Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

※ “The Boy from Labyrinth City” continues due to its popularity in the Twitter survey.

“...Is it morning?”

Light was streaming through the gaps in the window and walls.

My throat was sore. Maybe because the air was dry?

Why—oh right, this is Labyrinth City. I became an explorer here in Labyrinth City Selbira.

Sitting up and looking around, I saw familiar faces sprawled out on the floor in this cramped room.

The large Gon was lying spread-eagle, crushing the skinny Keros and the small, knowledgeable Zaki who looked uncomfortable. The quiet Rasa was curled up in the corner.

The only girl, Sina, was sleeping in the girls’ room, so except for the wealthy Keros and Rasa, everyone else was barely dressed due to the heat.

I put on the clothes I had thrown off yesterday and went outside.

These rows of “longhouses,” made up of rooms like the one we stayed in, were built all over this area.

After stretching deeply, I went to the communal well, got in line, and filled a bucket with water.

Apparently, after transferring the water from the bucket to the jar installed in each room, you have to return the bucket.

It’s a bit of a hassle, but since we just arrived in Labyrinth City and only have our travel essentials, it’s really helpful that they lend these for free.

“Think I’ll skip the daily run today?”

Near the drainage, I washed my face and poured water over my head as a substitute for a bath.

“Hey! If you want to bathe, do it in the river! Don’t waste precious drinking water!”

An official managing the well scolded me.

Come to think of it, the knowledgeable Zaki said this place is near a desert, so water is precious.

“Good morning, Sharon. You’re up early.”

“Morning. Sina, you’re early too.”

When I carried the water back, Sina was waiting outside the room.

Sina opened the door for me, and I brought in the water.

There was sand settled in the jar, so I rinsed it out with a little water before pouring in the bucket. I’d have to fetch water a couple more times to fill it.

Well, we’re not cooking, so this amount should be enough.

“Everyone, it’s morning!”

Sina woke up the four sleeping people.

“Already morning...”

“The floor’s hard—I want a bed.”

“There’s no way we can have beds in such a small space.”

“Five people in this cramped space is impossible.”

Zaki and Keros got up.

“Come on, Gon, get up too.”

“Mom, just a little longer.”

Sina shook Gon’s body, who was still asleep, and he whined in an unusually spoiled voice.

I went to wake Rasa, who was curled up in the corner.

Usually, she wakes up as early as I do during travels, but today she was unusually late. Maybe she was tired from entering the labyrinth for the first time, being attacked by bandits, and being treated to a feast at the explorers’ party yesterday.

“Let’s ventilate. This room smells.”

After waking Gon, Sina lifted the wooden shutter blocking the window and propped it open with a stick.

It’s not so much that the room smells, but we ourselves probably smell. After all, we’ve been wearing the same clothes for days since leaving the village until we reached Labyrinth City.

“I want to bathe properly somewhere.”

I had poured water over my head when fetching water, but that was just a token gesture.

The official told me to bathe in the river, so I’ll ask the guild for places where bathing won’t get me scolded.

“You’re weird.”

“Bathing is only for summer, right?”

Gon and Zaki looked puzzled.

Yeah, it was like that in my village too.

My eccentric little sister believed “a healthy life starts with cleanliness!” and bathed daily, but even in the village, only our family did that.

In the awkward silence, Gon’s stomach growled loudly.

Despite eating so much yesterday, a healthy body was already demanding breakfast.

◇

“I’m hungry. Let’s eat something.”

“We don’t have any preserved food left. Let’s go eat something delicious!”

Gon’s words were agreed to by wealthy Keros.

“But I don’t have much money.”