NOVEL WEB Chapter 52
Forbidden Six Labyrinths – Haise’s Journey 7
Haise and Choco Latte had spent ten days heading for the lower levels.
Just ten days, but for Haise, it had been an intense experience unlike anything he’d ever encountered before.
First of all… the level of the monsters they faced was unbelievable.
S-rate and SS-rate monsters were routine. At their worst, packs of SS-rate beasts attacked them.
Without a Gatling Gun or Rocket Launcher, they might not have survived.
And surprisingly enough… Choco Latte turned out to be unexpectedly reliable.
[Its weak spot is the stomach! Look, there’s an indent on its belly—that’s where the heart is!]
[Wait. Haise, if you can snipe from a distance, shoot from here. That one’s highly alert… get a few meters closer, and it’ll attack.]
[That one’s the leader. If you take it down, the rest will scatter.]
Choco Latte accurately pointed out monster weaknesses and strategies for dealing with them.
Currently, Haise and Choco Latte were resting in a small cave they’d found, using it as a temporary shelter.
They’d blocked the entrance with monster carcasses and were having a meal.
“Here.”
[Huh, you’re sure?]
“Yeah. You’ve been a big help with your knowledge.”
Haise handed a few skewers to Choco Latte.
Choco Latte took them without hesitation and started eating voraciously.
[Delicious. Human food is the best.]
“…What are you doing?”
While eating skewers, Choco Latte repaired armor, crafted helmets, and added extra plating using monster hides and scales.
It also attached scales to shields, sharpened swords, and moved with the skill of a professional armorer.
[The materials from the monsters you defeated are perfect for enhancing equipment. I need to be able to fight too, not just share knowledge.]
“…You’re pretty handy.”
[Am I? We Chaos Goblins make all our weapons and armor ourselves. Processing monster bones, hides, and scales is child’s play. There… done.]
Choco Latte donned the modified armor, now equipped with a helmet and additional plating.
This left no part of his skin exposed—he was fully armored.
[All right, this will do. Ha, thank you, Haise.]
“Yeah, good for you… yawn.”
[If you’re tired, take a nap. You’ve barely slept these past ten days, haven’t you?]
“……”
[You still don’t trust me, huh? I get it, but…]
“…Five hours. I’ll sleep for five hours.”
That was all Haise said before closing his eyes.
Choco Latte quietly continued eating the remaining skewers.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Five hours later—it happened suddenly.
[GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR——…]
A roar echoed through the dungeon.
Haise shot up, while Choco Latte dropped the file it’d been using.
“What the hell!?”
[Th-that was… a roar?]
Haise and Choco Latte exchanged glances.
The underground shook, and a vibrating aura lingered.
From deep within the dungeon, a horde of monsters came fleeing.
Even the creatures Haise and Choco Latte had struggled against ran past their cave in terror.
[W-what is… down there?]
“……”
Haise had a hunch.
The dungeon boss.
The Delmadrome Labyrinth’s final, strongest foe.
If they defeated the dungeon boss, the labyrinth would vanish.
For over a thousand years, no one had conquered this dungeon.
If Haise did, it would be remembered as his greatest feat.
People would acknowledge him.
The strongest adventurer. The one who conquered the labyrinth alone.
[…What’s wrong, Haise?]
“…No, not alone.”
[?]
Choco Latte tilted his head.
Haise stretched and cracked his neck.
After five full hours of sleep, he felt completely refreshed, both mentally and physically.
“Choco Latte, don’t you need to rest?”
[No. Chaos Goblins only need two hours of sleep every ten days.]
“That’s… pretty convenient.”
[That’s how we evolved—to work longer, to fight longer.]
Haise stood, packed up his gear into his item box, and prepared to move.
Choco Latte equipped all his gear, the new helmet masking his identity entirely.
“All right, let’s go.”
[Yeah… but, what’s waiting down there?]
“The dungeon boss. The Delmadrome’s final foe.”
[Ugh…]
“If you’re scared, we can part ways here.”
[Who’s scared!? Let’s go, Haise! I’ll lead the way!!]
Choco Latte marched forward, while Haise followed with a Desert Eagle in hand, chambering a round.
“Watch me, Sasha… I’ll clear this dungeon, no matter what.”
Haise’s journey approached the final floor.
◇◇◇◇◇◇
Another ten days later—Haise and Choco Latte arrived at the floor before the final level, battered but alive.
Choco Latte examined a wooden plaque engraved with text.
[Th-this is the final floor… [heme Park.]
“Theme Park…”
[Yeah. That’s what the demons called it. Their domain… it’s been abandoned for ages.]
“That’s where the dungeon boss is?”
[And the treasure the demons left behind.]
Before them stood a large, ornate iron gate.
The gate was lavishly decorated and bore a large sign.
Faintly visible were the words:
“Smudged, but I can read part of it… W-onder… Land?”
[Wonderland?]
“Yeah. No idea what it means… but this iron gate looks more like a prison.”
Haise pushed the gate open, the creaking echoing ominously.
Inside, small glass structures dotted the area.
They had writing on them too.
“Di-scovery… place?”
[Discovery place?]
“Tickets, purchase, h-ere…?”
[Tickets?]
“A ticket’s something you show at theaters. Is this Theme Park a theater?”
[???]
Choco Latte tilted its head. Haise didn’t understand either.
Inside the glass booths were metal boxes with small [buttons].
Pressing them made clicking sounds.
Past the [discovery place], they entered a long residential area.
“What is this… houses?”
[Seems like the demons’ dwelling.]
A wide road flanked by large houses stretched before them.
The windows were oddly large, with various tools displayed within.
Haise sensed these weren’t homes—they were Shops.
“That must be the central plaza.”
[A map, maybe?]
A sign displayed a map of the Theme Park, with a central plaza surrounded by large buildings.
“Jet… coaster… giant… wheel? What are these? Rides?”
[This Theme Park… is deeper than I thought.]
“For now, let’s head to the central plaza——”
Suddenly—
[[[[[[[[GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAARRRRRR——]]]]]]]]
“!!”
Roars erupted from the central plaza, not just one, but multiple.
Then, Haise heard it.
“Uninvited guests have arrived.”
A man’s voice.
The sound of hard shoes echoed.
From the plaza emerged a single gentleman.
“Hmm… after all this time, a human and a goblin? How intriguing. Truly, this world never ceases to amaze—”
Bang!
Haise fired his Desert Eagle without hesitation, the bullet hitting the gentleman’s shoulder.
“Ugh, GAHHHHH!? Wha-what the hell!?”
The man clutched his bleeding shoulder. Choco Latte was dumbfounded.
[H-Haise!? Wh-what are you doing!?]
“Anyone who talks like that is usually an enemy.”
[Whaaaat!?]
Haise switched to a shotgun, firing multiple rounds.
The gentleman raised his right hand, pulling in nearby metal to form a shield, blocking the bullets.
Seeing this, Haise summoned a rocket launcher.
“Wait!! Wait, hold on!! That’s a gun, isn’t it!? Why do you—damn it!!”
The man used a nearby car as a shield and fled.
Haise fired the RPG-7 Rocket Launcher, hitting the car and causing a massive explosion.
Tossing aside the rocket launcher, Haise drew his Desert Eagle again.
“Who was that guy?”
[You cause all that, then ask that!? He’s probably a demon. Dark skin, silver-gray hair, crimson eyes, horns—no doubt about it.]
“Got it… let’s go.”
[…I’m really glad I’m not your enemy.]
Haise and Choco Latte headed toward the central plaza.