Flesh Golem of the Labyrinth City - Chapter 54



53. Even if it’s a labyrinth

“Yuan..? Where are you going so early in the morning?”

“Oh, Sera. Did I make too much noise? Sorry for waking you up when you were sleeping well.”

“No, it’s fine. I usually wake up around this time.”

Four days later, on a cool morning in early May. Sera, dressed in loose pajamas, woke up early and rubbed her eyes, yawning lazily.

Her tousled hair and ivory-colored pajamas. Such dazzling beauty from the morning.

“I’m going into the labyrinth. This time, it might take a little longer.”

“Labyrinth..? Your attire is a bit simpler this time.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I left a leather pouch on the desk, feed Walter and pay Tresha’s salary. Enjoy some delicious food and rest comfortably.”

Looking in the direction Sera’s index finger pointed, there was a small leather pouch on the desk.

The sword that was always hanging at his waist, and the heavy gauntlets he sometimes used to wipe blood, were nowhere to be seen.

Just a small bag on a lightly strapped pouch belt. No thick gambeson under the robe. She thought he might be getting new equipment.

“Okay, got it.”

“I hung the sunstone lantern outside, so no need to go upstairs.”

“Thank you, Yuan. Be careful not to get hurt.”

With half-closed eyes, Sera waved her thin, white hand. I chuckled at this and quickly headed to the guild.

Left alone in the corner of the first-floor dining room, Sera brushed her hair with a comb and headed to the desk, picking up the small leather pouch placed on it.

At first glance, it was a small size that fit in the palm of her hand. A single coin that glowed faintly in the pocket that Sera had carelessly opened.

“Heeeh…?”

It was a gold coin with the number ’10’ engraved in relief.

* * * * *

8 AM. The time when the night shift workers, with their bloodshot eyes, began to greet the guild employees who had just arrived.

Despite staying up all night, Dalia did not lose her smile. She diligently helped the returning explorers with their post-processing and greeted the explorers entering the labyrinth at dawn.

As the employees who had just arrived changed into their uniforms, it was time for Dalia to end her long shift. She happily smiled at the last explorer.

“Two silver ranks. Are you the Dive Party?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

A rare voice that was calm yet not frivolous, mature yet youthful. Dalia looked up at the memorable voice and found a pair of bright yellow eyes glowing faintly under the hood.

“Aven.”

“Dalia, should I hold the time until the shift change for you?”

“Hehe, it’s okay. I was really planning to change shifts after this.”

Dalia smiled as she tucked the stray hair behind her ear. The night shift is tough no matter where you go. To be lucky enough to be Dalia’s last, it seems like sunshine is shining on this labyrinth trip.

“A Dive Party… You’re not returning after going to the 11th floor, are you?”

“No.”

A Dive Party means a party that aims to reach the deepest place the party can reach without targeting a specific floor.

It wasn’t very common for silver ranks, but Dalia, who had seen the formation of the Dive Party of Will since her novice explorer days, smiled faintly and did not forget her usual earnest request.

“Anyone would think you’re sending them to a bronze rank labyrinth.”

“I still can’t believe Aven is a silver rank.”

“I feel the same way.”

After finishing the trivial chat, Dalia completed the record and, as always, sent encouragement and support. Although it bothered her that the party included two explorers she had never seen before, listed under pseudonyms, she let it slide.

Since Theodora usually handled the entrance procedures at the northwest guild lobby, it was natural for Dalia to see them for the first time. Not long after, Dalia saw the group, with their hoods pulled deep, join Ewan, who was waiting in the lobby, and she silently cheered for him.

* * * * *

“You’re wasting rare metal.”

“W-what… The southwest guild is closer to you, so please understand.”

Theodora, who always said her time was rare metal, playfully teased about being slightly late. Of course, being a few minutes late wasn’t a big deal, so I didn’t mind.

“The entrance procedures are complete. We just need to go in.”

“Thanks, let’s go in.”

Unlike the flashy velvet dress or the suit she wore for work before, she was now dressed in high-quality leather armor designed for efficiency and activity. She wore a few expensive artifacts, making for a very luxurious lineup.

From noble mtl dot com

“But, did you bring anything else?”

Theodora seemed to be concerned about my equipment. Indeed, the only difference from usual was the pouch belt and a robe draped over it, so I had almost no luggage for this labyrinth trip. At most, it was a small pouch the size of a hip bag, but what could it hold?

Of course, it might look that way, but I had realized something.

“I don’t need anything.”

“No, but still. Food? At least you brought a canteen, but there’s too little else.”

“Don’t worry.”

—Crackle

It’s the first floor of the familiar labyrinth after a long time. The wind is cool, but the sunlight is warm, and the bright green grass is sprouting anew, giving a pleasant spring feeling. Theodora’s fluffy ears perked up towards the sky, scanning the surroundings.

“What are you so wary of? It’s the first floor.”

“It’s not that. When I try to listen, it just happens naturally.”

Theodora finished her stretches, extending her arms and legs with ease. As I stood there, staring blankly, she started to nag.

“Loosen up too. Don’t just walk leisurely, let’s run lightly.”

“Alright.”

I also prepared to tackle the labyrinth slowly. I took off my shoes and socks, putting them into the storage artifact, and rolled up my wide pants to my knees. Theodora tilted her head and asked.

“What are you doing?”

“Hold on. Or do you want a piggyback ride?”

“What? I can run too, you know?”

“No. Either hold on or get a piggyback ride.”

Judging by her reaction, she had no intention of doing either. Well, I had no choice then.

“Kyah?! What are you doing?!”

“Hold on tight so the equipment doesn’t fall off. We’re going fast.”

In an instant, I scooped Theodora into my arms and planted my bare feet on the ground.

“Inhale, exhale.”

In a flash, the structure of the bones and muscle fibers below my knees changed. The characteristic reverse joints seen in some beasts. Along with the solid hooves, a strange reddish-brown fur grew on the skin.

“No way… Minotaur…?!”

“Yes.”

The legs of the ‘Minotaur,’ a massive bipedal bull-like monster that appears between the 16th and 20th floors. A creature with destructive leg strength that allows its massive body to cover 100 meters in just 5 seconds.

Its thigh muscles are among the top tier even among monsters of the same class. Its legs are absurdly strong, easily supporting the weight of two adult humans.

“Here we go. Wrap your arms around my neck and hold on tight.”

“Wait a minute- Whoa!!”

Bang Bang Bang-

A powerful impact crushes the ground, propelling the body forward like a bullet. The weight of Theodora is just right, keeping the body from floating off the ground.

“Good, good..!”

“Kyaaah!!”

The current time is 9 AM. The goal is to break through the 10th floor before noon.

* * * * *

We arrived at the 9th floor without any significant battles. Unfortunately, we didn’t achieve the goal as it passed noon. The Minotaur’s legs weren’t as suitable for traversing the mountainous terrain as expected, causing a slight delay.

It’s not a big problem. Since it was a personal goal, there was no penalty for not achieving it.

“Ugh, not human….”

“Theodora, there’s something to do on the 9th floor.”

“Hmm? What is it?”

There’s a specific reason we stopped on the 9th floor.

“We need to find food.”

“Food…. On the 9th floor, that means, Wild Boar?”

“Yes.”

Although Wild Boars are more actively hunted on the 8th floor, there are more of them on the 9th floor. The 8th floor is more popular simply because Orcs don’t appear there. But that doesn’t matter much to me.

“Honestly, I haven’t done anything, so I’m not particularly hungry.. Are you very hungry?”

“We’re not hunting Wild Boars because I’m hungry right now.”

“Then? If it’s to secure food for the labyrinth, you could buy jerky at the base. It seems difficult to make preserved food here.”

From Theodora’s perspective, who has a lot of money, the jerky made from Wild Boar, which is sold at a very low price, is a cost-effective preserved food. That makes sense from my perspective as well.

“Theodora. What is my skill?”

“Isn’t it… turning what you eat into your body?”

“That’s right.”

My skill is the ability to store and create what I have eaten. Unlike what I knew before, it doesn’t necessarily manifest only when my body is injured, nor does it need to replace any original organs in my body.

“You mean you can store wild boar meat regardless of weight and produce it fresh anywhere?”

“That’s… gasp!”

Theodora finally realized my intention and covered her mouth with her hand in shock. The most important thing in the labyrinth is the supply of food and consumables. There’s a limit to how much you can prepare in advance due to weight and volume issues if you don’t use artifacts.

But not with my skill.

I can eat an entire wild boar, neatly store only the edible meat parts, and discard the rest. I can summon a chunk of wild boar meat at my fingertip through my skill, cut off the thin connecting part, and heal it with the blood of a snow troll.

In the second layer (11th to 20th floors), most of the monsters are skeletons, ghouls with rotten flesh, and ooze slimes, which are all inedible.

The edible minotaur is notorious among explorers for its tough tendons and strong smell. The main strategy is to quickly pass through the relatively low floors (1st to 10th floors) and consume the preserved food brought along while passing through the 11th to 20th floors.

“Even if it’s a labyrinth, let’s eat something delicious. It’s better that way.”

Wild boar is consumed as a mainstream meat on the surface because it is tasty and abundant.

“Then, what’s in that pouch…?”

“This? Salt and pepper.”

With just some spices, you can eat deliciously.

“Huh…”

Theodora looked at me with empty eyes. Even in a labyrinth, you should eat well, right?