Chapter 85

Crossing the stone pavement, Worm slipped through the unlocked door. The building's entrance was an open space, with a row of white marble columns arching overhead, welcoming him.

Light flickered in his vision, and Worm, who had noticed the brightness despite being indoors, looked up with his clouded eyes. The ceiling windows were alternately inlaid with colorless transparent glass and vivid stained glass, skillfully gathering natural light from outside.

"I always thought of labyrinths as filthy places."

Looking at the columns, it seemed that during the day, they would let in light, and at night, they would switch to lighting from magic stones or luminescent moss lanterns. The lanterns were designed in a way that did not detract from the aesthetics.

Impressive as it was, he couldn't afford to be captivated for long. The flow of people, which had been clear and directed, had dispersed, and there were even small groups leaning against the columns. Worm joined one of these groups and began observing the flow.

According to the information Worm had gathered at the tavern, the owner of the Bergana Great Labyrinth was the Borgia Marquis family, but the majority of its operation was entrusted to the Adventurer's Guild, which was skilled in managing labyrinths and possessed extensive management expertise.

Indeed, the door with the sign "Adventurer's Guild Bergana Branch" was where the most people were drawn. The labyrinth had multiple entrances, the exact number of which was not disclosed. To avoid long lines, there were various entrances for nobles, guests from other countries, and even some that were only accessible to high-ranking adventurers, as Worm had been told with a mix of envy.

Furthermore, there were apparently exclusive salons for powerful figures and high-ranking adventurers, functioning as networking spaces for building connections and securing employment. Considering this, the well-dressed adventurers, who seemed to be influenced by the nobility, made sense.

After finishing his observation, Worm pushed himself off the column and started walking. Although he was a privileged adventurer, those who ventured into the labyrinth were not just adventurers and powerful figures. Commoners who dreamed of striking it rich also operated in the lower levels. Worm intended to join them.

He had already spotted his target. Although the tools were wrapped in cloth to avoid drawing attention, Worm did not miss the sickles and shovels. The men, who seemed to be commoners, walked with tense expressions. Worm quietly followed them, advancing deeper into the building.

"...Too obvious."

The further he went toward the entrance for commoners, the more the decor deteriorated. This part of the building, which had likely undergone multiple renovations, was probably one of the oldest. Compared to the entrance, the damage was more evident, and the decor was less grand. However, it was still far superior to the fort where Worm had lived in the Haiselk Empire.

Continuing his walk, he arrived at a large hall with a high ceiling. It seemed to be used for resting and meeting up. There were shops selling weapons and consumables, and even merchants selling light meals from stalls. Tables and chairs of different designs were scattered around, some of which appeared to be of high quality. It was quite clear that these items had been discarded from other waiting areas.

"Got it, if you're targeted, run and lead them to the spear wielders."

"I just got a new backpack. Now I can stuff in meat or anything."

"Haha, you won't even use half of it, and you bought such a big one."

"Hey, you've got sauce on your clothes."

"I put it there. I'll lick it when I'm hungry."

"Liar!"

The waiting area was filled with elegant and refined people. In this refined atmosphere, Worm might be able to dance without making a mistake. At the reception, the Adventurer's Guild staff and the challengers were exchanging tickets and money. Worm waited for a break in the crowd before approaching the receptionist.

"I want to enter the labyrinth."

Not knowing what the right answer was, Worm decided to go for a straightforward approach without resorting to cheap tricks.

"Excuse me, are you in the right place?"

Hiding his surprise at the unexpected response from the receptionist, Worm countered with a question.

"Isn't this the entrance to the labyrinth?"

"Well, it is an entrance, but this one is for novice adventurers and citizens. You don't seem like a novice..."

"I'm not an adventurer."

"Oh, you're a mercenary, then. I thought you were an adventurer from another city. In that case, it would be better if you registered as an adventurer—"

"No, that's not necessary."

"Um, being a member of the Adventurer's Guild makes it easier to get information about the labyrinth and join parties or gather companions. If you don't have a criminal record, you can use the bulletin board and get introductions from the guild to other adventurers. Excuse me, but are you alone?"

"...Yes, I am."

The receptionist, who seemed to be about to say, "You don't have any friends, do you?" left Worm speechless. Taking control of the situation, the receptionist continued to advise him.

"Many mercenaries have this attitude, but this is a labyrinth. The rules outside don't apply here. Venturing in alone is, to put it bluntly, suicidal."

In Kanoa, Worm had overwhelmed adventurers and, at Dandueg Castle, his inadequacy had led to their deaths. How could anyone accept that Worm, who had survived alone, was now becoming an adventurer? The memories resurfaced, and his eyes burned. Lowering his gaze, he clenched his teeth and steadied his breathing.

An unusual silence filled the bustling waiting area. The receptionist's serious expression softened, and she continued as if to say, "There's nothing I can do."

"You have your reasons, I understand. I don't recommend it, but I can't force you. It's not unheard of... One silver coin and five copper coins. You'll get the five copper coins back when you return the ticket. What's your name?"

"Worm."

The receptionist wrote Worm's name in the ledger and then handed him a copper ticket with numbers engraved on it from under the counter.

"These are the prohibitions and precautions. Can you read?"

"Yes."

"For adventurers, there are detailed briefings, but... I won't force you."

Worm scanned the papers he had received, which detailed the number of people allowed and the rules within the levels. After reading through them, he returned the papers.

"Take it easy and check out the lower levels. I think you'll make it back, given your experience. I sincerely hope to see you again."

With a troubled smile, the receptionist saw him off. Even though it was part of her job, she must have found him bothersome. Worm felt guilty for causing her extra trouble and time.

"Thank you, I'm sorry for the trouble."

Surprised by Worm's gratitude, the receptionist's eyes widened. She must have thought he was a rude person who couldn't even say thank you.

"N-no, it's my job, don't worry about it."

Leaving the receptionist behind, Worm headed to the labyrinth entrance. He showed his ticket to the guard and proceeded down a long corridor.

The texture of the floor changed again. He stepped on the different floor with his boots, testing it. After a while, the path turned into a downward slope. Lanterns filled with luminescent moss were mounted on the floor, illuminating his path.

At the end of the horizontal corridor, he sensed a presence. In the large room, there were guards and a familiar group. The novice adventurers he had seen at the weapon shop were gathered in the center, engaged in conversation.

"Don't let your guard down. How long are you going to keep smiling?"

"Yeah, don't get too excited."

"Today, I want to bring back a whole orc."

"Then we can buy better armor, right?"

"Better weapons, too!"

"You're fine with bones, aren't you?"

Their armor was minimal, and their weapons were far from impressive. They were clearly of poor quality. Still, they looked happy and carefree, their eyes shining with hope for an unseen tomorrow. Noticing Worm's gaze, the leader, a young boy, nudged the excited one.

"Let's go, the line is backing up."

"Ah, sorry."

If Worm had been born in this world, he might have ventured into the labyrinth with fellow townspeople or trusted companions. This thought crossed his mind, and he frowned as if he had bitten into a bitter pill. It was a pointless and ridiculous fantasy. His eyes were clouded, and his hands were too dirty to dream. Returning to reality, Worm stared at their backs.

"Hey, did you see that? He's a former mercenary from the shop. Scary, isn't he?"

"Idiot, you're too loud."

"Right, keep quiet."

"Let's go, stop fooling around."

They plunged into the labyrinth ahead of him. As the group of four disappeared, Worm felt a dryness in his mouth and a rumble in his throat. This was a world with magic, living faces, and dragons. He wasn't surprised, but he couldn't forget. He couldn't forget that "hole."

"...Haha, seriously, what a harsh joke. We're not going down into the underground, are we?"

Pretending to be calm, Worm stood at the edge and peered into the black hole. There was an impenetrable darkness. Memories of his former world resurfaced. The hole, which reminded him of a similar one, had lured and dragged him in when he was Takura Yaisou.

"Maybe if I jump in, I'll end up back in that world. ...What a ridiculous fantasy."

He didn't have time to sort through his memories. Sensing a new group approaching from behind, Worm steeled himself, kicked up one foot, and jumped. The young people had jumped without hesitation. Even if there was a connection, it would be shameful to hesitate here.

The world turned black, and his skin tingled. It felt as if he was being caressed by something invisible and terrifying. Worm's consciousness remained unbroken as the darkness gave way to blinding light. Thus, he took his first step into the labyrinth.