The Labyrinth City of Orario had become the center of the world’s attention ever since the gods descended from the heavens.
After all, it was home to both the gods who drove the world wild and the equally maddening Dungeon beneath the city.
Receive a god’s blessing through their divine blood, join their Familia, and charge into the Dungeon to face its trials.
Rise through the ranks, accomplish great deeds, and become a hero whose name echoed across Orario and the entire world.
“And that is why people from every corner of the world are drawn to Orario.” On a carriage bound for the city, the driver entertained his passengers with stories about Orario.
“Look!
You can already see the city walls!” Everyone in the carriage immediately leaned out to look down the road.
At the far end, a magnificent wall had already come into view.
“So that’s Orario?” “Those walls are huge!
It must be an enormous city.” “I can’t wait to begin my adventure!” Every passenger was a young traveler captivated by tales of adventure from Orario, each dreaming of making a name for themselves.
Hearing their excited shouts, the driver smiled faintly.
“I hate to spoil your excitement, but let me warn you about something.
The Dungeon isn’t the only dangerous place in Orario.
Danger is everywhere.” “Huh?
There are other dangerous places too?” The newcomers stared at him curiously.
“Of course.
There are plenty of them.” The driver nodded firmly.
A curious voice soon called out.
“Could you give us an example, sir?” “An example, huh?” The driver’s smile slowly twisted into something sinister.
“Well, for example…
you’re all in danger right now!” He suddenly yanked the reins and brought the carriage to a violent stop.
The abrupt halt sent every newcomer tumbling across the inside of the carriage.
The moment it stopped, ten men burst from the woods on both sides of the road and surrounded them.
The driver pulled a blade from beneath his seat and leaped onto one of the horses.
After cutting the harness loose, he rode a short distance away, turned around, and faced the passengers.
“Welcome to Orario, rookies!
This is your first lesson: never trust anyone!” “What is this?” The newcomers had never experienced anything like it.
Faced with the fierce-looking men surrounding them, they could only stare in confusion.
“What is it?
It’s a robbery!” The driver bared his teeth viciously.
“Wow.
I didn’t expect a lesson like this.” “Surprised, rookies?
Orario was never some beautiful paradise.
It may be home to the heroes everyone admires, but it is also filled with the vilest crimes and chaos!” “What a useful lesson.
Everyone I met said Orario was all adventure, wine, money, and beautiful women.
Yet before I even arrived, reality already slapped me in the face.
You’re such a nice guy, sir.
What do you do for a living?” “Hahaha!
You’re pretty sharp for a rookie!
Me?
I’m one of those adventurers you people admire.
Don’t worry, though.
I’m no demon.
Hand over all your money, and you’ll live.
Refuse, and I won’t be so polite!” The driver raised his broad blade and glared threateningly at them.
“How could this happen!?” Shock quickly turned into anger among the newcomers.
“Aren’t adventurers supposed to explore the Dungeon?
Why are you robbing us out here?
You’re a disgrace to adventurers!” “A disgrace?
That’s a pretty good description.
So what?
We used to be just like you, but we gave up long ago.
You rookies have no idea how dark Orario really is!” “Darker than the Togawa Family?” “What the hell is the Togawa Family?
More importantly, who’s the guy who’s been asking questions this whole time?” Halfway through answering, the driver finally sensed something was wrong.
The voice had never sounded frightened, not even once.
His answer came in the form of an arrow flying out of the carriage.
Before he could react, it pierced straight through his skull.
The previously arrogant driver froze atop the horse.
A moment later, his body tilted sideways and crashed to the ground.
Everyone stared in stunned silence, especially the ten bandits surrounding the carriage.
After several long seconds, they finally recovered and glared furiously at the carriage.
“Who did that!?” “That would be me!” The carriage’s white canvas suddenly tore apart.
A young man with short black hair stepped out, wearing a white knight’s uniform and a short white cape over his left shoulder.
A red longbow rested in his hand, and a bright smile covered his face.
“Bandits, thank you very much for the lesson!
You’ve taught me plenty about Orario’s dark side.
But your lesson is over.
Now it’s time for a lesson in battlefield survival!” “You little bastard!
What nonsense are you spouting?
Are you mocking us!?” The death of their companion sent the bandits into a rage.
“We only planned to take your money, but now we’ll kill every last one of you ungrateful rookies!
Blame the fool among you who decided to fight back!” With a single sentence, the bandits stirred resentment toward the young man among the other passengers.
A moment ago, they only risked losing their money.
Now they might lose their lives.
However, the young man’s next words immediately showed them how foolish that thought was.
“Really?
Every one of us has seen your faces.
Are you honestly going to rob us and let us live, or were you planning to never enter Orario again?” “Tch.
So you figured it out!” The bandits’ reaction made the truth obvious.
Realizing the threat had only been meant to turn them against one another, the newcomers drew the cheap swords they had brought from their villages and charged.
The bandits intended to kill them all anyway.
Refusing to fight would only mean waiting to die.
After seeing the black-haired young man kill the driver with a single arrow, the newcomers also began thinking adventurers blessed by the gods were not as impressive as the stories claimed.
Perhaps they could win too.
Reality immediately proved them wrong.
Adventurers who possessed Falna truly were different, and the bandits still had the advantage in numbers.
The newcomers charged with confidence, only to be cut down almost instantly.
They collapsed one after another, crying out and begging for mercy.
Soon, only the black-haired young man remained standing atop the carriage.
The ten surviving bandits raised their weapons and pointed them at him.
“Boy, kneel now and we’ll leave your corpse in one piece!” “Hmph!
Come and try it!” The young man leaped down from the carriage and raised his longbow toward them.
The sight immediately sent the bandits into fits of laughter.
“Oh, look at him!
Is he planning to beat us to death with that bow?
Hahaha!” The young man did not argue.
He suddenly launched himself forward, rushing the nearest bandit and swinging the longbow with all his strength.
The bandit failed to react in time and took the bow directly to the shoulder.
A sickening crack rang out.
His shoulder caved deep into his chest, folding his body like a sheet of paper before he smashed into the ground hard enough to leave a crater.
The young man casually drew back his longbow, then turned his gaze toward the remaining bandits.
“Who says you can’t beat someone to death with a bow?” “Now it’s your turn!” …