The Story of How I Ended Up Becoming a Hero Without Realizing It While Training in the Infinite Labyrinth - Chapter 2

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・Infinite Labyrinth

・Inventory

✤

“The Infinite Labyrinth is the ability’s name, so does the ‘Inventory’ below it mean some kind of storage skill?”

Storage skills are one of the most valued abilities in this world.

Labyrinths are unpredictable places, so Awakened always try to explore with as many safety measures as possible.

That’s where storage skills become essential.

Of course, there are also magic items called Item Bags that contain spatial pockets inside.

But even the smallest-capacity ones cost at least a hundred million yen, so parties always want at least one person with storage skills.

“They just tacked on such a useful ability like it’s an afterthought… Should I test if it’s real?”

I tapped Inventory the same way as before, and a screen appeared—just like an item menu in a game.

For a test, I tossed a random pebble lying nearby toward the screen.

The pebble vanished into it, and Pebble ×1 showed up on the list.

“Hah! Just this alone makes the unique skill a jackpot.”

I clenched the pebble I pulled back out and felt certain of it.

Then I pressed the other option, Infinite Labyrinth.

In an instant, I was warped from the forest into a mysterious space.

“Not too big, not too small—just the right size…”

It was about a 10-tatami-mat room with no furniture or anything else—just an empty, odd space.

The moment I registered for the room, a screen appeared in front of me displaying Difficulty Selection.

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・Extremely Hard

・Hard

・Normal

・Easy

・Help

✤

“So I chose the labyrinth difficulty from four levels? Well, there’s an option at the bottom that looks like it’ll explain everything.”

I immediately tapped Help, and information about the ability appeared.

First, as the name suggests, 【Infinite Labyrinth】 allows entry into a labyrinth that continues infinitely.

It is divided into floors—clear 100, clear 1,000, and it still goes on forever.

Difficulty changes the challenge: higher difficulties yield rare treasures and large amounts of experience.

Lower difficulties have weaker enemies, lower-rank treasures, and less experience, but floors can still be cleared.

“Clearing one floor gives a reward, so maybe start on Easy… or push Hard from the beginning? Tough choice…”

It also stated that dying inside the labyrinth does not kill you in the real world, but you are locked out of 【Infinite Labyrinth】 for 24 hours.

Inventory is part of the ability, but separate, so items can still be stored or retrieved even during the lockout.

“I get the gist, but I won’t really know until I try…”

My current stats are those of a freshly awakened Level 1.

My gear is the beginner warrior set sold at the Awakened Association—30,000 yen including tax, a huge expense for me.

Leather armor top and bottom, a sword, and a shield—nothing special.

I have two talents, 【Swordsmanship】 and 【Physical Enhancement】, but both are brand-new; I’m not even sure I can use them properly.

“But it says I won’t die, so I should challenge it, right?”

A labyrinth where I can gain experience without risk of death.

If such a sweet deal exists, a little recklessness should be fine. I selected Extremely Hard.

Suddenly, I was transferred to another location.

The place resembled the forest I had been in, but the atmosphere was different.

“So this is inside the Infinite Labyrinth. The air feels tense.”

Perhaps because of the high difficulty, my whole body sensed danger signals.

Standing still wouldn’t get me anywhere, so I drew my sword, ready for combat, and began exploring.

“A monster.”

A few minutes later, I spotted the first monster since entering.

It was a green-skinned goblin holding a club.

Only one—it was munching on some mushroom or something at its feet.

I checked the surroundings, confirmed it was alone, and decided to engage.

“—!”

“Gugya!”

I approached stealthily, closed to a few meters, then lunged.

The goblin, focused on eating and not paying attention, noticed me too late. My sword pierced its throat.

“Haa… haa… First monster kill. Weird feeling…”

I had never even killed an animal before. The sensation was strange, but I switched my mindset—something I’d have to get used to.

The goblin’s corpse vanished, leaving a small stone-like object on the ground.

“A magic stone?”

Magic stones are mana-infused stones dropped by monsters.

Their uses vary by rank—low-rank ones are consumed in bulk for energy.

High-rank ones power magic tools or have various applications and sell for high prices.

Drop rates depend on luck.

“As expected from the hardest difficulty—dropped on the first kill.”

Goblin magic stones are the lowest rank.

If I recall, the current rate is 1,000 yen each.

Even at the lowest tier, that price is why Awakened are seen as easy money-makers.

“1,000 yen in under an hour… Makes me want to hunt more.”

Moments ago, I was rattled by the first kill, but the prospect of earning money shifted my thinking—I wanted the next monster, now.

I continued through the forest searching for monsters and soon found two goblins.