The Guardian Earth Shaker possesses leg strength capable of jumping up to nearly 100 meters, and it shakes the surrounding ground upon landing, making it a troublesome monster. However, with the common use of Flying and Scaffolding in combat, it’s not a particularly difficult opponent, even for a P-C Rank Monster.
In fact, Rex defeated it with ease, completing the exploration of the Varie Labyrinth.
I had expected the Varie Labyrinth to be a high-level, high-difficulty labyrinth with nearly 30 floors. However, it turned out to be only 18 floors, with a P-C Rank Guardian, making it significantly easier than anticipated.
What was also unexpected, however, was that the 18th floor, the deepest layer, was a tunnel-type floor inhabited by many Puppet-type monsters. Additionally, there were Orichalcum-type and Gem-type monsters present.
This is more than enough as a source of funding for the Count Fallheight Territory. There might even be a gem vein somewhere in the Varie mountain range, so an investigation is essential. Of course, if an investigation is to be conducted, it will be led by the Count Fallheight family after the labyrinth is officially granted to them.
Regarding the labyrinth core, it has been decided that Rex will present it to me. The Varie Labyrinth is located in the Varie mountain range, which is slated to become part of the Count Fallheight Territory.
The report on the labyrinth exploration will be submitted to the Grand Hunter’s Master at the Hunter’s Guild headquarters in Float, as there are no settlements in the former Retisencia region, let alone the Varie mountain range.
It was unexpected for the Grand Hunter’s Master, as well as the Hunter’s Guild, that the labyrinth was shallower than expected yet its deepest layer was essentially a treasure trove. The Guild plans to prioritize the construction of a Hunter’s Guild branch once the Varie Labyrinth is officially opened, as it can serve as a source of funding.
Furthermore, I was informed that a Dungeon Rank, a classification for labyrinths, will be publicly announced and implemented at the end of this month.
“Dungeon Rank is an evaluation given in 10 stages, based on a comprehensive assessment of a labyrinth’s danger level, the distribution of monsters inhabiting it, the materials obtainable, and its environment.”
That’s what it seems to be.
While we are having the Varie Labyrinth appraised and purchased, we have come to the Master’s Room to go through the rank-up procedures. However, I was surprised to learn that the idea of classifying dungeons was already close to practical implementation when I brought it up.
Dungeon Ranks, like Guild Ranks, are T -> I -> C -> B -> S -> G -> P -> M -> A -> O. If a labyrinth is un-explored, it will have a sub-rank of N. I was told that the Hunter’s Guild has gathered and scrutinized all available information, and has already completed the classification of all existing labyrinths, with only the implementation remaining.
Incidentally, the Solpreza Labyrinth and the Instant Labyrinth, which we explored, have been classified as M-Rank. The Krater Labyrinth has been classified as O-Rank. The criteria for Solpreza and Instant Labyrinths were that although their Guardians were A-Rank, they had fewer floors, lacked environmental variations within the labyrinth, and Ancient Classes could reach the deep layers in a short time, making it possible to obtain high-rank monster materials without much difficulty. Therefore, they were judged as not reaching A-Rank. I thought the Solpreza Labyrinth and the Instant Labyrinth would be A-Rank dungeons, but there are also high-floor, high-difficulty labyrinths like the Felsa Labyrinth, and there’s no doubt they are more difficult. So, now that I think about it, it makes sense. Conversely, the Krater Labyrinth was unanimously awarded O-Rank due to its distinctiveness in terms of the monsters inhabiting each floor’s environment and, most notably, its Guardian.
“It is possible that information on un-explored labyrinths is insufficient, so the ranks will likely be updated as soon as new information becomes available.”
“That is true.”
“We also intend to conduct investigations if we have the opportunity.”
For un-explored labyrinths, the number of floors is often unknown, let alone the Guardian. Therefore, the current ranks are temporary classifications based on information known at the moment. This is precisely why the sub-rank indicating un-exploration is attached. For example, the Gagun Labyrinth is G-N Rank, and the Enigma Labyrinth is P-N Rank.
“I have had the chance to look at the documents, but wouldn’t it have taken a considerable amount of time for the Hunter’s Guild to rank such a large number of labyrinths?”
“Precisely. It took about a year to compile all of this. This is not only for un-explored labyrinths, but also because even for explored ones, new information can emerge. Verifying and validating that information was quite challenging.”
The Grand Hunter’s Master let out a hearty laugh, but it was indeed a difficult task. Verifying the deepest layers, in particular, often requires the presence of Ancient Hunters. Naturally, this would entail accepting requests, with rewards ranging from hundreds of thousands to millions of El. Considering the level, financial cost, and time, I’m impressed it was compiled in just one year.
Incidentally, among the 10-stage Dungeon Ranks, there are currently no T-Rank dungeons. The Float Labyrinth has been certified as a C-Rank dungeon, which was decided because it has 18 floors, the monsters inhabiting it are low-ranked, the materials are mediocre, and the Hunter mortality rate is low. I believe another labyrinth, the Accordal Labyrinth in the Ideala Count’s Territory northeast of Float, was certified as a B-Rank dungeon. I-Rank dungeons are those where the Guardian is G-Rank, but we hardly ever enter them, so I completely tuned out that part.
Conversely, the Felsa Labyrinth, which has over 30 floors, and the Galia Labyrinth in the Ballman Count’s Territory, south of Amister, have been certified as A-Rank dungeons. The Galia Labyrinth is currently un-explored, so it has a provisional rank of A-N. The Varie Labyrinth, which we have just explored, has been certified as G-Rank due to its somewhat troublesome environmental conditions on each floor, its vastness, the fact that its deepest layer is a puppet paradise, and its Guardian being a P-C Rank Monster.
Dungeon Rank also takes the Guardian’s rank into account. It is defined that a Raid or Union with High-Class adventurers can typically handle up to G-Rank, while Ancient Classes can manage up to M-Rank dungeons, and successful exploration is considered a mark of first-class achievement. However, Dungeon Rank is a new system, so rankings may change in the future, and the definitions may also evolve accordingly.
“Oh, I got so carried away talking about Dungeon Ranks. My apologies.”
“Not at all, it was a fascinating conversation for us as well.”
“I appreciate you saying so, but we also feel very apologetic for relying so heavily on you. This applies to the Varie Labyrinth as well as the incident the other day…”
Just as the Grand Hunter’s Master was about to say something, there was a knock on the Master’s Room door.
“Excuse me, Grand Hunter’s Master. The appraisal is complete.”
The person who entered was Hitomi Canalfort, the prospective Grand Hunter’s Master, an Ancient Human and M-Rank Hunter. She is the direct disciple of the Grand Hunter’s Master and is level 70. Apparently, she recently explored an un-explored labyrinth in the Palcenos Bridge Principality along with Sayuri and Certina of Torencia. I’m not very familiar with it, but I believe its name was the Gemma Labyrinth, and it was located at the northernmost tip of the Philia Continent, excluding Aura Island. It’s at the foot of the Gemma Mountains, a mining area that produces raw gem materials, so I recall the nearest town, Gemma, being bustling as a mining town. It is said that Sayuri, Certina, and Hitomi entered the Gemma Labyrinth with Lily Wish accompanying them.
“Oh, it’s finished?”
“As always, despite the small number of monsters this time, they were all unusual. I’ve never seen so many Jewel-type and Corundum-type monsters before.”
“Nor I. The Gemma Labyrinth you explored the other day was quite something, but the Varie Labyrinth is more feasible. However, the Gemma Labyrinth is more beneficial for Ancient Classes.”
The Gemma Labyrinth has 8 floors, and in its deepest layer, there were a P-R Rank Monster, Jewel Golem, a P-U Rank Monster, Corundum Doll, and a P-R Rank Monster, Carbon Golem, though in small numbers. The Guardian is reportedly the M-I Rank Monster, Jewel Gargoyle, and it is classified as an M-Rank dungeon. Although there were no other ore-type Puppet monsters, what was particularly surprising was the presence of Carbon-type Puppet monsters. Carbon-type Puppet monsters are black puppets with bodies made of coal, and when processed, they become diamonds. This is why the diamonds produced are black, and the diamonds of the Helios Orb are generally black. Of course, impurities can be removed or additives can be used to change the color, but this makes them slightly more brittle and treats them as one rank lower in terms of material. Nevertheless, they are extremely valuable as diamonds. For this reason, colored diamonds are not very practical and are often used for fashion. While they are for fashion, they are not entirely impractical, and creating colored diamonds is quite a hassle, so it costs a fortune in Divine Metal.
It is said that during the exploration of the Gemma Labyrinth, Hitomi evolved into an Ancient Human. By the way, Sayuri also reached level 65 and evolved into an Ancient Human. It was only recently that I gave in to their pressure and taught them Traveling. Lily Wish had also complained recently about how Certina also knew it and they were discussing forming a Raid party of the three. After all, despite being around the same age, Sayuri lives in Amister, Certina in Torencia, and Hitomi in Alegria. Furthermore, until recently, there were issues with “bad” countries like Solemne and Retisencia, so they could only meet about once a year. However, with Solemne and Retisencia destroyed, and all three evolving into Ancient Classes and learning Long-distance Teleportation Magic, Traveling, the problem of distance has almost become negligible. Well, Hitomi is already designated as the next Grand Hunter’s Master, and Sayuri is not registered as a Hunter, so I doubt they will form a Raid party.
Oops, while I’m curious if the three of them will form a Raid party or not, it’s time to confirm the appraisal of items for purchase. This time, we haven’t hunted many unusual monsters besides the Puppet-types, so the amount should be modest. We also want to keep some of the Puppet materials for our own use. I also want to use gems in the new Crest Protector Coat we are making. Gems are more compact than Magic Stones, and if combined with Magic Stones, their performance is further enhanced. By combining them with materials from O-Rank monsters and Hihishirokane, it should result in the highest performance armor. The materials from the Krater Labyrinth should be sufficient for the O-Rank materials as well, so perhaps once we get back, I’ll start crafting with Marina and Fiana’s help.
