GILF Hunter

An unexpected guest arrived at the Ian Mercenary Group’s lodging early in the morning.

The guest burst through the door without an appointment or permission, but no one could point that out or kick them out.

’Yo, hello!’

’Ah... hello.’

It was Frey, the A-rank mercenary.

Entering inside, Frey sat on the lounge sofa as comfortably as if it were her own home.

Coincidentally, everyone happened to be gathered in the lounge at that time.

Among them, Frey waved at Airi, who was hiding in the corner trying her best not to be noticed.

’Oh, Airi. Everywhere I go lately, all I hear are rumors about you.’

’Why...’

Airi muttered, exuding a gloomy atmosphere like a dark mage.

Fortunately, if one could call it that, Airi’s face was not yet well-known.

Although she had attended the party, most of the participants were upper-class people who had no reason to encounter Airi in their daily lives.

Since Airi usually didn’t go out much unless there was a special occasion, few people outside knew her face.

At most, only faint eyewitness accounts from people who were on the walls during the invasion were floating around.

Moreover, rumors about a celebrity’s appearance were bound to be highly exaggerated, so regular residents or mercenaries wouldn’t be able to recognize Airi instantly based on the talk on the streets.

Still, because rumors about her reached her ears wherever she went, Airi was restraining her outings much more than usual.

Whenever she heard her name from someone else’s mouth, her face burned so much that she couldn’t just listen and pretend not to notice.

’Why is this happening...’

Airi curled up in the corner with a depressed expression.

She thought the rumors would subside after a while, but instead, they were growing larger as time passed. It became worse after it was revealed she had been promoted to Honorary A-rank.

A dark aura spread out, but since Airi had always been in that kind of mood lately, the other members didn’t pay much attention.

Rin asked Frey.

’So, what brings you here so suddenly?’

’Is your leader here right now?’

’Probably by now... Ah, he’s here.’

Just then, Ian entered, having heard the news of Frey’s visit.

’Miss Frey?’

’Yeah. Hey. Do you have time around next week? There’s something good, so let’s go on an expedition together.’

’An expedition together?’

Frey delivered her business to Ian immediately without any wasted words. It was a proposal for a joint expedition.

It wasn’t that rare for multiple mercenary groups to go on an expedition together, but...

It was still a quite unexpected proposal. Especially since Frey’s mercenary group was large and had many subordinate groups, there should be no need to bring in an external mercenary group.

’Is there a request out now? It seems the guild isn’t accepting them yet.’

Ian first tried to ask what kind of request Frey had brought.

Since the aftermath of the monster invasion hadn’t been fully resolved yet, the request counter of the Mercenary Guild was closed. It wasn’t a time to go out on ordinary requests.

Well, the general counter was closed, but that probably didn’t apply to A-ranks.

It could be an urgent request the guild delivered separately, or perhaps a private request that came into her mercenary group.

However, hearing Ian’s question, Frey shook her head as if it weren’t that and answered.

’Not an outside request, I mean the Labyrinth.’

’Are you saying... you want to enter the Labyrinth together?’

’Exactly.’

Before Ian could even ask why, Frey took something out and placed it on the table.

Everyone’s eyes gathered on that object.

It was a crude statue carved from a small lump of ore.

’This is...’

’This came from the Labyrinth, didn’t it?’

’That’s right.’

Mika, who was staring intently at the object, asked.

It was an item that radiated the peculiar aura unique to the Labyrinth. Since everyone had accumulated a fair amount of Labyrinth experience, they could now recognize items from the Labyrinth almost immediately.

Frey nodded, confirming the question.

However, although they knew it was a Labyrinth product, they didn’t seem to have guessed its identity at all.

It was a quite rare item. Even for a mercenary who frequented the Labyrinth, it wouldn’t be strange not to know it.

Frey wondered if she should explain what it was first, but Ian, who was staring at the object, spoke first.

’Is this... a key?’

’Oh. You know what it is? Then this conversation will be easy.’

Ian carefully picked up the statue on the table.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[Key of the Abyss: Cassia’s Treasure Vault]

- Consumable Item

- Upon use, enters the [Cassia’s Treasure Vault] region during the next Labyrinth entry.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

’Leader, do you know what this is?’

’It’s a key that lets you enter a special space within the Labyrinth.’

The terrain and structure of the Labyrinth are basically random.

However, if you consume this upon entry, you can enter a fixed dungeon connected to the key.

It was an item occasionally discovered in the Labyrinth.

There are several types of these fixed dungeons, but this one could be called a quite special dungeon among them.

The reason it was special... one could tell just by hearing the name of the dungeon connected to this key.

Frey explained.

’This is a key to enter the Labyrinth’s treasure vault.’

’Treasure... vault?’

Hearing the word ’treasure,’ everyone’s eyes sparkled.

However, Rin, who regained her senses immediately, shook her head. It wasn’t their first or second day in the Labyrinth; there was no way they’d be fooled by such a simple trap now.

’Hah. It’s only named that way but it’s actually a dangerous place, right?’

’No. It’s a real treasure vault? It’s a place packed with treasure chests.’

’Kyaaa!’

Hearing the explanation, everyone’s mouths hung open.

Even though they heard it directly, it was a statement so exciting they couldn’t tell if it was serious or a joke.

’You mean... you want us to enter this place with you?’

’Yeah. Usually, when something like this turns up, only I and a few others go in... but I’ll let you come along.’

This was the repayment Frey had planned for the hot spring.

＊　＊　＊

A few days after Frey proposed the joint Labyrinth expedition, the promised expedition date arrived.

From early morning, everyone did a final check of the luggage and equipment they had packed in advance.

Since they couldn’t fall asleep since the night before, everyone was in a state of having lost a bit of sleep. Upon hearing the name ’Treasure Vault,’ what mercenary could sleep soundly?

Thanks to that, they didn’t sleep well, but everyone was overflowing with energy.

’Got everything?’

’No problems here!’

Everyone nodded at Ian’s question. This time, there weren’t even many items to bring, so it was easy to check.

Since the place they were entering was a special location, the luggage packed for the expedition was very different from when they normally explored the Labyrinth.

They emptied unnecessary items as much as possible and brought minimal food. The rest was filled with exploration gear similar to when they explored ruins.

’Is it really okay to only bring this much combat supplies?’

’Yeah. There shouldn’t be any fighting, but just in case.’

’To think such a place exists in the Labyrinth where no monsters appear at all...’

The [Cassia’s Treasure Vault] they were entering this time was a quite famous region among fixed dungeons that could be opened with a key. Its characteristics were well-known accordingly.

The Treasure Vault was a map where monsters did not appear at all.

Only some treasure chests or rooms were randomly set with traps; most of the area was a safe place.

Even those traps weren’t mostly meant for ambushes, but were types that hindered treasure hunting, such as blocking paths or sealing chests. In fact, it was safe to say there was almost no danger.

’So we just go in, grab the treasure, and come out...’

’Still, you have to watch out for traps.’

’I’ve practiced traps until I’m sick of them!’

Rin, who had received trap training from Frey during that time, replied confidently.

Ian led the prepared members and set out for the meeting place.

’You’re here.’

The vicinity of the northern gate, the meeting place.

Frey was waiting for Ian along with someone else.

It seemed to be a colleague from the mercenary group Frey had previously mentioned would accompany them.

’You haven’t seen this one before, right? He’s a member of our second string, but he knows how to do a lot of things, so I bring him along often at times like this.’

’...Hello...’

It was a quite gloomy-looking mercenary with a hood pulled deep over his face. He was quite tall, and standing next to Frey made the difference even more prominent.

He didn’t seem to be the warrior type.

’...Looking at how gloomy he is, is he a warlock?’

They didn’t say it aloud, but all the members thought so simultaneously. Even Airi.

’Now then, let’s head in.’

As if the introduction of the group ended with just that, Frey immediately urged the group’s steps toward the Labyrinth.

＊　＊　＊

Ian made his way down the Labyrinth stairs through the darkness.

After wandering through the brief darkness for a moment.

Ian and the group following behind him soon arrived at a hallway brightly lit with fire.

’This place is...’

A worn yet grand hallway. It was a place where traces of long years remained exactly as they were.

Dust had settled and the walls were cracked, but just looking at its current state, one could easily guess how grand a place it must have been in the past.

They had heard some talk, but it was a place completely different from the typical Labyrinth. The members who entered here for the first time looked around at the surroundings with curious expressions.

Frey, confirming that everyone had arrived, turned to the group and spoke.

’You heard the explanation beforehand, right? The method of opening each chest is different, and the traps get more dangerous the more you open, so don’t just open anything.’

Saying so, Frey opened a door right nearby without hesitation.

It was a fairly large room.

Inside the room, lit by slightly dim lighting, several grand treasure chests were placed.

Moreover, there were several more doors inside the room. As if to say that more rooms like this existed.

’I’ll let you open them one by one, so think carefully before you choose.’

It was truly a treasure vault.