Normalizing the Labyrinth City in the Game

Although there are occasional cases of entering the labyrinth alone to monopolize the rewards,

Most people form parties with explorers of similar rank to enter together.

Even if the rewards are split equally, the income earned on the 2nd floor and the 4th floor differ in the types of coins from the start.

The standard is 5 people.

Although the composition varies depending on the situation,

One vanguard tank, one guide, two dealers, and one priest is considered the most ideal combination.

“So, how are we going to arrange the composition?”

…However, it’s a different story when there are few people like now.
Taking a 1st class 3-person party as an example, usually the guide or priest is left out.

In the case of priests, most start from 2nd class, so even if you want to include one, there aren’t any available.

Guides are also essential for parties, but the pioneering of 1st class guides is no different from that of vanguards or dealers.

This is also why most guides who play LAOA fail to overcome the wall of 1st class and drop out.

“Since we’re short on people, it seems you, the guide, will have to take on the role of vanguard dealer as well.”

For that reason, Hassan’s suggestion was quite reasonable.

Siwon cleared his throat a couple of times and answered with an expression full of bravado.

“Sure, why not. For the genius guide Sion, such things are nothing.”

“….”

‘Was the bravado too much?’

Siwon felt uneasy for a moment at Hassan’s suddenly stiffened expression, but.

“That’s fortunate indeed! Then I’ll take on the vanguard tank role, and Abdul will be the rear dealer.”

Fortunately, it seemed to be just a concern.

For now, Siwon decided to keep acting this way since he had shown such an attitude.

“…Rear dealer? What’s your friend’s profession?”

“I’m a mage.”

Abdul immediately answered Siwon’s question.

“…A mage?”

Siwon’s brow furrowed.

Not because it was a useless existence.

“Why, don’t you like it?”

“No, it’s not that I don’t like it. I was just curious. It’s hard to find mages in 1st class.”

Because mages are so useful, most become explorers and reach 2nd class within about a year.

“You know too, don’t you? That foreign mages aren’t welcomed in this city.”

“….”

It seems racial discrimination has held Abdul back.

Still, if he had the skills, he could have risen higher.

“Well, the fact that I don’t know many spells is one of the reasons too.”

“….”

Siwon was momentarily at a loss for words.

“If you don’t trust me, you can look for someone else.”

Abdul said this and immediately tried to back out.

“No, it’s fine. Although you might be lacking compared to the genius guide Sion, my generosity isn’t that narrow.”

“….”

This time, both Abdul and Hassan’s expressions hardened simultaneously.

They even looked like they were harboring some killing intent, but.

“Ha, haha! As expected, Sion, you have such a broad mind! Is it because we’re both foreigners?”

“…Thank you. I suppose you should be the party leader.”

Abdul and Hassan soon relaxed their hardened expressions and praised Siwon as if nothing had happened.

‘…What do you mean the same, damn it. Even our skin colors are different.’

Siwon thought inwardly, but.

“Well, it’s nothing special.”

He didn’t stop his act.

‘They’re not showing any particular reaction even though I acted so unlikeable.’

Moreover, Abdul even thanked him and gave up the party leader position to a guide he just met today.

‘…These bastards, no matter how I think about it, they’re suspicious.’

Abdul and Hassan.
Siwon’s instincts were telling him that these two were definitely hiding some scheme.

“I didn’t expect to enter the labyrinth so quickly.”

In front of the eastern warp gate of the labyrinth.

Hassan muttered this while standing at the back of the long line, guided by the guards.

“Strike while the iron is hot, as they say. There’s no need to postpone when we’re all prepared.”

“…?”

Hassan furrowed his brow at Siwon’s words.

“What?”

“What does that mean? Strike while the iron is hot….”

“…Ah.”

Siwon had unknowingly used a Korean proverb, but.

“It’s a saying from my country. It means to start something as quickly as possible when an opportunity arises.”

Siwon answered nonchalantly.

He had already become quite adept at acting.

“…Huh, that’s an interesting saying.”

“It’s our turn. Let’s go in.”

While talking with Hassan, it was suddenly Siwon’s party’s turn.

Following the guard’s guidance into the tent, a too familiar face was reflected in Siwon’s pupils.

‘Damn it, that bastard is….’

Siwon’s mortal enemy.

The guard captain was sitting in his seat, checking each party entering the labyrinth one by one.

“Nice to meet you. What are your names?”

“….”

Siwon was momentarily stunned and couldn’t answer.

“I’m Hassan, this is Abdul. And this person here is Sion, our party leader.”

Hassan answered in place of Siwon.

“…Hmm, how far are you planning to go?”

“We plan to hunt monsters on the 2nd floor and then return.”

“…Hmm.”

Quite a long silence.

“Alright. The labyrinth’s condition has been unusual lately, so if you notice any abnormalities, please return immediately and inform the guard.”

However, the guard captain approved their entry without any particular reaction.

“Thank you.”

“….”

Hassan thanked the guard captain, while Siwon and Abdul bowed their heads silently as a gesture of thanks.

“Hey, you.”

“…Yes?”

“No, not you. The person wearing the iron armor.”

“….”

Siwon turned his head.

“Have we met somewhere before?”

“…!”

Siwon’s pupils dilated slightly, but.

“Has the fame of the genius guide Sion already spread to you? Haha… Well, it can’t be helped!”

“…I’m sorry, I must have been mistaken. Go on now.”

The guard captain immediately cut off the conversation at Siwon’s answer, which sounded like he had some mental illness.

‘Damn, that was close.’

Siwon inwardly sighed in relief and entrusted his body to the warp gate behind the tent.

“….”

He looked around.

It looked the same as the 1st underground floor plaza of the Argantolla Labyrinth that Siwon knew.

“…Phew.”

Fortunately, this time he didn’t fall into the labyrinth’s darkness.

Hassan and Abdul followed through the warp gate shortly after.

“Shall we depart right away?”

When Siwon said this, Abdul and Hassan tilted their heads.

“…No, you.”

“Hm?”

“Where’s the map? Why aren’t you taking it out?”

“…Ah.”

‘Damn, I didn’t buy a map.’

Originally, Siwon, who had memorized all the trap locations, didn’t need a map.

But currently, Siwon was acting as a boastful novice guide.

If he said he didn’t have a map, they would surely suspect….

‘No, wait a minute.’

Can’t I just tell the truth?

“…Don’t tell me you didn’t bring a map? As a guide?”

“Ha, haha! No problem! Actually, the genius guide Sion has memorized the locations of all the traps on the 1st floor!”

It wasn’t a lie.

“…Stop talking nonsense. Here.”

Hassan immediately took out a map from his bag and handed it to Siwon.

‘…Whew.’

Fortunately, the act seems to have worked well.

“How careless. They say geniuses are often absent-minded….”

“No, I really did memorize everything!”

“Yes, yes. Hurry up and guide us.”

“…Well, if you insist. Stick close behind me and follow.”

“…”

Abdul and Hassan’s gazes towards Siwon grew even colder.

“Hmm, in about an hour more, we should reach the warp gate to the 2nd floor.”

“….”

This was clearly good news, but Abdul and Hassan’s expressions were cold.

‘Why are they acting like that? I’ve been going in circles for two hours on a route that should have taken 30 minutes?’

He even said it would take another hour.

Siwon’s act as a boastful guide was surely perfect.

“How about we take a short break?”
When Abdul suddenly said this, Siwon also seemed to have thought of something and agreed with Abdul’s words.

“Well, I don’t mind. I was actually in need of a bathroom break.”
“….”

Siwon said this and immediately left his seat.

‘…These bastards, I need to eavesdrop on what they’re talking about.’

More precisely, while pretending to leave, he turned back and eavesdropped on the conversation between Abdul and Hassan.
Although the distance was far, there was nothing he couldn’t hear if he focused.
After all, Siwon had heard his comrades’ words even on battlefields where gunfire was tearing through ears.
Now that his eardrums were intact, it should be even easier.

“…Is that guy really a first-timer?”

“I know. How can a first-timer in the labyrinth navigate the 1st floor in just 3 hours? Even 2nd class guides would struggle to be this fast.”

‘?’

Damn, this is considered fast too?

What kind of trash-tier guides are there among 1st class guides….

“No matter how I think about it, that guy is suspicious. Hassan, shouldn’t we just cancel this plan… That guy doesn’t look easy to make into a slave.”
“…!”
At those words from Abdul, Siwon’s pupils dilated.
It was a moment when their hidden intentions were somewhat revealed.

“…Let’s talk about that later. That guy seems to be coming back soon.”

At the same time, Hassan looked around, and Siwon turned back again while hiding his body.

“…You came back faster than expected.”

“It was just a small one. More importantly, did you two talk about anything while I was gone?”

“….”

At Siwon’s words with a hidden barb, Abdul and Hassan’s expressions momentarily hardened, but.

“We didn’t talk about anything special.”
“…Really?”
“More importantly, shouldn’t we get going? You said there’s only an hour left, right? You seem to be quite good at guiding.”

Hassan lied nonchalantly.

Despite overhearing their conversation behind his back, Siwon’s intention to resolve things amicably changed in an instant.

“…Well, of course. I am a genius guide after all.”

While saying this, Siwon added one more thing.

“Stick close behind me and follow. Don’t step anywhere else unnecessarily.”

Words that they would never be able to keep.

After resuming the journey, a moment later.

“Aaaaargh!”

A scream was heard from behind Siwon.

“Ah, Abdul! Are you alright?”

“M-my leg! My leg!”

A cleverly stepped-on pressure plate.
Abdul’s leg was pierced by an arrow that flew from the trap.

“S-stay still! I’ll heal you as quickly as possible….”

It’s easy to guide people to avoid traps.

But guiding people into traps was quite difficult even for Siwon.
Just enough for one person to avoid it and the person behind to suffer a minor injury.

It’s practically impossible.
Yet Siwon managed it.
It was a moment when the fruit of 20,000 hours shone.

“Hey, you son of a bitch! What are you doing?! Someone’s injured! And it’s because of you….”

Hassan hurled insults at Siwon, who was standing still.
It seems his patience was also reaching its limit.

‘Should I apologize?’

It was a thought that suddenly occurred to him, but Siwon immediately shook his head.

All of this was according to Siwon’s plan.
And right now, Siwon is in the middle of acting as a boastful genius guide.

It was time to show behavior fitting that role.

“…How is this because of me? Didn’t I tell you? To stick close behind and follow.”

“…What?”

“If you had listened to my words properly, this wouldn’t have happened… Tsk tsk. Blaming others. This is why you’re stuck at 1st class….”

An answer that would make even a saint furious.

Hassan and Abdul’s brown faces turned red.