Manuke FPS Chapter 175

Published at 6th of February 2022 10:10:53 AM

Once the festival was over, and I had my much-needed two-day rest at Maltsan’s mansion, I prepared to head to my next destination, Snakehead Labyrinth. A labyrinth conquest. It was two days out by carriage to the southeast. It was named for its distinctly shaped entrance that looked like a giant snake amidst the wilderness. 

The Snakehead Fortress was built in front of the labyrinth, and it was meant as a barrier between it and the capital. At the same time, It also served as a hub for those who delved into it. Within it, many different shops and accommodations were provided. The Third Knights were also headquartered there. Their main function was labyrinth conquest within the kingdom’s borders. Other stores were also smiths, brothels, and other services just outside the fort. 

I left the capital as Shaft, only switching to Schwartz outside before I headed to this labyrinth. The exploration schedule was about 3 days, which was short. But I planned to conduct a field survey of the labyrinth first, as it was different from the previous two labyrinths. 

Let’s take it easy this time. 

Two days of travel, three days to explore, and then more days to return. By the end of that schedule, the transfer magic stone I’d entrusted to Chancellor Bergman should be ready to be returned to me, and the administrative work to pass the shop over to me should also be finished. 

I took a carriage to Snakehead Fortress along with another party of adventurers that were headed that way as well. 

The fortress itself was a large U-shaped fortress built to isolate the labyrinth’s entrance. It had four floors, which was tall for this world, but only the first floor was available to regular adventurers. The rest of the floors were for the knights, and naturally, were off limits. 

Guards stopped the carriage at the fortress’s entrance. From there, I had to walk with some checks required before entering the fortress proper. 

First, accommodation. 

The fortress itself had no inn itself. It had free accommodations for adventurers, but there was just one tatami mat wide with a single bed. They were also separated by curtains rather than a wall in a large hall. 

“It looks like a hospital room.” 

After I submitted an application for accommodation, I was given a single key for a magic safe to place my valuables in and a room number tag.  Having checked the room myself, that was my impression. 

The U-shaped fortress had an entrance and a plaza at the center of the curve. Accommodations to the south side and various stores on the northern side. I passed not only adventurers but also knights who seemed to be members of the Third Knights on the way to the cafeteria on the north side.

Like the room, the dining room was free. There was a bar outside the fortress, but you could only get free food here. Laughter and bustle could be heard from outside the fortress, so it seemed explorers were more likely to eat outside. Most of the explorers I passed seemed to be going at it solo like me. 

The next morning, I awakened to the sound similar to an army trumpet, which was different from the bell I was used to in the capital and Barga. I checked my UI and found it was five in the morning. It was early, but outside the partition, I could hear other adventurers waking and preparing to depart. 

I also activated the TSS and began preparing my weapons and items I planned to use. My main would be the FNP90. For my secondary, it’ll be the bayonet mounted CZ75 SP-01. I also brought grenades and spare ammo, along with a sledgehammer. 

The sledgehammer was a large striking weapon with a 90cm long handle and a 6cmx17cm head. It was a more obvious weapon compared to the portable melee weapons I’ve used so far. Why did I plan to use a hammer this time around?

Because this labyrinth was also the largest source of crystal in the kingdom. It was pretty much impossible to burrow through the walls and structures inside, but it was possible to collect mineral resources such as crystals and ores. Plants could also be harvested from the vegetation. While it was actually a lure for humans, it was still a source of materials should you be able to harvest it and get out. 

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When I left the capital, I was asked by Martha to collect this crystal. With the tool bag that normal adventurers used, you couldn’t take it home without crushing it into pieces. Apparently, some explorers brought carts to transport the mined crystal. However, it was not a realistic plan given the dangers that lay inside. 

However, my GIFT BOX ignored all that. 

Quartz, which was a material for accessories and quartz glass, was in great demand. I got a lot of money from the Great Mana stone, but considering the future, it was better to have even more money. 

The hammer was for this purpose. 

With my equipment, I went for food first then the labyrinth.

Next to the gate leading to the labyrinth, there was a booth that functioned as the administration building. A queue of party representatives were lined up to submit their exploration plans. I joined, submitted my plans, and purchased the light grass seeds before I entered. 

Passing through, a huge crack was spread out before me. A crack that resembled a snake. Snake valley stretched two kilometers east to west. I walked the beaten road to the labyrinth, which had been trampled over the number of years as many people used it and earthen stairs were built. A cave that served as the entrance to the labyrinth seemed to open in the rock wall at the end. 

When an explorer lost his life inside, it became food and power for the labyrinth. The power gave substance to the phantom-like monsters within and once the power rose to a certain extent, they poured out. 

Overflow. It was a metaphor. The monsters did not come out politely. Just as 

Just as the monsters were defeated in the labyrinth, were wrapped in a black mist and disappeared, they sprang up again from the mist on the surface. That was the phenomenon. 

Once at the end of the stairs, the entrance was concealed in darkness. 

The moment I stepped in through the darkness, I felt the world change. The structure was indestructible. No matter how hard someone tried to dig, they would never be able to burrow through to the lower levels. As an isolated world within. It was almost a different world. 

Thinking so, I began to explore. 

Chapter end