Chapter 196: 16th Floor (3)

Chapter 196: 16^th
Floor (3)

When
I fell into this strange world, my wisdom stat was 0.

After
following Idelbert’s advice to raise the wisdom stat to 1, I became
able to sense magic as if I had awakened.

I
gained enough magic control ability to use artifacts and magical
tools.

However,
I didn’t really think about increasing my wisdom stat beyond that.

‘Because
there were mages.’

Genius
mage Ellie and the party’s skilled mage Lammel, I had quite a few
connections I met occasionally.

Although
I was interested in magic, I thought I didn’t have time to invest in
academics, so I swung my axe one more time instead of reading books.

When
I raised my stamina stat, I could be more energetic even in endless
battles.

When
I raised my strength stat, I could slaughter enemies with more
destructive power.

When
I raised my agility stat, I could cave in their heads before enemies
noticed.

Although
dexterity was slightly lacking compared to others, I could create an
oppressive combat environment based on excellent physical abilities.

That’s
why I invested the most in stamina, strength, and agility.

I
thought it was an efficient investment as a warrior, and I was quite
satisfied as I had benefited a lot from it so far but looking at it
now, I think I needed to think more broadly.

Not
like going all-in on wisdom stat, but thinking maybe I should have
made at least minimal investment.

-Paaaah!

“Yes!
That’s it, disciple! Did you suddenly gain enlightenment?!”

Idelbert
let out a rare surprised voice.

I
felt like letting out an exclamation too.

-Woong-

I
saw a mass of magic power blooming at my fingertips.

Though
faint and barely visible, it clearly existed there.

All
my senses cried out that at these fingertips, my magic power had
manifested.

Perhaps
because of the 21st floor mountain magic potion Nuer gave me, it was
magic power with an ice-cold energy.

It
maintained its cold presence without easily dissipating even in the
warmth of the bonfire right in front of me.

“Carefully
grip it just like that. And imagine. Gather it with a ‘hyah-‘, then
wrap it with a ‘hmmph’.”

Idelbert’s
advice, composed only of intuition, wasn’t helpful.

Instead,
I imagined what she had shown me.

Like
putting on armor, coating my body with magic power…

-Tok.

The
magic power that bloomed at my fingertips settled on my palm and
began to wrap around it.

-Sururuk.

The
magic power that spread from my palm began to form the shape of a
gauntlet.

Hard
enough to protect the back of the hand, flexible at the moving
joints… complex… uh oh.

-Woong,
wooong-

As
soon as I tried to do more complex control, the magic power started
scattering everywhere.

The
magic power that failed to be controlled escaped my control.

Eventually,

-Crash!

The
cold magic power wrapping my hand solidified like oddly shaped ice
and fell to the ground with a thud.

After
glaring at the ice shattered into various fragments, I turned my gaze
to the status window.

[Wisdom:
(6+4-5)]

[Free
Points: 1 point]

‘Was
it too much with just wisdom stat 5?’

Wisdom
stat total 5.

I
invested 5 free points to raise the wisdom stat to 6. If I add the
additional stats it becomes 10.

[Nightmare
Curse]

–
Currently in ‘Desire-filled’ state.

–
Vitality+5 Wisdom-5 Dexterity +10

But
the -5 reduction from the nightmare curse hurt badly.

Moreover,
if I manage sexual desire poorly, it could drop even further from
here.

‘Since
it raises stamina and dexterity, I can’t carelessly remove the curse
either.’

The
somewhat positive news is that if I extract semen regularly to
maintain a ‘sage’ state, it’s mitigated to about -3.

Since
I’m not particularly skilled at magic control right now, I have no
choice but to try slowly.

“To
do this much on your first try. Excellent. This is usually harder
than sword energy.”

Idelbert
stroked under her nose and patted my back.

“When
did you drink a magic potion?”

“I
got it as a quest reward before.”

Idelbert’s
gaze went to my balls.

“No
wonder your magic pouch seemed plump. So that’s what it was.”

For
someone who supposedly doesn’t change, it was natural sexual
harassment.

“The
disciple’s pouch is quite plump.”

Having
developed some immunity, I replied without changing my expression. It
seemed to work as she snickered.

“It
would be good to learn some basic magic or sword energy from now on.
They can be useful in any situation. For example, if you had learned
flying magic, you could have come down much more easily when you
teleported earlier.”

I
nodded at the master’s advice.

Indeed,
having taken the potion to fill my magic pouch plentifully, it seemed
like I was wasting useful power too carelessly.

But
even if rising magic stats allow me to handle various techniques, the
foundation of my combat was ultimately in this solid physique.

I
was thinking of looking mainly for magic useful for combat support
like sword energy or magic defense.

“Could
master teach me now…ah, nevermind.”

I
started to ask for teaching but stopped.

This
half-baked master taught methods of moving the body brilliantly, but
had absolutely no talent for teaching magic.

“…Why
did you stop mid-sentence? Hm?”

“It’s
nothing.”

“What
is it? Tell me. Tell me!”

“Ugh…”

But
after finally confessing under persistent questioning and being
tenaciously ‘trained’, there was no magical development.

-Thud.

I
lay my body on the ground, more drooping than usual from sudden
training that depleted my magic.

‘When
I go up to the surface, I should seek teaching from Ellie.’

I
wasn’t sure if Ellie, who became the royal court mage, could spare
time, but I thought that much at least.

‘There
will be lots to do when I get out.’

From
studying this world’s history to combat support magic, plus resolving
the quest Sloth entrusted.

It
felt like even having two bodies wouldn’t be enough, but that was all
stuff I could only do after getting out of the labyrinth.

The
hard stone floor of the cave made me reflect on my situation again.

I’m
still inside the labyrinth, and must survive alone on the 16th floor.

I
closed my eyes after organizing my thoughts. Fatigue came instantly.

***

Balkan
woke up to a terrible smell.

Shit.
Where is this rotten smell coming from?

‘A
corpse? Monster?’

“Ah.
You’re awake?”

When
he turned his eyes to the source of the smell, Idelbert was stirring
a stew pot with a stick in front of the bonfire.

“…Master.
What exactly are you making?”

“Ah.
This is…”

“Is
it poison? Urp. Even that gluttonous wyvern would instinctively sense
from the smell that it would definitely get an upset stomach if it
ate this and spit it back out.”

“……”

-Wooong.

Idelbert’s
hand that was stirring the stew pot like a witch stopped.

Balkan
tilted his head at the sudden silence.

Idelbert
stared at the contents of the stew pot with eyes shaking like an
earthquake.

She
worked her disciple hard last night.

Worried
he might be tired, she didn’t wake him for night watch, and for the
first time in her life made stew for someone so they could have a
hearty breakfast.

“…You
didn’t have to…say it like that.”

-Drooop.

The
cat tail that had been swaying gently dropped to the floor.

-Ososo.

The
moment Balkan heard her deflated voice, all the hair on his body
stood on end.

Survival
instinct rang alarm bells sharply.

An
even greater sense of fear than when he was in the wyvern’s mouth
came over him, and cold sweat trickled down his forehead.

The
fact that her tail was drooping rather than smashing the ground
indicated something was seriously wrong.

-Well,
I’ll take responsibility for feeding you at least.

Suddenly
he recalled words Idelbert had said in passing.

His
gaze automatically went to the stew pot emitting a deadly smell.

‘Don’t
tell me, that was meant to be breakfast?’

Come
to think of it, what other reason would there be to stir a stew pot
over fire early in the morning? Of course it must be breakfast.

‘Wait,
so she’s showing this reaction because I said the food smell was
weird?’

Drooop-

Seeing
her head drop and shoulders slightly slump, he instinctively felt
this was a serious situation.

He
sensed that if things continued like this, nothing would be easy.

He
hurriedly stretched his shirt and sniffed it.

“Sniff
sniff. Urp, it must have been my sweat smell. I sweated so much
yesterday and couldn’t even wash.”

“……”

Balkan
watched Idelbert’s reaction but she didn’t move at all. This alone
seemed insufficient.

Finally
he moved his legs toward the stew pot she had been stirring.

Something
like purple liquid was bubbling and boiling.

A
visual that would make even Bunny, the demon of gluttony, question if
this was really food.

He
put his nose toward that liquid that was closer to a weapon.

If
he loses his sense of smell in the near future, it will surely be
because of this action.

“Sniff
sniff. Wow. The smell is really good, master.”

“…Hmph.
It’s too late.”

“No,
really.”

Balkan
forcefully squeezed his abs and prayed. Ring please. Please ring.

Growl-

“See?
My stomach is making hungry sounds. I want to eat a bowl quickly.”

“…Really?”

Though
Idelbert’s expression asking if it was true remained indifferent.

Flutter.
Flutter-

The
drooping tail gradually rose up like getting an erection, then stood
stiff and started swaying back and forth.

It
was a different reaction from gently swaying or whipping.

“Hmm.
If you want to eat it that badly, this master will give you a bowl.”

Idelbert
took out a spoon and bowl from her personal space and filled it with
soup almost overflowing.

“Here.
Eat. This master cooked directly for the first time. It has lots of
medicinal herbs good for the body so it will surely be delicious.”

It
became more concerning the more he heard.

The
moment he put a spoonful of the liquid made with who knows what into
his mouth.

-Drip.

Tears
flowed from his eyes.

“Wh-what?
Is it that delicious?”

“Ah…yees…”

“Heh.
It was worth making it since morning. There’s still plenty left so
eat more!”

Contrary
to any slight hope, the soup put in his mouth had exactly the taste
he expected.

Meaning
it was terribly awful to the point he’d rather cut off his tongue.

The
master added another ladle of soup to the bowl with an expression
desperately hiding joy while swaying her tail back and forth.

Balkan
shed tears while looking at the bowl.

Ah…
I miss you. Miss Diana.

He
desperately wanted to eat her soup.

***

Royal
palace inner castle. Reception room.

The
old woman who was drinking from a teacup across a small table smiled
faintly at the pleasant aroma.

“Indeed,
no tea has as good an aroma as yours.”

“Hoho.
You flatter me.”

The
woman’s voice had a gentle composure unlike in the past.

It
felt like just yesterday when she caused trouble in the labyrinth
while arguing vehemently and raising her voice.

“Did
you find a groom while you were retired? You’ve become softer.”

“……”

“…Oh?”

At
the old woman’s words, the woman blushed slightly with an embarrassed
expression.

This
in turn made the old woman’s face fill with surprise.

“No,
wait. Really? I did hear the captain of knights saying you took in a
man recently…”

That
Diana Ordia, of all people, found a groom?

“My
my…! This is cause for celebration again. How many children are you
thinking of having? Outstanding stock like you should have lots of
children.”

“…Ungh.
Th-that’s still…”

“Hohoho!
No plans yet? Tsk tsk…”

The
old woman clicked her tongue and stroked her teacup while watching
Diana’s reaction.

“So…why
did you, who should have retired long ago, come to see this old woman
who is likewise preparing for retirement?”

The
woman, Diana Ordia, who was wetting her lips with tea while calming
her embarrassment, changed her expression at the old woman’s
question.

“Your
Majesty.”

The
woman’s gently lowered gaze was sharp.

She
who had made numerous power brokers and outlaws tremble in fear and
achieved various accomplishments – returning to the gaze of that
legendary explorer, she opened her mouth.

“I
want to change the labyrinth entry restriction clause we made in the
past.”