It’s dark.

So dark that there isn’t any sense of light at all.

I began to feel uneasy as I smelled something rank. The smell of blood is so strong that it hurts my nose. I almost felt like throwing up.

I jumped up with wide eyes shocked by the nastiness.

[-tsu!!] (1)

A dark corridor comes into view.

Even though it shouldn’t, light vaguely seems to radiate from the stonework.

Surveying the area there was a small altar enshrined behind me. Looking carefully I can see that the altar is so weathered it’s on the verge of collapsing.

It is a small stone table that has the remains of two candles on it. It appears an animal hide has been placed as an offering, stuck there by an arrow.

[What’s this … …]

I muttered.

As I often speak to myself, the words spilled out naturally.

[I don’t understand … … Something feels wrong … …]

Repeating the words my heart rate changes greatly. It rises.

I literally don’t understand. I can’t understand this situation.

I went to sleep, didn’t I?

However, there is no warm bed here, neither is there a noisy mechanical alarm clock nor any morning sunlight spilling through the curtains or light from a lamp’s light bulb.

Only a cold, unsanitary stone floor. A stench that hurts the nose and a few creepy stones that faintly emit light.

I feel sick … …

I covered my mouth and waited for the nausea to pass.

I heard a roaring sound in the distance.

[-Uoaaa!!](2)

It was a senseless wailing.

It seemed like a sound a wounded beast filled with killing intent would make.

[– Wait, wait, wait.]

I remarked unable to understand. Because I don’t know what’s happening, I don’t even know what I’m saying. (Maybe I don’t know what to say.)

In a panic, I begin to run in the direction opposite to which roar was heard.

I run through the stone corridor.

I turned several times, annoyingly the scenery doesn’t change no matter how far I run away.

Along the way I feel something strange and hear a squishing sound.

I feel something squish into the tread of my shoe, so I check the sole of my sneakers.

There is a fist sized insect in it’s death throes —

[U, Uaaa tsu!](3)

I cry out at the terrible sight.

It’s not that I am especially afraid of insects. But in a city surrounded by concrete I have never run into such large ones, so I retreated from such a viscerally disgusting insect.

The insect cries out. In the same way a dolphin cries out for help.

I feel a chill and look up. My gaze turns towards the next corner.

Something with the visage of a person sized insect peeks around the corner.

A size common sense says is impossible.

It’s body makes a ‘gichi gichi’ sound, as it’s angular insect-like limbs move. At first sight it’s near a stag beetle in appearance. However it’s abnormal size and shape push my sanity to the edge.

[–tsu!](1)

I can’t make another sound. If I do, the monster is likely to jump me, my only choice is to run the other way immediately.

I run and run and keep running.

Without thinking about where I am going I just keep moving.

I keep running until I run out of stamina and breath.

Then I come to my sense a little.

[-Uoaaa!!](2)

A beast’s angry roar.

It’s closer this time. I had foolishly returned to where I had escaped from.

I suddenly go pale, as my body stiffens.

However, being closer to the roar, I was able to pick up other sounds too.

It was the sound of people speaking.

[– tsu, — tsu!!](1)

As though walking towards an invisible light I headed towards the source of the voice.

My mind spun, another person, [People] I hoped.

The sound of the beast is also getting louder, but by approaching I become able to hear the person’s voice clearly

[Close in! Close in, it’ll work this time.]

It’s the low voice of a mature man.

A man giving orders

The cold blade passed through my thigh, making it burn with a blazing heat.

[U, uaa!]

I cry out as I fall on my rear, understanding I’ve been sliced by a sword.

“A Solo in our trade! Everybody, fall back. Let’s leave the monster to him!”

The man leading gave an order to the others nearby.

I wasn’t able to understand what he said. I did not want to.

The woman with the can looked at me as she passed, saying nothing.

The man who was blown away along with the rest of the people gave me a chilly look, as they walked past me in silence.

In the end, following them, the huge wolf appeared before my eyes —

[Ua, aaaaaaaaaaaah!!]

In terror, I jumped to the side.

A sharp pain runs through the cut in my thigh, so I fall awkwardly.

Meanwhile the other people reach a safe area.

So the wolf turn towards me who is nearest.

My thoughts race. Various ill feelings sweep over me. I recall my life up until this moment.

And then —

— Skill [???] activated itself.

Mentality will stabilize in exchange for some feelings.

Confusion was corrected by +1.00 —

Some sort of [Display] floats in my field of view. This isn’t the time, I didn’t intend to try and understand it.

However, together with the [Display], my emotions have cooled down.

My rushing thoughts have calmed, and my ill feelings have vanished, since it’s like this I am able to concentrate.

My left leg is cut so I don’t use it, so I can only stand on my right one.

At the same time the wolf attacks me.

The wolf pounces, and I jump vertically backwards.

However, it’s not enough, the wolf is overwhelmingly fast. Even the brawny man from the earlier battle wasn’t able to follow the wolf’s speed. As it passes, the upper part of my right arm got cut by it’s nail.

Then, I heard the people who reached a safe area speak.

[Alright, right here! Attack! Block the path!!]

I got a chill.

Not only was the wolf a threat, those people were my enemy too.

They made me bait, as they ran away; but even that wasn’t enough –!

Following the chill, I glanced behind me, roaring flames covering the entire corridor were approaching me.

The huge wolf also noticed it. But it was too late. The huge wolf had jumped up trying to bite me to death so it was unable to avoid it.

Naturally, I was also too slow.

Damn, those guys! I too, will get burnt!

I curse in my mind.

The roaring flame explodes around us, so as to burn everything.

As it happened I jumped back as far as I could, covering my head with both hands.

The wind from the explosion struck my back, and blew me away.

The flames scorched my body. I could feel my whole body burning.

A maddening amount of pain rushed to my brain.

Through the pain, I maintain a thought.

I sustain my willpower, with frustration and hatred.

After being blown away I am flung against the ground, opening my eyes slowly I look around.

The flames which had filled the entire corridor vanished in an instant … like magic.

However, in the direction that the people had escaped there was a beautiful wall of fire.

[Wh, wh, a~~~]

That, was that their aim.

I wasn’t able to get the words out of my burnt throat.

And now the path was blocked by a wall of fire, I reflect on that for a moment before slowly realizing that only the huge wolf and I remain.

The wolf also recovered and stood up at the same time I did.

However, it seemed to have been showered with more flames than me.

Disregarding the size of it’s body, in the end because it sprang, leaping over me, it probably received more damage than I did.

It’s weakened.

The wolf’s breathing was rough, and it seemed to be staggering.

But, it’s eyes shone brightly.

It’s will to fight hadn’t withered at all, It growled as if to say [Even wounded a wolf is fearsome] and stepped towards me.

Like the wolf I resolved myself.

I had been blown to a good location. It seemed the wolf couldn’t see it, but behind was where the large sword that the warrior used during the earlier battle fell. If I can use it in a surprise attack, however small there is a chance of victory.

Having decided that, I immediately turned around, running at full strength.

As I turned around, I caught a glimpse of the wolf leaping towards me,

A sharp pain ran along my left thigh, and an alarm echoed loudly in my mind.

Nevertheless I ran. The feeling of my leg faded as I forced myself to tread the ground.

I can’t grasp the timing. I’m unable to predict the wolf’s approach.

I picked up the large sword, promptly, I turned around swing the large sword down.

The large sword was so heavy I wasn’t able to support it even with both hands. Nevertheless I bet everything and followed through with all my strength at once.

With a raw dull sound, I saw that the large sword was buried in the wolf’s neck.

[Yatta —-a, a, gua!]

The large sword gouged into it’s neck, the wolf leaned into my body.

I was able to barely avoid it’s teeth and nails, as the 2 meter bulk lean.

An incredible weight is applied to me, my stomach contents flow backwards spewing out of my mouth.

Even though it’s neck was torn open, the wolf still tried to kill and eat me.

Opening it’s mouth, the wolf tried to swallow my head. My fading awareness returns, and I dodge by twisting my body to it’s limit. Doing so had even caused the large sword to gouge further in.

[U, Uooaaaaaaaa!!]

I used both hands intending to drive away the 2 meter bulk.

And, feeling a slight gap, I slip out from under the wolf.

Feeling the large sword not gouge any more, I let it go I take some distance.

The wolf did not follow me.

No, I’m going to do it. However my body won’t move.

The wolf has lost a lot of blood, it’s body was burned, it’s appearance was ragged. But I couldn’t be careless.

But, looking carefully I could see the turn of events.

One of the wolf’s eyes was burnt, it seems unable to see.

An arrow is pierced deeply into it’s hind leg, it’s limping.

The large sword has probably reached it’s windpipe. It made a whistling sound as it breathed.

It was clearly in worse condition that I was.

[–aaa, You … …]

The words spill out own their own.

The wolf advances towards me while dragging the large sword.

As a precaution, I move to the blind spot created by it’s scorched eye, to avoid being seen.

Not long after, the wolf collapsed.

Then, the wolf disappeared as it was covered in a faint emerald green shimmer of light.

With a clanging sound, the large sword and the arrow fall to the ground.

[Eh … … ?]

Yes, it vanished.

The corpse did not remain, it vanished in a light like an illusion.

I was stunned at the sight.

After the wolf disappeared, a glittering green stone remained.

— The title [Shinsui of the beginning] has been acquired.

Strength has been adjusted by +0.1 —

-Day one

After we finished from the Labyrinth, my experience increased by 100. I still need 600 more experience to reach level up. 100 experience in several hours, my growth is too slow.

However, that can be said as rapid growth in the perspective of 30 old age man of the explorer who is still at level 10. If I keep doing this every day, I will reach next level in six days. I will not take as much time as the people who kept fighting for ten years or more.

If I think like that, this is an abnormally rapid growth.

Even so, I’m not satisfied.

My goal is to reach the 100th level of Labyrinth. To reach that, doesn’t mean have to break off what does the human can do. Then I make a plan just like in the game.

First, I have to align what to do for exploration in the Labyrinth. There is still so many things that I still don’t know yet, but I was right that I had the feeling about I need Dia to explore the Labyrinth.

I, without reducing my HP at all but my MP is run out.

In other words, if I can have a recovery for my MP or save my MP, I will be able to continue. To increasing the efficiency of obtaining experience.

The rest is, pay more attention at monster’s level is important. With Dia’s skill, I can challenge a stronger monster to gain more experience and money.

The important points are recovery and hunt selection. That’s the basic for level up in the online game.

「……The problem is solved」

I muttered to myself.

「Hm, What is it?」

Ryin reacts to me.

「Nothing, Since I began to enter the Labyrinth again, I thought about where it is and what kind of monsters is inside」

The Labyrinth’s explorers who are visiting this bar have a lot of knowledge. Some of their advice are expected, but I spoke without concealing my intent.

「HeeeーYou failed before but you challenge it again」

「Yes, Because I’m free in the morning. I have a spare time, so why don’t I just go to the Labyrinth…」

「Well, because you came until this far, Varte to challenge the Labyrinth. That can’t be helped」

It’s just so simple like that.

「I will not make any trouble for this bar, so I will avoid getting injured」

「No, you should focus on your dream more than this bar. But somehow still work at here. Rather than that, what did you just said about this and that monster a little while ago?」

Ryin kindly responds to my story.

However, the story is being interrupted.

「If that kind of story just leaves it to meー Sieg」

It was Corvus.

「Do you know a lot?」

「Yeah, Since I have been doing this for many years. So just ask me anything」

I turned my face towards Ryin.

She nodded silently. I was going to introduce about Corvus, but…

「Well then, I will ask you. I want to know more about strong monster」

「Strong monster? Do you mean about Boss monster?」

I heard about the boss monster, it is like my favorite game. I firmly hold down my curiosity, and stay focus calmly.

「Yes. Including boss monster, I want to know more about strong monsters which are at low level」

「I see. It’s important to pay the attention to the monster of the first level. You are really clever」

I respond him with a wry smile.

I’m telling him my purpose is not evil, It’s for subjugation.

「Alright, Sieg. Much more the boss monster is rare not that much. Certainly, there supposed to be 10 type of it. The closest boss monster where near the entrance of Varte is『Quuen of Forest』. Note that, the area is where lots of plants grow. It’s living in that area. Over there, there are a lot of Insect boss monster as well. There is also dangerous gigantic spider boss 『Rail Arachne』and Carnivorous plants 『Caps Dungeon Hole』ー」

Corvus tells me generously, perhaps this information might from his experience. Come to think of it, He often took care of me. I understand his reason. Like a good big brother who is taking care of me while visiting the bar.

And, about the low-level boss monster, Corvus speaks like he has recalled something.

「ーThe rest is, if you are talking about strong monster, then it’s mean the guardian」

「Guardian?」

The first time I heard about this.

「Yeah, The big boss which are at 10th level and 20th level」

「10th level? Then, that’s still nothing to do with me, right?」

「No, It doesn’t mean like that. Guardian’s intelligence is high, it’s freely wandering inside the Labyrinth as they want. So, sometimes its appear in the lower level as well」

「The boss is freely wandering……?」

「Yeah. I tell you, you should absolutely escape if you meet them. Nobody could go against them. Even for the strongest explorer of Allied Nation couldn’t defeat it」

「I understand」

Without being said, I have been decided to run away if I met them.

「……It’s a little bit of surprise story, don’t you agree? Even though I walk around, I still haven’t met them once. Even I don’t remember about when it’s last made appearance. It’s already become common topic among the explorers」

「No, I really thankful. Thank you very much. The topic is really interesting」

「Well, from this point the topic will get more to the interesting part. It’s the story about Glenn who is the strongest in the Allied Nation. He is the legend among usー」

But the talk comes to an end after we talked about the monster…

「ーCorvus! don’t interrupt him too much!」

「Please, wait, Oldman. I’m just teaching him with good intentions, you know?」

As usual, the manager’s loud voice flies from the kitchen.

Corvus answers him happily. And, he says 『Let’s talk about this next time』to me while winking his eyes at me.

I laugh while lowering my head to him. After all, Corvus is a dependable big brother for me.

While returning to my work, I arrange information that I just got.

After that, the bar becomes busy because many customers came. I succeed gathering the information that I wanted to hear.