Chapter 16 : Are you hurt somewhere?

Around 3 PM, I came to the guild to prepare to enter the labyrinth after hastily eating lunch, since I had woken up late.

Since I no longer needed light at night, I removed lighting equipment like lanterns and whale oil from my luggage.

Instead, I packed flint for making fire—it’s lighter than a lantern, so it’s definitely a weight reduction.

To properly enter the mountainous area, climbing equipment like ropes and grappling hooks is needed.

Of course, my physical abilities have improved, so I wondered if it was even necessary, but since my goal is below the 5th floor, I packed them anyway.

In addition to that, I brought food, water, a map and recording tools, and herbs or bandages in case I spent a long time inside the labyrinth.

Having a healer would be ideal, but as always, healers are nobles.

Of course, I’ll only know once I form a party. I didn’t come here to enter the labyrinth right away—I came to hear information about promotion and to find a party.

“You’re here.”

“Yes, I am.”

As always, Dalia greeted me with a bright smile. She pulled something out from underneath and placed it on the desk.

“This is…”

“Congratulations. You’re now an Iron-ranked explorer.”

“Really?”

The promotion I had longed for. And it was a two-rank jump.

I returned the bronze badge, which was often called the “poop rank,” and received a badge made of solid iron.

To be honest, I had been worried about the bronze because of the lead content, but I became Iron rank right away.

“It’s a remarkable achievement. Even Iron-ranked explorers struggle to defeat a boss monster alone.”

I don’t remember it being that hard… or maybe I’ve actually gotten that strong. In any case, it’s good news.

As an Iron rank, I’m now treated as a proper explorer.

I can now take on requests from the bulletin board, and more importantly, it’s easier to find a party.

Unlike the bronze rank, which ends at the 5th floor with brute force, Iron rank is earned through accumulated points from subjugations.

Thinking about how many bronze explorers hope to party with an Iron rank, I can really feel the change in status.

“I want to form a party. Please set the target floor between 5 and 10.”

“Understood. Until when should I keep the listing open?”

“I’ll be back this evening. Around 8.”

“Yes, got it.”

Now my information will be available to explorers looking for party members at the guild, or I can actively search for a party myself.

The latter method is usually used by Gold rank or higher explorers looking for parties that match their level.

Those with more time tend to sit in the guild lobby and look for parties directly.

“You must have acquired a good skill.”

“At first, I thought it was a trash skill. But I accidentally figured out how to use it.”

“That happens sometimes. It suits you well, that left eye.”

“Are you saying I look like a beast?”

“Please don’t twist my words.”

“Just joking.”

Dalia told me to wait for a moment, then stood up from the desk and came back with a leather pouch.

“This is…”

“It’s the reward for subjugating the direwolf boss monster. Normally, auctioneers buy the direwolf’s corpse to sell but…”

“Ah, yeah.”

“They said you ate the direwolf on the spot? So it didn’t sell for much.”

After taking the leather pouch and untying the opening, I checked the contents.

“50 silver as a reward and 70 silver from the sale.”

“70 silver from the sale? How much would it have sold for in a complete state?”

“At least 2 gold.”

Unbelievable. I ate 1.3 gold worth of monster meat with my own mouth. Just thinking about it makes my stomach churn—it’s such a waste.

Still, it all becomes part of my strength… literally, part of my blood and flesh.

If it’s for a spec upgrade, I shouldn’t hesitate to eat such things.

But still, damn it, 1.3 gold…

“Got it. I’ll come back this evening.”

“Okay then, see you.”

I received way more money than I expected. Maybe I should lighten my heart a bit.

I ran straight to the inn and called the lady sitting in the kitchen.

“You’re back.”

“Yes. Ma’am, they say I’m Iron rank now.”

“Is that so.”

“Could you praise me a little more? I feel a bit hurt.”

“You brat, always coming back covered in blood. Like I’d be thrilled just because you got an Iron badge.”

“Haha, well, that’s true.”

I took out five 10-silver coins from my pouch and handed them to her.

Honestly, that just about covers the two weeks I ate without paying,

But still, I’m really thankful to her.

“Hmph. So you’re going to ditch this rundown inn now, huh? Good. The air will finally clear up.”

“Oh, come on, don’t say that. I like it here.”

“Fine. Are you eating?”

“Just something light. I have to go buy some gear.”

The lady glanced at me, then got up and looked over the food ingredients.

“Go out first then. It might take a while to prepare.”

“Yes, ma’am. Where’s Sera?”

“Went out to buy groceries. She’s probably at the shopping district, but why bother saying that?”

“Huh, does Sera go shopping alone?”

At those words, the lady let out a small laugh, looked me up and down, and seemed utterly dumbfounded.

“Why not? A kid like you can go into the labyrinth, so Sera going to the market is no big deal. She’s polite too, so I’m not even worried.”

“How am I a kid at 21? You’re treating me like a child again, ma’am.”

“You’re twenty-one, you say? That’s hilarious. With that face?”

“Ma’am, how old do you think I am?”

The lady stared intently at my face, then made a doubtful expression before replying.

“I figured you’d be seventeen at most.”

“Hiss… I’m not that baby-faced, though.”

“You totally are.”

“You gave me food because I looked young?”

“You’re so pale, skinny, and dressed neatly. I thought you were some noble. Figured if I kept you around, coins might fall out, so I fed you.”

“Wow… I must’ve really let you down. Should I earn more next time?”

“Forget it, you brat. Go do your errands. If you pass by the market and see Sera, tell her to buy more meat.”

“Will do.”

So she thought I was a noble, huh? Whatever the reason, the fact remains that she saved a half-dead me and kept me fed. I think she doesn’t mean what she says sometimes.

“Do I really look that young?”

The people of the Labyrinth City do look a bit Western.

They seem to age faster, though not all of them.

After finishing my greetings, I headed to the shopping district that sells groceries.

By the way, the southwest part of Kalax, where the Goatbeard Inn is located, is packed with blacksmiths, fabric shops, weavers, tanners, and grain warehouses that process and sell flour or rice.

There are also inns, appraisal shops, and stores essential for adventurers, so lower-ranked adventurers tend to live here.

The southeast part resembles a slum, but the amount of money circulating there rivals the wealthy northwest.

That’s because it’s full of illegal businesses like brothels, gambling dens, and slave markets.

The northwest is the rich area, with expensive restaurants, the homes of prestigious adventurers, artifact shops selling highly-valued goods, and luxury blacksmiths.

High-end inns are located there too.

It’s not illegal, but it’s where big money changes hands.

If you walk around northwest Kalax, you can spot high-ranking adventurers and rich people from other cities.

In the small northeastern area, there’s an academy that trains scholars who work in appraisal shops and a group of wizards who manage and research the labyrinth.

Large buildings there belong to organizations called “Clans.”

Of course, Clan buildings aren’t exclusive to the northeast.

“Sera.”

Far away, I spotted Sera shining brightly. She was standing in front of a vegetable shop, intently staring at carrots, and the basket on her arm looked heavy.

“Sera. Doing some shopping?”

“Y-Yueon?! What are you doing here?!”

Sera looked back and forth between my face and the carrot in my hand, then her face turned beet red and she bowed her head. Is she sick? Maybe she caught a cold?

“That carrot looks delicious.”

“D-delicious?!”

“Huh, do you not like carrots, Sera? You don’t look like the type to be picky.”

“I-I’m not being picky!”

Sera, almost chirping like a chick, yelled out as she paid for the carrots and put them in her basket.

After I told her the lady said to buy more meat, I grabbed the shopping basket from her.

She opened her mouth like she had something to say but hesitated for a long time.

“Is something wrong, Sera? You’ve been acting strange since morning. Your face is red. You’re not running a fever, are you?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Just…”

“Just?”

“It’s nothing! Let’s go buy the meat already!”

Shopping took longer than expected, so I couldn’t get the equipment.

Sera is very meticulous when she shops and seems to really take others’ opinions into account.

She looks at my face every time she buys something.

She’s kind, sure, but doesn’t that make life exhausting?

“Ma’am, we’re back.”

“Well look at that. I thought you two ran off to get a room or something. What were you doing till sundown?”

“M-mom?!”

“Dinner’s ready. Sit down.”

Let’s eat first. Then I’ll head to the guild, and get equipment tomorrow morning.