Chapter 8

The next day.

When I woke up, I could move my body again.

I’d been terrified that I might stay paralyzed forever, but thankfully, I was able to head east toward Wald as planned. After getting directions and a few pointers from the innkeeper, I managed the trip without getting lost.

Since I was crossing a national border, I’d braced myself for a long journey, but I reached the boundary by late morning with surprising ease. It seemed that because these five nations surrounded the Labyrinth, the closer you were to the Labyrinth itself, the shorter the distance between the countries became.

Furthermore, the border was nothing more than a simple stone wall; there were no complicated procedures for crossing. I wondered how they managed the flow of people and goods, but after seeing the familiar “Mana Lines” woven into the stone, I figured they were handling it with some kind of unknown technology and left it at that.

After walking through Wald for a bit, the difference from Huzya became immediately clear.

The disparity between wealth and poverty was striking, but more than anything, the social strata were different. Almost everyone who caught my eye was dressed as an adventurer. Many carried blades, and those who made their living through violence stood out.

Now that I’d reached a new land, I took a moment to organize my objectives.

My primary goal was to “Return.”

If I stayed in this mysterious, dangerous world indefinitely, I’d eventually lose my mind. For the sake of the family I’d left behind, I had to find a way back.

However, leads for a “Return” were scarce.

First, there was the legend surrounding this massive Labyrinth—which practically screamed at people to challenge it—claiming it could “grant any wish.” Thinking in game terms, this was likely the “correct” path. The other option was researching magic or cultural history related to returning home… but hope for that was thin. I hadn’t found anything remotely like it in the library.

Whether it was for research or for conquering the Labyrinth, what I needed most was money.

Money disappears when you eat or stay at an inn. If I were to enter the Labyrinth, various tools would cost a fortune. The same went for weapons.

In short: money, money, money.

And the choice I made to get it was—!

“—Hey, Newbie! When you’re done with the dishes, take out the trash!”

“Yes, sir! On it!”

I had started a part-time job at a tavern.

To be perfectly honest, I never wanted to set foot in a Labyrinth ever again. I didn’t even want to look at one. I felt that way from the bottom of my heart. I’d decided it was too early to try and earn money through exploration. If I’m being honest, I was scared. I wanted to put some distance between me and that place if I could.

As luck would have it, while walking through Wald, I found a tavern near the Labyrinth entrance looking for staff. It was a fork in the road of fate. With my head spinning from everything that had happened, I figured I’d give the interview a shot just for the hell of it. After layering on some plausible lies, I somehow passed on the spot. Without any real background check, I was put to work immediately.

Employment in another world was so smooth it actually startled me. I felt like I should share some of this efficiency with the recession-hit countries back in my world.

For the record, I had experience working part-time in restaurants. I was also confident in my cooking, as I’d handled the daily meals back home in place of my sister. Because I had the aptitude for it, I’d jumped at the chance without thinking too deeply… but a tavern near the Labyrinth was a top-tier source of information, so I didn’t have many regrets.

“Christ! Clean this up!”

“Coming!”

Christ.

I had several thoughts about it, but that had become my name in this other world.

At the tavern interview, I’d initially intended to use my real name, “Kanami Aikawa.” However, at that exact moment, the face of that perverted girl Lastiara flashed through my mind. Using a name known to that dangerous individual would be nothing less than increasing the odds of another encounter.

To put it bluntly, I was terrified. Lastiara scared the life out of me.

Pushed by that fear, I came up with a Western-style name on the spot. My first thought was to use a pseudonym that asserted my position. It was a long shot, but there was a chance that other people from my world were here. If we ever had a chance to meet, it would be better to have a common name so we’d recognize each other as compatriots instantly.

I figured the most famous name in the world would be best. A country’s name? A president? No, something even more famous than that. After considering it, the words that left my mouth were: “…It’s Christ Eurasia. Nice to meet you.”

Though I only had a few seconds to think, it was a pretty bold choice. I’d taken the most famous “profession” in the world as my “temporary name” for survival.

Once I’d said it, there was no taking it back. My life in this other world was now set under this name.

…Personally, I didn’t think it was that bad. Literally translated, it meant “The One who Saves the Continent.” In terms of my personal taste, I gave it about an eighty-percent score. I had a feeling that if my sister were here, she’d be exasperated by my typical “big brother” naming sense and tease me about it for at least six months, though…

“Hurry—up—! Christ!”

“S-Sorry!”

Lynn, the tavern’s tall poster girl, scolded me for stopping. This was no time to be lost in thought, or to feel awkward about my first pseudonym.

From today on, I am Christ Eurasia, living in another world—

After telling myself that, I got back to work.

It was currently the busiest time of day: the dinner rush. Adventurers who had finished their Labyrinth dives were filling the seats to satisfy their hunger. It was a vulgar sort of clamor, but you could also call it a space full of vitality.

I handled my chores while picking up bits of information regarding the Labyrinth.

“—Heh. Made a killing today.”

“Yeah. I broke into a cold sweat when we ran into that swarm of Soldier Ants, but in the end, it turned out to be a sweet hunt.”

“Whether you run into a swarm or not is all luck… Well, it was dangerous for sure, but the return was worth it, wasn’t it?”

“In the end, yeah.”

Conversations in the tavern were mostly about the Labyrinth. They’d reflect on the day’s exploration or exchange information, so eavesdropping was incredibly productive.

While wiping down dirty tables, I continued to observe my surroundings.

“Yo. You the new guy, kid? Did the guy before you quit?”

More than a few people struck up conversations with me. Unlike the restaurants in my original world, the ones here were very friendly.

“Yes. I started today… I’m Christ. It seems the person before me did indeed move on.”

“Makes sense. This place is crazy busy but the pay is crap.”

The man who spoke laughed heartily. A voice boomed from the kitchen—“What’s wrong with a little low pay?!”—it was the owner, making the man laugh even harder.

The power balance in this tavern was unique. Apparently, the owner was a former Labyrinth explorer of some renown, and he never backed down, even against the roughest customers. I’d heard him hurling insults back at the patrons many times already. I suppose you couldn’t run a shop right next to the Labyrinth otherwise.

For example, whenever Lynn-s was about to be teased too much, the owner would fly out and back her up. Though I hadn’t known him long, he seemed like a trustworthy boss. That said, considering he hired me on the spot, I didn’t have much faith in his management skills.

“Wonder how long the kid’ll last. Most of the customers here are a real pain in the ass. Myself included.”

“No. Everyone has been very kind. I’m enjoying the work.”

“Hoh, quite the smooth talker… Unlike the guy before you, your speech is incredibly polite.”

“Is it…? Well, thank you.”

“But being too stiff isn’t good either. Just take it easy.”

As I continued talking with the drunken man—

“Hey, Crow! Don’t keep my new employee tied up forever! I’ll knock your teeth in!”

An even louder voice than before flew from the back. It seemed the owner and the man called Crow were acquaintances. He certainly didn’t mince his words.

“Well, I should get back to it. The dishes are waiting for me.”

“Heh. See ya. I’d rather not get flattened by the old man either.”

Crow gave a single nod with a wave of his hand.

I responded with a polite bow before rushing back to the kitchen to begin the task of cleaning the massive pile of dirty dishes. For the time being, I’d been entrusted with clearing tables and washing up, and I intended to put my all into it.

It was hard work that required constant movement, but the experience I’d gained back in my original world pulled me through. More than that, keeping my magic, [Dimension], active at all times was a huge help, allowing me to handle things with peak efficiency.

And so, my first job in this other world continued late into the night.

Once the last customer had left and we began the closing cleanup, the owner approached me.

“Phew. That’s a wrap, Newbie. How was the first shift?”

“…The customer volume was quite high, so it felt like rewarding work.”

“Listen to you, sounding all high and mighty. At that rate, looks like you’ll be able to make it in tomorrow, too.”

The owner grinned, slotting me into tomorrow’s schedule, but his reaction caught me a little off guard.

“Wait… was I being ‘high and mighty’ just now?”

“Nah, not really. It’s just… how do I put it? That weirdly polite way you talk comes off a bit cheeky, I guess?”

“I did get told I was too stiff earlier today…”

There was likely a cultural gap between our worlds. I was trying to speak in a way that wouldn’t cause offense, but it seemed that didn’t translate well here. I needed to adjust my perspective. As that customer had suggested earlier, I should aim to be a more casual clerk.

“Well, don’t force it. You’ll get used to it bit by bit. I’m counting on you for the kitchen more than the floor, anyway.”

“Wait, Christ is going to work the kitchen, too?”

Hearing the word “kitchen,” the poster girl, Lynn, approached us, her long brown pigtails—which suited her tall frame—swaying as she moved.

“Yeah, I’m thinking of putting Christ in the kitchen. When I tested him, his knife skills were flawless. He’s got nimble fingers and apparently a lot of experience cooking.”

“Heh. So that’s why you hired him on the spot.”

“The way he talked made it seem like he could handle the floor despite being unnecessarily polite, too. I didn’t have a single reason to turn him down.”

Even so, putting someone to work in a shop without any proper explanation is a bit much. Of course, being at the bottom of the ladder, that was a thought I had to keep to myself.

“True. There wasn’t much I had to teach him.”

“Right? My eyes didn’t fail me. Anyway, I’m heading to the back. I’ll leave the rest to you.”

“Okay—!”

With that, the owner headed off to finish cleaning the kitchen.

“Good for you, Christ. You needed money right away, didn’t you?”

“Yes, it’s a big help. Though, things seem quite different from the countryside back home, so I might not live up to your expectations.”

I made sure to set some boundaries; I didn’t want them expecting too much of me.

“Oh, right. You said you came from a distant land? Uh, let’s see…”

“Fania.”

“Right, Fania. I’ve never even heard of it. You really did come from a long way away.”

“I challenged the Labyrinth with a foolish dream, and this is what I have to show for it.”

I said this while showing the burn scar on my arm. In other words, I was currently playing the role of a “boy from the sticks who dreamed of striking it rich in the Labyrinth, only to be defeated in a single day.”

“Yikes, that looks painful. But I’m glad you’re okay. You didn’t lose an arm or get blinded. As long as you’re working here, you definitely won’t die!”

Lynn said some pretty terrifying things with a lighthearted tone. It was partly the difference in our worldviews, but she’d likely seen all sorts of things while working at a tavern on the front lines of Labyrinth exploration.

“Yes. I’m just glad that as long as I work here, I won’t have to worry about where my next meal is coming from.”

“Yep, yep, get to work. Your big sister here is rooting for you! You’re way more polite and a faster learner than the last guy.”

It seemed I’d made a good impression on Lynn. The politeness was likely just the educational gap between worlds, and the fast learning was thanks to [Dimension]… It felt a bit like I was cheating, which made me feel slightly guilty.

“…I’ll do my best. Now, let’s get these tables cleared.”

“Got it! I’ll help out.”

Once the shop was clean, I planned to discuss the details of my contract with the owner. He’d mentioned giving me favorable terms since they were short-staffed, but depending on the contract, I might have to decline. To me, this job was just a means to an end; I was still in the phase of testing the waters.

However, I couldn’t deny that I liked the people at this shop.

“—Ah, finally finished! Christ, could you lock the front door for me?”

“Certainly.”

Having finished her work, Lynn asked me to handle the final task before heading toward the back exit. I went to the entrance as instructed and moved to slide the wooden bolt across the massive doors.

—That’s when I noticed.

Something had tripped the sense of my [Dimension] magic. There was someone outside the shop. After checking my remaining MP, I intensified the spell.

“…Yeah, I can do this. Magic: [Dimension - Multiple].”

I consumed my excess MP to gather more detailed information about the outside situation. For the record, this [Dimension - Multiple] was an application of the technique I’d used to scan long distances in the Labyrinth. I’d simply increased the MP consumption to boost its power, but I’d given it a distinct name to make it easier to handle. My personal theory is that the longer a technique name is, the more satisfying it feels to use.

Outside the shop stood a large wooden bulletin board. A figure about my age, wearing a hood, was crouching in front of it. I couldn’t help but be concerned, so I stepped outside.

Small white grains were falling from the sky. It was only a light dusting, but it was a beautiful sight. These white grains were called “Tear-lay,” and they were apparently different from the snow in my world. They weren’t ice crystals formed in winter, but rather crystals of mana that had accumulated in the sky and fallen. I knew this from the library, but I didn’t know the specifics.

The person by the board remained crouched, Tear-lay piling up on their hood, so I called out.

“Hey. Are you awake?”

“—!”

The hooded figure snapped their head up and looked at me. My black eyes met their wide, startled gaze.

The person was a girl. As she looked up, golden hair spilled from her hood—long, straight hair that looked like warm sunlight. Her large, blue eyes were striking, set in an innocent, androgynous face.

The girl stood up as she saw me. We were likely close in age, but she was a good two heads shorter than me. She was quite petite. I was momentarily captivated by her beauty, but I quickly shifted back into clerk mode.

“Glad to see you’re awake. We’re closed for the night, though…”

“…Is it not allowed to be here?”

Contrary to her delicate face, the girl’s response was blunt.

“Well, I don’t think it’s a problem as long as you don’t do anything strange. Probably.”

“I see. Then I’ll stay here. Tell me if I become a nuisance.”

With that, she sat back down. She was more “manly” than I was, but I couldn’t just leave her there.

“No, that’s not what I meant… It’s already the middle of the night. It’s dangerous for a girl to be out here alone.”

“……..”

I might have been meddling without knowing her circumstances. However, the ethics of my original world forced the words out of my mouth anyway.

“There must be somewhere you can stay—”

“I don’t have any money. I was just warming myself in front of the tavern’s lingering heat.”

She cut my argument short. It was a matter of money. If that was the case, there wasn’t much more I could say. My only option was to close the shop and ignore her. Even if a girl smaller than me was planning to camp out right next to the Labyrinth…

“…I see. In that case, I’m closing up.”

“……..”

I didn’t have the luxury of helping a total stranger. Despite feeling a tug at my heartstrings, I moved to close the door.

“For the record, I’m not a girl. Don’t worry.”

Just before the door shut, I heard the figure’s voice. Or rather, a boy’s voice. Apparently, since he was a boy, he didn’t need the kind of protection I was worried about.

Surprised by this revelation, I finished closing the shop. I didn’t know if he was lying or not. However, I decided there was no point in thinking about it further and walked to the back of the shop where the owner and Lynn were likely waiting.

After work, I discussed the terms of my contract with the owner. That said, it wasn’t as detailed as the ones in my world; it was pretty loose. For now, he’d have me on a day-to-day basis to test me out. My pay would change based on my daily performance, and for today, I received about ten copper coins.

On top of that, I was given a staff meal and told I could sleep in a corner of the tavern. I was stunned by such generous treatment. I actually ended up voicing some concerns myself. But even when I said, “You’re being too careless,” the owner just insisted, “I’m confident in my eye for people, so it’s fine.”

Lynn added, “If you do anything bad, we know your face, so you’d trip a ‘Mana Line’ and get caught immediately.” Apparently, the “Mana Lines” running throughout the town had security and crime-prevention effects. Perhaps that was why they could afford to be so trusting.

And so, here I was, wrapped in a blanket under a proper roof. Compared to that boy earlier, it was the difference between heaven and hell.

“Status, Skills—”

In the corner of the tavern, I was testing out various features of the [Display]. Since I’d leveled up during Lastiara’s attack, I had Bonus Points and Skill Points to process.

Bonus Points could be used to increase stats like Strength or Vitality, while Skill Points were for acquiring or developing skills. Since I didn’t want to die, I poured all my Bonus Points into increasing my HP. If this were a game, I’d have considered efficiency and put them into Strength or Agility, but considering I didn’t have a second life, HP was the priority.

Each point increased my HP by 10, so my maximum HP was now 151.

As for Skill Points, I focused solely on Dimension Magic. When I did, the entry changed to [Dimension Magic 5.01 +0.10]. When I tried using [Dimension], I only noticed a slight change, so I held onto the remaining 2 Skill Points for now.

“I might be able to get new magic later…”

Whether I liked it or not, I was bound to be involved with the Labyrinth in the future. It was only logical to save those points for magic suited to that purpose.

“The owner said I only have to work the night shift at the tavern… Maybe I’ll walk around town tomorrow morning to gather some information.”

I calmly built my schedule. Now that I could expect a steady income, I felt less rushed. The [???] skill had erased most of my confusion and fear regarding this other world, and I was paying close attention to my mental stability.

Right now, the important thing was to take things one step at a time toward my goal of “Return.” First, I’d spend a few days gathering information and learning the common knowledge of the Labyrinth. Only after I mastered the [Display] and my magic, and prepared my equipment and tools, would I finally be ready to challenge the Labyrinth.

I continued to experiment with the [Display]—and in the middle of it, I fell asleep.

And so, my second day in another world passed relatively peacefully.