The entrance to the small labyrinth, [Al].
“……Ah, I’m outside.”
“It’s so blindingly bright…”
It was a few hours after defeating the Great Fang Boar that Ul and the mysterious beautiful girl, Shizuku, emerged into the outside world. Though they didn’t face much trouble on their way back, as the appearance of monsters had stopped with the loss of the labyrinth’s core, recovering from the wounds and fatigue sustained during their confrontation with the Great Fang Boar required a considerable amount of time. Finally, they had returned.
However, Ul’s mood was far from bright. His plan to clear his sister’s debt had gone down the drain. Moreover, with the loss of the [True Core Magic Stone], he had no idea how that bald man would react. And next to him was a beauty of unparalleled grace, gazing up at the sun as if she had no worries.
Not that he was particularly concerned about her, but if he left this disheveled woman to her own devices, she might even be attacked by creditors starved for female company.
At worst, he would have to find a place to hide this woman somewhere.
But in which of the labyrinth mining sites outside the city…?
Ul’s mind, deprived of blood, whirled with such thoughts. That’s why it took him a moment longer to notice the commotion unfolding right before his eyes.
“You seem quite busy?”
“……Mm?”
Glancing up, he saw that, as she said, the mining site was far more bustling than when he had entered the labyrinth. This place should only contain debtors working off their debts like slaves and their supervisors, but now, people clad in armor were moving about busily everywhere.
“The Knights… Why?”
They were the armed force that protected the city, a metropolitan country where humanity, having had its living space reduced, survived, and maintained the city’s public order. By their nature, they rarely ventured outside the city. This was outside the city. Their presence here in such numbers was a strange sight.
Judging by the insignia on their armor, they were undoubtedly knights from Greed, the Great Sin City, which was responsible for managing the seven [Great Sin Labyrinths] in the world. But why were they here?
“Why! Why is this happening!! Did you betray us?! Was this your intention from the start!”
Amidst the unfamiliar scene, a voice he recognized echoed. It was Zaza, the supervisor of this labyrinth mine, being held by the arms by the knights and apprehended. It seemed he was being arrested for some crime. And in that state, he desperately cried out towards the blonde girl standing before him.
The girl calmly responded to Zaza, who was visibly enraged.
“You’re the one who betrayed us, aren’t you? I could overlook the quasi-slavery contract, but embezzling magic stones to be presented to the city is completely out of line. I have no choice but to cut you loose.”
“Return the ‘Spirit-Possessed’! That belongs to me!”
“It doesn’t belong to you; it belongs to the Golden Phoenix. And you are no longer a guild member.”
Despite some back-and-forth, the knights didn’t loosen their grip on Zaza. Even Ul could tell it was a futile struggle. The girl facing him sighed softly.
“It’s sad. You had such ambition, but you drowned in immediate greed and lost your virtue.”
As she spoke, Zaza, who had been looking furious, opened and closed his mouth as if to say something, but finally hung his head. He was then led away by the knights. Ul had no idea what had truly transpired, but it seemed Zaza had fallen from grace.
Well, he couldn’t care less about that.
The problem was the words Zaza had blurted out in his desperation. Ul approached the blonde girl, who was speaking with the knights.
“Thank you for your cooperation. Lady Phoenix.”
“It was my own doing, I apologize for the trouble. Regarding the compensation… oh?”
The girl with neatly trimmed, golden hair seemed surprised by the disheveled boy who had suddenly approached her. Ul looked at her anew.
Her golden hair shone dazzlingly white, and she wore clothes made of beautiful fabric, similar to what the city’s ‘priests’ wore. Her body was slender and well-proportioned. Above all, her beautiful face always held a smile that exuded a sense of ease. Though she wore light makeup and appeared mature, her actual age seemed younger than her appearance.
“What happened to you two with those injuries? Let us treat you here.”
“No, I’m sorry, but before that…”
Ul, ignoring the knights who were surprised by his peculiar appearance and offered to help, turned to face the girl.
“Excuse me, but you mentioned ‘Spirit-Possessed’?”
“I did.”
“She’s my sister.”
“Hm?”
“That ‘Spirit-Possessed’ is my sister.”
At his words, she clapped her hands together with an understanding “Ah.” Then, reaching into her pocket, she casually pulled out a small object. It was a tiny, human-shaped figure, something Ul recognized very well. There was no way he wouldn’t. It was…
“Big Brother!!!”
“Akane, are you alright?”
It was Akane, Ul’s sister.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
Spirit-Possessed
A human possessed by a spirit, or a being intermediate between human and spirit. Not many know of such existences. This is because there are very few actual cases. Spirits are beings superior to humans. They are divine familiars that humans worship and believe in at the [Temple], granting them blessings.
For them to merge with humans is unthinkable. Some priests who serve spirits outright deny the existence of such beings. Others believe them to be emissaries of gods descended into the human world. Various debates have ensued regarding their treatment, but no consensus has been reached.
This is because Spirit-Possessed rarely appear before them.
Rare, and if they do appear, they are treated as if they don’t exist. That is the current status of the [Spirit-Possessed] in this world.
And, unfortunately, Ul’s sister is one of these Spirit-Possessed.
“Big Brother, are you okay? You’re covered in blood?”
“I’m fine. I had a bit of treatment. And stop coiling around me, it echoes.”
Her name was Akane. She was Ul’s sister. His sister, and also a [Spirit-Possessed]. When she was born, she was a normal human, just like Ul. A genuine, ordinary person. Until her foolish, idiotic father, by sheer, unbelievable coincidence, obtained something called a “spirit’s egg” without realizing it, and Akane lost herself playing with it, ‘swallowed’ by the egg.
“Don’t push yourself too hard, Big Brother.”
Her body was a blend of crimson and gold, her hair shining with the same colors down to the tips. While possessing the hardness of a mineral, her form was endlessly mutable. One moment she would be a small doll-like figure, the next she could fly through the air with wings, or change into the form of an animal.
In fact, she was currently transformed. She had become a snake and was entwined around Ul’s body. She wasn’t heavy, but her scratches were painful.
—Your sister has likely been swallowed and merged with a spirit of the earth’s lineage. Hide her. Before she’s eliminated.
After she became like this, a man who knew of her existence quietly told him this, and ever since then, Ul had been protecting and hiding her existence. No matter how drastically her form changed, she was still Ul’s sister. Cute, mischievous, and innocent, yet sometimes wise. A sister to be protected.
That hadn’t changed at all. But…
“Yeah, sorry to interrupt this touching reunion, but this child is legally mine under contract, so I apologize?”
But, alas, that was separate from being able to actually protect her.
In the management room of the magic stone prospecting base outside the city.
Zaza, who had originally ruled here as the master, was no longer present. Instead, the golden-haired girl sat on a slightly smaller chair designed for children, facing Ul.
“Mmmph…”
Ul, while stroking his growling sister’s head, strained his tired mind, searching for words to escape this situation.
“…Isn’t human trafficking illegal?”
“This world does not recognize her existence as human. She was pawned to your father as property and became the property of the Golden Phoenix through a formal contract.”
Ul stared intently at the document handed to him. He continued to search for any flaws in the contract.
There were none.
“I should add, this is a [Blood Contract], established by a magic tool that enforces contract fulfillment. It would be best for you to not think of escaping. If you break it, you’ll die.”
“I’ll die?”
“You will die. You.”
“Me?”
“You’re the joint guarantor.”
Ul looked at the very bottom of the document. His name was listed beneath his father’s. Of course, Ul had no memory of signing it. Ul cursed inwardly a hundred times.
“That old man, acting on his own…”
Seeing Ul’s reaction, she shrugged her shoulders.
“I sympathize with you, and while there are issues with the contract, the spell has been ‘cast’ upon the use of the [Blood Contract] and the completion of the transfer. Reversing it is difficult. This contract itself is a powerful magic tool worth a single gold coin.”
“Why would my father… a mere ‘Nameless’ adventurer… have something like that?”
“Because the existence of a Spirit-Possessed was rare. Zaza’s nose for money was undoubtedly first-rate.”
She said regretfully, ‘Such a shame to lose such a talent.’ Ul didn’t have time to dwell on the golden girl’s sentimentality. It seemed his sister was destined to become the property of the Golden Phoenix, a major moneylender guild.
For Ul, who had lived as a “Nameless,” injustice was everyday life. The injustices that befell him were nothing to scoff at.
However, when it came to his sister, things were different. It was too much for her to be sold like chattel.
“After my sister became yours, what do you intend to do? What will happen to her?”
“It’s better if you don’t ask.”
“What will happen?”
Frowning, the golden-haired girl nodded, seeing Ul’s stubborn stance. Then, shedding her previously nonchalant demeanor, she stated sharply with icy, emotionless eyes.
“We will investigate. It is an extremely rare opportunity to grasp even a small part of the mystery of spirits.”
She implied that it didn’t matter what happened to the subject of her investigation.
“Mmmph…”
Ul looked at Akane, who was grumbling beside him and clinging to him, and exhaled deeply. Then, he steeled himself.
“I want to buy back my sister. How much is it?”
“1000 gold coins.”
Ul was speechless.
“…The first contract was only for 10 gold coins, wasn’t it?”
“The transaction with your father is already complete. This is simply a matter of wanting to purchase property of the Golden Phoenix. If we were to put a price on a ‘Spirit-Possessed,’ this would be it.”
“…Even though it was a contract without the individual’s consent?”
“That’s why I’m seriously answering your proposal. Normally, I would refuse your proposal no matter how much money was offered. Even if you offered 10,000 gold coins.”
A sum like 1000 gold coins would be a joke to anyone with a normal sense of money. Even a “citizen” allowed to live within the city would never earn that amount in their lifetime.
Moreover, for Ul, a “Nameless,” it was extremely difficult. There were no legitimate jobs outside the city. There were no jobs within the city. In the first place, “Nameless” couldn’t even stay in the city for long. “Nameless” incurred costs just for prolonged stays.
For “Nameless” means those who are cast aside by the world as valueless when it comes to blood ties.
Therefore, Ul had no means of earning money. Not through legitimate methods.
“…”
Ul’s gaze drifted, his expression shifting complexly for a moment. Then, after a long, deep sigh, he declared his decision.
“…I will become an ‘Adventurer’ and earn 1000 gold coins.”
Following in the footsteps of his good-for-nothing father was a decision made with great reluctance.
◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆◆
Adventurer
A general term for humans who primarily explore labyrinths. However, their work originally encompassed a wide range of activities, centered on monster extermination, making “handyman” or “mercenary” a more accurate description. This meaning changed after the “Great Proliferation of Labyrinths” 600 years ago.
Today, many primarily engage in labyrinth exploration and magic stone excavation, but their work also extends to exterminating powerful monsters, exploring areas outside human survival zones, escorting material transport, and more.
Gold
The highest rank among adventurers, as established by the Adventurer’s Guild. This title is bestowed only upon those who have made a certain level of contribution to the Adventurer’s Guild, defeated a ‘Class 2’ bounty, and cleared several assessments.
Though it is a narrow path, the privileges granted are numerous.
* Authorization to accept requests for the subjugation of ‘Rank 1’ bounty targets.
* Authorization to possess and use ancient artifacts.
* Free and preferential use of many public facilities.
* An official rank of ‘Seila,’ a Class 2 priest.
* Financial loans from the [Great Alliance], exceeding 1000 gold coins.
The privileges listed here are only a portion of the benefits. The value recognized in a Gold-ranked adventurer warrants such authority. In fact, they quickly achieve results comparable to these privileges, protecting humanity from the monstrous threats erupting from the depths of the earth. Their existence is undoubtedly the world’s greatest asset.
However, among the many adventurers in this world, the first goal is usually [Silver], and few aim for Gold. This is because—
~ True Records! The World of Adventurers!! ~
“So, if I become an adventurer and rise through the ranks, I can buy back Akane.”
“That’s a wonderful plan. Assuming it’s possible.”
The golden woman smiled sweetly.
However, Ul hadn’t intended to make a joke. He couldn’t help being troubled when she laughed.
“I will become Gold-ranked. I will absolutely earn 1000 gold coins. So, please wait on the ‘investigation’ of my sister.”
“People in debt often use words like ‘absolutely’ so carelessly, but that word isn’t cheap, is it? ‘Absolutely’ isn’t a word to be used lightly.”
The golden woman spoke matter-of-factly, without shouting like Zaza or trying to intimidate him. Yet, each of her words weighed down Ul’s shoulders like a millstone. She continued.
“You are merely a wandering ‘Nameless.’ From what I can see, you possess no special skills or talent. There is no trust in your words of paying an extraordinary sum of 1000 gold coins. If you have nothing to offer, you must provide something else in its place.”
“In its place.”
“Your father offered his daughter in exchange for money. What will you offer?”
What? Even if asked, the girl knew Ul had nothing to offer. A wandering “Nameless,” an incompetent “Nameless,” a child without power. If he had anything worth offering, he wouldn’t have been exploited in a place like this magic stone mine.
Nothing. He had nothing. Except for this life. Therefore…
“…I’ll stake my life.”
“—Oh? Just to be clear, that’s not a joke, you know?”
“I know. You mentioned a ‘Blood Contract,’ didn’t you? I’m fine with using that.”
Ul continued the conversation, fully aware of how foolish he sounded. It was quite painful to utter such idiotic things with a foolish mind. There was no other way to save his sister’s life.
“Wait, wait, Big Brother!”
“I’ll use my life as collateral to buy time. Until then, I will become Gold-ranked and buy back my sister.”
“Huuu… hmm.”
She leaned her face closer. Gazing into Ul’s eyes from below, Ul met the piercing intensity of her golden eyes head-on. He felt cold sweat break out on his back. She possessed a power that her peers could not match.
A few seconds, or perhaps tens of seconds, passed. During that time, Ul never broke eye contact with her. And then…
“Very well, then, I will consider it, just a little.”
“A little?”
“Frankly, your life is no guarantee. I can freely play with the lives of people far more capable than you. You have no value.”
“That’s a cruel thing to say.”
So, she pointed a finger at Ul’s chest.
“If you can show me value, I will accept your proposal.”
“How should I show it?”
“Let’s decide that another time. You seem to be at your limit, right?”
At her words, Ul felt his head sway. The moment she pointed it out, all the pain and fatigue he had been ignoring rushed over him. The magic stone excavation work from this morning. Furthermore, his solitary exploration of the small labyrinth, his battle with the Great Fang Boar, and now a negotiation for his and his sister’s lives with a mysterious woman.
It had completely exceeded Ul’s physical limits. The only reason he had been able to stand until just now was the sense of crisis due to his sister’s life being at stake. And now, that tension snapped.
“At least until your value is determined, I will postpone Akane’s fate. First, become an Adventurer. Good luck, okay?”
With the slight relief of gaining that final concession, Ul’s consciousness faded.
