NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 32
Chapter 32: Adventurer, Proceeding Through the Labyrinth
“So, listen, big brother. There’s still a lot we don’t know about the labyrinth.”
“You’re saying the entrance gates and these staircases just appeared on their own? This clearly looks like it was constructed by human hands. There’s no way this is a natural formation.”
“You really are a stubborn one, aren’t you…? Listen, some scholars suggest that the labyrinth itself is a single monster. In other words, we’re essentially inside the body of a massive monster. Consider the principles that apply on the surface as irrelevant here.”
“The walls and floors of the labyrinth repair themselves automatically if damaged, and bodies that die here mysteriously disappear. Isn’t that monster-like?”
“I only believe what I see with my own eyes. …Shall we test it? If what you say is true, the wall should repair itself immediately if I cut it.”
“No way it’ll heal that fast!”
“Still, if this is a living thing, blood should gush out. Let’s see…”
“Stop it! Your sword will break!!”
“Hey, where did this guy’s companions go? Someone stop him!!!”
“……………………”
Franz and the others observed Cross from a distance as he was surrounded by a large group of adventurers.
“…Is it fine? Shouldn’t we stop him?”
“Pamela, don’t look too much. We’ll be exposed as his companions.”
“Leave him be. He’s an extremely stubborn one. He wouldn’t listen even if we tried to stop him.”
“Me, I was just getting a bit excited about my first labyrinth…”
Though the tension lessened, Franz felt the excitement and anticipation slipping away. It was as though the momentum of their important discussion had been interrupted. Keeping his gaze forward, Franz decided to pretend to ignore the situation.
――――――――――――――――――――
“The number of people is starting to thin.”
It had been two or three hours since they entered the labyrinth. Initially, a large number of adventurers moved together, but with each fork in the path, the group diminished, and now there were only a handful of them remaining.
“It seems to depend on the map each person holds, suggesting different optimal routes. Some focus on the shortest distance while others venture into side paths seeking materials. Everyone seems to have different objectives.”
“Honestly, all the passages look alike. We’d definitely get lost without a map.”
At the bottom of the stairs lay a cavernous space. The walls and ceiling were exposed rock, but oddly enough, the floor was neatly paved with stone, creating a peculiar asymmetry. It felt as if the labyrinth itself were whispering to its challengers, “Do not expect normal rules to apply here.” In the damp, silent atmosphere, their voices and footsteps heavily echoed, amplifying the unsettling ambiance.
“From here on, encounters with monsters will increase. We should tighten our focus soon.”
“Finally. I was getting bored.”
They had encountered numerous monsters along the way, but each time, adventurers ahead had already dealt with them, dispatching them quickly before Franz’s group even got a clear view. Because of the overwhelming numbers, they hadn’t even drawn their swords yet.
“Hey, look, there’s a monster!”
Following Mauri’s pointed finger, they saw a gelatinous lump resembling a small hill writhing at the end of the passage. It was a slime, the lowest-ranked monster. To defeat it, one simply needed to destroy its core, a task so easy that even a child with a stick could manage it.
“There’s quite a few. Pamela, we’ll leave it to you.”
“Got it~”
Pamela obliterated the group with a single blow, leaving only small magic stones behind. Though they weren’t worth much, they collected them regardless.
“It’s slime…”
“Don’t be disappointed; we’re only on the first level. Only weaklings are here.”
Franz still vividly remembered Cross’s peculiar desire to eat slime when they first encountered it in the Forest of Demons. Despite their desperate attempts to stop him, Cross had returned to the campsite with a sample, sprinkled sugar on it, and took a bite. His face contorted in disgust was unforgettable.
“According to the map, we’ll stay in these cavern-like sections for a while, but the next level will see an increase in monster appearance rates. We should aim to reach the midway point of the fourth level today.”
Before each descent into deeper levels, there are guardian chambers. The labyrinth’s guardians must be defeated to progress further, and upon their defeat, a treasure chest filled with items appears. Most adventurers challenge the labyrinth with the treasure as their goal.
“What’s the first guardian monster?”
“Apparently a horde of goblins.”
“Goblins…”
“Hey, isn’t that it over there?”
Indeed, near the double doors at the end of the corridor, several adventurers rested in various positions. Franz approached a group of smiths sitting at the back, who appeared to be drinking.
“Hello, we’re the Wilderness Guardians, an E-Rank party. What number are we?”
“Ah, we’re ‘Warhammer,’ also E-Rank. You’re fourth, so expect about a two-hour wait.”
“Thank you for the information. We’ll take it easy until it’s our turn.”
An unwritten rule in the labyrinth dictates that parties should enter guardian chambers one at a time to avoid unnecessary disputes over treasure chest contents. In deeper levels, multiple parties may collaborate, but this requires a joint application before entry.
The order of challenge is based on arrival, as guardians respawn after roughly thirty minutes, forcing parties to wait their turn.
“Let’s take a rest for now. I’ll make some tea.”
“I’ll nap. Wake me when it’s our turn.”
They passed the time exchanging information with Warhammer and eventually, their turn arrived.
Opening the door, they peered inside. The room was pitch black but vast, with an unusually high ceiling. Large pillars stood around the chamber, each illuminated by torches that cast a dim light. The atmosphere exuded a sinister, cult-like aura.
“There they are. Ten goblins in the center of the room.”
“Conserve magic. Mauri, Cross, take some out with your bows. After that, it’ll turn into a melee fight. Barth, stay near Pamela and protect her.”
“Mauri, I’ll fire from the right. At this distance, we should both be able to take out two each.”
“Alright.”
On cue, both of their arrows were launched simultaneously.
Perfectly hitting the goblins in the head, two collapsed instantly.
“KYAAA!!!”
The goblins noticed them and began charging, with two more falling to arrows before they reached them.
“Shit, my second shot missed. That leaves seven! One’s almost dead!”
“Prepare for melee! They’re coming!”
Barth struck the approaching group with his shield, knocking three away. Franz and Cross each instantly killed their targets, finishing off the fallen goblins. Pamela and Mauri cooperatively handled the last one with ease.
“Good job, everyone. Let’s collect the proof of defeat and the magic stones, then find the treasure chest.”
The chest was quickly found in the shadow of a pillar. Mauri checked for traps, just in case.
“――No issues. Leader, this is our first chest! You open it.”
“Even though it’s only the first level, I’m feeling a bit excited. I’m starting to understand the mindset of adventurers who get obsessed with labyrinths.”
Franz opened the chest slowly, making sure everyone could see.
“What’s this? A small box?”
“It’s an ignition magic tool…”
“Indeed… It’s quite underwhelming.”
An ignition magic tool is one of the most widely used magic tools. It’s an essential part of daily life, something even a commoner’s household possesses. It can be bought with just a few copper coins and lasts years with the replacement of small, inexpensive magic stones.
“Wouldn’t think such a convenient item could be bought for copper coins.”
“Sure, it’s convenient, but come on, we have Pamela.”
Pamela, seeing this, proudly lit a small flame on her forefinger with a smug expression.
“I see… If we were in Japan, something like this might sell for a few gold coins.”
“Would life without magic tools be tough? How did you usually start fires?”
Cross silently removed a pouch from his waist and handed it to Barth.
“――Amazing, it’s a fire striker. Quite primitive, isn’t it?”
“Cross, why don’t you use this?”
“Would that be alright?”
“It won’t fetch much money if sold, plus all of us, including Pamela, already have one.”
“In that case, I’ll gladly accept it. Thank you.”
After watching Cross amusingly ignite and extinguish a fire with the magic tool, the group proceeded down the staircase at the end of the chamber, which turned out to be another nondescript cavern as indicated on the map.
“Let’s pick up the pace from here.”
The journey to the safe zone of the fourth level went smoothly.
Though the monster encounter rate increased, the creatures were similar to those they faced regularly in the Forest of Demons—slimes, goblins, and dog demons—in small numbers, not posing much of a challenge.
The second level guard consisted of goblins and dog demons, yielding an iron bracelet in the treasure chest. The third level guard was a goblin leader, quickly taken down by Cross and Mauri’s arrows before it could approach. The chest contained a plain robe made of hemp—useless to sell, but they decided to keep it for use as a blanket during camping.
“There’s quite a lot of people camping here. Hey, look, there’s a water source over there.”
“Our water flasks were almost empty, so this is great. Okay, let’s split the tasks for camping and preparing dinner. We should set up our tents far enough away from other parties since disputes among adventurers within the labyrinth are common.”
Preparing dinner simply meant bringing out preserved food they had brought—dried meat, dried fruits, and hard bread. None of it was particularly delicious, but they were all convenient for carrying for over a month at room temperature.
“This bread is too hard! I can’t chew it at all!”
“It’s like eating rocks, but the taste is normal. Pamela, give it here. I’ll crush it for you.”
“This dried meat is tough and overly salty—tastes terrible.”
“The dried fruits are pretty good. They’re oddly sweet, although it doesn’t exactly feel like dinner.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll be entering the fifth level, so let’s endure this for today. …Cross, could I bother you to crush mine as well?”
They finished their less-than-satisfactory meal and quickly prepared to sleep.
Cross had brought a single-person tent but decided to rest against the wall since it wasn’t raining inside the cave and the temperature was comfortable. Being able to wake up instantly at the slightest sound or sensation, Cross didn’t need to stay awake on night watch, allowing Franz and the others to crawl into their sleeping bags to prepare for the next day’s expedition.
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