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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Masked Barbarian
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The central district of Valerius’s eastern sector.
The Explorer’s Guild Headquarters stood on the busiest street in the explorer district.
“They must have splurged a fortune on this place…”
Considering they charged 20 silver coins just for an entry pass, they’d better have invested this much.
I gazed at the Guild building, which rose as high as a modern corporate skyscraper amidst the low-lying medieval structures, before stepping inside.
My destination was the second floor. I’d heard that’s where explorer registrations were handled.
‘I thought I came relatively early.’
My gaze drifted towards the staircase, where a long line of people was visible. Just how long was this queue, spilling out onto the stairs?
Indeed, I’d heard that explorers were a popular profession, with a high influx of new recruits.
People from all over the continent flocked to the Labyrinth City, enchanted by fantasies of the Labyrinth, or driven by ambition.
‘Why would anyone willingly enter such a mad place?’
Sadly, I wasn’t in a position to criticize.
After all, I too was standing in this line, just to re-enter that Labyrinth.
I observed my surroundings while waiting for my turn. There were so many people that even dozens of counters seemed insufficient.
“Haa…”
Naturally, the counter staff, who were dealing with dozens of people per hour, were being ground down in real-time.
“Welcome… Oh…”
The counter employee, who had been mechanically about to ask my business, froze solid like a broken machine.
But while their actions stopped, their eyes quickly scanned me from my helmet to my feet.
It probably wasn't my imagination that their gaze lingered particularly long on my abs.
“I’m here to acquire explorer qualifications.”
“...Ah, yes! You’ve come to acquire explorer qualifications. That will be 20 silver coins!”
‘Goodbye, my pretty silver coins.’
I handed the employee 20 silver coins, feeling like I was handing over a child I’d given birth to.
My hands trembled uncontrollably. How hard I’d worked to earn that money!
“Please fill in your personal details in the circled areas on this form.”
It felt somewhat like withdrawing a bank deposit. I filled in my name and address, checked off several boxes, and even signed.
‘Come to think of it, how do I understand this writing?’
It had been a constant question since I arrived in this world.
Reading, writing, and speaking all felt as natural as if my brain were filtering them, but I had no idea of the underlying principle.
“Now, please look into this crystal ball and state your name, affiliation, and age.”
“Didn’t I just write that on the form?”
“It’s a mandatory procedure.”
“...Do I also need to remove my helmet?”
“The Explorer’s Guild respects individual privacy.”
“My name is Balkan… I have no affiliation… I’m twenty-two…”
After a few additional steps with the strangely agitated employee, I received a wooden identification tag.
“You have been registered as a Low-Rank Explorer. If your identification tag is lost, a reissuance fee of 15 silver coins will be charged.”
At this point, I understood how obsessed with money the Explorer’s Guild was.
It felt strange to say it myself, but I was clearly a suspicious man wearing a helmet.
While they had the flimsy pretext of respecting privacy, wouldn’t this allow criminals to register as explorers without anyone knowing?
“The Explorer’s Guild building is under a special Blessing that prohibits entry to ‘Marked Ones,’ so you don’t need to worry too much.”
“Ah, I see.”
I nodded at the employee’s words.
Marked Ones. In the Labyrinth City, those who committed serious crimes were called by that name.
In the Labyrinth City’s lax security, where violence and rape were just part of daily life, to be considered a serious criminal meant you were a lunatic who committed murder as casually as eating a meal.
“If you’re looking for party members, please go to the third floor.”
Following the employee’s instructions, I headed to the third floor.
Clang!
As I opened the door and entered, the gazes of the explorers inside immediately turned towards me.
The scene on the third floor was similar to the second. There were counters and people.
The only difference, however, was that people were seated at tables instead of standing.
Feeling curious about the stares piercing through me, I headed to the counter.
“I’ve received the transfer from the second floor. We offer party matching services to newly registered Low-Rank Explorers. Do you agree to party matching?”
I did need party members. My past experience had painfully taught me that in the Labyrinth, two were better than one, and three were better than two.
However, that was only true if I was with trustworthy people, or if I held the leash.
Otherwise, it was just an uncomfortable cohabitation.
‘If only I had properly held Densi’s leash, I wouldn’t have needed to come here…’
It couldn’t be helped. Densi had cast off all shackles and restraints and gone off to find her own happiness.
Life rarely goes as planned.
Not every woman in this world had only sex on their mind.
And the risk of being attacked by monsters due to lack of sleep was far greater than the risk of rape.
‘Take a small risk to prevent a greater one.’
“Yes, I agree.”
Immediately after I nodded, expressing my intention to find a party.
Clang!
“Hey, male. Are you interested in joining our party?”
“No. Join our party. Ours will be much more comfortable than that cow’s!”
“Everyone, quiet down! You non-humans. There’s no way a human male would join a non-human party, is there? Unless he has some strange fetish. Excuse me, how about our party? We’ll treat you well.”
As if they had been waiting for those words, people leaped from their tables and rushed towards me, extending countless invitations to join.
If those invitations were offered with pure intentions, I would have gladly accepted, but…
‘I haven’t even stated my position yet.’
I hadn’t revealed whether I used a sword, an axe, a shield, a spear, or even if I was a mage or just a spoon.
Yet, these people were offering party invitations just by glancing at my appearance.
It felt like, "Front-liner or back-liner, doesn't matter, as long as he’s a man, he’s okay."
‘These people have nothing but depravity in their minds.’
It was obvious that they would change their attitude as soon as we entered the Labyrinth, their minds crammed full like tripe.
At the same time, a thought struck me.
Ah. If I filter out these guys, I’m halfway there.
I ignored the parties swarming around me and spoke to the employee.
“The ones currently around me. Filter them all out and match me with someone else.”
***
“A splendid helmet. Pleased to meet you. I am Adolf.”
A dwarven priestess with a dangerous name. Surprisingly, she was a woman.
“I’m Jeremy.”
“I’m Anya.”
Jeremy, the spear user, and Anya, the archer. They were fresh-faced youngsters.
“Pleased to meet you all. I’m Balkan.”
A melee warrior. A spear user. An archer. A priestess.
The combination was quite good. Though everyone was a Low-Rank Explorer.
We exchanged appropriate greetings and got down to business.
“Am I the only one here with Labyrinth experience?”
Everyone nodded at the dwarf’s words.
I had been to the Labyrinth before, but I concealed that fact. It was before I had my identification tag, and there was a risk of being interrogated about how I entered the Labyrinth.
It would clearly be quite troublesome if I were found out.
“We’ve just arrived in the Labyrinth City for the first time.”
“That’s right.”
Anya and Jeremy were fresh newbies, just like me, who had just acquired Low-Rank Explorer qualifications.
The difference between us was that they were childhood friends who had been born and raised on the continent and came to the Labyrinth City. I didn’t particularly want to know, but I ended up hearing their TMI.
– If you filter out all those people, you’ll only be left with complete beginners or those with some kind of flaw. Are you sure about that?
As the employee said, I was matched with a newbie party. Well, it couldn’t be helped.
I hadn’t expected to just coast through it easily from the start.
“This is my first time too.”
“Hmm. That’s rather fortunate. At least there are no cursed ones among us. I’ve only been to the Labyrinth three times myself, but there’s no need to be too nervous. After all, everyone’s goal is just the first floor, isn’t it?”
Everyone nodded. In the Labyrinth, where unpredictable events happened daily, playing it safe was always the best policy.
‘If it had been an ambiguously strong party, we might have gotten screwed by overconfidence. This is better, actually.’
We sat at the table, discussing our opinions and setting our exploration goals.
“Our stay will be 5 days. Once we enter the Labyrinth, we’ll advance to the escape portal, then safely hunt Goblins in that vicinity. Does everyone agree?”
“Yes, that sounds good.”
“Sounds great!”
“Your answers are decisive. Then, let’s all meet again at noon on the day the Labyrinth entry portal opens.”
“Is there a reason we specifically need to meet at noon to enter?”
“In the morning, the Mid- to High-Rank Explorers quickly descend the Labyrinth, killing or avoiding all the monsters as they advance. If we go right after them, we can reach the escape portal relatively safely.”
“Oh. Such a method…”
Even with only one and three experiences, there was a significant difference in experience.
Feeling the seasoned veteran’s vibe, we broke up the meeting.
The Labyrinth would open two days later.
There was a lot to prepare until then.
***
In the eastern district, a short distance from the Labyrinth entrance, countless weapon shops were densely packed.
Among them, I gazed at a massive double-bladed axe displayed in the glass window of the most opulent weapon shop, one that rivaled a luxury boutique.
Was it my imagination, or was it because its sharp blade was so radiant?
The axe seemed to glow with a blue light.
I stared blankly at the tag attached to the end of the displayed axe.
Zirnier Basil’s Double-Bladed Axe. 500 gold coins.
“Five hundred… gold coins…”
My mind snapped awake. Insane. 500 gold coins? That would be… um… I don’t know. Anyway, it’s a heck of a lot.
“Stop it. That’s not something you can wield.”
A man who appeared to be a smithy employee scoffed at me, seeing me pressed against the glass, admiring the axe.
Judging by his suit, he didn’t seem like a blacksmith, but rather a sales associate.
“Can you acquire it?”
“No. I didn’t mean to mock you. I meant, literally, this is something that weak, uncivilized… men like us, destined to be women’s doormats, can’t even lift.”
“Don’t say ‘us.’ I’m offended to be compared to men like you.”
“...…?”
Feeling annoyed, I left the luxury weapon shop. I definitely wasn’t scared off by the 500 gold coins.
I only had 3 silver coins left.
After acquiring 5 days’ worth of preserved food, extra potions, antidotes, and other necessities, this was all that remained.
It took a month to earn, but half a day was enough to spend it.
Anyway, I planned to use the remaining money to get some armor.
‘The axe and dagger can be used more after sharpening the blades, but the helmet… it feels a bit unstable.’
Perhaps because I’d used it too intensely in the last battle against the Goblins, the chin strap had loosened, and there were many dents here and there, giving me a bad feeling.
If nothing else, a helmet was essential, and I wanted to get at least a breastplate to protect my vital organs.
However, there were few places that sold equipment I could afford with my meager funds.
I descended from the luxury street, where people adorned in extravagant gear strolled, to an area where only flies buzzed, a place where people in a similar situation to mine were nowhere to be seen.
“Tsk… You want me to repair this?”
“Yes. Is it possible?”
“Well, it’s not impossible… but it might be cheaper to just buy a new one.”
“Is that so? Then, roughly how much would it cost?”
“Hmm. A minimum of 4 silver coins to a maximum of 8.”
“Why does the price fluctuate so much?”
“Well…”
Slurp. Slurp.
The weapon shop owner lewdly licked his lips and made a suggestive gesture.
I understood why only flies buzzed around this smithy.
“If you’re not going to be accommodating, then too bad. Go find another place. Or rummage through those cheap weapons in that box over there.”
Weapons so cheap that even a fly-infested smithy considered them trash.
My premonition wasn’t good, but I had no choice. Anything would be better than the helmet I was currently wearing, and there was nowhere else lower to go.
I had already been rejected by six smithies on my way here.
As I rummaged through a pile of flawed, cheap equipment that wasn’t even displayed in the shop and hadn’t been cleaned.
“...Huh?”
From deep within the box filled with only trashy equipment, a dazzling light began to emanate.
It felt similar to the axe I’d seen in the luxury smithy…
As if possessed, I cleared away the equipment in the box, searching for the glowing piece.
And what I eventually held in my hand was…
A crudely designed great helm, enveloped in a brilliant blue light.
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