The sound dragged me out of sleep like a hook.
Static.Then a voice—too loud, too sharp for my small apartment.
I groaned and rolled onto my side. "Solenne… turn it down…"
No response.
That alone was enough to wake me fully.
I pushed myself up, eyes half-open, and noticed the glow first. The TV was on—volume high, screen bright enough to cut through the dim morning light. Solenne stood in front of it, arms folded, wings faintly shimmering.
She wasn't relaxed. She wasn't smiling.
She was staring at the screen with a seriousness I'd only seen once before—back when she warned me not to enter the Labyrinth alone at Level 1.
"…What's going on?" I asked.
She didn't look away. "Watch."
I frowned and turned my attention to the TV.
A news anchor filled the screen, expression barely containing excitement.
"—this is not a drill. Early this morning, the strongest familia has officially confirmed their conquest of the 30th Floor of the Labyrinth."
My breath caught.
The footage shifted—grainy but unmistakable. A massive stone gate collapsing inward. Adventurers emerging battered but standing tall. Healers rushing forward. Cheers erupting behind safety barriers.
The anchor continued.
"This marks the deepest confirmed human advancement in recorded history. According to official statements, the familia has already begun preparations to advance to the 31st Floor."
I stared.
"…Thirty," I muttered. "They actually did it."
Solenne finally spoke, her voice low. "This changes things."
I glanced at her. "How?"
She turned to face me, silver eyes sharp. "The Labyrinth responds to pressure. Whenever humanity pushes deeper, it pushes back."
The screen showed analysts now—maps of the Labyrinth, red markers blinking ominously.
"Experts warn that deeper progression could result in unprecedented monster activity on upper floors—"
Solenne snapped her fingers.
The TV muted instantly.
"Listen carefully," she said. "Once a familia reaches a new depth threshold, the balance shifts. Spawn rates increase. Variants appear sooner. And relic circulation accelerates."
My heart began to pound—not with fear, but with something else.
Opportunity.
"So this means," I said slowly, "everyone's going to rush the Labyrinth."
"Yes," she confirmed. "And more importantly—so will the system."
I swung my legs off the couch and stood. "Then the timing's perfect."
She studied me. "You're thinking of entering again."
"I was going to anyway," I replied. "But now?"
I clenched my fist, feeling that familiar pressure coil inside me—the stored weight of years finally moving again.
"Now I won't be the only one chasing growth."
Solenne nodded once. "You're still not Level 3. Don't force it."
"I won't," I said. "But I'm close."
She looked back at the TV, unmutes it briefly. The headline scrolled across the bottom of the screen:
HUMANITY BREAKS DEPTH RECORD — WHAT AWAITS BEYOND FLOOR 30?
Solenne's wings fluttered subtly.
"The strongest familia just announced themselves to the world," she said."And to everything watching from below."
I exhaled slowly.
"…Guess the Labyrinth's waking up," I said.
Solenne glanced at me, a faint smile returning—sharp, knowing.
"And so are you."
Outside, the city buzzed louder than usual.
And deep beneath it—
Something ancient shifted, as if aware that the race had just begun again.
-
I didn't let the broadcast linger in my head for long.
Big news was for big people.Right now, I had my own climb to worry about.
I moved through my usual routine—automatic, grounded, familiar.
I ate whatever passed as breakfast: dry bread, a boiled egg, and water. Nothing fancy. Adventurers who obsessed over luxury never lasted long. After that, I washed up in the cramped bathroom, cold water snapping the rest of the sleep from my body. My reflection stared back—same tired eyes, same lean frame—but something beneath the surface felt different.
Solenne sat cross-legged on the couch, watching me without comment.
"You heading to the second floor?" she asked casually.
"Yeah," I replied while tightening the straps on my boots. "No rush. Just clearing routes, building experience."
She nodded. "Good. Don't chase growth. Let it come."
I grabbed my cloak and reached for the door—
Ring. Ring.
My hand froze.
I sighed before even checking the communicator.
"…Of course."
I answered it anyway.
"Yo! Kael!" A familiar, overly energetic voice blasted into my ear. "You alive, man?"
I pulled the device slightly away. "Barely. What do you want, Ryn?"
Ryn laughed. "Straight to the point as always. I like that about you."
I leaned against the doorframe. "You didn't call just to chat."
"Yeah, yeah," he admitted. "Listen—we're forming a party run today. Floor four."
That made me pause.
"Floor four?" I repeated. "Already?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that," Ryn said defensively. "We're all Level 9–10 now. This is normal progression."
Normal for him.
Silence hung between us for a second before he continued, voice lowering slightly.
"So… you free?"
I already knew where this was going.
"Let me guess," I said. "You want a porter."
Ryn laughed again. "See? You always get it."
Normally, this was where bitterness would creep in.
But today—
I smiled.
Because for the first time, I saw it clearly.
An opportunity.
He didn't know my status had changed.He didn't know I had a goddess.He didn't know my experience was finally being counted.
And more importantly—
He didn't know that experience was shared in a party.
"…What's the rate?" I asked.
There was a brief pause on the other end.
"…Huh?"
"Payment," I said. "Same as usual?"
He laughed, relieved. "Yeah, yeah. Same cut. You carry, we protect."
I glanced over my shoulder.
Solenne was watching me closely now, one eyebrow slightly raised.
I nodded subtly.
"Alright," I said into the communicator. "I'm in."
"Really?" he said, surprised. "No complaints today?"
"Call it a good mood," I replied.
He chuckled. "Don't push yourself, okay? Floor four's no joke—even with us around."
"I know," I said calmly.
That was the truth.
"Meet at the gate in an hour," he said. "Don't be late."
The call ended.
I lowered the communicator and let out a slow breath.
Solenne tilted her head. "You're going with them."
"Yeah," I said. "As a porter."