Chapter 7: The Sharp-Eared Ones

A cold, sharp sensation ran through me.

What lay before me was a dimly lit cave.

I wasn’t sure how, but faint lights illuminated the area.

“It’s not like there’s an opening anywhere.”

All I could see was a long, dark space lined with black stone.

But there were other peculiarities.

When we entered the labyrinth, there had been so many people—but now, our team was the only group present.

“Unlike entering the labyrinth itself, once inside, the first floor scatters everyone randomly,” Erme said, noticing my puzzled expression.

“The labyrinth is a place where time and space are completely jumbled. That’s because of the entity dwelling in the depths of the abyss. Its mere existence distorts everything.”

She spoke with a slight smile, casting her gaze downward toward the abyss.

“Just its existence can warp time and space?”

What kind of monster could that even be?

I glanced at Erme with suspicion.

“How does she know all this?”

Was this information shared only with Hero candidates?

If I were to officially become a Hero candidate, would I gain access to this kind of knowledge?

Something about it felt deeply unsettling, almost dangerous.

Since coming into this body, I’d found that my instincts were often spot-on.

“I definitely shouldn’t become a Hero candidate.”

As I silently reaffirmed my resolve, Erme spoke again.

At the same time, I sensed faint movements in the distance.

Without hesitation, I drew my bowstring and aimed at the direction of the noise.

“Yuseong?”

“…Sharp instincts, my friend. We’re just passing through, so there’s no need for hostility.”

From the shadows emerged a group of five people.

“An armored man, a man carrying an axe on his back, a woman with a bow, a female priest, and a man dressed like a mage.”

Every single one of them was far stronger than me.

I could tell they had the power to kill me in an instant.

Sweat began to drip down my back.

“What’s this? Rohan, have you grown rusty since your last run in the labyrinth?”

“My instincts haven’t dulled, thank you. I’ve sensed plenty of others on the way here.”

“That’s true. Maybe this guy’s instincts are just unusually sharp?”

The sharp-eyed man carrying an axe on his back stared at me briefly before speaking.

“Seems like you’ve got some talent as a rear guard.”

He pulled something from his pocket—a crimson circular emblem—and showed it to me.

“If you ever want to join our clan, look for this mark.”

“Dawn of the Crimson Circle!”

The name immediately made Marcel, the bespectacled mage, gasp in astonishment.

“Why would the Dawn of the Crimson Circle… No, do they think a man like him is worthy of such an esteemed clan?”

Ignoring Marcel’s words, I lowered my bow.

There was no point in aiming at them—my threat wouldn’t scare them, and there was no use antagonizing them.

“No need to provoke them.”

If they had ill intentions, our team would be wiped out in an instant.

“Ah, no wonder you seemed familiar,” the axe man said with a knowing grin.

“That’s the confident rookie from the guild earlier.”

“The bold new recruit?”

The priestess, her radiant beauty nearly dazzling, studied me carefully.

“Not as striking as Lucia, but close enough.”

Her appearance could easily rival that of the infamous villainess, though her energy was much gentler.

The priestess’s bright, sparkling eyes fixed on me.

“I like kids like him. These days, no one has that kind of spirit.”

“That’s because you’re the strange one,” the man named Rohan muttered. “Anyway, let’s get moving.”

“Yeah, we didn’t come here to waste time.”

At Rohan’s words, the group melted back into the shadows of the labyrinth and disappeared.

“So that’s what they call the famous Shadow Step, huh?”

“A truly enviable Gift,” Marcel remarked.

Erme, clearly impressed, murmured in agreement.

But she quickly clapped her hands together to bring us back to focus.

“Enough of that. We need to move. The others are already ahead of us.”

“Got it,” Theresa replied, her dazed expression now alert.

I also nodded in agreement.

We started walking briskly.

Erme took the lead and began issuing instructions.

“As I mentioned earlier, our number-one priority is survival. If you notice anything unusual, report it to either me or Han Yuseong immediately.”

“Understood.”

“Sure thing.”

“…Why am I being included in this?”

This was my first time in the labyrinth.

“I guess I’ll just leave everything to Erme.”

Resigned to my role, I followed along.

Erme continued speaking, unbothered by the skeptical look in my eyes.

“Next, even if you meet other adventurers, always stay on guard. The labyrinth’s dangers don’t just come from monsters. If I give this signal, immediately engage in combat or ambush them.”

“Isn’t that a bit extreme?” I asked.

“You’re underestimating the labyrinth. This place is a pit that swallows everything. If it comes down to it, Marcel, you’ll have to attack the enemy to save at least our party. Of course, I’ll judge the situation rationally.”

“Understood,” Marcel said, nodding in agreement with Erme’s plan.

We continued walking for a while.

Then I sensed something strange ahead.

I raised my hand to halt the group.

“There’s something unusual up ahead.”

“How many?”

“Four… no, five. One is hiding.”

“An ambusher? Maybe a goblin archer,” Erme speculated, drawing her sword.

I gripped my bow tightly.

“Shall I take out the one hiding in the back first?”

“Please do,” Erme nodded.

I pulled the bowstring taut, aiming for the hidden presence.

Suddenly, a blue line appeared in my vision.

“Natural Combat Sense (B).”

It wasn’t just showing me the enemy—it marked exactly where my arrow should land.

So this is what it means to enhance weapon mastery.

Compared to yesterday’s practice with the dwarf’s bow, my senses now felt eerily sharp.

I lined up my shot and let the arrow fly.

“Hit.”

Even before the arrow connected, I was certain it would land.

I swiftly drew my sword and rushed forward.

Thud!

Before the goblins could even react, the hidden archer had an arrow lodged in its head.

“Nice shot,” Erme said, charging ahead.

Theresa followed right behind her.

I drew my sword and joined the fray.

Erme closed the gap to the goblins in an instant.

She kicked the first goblin hard, sending it tumbling backward.

“Screech!”

Without hesitation, she swung her sword, beheading another goblin cleanly.

Theresa swung her mace with brutal force, smashing a goblin that was closing in on Erme.

I turned my attention to the goblin charging toward me.

Its green skin and disheveled, elderly appearance made it look almost pathetic.

Even without a readable expression, there was a clear sense of urgency in its movements.

“Do I look like the weakest?”

I swung my sword as the faint blue line from Natural Combat Sense (B) guided my attack.

The blade sliced cleanly through the goblin’s neck.

“Wow, clean work,” Theresa said, giving me a thumbs-up.

“Well, this is awkward.”

Marcel adjusted his glasses, wearing a troubled expression.

“A support mage worrying about their role in a party with three front-liners… what an odd team dynamic.”

“You could’ve spent that time picking up the loot instead of complaining,” Erme snapped at him.

Marcel let out a quiet sigh and began gathering the goblins’ remains.

There wasn’t much loot, though—just goblin ears and a single mana stone.

Mana stones were worth about one silver coin each.

Goblin ears, on the other hand, were valuable to researchers for magical studies.

“Maybe labyrinth work isn’t as bad as I thought—it feels like easy farming.”

Killing goblins wasn’t particularly difficult.

Each kill left me feeling something gradually filling up inside me.

“Is this experience?”

There was also a strange, invigorating sensation coursing through my body.

“Status window.”

Name: Han Yuseong (Lv. 1)
Strength: 3
Agility: 3
Stamina: 3
Mana: 3
Spirit: 3
Perception: 3

◆ Gifts

• Thief’s Mastery (S)
• Plunder (S)
• Lethal Constitution (A)
• Natural Combat Sense (B)

◆ Skills

• Hidden Space (B)

“Wait, when did these stats increase?”

I could feel some changes in my body, but it didn’t feel like I’d become three times stronger.

“I’ve definitely grown stronger.”

I felt at least twice as powerful as I had at the beginning.

It was strange to be able to gauge my improvement so clearly.

“Thief’s Mastery…”

It seemed to be helping me compare my current abilities to my previous ones with ease.

What a ridiculous skill—it truly made almost anything possible.

As we continued hunting goblins, I noticed faint presences behind us.

“Something’s following us…”

“I’ve been sensing something behind us for a while now,” I said.

“Following us?”

Erme turned to look but frowned, seemingly unable to detect anything.

“I can’t sense anything… but if you say so, Yuseong, it must be true. Probably scavengers.”

She drew her sword, and Theresa and Marcel also prepared for combat.

“I’ll show you why support mages are so valued by front-liners,” Marcel said, adjusting his glasses confidently.

He pointed his staff at us, and faint stardust-like particles settled over our bodies.

“Oh…”

I immediately felt lighter. My strength seemed to increase slightly as well.

So this is the power of a support mage—to grant buffs to teammates.

“Yuseong, how many are there?”

“Ten. Five are hanging back a bit.”

“Scavengers don’t tend to be skilled, but still, ten people…”

None of us considered fleeing. Instead, everyone’s determination for a fight was palpable.

“Theresa will protect Marcel while Yuseong and I attack. That’s the best formation,” Erme declared.

“Ha, don’t worry about me. I can protect myself,” Marcel said, pushing up his glasses with a confident smirk.

Erme and I nodded in agreement.

Once we were ready, we suppressed our presence and moved to ambush them.

Clink, clink.

The sound of boots echoed faintly. Soon, a group of five appeared, walking directly toward us.

“Weak.”

That was my first thought as I observed them.

Three melee fighters, one mage, and an archer.

Hiding in the shadows, I silently drew my bowstring, relying on Thief’s Mastery (S) to mask my presence completely.

“…! Where did they go?”

“They should be around here! Did they notice us?”

The five began to panic, their voices tinged with confusion.

Erme stepped out of the shadows, revealing herself.

“Hello there, scavengers.”

Without another word, she swung her sword, cleanly severing the neck of the warrior closest to her.

Wait, did she just decapitate him? Without any conversation?

I gritted my teeth.

So this is the barbaric world I’m living in now…

Suppressing my shock, I took aim.

My target was the archer, who was beginning to focus on Erme.

The arrow flew silently, piercing through the archer’s neck.

“H-Harun!”

A desperate cry rang out.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I dashed forward.

My target?

The mage.

Mages were fragile, easy to take down, and couldn’t defend themselves if interrupted mid-spell.

Take out the mage, and the fight can turn in your favor instantly.

However, just as I was about to strike, Erme’s urgent voice stopped me.

“W-wait! Stop! They’re Earfolk!”

Earfolk?

I froze as Erme’s shout echoed, causing gasps of shock from around us.

“Earfolk?”

I turned my head, spotting the women Erme was referring to.

Their beauty was almost otherworldly, with sharp, striking features and luminous eyes.

At the same time, I noticed another group emerging from the shadows—eight of them.

Their smug expressions hinted at their confidence.

But there was something strange about the reactions of everyone else.

“How are they here!?”

“This is a violation of the pact!”

The air was suddenly charged with tension.

“Run! Now!”

The enemies who had been ready to attack us suddenly turned tail and began to flee.

What the…?

Even Erme and Marcel were acting strangely.

Teresa, who usually wore a blank expression, now had her face contorted in a deep scowl.

“Those lunatics actually came into the dungeon…!”

“Ah, was today the start of it?”

Erme grimaced, gritting her teeth in frustration.

“Everyone, retreat! Now!”

Even Erme, who had been attacking earlier, shifted her position and backed away.

What kind of people could make them act like this?

“They’ve spotted the men! It’s the men!”

“Kill the women and take the men alive!!”

“….”

The elves yelled as they charged toward us, their voices filled with unbridled malice.