Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

“Veronica, I hate that you’re making that face, I’d rather you smiled.”

“But⋯ I feel so sorry in front of Jeanette. I should have been more careful and stopped it.”

“As I’ve said before, what happened that day was no one’s fault.”

Jeanette said that they were just unlucky and unprepared for the unreasonable trial that blocked their path.

“So, you should move on from the past and live your own life. I’m grateful that you and Ivan helped with the hospital admission process.”

Thanks to the monthly treatment fees being deducted from a joint account between Jeanette and her deceased husband, her condition has improved significantly.

“I’m a little worried about gaining weight because I’m too comfortable.”

“What do you mean? Ivan did most of the work, and all I did was fill out a few documents.”

“Haha, that guy is more like a scholar or a magician than a thief! It’s good that he found his place.”

Jeanette covered her mouth and laughed softly, then looked embarrassed and spoke to me.

“I’m sorry. I know it was awkward for you to hear our private conversation. Are you Veronica’s new colleague?”

“Nice to meet you, Jeanette. My name is Ahren, and I’m the leader of Veronica’s party.”

As soon as I introduced myself, Jeanette tapped Veronica’s side with her remaining arm and whispered,

“Veronica, you’ve been in a good mood since you entered the hospital room. Do you really like your party leader?”

“⋯”

“Oh my, this girl is something else! You can’t fool this old lady!”

“What do you mean by that? I’m just⋯”

“Never mind, what do you like about him? Is it his face⋯”

She glanced at me.

“⋯or his personality? Or is he very skilled?”

“All of it. Everything.”

“Haha, our stoic knight has really fallen for him! It’s a good time for you!”

‘Damn, what’s the point of whispering if you’re going to be so loud?’

[Chaos shakes her head, saying that humans are quite talkative.]

“No, don’t tease me. I’ll leave if you keep doing that.”

“It’s fun, so don’t leave! Look. I’m locking it?”

Jeanette put her index finger to her mouth and made a gesture as if zipping up a zipper.

“Can you tell me what happened on this month’s exploration? You know I’m so bored here!”

She continued to talk to Veronica, ignoring me.

I looked at Veronica, who was apologizing to me with her eyes, and thought about joining the conversation.

‘They’re having a good time, so I don’t want to interrupt. It might be more comfortable for them to be alone.’

The distance from Zone 6 to Zone 3 is quite far, and I haven’t visited the treatment center often lately, so I decided to let them have their moment.

I silently mouthed that I would go out for a while, and they nodded in understanding.

Clack.

I quietly closed the door and left.

‘Let’s walk. I’ll figure something out as I walk.’

However, I felt like I had forgotten something, and I couldn’t shake off the nagging feeling.

I wandered around the large grounds of the treatment center.

Thud.

“Brother! Throw me the ball!”

‘Cute kids. They’re having fun.’

I watched as children in patient gowns played outside.

I greeted an elderly couple sitting on a bench in a small garden made up of colorful flowers.

“Haha, young man. Are you an adventurer too?”

“Oh, old man, can’t you tell just by looking? Look at his shiny armor.”

“Oh my, this old lady is nagging again! It’s enough to nag me at home, you don’t have to do it here!”

‘Oh, I shouldn’t have greeted them. Let’s go.’

I bowed and continued walking.

As I walked aimlessly, I thought it was time to go back.

“Ah, Ahren?”

The reason I felt like I had forgotten something and kept feeling nagging was now standing in front of me.

Shurika.

The half-elf of the Circus, who had been sitting alone on a park bench and lost in thought, called out my name and opened her eyes wide.

She stared at me for a moment, then jumped up from the bench and ran towards me.

Thud!

‘⋯?’

She wasn’t wearing a patient gown, and there was no wheelchair, crutches, or magic tool nearby, so⋯ her legs seemed to have recovered significantly.

However, since she wasn’t fully healed, she tripped and fell as she rushed towards me.

“Ouch, that must hurt. Are you okay?”

“Ouch⋯ Ugh, huff.”

Where did the passionate and feisty short-haired beauty go?

Instead, there was a disheveled half-elf with tears in her eyes.

I remember that when she was admitted, a high-ranking priest was worried about her shattered body, but it seems that she still needs treatment and recovery for her overall condition.

“Can you stand up on your own? No, let me help you. Hold on tight.”

Thud.

“Why⋯ why didn’t you come to see me all this time? The members, acquaintances, and even the Holy Knights came to ask about me, but why⋯? Didn’t you want to see me?”

I didn’t know what to say to Shurika, who was sitting alone on the park bench, waiting for the person she wanted to see the most.

To be honest, I had forgotten.

I did save her from the Colosseum, but⋯

I didn’t have a strong bond with her, so I didn’t feel the need to visit her.

I didn’t want to show my feelings, as she seemed to be on the verge of self-harm if she saw any signs of distance between us.

“I’m sorry. I’ve been busy preparing for the exploration and challenging the mid-level adventurer promotion, so I didn’t have time to think about anything else.”

“I⋯ I thought of you while eating, and I even fell asleep thinking about you⋯”

Shurika started crying again, and two fire spirits the size of a fist appeared next to her, looking sad.

I saw the cute, flame-like puppy and kitten and decided to speak up.

“Wow, you can already summon spirits? Didn’t the priest scare you by saying that your magic circuits were cracked?”

“⋯Money can solve anything. I’ve been receiving intensive treatment and working hard on rehabilitation, so I’ve improved a lot.”

Shurika asked me if I had been busy and if I had any injuries from the labyrinth, and I started telling her about my recent exploration experiences.

I told her about the unique item I obtained at the crossroads, the conflict with the Oxynos Clan, the extermination of the Golden Goblin and Cressdowzer, and the story of the transcender, hiding what needed to be hidden.

I told her an interesting story within the limits of what I could reveal.

Shurika laughed, worried, and was amazed as I told her the story, and she gradually returned to the mood she had when we first met.

She knew that I had been busy, so she asked me to visit her again after two months of rehabilitation.

“It’s not difficult. I promise.”

“If you don’t come⋯ I’ll be very sad. You have to come, right?”

Yeah, yeah. I won’t forget this time.

“Hey, can you help me to my room before you leave? I rushed too fast earlier, and my legs⋯”

What, Jeanette’s room is close by. They’re both single rooms.

“It’s better to carry you than walk that distance. Come on, let me carry you.”

I tried not to be conscious of Shurika’s breath on my neck and her chest as I slowly walked back the way I came.

As we approached the floor where Jeanette and Shurika’s rooms were located,

“Jeanette, I’ll come again, so please don’t get sick. Don’t skip meals, okay?”

“Of course! Close the door and go. Tell Ahren that I’m sorry for talking about him without him. Okay?”

“Ahren won’t be upset about this, but⋯ I understand. I’ll see you later.”

Clatter.

I closed the sliding door of the room and came face to face with Veronica.

“⋯Ahren. Who are you carrying?”

“Huh? Who’s the kid, do you know her?”

Shurika whispered in my ear, and Veronica spoke in a cold voice.

“Where are you going? Put her down and let’s talk. ⋯No, I’ll carry her myself.”

.

.

.

“Do you understand now? I’m not a kid, and I’m not just an acquaintance. You and I are different from the start.”

“I’m sorry for calling you a kid. But⋯”

“It’s fine. I understand the situation, and you still need to recover. We’ll be leaving now.”

“Argh. Ahren, please come alone next time! Please!”

I was worried that Veronica and Shurika’s strong personalities might clash, but fortunately, they resolved their differences amicably.

As we walked to the carriage platform, we talked.

“Ahren, I realize that all your acquaintances are beautiful women.”

“Huh?”

“The gender ratio is too skewed towards women, and it seems intentional. Is that really the case?”

Hmm⋯ Veronica might have thought that I was surrounded by beautiful women.

Among my acquaintances and friends are Yeriel, Lumia, my master, Leesia, and Shurika, whom I met yesterday. I haven’t seen Sena yet.

It’s natural for people to be suspicious of me, as I’ve been surrounded by beautiful women.

‘It’s better to clear up this misunderstanding quickly.’

Just because I have a lot of female acquaintances doesn’t mean I’m a playboy.

I have many male acquaintances and friends who are not as visible, but I have strong bonds with them.

I smiled awkwardly at Veronica and said,

“It’s not always like that. I told you that I met an old colleague on my way here in a carriage, didn’t I? I didn’t, did I?”

“I don’t remember hearing that. Was she also a colleague who defeated the layer boss with Leesia?”

“No. It was before Leesia, when I first entered the labyrinth. It’s been half a year already.”

It feels like it was just yesterday that I was unlucky and had to struggle in the labyrinth, but now I’m about to become a mid-level adventurer.

As they say, happiness is short-lived, and pain is long-lasting.

Time seems to flow slowly, but when I look back, I realize that it has passed quickly.

“There were six of us in the party, including Yeriel and me, and we successfully defeated a goblin mutant on the third floor and returned safely.”

“A mutant?”

“Yes. It was a very powerful mutant. I obtained the trait I use as my main skill from it.”

When I close my eyes and recall that moment, I still feel the sensation of being torn apart by the goblin’s final attack.

I almost ended up like a fried chicken, didn’t I?

“I can face it with my eyes closed now, but at the time, I barely survived. The goblin was quite cunning for a goblin.”

“A mutant on the third floor⋯ from the very first exploration⋯”

If I didn’t have the strong body trait, I wouldn’t have been able to deal attribute damage, and I might have died.

I would have ended my adventure as a failed apostle of the god.

I shook off the negative thoughts in my head and shrugged.

“Well, I overcame it, so now we can talk about it and reminisce, right?”

“That’s true. ⋯Ahren.”

Veronica spoke in a serious tone.

“I’ve been focusing too much on my own happiness and the places I want to go. So⋯”

So?

“Just as I met my old colleague Jeanette and reminisced, it’s now your turn to face your memories. Let’s go together.”

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.

Yes. I can’t put it off any longer.

‘Derek, thanks to you, I survived and have grown so much.’

I wonder how you’ve changed.

Let’s go. To the Ash Tree Inn.