episode_0010

To the long-ears, the Accord might have been an obvious thing.

But to others, it wasn’t.

That’s why they were met with hostility from all sides.

How many had they killed by now?

Sure, they claimed they didn’t kill people often under the Accord, but the chaos they caused dragged the entire elven race’s reputation into the abyss.

That was the current address of the elves.

So those who struck them down were often treated as heroes.

“……You subdued those long-ears with words?”

“Terrifying charisma… To make those bastards listen through sheer speech.”

But this was going too far, wasn’t it?

Treating someone like me as if I were the embodiment of evil.

Anyway.

‘When the hell did those bastards hide and sneak all the way here?’

I frowned as I glanced in their direction.

The ones who had been tailing us, waiting to stab us in the back.

‘Scavengers.’

True to their nickname—beasts that feed on corpses—they had quietly joined the fray.

“Should we just kill them?”

Ermé asked as she approached me.

I hesitated for a moment.

‘Wait, since when did I become this cold-blooded?’

Well, setting that aside.

‘Is killing them the right call?’

If we could do it cleanly, sure.

But whether we could cover this up was another matter.

I voiced my concern to Ermé.

“That’d be difficult.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. The long-ears already caused a scene, and their forces are split up over there, aren’t they?”

“Hmm…”

Meaning hiding this incident wouldn’t be easy.

“But I don’t see this incident in a completely negative light.”

“Why not?”

“At the very least, our party’s reputation—and Han Yuseong’s—has risen because of it.”

“……”

I hated that.

Absolutely despised it.

“You’re really something. Most people would kill for fame, yet you’re trying to avoid it like it’s nothing.”

“……”

I had no response, so I ignored her.

Anyway.

‘So my reputation’s spreading.’

What would happen now?

Well, if things were going this way, maybe I should push it further. So that even Lucia, the so-called villainess, would see me and—

‘—Be powerless to do anything about it.’

If that was the case, I had to use this to my advantage.

I asked Ermé a few questions.

“Huh? Why?”

“Just need it for something.”

The rumors were probably already spreading uncontrollably.

Might as well make use of this reputation.

“Hey, Scavengers.”

“Yessir!”

The moment I called, they rushed over. One of them looked ready to bolt.

‘Doesn’t matter.’

What I had to say wasn’t a big deal anyway.

I relayed a message to the Scavengers.

Their faces lit up as they grinned.

“That’s our specialty!”

“Thank you, Great Hero! You’ve spared our lives!”

“……Must be from the East. Well, he does look the part.”

Ignoring Ermé’s discriminatory remark, I’d at least secured some insurance.

“But what made you change your mind so suddenly?”

Ermé, puzzled by my actions, tilted her head.

“Fame attracts pests.”

“If even you find them annoying… What kind of monster are we talking about?”

Ermé’s eyes trembled.

I’m the one who’s annoyed, so why are you shaking?

‘Well, not like I know how bad it’ll actually be.’

Now that I’d regained my composure since arriving here, I could recall a few explanations my friend had given me.

‘I should write them down in a notebook sometime.’

Hide it in my secret space where only I could see it.

The characters were different here, so no one would understand anyway.

‘I’ll think about that later.’

Right now, the real issue was Lucia.

The one standing right in front of me.

I might meet her sooner than expected.

“Oh, Ermé. One thing I’m curious about.”

“What is it?”

“What happens to the loot we got?”

“Ah, that’s all ours.”

“Really?”

That was good news.

I’d taken a liking to Whisper of the Wind, the sword we’d picked up.

‘And the stuff from the goblins.’

Plus everything from the elves—it was all ours.

‘Now that I think about it…’

Still, no denying they were a pain in the ass.

At least things worked out.

‘But what about her?’

I glanced at Lissiell’s spectral form.

A member of the Darkmoon family.

Just by looks, she seemed like someone of high status.

—T-This can’t be! I-I’m dead?! N-Not only that, but I can’t even find my body, c-can’t even go to the World Tree’s side!

—Why me?! I didn’t do anything wrong! I never violated the Accord! So out of all the elves, why me…?!

—P-Please, spare me. I’ve made a grave mistake. If you return my body, I’ll reward you handsomely when you visit the Darkmoon family.

—I’m depressed. There’s no hope left for me. A life without a body… it’s just…

After spacing out for a while, she was now throwing a full-blown tantrum.

I studied Lissiell.

Golden hair, lake-blue eyes.

Her looks were my type, but—

‘Her personality’s rotten.’

Her beauty was like admiring a doll.

Still, one question lingered.

What would happen if I returned her soul to her body?

‘Forget it.’

If she came back to life out of sheer curiosity?

Sure, she might surrender, but what if she contacted the other elves nearby?

‘Too much trouble.’

So keeping Lissiell’s soul was the better option.

I stared at the gem containing her soul.

‘Too annoying. Let’s just call it a Soulstone.’

I tucked it into my hidden space.

Then sighed at how cramped it was getting.

‘Running out of space already.’

Hidden Space (B).

All three slots had their uses.

One for Lucia’s obsession.

Another for Lissiell Darkmoon’s soul.

‘Can barely fit a weapon at this point.’

I debated between the Blood Dagger and Whisper of the Wind before stashing the dagger.

The Blood Dagger had been seen briefly, but everyone was too busy fighting to notice.

‘Besides, it’s higher-grade than Whisper of the Wind.’

If Whisper was B-rank, the Blood Dagger was B+.

‘Wait a second.’

Could I use this space differently?

I took out a pouch, stuffed Lucia’s obsession and Lissiell’s soul inside, then placed it back into the hidden space.

“……”

It slid right in.

Now only one slot was occupied.

‘So that’s how it works.’

Felt a bit anticlimactic, but if this was possible—

‘This ability’s applications are broader than I thought.’

Versatility was always welcome.

While I was still pondering over the hidden space and Lissiell’s Soulstone, Ermé and Teresa approached.

“We’ve finished sorting the loot.”

“We got a lot. Vee vee.”

Teresa grinned foolishly, making a peace sign.

Marcel let out a dry laugh as he walked over.

“Even if the long-ears came in small numbers, their gear’s nothing to scoff at. Must be because of their ties to the Darkmoon family.”

“But isn’t messing with the Darkmoons risky?”

“Not really. Well, I’d like to say that, but killing a noble from their family is a bit of a problem, Accord or not.”

Ermé added, Usually, at least.

“Of course, we can cover it up. We did kill all the elves nearby, right?”

“Right.”

We killed every elf who surrendered.

No choice.

‘Couldn’t let them live just because they surrendered.’

If their intel reached the elven families, we’d be in danger.

“Well, it was a mercy for them. Captured elves don’t have it easy, from what I’ve heard.”

Ermé spoke as if consoling me.

Not that I felt particularly guilty.

Obviously.

‘My survival comes first.’

I’m a selfish bastard.

Don’t expect me to play the hero, risking my life to save others.

—

“More importantly, how do you feel?”

“About what?”

“Not many adventurers make this much on their first labyrinth dive after arriving in the Cradle.”

Ermé spread her fingers, eyeing me.

A handful, huh.

‘Well, B-rankers are already considered talents worth recruiting anywhere.’

If that was the standard for items, she must be quite the prodigy herself.

‘Even if her personality’s like this.’

—Mother, and my unknown father. Your child, Lissiell, takes her leave now. Please, avenge me.

Lissiell was praying to the sky.

It struck me—elves pray too.

“The labyrinths have existed for a long time… But most who get such opportunities are swept away by the tide before they can capitalize on them.”

Marcel adjusted his glasses as he spoke.

“You’re something else. From what I’ve seen, you’ll be a renowned adventurer in the Cradle before long.”

“Oh my, couldn’t you hype him up a bit more?”

“I do think so… But the rules set by those above are harsher than you’d expect.”

“Ah.”

Ermé’s eyes narrowed.

Thinking of someone irritating, perhaps?

Her smile looked dangerous.

“The real issue is loot distribution…”

Ermé glanced at Teresa and Marcel.

They flinched.

“I’ll defer to Yuseong.”

“Same. Honestly, I didn’t do much. An elf corpse or two would be enough for me.”

Ermé beamed at Marcel’s words.

“Aww, Teresa, really. Our Yuseong might seem cold, but he’s not stingy with rewards!”

This was something Ermé and I had discussed yesterday.

—What if we give the lion’s share to whoever contributed the most in the labyrinth?

—Not bad.

—Ah, but “lion’s share” usually means around 70%. Giving everything to one person might cause resentment or hurt the party’s reputation.

—70% is considered a lot?

—Only for extraordinary contributions.

Something like that.

We headed out of the labyrinth.

—

We hadn’t spent much time inside, yet the sunlight felt blinding.

People were streaming out of the labyrinth all around.

‘…They said time and space are messed up in there.’

Even if you enter together, without a binding spell, you’ll be scattered.

Conversely, even if you arrive at different times, inside the labyrinth, you’ll all appear together.

Maybe that’s why.

The place was packed.

Meaning—crowded.

‘Makes me nauseous.’

Ermé nudged me, noticing my discomfort.

“I’ll handle things here. Consider it repayment for dealing with Lissiell.”

She smiled brightly.

No reason to refuse, so I nodded and headed for a quieter corner.

‘Finally, some air.’

It wasn’t exactly empty, but fewer people loitered here.

Probably because it was near the plaza.

I moved quietly, keeping a low profile.

Then I saw her.

“……Ah.”

A sigh escaped before I could stop it.

Because how could I not?

Why had I come to this place called the Cradle?

‘To run from the owner of the gem I stole.’

The obsession of Lucia, the so-called villainess.

I’d stolen it.

But fate had a cruel sense of humor.

I’d just run into one of the people who’d driven me here in the first place.

“My, my.”

At my sigh, a woman turned, smiling brightly.

Hair and eyes red as blood.

Her gaze locked onto me, curling with delight.

“Hello, Sir Sire.”

“……Excuse me?”

Lucia, the villainess.

Our reunion was… a little strange.