Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 33
Chapter Title: Labyrinth Arc (2)
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The nobles and their retainers followed us from a safe distance, keeping a little space between us.
‘Three mid-grades and three high-grades among the retainers, huh. The last one must be the noble’s personal attendant.’
Their forces were a notch below our party’s but still plenty strong.
Maybe it was because combat prowess and scouting skills were different things.
They probably couldn’t scout themselves, so they put out requests like this and hired labyrinth exploration specialists—mercenaries for the job.
That explained why our ment’s backpacks had no rations; those guys were just handling supplies during the delve.
‘So the noble hires mercs to conquer the labyrinth, pockets any good relics that come out. The mercs get paid regardless of relics.’
The reward for this job, as explained before departure, was a fixed amount of jenn—no relics involved.
In other words, the noble was gambling on probabilities like a high-stakes bet, while the mercs got steady pay no matter what.
That made me think of Kiru and Privé for some reason.
This dagger he gave me was the result of a similar gamble.
In fact, Kiru’s client had hit the jackpot.
Their labyrinth run had yielded “Privé,” a “king-grade magic tool”—a total windfall.
But after exiting, they ran into a rank-1 monster, and the client lost both life and relic.
‘And now that king-grade tool’s in my hands...’
Life was unpredictable, that much was sure.
One thing certain: keep your eyes peeled even when leaving the labyrinth.
With that thought, I kept pressing deeper into the cave.
After walking some distance, the cave grew darker as we moved away from the entrance.
That was when the blue mage ‘Theo’ called for a halt.
“It’s getting a bit dark. Better cast some magic before we go on.”
“Good idea,” Hansol agreed, and Theo began casting on the party members one by one.
On my turn last, Theo looked puzzled.
“Why isn’t it taking?”
‘Oh?’
I hadn’t expected that.
My personal Night Vision was overlapping with his effect.
Mine was personal-use, stronger, so it wouldn’t overwrite.
I quickly dispelled mine.
“Sorry. Seems I didn’t accept it. Could you try again?”
I covered somehow.
Excluding holy healing magic, spells needed consent to cast, so that excuse worked.
“Hmm... Anyway, Prompt to Magic Cast— Night Vision.”
Good, it worked this time.
Vision was a bit weaker than my own spell, but no choice now.
“Gian, same as usual.”
“Got it.”
Theo cast new blue magics I didn’t know.
One magic circuit per spell at his staff tip—both beginner-level.
‘Keen Ears boosts hearing, Expanded Vision sharpens sight, judging by names?’
The nobles were waiting behind, and we’d already delayed a bit because of me.
No way I’d ask what they did right now—that’d be shameless.
With all buffs done, scout Gian took point, the rest of the party and nobles following.
Deeper in, darkness thickened, but Theo’s Night Vision fully kicked in, eyes adjusting.
Just as our vision fully adapted...
“Light the mana lanterns.”
At the noble’s order, retainers raised lanterns for visibility.
‘No blue mage means one hand tied holding a lantern.’
A moment realizing how vital blue mages were, even without combat power.
Ten minutes later, the labyrinth entrance appeared.
No clear sign, but cave walls shifting to angular stone blocks screamed it intuitively.
Lead scout Gian suddenly raised a hand, halting us.
He nodded at the floor: a black pit gap cleverly camouflaged in the stone.
“Rough labyrinth from the start. Everyone follow carefully.”
He led casually, disarming wall holes and ankle-high trap wires like a pro.
“How do you see so well?”
I asked, impressed. Gian grinned.
“Expanded Vision. Spots tiny differences from the rest.”
Truly impressive. Experts were cool in any field.
We walked on for a while.
Thirteen footsteps—including nobles—echoed irregularly in the passage.
Suddenly, a creepy sound from afar.
Kigik— kkigik—
‘What’s that? Monkey-like?’
No one else reacted.
Freaking out over every noise would make me look clueless and jumpy.
I played it cool, walking silently.
—Step
Gian halted.
Fork: left or straight.
He took a deep breath, then blew “hoo” toward left path.
Repeated for straight.
‘What’s he doing?’
Mana puffed from his mouth like breath. But why?
After three minutes, Gian spoke.
“Left’s a dead end. This way.”
‘How’d he know? That mana puff?’
Odd choice for a blocked path, but they were the experts. I followed quietly.
Walking again, Gian signaled halt.
“Three mid Revenants ahead, a few more behind—hard to see clearly.”
His Expanded Vision spotted far Revenants invisible to me.
“Lemme check.”
Leader Hansol knelt, right palm to floor.
Thung—
‘Mana spreading through the floor?’
A ‘thung’ sound between palm and stone, mana rippling forward like pond waves.
Ten seconds later:
“Seven total.”
Seemed like mana-based enemy detection.
‘Whoa... like radar magic.’
Magical, almost.
Maybe my world was just narrow—Gian’s scouting plus this.
My face must’ve shown awe; Hansol smirked, patted my shoulder.
“Grey, observe our combat this time. Frontline: me and Lott. Mid: Gian supports. Theo, buffs.”
Theo said “Yes,” and ten seconds passed.
Mid blue magic, strength-boosting by name.
Two circuits at staff tip, deep blue mana enveloping Hansol.
Another ten seconds: unknown spell.
Saving mana? One each—Mighty Strength to Hansol, Boost to Lott.
‘Mid blue spells take ten seconds? Normal?’
I used to, but now instant no focus.
Wondered.
“Take out the front three first, then the back four. Let’s go.”
Hansol strode past Gian casually.
Lott flanked him, Gian behind, then me and Theo.
Short walk, silhouettes appeared—Hansol and Lott charged.
Gian followed after a beat, me after him, Theo quick-stepping behind.
“Kigik? Kkigik?”
Chilling cry, and Revenants entered clear view.
‘Ugh, what... half-melted humans?’
Hence the pub girl’s “undead” talk.
Obvious rotting corpses.
Yellow sclera instead of whites, black-rotted hair.
Crinkled black skin riddled with melted scars.
Mismatched rags barely clothes: no shirt, one pants leg, one bottomless—but no dangling bits, thankfully.
‘Mid-grades despite looks.’
Blue mana: mid warriors.
Weapons: sword, axe, spear—infuse mana for attacks.
—Ting
Hansol’s strike hit sword Revenant.
Mana Coat too—human-like fight.
‘Anti-personnel not just war?’
Quest board “anti-personnel” might include these.
—Ting
—Slash
Hansol casual vs mid.
Second hit landed quick, follow-up shattered Coat, severed neck clean.
Head and body human-like: gruesome.
Meanwhile, Lott dual-maced two: axe and spear.
‘Two maces for 2v1 like that.’
Admiring, Gian appeared from right wall, twin daggers stabbing.
“Kkiiik!”
Spear Revenant.
It screeched, couldn’t counter close Gian with spear.
Stabs broke Coat—collapsed.
‘Fast, concise. Dagger style.’
—Ting —Ting
Mana Coat pings—glanced at Lott.
Thud—
Last axe one’s skull bashed deep by mace.
Three mids down in under twenty seconds.
‘So fast... beyond expectations. High-grade warriors.’
But soon, more eerie cries.
“Kigik?”
“Kigik, kigik.”
Remaining four of Hansol’s seven approached.
“Already high-grades?”
Hansol sounded slightly rattled.
All four: deep blue mana—high-grade warriors.
“Magic incoming, Lott!”
Theo shouted.
No instant cast—chant time.
“Kigik! Kikikik.”
Revenants closed; frontliners Hansol and Lott blocked blades. Gian between them now.
‘Four vs three, positions shifted naturally? Hansol and Gian one each, Lott two. Risky... join or wait?’
Thirty seconds ticked by in thought.
That moment—
Deep blue light from Theo’s staff traced three circles, circuits forming inside.
—Shaaa
Complete, toward Lott.
High-grade blue magic.