CH 27

Chapter 27: Labyrinth, First Floor - Part 2

Carina and the others joined after finishing the first aid treatment for Belisha and Igris. Zagu's wound seemed even deeper, with fangs reaching his shoulder bone.

Although Carina cast healing spells to cure any poison or infection and applied soothing spells to close the wound, his arm wouldn't be usable for the time being.

"By the way, who is this person?"

Yeah, I knew someone would ask soon.

The one who brought it up was Bata, who fought alongside us.

After gauging Carina's and Cecily's expressions, I honestly gave them a brief explanation.

In other words, I came to this world from a distant place, several days ago. God bestowed me with a strange skill to manipulate clay and moving dolls, and this woman here is one of those dolls.

I want to praise myself for being able to explain with the bare minimum of communication skills, but how it was received can be understood from the atmosphere here...

Breaking the silence with lukewarm gazes that kept some distance as if looking at a madman, it was Carina and Cecily who connected the words.

"While it is a hard story to believe, I believe that God has sent this person for our salvation."

"Although this man is like a mass of impurity calling himself God's servant, he has made a contract to obey us until we accomplish the conquest of this labyrinth."

Who are you calling a mass of impurity, Cecily?

"But I can believe it. I have actually seen Shiro manipulate clay freely many times."

"That's right, I have seen it too. Regardless of how much of his story we believe, it's certain that he is a man who can be a fighting force..."

Beth and Gleon backed me up.

The remaining members still had a skeptical expression, or rather, they were more like "one belief, nine doubts," but they seemed to understand that it's not the time to pursue it further while the labyrinth battle is still ongoing.

According to Laruk's reconnaissance, there is only one side tunnel left until we reach the "Master of the First Floor," and there are about five Kobolds. However, with half of the main party injured, it wouldn't be wise to push ourselves further, considering the circumstances. 

"Should we stop here for today?"

Cecily asked Carina, and Bata objected.

"If possible, I would like one more battle. Even if we can't meet the floor's master, finishing off the rest would make things easier starting from tomorrow."

Carina sought the opinion of the oldest member, Zagu.

"Though it's ironic coming from someone who showed such incompetence, it would be better to follow what Bata suggested. It's good for everyone who entered the labyrinth for the first time to witness the nest of the floor's master."

"...If you say so."

Then, Carina looked at everyone.

"I will change the formation. The party that will advance in the next battle consists of Bata, Greon, Cecily, Shiro, Laruke, and Beth. The rest of you will support from the rear with me."

"Princess Kalena, I'm fine!"

While dragging her leg, Verisha raised her voice.

"No, you mustn't push yourself here. The journey ahead is long."

"Yes, I agree with that formation as well. It would be effective against opponents like before to increase the number of uninjured individuals who can perform long-range attacks," Zagoo agreed.

"That's right. Shiro, please handle the party formation."

So, following Verisha's instructions, I temporarily "dissolved" the support party from earlier and reorganized a new party.

I can't help but wonder about Cecily's status.

<Cecily Istorefi, Human, Female, 21 years old, Warrior (LV6)

Skills: HP Increase (Medium)

Melee Attack Increase (Small)

Physical Defense Increase (Small)

Strength Increase (Small)

Melee Hit Rate Increase (Small)

Sword Technique (LV3)

Spear Technique (LV2)

Riding (LV2)>

Oh, she's three years older. She seems like a sporty college girl.

When our eyes met, I was silently struck on the head with the handle of her spear.

"Let's get going."

Did I say something out loud? Isn't this treatment a bit severe?

Laruke is still grinning as usual. What's up with that?

"You're a guy without any sense of tension, huh?"

I don't want to hear that from you.

<Laruke, Human, Female, 25 years old, Scout (LV5)

Skills: Identification (Beginner)

Perception

Stealth

Detection

Discovery

Archery Technique (LV2)

Sword Technique (LV1)

Riding (LV1)>

I didn't notice earlier, but she's considerably older.

Oh, her gaze became intimidating. I quickly averted my eyes and followed Cecily.

Does party formation make it possible to read each other's thoughts? I don't know. It's a mystery.

"Are you an idiot? You're such an idiot."

For some reason, even Lina scolded me with a "secret conversation"...

As a result, we easily wiped out the group of Kobolds that were in the other side tunnel.

Approaching with the same large shield as before, Beth supported us by casting magic, and we used a clay wall to block the exposed enemies and launch long-range attacks.

From the beginning, all of us, including me and Lina, were ready with our bows, and it was an easy task to rain arrows on the Kobold leaders who appeared.

My arrow hit for the first time.

And then, about 1 kilometer inside from the entrance on the map, it was there.

I had been sensing something unusual with my discovery skill for a while, but when I saw it directly, I wondered what it could be. It appeared, faintly glowing, illuminated by the light from the walls and ceiling.

It looked like a wall, but it had a hazy, glowing quality without any substance. I think even someone without any skill in detection or perception would feel an incredibly dense magical power emanating from it.

Beside me, Greon, unusually, seemed nervous. It was a different kind of nervousness from what newcomers like Kalena, Cecily, or myself felt. It was the nervousness of someone who knew what it was.

Zagoo rubbed his shoulder and spoke.

"The master of the first floor is inside there."

We held our breath and listened intently to Zagoo's words.

The labyrinth is a creation formed by a gigantic labyrinth worm devouring the source of magical power in the soil as it digs deeper. Most of them are formed in a descending spiral pattern, gradually going deeper underground.

The cavern, which could be called the main passage of the labyrinth, emits a faint glow on its walls due to the magical secretion of the worm. The side passages that occasionally appear there are often nests dug by inhabited creatures.

The worm undergoes molting about once a year as it grows.

And that molted shell is what we see before us.

A discarded shell?

It must be about 4 to 5 meters in diameter, blocking the labyrinth. That's the diameter of the worm's discarded shell. I don't know its length, but if it has a shape similar to a caterpillar, it should be tens of meters long.

"And because the worm's magical power is concentrated in it, that discarded shell creates a powerful barrier."

The discarded shell of the worm is protected by a strong barrier, making it the perfect nest for monsters. Therefore, the strongest monster in that layer usually settles there as its own nest.

It is known from experience that within this barrier, only one party consisting of a single individual or one monster is allowed to enter magically.

It's strange that even though it's a barrier, only one individual or monster can enter. However, it is believed that it is to prevent creatures from becoming "prey" if they were allowed to enter.

"So, if we defeat the monster inside, does that mean the labyrinth will be conquered?"

I inadvertently voiced a simple question and then looked around, thinking, "Oh, did I say something unnecessary?" Fortunately, no one criticized me for it.

"Unfortunately, that's not the case," Kalena took over the conversation.

"According to what I heard from my father in the past..."

She continued, looking at the discarded shell of the worm.

"Worms molt once a year and as they dig through the labyrinth, each shell they shed becomes a layer of the maze. By passing through multiple layers and finally defeating the labyrinth worm in the lowest layer, it is said that one can stop the maze from spawning monsters."

Everyone was speechless.

Is it even possible to defeat a monster the size of this labyrinth?

Moreover, how many layers must one overcome to reach that point?

"In that case, does it mean we can determine the number of layers based on the number of years since the maze was formed?" Beth asked, as if a thought had occurred to her.

"That's correct."

"However, it seems that the eggs of the labyrinth worm are somehow laid deep inside natural caves. The worms hatch from there and dig through while growing, but it's difficult to accurately determine when the maze was formed."

In other words, from the entrance and for a while thereafter, it was originally just a cave filled with rocks, and it was only after the surroundings changed that it became the labyrinth dug by the worms.

"I believe it was about three years ago when the existence of this maze became known."

"Yes. The monsters suddenly increased, and it was discovered that they were emerging from this cave. However, it is unclear when the labyrinth worm was born prior to that. So, at the very least, we know there are three layers or more."

Upon hearing Zagoo's words, we were filled with the realization of the arduous journey ahead and stood motionless.