episode_0038

Top-grade potion.

Produced only a hundred bottles per year, it’s an item that can’t be obtained with just money alone.

Even if the king of a country exhausts himself trying to procure it by piling up mountains of gold at the Alchemy Guild, there are times when he can’t acquire it.

Referred to by grandiose nicknames like the Ultimate Vision of the Alchemy Guild and God’s Droplet of Water, Blood, Mercy, and more.

There are even exaggerated claims that one could revive a person who has just died with this potion.

Carefully, the top-grade potion was poured onto the boy’s leg.

To prevent any spillage on the ground and ensure every drop seeped into his leg, extreme concentration was maintained.

“I appreciate your efforts, but even if it’s a potion, what’s severed…”

The boy spoke.

Seems like he still doesn’t know what this item is.

After pouring about half of the top-grade potion, I closed the lid again.

While recovery potions naturally lose their effectiveness when left untouched, opening the lid like this would render its effects useless within a month.

Tasting a bit of bitterness again, I placed the potion bottle back in my pouch.

“Alright, just wait a bit. Keep your leg still.”

I sat down next to the boy.

“We don’t have time for this. When will that vicious monster…”

“Did it look like a crow?”

“You know about it?”

“You killed it?”

“Yes… but the sacrifice was too great…”

“Alright then. That creature is called Lecer Calcia. At this depth, there’s usually only one per floor, and once you kill it, it won’t appear until the next day.”

“You seem knowledgeable about the labyrinth.”

“I thought so, but it turned out not to be the case. This labyrinth is much deeper and more complex than we imagined.”

Faces flickered through my mind.

“Setting that aside, where are you from? What’s your name?”

“Oh, right. I forgot to introduce myself. I am Pesto Brasica Capcella.”

“Pesto Brasica Capcella… Capcella… Capcella, hmm… Ah, were you the son of Loreldia’s famous warrior?”

“Oh…”

“The son of that Brasica?”

“Yes. That’s correct. It seems stories of my father losing in that tournament have reached here…”

“It’s not particularly famous. If anything, Spectre is the renowned one. Anyway, why did the son of that Capcella come here?”

“For a martial mission… which ended in complete failure.”

“I see. It’s quite evident.”

All the adventurers who escorted the famous warrior’s son from the Kingdom of Loreldia died.

He lost his leg as well.

With things going this way, the future of the warrior looks bleak…

…if I weren’t here, that is.

“…Perhaps it might be better for me to just die here.”

“Hmm?”

“The Capcella family is a proud warrior lineage of Loreldia. Even though my father lost in the recent tournament, his achievements and honor until now won’t disappear. But I…”

“Are you the eldest son by any chance?”

“Yes… but it’s okay. I have a younger brother who is far more talented. If I die here, he will carry on the family legacy.”

“That makes sense.”

“In this state, I’m just a burden to the family. And my brother will be able to showcase his talents freely.”

“I see.”

“So… would you consider leaving me here? If you need money, I can provide my identification…”

“Not necessary. I’m not some vulture scavenging corpses.”

“A vulture…?”

“Oh, it’s adventurer slang, don’t you know? An adventurer never steals from others’ wallets. Those who do get beaten to a pulp by senior adventurers. Moreover, if you pull such stunts in the labyrinth, you’re practically exiled from the industry.”

“I see… In that case, if you could go back and just inform them that I have passed away, I would appreciate it. Please take my identification to the Golden Shield Inn near the square. They will understand then.”

“I don’t want to.”

“How can it not work out…?”

“Hmm.”

“…Seems like nothing goes as planned until the end.”

“That’s how the world is. There are talented younger siblings compared to you.”

“Younger siblings… That’s irrelevant to our current conversation, isn’t it?”

“Well, isn’t the reason why a young lad like you can already talk about dying because of that sibling?”

“Well… But… However, my sibling is truly remarkable. They are different from me. Despite being three years younger, they are taller and sturdier than me. Their swordsmanship is superior too.”

“So, you’re giving up because of that?”

“It’s not giving up. It’s just disappearing for the sake of my sibling’s future.”

“Then did you come here to commit suicide? To become a martyr? Weren’t you trying to become stronger?”

“That was… something my father decided…”

“Hmm… It’s a rare occasion.”

“What do you mean?”

“There’s no one else here besides you and me. So, tell me honestly. Your goal would be achieved just by leaving you here, wouldn’t it?”

“…”

“Wasn’t that what you wanted to say? That’s why you probably mentioned your sibling to someone as indifferent as me. You just wanted someone to listen before you die. I’ll keep it a secret from everyone since I’ll continue living.”

“…Really?”

“Staking the pride of an adventurer.”

“The pride of an adventurer… I see. Adventurers also have their pride. Those who sacrificed themselves for me…”

“I see… Oh, I know that guy.”

I pointed at the adventurer leaning against the wall with half a shoulder missing.

“He was the lucky one who found a magic sword, right?”

He was relatively new, so I didn’t know his name, but I remembered him proudly wielding a lightning-fast magical sword.

Of course, I’ve seen adventurers brag about their belongings before.

But unlike others, people around him were genuinely congratulating him instead of feeling jealous or ignoring him.

It must be a sign of his popularity.

“Were you acquainted with him? Indeed, he was a great warrior. He sacrificed himself first to save his comrades when unidentified monsters attacked…”

“That’s how it was. Many will mourn his death.”

“Because of me…”

“Oh, no. Dying to monsters in a labyrinth doesn’t distinguish between right and wrong in that way. It’s the etiquette of an adventurer.”

“And speaking of myself, I am an adventurer after all. Keeping secret the tales heard in the labyrinth is also part of the adventurer’s etiquette.”

“So, it seems.”

Festo, the eldest son of the prestigious Kapsella family, a renowned martial artist in the Kingdom of Loreldia, began his story.

Born with modest talents unbefitting his lineage, burdened with expectations.

His stepmother, remarried after his mother’s passing, gave birth to a younger brother possessing all the talents he lacked.

His father, despite societal pressures, still grieves for his deceased mother and pays more attention to him.

“I see. So, did you come all the way to this city to escape?”

“…Yes. In truth, the pilgrimage was a lie to appease my father.”

“So, did you come down here to die?”

“…”

“Isn’t that the case? Of course, you might have thought about it, but you didn’t set out from the beginning with the intention to die.”

“That’s… true, but…”

“Then you have enough reason to live. With ample reasons to live, you can’t give up in a place like this. Especially after encountering a miracle like me.”

“Haha… I see. But with these legs, even if I go back…”

“Well, this should be enough.”

“What?”

“Let’s start heading back. Your leg seems to be attached now.”

“…?”

I stood up and extended my hand to Festo, who was looking at me with a dumbfounded expression.

“What are you doing? Get up.”

“Well, wait a moment. Are you really listening to my story? No, did you see the situation?”

“I saw it well. Heard it well too.”

“Then… Then are you mocking me?! How can you with this leg…!”

“Get up, you fool.”

“Fool…?!”

“You want to live, right? Then we should leave from here. You do it yourself.”

…”

Pesto fell silent for a moment.

And then he grinned.

“Is this… Is this the way of an adventurer?”

“Something like that.”

“Then, I’ll follow the ways of this place! As much as I want!”

Pesto grabbed my hand and stood up.

“…?”

“Now that you’re up, let’s go.”

“Huh? Oh, no… Huh?”

He looked down at his own leg.

It was intact and moved smoothly.

“Huh?! Why is my…! Attaching a severed leg even with a potion… A potion… Wait, could it be…?!”

“It’s very expensive. If you’ve consumed something costly, you have to pay the price.”

“The highest-grade potions… Even my father couldn’t easily obtain them…! What’s your name, by the way?”

“Rashwood. No surname.”

“Rashwood…? That name… Could it be that you’re from the Ebony Tribe of this city…?!”

“Oh? You know me?”

“We have an Ebony Tribe member in our hometown too. That’s why the name…”

“Oh? Really?! Who is it?!”

“Someone named Steria.”

“Ha, really?! Steria?! It’s been so long since I heard that name. Steria used to be quite famous until about 100 years ago, but there’s been no news lately.”

I put my arm around Pesto’s shoulder.

“Tell me more about that person. Anything interesting?”

“Well, you see…”

***

“Ahaha, typical Steria! Your temperament has always been remarkable.”

“You’ve been famous for a long time! It’s truly inevitable, isn’t it?”

I safely led Pesto out of the labyrinth.

“Wow, we’re already out because of your sharp senses.”

“Hmph. Sharp senses, huh. Rashwood, you also speak like that. Steria occasionally used such expressions too.”

“Oh, really? Some things never change even after settling in this world for 500 years.”

“Anyway, I heard stories of old friends and managed to collect identification tags of the deceased adventurers in the labyrinth. Thanks to you.”

I took out the identification tags of the dead adventurers that I had collected from the underground labyrinth.

Not all corpses abandoned in the labyrinth can be found.

Retrievers do the same, and for various reasons, bodies often go missing.

So, for adventurers without remains, identification tags are buried instead.

“Oh, no! What have I done… Rather, you, Rashwood, with your precious highest-grade potion…”

“Well, normally I would have let it slide, but even I find the highest-grade potions a bit wasteful. Write a letter to your father later.”

“Yes. I will definitely repay your kindness, Rashwood. Please wait a moment.”

“Sure. That settles it then…”

I looked up at the sky.

The sun had already set, and in the distance, a white, round moon was rising.

It had been a while since I thought the night sky was beautiful.

The city lights could be seen in the distance.

It felt a bit of a waste to think I was watching this scene from under a helmet.

I took off my helmet, shook my head, and wiped away the sweat.

“Phew…”

Refreshing.

It feels like I’ve finally had a proper adventure.

…”

Pesto was staring at me blankly.

“Is it that fascinating? This black hair of mine.”

“…Yes? Oh, no. It’s not like that…”

“Oh, did I mention Steria in your hometown?”

“Y-yes…”

“Then why are you looking so dazed? Let’s go back quickly.”

I started walking ahead.

After hesitating for a moment, Pesto followed behind me.