Ch.4343. Enlistment

According to Airi, here’s a summary of what happened in the Labyrinth during this cycle:

1. Some land and monsters turned red in layers close to the 3rd floor.

2. Quite a lot of people died.

3. Everyone holed up in the base camp and engaged in siege warfare.

The explorers currently in the plaza had endured for two weeks while having their mental strength drained.

‘It seems unusually quiet.’

Explorers typically make a fuss about everything they experience, but this time everyone seemed too exhausted, making the streets eerily calm.

Even the path to the Explorer’s Association felt empty.

“…”

“Adel, you don’t look well.”

Shiro asked with concern.

“I’m fine. Just… thinking about a lot of things.”

I thought it was only happening in the tower, but the Demonic Blood had spread throughout the entire Labyrinth.

If it had only emerged from a single dungeon, I could have somehow accepted it, but if it had spread throughout the entire Labyrinth, the situation had grown much more serious.

‘Something’s strange.’

An ominous feeling lingered in my mind, but I arrived at the Association building before I could pinpoint the exact reason.

The usually long exchange line had noticeably shortened, and we were able to complete our exchange shortly.

“…What is this?”

“Mana Stones.”

“Um, I have to ask… did you really collect these yourself?”

Sherry seemed flustered by the sheer quantity of Mana Stones.

I explained the situation to her satisfaction.

I told her how we somehow entered a place called the Ice Tower and what we experienced inside.

Since regular explorers sometimes survive hidden dungeons too, they didn’t particularly suspect us.

It also helped that during this cycle, other explorers were all stuck at the base camp, making it impossible for anyone to loot.

With such a massive amount of Mana Stones, no one could have stolen them anyway.

“…That’s quite a large pouch. I think this is my first time seeing this much.”

Sherry pushed a money pouch across the desk.

A total of 7.2 million Ars.

We had earned 72 million won this time.

***

After exchanging our stones, we returned to the inn.

Given the situation, Shiro and I didn’t have much cheerful conversation.

As usual, we reached the fountain where we would part ways.

“…”

Shiro seemed to hesitate as she looked at me.

“Shiro?”

“…Do you remember what I said in the Ice Tower?”

She gradually moved closer to me.

“That when we got to a safe place, I could hug you.”

“…I do remember.”

Was that what she said when we synthesized the Source at the altar?

‘She’s still holding onto that.’

I wasn’t planning to resist, but—

-Grip.

She grabbed both my arms so I couldn’t escape and closed the distance between us.

“…”

With just a few centimeters of space between us, it was practically a hug.

Shiro stopped there, then stepped back.

“It’s a bit embarrassing to do this during the day.”

Despite her occasional impulsive skinship, we were still awkward even with hugging.

“It’s not quite a substitute, but…”

She stood on her tiptoes and leaned forward,

Her lips touched my cheek.

“This isn’t bad either.”

With a faint smile, Shiro left.

“Adel, see you next time.”

“…Yes, Shiro.”

Under the warm sunlight of early summer,

I stood still in front of the fountain, watching Shiro’s retreating figure.

“…”

I stared into empty space long after Shiro had disappeared from view.

“Mom, Mom! Buy this for me.”

I heard the bustling sounds of the street.

“Mr. Lebert, how about this?”

“Accessories for sale! If you buy two or more right now—”

Standing there blankly, I just felt time passing by.

“…”

I recalled the sounds of summer.

The cry of cicadas dying on trees. The hot wind coming through wide-open windows.

I thought repeatedly about the place I needed to return to.

‘…It feels stifling.’

With my heart feeling strange somehow, I hurried back to the inn.

***

Several days passed after that.

Although many people had died in the Labyrinth, there was no mourning for their deaths.

Regular people didn’t even know what had happened, just that there had been a major incident in the Labyrinth.

Even now, days later, the Imperial Court hadn’t released an official statement, so even explorers weren’t entirely sure of the situation.

“Ugh—!”

I got up from bed as usual and began my morning routine mechanically.

Brushing teeth, washing face, doing laundry.

Now that I had more money, I didn’t really need to do laundry, but I kept doing it as part of my morning routine.

Who washes their bedding every day anyway?

“Good morning.”

As I went to the lobby for breakfast, I saw Arya putting something up on the wall.

“Ah, Adel. Perfect timing. This is an official notice from the Imperial Court.”

“From the Imperial Court?”

Based on the timing, it seemed to be about what happened in the Labyrinth.

I read the contents of the paper Arya had posted.

[Demonic Blood has appeared in the Labyrinth. We know why.]

Summarizing the first paragraph made it sound like a conspiracy theory.

Still, since it came from the Imperial Court, I had to read it.

[Sometimes the power of the Constellations weakens, which is why Demonic Blood leaked in. This can be restored with the goddess’s blessing. So we’re looking for explorers to enter the Labyrinth with imperial knights and high priests next time.]

[Regular people will be prohibited from entering the Labyrinth next time. Note that explorers ranked 5-star and above are subject to mandatory conscription, so come for your physical examination. You know what happens if you don’t.]

The original text was elegantly written, but summarizing the lengthy document left me feeling dazed.

Physical examination, national service.

It was essentially a slave recruitment notice.

“Something terrible happened in the Labyrinth. Demonic Blood… it gives me chills.”

Arya looked at me as she spoke.

“But what level is a 5-star explorer? I think I heard it’s a unit used by the Association.”

“It’s a unit that’s practically obsolete now, but it’s roughly equivalent to the 6th floor.”

“Ah, then you’re not subject to conscription, Adel?”

She smiled with relief, thinking I was a 5th floor explorer.

“…I’m not so sure about that.”

I could only respond with a bitter smile.

***

The next morning, I headed to the Association with Shiro.

Of course, women were also subject to conscription, so we were going together for the physical examination.

I suppose this is true gender equality in practice. Monsters don’t discriminate when they kill.

“It’s already crowded.”

“Indeed.”

There were many people inside the Association building.

Although many explorers had died in the previous incident, gathering in one building still created long lines.

While waiting for tens of minutes and chatting with Shiro,

“…You want to volunteer even though you’re not subject to conscription?”

“That’s right.”

A familiar voice came from the volunteer enlistment desk right next to us.

Glancing over the line, I saw a brown-haired man with an axe talking to an examiner.

And two women beside him.

“Hagen? Are you serious?”

“Mr. Hagen, you’re going in despite your previous injury? We’ll be entering the Labyrinth ourselves, so I think you should rest…”

It was the Hagen-Daz-Berry harem party.

I think they were on the 4th floor last time.

‘Are both women above 6th floor?’

You often see this scene with genders reversed, but it was unusual to see two strong women attached to one man.

Literally a queen bee party with reversed genders.

“No, I must enter the Labyrinth. As an explorer, shouldn’t I participate in something like this?”

On Hagen’s right arm was a black stain.

It seemed the Demonic Blood had left such a scar even after time had passed.

‘What a man.’

He was crazy, but there was something different about a crazy person with conviction.

“…Shouldn’t we volunteer too if we’re around 4th floor level?”

“That’s fucking stupid.”

“So?”

“Of course we fucking should.”

And so, Hagen’s actions resulted in several explorers in front of us volunteering.

…Is he being paid to go viral?

“…?”

Shiro frowned as she observed this strange collective madness.

“Next examinee? Please come this way, thank you.”

Whatever the case, thanks to that, the line shortened quickly, and soon it was my turn.

I went through procedures checking magic power, strength, reaction speed, criminal history, and so on…

“Congratulations, Adel, you’re 5-star.”

I was classified as active duty.

“…Thank you.”

“Yes. For now, Adel, you should go to Plaza #2 under our jurisdiction on the day the Labyrinth portal opens. You’ll likely be assigned to the 2nd Battalion. Is there anyone you’d like to enter with?”

They even have a joint entry system?

“I don’t think so, but there’s someone taking the examination with me now. I should know their results first.”

Objectively speaking, Shiro was still borderline for 5-star.

She could probably qualify if she consumed a 4th-grade Source or learned 5-star magic, but not yet.

“Understood. When you decide, please proceed to the joint entry reception desk over there.”

When I returned to the lobby, Shiro had already finished and was waiting for me.

“You finished early.”

“Yes. What star are you?”

“5-star, active duty. What about you, Shiro?”

“4-star.”

As expected.

“I see. That’s fortunate.”

“…What is?”

Shiro tilted her head with a puzzled look.

“You’re not subject to conscription.”

“I was planning to go with you anyway, so what does it matter?”

“What? Really?”

“Yes.”

As if asking why I would question something so obvious, Shiro grabbed my arm and looked up at me.

“There’s no point in staying outside without you.”

“…Shiro.”

“Yes.”

I hugged her.

“…?!”

I whispered to the frozen Shiro.

“Thank you.”

I was truly moved.