Surviving in the Labyrinth City of the Reverse World

11 – Cleaning Up Trash #1

Swu asked in a trembling voice. Can we sleep together?

Although it seems that many words have been omitted, I tried my best to understand the sentence as it is.

“It seems inevitable to let Swu rest.”

I replied indifferently, as if it were an insignificant matter. Swu’s expression brightened.

“Let’s rest now. Ray must be tired too. We need to close our eyes even for a short while.”

Swu unfastened the sleeping bag’s strings and lay down inside. Then, he patted his side.

It was a gesture telling me to come and lie down.

Just a moment ago, Swu was stubbornly insisting that he wouldn’t rest unless I did. In the blink of an eye, his stance had changed.

It’s amazing how you can flip your emotions like a coin.

I clumsily entered the sleeping bag and lay down. The sleeping bag was more spacious than I had expected, so it was more than enough for the two of us to fit inside and cover ourselves.

“…It seems like it was made with this situation in mind from the beginning.”

The default size is for one female explorer, but it’s designed so that a male can also fit in during similar situations.

“Ray. I’ll protect you tonight. Don’t worry, just rest comfortably.”

Swu hugged me tightly and whispered. He also gently stroked my head.

I nestled in Swu’s arms, burying my face in her soft flesh, and gently closed my eyes. In the dark, damp, and dangerous labyrinth, is there anywhere that can provide as much comfort as the embrace of a strong woman?

No, there isn’t.

Now that I think about it, I feel a little tired. I didn’t resist the urge to sleep.

When I opened my eyes, it was a little chilly. The warmth of Swu, who had been by my side protecting me, was gone.

I sat up in surprise.

“Swu!”

Swu was sitting huddled in front of the campfire, shivering. The Brown Sisters were sleeping with their arms around each other, with the Brown Sword in the middle.

“Ugh, Ray… Save me…”

Brown whimpered as if having a nightmare, muttering in distress. It seemed like she was having a dream of being suffocated under a layer of fat.

“Are you awake?”

Swu greeted me with a smile. As soon as I saw Swu, I felt a sense of calm in my heart.

“It’s okay to sleep a little longer.”

“No, I’ve slept enough.”

I packed up my sleeping bag and put it in my backpack. I had prepared to be able to move at any time.

And naturally, I sat next to Swu. I stared blankly at the crackling, burning campfire.

Crackle! Crackle!

I could hear goblin sounds in the distance. The sound of weapons clashing too.

In the cave-like labyrinth, all kinds of sounds were amplified like echoes. Even if I didn’t want to hear them, I could still hear them. It sent shivers down my spine.

“Don’t be too scared. I’ll protect you.”

Swu said as if she sensed my emotions. Because of the eerie atmosphere, Swu’s words felt reassuring. I felt grateful too.

“I will make sure you can return safely. I will send Ray as a guide. I will give everything I have.”

“…Don’t sacrifice too much.”

In a situation where one’s life is at risk, one would want to prioritize oneself. The act of giving when one has extra is a form of help, but when one lacks the means, it becomes arrogance.

“It was Ray who saved my life. I’m using it for Ray’s sake.”

“Still.”

“Ray is a unique boy. Different from other boys.”

They spent time having various conversations.

“Do you have a younger sibling?”

“I have a younger brother. He is also active as an explorer in Labyrinth.”

“…Is your whole family in Labyrinth?”

“The Baekho Clan has a small number of members. We need at least one more person to excel as a maze explorer to be recognized by the Empire.”

“….”

“The burden is especially heavy for boys. In order to prevent the village elders from being driven out of the barrier… we have to regularly meet the quota and pay the tribute.”

The conversation continued until Brown woke up.

“Wouldn’t it be better to form a party with your brother?”

“…That’s impossible. How can I have a party with my brother?”

“It’s not possible?”

Swu shook his head, saying that the family’s “Soul Protection” had no effect.

How long have they been talking?

Brown, who was trapped by the “Dictator’s Sword,” writhed. He struggled to get up.

“Brown, are you awake?”

“Mm….”

The thief sisters also stood up, following Brown. It was as if Brown had woken up the moment they did.

It was almost like a reflex.

“Let’s fill our stomachs and move.”

Deciding to listen to the orders of the thief sisters who had relatively more experience in exploring mazes, we quickly ate and packed our belongings.

“Ray, I’ll carry it, so give it to me.”

“It’s okay.”

“Isn’t it heavy?”

Sua tried to take my backpack. Her pure intention to help was clearly felt.

I wasn’t trying to protect her by keeping the backpack, either.

“It’s heavy. But I have to do this kind of thing.”

“This kind of thing?”

“Sua fights monsters and mines magic stones. Since I can’t fight, I want to help Sua in any way I can. So she can hunt comfortably.”

I said, tightening the straps of the backpack.

Sua couldn’t say anything and just patted my head. Suddenly, the Dagger Sisters listened to my words and reacted.

“Oh my, oh my, how noble. You want to help, so you want to carry the backpack?”

“How admirable.”

“So Brown is friends with Ray? Is Ray always like this?”

In response to the sisters’ questions, Brown nodded vigorously.

“You were really cool when I first met you.”

“Really?”

“I want to be like you, Ray…. Uh-oh!”

“Don’t push yourself too hard. Brown is already a great help just by being here.”

The members of the “Dominant Sword” guild took Brown’s backpack and spoke.

“If it weren’t for Brown, we wouldn’t have been able to come down to the labyrinth.”

“Heh heh. Thanks to you choosing our “Dominant Sword” guild, many guys have joined us too….”

“Our little bundle.”

“It’s fine even if you’re an F-rank. Most of the guys are F-rank or E-rank. It’s the B-ranks that are weird.”

The atmosphere was amazing. They showered Brown with all sorts of compliments to boost his spirits.

Brown chuckled softly. He was weak to compliments.

“But I still want to be like Ray.”

“You’ll be able to someday. If you train hard with the others, you’ll catch up quickly, right?”

“…But I don’t want to train…. It feels weird. It’s like I wet my pants….”

“You said you wanted to be like Ray, right? Then you have to do it.”

“….”

Brown looked at me. The longing gaze of the boy was not easy to bear.

“I’ll work hard.”

“Good. We’ll help you too. So that Brown can become like Ray!”

“Fighting!”

The classy sisters cheer for Brown. Brown gains strength amidst the scent of resentment emanating from the sisters.

They seem envious for no reason, and it makes me annoyed.

I sneak a glance at Su. I secretly hope that Su will help me, and I send him a meaningful look.

Su, who is aware of my gaze, quickly turns his head.

“It’s because I owe you my life, so I’ll do whatever it takes for you. I’ll put everything on the line to protect you, even though you’ve said some irritating things.”

Surprisingly, he seemed unaffected by the sarcastic remarks mixed with sighs.

Creak! Thump! Thump!

“Stop chatting and look ahead. It’s a goblin.”

Su was a person who felt a lot of embarrassment.

* * *

The entrance portal to the labyrinth opens once a week. Low-level adventurers who have been farming magic stones on the first floor start preparing to return to the city from the sixth day onwards.

We were no exception.

The food that filled our backpacks has now run out. Instead, the magic stones took their place. They were light enough to make our steps feel as if we were flying, given their weight compared to their volume.

But as a result, exhaustion accumulated.

What’s the point of the backpack getting lighter? My stamina and mental strength are at their limit, and I’m now begging to see the sunlight.

“Finding the portal is also a task.”

Upon hearing my murmuring, Lauren retorted in a sarcastic tone.

“It’s a necessary requirement for a party, you know.”

On the third day, seeing Su hunting too much, I unintentionally blurted out.

I don’t remember the details, but it seemed like a statement that had a thief-like nuance. It seemed to have touched the nerves of the “Poison Dagger” sisters.

After that, whenever they did something useful for the party, they would sulk like that. They weren’t really sincere.

It was like a pinch of salt in their free maze exploration.

I already knew how to calm down these sulking kids.

“…It was just a mistake, Lauren. I’m sorry.”

“Well, we’re useless kids after all. We have to do something like this. If it helps the party.”

“I’m really sorry. I didn’t know what was important to you, sisters.”

Just stick by Lauren’s side and give her a little shake. Then the “Dictator’s Sword” sisters will forgive me enough.

It had been three days already.

“Then, will you allow me to pat Rey’s head?”

“…Of course.”

“But the reaction is a bit off, isn’t it? I can’t feel the sincerity.”

“Please pat it.”

“I’ll let it slide this time. I’m not a pathetic kid, I’m a generous thief.”

“……”

My heart was truly big.

“I’ll pat you later.”

“…Do as you please.”

I was able to receive forgiveness for my slip of the tongue by giving the “Dictator’s Sword” sisters a one-time head-patting voucher.

I see a portal.