The long-awaited day to enter the Labyrinth.
Having quickly finished this round's Coming of Age Ceremony, I led the young warriors to the Dimensional Plaza myself.
For reference, there were over several hundred young warriors.
It was because the Labyrinth had been closed, so there was a backlog of warriors who had completed their Coming of Age Ceremony but hadn't yet finished their first expedition.
'It must be the same for the other tribes.'
Ah, of course, I didn't see any other tribes on the way to the Dimensional Plaza.
They would likely enter the Labyrinth through the plazas in the zones adjacent to their respective Holy Lands.
"The Labyrinth! I see the Labyrinth!" (Barbarian)
"The dimension of sacred battle!" (Barbarian)
"Bjorn son of Yandel, the great warrior, has led us to the Labyrinth!!" (Barbarian)
As the Dimensional Plaza came into view, the young warriors began to get extremely excited.
'Cute.'
The Barbarian tradition was to wander a strange city before finally entering the Labyrinth, but I got rid of all that in my time.
Besides, even if that tradition remained, it would be meaningless in the current environment.
'Finding my way is easy since all the buildings have collapsed.'
Zone 7, where we were, was the area that suffered the most damage in the last war, and with the added misfortune of the Labyrinth's closure, it hadn't been properly restored.
"There are surprisingly many people." (Bjorn Yandel)
The plaza was more crowded than I had expected.
Since the number of people settled in Zone 7 was small, I thought most would have gone to an intact plaza.
"Wow! It's Bjorn Yandel!!" (Onlooker)
"I told you! I said we'd see him if we came here!" (Onlooker)
"There are a lot of Barbarians over there, too?" (Onlooker)
They chose this place to see me?
I wondered what kind of mindset that was, but seeing the plaza teeming with people felt like I was looking at its old self.
Well, only in appearance, that is.
'There are only real newbies here.'
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More than seventy percent of the people gathered in the plaza were newbies who didn't even have proper gear.
Twenty percent were lower-rank explorers who had some gear and a team but had likely never been above the Fifth Floor.
The remaining ten percent were just above that.
'Mid-ranks.'
But they were probably at the lower end of the mid-ranks.
Most of them would mainly explore the Fifth Floor, with only a few on the Sixth Floor.
From the Seventh Floor upwards, you could say there was almost no one.
It was highly likely that those of that level were called by the state in the last round, entered the Labyrinth in secret, and died away from home.
'So I've become a high-rank explorer, relatively speaking…'
A sudden thought occurred to me.
Perhaps this was why retired explorers were recently coming out of retirement one after another, trying to return to the industry.
'If they can just secure a spot on the Fifth Floor, they won't have to worry about taxes for the rest of their lives.'
A kind of cash cow, I guess.
If you form a clan and successfully occupy an empty hunting ground, you could live like a landlord with a steady income.
In fact, for that reason, ever since the Labyrinth appeared, certain islands on the Fifth and Sixth Floors have always been inaccessible to regular explorers due to clans fighting over interests.
"Then I'll go on ahead, Tribe Chief!" (Barbarian)
"I'll achieve great things like you, Tribe Chief, and return!" (Barbarian)
"Bahella!" (Barbarian)
The newbie Barbarians, unable to wait any longer, let out a war cry and entered the Labyrinth.
So, I was about to join my companions.
"Hm?" (Bjorn Yandel)
An young warrior staring blankly at the open Labyrinth portal caught my eye.
Right, his name was…
"Vidal, third son of Kizel." (Bjorn Yandel)
An young warrior who finished his Coming of Age Ceremony today, and one of the few who didn't call out the name of his ancestral spirit when the ceremony began.
Simply put, a player from Earth.
'This attitude is a bit troublesome.'
I know he's not used to the name yet, but he needs to adapt quickly.
This cruel world never waits for us.
"Vidal, third son of Kizel." (Bjorn Yandel)
After clearing my throat to make my presence known and calling his name again, the kid looked back at me, startled.
"Ah… T-Tribe Chief?!" (Vidal)
"What are you doing here? All the other warriors have entered the Labyrinth." (Bjorn Yandel)
The kid was so flustered he couldn't say a word.
Still, it was a relief that he at least recognized he shouldn't look suspicious.
Well, the information I hammered into them helped with that.
Since I started leading the Coming of Age Ceremony, the number of incidents where someone was exposed as an Evil Spirit and executed has dropped to zero.
But paradoxically, those execution events also served as a device to make clueless newbies realize that this world is hostile to us.
Therefore…
'Oh, looks like there are no Evil Spirits this time!'
'As you all know, the moment you see an Evil Spirit that steals bodies, you must kill it!'
I always said these things during the Coming of Age Ceremony to convey information to the newbies.
But did he not understand it well?
"Are you perhaps afraid of entering the Labyrinth?" (Bjorn Yandel)
Despite the Tribe Chief's question, the kid just trembled, unable to answer.
If he had any sense, he would know that his behavior itself looked suspicious.
'Not that I don't understand.'
I suddenly remembered the day I first entered the Labyrinth.
Actually, I was similar to this kid.
Watching the Barbarians enter the Labyrinth full of excitement, I, on the contrary, wanted to run away.
Because what I had done was a game!
Actually go into the Labyrinth and fight monsters? Did that even make sense?
Although I rationally knew I had to do it, the decision wasn't easy.
In the end, it was only after gaining courage from my conversation with Ainar that I could take my first step into the Labyrinth.
So this kid will need it too.
A warm hand to push his back, so he can take that first step more easily.
Just like this.
Thwack!
When I smacked him on the back, the kid shrieked in surprise and then looked up at me with angry eyes.
"Aargh!! Why, why did you hit me!" (Vidal)
"Your eyes look much better now." (Bjorn Yandel)
Yes, this is better than being frozen.
It suits a Barbarian, too.
I gave the stick first, so now it's time for the carrot.
"I understand being nervous. Entering the Labyrinth is always a daunting task. I was the same." (Bjorn Yandel)
The kid said nothing.
He just looked at me as if suspecting I was baiting him.
Hmm, this kind of suspicion is good.
"Vidal, third son of Kizel." (Bjorn Yandel)
"…" (Vidal)
"Believe. In the strong body you possess, in the unyielding intellect of a warrior, and in the reality that it's better to die fighting than to starve." (Bjorn Yandel)
"…" (Vidal)
"If you believe in just these three things until the very end, you'll be able to survive for a long time." (Bjorn Yandel)
That was my advice, and I didn't bother to hear his reply.
I just patted the kid's back more gently than before, then lost interest and left.
"Then I'll be on my way! I'm hungry!" (Bjorn Yandel)
Indeed, I never looked back at the kid and headed to the spot where I was supposed to meet my companions.
When I returned to the plaza to enter the Labyrinth, he was nowhere to be seen.
I wonder if he went in.
Or did he turn his back and run?
A brief curiosity arose, but I didn't dwell on it.
"What are you doing? Not going in?" (Armin)
Well, if we're fated, we'll meet again.
—
[You have entered the First Floor, Crystal Cave.]
—
The most familiar place to all explorers.
The First Floor, Crystal Cave.
The brilliant glow of the crystals.
A cave shining with a soft light.
Those on their first expedition feel an unknown eeriness here, but those with some experience feel a sense of stability instead.
Because as you continue to explore, you learn that there's no place as safe as the First Floor.
It's a place where one naturally feels at ease…
Thump~!
My heart is pounding.
Not a pleasant throb of anticipation, but a low pound, like when having a foreboding thought.
Thump-!
What is this? Something like PTSD?
It's clearly a normal scene on the First Floor, but my heart keeps pounding anxiously.
It feels like at any moment, a static sound will fill the air and the whole world will collapse.
"Bjorn? Are you okay?" (Misha Karlstein)
"Ah… I'm fine. I was just lost in thought for a moment." (Bjorn Yandel)
It felt like something was wrong with my mind, but I tried my best not to show it and moved on.
Well, it's probably because this is my first expedition since that incident.
I'll be fine soon.
'I will be fine, right?'
A sense of anxiety arose again, wondering if this would continue, so I quickly checked my surroundings.
I saw the members of Team 1 who had entered the Labyrinth with me after forming a Binding Spell.
Misha.
Bear Uncle.
Garton Cultner from Armin's expedition.
Malid Kevron from Tony Tooth.
And even the navigator helmsman Jackson, whom we hired as a mercenary.
Team 1, composed of six people in total.
Ainar was dispatched to Team 2, where Armin is the Team Leader.
They are short on vanguards there.
"If everyone is ready, we'll be starting soon." (Bjorn Yandel)
I soon began the expedition and picked up the pace, but we couldn't go as fast as I had thought.
The reason was very simple.
Because more than ninety percent of the people this round were newbies.
"Wow, it's my first time seeing the First Floor this crowded…" (Misha Karlstein)
The newbies who had just entered were blocking the paths, acting as obstacles.
Usually, more than ninety percent of the entrants would head straight to the upper floors, but this time it was the complete opposite.
The newbies had no intention of leaving the starting point.
Instead, they looked around in wonder, found companions to move with, or shouted when they saw me.
"… It's Bjorn Yandel!!" (Newbie)
"… Am I your friend?" (Bjorn Yandel)
"Wow! He answered me!!" (Newbie)
Phew, this isn't easy.
The atmosphere is so different from usual that it's hard to adapt.
'If the Noark people were here too, it would have been even harder to adapt.'
The fortunate thing was that the Noark people's right to explore the Labyrinth had been postponed.
They waged a media war on the level of brainwashing, but there's still a considerable percentage of opposition, I hear?
'Next month at the earliest, three months from now at the latest.'
For that reason, time is gold on this expedition.
It makes sense, right?
No matter what kind of institutional arrangements are in place, in the Labyrinth, fists are closer than the law.
When the Noark people are running rampant in the Labyrinth, I too will have to move more cautiously than usual.
'Besides, those Noark bastards are at least mid-rank explorers.'
This is also a very frustrating part for me.
In reality, from the Sixth Floor and above, the majority will be from Noark rather than Rafdonia.
In other words, the time I can do whatever I want is running out.
"Phew, I can breathe now that we're in the Outermost Area." (Misha Karlstein)
"Then I'll pick up the pace again." (Bjorn Yandel)
After leaving the central area, which could be called the starting point, the blocked paths were wide open, so we really picked up speed.
Well, even so, I missed first place.
Shwaaaaaaaa-
The portal was open, as if to prove someone had already passed through.
It was something I had expected.
The newbies were clinging to us so much as we left the central area.
In fact, the starting position wasn't good either,
[The character has entered the Second Floor: Goblin Forest.]
Even after reaching the Second Floor, I ran as if I were speedrunning, but I failed to be the first to open the Third Floor as well.
[The character has entered the Third Floor: Path of the Pilgrim.]
It's a bit disappointing.
Tsk, I wanted to get some free experience points before the Noark bastards swarmed in.
'Even if there are no high-rank explorers, I was too late.'
I arrived on the Third Floor on the afternoon of the third day.
Considering that the first opening usually happens on the afternoon of the second day, it was absurdly late.
Is that why?
By the time I passed the Green-Tailed Marsh and arrived at the Statue Temple, Team 2 had already arrived and was hunting.
"Ah, you're here! We were just starting to worry that something might have happened." (Armin)
"Sorry. The explorers on the First Floor were clinging to us." (Bjorn Yandel)
Still, was luck on my side?
Before we arrived, Team 2 had already obtained one 'Nameless Fragment.'
But…
"It's no good." (Bjorn Yandel)
From then on, luck wasn't with me.
Another one dropped on the fifth day, but unfortunately, it was a duplicate of the one we already had, so I cut our losses sharply.
Getting two more fragments here before the end of the seventh day, going back down to the First Floor, and opening the portal to the Underground First Floor?
No matter how I look at it, it's impossible for now.
No, actually, it'll probably be the same next time.
'We don't have enough Mages.'
Even if we had arrived on time, the result would have been the same.
With our current members, even opening the portal to the Underground First Floor is difficult.
Well, not that there's any guarantee we can enter even if we open it.
'I just wanted to check if I could open the portal or not…'
Right, let's do this next time when we're more prepared.
Rushing things often leads to mistakes.
I soon set aside my disappointment and set up camp.
After all, I hadn't slept properly because I was digging for fragments.
The plan was for everyone to get a full day's rest and then continue the expedition…
Trudge.
In the end, I failed to get proper rest too.
Trudge.
There was an unknown uninvited guest who found our camp.
Do they not know the unwritten rule that approaching another team's camp within the Labyrinth is considered a hostile act?
Or do they not care because they intend to be hostile?
'It would have been better if it were the latter…?'
Sadly, they belonged to the 'former' group.
"Stop, don't come any closer! Huh? I said don't come closer." (Misha Karlstein)
"Hey, lady! You're so pretty, why are you being so heartless!" (Newbie)
"No, it's not about being heartless… You can't do this! You'll be in big trouble, I'm telling you!" (Misha Karlstein)
"We're not really causing you any harm, are we? We're getting tired too, so we'll just rest here for a bit and then leave! Huh? Or what, should we get hurt resting by ourselves in this dangerous place?" (Newbie)
'They' strode fearlessly into our territory as if Misha's attempts to stop them while she was on watch weren't even worth listening to.
Only then did we realize their identity.
Incomprehensibly bold and violent.
They, who cannot be controlled even by the strength of a giant.
"Uh, wait a minute. Your face looks familiar, lady." (Newbie)
"Misha Karlstein! It's Misha Karlstein!" (Newbie)
"What? Then could it be that Bjorn Yandel! Is Bjorn Yandel here too?" (Newbie)
"Kyaaaaaaaaaaah!" (Newbie)
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!!" (Newbie)
Their name was… newbies.
