Conquering the Labyrinth with a Trash-Tier Trait - Chapter 56

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 56
“I wasn’t planning to take my time anyway. Not anymore.”
I answered curtly to Jerik’s teasing, and he chuckled before continuing.
“That’s obvious. But there’s something else you need to be careful about.”
“Something to be careful about?”
“From the 11th Floor onward, you’ll be dealing with other adventurers in earnest.”
“Ah…….”
“Whether you like it or not, all kingdoms have set up the rules that way, so there’s nothing to be done about it.”
“……I’ve heard about it.”
Theoretically, when you enter the Labyrinth through a Dungeon Stele, you’re supposed to drop randomly somewhere on the 11th Floor.
But to prevent each kingdom’s forces from being scattered and to prohibit defection, they’ve enacted a law requiring adventurers to enter by joining up with seniors who already have ‘coordinates’ marked when they step into a floor.
“Oh, you know it well. They legally force adventurers to be marked at the same coordinates with their seniors up to the 20th Floor, staying within the same faction.”
“Only up to the 20th Floor?”
“Once you’ve been promoted to Secondary Class within the same faction, it becomes hard to defect because of all the connections and relationships you’ve built up. As for those who fall behind below that—the Royal Palace doesn’t take much notice of them anyway.”
Hmm.
“So you’re saying they only count as real military strength after Secondary Class?”
At my words, Jerik grinned crookedly.
“Well, you could say that. But there’s another reason too.”
“Another reason?”
“From the 10th Floor onward, the Labyrinth quests themselves are diverse, so adventurers can choose for themselves, and usually they hunt for party members who’ve selected the same quest. But it’s better to form a party with adventurers from the same faction, isn’t it?”
“So you’d rather choose a quest that’s in the same kingdom’s territory?”
“……That’s right. Unless it’s a neutral zone. If you venture into another kingdom’s territory, you could get killed without anyone knowing.”
“……Is it really just constant warfare?”
“Hmm. It’s hard to call it full-scale war, really. Now that each faction’s control of the lower floors is secure, they avoid direct confrontation. If they just started wars willy-nilly and things escalated to the point that higher-level adventurers came down to the lower floors, everything would turn into complete chaos.”
“I’ve heard there’s a penalty when higher-level adventurers come down to lower floors.”
“Well, even with that, they’re definitely stronger than lower-level adventurers. Except for irregulars like you, that is.”
Right.
“So that’s why there are administrators.”
“Yes. It’s the result of an agreement between all kingdoms.”
The 11th to 20th Floors are where Primary Class adventurers are active, but each kingdom stations multiple Secondary Class elites and Tertiary Class powerhouses in their territorial zones on each floor.
To manage the resources that can be obtained from each zone, and more importantly, to manage the people.
“So you’d do well to gain experience with forming parties with other adventurers now, in the early 10th Floor range, and with factional conflicts and group combat. As you go deeper, Cooperative Quests become essential, and you’ll face powerful monsters that you can’t handle alone.”
“Hmm.”
I’d heard such talk before.
Maybe it was because I’d witnessed the absurd power of Seventh Class adventurers on the 10th Floor.
I couldn’t bring myself to believe it.
“They’ve limited the Tertiary Class administrators on the 10th Floor range to one per zone. So there won’t be any real threats to you. That’s why I’m telling you to get some experience with cooperative combat with others at this point.”
I laughed involuntarily at that.
‘Seriously?’
That thought wouldn’t leave me.
“Of course, you shouldn’t cause any trouble.”
“……Come on, you think I’d deliberately start something?”
“Well, I’m curious what kind of rumors would stick to you if you caused more trouble here. Why don’t you give it a shot?”
“……Why are you egging me on like that?”
“Because sixty percent of the administrators and zone managers on each floor belong to the Royal Palace.”
“Ah…….”
“The remaining forty percent are divided among many noble houses and major guilds, but the 11th Floor is definitely Royal Palace territory. And I heard the current administrator used to manage the kingdom’s Summoners?”
Huh?
“Who?”
“Hear it directly. The guide is coming now.”
“……?”
“Given your personality, I figured you’d take off the moment you woke up, so I called ahead. Ah, there he is now.”
“Huh……?”
The moment I turned my head, I saw Kirk entering through the front gate of the Martial Arts Hall, waving his hand.
“Kirk!”
“Oh!”
“Kirk is in the middle of challenging the 19th Floor right now, but he’s made time just for you. Be grateful.”
Kirk was genuinely glad to see me, but the earlier conversation was still weighing too heavily on my mind.
“Who’s the 11th Floor administrator?”
“Oh. That bald old guy. His name was Kendrick something, I think.”
In that moment, a vivid memory surfaced.
—What’s this? Information Trait, and just one Innate Ability Slot? Ha, worthless.
The bald bastard who’d politely asked to see my Status Window, then switched his face completely and cursed me out. That image.
“Kendrick Howard?”
“Oh! Yes, that was the name. You know him?”
“Ha…….”
That son of a bitch.
In that instant, a fierce impulse surged through me.
Seeing Jerik click his tongue snapped me back to my senses.
A warning: don’t go down that road.
“……Well, it’s all in the past anyway. Don’t worry about it.”
At that, Jerik fixed me with a wary look again.
“Hmm. Kirk. What did you say he’s been doing on the 11th Floor lately?”
“Ah. Joint training for Kirk’s batch of Summoners, sir. Just, gathering the people who advanced late……and doing training…….”
Kirk trailed off and glanced at me.
“Really, it’s fine? I’m not bothered at all.”
And I genuinely wasn’t.
They say human nature shows itself in extreme circumstances.
But when I was pushed into that pit of despair, what I discovered was that the world didn’t actually contain that many human garbage.
‘Bad situations just raise the odds of running into garbage.’
When I hit the bottom, the Summoners who trampled and mocked me were a tiny fraction.
The one I still clearly remember is Cha Hye-ryeon.
Most felt sympathy instead.
Of course, no one actively helped me back then either.
‘In a world you’ve been suddenly dragged into, you can’t expect strangers to look after each other.’
I had no intention of blaming people for being self-interested enough to take care of their own survival.
So.
“The Royal Palace Summoners aren’t something I need to worry about right now, anyway.”
“Hmm. What do you think?”
“Doesn’t look like he’ll cause trouble.”
“Still, keep a close watch. Just in case. Even for a moment.”
“Sir, maybe don’t say things like that when he’s here?”
“What do you mean, why?”
…….”
Yeah. Well. Front talk’s better than backbiting anyway.
So I decided to enter the Labyrinth with Kirk as my guide.
“My master was worried, you know. That since you got such a good Class, you might run wild according to your nature.”
“……What’s my nature like?”
“You’re usually calm, sir. But…….”
“But?”
“……Sometimes when you flare up, well, it’s normal, but you tend to go a bit harder than most.”
“Me?”
“You’ve had a blowup recently, haven’t you?”
“That was to help you……!”
“No, after that.”
“……Ha. But that wasn’t even me provoking them?!”
It was unfair.
I merely struck preemptively at those bastards who were looking for a fight.
I’d stated nothing but the plain facts, yet Kirk looked at me with cold eyes.
“……Well, as a warrior, it’s not a bad temperament.”
“Aren’t I incredibly calm and rational compared to most people? In this insane world?”
…….”
Kirk averted his gaze, so I deliberately followed and forced his eyes to meet mine, and the kid dodged again, muttering.
“Like you only see one thing…….”
“What, you brat?”
“……Wow. Sir, you’ve really become handsome. Your skin cleared up so much, your complexion is……. Wow, you’re a different person. Completely.”
“All of a sudden?”
The kid’s changing the subject.
“Anyway, I agree with my master. You should experience a Cooperative Quest, sir.”
Well. Let’s move on.
But I should point out what needs pointing out.
“We’ve done it together before, haven’t we?”
“Come on. What the two of us did is a different matter entirely. Besides, you’re going to end up doing it anyway, whether you like it or not.”
“Hmm?”
“The Kingdom places a lot of emphasis on Cooperative Quests.”
“Because of the Deep Layers?”
“Well, that’s part of it, but I heard it’s mainly because of the war.”
“What?”
“Since the Labyrinth appeared and the world effectively became dozens of times larger, large-scale warfare has disappeared. But there are quite frequent conflicts happening inside the Labyrinth. So…….”
“Hmm.”
Hearing the same argument over and over, it finally started to sink in.
Not that I’m lacking in confidence to handle things alone, mind you.
‘War, huh…….’
That word hit me harder than the thought of Elite Monsters.
“Fine. Let’s give this Cooperative Quest thing a try.”
“……Really?”
“I’m saying I’ll consider it. But why are you looking at me like that?”
“Ah. Well, you don’t usually listen to what other people say. Even my Master only asked me to try my best to convince you—he didn’t seem very hopeful about it.”
“……How well do you think I listen to my instructor?”
“That’s a bit different, though.”
“How so?”
With that somewhat aggrieved exchange hanging between us, we stepped into the 11th Floor.
Flash.
This time Kirk took the lead, gripping my shoulder as he did.
Flash.
The 11th Floor we arrived at was nothing like what I’d expected.
“What……?”
A fortress with towering, massive stone walls reminiscent of Bartus itself.
And there we were, dropped unceremoniously right in front of its gates.
A soldier approached us as if he’d been waiting for our arrival.
“You’re the Bartus adventurer?”
“Yes.”
“And you’re the guide?”
“I am.”
“Then behind you……just one person?”
“Yes. Someone who just entered the 11th Floor.”
While Kirk spoke with the soldier, I looked around and saw an endless expanse of golden wheat fields stretching out before us.
A vast sea of gold that seemed to dwarf even the fortress of Bartus.
The moment I laid eyes on it.
[You have entered the 11th Floor of the Labyrinth.]
[Quest selection is now available.]
[1. Jungle Monster Subjugation]
[2. Unexplored Territory Expedition]
[3. Rare Herb Collection]
[4. Rare Mineral Collection]
[5. Wanted Criminal Elimination]
“Huh…….”
I’d heard about it, but seeing it for myself was far more striking.
The sheer variety of quest options was remarkable enough, but the environment itself was even more astonishing.
“Is all of this really wheat?”
“Yes. Come over here. We need to register at Golden Acre first.”
“Golden Acre?”
“That’s the name of this fortress. The wheat produced here apparently feeds half the population of Bartus.”
“Ah…….”
I’d heard that the resources harvested from the Labyrinth weren’t limited to rare magical materials, but seeing such a concrete example with my own eyes left me momentarily speechless.
“And it’s not just wheat. There are specialty crops here—cabbages, peppers, and such—and apparently there’s a place that sells them as kimchi.”
“What do you mean?”
“Korean food.”
“No way. I’ve heard rumors about it, but…….”
Most of the Summoners appearing in Bartus are Korean.
I’d heard a few things about the traces those seniors left behind—including something about kimchi.
But I’d never actually tasted it in Bartus, so I’d assumed it was just hearsay.
“I guess the older Summoners buy it. Honestly, I still can’t get used to the smell…….”
“I see.”
The smell of kimchi hadn’t reached us yet, but suddenly my mouth went dry.
‘If I took a heap of that crisp, tangy kimchi and piled it on white rice, took one big bite…….’
Gulp.
Food I’d long ago relegated to memory alone, something impossibly distant.
The scent of home I’d tried so hard not to imagine—it was waiting in there.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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