Normalizing the Labyrinth City in the Game

“Pl-Please stop hitting me! I’ll become a slave! Please!”

After a full 10 minutes of beating, finally a voluntary slave declaration came out of Hassan’s mouth.

“…Phew.”

Somehow, it felt like the person doing the beating was more tired than the one being hit.

It turned out like this because he aimed for parts that hurt like hell but wouldn’t cause injury.

In any case, to use him as a slave, his body needed to be intact.

“You mean that, right?”

“O-Of course! So please, stop….”

Thwack!

“Aargh!”

“‘Stop’ is informal speech, you bastard.”

The power in words is strong.

When you speak informally, you naturally look down on the other person.

It wasn’t fitting for a slave’s way of speaking.

Siwon’s change to a harsh tone was also to make them recognize their difference.

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Be careful next time.”

“I understand! Master!”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Don’t call me master. It sounds gay.”

“…Ugh?”

Not seeming to understand the meaning of the word ‘gay’, Hassan raised the end of his scream.

“Just call me Sion-nim. Got it?”

“Ah, I understand! Sion-nim!”

“Good.”

Siwon said this and headed towards Abdul’s corpse.

It was to loot the belongings he had.

For some reason, trying to loot a corpse’s belongings made him feel a bit guilty, but.

‘If I leave it like this, the maggots will take it anyway.’

He decided to think of it as compensation for preventing the deaths of innocent 1st class explorers that this guy almost killed.

When he opened Abdul’s bag, a brilliant light poured out.

…It didn’t actually pour out, but Abdul’s bag contained so many useful items that it gave that impression.

“…What the hell, this bastard. Why does he have so much?”

The first thing that appeared was not rations, but a bag of jerky.

As expected of someone who made slaves of explorers and robbed them, he must have had a lot of money.

Siwon immediately tore it open, put some in his mouth, and put the rest in his backpack.

“Bandages? Too many, throw them away. Wood… take just one or two. Some oil too… No, fuck.”

Siwon’s gaze fell on twenty bottles filled with red liquid.

“This son of a bitch, he was carrying twenty healing potions around and snatched one from me?”

Siwon turned his gaze.

He saw Abdul’s corpse, which had turned its head towards Hassan as if blaming him for leaving him to die.

He couldn’t beat someone who was already dead.

Siwon decided to desecrate him in another way.

“This fucking bastard… Khaak, ptui.”

Siwon spat towards Abdul’s corpse.

Wishing peace for the deceased was a luxury for this damn bastard.

“….”

Hassan’s face, watching this scene, started to gradually redden.

His expression also began to twist as if filled with anger.

There was no way Siwon would miss this.

Siwon stopped organizing the belongings and immediately approached Hassan.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“What, are you annoyed? Because I spat on your friend’s corpse?”

“….”

“If you’re pissed, try to kill me. I’m willing to fight anytime.”

Siwon held out the club again.

Let’s see what kind of reaction he’ll show.

“…I’m sorry.”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Then you bastard, stay still. Is a slave supposed to show emotions?”

“….”

As Hassan lowered his head, Siwon went back to Abdul’s corpse and gathered a few more items.

What he additionally put in his backpack were an unknown magic book that was tightly hidden inside, and two quite expensive-looking magic stones.

It seemed he had hidden them to use when his magical power ran out.

They could probably fetch quite a high price if sold at a shop.

Siwon couldn’t read the letters, so the magic book was actually useless to him, but.

‘Well, I can ask someone else to read it for me later. Or I might learn to read.’

With that thought, he put the magic book in as well.

The magic book was thick, and the magic stones were also quite heavy and bulky, so Siwon’s backpack quickly became stuffed.

“Are, are you alright?”

“What.”

“If you carry so much, it might be hard… Rather, how about putting some luggage in my backpack.”

“…What are you talking about? Why would I be struggling.”

Siwon said this and handed over his backpack.

“…?”

When Hassan didn’t take it and just stared blankly.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You clearly said with your own mouth that you’d become a slave. One hit every time you don’t act like a slave. Understand?”

“Kuu… Yes, I understand….”

Hassan then shouldered Siwon’s backpack as well.

‘As expected, having a slave is convenient.’

Moreover, he’s not even an innocent slave, but a damn bastard who lured innocent explorers to make them slaves and then discarded them.

It would be right for the last part of his life to be lived and died as a slave.

Carrying out justice while also gaining a disposable slave.

It’s good for both the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law, fuck the sister-in-law and the brother-in-law too… Ah, was this not right?

Anyway, it’s a good thing.

“…Hey, by the way.”

“Yes?”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Can’t you answer properly?”

“Wh-What is it!”

“You, how many people did you kill working with that damn bastard?”

Siwon asked, pointing at Abdul’s corpse with his fingertip.

“….”

When Hassan’s expression suddenly hardened, Siwon raised his fist, and Hassan answered in surprise.

“Tw-Two people died!”

This son of a bitch.

Lying from the start?

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Don’t lie.”

“Yes, four….”

This is also a lie.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Fuck, won’t you speak properly?”

“Si-Six people, no, seven people….”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“I said speak properly.”

“No, really it’s seven people….”

“I know.”

“?”

“I just hit you because I wanted to.”

“….”

Hassan’s expression hardened ever so slightly, but.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You son of a bitch, not relaxing your expression? If you had made me a slave and killed me today, it would have been eight, right?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

“Hey, how did you kill seven without getting caught?”

“Well, the guards of the labyrinth city don’t properly investigate explorer deaths inside the dungeon. Because one or two die every day….”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“I know that too, you bastard. Don’t act like you know better.”

“….”

For a moment, Hassan was about to harden his expression, but.

“…Haha.”

Having been hit for doing that before, he immediately let out an awkward laugh.

Watching this, Siwon smiled faintly.

‘At this rate, it seems he’s been somewhat instilled with manners.’

Siwon had deliberately picked fights and beaten Hassan like a dog.

Yet seeing that he didn’t particularly rebel, it seemed the gaslighting was somewhat complete now.

“Well, shall we depart? Hassan?”

“….”

Perhaps due to the continued beating, his mind had become hazy, and Hassan just stared blankly at Siwon’s order.

This is why you shouldn’t speak kindly to people.

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You bastard, not answering?”

“Ah, I understand! Very well! Sion-nim!”

Hassan suddenly became very alert.

Just like how a machine works when hit.

Hassan now was no different from such an existence.

Siwon led Hassan as he navigated through the 2nd floor of the labyrinth.

“Left.”

“Yes! Left! I understand!”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You bastard, speak quietly. Do you want to call the killers?”

“Yes, left. I understand….”

‘This damn, crazy bastard. Fucking bastard….’

Hassan inwardly hurled a barrage of curses at Siwon before immediately getting up.

Then he started navigating the maze again following Siwon’s orders.

“Hey.”

Siwon’s voice was heard from behind.

Hassan immediately stopped moving and answered sharply.

“Yes! Sion-nim!”

“Over there ahead, if you turn right, you’ll immediately see a group of goblins, okay?”

“…Pardon?”

As soon as Siwon raised his fist, Hassan added words.

“Ah, is that really true?”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“Then fuck, would it be fake? Why are you asking questions in reverse?”

“Ah, I understand. I won’t ask questions.”

“Good. Just follow orders when given. Anyway, I’ll go first and take care of those guys, so you watch the situation from behind and immediately cut off the goblins’ ears and gather them.”

“Wouldn’t it be better if we fight together….”

As soon as Siwon raised his fist, Hassan’s words stopped.

“Didn’t I say to just do what you’re told?”

“Yes, I understand! When Sion-nim massacres the goblins, afterwards I’ll gather the goblins’ ears and put them in Sion-nim’s backpack….”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You bastard, why are you putting that dirty stuff in my backpack. Put it in your backpack. There’s no more space in mine.”

“…I understand.”

“Gather them well. If you miss even one, you’re dead.”

Siwon said this and immediately took the lead to massacre the group of goblins.

“….”

Hassan, left alone.

Suddenly, the desire to run away right now welled up in his heart, but.

‘No, that crazy bastard is probably secretly watching, thinking I might run away…!’

He’s a man who even eavesdropped and grasped all of the conversation with Abdul.

Running away now would only provide him with a justification to kill me.

“Huu, haa….”

Hassan steadied his breathing and immediately advanced in the direction Siwon had disappeared.

“Huh? There really are goblins….”

The sight of Siwon standing face to face with goblins was reflected in Hassan’s pupils.

There were a total of ten goblins in front of him.

There was also a woman covered in white liquid with her eyes rolled back behind them, but she wasn’t a combat force so let’s skip that.

Even a 2nd class vanguard dealer would find it difficult to easily take care of that many.

“…Should I help?”

Suddenly, such a thought crossed Hassan’s mind, but.

“No. I should run away now… But where would I go if I run?”

Thinking about it again, he couldn’t escape this maze without a guide.

Continue living as this man’s slave, or run away now and face a short freedom before death.

“…Let’s wait and see for now.”

Hassan chose neither.

Without helping Siwon, nor running away.

He just watched from afar to see how the battle between Siwon and the goblins would unfold.

“Kereuruk! Kiruk!”

“Kirarararak!”

“You fucking disgusting bastards. Was it that good to fuck one woman?”

Siwon said this and immediately charged towards the group of goblins.

“Kieeek! Kiek!”

“Kieeeeek!”

The goblins’ horrible screams burst out simultaneously.

“…Huh?”

In just a few tens of seconds, all ten goblins were completely destroyed.
It was amazing that he left only the ears as proof of subjugation in the process.

A swordsmanship never seen anywhere before.

‘…Is this guy really a 1st class guide?’

Hassan shook his head at the sudden thought.

From the start, this man was neither 1st class, nor an ordinary guide at all.

‘…That bitch.’

Suddenly, the receptionist who had earnestly asked to take good care of this man, saying he was prone to showing off and it was his first time in the labyrinth, came to Hassan’s mind.

‘Right, if it weren’t for that bitch….’

He and Abdul wouldn’t have had to suffer at the hands of this man.

“…Phew.”

The moment Hassan was lost in thought.

Siwon’s gaze discovered Hassan hiding behind the wall.

“Hey, Hassan!”

At Siwon’s call, Hassan immediately ran to Siwon.

“Yes! Sion-nim!”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

Hassan fell backward from Siwon’s kick.

“Stand straight, Hassan.”

At Siwon’s following order, Hassan immediately got up, forgetting even the pain.

The sword dance Siwon had just demonstrated had a big impact.

“…Yes, Sion-nim!”

“Hassan, I told you to cut off and gather the goblins’ ears after I caught them, didn’t I? Why didn’t you gather them?”

“I, I was about to.”

“About to?”

“Because Sion-nim handled the sword so well, my gaze unconsciously….”

Thwack!

“Agh!”

“You call that an explanation?”

“I-I’m sorry!”

Thwack, thwack!

“Aargh! Agh!”

“This is why you foreigners can’t make it. This is the labyrinth. It’s a place where you do what you’re told when told to do it. Don’t you still understand that you can’t survive if you’re so lazy?”

‘Damn, he’s a foreigner too….’

Hassan thought this inwardly, but his mouth gave the opposite answer.

“I, I was wrong. I’ll do better from now on….”

“Good, you better.”

‘…Is it over?’

Hassan had raised a flag.

“But that’s that. Let’s get hit a bit first.”

Thwack! Thwack!

“Aargh!”

Hassan still had a lot of price to pay.

While Hassan and Siwon were mutually cooperating with each other.

“I wonder if that person is doing well….”

Reni, the receptionist at the Explorer’s Guild office, voiced such a concern.

It had become a habit for her to talk to herself when working alone inside while the office was closed like now.

“I should have just said I couldn’t write it like that, I wrote it differently for no reason….”

Still, she hadn’t done anything wrong.

It was that man who was bad for trying to fabricate.

“That’s right, saying nonsense like there are no monsters on the 31st floor from the start….”

“Reni!”

At that moment, she heard someone calling her name from outside.

“O-Office manager?!”

“Come out right now!”

Such a sudden order.

“Wh-What’s going on?”

“The Menz Parker party has returned!”

Menz Parker.

It was the name of the advance party that had headed towards the 31st floor that no one had yet explored.

Even if time had passed and the office had closed, if the advance party had returned, they should naturally be welcomed.

“R-Really?”

“Yes! Buy whatever information they ask for, and don’t miss a single thing they say!”

“O-Okay!”

Reni immediately put aside what she was doing, came out, and waited for them to arrive.

“…Huh?”

The Menz Parker party had five members in total.

However, only one person appeared before Reni’s eyes.

A priest with yellow hair wearing a dumbfounded expression.

His glasses were cracked all over as if he had gone through a hard time, and his clothes, which would have been pure white originally, were mixed with blood and soot.

“…Menz Parker party. Except for me, 5th class priest Hallen Whiskey, all members have died.”

“…I offer my condolences.”

Priest Hallen Whiskey left only those words and was about to leave.

“…Um, just a moment.”

“Yes?”

“Perhaps, are you willing to sell information about the 31st floor?”

“….”

Whiskey’s expression hardened.

“Ah, that. I’m sorry. If it’s difficult for you, next time….”

“No, it’s fine. And the money… forget it. I don’t really have any information worth selling.”

“…Pardon?”

No information worth selling?

Just telling what kind of monsters appear there would change the amount paid.

“Um, aren’t there many… monsters?”

“There are no monsters on the 31st floor.”

“…Pardon?”

Hallen Whiskey’s shocking statement.

Rather than the validity of the information, Reni was reminded first of the words of a foreigner she had met the day before.

-There are no monsters there. But, it’s quite dangerous. Because the terrain is so messed up. The magical energy is strong too.

“Per-Perhaps….”

“?”

“Was the terrain very dangerous, or was the magical energy strong?”

“!!!”

Hallen Whiskey’s pupils widened greatly.

“How, how did you know that?! No, more than that… You already knew this?!”

Whiskey’s pupils were engulfed in anger.

The handsome and ordinary priest was already gone.

Just an explorer engulfed in anger approached Reni, glaring at her as if to kill her.

“If you knew that, why didn’t you tell us? If we had just known that, my comrades wouldn’t have had to die…!”

Whiskey asked, strongly pressing down on Reni’s shoulders.

At the sudden pain felt, Reni naturally answered the truth.

“Th-That… I, I also heard it from someone else….”

“You heard it? Who on earth, who said such a thing?”

The thought that an explorer’s information shouldn’t be carelessly spread by a mere receptionist like herself crossed Reni’s mind, but.

“Si-Sion… Someone who just became an explorer yesterday.”

Her mouth naturally spoke Siwon’s alias.