GILF Hunter

Chapter 450: 450 Deep Layers

Countless people had gathered in front of the temple since before dawn, even before the sun had risen.

The knights selected as members of the Labyrinth expedition were in the middle of a final check before departure.

And similarly, Ian and his party, who had just arrived, finished their final preparations in a space provided on one side.

Frenda approached the spot where Ian’s group was gathered and asked.

’Leader Ian. Are the preparations on your side finished?’

’Yes. We have no problems. More importantly, are you alright? You look like you haven’t slept much...’

’It’s no problem. My physical strength is fine. Besides, the hot spring yesterday was very effective.’

Frenda didn’t deny that she was sleep-deprived, but it was also true that there were no issues with her condition.

It was thanks to the hot spring she had visited once more last night, just before entering the Labyrinth. It seemed she liked that place quite a bit.

And Frenda wasn’t the only one who had trouble sleeping. Among the knights, there were quite a few who looked like they hadn’t slept last night either.

After all, even for knights, this was their first time entering the Labyrinth. Being nervous before their first Labyrinth experience was no different from any other mercenary.

While Frenda and Ian were talking for a moment, a female knight who had been checking the knights’ preparation status approached and spoke quietly.

She was the Knight Commander who had decided to accompany this expedition.

’Preparations for departure are all finished.’

’Good, then let’s head out now.’

Frenda said, turning back to Ian. Ian, who had already finished his departure preparations beforehand, also nodded.

The joint expedition force of the temple, having finished its preparations, set off while being seen off by the temple people.

Lucia was also present at the scene.

Since this was a plan on which Lucia’s future depended, it was natural that she couldn’t help but show her face.

Lucia approached Ian just before departure and spoke to him quietly.

’Leader Ian. I’ll leave it to you. Our future depends on your hands.’

’...There’s not much I can do personally, but since it would be troublesome for me as well if we fail, I’ll do my best.’

’If you return safely, I’ll reward you somehow!’

Waving her hand, Lucia saw Ian off.

The expedition force left the temple and walked through the street leading to the North Gate toward the Labyrinth.

It was about time for the sun to start rising. A considerable number of citizens had gathered in the street.

It wasn’t particularly strange for people who start their day at dawn to be moving about, but there seemed to be an exceptionally large number today.

As they approached the North Gate, the number of people gradually increased.

’Wh-why are there so many people? Is there some kind of event?’

’Well... it’s because it’s the day of our departure.’

’All these people came out just to see us?’

As soon as those words were finished, people began to wave. Cheers that seemed to welcome the expedition group could be heard from here and there.

’Priestess!’

’Please look over here!’

’Yes, thank you.’

Frenda waved as if she were used to the situation and took the hands of the citizens nearby.

The knights also seemed accustomed to this kind of situation. Even while the people were making a fuss, they all moved their feet without becoming disorganized at all.

The only ones wearing awkward expressions there were the mercenaries who had never experienced this kind of situation before. Ian and his party.

’Airi-sama!’

’Please return safely!’

’Hii...!’

...Of course, with the exception of one person who already possessed popularity and fame.

Airi walked closely behind the backs of Ian and Rin so that her face wouldn’t be seen by the people.

Rin glanced at her and asked Ian.

’What on earth is this? We’re just going to the Labyrinth...’

’They’re temple knights. There’s also a high priest. Rumors must have already spread everywhere.’

And Lucia probably spread rumors about this matter extensively.

In Ian’s case, fame wasn’t particularly necessary, but for the other two, it was important to gain as much reputation as possible using this expedition.

So, this expedition couldn’t just end with exploring the Labyrinth; it had to be an honorable expedition to protect the city.

Since such flashy rumors must have spread, it was inevitable that they would receive interest and welcome from the city residents.

’So that’s why so many people came out?’

’Well, there’s that, but... actually, didn’t almost everyone come out to see the knights?’

The temple’s knight order, and even more, the one leading them was a high priest.

From the perspective of ordinary citizens, it’s hard to see even one of the two in person, yet they were all gathered at once. It was a sight that was hard to miss.

Perhaps half of them were people who came out to sightsee the knights and the high priest.

It might also be because of the superstition that holding a high priest’s hand brings good luck—a superstition that people inwardly expect just in case, even while knowing clearly that it’s false...

In that way, Ian and the members experienced the rare experience of departing while receiving support from the residents as they passed the North Gate and entered the Labyrinth.

＊ ＊ ＊

-Kraaaaaaakkkh!

A large monster, several times the size of a normal human, roared while looking down at the knights. It was a giant-type monster named an Ogre.

’It’s coming! Be careful!’

The Ogre swung an attack, but the knight who became the target simply parried it. The blunt weapon that was deflected aside struck the floor heavily.

Aiming for that large opening, the attack of one knight slashed past the Ogre’s knee.

The Ogre, who had been attacked, stumbled and eventually fell to its knees.

’Unit 2!’

As the Ogre knelt on one knee, about three knights rushed in simultaneously from different directions.

It was a clean and systematic coordinated attack that couldn’t be compared to the clumsy and sensory-based flank attacks that most mercenaries learned through experience.

Watching that, Rin muttered with an impressed expression.

’...Everyone is fighting really well. You said they were rookie knights...’

’They’re called rookies, but they’re still knights.’

No matter how much they were called rookies, the temple knights were all individuals who had undergone a probationary period while receiving training after passing a test. Among them, a significant number were experienced in combat-related fields.

In the first place, they were people who used to hunt monsters like that even outside the Labyrinth...

As long as the special environment called the Labyrinth was excluded, it was safe to say there was no reason for the knights to struggle because of monsters.

-Kyaaaah....

Eventually, with a loud noise, the Ogre collapsed to the floor.

The Ogre was the boss monster of this Labyrinth region, but it seemed it was ultimately helpless when a number of knights like this swarmed it. Fortunately, the terrain was also a place where it was easy for the knights to operate.

’Are there any injured personnel?’

’None.’

The knights who had finished the battle in front returned.

It was quite a deep Labyrinth region, so it was lucky that they could reach the boss room without any major problems or injuries.

Of course, it was also thanks to Ian taking charge of guiding the way and beforehand clearing out everything that could become a dangerous variable.

Moreover, considering the cost of mobilizing these knights, it was clearly an excessive force, so in a way, it was a natural result.

Frenda, who confirmed that the Ogre had fallen, approached Ian’s side.

’You said this place was the last room, right?’

’Yes. Look over there.’

Ian pointed to one side of the room with his finger.

A black hole overflowing with ominous energy was appearing in the air.

The source that creates monsters. As the boss, the Ogre, fell, the source of this Labyrinth region revealed itself.

A buzz of voices spread among the knights who witnessed that strange and ominous sight.

Frenda muttered as she slowly approached it.

’So this is what creates the monsters of the Labyrinth...’

’Why don’t you try destroying it personally?’

’Ye-yes...? Would that be alright?’

There was no one else to take that role besides Frenda anyway.

Ian’s group had not participated in the battle at all, and the representative of the knightly side was Frenda.

It’s a meaningless role when only members are present, but in an expedition where several groups gathered like this, there was a meaning of its own in who took charge of it.

’Then... Hah!’

Frenda, who wore an expression much more nervous than when she was fighting, unleashed holy magic toward the source.

A dazzling light flew toward the source.

The source, hit by the attack of the holy magic, made a sound as if something was breaking and disappeared after becoming small fragments.

’...I succeeded!’

Frenda, who had been inwardly nervous, shouted with a smile.

The knights who were watching that scene from behind also clapped and cheered.

...Actually, the source of a Labyrinth is very weak, to the point where it breaks if just touched lightly, so using even attack magic was excessive fire power.

Still, looking at the knights’ reactions, it was a result that wasn’t bad for the purpose of showing off.

Bringing so many knights was partly to increase the safety and success rate of the expedition, but it was also to engrave this image of Frenda into as many people as possible to spread her fame within the temple.

’Now, I’ll leave it to you.’

Ian nodded at Frenda’s words.

The primary Labyrinth exploration was over, but they hadn’t entered the Labyrinth just for this.

Just to get this far, they had already spent several times the maintenance costs of a typical expedition team. if they returned after doing just this, rather than an achievement, they would only hear that they went on a Labyrinth picnic with such a large force.

Rather, it could be said that the real start of this expedition was from now on.

Ian approached the seal carved on one wall of the boss room and opened the entrance to the deep layers.

After a moment, along with a large vibration of the wall moving, hidden stairs revealed themselves.

’This is...’

’Ugh.’

Abyss flowed out from within the deep darkness beyond the stairs.

The knights, who felt an ominousness of a different dimension compared to the Labyrinth until now, stood guard with tense faces.

And Ian, who was standing in front and staring intently inside the stairs, turned his body after a moment.

Ian explained to Frenda, who was the only one among these members he had taught individually about all types of deep layer dungeons.

’...It’s [The Blasphemer].’