New chapter of Nameless Hero is out! (1/3 chapters)
Labyrinth Picnic
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It was finally the day to tackle the Azarigrad Great Labyrinth. This time, the meeting place wasn’t the Adventurer Guild.
The bustling Market Street, where adventurers came and went in droves, was lined with stalls selling an array of essential items such as weapons, armor, mana potions, food, and even tents. In Azarigrad, also known as the labyrinth city, the bustling Market Street had become one of its tourist attractions. Items ranging from junk to hidden treasures were displayed, and adventurers spent their money amidst the deceptions and bargains of the day.
The meeting place was the monument tower at the center of Market Street. Apparently, it was a tower built when the town was first recognized as an adventurers’ hub. For this grand adventure where life and death would be shared, it was decided to shop together as a way to coordinate each party’s inventory.
—
“Taurus is late. Is he struggling to gather members?” (Jack/Lost)
“Possibly.” (Shia)
So far, only Shia, Alba-san, and I had gathered. Taurus had said he would bring along a few more skilled individuals to form the ‘strongest’ party.
“I don’t mind a small group. No, rather, fewer people are better. If we storm the labyrinth with a large group, people will just think we beat it through sheer numbers.” (Alba)
Alba-san boldly declared this with her hands on her hips. She was a glamorous female warrior clad in revealing armor. Her gorgeous blonde hair and tanned skin stood out prominently. Many adventurers had been glued to her figure from earlier. Compared to that, Shia and I barely had any presence.
My attire consisted of a black leather armor and boots. As for weapons, I had prepared only a simple broadsword. Shia’s outfit was slightly different than usual. She was wearing a breastplate for some extra defense, but over it, she donned a thick brown robe, resulting in a rather plain look. While her blue hair tied in a ponytail was striking, Alba-san’s flashy appearance easily outshone it, drawing all the gazes from the crowd.
“Why do those people keep staring at me?” (Alba)
“Alba-san, it’s probably because of your armor…” (Lost)
“What? As expected of the most expensive armor I bought. It declares its power so strongly that no one can look away.” (Alba)
They’re probably staring at your deep cleavage and those seductive thighs.
At that point, Shia interjected with a side comment, her cold, unsmiling eyes carrying a hint of disdain.
“Why do you wear armor every day? It’s kind of embarrassing to be seen with you.” (Shia)
“I always strive to be the strongest… Hmph, feeling your own weakness is only natural. When you prove your strength, Shia, one day you too will afford such armor.” (Alba)
“…Absolutely impossible.” (Shia)
“Don’t be so modest.” (Alba)
Their conversation seemed aligned, yet completely missed the mark.
—
After some time, Taurus finally arrived at the meeting place.
“Sorry to keep you waiting!” (Taurus)
Taurus casually approached us, contrary to the grand arrival I expected with a crowd of elite members in tow. Instead, he brought along only a single child. The child was pale and dressed entirely in a pitch-black robe, the face hidden under a deep hood, making the appearance unidentifiable. With their slender frame and fair complexion, that person could easily be mistaken for a girl, but it could probably a boy.
“Hey now, don’t bring a kid into this.” (Lost)
At my casual remark, the child bit their lip in frustration and glared at me with hostility.
“A kid? You’re the kid here.” (??)
Fair enough. I might be composed for a 12-year-old, but judging by voice and height alone, I might’ve jumped to conclusions. This child could very well be a long-lived Demon race. If so, my comment was out of line.
“Sorry… To be honest, no one else would take me seriously.” (Taurus)
Taurus scratched his head apologetically.
As I expected. Taurus wasn’t a particularly famous adventurer. He just knew a lot of people, but in terms of strength, he was average. Attempting the lowest recorded floor, 41st floor, was too reckless, and naturally, no one wanted to join. Some might have even mocked him. Yet Taurus, unbothered and accepting of such ridicule, was admirable in his own way.
Still, is this kid really okay? He’s unarmed and utterly unprepared for the labyrinth. Adventurers usually have more appropriate equipment for such a venture. Well, over-the-top gear like Alba-san’s is a different story…
“Another brat? I’m going to prove I’m the strongest, and all I see around me are kids.” (Alba)
Unconcerned about Taurus’s struggles, Alba-san spouted yet another rude comment.
“I heard you’re heading to the deepest floor to prove your strength… Take me with you!” (??)
“Oh? You show promise as a man. Follow me to the depths of hell!” (Alba)
Alba-san’s attitude changed immediately at the mention of strength. Her words carried charisma, but as a person, she was rather eccentric.
“Fine! My magic will even obliterate hell itself…!” (??)
This kid seemed a bit odd too.
—
After finishing our shopping, we gathered at the Adventurer Guild. The guild was as crowded as ever. Another adventuring party cheerfully entered the underground labyrinth, their laughter filling the air. Watching them go, I found myself wondering if I’d ever find such a group of companions.
“Let me introduce myself properly. My name is Yustin. I’m the man who will become a great magician of justice!” (Yustin)
The pale, black-robed child, who introduced himself as Yustin, placed his hands on his hips and proudly made his declaration. He carried no belongings and had purchased nothing during the shopping trip. He didn’t look like someone ready to challenge the depths of a great labyrinth.
I can sense his spirit though…
“That determination… Taurus should learn from it.” (Alba)
Alba-san crossed her arms, her large chest pressing against them. Taurus was staring at it with his nose bulging.
“As long as I can look at Alba-san’s huge breasts, I’m fine with anything.” (Taurus)
“Stop it. They’re not a spectacle.” (Alba)
If they’re not a spectacle, then, stop wearing that scandalous armor.
“What kind of unruly party is this? Do you seriously intend to reach the deepest floor?” (Yustin)
Yustin, ignoring his own oddities, looked at the two with a skeptical expression. Shia answered him plainly.
“We don’t.” (Shia)
“What…?!” (Yustin)
“I’m only thinking about tonight’s dinner.” (Shia)
Yustin was left speechless by Shia’s unexpected reply.
Now that she mentioned it, Shia often got hungry. Perhaps she was treating this like some kind of picnic.
We completed our party registration at the reception counter, writing on the forms as follows.
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
Party Name:
Leader: Taurus
Member 1: Taurus (Swordsman)
Member 2: Alba South Barret (Swordsman)
Member 3: Shia Randall (Archer)
Member 4: Lost (Swordsman)
Member 5: Yustin (Magician)
Member 6:
Member 7:
＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝
I know how strong Taurus and Shea are, but this is Alba’s first time participating, and I’m a bit worried about Justin.
After completing the registration, Taurus pulled out a pocket-sized device from his coat and showed it to us. It resembled a Managram but was slightly different.
“This time, I got a magic tool. It’s called the ‘Geo Hundred (Floor Measuring Device)’. It’ll track how deep we’ve gone and serve as proof if we reach the deepest floor.” (Taurus)
“‘If’? We’ll definitely make it!” (Alba)
Alba-san, already in battle mode, readied her sword and shield.
—
We moved to the labyrinth entrance room of the Adventurer Guild.
The descending staircase in the back leads further in.
From here, it’s the Azarigrad Labyrinth. Up to around the 10th floor, we’re already accustomed. Goblins, kobolds, or skeletons wielding rusty swords or blunt weapons come attacking. This is beginner-level stuff.
I fought slowly, relying on basic swordsmanship while keeping an eye on everyone in the party. I didn’t need to worry about Shia. I already knew how Taurus fought. He was a stable type, sticking to the basics, sometimes mixing in beginner-level magic to ensure safety.
The concerns were Alba-san and the child magician named Yustin. I carefully observed their fighting styles.
Alba-san’s sword is a sparkling ornamental blade, self-proclaimed to be the strongest sword. But as for swordsmanship, she’s actually more advanced than Taurus. She fights with a self-taught style that combines elegance and agility. Swiftly traversing the dungeon, she had already taken down many goblins. She even had the leisure to shake off the blood clinging to her sword whenever there was a break. …With skills like that, we might be able to push through to the deeper floors.
As for Yustin, I wasn’t sure what to make of him. For someone calling himself a magician, he wasn’t using much magic. He just stood quietly, blending into the background like he wasn’t even breathing. Then again, it wasn’t like Alba-san’s rapid kills left him any chance to use magic.
“How’s that, my skills!” (Alba)
Alba-san stopped once, turning back to us trailing behind her. Her large breasts bounced with the movement.
“You’re amazing as always, Alba-neesan!” (Taurus)
Taurus wasn’t even thinking about fighting anymore. All he wanted was to get to the front lines and admire Alba-san’s breasts up close. Still, thanks to Alba-san and Taurus, we reached the 10th floor in just an hour and a half.
That’s incredibly fast. Normally, it takes about three hours with a random party. If you’re aiming beyond the 42nd floor, you’d better prepare for a month’s journey at least. With our lighthearted equipment, it wasn’t a feasible goal to begin with.
“Yaaawn…” (Shia)
Trailing behind, it was just me, Shia, and Yustin. In the midst of that, Shia yawned. She already slung her bow on her back, clearly not in the mood to fight.
“Not much tension here.” (Lost)
“…Alba-san is actually strong. There’s no need for me to step in right now.” (Shia)
“True. I’m amazed she doesn’t run out of stamina at that pace.” (Lost)
“She might end up proving herself as the strongest for real.” (Shia)
No way… but I could understand why the tension would drop. Even though we were progressing through a dungeon, up to this point, it had just been a repetitive series of cave-like spaces. Nothing exciting. It was monotonous. Although the monsters were getting stronger, nothing life-threatening had appeared yet.
From the 11th floor onward, monsters like poison tarantulas and poison snakes started attacking. A single bite would inflict poison, but even that didn’t seem to be an issue. Despite Alba-san’s overly exposed armor, she boldly shielded herself from the enemy’s fangs and slashed them down in a single stroke. Poison tarantula fluids splattered all around. The female warrior stood undaunted as the liquid showered over her. It was a rather sexy sight.
—
By the 18th floor, the monsters became unfamiliar even to me. We’d been exploring the long, narrow cave pathway for five hours now. It was a high pace, but Alba-san was finally starting to show signs of fatigue.
“Taurus, what floor are we at?!” (Alba)
“The 18th! This area’s full of ghost-types. There are a lot of ghosts around here. It’s going to be a bit tough for you muscle-boobed Alba-san.” (Taurus)
Around this level, ghost-type monsters appeared more frequently. Wisps, which are clusters of ghostly flames, and Shadows, black human-like figures. Ghost-types are most effectively dealt with using magic, particularly holy-elemental magic. Physical attacks can defeat them, but they lack impact.
Nevertheless, the muscle-brained Alba-san slashed and brushed them away without hesitation. Her movements were far from the sharpness she had initially displayed. She even looked pale…
“We should take a meal break.” (Shia)
It was Shia who suggested it. Since entering the dungeon, all she had talked about was food.
Whether she was just taciturn or perpetually food-obsessed… Probably both.
Though Alba-san took the lead, neither Shia nor I had been idle; we dealt with free enemies here and there. The only one who hadn’t shown much action yet was the magician Yustin. His moment to shine would probably come soon.
“Alright, let’s make a campfire.” (Taurus)
Taurus unloaded his pack, arranged some firewood, and skillfully lit it with fire magic. The five of us sat around it, basking in its warmth. The deeper we went underground, the colder the cave became, making the area around the fire feel cozy…
“Alba-san, are you cold?” (Shia)
Shia spoke up, noticing Alba-san trembling as she drew close to the fire. The sweat from prolonged combat and her exposed skin were now chilled, no doubt leaving her cold.
“Of course I’m cold.” (Alba)
“Alba-neesan! I’ll warm you up!” (Taurus)
“Stop. Gross. Stay away.” (Alba-san)
Taurus eagerly approached Alba-san, only to be repelled with three sharp words. He seemed unfazed, probably accustomed to such treatment by now. It was almost like a greeting at this point. Still, Alba-san didn’t look well. After such prolonged combat, with sweat and exposed skin chilled by the dungeon’s cold, it wouldn’t be surprising if she felt unwell.
“Here, wear this.” (Yustin)
Yustin held out a piece of fabric clutched haphazardly in his right hand.
Where had he pulled that from? Yustin was supposed to be unarmed. Could he have hidden that under his thick robe?
“What is this?” (Alba)
“A cashmere cloak from Rauda Continent. Just wearing it will keep you warm.” (Yustin)
“What? Wearing something like that would make me look like a woman who blindly follows trends.” (Alba)
How dare you say something like that after all this time, wearing that shameless armor?
For once, I wished she’d prioritize her health.
“Of course, the trend is because it’s called the ‘strongest cloak’.” (Yustin)
“What?!” (Alba)
The word ‘strongest’ caught Alba-san’s attention. Yustin must’ve known she was weak to that term. Alba-san examined the fluffy cloak closely, her eyes wide in curiosity.
“Giving me something this nice… Yustin, you’re a good man!” (Alba)
Alba-san accepted the cloak and elegantly draped it over her shoulders. The soft red cloak surprisingly complemented her revealing armor. She wore it, looking quite content.
But still, where had Yustin hidden that cloak? Under the robe? No, it didn’t seem small enough to fit in his pocket.
—
The 21st floor. The scenery that had been nothing, but caves started to change, with sporadic vegetation appearing. The further we went, the more.
“What is this place?” (Alba)
“The mana concentration is higher here. These plants must’ve grown by absorbing the surrounding magic.” (Yustin)
Yustin was surprisingly knowledgeable. Despite the lack of sunlight, the plants were thriving. Twisted roots anchored the plants, their flowers and fruits blooming vibrantly. The petals emitted a soft rainbow glow, serving as natural lamps. The colors reminded me of magic stones.
As we delved deeper, the narrow paths widened, and the ceilings grew higher.
“This place isn’t a dungeon anymore. We might end up lost in ‘this forest.’” (Taurus)
Taurus muttered, tugging at a hanging vine. The plants were getting taller and denser, from short shrubs to towering trees.
—Grrrrrr…
A growling sound echoed from deeper within. Shia’s ears twitched at the sound.
It is so adorable, like an animal’s ears twitching! Even though I don’t have a thing for animal ears—well, Shia’s case is elf ears, but—that gesture had me mesmerized. She’s an angel. In Shea’s case, her silence is also a big plus. If allowed, I’d love to admire her ears and silky blue hair forever.
…This isn’t good. Just looking at Shia gives rise to all sorts of perverted thoughts.
“What’s wrong, Shia?” (Lost)
“It’s… something like a bear.” (Shia)
At Shia’s words, none other than Alba-san dashed off gallantly.
“A bear, you say? Hmph, if it’s a beast, it’s no match for me! Up until now, it’s been nothing but Wisps and Shadows… weaklings, all of them. Now I can finally relieve my stress!” (Alba)
“Ah, please wait!” (Shia)
Even though Shia tried to stop her, once Alba-san dashed off, there was no turning back. However, even if she couldn’t turn back, there was a way to forcibly stop her. Alba-san’s foot caught on a tree root, and in an instant, she was hoisted into the air, dangling upside-down.
“What is this?!” (Alba)
Struggling while suspended, Alba-san’s enormous breasts swayed violently with her movements.
Taurus watched the scene, cheering with a fist pump.
“Woohoo! That’s it, Alba-san, keep it up!” (Taurus)
“Keep what up, you idiot!” (Alba)
—Fshururururururu.
As Alba-san was being hoisted by the tree roots, another vine-like plant appendage attacked her. Emerging along with the extending vines was a gigantic plant. From the part that seemed to be its flower, it opened a grotesque mouth wide, slithering its root-like legs as it slowly moved. Numerous vines wrapped tightly around Alba-san’s body, squeezing her.
“…Ah… ugh… nnnh…!” (Alba-san)
From Alba-san’s mouth, an erotic sigh escaped as she was tightly constricted.
“Nice, it’s starting to look like a great bondage scene! Team member Alba is completely immobilized!” (Taurus)
“That’s a Giant Sarracenia… a man-eating plant. Once it wraps around you, it’s tough to escape on your own.” (Yustin)
Taurus and Yustin provided commentary and analysis.
They are huge. Alba’s breasts are huge, but so are the Giant Sarracenias. It’s about the same height as the monument we used as our meeting spot earlier.
—Grrrrr…
Meanwhile, from the opposite direction, the growling sound of a wild beast drew closer. Looking that way, a massive bear appeared from behind the trees.
This one was huge as well.
“Ah.” (Lost)
I recognized it. The bloody, battered body flying through the air. The victory won after an exchange of blows.
—A Grizzly.
We were now caught between the Giant Sarracenia and the Grizzly.
“Ugh… what is this plant?!” (Alba)
Alba-san, embarrassed by her predicament, turned red as she struggled. Even though she tried to cut the vines wrapped around her, they wouldn’t budge. Furthermore, her arms were now bound, leaving her completely immobilized. The plant’s vines slithered over her limbs, tightening their grip.
This is certainly not a spectacle. Let’s help her quickly.
Shia grabbed her bow and prepared for battle.
“Lost-san, which one?” (Shia)
“The Grizzly.” (Lost)
I answered immediately.
It was obvious. My body remembered the life-and-death battle I had with that thing.
“I leave the Sarracenia to you.” (Lost)
“Understood.” (Shia)
Hearing her response, I dashed off at full speed, gripping the hilt of my broadsword. I wanted to test how much my sword skills could achieve without relying on the strength of my right arm.
The fight was over in a flash. The Grizzly’s sluggish paw swipe was easy to evade. I deflected it with my sword, slicing through its arm’s flesh as I slipped behind it. With a swift turn, I struck its exposed neck. The Grizzly’s head flew, landing on the ground as its body collapsed, blood gushing from its neck. It was weaker than I expected.
Was it always this flimsy?
“Brandstifer (Burn).” (Yustin)
When I turned toward the Sarracenia, Yustin was firing flame bullets, burning it to ashes. Simultaneously, Shia released arrows, severing the vines entangling Alba-san. The Sarracenia was left charred and lifeless.
“Well done, Yustin.” (Lost)
“Hmph… this is nothing.” (Yustin)
Yustin’s prickly demeanor remained unchanged, like a thorny rose.
Maybe I should call him Yustsun from now on. Still, a one-phrase chant for such powerful magic, he might truly be a first-rate magician. (TLN: Yus-tsundere)
—
We continued walking for several hours, taking breaks along the way.
The cave filled with trees gradually expanded, its ceilings soaring higher. At this point, it was more appropriate to call it a dense forest than a cave. The path alternated between inclines and declines, with small hills scattered throughout. The sight was so surreal that it made me forget we were in a subterranean labyrinth.
We were repeatedly attacked by ferocious monsters, mainly Grizzlies and Giant Sarracenias, but we had grown accustomed to them. With occasional breaks, it felt like we could keep going. Alba-san still had energy left, proving she wasn’t all talk.
When we finally ascended a small hill, a strange sight came into view. From there, we could see the entire forest, and within it, a ‘castle’ stood tall. Even from a distance, it was clear that the castle was massive.
“A castle?” (Lost)
“So, we’ve finally arrived…” (Taurus)
Taurus muttered, glaring at the castle with a somber expression, as if recalling some bitter past.
“A castle inside a labyrinth? What’s going on here?” (Lost)
“Lost… that’s Azalea Castle.” (Taurus)
Azalea Castle, the former royal residence of the Azalea Kingdom, before the labyrinth city of Azarigrad was built. When the legendary sorcercer Emped was defeated by the Five Great Spirits, the castle, along with the royal family, was sealed deep underground, forming the labyrinth.
So, the castle itself still remained. Perhaps, this forest is a remnant of the once-flourishing kingdom. It feels like a subterranean kingdom.
“That castle marks the 30th floor. Inside the castle is a different dimension. If we’re going to turn back, this is the turning point. Once we enter, retreating will be much harder.” (Taurus)
At Taurus’s unusually serious tone, the party, myself included, held our breath.
“What kind of enemies are in the castle?” (Lost)
“It’s crawling with the undead, Black Corpses and Ghouls, soldiers of the fallen kingdom. And the scariest thing is… the Giant G!” (Taurus)
“The Giant G?” (Lost)
“Yeah… those things silently descend from the ceiling and devour adventurers.” (Taurus)
That sounds terrifying. With just the letter G, it’s impossible to imagine what kind of enemy it is, making it even scarier.
“Giant G? That’s horrifying.” (Shia)
“You know of them, Shia?” (Lost)
“Yes… if you see even one, there are 3,000 more hiding in the vicinity.” (Shia)
“Th-three thousand?!” (Lost)
What on earth? Are they ghost-type monsters? It’s scary how they attack in such large hordes despite their huge size.
“They’re fast on their feet and can even fly.” (Shia)
“They can fly?!” (Lost)
“Even if you cut off their heads, they survive for three months. They only die of starvation. As long as they’re not hungry, they won’t die.” (Shia)
They’re practically invincible. Taurus and Shia’s descriptions made the Giant G sound like absolute monsters.
“How do we deal with them?” (Lost)
“Fire or boiling water is their weakness.” (Shia)
“That’s surprisingly simple.” (Lost)
At my muttered comment, Taurus and Shia looked at me as if I had said something unbelievable.
“Don’t underestimate them!” (Taurus)
“Exactly. Just seeing them is enough to drain your mana.” (Shia)
The dreaded Giant G.
Draining magic just by looking at them? What kind of monster is that?
“By the way, how did you manage to escape after encountering them?” (Lost)
At my question, both Taurus and Shia stared at me blankly.
“I’ve never seen a Giant G.” (Shia)
“You haven’t?!” (Lost)
After all that terrifying talk?!
“What about you, Taurus?” (Lost)
“I haven’t seen one either.” (Taurus)
“Not you too?!” (Lost)
What the hell is wrong with these two? They talked like they’d seen them firsthand!
“I’ve never been inside that castle. But that’s what people who went in and came back said.” (Taurus)
“I read about it in a book. It’s so famous that I’ve studied countermeasures.” (Shia)
Fine, but they must really be terrifying creatures. Giant G… what kind of enemy could it possibly be?
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