# 78
78. Labyrinth (3)
Light covered the entire body.
When we opened our eyes, we were back in the space-time gap.
I stayed on the 16th floor for about half a day. Looking up at the sky, the light is out. It seemed that Amkena had disconnected from the rather lengthy mission.
"Is the 17th floor like this?"
"maybe."
Jenna's face was full of displeasure.
"I don't like it. It's better if it ends quickly. It seems like it's late at night, so I'll go wash up first."
I nodded.
Jenna hung the shortbow on her back and gestured to Iolka.
Iolka and Zena escaped the space-time rift. As always, the two of them seemed to be going to the bathroom. I spoke to Belquist and Nerissa, who were waiting in the back.
"Today disbanded. Good job. Tomorrow morning we have training, so don't be late."
"I'll just go."
Belquist put the sword in the scabbard and strode out.
All that was left was me and Nerissa. Nerissa was subtly hesitant near me.
"Do you have anything to say?"
"I have something to tell you about the place I just stopped by."
Nerissa's eyes hardened.
but. When I first entered the 16th floor, the reaction was strange. I went out to the square.
"Follow me."
"yes."
The square on the first floor is empty unlike before entering.
It was because a long time had passed. The clock in the square pointed to dawn and the sky was a deep blue gray. I went up the stairs to the second floor. The direction is the accommodation. Belquist's back could be seen through the open entrance to the training center on the second floor.
'…'
He already knew that he was as much a training fanatic as Aaron.
I passed Belquist and closed the training center door with my toe. Then went into the house. Nerissa followed me.
It was late in the morning, so no one was in the restaurant.
I took a seat at any table. Nerissa sat across from her.
A kettle and cups are placed in the center of the table. I poured water into a cup and handed it to Nerissa.
"thank you."
"So, what to say?"
Nerissa took a sip of water.
And said it with a stiff expression.
"The mansion I just went to. It's a place I know."
"…"
"It's not to the extent that I know. I originally came from here after working in that mansion."
I stayed silent and responded.
"Why are you telling me that?"
"Because I think you have a high chance of surviving."
"Well, fine. If you know anything, tell me."
Better than going without knowing anything.
As long as the labyrinth has appeared, it is not low that it will lead to the boss stage. The more information, the better. Nerissa continued.
"It is the residence of the Halgion family, called the Golden Mansion."
"Halgion?"
"Yes. One of the four great families of the Taoni. Even Mr. Han knows it."
"I don't know. I'm from an ordinary farmer."
"I don't think anyone would believe that."
Anyway, Nerissa gave me an overview of the Empire and its four great houses.
The Taoni continent is ruled by a single nation called the Empire. And within the empire, there are four families with power equal to that of the imperial family. Respectively, Stamberg of Demons, Halgion of Gold, Lantia of Gates, Asinis of Wu.
"That's the 4th family. Even the emperor can't treat the family head carelessly."
Nerissa's explanation continued.
Among them, I listened to the moderately necessary parts and shed the unnecessary parts. After the explanation, I came to a conclusion.
"So, is that the place we stopped by Halgion's mansion?"
"That's what I expected, but I can't guarantee it. Only the entrance to the mansion is the same, but the rest of the structure is completely different. I don't know why."
That part I agreed with.
By design, a mansion with such a structure had no value in existence.
Nerissa took a moment to catch her breath before continuing.
"I still don't know why I'm on the mission, but I feel like we're bizarrely connected. Looking at the mission in detail with the regenerated stone convinces me, doesn't it?"
"Don't argue with me. I don't know."
"I'm sorry if you felt rude."
I drank water.
I don't express it to me, but I know that members of the waiting room, including Jenna and Aaron Edith, question the mission. It won't be long before you know the truth. I opened my mouth.
"Did you say that the Golden Mansion consists of five floors?"
"yes."
"Is the blood of a monster mixed with the lineage of the four generations?"
"This is no ordinary monster. Halgion's case is uncertain, but rumor has it that he has dragon blood."
I drank water.
'It's a dragon.'
20th floor.
It is an important passing point for pick me up and a gateway that separates beginners from intermediate students.
Users who passed the 20th floor will be treated as a worthy master. It's not all good.
Anyway, the 20th floor has one feature.
That the type of stage is fixed.
'Boss battle.'
The appearance background and types of enemies are different, but bosses appear on all 20 floors.
Unique monsters that are unique to each account, not half pennies like ogres. Of course, its strength is different from that of normal medium-large monsters.
The first gateway to Pick Me Up is on the 5th floor.
One-third of the masters drop out here.
The second gateway is on the 20th floor.
More than half of them drop out here. Even if you went to the career counseling bulletin board of the official cafe, there were no masters who complained because they couldn't get through the 20th floor.
"I witnessed the princess being saved on the 15th floor. However, it's hard to understand why a golden mansion suddenly appeared on the 20th floor."
I scratched my cheek.
Nerissa seemed to delve into the purpose of the mission itself, unlike heroes who simply carry out the given mission.
"I don't know what your situation was there, but if you want to get out of here, tell me now.
"I have no intention of leaving. They're all bastards who wouldn't mind killing them all."
Nerissa grinned.
"I'm glad."
"This is all I can tell you. I hope this helps."
Nerissa bowed deeply to me and left the dining room.
I sat alone in the dining room and continued to drink water. The information he had obtained from Nerissa's explanation and the wanted orders he had seen in the exploration dungeon were going back and forth in his head.
'The 4th generation Halgion and the church that issued the wanted order to the boy are related.'
I've heard that most of the donations the church receives go to Halgion.
I don't know exactly what the religious group is, but judging from the situation on the 15th floor, it's related to the Goddess. And it was also the kind that was hostile to the special NPC of the mission, Priasis.
'It's a headache.'
I turned my head and came to the conclusion that I don't know.
I wonder why I have to worry about such troubles in the first place. My job is to climb the tower while carrying out missions. And to find a way back to Earth. I have no intention of getting involved in such trivial dark fights that have nothing to do with me.
Ignore the circumstances before and after.
Select only helpful information.
If there are any gains from talking with Nerissa, there are two things.
The first is the fact that the golden mansion, which is the background of the labyrinth, consists of five floors.
Just in time, it fits perfectly with the number of floors in the section. From the 16th to the 20th floor. The moment I admitted it, I got a little annoyed. The Labyrinth was a field I didn't particularly like. I wonder if there is a master who likes a field like this.
The second is that the blood of the dragon flows in the members of the family staying on the 5th floor of the Golden Mansion.
The type of boss monster to appear on the 20th floor was confirmed.
'…Damn it.'
I only drank water.
Balaur. It boasts the strength to compete for the top spot among the countless Pick Me Up monsters, but does not have any particular flaws. There are magic or equipment that have some compatibility, but there was absolutely no way to get them on the current floor. As of right now, it was one of the most difficult monsters to deal with.
It was comforting that he was not of pure blood.
Since it is said to be of mixed blood, it will not be perfect. In a way, it was natural. It's a bug monster that shouldn't come out on the 20th floor if it's a pure dragon.
'Is there anything I can do?'
I knew most of the mission composition, but there were no replacement personnel or equipment.
All I can do now is to climb to the 19th floor without loss.
dawn the next day.
Long before assembly time, I ordered the kitchen assistant, Amarin, to make preserves. The 16th floor was completed within one day, but the later stages may require overnight stays for several days depending on circumstances. I needed something to eat.
It also requested storage backpacks and homeless tools from personnel at the equipment shop.
Despite their reluctance, they made various items including tents and sleeping bags. I stacked them on one side of the warehouse.
And after the morning training was over, we had lunch at the restaurant.
"Listen while eating."
The eyes of four people gathered.
"I will go to the 17th floor at the earliest this evening, or within two days at the latest. It must be the same labyrinth as last time."
"Ah, too."
Jenna pursed her lips.
He seemed to dislike it quite a bit.
"From the 17th floor onwards, it could get complicated. You might spend the night trying to find your way. To prepare for that, we'll share our roles."
Backpacks with food and tools are grouped into three groups.
I and Belquist Jenna decided to share it. Nerissa, who has a lot of activity, and Iolka, who has weak stamina, were excluded. Then, the order and time of the vigil were also given.
Iolka let out a deep sigh.
"Are you going to live that long?"
"It may not come out at all."
In fact, such cases are known.
The party that couldn't find a way in the labyrinth starved to death. The master who experienced the incident strongly protested to the head office, but the answer was that it was normal play. It's not to that extent as it's on the lower floors, but there's nothing bad about it.
"Are the kids going out to play?"
Belquist laughed bitterly.
"If you pass this section, it will turn into a short-term mission."
Once the labyrinth is over, it does not come out again within at least 10 floors.
And I didn't study mission types with forms either. They know what types of mazes exist and how to explore them efficiently. Even if a complicated maze came out, I was confident that I would break through within three days.
While chewing on the meat, I took out a piece of paper from my pocket.
On the paper, the basic labyrinth patterns I researched are drawn. No matter how complicated the path becomes, the basics do not deviate from here.
"What is that?"
"don't mind."
"Please give it to me sometime."
Belquist reached for the paper.
I moved my right hand. Belquist's hand gripped the air. Belquist reached out several times, but I avoided them all. Belquist's eyebrows furrowed.
"I guess you don't like me."
"Now do you know?"
I laughed.
And in the evening when the day's schedule is over.
Amkena divided the heroes on the first floor into lower floors and daily dungeons and called us.
[Gather at the plaza on the 1st floor of the 1st party!]
It was as expected.
The four people who were waiting stood up at once. On the walls of the training camp, three bags from storage were placed side by side.
I put on the bag on the far left.
At the same time, a system message popped up.
['Han(★★)' asks for a 'leather backpack'. Do you accept?]
['Leather Backpack' – Item: Canteen Firewood…]
[Yes (optional) / No]
The cursor touched YES.
'I have to take care of all the troublesome things.'
I shortened the straps to secure the bag and left the camp.
Belquist and Jenna's backpacks were also accepted. I went down to the plaza on the first floor.
Following Issel's guidance, we entered the space-time gap. As soon as I entered, the door was closed and a message indicating the floor number was displayed.
[The main dungeon is currently on the 17th floor.]
[The door will open in 10 seconds. Get ready!]