Chapter 80: Cut Ties

A powder keg ready to explode.

I infused mana into my inventory.

‘If I activate etherealization right away and leap at Dooms…’

I could shove my arm into my body, take out an item from my inventory, and blow Dooms up on the spot.

Leo seemed weak, so if I dealt with Dooms and just took out Duran’s neck, it would be victory.

“Sigh. So you’re going to be like that.”

As I entered a combat stance, Leo, who had been staring intently at my eyes, sighed and shook his head.

“Dooms, Duran, stop. That porter is right.”

The two bodyguards who were about to deal with me immediately took their hands off their sword hilts.

I was planning to counterattack if they rushed me, but the other side lowered their tails first.

“Fine. Sister. If you want to stay, then stay. However, don’t think you can receive any more support from the family from the moment you choose to stay on your own.”

“…Okay.”

“And even if you die, the family will no longer be responsible for the cost of resurrection. No matter where you die. The family will wash its hands of your life and death. You’re officially expelled from the family.”

This was the expected course of action.

Since she disobeyed the head of the family’s order to return home, they won’t take responsibility even if she dies. They’re completely cutting ties, to the point of ignoring even the church’s debt collection.

“And you, porter. I don’t know what kind of ill intentions you have towards Lea, but there won’t be any more rewards like this time just because you rescued my sister. It seems you were blinded by money and thought you could make a big score with my sister. Don’t even dream of it.”

I was dumbfounded, but I didn’t bother to retort.

From their perspective, they could easily think of me that way.

I probably looked like someone approaching the young lady with the goal of money, trying to make a big score.

“The reward given today will be the last support provided to you two. Whether you split that money between yourselves or whatever, survive on your own. Also, don’t use the Lionel name. All the benefits you gained by riding on the family’s back will disappear as of today.”

It meant they would completely cut off financial support.

Now the young lady won’t be able to borrow money in the family’s name, nor will she be treated as a noble.

They’ll give such instructions. It meant she had become a completely abandoned child.

“And this is a message from father.”

“What is it…”

“If you’ve decided to stubbornly stay in the city until the end. Don’t even think about returning to the family until you get a Gold Badge. This is the path you’ve chosen. If you can’t prove your worth on your own. Just die in the labyrinth.”

It was cold words, but also reasonable ones.

It meant she should grow on her own without the family’s help and prove herself.

Until she proves herself that way, the young lady will no longer be a noble.

“He said to prove yourself without the family’s protection. That’s what Labyrinth City is for, isn’t it?”

“Did Father really say that..?”

“Yes. Father thought about this situation quite seriously before making this decision. He still loves you, but. He’s someone who clearly distinguishes between public and private matters, isn’t he?”

“…I understand.”

“Haah. Sister. Are you really not going to return? It will be hard. Don’t tell me you’ve been bewitched by that porter?”

Leo glared at me again.

I felt like he was completely pointing to me as the culprit in this incident.

“Uh, that’s not it. Sion is just helping me. He doesn’t interfere with me beyond that.”

“Is that so. Change your mind now and let’s go home. Lea, the labyrinth is dangerous. Your brother is begging you. If you insist on your will here… you won’t be able to return to the family.”

“I’ve already decided. Not to return. My will is firm. You’d better hope I get a Gold Badge quickly instead.”

“…Alright. Damn it.”

Leo ran his hand through his hair.

“I guess I won’t be returning to the family either.”

“Huh? Why not, brother?”

“What’s the point of me going home alone when you’re not going? I don’t want to go when there’s no one to play with.”

“Wait. Then what about Father?”

“Father said. If Lea insists, you stay and do some business.”

“What?”

For a moment, the young lady and I wondered what this meant.

Wait, didn’t they say to cut ties with the family? But what’s this situation?

“There’s a trading company in the city owned by the family. I’ll be staying there. Haah. From now on, don’t call me brother, call me trading company owner. Damn, I don’t even know what I’m doing. Just know that.”

What on earth does this mean?

Leo is staying in the city?

Why is this bastard staying in the city?

Go back home.

“What’s wrong, porter? You don’t look happy. Why? Is your heart aching because you tried to get your hands on my sister and it’s not working out? Hahaha. Your expression is obvious. It’s pathetic, commoners really can’t manage their expressions.”

“No. It’s not that I can’t manage my expression, I’m just showing that I’m in a bad mood. I feel dizzy thinking you’ll stay in the city and keep picking fights.”

“What? Picking fights? You dare speak so carelessly?”

“What? Looks like we’ll be seeing each other often.”

“Huh. Don’t try to break down walls on your own. I still don’t like you.”

“By the way, I’m the young lady’s guide. We’ve agreed to always stick together when entering the labyrinth.”

“You bastard!!! So you did seduce my sister!”

Leo immediately grabbed my collar.

“Hey. Are you going to hit me? This is the Adventurers’ Guild, you know? You know it’s self-defense, right? Aren’t you relying on Dooms and Duran too much? Should I call my friends too?”

“Damn you. Dooms, Duran.”

“Yes, master.”

“Let’s register as adventurers first. It’s frustrating that we can’t even beat up a commoner brat.”

“The paperwork is already prepared. You just need to sign.”

Leo saying he’ll register as an adventurer first.

Now I can’t act recklessly while relying on the guild.

Since conflicts between adventurers usually have to be resolved by themselves. The guild master probably won’t help either.

Unless there’s a one-sided assassination attempt, most conflicts are resolved through fistfights.

“Phew. Lea, if it gets unbearably hard, come here.”

“No thanks. I won’t… accept the family’s help anymore.”

“Is that so. Good luck then.”

“You too, brother. And sorry for making you come to the city for nothing.”

“It’s fine. I had to come to check anyway. Thanks to that, I got to see the face of the devil next to you. To think such a guy is sticking to my sister..”

Leo, who glared at me until the end, left with his two bodyguards.

To be honest, I thought he would just make the announcement and leave.

Or it would lead to a physical confrontation and he’d get beaten by me and be expelled from the city.

But they used their heads too. Knowing they would definitely be crushed by the guild’s pressure if they clashed physically, they flexibly escaped.

‘It seems they had already assumed Lady Lea wouldn’t return home from the start.’

They probably contacted the trading company in the city in advance and infiltrated Leo.

I heard the father is a daughter-idiot and the brother has a sister complex, so are they planning to keep supporting her while pretending to abandon her externally?

Or maybe they just attached him for surveillance.

“I’m not sure exactly what’s going on, but. At least you can stay in the city for now.”

“Yeah. Somehow it feels like my brother came to do business from the start.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. He’s originally someone who speaks bluntly. His way of talking is usually a bit rough. But he’s good at business.”

“I see.”

“Anyway, thanks for taking my side.”

“It’s nothing. Of course I had to take your side.”

“Hehe. Well, I should let my party members know about the situation. Since the family’s support has been cut off. We’ll have to earn money properly.”

“Ah, then let me give you some of the reward I received.”

“No. That’s your rightful compensation. I don’t want to take it. I’ll try to get by with the money I have for now. And… we’ll have to enter the upper floors without you, Sion.”

The young lady saying they’ll have to go in to earn money on their own since I can’t always go with them.

Honestly, they should be able to enter the upper floors on their own even without me. Of course, I can’t let them go in right away since there are still things to teach them.

‘Originally she said she wouldn’t enter the labyrinth without me, but. The situation has changed.’

I’ll have to move flexibly.

Probably after entering the upper floors a few more times, they’ll get the hang of it, so it seems the young lady’s party members will be able to explore the upper floors sufficiently on their own. It would be good for me too if they can explore the upper floors on their own while I go with them to the underground city.

“Still, you’ll have to wait until the heretic situation is dealt with. The upper floors are dangerous because of the heretics too.”

“Okay. I’ll stay put this week. I guess I need to move out of the lodgings first.”

Since the family’s support has been cut off, she’ll have to leave the luxury inn. Now the young lady is in a situation where she needs to earn money properly.

Right, the words “financial comfort” and “labyrinth trips” don’t really go together. There’s a saying that you can enjoy labyrinth trips more fully when you’re poor.

“Let’s do well together from now on. We’re both in a situation where we need to get Gold Badges.”

“Haah. That’s right. Gold Badge, we need to get it. If we decided to be adventurers, we should at least dream of getting a Gold Badge.”

“Yeah. Since Platinum Badges are in the realm of innate talent and luck. We should at least dream of Gold Badges.”

Not just anyone can get a Platinum Badge.

You either have to be born with destiny, or work hard enough to break the limits of your species. No, even effort can hardly reach the realm of Platinum Badges.

It’s impossible to reach without innate talent.

“Anyway, I’ll go in first. Sorry for getting you involved.”

“No. It’s fine. I was already involved from the moment I became your guide…”

“Hehe. Right? Since you’re already involved, you could get more involved in my life.”

“If I get more involved, I think Leo-ssi will kill me. I’ll restrain myself.”

“Coward… Well, have a good labyrinth trip. Make sure to come back alive. Ah, I guess we can’t go on a date.”

“Let’s do it when I return from the labyrinth.”

“Okay! Make sure to come back safely!”

The young lady left the guild.

I have to enter the labyrinth tomorrow, so I should finish my final preparations too.

---

I finished all the final preparations.

“Are you really going to buy all of this?”

“Yes. Give me everything.”

Oil bottles.

These were really helpful during labyrinth exploration.

If it’s urgent, you can just throw them and set them on fire. Isn’t this basically a fireball?

I think the combination of spatial pocket and oil bottles is essentially the same as a fireball.

“If there’s an arson case somewhere, you’d be the culprit.”

“Haha. What a joke.”

I put all the oil bottles into the spatial pocket.

I also bought lots of rope. I packed herbs and mint too.

I even put several tons of water into the spatial pocket.

‘I’ve gathered lots of abandoned furniture and wood too..’

I should be able to escape from any situation that comes.

I’m basically in a state no different from a walking house now.