Selly hugged Hans, who was miraculously unharmed without a single bite mark, and sobbed loudly.
Meanwhile, I fed an antidote and a low-grade recovery potion to another dazed captive.
I’m not sure if the antidote works for mild poisoning, but the potion definitely did the trick, as the bruises quickly faded.
In the meantime, we dismantled the captured hobgoblin and gathered anything valuable.
Individually, they may be weaker than the Iron Wolf, and their byproducts are certainly cheaper, but with this many captured, we could sell them for a decent price.
…And the loot from the hobgoblin wasn’t limited to just their bodies.
“Lydia, this is adventurer equipment, isn’t it?”
“Yep. Goblins can handle rocks and wood, but not iron.”
“I guess a lot of them died more than I thought.”
We found enough adventurer gear in the building they were using as a storage area for a total of nine people. Typically, it takes 3-4 individuals to form a party, so we can assume that at least three adventurer parties, including Selly’s, were wiped out.
“…Are hobgoblins really that dangerous?”
“Not every adventurer is like Jonah.”
Well, I do know the habits of hobgoblins and understand the level of civilization and organization they exist within.
Plus, I’ve got skills from the gacha ability and good equipment.
With that alone, I fall into the top 10% of first-floor adventurers, and I’ve got Lydia to back me up if things go south. So, I can dig in with a bit more confidence.
While I was gazing blankly at the abandoned helmet, Lydia tapped my shoulder.
“Don’t worry too much. Countless people die in the labyrinth every day. We just happened to see a few of them.”
“That’s true.”
One of the settings in the labyrinth is that the first floor has the highest mortality rate.
While other floors require clearing the previous one or the guidance of a cleared party member to enter, the first floor is accessible to anyone without any conditions.
That means many go in, just as many come out dead; the first floor is precisely that kind of layer.
Moreover, the first floor has a strong sense of “purpose,” as it allows adventurers to train common yet essential skills they need.
Against wandering goblins, they learn how to kill living creatures; against lone rabbits, they learn party play.
Against the Iron Wolf, they figure out how to tackle monsters, and against hobgoblins, they learn how to overcome overwhelming numbers.
Though I haven’t encountered it yet, against giant mantises, they must learn how to defeat an enemy that is stronger in every aspect… Just the basics of raiding hammered into them.
Additionally, there are fundamental rules that apply throughout the labyrinth, methods for finding paths, and other aspects they will become familiar with beyond combat.
If they don’t learn these things in time? Simple. They die right there. Even the first floor is still a labyrinth—far from an easy place.
That’s why there’s the setting that once you reach the level of the second floor, you’re recognized as a single adventurer. You need to have the basics down to clear the first floor.
Lydia wouldn’t have said she intended to treat me as a porter after clearing the first floor for nothing.
Still, I’m aware that the labyrinth is a place where one risks their life, earning rewards in return.
But witnessing the remnants of someone who truly died weighs heavily on my heart.
I’ve managed to progress through the labyrinth quite smoothly, leading me to genuinely think adventurers might have it easy, but now I realize it’s not that happy-go-lucky of a workplace.
Not that I’m scared enough to stop now, but…
I spoke up in a slightly glum voice.
“…What should we do in cases like this, Lydia?”
“The loot is basically ours. However, we need to report to the guild properly. If there are any identifiable items, we’ll have to show them too.”
“Oh? So it’s to verify whether we killed them or not?”
“Yeah. It’s not uncommon to enter and witness another party wiped out right in front of you, but most cases are discovered long after they’ve died. We just do a simple check against the guild’s missing persons list.”
“A check… You mean, it’s not some foolish task of going through every single list, right…?”
A counter-check in a world without Control-F? Just the thought sounds maddening.
However, Lydia tilted her head as if confused by my words.
“Jonah, did you forget? The guild is run by the temple.”
“Gasp! So, because there are many people, they can just swap them out as they please!? If one collapses, they just heal them, and that’s it? How wicked…!”
“No, it means they spent a lot of money to set up a magical search system. There are rumors that the Mage Tower has risen to the 30th floor because of that commission.”
“…Hmm, hmm. Typical clergy. They work to reduce the number of unjustly dead more than they care about money!”
“I think I understand a bit why Jonah dislikes going to the temple so much.”
Lydia squinted her eyes as if she had seen something blasphemous. Avoiding her gaze, I continued to gather all the remnants of the last wiped-out party.
It wasn’t just the equipment; I also found a pouch filled with magic stones, which should fetch a good price.
Other monster byproducts were nowhere to be seen, likely because the goblins took them, but just to be sure, I pressed on the empty floor, checking for hidden spaces.
In the meantime, Lydia was somewhat lugging a bag filled with heavy equipment.
“Thanks for carrying that, Lydia. I wouldn’t have been able to take half of it by myself.”
Hans and another unknown captive were planning to have Selly somehow transport them, so we had to manage the goods ourselves.
In response to my thanks, Lydia tilted her head with her usual expressionless face.
“Well, that’s only natural since this is my money too.”
“…Huh?”
“Jonah, settlements among adventurers have to be precise. You assassinated half of the hobgoblin den, but I killed the other half. So it’s only right the loot rights are split.”
“Ugh!”
It’s infuriating, but she has a point, so I can’t argue. Instead, I decided to bring up a slightly different topic.
“Lydia, about the Guardian of the First Floor we talked about before. I’m starting to think about preparing for it; can you help me?”
“???”
“The gear we got this time is stronger than I thought. With this, I feel like we could deal solid damage to the guardian, so I thought we might as well give it a shot.”
“…Wait a minute. Wasn’t that just a vague aspiration or goal?”
“Not at all! I was completely serious! I even think I have a rough idea of how to summon the guardian!”
“…Normally, I’d tell you not to say nonsense, but for some reason, when you say it, it feels genuine.”
“Cough!”
“That’s not a compliment.”
“See? You’re all shy about it! You can act tough, but I know you’ll help!”
“Well, if there really is a Guardian of the First Floor, I can take it down alone, so it’s not a problem.”
The Guardian of the First Floor is a kind of boss. Naturally, it’s much stronger than other monsters on that floor, and it often has difficult abilities.
But as you go deeper into the labyrinth, the level of the enemies generally increases, so it’s likely to be similar in strength to monsters from 2-3 floors above.
So, the Guardian of the First Floor would be at the level of monsters from the 3rd or 4th floor.
For a high-ranking adventurer like Lydia, it shouldn’t be a challenging opponent. Just as I thought.
“You’re saying you’ll help? Thank you! We can discuss details later, but let’s head out now.”
“Okay.”
Since there weren’t any hidden spaces after all, we reluctantly left the storage area. Inside, Selly was awkwardly carrying Hans, and the still-dazed captive was there as well.
“Selly! Can you carry that guy too?”
“…I’ll try my best.”
With a determined look, Selly adjusted her hold on Hans. Though his tendons were severed, his arms and thighs were still intact, so it seemed she was managing to hold on.
Hans cautiously reached out to the dazed man and lifted him in a princess carry.
I worry whether her arms will hold up until we exit the labyrinth, but… well, it’s not my problem, so they’ll handle it.
“So, shall we head back right away, Lydia?”
“You lead the way.”
“Yes ma’am.”
We still have stamina left, but with all this gear and people, it’s best to return.
As we walked a bit, I asked Lydia in a small voice.
“By the way, what about those two now?”
“First, we report to the guild. Selly and Hans are injured, but they’re conscious, so they’ll have to manage. But that man is a different story.”
“He seems completely done for, so leaving him to survive on his own would be a big issue.”
“Right. That’s why we need to take him to the temple. It’s their job to care for seriously injured people from the labyrinth.”
“…Do we have to go?”
“We absolutely have to.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if you went instead of me?”
“Didn’t you say you didn’t want me leaving another man in your hands?”
“Then let’s send Selly.”
“Are you not going to ask for a ransom?”
Gahhh…!
If we save an injured person found in the labyrinth and admit them to the temple, we can receive a ransom in return.
Of course, this isn’t some kind of human trafficking. It’s more like a type of fee, I suppose?
First, the temple pays the fees upfront, treats the patient, and then the recovered, fit patient works off the debt in the temple.
If there’s some system like this in place, it means they won’t just abandon a burdensome injured person in the labyrinth but will ensure they’re revived and returned to the surface.
There are times when people still die even with treatment, and some have such severe aftereffects that they can’t repay their debt.
But the temple takes that into account and offers a reward to the person who brought them in. After all, saving lives is a priority.
As those devoted to the Goddess of Love, their kind spirit shines through.
“…I guess it can’t be helped. Let’s go together.”
“Yep, good thinking.”
The Inquisition isn’t a particularly laid-back position, so while we probably wouldn’t run into them, I still let out a sigh, just in case we encountered Karen.
Then I suddenly glanced back at Selly and the others.
While the nameless captive remained unresponsive, Selly, who was carrying Hans on her back, looked far too somber for someone who just came back from the brink of death.
Come to think of it, Selly had panicked and identified Hans as the one to be eaten instead of herself.
What must it feel like to witness her lover being defiled by goblins when she promised to protect him?
Even if she was in a panic, how heavy must the guilt of sacrificing him as a substitute remain on her heart?
And witnessing Hans express gratitude and sorrow while being carried on her back by someone who’s unaware of all this—what kind of emotion would that evoke?
To treat her severed tendons, she would need a high-grade potion or long-term care at the temple.
Both options would cost a considerable amount, and I doubt Selly has the means to pay for them.
Otherwise, she’d be obliged to care for a partner who wouldn’t be able to move for the rest of his life…
How would one feel, confronting their sins each time? Could she love her partner as purely as before?
I don’t have those answers.
I can only hope that their future turns out somewhat bearable.
“Ah.”
It feels like it’s been a long time since I wanted to write something.
