Chapter 11 – If You Look at My Girl With a Weird Look, I’ll Kill You

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“Not long ago, a deep-layer monster was sighted in the shallow layer. The knights even organized a small squad to search the area, but they couldn’t find anything, and no explorer has reported a sighting since. Many have started to think it’s nothing more than a farce… but the possibility isn’t zero. So, be extra careful.”

A deep-layer monster in the shallow layer?

I didn’t really understand, but could that even be possible?

I leaned in to whisper to the experienced Ati.

“That’s what the guard said, but what do you think?”

“If it’s just one or two, it’s not impossible. However, there have been many cases of mistaken identity, so at this point, it’s hard to say for sure.”

“If there’s only one sighting, then it’s probably just a misidentification, right?”

“I think so. But the possibility isn’t zero. Let’s be extra cautious.”

Ati’s expression turned serious.

It felt as if I were being silently told that the labyrinth was a realm beyond human understanding.

I decided to proceed with safety first.

Then, at that moment.

Suddenly, a loud voice came from behind.

“――A deep-layer monster has appeared!? We’ll handle it!”

When I turned around, I saw a group of five men—looking oddly flashy—making a ruckus.

They all seemed fired up upon hearing that a deep-layer monster had appeared.

Did their confidence mean it must be really strong?

The five swaggered toward the entrance of the labyrinth, then abruptly halted beside us.

“Are you suicidal or something?”

“You’d better take a quick U-turn and go home, wouldn’t you?”

Apparently, they were addressing me.

They were the kind of lowlifes with foul mouths and even nastier hearts.

“Seriously, a spear? You’re not Edwin Smith, the legendary labyrinth pioneer, are you?”

“What, are you idolizing him?”

“I just can’t understand the appeal of idolizing a hero who kicked the bucket ten years ago. The times belong to Gurugoo, the Empire’s One-God Style Sword Saint!”

Edwin Smith.

It had been a while since I’d heard that name.

That was my father’s name.

But a legendary labyrinth pioneer, a hero, and all that…

The name seemed to have taken on a life of its own.

It even sounded like he was being mocked for having kicked the bucket, yet it was a title he’d probably be proud of if he were still alive.

As for this so-called Empire’s One-God Style Sword Saint Gurugoo, I didn’t really get him.

He seemed to be some big deal, but I’d always been pretty detached from that sort of stuff.

“Hey, that little lady in the hat over there—look closer, isn’t she insanely cute?”

“And her boobs look big too—I really love a girl like that!”

“Forget that softie act, we––”

In that instant, the men’s lecherous stares shifted toward Ati.

Before I knew it, I found that I had pointed the tip of my spear at one of the men’s throats.

I deliberately let the blade just barely touch him…

A glob of blood began to ooze from there, trickling down the man’s neck.

“Don’t give my girl that kind of look. If you look at her like that again, I’ll kill you.”

The eyes of the five men went wide.

They seemed startled.

I had no idea why they were so surprised.

When you try to mess with someone else’s girl, you should expect it to turn out like this.

“Hey, calm down, onii-san.”

The man raised both his hands, striking a pose that clearly said “I surrender.”

“J-just a little joke, alright? And also, miss, don’t point your gun this way.”

Apparently, Ati was also aiming her gun at the men.

Even while keeping her gun pointed, she looked at me with a hint of surprise.

Maybe she never expected me to do something like this?

I hope she isn’t repulsed…

“I can’t be bothered with them. Let’s go.”

“Y-yes.”

Anyway, dealing with these kinds of guys is a waste of time.

I told Ati that, and we quickly entered the labyrinth.

――――

“Hey, did you see that near-stab?”

“I didn’t see anything at all…”

“It looked like something a soft, inexperienced guy would do… wasn’t it different from what you expected?”

“I don’t want to get near him. With eyes like that, one misstep and he’d have seriously come to kill.”

“Yeah, there really are those kinds, huh?”

――――

Inside the labyrinth, corridors stretched out before us.

They aren’t particularly narrow.

However, using a long spear would undoubtedly be a hassle.

I’m glad I opted for a short spear, just in case.

“Since these are merely corridors, there might be open spaces if we continue. It won’t always be like this, you know?”

“Huh?”

“Really?”

“I didn’t know.”

“If there are open areas, maybe carrying a long spear as a backup is an option?”

“If you’re particularly skilled with it, carrying one is definitely viable. You can fight more effectively in wide-open spaces. However, whether such areas exist depends largely on the labyrinth. There are labyrinths that, as Lord Harold imagines, are endless corridors where a long spear is unwieldy.”

I guess it’s a case-by-case matter.

We continued through the labyrinth, pondering as we went.

Here and there, parts of the walls, floors, or even the ceiling glowed, providing light so that it didn’t feel especially dark.

Apparently, this is a phenomenon unique to labyrinths.

They call it “Labyrinth Light.”

I thought it might be incredibly convenient for everyday life, but if taken outside, it never glows.

What a pity.

“By the way…”

Ati glanced at me.

I wondered what for.

“Earlier, I was happy.”

“Happy…?”