Volume 2 Chapter 12 (1/2)

Today our main objective was to go on an adventure in the labyrinth within the Starfish Larvae.

It is our first adventure as a party of four consisting of the Crusader Selene, the Thief Luna, the Spirit Archer Til and me, the Magic Knight Youya. With the addition of a tank cum healer Selene, our party’s safety net has become much safer and stable than before.

Luna and Till were energetic as usual and Selene was ready to leave, dressed in my spare dragon skin armour with Renoir’s shield on her dominant right hand and a gauntlet on her left. She also had a spare sword hanging on her waist.

It was an indication of her conscious effort to pick up Renoir’s battle style. The sword on her waist was not her main weapon but rather a spare for the absolute worst scenario. In this world, there was a weird interaction when a person was capable of wielding two different weapons on one arm. Only the first item would contribute to the user’s status. In Selene’s case, it was the gauntlet. Whenever the user switches their equipment in a dungeon, the user’s status would remain the same although they were using a different weapon. Hence, even if Selene swapped out her gauntlet with a sword, her status wouldn’t have a rise in attack power.

[Everyone our goal today is to enter the Starfish Larvae once more.] (Youya)

Since it was the day after respawn day, we didn’t have any difficulty in hunting monsters in the forest of God Trees. However, it is necessary for us to enter the labyrinth at least once to determine how much the hand of the pendulum clock has moved in this period of time. This would allow us to estimate when the egg will spawn in the forest.

[Uhn. Luna is confident. Since the last time Youya has taught Luna a lot of things about traps and stuff.] (Luna)

[Today we will be sure to complete the dungeon before our bodies become heavy again!] (Til)

The last time we entered the labyrinth, the two of them were completely overwhelmed by the sheer number of traps and it’s curse. By the time we had arrived at the exit, the two of them were exhausted and were in a terrible state. This time they looked much more confident about conquering the labyrinth. Feeling relaxed and being confident is a good thing, however if the tension from the labyrinth was diminished and they were to get caught in another trap, there wouldn’t be a reason for us to laugh anymore. I can only hope that they would concentrate when we are in the dungeon.

[Are you okay Selene?] (Youya)

[I’m fine. There isn’t any problem, I’m just a little intimidated.] (Selene)

[Understood. Don’t push yourself.] (Youya)

Previously Selene was betrayed by her bodyguard and shoved into the Starfish Larvae’s path, accidentally entering the labyrinth and went through a frightening experience.

While we were hunting monsters in the forest of God Trees, our target, the Starfish Larvae appeared in the distance. To avoid being eaten, the surrounding adventurers began to disperse and search for the closest God Tree. Soon after, the adventurers around us were completely gone and we began to walk towards the Starfish Larvae. The massive creature began increasing in size as it’s green outer shell with a pattern resembling an eye became more and more visible. It’s mouth devouring everything in its path. The fear it appeared to instill was bone chilling and so intimidating that only someone who knew about the labyrinth would stand in its path. Luna and Til began clinging onto my arms while Selene pressed her face against my back. This was the case if you were extremely frightened to the point that you aren’t able to move, but looking at it is actually a beautiful pattern.

The Starfish Larvae was finally approaching us as our surroundings was blocked by the sight of its mouth.

[It could actually be this fear that is preventing any rumors about the Starfish Larvae and the labyrinth in it’s stomach. For anyone else to even attempt this would mean suicide and the person who mentioned the labyrinth would be delusional.] (Youya)

While we were swallowed by the Starfish Larvae, I muttered to myself.

Not just that but the people who miraculously got eaten and survived the labyrinth would recommend everyone to run away to prevent getting eaten. It was impossible to think otherwise. It is impossible to attempt entering the labyrinth unless it was a game where you would be able to put your life on the line to verify it. Furthermore if someone were to attempt to get eaten while the Starfish Larvae was enraged, the person would only have death waiting for them.

Now then, the labyrinth in the Starfish Larvae. I hope we will be able to exit quickly this time.

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I opened my eyes. The three girls were still grabbing me tightly.

[Ladies? It’s already over, we’ve entered the labyrinth. Could you three please let go of me? I can’t prepare the light crystal like this.] (Youya)

[Uhn. Understood. It was scary.] (Luna)

[Fuu.. It’s as bad for your heart as ever.] (Til)

[I concur… Even if we know what’s coming, it still takes a lot of courage to stand in the Starfish Larvae’s path.] (Selene)

After everyone let go of me, I took out the light crystal from the hidden room, revealing our surroundings and the labyrinth.

[Luna and Selene, both of you take a light crystal. Til, I’m sure you don’t need one?] (Youya)

[Of course since I have these jade eyes of mine.] (Til)

I was envious of Til’s special jade eyes. Even in pitch darkness she is capable of looking at the surroundings. I tied the light crystal to both Luna and Selene’s heads.

[There are even items that are as convenient as this.. Even without mana it is capable of shining continuously.] (Selene)

[It is a pretty rare magic tool. If you lose it we don’t have a replacement for it nor can we replenish our stock so please take good care of it.] (Youya)

Selene nodded her head with a determined look.

Although it is possible to replenish our light crystals by heading to the level reset room, but it would be impossible for us to reset our levels if we depleted the light crystals in the room as it was required to activate the level reset function. In fact, I had even left light crystals in the event that there are other adventurers who discover the room.

After our conversation, we got into our party formation. Luna was at the head with her exploration skills. Right behind her was Selene while Til was all the way at the back while I am in the middle. This way, it would be easier for me to react and deal with any trouble that comes to us, whether it was the front or the back.

[Luna, look at the ground directly in front of you. There is a trap two steps ahead of you. A colour difference in the ground is the characteristic of a pitfall trap.] (Youya)

[Now that you mentioned it, it looks obvious. However, isn’t there a chance that the ground happened to look different?] (Luna)

[Whenever the colour of the ground changes to indicate a pitfall trap, the area of the ground would have an unnatural change in colour similar to a square area. It is unlikely that this sort of colour change would happen naturally.] (Youya)

[Ah. That’s true. It’s easy to understand.] (Luna)

I explained the method to distinguish a pitfall trap in the ground. Although it was possible for her to learn the skill Trap Detection, but as demonstrated it is possible to detect a trap based on experience and knowledge. I would prefer to use her skill points on something else.

[Luna, did you level up the skill I told you about yesterday?] (Youya)

[Uhn. I levelled Increased Drop Rate to level 2, the maximum I can.] (Luna)

[That’s good enough, it’ll help us tremendously.] (Youya)