The next day.
The two of them bought tickets to the maze.
The caravan traveled along the main road through the southern district toward the western city gate's barbican. They passed through the towering archway, imposing as a fortress wall, and the view suddenly opened up to an endless expanse of wilderness and woodland.
Near noon, the caravan stopped in front of an astonishingly large camp.
The area around the maze entrance had quickly grown into the beginnings of a bustling makeshift town, and it was easy to imagine it continuing to expand.
The muddy dirt roads were packed with adventurers carrying their packs. The morning rain had left countless puddles, and boot after boot trampled through them without a second thought.
"Anyone heading to the second floor? We're looking for a cleric!"
"Top-quality health potions! Essential for staying alive on an expedition, brave adventurer! Take a look!"
"Today's goal: break through to the second underground level!"
The camp was buzzing with activity.
People calling for party members, hawking their wares, and discussing their plans for exploration all raised their voices, their clamor rushing into their ears.
"Should we stock up on a little more food?" Alya asked.
"We should have enough," Gauss mused. "We need to leave some room in the Storage Bag for loot, too."
Besides the supplies they had bought in Grayrock Town, the bag also held dried frog meat and some freshly made dried Frost Snake meat.
And there were bound to be some edible monsters in the maze. If all else failed, they could find something to eat along the way.
Since it was his first time exploring a maze, Gauss had no plans to venture too deep. The food they had prepared would be more than enough for a few days.
If they packed