I was currently in the middle of a battle inside the labyrinth, utilizing my magic.
As I envisioned the words Fire Storm in my mind, sparks of fire began to dance through the air around me. This wasn't the result of lighting a fire, scattering oil, or using gunpowder. These were sparks generated by my own will, born from my creation and subject to my commands. The embers eventually clung to the monsters, swarming over a pair of Green Caterpillars until flames completely enveloped them.
This was magic—a undeniable phenomenon, a concrete fact, and an even more concrete source of power. There was no doubt that I could defeat monsters using it, though it wasn't quite powerful enough to finish them in a single blow.
Having endured the flames, the two green caterpillars crawled toward us to launch a body-slam attack. I struck out with my Copper Sword, parrying the blow to brush it aside. It was a difficult maneuver, but it wasn't an attack that was impossible to handle. Beside me, Roxanne was nimbly dodging the other Green Caterpillar’s strikes with effortless grace. Her movements were almost eerie, even if I was already used to her being a bit abnormal in combat. I couldn't help but wonder how she did it.
After a brief pause, I visualized Fire Storm once more. Sparks danced through the air again, swarming the monsters. The caterpillars finally reached their limit and rolled over, defeated. They lay prostrate on the labyrinth floor before vanishing into smoke, leaving only the Thread they dropped behind.
"They finally went down," I said, speaking to Roxanne as she gathered the loot. "Facing off against Green Caterpillars is always nerve-wracking."
If I grew careless, the Green Caterpillars would spit out sticky, viscous thread to ensnare us. They were troublesome monsters that tried to rob you of your mobility by entangling you in their webs.
"Since you defeat them so quickly with your magic, Master, it makes things very easy for me," Roxanne replied with a smile.
"I-I see."
"Yes. Thank you very much."
She really seemed to mean it. I didn't quite understand why she was so grateful; Roxanne could perfectly evade even the special attacks of the Green Caterpillars. At her level, she could probably keep dodging monsters on the second floor for hours without breaking a sweat. However, since she couldn't do it forever, I suppose my magic did make the job lighter for her.
"I’d feel more at ease if the power increased a bit more, though," I mused.
"You’re right. I have heard stories that a Mage carries a Cane instead of a sword."
"A Cane, huh?" I considered the idea. It made sense. The Copper Sword I was currently using was, traditionally speaking, equipment for a front-line job. It stood to reason that a Mage would have equipment better suited to their role, and a cane was likely the answer. I tried to recall what the Mage I had seen before was carrying, but I hadn't paid much attention to their gear at the time. Since I hadn't actually seen them in combat, they might have even been switching weapons between fights.
"I have only heard rumors, so I am not entirely certain," Roxanne added. "I do not know much about Mages. I am very sorry."
"No, it’s fine. You're being more than helpful, Roxanne."
"Thank you. Something is coming."
As we moved deeper into the labyrinth, a single Needle Wood appeared exactly where Roxanne pointed. As expected, she never missed a beat. While it might have been dangerous to lose ourselves in conversation anywhere other than a safe waiting room, Roxanne’s presence made it a non-issue. We were unlikely to ever be caught in a surprise attack as long as she was with me.
I blasted the monster with a Fireball. Since there was only one, I used my single-target attack magic. With only one opponent, I could stay in the safety of the back line while Roxanne engaged it directly. She nimbly avoided the branches the Needle Wood swung around, moving with an agility that left me mesmerized. Safely and without any real danger, we finished the monster off.
"The problem is that the Market just ended," I said, picking up our conversation. "I really want to find a permanent shop."
Even if I wanted to buy a cane, Vale Town didn't have any permanent stores. Itinerant merchants only came by once every five days to hold a market, which was becoming increasingly inconvenient.
"A permanent shop? That would be difficult unless we went to somewhere like Quratar," Roxanne suggested. "The Imperial Capital likely has them as well, but for a Weapon Shop specifically, Quratar would be the best choice."
"Quratar... I feel like I might have heard of it."
"There is a large Labyrinth in Quratar. I have been there once; it is quite convenient, with rows of shops catering specifically to Explorers."
I had already told Roxanne that I was from a distant countryside and was ignorant of this world's common sense, and I’d asked her to teach me whenever possible. She was taking that request to heart.
"If we get the chance, maybe we should try going there."
If a place like Quratar had that many shops, it must be a major city. It certainly sounded convenient. I cut the conversation there as we encountered our next pair of monsters. When fighting two at once, Roxanne and I each took one. I suspected Roxanne could handle both easily, but I couldn't let myself be that pathetic forever.
Directly engaging a monster was tough, but not impossible. Since I could fire off magic while the monster was still closing the distance, the actual time spent in melee combat was minimal. It would have been great if I could kill them before they reached me, but life was rarely that easy. If it were, everyone would be a labyrinth explorer.
The combat on the second floor was still relatively short, but I knew monsters would grow stronger on higher floors. It was better to get used to the rhythm of combat here before moving up. I decided there was no immediate rush to find a cane; I could adjust gradually.
After finishing our exploration for the day, we headed outside to sell our items. I refilled our canteens at the well behind the inn. Even though I could create water with magic, I didn't have any cups or bowls to put it in, and I certainly couldn't fire a Fireball directly into a canteen. I’d have to wait for the next market to buy a bucket or a bowl. Everything was just so inconvenient here.
After a short rest, we headed back into the labyrinth.
"This way," Roxanne said, leading the way to a pair of Green Caterpillars.
I visualized Fire Storm, and the magic activated. As the flames chipped away at their HP, the caterpillars closed in. I drew my Copper Sword to face the one coming for me. If I’d had Durandal, it would have been over in one hit, but with this sword, the monster was able to lunge back at me in retaliation. I dodged by a hair’s breadth and immediately countered with another Fire Storm.
The caterpillar took advantage of the opening while I was casting to charge again. This time, I couldn't move in time. The impact jolted me as I took the hit. I had focused too much on the magic and not enough on the monster's movements.
The flames finally finished it off, and the caterpillar vanished into smoke. Fighting was still a struggle, but I couldn't let myself whine about it. Things would only get harder from here. In this world, I had no means of survival other than the labyrinth. There might be other paths if I searched desperately, but I had no way of knowing if they would be any easier. As dangerous as it was, the labyrinth was a simple, direct path.
I picked up the dropped Thread. "From now on, I'll be putting the loot into my Item Box, so pass it to me."
"The Item Box?" Roxanne asked as she handed me another piece of Thread.
"I have some extra room now."
I was now an Explorer Lv 20. The capacity of the Item Box was tied to my level; specifically, I could store twenty types of items with twenty units each. I already kept gold, silver, recovery medicines, and gear inside, but twenty slots gave me plenty of room for monster drops like branches and thread. I kept most of my gold in there for safety, as I wanted to believe there was no magic capable of stealing from an Item Box—at least, Roxanne didn't know of any.
"Um... if you don't mind me asking, Master, what is your level?"
"For the Explorer job? It's Level 20."
"Level 20... As expected of you, Master. Yes, you would certainly have room in your Item Box at that level."
She seemed to know the mechanics of the skill. However, I wondered what she really thought of my level, given she had previously commented on us being close in age. She probably assumed I was some rich kid from a distant land living off an inheritance, which was a fine excuse for my lack of common sense. In truth, Level 20 was high for my age but not impossible, especially considering my 200x XP Gain.
"Keep my level a secret, okay?"
"Of course."
She understood it was sensitive personal information.
They say it’s easier to do a task than to worry about it, and by the next day, I found I could take down monsters with only three spells. At that rate, I could finish them with area-of-effect magic before they even got close enough to attack. Even if I used single-target spells, the fights were over in seconds. My increased power was likely due to my Mage level rising rapidly from its initial low point.
"You seem to be growing stronger by leaps and bounds, Master," Roxanne praised.
"I've only just started using magic. There's still room for improvement."
"Even so, your rate of progress is extraordinary."
It was all thanks to my 1/10 Required XP and 20x XP Gain, but I kept those details to myself. We continued our hunt until we reached a small waiting room with doors only at the front and back, indicating a Boss Room was next. My exploration of the second floor had progressed faster than I thought.
With no one else waiting, I prepared for the fight. I put away my current gear and took out the Holy Sword, Durandal. Using my Character Reset, I added a Fifth Job slot. To make the most of Durandal, I wanted the Warrior's Rush or the Swordsman's Slash skill. I couldn't drop Explorer, Hero, or Monk, and I wanted to keep Mage just in case the boss was immune to physical attacks.
I sacrificed my XP-related skills for the sake of safety and added the Warrior job. The door opened, and I stepped into the boss chamber.
"Alright, let's go."
I braced myself. Smoke coalesced in the center of the room, forming a giant caterpillar. It was a size larger than the ones on the floor and pure white. My Appraisal identified it as a White Caterpillar, Level 2. Like the First Floor boss, it was a superior version of the common monsters on that level.
Suddenly, an orange magic circle appeared beneath the boss's chest.
"It's coming!" Roxanne warned.
It was going to spit thread. I focused on its mouth and visualized Fire Wall.
As the caterpillar spat, a wall of flames erupted in front of me. The silk was incinerated instantly, the sound of it burning echoing through the room. It was good to know my wall magic worked exactly as intended. Roxanne moved around the side of the fire and slashed with her scimitar. The caterpillar turned sluggishly to counter, but she dodged with a simple step back.
I moved to the other side and struck with Durandal. The White Caterpillar lunged at Roxanne, but she parried it with her shield. I stepped in from behind and unleashed a flurry of strikes. It tried to swing its rear at me, but I backed away just in time.
The boss was sturdier than the normal monsters, but with both of us surrounding it, the fight was firmly in our control. Roxanne drew its attention while I carefully timed my swings with the Holy Sword.
"Rush!" I commanded, slamming Durandal into its side.
The boss still didn't fall. It was definitely tougher than the Level 1 boss. I backed off as it charged Roxanne again. She slid sideways with fluid grace, and in that opening, I stepped forward and drove Durandal deep into its torso. The blade tore through its flesh. The White Caterpillar let out a final, silent gasp and collapsed.
"Good work. That’s the second floor finished."
"To defeat it so quickly... you really are amazing, Master."
I appreciated the praise, but I knew it was mostly thanks to Durandal and Roxanne taking the brunt of the danger. The White Caterpillar vanished, leaving behind a glossy item: Silk Thread. According to my Appraisal, it was high-quality silk, a much better drop than the normal thread.
"Keep that Silk Thread for now," I told Roxanne. My Item Box was still a bit cramped, and I didn't want to waste a slot on a one-time boss drop.
I checked our jobs, but neither of us had gained anything new. I’d half-hoped picking up silk might unlock a Weaver job, but if that were the case, I probably would have gotten it from the regular thread already.
We moved through the boss room to the entrance of the Third Floor. Like the previous floors, the starting room had paths branching in three directions.
"Which way, Master?" Roxanne asked. "Straight ahead are Kobolds and Green Caterpillars. To the left, there is a single Needle Wood nearby."
"Let's go left. I want to start with the smaller groups."
The shortcut on the second floor had been the center path, so I figured I’d try the left this time. Keeping Durandal out, I switched back to my third job set and entered the tunnel.
The first enemy we found was a Level 3 Needle Wood. Using Durandal, I took it down in a single blow. Even if the monsters were getting stronger, I was keeping pace with them. For the next encounter, I put Durandal away and drew my Copper Sword to test my magic.
A Kobold appeared. I remembered hearing that these were the primary monsters of the third floor. It was a deep blue, dwarf-like creature with massive eyes, pointed ears, and fangs. Its head made up nearly half of its body height. In its right hand, it gripped a knife.
The sight of a weapon made me hesitate. Body slams caused bruises that my HP Absorption could easily fix, but a blade was different. Would a cut heal the same way? What if it severed a finger or hit an internal organ? I had no desire to find out.
Against an armed enemy, I needed to strike first. I visualized a Fireball. A sphere of flame manifested above me and shot toward the Kobold.
It was slow.
The Kobold was incredibly sluggish. It had only managed a couple of clumsy steps before the fireball reached it. The flames enveloped the creature, and it collapsed before it could even get close to us.