The 9Th Class Swordmaster: Blade Of Truth [EN]: Chapter 133

106. Labyrinth of the Minotaur (4)

[Kuaaaaah―――!!!]

Carryl, riding Iagos, roared fiercely and charged towards the monsters blocking their path through the labyrinth.

[Krrr……!!]

[Kaak!!]

Gargoyles, brandishing sharp spears, shrieked at the approaching beast.

Thwack……!!

But Iagos, with a massive body twice the size of a gargoyle, grabbed the closest one as Carryl pulled on the chain, smashing the gargoyle’s head against the wall.

One gargoyle shattered into pieces, and Iagos pierced another with its sharp claws.

[Kaaaak!!]

Radamantus flapped its wings wildly, spewing fire that engulfed the gargoyles, turning them black and causing them to scream amidst a pungent odor.

The might of these two magical beasts, easily subduing A-class monsters like gargoyles, was truly astonishing.

Witnessing this display, it was only natural to marvel at how difficult it must be to casually control such creatures.

“……”

The people clinging to Radamantus’ head were barely able to hold on amidst the beast’s violent movements, and they shuddered as they watched Carryl casually maneuvering Iagos.

[Kueuaaaah―――!!]

Iagos rampaged through the labyrinth, smashing walls and forging a new path.

The monsters of the labyrinth, initially rushing at them, seemed to grow fearful and hesitated to approach.

Carryl guided Iagos, pushing its head through the broken walls.

‘It’s a natural outcome. They are mid-boss level, only encountering Minos [the final boss of this labyrinth]. Gargoyles or Lycanthropes couldn’t possibly stop them.’

Fear.

The monster food chain is more definite and clear than a typical ecosystem.

The higher the predator, the stronger it is against lower creatures, and the lower prey have absolute fear of higher beings.

This was a naturally determined rule and law. It was also why dragons were at the top of the food chain.

[Krrr…… Krrrl…….]

[Krreureuk……!!]

The Lycanthropes guarding the path to the next floor behind the broken wall seemed startled by Iagos’ sudden appearance, stepping back and growling.

They were wary but couldn’t easily approach.

It was evidence that they were already afraid.

Thump— Thump—

Carryl kicked Iagos’ head a few times, and the beast swung its sharp beak at the Lycanthropes.

[Kaak!! Kaaaak――!!]

With several thunderous roars, the Lycanthropes scattered without daring to confront them.

“Hmm.”

Carryl nodded once more.

Though they scattered into the darkness, the golden glint in the Lycanthropes’ eyes still watched Carryl.

They were curiously observing the only being that defied the absolute rule of fear.

Namely.

Humans (人間).

Only humans were free from the food chain of fear created by the gods.

That was why they could stand against higher monsters and why dragon slayers, who killed dragons like Kaie Essir, the apex of the food chain, could be born.

But conversely, they were also infinitely weak and fragile beings.

The reason why the Gargoyles and Lycanthropes initially rushed at Iagos was because there was a human on top of it.

“Move.”

Huddeudeuk―――!!

Hudeuk――!!

As Carryl spoke, staring into the darkness, the monsters hurriedly disappeared.

They instinctively realized that the murderous intent emanating from the human they had underestimated was beyond their ability to handle.

With the monsters gone, the entrance to the final floor of the labyrinth was visible.

“Beykan, how long has it been?”

“It hasn’t been three hours from the statue where we obtained the leash to here.”

At his words, Carryl nodded.

‘It’s faster than when I first raided this place in Phare [a virtual reality game]. Well, I know the strategy… I don’t remember every detail of all the labyrinths, but I know at least the major parts.’

Experience is not easily forgotten, even after time passes.

From Gray Academy to the Labyrinth of the Minotaur, and the other labyrinths that will appear in the future.

Carryl, who had experienced countless times in Phare, knew the strategies for all the labyrinths before the oracle, to say the least.

‘Ruon is suspicious, but he will eventually move his forces because of Olivon and Kromen. The time spent in Ponaine will be at most a day or two.’

Carryl nodded.

‘That’s enough.’

Originally, reaching the final room of the labyrinth was by no means easy due to the overwhelming number of monsters.

Moreover, even in his previous life when he was called the Sword Saint, it took him two days to defeat Minos, the final boss of the labyrinth. In fact, conquering an S-class labyrinth in a day or two was absurd.

「Unbreakable King’s Leash」

However, Carryl, who had reached the lowest floor of the labyrinth in an instant, looked at the two monsters submitting to him and nodded with satisfaction.

It was truly a coincidence that he learned the strategy for this place.

‘I thought I was going to die back then. I barely avoided Iagos and Radamantus to reach Minos’ room, but he summoned the two of them.’

Carryl, who had to face three monsters at once, had no choice but to retreat upwards from the lowest floor, fleeing from the attacks.

After learning the strategy, he was able to defeat Minos of the 978th floor without any difficulty, but at that time, defeating the monsters of the 34th floor at the same time was a daunting task.

At that moment.

When he returned to the underground, Carryl approached the statue and realized that the two monsters, except for Minos, were hesitating.

Carryl did not miss that moment.

A kind of arrangement (按排) [a pre-ordained opportunity].

There is always a moment in the labyrinth when the boss can be hunted.

Hunting the Two-Headed Eagle when it initially cannot fully spread its wings and fly properly inside the labyrinth is also in that context.

Whether that is a consideration given to humans by God or not is unknown.

‘If God created this damn labyrinth in the first place, there’s no need to be grateful for such an arrangement.’

Carryl wanted to get out of this tiresome place as soon as possible.

“Minos!!!”

Carryl, who had come down from Iagos’ head, shouted and moved forward.

The final room of the labyrinth, Minos’ room, was dark and gloomy, hardly befitting a king’s throne.

It didn’t smell of blood like the cage where Iagos and Radamantus were, filled with corpses, but Minos, standing in the darkness like a cave, looked as if he was sitting on a spirit seat rather than a throne.

[It has been a long time indeed.]

A low, gloomy voice was heard.

Minos, wearing a crown that was rusted and discolored in places, moved his dull gray lips that looked like a corpse.

[Since a living being has come this far.]

He was moving his lips, but the voice was not coming from his throat.

People looked up in surprise at his words echoing in their heads.

Karreureung――!!

Iagos and Radamantus flinched at Minos’ voice, and Carryl once again pulled the chain he was holding tightly.

“Tsk―”

Carryl clicked his tongue as he looked at the two beasts.

[Kkeeeng…….]

Then, they cowered between Minos and Carryl, as if not knowing what to do, with their tails wagging nervously.

Minos, seeing his subordinates submitting to a human, said with a stiff face.

[I see. So there is one who recognizes my chains. You are qualified to come to where I am.]

“Of course. It was quite troublesome, but. I will never forget it.”

Carryl shrugged and replied as if talking to a friend.

‘Is he insensitive or just bold….’

‘How can he be like that?’

‘The air is so heavy that it feels hard to breathe.’

‘Is the master not bothered at all in front of such a monster?’

Not only Viola and Grace, but this time even Beykan and Kinu could not help but stick out their tongues at Carryl’s nonchalant attitude.

Although the content of the conversation was difficult to understand, that was not important.

Only then did they truly realize the clear difference between themselves and Carryl.

‘This is not a fight we can join.’

It was a matter of pride as a warrior, but this was the first thought that came to their minds.

[Hiss…… Hiss…….]

The giant snakes sitting on both shoulders of the massive giant Minos moved, sticking out their large tongues as if wary of Carryl.

As he unwrapped himself from the throne and stood, Minos picked up the hammer that had been placed upside down.

“Do we need a reason?”

Carryl waved his hand at him, as if he were an audience waiting for an obvious stage play.

“We subjugate because there is a labyrinth. Nothing more, nothing less. We are humans, and you are monsters.”

[I was given the rule of the world by the gods.]

“Don’t pretend to be human.”

Carryl grinned at his words.

“No, is it possible because you are not human? Certainly, the world you live in and the world I live in are different. I have never even met a god.”

[Rude bastard……!!!]

Minos glared at him and shouted, growling at Carryl’s words.

“Do as you please. I don’t care whether you keep the rules or govern, but I’ll tell you one thing you don’t seem to know. Rules exist to be broken.”

Chaang―

Carryl drew Ice Claw.

A cold chill spread throughout the hall in an instant, causing the surrounding people to shiver slightly.

“You guys follow the rules set by the gods. We act as ourselves.”

[You too will simply become one of the countless humans who have disappeared from this place.]

“Well. I don’t think so at all?”

Carryl sneered sharply.

Minos asked back with a stiff face at his words.

[Your arrogance pierces the sky.]

“Well, it’s not that great of a fight, but the words have gotten long. Know your place. You may seem special because you are a monster that can use human language, but you are not special. You are just a monster in the labyrinth.”

Jeobeok― Jeobeok― Jeobeok―

Carryl slowly walked towards Minos.

He put his other hand into his chest and took out Agnel. The two artifacts made of blue jade trembled as if resisting Minos’ momentum.

“I’m tired of your words that say the same thing every time. I’ve taken your head several times over countless years, but you only spout the same things like a manufactured doll.”

Even on the 34th floor, the 238th floor, the 675th floor, and……. Even Minos on the 978th floor.

Like playing the same movie over and over again, he would recite the same lines without missing a single word.

As he climbed Phare, Carryl felt an unknown sense of incongruity.

And in the current labyrinth, which he had not experienced in his previous life, Minos was reciting the same lines as expected.

‘The labyrinth is an artificially created replica.’

Then there is a chance of winning.

Carryl had experienced all the labyrinths that had appeared and would appear in Phare.

“And I will only say the same thing to you every time.”

He pointed his sword at Minos and said in a low voice.

“I have nothing else to say. I’ll send you off cleanly, so go and tell God.”

[You…… dare!!]

The king of the labyrinth, who seemed not to know fear, looked at Carryl with a trembling voice for the first time.

“You dare judge humans?”

No matter how many times it is repeated, he will say the same thing.

To Minos on the 34th floor, the 238th floor, the 675th floor, and…… the 978th floor.

Carryl always said the same thing as if making a pledge.

[Kuaaaaah―――!!]

“Fuck off.”