Chapter 18
Leaving the inn, I headed for the Adventurers’ Guild.
I needed to change my registered base.
As a rule, adventurers are required to complete the procedure whenever they change their base.
Besides, I couldn't enter the Great Labyrinth without registering this town as my base.
I knew where the Guild was.
I made my way there, taking in the familiar streets of the town—.
The Guild was filled with the bustle of adventurers preparing to enter the dungeon.
I joined the line at the reception desk, and eventually my turn came.
“Welcome. What can I do for you today?”
“I'd like to change my base.”
I handed the receptionist my adventurer tag.
“You're Rent-san, correct? I'll change your base to Merba, then. Welcome to Merba, the Labyrinth City.”
I took back my adventurer tag from the receptionist, who wore a perfect smile that could make a rookie adventurer think she meant it.
“Would you like your information to be made public?”
“Please make it public.”
You can choose whether or not to disclose your registered base to others.
It's usually made public, but some people have special reasons for wanting to keep it hidden.
You can even hide it from specific people.
I could hide my whereabouts from the Sky-Cleaving Sword, too.
However, after discussing it with MP last night, I decided to make it public.
I hadn't filed the change-of-base paperwork when I left the previous town because I wanted to buy some time.
I'd bought enough time by now, so there was no need to keep it hidden.
If anything, MP had said, 'It'll be more fun if they come after us.'
When I asked what would be fun about that, MP brushed me off with, 'You'll find out.' But I trusted MP.
After completing the change-of-base procedure, I went around to shops, bought the necessities, and headed for the dungeon.
――The Great Labyrinth of Merba.
It was the largest and most famous dungeon in the area.
Naturally, it also drew more adventurers than any other dungeon.
The entrance to the Great Labyrinth, on the outskirts of town, was a low, rounded hill with a gaping hole in it.
Inside the narrow opening, just wide enough for two people side by side, was a staircase leading underground.
After descending ten steps and passing through a transparent membrane, I found myself on the other side—in another world.
Though I should have been underground, what spread out before me was a vast natural landscape.
――The First Floor of the Great Labyrinth of Merba.
Just as on the surface, the sun shone in a blue sky, and plants grew lushly across the land.
A refreshing scent of trees drifted on the breeze, mingled with the faint smell of monsters.
“Whoa! So this is a dungeon!”
MP, who'd been perched on my shoulder, couldn't hold back any longer. MP flew off and looked around from a high vantage point.
MP's four wings shimmered with rainbow colors as they reflected the sunlight. They were fluttering more wildly than usual—maybe from excitement.
When I first entered a dungeon five years ago, I was more nervous than excited... I remembered how it had felt.
And then I remembered an emotion I'd forgotten.
At first, all I felt was joy.
Everything I experienced was new, and my heart raced with excitement.
But... lately, it had only been painful.
Tormented by inferiority and feeling indebted to those guys, I'd been living each day as if it were an obligation.
MP's smile reminded me that the dungeon was a place that could make my heart leap.
This was a vast space unlike anything you'd expect beneath a city.
Scholars say, “A dungeon is an entirely separate space, completely different from the surface,” but adventurers don't care about that.
There are monsters, treasure chests, and adventures waiting.
That alone is enough.
I'd even forgotten something so simple—.
“All right, let's go.”
“Yes! Let's go monster hunting!”
A spirited response came back.
MP was raring to go, but had no combat ability whatsoever.
Enemies don't attack MP, either, so as far as combat goes, MP is practically not even there.
But just having MP by my side is enough.
All right, today I'll put my abilities to the test here.
I wanted to see how much stronger I'd become with the combat skills I'd gained.
Excited, I started walking—.