Chapter 81: If You’re Late, You’ll Be Left Behind

“Always aim for the eyes. If that doesn’t work, kick them in the groin. Since we’re dealing with humans who feel pain, cutting them anywhere with a knife will make them panic from the pain. Especially if you slice open their belly, they’ll slow down because of their spilling guts.”

“No, Yuria. Talking about intestines while eating is a bit…”

“Ah, sorry.”

Intestines spilling out first thing in the morning. The stew Marine made felt like a bowl of tripe soup.

“Ah.. Master..”

“Yes?”

“The.. hidden function of the bracelet.. make sure to use it well..”

“I will. Thank you.”

“Yes..”

The hidden function of the Bracelet of Growth that Olivia told me about.

Beyond simply strengthening as you go down floors and producing better plants, it could be enhanced on its own by feeding it monster blood or fluids, or magical plants I possess.

As expected of a hidden piece, it had various effects.

“Well, I’m really going now. Take care, Marine.”

“Yes!”

After saying goodbye to everyone, I left the house.

I’ll be in the labyrinth for about one to two weeks.

Probably won’t come out until we’ve almost completely cleared the underground city.

‘I’m nervous.’

I’ve prepared thoroughly.

I bought all kinds of supplies from food to every type of provision, and received armor as a gift from the guild master.

‘It was armor engraved with lightweighting and shock absorption.’

The helmet in particular was made of rare metal, so it was extremely sturdy.

‘I have scrolls prepared to escape from crisis situations too.’

Three scrolls bought from the magic tower.

They contain spells for teleportation, object transfer, and ethereal summoning.

I bought ones that are good for escaping crisis situations, so they should be useful.

‘I need to plant the vine beans Raphanel-ssi gave me too. And I have the ring of etherealization..’

The vine beans that grow by eating mana will create a safe zone if planted with blood applied, and the ring of etherealization makes me immune to physical attacks for 3 minutes, so it’ll be great for escaping.

‘With the Bracelet of Growth too, my preparations are perfect.’

Above all, this time I have the hidden piece Leo gave me. I’m not sure exactly how great an item it is, but Olivia said it would definitely make labyrinth trips much easier.

She said it not only produces elixirs but also raises different stats depending on the monster you feed it.

‘If I feed it monsters from the plant garden, it increases health and vitality, and if I feed it monsters from the breeding grounds, it increases strength and agility, right?’

She said if you feed it undead from the underground tomb, willpower and mental strength increase greatly, and if you feed it monsters from the sewers, resistance and regeneration increase.

Later when I have time, I can go around feeding the bracelet blood from upper floor monsters with the young lady’s party.

“First, cover my face…”

I put on the mask I received in advance yesterday.

I needed to cover my face and build in advance because I couldn’t let it be known that I was the person entering the labyrinth with the Saint.

“No one’s looking anyway.”

I went into an alley and changed into disguise clothes I had put in my inventory.

“Is this enough?”

I’m wearing black robes similar to what black market slave traders wore over my armor.

I covered my face with a white mask, and with the pitch-black robes covering me from head to toe, everyone walking on the street stared at me.

I look completely like a heretic.

“You’ve come, carrier.”

As I entered the guild, Moira called out to me.

Since my voice shouldn’t be heard either, I just nodded.

Then the people in the guild whispered and stared at me.

Everyone looks at me curiously as a person in strange attire greets the guild master.

“She’s already here. The expedition members are waiting on the second floor, so go up and greet them.”

I followed the guild master up to the second floor.

In the reception room on the second floor, people from the religious order were gathered.

Saint Fria with her face covered by a veil.

And four inquisitors sitting on either side of her.

-Gulp.

I naturally swallowed dry saliva.

‘They’re monsters.’

The best forces of the religious order were gathered here.

I had only heard rumors about the inquisitors. This is the first time I’m facing them directly in such close quarters.

I feel an absurd pressure. Although they’re smiling, they’re emitting an aura that makes me feel like my head could explode at any moment.

“Everyone, that’s enough testing. The carrier isn’t going in to fight with us. His role is that of a porter.”

“We’re sorry.”

“Ahem. We were just excited because he’s coming with us. Hahaha.”

“I’m sorry. These people have been confined to the religious order, so they naturally react like this when they see outsiders. Come, relax and come over here, carrier-kun. We won’t hurt you.”

The guild master looked at the Saint with displeasure while standing at the entrance, and the Saint smiled and offered me a seat.

Telling me not to be nervous makes me more nervous.

“Well then, shall we do brief self-introductions to change the mood?”

Since it’s just us here, I guess it’s okay to speak.

“I’m the porter in charge of carrying.”

“Good. I’ll call you Porter-ssi. As you know, I’m Fria.”

Saint Fria introducing herself again.

Her two eyes were like calm lakes. She’s suppressing that rumored madness. It’s weirder because she seems normal.

“I’m Inquisitor Rosie. I’ve been assigned to guard Porter-nim. Please take care of me.”

The brown-haired, busty inquisitor Rosie greets me with a bright smile.

She says she’s in charge of my protection for this expedition. She’s a woman with quite large breasts. She gives a very warm impression, but for some reason the iron mace she’s wearing seemed to smell of blood.

“I’m Judge Raphael. As you can see, I’m of barbarian origin. I’m in charge of killing heretics to spread the goddess’s will.”

The bald barbarian judge.

This is the first time I’ve seen a clergyman of barbarian origin. He looked very capable in combat, and the corners of his smiling mouth were strangely twisted.

He seemed to have a very boisterous personality.

“I am Torturer Sasaro. I am called the vanguard of the goddess. But I’m just a worthless old man, so treat me as if I’m not here.”

A gray-haired old man. Except for the Saint, he looked like the cruelest and strongest person among the expedition members.

Especially, all his exposed parts were covered in scars. How do you have to fight for a human body to become such a rag like that?

His title of torturer alone gives off a dangerous smell.

“I’m Recorder Paramel. I’m in charge of heretic research. Well, please take care of me, Porter-ssi..”

A freckled young man with a bowl cut. He looked timid but also somewhat unhinged.

How should I put it, he’s been muttering and writing something since earlier. Is he recording our meeting right now? He gives off the atmosphere of a paranoid patient.

“That concludes the introductions. The goal of this expedition is to sweep away all the heretics in the upper floors and surface layer of the underground city before descending below the floor division, which can be considered the heretics’ main base.”

Below the floor division is a monster den where even Gold Badge adventurers go missing.

So the goal of the first expedition was to sweep everything above before going down below the floor division.

“Porter-kun, you just need to follow us down and put the corpses in your spatial pocket. Your goal is to survive no matter what and bring the corpses up.”

“Yes.”

“Well then, shall we all go down?”

The inquisitors stood up.

Soon they left the reception room, and when it was my turn to leave, the guild master approached.

“Carrier.”

“Yes.”

“Be careful. It will be dangerous.”

“I’ll come back alive.”

“Yes. You must come back alive. If things go wrong, abandon the inquisitors and escape alone.”

“Is that okay?”

“Why not? They’re business partners, not comrades. And they have the ability to survive on their own. You, just take care of yourself no matter what. The Saint will protect you as much as she can, but. In the labyrinth, situations always escalate to the worst.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Good. Come back in one piece.”

With the guild master seeing us off, we headed towards the entrance of the labyrinth.

Saint Fria looking very excited somewhere.

Inquisitor Rosie sticking close to my side.

Barbarian Judge Raphael snorting.

Old Torturer Sasaro walking silently looking only ahead.

Recorder Paramel busily recording something in his notebook.

Finally, me walking among them as if being dragged, wrapped in a black robe.

“That person… isn’t that the Saint..?”

“Then is that black one a heretic..”

“Huh.. Looks like a heretic in the city is being dragged into the labyrinth.”

“Are they going to hold an execution?”

“Oh goddess…”

People around us each voiced their own speculations.

Everyone was treating me as a captured heretic.

It’s understandable. I’m wearing a large robe to cover my face and build, and even a white mask on top of that. If this isn’t a heretic, what is?

It couldn’t be helped. To avoid having my identity discovered by heretics, I had to cover up like this. It was for the safety of Olivia and Marine at home.

“The entrance we’ll be using this time is the underground tomb.”

The place we’re entering is the underground tomb.

The place where the most heretics have reportedly been found among the upper floors.

They say we’ll clean this place first.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been in the labyrinth. Light up.”

As soon as we entered the underground tomb, the inquisitors illuminated the surroundings with holy light.

Moreover, the Saint threw off the veil she had been wearing and took out a Bible.

“Uoooh….”

“It’s Mr. Skeleton!”

BANG—!!!

The Saint smashed the skeleton’s head to powder with her Bible.

“Porter-ssi. You said you could make maps, right?”

“Uh, yes.”

“Then we don’t have to worry about getting lost. Raphael.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The barbarian judge started moving according to his role just by having his name called.

“Sniff sniff. Huaaaaaah. It’s over there. I can smell it.”

He flared his nostrils and pointed in one direction with his hand.

“Alright! Let’s start the hunt.”

The Saint and Barbarian Judge Raphael started running towards the direction where heretics were presumed to be.

“W-wait a moment! There are traps..!”

The underground tomb has especially many traps among the upper floors.

If we just run out recklessly, we’ll fall into traps…

“Don’t worry. The Saint and that muscle idiot won’t fall for traps.”

“Ah…”

As Rosie said, there was no need to worry about them.

‘These crazy bastards.. They’re just smashing through everything as they advance.’

The traps of the upper floors couldn’t pierce their skin.

Are their bodies made of steel?

I can understand the barbarian since they’re a race with thick skin, but for even the Saint to run out so recklessly.

She threw off the veil she was wearing in the city as soon as we entered the labyrinth, and ran towards the heretics like an excited child.

“Let’s hurry and follow them too.”

“Uh, yes.”

Torturer Sasaro and Recorder Paramel are already running after those two.

If I lose them now, I’ll be left behind. I ran after the Saint along with Rosie.

No, do I have to chase after these high-tension people for a week?

Moreover, monsters with nearly infinite stamina?

I’m already tired?

It’s getting dark before my eyes.

I might have to drink a tonic, even if it means getting an erection.