Chapter 104: Untainted Souls

It was discovered that the Tubris Company was involved in selling suspicious gemstones, but there was nothing more that could be done about it. The gemstones themselves were not the issue, and there were no reported damages.

In the end, the only option was to uncover the site where the gemstone-infused zombies were being created.

Near the entrance to the labyrinth, there was a peculiar trio.

“Looks like we’ll have to dive into this labyrinth again…” Gerhardt said with a strong sense of dislike.

“Have you been here before, Gerhardt-san?” Lutz asked with anticipation. If there was someone who could guide them, it would be reassuring.

“It was forty years ago. The labyrinth has surely changed significantly since then, so don’t expect much,” Gerhardt replied.

The workings of the labyrinth were incomprehensible, as it changed daily. Walls would appear where there were none before, and the labyrinth itself would expand.

Accurate maps were never circulated among adventurers, and relying on memories from forty years ago would not only be unreliable but also a hindrance.

“How far did you reach back then?” Ricardo asked with great interest.

“Up to the tenth floor,” Gerhardt replied.

“Wow, that’s amazing!” Ricardo exclaimed.

Lutz didn’t fully understand, but judging from Ricardo’s excitement, it must have been quite an achievement. However, Gerhardt didn’t have a proud expression on his face; instead, he looked as if he were enduring pain.

“It’s nothing special. The deeper you go, the denser the darkness becomes,” Gerhardt said.

Ricardo seemed eager to ask more questions, but he backed down due to the atmosphere of rejection emanating from Gerhardt.

“In the end, Josel-san couldn’t come, huh?” Lutz changed the subject. High-ranked knight Josel, who was equipped with a conveniently maneuverable short sword, would have been reliable in the labyrinth, but he had been assigned as an escort to another territory with the Earl.

“Well, that’s his actual job,” Gerhardt replied with a wry smile.

“If we’re talking about actual jobs, there’s only one real adventurer here,” Ricardo added.

“Shall I leave Ricardo behind?”

“Wait a minute!” Lutz quickly interrupted the joking between Gerhardt and Lutz. It wouldn’t do for Ricardo to really leave.

“Just kidding. If I didn’t do anything when the Count returns, it wouldn’t be a good story,” Gerhardt said.

“…Is it a hobby of yours to tease young people?” Lutz asked.

“It is,” Gerhardt replied.

“This old man…!”

“And he’s aware of it,” Gerhardt said unabashedly, leaving Ricardo at a loss for words.

“Well, I understand that you’re anxious because the usual members aren’t here, but exploring the labyrinth isn’t just about increasing the number of people,” Gerhardt said.

“Is it like becoming brothers after being impaled by the same spear with a ten-person party jumping out?” Lutz asked.

“We were both pierced by the same stick. What a silly way to put it,” Gerhardt replied.

With that, Gerhardt and Ricardo burst into laughter. Lutz couldn’t keep up with the laughter that revolved around the death of people and strained his cheeks.

They weren’t blaspheming the death of others. Even if they were called garbage or parasites by others, they valued their own lives above all else. They couldn’t feel sad about the deaths of their comrades.

Death was too close to them, so they could only laugh it off.

Adventurers were such pitiful beings.

“…Well then, shall we go soon?” Ricardo reluctantly suggested, and the other two reluctantly stood up.

They had hoped that a messenger from the Earl’s family would arrive on a swift horse, saying that the problem had been resolved, but that was unlikely. It was a futile act to hope for gold coins to fall from the sky.

The three men, the beginning of their labyrinth exploration. No matter how many times they came, they never seemed to get used to the stench.

This time, they all had lanterns hanging from their waists. There was a high possibility of intense combat, so they wanted to keep both hands free.

Dog-like monsters attacked them. Werewolves, giant lizards, and pink hippos standing on their hind legs. The three of them repelled them all.

“Should we form a proper party and go on an adventure?” Ricardo half-jokingly, half-seriously suggested.

“Declined.”

“Not interested,” Gerhardt and Lutz immediately declined without even thinking. Their main profession was being craftsmen. If there were any valuable materials to be obtained, they might have been motivated, but this labyrinth didn’t have anything like that.

Gerhardt frowned.

“I’ve said it before, but if you want companions, look for them at the tavern.”

“I don’t like being with people I don’t know…”

“Aren’t you the one who played bait for returning soldiers? Don’t say you’re afraid of talking to strangers,” Gerhardt retorted.

“It’s not about logic, it’s about feeling!”

“Don’t be conceited, you fool.”

It was a foolish and pointless conversation, but it was much better than remaining silent. Walking in the darkness for hours on end made one feel like they were going insane.

They descended from the third floor and reached the fourth floor. It was an area that overflowed with adventurers who couldn’t come any further.

“If there’s something, it’s probably ahead,” Lutz said in a tense voice, and Gerhardt nodded slightly.

“If they’re carrying bodies from the first to third floors, it’s probably on the fourth or fifth floor,” Gerhardt speculated. It would be too inefficient to go further down. Also, if there were people regularly bringing gemstones to the Tubris Company from underground, the limit for frequent round trips would be around the fifth floor. There was no confirmation, and it was all just a guess.

“There’s no point in searching blindly, and if we explore the fifth floor and find nothing, let’s go back once,” Lutz suggested.

Gerhardt pondered for a moment. Going further down than the fifth floor would require even more extensive preparations.

Gerhardt felt a throbbing pain in the back of his head. He had pushed himself forward with a sense of confidence before, and the result was losing his comrades. He couldn’t even remember their faces, yet the guilt was still fresh.

“…Alright, it’s important to set a limit,” Gerhardt said.

Was this just putting off the problem? No, it was much better than regretting later. Adventurers couldn’t survive without a hint of cowardice.

They took a few steps forward, and Lutz turned back and walked a bit to stab his axe into the dead man’s body. The corpse immediately ignited, illuminating the impure labyrinth and the three men.

When a person dies, it’s the end. Still, it would be a pity if the body was used by someone or devoured by monsters. At the very least, Gerhardt didn’t want that to happen to himself.

“Was it unnecessary?” Lutz asked if this act was appropriate for adventurers.

Gerhardt didn’t directly answer and looked at the axe.

“It turned into a good weapon.”

He intended to say that it was a proper use.

The men smiled and continued walking forward.

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