Chapter 14 – Labyrinth Infiltration

Now then. I don’t think maps of the Boundary Labyrinth are particularly useful, but that’s only when compared to ordinary labyrinths where once you create a map, you can use it semi-permanently, like when pioneering unknown sections.

Their usefulness depends on the situation, or rather, on the person. It’s not that there’s no demand, and even if they have an expiration date, that doesn’t mean there are no ways to utilize them. In fact, it’s precisely because they have an expiration date that certain map usage methods exist.

In other words, the pioneering members begin their attack the day after the new moon and create maps by clearing areas as quickly as possible until the full moon. The latecomers can then purchase maps made by the pioneers to take the shortest route to advance to further sections.

This allows them to avoid hunting grounds that don’t suit them and proceed to ones that do.

Or when they need to pass through intervening sections quickly to obtain absolutely necessary materials. Supply and demand are established for reasons like these.

However, outside of the volume zones, supply and demand often don’t align well, and even when maps are put up for sale, they frequently expire. So in BFO, you’d see adventurers requesting map creation at the new moon timing, with others accepting those requests. What you might call made-to-order production.

In this reality now—since maps have expiration dates, it’s possible to make a living by continuously creating and selling maps of floors at levels you can reliably clear.

At the Guild entrance, there was an adventurer calling out to sell maps of the shallow floors. If you sell maps to newly arrived rookies, you might make decent daily money.

“I’d like to buy a map, is that alright?”

“Welcome back! Which floor’s map do you need?”

He answered brightly.

“For now, the first underground floor.”

The structure of Labyrinth Underground Floor 1 doesn’t change. By looking at that map, I can understand how useful his drawn maps are.

“In that case, it’s free.”

“Really?”

“Floor 1 doesn’t change. Consider it a service. If you like it, I’d appreciate if you bought the floors below it. They’ll become unusable in three days anyway.”

In other words, he’s confident that if people see the Underground Floor 1 portion, they’ll buy the lower floors too.

When he showed it to me, it was quite a detailed map.

It seemed like he’d really considered the users, or rather, it felt beginner-friendly.

I was reasonably satisfied, so I bought four maps covering down to about Underground Floor 5. The total price was 16 Kirig.

I stepped outside while looking over each purchased map one by one.

“Oh my. You bought maps.”

“Since Rosetta-san said she’d accompany us.”

When I met up with Rosetta who was waiting outside the Guild, she said that to me.

If it were just me and Grace, we could have just power-played through the shallow floors.

But I didn’t want to be seen as careless and overconfident, so I thought we should be thorough this time.

“I see. Being faithful to basics leaves a good impression.”

I don’t know if it’s basic or not… well, I’m just doing ordinary things ordinarily.

“With these outfits, there’s no such thing as basics though.”

I’m still in my default clothes, and Grace is in her maid uniform too.

“Why don’t you buy a robe or leather armor?”

“Going back is bothersome. I don’t like makeshift solutions and want to take my time choosing carefully.”

“Grace. What about you?”

When Rosetta brought up the topic of clothing, Grace tilted her head curiously.

“Is this outfit no good? I think it’s easy to move in and functional.”

“It might be functional, but…”

…Actually, for her, armor would probably just get in the way of her movements. It would only hinder her body’s motion, and she might end up having to move while destroying the armor with her own strength.

Perhaps remembering Grace’s race, Rosetta seemed to give up on persuading her.

“Besides, I think Theodore-sama’s garments suit him very well.”

“Um. That’s not really the issue here, you know?”

Rosetta looked at me with a puzzled expression.

Well… yeah. Grace is actually competent at her work and has that kind of atmosphere, but she also has surprisingly naive aspects.

The mother who taught Grace reading, writing, and arithmetic was quite a relaxed person, and Count Gartner’s household is probably detached from ordinary society too. So Grace has come this far somewhat isolated from the world.

So that we might at least get favorable marks from Rosetta, who’s an academy instructor, let’s be faithful to basic actions regarding the labyrinth.

Therefore, although I don’t plan to go too deep today, I decided to make proper preparations before going. We headed to the market adjacent to the square.

The market in front of the Temple handles goods shipped directly from the Guild’s production areas, as well as items for adventurers about to enter the labyrinth. After obtaining minimal equipment like canteens, backpacks, portable rations, and emergency food, I retrieved the staff and axe from the carriage stored at the stable, laid cloth with a teleportation magic array drawn on it inside the carriage, and we finally set off for the labyrinth. The labyrinth entrance is the Temple next to the Guild.

“Which god is worshipped at this Temple?”

“The Moon Goddess Shuas.”

Probably because the labyrinth is affected by the moon’s phases, and Shuas is said to oversee safety in travel and navigation, it became a Moon Temple.

Because of her nature, Shuas is popular among adventurers too. Since she’s considered a gentle goddess with no particularly incompatible counterparts even when compared to other gods, she might be suitable for places where multiple races come and go.

When we stepped inside the Temple with its thick columns, we could see a giant goddess statue and altar at the front, along with clerics and shrine maidens.

At the center of the Temple was a large vertical shaft, with a spiral staircase-like passage descending along the inner diameter of the shaft leading to lower levels.

The three of us went down the long, long spiral staircase together… and eventually reached the bottom of the shaft, a circular plaza.

What was there was the wide-open entrance to the labyrinth… and a stone monument emitting green phosphorescence.

The stone monument was supposed to teleport you to floors and sections you’d visited before, but even when I approached it, there was no reaction at all.

No good. Well, I expected as much. I thought maybe I could reach the floors I’d gotten to during BFO times. But since I can’t open my Inventory, that’s probably not possible either.

From the corner of my vision, I saw that group of adventurers from before approaching.

They must have descended to the plaza below the stairs first. A group of six, ranging from early to late twenties. Their character… to be blunt, wasn’t good. They looked exactly like what you’d expect.

They passed by my side and disappeared into the Great Labyrinth via teleportation from the stone monument.

What’s going on, I wonder. It’s not like they’ve done anything to us at this point.

Just their gaze. They just teleported from the monument at the timing when we descended.

Individually, that’s all it is. It’s the accumulation that bothers me.

…Maybe I should warn Rosetta. I don’t know her actual capabilities.

Considering her relationship with my mother and her current position, I don’t think Rosetta is weak, but still, I’d be troubled if she got injured by a surprise attack.

“About those guys earlier, please be careful. If I’m just being overly worried, that’s fine though.”

When I told them this, both their expressions tightened.

Waiting for us to descend before using the monument to enter the labyrinth is a typical method for targeting newcomers.

There are many stories of fledgling adventurers being attacked by bandits in the shallow floors. Similarly, in the game, these shallow floors around here were the PK hotspots.

“Wouldn’t it be better to try another day?”

“If we’re being targeted, changing the day would be pointless anyway.”

Actually, targeting specific individuals in the Great Labyrinth is quite difficult. Since you can teleport to wherever you want from the monument, unless you have information, you can’t really pursue anyone.

On the other hand, newcomers must pass through these floors. In other words… once you advance somewhat deeper into the labyrinth, the worry of being targeted by such fellows decreases.

If they’ve taken notice of us with some intention, where did the reason lie? In these clothes? Because we’re children? Or because we’re newcomers who just registered?

Either way, I don’t feel the need to accommodate others to the extent of considering whether they might have evil impulses. That’s a different matter from security awareness.

If they only have that much conscience, then it’s no longer about us specifically—it’s just that we happened to be there when they were.

“Rosetta-san—would you give up traveling just because there might be Goblins on the highway?”

“That’s quite extreme… I wonder who you take after.”

“Mother is mother. I am myself. If they interfere, I’ll just eliminate them.”

After kissing Grace’s ring to put her in Released Form, we advanced inside from the entrance.

That said, there’s probably no need to be wary of an attack from those guys earlier around here. Since it’s the floor right after entering, it’s easily visible to others, and you could run back outside to escape.

Although the entrance area was very spacious, the passages soon became narrow and low, with a structure that branched out in all directions. The white stone walls were made of the same material used in Termwills’ central buildings.

But I’ve memorized the structure around here even without maps. Since there’s nothing particularly noteworthy in terms of earnings, I plan to take the shortest route to Underground Floor 5.

“Light Ball.”

I used the second-tier light magic Light Ball instead of a lantern to illuminate the surroundings. As the name suggests, it’s magic that creates a sphere emitting light.

“…Can’t you use Night Vision Magic?”

“I can?”

When I answered, Rosetta tilted her head.

I understand what she means, but this depends on the situation.

“Then why? Won’t we become targets?”

“The monsters around here are just Goblins, Kobolds, and Killer Ants, right?”

I sent the Light Ball ahead down the passage.

After advancing through the labyrinth for a while, as the light sphere flew around the corner ahead, it revealed the shadows of Goblins on the floor. Two in total.

“…I see.”

Rosetta made a somewhat impressed voice.

The moment the shadows became visible, Grace stepped in and her axe roared as it struck off a Goblin’s head. The sound of something wet came from beyond the corner.

While the other one was frozen in surprise, my chantless Fireball burned it away. Monsters around this level pose no threat whatsoever even when facing them head-on. I have no worries at all about fighting them directly.

It’s corner ambushes and unexpected encounters that are more troublesome. If you’re cautious and don’t use light, your movement speed becomes slower too.

The problem is—that adventurer group. I’d like to expect them to have proper judgment and conscience.

“If anything happens, I’ll be your shield. Those guys had bows.”

For Grace in her released state… there’s no such thing as a bad hit location, but apparently painful things are still painful.

Ah… I don’t like that. Just imagining it puts me in a bad mood. It’s a situation where I don’t want to let them do anything even if they act rashly. I narrowed my eyes and stared into the darkness of the labyrinth where light still didn’t reach.