Slave Harem in the Labyrinth of the Other World (LN)

Player Name: Kaga Michio

Current Character Levels & Equipment:

Jobs:

Explorer Lv.37

Hero Lv.35

Mage Lv.37

Monk Lv.37

Alchemist Lv.33

Equipment:

Rod of Offerings

Leather Helmet

Leather Armor

Leather Gloves

Leather Shoes

Sacrificial Misanga

Isnt it strange?

Roxanne says when we resume our morning hunting routine.

What is strange, exactly?

Theres a person ahead. At such a time as this no less. This person was there yesterday at the same location and the day before yesterday as well.

Its indeed strange for someone to be at the same location in the Labyrinth everyday. Well, we too hunt at the same location for quite an extended period of time as well, so I guess were not the ones to talk about it so casually, huh?

Is it perhaps a monster that smells like human?

I havent heard of such a monster, and if it really existed, then it would have been pretty scary. So far, I have been avoiding that location because of masters orders to stay out of the places that are frequented by humans, but at this point I think that it might be unavoidable for us to go there if we want to proceed any further on this floor.

Because I use magic, I instructed Roxanne to avoid crowded places so that no one would see me using that magic in order not to attract unnecessary attention to myself. When there are people waiting in the Waiting Rooms to have their turn to fight the Floor Boss rooms, were avoid boss battles as well, because waiting near the crowds who can possibly recognize Durandal is a bad idea.

Few days have passed since we advanced to twelfth floor. Since I can take out the monsters here with four spells, hunting has been smooth thus far. Because we cant see anyone around, that person must be on the far end of the cave.

Now that I think about it, there is this one thing that I happened to hear.

What is it, Sherry? Do you know something that might shed some light onto this situation?

Bandits set up ambushes in those Labyrinths where not many people are found, like this one. Im sorry for only mentioning it just now, but I forgot about it because I heard it way back when I was a little child.

Bandits do something like that? Is that really so?

With not many people around, you say?

Many people enter Quratars Labyrinth, so its not a place best to set up an ambush there. An ambush will be effective in Labyrinths such as this one, where not many people are found at any given time of the day.

There are currently three Labyrinths in the Harz Duchy. I was asked of by the Duke to go and explore some of them because they were short of capable people. Knights and Explorers in the territory must have been divided in three groups in order to cover more ground, but that division clearly wasnt enough, and with their forces already spread thin, the number of people per Labyrinth is naturally quite small.

But why here, on the twelfth floor of all places?

Monsters on the twelfth floor are a lot stronger than monsters on first eleven floors, so people upgrade their equipment in order to fight them.

So theyre doing that to rob them of their equipment?

Indeed. Those who advance to the twelfth floor, albeit barely, can be classified as intermediate Adventurers, and Bandits can overpower them with enough numbers. Even if they possess better equipment themselves, intermediate equipment can be sold for good money as long as youll find a buyer for it.

So, is this why they set up ambush on the twelfth floor? Sherrys explanation sounds rational as always.

So theres a possibility of getting ambushed by thieves on the twelfth floor? In that case, I wonder what should we do here in order to avoid getting ourselves into unnecessary trouble.

Should we wait until hes gone then?

If hes here at this time, you can safely assume that hell be here all day. And there are less people at this time because its quite early in the morning. Its a good opportunity to break through.

Roxanne is as brave as ever.

Harubas Labyrinth is in the north of Quratars labyrinth. It must already be day here, but I opt to remain silent about that, because if I say that Ill have to explain that the world is spherical and not flat, and I have a feeling that this would take quite a while.

We should ask the Knight Order for help then.

Yes, thankfully we have another option available. Reporting it to Gozer, that is. Then again, we dont have any evidence, and I cant say that there is someone who seems to be a Bandit based on my hunch alone.

That Bandit must have entered through the entrance but he was not caught there. Even if I use Identify, I cant present that fact as evidence, and if I kill this Bandit and collect the bounty on his head, his companions might come looking for me to exact revenge, and thatd be all sorts of bad, so killing him is absolutely no good.

Also, if I try to claim bounty, Ill need to have my Intelligence Card verified, and Gozer and the Knight Order believe that Im an Adventurer. I cant have them see my Intelligence Card, because then theyll see that Im actually an Explorer, which means that going to see Gozer about it is no good either.

I dont think the Knight Order will help anyone other than the Duke and his family, even if they asked for help.

Sherry advises against asking the Knight Order for help.

They wont help? Whys that?

Because protecting people like master is not their duty.

Because Master is a Freeman.

Roxanne supports Sherry with her words.

I see. So they have no obligation to help the Freemen?

Yes, because Freemen are supposed to protect themselves. That way, they can preserve their privileges as the Freemen. If a Freeman requests protection from someone, they lose their rights as a Freeman. For them, asking for protection is not the best idea, because it would be the same as selling yourself into slavery.

Sherry explains further. I dont quite understand this but it seems to be a bad idea. What I do understand though is that theres no such thing as police in this world, so I am forced to protect myself if anything happened to me.

Protect myself? I have to protect myself, without counting for anyone to come to my aid? But, Isnt that my right? Isnt that the Knights duty to protect anyone equally?!

Well, Its not like I actually need protection, but having them on my side would certainly help. However, help from anyone is never free. If I want help, then Id have to pay for getting that help. So instead of asking for protection, cant I just have them listen to me? Even though I am a Freeman, even though I am supposed to protect myself, if I say something in this regard, then maybe theyll at least listen to me?

Is that so?

Therefore, I think it would be best if we broke through on our own.

So Sherry is in favor of doing something brave as well? Is such an attitude considered rational in this world?

X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X.

Miria says that shes in favor of breaking through as well.

Okay then.

When Roxanne translates our discussion to Miria, she nods as well. Im not sure anymore whats right and whats not, but if thats what they want, then thats what well do.

Itll be alright, master. Theres only one Bandit. And we are not that weak either.

I think so too. Bandits set up ambushes with the strength of normal Parties in mind. On the twelfth floor, Parties normally take considerable time to take even one monster out. We, on the other hand, take monsters out a lot quicker. Miria and I may be weak links of the Party but against Bandits we should be able to hold our own against them just fine.

When Sherry says the same thing as Roxanne, it really begins to sound rational to me.

Should we break through on our own then?

It seems normal course of action in this world, at least. I killed Bandits in the very first village I appeared in.