[The low-grade Healing Potion has been completely crafted.]

[You have used up the ingredients to make the low-grade Healing Potion.]

[Please restock them by completing the ongoing daily task.]

“I know, Mr Guideline, but don't you think 100HP is too little for a low-grade potion?” I mumble to myself in my hospital room after I've just completed making my fourth low-grade Healing Potion. “Then again, I'm an F-rank Slayer so it makes sense that I've a very low HP of 120.”

It's the fourth day of doing my daily task given by the Guideline. And today is the day I must reply whether I should accept or decline the invitation to another unknown Labyrinth. As usual, I put the majority of the acquired points into ‘Endurance’.

[Stats of Kang Joo-yeon]

[Agility: 5]

[Vitality: 5]

[Endurance: 27]

[Strength: 5]

[Luck: 5]

[Available points from completing the daily task: 0]

I'm aware that having a well-balanced stat is recommended to be put into practice, but I’m not changing my mind. In fact, I won't regret putting many of the points in the attribute my body is compatible with. I feel envious of Ms Han, despite having an ordinary subclass, is able to run so fast for her rank. Many Slayers, including myself, even acknowledged her as the fastest D-rank Slayer. I can only dream about getting the chance to run the same speed as her.

After having a shower at this hospital, I put on a new pair of clothes, which I bought yesterday from one of the nurses who ordered online and found out later on they're too small to fit her. Luckily, the clothes, which consisted of pink-colored plaid boxer shorts and a black long-sleeved shirt, fit my petite body. It was coincidental that I had just enough cash in my wallet to make the payment to her.

I was gonna go into the Spontaneous Labyrinth wearing my tracksuit, but seeing how I need it for my daily task, it's best if I wear a new set of clothes. I feel a bit embarrassed wearing shorts, but I couldn't ask if she bought long pants. That might sound rude as it indirectly questions her choice in clothes. Besides, I might run faster in them than my usual jeans. After I dress myself up with the new clothes, the Guideline's notification appears in my sight. Unsurprisingly, it's a reminder message to me.

[The deadline of “Kang Joo-yeon's Invitation to the Spontaneous Labyrinth” is 10 minutes.]

[Please decide your reply before the deadline.]

At this moment, I'm reconsidering my decision to go inside this unknown Labyrinth. After all, I never get any hints on what kind of Beasts I'll encounter there. The quick flashbacks of the Painting Labyrinth start to send chills down my spine. I flinch when I remember what the unknown man sounds like. He sounded like he was having fun with us, especially me. It doesn't help that his voice has a similar tonal range as Chun, whom I heard at least one sentence in one of those guerilla interviews some unethical reporters do without letting the S-rank Slayers they're on live broadcast.

Surprise me if the unknown man turns out to be Chun’s long-lost evil twin though I've no clue on what he looks like. Anyhow, I think I won't be missing anything important if I miss out going into the Spontaneous Labyrinth. In fact, I want to play it safe regarding the Guideline.

Just when I'm about to inwardly say [Decline], my phone suddenly rings. I answer the call and it turns out to be Gi-young whose voice range almost reminds me of Slayer Hong. At least I must remember that Gi-young is experiencing puberty now.

“Hello? Are you there, Joo-yeon noona (term endearment for a younger male calling an older female)?”

“I'm here, Gi-young. I thought you're using this phone call to your dad or Ga-young.”

Apparently, the students at Gi-young’s school are allowed to make one phone call every week from their summer camp’s location. It's already been a month since he went there. I'm a bit surprised that he’s using this week's phone call for me.

“Well, Joo-yeon noona, if you don't mind…I hope you can talk with my classmates…”

“Hello, Ms Kang Joo-yeon! This is Gi-young's homeroom teacher! We're hoping you can answer some of my students’ questions about yourself being a Slayer.”

I widen my eyes with feelings of astonishment for I never expect Nons to be keen in knowing about low-ranking Slayers, especially those who are the same rank as me.

“Hello… there,” I reply with a bit of hesitation in my greeting though I try to have my voice regain a normal pace in having the conversation with Gi-young's teacher. She sounds as enthusiastic as Gi-young's classmates greet me joyfully in the background of this phone call. “Is this part of Gi-young's classwork at the summer camp? What kind of topic did you give him?”

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“Oh! That’s right! I ask my students which dream they remember seeing as a good sign. Unexpectedly, Gi-young dreamt about you, Ms Kang Joo-yeon.”

“Uhm…I'm sorry, but I don't understand what you're saying, Teacher.”

“Oh, right, right! Gi-young shall explain more to you along with the rest of us. Well, I never knew that I would have a conversation with a Slayer until now.”

“Teacher, do you know my rank?”

“Hmm? I don't know, but who cares about that? Besides, Gi-young told us you've been a great support in the raid teams you were in for the past two years.”

“Hey, hey, Big Sis! Is it true you healed Gi-young's knee injury with your own magic?”

“Hold on, Min! I want my question to be answered now! Joo-yeon unnie (term endearment for a younger female calling an older female), Gi-young told me you're way prettier than his rude older sister.”

“Of course she is! Her voice even sounds pretty here!”

“Haha…Gi-young, that's not nice of you to talk behind your (actual) older sister's back.”

“But it's the truth, Noona.”

“Anyway, what's this dream you have of me?”

“Noona, you have to believe that you'll be stronger someday. The dream I had of you was you were holding a long sword while standing on top of a high-looking rock in front of those gates from the Labyrinths. You were looking like Joan of Arc in there!”

As absurd as it sounds, it feels like that kind of scene Gi-young had in his dream may come true since I've got this Guideline implemented inside my body that's gonna help me “level up”. I think I'm making a smile now once I listen to Gi-young telling off, in a cheeky manner, his classmates not to bombard me with so many questions about my magic powers of a Slayer.

It's been a long time since I made a genuine smile. It's probably because I’m experiencing a comfortable and wholesome conversation with other people. I'm getting asked all sorts of questions, especially about healing magic that only healer Slayers can have.

I often experience rankism from most of the Slayers I met that I won't be surprised the Nons will treat me the same. I guess young children are the exception and that Gi-young’s teacher possibly grew up in an unprejudiced environment.

“Teacher Lee!”

A young man’s voice is heard in the background of this phone call. I notice the sound of a strong breeze is also heard.

“It's time for your students to get on the bus.”

“Alright. We'll be there,” Gi-young's teacher, Ms Lee, replies with a loud voice before switching to her voice’s normal tone to talk to me. “Sorry, Ms Joo-yeon. We've to go to a strawberry farm as part of the students’ homework. Thank you for answering this phone call. We hope to hear from you soon.”

The phone call ends with Gi-young and his classmates saying goodbye to me with their cheerful voices. As my right hand still clings on to my smartphone, I ponder about my decision to not go into the Spontaneous Labyrinth. Once again, the Guideline's reminder about it appears in my sight.

[The deadline of “Kang Joo-yeon's Invitation to the Spontaneous Labyrinth” is 5 minutes.]

[Please decide your reply before the deadline.]

Gi-young and those kids believe a Slayer becoming stronger is possible. It's been twelve years and there's no such case of a Slayer being able to increase their mana naturally. Despite that I'm replying with this word.

“I don't want to run away anymore.”

[Accept]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

“I'm really not gonna regret this, am I?”

I realize that mumbling or talking to myself seems to be my coping mechanism in maintaining calmness within myself. Just like inside the Painting Labyrinth, I feel a similar anxiety and dread in venturing into the unknown.

“Actually, how do I get to the Spontaneous Labyrinth? That old man shouldn't leave me not knowing anything…”

As I think about whether or not I'm well-prepared, I hear a notification from the Guideline. It's about the Spontaneous Labyrinth with another one following up about an available weapon that I'm allowed to bring inside there.

What…weapon?

[The Spontaneous Labyrinth will appear in 3 minutes.]

[The revisioned Guideline has detected a weapon in the participant’s possession.]

[Please state the name of the weapon to clarify the revisioned Guideline's detection.]

In my possession? I don't remember any…wait…could it be…

I remember the flashback of my participation in one of the earlier raids. I barely survived from being attacked by harpies. Their claws left so many scratch marks on my arms and back. My shirt also experienced being torn with those claw marks. I thought I was gonna die from being impaled by those sharp body parts. It was a miracle a D-rank elementalist has an affinity for fire. If he didn't have it, I would've been clawed to death.

“It's a good thing I left my jacket outside the Labyrinth’s gate.”

“Are you sure you don't need to see a high-ranked healer to treat your wounds, Joo-yeon?”

I turn my head to look at a worrying Jung-han who again protected me for a while from some of the harpies’ attacks. It was hard for me to believe this teddy bear-like Slayer is the strongest C-rank tanker.

“I'm fine, Jung-han. They're not deep wounds…ouch!”

“I knew it! You really are reckless, Joo-yeon. I wish you would stop being…Ha…”

“I understand your feeling of upsetness, Jung-han. But you know about the financial situation my uncle got duped into and that's when I decided to be the other breadwinner.”

“Yeah, but that's not why I'm upset…”

I stared at Jung-han who was frowning more than usual. I dislike seeing other people than my family to be looking like this because of my avoidable injuries. Thus, I put on a bravado attitude as if I'm literally the life of the party (raid team).

“Then, I shall receive a penalty from you.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hmm~ in other words, I will treat you to an expensive coffee if I’m able to save someone from the raid team.”

“That doesn't make any sense.”

“It'll make sense once I prove I'm not weak anymore in your sight, Jung-han.”

“You're smiling while saying that…It's kind of embarrassing me.”

“Oh ho~ so I managed to make the strongest C-rank tanker feel fuzzy inside, huh? Are you saying I look cool saying these cheesy lines to you?”

“Joo-yeon! Stop…”

I laughed like what a cheeky teenage girl does after teasing her friends with her sneaky words. I couldn't care less about the other raid members looking at me like I've gone mad.

“If that's the case, I can't stop your own free will on doing this, Joo-yeon. Instead, promise me you'll carry this when I'm not by your side or when you really think you need it.”

I saw Jung-han getting something from his left side. He pulls up an iron shield which looks like a Viking shield given the similar pattern it has on its cover.

“Is that your shield?”

“Yes, and it's yours now.”

“But why?...”

“You need at least a protective weapon to help you if you have to go through a Labyrinth alone. That is if that were to happen and I got a feeling you will do that someday. Promise me you'll stay safe, Joo-yeon.”

And this sort of heartwarming flashback ends when I inwardly say [Iron Shield]. Then, the Guideline's notification makes another appearance.

[You have confirmed a battle item called ‘Iron Shield’ that is part of your storage.]

Storage? Like the inventory those RPGs have?

[You are about to be transported to the Spontaneous Labyrinth in…]

[5]

[4]

[3]

It's really happening, right, Old Man Amergin?

[2]

I hope I'm not gonna regret this!

[1]

As expected, I'm being whisked away inside the Spontaneous Labyrinth once a bright yellow light engulfs me. I can imagine anyone coming into my hospital room right now. Hopefully they will not panic seeing my phone and wallet on my empty bed whilst I'll be gone missing for at least a few hours.