Chapter 3 Aaron Will Be Alright
From the 1st floor to the 5th floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth], there's a vast network of tunnels like an anthill.
Unlike a normal cave, the interior isn't dark; instead, the walls are covered with a type of glowing moss called Labyrinth moss, which provides a soft, gentle light.
Once you get used to it, you can explore and fight without needing lanterns or other light sources.
It's not a place where sunlight reaches, so even in the middle of summer, the temperature inside remains cool. If you don't move around much, you might even feel a bit chilly.
In this environment, even the most cold-natured explorers wouldn't worry about the cold.
Especially for solo explorers like me, we always have to be on high alert, and we can't afford to let our guard down even for a moment.
"Walking through the labyrinth alone... yeah, this is my first time."
I mutter to myself as I walk deeper into the 1st floor of the labyrinth.
Since it's still a lower floor, there are many novice explorers wandering around, so it doesn't feel lonely. But I do feel a sense of unease.
After all, this is my first time exploring the labyrinth alone.
Until yesterday, I had reliable friends to count on, but now I have to rely on myself. I'm anxious, but I have to survive, and that means I need to earn a living in the labyrinth.
So I've made up my mind, and I'll keep moving forward in the labyrinth.
But for now, I don't plan on heading to the lower floors. I need to get used to fighting alone on the 1st floor first.
The [God's Remains Labyrinth] gets tougher as you go down, and the monsters that appear become stronger.
On the current front line, the 43rd floor, parties of top-ranked explorers who have awakened to their inherent Jobs are barely able to fight, and the monsters that appear are incredibly powerful, each one a "disaster-level" threat.
In contrast, the monsters that appear on the 1st floor are weak.
If you have a combat Job, anyone can win against them... but that doesn't mean there aren't many people who die on the 1st floor.
There are 4 types of monsters that appear on the 1st floor of the [God's Remains Labyrinth].
One of them is a monster the size of a dog, a caterpillar-like creature called the Big Caterpillar.
The monster with poison, the Poison Snake.
The monster that sucks blood, the Vampire Bat.
And then there are the 4 types of humanoid monsters, no bigger than a human child, the Goblins.
These guys are definitely weak monsters, but you can't underestimate them in a cave environment.
If you get caught in the Big Caterpillar's silk, your movements will be restricted. If that happens during battle, it could be extremely fatal.
The Poison Snake can climb walls with ease and drop down from the cave ceiling. If you're caught off guard and bitten by its poisonous fangs, and you don't have an antidote potion on hand, the chances of dying before you can make it back to the surface are extremely high.
The Vampire Bat is small and fast, making it hard to hit in the cave. If you're attacked by a group of them, it's the worst-case scenario.
Maybe the easiest enemy to take down is the Goblin.
It's relatively large and humanoid, making its movements easy to read. But these guys are cunning. They might flee, thinking they can't win, only to have another Goblin lying in wait around the corner, ready to ambush you. And they might even use weapons and tools they've stolen from other explorers, so you can't let your guard down.
But, well...
"I guess I'm not struggling that much anymore, anyway."
I've got enough strength to take down a Minotaur with my friends, after all.
Even if I don't have any Talent, I'm not weak enough to struggle against these monsters.
It's just that, since I'm solo, I can't afford to be careless—that's all.
"Gya-gya!"
A monster emerges from around the cave corner, notices me, and charges towards me. Its appearance is a dirty green skin, a bald head, a hooked nose, and yellowed, crooked teeth. Its ears are long and droopy, and it's wearing a dirty loincloth around its waist—it's a Goblin, through and through.
It's got a sadistic glint in its eye, like it's found its prey, and it's approaching me with a club in hand.
The club looks crude, but its surface is embedded with animal teeth and sharp stone fragments, and it's been customized. If I get hit in an unprotected spot, my skin will be torn to shreds.
I drew my longsword quietly from its scabbard at my waist, facing the enemy filled with murderous intent. I focused my energy within myself once more.
Then, I charged forward.
As the distance between us narrowed, the goblin entered my range, and I swung my sword.
――[Slash]
The slash drew a blue trajectory, cutting through the goblin's neck and sending its head flying.
It was a natural victory, and I didn't feel any joy.
As I watched the goblin's corpse dissolve into magical energy, I might have been feeling tense.
Could I really do this on my own from now on?
* * *
"That guy Aaron, has he entered the labyrinth yet?"
[God's Remains Labyrinth], 11th floor.
Until now, they had been through cave-like and ruin-like labyrinths, but from the 11th floor onward, the labyrinth was a grassland type.
Although it was supposed to be underground, the sky above seemed to stretch on forever, and the ground was covered with lush green grass. If you looked far into the distance, you could see a forest, and even a snow-capped mountain range beyond that. However, it was impossible to actually reach those places. The sky and mountains were like illusions, as the scholars had concluded.
You could enter the forest, but if you tried to head towards the mountain range, you would be blocked by an invisible wall halfway through.
The stairs leading down to the lower floors were located in the grassland or forest, and from the 11th to 15th floors, the environment was like a terrarium.
The refreshing wind blew, but this was definitely not the surface world, but rather inside the labyrinth.
As they explored this mysterious place, the members of the Adventurer Party ≪Sword of Glory≫ would occasionally exchange words, chatting casually, but never letting their guard down.
Currently, the topic of conversation was about their friend who had left the party the day before ―― or rather, was half-forced out.
"He's probably already inside. He's not saving up money like us, after all."
Lion, the leader of ≪Sword of Glory≫, replied to his companion's question.
Explorers make a profit.
After all, they are literally risking their lives, and the danger level is extremely high. No matter how many magic stones, materials, or items they bring back from the labyrinth, it's never enough.
But, even for them Lions who have finally become Intermediate explorers, it's a fact that they don't have enough money saved up.
Explorers can earn a lot, but their expenses are also high.
They need to spend money on equipment like weapons and armor, as well as consumables like healing potions, water, and food. If they get injured and can't be healed with potions, they have to spend a lot on treatment at the hospital. And even if they don't stay at an inn, they still have to pay for rent or an apartment. In the end, their equipment is also consumable, and they can't escape maintenance and replacement costs.
Sometimes, they find treasures in the labyrinth.
These can be powerful equipment or rare materials. Sometimes, they might even find luxurious decorations.
But, even if they get their hands on a large sum of money, explorers who save it are rare.
Instead of using that money to invest in better equipment, most explorers would rather spend it on luxuries like drinking and partying at taverns or brōtḥels.
After all, explorers are a type of person who live with the constant fear of death and are always fighting.
To forget the fear that's been forced deep into their hearts, they often indulge in alcohol and women.
And, it's not uncommon for young men who were virgins until recently to start frequenting brōtḥels.
With all these complicated circumstances, neither Aaron nor the Lions have any savings.
So, it's certain that they'll be "working" in the labyrinth again today.
"Is he going to be okay?"
One of the companions worries aloud.
Even though Aaron's party registration was cancelled, it's not like they can suddenly start hating their comrades who they've fought alongside until now.
"Aaron will be fine. As long as he doesn't go beyond the 5th floor, he won't die that easily."
Lion asserts.
Of course, the other companions ask for the reason behind his statement.
"Aaron's Talent in Jobs is... well, it's not bad, but he has a Talent for battle, so he'll be okay."
Up until now, they've fought together, and thinking back on their battle with the Minotaur, Lion declared with conviction.
The reason they were able to finish the battle with the Minotaur so easily was because Aaron took it down with his first attack.
It was Lion, the leader, who gave the order, but it was Aaron who carried it out.
To take on a massive monster that could kill someone with one bite, without hesitation, and to display his usual abilities ―― that's not something you can simply put into words.
Normally, you'd be paralyzed with fear, your body would slow down, and your thinking would become narrow-minded.
Even Lion would have to admit that he couldn't do what Aaron did if asked.
If they were to fight the Minotaur again on their own, they wouldn't be able to win as easily as before.
Lion was deeply grateful that the teleportation arrays were set up on each floor, surpassing the guardian's level. If not, they'd have to fight the Minotaur every time they entered the labyrinth.
――Anyway.
It's true that Jobs' Talents are incredibly harsh, and for explorers and monster hunters, their Talents are their Jobs' Talents.
But Aaron had a sense of battle that was unmatched, and as the party leader, Lion knew that.
"As long as he doesn't overdo it, it'll be okay."
Even so, if he's unlucky, he'll die. That's just how it is in the labyrinth.
Whether one has a Talent or not doesn't really matter.
Even high-ranking explorers can die at any moment.
"We need to take care of ourselves. This is the first floor, let's get pumped up!"
"""Yeah!!"""
With renewed energy, Lion and his team pressed on into the labyrinth.
He never know when he'll die. That's the same for all of them.
――And before you know it, the days go by.
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