The next day, when I opened my eyes, the sun had already risen.
I laughed at myself for how carefree I was by sleeping until noon after just getting kicked from the party.
After coming to this inn yesterday, I immediately went to the bed; so I haven’t thought anything about what I would do from now on.
While being amazed by my impudence, I thought back on the current state of affairs to make a plan for the future.
I still have a lot of money and materials that I can sell for more money. Therefore, I’ll be okay for a while.
However, how much I cut down on my expenses, that doesn’t mean I can live on forever without working.
For this reason, I need to continue to earn money little by little.
There are three main ways to earn money.
The first one is the same way as before. That is, work as an explorer.
At various places of the continent, there are underground spaces called labyrinths from where magical beasts emerge scattered around. The people who delve into those labyrinths and sell the loot they acquire for money are called explorers.
Sold items are mostly magical stones or magical ingredients acquired during the subjugation of the magical beasts; ores or plants found in the labyrinth, etc.
The second way to earn money is to get employed somewhere and have a steady job.
The money you earn decreases, but you can do so safely without any danger.
The third way is opening your store and earning money with your own efforts.
I have several ideas as to what kind of store it can be, but this plan has the lowest certainty to it. However, if you can pull it off, it has the highest income.
“Looks like, becoming an explorer is the only choice…”
To be honest, I didn’t even have to think about it.
It’s not like I am trying to become rich, and the reason I came to this city in the first place was to become an explorer.
I was with Oliver when I became an explorer, but I didn’t become one just to follow him behind. I did so by my own will.
Well then, I did decide to go as an explorer; but before that, I need to get a grasp of my powers.
Until yesterday, I was exploring the labyrinth as a support magician.
There are reasons why I worked as a support magician, but most of them were related to party circumstances.
There is no need to be bound by party circumstances anymore, therefore starting from today I’ll return to being a swordsman.
There is also this reason that I became a swordsman explorer because I admired swordsman explorers. Therefore, I cannot give up on this.
When I was in the hero party, I was a swordsman at first.
If I regain my intuition, I am supposed to have enough power to delve into the labyrinth until middle levels without any trouble.
That being said, I have improved physically and mentally in these past few years.
I can’t even imagine my current power as a swordsman.
“By the way, there was a talk about the appearance of a new labyrinth around here. Let’s go and take a look, shall we?”
After deciding to take a look at this new labyrinth, I prepared my exploration equipment and left the inn.
◆
I have no idea as to why labyrinths exist. It looks like they suddenly appeared at various places a few hundred years ago.
Internal structures of labyrinths have various forms. There are labyrinths formed from stone passages that look like made by men, labyrinths that are caverns, and there are even those which have the same airspace as the ground above.
Labyrinths generally have a similar pattern of having between ten or thirty levels, but there are four labyrinths in the continent that are considered exceptions.
It is said that these have one hundred levels, and are better known as The Great Labyrinths.
In great labyrinths, the scenery changes regularly as you delve deeper into the labyrinth, and the loot you acquire changes greatly as well. You can acquire various types of magical monster resources, magical stones, all sorts of plants and minerals; so much so that it is said that if you delve into a great labyrinth, there is no need to delve into the other lesser labyrinths.
Well, that’s not true, but I’ll leave it out here.
Due to the facts stated above, the attained level in a great labyrinth has become some kind of status among the explorers.
◆
I arrived at the labyrinth I decided to check out.
An employee of the explorer’s guild is doing entry control at the entrance of the labyrinth.
You can enter a labyrinth by showing your guild card to this person.
I headed towards the employee and showed that person my guild card.
“Erm, will you enter the labyrinth by yourself?”
The employee, who is a woman, looked around me. When she confirmed that there wasn’t anyone else, she asked me this question.
“That’s right, is that a problem?”
“Well, labyrinths are really dangerous places, you know? Delving alone into one is reckless. If you go to the guild headquarters, you will find explorers who invite people to their parties; so I think it is better if you start by forming a party.”
The lady gave her advice with a kind voice.
What this person says is true. However, I heard that the strength of the magical beasts of this labyrinth is around the same as the middle levels of the great labyrinth. If that’s true, I can deal with it myself. I know that this person said what she said out of kindness, but at least look at the guild card and decide whether you should give your advice or not.
“Thank you for your advice. However, I will be okay even if I am alone. I think you can see it if you look at my card.”
“C-card? Eh?”
Her face stiffened when she looked at my card.
Above the ground, the purpose of the guild card is to confirm that the owner is an explorer. Due to that, there are only two pieces of information on the card: name and attained level of the great labyrinth.
In short, on my guild card, it shows that I have attained level 94 of this town’s great labyrinth.
“Ni-ninety-four!? M-my apologies! I am deeply sorry for making a rude assumption about you!”
After confirming my card, her attitude changed completely.
“No need to be sorry. Well then, is it okay if I enter?”
“O-of course! Please, right this way.”
After being granted permission to enter, I stepped into the labyrinth.
