Early morning~ I was woken by the cheerful chirping of birds outside. After washing up, I slipped into my usual brown leather jacket, grabbed my gear, and stepped onto the balcony overlooking the labyrinth.
[Today marks the official start of my life in another world.]
Fantasies flooded my mind: teaming up with adventurers to explore the labyrinth, hunting its boss, and all sorts of thrilling possibilities.
[Tia~~~ Aerin~~ Wake up~~ We’re heading to the labyrinth!!!]
I shouted excitedly toward their rooms.
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[Why are you up so early today?]
After a while, Aerin shuffled out, still half-asleep.
[We’re going to the labyrinth!!!]
We’d agreed to leave at dawn yesterday.
[It’s only six AM! Six AM, bro!]
Aerin held up a round disc.
[Huh? What’s that thing in your hand?]
Didn’t you say there were no alarm clocks here?
[This? It’s a Shizhi Plate~~ for telling time.]
Aerin blinked at the disc.
[So alarm clocks DO exist here!!! You lied to me earlier!!!]
I’d been scammed!!
[Naoling?? This is a Shizhi Plate, not a naoling.]
Aerin replied earnestly.
[Fine… fine… whatever it is, hurry up and change. Let’s go.]
I nudged the pajama-clad Aerin back toward her room.
[It’s only six… Give me a sec. I need to make snacks for the labyrinth.]
Aerin slipped inside to change.
Snacks? Right—labyrinth dives usually last all day. You’d need food.
Just then, Tia’s door creaked open. She stumbled out, equally sleepy-eyed.
[Husband……]
Tia called to me in a soft, drowsy voice.
[What’s wrong!?]
Was something the matter? Come to think of it, I was getting used to being called "husband."
[I…………]
[You……??]
[Don’t wanna get up……………]
Tia mumbled before collapsing back onto the floor, fast asleep.
[She fell asleep like that?! Where’s the diligent Tia I know?!]
I quickly lifted her onto the couch.
[Wake up!!! Wake up!!!!]
I shook her shoulders desperately.
[This Yinjin Mushroom is huge… perfect for a full-recovery potion…]
Tia drooled, murmuring in her sleep.
[What kind of dream is this?! How big would a Yinjin Mushroom have to be to make a full-recovery potion?!]
[Why’s it growing on my husband?! Cut it off for me now!!!]
Tia rambled on.
[Huh?!]
A cold dread shot through me. I leapt back. Tia slumped onto the couch again, still snoring.
Time passed.
Birds still chirped outside. Tia and I stood on the balcony, admiring the labyrinth framed against blue skies and white clouds. The aroma of Aerin’s cooking drifted from behind us. Minutes ticked by. Such peaceful moments…
[Like hell it is!!!!!!!]
I hurled the Shizhi Plate—its hand pointing squarely at "10"—to the floor!
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Finally, Aerin finished packing our three-person labyrinth bento boxes. We could finally leave. Before heading out, Tia suggested taking a few simple guild quests—easy side jobs to earn extra coin while exploring. I didn’t care much, but quests boosted adventurer ranks, so I agreed.
Inside the Adventurers’ Guild, Aerin and I chatted while Tia browsed the quest board. As she turned to leave, a slick-looking thug blocked our path.
[Hey there, pretty lady~] he drawled at Tia. [Wanna team up with us instead?]
[No thanks. I already have partners.]
Tia gestured toward Aerin and me.
[Team up with trash like that? Bring that blonde cutie over here. My boss runs the Sharkhead Gang around these parts.]
He swaggered right up to me.
[Listen, punk. Walk away now if you know what’s good for you.]
He leaned in close, glaring to intimidate me.
[I poked.]
Instinct took over. My fingers jabbed straight toward those eyes hovering too near my face.
[AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!]
He clutched his eyes, howling.
[Let’s go. I won’t let this loser ruin my adventure.]
I turned to leave.
[Huh? Are you sure that’s okay?]
Aerin looked bewildered.
[Fine. He leaned in first.]
Before I finished speaking, a burly man blocked my path ahead.
[You dare mess with my Sharkhead Gang brother?! You’re dead meat here!]
The giant grabbed my collar, snarling.
[I poked.]
[MY EYES!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!]
He crumpled, rolling on the floor just like the first one.
Guess poking eyes won’t kill anyone, even with my high level.
[BROTHERS!!! TAKE THIS BRAT DOWN!!!]
Thugs surged forward from the sidelines.
[I poked!] [I poked!]
[I poked!] [I poked!]
[I poked!]
[I poked!]
Now a heap of thugs writhed on the floor, clutching their eyes.
[Huh? This one felt… different.]
I glanced down. My two fingers were jammed deep into a thug’s nostrils.
[Ew!!!! Disgusting!!!!]
I yanked my hand back, but a sticky residue clung to my fingers.
[You’re dead!! The Sharkhead Gang won’t forget this!]
The thug knelt, clutching his bleeding nose.
[Who cares. Tia~ Aerin~ Let’s go~~~]
I grabbed their hands and strode out the door.
Now—finally—I could head to the labyrinth!!!!!!!
