Ch.33. Trash

But in reality, it wasn’t quite like that.

Shiro was collapsed behind me, so if we all made it out alive, I’d have to split the Source’s value in half.

‘Actually, I don’t mind that part.’

Even if I split this money, it would still be a life-changing opportunity for me—turning my life around by about 140 degrees.

With that money, I could get high-grade equipment that would guarantee safe party hunting at least up to the third floor.

However, the biggest problem was that elf.

‘What if she betrays me?’

Now there were only two party members left. If she stabbed me in the back, there would be no witnesses.

No matter how much of a silver-haired elf she was, the Golden Source was valuable enough to justify killing me for it.

What should I do in this situation?

‘For now, let me think while I take care of what needs to be done.’

After moving the bodies far away to prevent wolves from being attracted by the blood smell, I sat in front of the elf and wiped the blood off my sword.

A quiet atmosphere settled after overcoming all dangers.

“…”

In truth, my best option was clear.

Hide the fact that I killed them and obtained the Source.

For example—

The female mage and the bald guy didn’t have the Source. It was probably with the spear guy, but because of the wolves, there was no chance to check his body.

With my injuries, it would be too risky to go looking for it now, so we’d have to give up.

—If I said something like that, the elf would have no choice but to believe me.

Because she didn’t see it herself. There was a real possibility that the spear guy had it.

This way, Shiro would have no reason to kill me, and if things went well, I might even get to keep all the money from the Source—an insanely sweet situation.

‘I can always pay her later.’

Of course, I had no intention whatsoever of keeping it all to myself.

The thought of secretly pocketing such a large sum was tempting, but I wasn’t that lacking in conscience. Especially in this situation.

If someone deceived me like this and took all the money, I’d want to kill them. The elf would probably feel the same way if she found out the truth later.

‘I’d definitely get caught.’

Something as valuable as a Source would reveal my theft the moment it hit the market.

In this situation, would I risk my life by giving in to immediate greed?

I might succeed once or twice if lucky, but living that way would eventually get me stabbed in the Labyrinth.

‘I’ll hide it for now.’

If I put it in my spatial pocket, she’d have no way of knowing.

With the magic on it, I could prevent anyone from taking items out if I wanted to.

“Ugh.”

After about an hour, the elf who had been groaning finally got up.

“…Did you protect me?”

She muttered, almost to herself.

“I was just desperately trying to survive, and that’s how it turned out.”

“I see.”

After her brief reply, she closed her eyes and took a few breaths.

After those calm breaths echoed for several dozen seconds, she spoke again.

“What happened until now?”

I started spewing out the scenario I had prepared.

Most of it was based on facts, with only the Source-related parts slightly altered, so everything fit together.

“…Is that really true?”

After hearing everything I said, the elf looked at me with disbelief.

Her expression was already sharp, and her dark purple eyes made her look even more intimidating.

‘Did she figure it out?’

For a moment, I felt anxious, but I didn’t need to worry. She hadn’t seen what actually happened.

“Yes. The Source… *sigh*…”

I mixed in a sigh filled with emotion.

“Unfortunately, I think it will be difficult to find.”

I pretended it was real.

With my acting skills acquired from being deceived by countless scammers, it would be nearly impossible for a novice explorer like her to see through me.

“Can’t be helped. Whether it’s the Source or anything else, it all becomes meaningless when people die.”

She really didn’t seem to notice, and we decided to head toward the second floor.

“Let’s go now.”

Just as I was about to move my legs forward—

“…?!”

My body collapsed with an electrifying sensation running through it.

Seeing this, she approached me.

Ah, I’d reached my limit after all.

I thought I wasn’t bleeding much, but I should have used a potion if I’d known. Though the only ones I had were low-grade potions, so they wouldn’t have made much difference anyway.

‘I’m going to die.’

In this state, she would definitely abandon me.

It’s a mistake to think someone will help you just because you’ve done them a favor.

This is the Labyrinth—I’d be lucky if she didn’t steal my equipment…

“…You’re a bit heavy.”

For some reason, she started supporting me.

…

How much time had passed?

A blue gate came into my blurry vision.

‘We made it.’

When we encountered monster groups along the way, I thought she might throw me out as a meat shield.

But the elf drew her sword and cut them down in an instant, then continued supporting me for a long time.

‘Her combat ability is no joke.’

When her stamina was running low, she even used fire magic to block the paths where monsters were coming from.

Setting aside her excellent character for not abandoning me, her abilities were truly befitting of a silver-haired elf. Besides barbarians, no other race had such bizarrely high racial stats.

If it hadn’t been for that ambush, she probably could have handled all three party members simultaneously.

Anyway, we passed through the portal to the second floor, and—

“…Ah.”

A forest base camp where many people had gathered.

“Is there a priest?! We have an injured person here!”

At the elf’s shout, a priest ran toward us.

‘I’m saved.’

Only then could I allow myself to pass out.

I was afraid she might abandon me if I fainted while she was supporting me.

***

When I opened my eyes, an indescribable pain washed over me.

My head hurt.

My vision was beyond blurry—I couldn’t see anything at all. My muscles ached as if they were already torn, and I could barely feel my legs.

At least I could tell I was awake from the loud noises around me.

‘So I really survived.’

I was badly injured, but I had survived the Labyrinth once again today.

This was partly due to my quick thinking, but it would have been impossible without that elf’s help.

I owed a debt to Shiro, that elf.

Of course, since she was a silver-haired elf, we probably wouldn’t be working together in the future. I still had to rot as a porter for another year.

‘I should at least remember her name.’

As I was thinking this, I could feel my vision gradually returning.

The starting area of every floor was made into a safe zone by large guilds, so it was always a bit noisy, but today seemed especially bustling.

‘Did something happen?’

As I tried to look around, I noticed a white object to the right of my head.

There was something like a thin rod extending out, with a round shape at the end.

‘…A person?’

Judging by the figure, it seemed to be a woman, but why would anyone be sitting next to me?

“You’re awake.”

Then came a calm female voice.

“…Ugh.”

“Since you seem to be able to hear me, I’ll keep talking. You don’t have to answer.”

When I raised my gaze slightly, something like an amethyst was looking down at me.

“You’ve been unconscious for about five hours. The priest said you might have died if we’d been even a few dozen minutes late, but since we weren’t, you should be fine by tomorrow.”

Was my condition that serious?

‘The priest is exaggerating a bit.’

People don’t die that easily.

I know because I once spent three whole days unconscious in the Labyrinth.

Back then, I had a huge hole in my stomach, and I barely survived by waking up, having medium-grade potions poured into me, and passing out again repeatedly.

I’m still grateful to the party member who provided more than ten medium-grade potions. Of course, when they handed over the potions, all the other party members were already dead.

‘Now I understand why that guy carried medium-grade potions.’

If I’d had even one medium-grade potion this time, I wouldn’t have passed out.

If not for the elf’s excellent character, I might have become food for passing monsters.

“Th-thank… you…”

I mustered all my strength to express my gratitude to her.

“…”

The calm purple eyes gazed at me steadily.

The surrounding noise continued, but somehow that moment felt strangely quiet.

“…It’s only natural, no need to thank me.”

After that, tens of minutes or perhaps a few hours passed.

‘I think I can speak now.’

My condition had improved considerably with just a little time. I wouldn’t need a full day as the elf had mentioned.

Looking around, I realized we were in a tent. It seemed the elf and I had been here alone the whole time.

“I think I’m feeling better now.”

I spoke as I sat up. I made eye contact with her while sitting on the floor.

“I’m glad you recovered quickly.”

The elf didn’t say anything more and just looked at me.

An expressionless face with no discernible emotion.

Although I hadn’t known this elf for long, I was starting to understand what kind of person she was.

“…What are your plans now, Shiro?”

“Hunting. I’ll probably go to the deep part of the first floor.”

After answering, she calmly looked into my eyes again.

‘I thought so.’

She’s awkward with people.

From our first meeting, she didn’t seem to prefer interacting with others. But now something felt different.

She clearly had something she wanted to say, but didn’t know how to express it, so she just maintained eye contact.

“Even with your skills, wouldn’t it be dangerous to hunt alone?”

It was far too dangerous for a silver-haired beautiful elf to hunt alone.

What if she encountered a party of explorers with bad intentions? She could easily die.

“I don’t have anyone to hunt with. If I look for people here, I’ll just end up with people similar to before.”

I had forgotten that many low-floor explorers were desperate for money.

Just look at me—I came to the Labyrinth because I would have starved to death otherwise. Now that I had the Source in my pocket, I didn’t need to worry, but she didn’t know that.

For her, not hunting wasn’t an option.

‘…I need to tell her now.’

If money was her concern, that problem was already solved.

If I told her the truth, she wouldn’t have to risk her life hunting.

“…”

But for some reason, I couldn’t bring myself to say it.

All I had to do was call her name and take out the item from my spatial pocket.

Why couldn’t I do something so simple?

Was it because I wanted to keep all the money for myself by deceiving my benefactor?

In the midst of this, Shiro spoke.

“Hey, you.”

Hearing her voice filled me with self-loathing.

‘You pathetic bastard.’

This person saved my life. And here I was, having such thoughts?

I resolved to tell the truth after hearing what she had to say, but—

“Starting tomorrow, I’m going to hunt on the first floor. If I happen to recover the Source, I’ll transfer ownership to you.”

Unexpected words came out of her mouth.

“If it weren’t for you, I would already be dead.”

It seemed like she thought I would keep all the money for myself even if I told the truth.

“…”

I had become an irredeemable piece of trash.