41 – Return #2
Compared to the 3rd floor, the 1st floor was easy, too easy. I could explore it leisurely, like taking a stroll.
Crack!
Goblins? Trolls? Kobolds?
At best, they were just dwarf kids. Even if they swung their weapons high, they were no more than middle school level monsters.
I have even encountered orcs, as big as Suwoo. And I succeeded in hunting them.
In my current state, I felt like I could handle those things even without artifacts.
Of course, I hadn’t tried. I didn’t feel the need to take risks.
I left everything to Sua.
[Obtained a Mana Stone (F).]
“Now I’ve become a body that can’t be satisfied with an F-grade Mana Stone…!”
Compared to the fist-sized D-grade Mana Stone, the fingernail-sized F-grade Mana Stone didn’t excite me. There was no sense of accomplishment in obtaining it.
I even thought about throwing it away.
But I hesitated, thinking that I might get scolded by Lauren for being careless, so I picked it up and put it in my leather pouch. It didn’t feel like anything.
Following Lauren’s guidance, I headed towards the outer area of the first floor. The number of monsters appearing had significantly decreased.
Ironically, as hunting became easier, fatigue started to accumulate.
“It means that the tension has been relieved.”
“…I thought I was going to get scolded. But I guess not?”
As I asked with a tingling sensation in my feet, Lauren let out a chuckle.
“No matter how difficult the process was, once it ends well, everything feels like a memory, you know? That’s why I’m trying to wrap up my adventures with warm memories.”
“Oh…”
It’s not like I dislike Lauren. On the contrary, I’m grateful.
“You’ve told me so much.”
“I hope it was useful. I really hope you live a long life. It’s hard to get used to hearing that the kids you know have died, no matter how many times you experience it.”
“…”
Lauren smiled bitterly one last time.
I stepped out of the outer perimeter of the first floor of the labyrinth and waited for the portal to appear.
Kugukung-.
When Lauren’s pocket watch hand completed a full rotation, the labyrinth vibrated. Lauren located the newly generated portal and guided us.
The portal was nearby. I took a deep breath and slowly crossed over it.
Escaping the dark and damp labyrinth, we returned to the bright and bustling labyrinth city in broad daylight.
“We made it!”
“hehehehe!”
On the day the labyrinth is created, people gather in the central square of Labyrinth City.
They blow whistles and play flutes. Some even throw flowers.
To bless the party returning from the labyrinth exploration, people crowded the square early in the morning. A word of praise from the citizens became a great source of strength for those venturing into the labyrinth.
“Next.”
“What guild are you affiliated with?”
The party returning. The party entering. Each group moves in opposite directions.
I went straight to the City Hall to find a municipal officer.
At the Labyrinth Management Headquarters located in the central square, I stopped by to update my return in the list of labyrinth visitors and exchanged my gems.
“D-grade gems?”
The officer glanced at me as she checked the bundle of gems. Then her gaze shifted to Suh.
The officer weighed the gems on a scale.
The number was higher than last time. It was because of the quality and grade, not just the weight itself.
Even though it was the same weight, the one I obtained this time was much more valuable.
The civil servant said,
“It’s 13 silver.”
“Oh…!”
It’s more flavorful than I thought. When I think about surviving on just 1 silver for a week (of course, I relied on the inn for meals), it was a considerable income.
“It’s not bad in terms of performance either.”
Excluding the package I received from “Heart of Steel,” I earned 6 to 7 silver. I can also consider the marble I mined with my own hands as quite valuable.
“Here you go.”
I received 12 silver coins. It’s the second profit I’ve earned as an explorer.
I feel proud and satisfied for no reason.
As I was about to turn my back, contemplating how to divide the coins, the civil servant called me over.
From Noble mtl dot com
“Ray. It hasn’t been a month since you registered as an explorer, right?”
“…That’s right.”
“You’ve already been down the labyrinth twice.”
I was conscripted and actively involved. It’s an unbelievable level.
“Did I get caught?”
In the labyrinth, I was constantly being watched by Lauren.
If you want to hide something, hide it properly. Don’t do anything that could give you away.
I barely went for training and came back. Is it going to end like this, so anticlimactically?
“…”.
I swallowed my saliva and waited for the civil servant’s response.
“When is the next expedition planned?”
“…Next?”
“Yes, there’s a new policy being implemented by our Labyrinth Management Headquarters.”
“……”
It had nothing to do with my “soul protection.”
The civil servant was simply doing their best in their role. Pure, if anything, pure passion.
“I’ll think about it.”
“For explorers with enough enthusiasm to enter consecutively, our Labyrinth Management Headquarters can offer a 10% higher valuation of the magic stones. Selling directly to the city hall might not be a bad idea compared to going through the explorer’s guild. I’m recommending it just in case you’re not interested.”
“…Yes, I understand. I’ll reconsider later…”
I declined for now and left the headquarters. I tightly clenched ten silver coins in my hand.
“Loren, sister.”
Loren quietly watched as I went through the post-exploration procedures. The last task remaining was to distribute the rewards.
With this, the exploration with Loren comes to a safe end.
“…I’ll give you 5 silver coins.”
I gave 4 silver coins to Swu and 5 silver coins to Loren.
“Why are you giving me more? What for?”
“Sister, you’ve done a lot of preparation in various ways. We haven’t done anything.”
Masks needed on the second floor, information about the third floor. Thanks to Loren, we were able to skip unnecessary steps.
If it weren’t for Loren, we would have been much more exhausted, going around in circles.
“If we talk about the price for that, 1 silver is on the cheaper side.”
“Since Ray is giving it, I’ll accept it without hesitation.”
He handed over 3 silver. As soon as the distribution was finished, Lauren left for the “Autocratic Sword” guild.
“It’s not like we’re parting ways forever. I’ll be staying in the Labyrinth City, after all.”
“That’s true.”
“If you want to see my face, come visit our guild house. You have a lot of friends too, right?”
“I got it. I’ll see you later when I have time.”
After parting ways with Lauren, I found a place to stay.
“Ray!”
I decided to stay at the inn I stayed at last week. The innkeeper greeted me warmly.
Approaching me with confidence, she extended her hand to Sue.
“Sue, you have to pay for your accommodation.”
The innkeeper was very firm. She showed no mercy to female adventurers.
Sue paid for a week’s accommodation. As soon as she came up from the Labyrinth, money started flowing out like a leak.
Women didn’t join the guild for no reason.
“Having a guild house allows us to save on these small expenses.”
She received the key and went up to her room. She placed her empty backpack down and lay on the bed.
The bed sucked me in.
“Ray, are you going to sleep without bathing today?”
“…No. I have to take a bath before sleeping, no matter what.”
However, it wasn’t easy to move right away. I had to stop by the bathhouse before going to bed.
“I’m going to wash up now.”
Soo hesitated and spoke. Without even sitting down, she stood there, staring at me intently.
“Then go wash up first. I’ll go later…”
As she casually spoke, she lowered her head.
‘I need some healing.’
No matter how bothersome it is, I have to indulge in some healing.
It would be awkward if I were to ask later. It’s better to accept Soo’s suggestion when she offered it.
“…Well then, I guess I’ll go wash up alone…”
Soo pouted. She sluggishly left the room at a slow pace.
I grabbed Soo, who was acting like that.
“Come to think of it, it would be better to wash up right away.”
“You’re going to wash up?”
“Let’s wash up together. If we have to use the bath twice, the inn lady won’t like it.”
It was a good excuse.
Soo’s expression brightened. It seemed like Soo was secretly hoping for it too.
Thank goodness.
I held Soo’s hand and headed towards the bathhouse. We went into the changing room together.
“…What’s that, Soo?”
“You’re not supposed to let blood stain the floor.”
Soo wiped his nose with a handkerchief of unknown origin. He was well-prepared.
Naturally, the pristine white handkerchief turned red.
“Soo, you’re quite something.”
“hehehe…”
Chatty. Solid and sturdy.
By the way, what was solid was Soo’s abs.
After finishing his bath, he came out. Soo had momentarily left his seat.
He quickly returned and handed me a glass of milk.
“It’s warm.”
“…I got some help from the innkeeper to heat it up. How is it…?”
“It’s even better.”
Thumbs up. I praised it highly.
“Is there no Nestle Quik in this world?”
I suddenly had the thought of mixing it with milk.
“It would be good to blend in strawberries or bananas.”
I was already salivating.
I gulped down the milk. Even without the aroma of chocolate, strawberries, or bananas, it was sweet enough.
It seemed like quite a bit of sugar was added.
“How much sugar did you put in?”
“…Sugar? I didn’t put any.”
“Can it be this sweet without sugar?”
“…Sweet? Is it tasty?”
“It’s delicious.”
She puckered her lips and set down the cup. Suu picked up the cup and asked.
“Do you want more?”
“If you give it to me, I’ll drink.”
“Heh. Really? Okay, just wait a moment.”
Suu took the cup and hurried towards the kitchen. I sat at the table, waiting for Suu.
At that moment, someone opened the inn’s door and entered.
A familiar face.
“Oh, um…”
I couldn’t remember their name.
“Ninja Nuna.”
“Sakurada.”
“Oh, Sakurada Nuna.”
Behind Ninja Nuna Sakurada, other ninja nunas followed and stood in a line.
“Is this the friend who saved our granddaughter’s life?”
“Yes, that’s correct, Grandma.”
Behind the ninja nunas, there was an elderly woman.