The next day, I woke up and my body was able to move.
I had been uneasy, wondering if I would be stuck like this forever, but I was able to head towards Valt in the east as originally planned.
The innkeeper had given me directions and warnings, so I didn’t get lost at all. I was expecting a long journey since I was crossing countries, but I easily reached the border by noon. It seems that these five countries are arranged around the labyrinth, so the closer you are to the labyrinth, the closer the distances between the five countries become.
Furthermore, the border only had a simple stone wall, and no procedures were necessary for crossing. I wondered how they managed the movement of people and goods, but when I saw the “Magic Stone Line” spread across the stone wall, I solved it myself, thinking they were somehow managing it with unknown technology.
After walking a little in Valt, I immediately understood the difference with Fuziaze. The disparity between rich and poor was evident, but more importantly, the professional classes were different. Most of the people I saw were dressed as adventurers. Many carried blades, and those who made a living from conflict were conspicuous.
Arriving in a new land, I organized my objectives here. My first goal is “return.” If I continue to stay in this bizarre and dangerous world, I will go mad. For the sake of my family, who are likely still waiting for me, I must return.
However, my prospects for “return” are slim.
First, there is the legend of “anything can be granted” related to this giant labyrinth that aggressively announces “challenge me.” From a game perspective, this would be the correct answer. Another option is to research magic or culture related to “return,” but my hopes are slim. I couldn’t find anything like that from the library.
Whether it’s for research or to conquer the labyrinth — what is needed is money. If I eat or stay at an inn, I lose money. If I enter the labyrinth, various tools will likely cost money. The same applies to weapons.
In other words, it’s all about money, money, money. And for that, the choice I made was –!
***
“Hey, newcomer. When you’re done with the dishes, take out the trash!”
“Yes, I understand!”
I had started working part-time at a tavern. Honestly, I never want to enter a labyrinth again. I don’t even want to see one. I feel that from the bottom of my heart. I judged that earning money in a labyrinth was premature. To be honest, I’m scared. I want to take some time off if possible.
Fortunately, while walking around Valt, I found an establishment near the labyrinth entrance looking for employees, which was a turning point, so to speak. With my mind in turmoil, I decided to give it a try and applied for an interview. I managed to put together a considerable amount of lies and try for it — and to my surprise, I passed on the first try. Without much background check, I am now working here. I was surprised by how smooth employment was in this other world. I wish I could share it with the countries in recession in my world.
By the way, I have experience working part-time at a restaurant. I’m also confident in cooking, as I’ve been doing all the cooking for my sister every day. I jumped at the opportunity without much thought because of that aptitude… but a tavern near a labyrinth is too good a source of information, so I don’t regret it so much.
“Christ-kun, please clear this up.”
“Yes!”
Christ. I have mixed feelings about it, but this is my name in this other world. When I first went to the part-time job interview at the tavern, I intended to give my real name, “Aikawa Uzunami.” However, at that moment, the face of that perverted girl named Rustiara flashed in my mind. Using a name that dangerous person knows would be equivalent to increasing the chance of an encounter with her. Frankly, I’m scared. I’m scared of that girl, Rustiara. Pushed by that fear, I thought of a Western name on the spot.
First, I thought about asserting my identity with a pseudonym. It’s a possibility, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility that there are other people from my world in this other world. And if we were to meet, it would be better to have a common name so that we could recognize each other as compatriots immediately. That’s what I thought. I wanted something the most famous in the world. A country name, or a president’s name — no, something even more famous than that — and as a result, I said, “…Christ Eurasia. Pleased to meet you.” It was quite a bold choice, considering the extremely short time I had to think. I chose the most famous profession in the world as my “temporary name” for survival. Once I said it, there was no going back. I decided to live by this name in this other world.
…But personally, I don’t think it’s so bad. Literally translated, it means “savior of the continent.” In terms of my taste, it’s about eighty points. If my sister were here, after being exasperated by her older brother’s usual taste, she would probably tease me about it for about six months…
“Hurry up! Christ-kun!”
“S-sorry!”
Lynn, the tall, attractive lady of the tavern, reprimanded me for standing still. It’s not the time to be lost in thought. It’s not the time to feel awkward about my first pseudonym. From today on, I am Christ Eurasia, living in another world — With those words, I returned to my work. It’s the busiest time right now, dinner time. Adventurers who have finished their dungeon exploration fill the seats to satisfy their hunger. It’s a boisterous space, though lacking in refinement. I work my chores while picking up information about the labyrinth.
“Heh. I earned a lot today.”
“Yeah, I broke out in a cold sweat when we encountered a swarm of Soldier Ants, but in the end, it turned out to be a profitable hunt.”
“Whether you encounter a swarm depends on luck… Well, it was definitely dangerous, but the return was commensurate, right?”
“In the end, yes.”
The conversations at the tavern are often about the labyrinth. It’s very useful to eavesdrop as they reflect on their dungeon exploration for the day and exchange information. As I wiped the dirty tables, I continued to observe my surroundings.
“Yo. Newcomer, kid. Did the last guy quit?”
Many people strike up conversations with me. Unlike my original world, restaurants in this world are friendly.
“Yes. I started today… Christ. It seems the previous person quit.”
“I see. You get paid poorly for how damn busy it is here.”
The man who spoke to me laughed merrily. The shop manager’s voice “How dare you say it’s poorly paid!” came from the kitchen, and the man laughed even harder. The power balance in this tavern is unique. Apparently, the shop manager here was originally a renowned labyrinth explorer, and she doesn’t back down even when dealing with the rowdy customers. I’ve heard her curse at customers multiple times before. Otherwise, she probably couldn’t run a shop right next to a labyrinth. For example, if an employee, Lynn, was about to be teased, the shop manager would step in directly to cover for her. Though I haven’t known her long, she seems like a reliable manager. However, her trusting me with immediate employment shows a lack of confidence in her management judgment.
“Kid, I wonder how long you’ll last. Pretty much all the customers are annoying here, including me.”
“No. Everyone is quite good-natured. I’m able to work here comfortably.”
“Oh, you’re used to it… Unlike the previous guy, your way of speaking is amazing.”
“Is that so…? Th-thank you.”
“But it’s not good to be too stiff. Take it easy.”
And as I continued talking with the drunken man, a louder voice than before called out from the back.
“Hey! Crow! Stop holding onto our new guy for so long! I’ll beat you up!”
It seems the shop manager and the man called Crow are acquaintances. Those words are truly merciless.
“Uh, well, I’ll be getting back then. The dishes are waiting for me.”
“Heh. See you later. I don’t want to get beaten up by the boss either.”
Crow-san raised one hand and nodded. I responded with a bow and quickly returned to the kitchen to start cleaning a large pile of dirty dishes. For today, I’m in charge of clearing tables and washing dishes, so I intend to devote myself to that. It was tough because I had to keep moving, but my experience from my original world helped. Also, it was a big help that I had the magic “Dimension” constantly active, which allowed me to proceed with tasks efficiently. Thus, my first day of work in this other world continued late into the night.
***
When the last customer left and we started cleaning up, the shop manager spoke to me.
“Phew. We’re done, newcomer. How was your first day?”
“…There were quite a few customers, so it was a rewarding experience.”
“You’re impertinent. If you keep that up, you might be able to come tomorrow too.”
The shop manager smirked and scheduled me for the next day, but I was a little taken aback by his reaction.
“Eh… Was I impertinent? Just now?”
“No, not really? It’s just that, well… maybe your strangely polite way of speaking sounds impertinent?”
“Indeed, I was told I was stiff today…”
There might be a cultural gap between worlds. I thought I was speaking in a way that wouldn’t offend the other person, but it might not be accepted in this world. I need to adjust my perception slightly. Like the customer I spoke to earlier, I’ll aim to be a friendly employee.
“Well, don’t push yourself too hard… Get used to it gradually. I’m expecting more from you in the kitchen than in customer service.”
“Eh, Christ-kun, you’ll work in the kitchen too?”
Hearing the word “kitchen,” Lynn, the attractive shop girl, approached, shaking her long brown pigtails that suited her height.
“Yeah, I plan to have Christ help out in the kitchen too. When I tested him, his knife skills were impeccable. He’s also dexterous and apparently has a lot of cooking experience.”
“Oh. That’s why you passed immediately, huh?”
“From what I could tell, he was unnecessarily polite and seemed capable of customer service. There was no reason to refuse him.”
Even if I thought it was strange to have him working at the shop without much explanation, it’s the hardship of being a subordinate to not be able to voice it.
“That’s right. There wasn’t much to teach him.”
“See? My judgment wasn’t wrong. Well then, I’ll be heading to the back. I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Yes, yes.”
The shop manager said so and headed to the kitchen to clean up.
“That’s great, Christ-kun. You needed money right away, didn’t you?”
“Yes, it was a great help. However, things seem quite different from my hometown’s countryside, so I can’t expect too much, you know?”
I set up a defensive line because I didn’t want to be overly relied upon.
“Ah. You came from a faraway country, right? Uh…”
“Fanian.”
“That’s right, Fanian. I’ve never heard of Fanian. You really came all the way here.”
“I challenged the labyrinth with a faint dream, but look at me now.”
Saying that, I showed the burn marks on my arm. In other words, my current persona is “a boy from the countryside who challenged the labyrinth hoping for a quick fortune, but was defeated within a day.”
“Whoa, that looks painful. But you’re lucky. You didn’t lose an arm or an eye or anything. Being able to work here means you definitely won’t die!”
Lynn says quite frightening things in a casual tone. It might be due to the difference in worldviews, but she has probably seen a lot working at a tavern on the front lines of labyrinth exploration.
“Yes. It’s good that I don’t have to worry about starving as long as I work here.”
“Mmm-hmm, work hard. Your big sister is cheering you on. You’re much more polite than the previous guy, and you learn quickly!”
It seems I’ve made a good impression on Lynn. My politeness is probably due to the difference in educational levels between worlds, and my quick learning is thanks to the magic “Dimension”… I feel a little guilty, as if I’m cheating.
“…I’ll do my best. Now, let’s clear the tables too.”
“Yeah, I’ll help you.”
Once the inside of the shop is cleaned up, I plan to discuss the contract details with the shop manager. Although I was told I would be given preferential treatment due to a lack of staff, I might refuse depending on the contract terms. For me, a part-time job is just a means to an end, and I’m currently in a stage of trying various things. But I can’t deny that I find the people at this shop likable.
“–Ah, I’m done. Christ-kun, could you lock the shop entrance last?”
“Understood.”
Lynn, having finished her task, asked me to perform the final duty and headed towards the back entrance. As instructed, I went to the shop entrance and was about to slide the wooden bolt on the large door. –Then, I suddenly realized. The magic “Dimension” detected something. There was someone outside the shop. I checked my remaining MP and strengthened the magic.
“…Yeah, I can do it. –Magic ‘Dimension – Multiple Expansion’.”
I consumed my remaining MP to scan the situation outside in greater detail.Incidentally, this magic “Dimension – Multiple Expansion” is an application of the one I used to grasp distant ranges in the labyrinth. I have just increased the MP consumption to improve its effectiveness, and I have also changed the name to make it clearer. My personal theory is that the longer the technique name, the more exhilarating it is to use.
Outside the shop, there was a large wooden bulletin board. It seemed that a child about my age, wearing a hood, was crouching in front of it. –That piqued my curiosity, so I went outside. White flakes were falling outside. It was only a light dusting, but it was a beautiful sight. These white flakes are called “Tearays,” and they are apparently different from the snow in my world. They are not ice crystals that fall in winter, but crystallized magic accumulated in the sky. I learned this at the library, but I don’t know the specifics. The child in front of the bulletin board continued to crouch with Tearays accumulating on their hood, so I called out to them.
“Hey, are you awake?”
“–!”
The hooded child looked up and at me. Our eyes met, their surprised wide eyes and my black ones. The child was a girl. As she raised her head, golden hair spilled from her hood. It was straight and long, like warm sunlight. And her large blue eyes were striking, with an innocent, androgynous face. The girl looked at me and stood up. She seemed to be around my age, but she was two heads shorter than me. She was petite. I was momentarily captivated, but I quickly interacted with her as a shop employee.
“I’m glad you’re awake. We’re closed now, you know…”
“…Is it not okay to be here?”
Despite her appearance, the girl replied gruffly.
“Hmm. If you don’t do anything strange, it’s probably fine. Probably.”
“I see. Then I’ll stay here. Tell me if it becomes a problem.”
Saying that, the girl sat down. She’s more masculine than I am, but I can’t just leave her.
“No, it’s not that… It’s already late at night, and it’s dangerous for a girl to be alone.”
“………”
Perhaps I’m being intrusive without knowing the situation. However, my ethics from my original world compelled me to speak.
“Is there somewhere you can stay…?”
“I don’t have any money, so I was warming myself in front of the hot tavern.”
She cut off my suggestion sharply. It seemed to be an issue of money. If so, there’s little more I can say. I have no choice but to close the shop and pretend I didn’t see her. Even if a girl smaller than me is trying to sleep outside near this labyrinth —
“…I see. Well then, I’m closing up.”
“………”
I don’t have the luxury to help strangers. Reluctantly, I started to close the shop.
“By the way, I’m not a girl. Don’t worry.”
Just before closing, I heard the voice of the child. No, it seemed to be a boy’s voice. Apparently, he’s a boy, so I don’t need to worry about what I was thinking. I was surprised by this fact and finished closing the shop. Whether it was a lie or not, I didn’t know. However, I decided that it was meaningless for me to think about it any further and walked towards the back of the shop where the shop manager and others were likely waiting.
***
After work, I decided on various things regarding the contract with the shop manager. It wasn’t as detailed as in my world, but rather rough. For now, they plan to test me with daily work. They said the pay would vary depending on my daily performance, and today I received about ten copper coins. I was also given meals and even allowed to sleep and stay at the tavern. I was surprised by this treatment. I was even the one to offer criticism. However, even when I said, “It’s careless,” the shop manager insisted, “I have confidence in my judgment, so it’s fine.” Lynn said, “If you do something wrong, your face is known, so you’ll be caught by the ‘Magic Stone Line’ immediately.” It seems that the “Magic Stone Line” that runs all over the town has security and crime prevention effects. This might be the reason for the treatment. Thus, I am now able to be wrapped in a blanket under a roof. Compared to the boy from earlier, it’s heaven and hell.
“Status, skill –”
【Point Allocation】
Skill Points: 2 remaining
I was trying out various “displays” in a corner of the tavern. My level had increased during the previous attack by Rustiara, and bonus points and skill points had been generated, so I processed them. Bonus points apparently have the effect of increasing stats like strength and durability, while skill points have the effect of acquiring and growing skills. I didn’t want to die, so I spent all my bonus points on increasing HP. If this were a game, I’d consider efficiency and distribute them to strength or agility, but considering I can’t die even once, I prioritized HP. For 1 point, it increased by 10, so my maximum HP is now 151. I focused my skill points solely on Dimensional Magic. As a result, it changed to something like “Dimensional Magic 5.01 + 0.10.” When I used the magic “Dimension,” I saw only a slight change, so the remaining 2 skill points are on hold.
“I might get new magic…”
Whether I want to or not, I will undoubtedly be involved with labyrinths in my future life. It would be appropriate to allocate these skill points to magic for that purpose.
“They said I only need to work at the tavern at night. …Tomorrow, I think I’ll spend the daytime collecting information around town…”
I calmly formulated my plans. Now that I can expect a stable income, I don’t feel much urgency. The confusion and fear of this other world have been mostly erased by the skill “???”, and I am paying close attention to mental stability. It is important now to rationally move forward step by step towards “return.” First, I will spend a few days gathering information and learning the common sense about labyrinths. Only then will I be able to challenge the labyrinth after mastering “display” and magic, and equipping myself with gear and tools.
I continued to experiment with “display” — and during that time, I fell asleep. Thus, my second day in the other world passed relatively peacefully.
*In the book version, the pseudonym is “Sieg.” It has been changed to “Siegfried Visitor,” but… the web novel’s pseudonym will remain “Christ” and will continue until the end.
“End of Day Two”
【Status】
Name: Aikawa Uzunami HP 151/151 MP 34/141 Class:
Level 4
Strength 3.03, Stamina 3.16, Dexterity 4.07, Speed 5.05, Intelligence 6.09, Magic Power 8.08, Aptitude 7.00
Condition: Confusion 4.29
Experience Points: 127/800
【Skill Status】
Innate Skills: Swordsmanship 1.01, Ice Magic 2.02
Acquired Skills: Dimensional Magic 5.01+0.10
???: ???
???: ???
【Magic】
Ice Magic: Freeze 1.00, Ice 1.01
Dimensional Magic: Dimension 1.02
