Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

When I think about it, events never stopped happening since the first day of the guild’s adventurer registration.

I encountered my enemy from Earth, Isaac.

I looked for ways to kill him, and I found Sophia’s Book in the library.

I met Lumia, a witch of the Arar race, who was cursed by the gods, and I inadvertently canceled her curse and recruited her into my party.

I even defeated Isaac in a duel when he picked a fight with me.

All of this happened in just three days, but… the remaining two days of mandatory training passed without any incidents.

“You’ve all worked hard. Always remember everything you’ve learned and keep striving.”

As soon as Berkel finished speaking, Bardus, who was next to me, asked,

“Ahren, are you going to enter the Labyrinth as soon as the portal opens?”

“Yes. There’s no need to delay. But why do you ask?”

The portal to the Great Labyrinth opens roughly once a month, but it doesn’t close immediately after opening. It can remain open for up to five days, I heard.

This is because the Great Labyrinth is a place created by the distortion of dimensions, so everything is uncertain.

Bardus scratched the back of his head and laughed at my question.

“Hehe, my party is planning to enter a few days later. I just wanted to tell you not to be hostile to us when we meet later.”

“Sure. As long as you don’t start a fight or threaten us, there’s no need to be hostile towards your party.”

…I smiled and said this, but I can’t let my guard down in the Labyrinth.

‘The top priority in the Labyrinth is the survival of me and the girls. I need to stay alert.’

I felt sorry for Bardus, but didn’t Berkel emphasize that we should be more cautious of other adventurers than monsters?

“Okay, then when I call your name, come forward and receive your adventurer grade badge. First, Ahren!”

I was the first to go up and receive my badge.

Since it was made of iron, it looked ordinary.

Is this what makes a real adventurer?

Reflecting on what I learned during the training, the materials for the badges ranged from iron for low-level adventurers to platinum for high-level adventurers.

At the time, I wondered why they didn’t just call them iron-grade adventurers or platinum-grade adventurers.

Why was it necessary to classify them as low-level or high-level adventurers?

What was the answer to that question? I can’t remember. Something about how the essence of adventurers in the Labyrinth City is to explore the Labyrinth and conquer unknown layers, so it’s more appropriate to use the layer names rather than the materials.

As I was thinking about this while holding my badge, I caught Isaac’s eye.

‘Wow, you’re still not giving up? You’re tough.’

He was looking down because of the duel a few days ago, but underneath that, his gaze was sinister.

This is what it feels like to see someone who’s sharpening their sword for revenge.

“Okay, then all procedures are complete. I wish you all good luck on your journey, and you’re dismissed!”

‘Well, no matter what you do, the real conclusion is just around the corner. Hate me all you want after you die.’

With a light heart, I opened the door and went downstairs to the first floor.

I sat at a table, and as expected, people moved away from Lumia, leaving the area empty.

Just as I was about to open my mouth,

Boom!

A guard pushed the revolving door and entered, attracting everyone’s attention with his footsteps.

“The portal will open at 12:30! I hereby announce that the entrance portal to the Great Labyrinth has started to open!”

Murmurs filled the room.

“It opened a day earlier than expected.”

“Mac, did you go to the general store yesterday and finish your preparations?”

“Hmm. This time, I’ll definitely break through to the next floor!”

Clap! Clap!

“Okay, everyone, please be quiet. I have an announcement.”

Since this wasn’t the first time something like this had happened, the adventurers who were chatting here and there became silent in an instant.

The few newbies who kept talking despite the situation received stern glares from the others.

“As usual, you will be able to enter the portal 24 hours after it fully opens. So, the control will start now.”

Oh, so that’s how it works.

“Please keep in mind that there will be severe punishment for any acts that break through the guards and enter the portal during the control period or for any disorderly behavior before entering.”

Yes, without this control, adventurers would rush to enter the portal and try to reach the next floor or claim monsters for themselves, causing various problems.

After delivering a few more instructions, the guard saluted and left.

“Since we don’t have any more business at the guild today, let’s go to the inn and discuss what to do next.”

“That’s a good idea! It’s too noisy here with all these excited people.”

“Yes, let’s go.”

Wow. The loud chatter was giving me a headache. We quickly got into a carriage and headed to the inn.

When we arrived at the inn, Roten greeted us.

“You’re here? I heard the entrance portal has just opened. Is that true?”

“Yes, the portal started to appear at 12:30.”

“That’s right. Usually, it opens once a month, but sometimes it opens a few days earlier or later, ruining the adventurers’ plans.”

We decided to meet for dinner, so I unpacked my belongings in my room and went downstairs.

‘Should I go to the general store where I bought the other items or a grocery store to get preserved food?’

I sat at a table and pondered, and Roten came up to me with his hands behind his back.

“How are you doing? Are you ready to enter the Labyrinth tomorrow?”

Ready? I had bought most of the necessary items at the general store, but food was still a problem.

Since there were only three days left until the duel day, I had planned to buy food today.

If I had known this, I should have bought and stocked up on food yesterday.

“I have torches, bandages, ropes, sleeping bags, clocks, and low-level maps, but preserved food is the problem. Well, it’s the 4th District, so I should be able to find what I need if I look around.”

“You’ve got everything except food?”

“Yes. At least, in my opinion.”

Roten stroked his beard and said,

“Hmm. Then, before you enter the Labyrinth tomorrow, I’ll solve the food problem for you. I’ll pack you some hearty food. In return, can you promise me one thing?”

A promise?

“Well, let’s hear it.”

“I’m sure you’ll do well, but this old man just wants to hear your confirmation.”

What confirmation?

“Please don’t abandon Lumia, that poor girl, under any circumstances. The punishment she bears is too harsh. Although I’ve only watched her for a few months at the inn, I just want her to stop getting hurt.”

Abandon?

…Throw away?

— Do-jin (Seo Do-jin is the protagonist)… Here, this is the robot toy our Do-jin has been wanting to keep.

— Wait here and play with this toy. Mom will be back soon. Don’t cry, okay?

Grind.

“Are you okay?”

[Chaos says she doesn’t know why, but she’s telling you to calm down because you’re being too scary.]

“Yes, I’m fine. Haha, I just remembered a silly memory.”

I quickly calmed down and spoke sincerely.

“Don’t worry about Lumia. At least I’m not the kind of person who abandons others.”

Roten looked into my eyes, then relaxed and laughed.

“Hehehe, I understand. I’ll solve the food problem. You don’t need to pay. Follow me for a moment.”

Great. I was planning to go to a general store or grocery store alone, but now I’ve saved both time and money.

I followed him to the warehouse behind the inn.

Roten walked to the corner of the warehouse, where various items were piled up, and took out something and handed it to me.

Is this a backpack?

It was a worn-out backpack that you wear on your back. Why did he give this to me?

As I received it from Roten, a status window appeared.

[Mendel’s Space Bag] (B)

A bag made by the magician Mendel, who specializes in space-time magic, for the promising Roten. It has a built-in small space magic.

It has been neglected for a long time, causing its grade to drop by one level.

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The built-in small space magic has adjusted the internal space.

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The bag is always strongly lightweight due to space distortion.

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The bag consumes the user’s mana to significantly reduce damage when attacked. However, any damage to the user’s body remains the same.

________________________________________

All effects are removed when the bag is completely destroyed.

________________________________________

“This bag may look old and shabby, but it has a built-in space magic.”

“What? Why are you giving this to me all of a sudden? Even though I promised not to leave Lumia, what’s the real reason?”

“Haha! You seem surprised. I said I’d pack you some hearty food. It’s something I used a long time ago.”

I calmed my shocked heart and took the bag from him. He continued,

“In fact, I was once a well-known high-level adventurer. Although I failed at the threshold of the deep layer, there was no doubt about my skills.”

‘What, a high-level adventurer?’

“The inn was just a hobby for this old man. It was my pleasure in old age to receive guests who visited this shabby-looking inn. That was before Lumia came.”

Roten stroked his wrinkled eyes.

“After that girl stayed at the inn, the rumor spread, and other visitors stopped coming. The few guests who were staying also left.”

“Oh…”

“But when I saw that girl, who looked like she had just become an adult, with her pitiful appearance and empty eyes, I couldn’t focus on anything else. At first, I treated her like a regular guest, but… after a month or two, seeing her sad like that, didn’t she look like my nonexistent granddaughter?”

A ferocious aura passed through Roten’s face.

“At one point, I wanted to kill everything that was making that girl sad. But in the end, I gave up because the cause was Lumia, who was spreading the curse around her, so it was all in vain.”

He added that it would only be a futile attempt to take out his anger on innocent people, as he couldn’t reach the god who cursed her.

“I was worried when Lumia, who seemed to be depresses, suddenly got up and went to the guild, but then she brought you, Ahren, and her condition improved rapidly.”

Roten placed his hand on my shoulder and said,

“Whether it’s because of your trait or some other reason, the fact that that poor girl seems to be free from the curse is enough reason for me to give you this bag.”

‘I knew that their relationship was more than just an innkeeper and a guest, but I didn’t know that you cared for her like a granddaughter.’

[Chaos says she feels warm-hearted for the first time in a long time and is tearing up.]

“I understand. I’ll gladly accept it.”

“You’re welcome. If you return safely from this Labyrinth trip, I’ll teach you some useful skills.”

Oh… I’m looking forward to it.

“The more I age, the more I talk. I’ve been keeping you here for too long.”

“No, it was a good thing for me, and now I feel closer to Lumia and Roten.”

“Hmm, thank you for your kind words.”

We ended the conversation on a warm note, and I went to my room to check if I had forgotten anything.

Then, I called Yeriell and Lumia and had dinner with them, discussing various things about tomorrow. I went to bed early to be in the best condition for our departure.

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“Okay, I’ve filled the bag with preserved food, and you said there’s nothing else you forgot, right?”

“Yes! Thanks to Roten, we have less burden on our resources. Thank you again.”

“No problem. Good luck.”

Roten waved goodbye with a smile.

“Grandpa Roten! We’ll be back!”

“Yes, I wish you a safe return, cute lady.”

“Me too, I’ll be back.”

Roten patted Lumia’s head.

“Be careful and always stay alert. Always stay close to Ahren.”

Nod.

We started moving, and I thought,

‘Yeriell has Evelyn, and Lumia has Roten. It’s good that they have someone that worry about them.’

[Chaos says she’s here for me, so don’t be discouraged, and puffs out her chest proudly.]

Phew.

“What?”

“What’s wrong? Is something wrong?”

“No, no. I just thought of something funny. Let’s keep going!”

Anyway, Chaos is quite something. When you look closely, she has a quirky and cute side.

We took a carriage from the station and headed to where the Labyrinth entrance had opened.

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“Sir, you need to get off now. We can’t go any further because of the crowd.”

As soon as we got off the carriage, we saw an enormous crowd.

There were thousands of people, if not more.

Considering that this was the first day, even more people would enter the Labyrinth in the coming days.

“Wow…”

“By the way, Ahren, is this your first time seeing this?”

“Yes. I’m amazed to see so many adventurers gathered like this.”

There were adventurers with flashy and antique equipment, probably high-level or deep-level adventurers.

There were also confident-looking veterans, and middle-aged parties calmly standing in line and chatting.

And there were low-level adventurers like me, who looked excited and inexperienced.

There were various types of beastmen, from those with only ears and tails like Lumia to those with thick fur all over their bodies.

There were elves with long ears and beautiful features, dwarves who were short and sturdy, and barbarians with muscular, tattooed bodies and bare chests.

‘There are also people from the East, as Berkel mentioned. They’re like real swordsmen.’

Wow… Will I be able to see this diverse group of people every time I enter the Labyrinth?

No, it’s not just about seeing them.

Since I’ll be living in the Labyrinth City from now on… I’ll be interacting with them, forming bonds, and sometimes conflicting with them.

‘Calm down. I need to maintain my composure once I enter the Labyrinth.’

I tried to calm my pounding heart at the sight before me.

Whoosh.

The huge black portal slowly stopped swirling and began to emit a bright light.

“It’s open!”

“Okay, don’t push the person in front of you! We’ll proceed in an orderly manner, checking the adventurer badges and then entering!”

Clack!

“I’ll say it again! Please maintain order! If you break the rules, you’ll be removed from the line, and the guards will take you away, so be careful!”

Fortunately, due to the strict control, everyone started moving forward in an orderly manner.

I thought it would take six to seven hours, but since adventurers can move together as long as they’re in contact with their party members, and since the area they fall into on the first floor is random, the guards divided into several groups and checked the badges, allowing our party to reach the portal in just one or two hours.

“Stop! Show your badge.”

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“Party leader Ahren and two others. Confirmed. Please proceed. Good luck.”

After bowing to the guard, I held Yeriell and Lumia’s hands and walked towards the portal.

“Let’s go.”

The three of us looked at each other and entered simultaneously.

Whoosh—

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“Hmm.”

I opened my eyes, feeling a slight nausea.

The warmth of the hands I was holding.

The darkness that hung like a curtain in front of my eyes.

The cool air on my skin.

This was… the first floor of the Labyrinth.