episode_0015

I woke up in a hospital room. I don’t know who moved me.

Not long after, Grace came to give me the aftermath.

Jay’s business was gone.

The orphans were released and moved to normal orphanages in other districts, and other organizations quickly filled the void in Jay’s drug production business.

As if they were already prepared.

As a result, the back alleys returned to normal in just two days, as if Jay had never been there.

Listening to that story, I vowed never to get involved with the back alleys again.

“The higher-ups probably found Jay annoying, too. A nobody who just makes and supplies drugs was getting too big for his britches.”

Grace makes me some black tea and hands it to me.

I couldn’t receive it with my left arm in a splint, so I turned my body to receive it with my right hand, but

“Ugh!”

My back hurts.

The wound has healed, but the aftereffects still remain.

“Here you go.”

Grace comes over to me, puts the black tea in my right hand, and makes me comfortable.

Sip.

Ebebe.

This black tea is awful.

Seeing my brow furrow, Grace retrieves the black tea in the blink of an eye and makes it into milk tea.

“This should be more palatable.”

“Thanks.”

Slurp.

Hmm.

Not bad.

…I want cola.

“Where were we?”

“That Jay was getting too big for his britches.”

“Ah, right. So, were they looking for a reason to get rid of Jay from the start?”

“Well, it’s a little different. It’s just common for those people to kick away the ladder.”

“Scary.”

“So, don’t get involved with this side of things again. In the first place, Jay was the first to mess with you this time, so they’re not saying anything.”

Listening to Grace, it seems like my relationship with the back alleys has been cleanly severed.

I’m glad things worked out better than I thought.

“How is it? Was it helpful?”

Grace looks at me with a confident smile.

Seeing that, a question arose.

Why is she being so kind to me? She wasn’t like this with Hans.

Is it because I’m a mage?

I think she said something about making an impression last time, too.

“Ah, and I also invested a lot of money in using high-grade potions on your dying body.”

“What, were you watching me fight?”

“Of course, I was watching. But I didn’t intervene, of course.”

So, she was watching me fight nearby the whole time. I didn’t sense it at all. Her skills might be better than I thought.

“I used a high-grade potion once in the dungeon and once in the city. That’s twice in total. Shouldn’t you grant me what I want for that?”

Grace says that and gauges my reaction.

“Let’s hear it first. If it’s a strange request, I’ll pay for the potions.”

Hearing my words, Grace seems nervous and clears her throat a few times before confidently expressing her opinion.

“Let me join your party. I’ve proven that I’m useful, haven’t I?”

That’s the reason I expected. I don’t know why she’s so obsessed with being in the same party as me, but there must be a reason. Like she sees potential in me.

“…”

Grace’s pupils tremble as I remain silent.

In fact, whether I accept her as a companion or not isn’t important right now.

What I’m worried about is something else.

[Should I go back into the dungeon?]

Until now, I fought risking death to live, because I didn’t want to die.

But now it’s different.

Unlike ordinary mages, I don’t have to go into the dungeon and can get a job outside to earn money.

I probably won’t live in poverty until I die of old age.

“…”

However, the words of Karman, the Last Card Mage, still linger in my mind.

[Ascend the dungeon…]

When I consider the rational suspicion that Karman is likely the one who brought me here…

Why would he bother to possess my soul in another world?

Various reasons come to mind, but I still don’t know the exact reason.

Besides, the status window keeps saying the word [Fate].

It seems like the life of this body called ‘Ivan’ won’t be easy either.

In order to stand against the approaching powerful storms, I can’t just stand still.

I have to repair the house or move to another place. I have to prepare.

Therefore, I must also become stronger.

To do that, I have to go into the dungeon.

I have decided.

Since it has come to this, I will see it to the end.

I opened my closed eyes and looked at Grace.

I smiled at her, whose pupils were trembling anxiously.

“Okay. I was going to look for party members anyway.”

“…You won’t take it back, will you?”

Grace reaches out her hand to shake mine.

I put the black tea on the side table and responded to the handshake.

First party member secured successfully.

“First, there’s a mage, and I’m a guide, so we need two frontliners and one decent backliner. Should I find them for you?”

“No, I’ll choose them myself.”

“If you need to find me, I’m staying at the [Golden Ox Inn] near the Magic Tower, so call me.”

Grace left.

I sip the milk tea and look out the window.

The view of the dungeon city.

How long has it been since I felt this relaxed?

Since I was possessed, I’ve either been in the dungeon or fighting.

It might not be bad to enjoy this peace for a while.

*

A few days later.

My body has recovered somewhat, and I was discharged from the hospital.

However, my left arm has not yet recovered, so I am still wearing a splint and a cast.

I am truly paying the price for overloading my body with [Body Enhancement].

I am now in front of the remnants of the Blue Sun Clan.

I set up the explorer badges on the desk with Rain.

The explorer badges are placed in front of the photo in order.

Next to it, a flag with the Blue Sun is fluttering.

After a moment of silence, Rain spoke without raising her head.

“What are you going to do with the Blue Sun Clan?”

By killing Jay, I have avenged them.

Now, whether I dissolve the clan and leave, or maintain it, Rain won’t be able to say anything.

Because I am the only remaining clan member.

She is just an outsider, after all.

From a rational point of view, it is right to sell this land and do something else with the money.

But…

“I’m going to rebuild it. Of course, it’s impossible right now.”

Rain’s answer was not heard.

I quietly left the spot.

I can feel trembling mana.

*

On the way to the [Golden Ox Inn].

She said it was near the Magic Tower, and actually, the Magic Tower started to appear.

But it’s not as tall as I thought it would be.

The image I had in mind was something that pierced through the clouds.

About the height of an apartment building?

Of course, having something like that in the Middle Ages is eye-catching.

The streets visible outside the carriage are getting better as I head towards the Magic Tower.

The buildings are as splendid and clean as the buildings in Ariel Square, the exit of the dungeon city.

I heard that the 11th district is a slum except near the Magic Tower.

I think I know why.

There are many mages.

Simply, there are many mages on the streets.

Grace said that there aren’t many mages in the dungeon city, and I’ve hardly seen any in the dungeon.

They are all gathered here.

Thud!

After paying the carriage driver, I enter the [Golden Ox Inn].

As soon as I enter, I see many people eating.

Is the first floor like a restaurant?

I don’t know exactly what an inn in this other world is like, but I feel a friendly atmosphere.

First of all, Grace said she was here, so should I ask the clerk?

Just then, a familiar voice cut through the noise.

“Yes!! All mine!!!”

Turning my head, I saw people doing some strange gambling? in the corner.

And there, a woman with red hair was sweeping up money.

It was Grace.

Grace continues to play some kind of strange card game, unaware that I have arrived.

In this other world, special powers are cards, and the board games they enjoy are also cards.

At this point, I wonder if the god who created the world is crazy about cards?

By the time my thoughts reached that point, I made eye contact with Grace.

“…”

“…”

“You’ve arrived.”

Grace instantly returns to her original self.

She has a calm and composed expression, but her face is red.

Well, I understand. People need hobbies.

Ting!

I returned the strange coin that I had received from Grace.

Grace, awkwardly receiving it with one hand, scratched her head and said.

“Did you come all the way here just to give me this one thing?”

“No.”

“Then…”

“I haven’t distributed the money I earned in the dungeon yet.”

“Ah.”

She seemed to have completely forgotten.

I thought it was strange that she asked me to make her a party member and then skipped out with the money.

“Here you go.”

I received the money from Grace and left the inn.

I can feel her gaze, but I tried to ignore it.

As soon as I left, I heard her excited voice.

“Haa…”

I thought she would be like a serious thief.

Did she just manage her image to look good?

Well, I understand.

First of all, she helped me, so I should travel with her for a while to see if she’s a good person.

“Next…”

I have to choose between Karin and Lyman.

Which should I go to first?

More than that, how do I meet Karin?

I don’t think she told me where to go.

Then I have no choice but to wait for her to contact me, so I should go to Lyman.

I’m sure he said it was in the 7th district.

“Are you out of your mind? You’re going to the 7th district now?”

I was trying to get a carriage to the 7th district, but the coachman was surprised.

“…Is there a problem?”

“Do you know where the 7th district is?”

“I don’t.”

“There are 13 districts in the dungeon city. There are [12 districts] in a clockwise direction around [0 district] in the center of the dungeon city.”

So, the 11th district is at 11 o’clock, and the 7th district is at 7 o’clock.

“Where is Ariel Square?”

“Are you talking about the exit of the dungeon? It’s in the 0th district! It takes about 4-5 hours from here.”

“Then does it take longer to get to the 7th district?”

“Of course! It’s not easy to go to another district. Carriages don’t run to the 7th district after noon. Because there’s no suitable place to put the horses to sleep in other districts at night!”

“Then carriages that run until night must be expensive.”

“That’s right! If you pay a special fee, they’ll even help you go there and back. But can you afford that?”

“No. Thank you for letting me know.”

“Haha! You’re a polite friend! Have a good trip!”

Then I’ll have to set aside a day to go to the 7th district. Maybe it will be a one-night, two-day trip.

The scale of the dungeon city is bigger than I thought.

Let’s postpone the appointment with Lyman for a while.

Now there’s only one thing left to do.

Recruit party members.

I came back to the guild again.

It’s already dusk in the evening.

However, there are still many people in the guild.

I’m sure it’s open until 8 PM, so are people gathering before it closes?

Looking at the place where the guides are, Rain had already returned and was back at work.

In the first place, she just took a break during lunchtime earlier, so it’s only natural.

Ding-

I also took a number and waited.

About 20 minutes later.

It was my turn, and I headed to the empty seat.

Rain, who was next to me, glanced at me and then went back to work.

“What’s going on?”

The dog demi-human female guide in front of me.

By the way, I wonder if they pick all the guides based on their looks, all three guides have outstanding appearances.

“…I’m trying to recruit party members.”

“Ah! Please show me your explorer badge!”

I took out my explorer badge and handed it over.

“Bronze with one line… Ah! Are you a complete newbie?”

“Yes.”

“Then it will be difficult to become a party leader. Would you like me to find a party to join?”

“I already have one party member.”

“It’s still going to be difficult. Then the floor you want to go to is the 1st floor, right?”

“I can go to the 2nd floor, or maybe even the 3rd floor.”

“Huh? Did I hear you wrong? You need to have three lines on a bronze badge to go to the 2nd floor!”

The guide said, scolding me.

This is definitely an unexpected variable.

Listening to her, it seems that there are ranks among the explorers, and the quality of the party members changes depending on that.

Right now, my badge is the lowest at first glance.

Do I have to go through the hassle of ranking up?

“Wait, send him to my side.”

Rain, who had already approached where I was, said to the demi-human guide.

“Go, go to the seat next to you.”

There was no reason to refuse.

“…I’ll raise it to silver right away.”

Rain collected my explorer badge and started doing this and that.

The sound of all kinds of magic tools moving.

Soon, she took out a silver explorer badge from inside.

[Ivan Arcana]

[Mage]

“Explorer badges are divided into bronze 3-stages, silver 3-stages, and gold 3-stages. There is also the Adamantium badge above that, but you’ll never see it.”

Rain points to the black line on the explorer badge.

“This line represents the stage. Mr. Ivan is a silver explorer badge, stage 1. Usually, explorers with this explorer badge operate on the 3rd floor.”

“…I see.”

“You said you were recruiting party members, so I’ll post a notice with this status.”

Rain quickly wraps up the work.

I’ve only ever seen her crying and panicking, so seeing her in this professional state is different.

“The total number of party members who can enter the dungeon together is 5. Do you have any party members you want?”

“Two frontliners and one backliner. If I’m lucky, it would be nice to have a priest, too.”

“Priests are not under the jurisdiction of the guild, so go to the temple in the 1st district.”

Rain’s comments are like a macro.

The work was finished in an instant.

“Then I hope you have a good exploration.”

“Wait, there’s also this…”

“Ah, an explorer’s badge who died in the dungeon. The name is on the missing list. Thank you for the explorer’s cooperation.”

“…Yes.”

“Then goodbye.”

The work was so fast that I was out of my mind.

Of course, it might be because she knows my situation.

Crowd.

Is that kind of skill necessary to deal with all those explorers?

I was amazed and left my seat.

Noisy.

I look around the guild building.

A place where many explorers meet and interact.

As befits that, there also seems to be a place that sells food. I saw a lot of explorers sitting at tables eating alcohol and meat.

Since I have no choice but to wait for party members for the remaining time, I took a seat and ordered food.

Chewy.

The meat is more edible than I thought.

I heard that the meat in the Middle Ages smelled bad and tasted bad because it had not yet been improved.

Maybe something is different because it is a world with magic.

Some eccentric in the Magic Tower who uses summoning magic must have improved the breed.

Munch munch.

While I was eating fresh meat after a long time.

Ting!

『The second deck will be unlocked.』

『Choose the deck you want!』

[Necromancer’s Deck] [Thief’s Deck] [Paladin’s Deck]

The status window reappears.

It’s about time to choose.

…First of all, exclude [Necromancer’s Deck].

Just the [Darkness] alone causes a fuss about being a warlock or something. There’s no need to make trouble.

Especially now that I have no power or connections.

Then the remaining ones are [Thief’s Deck] [Paladin’s Deck].

It’s really hard to choose because I don’t know the exact concept or effect.

I need to know what cards are in it to get a sense of what kind of deck it is.

First of all, the deck I’m using now seems to be the [Elementalist Deck].

If it’s a thief deck, does a dagger appear out of thin air?

If it’s a paladin, do they create a shield with divine power?

Thief, Paladin.

“Hmm…”

What should I really choose?

…I’ve decided.

First, find party members and then choose something that can fill in the gaps based on their strength and abilities.

After organizing my thoughts, I cleared the status window and drank beer with ice flakes floating in it with [Freezing].

The taste of the beer itself is disappointing, but the coolness covers up that disappointment.

“Kyaa-!”

Just as that coolness cleared the complicated thoughts in my head.

A man came straight toward here.

He’s about 2m tall.

Dark brown skin full of tattoos.

Is he what they call a barbarian?

He stood right in front of me and looked down at me.

Just as I wondered if I was being harassed by the feeling of pressure.

He said in a strong voice.

“I came after seeing the party recruitment notice.”

I thought it would take a long time to find party members, but it’s faster than I thought.

This is probably thanks to Rain’s help.

“I’m Ivan.”

“Nice to meet you!! I’m Kailek!.”

After shaking hands, Kailek sits on the opposite side.

And he spoke in a loud and strong voice.

“I was originally a 4th floor explorer! The two lines on this silver badge prove it!”

“…Yes.”

Is there a reason to talk about that?

Maybe it’s a barbarian’s way of speaking.

I don’t know the culture of this other world yet.

First, let’s listen quietly and then think.

“I, who was particularly strong among the other barbarians, operated on the 4th floor in just 3 months!!”

“…?”

“I tore and cut the monsters on the 4th floor with this hand! When I swung my axe, everything was torn apart like paper!”

…What do you want me to do with that information? He emphasizes the 4th floor a lot.

The bear poacher I met in the hidden dungeon was a 4th floor explorer, so I guess he’s that skilled?

He’s a better talent than I thought.

“So, are you applying as a frontliner?”

“…”

Kailek suddenly became silent.

He slightly averted his eyes and muttered.

“I, I applied as a backliner.”

“Huh? You’re definitely using an axe…”

“I, I ate a [Curse Card] that prevents the use of close-range weapons. So, Kailek was kicked out of the party.”

“…Excuse me?”

No, what is he talking about?

“But the [Curse Card] has the power to strengthen arrows! So, I decided to switch to archery!!”

Then Kailek took out the bow he was carrying on his back.

The bow is so small that it looks cute compared to his huge hands.

“I’ll show you a demonstration!”

Kailek pulled the string.

Crack!!!

The bow couldn’t withstand the force and broke.