The dungeon smells like chicken. - CHAPTER 3

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Sena didn’t know, but the weaving technology over there wasn’t very advanced. They pounded the weak fabric with the perfect washing function, so it was natural that it couldn’t withstand it.

‘Oh, what should I do?’

She ruined the clothes by washing them without permission.

With a pale face, Sena went out holding the clothes. She handed them to Michael, who looked puzzled, and apologized.

“I’m sorry. I ruined your clothes.”

“…Excuse me?”

“I’m really sorry. I’ll compensate you somehow.”

“No, it’s okay. Really.”

Michael stopped her as she bowed her head.

“It’s just an old piece of clothing. If it’s ruined, I’ll just buy a new one.”

“But it’s my fault they got ruined.”

“Then please lend me some other clothes. That will be enough.”

Michael smiled warmly. It seemed like there was a halo shining behind his cream-colored hair.

“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go find some clothes.”

Sena hurried to her grandfather’s room. She thought his clothes might fit Michael since he was the tallest among her family.

After rummaging through the closet for a while, she found suitable clothes.

“How about this…”

Sena’s voice trailed off as she returned to the kitchen.

Michael, sitting at the dining table, was nodding off. He looked very tired.

She hesitated for a moment before turning back.

Michael woke up with a start when he felt a hand on his shoulder.

He jumped up from the chair and looked at Sena’s startled face, realizing the situation.

“I’m sorry.”

He hadn’t slept properly for three days while wandering in the labyrinth. He didn’t have any companions to guard against monster attacks. So when he was finally in a safe place, he fell asleep naturally.

“I’ve prepared a place for you to sleep. Please go and rest.”

“What? No, I can’t impose on you like that—”

“What if something happens to you while you’re half-asleep? Get up quickly and brush your teeth first.”

Michael agreed with her firm words. It was indeed reckless to wander the labyrinth in such a tired state.

After washing his face and brushing his teeth as she instructed, Sena led him to a room inside.

“The room is a bit small, but it should be enough for a short rest.”

As the door opened, a small room was revealed. The first thing that caught Michael’s eye was the glass window. The glass was surprisingly clear.

The walls were covered with something shiny, though not silk. The floor was also covered with a hard shell-like material that Michael couldn’t identify.

There were also interesting pieces of furniture filled with neatly painted cabinets and drawers. Michael wondered if all those drawers could be opened but didn’t dare touch them.

“There’s no bed, so I laid out a futon. You can lie down here and cover yourself with the blanket.”

Sena, kneeling on the floor, lifted what Michael thought was a thick decorative cloth. Underneath was a soft-looking mat and a pillow.

Michael, who had only expected a straw mat, was taken aback. He then realized that Sena, the house owner, was kneeling.

It was very rude to keep standing while the host was lowering herself. Michael hurriedly knelt on the floor and was surprised. The floor, which he thought would be cold, was strangely warm.

“Oh, I just turned on the boiler. It’s still cold now, but it will soon be warm.”

Sena quickly explained, misunderstanding his surprised expression. Michael widened his eyes at the thought that it would get even warmer.

“Now, lie down quickly. I’ll turn off the lights.”

Michael obediently lay down as Sena instructed. The mat was soft and cushioned, as if stuffed with cotton, and it even had a pleasant floral scent.

When he unknowingly closed his eyes, Sena covered him with a blanket. Startled, he opened his eyes to see Sena, who was about to stand up, smiling.

“Have sweet dreams.”

“…Yes.”

For some reason, his voice was choked and low.

As Sena walked out lightly, Michael inadvertently saw her heels. He quickly closed his eyes.

His face felt like it was burning.

Michael knew he was dreaming.

He saw his friend and comrade, Yan. Yan was angry, trying to stop him from going to the labyrinth.

“Are you crazy to go to the Archmage’s Labyrinth?”

“It’s a duke’s order. I have no choice.”

“Refuse it. No matter how strong you are, it’s too dangerous there. You’ll die if you go!”

Michael smiled silently. There was no way he could refuse an order from a great noble like a duke.

“It won’t be dangerous. They said I’d be teamed up with famous mercenaries.”

“You’re the leader of our mercenary group. It’s too much to have you team up with others.”

As the 23-year-old leader of the mercenary group, he was often disregarded. Even with outstanding skills, it was the same. Other mercenaries were unhappy with him becoming the leader at such a young age.

“I have a bad feeling about this. It seems like a trap. Michael, don’t go!”

Seeing Yan persistently following and stopping him, Michael smiled bitterly.

You were right, Yan. It was a trap.

He didn’t know where it started, but the mercenaries gathered by the duke were those who resented Michael.

Although Michael was cautious, he didn’t expect all of them to be in cahoots.

“Don’t blame us. It’s your fault.”

In the end, Michael was betrayed by the other mercenaries and fell into a trap.

Fortunately, he wasn’t seriously injured, but he was in a dire situation without water or food.

He licked the moisture off the walls and ate moss as he moved forward, aimlessly, slaying the monsters he encountered.

On the third day of wandering the labyrinth, he barely killed a huge monster, and something fell to the ground.

It was a golden ring that rolled to his feet. Staggering, he picked it up.

“What is this?”

It was a simple design without any engravings. Judging by the size, it seemed to be for a man.

Fiddling with the ring, Michael tried it on his finger. Although it looked a bit small, it adjusted to fit perfectly as soon as he put it on. It seemed to be a magical ring.

While magical items were incredibly valuable, they were of no use in a situation where he could die at any moment.

As he smiled bitterly and tried to remove the ring, he noticed something strange. There was a door in the wall that hadn’t been there before.

“I’m late!”

Michael’s eyes opened wide at the sound of thumping footsteps.

Something warm was wrapped around him. As he rolled his eyes to grasp the situation, he heard Sena’s voice.

“Even so, you should at least have breakfast. Eat a little before you go.”

“I’m sorry, I’ll eat when I get back!”

The boy’s voice grew closer and then receded. He also heard Sena muttering, “He really is…”

As he relaxed, his body felt heavy. He thought he should get up, but his eyes closed again.

The warm floor and the cozy blanket completely relaxed him. Michael was pulled back into his dreams as if he had fainted.

In the next dream, Sena appeared. She was dressed in white, like an angel, and poured water into the cup he was holding. The golden, sparkling water kept flowing endlessly.

The water overflowed from the cup, filling the floor. It soaked Michael’s ankles, rising to his chest. He felt like he would be submerged if he stayed like this.

However, Michael did not run away. If possible, he wanted to stay like this forever.

“Please accept this.”

Michael offered a small leather pouch.

She had asked if she could briefly go to the basement and had brought it from there.

Sena, tilting her head, took the pouch. It was quite heavy for its size. Inside, it was filled with gold coins.

Sena took out one coin. An eagle with spread wings was engraved on the front. Though slightly distorted, it was quite detailed. The back showed the side profile of a man with an ugly protruding jaw.

“Is this perhaps gold currency?”

“You saved my life, but this is all I can give you.”

Michael spoke with an apologetic tone. Sena thought for a moment before setting the pouch down.

“Wait a moment.”

She brought her wallet and laid out some bills and coins on the table.

“This is the money used here.”

Michael blinked as he looked at the money. He touched the ten-thousand-won bill slightly, looking puzzled.

“It looks like paper.”

“It is paper. We use this instead of gold. But even if gold coins were used here, it wouldn’t matter. I don’t take money from guests.”

“…That wasn’t my intention. I’m sorry.”

Michael apologized, looking dejected. Sena smiled and returned the pouch to him.

“Then, is there anything I can help with? I’m confident in any physical work.”

“Just consider it as having had a meal here. Since I ruined your clothes, let’s call it even.”

Sena glanced at Michael’s clothes as she spoke.

Although she hurriedly dressed him in her grandfather’s clothes, they were too small for him. The only things that fit were the training pants and short-sleeved T-shirt.

The pants reached his calves, and the sleeves and armpit area had to be cut to fit his arms, but at least he could wear them.

“But…”

Just as Michael was about to say something, the doorbell rang. Sena looked at the door in surprise.

‘Who could it be? I wasn’t expecting anyone.’

She told Michael to wait for a moment and went outside. The doorbell rang again as she hurried to open it. A delivery man with a bright red bouquet of roses

appeared.

“Flower delivery for you.”

“Pardon?”

“Let’s see. It’s from ‘Your lover.’ Please sign here to confirm receipt.”

The delivery man handed her a pad. Sena frowned without realizing it.

It was her ex-boyfriend’s doing. He had been causing a fuss since dawn, and this seemed to be his way of announcing his presence.

“I’m sorry. I refuse to accept it.”

“What?”

“It’s from a stalker. Please, I’m asking you.”

Sena bowed her head as she closed the door. She heard the delivery man calling, “Wait a minute! Ma’am!” but she ignored it.

Michael, looking concerned, had come out to the entrance.

“Is everything alright?”

“Of course. It was nothing.”

“You don’t look well.”

“Don’t worry about it. Let me help you prepare to leave.”

Brushing off his concern, Sena gathered the necessary items. She collected bottled water, canned food, jerky, and a small flashlight.

After teaching him how to open the water and cans, she neatly packed them into a large backpack.

Michael expressed his gratitude, not knowing what to do.

“Thank you very much.”

“If you are truly grateful, please don’t tell anyone about this place. I’m planning to close off the basement soon.”

The thought of being connected to a monster-infested area made her uneasy. She was considering sealing it off with cement.

At her firm words, Michael’s face darkened.

“I’m just sorry I won’t have the chance to repay your kindness.”

“It’s nothing to worry about. Just forget about it.”

Originally, she had intended to at least serve him a late breakfast before sending him off, but she was too exhausted from dealing with her ex-boyfriend.

She urged Michael to head to the basement.