The Path of an S-Rank Adventurer: The Boy Who Was Expelled from His Party Awakens to His True Power [Weapon Master] and Eventually Becomes the World’s Strongest

Forbidden Six Labyrinths – Haise’s Journey 5

Haise and the Chaos Goblin descended to the lower levels from the residential area.

Below the residential area was like a completely different world.

The path seemed crudely dug by a giant mole, winding and rough.

The ceiling was over 20 meters high, and the width exceeded 30 meters. The walls glowed, making it bright and easy to traverse.

[I’ve told you many times, but from here on, there are no Containers like in the upper levels. You’re probably the first human to ever step into this area.]

“Well, that’s fine, but you’re just casually tagging along. And you’re even calling me by name.”

Haise looked at the Chaos Goblin.

It was taller than Haise, with dark skin.

It had no hair—seemingly no body hair at all.

Its ears were long, and its bulging eyes gave it a menacing look. It was quite muscular.

Though it wore a loincloth, it had scavenged the gear from the Chaos Goblin Haise had defeated earlier, now fully clad in armor.

Two swords hung from its waist, a round shield in its right hand, and a spear strapped to its back—a complete full set.

“You said you wanted to go to the lower levels, right?”

[Indeed. It’s the aspiration of our kind. We Chaos Goblins lived in the Residential Levels above. Hunting the beasts above to survive… Occasionally, fools would venture below, but none ever returned.]

“And those same kin attacked me, and I killed them…”

[That’s right. But don’t worry about it. We have no sense of camaraderie among ourselves.]

“That’s good to know. You can follow me if you want, but I’ll shoot you without hesitation if you interfere or attack me.”

Haise pointed his Desert Eagle at the Chaos Goblin.

The Chaos Goblin gulped and shook its head.

[I-I have no intention of opposing you. I only follow because I believe you can lead me to a new world. Of course, I’ll repay you… I’ll share my knowledge. I know most of the beasts that appear here, including their weaknesses.]

“Weaknesses? If you know them, why don’t you just kill the beasts yourself?”

[I can’t. I have no means of attack.]

“Hmm…”

Suddenly, Haise stopped walking.

The Chaos Goblin stopped as well.

A strange, fishy smell lingered in the air, accompanied by a slithering sound.

[T-This is bad, Haise. The Cleaner is coming!!]

“Cleaner?”

At Haise’s question, something appeared at the end of the corridor.

It was… a giant Lamprey.

A round mouth. A body like a wet worm.

Its mouth was filled with jagged teeth, designed to latch onto prey, tear flesh, and suck blood.

[It’s a Devil Chandler!! A vicious beast that preys on others, feeding on their flesh and blood!!]

“…It’s not even listed in the bestiary issued by the Adventurer’s Guild. If Tycoon saw this, he’d probably say, ‘Capture it alive!!’ and make a ridiculous demand.”

[Damn, this is bad!! Its weak point is the heart inside its mouth!! But without an attack metho—]

Clank!!

Haise materialized a massive rifle.

“[Barrett M82 Anti-Material Rifle].”

The moment he pulled the trigger, Haise was pushed back a meter.

“Ugh… that hurt.”

[Wha—]

A deafening roar.

BOOM!!

An incredible sound echoed.

The Chaos Goblin stared in shock at the Devil Chandler, its head blown off as it collapsed to the ground with a heavy thud.

The bullet’s speed and power were so overwhelming that it couldn’t comprehend what had just happened.

Haise dropped the rifle and clutched his shoulder.

“Too powerful… This isn’t practical. Anti-material… or rather, anti-usability… Get it? Hahaha.”

[…]

“…Forget I said that.”

Haise started walking again.

The joke was so bad it made him want to die.

But the Chaos Goblin didn’t care about that. It had made up its mind.

Following Haise was undoubtedly the right choice.

[Haise!!]

“What now?”

[Please, grant me a name.]

The Chaos Goblin stepped in front of Haise and knelt.

Haise tilted his head in confusion.

[That is all I desire. Please!!]

“Uh… what?”

[Give me a name!!]

For the Chaos Goblin, this was a first.

Its life had always been about eating, sleeping, eating, and sleeping.

Even though it lived among others of its kind, they were just… there.

No conversations, no desire to talk. Just constant competition over food.

Chaos Goblins were the pinnacle of goblins, with strength and intelligence—but nothing more.

A life of mere existence.

But then Haise came along.

At first, it was just another hunt—kill and eat. But instead, it was almost eaten itself.

The Chaos Goblin had experienced something new.

This was a strong one.

Not a mere struggle for survival, but an existence beyond it.

[Haise, you… have changed my life. Please, Haise, I beg of you!!]

“Fine, fine… geez, what’s with you?”

Haise pulled out an ancient book.

Closing his eyes, he flipped through its pages and pointed randomly.

He opened his eyes and read the text aloud.

[I want to drink chocolate latte. But there’s no cacao in this world, and even if there was, I don’t know how to make chocolate… Ah, chocolate, chocolate latte, chocolate cake… I want it.]

Haise nodded.

“Alright, your name is Choco Latte.”

[Choco Latte… I am Choco Latte!! Thank you, Haise!!]

“Yeah.”

Haise started walking again, followed by the Chaos Goblin—now Choco Latte.

[Haise. Many more dangerous beasts lie ahead. Be careful.]

“Yeah, yeah. And don’t get too close to me. It’s annoying.”

[Ah, my apologies!!]

And so, Haise and Choco Latte ventured further into the lower levels.