Chapter 316: Reorganization

Chapter
316: Reorganization

The
Deputy Union Master retold the events that had transpired on the
ground a few weeks prior.

“We
succeeded in opening the vault you entrusted to us.”

The
Yonel Freya I had entrusted.

They
had succeeded in opening the vault I had seized from Bio, the head of
the turf clan in the back alleys and a minion of the Sloth
Worshippers.

The
item inside the vault was none other than the Sloth Worshippers’ Orb.

Even
those who had never been exposed to mana would gain the enlightenment
to use it the moment they held it.

A
precious artifact that allowed those who wielded mana to handle even
more powerful mana.

‘It
was because of that that it was more dangerous when I caught the Envy
Worshipper.’

Like
the state of Divine Sword Unification, the Envy Worshipper, who had
directly embedded the orb into his body, became one with the artifact
and unleashed even more powerful mental attacks.

“As
it was a dangerous item, we were trying to coordinate opinions on
destroying the orb when you returned.”

With
such an item in the vault, Yonel Freya had no choice but to make a
decision as the Deputy Union Master of the Explorers.

She
vowed to destroy the orb as soon as possible.

“And
that night, the Sloth Worshippers launched a sudden attack.”

Before
they could even prepare, the Sloth Demon Worshippers, along with
chimera beasts, raided the mansion.

“We
fought back as best we could… but we couldn’t stop the injured one
from escaping with the orb.”

The
Deputy Union Master, with her youthful appearance, let out a sigh
filled with self-reproach.

“I’m
sorry. As the Deputy Union Master, I can’t hold my head up, having
failed to protect an item entrusted by a member of the Union.”

I
looked at Yonel Freya, who was deeply bowing her head in apology.

“Peep,
peep…”

The
yellow chick perched on her head also bowed its head to me, chirping.

“…You
don’t have to bow so deeply. How could you have foreseen the Demon
Worshippers’ attack?”

I
waved my hand with a small smile at the Deputy Union Master, who was
showing deep remorse.

Even
before considering noble status.

As
a mid-level explorer in the explorer industry, I was lower in rank
than her, who had risen to the position of Deputy Union Master.

But
she offered me a sincere apology.

‘This
is an opportunity.’

An
opportunity to gain someone’s trust.

She
already had a good impression of me as an active explorer.

At
Celsia’s birthday party, she promised me ‘unsparing support,’ and the
reward I actually received for the Elder Lich subjugation was
substantial.

There
is no one more precious than a superior who can sincerely apologize
to a subordinate and generously reinvest in them when they achieve
great things.

When
such a person humbles themselves and apologizes for their mistake.

Between
spewing profanities, demanding compensation for the apology, and
generously understanding that everyone makes mistakes,

Which
one would be more impressive?

“……”

Looking
at the Deputy Union Master, who blankly raised her head, which had
been deeply bowed, and slightly opened her mouth in admiration… the
answer was obvious.

“The
Union Master has really chosen a good disciple… I will definitely
repay this mistake soon.”

I
nodded, seeing the deepened trust in me in her eyes.

“Yes.
More importantly… what happened to the escaped Sloth Worshipper?”

“Currently,
Lord Idelbert’s familiar, Shooding, and the Shadow Set are pursuing
the Sloth Worshipper who fled into the labyrinth.”

“Not
the Master, but the Master’s familiar?”

“The
Union Master is currently in the lawless zone.”

Come
to think of it, even in Eden, I had heard from the lion beastman
priestess, Jellysi, that the recent trends in the lawless zone were
unusual.

It
seemed that Idelbert had personally stepped in to resolve the matter.

‘Then
I don’t have to worry too much.’

No
matter what anyone says, Idelbert is my master.

I
can’t even imagine her getting hurt or losing.

‘…No,
can I win?’

Maybe
on the bed, but I had never achieved victory against her through
combat.

I
had barely managed a few draws.

‘But
now, wouldn’t I be able to win one or two out of ten times?’

It
had been quite a while since I last trained with her.

Once
the repairs are complete, it would be good to have a serious training
session with her for the first time in a while.

“Anyway,
we will launch a counterattack as soon as we obtain their route and
information.”

While
I was continuing my wandering thoughts, the Deputy Union Master
subtly gauged my reaction.

Reading
the intention of her gaze, I smiled slightly.

“I
will help if there is anything I can do.”

“I
appreciate you saying that. I will definitely compensate you
generously.”

In
any case, I had to kill the Sloth Worshipper.

‘Because
I have to fulfill the contract with the Sloth Demon sealed on the
15th floor.’

If
I kill the Sloth Worshipper and complete the contract, I can receive
a portion of the demon’s power.

After
deciding to receive follow-up information about the Sloth Worshipper,
I finished various reports and left the Deputy Union Master’s office.

***

Explorer
Union Lobby.

“Kkeuaek,
hek, kkeuheak…”

Jubel,
trembling all over, looked at the item placed on the table, breathing
heavily.

Each
drop carefully squeezed out with the heart of an artisan.

The
gold coins, which far exceeded the profits of Panton Milk, which was
chased by consumers who had been hit in the back of the head, were
distributed to her share.

The
amount of money received for defeating the Elder Lich and the harvest
from this labyrinth trip greatly shook the reason of the money-crazed
explorer.

Oodle,
oodle, oodle…

Jubel
lifted the gold coin pouch with trembling hands and estimated its
weight.

“Heoeok,
heok, heoeoeok…! Heok…! Hek, heak…! Hueaek…!”

She
panted like a beast, then stared blankly at me, jumped up, and ran
towards me.

“I
love you! Balkan! Wooboobook—!”

I
grabbed her lips with my index and thumb, naturally trying to hug me
and plant a kiss.

Jubel,
whose soft lips were grabbed like a duck’s beak, struggled in
embarrassment.

“Don’t
pull any tricks, Jubel.”

“Woowoo,
woowoo woo?!!”

“Don’t
pretend to apologize and rub your breasts against my armor. Breast
milk is hard to remove from black armor.”

I
calmed Jubel, who had lost her mind and was trying to hug the
leader’s body and shake her waist, which had brought her a huge
profit.

“Crazy
bitch… how dare she do that to a guy who’s become a noble…”

“She’s
out of her mind… but maybe that’s the kind of mental state you need
to not be swayed by the evil in the labyrinth…!”

Even
when I told them that I had received a baronetcy and a family name,
the party members’ reactions didn’t change much.

‘It
would have been troublesome if the atmosphere suddenly became awkward
as if they were dealing with a high-ranking person…’

It
was a bit disappointing that there seemed to be no difference at all.

Rubia
was the granddaughter of Professor Mangostil and a noble, so aside
from the fact that the Queen had directly bestowed the family name,
she didn’t seem very surprised.

Nuer
had seen many people as a member of the Explorer Union, so he didn’t
seem to be very impressed by nobles.

Jubel
was just…

“Wooboo!
Wooboobooboo!”

Just
Jubel.

But
the reactions of other explorers who overheard our conversation were
different.

“Crazy.
A commoner explorer received a noble title…?”

“It’s
the first time in almost 10 years…”

“Ah,
no…! Does that mean I can’t compliment the tavern staff with the
family name anymore…?”

“Looking
at that cow beastman, it doesn’t really seem like that’s the case…”

“Idiot.
That’s a party member. Is a party member the same as a stranger?”

“…Aren’t
they usually the same? How many parties are like that?”

Seeing
the gazes of the explorers, who were more shocked than envious, I
thought that this rumor would spread in an instant.

Explorers
are, on average, very talkative people.

Without
even waiting until tomorrow, I thought that the rumor that I had
obtained a noble title would spread throughout the explorer district
by tonight.

And
sure enough.

“Well,
well, well. Who is this! If it isn’t our noble lord?”

The
destination I arrived at after finishing the reward settlement with
the party members.

The
weapon shop street in the explorer district.

In
the underground blacksmith of the most prestigious weapon shop on
that street, where many explorers come and go, a blonde half-dwarf
greeted me with a bottle of alcohol in her hand.

“…If
the 1st Princess calls a mere baronet ‘noble lord,’ how should I
react?”

At
my retort, Zirnier tilted the bottle and chuckled.

“Who
cares? How much do you think I care about that in business?”

“Usually,
people care a lot.”

“Shut
up. Take off your armor. You’ve wrecked it again.”

This
labyrinth trip was long, so Zirnier’s armor also suffered a lot.

“What
is this white mark…? I’ve never seen it before. Was there a monster
that left this kind of mark?”

“……”

“Besides,
there are one, two, four holes… oh? What is this crude patching?”

“A
hole was pierced in a vital spot, so I received emergency repairs
from a blacksmith I found in Eden—”

“You
just branded my newborn baby with a hot iron? Ha…”

Pierced
by poison spurs, cracked in places from colliding with walls and
hammers.

Zirnier
shook her head, seeing the armor that was comprehensively tattered.

“Can
it be repaired?”

“It’s
so severe that it can’t be recovered even with self-repair magic, so
it will take some time, but…”

Zirnier
raised the corners of her lips, drawing out her words.

“It’s
not like I can’t repair it.”

Indeed,
it was confidence worthy of being one of the best blacksmiths in the
labyrinth city.

“Ah,
Zirnier. Just a moment.”

“Huh?”

I
stopped Zirnier, who was about to turn on the furnace and repair the
armor, and asked her a question.

“Do
you happen to know how to make rings? Something pretty…”

“Huh…?”

Glance.

As
soon as she heard my question, Zirnier’s gaze turned to the ring
finger of my left hand.

After
being frozen like that for a while, she.

“No,
no way. You…?”

She
looked at me with a look as if she had sobered up completely.