Tuning

I explained the usefulness of the Genie and Wiz sisters to Amber. That alone was enough for the capable Amber to figure out what I wanted and draw up contracts with the two sisters.

I tied Genie, who is still a student at Arcadia Academy, down with a contract as a condition. Her parents are still alive and well, so I finalized the contract with her working at Modist upon graduation.

Genie seemed to have a lot of worries about her future after graduation, and seeing her eyes sparkle when she saw the contract, it’s a win-win for both of us. Even Wiz, who was worried, received a more than satisfactory contract, so there was no reason for Genie to refuse.

Having waited for the contract to be completed, I took out something from my spatial storage and placed it on the table.

“This is…?”

Unlike Genie, who at least has the courtesy to ask what it is, Wiz, full of innocence, immediately reached out her hand. If it were a normal artifact, it wouldn’t matter, but what I took out was a magic stone bomb made by Kane.

Before Wiz’s curiosity could blow up Modist’s basement, I lifted the magic stone bomb to a height where Wiz’s hand couldn’t reach. Wiz, puffing out her cheeks and looking at me with resentful eyes, was quite cute.

“It’s a magic stone bomb.”

“…A magic stone bomb?”

It was an invention that hadn’t been made public yet, so it was natural that she wouldn’t know even if she heard the name. I kindly explained to Genie and Wiz what the structure of the magic stone bomb was, how it worked, and how powerful it was in detail.

“…So, I’m thinking of ordering an attachment for a golem that can use this magic stone bomb from you guys.”

What I had in mind was a machine gun using magic stone bombs… no, a cannon would be a better word. Anyway, I was thinking of attaching a cannon to my golem that could continuously fire magic stone bombs like grenades.

With my knowledge, I could make it myself if I invested the time, so it seemed okay to entrust it to these two as a test. I wrote down the appearance and operation method of the cannon, and even the principle of how the magic stone bomb works, in detail on a portable whiteboard.

“I think this much information should be enough.”

Genie nodded and glanced at Amber. It seems she already knows that the person who signed the contract is the real boss who pays the money.

“I’ll look forward to it too. It seems like a good invention.”

With Amber’s permission, Genie nodded with a serious face.

“I’ll be sure to meet your expectations!”

***

Ellie, who said she would stay in the library to read more books, left the library as soon as Ross was gone. Ellie headed to the Academy’s headmaster’s office, to meet Conrad, the Tuner of the World, who was there.

Knock knock―!

―It’s open, come in.

Ellie, who knocked and waited for permission, opened the door right away. Conrad, who was reading a book, gave a gentle smile to his friend’s disciple whom he hadn’t seen in a while.

“It’s been a while. I heard from Amber that you came out of the labyrinth, but I didn’t expect you to come find me?”

Ellie bowed her head and looked around the changed headmaster’s office. Nelson’s traces were still there. Conrad, who didn’t particularly care about the headmaster’s position, didn’t find a reason to change the headmaster’s office. That made Ellie happy.

Nelson was the one who knew what kind of child she was from the beginning, yet still accepted her as a disciple. Ellie understood and loved her teacher, Nelson. The current Ellie understands the decision he made.

“I came because I have a favor to ask.”

At Ellie’s words, Conrad reflexively stroked his chin.

“If it’s a favor from a student who is working hard to save the world, of course I’ll grant it….”

Conrad had a very bad habit. It was a habit of ‘observing’ the other person without realizing it. In order to ‘tune’ something, you need to know its condition perfectly, so Conrad had a bad habit of spreading his magic power and completely grasping his surroundings, even in normal times.

So, Conrad, who unknowingly observed Ellie’s body condition when she entered his territory, the headmaster’s office, realized that her condition was unbelievably terrible.

If I dare to express it, ‘a walking corpse.’

“…What on earth happened in the labyrinth?”

She’s his friend’s only disciple. Conrad, who unknowingly got up from his chair, couldn’t hide his embarrassment. Ellie, who gave a bitter smile at that reaction, just shook her head.

“This is… just a punishment given to me.”

“Punishment?”

Eyes resembling obsidian were half-closed. Conrad could see the fatigue and pain hidden by the thick makeup. Ellie’s expression, with her lips tightly closed as if she had no intention of explaining, had a tenacious side. Conrad sighed and asked, placing his hand on Ellie’s shoulder.

“Ellie, let’s go to the infirmary first. We need to check your condition right away―”

“Please tune my soul.”

A moment of silence flowed. Conrad, whose brain was shaken for a moment as if he had been kicked in the head, barely regained his senses and asked dumbly.

“…What?”

Ellie, as if to make sure he understood clearly, shone her obsidian eyes and said.

“Please. Please tune my soul.”

Conrad unknowingly took his hand off Ellie’s shoulder as if he had touched something hot.

“…Do you know what that means?”

“I know. That’s why I’m asking.”

Conrad, who swept his face once with his hand, bit his lip.

“…I don’t know what kind of explanation you heard from Nelson, but it seems you didn’t heed the warnings about tuning. Or maybe the explanation was woefully inadequate.”

Ellie, who met Conrad’s eyes, just stared straight at him and said.

“I heard enough. How dangerous it is and what permanent marks it leaves on the soul.”

“Not marks, but scars! Scars that can never be erased by anything, scars that can never be healed!”

Conrad, who unknowingly raised his voice, felt a pang of regret inside… but he still had a part of him that hoped Ellie wouldn’t make a foolish choice, so he chose to keep his mouth shut.

“…Do you think there could be anything worse for me than I am now?”

At Ellie’s question, Conrad tried to open his mouth to say something, but the words that were circling in his mouth were snatched away by the unwavering gaze that was looking at him.

“It’s the only way to save the world.”

Conrad groaned at the persuasive words and said.

“…You can’t escape even with death. Your soul will be torn, ripped, and devoured in that place. Even if you repeat it endlessly, the pain will not end. In the empty void, you will be trapped in the hell you chose yourself.”

Conrad thought Ellie was blind. Like a fanatic who blindly believes in something and burns their own body, Conrad thought that Ellie was turning a blind eye to the fact that she would feel the pain of being burned forever.

But Conrad, whose strength was observing someone, could tell that that was a misunderstanding. Ellie felt fear and terror. She knew that she couldn’t escape from something worse than she was now with her choice, so her hands and legs were shaking, her palms were wet with sweat, and her back was soaked with cold sweat.

But Ellie didn’t run away. Even though she knew she would regret her choice, even if her eyes were shaking with fear… she still believed that this choice was right.

“I need time to be with Ross.”

Ellie said with a smile that held pain, fear, and a faint playfulness.

“…So it’s okay.”

***

“I don’t think we should dive any more today.”

Everyone nodded in agreement at Lacar’s words. Because of the dark clouds, the sea was dark even though it was afternoon, making it difficult to farm.

“Okay, then I’ll prepare dinner.”

At Kane’s words, Navia quickly raised her hand.

“I’ll help!”

“You’re not just going to taste it on the side and eat it all again, are you?”

“…But my advice was accurate, right? I told you to add more sugar! I’m not just tasting it for no reason. I’m just helping to make the perfect dish. Why is an alchemist so clumsy with the combination of seasonings in the first place?”

At Navia’s words, Kane snorted and shouted.

“What? Do you even know how great alchemy is! I can even turn stones into gold!!!”

“Yeah, yeah, you also have the talent to make bland dishes using good ingredients.”

“It was a mistake because it was my first time!”

“…You’re like a cooking virgin.”

“What? Apologize!”

While Kane and Navia were bickering and heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner, Lacar sat quietly next to Aria, who was always silently watching the bonfire, drying his wet body and taking out a guide titled [A Guide for Challengers Traveling the Labyrinth] from his pocket.

There was advice in the guide that using magic to create light could attract the attention of dangerous monsters living in the sea, so it was best not to use it if possible. That’s why Lacar didn’t overdo it today either. It would be much better to rest than to move hastily and create variables that would take up more time.

This guide was a gift given by the Imperial Family to the latecomers challenging the labyrinth for free, based on the valuable experiences and records gained by the advance team of the labyrinth. Thanks to this, the Messiah club was following the advice written in the guide, quickly reaching the 3rd floor and growing the island.

‘The club president got out of the 3rd floor without a guide? He’s amazing as expected.’

Lacar, who was checking the advice about the 3rd floor written in the guide and admiring Ross inwardly, raised his head at the sudden feeling of being watched. Aria, who had been watching the bonfire, was looking at Lacar.

“Is Lily here yet?”

Lacar gave a bitter smile to Aria, who asked the same question every day, and gave the same answer as always.

“No, not yet. If we don’t try harder and go up a floor, we won’t be able to catch up, you know?”

Aria, who quietly turned her head back to the bonfire, muttered quietly.

“I’ll definitely kill her when I meet her.”