Arkon Kingdom, Holy Church

In the Arkon Kingdom, within the Holy Church, an elderly woman clad in a priestess robe was fervently praying before the statue of the great Holy Lord.

Behind her stood seven children silently, three boys and four girls, patiently awaiting her conclusion.

When the old lady finished the prayer, her face became serious and complicated.

But she immediately masked her emotions and turned her attention towards the children.

"Are you sure you guys want to become Explorers?" The old lady asked with great concern.

As someone who's been an explorer for years, she knew the dangers and difficulties of the labyrinth.

"We are sure priestess. We already discussed and thought about it a lot before making this decision." The group replied in unison.

The old lady or priestess didn't reply after hearing them and silently thought about the reason for their choice. 

She knew that there would finally be a day when the children had to make a choice, but she didn't expect that it would be this soon.

The group in front of her were ones who just turned eighteen.

In the Arkon Kingdom, every citizen must pay a tax of 100,000 rubies every three years upon reaching the age of 18.

It is mandatory, and those who fail to pay will be thrown out of the kingdom.

You may wonder what would happen if one gets simply thrown outside—it's simple; only death awaits them.

The Arkon Kingdom is the only gathering place of humans in the entire world. Simply put, it is the only shelter available in the entire world.

Outside the Kingdom, everywhere is filled with danger, and a normal person simply cannot survive.

It's like the end of the world, so everyone in the Arkon Kingdom must adhere to the rules and pay taxes if they want to live peacefully.

One cannot protest or do anything against the kingdom and royalties because they ultimately receive protection from them.

The easiest way to earn money is to become an explorer and explore the Labyrinth.

This group of children were orphans raised by the church, and now they had to start living on their own and pay taxes.

The Holy Church only helps children up to the age of seventeen. If the church started helping past seventeen, the expenses would be tremendous, and it is not an ideal solution.

"Although the church cannot provide you any direct help, you can join as a janitor for a good and stable life." 

The priestess still didn't give up, as she didn't want them to become explorers.

Hearing the priestess's persuasion, the children exchanged glances and shook their heads. 

Their firm expression made the priestess finally give up.

Working as a janitor or any other position in the church is indeed a good job. The salary is enough, and there is even a yearly bonus.

Typically, orphans raised by the Holy Church would eagerly choose to work for the church. However, these seven children wanted to become independent and have their own goals.

"May the great Holy Lord guide you." 

"I know you probably tried hearing it, but" the priestess paused and faced them seriously,  "Remember, never trust anyone inside the labyrinth; its dangers extend far beyond the monstrous creatures."

"We definitely won't forget your words, priestess; also, we are grateful and will never forget your kindness." The children bowed and replied in unison.

"There is no need to feel grateful; I just did my job." 

"Now, go ahead and do your job. There is not much time before the Labyrinth opens. Hurry up!"

"Thank you for everything."

With those final words, the group again bowed towards the priestess and then towards the Holy Lord before exiting the prayer hall.

As they distanced themselves from the church, an uncomfortable silence fell among them, creating an awkward atmosphere.

One boy, unable to contain himself, broke the stillness.

"Nova, Ria, how about you both join our team? The five of us planned to explore the labyrinth together."

"I understand you wanted to explore solo, but it's too dangerous, and orphans like us can't take such chances."

"If you're concerned about splitting the profits, we can work something out."

"I appreciate the offer, Ryan, but I intend to go by myself, and I've already made arrangements." Nova declined them directly; his expression remained unchanged.

"I feel the same way." Ria also replied in the same way.

Ryan didn't argue or try to convince them. He had already asked both Nova and Ria more than ten times, and he had grown accustomed to their refusals.

Despite growing up in the same orphanage, Ryan hadn't formed a strong bond with them.

Just when Ryan was thinking about Nova and Ria, a man with his bright blue eyes filled with excitement, grasped Ryan's arm and tugged him toward the exit.

"Come on, I already got the exploration ticket. We should get in line before it gets crowded!"

"Don't drag me, Alex, I can walk on my own"

"Then, take care. We'll reunite after our exploration." With both of their responses, Ryan and his group bid them farewell.

....

Nova took one last look at the church before heading to the administration office to purchase his ticket.

While a ticket isn't mandatory to explore the labyrinth, those entering without one must forfeit 10% of their earnings.

A ticket costs only five thousand rubies, so Nova wanted to buy it to avoid giving away ten percent of his profits.

Depending on what one earns, that ten percent could amount to a significant sum.

Upon arriving at the administration office, Nova found the square bustling with people moving about.

There was no sign or indicator to point out the ticket counter.

Nova felt puzzled by the scene and considered asking someone for assistance.

"Sir, are you looking to buy a ticket?" A rough voice called out to him while he was lost in thought.

It was a guard from the administration office standing outside with a spear in hand.

"Yes, sir, do you know where it is? This is my first visit, and I'm unsure about the exact location."

"Head to the third floor; a beautiful lady will be at the entrance; you can purchase tickets from her."

"Thank you for your assistance, sir," Nova replied and made his way to the third floor.

As the guard mentioned, a lovely lady was seated at the counter, assisting customers.

Nova took his place in line and waited for his turn.

It didn't take long for him to reach the front, as there were only two people ahead of him.

"Sir, how can I assist you?" the lady inquired politely.

"I'd like to buy a ticket."

"Certainly, sir, but first, I need your Explorer ID for verification."

"That's not an issue," Nova replied as he took out his ID and handed it over to her.'Good thing I remembered my ID or else I have to waste my time.'

After verifying the ID, the lady returned it to Nova.

"As a stage 1 explorer, you'll need to pay five thousand rubies for a ticket."

"Thank you for your assistance"

Once he purchased the ticket, Nova made his way straight to the teleportation square, where the labyrinth entrance was situated.