I rummaged through the nun's backpack.
There wasn't much worth taking. A handful of bread crumbs, a blanket, and the dagger she'd been using—that was the haul.
I tied the blanket around myself to cover up. My T-shirt was nothing but rags now, so I tossed it.
"You should focus on covering your stomach. A guy's abs are hot, but flashing them around like that is just asking for a chat with the guards. Honestly, they only drag you in to get an eyeful themselves."
I couldn't quite wrap my head around it, but apparently, a man's midriff was some kind of turn-on for women in this world.
Taking Kakchi's advice to heart, I wrapped the blanket more securely.
It gave off a bit of a primitive tribal chief vibe, but this was the best I could do.
The dagger looked pretty decent too. Heavier than a goblin knife, but way sharper.
I tucked the chipped axe into my belt for now and decided to make the dagger my main weapon.
"Tch. This bitch didn't have shit..."
As I erased my presence and got ready to move, I spotted Kakchi rifling through the nun's corpse.
"Kakchi. Come here."
I tugged on the mana rope that had become her leash, and she froze mid-motion before scampering over to me.
"Y-you called, Master?"
This was why training mattered. The selfish, lust-crazed woman had become a proper human being after just two hours of etiquette lessons (physical edition).
She hung her head, peeking up at me cautiously. I looked down and asked,
"What were you doing?"
"I-I was looting the body. The dead are dead, and the living have to live on their share too, right? But survival's tough these days, so I figured I'd snag some of the deceased's stuff."
"You're really beating around the bush just to say you stole coins from her pouch. Hand it over."
"Y-yes, sir."
Kakchi timidly cupped her hands and offered them up. Four silver coins gleamed in her palms.
I had no idea what they were worth, but I pocketed them anyway. Money never hurt.
"...Not that close, huh?"
"...We just did a few commissions together."
"You two synced up pretty well when you jumped me."
"Women gel together when they've got a common goal."
"That's nothing to brag about, pup."
She didn't seem like the type to avenge her comrade with a backstab.
I raised my fist and rested it gently on her solar plexus.
The moment it touched the underside of her small chest, her eyes squeezed shut, and her shoulders began to tremble.
"Hnn... h-huh... eep..."
She wasn't even hit yet, but she was already hyperventilating, bracing for the pain.
"Hah... hnn... hnn..."
I barely pressed down, and she gasped like she'd been stabbed.
"Ugh... uh..."
"Kakchi."
"Y-yes, sir!"
Satisfied with the preventive shot, I quietly lowered my fist.
Then I patted her quivering shoulders.
"No bad thoughts, okay? Let's get along. Got it?"
"Gasp! Y-yes, sir!"
"Good. Lead the way."
Kakchi hurriedly grabbed the backpack and headed for the escape portal as ordered.
I followed leisurely, holding the leash.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Navigating the Labyrinth alone was a whole different beast.
"L-let's take a break! Can't we rest a bit before moving on?"
For one, I could actually rest now.
When you're tired, you stop. Simple, common sense stuff that was impossible in the madhouse of the Labyrinth.
Especially solo.
Heck, I'd nearly gotten jumped by goblins just hours ago during a forced break.
That's why I'd been pushing myself half-mad, sleepless, on a brutal march before.
No more of that.
"Time to move again?"
"A-already? What kind of stamina..."
Of course, I wasn't letting my guard down completely. A healthy tension was key.
Thwip!
Another perk: combat got way easier.
"Krrk—!"
The arrow sliced through the air and buried itself in the goblin's skull.
With an archer slave, I could snipe goblins from range—no need for melee.
"Kerk, keruk!"
"Kekekeke—!"
"O-one down!"
Even when two or more showed up, one died first, cutting the pressure of multi-foe fights.
Squelch!
The dagger flashed out, piercing the goblin's heart in one thrust.
'Tasteless.'
The blade was quality.
Sharper than my old axe, it sliced through goblin muscle effortlessly.
But it lacked the axe's satisfying heft—the penetration, the impact. Just meh.
No choice. It was the best I had.
'Huh. Feeling lighter on my feet?'
That odd sensation since waking from the sleep poison.
Not something I could chalk up to imagination.
I'd grown numb to killing goblins and swinging weapons, but this was different.
Like my body had leveled up again. Game terms fit perfectly.
Made sense. Goblins, potions, beastkin, women hot for men—this world screamed game logic.
Nothing would surprise me now.
"Next thing you know, I'll get a status window."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Synchronization 80% Complete.]
"...Huh...?"
Why the hell was it real?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙[Synchronization 81% Complete.]
I stared blankly at the translucent status window in shock.
The number ticked up by 1.
"Synchronization 81% Complete"—seemed pretty self-explanatory.
"..."
That was about it.
It startled me at first, but after goblins and potions, it didn't hit too hard.
Just kinda intriguing. Sparked some curiosity.
81% without even trying.
'Wonder what happens at 100%?'
Staring didn't bump it to 82%. Not just time-based, then.
'Most of what I've done in the Labyrinth is kill monsters. Maybe that's it.'
Nothing changed. Kill monsters, hit the escape portal.
Slice, slice.
As I moved to go, I saw Kakchi doing something over a goblin's face while I'd been distracted.
Snap—
I yanked the leash, and she bolted over.
"Kakchi. What're you up to?"
"...Oh. I-I was cutting off goblin ears. You take proof of kills to the Explorer's Union for pay."
"Yeah?"
"...?"
I ignored her "you don't know basics?" look and told her to get back to it.
Watching her slice off the ear, I suddenly thought of all the goblins I'd killed.
"...How much do they pay?"
"About 20 silver for ten goblins."
I'd stopped counting, but at least thirty, easy.
Ignorance was unavoidable back then, but damn, missed opportunity.
'Right. Knowledge. I need knowledge.'
I knew zilch about this world. Labyrinths, monsters, gender dynamics, goblin ears—basics escaped me.
This ignorance would pile up and trip me eventually.
From then on, I grilled Kakchi with questions, piecing together outside-the-Labyrinth info.
Not a ton, but the bare essentials.
The escape portal was in sight.
And then.
"Keruk, kereruk."
"Kerereruk!"
Last fight.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"No way... is this for real...?"
Densi—now called Kakchi—gaped, overwhelmed by the man's battle before her.
'...Is that really a guy?'
Squelch!
Tough. Raw.
Every punch and dagger swing made his muscles ripple fiercely, veins bulging with battle heat.
"Krrruk!"
His thick arm seized the thrashing goblin's hair and snapped its neck clean.
Splatter!
Goblin blood sprayed his helm; the creature went limp, dead.
'Were goblins always this fragile?'
No. Goblins were sly pains.
Small and agile, but strong. Sneaky ambushes. Pack tactics.
Especially in their nests—overwhelming numbers.
That's why rookies called them the first wall.
Not for nothing they spawned from mid-floor 1 to deep layers.
The man wiped his helm, checked the blood, and clicked his tongue.
That wild beast aura turned him from doormat dude into dominant male.
'He came up from deep floor 1... solo.'
Thud!
Snapping from thought, something dropped at her feet.
Goblin corpse. He'd tossed it one-handed.
No easy feat. Goblins weighed around 40kg.
Lifting? Sure, for anyone strong.
Flippant toss? Only blessed, trained explorers.
Nam Sujin did it like breathing, thanks to grind experience and build, but Densi didn't know that. Her imagination ran wild.
How many floors? 2? 3? Definitely stronger than me.
"Cut the ear and bag it."
"Yes."
Even barked as an order, she bowed reflexively.
No real need.
No formal magic slave contract.
She could refuse or bolt anytime.
But... she didn't want to. Couldn't.
Seeing him made her legs shake, bruised solar plexus throb.
His words echoed, fist on her chest.
—Let's get along? Got it?
The etiquette bootcamp burned deep in her mind.
"What're you waiting for? Hurry up."
That commanding alpha-male tone, worlds from average guys.
"Y-yes..."
Unknowingly, she'd forged a third path: willing submission.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
The white portal shimmered invitingly.
Eyes adjusted to the dim Labyrinth, it almost hurt to look at.
Still, welcome sight.
After days chasing just this, through hell, tears welled up.
"Touch the escape portal and it'll suck you in. Feels floaty—watch your step."
Kakchi said, slipping inside.
Escape portal led to Balerus Labyrinth City's entrance, she'd said.
I touched it gingerly.
Whoosh—
Floatsy feeling.
"...Huh?"
Deja vu. Then it hit: unforgettable memory.
'Hospital! The magic circle there!'
Touching it, next thing: goblin nest.
Could this take me home?
Hope surged—then crashed.
No dear modern world. Medieval fantasy landscape instead.
"Ah..."
A deflated sigh escaped.
Truth? I'd clung to faint hope.
Nightmare dream. Portal out = wake up home.
Grind life, endless routine days.
But little joys with sis made it happy.
I stared blankly at my goblin-gore-splattered body.
—Crack!
Goblin death rattles, flesh parting—still rang in my ears.
Memories of denying reality, forcing "just a dream" to fight on.
Dagger and axe weighed at my belt.
I'd killed people too. With these hands.
Touching my face: cold helm.
Its chill snapped reality home again.
"Haha. Ha..."
Heart denied, but head knew this brutal truth long ago.
No ordinary days anymore.
This alien world was inescapable reality.
From now on, survive solo in this harsh place.
"...Fuck it. Bring it."
Fist clenched, I glared at the rippling portal.
Hospital magic circle, Labyrinth portal—same transit feel meant connection.
—The Labyrinth holds all mysteries and secrets.
Kakchi said portals were Labyrinth-exclusive.
To unravel portals, back in I go someday.
Resolve hardened.
Labyrinth. Portals. Magic circles.
Uncover the mystery, get back to Earth.
And find my missing sister.
"I'll survive this world. No matter what."