Ch.55. Damn Bastards

I killed three people, and life became way too easy.

If I were a typical game-possession protagonist, I’d be drowning in guilt and losing my humanity, but I had already been grinding in the Labyrinth for three years.

The time for feeling guilty was long past.

Besides, those guys were trash anyway, weren’t they?

Anyway, tomorrow would mark two weeks since I left the Labyrinth. That meant the Labyrinth portal would open again.

I immediately prepared my equipment for exploration, and today the crafting was finally complete.

‘This gear is insane.’

Let me describe my awesome specs in game terms:

[Sword] – Mithril and Orichalcum alloy

[Helmet] – Mithril and Orichalcum alloy

[Shield] – Mithril and Orichalcum alloy

[Right Arm Guard] – Moonstone and Orichalcum alloy

[Leggings, Boots, Breastplate] – Orichalcum

This alone might not show how strong I am, but if you look at the 7-tier equipment tree I’ve compiled, you’ll see how incredible it is.

—

1. Iron

2. Orichalcum

3. Moonstone and Orichalcum alloy

4. Mithril and Orichalcum alloy

…

—

Sword, helmet, shield.

The three parts I consider most important have reached the 4th tier out of 7.

Tier 4 equipment is usable even up to the 6th floor.

Moreover, equipment containing Mithril automatically repairs minor damage, so barring major accidents, it’s practically lifetime gear.

With my current specs, I could probably breeze through floors 3-4 without a Source.

However, I don’t plan to rush up immediately since there are still Sources I need to obtain on the lower floors.

“It does look pretty impressive in person.”

As I admired myself in the mirror, it was almost time to head to the Explorer’s Association.

The Association offers a party matching service for a fee, which I’ve applied for this time.

While I’m currently capable of soloing up to the 2nd floor without much trouble, forming a party was the safer option.

‘I can get Hidden Pieces later without any problem.’

My first priority is the Hidden Dungeon on the 2nd floor, but sharing that information with others would only cause complications.

The entrance methods change each time, and rewards reset, so it doesn’t matter who finds it first.

‘Once I get that one Source, I won’t need to go back anyway.’

It’s a two-person dungeon, so I’ll need to bring someone along, but I’ll worry about that later as I headed to the Association.

***

In the small restaurant inside the Association building.

Following the receptionist’s guidance, I met my party member.

“Hello. Are you Adel?”

“Yes, that’s me.”

I sat across from a young man with mint-colored hair, a sword at his waist and a shield on his back.

‘…His equipment balance is strange.’

As soon as I saw him, a deep sense of discomfort welled up inside me.

Looking at the shield on his back, it was made of iron. Yet his breastplate was Orichalcum, and he had no arm guards to protect his wrists and forearms.

I could understand not wearing a helmet in a restaurant, but a warrior without arm guards?

“This might be inappropriate to ask at our first meeting, but did you leave some of your equipment behind?”

For reference, I came fully equipped.

When meeting party members in advance, I need to show my full capabilities.

“Ah. I have an iron helmet, but I left it behind. By the way, your equipment looks amazing overall.”

“Haha, I was lucky enough to get it all prepared for this opportunity.”

Still, I shouldn’t judge someone as useless based solely on missing arm guards.

There was one more crucial question. I pinned my last hope on it.

“Your breastplate seems to be made of Orichalcum. Did you save up to buy that first?”

“Ah, yes! That’s right. The torso has so many vital points, after all…”

I mentally muted the rest of his explanation.

It wasn’t worth listening to.

‘He’s a complete novice.’

Worried about his torso while carrying a shield that covers his upper and lower body?

That’s nonsense.

If a monster’s attack is strong enough to break through your shield, it’ll pierce your breastplate too.

Accidentally dropped your shield? Then just take the hit and use a potion.

A warrior’s role is to take as much damage as possible while dealing sustained damage and not dying.

That’s why helmet and shield should always be prioritized.

The head, if hit wrong, means unconsciousness, vegetative state, or instant death if you’re unlucky.

It’s no coincidence that when I saw the bodies of mid-floor explorers, their heads were usually smashed.

“Um, Adel?”

After I remained silent for a while, Mint Hair seemed to sense something was off and spoke up.

“Yes.”

“Was I talking too much? Haha.”

He tried to lighten the mood with an awkward laugh.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I was just thinking about strategy.”

I smiled casually as if it were nothing.

“Is that so? Already planning strategy—you’re really thorough!”

“It’s nothing special.”

Party members arranged by the Association are usually like this. Prepared individuals already have fixed parties.

He might be useless with no concept of proper equipment, but I’d only be hunting with him once anyway.

‘There are still other party members left.’

Just then, I heard footsteps approaching our table from behind.

I hoped it would be a woman.

I wasn’t expecting an elf, just a woman would be nice.

I prayed deeply as I turned around, and…

“…It’s been a while.”

Purple eyes stared back at me.

Behind me stood Shiro, the silver-haired elf.

“Shiro? What a pleasant surprise meeting you here.”

“Yeah.”

Shiro was someone I could trust, with exceptional skills, and she was a female elf to boot.

Having someone like her in the same party was incredibly lucky.

“Please, have a seat. Now that we’re all here, let’s plan ahead.”

“Sure.”

Judging by her speech, it seemed our previous connection in the Labyrinth had been completely reset, but that wasn’t a big deal.

Our extended conversation back then was due to the urgent situation, and this seemed to be her normal way of speaking.

“Ah, you’re Shiro, right? Nice to meet you. Silver hair, huh?”

“…Yeah.”

Even in that short response, there was a clear undertone of “don’t talk to me.”

She didn’t even look at Mint Hair, showing no interest.

‘So that’s her normal behavior.’

By her standards, I must be considered close.

***

The next day, we headed to the Labyrinth.

“Gray wolf pack ahead! Hold your shield properly this time, not at that weird angle!”

“Y-yes, Adel!”

Mint Hair got bitten earlier because he only used his shield to protect himself, but thanks to my arm guards, there was no injury.

With Mithril-infused armor, 1st floor monsters couldn’t even scratch me.

‘This equipment advantage is insane.’

Thus, with the overwhelming physical prowess of a barbarian combined with expensive equipment, we reached the 2nd floor in just one day.

Of course, Shiro’s help was significant too.

She detected traps from afar and consistently pulled her weight in combat.

While we only experienced Mint Hair’s incompetence on the 1st floor, the 2nd floor was a forest-themed open field.

Having more people was advantageous for responding to ambushes from all directions.

The reason I formed a three-person party was to mitigate potential variables, so Mint Hair’s role as a “human ward” would truly begin from the 2nd floor.

“Let’s take turns keeping watch as planned.”

Our party spent the night at the starting point’s base camp before moving on.

The base camp was protected by large guilds, but it wasn’t safe enough to forgo keeping watch.

Just as crimes occur even in cities directly managed by the imperial family, large guilds can’t prevent all crimes.

***

We set out toward the forest after sunrise.

The 2nd floor of the Labyrinth, “Libra,” is where most explorers are found.

Proportionally, about 40% of explorers reside here. Among living explorers, less than 20% have advanced beyond the 6th floor.

Because they all die here.

Anyway, unlike the 1st floor which only leads to the 2nd, the 2nd floor is an open field, so encounters between explorers were very common.

“…You may pass first.”

“Thank you. I hope your party makes it out alive too.”

Our first encounter was with a party of three dwarves.

They didn’t seem to care about party composition balance, as all three carried axes, which I personally found pretty cool.

Three dwarf uncles, not caring about optimization.

Romantically approved.

Though I had absolutely no intention of doing the same.

Romance is only beautiful when observed from a distance.

“…”

After advancing for a while in search of monsters, Mint Hair showed signs of fatigue, and his shield gradually lowered.

“Don’t lower your shield. Your breastplate doesn’t cover your neck, and you might get an arrow through it if you’re not careful.”

Shiro silently ran her hand across her own neck.

What was that about? Was she bothered by what I said?

Someone of her level would see arrows in slow motion.

“Y-yes, Adel! Understood.”

While I was puzzled by Shiro’s action, Mint Hair answered frantically.

‘He’s not doing well.’

His breathing was rough and his complexion poor.

Had he been poisoned without our knowledge?

‘Are sewer rats in this area too?’

It was a moment when my knowledge was being challenged, but in reality, one must consider all possibilities.

“Do you feel any foreign sensation or itching in your legs?”

I quickly asked Mint Hair.

“N-no. I’m just… nervous. This is my first time coming to the 2nd floor with such a small party.”

“…I see.”

Damn, this was worse than poison.

Someone whose condition visibly deteriorates just from nervousness. It was clear he wouldn’t even be able to fulfill his role as a human ward.

“If it’s too difficult, stay near Shiro. She’ll block any incoming arrows.”

“N-no! That’s fine! I can handle it.”

He seemed afraid of Shiro—truly a useless guy.

‘I’ll have to reduce his share.’

I’d need to talk about this after the Labyrinth closes in two weeks.

If I brought it up now, Mint Hair might stab me in the—

-Clang!

I deflected an arrow flying from the side with my arm guard.

It wouldn’t have mattered if it hit my breastplate, but Orichalcum doesn’t auto-repair.

Money is an important matter.

“Let’s cut the chatter and deal with this.”

The arrows came from beyond the grass.

I immediately charged forward with my shield raised and swung my sword.

With the sensation of cutting through something, a kobold’s head flew upward.

“Grrrr-!”

Five living kobolds entered my field of vision.

Three warriors and two archers.

“Be careful, Adel.”

Shiro, who had approached without notice, deflected an arrow and took down one of them, while I slashed the closest warrior.

Three enemies remained.

They seemed to be retreating, so I raised my shield and was about to charge again when—

-Swoosh!

Three arrows flew simultaneously, taking down the kobolds.

As I stood momentarily confused, trying to assess the situation, six purple mana stones suddenly flew sideways.

‘A steal.’

Not only did they take the monsters we were hunting, but they also took the mana stones from the ones we had killed.

This was clearly bad manners that would justify smashing their heads in.

“Ah, we were hunting those kobolds, but you three helped take down quite a few.”

A man emerging from the grass was holding a spear.

“Thanks for that. Now we’ll be on our—”

“Are all spear users such assholes?”

“…What did you just say?”

“Oh, nothing.”

As he turned around with a frown, I spoke again.

“I said all you fucking spear users are assholes.”

I’m not the same person who used to just take it anymore.