sword about 80cm long as my main, and a dagger as backup."
I call it a broadsword, but not sure of the exact term, so I just gave the approximate length.
At my answer, one of the younger-looking party members chimed in.
"Common sword and dagger, huh. Not a bad combo for the narrow sightlines and frequent close-quarters in labyrinths. What's the toughest recent request you've done?"
It felt like a job interview grilling my resume's experience.
I recalled my most recent ordeal—the painful financial loss, but one that proved my skills.
"Took down three Rabbit Dogs solo. It was a Rank 5 request targeting two originally, but a third showed up."
At my words, they exchanged glances briefly.
The mood seemed to soften a bit.
The leader spoke again.
"Three Rabbit Dogs... That should mean you've got the skills. Assuming it's all true, anyway."
The ears were cut off, but it wasn't a lie.
And I was confident I'd do even better next time.
But to confirm, he said it again.
"You know that if you join a party, the leader can check your mercenary records? Meaning we can see your request completion history. What you just said better check out."
"It will. I submitted proof at the request counter, the handler verified it, so the record should be updated."
At my firm reply, the leader finally uncrossed his arms.
He glanced at his comrades' expressions, then stood as if decided.
"Alright. We'll test you as a probationary member of the Uncommons. Do one request together, then decide on full membership. I'm Hansol, leader and upper-class warrior. Use a common sword like you."
He extended his hand while introducing himself.
"Gray. Looking forward to working with you."
"We just booted a probationary who lacked skills recently. Hope you're not like that."
I gripped his hand as he added that.
Then the other members introduced themselves one by one.
The young guy who'd commented on my weapons was Gian, an upper-class warrior and scout. He dual-wielded daggers.
The intellectual-looking one was Theo, an upper-class blue mage like me.
I figured just watching him cast would help me, especially looking forward to seeing upper-class blue magic.
And the biggest guy's name was Lott.
He was an upper-class warrior handling two maces with both hands—a rare setup that intrigued me, so Gian jumped in.
"Plenty use bludgeons like Lott. Like how sword users are 'swordsmen,' those with heavy weapons or blunt ones are called 'heavy warriors.'"
'Weapons enthusiast, or just talkative?'
Gian had jumped in right when weapons came up earlier too.
And both that comment and this info were helpful. Gave me a good impression of him.
With introductions done, Hansol spoke.
"We've already accepted a labyrinth exploration request, so we head out in a week. That work?"
"No problem."
"Then meet at the request office front at five a.m. in a week. Need contact before? Come to the inn behind the office mornings. Gian, tell Gray what to pack."
"Got it. Let's drink first anyway!"
And so I became a probationary member of the Uncommons.
Hansol passed around beers to welcome the new guy, and we clinked glasses awkwardly.
They shared labyrinth exploration tales and mercenary daily life tidbits; I mostly listened quietly, absorbing info.
The unfamiliar sense of belonging still felt awkward after so long.
After one more beer, I stood first. They said they'd be here tomorrow too and waved as I left the pub.
A week passed since deciding to join the party.
As promised, we gathered at the request office, took a six-person carriage south to the village of Gelles in the Aria Kingdom.
After dismounting, we couldn't rest a day and had to move right away.
Because of the noble client waiting in the village.
The noble—who looked like kingdom aristocracy—and his seven retainers had ridden carriages comfortably by themselves.
Not caring that we followed on foot with heavy packs, they just urged us to hurry.
'They ride carriages but tell us to speed up...'
Unreasonable as it was, he was a noble, so no one complained.
In the end, pushing hard, we trekked a full week to enter the barren southern plains—the parched land called the Ashen Wasteland.
At the destination, we requested a day's rest for fatigue recovery and safer. But the noble allowed only three hours for rest and meals.
"Are nobles always like that?"
At my question, Hansol replied calmly, as if accustomed.
"Nobles requesting labyrinth dives are often sons from baronet or viscount families. And the lower the rank, the more arrogant they tend to be. That guy's the fourth son of a baronet house, FYI."
He added,
"Last client was a viscount's second son. Over twenty retainers, treated mercenaries gentlemanly. Depends on luck who you get."
I nodded silently at his words.
Complaining wouldn't change anything anyway.
With three hours given, we had no choice but drop packs, lie on the ground, and take a short break.
'Whew, heavy. Labyrinth runs mean hauling this daily... If I could use the Transforming Pouch without worry, it'd be easy.'
That thought crossed my mind looking at the pack.
I wanted to use the Transforming Pouch, but with Nellin and the trading post chief's cases, and hearing it's rare outside Acrom, I hesitated to reveal it. Keeping it hidden until closer to the party, especially careful around nobles.
'Catch a quick nap.'
Sudden fatigue hit; I closed my eyes gently and dozed briefly.
Three hours later.
Rest and meal done, we packed up and followed the noble's retainers.
At a spot in the wasteland, they dug up soil, revealing thick wooden planks.
A huge hole like a sinkhole appeared.
'Hiding it so no one steals the labyrinth dive.'
Then leader Hansol drove stakes around, tied ropes, tossed them down. Leaving the noble's carriage and coachman, everyone descended via ropes.
Below the hole was a cave entrance.
'Is that the labyrinth?'
It looked just like any cave; nothing special screamed "labyrinth."
"This is a 'Regenerated Labyrinth' confirmed reformed a month ago. Hope for valuable relics."
'Regenerated Labyrinth?'
At the noble's words, Gian whispered beside me.
"Labyrinths regenerate after full clear after some time. Layout fully changes, Revenants and relics respawn. No one knows why."
He explained extra for my labyrinth ignorance.
His words made the noble's statement click.
"Then, proceed."
At the noble's order, we took the lead toward the labyrinth entrance.