Metro Labyrinth - CH 54

The feast continues, and the twins tell an old story.

“We’ve been coming here for more than ten years now.” (Aoi)

“Back then, the elevator for hunters had just been built.” (Midori)

“We had a lot of trouble with the miners and the Church.” (Aoi)

“If you don’t support them, you’ll be called a ‘human trash’.” (Midori)

According to the twins, the installation of elevators in the Metro was accompanied by strong opposition from the Church. They consider the excessive alteration of the sacred Metro by human hands to be a blasphemous desecration and there is the fear divine retribution. The law that elevators be installed only on the tenth basement floor was also the result of pressure from the Church.

“Well, they can’t build an elevator on the 20th floor, can they?” (Midori)

“The miners will die like ants.” (Aoi)

The twins also feel that the quantity and quality of the mined goods here are declining. Thanks to that, the number of hunters coming and going has clearly decreased compared to the past.

“But there are still as many miners as ever.” (Aoi)

“Though their income is probably lower.” (Midori)

“In the old days, even the youngest children were sent out.” (Aoi)

“They’d bring even orphaned children.” (Midori)

“They’d send them out to work in construction, or hunt golems.” (Aoi)

“Nowadays, though, with all the human rights stuff, that’s all gone.” (Midori)

“––There was once a case of a golem kidnapping a child.” (Uncle 1)

The first to open his mouth was one of the two uncles.

“It was about twenty years ago. An orphan disappeared in the Metro, and miners and hunters all went out looking for them, but it was hard to find them. They were either eaten by beast or ran away because they couldn’t stand their master’s actions.” (Uncle 1)

“But a week later, I remember, they were found. They were alive, right here in the Metro.” (Uncle 2)

“There was a golem beside them. It was a mature beast that shouldn’t have been found in the shallow floors. We were there, too, and it was really strong.” (Uncle 1)

The hunters formed a party and took it on. They finally managed to kill it and protect the child, despite the damage it had caused.

“The child was as weak as a fragile dragonfly and so traumatized that they couldn’t speak. If we had been a few days later, they would not have survived.” (Uncle 2)

“Why did the golem kidnap them?” (Shuu)

His lips were pressed tight.

“The child must have run away of their own volition, but the Golem found them and imprisoned them.” (Uncle 2)

“Sometimes they do that. Sometimes they kidnap people and lock them up in their secret lair so they can secretly enjoy them later.” (Uncle 1)

“Are you serious…” (Shuu)

“Squeakiously…” (Tamiko)

Golem wine cellars. Hundreds of sacrifices. That’s horrifying.

“Speaking of liquor, the other day my lovely wife found out about mine and confiscated it… without warning…” (Uncle 1)

“I’m sorry to hear that… but your wife’s eyes can’t reach deep enough underground. I’m going to have some fun today!” (Uncle 2)

The topic changed because of their wives, but I heard a terrible story. A true ghost story, a Hundred Tales of the Metro.

Tamiko is anxiously holding her tail. I wondered if she will be able to go to the bathroom alone tonight. I’ll have no choice but to go with her.

Soon after, the feast is over. It seems that they have work to do, so they didn’t go deep into it. We all cleaned up, brushed our teeth at the watering hole (a hunter’s teeth is his life), and returned to our tents after saying goodnight to each other.

“Tomorrow, we will go down to the twenty-fifth floor for the time being.” (Shuu)

“Yes… but it’s a little late for that now…” (Noa)

“Hmm?” (Shuu)

“I thought that Shuu-san would be fine, so I lightheartedly suggested Ouji, but after all that, Shuu-san’s burden became quite heavy.” (Noa)

“Well, I’m Master level even if I’m like this. Also, I really want a Mithril weapon.” (Shuu)

“Hmm…” (Noa)

I understand Noa’s concerns. I had the same thoughts. The kind of life where unfounded bravery morphs adventures into reckless jumps.

There is a need for balance. And the only way to acquire that sense is through experience.

“Well, if it is too hard even on the 25th floor, we would withdraw quickly. If we can afford it, we should try going down a little at a time.” (Shuu)

“…I understand. However, no recklessness is absolutely prohibited. If Shuu-san is not allowed to be reckless, no matter what happens. Tone down your enthusiasm, okay?” (Noa)

“I understand that very well. Tamiko is fine with that too, right?” (Shuu)

Tamiko is holding her crotch and was fidgeting.

“I want to go to the toilet, squeak… Come with me, squeak…” (Tamiko)

“Sure. I’ll go with you. I also need to unload.” (Shuu)

I don’t think it’s something bad.

The toilets at the campground were made of a hole in a rock wall with a wooden door in it. Instead of a toilet bowl, there was a hole in the ground, and around the hole was a large number of mycelial plants. In short, it is a decomposing-toilet. Below is dry sand, and there is a handwashing area with water seeping out of the rock wall.

Metro’s mycelial plants are so strong at decomposing that even a fresh corpse is reduced to bones and dust within a few days. They can decompose and absorb excrement in a matter of days.

(Oh, didn’t Noa mention that the dirty water from Sugamo is discharged into the Metro?) (Shuu)

(I wonder if it’s also being used underground by mycelial plants or something.) (Shuu)

Or maybe it’s absorbed by the Metro itself. I should stop scaring myself.

Noa joins me and Tamiko before going to bed. The three of us do our business together.

The bathrooms are shared by both men and women, but what should the men do in such a situation? I think I read on the Internet that many women say “I don’t like to go in after men.” But I guess they also don’t like to be followed after by a man. Where is the right answer? What is the path that will make everyone happy?

“Shuu-san, please go ahead.” (Noa)

“Oh yeah? Okay.” (Shuu)

Is this the world’s answer――As I was about to put my hand on the doorknob, the door opened from the other side. I jumped back in a panic as I is about to collide with it.

“—excuse me.” (Voice)

A stranger’s face appeared.

Or rather, something not human.

Silver hair that covers their face. Protruding nose. Sharp, blue eyes. Triangular pointy ears.

(–A wolf?) (Shuu)

A wolf walking on two legs and wears a hunter’s jersey.

A demi-human—and a wolf.

However, they are clearly different from Obuchi, who is also a demihuman. Unlike Obuchi, whose facial features are mixed with human, the person in front of me is completely wolf-like from the neck up.

The “Lone Wolf” the twins were talking about is probably this guy. I can’t believe that they are literally what they said.

“I’m sorry, are you okay?” (Voice => Werewolf)

The Werewolf’s voice is cool and pleasant to the ear. The voice and the body shape of the man make it clear that he is a male.

“Ah, yes. I’m okay…” (Shuu)

“Good. Excuse me.” (Werewolf)

He bowed lightly and tried to leave between my dumbfounded party and me.

“-Gi-” (Noa)

Noa was about to say something, but then stops herself. The werewolf’s ears twitch. He stops and turns around.

“…Miss, did you try to call my name just now? Have I met you somewhere?” (Werewolf)

Noa, who had been frozen, pauses for a moment and then shakes her head.

“… well… I’m from Ikebukuro too…” (Noa)

I couldn’t see her face, but her voice felt harsher than usual.

“That’s right, I’m sorry. As expected, it will be found out by someone from the same hometown. I have given false names to others.  Please keep this to yourself, I don’t want any trouble.” (Werewolf)

The wolf smiled wryly and scratched the back of his ear. He bends down and brings his face closer to Noa.

“Miss, what’s your name?” (Werewolf)

“…Ikari Noa.” (Noa)

“Ikari Noa… I think I’ve seen you somewhere before… Well, but with such a lovely young lady, I’m sure I would have never forgotten you.” (Werewolf)

The werewolf approaches her and takes her hand. He lets his canine pointy mouth lightly touch the back of her hand.

“Hey–” (Shuu)

Noa brushes his hand away before I can say anything. The werewolf smiles and shows her his paw.

“My bad… I’m not good with bold women, so I’ve been avoiding the feast. I should have joined if I knew there was a beautiful girl like you. How about we spend the night in my tent, ‘reminiscing about our hometown’? With you, we can have the most exhilarating morning howl in a long time.” (Werewolf)

“Hey, hey, hey!” (Shuu)

I slide between the two.

“I’m sorry, she’s with me.” (Shuu)

I hide Noa behind my back and glared at the werewolf.

Then I realized.

(…Yep, yep. No matter how I look at it, it’s jealousy.) (Shuu)

I have a guardian position, so they are someone that has to be protected. I don’t have time to lie to myself, I recognize it.

And in just a second, I reopen it. What am I jealous of?

The werewolf pulls his face away and straightens his back. He is at least ten centimeters taller than me, maybe he’s a hundred and ninety.

“Oh, I’m sorry. When I see a nice woman, I get tunnel vision. After all, I’m a wolf.” (Werewolf)

He holds out his hand to me.

“Giran Taichi. I belong to Ikebukuro Tribe.” (Werewolf => Giran)

“…I am Abe Shuu from Sugamo.” (Shuu)

He has five hairy fingers that are all in perfect alignment, and his paw pads are surprisingly soft. I forgot about the antipathy I had the first time I saw him, and I was just a little bit surprised.

“I’m Tamiko, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Oh, there’s a cute young lady here too. I’m sorry for not noticing you too late.” (Giran)

He also shook hands with Tamiko who was sitting on my shoulder.

“I’d like to have a few more conversations with the young ladies, but this place is lacking sexiness. Or rather, I’m sorry to keep you. My tent is over there. Cute girls are always welcome… after everyone’s gone to sleep. I’m going then. Haha.” (Giran)

The werewolf Giran leaves. While his fluffy tail wags behind.

“… what is with that guy…” (Shuu)

I had imagined him to be a solitary person or a difficult individual, since he refuses to go to BBQ and stays alone. I’m not sure what I was expecting.

“…I’m a little annoyed, but he was handsome…” (Shuu)

“A total hottie, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Oh, even from Tamiko’s point of view, it’s the same.” (Shuu)

“Mofumofu is squeak.” (Tamiko)

“I see.” (Shuu)

Even I would have liked to have been able to fluff him if I had met him in a different way.

“It’s my first time seeing him, squeak. But is he really human? You see, he’s level 70, squeak.” (Tamiko)

“Really!?” (Shuu)

I was quite shocked. There’s no doubt why he has such self-confidence, since he is both handsome and a smooth-talking pick-up artist, moreover has a higher level than me.

Well, it doesn’t matter, I have a cheat Fungal Class. My strength and number of Fungal Skills are second to none. I have a good future…

(…Hey, why am I trying to compete with him?) (Shuu)

(Against a random guy who just popped out.) (Shuu)

“…He’s the ‘King Slayer Silver Wolf’.” (Noa)

I refocused and Noa continues with a downcast look.

“A Werewolf–a wolf demihuman—and the most famous hunter in the Ikebukuro Tribe. He was one of the key players in the civil war eight years ago that killed the chief and made the coup d’état succeed.” (Noa)

“…So he’s really some bigshot, huh?” (Shuu)

He was friendly, lighthearted, and not in a very big-shot kind of way.

“Doesn’t that make him a criminal?” (Shuu)

“The even is a bit complicated… But the Metropolitan Government has accepted the new system. The former chief was, you know, a tyrant, and the… new chief is quite welcomed by the people of the territory…” (Noa)

“A real revolutionary, Che Guevara…” (Shuu)

It’s before we were competing with each other. It would have taken a hundred times more courage to challenge him if I had known in advance.

“The story is that Giran is the sword of the current Ikebukuro chief and also serves as the chief of the Kingsguard. Why is that guy… here…?” (Noa)

Noa clenches her jaw I can hear her molars grinding. Her shoulders are trembling slightly.

“…That guy… Did something happen, Noa?” (Shuu)

Raising her face and shaking her head. She still doesn’t make eye contact.

“…Well, I don’t care. Because of the circumstances, there are quite a few opponents of the current system even in Ikebukuro. I’m also one of them.” (Noa)

“…I see.” (Shuu)

—really?

Even if I am curious, I won’t say continue. I felt like if I asked more, they wouldn’t even answer.

“Abeshuu.” (Tamiko)

“Hmm?” (Shuu)

“Squeaking.” (Tamiko)

Tamiko was holding her crotch and squirming.

“Go to the bathroom.” (Shuu)

“I might squeak if I move. Ummm…” (Tamiko)

“Okay, move to my hand. Gently. Okay, I’m going slowly. Hang in there, we’re almost to the bathroom. …Wait, wait, don’t relax. Don’t wag your tail. Stop, stop!” (Shuu)

A/N: In honor of Giran-san, I added the part that “there is a handwashing area”.