Chapter Index

    Unknown

    Chapter 203: Beg for it,
    Master (2)

    First,
    I decided to wrap up the immediate situation.

    The
    situation hadn’t been completely sorted out to begin with.

    The
    things that happened in the relic warehouse. Like dealing with Dan
    Milia’s party.

    I
    was distracted by the dildo that came out of the relic box, but there
    were still things to take care of.

    “What
    are you going to do now, Ms. Dan?”

    “Ah.
    The Union Leader has shown me kindness. Since my party was wiped out,
    she said it would be fine to travel back together…”

    Dan
    Milia’s eyes met with Idelbert’s and she bowed her head slightly.

    Idelbert
    waved her hand dismissively.

    She
    who had momentarily lost her mind over the Curse Breaking dildo was
    now in a somewhat stable state.

    At
    Dan’s words, I instead asked Idelbert.

    “Is
    that really okay?”

    The
    reason I came to the 16th floor was to build up my skills by
    exploring the floor alone, meaning would it be okay to have an
    unexplained companion.

    Idelbert
    nodded as if it didn’t matter.

    “If
    it’s the Claudia Guild, we can trust their identity, and above all,
    I’ve sufficiently confirmed your growth in this relic warehouse. It’s
    hard to expect growth greater than a life-or-death battle.”

    In
    other words, it meant that dealing with the chimera in the relic
    warehouse was more difficult than exploring the 16th floor alone.

    I
    realized anew just how absurd an enemy I had faced.

    If
    ordinary level 16 explorers had come, they would have been completely
    wiped out. Like Dan Milia’s party members.

    And
    I also realized how lucky I had been at that time.

    The
    blessing of Judgment Time, the magic amplification potion I received
    from Fusilini, the magic defense training I received from Idelbert.

    ‘If
    even one of the three had been missing…’

    Just
    imagining it sent chills down my spine.

    At
    the very least, it wouldn’t have ended well.

    “You
    overcame the crisis, saved others, and sought guidance from your
    master. The path you’ve walked has bloomed. You should be proud.”

    Idelbert
    grinned and patted my back.

    I
    could feel her joy as a master proud of her disciple’s achievement.

    But
    separately.

    “That’s
    nice but…aren’t you flattering me too much?”

    “…”

    “Perhaps,
    is there something you want?”

    That
    pure, pure ulterior motive was also clearly felt.

    “H-hmph.
    Not particularly? Don’t talk nonsense.”

    Idelbert
    turned her gaze away forcefully from the relic dildo stuck in my back
    pocket while making a “hmph” sound.

    Still,
    I didn’t feel too bad about it.

    Although
    there was some ulterior motive mixed in, I could clearly feel genuine
    sincerity in her words.

    My
    heart fluttered for no reason.

    Should
    I say it felt like being acknowledged as a disciple?

    I
    had heard similar words right after taking down the chimera, but it
    still felt fresh.

    Maybe
    it was because I felt that I had grown more than before.

    After
    all, recognition from the strong is always different and thrilling.

    Still,
    I didn’t get too arrogant.

    This
    is the labyrinth.

    It
    was a dark maze where you never know what might happen the moment you
    let your guard down, the moment you take one wrong step.

    I
    clenched and unclenched my fist.

    My
    body that had collapsed from fatigue had been perfectly restored by
    Idelbert with recovery potions.

    Perhaps
    because I had suddenly broken through wisdom, the flow of magic in my
    body, though not as much as then, felt much more sensitive than
    before.

    My
    magic was full. And I felt confident that I could control it as I
    wished.

    Calming
    my heart that was beating more intensely than usual, I took a step
    forward.

    ***

    Dan
    Milia stared at the scene before her.

    -Screech.

    The
    wyvern, a monster known as the disaster of the 16th floor among
    explorers, spreading terrible infamy, was a monster that ordinary
    intermediate-level explorers couldn’t even think of facing unless
    they had particularly good equipment or could handle sword energy,
    and instead had to turn tail and run.

    It
    wasn’t just because of its scales that were as hard as steel.

    What
    could be more powerless than a person crawling on the ground before a
    monster that rules the sky?

    Intermediate-level
    explorers who just reached the 16th floor and encountered a wyvern
    had two choices.

    Either
    fight for survival while praying to the gods, or run for their lives.

    It
    was not surprising that those who chose the latter would be pecked
    and eaten by the wyvern like earthworms eaten by birds hiding in the
    ground.

    Let
    alone a fully grown wyvern was hopeless.

    “B-breath.
    It’s breath…! We, we need to run…!”

    A
    wyvern that could handle breath, the proof of growth, doubled in
    danger level.

    How
    could one face a wyvern that breathes fire while flying in the sky?

    It
    was a realm of miracles permitted only to wizards and paladins of the
    temple, not something an ordinary warrior could even dream of.

    In
    that sense, Dan Milia was witnessing a miracle right now.

    -Whoosh!

    She
    was watching a man who, with just two legs, soared high into the sky.

    Running
    along tall trees like flat ground with excellent balance, he used the
    trees’ elasticity to fly through the air and buried his axe in the
    wyvern’s wing.

    “Kieeeeek!”

    The
    terrible scream rang out briefly, and the man moved along the
    wyvern’s wing like climbing a cliff, striking with two axes.

    The
    adult wyvern thrashed around, spewing incomplete breath at the
    ground.

    But
    that was the wrong judgment.

    It
    shouldn’t have given distance to begin with. It shouldn’t have let
    him plant his axes in its wings.

    Swish-

    The
    man standing on the wyvern’s neck raised his axe high into the sky.

    Along
    with the axe blade gleaming in the reflected sunlight, transparent
    blue magic gathered with an even more dazzling light.

    Whether
    called sword energy, aura, or various other names, there was one
    thing they had in common.

    That
    is, it was a technique permitted only to those with the talent to
    step foot into the realm of high-rank explorers.

    Dan
    Milia blankly opened her mouth.

    Perhaps
    she was now watching the martial display of an explorer who would
    make a name for himself in the not-too-distant future.

    ‘Balkan.
    Balkan…’

    Dan
    Milia remembered that name.

    He
    was a treasure.

    Moreover,
    not even a raw gem just discovered.

    -Glance.

    As
    she turned her head slightly, she felt the gaze of Explorer Union
    Leader Idelbert.

    Now
    she could understand why she had come to the 16th floor alone with
    Balkan.

    He
    was a jewel being polished in real-time while receiving craftsmanship
    from one of the few masters in the world.

    -Screech!

    Soon
    came the sound of the axe cutting through the adult wyvern’s neck.

    Boom!

    The
    wyvern’s corpse that fell to the ground transformed into light
    particles and became a crystal.

    The
    soul stone of an adult wyvern capable of breath was something not
    easily obtained anywhere due to its unique beautiful pattern…

    -Gulp.

    The
    greed unique to those in the guild surfaced.

    Dan
    Milia etched his appearance into her eyes once more.

    The
    Union Leader’s disciple who covered his face with a mask, an Ain of
    unknown race with a pinky-sized horn near the temple and a giant axe
    warrior who would normally wear a helmet, Balkan.

    “We’re
    here.”

    All
    those thoughts were swept away by his single utterance.

    Before
    she knew it, they had arrived at the edge of the 16th floor.

    ***

    Three
    more days passed.

    We
    successfully made it back to Eden by crossing the ascension portal of
    the 16th floor.

    “Thank
    you. As a member of the Claudia Guild, I will never forget this
    debt!”

    Dan
    Milia, who had collected the equipment and belongings of her party
    members who were eaten by the chimera, bowed deeply.

    Her
    skills were decent enough. Perhaps slightly below Jubeel? She wasn’t
    a bad warrior.

    Though
    her expression couldn’t hide the bitterness of losing party members
    from the same guild, she didn’t seem rough enough in personality to
    show it to the one who saved her life.

    “You
    worked hard. Let’s have a meal together sometime.”

    “Ah,
    yes, yes…! It would be an honor! Thank you!”

    I
    offered a handshake, though it wouldn’t be much consolation.

    Dan
    Milia carefully took my offered hand, nodding her head vigorously
    while repeatedly bowing before leaving.

    Idelbert,
    who had been watching her for a moment, pointed to the four foolish
    men rescued from the relic warehouse and spoke.

    “I’ll
    hand these guys over to the Order and give the materials obtained
    from the relic warehouse to Nuer. The harvest was quite good this
    time.”

    “When
    you’re done organizing the materials, could you perhaps share them
    with me too?”

    “Would
    that be alright?”

    When
    Idelbert asked with a calm face, I let out a hollow laugh.

    “Now
    I can’t even sleep without worrying about those demon worshipper
    bastards. Why do we keep running into them at every turn? And you’ve
    been dropping hints occasionally too.”

    “Hm.
    Ordinary explorers rarely get involved with demon worshippers. It’s
    just that your fate is special. Anyway, I understand. Go rest at the
    mansion first.”

    Idelbert
    patted my back repeatedly and headed to the Explorer Union Eden
    Branch.

    I
    stared blankly at her back.

    In
    this labyrinth expedition too, I found traces of sloth worshippers.

    At
    first I thought it was a coincidence, but as I met more people
    connected to demons, it became increasingly certain.

    This
    is no coincidence.

    ‘The
    demon of gluttony Bunny. The succubi following the worshipper of
    lust. Belle, the worshipper of gluttony who became my slave. The
    demon of sloth at the fountain. And now the worshippers’ laboratory?
    Ha.’

    The
    lineup of those we had met so far was too suspicious to dismiss as
    mere coincidence.

    Whether
    it was bad luck that I kept running into them, or good luck since I
    gained quite a bit each time we met them…even I couldn’t tell.

    [◆
    Blessing of ???]

    – ???

    – Stamina+10
    Strength+10 Agility+10

    I
    just stared endlessly at the answer I still couldn’t solve.

    Serif,
    the saint of the Earth Mother Order, seemed to know the answer about
    this blessing.

    But
    she refused to tell me, saying it would be more helpful not to know.

    Should
    I remain ignorant like this, or should I resolve this frustration
    even if it means taking a loss.

    -Hoo.

    I
    let out a short breath and cleared my head.

    Let’s
    not think too complexly. Things will work out somehow.

    Fatigue
    had built up in my body again during the three-day journey.

    For
    now, I wanted to rest a bit.

    ***

    “Masteeeeer!!!”

    As
    soon as I arrived at Idelbert’s mansion, Grumpy came running out
    and threw herself into my arms.

    -Poof!

    “I
    missed you…Where on earth did you go?”

    She
    must have missed me a lot, as she buried her face in my chest and
    rubbed it vigorously.

    Like
    a puppy showing affection to its master after a long time apart.
    Smiles bloomed involuntarily.

    No
    matter where I went in the world, it was a joy to have someone who
    would welcome my return so enthusiastically.

    “I
    was kidnapped by Master.”

    “Damn.
    That person. Dumped all the troublesome temple people on me and took
    only Master away…I really don’t like her. Hmph.”

    “Haha…”

    Probably
    because there was that time when she was beaten to a pulp under the
    pretext of training, Grumpy didn’t view Idelbert entirely favorably.

    I
    smiled bitterly while patting the head snuggled in my arms, and she
    rubbed both her cheeks vigorously against my chest.

    Wait.
    Come to think of it, this…

    Crunch!

    “Kehek,
    hek…! W-welcome back choking… As expected, Master is the best…”

    When
    I pulled on the collar around her neck, Grumpy gasped for breath with
    a flushed face.

    “I
    heard from the mansion maid that the Union Leader came out of the
    portal, so food has been prepared. Bath water is ready too… Or,
    m-maybe me first…?”

    “I’ll
    eat first. Mine is ready too, right?”

    “Yeees…”

    Grumpy
    puffed up her cheeks with an obviously disappointed face but it
    couldn’t be helped.

    Since
    all I had eaten for days was stew made with Idelbert’s terrible
    cooking skills, I wanted to eat some proper food.

    “By
    the way, what about the other party members?”

    “Ah.
    Master’s party members said they felt awkward staying too long, so
    they decided to stay at an inn near the Union.”

    Thinking
    I should apologize for messing up their schedule since the party
    leader disappeared without a word, I nodded for now.

    I
    entered the mansion with Grumpy, sent her back to her room, and
    headed to the dining room following the servants’ guidance.

    “The
    meal has been prepared, Sir Balkan.”

    “Ah.
    Thank you.”

    “I
    only did what was natural.”

    They
    treated me very courteously. It was because all the servants now knew
    that I was the mansion owner’s disciple.

    I
    ate the food laid out on the magnificently set table like a possessed
    person.

    It’s
    incomparably more delicious than Idelbert’s stew.

    I
    was on the verge of tears of joy every time I ate meat full of
    protein and fat.

    A
    meal that couldn’t be better. It was perfect.

    However,
    even amid all that, I felt a strangely empty taste.

    “Not
    as good as mine, right?”

    “Pardon?”

    When
    I turned my head toward the voice, Idelbert, who had finished her
    work and returned, was sitting at the head of the table with a
    shameless face, tearing into chunks of meat with her bare hands.

    Her
    mouth moved chewing a few times before swallowing the food with a
    gulp.

    “Well,
    it tastes good. But did it have as much devotion as my cooking?”

    “…”

    What
    I recalled while eating this food was Diana.

    Because
    after returning from difficult battles, nothing warmed a person’s
    heart like her stew.

    But
    the moment I heard her words, something flashed through my mind.

    ‘Devotion…
    is it.’

    Was
    the empty taste I felt the absence of devotion?

    Of
    course, the mansion’s cooks would also put their heart into cooking
    for those who eat.

    But
    the devotion laid out on this table and the devotion I felt while
    eating Idelbert’s homemade stew were somewhat different in nature.

    The
    same goes for Diana’s stew.

    For
    some reason, I couldn’t help but smile.

    “Yes.
    Well.”

    “What’s
    with that strange response?”

    “Ahem.
    It’s nothing. Master’s cooking is the best.”

    “Hmph.
    Of course it is.”

    I
    just nodded and smiled because as I ate while chatting about various
    things with Idelbert, I felt the momentarily rising empty feeling
    fade away.

    It
    was evidence that the woman named Idelbert had become someone who
    could affect my emotions.

    After
    all, since coming to this world, the time spent with Idelbert was
    second only to Diana.

    Seeing
    that the food laid out on the table was demolished, she naturally
    stood up.

    “If
    you’ve filled your stomach, let’s wash up.”

    “Yes.
    You go wash first. I’ll rest in my room meanwhile…”

    “Ah,
    no.”

    She
    firmly grasped my wrist as I was about to stand up and her black tail
    was trembling slightly with embarrassment.

    Her
    face was also slightly redder than usual.

    “…”

    I
    quietly looked into her eyes.

    Her
    usually fierce and expressionless eyes had softened gently.

    In
    her trembling pupils was reflected the image of one man looking down
    at her.

    Finally,
    her lips opened first.

    “…Together.
    Let’s wash together, disciple.”

    From
    her hand pretending to be calm, an undisguisable trembling was
    transmitted.

    0 Comments

    Heads up! Your comment will be invisible to other guests and subscribers (except for replies), including you after a grace period.
    Note
    // Script to navigate with arrow keys