My name is Godwin.
I was a shield-bearing tank who aimed for a huge windfall in the Labyrinth City on the Magatsu Continent with my party members.
I parted ways with my companions en route and was trying to reach the Labyrinth City on my own.
I was captured by some malicious individuals.
I somehow managed to survive by being a meat shield and finally reached my destination, the Labyrinth City.
Was I lucky, or unlucky?
After that, I was sold to one of the many guilds, the Guild of “Unyielding Knowledge.”
In the Labyrinth City, physical ability stats and skills are the most important.
I was immediately asked to state my skills verbally, and my physical ability stats were measured in the training room.
The others were likely sold to different guilds.
They don’t sell them all together to prevent them from cooperating and escaping within the guild.
Honestly, they probably want to minimize expenses from damage to property or injuries during escape attempts.
Even if they cooperate, there’s no way they’ll survive to reach the eastern port from the Labyrinth City.
Impromptu parties have no trust to begin with.
Betrayal at the critical moment is the usual outcome.
“Hey, wake up, you useless bums.”
“Fwah～～a…”
“Ugh, you kicked me, didn’t you?”
“Guh?! Huh? What the hell is this~”
“Are you guys going to start your filthy shouting match right next to my ear? I’ll smash you, alright?”
We were woken up before the bell that announces the time every six hours in the Labyrinth City.
Our day begins in a large room, sleeping in a heap.
This is not breakfast.
We were shoved into the guild’s training room.
Water suddenly appeared indoors.
“Gobobobobobo, gubobobobobbo.”
The floor and walls had effects attached to them.
They weren’t trying to drown us.
It was just a thorough washing.
Apparently, we have to be thoroughly washed before heading to the cafeteria.
The dirty water was discharged somewhere by the walls and floor with teleportation effects.
New water was generated to replace what was lost.
Honestly, I doubt the water is actually being replaced.
Bashaaaaaa!!!!
“Urk. Cough, cough. I’ll kill you!”
It seems someone attacked someone else when they thrashed around in the water again.
“Hurry up and get out, you slowpokes. If you don’t want food, you can stay here, hmph.”
The supervisor or administrator told us to get out of the room quickly.
Some chose to eat rather than fight.
“…Remember this during training.”
“…I don’t know.”
“Huh? You wanna go, punk?”
“Don’t get cocky. You little runt?”
I hope I’m not assigned to them… Please, mister administrator.
Breakfast was a solid substance [stick] made by blending and mixing various things until they were mushy.
The drink was also vibrantly colored and packed with nutrients, but it tasted terrible and made our throats even drier. It’s not fit for human consumption.
I wish they’d at least improve the thirst-inducing aspect, but the administrators just say with a smile:
“What’s this? The consumable livestock are complaining~?”
“If you want human drinks, you need to show results~. Though, that’s probably impossible~.”
“Hahaha, what a gourmet individual~♪”
“That thirst is to motivate you livestock. You don’t need to understand it. Just consume what’s given and produce the results you’re supposed to. If you complain too much, we’ll crush you (as material for research)~?”
After that last remark, no one dared to complain about the terrible food to their faces.
Newcomers are usually given a pass the first time.
Then, the veterans will hail them as “heroes” or “brave warriors.”
But they’re then taken away by an administrator using sorcery and never return, and everyone acts as if they never existed, forgetting them. That’s the usual sequence of events.
After meals, we are led by our respective administrators to one of three places: the training room, the research lab, or the execution grounds.
We are exhausted or killed by noon.
Those who safely return to the cafeteria sit before the prepared lunch, exuding an aura of acceptance, and shove the awful-tasting food into their throats, reminiscing about the morning.
In the afternoon, we accompany our administrators to the labyrinth, the tool shop, or the information broker.
We prepare our equipment and depart, hoping the administrator is in a good mood.
The information broker is the most dangerous.
Sometimes, the information broker angers the administrator.
Next is the labyrinth.
Since I’m the meat shield, I’m naturally swarmed by monsters.
The tool shop just requires us to carry luggage. It’s just heavy labor.
As long as I don’t drop and break the luggage, I won’t be killed.
Today, I’m carrying luggage for the tool shop.
While the administrator is negotiating with the shop staff about purchases, I overhear conversations from other customers and passersby.
The brothel is closed due to a high number of pregnant women.
Men are trying to pick up precious women, begging for just one night.
There are couples embracing and people with children clinging to their partners.
There was also a cross-dressing man who was apparently hit on over five times.
They’re really desperate for women and scary.
“Hey. Hurry up and carry it.”
“Nngh. Yes.”
It looks like they’ve finished buying their items.
Grrr, where do they get the money to buy so much, as always?
“Hurry up and come.”
“I-I’m co-coming now, suu…”
Gii, Mishi, Kalan, Chapun, Pochun.
Most of the miscellaneous items in the backpack are fragile.
Medicines and poisons. If mixed, they cause chemical reactions.
Even individually, if it doesn’t agree with my body, even medicine can be poison.
I stepped outside nervously, worried the floor might collapse under the weight―――but just before that, an administrator from the same guild was about to enter.
I hurriedly stepped aside.
“Hmph. Hey, wait a minute.”
Ah, the scent of the medicines must have alerted them that the items I’m carrying include something they’re looking for… This is going to take a while.
Waiting like this with such a heavy load, really… sighs.
I hope they can sort this out quickly.
“It’s first come, first served.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. My research progress depends on whether or not I have that… Grumble, grumble, blah blah blah…”
The floor under my feet is creaking ominously, so please hurry up.
“Hey, hey? That luggage is heavy, isn’t it? Do you think I could carry it?”
“How should I know? Hurry up and deal with your master (administrator). I want to be freed from this heavy burden as soon as possible.”
I pushed away a man who approached me, offering to help carry the luggage.
After a few tens of minutes.
Patrol soldiers, alerted by the commotion, entered the shop and intervened.
We were taken to the guardhouse for individual interrogations.
While being threatened that lying would put me at a disadvantage in future investigations, I recounted the administrators’ accounts exactly as I saw them. The luggage has been temporarily held by the guardhouse. At least that’s something to be grateful for.
“The one who purchased it first is correct.”
“Hmph.” “…Kyuuu.”
“”…Sighs””
We headed back to the guild.
They headed to the tool shop.
Knowing that the item they were looking for wasn’t there.
They went to buy whatever was left.
If we had been a few minutes later, we would have been in their situation.
Godwin finally reached the guild.
He placed the purchased items in the research lab, was released, and flopped down in the large room, exclaiming, “I survived~~!”
“That makes nine people. Tch, the administrators have been in a good mood recently.”
“Well, if 4 more people survive, we win♪”
The people in the room quietly confirmed their betting arrangements.
Just as I was savoring the relief of having survived…
…I guess I’ll sleep.
If I get involved, we’ll be outnumbered.
It’s best to avoid being pestered.
Godwin ignored them and pretended to be asleep until dinner.
