Doreun was sitting at the table in perfect condition to enter the Labyrinth immediately.
On the table stood a sign that read ‘Party Matching’.
Having come out intentionally a bit early, he was waiting for his party members.
Doreun planned to discourage the matched party members from drinking beer when they arrived, and to head straight for the Labyrinth today.
Because Doreun now had nothing left to do in the city.
Only by exploring more, killing more, and obtaining more would there be anything to do in the city.
According to the post he had checked yesterday, two people had been matched with Doreun.
They had said up to five was fine, but there must be a reason the Guild had put together a party of three.
Probably because profits dropped if five people just went in circles on the 1st floor?
Even Doreun, who had slaughtered enemies as if one against a hundred during his second Labyrinth exploration, had been unable to afford a single potion.
Just then, two people entered one after another. They did not stand side by side, but stood slightly apart as they surveyed the table, so they did not appear to be together.
The two spotted the ‘Party Matching’ sign, walked toward Doreun, and their eyes met.
The two greeted each other lightly with a bow and came to sit at the table.
Doreun stood up to welcome them with handshakes, and the group sat down.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Doreun.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Raon. This is my first time in the Labyrinth City.”
“I’m Riria.”
Raon was tall and slender, while Riria was as large-built as Doreun.
A physique rare for a woman.
Seeing the round ears sprouting above her head, one could tell the reason.
“I use a shield and club….”
As the three sat down, a Guild employee who had been watching the table approached.
“Excuse me. All three of you are here for the Guild’s party matching, correct?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
“I’ll return your exploration permits. Mr. Doreun. Mr. Raon. Ms. Riria.”
The employee returned the exploration permits in hand to each of them and said,
“Now then. The beginner explorer matching provided by the Warrior Guild has ended. If you wish to recruit companions again, you may pay a fee and post on the bulletin board from next time. Have a safe exploration!”
The Guild employee bowed and stepped back.
“Anyway, I use a shield and club. Mr. Raon, what weapon do you use?”
Raon touched the one-handed sword at his waist and said,
“I use a one-handed sword and wooden shield. The shield is a bit small, so I kept it in my bag.”
“What about you, Ms. Riria?”
“I use a spear. About my height? I left it in my inn room for now.”
Doreun rested his elbows on the table, leaned forward, and said,
“I’ve exited the Labyrinth twice solo. I obtained the [Rebar] supernatural ability. Do you all have any Labyrinth experience?”
“I don’t. However, I did fight some goblins on my way to the Labyrinth City.”
“Same here.”
“Then, what do you think about entering the Labyrinth today? Staying in the city costs money, and I don’t want to waste time or money.”
“I agree.”
“I agree too, but we need to stop by the shop. I need to buy preserved food and pick up equipment from the inn.”
Doreun pushed off the table and stood.
“Then let’s move together. We can talk, and compare accommodation and meal costs at the inns we’re staying at.”
◆ ◆ ◆
“Ah, I see.”
The three talked about minor things like age and birthplace as they moved, and decided to speak casually.
Of course, the oldest Doreun would speak casually to the other two, and Riria, who was a year older, would speak casually to Raon.
“How are the prices and facilities at the inns you’re staying at?”
“Um… I’m staying at an inn called ‘Beginner Blast Furnace,’ and there’s probably no better inn for beginner explorers. My father recommended it to me.”
Riria, whose father was the head of a mid-sized merchant company that traveled between the Labyrinth City and pioneer cities, declared confidently.
“Oh, I stayed at ‘Beginner Blast Furnace’ too. An explorer I happened to know recommended it to me.”
“How much is it there? The place I’m at now seems reasonably priced, but it’s filthy.”
Raon asked with interest.
“At Beginner Blast Furnace, a room is 1 silver, stew is 30 copper. Grilled chicken is 1 silver, and it was delicious.”
“Ah. One silver isn’t exactly cheap.”
Doreun raised his arm and patted Raon on the back.
“Don’t worry, you’ll make money once you explore the Labyrinth. If it seems like we work well together this expedition, we men could share a room.”
“Ah. Then we could save money.”
“Right. We need to save money if we want to go to deeper floors. It’s good to save every penny.”
Doreun had no intention of living that frugally.
But he said that because there was no harm in going along with his timid, unassertive younger brother-like teammate.
Riria, who had been twitching her round ears and reading the mood, spoke.
“Would it be bad if we rented a slightly larger room and I stayed together too?”
“Sharing a room with a girl is a bit awkward, isn’t it? If it’s because of money, we can create a party fund.”
Doreun clapped once and continued.
“Ah. Right. Shouldn’t we decide how to split the earnings before we enter?”
“That’s right. I recommend a 3:3:4 split.”
Riria, the merchant company head’s daughter, gave her opinion, while Raon, who had come to the city after farming, kept his mouth shut and watched.
Seeing Raon not needlessly adding words to something he did not know and instead reading the situation, he lacked knowledge but was not stupid.
Confirming that his party member was clever, Doreun internally satisfied, refuted.
“I think my share is too low. Because I believe I’m much more capable than you, having obtained [Rebar] and having Labyrinth experience. So I want to take 50%, and you each take 25%. In exchange, I’ll pay half of the party fund needed to maintain the party. Think of it as my consideration for wanting to keep this party together.”
Riria pondered, rolling her eyes, and quickly agreed, perhaps thinking it a rational proposal.
“I like it too. Raon, what do you think?”
“I… like it too. For now, we’re in a position to receive help from you, Doreun.”
◆ ◆ ◆
Having discussed the distribution ratio and formations inside the Labyrinth, and having finished purchasing all necessary supplies for the expedition, Doreun’s party was near the entrance, taking out the contents of their bags and reorganizing them.
“As discussed, let’s put fragile items like potions in Riria’s bag since she’ll be relatively in the rear. Preserved food and water that won’t break can go in Raon’s bag since he’ll be behind me. Tools can go in my bag, since blood might get on it.”
The three rummaged through their bags and sorted the contents.
“Blankets don’t break, but I don’t want blood on them. Which of you two has better stamina?”
Riria answered listlessly.
“I probably have better?”
Raon seemed slightly offended, but was convinced when he saw Riria’s round ears.
Judging by the shape of her ears, Riria was a bear beastman.
“Alright. Packing is done, so let me explain again. In the Labyrinth, I’m in front. Raon is slightly behind me. Riria, stay between us and support by targeting the goblins’ legs. Always hold hands when using the portal. From now on we’re one party, so we have a party fund, and the distribution ratio is 50%, 25%, 25%. Is everyone clear?”
“Yes.”
“Yes.”
The faces of the two beginner explorers on their first Labyrinth trip were stiff.
Doreun tapped their forearms and said.
“If you let your guard down, there will be problems. ‘It won’t happen to me’ always gets people killed. So I won’t tell you to relax. Since preparations are finished, let’s enter!”
The three who had met in the Labyrinth City joined hands and touched the portal.
◆ ◆ ◆
Already, the third Labyrinth welcomed Doreun’s party.
The three first checked at their feet with lanterns, then slowly shone them further ahead.
“I’ll advance on my side. Raon, shine your lantern to my left. I’ll angle mine to the right. When battle starts, put down your lantern and bag so you can use your sword with your right hand, and stand behind my right side.”
“Understood.”
“Riria, check behind us frequently with your lantern. Goblins probably won’t come from behind. But explorers moving silently might.”
“Yes. I won’t let my guard down.”
“Traps are the biggest enemy. If you hurt your foot, it’s very bad, and you’ll have to use a potion worth twenty goblins. Anyway, you can’t run away on the 1st floor of the Labyrinth, and we’ve entered with enough strength to defeat any goblins we meet. Now let’s go get used to fighting.”
Doreun carefully checked his footing and strode forward.
With more lanterns, things were surely brighter; having gained abilities and more people, they had grown stronger; and having a reason to obtain more magic stones, their speed was considerable.
Reaching a corner, Doreun gestured for Raon and Riria to wait, then checked beyond the corner alone.
Several wooden caltrops smeared with feces were placed in front of the left-bending corner, and as soon as he turned the corner, he encountered five goblins lying in wait.
“Combat ready!”
He shouted to the party and ran back, dodging the goblins charging at him.
Doreun ran to where the two stood ready, threw down his bag, then carefully placed his lantern down facing the right direction.
Grasping his club in the hand that had held the lantern, he stood in front of Raon as five goblins rushed in.
-Skree! Kekek!
-Keke!
Doreun jabbed the lead goblin with an outstretched club, knocking it down, then used his shield to stop two goblins.
Were he so inclined, Doreun, who had obtained [Rebar], could have knocked aside the goblins he was blocking with his shield and finished off the remaining two standing goblins with club strikes and kicks, but he was restraining himself so his party members could adapt to the Labyrinth.
Thus, one of the remaining goblins rushed at Raon, who wielded a sword and small shield in the right rear, and the last one tried to squeeze through the gap created by Doreun and Raon’s broken formation and lunged at Riria.
-Stab!
-Keke!
While the dependable Doreun and nervous Raon held the front, Riria watched the situation with cold eyes and stopped the goblin trying to slip through the gap by jabbing her spear into its lower belly.
As the spear that had sunk deep was pulled from the goblin’s lower belly, pieces of entrails and blood flowed onto the floor.
Riria, her face hardening, immediately moved to help Raon, who looked even more nervous.
Raon could not finish off the goblin despite wielding shield and sword, and was locked in a standoff with the goblin pressing against his shield.
The goblin had already pressed its body against the shield and was clawing at Raon’s arm beyond it, and Raon could not swing his one-handed sword while pushing the goblin away and then having it latch onto him again, breaking out in a cold sweat.
-Thrust!
Riria moved beside Raon and stabbed the goblin, which was focused on the shield, in the side.
As the goblin finally collapsed, strength leaving its body, Raon lowered his shield and stabbed its neck with his one-handed sword to finish it.
Doreun, who had been watching their performance out of the corner of his eye, once the situation was under control, pushed one away with his shield and brought his club down upon the remaining one, killing it instantly.
-Crack!
The goblin’s head struck by the club split open like a bursting watermelon.
He also dealt with the pushed-away goblin with a downward strike, and finished off the goblin he had initially knocked down.
The goblin struck by the club had its pelvis dislocated on one side and was thrashing about on one leg.
‘The pelvis is a joint that doesn’t dislocate easily. The power of [Rebar] is amazing. Or maybe goblins have different body structures from humans.’
-Huff… huff….
Though the battle had felt like nothing more than a post-meal stroll, feeling the inevitable grief of [Rebar] that left him breathless, he turned toward his party members.
“Riria, you need to finish off the goblin you first stabbed with your spear.”
Riria stabbed the neck of the goblin that had collapsed from bleeding and lost consciousness, finishing it off.
Doreun checked that the last goblin was finished and pulled a dagger from the bag he had thrown down.
As Riria and Raon moved to help Doreun, he waved his hand.
“No. I’ll just dirty one dagger. You two wipe the blood off your weapons.”