4. No Restrooms in the Labyrinth

“Miss, now! Stab it!”

“Uh, uh. Hup!”

A charging rabbit.

A Horn Rabbit, with horns on its head.

The most common beast-type monster found in the breeding grounds.

Yeah, this is the breeding grounds.

After being in the botanical garden, Miss and I were forcibly transferred here.

Thud!

“Ugh. G-Got it.”

“Well done.”

Already, six Horn Rabbits lay slumped in front of us.

I picked them all up and stored them in my inventory.

Rabbit monster hides are soft, so they sell for a decent price.

“Haa. Haa.”

“Are you alright?”

“Huh? Ah. Yeah. I’m fine.”

“Good. Let’s keep moving.”

“Sure.”

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Just as we were about to move forward again-

A noise, like something striking the ground, echoed.

I knew this sound.

I’d seen adventurers lose their heads right after hearing it.

A Bopal Rabbit.

“Kuhk!!”

BAM!!!

I barely managed to block the dog-sized rabbit lunging for my neck by raising my shield.

The wooden shield split in half from the impact, and the pitch-black rabbit aiming for my throat was sent flying back.

Bopal Rabbit.

These insane rabbit monsters ambush adventurers and slash their throats with the horns on their legs.

While Horn Rabbits charge headfirst with their horns, Bopal Rabbits sneak up quietly and slice throats with the bone-like protrusions on their legs.

“Kyuik!”

The Bopal Rabbit lunged again.

With my shield split in half, I blocked its kick with my sword.

Clang!!

I couldn’t let it get near Miss.

She didn’t have the strength to block its attacks or the reflexes to dodge.

“Hueup!”

“Kkieek!!”

I twisted my sword forcefully to fling it away, then rushed toward the fallen rabbit and stabbed its belly.

I couldn’t give it a chance to get back up.

These things are fast and cunning-if it escaped, it’d just circle us, waiting for an opening.

It’s best to deal with them the moment you spot them.

Otherwise, you never know when they’ll go for your throat.

And if Miss had to tremble in fear of Bopal Rabbits on top of everything else…

Just the thought was horrifying.

“Wh-What the hell was that?”

“The most dangerous rabbit in the breeding grounds. Bopal Rabbit. They go straight for people’s throats.”

“Hah… Never seen anything like that before.”

You wouldn’t find such bizarre creatures in nature.

They only appear in places thick with demonic energy, like the demon realm or the deepest forests.

You’d rarely see them outside dungeons.

“There won’t be more, right?”

“Unlike Horn Rabbits, these guys roam alone. Their numbers are low too.”

“Really? Whew. That’s a relief.”

Miss let out a deep sigh, her tension easing.

Still, a Bopal Rabbit, huh?

‘Then this must be the breeding grounds’ 3rd or 4th floor.’

Horn Rabbits are common here, but Bopal Rabbits only appear from the 3rd floor onward.

‘If this is the 4th floor… running into a Bunnyman would be the end.’

Bunnymen are like the bosses of the breeding grounds.

Rabbit-human hybrids as big as grown men-if Miss and I faced one now, survival would be near impossible.

They’re fast and strong.

Without a proper tank or damage dealer, encountering one is practically a death sentence.

“Let’s keep moving for now.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

I stored the Bopal Rabbit’s corpse in my inventory and continued forward.

I took detours, avoiding paths where we might run into monsters.

“Huuu.”

“Tired?”

“No. I’m fine for now.”

Miss wasn’t in the best shape stamina-wise.

The only silver lining was that her mental fortitude was stronger than expected.

Even walking through the dark dungeon, she didn’t cower in fear.

No whining either-just silently following behind me.

“A fork in the road. Which way?”

“We should go right. Left’s a dead end.”

“You know that without even checking?”

“I can tell just by looking.”

Left was likely a dead end.

After months of mapping the dungeon’s layout, I could roughly guess what lay at the end of a path without checking.

Call it accumulated dungeon geography big data.

I could now tell at a glance whether a path was blocked or led somewhere else.

“Hey.”

“Yes?”

“This is kinda embarrassing, but…”

“Your legs hurt?”

“Uh. Yeah. That. My feet are killing me.”

It was about time.

We’d been wandering the dungeon for hours.

“Just hang in there a little longer. There should be a room up ahead where we can barricade ourselves and rest.”

“Okay. Sorry.”

“No need to apologize. If something’s wrong, say it right away. I need to know your condition to react properly.”

Hiding pain and making a mistake at a critical moment can ruin the whole party.

I’d seen it happen before.

A rookie adventurer made that mistake when I first entered the dungeon.

Enduring isn’t always the answer.

“Here, sit on this.”

“Thanks, Porter.”

“No problem.”

The floor was filthy, so I handed her a cloth to sit on.

A cheap buy from a secondhand store-no big deal if it got ruined.

I’d bill her extra later.

‘First, block the entrance.’

I covered the doorway with fabric.

Since there was no door, this makeshift barrier would at least obscure the inside.

Most monsters would just pass by.

Monsters can be cunning, but they’re also surprisingly simple-minded.

If you hide, dampen sound and scent, and stay quiet, they often miss you.

“Starting a fire would be too much trouble, so let’s make do.”

“Anything’s fine.”

From my inventory, I pulled out bread, jerky, and fresh cabbage for Miss.

“You carry cabbage too?”

“Yeah. It doesn’t spoil in a dimensional pouch. Gotta get balanced nutrition.”

“I’m so jealous of that pouch.”

You never know what’ll happen in a dungeon, so I came prepared.

My dimensional pouch is a lifesaver.

Most of my earnings went into stocking up on supplies.

For the record, my inventory even has a pot of stew.

My claim of having 30 days’ worth of food wasn’t a lie.

“The bread’s still warm.”

“I stored it right after baking.”

“You’re way more useful than I imagined, Porter.”

“Flattery won’t get you freebies.”

“Tch.”

Miss nibbled on the food quietly.

The carefree, frivolous air she had when we first entered the dungeon was long gone.

Now she was composed. Silent.

Almost serene.

Without any emotional turbulence, she simply accepted the situation.

You’d expect panic from someone caught in a cataclysmic anomaly, but she was holding up well.

“You’re adapting faster than I thought, Miss.”

“Really? You expected me to cry and throw a tantrum?”

“Well. I won’t deny it.”

“Heh. Honest, aren’t you?”

Miss chewed on the jerky before speaking again.

“How long have you lived in the dungeon city, Porter?”

“Me? About six months.”

“What? Less than a year?”

“Yeah. And even less time actually dungeon-crawling.”

“Wait, so you became a veteran in half a year?”

“I wouldn’t call myself a veteran. I’ve barely touched the 5th floor.”

Only those who can navigate the 5th-floor underground city deserve the title.

Whether it’s the botanical garden or breeding grounds, floors 1 to 4 are all beginner zones.

“I see. But how’d you end up here? You don’t look like you’re from around here.”

“Ah, well.”

There are people with East Asian features in the dungeon city.

Most sailed over from the East, treated similarly to northern barbarians-outsiders.

Prejudices run deep, with stereotypes about Easterners being petty.

Not entirely wrong, though.

The Easterners here share similar traits and culture with those from Earth.

“Came by ship. Life was tough back home.”

“Really?”

My go-to excuse when asked about my origins.

Most adventurers, clueless about the East, buy it.

But Miss seemed unusually knowledgeable.

Maybe she just wanted to show off.

“Where’s your hometown? The East has many countries, right?”

“Huh? Oh. Ryukook.”

“Ah. The land of swordsmen, right?”

“Yeah. That’s right.”

“Planning to go back once you make enough money?”

“Nah. I’ll just stay here. Never really thought about leaving the dungeon city.”

A rich outsider?

Perfect target.

Better to build my reputation, become a high-rank adventurer, and settle down here safely.

“Lucky you. Living as you please.”

At my answer, Miss gazed into the distance.

Her eyes carried a hint of frustration.

“Why did you come to the dungeon city, Miss?”

Not usually one to pry, but-

The mood felt right.

“Me? Well. I… always dreamed of being an adventurer.”

“Adventurer was your dream?”

This filthy, wretched job where death could come any moment-that was a noble lady’s dream?

“People like me never get to be adventurers, you know.”

“Ah.”

Did she idolize adventurers because it was out of reach?

“I envied their freedom. Roaming as they please. Marrying whoever they want.”

Miss gulped water from her canteen like it was alcohol.

“Want me to pour you a drink instead?”

“Seriously?”

“No. Just kidding. Who drinks in a situation like this?”

“Ugh!”

Alcohol now?

Obviously a joke.

The mood just called for it.

Still, marriage, huh?

Marrying whoever you want sounds nice.

I’d love to get a slave wife and spend my days pampering her.

“It’s getting late. Rest for a bit.”

“What about you?”

“Not sleepy yet. I’ll take watch and wake you later. We’ll switch.”

“Okay. I’ll sleep first.”

We entered the dungeon around noon.

After hours inside, it must be night outside now.

Proper rest is crucial.

“Hey, Porter.”

“Yes?”

“Um. So. You know…”

“Need to use the toilet?”

“…”

“Let’s step away from the room.”

“Yeah. S-Sorry…”

“No need. It’s natural. But-number one or two?”

“J-Just number one!”

Even in a dungeon, nature calls.

Excretion is as vital as eating and sleeping.

Holding it in is bad for you.

‘If she goes near the room, the smell might attract monsters.’

Most monsters here have sharp senses of smell and hearing.

So doing your business too close risks drawing them in.

She’d have to go farther, but-

Leaving her alone was too dangerous.

“I wanna die of shame.”

“Better than actually dying.”

“Damn it. Ugh. Ugh. Hey, Porter. Cover your ears.”

“If I cover them and miss a monster, we’re screwed.”

“Miss? What’s ‘miss’?”

“I mean, if I don’t hear a monster coming, we’re dead.”

“Uu… Uuugh. So you’re saying you’ll hear me peeing.”

“Not like I want to. Let’s just get it over with. This happens all the time in dungeons. Can’t afford shame as an adventurer.”

“I think I’m starting to hate dungeons.”

“You liked them before? That’s obsession.”

“Stupid Porter. I hate you. So annoying.”

The daughter of Count Lionel, a noble from the north, squatted with a red face and began relieving herself.

Trickle.

Guess she’d been holding it in.

Strong flow.

Not that I’m a pervert listening intently.

‘Bopal Rabbits love targeting adventurers mid-business.’

They strike when you’re vulnerable.

They make a distinct ground-tapping sound before attacking, so listening carefully is necessary.

Dying while peeing is about as ridiculous as it gets.

“Done? Here’s something to wipe with.”

“Uuugh. Y-You. Ugh. Damn it.”

Miss wiped herself with the scrap of cloth I handed her. In a world without toilet paper, old rags were the norm.

Wash or toss-didn’t matter. After wiping, she dropped it on the ground.

“Here’s water. Gotta wash your hands.”

“Ugh. Haaa…”

I poured water from my canteen for her to wash up. She sighed deeply.

Must’ve been really embarrassed. I’d be too.

“Having an inventory means you can wash your hands even in a dungeon. Nice, right?”

“Nice, but. Annoying.”

“Heh. Well, it is what it is.”

“You. Don’t you dare tell anyone. Don’t you dare use this as gossip. If I hear rumors about the count’s daughter getting caught peeing-I will end you. Insulting nobility’s a crime. Got it?”

“Your secret’s safe with me.”

“Damn Porter. So smooth. So annoying.”

I led Miss back to our makeshift camp.

A noble’s daughter, humiliated after peeing in front of a man.

‘Kinda turned on.’

I felt a stir down below, but the darkness hid it well.