Chapter 79: Choosing the Location is Very Important

“Moira, are you sleeping?”

There was no answer. She seemed to be sleeping soundly.

As I looked up at the ceiling alone, many thoughts came to mind.

‘What should I do?’

I got the guild master pregnant.

With how much I came, she’s probably 120% pregnant.

There’s no way she’s not pregnant.

If she has a child, it will definitely look exactly like me and the guild master.

Of course, the guild master won’t consider abortion and will definitely have the baby.

A child of mine and the guild master’s will be born.

It will surely be cute. It must be cute. Damn it.

Suddenly thinking that I might become a father made my head spin.

My girlfriend is Yuria, but it looks like I’ll have my first child with my girlfriend’s mother.

It’s all because of Lin. If that crafty maid hadn’t lied about it being a safe day, I would have finished outside.

“Haaa.”

Moira was sleeping soundly beside me.

I stroked her hair. Although she’s older than me, just looking at her appearance, she looks young enough to be Yuria’s older sister.

How can I believe that such a person has a daughter around my age?

‘She really is beautiful.’

Honestly, she’s too good for a mere porter like me. With such looks and the title of strongest in the city, she’s even the head of the Adventurers’ Guild, the largest guild in Labyrinth City.

I heard nobles are courting her intensely. How frustrated must they be in their position?

It would be quite a sight if the woman they’ve been courting with millions suddenly comes back pregnant with a child of some Eastern porter brat.

‘To avoid tarnishing Moira’s reputation, I need to become stronger.’

Moreover, to avoid making Moira a widow, I have no choice but to push myself harder.

You could say there’s no answer except entering the labyrinth and growing stronger.

It feels like every situation is pushing me into the labyrinth.

For Lady Lea’s sake, and for Yuria’s dream too.

The contract with the three villainesses as well.

Everything is sending me to the labyrinth.

‘It’s not a coincidence.’

There must be something in the labyrinth.

What could be calling me from those deep places?

For regression?

Or maybe for something even greater.

I closed my eyes.

It’s time to sleep.

I’ll be entering the labyrinth again soon.

I need to rest when I can.

---

“Mmm…”

I fell asleep while drooling.

Moira is still sleeping.

Seeing the sun rising outside, it’s about time for me to leave.

“Moira, Moira?”

“Mmm..”

“Shouldn’t you wake up?”

“Mmm… You go ahead first.. I’ll go later…”

“Okay.”

She wants to sleep more.

Since she’s the guild master, I guess she can go to work whenever she wants.

‘I need to hurry since I’m meeting with the young lady today.’

I quickly put on my pants and left the room.

“Sion…”

“Ah.”

And I ran into Yuria in the hallway.

Yuria, looking dizzy from a hangover, tilted her head and looked me up and down.

“Yu-Yuria…”

“Why are you coming out of our mom’s room?”

Thud.

For a moment, I felt my heart sink.

How on earth should I explain this?

“Well, you see..”

“Don’t tell me, you were drunk too?”

“Huh?”

“It seems Mom took you in while drunk. Right?”

“W-well…”

What should I say here?

Should I tell the truth as it is?

Hiding it from Yuria gives me too much guilt.

I want to be free from this guilt. Should I just tell everything as it is?

“Ah, Yuria-nim. It seems the mistress arbitrarily took Sion-kun to her room.”

“Lin-ssi..”

Lin-ssi appeared behind Yuria.

She defended me before I could open my mouth.

“Nothing must have happened. You were both drunk.”

“Really? Nothing happened, right?”

“Huh? Y-yeah. That’s right.”

I absolutely can’t say I might have gotten Moira pregnant in this atmosphere.

Yuria would kill me.

“Then would both of you please wait in the dining room? I’ve prepared soup for your hangovers.”

“Really? Lin-ssi’s soup is delicious. Hehe.”

Yuria went down the stairs first.

“Sion-ssi.”

“Yes? Yes.”

“Let’s keep today’s events a secret. Fufu.”

“No..! You, since yesterday.. What’s your purpose? It wasn’t even a safe day!”

“Did you finish inside?”

“Huh? No, that’s…”

“I see. She’ll get pregnant then.”

“What are you saying now..! Was it all your scheme?”

“It wasn’t a scheme. I just wanted Moira-nim to be happy too.”

“Moira-ssi’s happiness?”

“Yes. She’s lived a lonely life. She raised Yuria almost alone too. It’s time for Moira-nim to find happiness now.”

“But Yuria…”

“Yuria-nim will understand too. After all, you haven’t completely taken him away. It’s just sharing someone you like for a while. She’ll surely understand. Isn’t husband sharing a unique Eastern culture? You’re from the East too, so you must know, right?”

“…Uh, I guess..? You mean polygamy?”

“That’s right.”

Lin-ssi patted my shoulder.

“I’ll do my best to help you too. So please make the women of this household happy.”

“In the end, you’re just dumping it all on me…!”

“Dumping? I said I’ll do my best to help too. Let’s work hard together.”

“Ugh…”

This crazy maid. She trapped me.

“Well then, shall we go downstairs? You need to eat well to start the day.”

There’s no way out.

My sperm has probably already fertilized and implanted in Moira’s womb.

I’m also at fault for blindly believing Lin’s words without doubting them.

At least I’ve learned that this maid is crafty. I’ll have to be careful from now on.

As expected, there’s not a single trustworthy person in this neighborhood.

---

After eating breakfast and taking Yuria home, I headed straight to the guild.

It’s time to receive the overdue compensation from Lady Lea.

She said she’d give me money and an unknown gift.

“Sion. Over here.”

When I entered the guild, Lady Lea and some unfamiliar men were waiting in the reception room.

There was a man with an enormous build, a blond-haired man, and a one-eyed man with a scar who looked like he could be an adventurer.

A total of four people were waiting for me in the reception room.

The big guy and the one-eyed man are probably bodyguards for the blond man.

“Porter, you’re late.”

“Huh? Ah, I’m sorry.”

As soon as I entered the reception room, the blond man glared at me with a dissatisfied expression while sipping tea.

It seems this person is Lady Lea’s older brother.

He exuded that typical aristocratic, oppressive atmosphere.

“Brother. He’s my benefactor, so please speak nicely. Okay?”

“Ahem. Alright.”

“Sion, this is my older brother.”

Leo Lionel.

The first son of the Margrave.

“Nice to meet you, I’m Sion.”

“Yes. I heard the story by letter. You saved my sister?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“I see. First, I’ll give you the promised compensation. Dooms, bring it out.”

“Yes, master.”

The big man took out a bag and placed it on the table.

“400 gold coins. The base amount.”

“Huh? What?”

“400 gold coins. Should I give you 4 platinum coins instead?”

“Ah, wait a moment. Wow. Wooow!”

400 gold coins that make my eyes spin.

No, I thought they’d give about 200, but it’s double?

“The reward presentation isn’t over yet. Don’t be too surprised. Commoners always lose their minds over money.”

“Hey! Brother! Stop with the commoner-disparaging remarks. This is Labyrinth City. You’ll get stabbed.”

“Hmph. Fine. Damn labyrinth.”

Leo glanced at me while sipping his tea.

It doesn’t matter. 400 gold coins. With this much, I could retire right now.

Of course, retirement is impossible in my situation.

“Duran. Bring out the next reward.”

“Yes.”

This time, the one-eyed bodyguard took out a pouch and placed it on the table.

“This is…”

“Open it. It’s a gift from the head of the family. Take it out respectfully.”

“Uh, yes.”

I’m not sure exactly how to take it out “respectfully”, but I took it out as respectfully as I could in my own way.

“This is…”

A bracelet that seemed to be woven from grass came out.

It looks like a bracelet that could easily break. Is this really a reward?

“It’s an item my father received from the previous generation. He called it the Bracelet of Growth.”

“Is it a magical item?”

“Yes. My father doesn’t know exactly what magic is on it either. However, he said it’s definitely not a curse. He said only those who enter the labyrinth can know the true use of this bracelet. It will surely be of great help. If it breaks, put it in water and leave it. It will regenerate.”

The Bracelet of Growth.

This is that thing.

‘The hidden piece from the upper floor plant garden that Olivia mentioned.’

Is this really in my hands now?

With this, the bracelet will be strengthened as I go deeper into the labyrinth.

It gets stronger for each floor descended, and the bracelet periodically produces fruits or flowers that could be called elixirs.

It’s a precious item that can exert various powers just by wearing it.

It was one of the best items among support-type accessories.

“Wow. Why give such a precious item to me instead of the young lady…”

“That’s because Lea will soon return to the family.”

“What?”

“No, wait a minute. Brother, what are you saying? Return to the family?”

“Isn’t it about time you ended this adventurer play? How long are you going to pretend to be an adventurer? Haven’t you come to your senses even after nearly dying this time? Come back home. It’s father’s order. You have no right of refusal.”

“B-but…”

Lady Lea glared at Leo Lionel.

However, Leo didn’t even care whether Lea glared at him or not.

“Brother. I’m not going back.”

“Lea. That’s enough. The labyrinth is dangerous. There’s no reason for you to enter the labyrinth. Why does a child who grew up wanting for nothing insist on entering the labyrinth? Why are you so obsessed?”

“That’s…”

Lady Lea couldn’t answer.

She too had her own reasons for wanting to enter the deepest part of the labyrinth.

“Hey, porter.”

“Yes.”

“Don’t give Lea false hope. This child isn’t strong enough to withstand the darkness of the labyrinth. She’ll surely be devoured by malice someday.”

“Brother!”

Lady Lea finally shouted.

Leo continued to sip his tea nonchalantly.

As if he had spoken the truth.

“There’s no point in getting angry. You’re returning to the family. Wrap everything up within 2 days. Father ordered to give you enough time to say goodbye to the people who helped you.”

“….”

Lady Lea hung her head low.

She didn’t ask me for help.

Because this is a family matter. She probably can’t ask for help from outsiders.

However, her hands were trembling with frustration.

This was expected.

To be honest, I knew that the Lionel family wouldn’t allow the young lady’s adventure.

But still.

But you know.

This is Labyrinth City.

The only place where noble authority and pressure don’t work.

Labyrinth City is the only place in this world with the idea of equality for all, created by people living freely.

‘You know it’s a huge pain to get involved with nobles. Don’t interfere.’

I know. I know that too.

I know that if you resist nobles, they’ll use dirty tricks.

But you know. In 6 months, if I get a Gold Badge, it can all be resolved.

‘The dice have already been cast anyway. I’ve already accepted that I’ll have to struggle to death.’

One of the reasons I accepted going on the heretic hunt with the Saint was to grow rapidly in a short time.

I need to become stronger.

To avoid tarnishing the guild master’s reputation.

To go deeper and escape the curse of the three villainesses too.

In the end, becoming stronger is inevitable.

This is a world where if you have the strength of a Gold Badge level, you have almost no rivals outside the city.

Ah, whatever.

I’ve already given my heart to Lady Lea.

Lady Lea has given her heart to me too. We’ve exchanged feelings, so how can I just ignore this situation?

Before being a noble, Lea is my comrade and friend. It’s natural to help her. Of course, I should ask for her opinion first.

“Lady Lea.”

“Mm..?”

“Shall I help you?”

“Huh? Yes… I don’t want to go back. I’m sorry but… will you help me one more time?”

“Yes, I understand.”

Lady Lea is asking for help.

This means I can interfere now, right?

From now on, this isn’t a family matter.

As the young lady’s labyrinth guide, I’m consulting with her family members about her future path.

“Excuse me, Mr. Leo Lionel. I’m really sorry, but it seems our young lady doesn’t want to go back home.”

“Hm? So? What are you trying to say, you porter nobody.”

“Forcing someone who doesn’t want to go doesn’t seem right to me.”

The atmosphere in the reception room instantly became hostile at my words.

As if telling me not to interfere any further, Dooms and Duran put their hands on their sword hilts.

But I’m not scared at all.

What are you going to do? The guild master is my future wife.

“Huh. You. Who are you to arbitrarily interfere in someone else’s family matters? Don’t dare cross the line, you commoner porter nobody. If you’ve received your compensation, get lost.”

“Leave while the master is speaking nicely, boy.”

“Seems like a kid who doesn’t know his place. Do you have multiple lives?”

At Leo’s order to leave, the two bodyguards standing on either side emitted their aura and warned me.

“It seems you three haven’t grasped the situation yet… First of all, this is the Adventurers’ Guild, and the young lady and I are adventurers belonging to the guild. You are outsiders. Do you understand? You chose the wrong location.”

You’re trying to draw swords against adventurers in the Adventurers’ Guild?

You guys are asking for a beating today.

It’s almost time for the guild master to arrive.