[VOL. 3] CHAPTER 2 EXPLORATION QUEST

Then, Im off. Keep the door locked.

Yes, have a nice trip

I missed my chance to kiss for the third time after all before I left for the adventurers guild.

Crescent Moon who left earlier was waiting inside the guild but her gaze was as cold as before.

Yo, you came, Mister Popular. I got tired of waiting

I wanted to say something but I stopped myself as it would have been useless.

I generally hate arguing with others.

Im sorry for keeping you waiting. So, did you get the Labyrinth exploration quest?

Yeah. Mister Akatsuki has never been to a labyrinth, right?1

Thats right. I planned to go to one though

I wanted to become an adventurer to enter a labyrinth in the first place which Pikaru forbid me so I had to join the guild under a pseudonym.

I wanted to gain some experience in the labyrinth before I would meet the Hero Kazuma.

So Akatsuki doesnt even know the basics of exploring a labyrinth?

Yeah, you could say that

Though I wasnt able to look that much in front of Elsa, but this roundness is excellent as I thought.

Her two perfect mountains and that fascinating valley they produced.

Then as a veteran its my duty to carefully explain everything to Mr. Newbie here, right?2

Crescent Moon proudly stuck her chest out.

I mean, why are you holding out your right hand?

I dont really have any other choice so I gave her one gold coin.3

Hehe, thank you as always.

When the money reached her hand she her mood got even better.

Though this greedy mercenary wouldnt be convinced if it was just one silver coin equivalent to 2,000 yen.

I dont even want to think about gold coins being something equal to silver coins to me some time soon.

Hey, what are you thinking? So, when a labyrinth is found a quest to investigate it is given out.

Yeah. What should one check while investigating?

Lets see, what you can find in it, how big it is, how many floors it has and so on.

I see, so youre saying anything is fine? Is it fine to take back things from monsters I defeated inside?

Naturally. Moreover, the reward increases depending on what you subdued.

Even if you defeat this worlds monsters its not like they would drop money or magic stones.

Apart from the rewards of the guilds quest this is how adventurers earn money.

So, a new labyrinth was found this time around and an exploration quest got extensively handed out.

Is it a usual occurrence for a labyrinth to be discovered?

Are you stupid? Theres no way that would be the case, right? A new labyrinth might be found once every few years, its that rare. You are lucky, Mister.

Often a labyrinth is made by a monster settling down in naturally formed cave or limestone cave or the like.

Its the most commonly seen labyrinth called A type.

In the case of such A type labyrinths almost only the same kind of monsters inhabit it.

In A type labyrinths, valuable things like magic items and treasures are hardly found.

After some time passes other monsters might settle down in it again.

Moreover, it seems like the one this time is slightly different

According to the preliminary investigation conducted before the quest was handed out various kinds of monsters were confirmed to inhabit it.

Besides, the cave itself doesnt look like something that formed naturally.

Its categorized as S type and it seems to be considerably big.

The S type different from the spontaneously made A type is something intentionally made.

A high ranking magician or an extremely strong monster possessing intelligence might have made it.

Because they want to protect or hide something special like their residence in the deepest part they kill adventurers who come to investigate it and take their equipment.

Various types of monsters are placed in it and the deeper you get the higher the danger.

Often there are dangerous traps and many locked doors so lock-picking skills are essential.

How is it, theres no way someone would want to miss out on that, right? Those who are talented already headed there one after the other and I also want to go there as soon as possible. Because letting other people steal all the sweet spots is unacceptable.

In the case of S type labyrinths requests outside of the adventurers guild are widely spread.

Kouga village, the hometown of the assassins which got send after me, the dark corps, is located in that mantis guys territory so Im interested.

Some preparations are necessary. Lets take Knopf, Pick and some other guys with us.4

That cat-eared magician and the hobbit thief. That thiefs lock picking skills were indeed brilliant and though that magician seems a little strange but shes skilled. It would have been great if she could use recovery magic but healing spells are of the light magic system so they cant be used if one isnt a priest. Im bad in dealing with priests.

A priest would certainly be a bad match for that miserly mercenary.

It looks like the air rifle magic had a great impact on her.

Then I shall invite Knopf and Pick tomorrow. Shall we depart on the day after tomorrow?

Though I want to hurry and go as soon as possible but it cant be helped. Okay, then I go collect some information tomorrow

Crescent Moon invited me to dinner and after we ate together I returned to Carlos mansion.5

I wonder if Elsa is eating properly.

The next day I left the mansion while wearing the mask, borrowed a horse and first went to the windmill Knopf was living in.

Thats the story, so, do you want to come with us?

Of course, I want to come. Investigating an S type labyrinth is something one could only rarely experience after all.

Then is it fine with you to wait tomorrow morning at the adventurers guild?

Understood, Ill get ready.

Next I went to the Rabbit groups hiding place.

Its been a long time since I came here.

Aah! Isnt that the head?! Hey everyone, Head Akatsuki came over!

Long time no see. Is Pick present?

She went out but she should come back any minute now. Please enter.

My two seniors Bass and Drum greeted me.

A perfect combination as always, seniors.

Hows work?

Hehehe, its going really well. Especially the quick horse delivery is profitable as well as increasing the customers good opinion of us.

On the other hand our income as thieves became less. Recently the number of caravans trying to skip paying the tariff decreased and its getting harder to earn money.

Though its good that the merchants paying the tariff increased but ironically the money earned by the Rabbit group decreased.

The highway connecting the Capital and Braham will soon get a stone pavement. If that happens not only will transportation of people and good via carriage become popular but also dispatching mounted messengers.

Ooh, is that true? I never heard about that rumour.

Hehe, it cant be wrong if its information from the Head, right? Because the head and this towns influential people are well connected.

Well connected, as Im the feudal lord its natural that Im familiar with this information.

Yeah, theres no doubt about that. It will be completed next spring so arrange a carriage and a horse as soon as possible.

Understood!

If this goes well it might be able to substitute for their decreased income as thieves.

What about information gathering?

About that, there are rumours about this territorys feudal lord Carlo and the other nobles are about to battle against each other

Thats right, its a sign that there is conflict between the nobles.

Hoh, my seniors are pretty good.

Though the matters with the king and the engagement arent known yet I have to work carefully in more than one way.

Is that so? Carefully investigate this matter again. I found a shop which could become a new source for information

I was talking about Doloa of the goddesss hall.

Stop by there and listen to the hostess rumours. Its a high-class shop so avoid making careless mistakes repeatedly.

A luxurious brothel, I always wanted to see one~

Hey hey, Bass-senpai, you cant do anything, absolutely not.

As we had such a discussion the female hobbit thief Pick returned.

Big bro, long time no see! So, how can I help you today?