Chapter 104 – 101 the Labyrinth Where Light Cannot Reach
After having dinner with Resim and Baek Ryeo-gang, Hwan-in returned to the Olts Hotel, checked out of the single room, moved to a double room, and spent the night inspecting the black spear and stone axe.
Yesterday, he visited Susa’s mansion and announced that he was going to enter the labyrinth, and he also visited the second cemetery and left a letter for Elkata, who hadn’t come out of the castle yet.
I plan to be away for at least 10 days, but if we lose contact with each other, it will be regretful.
‘It’s a pity.’
I continue to meditate and concentrate, but I do not feel any fading except for negative emotions such as irritation, anger, obsession, and annoyance.
Rather, as she trained, her unexpected emotions would come out unexpectedly.
‘Am I becoming a normal person too?’
I don’t know what normality is, but I think if I keep going like this, maybe I’ll get closer to normal.
Click.
=Master?=
Just as she’s almost finished wiping her black spears with her dry towel, the door to her bathroom opens and Isilite in her slightly wet hair pokes her head out.
=Is it okay if I leave?=
“…… ?”
For a moment, I didn’t understand why he was asking. Seeing this, the moment she thought that she was still far from normal, she accepted the no answer as permission, and she threw Isilite completely open the door for her.
=I’m leaving~.=
And, revealed, a very sensational figure barely covering her front with a piece of white towel.
Even though it was a normal-sized towel, her side breasts, her pelvis, slightly wet and clinging to her body, slightly exposed the traces of her 11-character abs and 1-character navel.
And pale brown pubic hair that shimmered beneath her towel as she walked, thanks to her breasts taking up the length of her towel.
Hwanin closed his eyes.
She opened her mouth in a nonchalant voice as she heard small footsteps pass in front of her.
“What about the clothes?”
When she went into the bathroom, I saw her taking clothes and underwear.
=I packed all my underwear, but the emergency rations flapped their wings, knocked them off, and got dirty by stepping on them.=
“…….”
She said it was an accident, so I don’t even feel like blaming it.
Isilite squatted in front of her trunk, which she had placed beside her bed, and gathered her undergarments, while sitting in her chair, her eyes closed, watching her phantom slowly wipe her black windowsill with a dry towel. I looked sideways.
‘It’s completely different from the reaction Neneyu told me.’
Among the apprentice maids who shared a room for four for 40 days, 17-year-old Neneyu, whom she became especially close to, said that a man’s reaction would split in two in this situation.
Stare at you insidiously, or avert your eyes in embarrassment.
However, the master is not flustered or looks at her slyly, just reverently grooming her weapon like a monk.
I was going to seduce the master as Neneyu taught me if he looked at me insidiously or panicked…….
‘There are still many opportunities! I will be with my master from now on!’
In her large bath, which is open once every three days, she was Isilite, who found that her body was excellent enough to rank first or second among her 200 trainees.
Master is not conservative when it comes to sex, so if you sneakily expose it, someday!
It was not with any other intention.
If she were a normal woman, she would have a closer relationship with her fancier through sexual intercourse and aim for her advantage.
She just wants to be a little closer in the current relationship between men and women.
She said that as she made a promise to herself, gathered her underwear, passed in front of her Hwanin, and went back to her bathroom.
= I’m sorry, Master. I’ll be careful in the future.=
“…… Okay.”
As Isilite passed by, she thought that the body she exuded was needlessly good, and she was a phantom who answered briefly.
Hwanin, who woke up at dawn, took Isilite and her emergency food and walked the streets of the dusky city as dawn broke.
Maybe it’s because I’ve worn a full set of gear for the first time in a while, but the tight black-gray beast leather armor feels like it’s tightening even my heart that’s slightly loosened.
Issilite also likes her new weapons and armor. Her steps are light even with a load weighing over 90 kg.
= Emergency food. Do you have to stick close to me?=
Quet.
=The place you are going to is a scary place, but don’t worry. I’ll protect you. =
Que~.
When she arrived outside the west gate, she found two people wearing a warrior’s aura and a sorcerer’s aura.
It is Resim wearing a long sword in matte white iron plate armor, and Baeknyeogang wearing a blue hooded cape and holding a staff with a green jewel.
Two people who stand out among those who go to the labyrinth like themselves.
The reason is because of Leshim.
Baek Ryeo-gang was wearing a plain blue hooded robe with an opening in the front, probably conscious of his gaze.
The brown leather armor revealed through the hem of the robe swaying in the wind was also decent, so it didn’t attract attention.
However, Lessim is wearing white leather armor that looks expensive even at a glance, and on top of that, she wears a white iron breastplate, white iron plate vauntlets, white iron plate gloves, and white iron plate leg armor, and also has a nice shoulder cape on her shoulders.
The scabbard is white, the hilt and cross-guard are all white, and the top of the head is a human race with dark gray fur, so it is impossible not to miss it.
= Ah, Hwanin! I think!=
“…….”
The sight of Leshim waving his hand after discovering this side draws the attention of passers-by.
As her phantom sighed silently, Isilite took her gray hooded robe from her gym bag and handed it to Leshim. She bought it for herself, just in case.
=Miss Isilite, why is this?=
=Mr. Lesim is in a position where he has to move quietly right now, right? You’re drawing a lot of attention right now, so please use it until you enter the labyrinth. He bought it new yesterday, so it’s brand new and never worn. =
= Ah…… Yes…….=
Lessim, slightly anticipating whether he might be interested in him, lays his ears down like his downcast puppy and puts the robe over his armor.
Hwanin looked at it and said.
“Mr. Lesim will be the party leader.”
= Well. Wouldn’t it be better to judge the situation if the leader is a member of the front row or the back row?
When the two people’s opinions were divided, Baek Ryeo-gang naturally came forward.
=If you don’t mind Hwanin-nim being the leader, I’d like to ask Hwanin-nim. Because you are outstanding both in terms of age and skills.=
It is the designation of the client. Hwanin nodded his head with a short answer, “I know,” And Resim also lowered his head without objection to Baekryeogang’s decision.
“Then let’s go.”
=Yes. But Hwanin’s main weapon was a spear. The appearance is very unique. Even the leather armor doesn’t seem to be normal beast leather.=
“It was produced as a by-product obtained from the Hehyeongjong caught by himself.”
= Indeed. The black spear in particular is very eye-catching. Can you tell me what the material is?=
“The blade was made by grinding the molars of holy water. The black wood of Hilan was used as a barrel for the spearhead.”
= Oh! Indeed…….=
Like a warrior who discovered a mysterious weapon, Lesim looked closely at the black spear and burst into admiration.
‘Somehow, Mr. Lesim seems to be more excited than the client. By the way…….’
I don’t see any luggage. I won’t forget both.
‘Is it a subspace pocket?’
The subspace bag, which is as bulky as Isilite’s carrying on her back now, is about 7 gold coins, although there are variations depending on the options granted.
These are people who carry potion sets worth over 200 gold coins and stay in rooms that cost 10 silver coins per night. Of course you have a subspace pocket.
As expected, Baek Ryeo-gang speaks.
=Issilite’s luggage looks very heavy. If it’s okay, I’ll move it.=
=Wow, it looks like you have a subspace pocket. But it’s okay. I will only be grateful.=
= But…….=
=There is a proverb in a labyrinth that says don’t gather your luggage in one place. And since I’m a swordsman who focuses on strength, I don’t mind this much.=
= Did you? My thoughts were short.=
= I’m glad you took care of me.=
= Whoops. I think Issilite has a pretty heart as much as her face.
= Oh, thank you…….=
The party, which quickly became warm, talked with Baek Ryogang talking, Isilite answering, and Lesim interjecting.
=Did you come from a thief…… ?=
At Isilite’s confession, Reshim had an angry expression, and Baekryeo-do slightly opened her mouth as if surprised.
=Yes. If she hadn’t met her master, she wouldn’t have been rehabilitated and she would still be living like a beast. I am only grateful to the owner.=
=Keuuu, Hwanin-nim is a great person in many ways. Come to think of it, did you receive a marriage proposal from the daughter of a high-ranking military commander in Heyern? After all, nice men are attracted to nice womenhaha.=
Isilite’s forehead twitched momentarily at the shocking story, but Leshim laughed without noticing.
Her phantom didn’t have anything to say, so she shut her mouth, and Isilite shut her mouth, shocked that something she never expected had happened while she wasn’t there.
‘Wouldn’t she be shocked? The owner is cool, so it’s natural for women to get entangled…….’
At least she seemed to have no interest in the marriage proposal, and it was Isilite who comforted her by being calm.
‘…… Still, I wish I could take the place of her concubine…….’
Sensing the subtle change, Baek Ryogang let out a small sigh and poked Leshim in her ankle with the tip of her cane.
She fell silent at the party, but she did not become awkward because the citadel of her labyrinthine barracks was right in front of her nose.
In front of a labyrinth crowded with dozens of people.
It was still dark and it was time for the fire pole to add light, but the labyrinth was crowded with people entering and exiting the labyrinth, and merchants buying by-products.
= Lady. It’s dangerous because there are a lot of people, so please come in front of me.=
=Thank you, Miss Isilite.=
=Oh, where is the emergency food! I’m with the lady in front!=
Quet!
Why why! I want to see that!
The emergency rations quacked in protest, but Isilite didn’t understand, and her emergency rations continued.
In the end, her hwanin comes forward and puts a leash around her neck of her emergency food and gives it to Isilite, and then she calms down.
“Emergency food. There will be many things she will go into the labyrinth with in the future. You’ll see things like that often, so stay calm for now.”
Compared to emergency food, Leshim and Baengnyeogang are quiet.
Even though her head keeps moving here and there, she follows Hwanin well.
The entrance to the labyrinth, like the entrance to an enlarged bear den. Standing in front of the entrance guard at the entrance where the dark passageway leads to the basement, Hwanin submitted four fairy tales along with the entry permit to the labyrinth.
=The leader is Hwanin, and the party consists of 3 people and 1 dog. Are you sure?=
“Yes.”
=The problem that occurred in the labyrinth is basically the person concerned. The leader is responsible for not managing the party, and if you cause a disaster in the labyrinth itself, the entire force of Wayford will come after you. Did you understand?
“Yes.”
=I wish you all the luck of the beast god. Next !=
Hwanin, who received his permit and ID card back from the entrance control officer who responded in a mechanical manner, entered the entrance of the labyrinth with his party wide open.
As you go down the hill, the surroundings rapidly become darker. Looking down at the lights of the party that entered the labyrinth first, he opened his mouth.
“Isilite. Torchlight.”
=Yes.=
Chick, Chick- Glow-
A light comes on from behind, and a yellow light colors the smooth walls and ceiling.
There is no problem securing sight because the spirit sight is open, but Hwan-in, who lit a torch for the other party, slowly followed at a certain distance from the preceding party.
As you go down the hill, the pressure unique to the cave presses against your ears. The cold air of dawn and other heavy, dry air fills the surroundings and stimulates the sense of smell.
In a tense atmosphere, emergency food is also moving with its beak tightly closed.
After a while, the lights of the previous party disappeared into the middle of the five caves, and the front was plunged into darkness.
The range at which the torches illuminated the surroundings was at most about 10m. Beyond that, it turned pitch-black like pitch-black, but to Hwanin’s eyes, the gray outline of the cave came into sight.
‘It’s surprising how useful Spirit Sight is in an underground maze-type labyrinth.’
=A labyrinth where light does not reach, you have named it really well.=
A voice echoed through the smooth walls of a lava cave. Leshim shut her mouth with a prick, perhaps not knowing that her own voice would resonate so loudly.
Hwanin said in a small voice.
“As we coordinated our opinions, we will refrain from talking until we reach the third floor. It is almost a one-way street up to the third floor, so move quickly.”
The iron rule in the labyrinth is ‘avoid people. If you can’t avoid it, avoid it anyway.’
During the preliminary investigation, I heard that the first and second floors are floors where everyone passes quickly. It was because the heterogeneous species that came out were small and inexpensive, and they were not wide, so they often encountered people.
Usually, crime does not occur on the floor close to the entrance, but the world does not know it. So go down first to the third floor, which is said to be seven times wider.
After a while, Hwanin also arrived at the aisle divided into five branches and entered the far right.
No matter which way you choose, the end is a one-way street going down to the next floor.
Beep, beep, beep…….
A narrow and smooth cave passage is about 2.5m high and 2m wide. If you’re claustrophobic, it’s enough to cause a panic attack.
Hwanin raised a question in his head at the beginning of the labyrinth, which was different from what he had thought.
‘Level 6 forest labyrinths were surrounded by blue aura, but there is nothing like that here.’
Is it because it is an underground cave labyrinth? Or is it because it is a low-level labyrinth?
Just then, a mouse-like, chihuahua-sized creature appeared through the curved passageway ahead.
They say that the possibility of meeting Lee Hyeong-jong on the first floor is infinitely close to zero.
Thinking briefly, Hwanin threw the Celtic stone ax from his waist without hesitation.
Whiriririk- Kwajik.
ぅ.
Baek Ryeo-gang was surprised by the short death sentence and asked as if he was gasping for a small breath.
=Muh, what was it?=
“It’s a giant rat.”
The soul that escaped from the corpse of the giant rat is of the lowest class.
Is this giant rat similar in strength to the little green or brown monster?
‘That’s probably not it. Even if they were of the same lower middle class, there was a difference in strength.’
After a while, Reshim and Baeknyeogang shed a small exclamation at the corpse of a giant rat that came within range of the torch.
I couldn’t see anything, and I couldn’t hear anything, so how did they hit it so accurately?
Unlike Reshim and Baek Ryeo-gang, who looked at Hwan-in retrieving the ax with surprised eyes, Issilite hurriedly hurried the emergency rations, showing curiosity at the giant rat’s corpse, with a casual expression.
Hwanin, who was advancing along the winding road, ran into the party that entered first in front of the passage leading down to the second floor.
=…….=
“…….”
It is a worker party with 3 workers and 5 porters.
While watching each other in silence, the leader of the worker party spoke first.
=Will you go down first?=
With a small nod, the party of workers took five or six steps back. Hwanin immediately set foot on the stairs leading to the second basement floor.
From the 2nd floor, there are at least 2 stairs to go down to the next floor, and at most 7, the chances of meeting other parties are greatly reduced.
Hwanin, who came down about 40 steps at a fast pace, quickly inspected the cave, which suddenly widened.
You can see a passage leading to a larger room with a small pillar ahead, and there is a path leading to another room to the left.
‘Room number 7 is correct.’
Thinking of the map on the second basement floor that Leshim had saved in advance, move along the wall on the left.
“I will head to the nearest third-floor aisle, as we have decided in advance.”
Hwanin, who was walking while counting the 0.5m stride, confirmed that he had taken exactly 108 steps to the passageway down to the third floor.
’54 m. You said 3m per grid, so that’s accurate. I can trust the map.’
Leshim appears in the light of the torch and looks at the stairs to the next floor and asks to confirm.
=Is it the 3rd floor aisle?=
“Yes. Calculated by stride length, the scale of the map seems to be reliable. I’ll go right down.”
Did he even calculate the scale of the map?
Resim, who hadn’t even thought about that, reflected on himself and decided that he would learn a lot from Hwanin’s actions this time.
And in the middle of the stairs going down to the third floor, I could see that Hwanin even missed it at first glance.
The bluish fog that covered the level 6 forest labyrinth. It was because it was halfway up the stairs.
[2nd floor map]
