Today, Lizel visited the guild with Gil.
A week had passed since his first request, and he was spending peaceful days as an adventurer, taking on requests, strolling around town, and reading books. Today, he stood in front of the F-rank request board, the lowest rank, looking at the various request forms, intending to take on another request.
The low-ranked adventurers around him seemed somewhat uncomfortable.
"I've already taken on several monster-slaying requests, and Gil must be bored."
"It's not like I have nothing to do, so it's fine."
"Is that so?" Lizel nodded and continued to look through the request forms. He wanted to avoid requests of the same type as much as possible, as he wanted to get various advice from Gil while he was accompanying him.
Since the F-rank allows for quick advancement, he could only accept F and E-rank requests for now, but after completing one more request, his rank would increase, and he would be able to accept D-rank requests. That's what Gil had said.
"Oh, how about that one?"
Lizel looked up at a request form posted at the highest point on the request board. He raised his arm, wondering if he could just barely reach it, but Gil took the form from behind him, so he lowered his arm, thinking it was fine.
"A dungeon-related request, huh? That's certainly something we haven't done yet."
"I've been wanting to see this dungeon at least once."
[Wanted: Dungeon Items!]
Rank: F-E
Client: Dungeon Item Collector (tentative)
Reward: 10 silver coins base reward + price of the requested item (appraisal certificate required: up to one gold coin).
Request: I want anything that can only be obtained in the dungeon.
However, items are limited to those found up to the fifth floor of the dungeon.
"A pseudonym?"
"Well, when a request is handed over through the guild, it doesn't have to list their real name. For up to the fifth floor of the dungeon, a low rank is sufficient, so they don't have to hire high-ranking adventurers or pay a high price for the requested items."
"I see."
"Depending on the item, even low-rank dungeon items can fetch a decent price."
According to the request, it seemed they not only had to obtain the requested items from the dungeon but also appraise them.
Thinking that this might be a rather interesting client, Lizel headed to the reception desk with the form in hand. If Gil wasn't saying anything, then it probably wasn't a particularly strange request.
Since it was a busy time, all the counters were occupied, and he joined the line behind them. The adventurer at the counter in front glanced back, then did a double-take with great surprise, but quickly turned back around. It seemed this was the first time they had seen Lizel.
Despite being an adventurer, he still didn't act like one. Even though his aristocratic demeanor had subsided, Gil watched Lizel, who didn't seem to care at all.
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
Lizel glanced at a table a little distance away. Several tables, usually open for party discussions and the like, were all occupied.
The people sitting at the tables were likely members of various parties, but they were all staring at the forms on the tables without discussing anything.
"Next in line, please."
While thinking that this was a scene he's been seeing a lot lately, the previously closed reception counter next to him suddenly opened. Studd, who was only looking at Lizel while saying "Next in line, please," had moved from the new member registration counter, which was now empty, to that counter.
It wasn't wrong, as there were no new members at the moment. However, Studd would almost never interrupt his document sorting to go to the request reception counter. Ignoring the lukewarm stares from his colleagues, Studd sat down, and Lizel, thinking it was his turn anyway, moved to that counter with a wry smile.
"Please."
"Ah, this request? This client often submits the same request."
"Is anything really acceptable?"
"As long as it's not just a random stone or weed lying around, they're usually happy. If it's something only found in the labyrinth, then anything seems to be fine."
Lizel handed over his guild card. Studd, receiving it, proceeded with the procedures with practiced ease.
Lizel watched his efficient movements with a smile, and then, timing it perfectly as the procedures finished, he suddenly spoke. His gaze was directed towards the desk he had been looking at earlier.
"By the way..."
"Yes?"
Incidentally, Lizel is the only one who can talk to Studd after the reception desk closes without being ignored. Gil sometimes gets a response, but even then, he rarely talks to him one-on-one, so it's usually only when Lizel is with him.
"What are they doing?"
"A new labyrinth was discovered a few days ago, but it seems quite challenging, so they're discussing it."
"But what good is staring at a desk in silence?"
"The challenge isn't the monsters, but the puzzles. They're getting stuck in traps because they can't solve the puzzles, and they can't proceed. But since the monsters aren't particularly strong, everyone is desperately trying to conquer the labyrinth."
Items obtained in the labyrinth basically belong to the person who acquires them. Treasure chests appear randomly each time, but the treasure at the deepest part of the labyrinth, once obtained, will not reappear.
There isn't always treasure, but if there's a chance for a windfall, it's worth trying.
Furthermore, only the shallow levels have been explored so far, and the monsters aren't particularly strong. Everyone has a chance.
Regardless of rank, everyone is diligently working on solving the puzzles in pursuit of treasure. Studd watched them emotionlessly and pointed to the request board, which seemed to have fewer requests than usual.
"It's regrettable that the number of requests we receive has decreased somewhat because of this. If you're going to that labyrinth, you should take a look at the desk; the first cipher of the labyrinth is placed there."
Apparently, the ciphers and traps get more difficult the further you go into the labyrinth. That's the basic principle of labyrinths.
The cipher at the guild is for the very first door, and that door apparently stays open, but judging from the subsequent mechanisms, it seems that if you can't even solve the first cipher, you won't be able to proceed at all.
To avoid unnecessary casualties from traps, the guild only allows entry to the labyrinth to those who can solve the cipher. Managing the labyrinth is also the guild's job, and they probably don't want to easily lose their income-generating adventurers.
"Since there's no time to think about puzzles while fighting monsters, they probably try to figure out as much as they can here."
"Don't the puzzles change when you leave the labyrinth?"
"It seems some of them do. But the general trend doesn't seem to change."
I see, then it's more efficient to think about it here.
With that understanding, Lizel turned to Gil.
"What about the new labyrinth?"
"Let's skip it. There's one nearby, let's go there."
"Understood."
In any case, Lizel had no intention of going to a labyrinth where anything could happen. Gil seemed to have the same idea and didn't seem particularly interested in the new labyrinth.
If there were reasonably strong monsters there, Gil would probably visit it alone, but that wasn't the case this time. Gil is a somewhat unusual person, being an adventurer but not interested in treasure.
"The cipher is a little intriguing, so let's take a look before we leave."
"Okay."
"Then, please be careful."
"Thank you."
Receiving the usual farewell, and returning the usual smile, Lizel walked towards the adventurer who was staring intently at the desk with a serious expression. Upon closer inspection, the adventurers weren't using the papers provided by the guild, but rather papers they had written on themselves, whispering amongst themselves. Even without seeing them, it was easy to guess what they were discussing; it was likely the puzzle they were currently stuck on.
Perhaps they were being careful to prevent anyone from getting ahead of them, keeping their findings secret. After solving all the puzzles and obtaining the treasure, the information about the puzzles could be sold to the guild or other adventurers for money.
Furthermore, if someone found out now and stole the treasure, all their efforts would be for naught, which is why they were discussing it secretly.
"I see."
Liesel casually peered at the table. Since reading the initial cipher provided by the guild was permitted, the adventurers using the table couldn't complain.
In fact, with Gil looking down at them from behind and Studd sending cold glances from the reception desk, they couldn't possibly complain. The adventurers looked at Lizel with puzzled expressions as he smiled and looked down at the cipher.
"This is an interesting problem, very well thought out."
"If you've solved it, let's go."
"Yes."
The adventurers stared blankly at Lizel and Gil's words. Many people couldn't even solve the first cipher, so they couldn't believe that Lizel had understood it in an instant.
Lizel, who had straightened up from peering at the cipher, suddenly turned to a young adventurer sitting in one of the chairs. This was the man who had the memo containing the details of the cipher they were currently trying to solve.
"Excuse me, I accidentally saw the contents of your paper for a moment."
Suddenly, Lizel leaned towards him.
He placed one hand on the table and leaned in, as if to whisper a secret, bringing his face close to the man's ear. The adventurer froze, stunned by his approaching, gentle face. The phrase "I can see the contents" should have been met with irritation. The contents written there were the result of a scheme that had taken several days to uncover. It wouldn't be surprising if someone had already yelled at him for trying to steal the information after just arriving.
"It's ancient script numbers, a beautiful mathematical formula."
The small, low voice, barely audible to those around them, made it difficult to immediately understand the words spoken.
"Hey, let's go."
"Excuse me, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
Called by a voice, Lizel straightened his posture, smiled apologetically, and left. While listening blankly to the unapologetic apology despite the implied warning not to do anything unnecessary, the adventurer lowered his gaze to the paper he held.
He was startled by the blank expressions of his party members who crowded around him. The adventurer, bombarded with questions about what was said and whether information had been stolen, buried his head in his hands on the table.
"It's not like it was stolen, more like the opposite... or rather, I only saw it for a second..."
"Huh?"
"Just now..."
The adventurer, about to speak, suddenly noticed a shadow falling over him. He was about to turn around like a typical adventurer, asking "What do you want?", but immediately closed his mouth. His face was pale.
In his line of sight, the only and most feared employee of this guild was looking down at him.
"I don't think that's something you should be discussing here."
"Right..."
He later recounted the terror of that emotionless gaze looking down at him to his party, almost in tears.
"Don't do anything unnecessary, you'll get unnecessarily involved."
"I don't like that, I can choose whether or not to get involved myself."
Unaware that Studd was currently preventing the trouble from spreading, he apologized to Gil for his reprimand. The two were on their way out of the gate and heading towards the labyrinth. The labyrinth they were aiming for was apparently located in a forest a short distance away.
"Don't choose something so troublesome,"
"I won't,"
Smiling brightly at Gil, who had a sour expression on his face, Lizel recalled the cipher from earlier. He wondered why the ancient script, used in his former country in the distant past, was exactly the same.
He briefly considered the possibility that this was the future or something similar, but that was highly unlikely. It was strange that the name of Lizel's country, which had been a great power, was nowhere to be found, and besides, the shape of the continent itself was different on the map.
He also considered the possibility of an undiscovered continent, but that seemed improbable. Ultimately, he concluded that it was easier and better if there weren't too many differences.
"Is this labyrinth also accessed through a door?"
"A door?"
"A large, luxurious double door, just standing there all by itself."
"More like a gate, two pillars made of stone or some unknown ore, and a double gate."
There seemed to be some minor differences, but the fact that it appeared suddenly one day was the same. No monsters emerged from the gate, and it didn't appear within the city.
Since there's no real danger, it's not considered particularly risky.
However, because there are many items, ores, monster materials, and plants that can only be obtained in the labyrinth, like Lizel's gun, the labyrinth is not ignored and is utilized by adventurers. While there were no adventurers in Lizel's country, it was used as a training ground for knights and a place for mercenaries to earn their daily wages.
After walking for about an hour, they reached the forest. The labyrinth was located about ten minutes further in. A stone gate stood silently, untouched by moss.
"Hey, isn't this managed by the guild?"
"Labyrinths with restrictions like the one we heard about earlier have gates like this, but if there aren't any restrictions, you can enter and exit freely. Even the management is just knowing where the labyrinth is and investigating if something happens."
"That's true, having someone guard a labyrinth where no one else is around would be a waste of manpower."
"Usually, there are more adventurers coming and going. Right now, they're probably all gathered at that new labyrinth."
Labyrinths don't disappear even if they're conquered. This labyrinth, close to the city and not particularly difficult, is often used by low-ranked adventurers for quests, gathering materials, and training.
However, the aspiring new adventurers are probably all aiming for a quick fortune in the new labyrinth. Since it's empty, that's even better, Lizel thought as he stood before the gate.
Gil pushed the gate. The gate, opening with little effort, creaked slightly as it swung inward.
Behind the gate, where there should have been more forest, a stone cave like an ancient ruin stretched out.
"Let's go."
"Yes."
Lizel stepped inside, secretly looking forward to his first labyrinth experience. After the two of them passed through, the gate closed automatically. Strangely, it wasn't dark. The entire cave seemed to be faintly glowing.
A faintly drawn magic circle glowed at their feet.
"What is this magic circle?"
"A magic circle... huh. This labyrinth extends underground, I think it's about thirty floors deep. There's a magic circle placed every five floors, and you can skip to the next floor you've already cleared."
"Did Gil clear it all the way?"
"Yeah, that's why it's reacting to me and glowing. If we were in a party, you could use it too, but it's not relevant this time."
This request is for labyrinth items from up to the fifth floor.
They start walking without using the magic circle.
"Since the request doesn't specify which labyrinth, does that mean the labyrinth items are the same regardless of the labyrinth?"
"If a labyrinth has unique characteristics, then those kinds of items are more likely to appear, but the quality of the labyrinth items themselves doesn't change. That's why the basic reward is consistent and requests can be issued."
"What about the 'up to the fifth floor' part?"
"That's because the difficulty of most labyrinths increases every five or ten floors. The monsters get stronger, but the labyrinth items also become rarer."
Gil added that, in this labyrinth, the approximate appropriate rank is E-rank up to the tenth floor, D-rank up to the twentieth floor, C-rank up to the twenty-ninth floor, and B-rank for the lowest floor.
This ranking is also based on the assumption of being in a party, and almost no one would even consider attempting it solo. However, Gil didn't tell Lizel, but Gil cleared this labyrinth three days after arriving in Parteda, and needless to say, it was solo.
It was because of that incident that Gil became famous in this country.
"I'd like to see a boss sometime, but that's still impossible, right?"
"Probably."
The reason the lowest floor is so difficult is because there is always a monster called a boss on the lowest floor of the labyrinth. Only by defeating the boss can you enter the deepest room, but many people stumble here.
And even after obtaining the treasure, for some reason, the boss revives again.
"To keep my skills sharp, I occasionally come here to kill the boss."
"Ah, so that's where you go sometimes when you disappear?"
"Here, or another dungeon."
The conversation flowed smoothly, but they were actually being attacked by monsters even now. They already knew each other's abilities, and since this wasn't a monster extermination request, Lizel wasn't actively fighting.
Killing monsters is recorded on each person's guild card, but unless it's a specific extermination request, it's just a simple count.
While admiring Gil's skill in cutting down monsters while continuing their conversation, Lizel also shot down monsters outside of Gil's attack range. There was no real need to help, but it was technically Lizel's request. He didn't intend to leave everything to Gil.
That said, he didn't intend to fight everything himself just because it was his request either. That would be incredibly inefficient.
"What should we do with the monster materials?"
"Don't need them."
There were both monsters unique to the dungeon and those seen in the grasslands, but no special materials could be obtained from the monsters on the first floor. Monsters killed in the dungeon decompose into magic power if left alone, so Lizel nodded at Gil's words and continued on, leaving the carcasses behind.
"When it comes to dungeon items, we'll have to find treasure chests."
"You never know if there'll be any, so in a way, it's a troublesome request."
"I'm just happy to be exploring the dungeon."
The cave, resembling ancient ruins, had beautiful patterns carved into the walls and altars in various places. If there were no dangers, it would be a perfect tourist attraction.
As is common in all dungeons, you can see scenery completely unrelated to the outside world.
Because similar scenery continues, it's normal to proceed while making a simple map, but Lizel didn't particularly need one. He believed that simply remembering the layout was sufficient. Gil, generally following his instincts, continued onward without stopping, moving briskly. He peered around corners, searching for treasure chests, but none were found before a staircase leading to the next floor appeared.
"We probably haven't explored everything yet, but what should we do?"
"Let's go. If there's anything to find, we'll find it quickly."
They descended the dimly lit, steep staircase, with Gil leading the way.
Just as Lizel was looking at some kind of pattern carved into the wall, wishing for a handrail, Gil suddenly turned around and forcefully pushed Lizel's head down.
Lizel, unable to maintain his balance, almost tumbled headfirst down the stairs, but Gil grabbed him by the back of his collar, supporting him.
Something whizzed past above Lizel's head, who remained completely still. A sharp clinking sound echoed as something hard struck the stone wall.
Seeing the shattered stone arrow, Lizel finally realized that a trap had been triggered.
"Why didn't it react to Gil, but it reacted to me?"
"Is that your first reaction?"
"Ah, sorry. Thank you."
Gil released his grip on Lizel's collar, saying this with a look of exasperation. Lizel, calmly standing up and adjusting his collar, showed no change in demeanor, making it hard to believe he had just narrowly avoided having his head blown off.
Gil had accepted bodyguard assignments before, and no matter how important the client, they would always be shaken when faced with a life-threatening situation, sometimes even grown adults would scream and panic. Lizel showed none of that. He was now picking up the shattered stone arrow and examining it closely.
"You're so calm."
"That's my only strong point."
It was unusual, but Gil had thought that from the beginning. If this calmness stemmed from a self-sacrificing spirit, Gil would immediately abandon the assignment, but Lizel wasn't like that. It seems the idea is that if the danger is manageable, assuming one's own safety is guaranteed, then it's not a problem. "He's an easy client to protect," Gil thought, watching Lizel throw a stone.
"Gil, why do you think that happened?"
"Who knows? Your head just happened to be in the right place."
"Well, I am shorter than you, after all."
That's just how things are in the labyrinth, he concluded quickly, and began descending the stairs again. Even though there are no eyes watching, these kinds of things happen frequently in the labyrinth.
Traps that always split the party in half, or single-person doors that are inexplicably provided for each person. It seems strange, but everything is explained away with "because it's a labyrinth."
"You should be able to react to traps like that. You were just standing there!"
"I was completely relaxed because Gil was there."
"Don't relax!"
It was unclear whether he was serious or just making excuses. Words that would normally sound like excuses sounded like the truth coming from Lizel.
The fact that he only smiled in response to the question of whether he could have avoided it if he had been more alert only fueled the suspicion. "As long as I'm here, I'll handle it," Gil thought, as he stepped onto the last step.
"Oh."
"Hmm? Ah."
The view opened up; the bottom of the stairs led to a room. It seemed they were supposed to proceed through one of the three doors, but that might not be necessary.
"It's good that we found a treasure chest."
"Normally, you'd be lucky to find one even after going down to the tenth floor. Finding one on the second floor is lucky."
Between each of the three doors, there was a treasure chest. Two treasure chests were present.
As Gil said, treasure chests are rarely found. That's why labyrinth items are somewhat valuable, but since they can be found if you explore enough, they're usually not that expensive.
If you're lucky, you might even find a treasure chest every time you enter the labyrinth. It's rare to find multiple chests at once, though.
"There's a story about ten treasure chests appearing at once, so it's not impossible."
"Sometimes there are monsters inside, too, right?"
"Occasionally."
When Gil asked if he should open it, Lizel shook his head and opened the first treasure chest himself. The stone lid must have been quite heavy, but it opened smoothly.
After opening the lid completely and peering inside, Lizel chuckled. He held up what he had found so Gil, who was peeking from behind him, could see it. Gil's face contorted into a strange expression as he looked at it.
"Something like this comes out too?"
"A bear doll..."
"It's a teddy bear. Hmm, it's surprisingly well-made; it wouldn't be surprising if it had some kind of premium value..."
He carefully examined the teddy bear. The fabric was sturdy, and the buttons securing the limbs were quite elaborate upon closer inspection.
A medal sewn onto the chest with a ribbon bore the mark that identified it as a labyrinth artifact.
He tried to casually tear off the medal, but it wouldn't come off. The feel and construction were all that of an ordinary stuffed animal, but the material was completely unknown—a genuine labyrinth artifact.
"I understand that it's a good item, but I don't know what kind of price it would fetch."
"You'll probably get it appraised anyway."
"That's true."
Lizel had lived surrounded by valuable things, but even he couldn't determine the value of a stuffed animal. He could only tell that the red gems sewn into its eyes were of good quality.
Of course, Gil was equally unable to appraise it. He was actually looking at Lizel with a slightly disapproving expression for trying to tear off the medal.
"Let's open the other one too. ...I see."
"Huh?"
What came out was a teddy bear with blue eyes. When placed next to the first one, it was clear they were made exactly the same way and were a matching pair. The first labyrinth item he obtained was a teddy bear set, a fact that made Lizel sound somewhat melancholic.
"Well... my first item was just an ordinary sword, you know."
"That sounds more like a labyrinth item, doesn't it?"
He was slightly dejected.
But thinking about it, it was a valuable labyrinth item. You don't hear stories of teddy bears coming out of treasure chests. Apparently, all sorts of unexpected things come out of labyrinths, and Lizel recovered his spirits before returning to the capital.
He wasn't really seriously depressed to begin with. Of course, that doesn't mean he had no feelings about the teddy bear.
"Is a regular appraiser for adventurers okay?"
"Yeah, that should be fine. You can't exactly take it to a fabric shop, can you?"
They were currently heading to a certain shop for an appraisal. They passed by a weapons shop with a swordsman who exuded an air of experience, and stopped in front of the adjacent general store.
A small sign that read "Confident in our appraisals," written in a rather unconfident manner, still hung below the general store's sign. It was the only place Lizel knew of that could provide reliable appraisals.
"You're good at picking out lucky things.[1]"
"Have you been here before, Gil?"
"Yeah, the previous owner was a crazy old man. Three years ago, when I came to this country, the moment I entered the shop, he yelled, 'You don't even know what kind of weapon suits you!' and threw this sword at me."
Gil added that he, of course, had to pay for it. It was a forced sale.
However, Gil could handle the slender greatsword as quickly as a regular one-handed sword, without sacrificing the advantages of a greatsword. It required considerable strength, but a one-handed sword with the destructive power of a greatsword and a long reach would be an ideal weapon for Gil.
"He sounds like a good person. So, is the current owner his son?"
"His grandson, I think. I've met him a few times, and that eccentric old man was bragging like an idiot, saying, 'My grandson has an amazing eye for appraisal.'"
"Hasn't he been here recently?"
"He hasn't been here for two years. He might have changed in that time."
Confirming that the shop was open, they entered.
Inside, as usual, a single shopkeeper was diligently polishing the merchandise.
"Welcome..."
"Hello, I'm back."
"Hey, stop making everyone freeze up!"
"It's really complicated when you blame me for that."
Lizel chuckled and said hello again, and the shopkeeper looked at them as if regaining his senses. He looked at Lizel, then at Gil behind him, and his eyes widened in surprise.
He glanced back and forth between the two of them, but then suddenly seemed to recognize someone and awkwardly bowed his head to Gil to greet him.
"Oh, oh, it's been a long time."
"I've told you before, I won't do anything to you, so don't be scared."
"I'm sorry..."
"Gil, don't bully him when we're about to ask him for a job."
"I'm not bullying him."
The shopkeeper raised his head and stared at the two of them in astonishment.
First of all, he couldn't understand why the two of them were together. In his mind, Lizel was a noble.
Lizel smiled at the visibly confused shopkeeper, who couldn't understand what the two people, who seemed to be complete opposites, were talking about.
"I didn't mention it before, but I'm not a noble."
"...Huh!?"
This only confused him further.
The two of them spent the time looking at the merchandise, leaving the stunned shopkeeper frozen in place until he was able to perform a proper appraisal.
[1] Original: "You're good at picking out lucky items.""Gil, you're here too?""Have you been here before?" *changed because the flow of conversation is confusing.