'People!'
The moment I spotted them, joy surged through me, nearly propelling me forward.
But cold reason halted my steps, and I gripped my axe tight.
I'd done some thinking during the long trek here.
'Armored knights like that one are a rare case.'
Not everyone could possess the same level of morality as that knight who saved me without asking for anything in return.
Even in a resource-rich modern world overrun with backstabbers, did anyone really think it'd be different here?
If anything, it was probably worse.
Let's think logically.
In a place crawling with grotesque monsters that turn men into pleasure-addicted idiots, how many sane people would walk in of their own accord?
I patted the back of my head, checking that my helmet was secure. Good. It was on tight.
I clutched the axe hard, bracing myself like I would against a pack of goblins.
Thud, thud.
They stopped at the edge of the faint light's reach.
The passage was about five meters wide. They hugged the left wall tight.
To maximize distance, I pressed my back to the right wall and edged forward cautiously.
With every step, their silhouettes sharpened. They could probably see me too by now.
I quickly checked my gear.
Four in total. One man, three women.
The man looked ragged in tattered clothes, scrawny build. Nothing stood out except the massive pack on his back. Just your typical porter.
I scrutinized the women, who seemed like the real fighters.
All wore black work pants, bracers, leather armor, and carried shields, wands, swords respectively.
But something even more striking caught my eye.
"...Beastkin?"
Twitching cat ears perked up, tails swishing!
Human faces, but with those telltale beastkin features right in front of me.
"...Prime catch."
"Looks delicious."
Gulp. A swallow from their side echoed.
Crack!
I gripped the axe so hard it nearly splintered.
'Delicious?'
Were these guys cannibals or something?
Smack!
The wand-wielding beastkin slapped her hand over the mouths of the two who'd called me prime catch and tasty.
"Sorry about that. No intent to attack, so shall we just go our separate ways?"
"...You first."
"Okay."
As they drew closer, my wariness spiked. I readied myself to swing the axe at any moment.
"Heh heh mmmph."
"Heh. Heh heh mmph."
Sticky gazes followed me.
The sword-wielder and shield-bearer muttered something, but the wand-user silenced them; I couldn't make it out clearly.
"..."
The porter at the rear stared at me enviously before silently turning away and following them.
'...A collar?'
The collar around his neck caught my eye briefly, but it wasn't my business. I had my hands full surviving myself.
And just like that, we passed each other completely.
I stood watch in their direction for a bit, in case they changed their minds and ambushed from behind.
But they went on without a backward glance.
"...What the hell was that?"
Absurdity washed over me, but relief overshadowed it.
I'd braced for the worst—a fight—but passing peacefully was a blessing.
'Cannibal beastkin. Worst case scenario.'
Shaking off the idle thought, I pressed on toward the escape portal.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Grrrroooowl—
My stomach screamed for food again.
But after so long fasting, the hunger had dulled to something bearable.
Thirst was the real killer now. My throat burned like fire!
Constant movement meant sweat pouring out, no replenishment.
They say three days without water kills you?
How many days had it been for me? At least two, I'd guess.
Halfway through the second straight passage, I finally pulled out the antidote.
The one I'd been saving for emergencies.
Now I had to drink it to quench this thirst.
"I'll repay this kindness for real."
Pop!
Uncorking the potion bottle released a cheerful sound and apple scent.
Felt like popping a fine wine for celebration. Not that I'd ever had one.
Pathetically small amount, barely enough to wet my lips. But beggars can't be choosers.
Gulp.
Too little to savor.
It only made me thirstier. But I squeezed my eyes shut and resealed it.
"Don't think. Just walk."
Still a long way to go.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
Squelch!
"Gah...!"
I came to slumped against the wall.
"Kek, kekek!"
A goblin's knife had grazed through my left forearm.
Thump!
I kicked its gut, sending it flying into the opposite wall.
"Kek, kelek, kek."
Four more goblins gathered around the struggling one.
'Shit. When'd they sneak up? Did I fall asleep?'
A quick break turned into passing out.
Subjectively two days passed. No food, no sleep—my consciousness slipped.
Painful mistake. No use beating myself up now.
"Kererek!"
I dodged the charging goblin's strike and buried my axe in it.
Crack!
"Kek!!"
Damn. Too shallow.
Stamina drained, axe blade dulled by goblin blood and fat.
The one with the axe half in its neck swung wildly before dying.
Crunch!
"Kerrrrk!"
I grabbed its arm, twisted hard—it screamed, dropping the knife.
I snatched it up, pressed it to another goblin's throat, and menaced the rest.
"Don't come closer. One wrong move, this one dies."
"Kek! Kep!"
The pack charged like they didn't give a damn.
"Heartless bastards, no pity even for kin."
Slash!
I slit the hostage's throat and stabbed an incoming one's head with the knife.
Monster weapons cut smooth, no snagging.
"Kek...!"
The last one trembled and fled.
Whoosh!
The thrown knife pierced its heart.
Back in the day, I loved catchball. No one to catch with, though.
Well, goblin heart counts as a catch, right?
Battle over, my strength gave out—I collapsed.
Everything poured into that fight.
Need to get up. Keep walking. Escape the labyrinth on foot.
But no strength left. Sleepy. Starving.
"...Get up... me..."
Thud, thud.
"...!"
Heavy footsteps. Human presence.
—Looks delicious.
Chills ran down my spine.
In this state, running into those beastkin types meant becoming their meal without resistance.
Footsteps neared.
"Wha...! What, what is it?!"
Explorers spotted me amid the goblin corpse pile—their eyes widened.
I quietly observed from under my helmet.
A plain, country-girl type with a dagger; a prickly-looking woman with a bow.
Both had small packs, no real armor.
Their eyes scanned me.
Could I take them like this?
I reached for my axe, but my hand wouldn't grip.
They approached.
Damn, at this rate...!
"You okay? Still alive, right...?"
...?
The plain girl reached out with a worried face.
I stared blankly at her hand.
What's this? Why the kindness?
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"How can I ever repay this kindness?"
Benevolent grace, season two. Armored knight left, new light arrived.
"Aw, come on. Explorers gotta help each other, right?"
The plain country-girl smiled warmly.
All do-gooders spout the same lines, huh.
Even in this shit world, good people endure.
Crackle—crackle—
Goblin corpses stacked like a wall against ambushes, campfire in the center—we sat in a circle.
Prickly girl watched the perimeter; plain girl stirred soup.
With company, proper rest was possible.
"Here. It's done. Try some."
She handed over a heaping bowl.
"Ah... thank you so much."
I took it gratefully. Soup. Actual food! My hands trembled with joy.
My mind filled with soup thoughts.
Starved for it, I yanked off my helmet without thinking.
"...!"
"...Wow."
I missed the shift in atmosphere.
Plain girl smiled quietly; prickly one gasped, glancing at her.
Helmet off felt like shedding shackles—vision widened, breath freed, pure relief. Honestly, it'd been stifling.
Campfire warmed my body, soup my soul. I scooped a careful spoonful.
White, watery broth. More like flavored water—no chunks, mild taste.
But who cared! After two days and eight hours of fasting, it hit my stomach.
Warmth spread, heart raced.
Eerily drowsy haze. Yes. This was it.
Tears of emotion streamed.
Bowl empty in seconds.
"Sorry, could I get another?"
"Why sorry? Plenty left—eat up."
"Thank you!"
"...No need to thank."
She handed another bowl. Simple pour, yet it took longer this time.
'...What? Why's it so sour suddenly?'
Unlike the first, this had sharp acidity and weird aftertaste. Strong enough to scrunch my nose.
'Idiot. Don't complain. Just gratefully drink.'
"How's the taste?"
"It's, really good."
"Hehe. Glad. Chug it down. Gulp gulp."
"Ah. Okay."
"Bread too. It's hard—sop it in soup first."
"Thank you."
Shoved it in blindly, nearly choked on the crust. She was right—kind soul.
"..."
Soup-soaked bread, soft and moist. Still sour lingered.
By the time I nearly finished the second bowl.
Fatigue crashed in unnaturally.
Exhausted enough to doze off earlier; warm kindness and soup relaxed me completely.
"Oh dear. You look tired. We'll take first watch—rest easy."
"You sure?"
"Of course."
"Thank you. So grateful."
"Hehe. No, we should thank you."
'...Thank me?'
Eyes drooped. Consciousness frayed.
"You repay kindness... with your body."
Through blurring vision, both women grinned wide.
Familiar smile. Recent too.
'Ah. That goblin. The one licking its chops between its legs.'
Exact same expression.
"Uh, wha...?"
Back of my neck chilled—mind snapped alert.
'Shit. Got played!'
"You, fucking...!"
"Oh? Finally caught on? Stay down, sleep more. You were tired, right?"
Tap—
Plain girl pushed my forehead lightly.
"Gulped down sleep-poisoned soup without a doubt. So naive."
No strength in my body. Couldn't fight the insidious drowsiness.
Consciousness blacked out instantly.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇
"Haa, haa... God. Never seen anything like this. Body's like a rock. Ah, my womb's quivering... How much at the slave market?"
"Even over pants, it's like my forearm...? Gulp. Face too... Gold 30—no, 40 pieces easy."
"Too good to sell right away? Just a taste?"
"Genius."
Dazed mind caught snippets. Talk of selling me as slave.
Head cooled rapidly.
Ah. Swore to be careful, and already screwed.
But temptation too sweet. Warm food, rest, safety. What starving labyrinth rat wouldn't bite?
'At least got solid rest.'
Slept like dead—fatigue gone. Condition peak.
"You know what?"
Muttered quietly; rustling around me froze.
Cracked an eye: plain bitch's panicked, stiff face, pants half-off me.
"I drank antidote the whole way here."
I clenched my fist tight.