71. My Ears Are a Bit Sensitive

After leaving the guild master’s office and descending to the first floor of the guild, I saw Lady Leah and Erica, who was dozing off with her head bobbing.

“Lady?”

“Hmm? Shion! You bastard! If you’re alive, you should report that you’re alive! You didn’t even come to see me, where the hell have you been running around? Come here!”

“Whoa! Aah!”

She came running over and leaped straight into my arms.

She dashed over as swiftly as a cat, giving me no time to dodge before she jumped in.

She clung to me like a cicada and started rubbing her face against mine.

She must have undergone another round of mana adaptation-her speed has gotten even faster. That’s a good sign.

“Oof, Lady, you’re heavy. Ah, I mean, no.”

“What did you say? You just said I’m heavy, didn’t you? Right? Are you out of your mind?”

“Ah! Ow! No! Damn it! Don’t bite my ear! It’s sensitive!”

“Your ear is sensitive…? Uh, um…”

What? Why are you getting embarrassed now?

It’s possible for ears to be a bit sensitive, why are you acting like this?

“Anyway, is your body okay now? No problems? You were seriously hurt, weren’t you? Let me see your neck.”

“Ah, I’m perfectly fine. The Saintess herself treated me. Look here-not even a scar is left.”

“Wow, really. But the Saintess? That Saintess healed you…?”

“Yes. She healed me in no time. Huh? Lady, your expression suddenly darkened. What’s wrong?”

“Well, I guess you wouldn’t know, Shion.”

“Huh? Know what?”

“That woman… Never mind. You don’t know anything, do you? Then forget it. Backbiting isn’t good.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Lady, you can’t just pique my curiosity and then dodge the answer.”

“Well. If I don’t tell you, what can you do about it?”

“I won’t pack food for you when we go into the labyrinth next time.”

“Ah! That’s dirty! Pack it for me! Hey!”

“Ow!”

Lady bit my ear again. If this becomes a habit, it’s going to be a problem.

It hurts so much I flailed around, and for some reason, Lady’s face looked slightly pleased-which was terrifying.

But why won’t she tell me about the Saintess? Does Lady, who came from outside the city, know something different about her?

“Wait, so what about the Saintess? Are you really not going to tell me? Do you want to get scolded?”

“What?! Sc-scolded? Are you out of your mind?! This isn’t the labyrinth! You said you’d only act like this in the labyrinth!”

“Ah, right. This isn’t the labyrinth. I forgot.”

“You…!”

The moment I teased her, she immediately put me in a headlock.

I felt something strange-like she was rubbing her chest against my face a little too much-but it must have been my imagination.

“I surrender, I surrender!”

“Shion, just because you’re a guide doesn’t mean you can act like this outside the labyrinth, got it?”

“Yes, yes.”

“Answer only once.”

“Yep.”

“Ugh. You’ve completely gotten to me.”

At first, I was intimidated because she was a noble lady, but now I’m not really scared of her.

I know what kind of person she is. I know she doesn’t get genuinely angry over silly pranks like this.

“So, what brings you here? Did you just come to check on me?”

“Yeah, that too. And there’s something I need to tell you.”

Lady said she wouldn’t be entering the labyrinth for a while.

She said she needed more time for individual training.

“That’s good too. It’s better to enter after preparing as much as possible if you have the time.”

“Yeah. I don’t plan to enter the labyrinth for at least a month. Everyone’s already talked about it, and I thought I should let you know.”

“Understood. Let’s plan to enter a month from now.”

“Yeah, yeah. And I think the family members will arrive in about three days. They’ll bring the rewards they couldn’t give you last time, so let’s meet then.”

“Got it. That’s great news. Then let’s meet at the guild around this time in three days.”

“Yeah. Sounds good. And I’ll probably register at the Martial Hall too. You’ll have to work out with me, got it?”

“Sure. But did Rika recommend the Martial Hall to you?”

“Yeah. She said working out in the morning is good.”

That wicked bitch Rika!

Dragging Lady into this hell.

Just like the muscle-brained female knight she is, she’s scheming to turn her lord into a muscle monster too.

Well, not bad.

Pain shared is pain halved.

“Hehe… Sure. Very sure. The Martial Hall is great. Yes. I’m sure Lady will be satisfied too. Hehehe.”

“What’s with that sinister laugh? You and Rika are both weird. Is there something about the Martial Hall?”

“No. Nothing special. Just… you can work out there.”

Work out until you’re on the verge of death.

How about Lady joining me in hellish training?

She’ll probably love it to death.

“Ah, by the way, I think I’ll be entering the labyrinth next week.”

“What? Again? It hasn’t been that long since you got out. You’re addicted to the labyrinth.”

“Addicted? You make it sound like I’m getting labyrinth assimilation or something. Don’t say such scary things.”

“No, seriously. Why do you have to go?”

“Well, it’s for work. Lady, let’s move over here first. There are too many people-let’s talk in a corner.”

I led Lady to a secluded spot where no one could eavesdrop.

I dragged the half-asleep Erica along too.

“So, what’s the matter?”

“Well, it seems I’ll be going to capture some heretics with the Saintess.”

“What? With that Saintess? Why you?”

“Shh. Your voice is too loud.”

“Ah, sorry. So why do you have to go? For supplies?”

“That too. And apparently, I’m indispensable.”

“Whaaat? But you’re weak!”

“I’m stronger than you, Lady!”

Is this lady out of her mind?

Even if I’m a bit weaker for my level, I’m still stronger than her.

“No, that’s not the point right now. Why does it have to be you? There are plenty of other people. I’m worried, that’s all. Just look at the guild-there are tons of strong people. Why does a porter who hasn’t even taken the silver badge exam have to be indispensable?”

“Well. It’s because I absolutely have to go. There’s a reason. It’s classified, so I can’t say more here. But there is a reason.”

“Can’t you not go? Do you have to?”

“Yes, I do. I might even have a more important role than the Saintess… Ah, that’s classified too. Don’t mention it elsewhere.”

“Of course not. What do you take me for? I won’t tell anyone. Not even if Father or Brother asks.”

“That’s reassuring.”

If my role gets out, it won’t end well.

If the heretics find out that the plan is to transport their corpses to the surface, I’ll become their top priority target.

They’ll send assassins after me like crazy. Even Olivia and Marin might be in danger.

This time, even the fact that I’m entering the labyrinth with the Saintess must be kept secret. I’ll probably have to cover my face even on the day we enter.

“So, when will you be back after entering next week?”

“At least a week, I think. I might come up once in between to replenish stamina.”

“A whole week or more? Three days was hard enough…”

“I’ll bring plenty of basins and water, so it’s fine. I plan to wash inside the labyrinth.”

“You’re going to bathe in the labyrinth?”

“If I can, I should. It’d be weird not to when I have a spatial pouch.”

“That’s true. Spatial pouches are totally broken.”

Lady laughed, seemingly amused by my plan to bathe in the labyrinth.

Just to add, while bathing in the labyrinth is possible, I never bring a chamber pot.

Putting a pot full of someone else’s waste in my inventory is just gross.

“Well, I should get going. I have a lot to prepare.”

“Alright. It’s a shame. Thinking I won’t see you for a while.”

“But we’ll meet again in three days. Let’s hang out then. How about it?”

“Sure. Three days later… a date…”

“Huh?”

“No! Got it. Prepare well. See you in three days.”

“Alright. Let’s do that.”

Lady and Erica returned to their lodgings.

By the way, Erica was still half-asleep the whole time. Did she not sleep well last night?

There must be a reason.

I turned my steps toward the market.

I have quite a bit to buy, so I need to hustle.

******

“Can you prepare two boxes of apples as well?”

“If you need them by tomorrow, sure.”

“Yes. That would be great.”

“Got it. Come back tomorrow to pick them up.”

“Yep. Thank you.”

I bought a large quantity of goods from a grocery store I frequent.

Now I feel a bit more secure.

Having an empty spatial pouch was making me uneasy.

‘I can give the ledger to Edwin later. Now, where to next?’

I’ve bought almost everything available in the market.

Firewood, large basins, ingredients, bandages-I stocked up on all of it.

“What’s left…”

I should head to the Magic Tower to buy a few scrolls and replenish potions at the hole-in-the-wall shop.

“The Magic Tower, huh.”

I haven’t been back since my last visit.

Not just anyone can enter the Magic Tower, so I should make good use of my access pass while I have it.

‘Buy some scrolls. Maybe browse some accessories too.’

Items made in the Magic Tower are quite expensive, but their performance is far superior to what’s sold in the market.

If a jewelry shop sells a ring that increases strength by 5%, the Magic Tower sells one that boosts it by 20%.

Unless you’re a mage, entry is usually restricted, so gold badge adventurers often complete special requests from the tower to earn access passes.

I’m a very lucky case. Thanks to my spatial pouch, I got a free pass without any hassle.

“Access pass confirmed. May I ask the purpose of your visit?”

“To purchase scrolls.”

“Confirmed.”

At the tower’s entrance, my adventurer’s plate and ID were checked.

A bespectacled mage, looking utterly exhausted, verified my pass and let me in.

This marks my second visit to the Magic Tower in the labyrinth city.

‘It’s not my imagination-the inside really is bigger than the outside.’

Last time, I was too distracted to notice, but today I saw it clearly.

They say the Magic Tower is like one giant magical tool. The entire building is enchanted with all kinds of magic, making the interior larger than the exterior-and it’s true.

But where do I go to buy scrolls?

“Excuse me, um-“

“Ah, I’m busy-“

“Uh, which way-“

“Eek! Outsider…!”

“What the hell.”

It’s a den of nerds, so everyone I tried to talk to flinched and avoided me.

These freaks. They really are just holed up doing research. Most of them seem to have serious difficulties with conversation and communication.

This is a problem. Where am I supposed to go?

Shouldn’t they at least have a map on the first floor as a courtesy?

“Oh? Shion-nim? Hey, long time no see.”

“Ah, it has been a while.”

As I was looking around for the scroll shop, I ran into Male, who was carrying a stack of at least twenty books in his arms.

The bespectacled boy mage-the tower master’s secretary, the one who warned me not to disclose the research wing’s secrets.

But how did he recognize me when his vision was completely blocked by those books?

‘Ugh… His shadow was watching. That’s terrifying.’

Male’s shadow was squirming.

He didn’t see me-he sensed me through his shadow.

Despite looking like a kid, his actual age is unknown, and he’s notorious for his eerie shadow magic, a hallmark of creepy types.

That’s why he’s a bit unsettling and scary.

“Here to see the tower master?”

“Ah, no. Just here to browse some scrolls and accessories.”

“Ah, I see. Then just open that door over there. It’ll teleport you straight to the third floor-the workshops are there.”

“Thanks for the info. I’ll be going now-“

“Ah, wait. The tower master mentioned wanting to see you last time. If you have a moment, it’d be good to stop by. Not forcing you, though.”

“Uh, got it.”

He says it’s not forced, but his words carry an unspoken pressure.

That writhing shadow is scary.

“Then have a nice day!”

“Yeah, you too, Male-nim.”

After an awkward exchange, I headed in the direction he pointed.

When I opened the door, my body floated, and suddenly I was on the third floor.

They say anything can happen inside the Magic Tower.

So this is how floor transfers work.

“The scroll shop… Ah!”

Passing several shops, I found the scroll vendor.

Entering the dusty, worn-out shop, an old mage greeted me.

But his face looked familiar.

“Huh? You’re-“

“Hmm? Ah. That test subject from before.”

The old mage Lord, whom I’d briefly encountered during my last visit, was sitting behind the counter of the scroll shop.