The sun was already high in the sky by the time I woke up the next morning.
I’m pretty carefree for sleeping until noon right after getting kicked out of my party, I thought with a self-deprecating smirk.
I’d gone straight to bed in a sulk after checking into the inn yesterday, so I hadn’t made any plans yet. I was a little exasperated by my own thick skin, but I needed to take stock of my situation if I was going to figure out my next move.
I still had a decent amount of gold and exchangeable materials from my time with the Hero Party, so I could afford to live comfortably for a while. However, no matter how much I pinched pennies, it wasn't enough to retire on. I needed to start earning again.
Broadly speaking, there were three ways to make a living.
The first was to continue as an Explorer, just as I had been. Throughout the continent, there were underground spaces known as Labyrinths where Magic Beasts appeared. People who delved into them to sell what they found were called Explorers. They mostly sold Magic Stones and materials harvested from slain beasts, as well as various ores and plants found within the depths.
The second was to find a steady job. The pay might be lower, but it was safe and offered a stable life—provided the employer wasn't a nightmare.
The third was to open a shop and work for myself. I had a few ideas that might turn a profit, but this was the most uncertain path. Of course, it also offered the highest potential for a massive payday.
"Among those choices, being an Explorer is the only real option..."
To be honest, I didn't even have to think about it. I wasn't particularly interested in becoming rich; I had come to this city specifically to be an Explorer. I may have been with Oliver when I started, but I hadn't become one just to follow him. This was my own choice.
Now that I’d decided to stick with it, I needed to gauge my current strength.
Up until yesterday, I’d been delving into Labyrinths as an Enchanter. I’d taken on that role for several reasons, but it was mostly due to the party's requirements. I no longer needed to be bound by the Hero Party’s needs, so starting today, I was going back to being a Swordsman. I’d become an Explorer out of admiration for swordsmen, so this was one point I wouldn't compromise on.
I’d actually started out as a Swordsman in the Hero Party. Back then, before I converted to an Enchanter, Oliver’s skills had certainly been superior. Even now, in terms of raw physical ability, he probably still had the edge.
However, thanks to my time spent as an Enchanter, I felt that I was now several levels stronger than I had been when I put down the sword. I might even be stronger than the "Sword Saint" Oliver himself.
That said, I was out of practice. I needed to shake off the rust. Once I regained my touch, I should be able to navigate the Middle Floors of a Great Labyrinth on my own without much trouble.
"Come to think of it, I heard a new Labyrinth opened nearby. This is a good chance to test the waters."
I gathered my gear and left the inn, bound for the newly discovered Labyrinth.
No one truly knows why Labyrinths exist. They supposedly began appearing at random across the continent several centuries ago.
Their internal structures vary wildly. Some are artificial stone corridors, some are jagged caves, and others contain vast open spaces that look like the surface world. While most Labyrinths span ten to thirty floors of similar terrain, four exceptions exist on this continent. These are the massive, hundred-floor structures known as Great Labyrinths.
In a Great Labyrinth, the environment shifts every few floors, drastically changing the resources available. It’s often said that an Explorer who dives into a Great Labyrinth has no need for any other, given the sheer variety of Magic Stones, materials, plants, and minerals found within. While that isn't strictly true, I'll spare you the details for now.
Because of this, the deepest floor an Explorer has reached in a Great Labyrinth serves as a primary mark of their status.
I soon arrived at my destination.
At the entrance, staff from the Explorer Guild were managing the flow of people. Access was granted by showing a Guild Card to the attendant on duty. I walked up and presented mine.
"Um... are you planning to go in alone?" the female clerk asked, looking around me. Once she confirmed there was no one else with me, she frowned.
"Yes. Is there a problem?"
"Technically, no. But a Labyrinth is a very dangerous place, you know? Going in solo is reckless. If you go to the Guild headquarters, you’ll find other Explorers looking for a party. I really think you should team up with someone first."
She gave me the advice in a kind, concerned tone. She wasn't wrong, of course.
However, I’d heard the Magic Beasts in this particular Labyrinth were about as strong as those in the Upper Floors of the Great Labyrinth, if not weaker. If that was the case, I could handle them easily on my own. I appreciated her kindness, but I wished she’d actually looked at my card before deciding I needed a lecture.
"Thank you for the warning. But I'll be fine. If you look at my card, I think you'll see why."
"Your card...? ...Wait..."
The clerk’s face froze as she actually processed the information on the card.
Above ground, a Guild Card is mostly just proof of identity. Because of that, it only displays two things: the owner’s name and their deepest reached floor in the Great Labyrinth.
Specifically, my card showed that I had reached the 94th Floor of this city's Great Labyrinth.
"The... the 94th Floor?! I-I am so sorry! Please forgive my rudeness!"
The clerk’s attitude did a total 180. She bowed so low and so fast it looked like she might hit the ground.
"It’s fine. Can I go in now?"
"O-Of course! Please, right this way!"
With her permission secured, I stepped into the Labyrinth.
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