Chapter 7: Labyrinth (2)

Humans are complex creatures.

Even as they crave the love of others, of other beings, once suspicion takes root, they begin to doubt, overthinking not just intentions but even instincts.

I was no different.

Despite the human modifications greatly reducing pain and guilt, and making me feel no remorse when killing enemies.

I still often felt unpleasant after killing someone, leaving a bitter taste.

Similarly, doubting people wasn’t so strange.

Knowing well the pain of being left alone, I empathized with Bertea’s words about being the sole remaining moderate.

I considered her trustworthy. I wished she could be trusted.

That remained true. Of course.

Still, a sudden doubt arose.

‘Could I really trust a being that called such a thing a blessing?’

As I tried hard to compose my uneasy expression, footsteps approached.

“Incarnation, this individual has brought you something to drink.”

It was once a movie theater.

It was a movie theater within a department store, connected to an underground shopping center.

Other sections of the department store were being put to good use.

It was a place that sold equipment for adventurers, and also served as an office space for a place called the Adventurers’ Guild.

Among them, the movie theater was an inn and pub that offered cheap accommodations.

Fittingly, the scene was typical.

Armed men and women gathered, drinking.

Distinct appearances, clearly suggesting different races.

Even traces of modern technology occasionally seen among typical medieval weapons.

Considering that all of them were adventuring to become like what I saw earlier.

I didn’t feel good.

It was even more so because it reminded me of wartime.

It was an era that encouraged lightly abandoning human form to become monsters solely for slaughter.

“Incarnation?”

“…Ah, thank you. Just put it there.”

“Understood.”

She seemed to notice something but didn’t press the matter.

Quietly setting down my cup, Bertea sat opposite me.

The chair was high. Bertea jumping up to sit on it was cute, but.

My turmoil was greater.

‘The Darkness was indeed an evil god, wasn’t it?’

A god who didn’t discriminate in those it blessed, claiming to create ideal bodies, yet also turned them into monsters.

Before me was a girl who objectified herself with blind devotion to such a god and its Incarnation, even referring to herself as ‘this individual’.

She hadn’t flinched even when I almost lunged at her.

Now I knew. She probably didn’t care if she died.

It was a fact that made me sigh, but she was still young.

Even I had been loyal to my country when I was young, so it wasn’t incomprehensible.

However, the discomfort and unease remained.

I had thought I could just adventure comfortably, but to think that adventuring itself could be a danger to me.

As I rested my chin in my hand, troubled, Bertea eyed me and spoke.

“Incarnation.”

“Yes.”

“You don’t seem to be in good spirits.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“May this individual ask why?”

Bertea sipped from a large cup full of mead, looking at me.

I met her gaze and said.

“You know, when you adventure, you could turn into a monster.”

If someone else turned into one, I didn’t care.

I wasn’t someone who, at my age, went around indiscriminately spreading goodwill.

My safety was my top priority.

Just thinking about the possibility of turning into a monster during an adventure killed my motivation.

When I voiced such concerns, her reply was.

“Are you referring to the blessing?”

“How is that a blessing—”

“Incarnation, you are an exception.”

As I stiffened, Bertea took another sip of mead.

“You, Incarnation, are the one and only whom the Darkness favors. This individual has been taught as such. The blessing is solely your birthright, Incarnation.”

‘This kid really seems to love mead.’

I didn’t want to interrupt Bertea, who was leisurely sipping, cupping the glass with both hands, but….

“…Elaborate.”

Bertea tilted her head, then set down her cup.

“To this individual’s knowledge, the blessing actualizes the ideal form one desires. It is a transformation for those who overcome adversity.”

‘That monster I saw earlier was an ideal form?’

‘No way.’

Despite my bewildered expression, she continued.

“However, at times, the blessing bestows power too great for an individual to bear. They may lose their reason, intoxicated by the power, or take on an excessive form because they cannot control it.”

“What do you mean I’m an exception?”

“It is not excessive for you, Incarnation. You are the sole one born of the Darkness, destined to dye the world in shadow; the blessing will solely manifest in the form you desire, Incarnation.”

It was a bit difficult to grasp.

Especially since I hadn’t experienced it directly, and I wasn’t even sure if I was an Incarnation.

“You, Incarnation, will not become a monster. This individual guarantees it.”

“…Right.”

I should have taken comfort in that, but my mind was complicated.

Because that would mean such an evil god truly favored me.

‘What if I’m not an Incarnation? I’d become a monster then.’

‘I wasn’t even born from Darkness in the first place.’

As I sighed and leaned back in the chair, Bertea continued to sip her mead.

The first day in the Labyrinth was drawing to a close.

****

After sleeping in a room within the screening hall, which was called a group room and filled with beds.

And after washing up in a restroom that only had sinks and large wooden tubs filled with water, yet was divided into male/female and private rooms, making it hard to tell if it was medieval or advanced.

Bertea was already waiting for me, having seemingly finished getting ready.

“Have you decided?”

“Yes, I’ve decided to become an adventurer after all.”

Although I had spoken weakly, I needed to be prepared to become a monster.

Even setting aside the fact that I was already somewhat of a monster, there were things I needed to find and know.

Exactly how Seoul drifted into this fantasy world.

Why I was here.

And I also needed to retrieve my smartphone and shotgun.

In such circumstances, staying still out of fear of what might or might not happen wasn’t in my nature.

With enemies actively targeting me, it wasn’t strange to desire power.

“Besides, not all adventurers turn into those kinds of monsters, right?”

“Affirmative.”

If the end of an adventurer inevitably meant becoming such a twisted monster, there would have been signs.

But it was quite the opposite. Many adventurers seemed to be actively exploring the Labyrinth.

Though some were destroying stasis pods.

Anyway, Bertea said one could achieve their ideal form.

Losing an eye, lacking an arm, having a short lifespan, or being weak.

It must mean that even such things could be changed and resolved into the form one desired.

It made sense why there were so many adventurers.

Even human modifications carried risks. The blessing, on the other hand, seemed to involve less burden than modifications.

I couldn’t abandon my resolve to become an adventurer.

“So, how does one become an adventurer? Can I just call myself one?”

“An Adventurers’ Guild exists. As this individual perceives, the vast majority of adventurers belong to the Guild.”

“What’s good about belonging to the Guild?”

Bertea walked ahead, her bare feet unharmed by the rough stone fragments on the ground.

‘Is it because she’s a halfling? Would she have calluses on her feet then?’

As I was lost in thought, Bertea spoke.

“This individual understands that the Guild arranges and provides quests, receives and delivers rewards, guarantees one’s identity in most situations, and grants points based on performance that can be used at shops within the Guild’s territory.”

“…That’s quite…”

‘Modern and rational.’

Whoever established this Guild seemed to have considerable business acumen.

I didn’t know if they learned it through Earth’s culture or records, or if it developed while I was asleep.

Both hope and concern arose simultaneously.

As it happened, the entire department store building, where the movie theater I was staying in was located, belonged to the Adventurers’ Guild.

I immediately headed to the Adventurers’ Guild with Bertea.

Walking up the escalator, which had stopped functioning long ago and now served as stairs, we soon reached the first floor.

The first floor had even more people than the movie theater, which served as an inn.

Despite the early hour, the gathered people were all armed, chatting, or packing their belongings and heading somewhere.

‘So this is the Labyrinth Adventurers’ Guild.’

It felt strange to see what was once a department store lobby being used this way.

It had already fallen into disuse during the war, and I had mostly been on the front lines, so I had never visited it before, but.

As I was lost in thought, Bertea tugged at my coat hem.

“Incarnation, this way.”

“…You know, I think we need to sort out the titles beforehand.”

Her gaze, turning back as she led me. Though a rare hint of displeasure could be felt in her black eyes.

“If you keep calling me that, I’ll be exposed and murdered before I can even grow stronger.”

I knew that after fighting yesterday.

It was some kind of magic, or something else I didn’t understand, but I couldn’t completely resist it.

That orange-haired woman had seemed at ease, and even when she couldn’t subdue me, she’d spoken of needing to call a ‘Crusader’ as if it were another option.

I didn’t know how the blessing would affect me, but I needed to become stronger. Strong enough to contend with that ‘Crusader’.

There was no benefit to being exposed before that happened.

“Understood. However, Incarnation, you require a title befitting your status.”

Her gaze, fixed on me as if she wouldn’t yield, was cold.

‘A title, huh.’

Inwardly, I recalled the title I had always wished to be called.

“How about ‘Captain’?”

“I dislike it.”

“Huh?”

‘Isn’t that too firm?’

‘More importantly, she knew how to say no?’

She had acted as if she would do anything I asked, so I expected her to agree.

“Instead, I shall call you Master. Master, this way.”

She even seemed to have decided on a title beforehand, cutting me off decisively and walking ahead.

‘What was that.’

Even amidst my confusion, I followed her, and Bertea led me to the reception desk that occupied half of the lobby.

The lines were sparse, and there were many receptionists, so I didn’t have to wait long.

When our turn came, Bertea spoke firmly.

“This individual desires the new registration of her Master.”

“…You mean new adventurer registration, right? Yes, could you please wait a moment?”

It was a peculiar way of speaking, even now.

To see even the receptionist, who seemed accustomed to such matters, momentarily flustered.

‘But in a Labyrinth where people can turn into monsters at any time, perhaps this much isn’t a big deal?’

The receptionist quickly regained composure and asked various questions for the procedure, to which I gave reasonably plausible answers.

As a result, the procedure was quickly completed.

Ha Jin-woo, 37 years old (I subtracted about 100 years from my age), Vanguard, Beginner Adventurer.

Categorized as such, I received a nameplate written in an unfamiliar language that I could somehow read, and then returned.

Bertea was waiting for me.

“Is the process complete?”

“Yeah. It was quite complicated.”

“It serves as identity verification, and the Guild indeed provides assistance in many aspects.”

It seemed so.

While I could accept them asking about age and race, I didn’t expect them to ask about the purpose of my adventure or my position.

I had just thought things would work out somehow, but it was unexpectedly systematic.

Even just the positions.

The division into roles like vanguard, rear guard, and support, and the mention that they would help arrange parties based on the purpose of the adventure and position.

It probably meant they would arrange parties whose objectives aligned.

That way, it could prevent discord or disagreements.

However long it had been since Seoul became a Labyrinth, the fact that a clear system existed pleased me.

Although the fact that the Church of Light proposed to adventurers to go around killing people in stasis pods remained.

‘They might be a special case.’

‘For now, I should move cautiously while building up my strength.’

“Master.”

“Hm?”

“What do you intend to do now?”

Bertea added lightly.

“This individual values your skill, Master, but believes more systematic preparation will be necessary.”

“I think so too.”

Currently, I had nothing but my coat and the comfortable tactical uniform I wore underneath.

I had a mace, but that was all.

I felt that a single weapon wouldn’t be enough.

My weapon, armor, whatever it was, didn’t even meet the average of the adventurers entering this Adventurers’ Guild right now.

No matter that I was a super-soldier, I couldn’t go into battle in this state.

If there was a problem.

“The problem is that I don’t have a single penny.”

Hearing my words, Bertea rummaged around and pulled something out.

“This individual has money saved, eagerly awaiting the day she could serve her Master.”

It was similar to the adventurer nameplate I had just received.

[Adventurers’ Guild Bank]

The unfamiliar characters boldly written on it were legible.

I didn’t need to be told what it was to know.

‘It must be some kind of ID card for withdrawing deposits from the bank.’

Bertea, somehow feeling a little proud, covered her mouth with the nameplate.

“This individual will make you Cinderella, Master.”

“…How do you even know about Cinderella?”

I, Ha Jin-woo, the last super-soldier of South Korea, the Incarnation of Darkness, a proud man who had never sponged off a woman in his life.

“You do not need to repay it. Everything this individual possesses is yours, Master, and this individual is your wallet.”

“No, not to that extent…”

“Please, exploit this individual without reserve.”

Now, a day after waking up in my old hometown, I truly felt my status had fallen to that of a kept man.