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E-Rank Labyrinth: Fire Ant Nest (Part 1)
The labyrinth we’d be exploring this time lay within the Cultist Town itself.
That meant no tedious procedure of waiting for the Harmony Church’s approval for an external expedition.
“Is… that really the entrance?”
Marlene’s expression was stiff with tension as she asked cautiously.
“Yeah.”
“It doesn’t look like a labyrinth entrance at all.”
“True.”
In the middle of a deserted street, there gaped a small hole — narrow enough that a large orc would have trouble crawling through.
That was the entrance to the Fire Ant Nest, our target labyrinth.
Even considering that my new assistant was a novice explorer, its appearance was anything but ordinary.
“Here to attempt the labyrinth? Please present your identification!”
A cheerful priest of the Harmony Church stepped out from a nearby house, as if he’d been waiting for us.
I nodded and handed over my identity token; Marlene hastily followed suit.
“Cultist of the Twisted Truth, Mr. Carr. Sector 6 citizen, Miss Marlene. Verified! You’re aware of the labyrinth rules, yes?”
“I am. But she isn’t. Could you explain it to her?”
“Of course! I’ll give you a full briefing!”
With a bright smile, the kindly priest turned to Marlene and began his explanation.
“This labyrinth, the Fire Ant Nest, is of the lowest grade — E-rank. It’s neither dangerous nor difficult, so you can relax!”
Perhaps out of pity for her anxious look, he even took on the role of a mental counselor.
It was easy to see why the Harmony Church had become one of the six dominant forces in Pletica — excellent customer service.
“The clear condition is simple. Can you guess what it is? Just go in through the entrance and come out the exit!”
“Oh, that’s… simple.”
“Right?”
Thanks to the priest’s easy manner, Marlene’s face relaxed slightly.
“The labyrinth’s size is immense — as big as a small city — and the tunnels twist and tangle, but no need to worry! We have a map!”
“A map!”
“Yes! Normally it costs five silver, but since you listened so politely, I’ll give it to you for free!”
Of course, it was free anyway.
But hey — truth doesn’t always matter when someone looks that happy.
“How do fire ants look? Since they’re ants, I bet they’re gross.”
“Not to worry. They’re quite cute compared to other insect-type monsters.”
The priest gave me a sly wink behind her back. I answered with a discreet thumbs-up.
“Marlene, ready to go?”
“Yes.”
“Let’s move. I’ll go down first.”
I gripped the ladder and descended slowly into the darkness.
A dizzying shift of vision came over me, the usual sensation of entering a labyrinth — then the world snapped back into focus.
Tap.
I landed lightly in a narrow tunnel.
The curse of the Nature God wasn’t active yet, so I could still move with my usual agility.
Drawing a dagger, I examined the surroundings.
A cramped burrow, the air thick with rising heat.
“Beautiful…”
Such exquisite scenery, freely given. How could I be this lucky?
If only I could take a photo.
《E-Rank Labyrinth – Fire Ant Nest》
《Habitat of level 1 monsters: Fire Ants. A dull, vast labyrinth already thoroughly explored. Why have you come here again? The Wise One is disappointed.》
As the text indicated, the Fire Ant Nest was long conquered.
Every monster, every treasure, every trap — thoroughly documented.
It was the kind of place that would bore lardney, who always sought fresh, dangerous thrills.
Of course, if one knew the hidden pieces, even this dull labyrinth could turn exhilarating.
“lardney, please don’t grumble. I, Carr, am not the kind of cultist who settles for a dull expedition.”
That should be enough foreshadowing. Spoiling the rest would ruin the fun.
“It really is an ant nest…”
Marlene landed softly behind me.
“But it’s too dark to read the map.”
“Take out the candle set.”
“Oh, that’s what it was for.”
She lit a candle, and the fine craftsmanship showed — its light was far brighter than normal flame.
“Give it here.”
I placed it atop her head, then used my Spider’s Binding Thread to fix it in place.
“There. Now we won’t lose our way.”
“…Did it have to go* on my head? Couldn’t I just hold it?”
“Come now. You can’t fight properly with one hand full, can you?”
“Ah. Fair point.”
“You’re not apologizing? That hurt, you know.”
“Which direction’s the exit? There are five tunnels.”
Ignoring me, she studied the map and pointed left.
“This way.”
“Already figured it out?”
“Of course. We have a map.”
For a first-timer, that was impressive.
Her spatial awareness stat of 19 wasn’t just for show. She truly had the makings of a great explorer.
“…Carr.”
She crouched, staring toward a small side tunnel along the right wall.
“They’re coming. Monsters.”
Her tail stiffened.
“What do I do? I’m nervous…”
Naturally. It was her first real combat.
Images of ghouls ripping through an orc rookie probably flashed through her mind.
“Relax. You’ll be fine.”
A leader should always calm the party’s nerves. I squeezed her shoulder gently and handed her a dagger.
“Take this.”
A cheap ceremonial dagger — no loss if she broke it.
Thieves weren’t meant for close combat anyway. Cultists had their own methods.
“Careful — it’s a ritual blade. Not very durable.”
“Got it.”
And then they appeared.
Rrrrghhh.
Huge, crimson ants, each larger than a man.
《Fire Ant (Lv.1)》
《Swarming, brute-force insects. Intimidating, perhaps — but mindless vermin nonetheless.》
Ten of them, advancing from every direction.
Marlene froze, gripping her dagger.
“The priest lied! They’re disgusting!”
“She didn’t lie. If you rate insect grossness on a scale, ants are still in the lower tier.”
Indeed, ugliness itself was a survival tactic here — dampening an adventurer’s killing intent.
Clatter!
The ants surged forward, crawling across the floor, walls, and ceiling.
Newbies usually panicked and died here.
“…Don’t come any closer!”
But Marlene was a tiger beastwoman.
And tigers didn’t cower before bugs.
She met the charge head-on, stabbing one ant clean through the head.
Slash! Another’s body split in two.
A spinning kick crushed a third, and her claws shredded the fourth mid-leap.
That wasn’t a battle.
That was a massacre.
No mindless insect could stand against the instincts of a predator.
“She’s good.”
Her dagger work was crude, but her instincts and reflexes were flawless.
If anything, I’d need to buy her new clothes — she was covered in ichor.
For her first real fight, she did remarkably well.
Clearly, her past involved more than petty theft — she’d brawled plenty.
“Shame she’s a thief. If she were a warrior or hunter, she’d be unstoppable.”
Three minutes later, it was over.
The Fire Ants lay dead, crushed, or bisected.
“Huff…”
“Well done.”
I wiped the blood from her face with a handkerchief.
A proper sponsor should at least do that much.
“They were weaker than I expected,” she muttered. “Those ghouls before were much stronger — they even revived after dying.”
“That was abnormal. Normally you only face level-one monsters like these in an E-rank labyrinth.”
“What level were those ghouls?”
“Level three. You’d only meet them in a D-rank labyrinth.”
“…We really were being reckless, weren’t we?”
Realization was good enough.
“Marlene, if you’ve rested, start collecting.”
“Collecting?”
I gestured toward the fallen ants.
“Cut open their abdomens — you’ll find blue stones. Magic stones. Take them all.”
“Ah! Mana stones!”
Magic stones — the fuel, material, and currency that kept every labyrinth city alive.
“Why didn’t we collect them last time?”
“Magic stones only appear when the monster truly dies. Those ghouls were… divided, not dead.”
Which was exactly why they were infamous as “Undying Ones.”
“And if you dig out the eyesockets carefully, you’ll find tiny organs that breathe fire — flame glands. Handle them carefully; they’re hot.”
She tilted her head as she worked.
“What do you even use these for?”
“I’ve got plans.”
Her low Dexterity stat made her work slow, but I didn’t rush her.
We’d leave before more ants arrived.
“All done.”
“Good. Let’s move. Wouldn’t want reinforcements showing up.”
“We’re heading for the exit, right?”
“No.”
“Eh?”
Her tired ears perked up.
“Why the surprise?”
“If not the exit, then where?”
I unfolded the map and pointed.
[Trash Heap]
“…Trash heap?”
“Sounds like an insult, doesn’t it?”
“Why go there?”
“It’s not what you think.”
I smiled faintly.
“To me, it’s not a trash heap.”
“It’s a treasure vault.”
