Only when their feet stepped on solid ground did their tense nerves slightly relax.
Behind them, the massive, irregular entrance of the labyrinth became more eerie and unpredictable under the night and the impending exclusion period, resembling the mouth of a giant beast lurking there.
At this moment, a dull, earth-pulse-like vibration seemed to emanate from deep within the entrance, making the three of them feel the subtle tremors through the soles of their boots.
"Phew...finally out!"
Aaliyah let out a long sigh of relief, brushing off the moss and dust clinging to her body, and looked back at the labyrinth entrance with lingering fear.
Even Ulfen, Aik, and the chocobo were making noise. As wild animals, they were more sensitive to changes in the natural environment, just like how dogs would bark abnormally before an earthquake, bees would leave the hive, and fish would leap out of ponds.
Gauss looked towards the entrance, even sensing that the space inside the labyrinth felt different.
It should be noted that they hadn’t even officially entered the exclusion period yet, and such anomalies were already present.
When the true exclusion period occurs, the danger level of the labyrinth will probably soar.
No wonder the labyrinth guide says that during this period, adventurers are prohibited from entering, and staying inside almost certainly spells doom.
"I wonder how long it will last?" Aaliyah sighed.
"If short, a few weeks; if long, maybe even a few years," Gauss glanced at the labyrinth guide and replied.
"It could take that long?" Serdur’s face showed a hint of surprise.
"For humans, a few years is a long time, but for a labyrinth, especially one with a long lifespan, it’s merely a trifling amount of time," Gauss shook his head.
"Moreover, it’s not necessarily a few years; it could also be a few weeks or a few months."
"Shall we find a place to rest first?" Gauss glanced at the now bustling small town on the surface of the labyrinth.
After searching around the town a bit, they easily found the station of the Golden Beak Trading Company.
It was a three-story building.
The employees stationed at the labyrinth all recognized Gauss and the others.
Though it was late at night, the on-duty staff still respectfully welcomed them in.
Robert, a senior officer of the Golden Beak Store, hurriedly came downstairs.
Initially irked by being disturbed at night, his annoyance vanished upon hearing Gauss and the others’ names.
Before coming downstairs, he even specifically tidied up his appearance before approaching Gauss and his team, already relaxing in the reception room, with a warm smile.
Robert instructed the kitchen to prepare an extra good meal and had someone ready hot water.
Even though Gauss kept insisting it wasn’t necessary and that finding a few empty rooms for rest would suffice, Robert dared not show the slightest neglect.
He knew very well the significance of Gauss and his team to the Golden Beak Trading Company; their importance couldn’t be described as just a simple pseudo-tier-three adventurer team.
Not to mention the private relationship with the young master, the mere fact of their youthful appearance indicated the team’s promising future.
Were it not for the young master’s connection and Gauss’s relatively recent venture into the adventuring path, a small trading company like theirs wouldn’t have had a chance to form a relationship.
Under Robert’s warm hospitality, Gauss and his team enjoyed a decent late-night supper.
...
The next day.
Haylir hurried to the office building of the Golden Beak Trading Company early in the morning.
After just finishing the labyrinth exploration, Gauss got up slightly later than usual. After washing up and getting dressed in casual clothes, he saw a familiar figure with chestnut hair.
"Haylir, you’re here."
"Yes, I just arrived," Haylir nodded, showing a hint of regret. "I initially came to assess the labyrinth’s commercial environment. Who would have thought that on the first day, I would encounter such a change..."
Now adventurers and merchants from the first floor were evacuating urgently, transporting supplies. It wasn’t the right time to go inside for an assessment.
"However, I’m glad our trading company’s strength isn’t sufficient for a major venture, as we approached it cautiously. Otherwise, this exclusion period of the labyrinth would have been disastrous."
Gauss was about to offer some words of comfort, but before he could speak, Haylir had already adjusted her mindset.
When mentioning the potential for disaster, a trace of lingering fear appeared on her face.
The surface commercial layout was manageable, but those infrastructures and investments on the basement floor of the trading company would mostly be a loss.
If it were a medium to large trading company, it would still be manageable, but for a small trading company like hers, such a setback could be crippling.
"Yes. Going fast isn’t as important as going far."
"Oh, by the way, Gauss, do you want to buy a house in Whirlwind Town? The housing prices aren’t too high now."
Whirlwind Town is the name of the small surface town of the labyrinth they were in.
It’s named for its vortex-shaped entrance.
Buy a house?
Gauss pondered briefly, then nodded.
Even though they were entering the exclusion period of the labyrinth, and the duration was uncertain, purchasing a house in the nearby town seemed worthwhile.
Even if it didn’t gain value later, at least the adventurer team would have a base near the labyrinth.
Instead of struggling to find a hotel late at night amidst crowds like last night, they wouldn’t have to resort to borrowing a night at the Golden Beak Trading Company.
Moreover, properties on the surface were not as expensive as those underground, requiring little money.
"I’ll keep an eye out for a suitable price and buy it for you. Besides, I want to buy a house myself."
"Thanks for your help."
"It’s nothing."
...
After Aaliyah and Serdur got up, Gauss discussed buying a house in town as a base for the team, and they both raised their hands in approval.
The town was already awake in the morning.
The three of them wandered around the town, taking the opportunity to gather specific information about the labyrinth.
Today, there were many adventurers walking around the town, and even now, there was a constant flow of people withdrawing from the labyrinth.
Not everyone has a map like Gauss to guide them, so even though withdrawing saves time compared to entering and exploring, it’s not always possible to escape easily.
Wandering over to the labyrinth entrance, the aura emanating from the massive vortex-shaped entrance felt even more ominous.
It was as if the labyrinth itself was emitting a signal to prevent outsiders from entering.
By listening to the conversations of other adventurers earlier, the three were able to confirm that this was the exclusion period of the labyrinth, and the Adventurer’s Guild had also issued a public notice.
Moreover, there were guards stationed at the entrance, and without a document issued by the Adventurer’s Guild, it was only possible to exit but not enter for now, making it impossible for the three to venture inside even if they wanted to.
Cursing merchants, embarrassed adventurers escaping from the labyrinth, and gloating onlookers all gathered around the labyrinth entrance.
"What’s the next step?" Aaliyah looked at Gauss and asked aloud.
The labyrinth was closed, but the three of them couldn’t just wait outside Vortex Town, not knowing when it would reopen. Meanwhile, they needed to find something to do.
"Let’s continue taking up commissions," Gauss shrugged.
What else could they do?
Of course, they would go back to their old trade.
Though the labyrinth was closed temporarily, he and his team still had plenty to keep them busy.
For example, he needed to practice clay magic, gather spirituality, and prepare for advancing to Profession Tier 3.
Additionally, they hadn’t returned to Gray Rock Town for quite some time.
And coincidentally, during this break from exploration, he could continue with the plans he made last winter but never had time to execute.
That was to return to his original hometown—Stone Creek Village.
To see firsthand how the family of this body was doing.
If he could help, he wouldn’t hesitate to lend a hand.
Of course, thinking of that dilapidated little village in his memory, his feelings were slightly complex and fearful.
The influence of memory brought a hint of homesickness into his emotions.
Even though the achievements he had gained might already be unmatched in his village for generations.
But regardless of fear, he had to go back and see; how to interact with familiar yet distant relatives would be another matter.
That’s what Gauss thought.
He laid out his plan openly.
"You’re going home?" Aaliyah blinked her eyes.
Catching the inexplicable complexity in Gauss’s expression, a curious sparkle flickered in her eyes.
To be honest, she was very curious about Gauss’s past too.
Even though Gauss had told her multiple times that his hometown was just an ordinary village where the road was lined with piles of stinking manure, and after rain, the village’s dirt roads became impassable muck...
She still wanted to see it.
"Can I come with you?" She tilted her head.
"..."
"Sure, if you want to come." Gauss couldn’t help but laugh at this.
But having a familiar company at least gave him some reassurance.
"Captain, count me in too," The Half-Snake Man Serdur said quietly at this time.
"Alright, let’s go together then." Gauss suddenly understood something and laughed aloud. "However, our place is really poor; there might not be much to entertain you. I’m just giving you a heads up."
He realized that even if the team briefly separated, Aaliyah and Serdur wouldn’t likely have any set plans of their own.
It seemed like their hometowns were quite far away, making a trip back rather cumbersome.
They might as well continue to act together.
The three of them stayed in Vortex Town for another day.
After confirming that the labyrinth entrance would not be accessible for a short time and submitting the spoils, demanded demon items from the labyrinth, and various collection commission tasks they had at hand, Gauss and Aaliyah mounted their chocobos, with Serdur accompanying them, and set off again in the direction of Gray Rock Town.
Compared to traveling with a caravan, riding the chocobos themselves significantly sped up their journey.
In the blink of an eye, the silhouette of Vortex Town and the Forest City in the distance gradually faded away.
Along the way, four clay spiders were actively following by his side as well.
This prolonged use helped improve the proficiency of the [Shaping Magic: Clay].
At the same time, as they followed Gauss, they continuously killed various insects by the roadside, absorbing spirituality and enhancing themselves.
Even the ingredients for lunch, two plump wild chickens, were caught by the clay spiders in the wild grassland.
Sensing the kill reports they transmitted back, Gauss used his innate skill [Nest Consciousness Prototype] to have the freely roaming clay spiders bring the prey back.
Clay creatures are indeed great companions for travel.
The only drawback is that they require continuous magic power; if not for Gauss’s unique amount of magic power, he might not be able to sustain the activities of these four.
On the other hand, this shortcoming is also an advantage, as the consumption of magic power can contribute a portion of the experience needed for profession tier upgrades.
2nd-level Spell [Shaping Magic: Clay] lv2 (19/20)
With Gauss continuously deploying four clay creatures, the proficiency of this 2nd-level spell increased rapidly, nearly reaching the upgrade threshold.