MTLNOVEL Chapter 263 - Divine Cat Mii-chan Starts Labyrinth Exploration
Setting out again for labyrinth exploration! What exactly is a labyrinth?
Chapter 263: Divine Cat Mii-chan Starts Labyrinth Exploration
Before the sun rose, I teleported with Letty to Quint, and while waiting at the Hunter Guild, everyone arrived.
“Mii, where’s Sumire-nyan?”
“Lu-kun and Lul-kun aren’t here either?”
“Aww, my comfort is gone~”
Sumire, Lu-kun, and Lul-kun are staying behind. Once we enter the labyrinth, it will take two to three days to come out, so I couldn’t bring Sumire. Lu-kun’s charm ability might come in handy, but Lul-kun’s breath attack can’t be used here. If used, it might destroy the labyrinth, potentially burying us alive. So, it was decided they’d stay behind. I didn’t want Lul-kun to be lonely, so Lu-kun, being close friends with him, stayed as well. Convincing everyone wasn’t easy.
Jin represented the group at the reception, applying for party registration, presenting our guild cards, and confirming the request details. Meanwhile, I greeted the beautiful cat family with Mii-chan. Pal-chan was still drowsy, and after petting her, she fell asleep.
When Jin was done with the paperwork, we set off. The labyrinth is less than an hour’s walk away, and since it’s near the city, no serious monsters appear. Everyone’s in a picnic mood.
“You’ll handle the map creation, right, Nero?”
“Yes, no problem.”
“And the scouts will be Lu and Letty?”
“Of course.”
“Mii.”
“Sera-nyan wants to help too.”
“Then I’ll leave the rear to you.”
“Mii!”
With Lu-san, a skilled scout, Letty from the Thieves Guild, and Sera’s keen sense of awareness, plus Perro’s detection abilities, we shouldn’t have to worry about ambushes. Jin is our shield, while Perro and Toshi handle the offense. Behind us, Kaorin supports with her bow, and I assist with my skills. Lu-san, Letty, and Sera can all operate as guerilla fighters. We have a well-balanced party. No healer? Oh, but we do have the ultimate comfort!
“Mii~!”
Chatting leisurely, we arrived at the labyrinth entrance, where several parties were already handling their registration at the temporary reception. The Rock Lizard on the second floor provides good material for armor, and its high purchase price makes it a great hunting ground for mid-level hunters. If not for the Goblin King, it would’ve been much busier.
Once Jin finished the paperwork, everyone adjusted their gear. The labyrinth’s interior is cool, so we put on our coats. Letty layered a coat over her tight-fitting outfit too.
“Nero and Letty, with those sunglasses, you two look like you’re dodging bullets in a digital world!”
“Even our names are just one letter off. We’re in ‘Matrix’ mode!”
Kaorin’s joke was so out there… Her deadpan delivery makes it even more bizarre.
“So, is map-making the goal of this exploration?”
“That’s just a side task. The real goal is to level up the Munakata siblings and clear the labyrinth!”
“I don’t quite get the leveling part, but we’re training them, right? And I’ve heard there’s nothing at the bottom of the labyrinth.”
“No final boss?”
“No encounter with a dungeon master?”
“But the bottom floor holds such mystery! I want to see it!”
“Mii~!”
Mii-chan’s with us on that! Right.
“Uh, well, I guess we’ll give it a shot.”
“Oooh!”
“Mii!”
The first floor has goblins, the second floor has Rock Lizards, and the third floor has Long-Tailed Apes. Lu-san and the Dark Fang party explored the third floor but had to retreat after facing the Apes’ fierce attacks without finding a safe zone. Without a map, exploring becomes a real challenge.
In contrast, our party quickly reached the path leading to the third floor, avoiding any unnecessary fights. The goblins on the first floor were dealt with instantly, and we passed the second floor without engaging, letting other hunting parties deal with the Rock Lizards.
“All right, this is where things get serious. I’ll stay on defense, so you two handle the main fighting.”
“Roger!”
“The Long-Tailed Apes are fast and strong, but not very smart. Their movements are simple, so if we stay calm, we’ll be fine.”
So why did Lu-san’s team retreat midway? It’s because everyone in that group was a scout-type hunter—none were suited for a defensive role. It seems shield users need to be intelligent and make calm decisions, and Lu-san’s party didn’t have anyone fitting that role. Laura, with her tiger ears, might seem suitable with her build, but she’s more of a muscle-head.
Time to head out. Taking a different path from Lu-san’s team, we soon detected two Long-Tailed Apes. They hadn’t noticed us, so we decided to ambush them.
Mii-chan and I are up. I stepped forward, claiming the lead. This was my first time showing off my skills to everyone except Letty. Let’s go, Mii-chan!
“Mii~!”
Paralyzing Thunder Strike! Thunder Whip, Divine Lightning Version!
From the corner of the passage, I pointed my index and middle fingers at the unaware Long-Tailed Apes. Mii-chan’s divine lightning flowed through me from her perch on my shoulder. It felt nice—if I didn’t have lightning skills, I’d be electrocuted and twitching like crazy.
Two bluish-white lightning whips extended from my fingers, enveloping the Long-Tailed Apes in light. Their bodies convulsed, and sensing that continuing any longer would be bad, I stopped. The Apes collapsed, smoke rising from their bodies—they seemed to be unconscious.
“M-miiyaaaan!”
“What was that just now…”
“No matter how many times I see it, that’s such a surreal sight, boy.”
“Wow, you’re like a real villain!”
“So cool! I want to try it too!”
Jin finished off the fallen Long-Tailed Apes, and Mii-chan returned to her bag. Everyone looked eager for an explanation.
Well, I guess it’s time for a little lecture.
“Mii~!”