Surviving in the Labyrinth City of the Reverse World

5 – Soul Protection #2

‘Soul Protection’ is a skill exclusive to males. It’s the reason why only males are conscripted.

“Now that I’ve entered the labyrinth, I understand.”

While staying at the Guildhouse of the “Vanguard of Miracles,” I studied the labyrinth. My sisters shared their knowledge and information with me.

Among them, the most important thing was the connection to ‘Soul Protection’, and the reason why males are conscripted.

Gloomy, oppressive darkness.

It rushed towards my sisters like a snake, eager to devour a frog.

My sisters screamed in terror as they evaded the darkness.

[Please designate a target.]

[1. Nicola / 2. Chessy / 3. ─]

[“Soul Protection” has been strongly activated.]

I manipulated the status window and cast “Soul Protection” on my sisters. Instantly, a surge of power and a sense of weightlessness washed over me.

“…So that’s why they said two people is the maximum.”

The number of people one person could care for was limited. On average, a Level 1 male adventurer could handle a maximum of two.

Therefore, exploration parties mining magic stones on the first floor of the labyrinth never exceeded three.

“Phew.”

“I think we can survive now. Thank you, Ray.”

Nicola let out a relieved sigh, and Chesi gently stroked my head. Regardless of the other person’s appearance, a kind touch always made me feel good.

“So this is the power of B-rank ‘Soul Protection.’ My body feels much lighter.”

“Thanks to you, Ray, our guild can survive without relying on other guilds.”

We surveyed the first floor of the labyrinth. Thanks to the light from the portal, the surroundings were bright.

The first floor of the labyrinth resembled a cave-like environment.

Dark, damp, with moss clinging to the rocks. It had the atmosphere of bats springing out at any moment.

The air on the first floor was exactly like that.

“Ray, we should start getting tense.”

“Once the portal closes, we’ll have to start exploring in earnest.”

The portal behind us began to blur. The opening time for the labyrinth was coming to an end.

Tsu-zu-tsu-.

The portal disappeared. Escape was impossible. The next time a portal would be created was a week later.

Nicola activated the pocket watch she had. It was a special adventurer’s timepiece that made one full rotation in seven days, not twelve hours.

The strike echoes sharply.

“Let’s go, Ray.”

Nicola, hastily stuffing the pocket watch into his pocket, tightens the round shield strap. Chessy grips her spear tightly and takes a step forward.

I follow behind the two of them, shuffling along with my frail body.

Even if I were to participate in the battle, it wouldn’t be of any help. They said it would be more worrisome if I tried to help and got in the way, that it’s better for me to stay safely behind.

Creak.

The sound of beasts echoes from deep within the cave. It’s even more terrifying in the darkness.

The only things we can rely on are the glowing stones that protrude at regular intervals on the cave walls.

I try to pretend that I’m not trembling, but I fail. It’s evident in my voice.

“…Is that the sound of monsters crying?”

“In the first level of the labyrinth, only weak monsters appear. Goblins, kobolds, and gnolls are the typical ones.”

Green-skinned dwarf goblins, reptile-like dwarf kobolds, and big-headed dwarf gnolls.

“Don’t worry. It’s difficult to get hurt on the first level of the labyrinth.”

“As long as the guys don’t get wiped out because they can’t maintain ‘Soul Protection.'”

“That mostly happens to the F-rankers. Ray, you’re a B-ranker, right?”

I explored the labyrinth with my sisters. Using the sparkling glowstones as markers, we ventured deep inside.

“Be careful.”

Chessy extends her arm to stop me. Wondering what’s going on, I look at her and she points her finger downwards.

“It’s a trap. Set up by the goblins.”

Goblin traps are generally crude. It would be even more challenging to fall into one if you had eyes.

“Crafty and foolish. It’s good that they thought of catching explorers with a trap. But they installed it in a place where the glowstone was clearly visible, afraid that they themselves might get caught in the trap.”

“They’re idiots.”

Chessie chuckled and casually poked at the trap. The springs contracted and the tooth-like trap snapped shut.

Although stepping on that trap wouldn’t result in severed legs or serious injuries, it would undoubtedly cause significant harm that would affect their exploration.

There was no need to be overly tense, but they had to be cautious to a certain extent.

Krrrk, krrrk!

As they continued moving forward, goblins appeared ahead. They emerged from the ground as if the labyrinth had spat them out.

“Monsters are born like that. Unlike humans, it seems like the labyrinth spits them out, doesn’t it?”

“That guy has a magic stone in his head. Explorers just need to mine that stone and take it back.”

There was only one way to mine it. Killing the monster right in front of them.

Nicola and Chessie swung their swords and spears.

Thwock!

Krrrk, kekkek!

The goblins couldn’t properly defend against their attacks. Even a sloppy thrust would hit its mark.

Krrrk, krrrk!

The goblin let out a scream. From the perspective of a goblin that stood around waist height, the female explorers were like giants.

David and Goliath. Goliath was single-handedly slaughtering them.

I stared blankly at the sight of goblins dying.

“…It’s really stable.”

Because they were being dispatched so easily, I felt foolish for having been on edge all this time. The trembling in my voice subsided.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you, Ray.”

As she said that, Nicola stomped on the goblin’s head. Crunch!

Only by cutting off its breath could she retrieve the ma’seok.

The dead goblin turned into soil in the labyrinth and disappeared. It turned into dust.

In its place, a ma’seok that emitted a radiant light fell with a thud.

[You have obtained a ma’seok (F).]

I picked up the ma’seok and examined it closely.

“…It’s really small.”

It was about the size of a marble used for playing marbles. Negative thoughts automatically came to mind about how I would fill my backpack with these.

“They gather quickly surprisingly. We’ve been hunting all week.”

“…Really?”

“It’s all money. If you think of it as money, your steps become lighter. Ray will become like that soon too, right?”

Nicola and Che-ssi gathered the ma’seok. Since there was no room in the backpack, they put it in a leather pouch tied around their waists for now.

“Let’s go, let’s go.”

We continued our exploration, hoping that all the food we brought for a week could be exchanged for ma’seok.

* * *

We walked and walked. Whenever we spotted a monster, we began hunting. My role in the process was nothing more than cheering.

“She’s quick to catch on…!”

It’s not easy to just watch others work. My body is comfortable, but my mind is tired. Sometimes, I wish I could ask for work to be given to me.

I felt that way now.

“People who only know how to take advantage from behind were not ordinary humans, after all.”

They were individuals specialized in ignoring the voice of conscience.

“Noona, I’ll do it.”

I diligently picked up the marbles. Since the demon corpses disappeared on their own, there was no need to worry about getting sick.

“It’s alright.”

“Ray is really kind.”

Nicola and Chesi entrusted me with picking up the marbles. They saw that I wanted to do something, so they gave me the easiest task.

Running errands. It felt like being asked to do the easy work instead of the skilled tasks when going to do manual labor.

“Thanks to Ray, I rested well. Can I start moving again?”

When I bring all the marbles, they will pat my head. As a compliment.

That touch felt really good.

Maybe it’s because my body has become a brat. Or maybe it’s because I, as a person, have a tendency to be led by women.

I don’t know why.

“There are quite a lot, aren’t there? We explored for three hours and the leather pouch is already full.”

Nicola shook his leather pouch. It jingled as he held it.

The sound of marbles colliding was pleasant and not ordinary. It sounded better than the sound of coins.

“Should we eat?”

We found a spot in the vicinity and opened our backpacks. I decided to empty mine first.

“That way, Ray’s load will be lighter.”

By the way, marbles are lightweight compared to their volume. If you exchange them for food, the burden is significantly reduced.

They didn’t expect this kind of consideration.

“To think we have to march in full gear even in this otherworld.”

Honestly, enduring for three hours was difficult. Their shoulders hurt so much that they almost suggested abandoning the provisions.

If it weren’t for the soul of a man who had completed his military service, they would have given up already.

The provisions were pemmican. It looked like jerky, but it wasn’t. It was compressed and hardened meat.

They melted it and made soup. Adding spices like salt and pepper gave it a decent taste.

“Let’s move again.”

They finished their meal lightly and stood up.

Emptying the water made the backpack noticeably lighter. Just the fact that the burden had decreased made their tension rise.

Move. Hunt. Move. Hunt.

They continued this cycle while mining for magic stones. And then they discovered a portal.

“Huh?”

They heard that an exit portal would be created in a week. But now, in less than a day, a portal had already opened?

No, it wasn’t that.

“This is a portal that goes down to the second floor.”

“…To the second floor?”

“If you look closely, the color is different. It’s a deep blue.”

Passing through there would take them down to the second floor. On the second floor, different monsters would appear.

Just on the second day of their exploration life, the second floor was already too much.

“You have such a frightened face.”

“Don’t worry. This exploration will only be on the first floor. It’s to help Ray adapt,” Nicola and Chessie reassured me, turning their backs. They intended to continue exploring in a different direction, leaving the second floor portal behind.

Then, a strange sound came from the portal.

Tsuzuzut-.

The color of the portal changed. It turned red.

“Sister!”

“Someone is coming up.”

Nicola and Chessie quickly assumed defensive positions.

But we’re all adventurers anyway…

Is it really necessary to be this cautious? I had a moment of doubt.

But I quickly shook my head, dispelling those thoughts. I trusted that my sisters had good reason to be cautious, so I left the decision entirely up to them.

Someone emerged from the red portal. A female explorer, with half of her body consumed by the dark void.

Her striking white-striped tail…

Nicola shouted.

“Merfolk!”

“…Huff, huff… There’s a boy on the first floor!”

The merfolk woman’s eyes glowed yellow. Like a creature who had lost her reason, she immediately rushed towards me, like an excited puppy.

“Please, save me…!”

“What the hell!”

Chessie thrust her spear towards the opponent. The merfolk woman lightly kicked off the ground, evading both the sword and spear coming at her.

And she came up behind me and hugged me.

“Ray!”

Thick arms. Strong muscles. The strength of a female werewolf was not something a boy like me could easily overcome.

“Is she trying to take me hostage?”

No.

Even though I don’t know how to fight, I can still distinguish people I shouldn’t mess with. The female werewolf, gasping for breath, was not as terrifying as the monsters on the first floor of the labyrinth.

The injured cat!

“Please….”

The female werewolf pleaded with me. Her voice was so desperate that I couldn’t refuse.

Although I wasn’t an experienced explorer, I could roughly sense the situation. If I didn’t help her now, she would definitely die.

“…What do I need to do?”

“Please cast ‘Soul Protection’ on me. I’m begging you.”