"It's evening, but there are more people than I expected."
"Indeed."
The Cathedral was still bustling. Probably because of the spike in deaths after the Great Upheaval.
"Hey, Porter, does the Labyrinth City's Cathedral usually stay open this late?"
"Yeah. The Labyrinth City's Cathedral operates 24/7."
It's easy to lose track of time once you're inside the Labyrinth. Some buy expensive watches or, though it's a pain, use hourglasses. But most adventurers just guess how many hours have passed using their 'belly clock'—you know, their gut feeling about when they're hungry.
A lot of people end up with their days and nights completely flipped. It's pretty common for them to come out and realize it's the middle of the night. That's why the Labyrinth City's Cathedral never closes. They need to resurrect the dead quickly, before their bodies start to rot.
"Wow. It's so grand! The Cathedral ceiling is covered in paintings...!"
"Yeah, because they've got a ton of money."
As we walked inside, priests and nuns hurried past us. The Young Lady couldn't help but stare at the Cathedral's interior. The ceiling was covered in paintings that reminded me of Michelangelo's Creation of Adam, and the decorations were incredibly lavish. Since they rake in so much cash from Resurrections, it makes sense the place is decked out.
"The entrance to the basement should be around here somewhere."
"Basement?"
"Yeah. The Resurrection Chamber is underground."
I was pretty sure it was underground. It'd been so long since I'd been here, I'd forgotten exactly where. I ended up having to ask a very busy-looking nun for directions to the Resurrection Chamber before I finally found the stairs leading down.
"So, this is the Resurrection Chamber."
"Yeah. It's where Rika will wake up."
After a slight detour, we arrived at the Resurrection Chamber in the Cathedral's basement. As we stepped inside, a priest in a sanitary gown greeted us.
"Fortunately, her condition is relatively good."
"There won't be any problems reviving her, will there?"
"No. Her head is intact. Her hands, feet, and limbs are all attached. She's just missing a few internal organs. We can fill those in with organs from a cow or a sheep."
"Cow? Sheep?"
The Young Lady looked at the priest like he was crazy when he suggested replacing Rika's missing organs with livestock parts. "What kind of nonsense is that?"
"Yes. The missing parts must be filled in separately. It's essential for a proper reattachment."
"Ah, I see..."
"If you're not comfortable with animal organs, monster organs are also an option."
"Ah, no. That's fine."
The Young Lady shook her head vigorously. Livestock organs were definitely better than monster organs.
"Now, regarding the cost. She's a novice who hasn't undergone Mana Adaptation even once. This is also her first Resurrection. Her skill level is pretty high, but not enough to emit Sword Aura. Approximately 140 gold coins should cover it."
Thank god, it didn't go over 200 gold.
"Do I have to pay the cost right now?"
"No, it's an amount you can pay off over time. However, please be aware that until the full amount is repaid, the resurrected individual's identity will belong to the Church."
"Understood."
The Young Lady nodded. Soon, a document was produced, and she signed her name and put her thumbprint on it.
"Very well. You've opted for post-payment. We will now begin the Resurrection."
"Okay..."
Rika's body was placed into the Coffin of Resurrection. The Church of the Goddess would revive Rika using a special blessing they'd developed. It's called the Art of Resurrection.
"If you return tomorrow morning, it will be complete. Now, safe travels."
The priest bowed his head and saw us out.
"Young Lady, could you wait a moment?"
"Huh? Why?"
"I'm going to deliver the belongings and bodies of the adventurers I found in the Labyrinth."
"Ah, okay, okay. I'll wait."
Afterward, I went back to the busy nun, handed over the adventurers' bodies, and received a few small confirmation slips. Taking these to the Guild would increase my Reputation.
"Let's head back then. Our work here is done."
"Okay. You worked hard. Thank you again for saving my teammates."
"It was nothing."
It was all for the money, after all.
"So, Young Lady."
"Yes? You mean your compensation."
"Yeah."
It's good we're on the same page. She immediately understands what I'm getting at.
"First, for rescuing Erika and Rika, that's 30 gold coins, right?"
"Yes. That's correct."
It was 20 if they were alive, and 10 even if I only brought back their corpses.
"And for rescuing me. My family will probably prepare a separate reward for that."
The reward from Marquis Lionel. It's highly likely it won't just be gold coins.
"Here, for now."
The Young Lady took a leather pouch from her pocket and handed it to me. "I've filled it with 30 gold coins. Can I give you the payment for saving my life later?"
I nodded and accepted the pouch. When I peeked inside, it was full of glittering gold coins. She probably put almost all the money she had into it. The Young Lady wouldn't have expected to need so much cash so quickly. Few people carry hundreds of gold coins around in the first place.
Looks like she's already contacted her family. I'll probably get the payment for saving her life soon.
Even 30 gold coins is a decent chunk of change. Plenty of people risk their lives just to earn that much.
'With this, I can buy a slave.'
Then, I'm almost done. Most of the tasks I needed to handle are finished. I've received almost all the compensation I was owed.
My connection with the Young Lady, too... it'll probably end soon.
"Here, Young Lady, your adventurer plate."
I took out her adventurer plate and her family's seal, which I'd kept as proof of our contract, and started to hand it to her, then pulled it back. It wasn't just because I hadn't received the full payment yet.
"What? Why are you taking it back?"
"Young Lady."
"Yes?"
"You're going to keep going into the Labyrinth, aren't you?"
"Well... of course."
"Even after everything that happened? You're still going to keep going in? Really?"
"....."
When I asked, looking her straight in the eyes, she avoided my gaze and didn't answer.
"Young Lady, we haven't known each other long, but I'm telling you this because I'm worried."
"Do you really have to say these worrying things?"
"Yes. I apologize, but I have to."
The Young Lady glared at me, like she wanted me to shut up. But I had to say it. I couldn't help it. I didn't want her to die.
"Young Lady, you're not cut out to be an adventurer. Why don't you give up on your dream and go back home, back to your family?"
I knew it was an impertinent thing to say. And of course, I knew I wasn't in a position to tell someone to give up on their dream. But... if she kept going into the Labyrinth like this, one day, for sure, I'd find her dead body in some corner of it.
"Hey, Porter. Who are you to tell me not to enter the Labyrinth?"
"...."
"Just because you saved someone weaker than you, do you think you're some kind of hero? Do you suddenly feel like nagging me and sticking your nose where it doesn't belong? Why are you meddling?"
Her words were sharp. But I couldn't answer her. Because it was meddling.
"If you and I were truly perfect strangers with no connection whatsoever, I wouldn't have bothered with this advice. No, I wouldn't have even cared."
"What do you mean by that?"
"It's only been a short time, but I've grown somewhat fond of you. That's why I've come to this conclusion. Young Lady, if you keep venturing into the Labyrinth like this, there will definitely be a moment when you won't be lucky enough to come out alive, like this time."
"In that case, there's Resurrection..."
"Young Lady, Resurrection isn't a guarantee."
"I know that."
"No. You don't know that."
Just because she has a lot of money and the cheat-like skill of Resurrection, does she think she can carelessly enter the Labyrinth? No. Not at all.
Out of all those who die in the Labyrinth, how many can actually be resurrected? If there are 100 corpses, 50 of them can't be revived. More importantly, the recovery rate of bodies in the Labyrinth isn't that high. It was only because of the Great Upheaval that a rescue team of Gold-plated adventurers was formed, allowing them to retrieve this many bodies.
Normally, in the Labyrinth City, even if people want to retrieve bodies, they often can't, or the bodies are too damaged to be resurrected. Not everyone has an Aether Pocket, after all. And it's only possible to revive relatively intact bodies. It doesn't mean all bodies can be revived, no matter what.
Even the upper-level Sewer is a place where it's difficult to properly retrieve bodies. If you die in the Sewer, your body is eaten by monsters that feed on corpses and simply vanishes. How much worse would it be in the Underground City? There are almost no monsters that dislike eating human corpses.
"Young Lady, I understand that you're a noble lady who doesn't care about society's gaze and is very generous with Resurrection. But there are cases where revival itself is impossible."
"..."
"Do you know where I went after telling you to wait just now?"
"...No."
"To the crematorium. I handed over the bodies of adventurers I'd collected from the Labyrinth to the crematorium. Why? Because they were so horribly mangled that they couldn't be revived."
"Are you saying I'm going to die?"
"No. I'm saying you shouldn't die in the Labyrinth, specifically."
The Young Lady stared intently into my eyes. Beautiful. Her eyes were incredibly beautiful. How could a person's eyes sparkle so brightly? They seemed to hold the stars of the night sky. She was probably the most beautiful person I knew. It would be a waste for such a face to die meaninglessly in this wretched Labyrinth.
To be even more honest, I'd developed a slight romantic interest in her. Why? Because she was pretty.
So, I didn't want her to die a painful death in the Labyrinth. Although it was only for one night, we had shared a bed and bodies. We had shared warmth. There had been a brief sexual exchange. These various circumstances and the useless emotions they had created made me worry about her.
'She's not listening, is she?'
I didn't want her to die. But she seemed resolute. She would enter the Labyrinth again. In fact, the more I tried to stop her, the more her rebellious spirit might drive her to go in.
Still, I had to say it. So that I wouldn't have any lingering regrets about her. Since I'd said what I wanted to say, even if she died in the Labyrinth, I wouldn't be left with the regret of not having tried to stop her.
Yeah, this is enough. It was only a one-night stand, after all. It wasn't that deep of a relationship. Let's not attach too much meaning to a brief encounter. That person and I are nothing more than...
"Hey, Porter."
"Yes?"
"You're worried about me, aren't you? That I might just drop dead somewhere."
"...That's right."
"Then, why don't you just keep protecting me?"
"Excuse me?"
The Young Lady took another step closer to me. "You protect me. Instead of telling me not to enter the Labyrinth, you can just come with me every time I go in. You can save me coolly, just like yesterday, every time there's a crisis."
"No, that's..."
"Why are you telling me not to go in? Who are you? If you hate the idea of me dying so much, then just follow me around and protect me."
"Well, that is..."
As I'd said many times before, I made it a point not to enter into exclusive contracts. There were various reasons, but above all, I hated losing my freedom. And I also hated it when someone I had a deep connection with died in the Labyrinth.
"I'll meet all your conditions. I won't even insist on an exclusive contract. I'll only enter the Labyrinth on the days you want to go. So, let's go into the Labyrinth together."
"No, Young Lady, why are you so obsessed with the Labyrinth?"
"If you become my Labyrinth Partner, then I'll tell you."
'What's a Labyrinth Partner now?'
'It's not like a sex partner or anything...'
'Haa, this Young Lady is really driving me crazy.'
My mind was a mess. The Young Lady was asking me to enter the Labyrinth with her, promising to meet all my conditions.
"All the conditions I want? You'll meet them all, right?"
"Yes. If you want... even this and that..."
"Excuse me? What did you say?"
"Ah, no. Nothing."
'Why is she blushing?'
'What exactly is "this and that"?'
"First, Young Lady."
"Mhm."
"We need to ask your other companions for their opinions. If they all don't want to enter the Labyrinth, then you should give up too, Young Lady. Don't even think about finding new party members."
"Okay... Understood."
"And."
"What now?"
"I'm going to buy a slave."
"Huh? Why bring that up suddenly...?"
"Just in case you interfere with my private life. My dream is to acquire many slaves."
"Well, I don't really have a reason to interfere. We're just Labyrinth Partners, after all."
"Yes. That's enough. And this isn't an exclusive contract. Also, I might set my own strict standards."
"That's fine. If I can have a capable porter like you as a companion, I'll allow all your conditions."
"Yes. Understood. First condition."
"Mhm."
"Don't enter the Labyrinth on your own without me. You're too much of a novice."
"Understood. I didn't really plan on going in without you anyway."
Her willingness to accept all the conditions I set was pretty satisfying. Honestly, I'd prefer it if she didn't enter the Labyrinth at all. But since she's determined to go in no matter what, there's nothing I can do.
I'll just have to accompany her for a while.
"Let's discuss the details over dinner. I'm so hungry I feel like I'm going to collapse."
My stomach rumbled. For now, it seems I should eat something and then talk about the future conditions.