Following the ship’s whistle.
After hearing the captain’s announcement inside the ship.
We begin preparations to disembark.
In one of the rooms.
The master of a Mechanical Person (Female), who had spread her legs for a Noble, was furious.
“You spread your legs and swayed your hips, didn’t you? Ah, and that guy had a higher noble title than me. Ah, you belong to me, don’t you? Didn’t you swear to live for me? Did you get information from him? Only some seed and dubious information. Hah, will that be of any use to me!”
He continued to kick the Mechanical Person (Female) with thuds.
“Master, I-I’m s-sorry, I’m sorry.”
“My heart hurt even more! Someone? Hurt this thing. Clean out the seed stuck in her crotch.”
“Yes, Baron.”
Baron Gustav.
He gazed at the port of Magatsu Continent, the destination visible from the room’s window.
(Is it as the information said?)
His gaze landed on a welcoming horde of Skeleton Warriors covering the red earth in white.
Two cannon barrels emerged from the ship’s bow.
They unleashed a beam of light, clearing out the skeletons swarming the port.
“We’re releasing the surplus magic power of us passengers, aren’t we?”
This was one of the explanations given when boarding.
Magatsu Continent is a demon-infested land, except for the eight Labyrinth Cities surrounding the Magic Pillar, the Black Pillar.
There are even fools who test their survival for several days acting alone.
Monsters of all kinds are crawling everywhere.
“Baron, your luggage is ready.”
“Alright, let’s disembark. We need to get to the Labyrinth City quickly.”
We’ll finish the pretense assembly quickly and get away from this demon-infested land.
“Yes, Master.”
The Large ship safely docked and extended a gangway for boarding and disembarking.
“Let’s follow.”
“Yes, Captain.”
Medium-sized ships also docked one after another at the available berths and ferry ports.
The passengers were all there for a reason.
The captain would transport anyone as long as he was paid.
The return voyage was several months away.
“Alright, alright, we have arrived at Magatsu Continent.”
A stream of people…
Half of them wore collars or bracelets.
The other half had appearances close to humans, but with parts from other races visible in places – mixed breeds.
Imitations of humans. Relatives of monsters.
Those granted citizenship among the human race.
“Ah, finally we’re here.”
“It’s about time we got out of the cramped ship.”
Each Party followed the Large ship’s Parties and groups.
They proceeded through areas where the Large ship had driven away monsters, reducing their numbers.
Those at the front didn’t look favorably upon those chasing from behind.
They increased their marching speed to pull away.
Then, at several forks in the road leading to intermediate bases for the long journey to the Labyrinth City, they scattered onto their respective paths.
Even after scattering, the march continued with a considerable Combat Power and scale.
The Monsters, contaminated by Evil Magic Power to kill and kill the living, attacked without fear, even knowing the difference in numbers and their own Combat Power.
Outside guests arrived irregularly.
If there were significant gaps between arrivals.
Even those at the front suffered casualties.
The Adventurer Party, The Silver Owl.
“Crow Wolf with sharp claws from the right!”
Coraluf, the leader, announced a new approaching threat.
“Got it.”
Godwin, the Tank, raised his Large Shield to the right.
“Growl.”
“UOOOOH! Now!”
“Here we go!”
Lucius, the Ace Attacker, responded to Godwin’s voice, who had stopped the Crow Wolf’s charge.
He attacked the Crow Wolf’s left front and rear legs with a Rapier and a curved sword.
They aimed to subjugate it as cleanly as possible.
They knew from a signpost erected beside the road a little while ago that they would soon reach an intermediate base (a human town), so they took care to ensure the fur could be sold at a high price.
The Crow Wolf, its legs cut off halfway and rendered useless, writhed.
Its bleeding increased, and it writhed in agony before finally dying.
“One down~” “Yeah~!”
“Good job, you two.”
Yerubaru, the Porter, offered words of congratulation to the two and quickly stripped the Crow Wolf of its fur. He then packed the fangs, claws, and meat into a special pouch.
“Are you two injured?”
“No.” “Not injured.”
Christia, the Healer, asked them if they needed treatment after the battle.
Coraluf said they would proceed if there were no problems.
The four of them replied and continued on their way.
One of the intermediate bases.
In front of the gate.
A large group had arrived first.
“Hurry up and let us in~” “Keep your order. Don’t cut in. I’ll kill you, okay?”
“Hey, who just kicked my leg? Huh?”
“I-It wasn’t me!” “…Heehee, what a nice ass~ ♪ Ouch.”
Rustle Rustle Rustle
While waiting to enter the town.
The outer rows were continuously attacked by monsters.
In the chaos of battle, those who cut in line appeared, creating chaos from the middle to the rear.
The Silver Owl was stuck in the rear of that chaotic, orderless line, unable to move until the people in front of them did.
Several hours later.
As the sun reached its zenith, they presented their entrance fee and received instructions from the gate guards for entering the town.
“My legs are tired. Let’s get an Inn quickly.”
“Christia, I agree. Yerubaru, go find an Inn.”
“Y-Yes, right away.”
(Can’t they see I’m carrying everyone’s luggage… Fine. Once we reach the Labyrinth City. I’ll… to them…)
Yerubaru swallowed his dissatisfaction.
He led Coraluf and the others to an Inn called “Thieving Cat,” where a room had been reserved for them in anticipation of a brighter future.
“The Inn’s name is awful.”
“It’s not a pickpocket Inn, is it?”
A pickpocket Inn is a place where guests are stripped of their belongings, killed, or turned into slaves.
“It’s okay. There’s no way we’d end up in such an Inn right from the start.”
To Coraluf’s and Lucius’s anxious words, Yerubaru, who had booked the Inn, explained that they had entered this place and that other guests had noticed their luggage, thus minimizing the risk of anything happening.
However, they were quite dissatisfied with the five-person room.
(The other two or three-person rooms were taken by those who arrived earlier or by the townspeople! If you don’t like it, you should have looked for one yourself… Sigh, at this rate, I might say it out loud. I need to endure until our destination… If I endure, a bright future will shine upon me.)
They went out for dinner.
Coraluf and Christia went out for a walk in the night breeze after their meal.
Lucius went to a Gambling Den with the meager amount of money, one-fifth of the proceeds from selling the Crow Wolf.
Godwin returned to the Inn to tend to his beloved shield.
Yerubaru followed Godwin, tidied up the four of them’s luggage in a corner of the room, prepared for departure, and slept on the bed (which was hard).
He had a dream.
In one of the Labyrinth Cities, the floor was unknown, but on the way back, he was in a fierce battle with a monster of black mist.
His head was crushed by the black mist, and he woke up with a cold sweat, thinking it was morning. Yerubaru got out of bed.
(…It’s not a false premonition, is it?)
“Hmm, m-morning~?”
“Waaaah, Chris, are you already awake?”
The Silver Owl left the Inn “Thieving Cat,” had breakfast, and headed for the Labyrinth City.
There were no problems.
Within a few minutes of leaving the town.
They encountered a monster.
They counter-attacked monsters that were waiting for prey to leave the town.
They abandoned bulky materials,
replenished their food, and left the rest.
Individuals who fed on dead flesh cleaned up the remains.
They defeated those individuals who prioritized the living over the dead and proceeded.
They stayed one night at an intermediate base.
After four weeks of such work and marching.
The Silver Owl finally set foot in the Labyrinth City, looking a bit worn out.
