After days of grueling travel, we finally encountered a merchant caravan heading to the Labyrinth City. Now we could hitch a ride on their wagons to reach our destination.

Aerin, Tia, and I sat alone in the last wagon of the caravan. Perhaps the merchants felt reassured after seeing Tia’s Golden Adventurer badge.

[My lord~~ I’ve been meaning to ask—earlier you mentioned coming from the Dungeon. What kind of place is it??]

Bored, Tia struck up a conversation.

[The Dungeon, huh…]

Memories of the game flooded my mind.

[Yeah~~ I’ve never even heard of such a place. What’s it like?]

Aerin leaned in curiously.

[Let me think… There are innkeepers whose faces you’d see everywhere you go.]

The phrase "Welcome back!" from every game login echoed in my head.

[Eeek! That’s terrifying!?]

Aerin stared at me, horrified.

[Creepy when you think about it!]

Tia remained eerily calm.

[And there’s this weird old lady who "helps" people enhance weapons—only to blow them to smithereens.]

I recalled the infamous street vendor shouting, "Handsome lad!"—the root of all evil.

[Who’d go to her if she just destroys weapons??]

Tia frowned in confusion.

[But if she succeeds, your weapon’s power multiplies several times over.]

[So it’s like gambling…]

Aerin nailed it.

[Something like that…]

[Are there monsters and beasts there??]

Tia pressed on.

[The monsters there are vicious beyond belief.]

I remembered the Thunder Goblins that had wiped the floor with me endlessly when I first started playing.

[Eh?? Then how do people even survive there??]

Aerin seemed deeply concerned about daily life.

[They have something like the Adventurer’s Guild. Adventurers constantly hunt monsters, and the monsters keep respawning.]

Every word was true.

[Respawning? What if an adventurer dies??]

Tia zeroed in on the crucial question.

[They respawn too~~~~~ though it costs money. And adventurers usually carry plenty of full recovery potions on missions.]

I waved a game-style potion bottle in front of them.

[Kid, I can’t stand another word of this~~~]

The old wagon driver ahead suddenly turned around.

[What??]

[Rein in that tall tale. You might fool young girls, but not us old hands.]

His tone dripped with skepticism.

[I’m not lying- -!]

Every syllable was honest.

[Leaving aside resurrection—for starters, there’s no such thing as a "full recovery potion" in this world. We merchants have never seen a potion that heals completely.]

[There aren’t any here??]

I shot a surprised glance at Tia.

[Books mention it existed long ago. But it’s impossible now—the ingredient is dragon’s blood. And dragons are just myths.]

Tia looked utterly serious.

[Eh?? Dragons are myths??]

I recalled the dragon-infested maps of that other world.

[So, kid—read a book before spinning yarns!]

The driver chuckled softly.

[Then why not test this bottle????]

Annoyed, I pulled out a full HP recovery potion and shook it twice.

[Hah~~~~ Do I need to get gravely wounded just to prove you’re not lying?]

The driver teased.

[No need. Take this bottle. Use it when you’re injured. Then you’ll know if I’m truthful.]

I handed him the potion.

[Heh~~]

He took it, glanced at it, then tossed it toward the back of the wagon.

[How rude!! Calling someone an idiot is uncalled for, even if he’s being silly!]

Aerin snapped.

[The girl just called you an idiot. What more is there to say?]

The driver gave me a "you’re hopeless" look.

[Seriously, Aerin! Whose side are you on?]

[But… the driver’s clearly right based on what we know.]

[I… I……]

Words failed me.

[…………………………]

Only Tia stayed silent, her eyes wide with shock.

[W… what’s wrong…]

I asked, noticing her finger pressed to her lips.

[N… nothing… I shouldn’t have pried.]

Tia quickly changed the subject.

[Even you don’t believe me… TAT]

They’d believed every lie I’d ever told.

Amidst the awkward silence, we finally arrived safely at the Labyrinth City—Maze Town. The moment we entered, shops of all sizes lined the streets: weapon forges, armor emporiums, and stalls hawking bizarre potions and gadgets. Adventurers of every stripe filled the alleys—some with massive axes slung over shoulders, others with gleaming swords at their hips.

[Th… this is the isekai life I dreamed of~~]

Excitement surged through me at the sight.

[Pupil! Stop spouting nonsense and get down from the roof!!]

Aerin yelled from inside the wagon.

[Heh~~ Let the boy marvel. Youth’s all about first impressions~~]

The old driver mocked me again.

[Anyway, thank you for the ride.]

I bowed to the caravan master and the old driver.

[Think nothing of it~ Adventurers often help us merchants too. Safe travels!]

The caravan master smiled warmly.

[Boy, curb the tall tales. Stay grounded. But I’ll keep this potion—as a souvenir~~]

The old man’s sarcasm stung.

[Heh heh~~~~~]

Embarrassing.

After parting ways, we set off to find an inn. Just before leaving, I clearly heard the caravan master and driver laughing about the "full recovery potion." Well—believe what you will~~~~

[What kind of inn should we stay at?? Maybe somewhere cheaper on the outskirts?]

Aerin pored over a ledger and map, calculating budgets.

[Nearer is better.]

I pointed to an inn on the map, right next to the labyrinth entrance.

[Eh?? No way!! That’s the most luxurious inn in town! Our budget can’t cover it~~]

Aerin shook her head frantically.

[Don’t worry about budgets~~~ We’ve got plenty to spare.]

I pulled out a heavy pouch of gold coins for her to see.

[Eh~~~~ Where did this come from??]

Aerin’s eyes narrowed suspiciously.

[Uhh…… it’s……]

My lie-generator whirred to life.

[I found it while taking a bathroom break.]

The words tumbled out.

[We must find the owner immediately!]

Aerin reached for the pouch.

[N-no! Old butler Bast slipped it to me earlier!]

I switched lies mid-sentence.

[Steward Bast?? Then this is Tia’s money! Is it really okay to use it??]

Aerin turned to Tia with pleading eyes.

[My money is my husband’s. He decides how it’s spent.]

Tia nodded without hesitation.

[Then we’re staying here!! See? It’s close to the Guild too.]

We stopped before the inn on the map. Its opulence rivaled Tia’s mansion.

[I… I… is this really alright?]

Aerin’s voice trembled.

[I… I think it’s fine.]

I grew nervous too~~~~ Though honestly, I’d never stayed in a five-star hotel before. How do you act like it’s no big deal?

[One room, please. Two beds, with a balcony.]

Tia strode to the front desk and spoke casually to the receptionist.

*Truly a lady—so natural in luxury.*

I quickly composed myself and stood behind her.

[Wait!! Don’t leave me……]

Aerin shuffled after us, walking stiffly from nerves.

[One room? That’s one gold coin per night. How many nights?]

The receptionist asked.

[My lord…]

Tia glanced at me to decide.

*Exploring the labyrinth means staying long-term—half a year, at least.* I pulled a Flash Coin from my inventory.

[We’ll stay indefinitely. Notify us when the room’s due for renewal.]

I handed her the coin.

[Eh… eh??]

The receptionist froze.

[Is it not accepted here??]

*It should be—Tia’s aunt used one before.*

[N-no… We’ll prepare your room at once!]

She snatched the coin and thrust the key into my hand.

[Keep your money. Lodging’s on me.]

I returned the gold pouch to Tia.

[……………………………]

She didn’t question it. *Too trusting… even though I keep lying to her.*

After dropping our luggage, we explored the suite. Worth every gold coin—it resembled a presidential suite. A master bedroom, two smaller rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. Everything a home needed, plus no chores.

[Look! Pots and pans!]

Aerin held up a pot in the kitchen.

[I told you your luggage was useless!!!]

[Who’d expect to stay somewhere this fancy? This place hosts the king every year!]

Aerin examined every kitchen gadget.

[Why does the king come here every year??]

I asked.

[For the Labyrinth Festival~~~ It just ended, but there’s always next year.]

Aerin moved from the kitchen to the bathroom.

[WOW~~~ A private bath!! It’s as big as a public bathhouse!]

Her voice echoed from the bathroom.

[Whoa- - it really is.]

A marble bathtub—nearly bed-sized—filled the space. At its head, a lion’s head spout promised hot water with a twist.

[Tia~~ Tia~~~ Where are you??]

I realized Tia had been silent too long.

I searched every room and found her on the balcony.

[Tia~~ Why alone out here?]

A warm spring breeze brushed my face.

[Look there~~~~]

Tia pointed ahead.

I followed her finger. Towering at the city’s heart stood a colossal tree-like structure. Its base spanned what looked like dozens of football fields. It narrowed as it rose, piercing the clouds beyond sight.

[The Dungeon has something similar… called Sky City.]

I recalled the game’s floating fortress.

[……………………………]

Tia stayed silent.

[Sorry… I’m rambling again.]

*I know no one believes me.*

[It’s fine. I know those things are……]

[WOW!!! IS THAT THE LABYRINTH??? SO EPIC!!!]

Aerin’s excited shout cut Tia off mid-sentence.

Watching the labyrinth bathed in the setting sun, Tia smiled faintly and didn’t press further.

[The labyrinth… My true isekai journey begins here!!!]