LIGHTNOVELSTORY chapter 36 - Divine Cat Mii-chan Gets Involved in Labyrinth Exploration
36 Divine Cat Mii-chan Gets Involved in Labyrinth Exploration
After leaving Zelgado-san’s workshop, Mii-chan and I returned to the Hunter Guild for lunch.
Today, I ordered an improved version of the fried rice I had the other day. Yes, it’s tastier. Since they have rice here, that means I can make other dishes as well. I’ll gather ingredients later. If they have it in Quarto, they should have it here too. I’m looking forward to it.
After lunch, I took Sumire for a walk around the outskirts of the city. It’s for both Sumire’s and my stamina training. Although I’m completely exhausted…
“Mii…”
Don’t look at me like that, Mii-chan. This body is in its initial settings; I need to train to improve it.
After about an hour of letting Sumire roam freely, we returned to the Hunter Guild.
Sumire’s condition has greatly improved, now down to a mild illness. It’s only a matter of time before she fully recovers. However, the consumption of mineral water is high. I’m running low on supplies. I sincerely hope she recovers quickly…
When we entered the guild, it was bustling.
“Did something happen?”
I asked Henry-san.
“Ah, a drifting labyrinth has appeared near this town.”
“A drifting labyrinth?”
“Mii?”
“You don’t know about drifting labyrinths, Nero-kun?”
Not at all.
“A drifting labyrinth is like a spontaneous version of a real labyrinth.”
Hahaha… What exactly is a labyrinth, anyway?
“You don’t know about labyrinths either?”
“…I don’t.”
“Mii…”
A labyrinth, as Henry-san explained, is an ancient structure whose creator is unknown. It provides many benefits but is also a dangerous place with complex mazes, traps, and monsters. They are also famous for occasionally containing Artifacts (AFs). There are five confirmed labyrinths in this country. There’s one between the cities of Quarto and Quinto.
So, did I pass through one on my way here?
Drifting labyrinths, on the other hand, appear and disappear mysteriously over a period of several years, usually four to five. That’s why there’s such a commotion when one appears near the city.
“But you see, labyrinths are complex mazes. Without a skilled mapper, it’s tough.”
“Mapper?”
“A mapper is someone specialized in drawing maps. Usually, the guild sends in mappers first to investigate the labyrinth. But right now, there aren’t any mappers in this city, and that’s the problem.”
“The guild first enters the labyrinth to determine its difficulty level. Each floor of the labyrinth always has a safe zone, which the guild needs to identify. This is because if something happens to the hunters inside, they can evacuate there, and rescue teams will head to those zones,” Henry-san explained.
“Being a mapper sounds tough.”
“Mappers have a special skill. Since we can’t get a mapper in time this time, we’ll have to rely on the hunters to map it out using a manpower strategy. It’s going to be hard.”
“By the way, what’s that special skill?”
“The mapping skill. It’s quite rare.”
Hmm? That sounds familiar.
“Mii…”
What’s wrong, Mii-chan?
“Mii…”
Mii-chan looked disappointed and patted my chest… Wait! That’s my skill!
“Um…”
“What’s up, Nero-kun?”
“I have the mapping skill…”
“Huh?”
“Clatter! Clatter, clatter!”
“Is that true, Nero-kun?”
Eva-san, you’re scaring me…
“Henry-san, please appraise me.”
“Are you sure?”
“I don’t mind.”
Henry-san looks at me intently.
“You definitely have the map skill. And you have an interesting skill set. There’s one skill I couldn’t read, though.”
“Please keep that a secret.”
“Understood. A man has to have one or two secrets to be intriguing.”
Of course, the unreadable skill is the cat accessory one. Even Pamiru-san couldn’t read it. When I had them write down the characters, it turned out to be ‘cat accessory’… I’m probably the only one who can read it in this world!
“Nero-kun, as a special duty order from the Hunter Guild staff, I command you to explore the Flowing Labyrinth. Needless to say, if you refuse this order, it will be a violation of the duty regulations, and you will no longer be able to stay in this country. Also, until this mission is completed, you will be considered a member of the Quint Hunter Guild staff, so you won’t be able to return to Quarto.”
“You’re joking… right?”
“It’s not a joke. I will urgently request headquarters to send a mapper, but I can’t guarantee when they will arrive.”
“Are you serious…”
“It’s the fate of a guild staff member.”
“I-I demand improved benefits, a wage increase, and a guarantee of my safety!”
“I can approve a wage increase. As for guaranteeing your safety, I can only promise to do our best. What do you mean by improved benefits?”
“Please do something about the lodging. It’s too inconvenient without even a washroom. And it’s cramped, right, Mii-chan?”
“Mii…”
“Alright, I’ll approve it until the official mapper arrives.”
Alright! I’ve secured the minimum rights.
So, when do I start? I have other things to do…
“For now, you’ll enter the labyrinth tomorrow afternoon. Everything will start from there.”
“Do I have to go in every day?”
“Labyrinth exploration is mentally exhausting, so you’ll probably go in for three days and then have one day off.”
“And I’ll still have to do my evening job, right?”
“Nero-kun, please! My precious baby depends on this!”
Henry-san, isn’t that mixing business with personal matters…?
“Understood… I’ll do my best.”
“Thank you so much!”
“But I have one condition. If it’s not met, I’ll leave this country.”
“And what is that condition?”
“Mii-chan will accompany me into the labyrinth. This is non-negotiable!”
“Mii!”