Flesh Golem of the Labyrinth City

Around 3 PM, having woken up late, I quickly grabbed lunch and came to the guild to prepare for entering the labyrinth.

Since I no longer needed light at night, I removed lanterns and other lighting devices, including whale oil, from my luggage. Instead, I had to pack flint for making fires, which was definitely lighter than lanterns.

To enter the mountainous region properly, I needed climbing equipment like ropes and hooks. Of course, with my improved physical abilities, I wondered if they were really necessary, but since I was targeting the first five floors below, I packed them anyway.

In addition, I brought food, water, maps, recording tools, herbs, and bandages in case my time inside the labyrinth extended. Having a healer would be ideal, but as is the case everywhere, healers are rare treasures.

Well, I'll find out when I form a party. I didn't come here to enter the labyrinth immediately but to hear instructions about the rank promotion and find a party.

"You're here."

"Yes, I'm here."

As always, Dahlia welcomes me with a bright smile. She took something out from below and placed it on the desk.

"This is..."

"Congratulations. You're now an Iron rank explorer."

"Really?"

The promotion I had been hoping for. And I jumped up two ranks at once. I returned my bronze rank explorer badge, often called the "dung-colored" rank, and received a sturdy iron explorer badge.

Honestly, I had been worried about brass being a heavy metal, but now I've suddenly become Iron rank.

"It's an impressive achievement. Even Iron rank explorers find it difficult to subjugate the pack leader specimen alone."

I don't remember it being that difficult, or have I really become that strong? Either way, it's good news. Being Iron rank means I'm now treated as a full-fledged explorer.

I can accept requests from the mission board, and most importantly, it's easier to find a party. Unlike Brass rank, which ends with forcibly reaching the 5th floor, Iron rank can only be obtained by accumulating points from subjugations.

Considering that many Brass rank explorers want to form parties with Iron rank explorers, the change in status feels real.

"I'd like to form a party. Please set the target floor range between 5 and 10."

"Understood. Until when should I set the deadline?"

"I'll come back this evening. Around 8 PM."

"Yes, understood."

Now, either my information will be shared with explorers looking for members at the guild, or I can directly acquire information about parties.

The latter is typically used by people of Gold rank or higher when they're looking for parties matching their level.

People with a lot of time often hang around in the guild lobby to find parties directly.

"Seems like you've acquired a good skill."

"At first, I thought it was a garbage skill. I accidentally learned how to use it."

"That happens sometimes. It suits you well, that left eye."

"Are you saying I look like a dog?"

"Please don't twist my words."

"I'm just kidding."

Dahlia, who had asked me to wait a moment, got up from her desk and brought a leather pouch from somewhere.

"This is..."

"The reward for subjugating the Dire Wolf pack leader. Originally, auctioneers buy the Dire Wolf carcass for sale, but..."

"Ah, um."

"I heard you devoured the Dire Wolf on the spot? The sale value wasn't much."

After receiving the leather pouch, I opened the tied entrance to check.

"The subjugation reward is 50 silver, and the sales proceeds are 70 silver."

"The sales proceeds are only 70 silver? How much would it have been if it were in perfect condition?"

"At least 2 gold."

This can't be. I ate 1.3 gold with my own mouth. Just thinking about it makes my stomach burn and feel extremely wasteful. Still, it all becomes my blood and flesh... yes, literally my blood and flesh.

For the sake of leveling up, I shouldn't be stingy about eating such things.

But damn, 1.3 gold is...

"I understand. I'll come back in the evening."

"Alright, see you then."

I received much more money than I expected. Let me ease my burden a bit first.

I ran straight to the inn and called the lady who was sitting in the kitchen.

"So you're back."

"Yes, ma'am. They say I'm Iron rank now."

"Is that so?"

"Please praise me a bit more. I feel neglected."

"Kid, you're always dripping blood everywhere. You think I'd be happy to hear you got an Iron rank?"

"Haha, well, that's true."

I took out five 10-silver coins from my pouch and handed them to the lady. To be honest, this covers about two weeks of eating without paying, but I'm still really grateful to her.

"Hmph. Now that you've got the Iron rank, will you leave this old, worn-out inn? Good. The air will be cleaner."

"Oh my, why would you say that? I stay here because I like it."

"Enough. Will you be having a meal?"

"Just something light. I need to go out to buy equipment."

The lady glanced at me, then got up and looked around at the ingredients while speaking.

"Go ahead first. It looks like it'll take some time to prepare."

"Alright. What about Sarah?"

"She went grocery shopping. She should be at the market. Why?"

"Oh, does Sarah go shopping alone too?"

At those words, the lady snickered looked me up and down, and said incredulously:

"Why not? If a little kid like you can go to the labyrinth, Sarah can certainly handle that. She's diligent, so there's nothing to worry about."

"What do you mean 'little kid'? I'm 21. You're treating me like a child again, ma'am."

"You're over twenty? That's an amusing story. With that face?"

"Come on, ma'am. How old do you think I am?"

The lady stared at my face intently, then with a doubtful expression, finally said:

"At most, I thought you were seventeen."

"Sigh, I'm not that baby-faced."

"Oh really."

"Did you feed me because I look young?"

"With your pale complexion and neat, clean clothes, I thought you were a nobleman. I fed you thinking I might get a coin or two if I kept you around."

"Well, I've disappointed you then. Should I earn more?"

"Enough, boy. Go take care of your business. If you have time, stop by the marketplace, and if you see Sarah, tell her to buy some more meat."

"Will do."

So the lady thought I was a nobleman? Whatever the reason, the fact that she took me in and fed me when I was about to die won't change. From the look of it, she seems to be saying things she doesn't mean.

'Do I really look that young?'

People in the labyrinth city do have slightly Western features. They seem to age a bit faster. Of course, that's not true for everyone.

After saying goodbye, I went outside and headed to the market that handles food ingredients. For reference, the southwestern part of Calax, where the Goat's Beard Inn is located, is home to blacksmiths, fabric shops, spinning mills, tanneries, and grain warehouses that mill and sell grains like wheat and rice.

There are also inns and various shops necessary for explorers, like appraisal shops, so lower-ranked explorers tend to live in this area.

The southeastern part has the form of a slum, but the amount of money circulating in the market ties with the northwestern part where the rich people live. This is because illegal activities like brothels, gambling dens, and slave trading frequently occur there.

The northwestern part is the rich neighborhood, with extremely expensive restaurants, residences of famous explorers, artifact shops that handle prestigious and expensive items, master blacksmiths, and expensive accommodations.

It's not illegal, but a lot of money changes hands there. Walking around the northwestern part of Calax, you can see high-ranked explorers and rich people from other cities.

The small northeastern area has an academy where scholars who work as appraisal shop owners are trained and where magicians who manage and research the labyrinth gather. Large buildings mainly built for organizations, commonly called "clans," are overflowing.

Of course, clan buildings aren't only in the northeastern part.

"It's Sarah."

In the distance, I see the dazzlingly bright Sarah. She's intently looking at carrots in front of a vegetable shop, and the basket on her arm looks heavy.

"I see you're grocery shopping."

"Y-Yoo Eon?! What are you doing here?!"

Sarah looked back and forth between my face and the carrot in my hand, then her face turned bright red, and she lowered her head. Is she sick? I wonder if she caught a cold.

"Those carrots look delicious."

"D-delicious, you say?!"

"Oh, Sarah, do you dislike carrots? You don't look like someone who would be picky about food, so I'm surprised."

"I-I'm not being picky!"

Squeaking like a chick, Sarah paid for the carrots and put them in her basket.

After telling her that the lady asked to buy more meat, I took the shopping basket from her, and she seemed like she had something to say, her mouth twitching for quite a while.

"Is something wrong, Sarah? You've been off since this morning. Your face is constantly red. I wonder if you have a fever."

"N-no, that's not it. It's just..."

"Just?"

"It's nothing! Let's quickly go buy meat!"

* * * * *

It took longer than expected to shop, so I couldn't buy equipment. It seems Sarah is very cautious and tends to actively reflect others' opinions.

Every time she buys something, she checks my face. She does have a kind heart, but I wonder if she's living too exhaustingly.

"Ma'am, we're back."

"Well, well. I thought you two might have gotten a room outside. What were you doing until the sun went down?"

"M-mom?!"

"The meal is ready, so sit down."

I'll eat first. Then, head to the guild and buy equipment tomorrow morning.