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The Otherworld Conquest Method of a Reincarnated Porter Chapter 13 Part 1

First Labyrinth

　I enter the labyrinth with the knights.

In the labyrinth, the gentle stairs continue on endlessly, so I can tell that it’s pretty deep down from the above ground. When the stairs finally end, we find ourselves a passageway. Although I say a passageway, there is not even a single well-defined pathway. The labyrinth is an irregularly shaped cave, with wide and narrow pathways. There are also small room-like places, as well as spaces that are quite open. The paths are dimly-lit, so there seems to be no need for lighting.

「Kardek, where does this brightness come from?」

「It stems from the light moss peculiar to the labyrinth. It will end up losing its brightness as soon as it is brought above ground. Not only in the Amberlius labyrinth, but the same thing also exists in many other labyrinths. However, it becomes less and less common past the middle stratum, so you will need light magic or lighting to explore.」

After walking for a while, a party of three boys is fighting three bat-shaped monsters in the passageway branching to the right side. The bats are maintaining a distance in the air, and the boys are swinging their swords around. Kardek ignores them and goes to the left. He has a map in his hand.

「Kardek, are we heading somewhere?」

「Yes, many adventurers pass through the passage to the stairs leading to the second stratum, so we are heading a little further deeper to avoid them.」

We met several groups of adventurers on the way, but they quickly ran away when they spotted us. For adventurers who use this area as their hunting ground, knights are probably existences they don’t want to have anything to do with.

After walking for a while, I can hear the sound of running water.

「Is there water in the labyrinth?」

「Yes, it is possible to drink it, and it is also used to wipe away the blood of monsters or when you dismantle them. However, there are many monsters around the area where the water flows, so you must be careful. Ah, there they are.」

Four red eyes are floating in the darkness. They’re bat-shaped monsters like the ones we’ve seen earlier.

「Please be careful. There are two red-eyed bats and one darkness cat. What do you think, Kars-sama?」

Only when Kardek tells me so that I can tell that there is also this monster called darkness cat. About fifteen meters away from us, it’s lowering its body as it eyes us. Its body hair is black and its glaring eyes are floating in the darkness.

「Hmm. For starters, I’d like to see an example on how to defeat them. Kardek, can you do that for me?」

「I understand. Though, I am not sure if this will be of any help to you.」

Saying so, Kardek then walks in the direction of the darkness cat with his usual gait. The darkness cat lets out a growl in a low voice. There is no change in the red-eyed bats. Kardek draws his one-handed sword and stops about two meters in front of the darkness cat. Then setting up his sword overhead, he moves to the right side of the darkness cat, and swings down his sword. One hit kill. At the same time as when the head and body of the darkness cat separate, the two red-eyed bats attack him. Without any problem at all, Kardek swings his sword twice, and all the monsters are dead.

I see, the strength is too different to be of any help at all.

「Hmm, they are no match for you. What should you do after defeating the monsters?」

「Yes, most monsters have a magic stone next to their heart, so we dismantle them and take them out. If it is a darkness cat, you may be able to sell its fur and meat as well.」

「Hoh, are you going to dismantle it?」

「No, you can probably only get tenth-grade magic stones from monsters of this level. They are worth about a few large copper coins. So, I believe there is no need to take it. The same is true for the fur and meat, trading them for cash will be bothersome, so we will not take them back either. If you wish to bring them back, you should hire a porter beforehand.」

「What happens if we leave the carcasses alone?」

「I believe it will be absorbed into the labyrinth in a few hours. Though, if other adventurers pass by, they will probably take it with them.」

「Is the same true even for human corpses? What about their equipment and belongings?」

「Yes, if a person dies, he or she will be absorbed into the labyrinth. As for the belongings, apparently, they will be arranged in the labyrinth as treasure chests. As there were cases where a sword bearing the family crest of a knight who had gone missing in the labyrinth was found among the items recovered from the treasure chest.」

「I see. Even if you rob and murder in the labyrinth, the evidence in the form of dead body will not remain, and if you claim that the stolen equipment is something you recovered from a treasure chest, that will be the end of the story, huh.」

「Yes, in the labyrinth, it is important to work with a very trustworthy partner. After all, as soon as you obtain a valuable magic sword, it is not impossible that you would be cut to death from behind by your comrades.」

Hmm, the more I listen to his story, the less eager I become to explore the labyrinth. Maybe he’s exaggerating it a bit to warn me, but after seeing the murder earlier, I end up being convinced.

「Alright, let’s move onward. Kardek, I’ll fight next. Preferably, for my fist battle, I’d like it to be a one-on-one.」

「Understood, sir. Let’s get going.」

After walking for a while, we arrived at a slightly open area. I check the ceiling, but nothing seems to be there. Four dogs are gathering in the back. Upon noticing us, they begin to threaten us.

「Alright, take care of three of them. I want to fight the last one.」

「Hmm, fanged dog, was it? Kars-sama, they are formidable enemies on this first stratum. They are even dubbed as novice adventurer killers. Would it not be a good idea to challenge one after you accustom yourself to fighting monsters a little more?」

「If I get cold feet and avoid battles, I’ll never be able to grow up, no? Worry not, I have a steel shield and small fire dragon leather equipment on me. I doubt I will be killed instantly.」

「Understood, sir. I shall come to your aid should the necessity arise.」

Kardek instructs his fellow knights. Three knights step forward, use instant step to chop off the head of one fanged dog each, then step back to their original positions. In the blink of an eye, the fanged dogs dwindle to one. With my shield at the ready in front of the snarling fanged dog, I inch closer toward it. If it’s at this distance, I can do it.

Appraisal.

Fanged Dog, Rank 5

Rank? The heck is that? Well, guess it doesn’t matter for now. I circulate magical energy throughout my body and activate body enhancement. The fanged dog lowers its stance and crouches down. And then, it suddenly jumps at me. It’s fast. It jumps at me at a faster speed than I expected, but as I have body enhancement activated, I put strength into my legs and activate instant step. I dodge to the right side of the fanged dog that is jumping at me. I swing my sword with all my might at the back of the fanged dog’s head, which just happens to be mid-air and is unable to move.

「Gyan!」

I swung down the sword with the intention of cutting off its neck, but when the sword is halfway in, it ends up knocking the fanged dog to the ground. I was about to try to go after it, but the fanged dog charges at me soon after. I hit the fanged dog in the side of its face with the shield in my left hand, and swing my sword down again at the back of its head, as it shows an opening. The fanged dog glares at me with a vicious look on its face, but its neck is close to getting severed, so it seems to be unable to muster up its strength. I then deliver the finishing blow.