Chapter 166: 13th Floor (2)

Chapter 166: 13th Floor (2)

There
were many times when I found explorers in crisis.

Mostly
were male explorers who were raped by monsters and turned into
seedbeds.

I
would also find parties that had been slain by monsters, split up, or
attacked by outlaws and other evildoers, but I could not extend a
helping hand to them.

It
was not as common as you might think to suddenly appear in front of a
party in crisis and offer a helping hand at a critical moment.

Usually,
I would pass by after the party was already destroyed or had died.

As
a human being, I would just clean up after them.

So,
it was not a common experience to see an explorer on the verge of
death like this.

Not
only that, but I had worked with that explorer in the past, and it
was even worse when she collapsed while trying to grab the hand of
salvation.

“What
should we do?”

I
quietly said to the party members who were frozen in the unfamiliar
experience.

“Should
we just abandon them and go? We don’t know what might be around
here. Or should we just take care of them?”

I
would like to help, but that’s not something I can decide on my
own.

I’m
the leader of this party but I have to keep judging and choosing so
that the party doesn’t explode.

If
I leave the dying ones behind, there won’t be any problems.

I
can just turn around and explore the labyrinth like I usually do.

‘But
what if I choose to save them?’

Looking
at Aldente and Fusilini, they were quite injured.

Their
armor was covered in sword marks and burn marks.

The
only monster that appears on the 13th floor, the Desert Worm, doesn’t
use swords, so these were clearly wounds made by humans.

In
order to heal them, we have to share our resources, and we have to be
prepared to face hostility from unknown beings.

Even
if we take all these risks, will we save others?

“What’s
the point of saying anything?”

Jubeel
chuckled.

“A
miracle of healing for lost lambs…”

“First,
we have to be careful around them. You never know what kind of people
might come.”

Hitolis
prepared a miracle to heal the wounds, and Lammel flapped her harpy
wings and began to build up her mana reserve.

“Ahhhhhh!
How beautiful! Reaching out to those in need without hesitation! This
is truly the epitome of noblesse oblige! I’m so touched!”

“Tta-ta-ta!”

Rubia
shed tears of joy and Nuer laughed loudly.

I
snickered at them.

That’s
why I can’t hate this party.

***

The
terrain of the 13th floor is a hot sand desert.

The
hot sun that rose high in the sky was emitting intense heat, so I
looked for a place to avoid the sunlight.

“No
one is there. This cave would be good.”

Fortunately,
we didn’t go far and found a large desert cave.

It
was a shady and cool place where I could escape the heat, and also
prepare for any possible attacks.

Even
though I spread my awareness, I couldn’t sense any monsters or
human presence in the cave, so I immediately unpacked and checked on
the injured.

Hitolis
used the miracle of healing to give first aid, but she lost
consciousness and didn’t wake up.

I
had an intermediate healing potion in my arms, but that was used to
treat physical injuries.

We
had no choice but to wait until she woke up.

The
party members took turns resting and guarding the cave.

-Kudu.
Kudu.

“Byeottu.
Phuhihi!”

“Oh.
You shouldn’t crush it like that.”

Nuer
was curious about Aldente, who was writhing violently, so she slapped
the slime lump with her palm.

While
Nuer was watching the injured while rolling around.

“Huh,
huff⋯!”

The
human wizard Fusilini opened her eyes wide with a heavy breath and
got up.

“Are
you coming to your senses?”

“Ugh,
ugh… You, you? It must have been that last time…Kehek, gulp…!”

“First,
catch your breath. Drink some water.”

Water
was very precious in the 13^th
floor desert.

The
means of obtaining drinking water were very limited, and if you
didn’t bring enough water when you entered the labyrinth, you would
inevitably end up in danger of dehydration.

In
Fusilini’s arms were only the magic scroll and other belongings.

This
meant that she had no food or drinking water at the moment.

We
couldn’t give her much water either, but we had enough to feed one
more person.

“W-W-water!”

Fusilini
hurriedly approached me and drank the water in the cup.

Her
lips, which had been parched from the desert heat, became moist with
moisture.

“Puha…I’m
finally going to live a little now. Thank you. Really. How should I
repay this favor⋯”

“Repay
the favor slowly later, why were you lying there like that?”

“Ah,
that⋯
Huh! Ah, Aldente!”

Fusilini,
whose face turned pale, quickly looked around to find Aldente.

“Aldente
is here.”

“Tattoo!”

Nuer,
who was playing with the round Aldente, suddenly lifted her up but
she looked like a burst pasta.

“Thank
goodness⋯”

Fusilini,
who confirmed it, let out a deep sigh of relief.

“So,
tell me. What on earth happened?”

“Ah⋯”

Fusilini,
who had a bitter expression on her face for a moment, began to tell
the whole story.

***

There
was an ordinary party.

-Ah.

A
party whose leader has become an idiot.

The
leader, who was the party’s greatest force and pivot, crossed the
river of no return, but the bond between the party members remained
unchanged.

As
explorers, they had to jump into the labyrinth to make a living.

In
the meantime, they obtained information about the Grand Fountain on
the 15th floor, a mysterious fountain that heals all kinds of wounds
and injuries.

They
weren’t sure if the idiot ray of the sorcerer hobgoblin staff would
be effective, but they took on the reckless challenge.

–
Nice to meet you. My name is Perkins, and I’m a dual-dagger warrior.

After
finding a new party member, they immediately set out on a new
journey.

The
party exploded.

“I
shouldn’t have trusted that fucking bitch.”

Fusilini
let out a deep sigh.

The
dual-dagger warrior named Perkins looked like the ideal party member.

Strong,
good at exploring and a great party member who doesn’t make minor
mistakes or misjudgments.

The
Fusilini party instantly fell in love with her because of her good
personality and abilities.

Perkins,
who had penetrated the hearts of the party members, thrust her teeth
into the party after entering the 12th floor.

“It
was a party scam. Perkins’ real party was lying in wait on the 12th
floor and planned to approach us to rob us. The 12th floor has
seasons and restrictions on movement. Those vicious bastards!”

I
looked at Jubeel, leaving Fusilini behind as she bit her finger and
sighed.

“It
happens often. There are quite a few crazy people who like hunting
humans more than hunting monsters. Explorers with good equipment are
worth more money than monsters.”

That’s
right.

For
a while, I was so immersed in the drowsy labyrinth city life that I
didn’t have a sense of alertness.

This
city is originally a place where it’s harder to trust people than
monsters.

“We
barely escaped from the 12th floor where the ambush was taking place,
but Aldente was hurt because she protected us. We managed to grab a
piece of slime, but the remaining four pieces are with those
bastards, so we can’t revive her right away.”

Fusilini’s
eyes filled with tears as she continued to speak.

“Gellen
and the priest Hope were also captured. They’re both men, so they
must be going through terrible things.”

There’s
only one thing they can do with the kidnapped men: have a refreshing
orgy to relieve their sexual desires.

They
must be capable, since they boldly set up an ambush on the 12th
floor.

Fusilini
bowed her head to me after telling me the whole story of the
incident.

“Please.”

The
party was completely defeated, and the only survivor begged in a
desperate voice.

“Please,
help our party.”

“⋯Whew.”

I
sighed for no reason.

This
is strange.

The
party that once accompanied us in case our party failed the request,
is now on their knees begging for help.

“If
we don’t save them now… it will definitely be irreversible.”

“⋯”

“I’ll
do anything. If you tell me to crawl, I’ll crawl, if you tell me to
lick your feet, I’ll lick them…please, save our party members.”

“I’ll
do anything…”

Fusilini’s
smooth shoulders trembled at the small mutter.

The
expression that was slightly fearful and terrified soon changed to
one of determination.

“If
it can save my comrades, anything.”

“Ahhh!!!”

Rubia,
who had been listening to Fusilini’s story nearby, ran over and
hugged her.

-Crack.

“Ughh
…What a noble heart! Can you feel it?! The chivalry in the girl’s
heart is shedding tears!”

“Kekekekeke⋯”

Even
though Fusilini, buried in her bun and heavy armor dress, was
groaning as she died, Rubia continued her speech, giving a long
speech with her impressions.

“Mr.
Balkan! I want to help this little lamb!”

Rubia’s
ruby-red eyes sparkled and stared at me.

-Ha.

I
sighed again for no reason and looked at the other party members.

They
all had similar expressions, except they didn’t act.

“⋯ That
guy, Gellan. He’s got one good party member.”

In
a labyrinth city full of people you can’t trust, I felt a moment of
envy for those who were willing to sacrifice everything to save them,
and said to Fusilini.

“We’re
not volunteers. We’ll definitely get paid.”

“⋯⋯!!!”

Fusilini’s
expression brightened abruptly at my words.

This
could only mean one thing.

“Do
you know where those bitches are?”

It’s
time to clean up the trash.