GILF Hunter

Early morning on a holiday. Rin walked through the streets alongside Ian, who had headed out early.

Rin stretched, shaking off the remaining bits of sleep.

It was far too early to be out, but her curiosity had been piqued after hearing where Ian was going.

’We’re here.’

’It’s my first time coming to this temple.’

Rin looked up at the temple building.

A temple.

She had spent quite some time in Labyrinth, but it was a place she had never visited once.

She didn’t lead a religious life, so what else would happen at a temple other than losing money through donations?

Most mercenaries had no reason to visit for reasons similar to Rin’s, so the majority of temple visitors were city residents.

Knowing that Ian was visiting such a temple, it was only natural for her to be curious.

Since it felt like she wouldn’t get another chance if not now, Rin followed Ian to the temple from early morning.

After standing in line briefly among the visitors, it was soon Ian and Rin’s turn.

Ian handed over a pouch he had prepared in advance as a donation.

The contents weren’t visible, but even at a glance, it seemed to hold quite a lot.

After that, they passed the entrance for a moment of prayer before the divine statue.

Rin, who had stood quietly beside Ian pretending to pray, whispered in a low voice as they walked out after the brief prayer ended.

’Did you originally attend the temple?’

’No. It hasn’t been long.’

Upon hearing that answer, Rin nodded as if she understood.

Indeed, even to Rin, Ian didn’t seem like the type to frequent a temple.

Then why did he suddenly start stopping by?

Rin, quietly contemplating the reason, quickly reached a conclusion.

Since there was only one thing Ian had been focusing on lately.

It seemed that even the Captain, who always appeared cool-headed, wanted to lean his heart on something like this when facing a dangerous task.

Rin spoke to Ian understandingly.

’You came to pray that we return safely from the labyrinth, right?’

’No? I came to pay the donation fee.’

’…?’

At the completely unexpected answer, Rin stared at Ian with a look of confusion.

…Did he mean he had so much leftover money lately that he just wanted to spend it anywhere?

Well, it was certainly more wholesome than spending it on alcohol or gambling.

Ian, thinking she might be misunderstanding something based on her expression, quietly added an explanation.

’The temple only sells Holy Water once your donation rank is high enough….’

’Ack….’

Hearing the reason, Rin wore a horrified expression.

As expected, it was a reason she hadn’t anticipated at all.

To be precise, as the rank increased, the variety and quantity of items available for purchase grew.

At the basic rank, one could only buy one bottle of Holy Water per month, which was an awkward amount to use anywhere.

It was troublesome in many ways, and thanks to his mods, there were many items that could replace temple consumables, so he didn’t necessarily have to use the temple.

However, the item he had recently obtained through Leona happened to be equipment that consumed Holy Oil.

Inevitably, he was in a situation where he had to raise his rank to the level where he could purchase Holy Oil, so he had been visiting the temple in a hurry.

’Hearing it that way makes it sound a bit bad….’

To think one had to pay donation fees and raise a rank just to buy items sold at a temple.

It was a story that completely wiped away the small spark of reverence that had risen in Rin’s heart during her first visit.

Was it because this was Labyrinth that even the temple was filled with thieves?

While Rin was harboring such irreverent thoughts, someone spoke from behind.

’Please understand. There is a limit to the amount we can produce in Labyrinth.’

’Hiek! I-I wasn’t thinking anything!’

A nun, who had approached from behind at some point, spoke to Rin.

Rin, feeling a bit guilty because of the thought she had just had, looked at the nun with panic.

The nun gave a small, bitter smile, perhaps having guessed what kind of thoughts Rin was having.

’Hello, Captain. You wish to purchase Holy Water?’

’Is there any left today?’

’Yes. This way….’

The nun guided Ian and Rin to a side room.

Walking through a short passage.

Ian soon arrived at a room that looked more like a potion shop than a temple, lined with various items.

The nun who guided them there stole a glance at Ian’s face and spoke first.

’You plan on going to the labyrinth, don’t you?’

’Did I mention that?’

’I’ve been here long enough to know from experience.’

And….

After a slight pause, the nun gave Ian a bright smile and replied.

’Because you are the one who took the ’Flame’ not long ago. Captain Ian.’

The Sacred Flame.

She must be referring to that lantern he had received through Leona.

’Was that an item from the temple?’

’Yes. We occasionally lease it out for labyrinth expeditions.’

Only then did Ian learn the origin of that item.

He had wondered where she had obtained such a thing, and it seemed it had been borrowed through temple connections.

The nun took out several bottles of Holy Water Ian had requested and handed them over.

’I pray for your safe return.’

She spoke while smiling brightly at Ian.

Ian also nodded with a serious face and replied to the nun’s words.

’I will make sure to bring the lantern back safely.’

’…Could you please not speak as if I made such a worldly request?’

…But it seemed she was concerned about it regardless.

The nun secretly handed Ian one more bottle of Holy Water.

Rin stood a step behind, watching the scene with eyes that had grown somewhat cold.

Even the temple can’t help itself in Labyrinth.

With that irreverent thought, Rin completely revised and stored a new image of the temple in her memory.

＊ ＊ ＊

Just before lunchtime, when the members began to gather on the first floor one or two at a time.

Mika, who came down a bit later than usual, also sat quietly at the table.

’Hello….’

Mika, having offered a greeting, avoided Ian’s gaze with a blushing face.

Several days had already passed since that night, but Mika still blushed every time she ran into Ian.

Whenever they saw Mika with her head bowed and her face flushed red, everyone stole glances at Ian and Mika with strange expressions.

Whenever that happened, Mika’s face turned just a little bit redder.

…It’ll probably last for two more days.

Only Rin understood those feelings and nodded quietly.

-Creak

It was still a bit early for lunchtime.

While everyone was spending time casually on the first floor, the door to the stairs leading to the basement opened with a small sound.

Among those staying here, Louise was the only one who mainly used the basement.

When Ian looked that way, sure enough, Louise was coming up the stairs after opening the door.

Louise muttered while looking at the bright view outside the window.

’Oh my…. It’s morning already.’

’Miss Louise. Did you just wake up?’

’No, I just finished work and was going to rest. Being in the basement lab, I have no idea what time it is.’

Louise replied while stretching with a tired face.

’Oh right, this is perfect. I’ll tell you now.’

Louise gestured toward the bottom of the stairs, the direction of the lab.

The cause that had kept Louise holed up in the lab was there.

’That potion you left with me last time is finished.’

There was only one recipe Louise had been researching.

It was the recipe for the Erosion Purifier that Ian had first entrusted to her.

At the news that it was finished, Ian stood up.

It meant that the preparation for the final and most important item was complete.

Ian went down to the alchemy lab in the basement with Louise.

In one part of the lab, where the smell of chemicals lingered, a bubbling liquid was boiling.

’This is the first finished product.’

Louise picked up a potion bottle from the table in front of it.

She handed Ian a bottle that had been sealed in advance.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

[Erosion Purifier]

– Consumable Item

– Upon use, immediately [Erosion -24]

– Resists erosion for a certain period after use

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

Ian checked the capabilities of the finished potion.

A finished product where the additional value from Louise’s alchemy level was added to the potion’s basic performance.

Ian nodded after checking the results.

’It’s perfect. Good work.’

’This seems like a much rarer item than I thought…. I don’t know how you got the recipe, but it won’t cause any problems, right?’

’There’s nothing to worry about. It’s not like I stole it.’

Ian, putting down the potion bottle, stared at the potions currently being made.

Louise also glanced that way and said to Ian.

’Once the batch currently in production is finished, there will be about 4 more bottles.’

A total of 5 bottles including the sample.

It was an amount worth taking on an expedition.

Louise checked the ingredient shelf in the corner of the lab and said to Ian.

’There are some ingredients left, so I could make 1 or 2 more…. But the current equipment can only make 4 at a time. What should I do with the rest?’

’The amount being made now is enough for the moment. Please make the rest and store them.’

If the same potion was used multiple times in one expedition, its effect gradually decreased.

So even if he prepared dozens of purifiers, he couldn’t just go on an expedition comfortably while using them like water.

Since they might be needed urgently upon return, he decided to leave the rest as spares.

Ian let out a small sigh while looking down at the potion sloshing inside the bottle.

All preparations were finished.

＊ ＊ ＊

’Let’s head out.’

Everyone finished their preparations and left the base without a word.

Along with Louise, Anne’s group remaining at the base waved their hands, seeing Ian’s party off.

After everyone waved back, they walked quietly through the streets with tense faces, without a single word of light small talk.

Soon, the north gate of Labyrinth began to come into view.

It was a large castle gate, but there were almost no pedestrians or carriages passing through.

Unless there was a special reason, it was a road with little traffic even normally.

Well, it was the road leading to the labyrinth after all.

The north gate itself was free to pass through, but perhaps due to the ominous aura of the labyrinth, almost no one went that way.

Most people who had to go in that direction intentionally detoured through the west or east gates to go the long way around.

Ian and his party passed through that north gate and headed north of Labyrinth.

At the end of the short path,

Everyone only came to a halt when they arrived before the Labyrinth Guard defending that spot.

It was the Labyrinth.