The Entrance to the Deadly Sins Labyrinth of Greed: Plaza of Desires
The plaza in front of the Sin Labyrinth was the festival’s epicenter, bustling with activity. It was so lively that the Labyrinth’s ominous aura was barely noticeable.
Spectators gathered to watch the adventurers embark on their life-or-death missions, bets were being placed, vendors were doing brisk business, and some were drinking in the excitement.
However, the energy of the audience, vibrant as it was, paled in comparison to the madness-like fervor of the adventurers gathered at the center.
“──────”
“…………”
“………………───”
In terms of numbers, there were dozens. Each stood in place, armed with their respective weapons, not exchanging a word. There was no uniformity among them—neither in gender, race, age, nor the seasoned experience as adventurers.
Yet, there was one commonality: the gleam of determination in their eyes.
“Well done for gathering here, adventurers!!”
A strong, commanding voice echoed across the square.
Ascending the platform was a stern, muscular man with a shaved head. He wore no armor, carried no weapon. Rather, he resembled a humble priest heading for prayers, except for the shining silver ring on his right hand—a mark of a top-tier adventurer.
【Codarl of Iron Crush】, he was the master of ceremonies for today’s festival.
“From here, the hunt for the Gem Golem begins! It’s a race to capture the bounty heads, with no holds barred once you uphold the rules as adventurers!”
Clearly and without wasting words, he explained the rules of the festival. Naturally, most of those present already knew them (though some might have joined without much prior research). Essentially, this explanation was more for the benefit of the spectators.
Once the explanations were done, Codarl turned to the adventurers, a faint but resolute smile on his lips.
“And rejoice, everyone! Our generous Adventurers Guild has added five more gold coins to the bounty! That makes it fifteen if you win!!”
His words caused a stir. The atmosphere became even more charged, almost akin to bloodlust. It seemed directed solely at the Gem Golem, yet it was dubious.
“Fight! Seize victory! Offer your bravery to the Sun God and the Spirit of Battle!”
With that, Codarl spurred them on, fanning their enthusiasm. In response, the adventurers roared, their fervor erupting like flames soaring towards the sky, as if to reach the Sun God who showered light from above.
“Phew.”
Codarl, having delivered his impassioned speech, descended from the platform and took a breath. The vitality behind him was undeniable.
As someone often in the position of guiding younger adventurers, he sometimes found such ‘kindling’ efforts bitter. Yet, the sense of accomplishment from igniting the atmosphere like this was undeniable.
“Good job, Codarl-san! It’s a great success, isn’t it?!”
One of the guild’s younger members, Alley, beamed with joy. He was a straightforward and endearing youngster who had eagerly supported Codarl today. Though he relied on Alley’s dedication, secretly, Codarl wished he had said, “I’ll dominate this hunt festival!” instead.
“Putting wannabe adventurers in harm’s way is tough, Codarl.”
Just as he pondered this, a sharp comment was directed at him. There was only one person who would dare to throw such words at a silver-tier, top-tier adventurer.
“Oh, what a rare sight, you lazy devil!”
An old friend and the symbol of terror for new adventurers at the Training Grounds, Glenn, had surprisingly shown his face near the labyrinth. Codarl chuckled in surprise.
“You hated these hunt festivals so much, what whim brought you here today?”
“…What are you here for, Instructor Glenn?”
Seeing Alley glare warily at Glenn, Codarl struggled to suppress a smile. After all, he too had been Glenn’s student.
“I do what I want. Or do you want me to kick you in the ass again while you cry?”
Glenn laughed heartily, his face turning red as he teased Alley, who was trying to protect himself. Alley had received instruction from Glenn several years ago and had not visited the Training Grounds since. Glenn remembering his name was truly a testament to his stubborn nature.
“So? What’s the real reason you came here?”
“I came to make a tasteless joke.”
“A tasteless… did you come to see your students!? That’s really rare!”
Codarl glanced back at the square. Already, the adventurers were being led into the labyrinth by guild staff.
“Graduates are usually left alone, right?”
“They are not a graduate, so I came to see.”
“Not… wait a minute, how many days have you been here?”
“Three weeks and a bit.”
Upon hearing this answer, Alley, who had been listening nearby, widened his eyes in shock.
“A rookie adventurer for less than a month is challenging bounty heads!?”
“Yeah. Two brats, about fifteen.”
“What are you thinking?! Stop them!”
It was indeed reckless, to say the least. To challenge a bounty head, you needed at least a year’s worth of experience as an adventurer. Even half a year would be pushing it. There was a real possibility of a tragic end. Alley’s criticism was justified.
But Glenn wore a smirk without a hint of remorse.
“We’re adventurers, right? What’s an adventure without gambling your life?”
“Which era are you talking about?!”
It was true. Risking one’s life in a challenge seemed so outdated. However, Codarl realized his own expectations and interests were piqued by such recklessness.
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Deadly Sin Labyrinth Greed, Level 1, Great Hall
Inside the labyrinth, the heat and turmoil from outside did not reach. Here was beyond humanity’s safety, a den of monsters. All adventurers knew this. None showed celebratory attitudes; instead, each simmered with determination, nearly at the boiling point.
Confirming the final adventurers declaring their participation descending underground, the guild staff nodded.
“Let the Gem Golem Hunt Festival begin!”
Metal and weapon strikes echoed. Each present drew their weapons.
“Other than murder between participants and basic labyrinth rules, there are no restrictions! The one who defeats the Gem Golem first wins!”
Multiple passages existed within the labyrinth. The location of the Gem Golem was on the third level. Naturally, it became a competition to see who could reach there the fastest. Everyone crouched, poised to spring forward immediately. The intensity was such that accidents could occur without guild staff adjustment.
Unable to endure, some leaped forward. Recognizing this, the guild staff ended their explanations, raising a hand. All eyes focused on that hand. Then───
“Let the Hunt begin!!”
As it swung down, shouts filled the labyrinth. Adventurers burst forth down their chosen paths. Some stumbled and were already injured. Others hesitated, frozen in fear. Nevertheless, each pushed deeper into the labyrinth driven by dreams, desires, and ambitions.
“───Let’s go.”
“Yes.”
And thus, Ur and Shizuku also rushed into that darkness, challenging it.
As the guild staff mentioned earlier, once started, this hunt festival had no detailed rules. It simply became a race of who could get there first. But because of this, misunderstandings arose.
Namely, the misunderstanding that “if you arrive quickly, you win.”
Although not easy prey like weak monsters that can be easily defeated upon arrival, adventurers misunderstood that if they didn’t hurry, someone else would defeat them first. If their view narrowed in haste, accidents would happen. Injuries would occur. Ultimately, lives could be lost. The rules of the hunt festival easily made them forget this.
This was the guild’s aim: to calculate whether participants, entranced by distant treasures, had neglected their surroundings. And, of course, setting up such traps meant it was also the Adventurers Guild’s job to prevent the worst-case scenario.
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