Ch.99. Slip of the Tongue

How should I react if a red-haired twin-tailed girl suddenly appears and apologizes to me?

“Um… I’m fine.”

I didn’t really understand what was happening, but I decided to accept her apology.

After all, I couldn’t embarrass someone who had saved my life.

“R-really? That’s a relief… I was worried about what to do if you hated me.”

She speaks timidly, as if she’s committed some terrible sin.

What’s going on? Did she actually do something wrong to me?

Just as I was starting to wonder…

“Still, I was at fault for not stopping my party members, so apart from the apology, I’ll compensate you later.”

“…Ah.”

So it was an apology for her spear-wielder stealing from me and picking a fight.

Come to think of it, this person had been quietly watching from behind with a displeased expression, so I don’t think she needed to feel this sorry.

“I really am fine, and you don’t need to compensate me. You saved me in the first place, didn’t you?”

The compensation was somewhat tempting, but I didn’t want to take anything from someone who had sacrificed herself to save me.

“But…”

“If anything, I should be the one doing something for you. What you sprayed on me was a high-grade potion, right?”

Given that my entire pelvis had been crushed, I couldn’t tell at the time, but considering the condition I was in, it must have been a high-grade potion.

While mid-grade potions cost 30,000-40,000 Ars each, high-grade potions cost 200,000 Ars.

‘I’m in her debt.’

She used a high-grade potion on me, risking her own life even though both her legs had been cut off?

This was such a profound act of kindness that I should forgive her even if she stabbed me.

“It was a high-grade potion, but…”

“Right? Then I should repay my debt. I’ll help you however I can.”

If I were a sociopathic Possessor, I might have tried to extract some benefit from this situation, but I still retained my Earth-based way of thinking.

Besides, trying to extract maximum benefit like other Possessors would be too dangerous.

What if the other person was a mentally unstable psychopath?

Or what if my actions caused an unexpected snowball effect that resulted in the death of their parents?

They might stab me in the back at any time.

Some might call this paranoid, but in the Labyrinth, you always have to assume the worst.

‘I don’t want to die.’

That’s why I usually volunteered to take losses.

If I did someone a favor, the chances of getting stabbed in the back would decrease a little.

I’m buying my survival probability with a few coins. It’s a completely profitable business.

This is the right approach to surviving in the Labyrinth.

‘So, what will she ask for?’

Judging by her personality, she’ll probably just ask for the cost of the high-grade potion, which should be fine since I have some money left after buying equipment.

“Um… this might be an unreasonable request, but I’ll say it anyway.”

The girl hesitated for a moment, then looked at me with a serious expression.

“Can I hunt with you in this Labyrinth?”

“…Pardon?”

What is she saying?

***

After finishing my conversation with the girl, I went to sleep, and before I knew it, morning had arrived.

A refreshing morning on the second floor!

‘I had too much dopamine yesterday.’

The combat sense bonus event, the Shade Predator reward, and even that girl’s surprising statement.

I closed my eyes for a moment and recalled yesterday’s conversation.

‘I never expected her to be a noble.’

The girl’s identity was Reneva Rostia.

She was the only daughter of the Rostia baronet family.

She had been moving with a temporary party when the spear-wielder suddenly acted that way, which surprised her.

“…Maybe I should have accepted when she offered compensation?”

I momentarily had such an unmanly thought, but quickly erased it from my mind.

Unlike the corrupt nobles in fantasy stories, real nobles never forgot debts or gratitude.

Because nobles who did were long since beheaded by explorers.

‘And she’s from a heroic family, no less.’

The Rostia family wasn’t an ordinary baronet family.

About 15 years ago, Rostia was awarded the title of baronet for his heroic deed of stopping a massacre that claimed the lives of more than ten nobles.

In other words, she was likely to be very loyal.

If she’s the only daughter of such a noble family, not just an ordinary person, she could be helpful later.

If she’s the daughter of a hero, I might consider including her in my 12th floor conquest party.

‘I haven’t given up on escaping yet.’

At first, I considered settling down here, but after facing death a few times, my thinking completely changed.

If possible, leaving this world is the right choice.

Who would want to live their whole life in a place where they could die at any moment?

As I finished that thought, I noticed someone else approaching from a distance.

A silver-haired elf walking toward us, drawing the attention of people around, especially male explorers.

“Ah, Shiro. Are you feeling alright?”

I approached her and spoke first.

“…Yes.”

Normally, that would have been the end of her response, but…

“How about you?”

Shiro asked me a question first.

This was almost unprecedented.

Except in life-or-death situations, she had never initiated conversation.

Someone who would only speak when threatened with a knife to her throat was now asking how I was feeling in the morning?

‘…I guess she was worried.’

Although we had relaxed battles after the priest joined us—less tense than taekwondo recreation time—what Shiro had witnessed was exactly what happened before that.

Even though I survived, anyone who wasn’t a psychopath would be worried in this situation.

“Thanks to Airi the priest’s healing, I seem to be completely fine now.”

“That’s good.”

Judging by her presence at the second floor base camp, she’s probably at most a 6th floor explorer, but her healing regeneration speed was good enough to join a 12th floor conquest party.

Well, actually, my regeneration was faster because I hadn’t consumed a Source.

“Are you going hunting today too?”

“If you’re up for it.”

“I’m fine, but Reneva asked if she could hunt with us last night. Would it be okay if the three of us hunt together starting today?”

I had put her request on hold for now.

If Shiro found it burdensome, I was planning to refuse.

“Yes.”

Shiro nodded with an expressionless face.

That meant she didn’t mind.

“That’s great. I’ll go tell her, so please wait here for a moment.”

“Alright.”

I walked toward the tent where Reneva was staying.

She was outside, so I couldn’t see the inside of the tent, but just looking at the exterior, one thought dominated my mind.

‘It’s fucking huge.’

Is she on vacation or something?

***

Life is truly unfair.

Some people work all day and sleep in public supply tents barely bigger than a doghouse, while someone with red twin-tails just clicks a magical device from home and out pops a luxury camping tent.

Today, I once again keenly felt life’s unfairness as I made my way through the forest.

“Reneva, you need to stay between Shiro and me. It’s unavoidable due to our positions.”

“O-okay. Got it.”

We moved slowly in a formation designed to protect Reneva.

Even though we agreed to hunt together, we couldn’t just leave the only daughter of a baronet family in danger.

Anyway, only level 5 monsters like kobolds and goblins appear up to the second floor, so as long as we maintained our formation, there was nothing to worry about.

In hidden dungeons, you might encounter level 3-4 monsters if you’re unlucky, but that happens maybe once in hundreds of attempts, so we can ignore that possibility.

“It’s a group of goblins. Be careful, as the spear-wielders might throw their spears before they die.”

We continued moving, defeating mobs we encountered along the way.

Most of my equipment except for my helmet, sword, and shield was either broken or needed repairs.

Nevertheless, thanks to Reneva and Shiro’s contributions, battles felt even smoother than usual.

We continued hunting and steadily gathered mana stones.

The next day we hunted the same way, and the day after that was similar.

After spending several days like this, there was only one day left until the Labyrinth closed.

“…A Source dropped?”

And then a Source appeared.

Of course, this time it’s blue, which can’t be taken outside.

The sky was growing dark as the sun was setting.

We gathered around a fire we made in the middle of the forest.

Blue Sources disappear an hour after dropping, and if you touch them carelessly, they’re immediately absorbed.

Typically, at the spot where a Source appears, we decide who will absorb it, and then that person pays money to the party members.

“I don’t particularly want it.”

After I said that, Reneva spoke up.

“It’s a kobold archer’s Source, right? It’s completely different from the Source I was planning to absorb, so I don’t mind.”

There’s a limit to how many Sources a person can absorb.

Initially, the maximum is 2, and it increases by 1 for each bound item used from the middle levels of the Labyrinth, up to a maximum of 7.

Since you need to obtain Sources yourself to increase your limit, you have to be careful about what you consume.

The church can remove Sources, but they don’t usually do it unless you have connections with high-ranking priests.

“It seems neither Reneva nor I will take it, so what about you, Shiro?”

Actually, the kobold archer’s Source is considered quite good.

In the game, the total stats for a level 5 Source range from 30 to 55.

But the kobold archer’s Source has a total of 54. Among level 5 Sources, it’s second only to the lizardman’s Source.

“Is it okay if I absorb it?”

“Yes. It’s a Source neither of us will use anyway.”

This Source is suitable for archers or those following the mage tree.

So I asked Shiro one question.

“By the way, Shiro, have you ever considered changing your position to a mage? This Source would suit an archer or a mage.”

That was something I immediately thought of when I saw the Source.

Shiro originally had a magic swordsman style, fighting elegantly while mixing in magic. If she absorbed this Source too, she could potentially shift toward becoming a mage.

‘This is the most important part.’

Shiro’s answer to this might determine my future direction.

“…I could fight primarily using magic, but I don’t think I could completely give up the sword.”

“I see. Understood.”

That was enough of an answer.

‘This is optimal for Shiro.’

While the kobold archer’s Source is suited for mages or archers, that doesn’t mean you can’t use a sword.

Rather, with its high dexterity stat, it actually complements Shiro’s style.

‘I needed a support-type frontline mage.’

A “support-type frontline mage” who fights with a sword, casts support magic, and occasionally unleashes area-of-effect skills is essential.

It might sound bizarre, but such a mage was necessary for the 12th floor clearing party I designed.

And this Source was a crucial element in creating a “support-type frontline mage.”

‘Even though it’s level 5, when combined, it becomes something else entirely.’

Knowledge not yet known in this world.

Some Sources can be made stronger through special combinations, and this was one of them.

Therefore,

“—And I have a proposal for you, Shiro.”

“What is it?”

“You don’t need to pay me for the Source. However, please grant the request I’m about to make.”

“…Alright. What’s the request?”

To that, I smiled and said,

“Would you continue to stay with me from now on?”

Not just for a while, but continuously!

‘You need to come with me all the way to the 12th floor.’

I’m going to personally train Shiro.

It might be a bit of an unreasonable request, but since Shiro wasn’t the type to change her mind halfway, I thought she would likely accept the proposal.

However, her response was a bit different from what I expected.

“…”

For a moment, Shiro’s eyes widened, and a calm atmosphere enveloped the party.

“That’s… sudden, but okay.”

Shiro’s face seemed to turn slightly red.

“Can I think about it and answer later?”

Wondering why she reacted that way, I glanced at Reneva, who was covering her mouth with both hands and looking at me with sparkling eyes.

‘…Oh shit.’

I must have phrased that wrong.