Surviving in the Labyrinth City of the Reverse World

26 – 2nd Floor #4

I’ve never thought about it. I haven’t delved deeply. I felt that was why I rejected being a werewolf.

If I admit it? Will anything change?

The perception of werewolves is still low. There was no human who desired her.

Even among other species, there was a sense of aversion towards werewolves.

Swoo is also human.

She is moderately selfish and moderately selfless, emitting a strong dislike towards herself just like those humans who dislike themselves.

Not far from being ordinary.

Human explorers rejected her. Swoo also rejected them.

Why do I have to be kind?

Lauren scolded Suu.

Your attitude is wrong.

If it had been normal, Suu would have gotten angry too.

A human explorer who isn’t even that close (in fact, the closest in the Labyrinth City) evaluated himself beyond the subject and touched his pride, so it was justified to activate “Beast Soul” and attack.

But Suu couldn’t do that. It was because he subconsciously agreed with Lauren’s criticism.

He admitted that what she said was right.

At that moment, Suu lost his ground. He couldn’t argue with Lauren.

Ray could form a party with other explorers even without himself. If he unlocked the shackles of being a Water Spirit, he would fly away.

But Suu couldn’t be without Ray. Without Ray’s smile, laughing hazily towards him…

Just thinking about living alone in the desolate Labyrinth City made Suu feel suffocated. How on earth did he endure it?

Suu couldn’t go back to how things were before.

He knew he was a burden. Yet, he wanted to be by Ray’s side.

It’s selfish.

Ray probably thinks of Suu as a kind Water Spirit, but Suu didn’t think of himself as kind. He lied at the drop of a hat.

Lauren explained as gently as possible and advised.

If you want to stay by Ray’s side, you shouldn’t do that. Shouldn’t you help Ray form a party?

I’m someone who can leave after a short stay, but you’re not like that.

Sigh, sigh-.

Ray fell asleep. He acted confidently as if nothing was wrong, but he seemed quite tired.

As soon as Lauren embraced Su, she immediately fell asleep.

Lauren gently patted Ray and stared intently at Su, who was lost in thought. Their gazes met.

Su quickly turned his head.

Krr-.

A demon was born where Su’s eyes were focused.

Three goblins. Perhaps because of their deep location, the goblins’ armed state was unsettling.

Lauren whispered,

“Goblin soldiers. Should we help?”

“……”

Su didn’t reply and stood up.

Quietly, so as not to disturb the sleeping Ray. Stealthy enough to deceive even his senses.

Crack-.

He quietly dealt with the three goblin soldiers. An F-grade magic stone fell with a thud.

The same situation continued throughout the night. Lauren kept waking up and falling asleep.

It was the fate of an adventurer.

But her touch never stopped. She gently stroked Ray to help him have a peaceful dream.

Even as time passed and their positions changed, it was the same.

“Su, did you sleep well?”

Su and Lauren spent their resting time with half-closed eyes. Even though they closed their eyes, they were almost dozing off.

But because it was so natural, they didn’t belittle each other’s efforts.

Soo gently wiped away the sleep from Ray’s eyes and replied,

“…I slept well. How about you, Ray?”

“I slept deeply.”

His voice showed no signs of fatigue. That was enough.

* * *

After the incident that left Lauren in a daze, Soo approached their actions with heightened tension. They didn’t show any playful behavior and approached the exploration seriously.

Lauren was right.

If they couldn’t guarantee safety by revealing their “Soul Protection” rank, Soo needed to show some basic courtesy to their sisters who were exploring together.

[Acquired Mana Stone (F).]

Calling it serious exploration was just following their sisters around. But if they packaged it a little, it could stabilize the “Soul Protection” skill.

“You’re sulking, so you want me to let you go, right?”

Lauren subtly approached and poked my arm.

“No, I’m just taking the exploration seriously.”

“That’s right.”

“No, really. Please don’t listen to my lamentations.”

While there was a part of Soo that wanted to protest to Lauren, about 80% of it was born from being impressed by Lauren’s advice and wanting to change their attitude.

“You said I should think about the other party members, and that struck a chord with me.”

Soo also took Lauren’s words seriously.

“Really? Well, that’s a relief. I have my own party, so I can’t keep sticking around here. It’s best to find a guide as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

I continued my exploration. The number of goblin encounters increased.

“…Seven earlier, and now ten. The cycles are getting shorter.”

“Because the portal closed and time has passed.”

Once the portal leading to the central square of Labyrinth closed, time started flowing in the maze. As the difficulty increased, the number and frequency of monster spawns grew.

The severity deepened as we went further.

“We should think about it now that we’ve come this far.”

Lauren checked her pocket watch. The hour hand for explorers had filled up one day’s worth of spaces.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Whether to go down to the second floor or not.”

“….”

“Heh heh, your eyes are trembling. Are you scared of the second floor?”

“…It’s my first time. Of course, I’m scared.”

To me, the second floor of the labyrinth was an unknown territory. It was only natural to be afraid if I went down there.

“Why the sudden mention of the second floor?”

“In a normal party, they wouldn’t consider the second floor. Brown or Rohan… There are kids who joined the “Dictator Sword” guild, right? If it was their party, they would never go down. No hesitation. But you’re different.”

In Lauren’s eyes, am I someone who should consider the second floor?

“You may not know this, but “Soul Protection” rank B is a rare grade even in the city. It’s a talent that can easily handle about three human explorers.”

“…Is that so?”

“Hunting on the first floor is for rank F or E kids. It’s a burden for them too. It’s best to stay on the first floor and mine a small amount of mana stones.”

….

“You shouldn’t go down to the second floor, those kids. It’s dangerous. You’ll die meaninglessly. That’s why it’s strictly prohibited at the City Hall. Of course, there are no kids who voluntarily go down, right? It felt like that, though.”

I carefully listened to Lauren’s words. In summary, it means she accepts me.

“Am I accepted?”

“Accepted… I’m not sure. The fact that you’re still talking makes it ambiguous to give you acceptance.”

“Oh.”

“Tsk. Rejected.”

Lauren clicked her tongue and said.

“Originally, if the stability of ‘Soul Protection’ was confirmed, you could go down further. Since hunting will be done by women anyway.”

“….”

“The reason you stayed on the first floor all day is because you weren’t too nervous. If you went down to the second floor right away and an accident happened, it would be a big problem. That’s why I let you spend time on the first floor and gave you advice.”

“Teacher Lauren…!”

If there hadn’t been a puddle on the floor, I would have prostrated myself. It’s heartbreaking that I can’t show my sincerity.

“Can I go down to the second floor?”

“The floor I mainly operate on is the fourth floor. I have some knowledge about the second floor as well.”

“Oh!”

“But what’s important is you, Ray. You need to be able to maintain ‘Soul Protection’ in order to explore.”

Looking at me as if I were a pitiful man, Lauren opened her eyes wide and stared at me.

“Do you have confidence?”

“I can’t say for sure, but I’ll do my best.”

“Well, B-rank ‘Soul Protection’ won’t be released. Unless it’s a special situation.”

“……”

“Ray’s ‘Soul Protection’ can withstand even S-rank ‘Beast Soul’. Can it really not handle the two of us and be released? I trust Ray.”

Lauren relaxed her expression and chuckled.

“Well then, shall we go down to the 2nd floor tomorrow?”

“Sounds good!”

“And Swu? Are you ready to go down to the 2nd floor?”

Lauren spoke to Swu, who had been quietly engrossed in exploration all day. Swu brushed off Lauren and replied.

“…I’m ready anytime.”

“Really? Your expression says otherwise.”

Swu cautiously opened his mouth.

“…Honestly, I don’t want to go down to the 2nd floor.”

“Why?”

“Because Ray could be in danger. The ‘Soul Protection’ might be released because of me. It’s better to hunt safely on the 1st floor.”

After hearing Lauren’s advice, Swu became extremely negative. Safety first. He seemed to have no interest in taking on challenges.

“Swu, it’s okay. You know my ‘Soul Protection’ is strong.”

“I know. But you never know.”

I encouraged Swu’s courage. I patted the shoulder of the woman larger than me.

“We have to go down someday. It might be better to experience it to the limit while Lauren, who is more experienced, is here.”

“……”

I can’t stay on the 1st floor for the rest of my life. If I do, I will only await the fate of decaying into a ghost in the Labyrinth City.

I don’t want to live like that.

“I have no intention of throwing away my life.”

I will explore while being cautious of safety.

“……”

Soo nodded reluctantly. It was the result of learning over the past two weeks that my stubbornness couldn’t be broken.