The tonic finally wore off, and as my arousal subsided, the strength in my legs vanished along with it.
"I can't stand up."
"Then get on my back."
"Yes, sir."
And so, I found myself being carried out on the massive back of the Barbarian warrior who had come down for the rescue operation.
The man reeks. Seriously, does he ever wash?
The Barbarian carried the Young Lady on his back and tucked me under his arm like a sack of grain.
Like the Easterners from the Orient, these men were foreigners from the North—the ones commonly known as 'Barbarians.' Their speech was clumsy, their personalities were incredibly rough, and their body odor was no joke, but their loyalty was legendary. Unlike the Easterners, who were often perceived as petty within the Labyrinth City, the Northern Barbarians were frequently called 'pushovers' for their selflessness.
Thanks to that reliable Barbarian, we were transported out of the Labyrinth without any further trouble.
My god.
Outside, the scene was pure chaos. Rescue teams rushing into the Labyrinth were tangled with the survivors, making the plaza more crowded than a market day.
Everywhere I looked, corpses were laid out in rows. They were likely the ones who had managed to return, only to succumb to their wounds at the finish line. Wails of grief echoed from every direction—the harrowing cries of those who had survived while their loved ones hadn't.
Today's events would likely be recorded as the Great Labyrinth Catastrophe.
"We're here. Get down."
"Thank you. You saved my life."
"Don't mention it. I'm off to save the next one."
"Yes, please be careful."
The Barbarian didn't demand a reward. He simply dropped us off near the entrance and immediately turned back toward the darkness. He was throwing himself into the rescue operation with everything he had.
Seeing the Gold Plate hanging around his neck, he was clearly a veteran adventurer. It was humbling to see someone exerting themselves so much for a task that wouldn't earn them a single copper.
"We're alive… we're actually alive."
"Yes. We finally made it out of that damned hole."
We had gone into the Labyrinth expecting a simple day trip, but after being trapped for nearly forty-eight hours, the outside air felt incredibly sweet. It felt a bit wrong to celebrate with so many people weeping around us, but the relief of survival was overwhelming.
If Rien hadn't awakened an Inung and come down to find us, we probably would have been trapped down there forever.
"Thank you for finding us so quickly, Rien."
"Hmph… I only went in to find Leah…"
Rien fussed over the Young Lady, then shot a sharp glare my way. It seemed she'd taken a dislike to me, likely because she'd caught the Young Lady and me in a 'compromising' position back in the Labyrinth.
It was unfair, but what could I do?
Well, we've survived the day. I doubt we'll ever see each other again after this.
What did it matter what she thought of me? I'd already warned the Young Lady to keep her mouth shut, so there was no problem. Our connection ended here. Once I received my payment, our paths would never cross again.
Thinking that, everything that had just happened felt like a fever dream. To have exposed myself to a noble lady and been touched by her… the Labyrinth truly was a cruel, surreal place where the unexpected became reality. We had been mentally cornered and ended up doing something lewd, transcending the gap in our social statuses just to feel alive.
Now that we were out, that madness would never happen again.
By the way, the weather is beautiful.
Looking up at the clear blue sky, I felt a massive weight lift from my chest. I hadn't realized how much stress I'd been carrying while trapped. I had died and come back to life several times, after all. Perhaps it wasn't just the Young Lady—maybe my own mind had started to crack, too.
I needed to recuperate. I needed to get paid, and then I needed to buy a slave.
"Ugh. Ugh!"
As I was calculating exactly how much to demand for my services, the Young Lady suddenly clutched her chest and gasped.
"Leah! Leah, what's wrong?!"
"My whole body… it feels like it's going to explode… Porter, what is this?!"
As she cried out in pain, Rien panicked. The Young Lady looked terrified, clutching my arm as if her veins were on fire.
It's finally happening.
She was undergoing Mana Adaptation. Everyone usually felt this level of pain the first time.
"It's just Mana Adaptation. Don't worry; everyone goes through this."
"What? Oh. Ahh… so this is normal? Ugh… it hurts…"
"Leah, are you okay…?"
"No… everything aches."
Rien stroked the Young Lady's back until the fit passed. It seemed her growing pains were quite intense, likely because she'd gained a massive amount of experience in one go. She might have even gained an Inung.
"Did you happen to gain an Inung?"
"Huh? No. I don't feel anything like that. I think it was just the adaptation."
No luck, then.
It was a shame. Undergoing Mana Adaptation didn't guarantee an Inung. Even I, who had been in and out of the Labyrinth countless times, had only undergone adaptation five times and gained a mere two Inungs.
"Hmm…?"
Just then, my own body began to ache. It seemed my turn had finally come. It would have been a robbery if I didn't get an adaptation after taking down a Bunnyman.
Just a slight tingle.
The first time had felt like being flayed alive, but now I was used to it. This marked my sixth Mana Adaptation. I suppose I could consider myself Level 6 now. With this, I'd finally be able to endure the Underground City without suffering from Miasma poisoning.
Could I finally enter the Underground City?
It had been six months since I started as an adventurer. Finally, I had the qualifications to be called a veteran. I could enter the lower depths—a place I'd dreamed of but couldn't reach due to my low level.
"Ugh…!"
Then, a sharp, ringing pain struck the back of my brain.
This was it.
A new Inung!
In my previous five adaptations, I'd only gained two. Both were incredibly overpowered for a Porter, but I had been feeling like I was due for a third.
I prayed for something good.
The Inung I gained this time is…
[Eye of the Soul]
Eye of the Soul? What was that? I'd never heard of it. Had anyone in the city ever possessed an Inung like this? I couldn't recall a single mention of it in the taverns or the guild.
I can see what others cannot?
No other information entered my mind. It seemed to be some kind of mystic eye. I'd need to experiment to use it properly.
"Porter, are you okay?"
"Yes. I think I've also undergone adaptation."
The Young Lady looked at me with genuine worry. Had she grown fond of me during our ordeal? Even though we were safe, she was still looking out for me.
"Now that we've caught our breath, let's head to the relief station. My wounds are stinging. Young Lady, you should go too. It's best to treat minor injuries before they leave permanent scars."
"Okay. I understand."
My arm had been badly mangled during the fight with the Vorpal Rabbit. I had stopped the bleeding with basic supplies, but I needed a real healer. If the wound festered, I might lose the arm. For an adventurer, losing a limb was a death sentence for their career. Some high-ranked adventurers would rather commit suicide and pay for resurrection than live with a missing limb.
Of course, that was a luxury for the filthy rich.
"This is the relief station. If you're ever hurt, this is where you come."
"There are so many healers…"
The station was overflowing. Survivors of the Great Upheaval were packed into every corner. The dead were left outside the Labyrinth gates, while the living were funneled here.
It was pure chaos. I couldn't even guess how many people had died. The entire city was a mess, and once the initial shock wore off, a heavy stagnation would follow. Many would quit the life after today. If the adventurer population plummeted, the city's economy would freeze. A gloomy atmosphere was about to settle over the Labyrinth City. When public safety crumbled, thieves and thugs would fill the void.
Well, that's not my problem.
The high-ups would deal with it. If there were fewer adventurers, maybe my value as a veteran Porter would go up. No use thinking negatively.
"Next!"
"Looks like it's our turn. Let's go."
"Okay."
After a long wait, the Young Lady and I finally had our wounds tended to. Rien had also been treated for a gash on her arm before she had come to find us.
"40 silver."
Of course, it wasn't charity. We had to pay for the divine magic and the medicine.
"Young Lady, the bill."
"What?! I have to pay for this too?"
"Well, yes. We got hurt in the Labyrinth. I only fought that hard because you said you'd cover the costs."
"…You're ruthless. Truly ruthless. The rumors about Easterners being stingy are true."
"Excuse me? You're alive because I spent my carefully saved money on survival items. You should be thanking my stinginess."
"Ugh. Fine, I'll pay! Just stop nagging."
The Young Lady paid for my share as well. It really was nice having a wealthy sponsor.
"By the way, Rien."
"Hm…?"
"You haven't found Erika and Rika yet, have you?"
"N-no. I was going to go look for them again… but I need something they owned to track them. I don't have anything."
At my question, the mood soured instantly. Rien's 'Search and Track' Inung required an item or a biological sample from the target. She had found us because she had the hairpin the Young Lady had given her. To find the priestess and the knight, she needed a catalyst.
"Oh, wait! I have something Erika gave me."
The Young Lady rummaged through her pockets and pulled out a small wooden rosary. It was a gift the priestess had given her for protection.
"This is from Erika. A rosary of the Goddess. Can you use this?"
"W-wait… it might work… let me try… It's working!"
Rien gripped the rosary, focusing her power.
"Over there… that way! I feel them!"
"South. That's the Sewer District."
The direction Rien pointed was toward the southern edge of the city, where the entrance to the sewers lay.
We should go immediately, but…
Rien looked like a ghost. She hadn't slept, and she had just pushed herself through a rescue mission. Her hands were shaking, and she looked ready to collapse.
"Rien, can you really go back in?"
"Uh… well."
Her hand trembled. It was too much. If Rien couldn't lead the way, the knight and the priestess were as good as dead. Especially in the Sewer District—corpse recovery there was nearly impossible. If they died there, they couldn't even be resurrected.
It was a tragedy, but we had no choice but to give up.
"Wait… I… I can still go. I have to save them…"
Despite her exhaustion, Rien's eyes were determined. Logically, I should have told her to stay put, but if we didn't go now, they were gone. The moment she resolved herself, the option of quitting vanished.
Normally, we should report to the Guild first, but every second counted.
"Let's gather a rescue team and head down. Young Lady, you go back to the inn and rest."
"Wait, I'm coming too."
"If you come, you're just a second burden."
"What?"
"Your legs are shaking. Rien and I will go and bring them back. Just wait at the inn."
"…Alright. If you bring them back, I'll pay the full reward. Everything I promised. Please… I'm counting on you."
"It's a promise. Let's go, Rien."
"Okay…!"
If we brought back the knight and the priestess, that was 20 gold coins per head.
Even if they're dead…
She had promised 10 gold just for the bodies.
So, this… this isn't charity. I'm not being a pushover. I'm an adventurer, and I move for profit.
I'm definitely not going back into that hellhole because of the Young Lady's tearful eyes. And I'm certainly not doing it because Rien grabbed my sleeve like I was her last hope.
...Damn it.
My legs feel like they're going to snap. But for that kind of money, I'll crawl if I have to. I need that gold for my slave harem.
Alright, let's go back down.
Even though I just got out.
The members of this disaster of a party weren't all accounted for just yet.