Volume 2 Chapter 7 Lower-Rank Adventurer Promotion Exam III
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
”Well, so Sir Kian has been in East End for 14 years?”
”Yes, after leaving Azrael, I continued traveling by ship and land for a year… I registered as an adventurer in this town to earn travel funds, and before I knew it, I had settled down.”
”I see.”
As Kian conversed with the easygoing Manon, they descended into the narrow, dimly lit Catacombs.
The brick underground structure looked like it was about to collapse, but the Guild maintained it well, so durability was not an issue.
If he remembers correctly, the staff’s magicians regularly perform sanitation treatments, so hygiene shouldn’t be a major concern.
Kian advanced further, mentally mapping out the winding and twisting paths.
There were 2 sources of light.
One was the lantern hanging at his waist, and the other was the torch he held in his hand.
So far, he had not encountered any monsters, but if he did, the torch could be used as a weapon.
Fire was particularly effective against ghost-type monsters.
”────”
The black-haired magician, Christy, was walking behind Kian, but she remained sullen and did not attempt to speak.
She did not seem to be on guard, and at this rate, she might not even take defensive action if they encountered an enemy.
She would likely use magic if Manon were in danger, but until then, it seemed unlikely that she would provide support.
’Kian, it’s about time to put on the earrings.’
(That’s true.)
Nodding at the word ‘glasses’, Kian took out a crescent-shaped earring from the ‘Nightshade’ coat. This was one of the ancient pieces of equipment he found while exploring the ‘Labyrinth of Roses’.
It was hidden along with the dress skirt set designed for countering magicians, and just by wearing it on his ear, he could absorb and nullify charms and curses from enemies.
However, mass-based magic like earth magic and wind magic cannot be nullified unless Kian wears the flashy equipment he modified, so caution is necessary.
(However, if I wear this ‘Moon Earring’, I can completely nullify attacks from wraiths that drain life force through contact.)
At the very least, he would be invincible against the ghost types that swarm like weaklings in this Catacombs.
As for the boss monsters prepared by the Guild, there might be possibilities other than ghost types, so it wouldn’t be that easy.
”──Hey, you’ve been moving ahead for a while now,”
Christy finally spoke up after about ten minutes from behind.
”I haven’t drawn a map. Do you know the way back?”
”Oh, Christy. It’s fine because we have Oswald with us. Right, Oswald?”
”…I do remember the way, but if I speak up, won’t I be disqualified?”
The blond, crew-cut young man glanced back and said that.
Three martial Guild staff members were stealthily following behind Kian and the others.
Manon placed a hand over the mouth of her mask.
”That’s right. Should we mark the path from now on?”
”No, I’m fine because I remember the entire path.”
Kian said this while crouching down to the ground, gesturing for Christy to be quiet.
He crawled forward and quickly disarmed the trap at his feet.
Once he was done, he stood up and threw a small stone ahead.
Of course, since the trap was dead, it did not activate.
”Do you remember?”
Oswald repeated with a perplexed expression.
While fiddling with his sun-shaped earring, he continued.
”You’ve seemed too busy disarming traps to take notes on the map.”
”It’s all in my head. I understand the shortcuts structurally as well. For example──”
Kian concentrated his energy (ki) and with a ‘Shot’ blew apart the brick wall at the back left.
Beyond it lay darkness, with a pit below.
However, descending the pit with a rope would provide a shortcut.
”Oh my!”
”…….Have you learn that up from 14 years of adventuring?”
Kian deflected Oswald’s question with a wry smile.
”Well, something like that.”
In reality, he had also studied architecture at the monastery.
Since it was necessary to destroy buildings with gunpowder to eliminate targets, he had intended to learn the basics at the very least.
The rest was just practical experience accumulated over these 14 years.
In Kian’s mind, the structure of the labyrinth projected like a 3-dimensional map, with detailed notes of traps he had encountered inscribed on it.
Having had no friends or companions since long ago, he had no choice but to create maps by himself.
Additionally, it served as a way to pass the time when there was no one to converse with.
”Well, if you remember, I guess that’s fine.”
Christy said, still looking disinterested as usual. From the way she spoke, it was clear she was desperate to go home.
Kian glanced at Manon and then passed by a shortcut trap.
”Let’s go straight. We shouldn’t rush and risk getting hurt, so let’s take the safe route.”
”A cautious type, huh?”
Manon said, hopping over the rubble with a grin.
As she jumped over the rubble, Manon said that.
* * *
After walking in the darkness for an hour──.
The group had reached the deepest floor of the labyrinth without fighting a single monster.
This was possible because Kian had instinctively found routes that avoided combat, continuously guiding the party along safe paths.
A guild staff member following from behind clicked their tongue softly.
They were probably a scout who just returned from the field.
Kian had noticed that most colleagues who tackled the labyrinth responded this way, so he decided not to take it to heart.
’Those who play scout basically wish that everyone who can map better than them would just die. It is the same as the bards who weave interesting tales. They harbor a deep disdain for their fellow colleagues.’
(I’m just doing something normal…)
Kian held up a torch in the dark, widened corridor of the lowest floor.
There was no sign of humans.
It seemed that the adventurers who had all entered the labyrinth through different entrances had yet to reach this lowest floor.
(I wonder if Serena is alright. Her group seemed to have no one capable of mapping, combat power aside.)
While worrying about that, he moved ahead of the group.
The boots of ‘Nightshade’ made a slight sound as they tread softly.
”Hah…. Phew. The path is widening now.”
”That’s right.”
”Looks like we’ve reached the lowest level. ──Right? Um…”
”Kian.”
Kian turned to look at the golden-haired handsome young man with a sun-shaped earring.
The handsome man—Oswald—looked at Kian with eyes that seemed to glow like phosphorescence even in the darkness.
”Kian. Kian, huh. Got it.”
”Well, it’s a name you can forget by tomorrow.”
”Is that so? By the way, my name is Oswald. Since I’ve been called that repeatedly, I assume you already know.”
”Yes.”
”I’d be honored if you could remember it.”
”Of course, Mr. Oswald. It might only be a short time until the exam is over, but I look forward to working with you.”
”Ah. However… that was truly impressive, Kian. In this darkness, you managed to clear all the traps with minimal time and without engaging in combat even once. I’ve never seen anyone handle reconnaissance so brilliantly. …You deserve praise.”
”Hahaha, thank you.”
While casually responding, he remained aware of his surroundings ahead.
Then, an indescribable presence emanated from Oswald.
However, that too quickly faded into the shadows.
”There is a large room ahead. It’s likely more spacious than the initial grand hall structurally. It must be a space prepared for the boss by the Guild.”
”So it’s a battle! I can’t wait!”
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
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