Chapter 258
Chapter 258
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: penny
Chapter: 258
Chapter Title: Labyrinth
-----------------------------------------------------------------
They left the imperial capital of Lavega three days later. They had originally planned to depart the next day, but it took considerable time to secure a carriage heading to the city of Torus, which bordered the Ahman Kingdom. There were plenty of carriages going to cities with labyrinths, but since no labyrinth had been discovered in Torus yet, it saw little traffic from adventurers or mercenaries. As a result, they were treated like weirdos while searching for a ride to Torus.
Fortunately, they found a carriage heading there and booked it immediately. With time to kill before the scheduled departure, they spent it in the noble district, experiencing the culture and cuisine of the Byron Empire. They bought clothes, watched plays, listened to music, and dined out. They even leisurely strolled the streets. By chance, they stumbled upon the Adventurers' Guild headquarters.
As it was in the imperial capital and the guild's main branch, they occupied an entire mansion-like building. Inside the headquarters, numerous adventurers in various attire milled about. Judah waited his turn at the counter and stated that he had come to receive his Platinum Badge. The staff member blinked in surprise and stared at Judah's face.
Despite his growth, Judah still had a youthful look, so the employee regarded him suspiciously and asked if he could prove it. They warned that lying would incur a penalty.
That was no problem at all.
Those nearby who overheard Judah snorted in amusement and watched with interest. Right there, Judah opened his <Bag> and pulled out his bastard sword as proof. Dense mana flowed from his body, overwhelming everyone present. The moment they laid eyes on the transparent, crystal-clear blade, they were speechless.
The staff member who had demanded proof stared blankly before muttering to wait a moment and rushing off somewhere. They tripped forward and tumbled a few times in their haste but got right back up, limping up the stairs without seeming to feel the pain. Shortly after, a man came dashing down.
The portly, neighborhood-uncle type was sweating profusely, as if he'd run from afar, and scanned the room. Another employee who had been holding Judah called out, "Branch Master!"
They followed the pot-bellied branch master into a reception room to talk.
Normally, to receive a Silver or Gold Badge, certain conditions applied: successfully completing a set number of requests, passing exams from branches or headquarters. Gold Badges were even stricter, factoring in honor, fame, and leadership on top of requests and exams.
But Platinum Badges were different.
They ignored request counts, exams, honor, fame, leadership—everything.
One only needed to prove ownership of a Spirit Sword. That's why even Judah, with a pathetically low number of completed requests, qualified for a Platinum Badge. However, due to his minimal contributions to the guild, he wouldn't receive the customary congratulatory gold or gifts.
He didn't care anyway; he just wanted the badge.
While the Platinum Badge was being prepared, Judah chatted with the branch master in the reception room. Nothing special.
Since he was receiving a Platinum Badge from the Adventurers' Guild, he couldn't switch to another guild. And if the guild later assigned him requests above a certain rank, he'd have to accept them barring special circumstances. The rest wasn't worth remembering.
He soon received the completed Platinum Badge.
──────────────────────
[Name: Judah Arche ? Platinum Badge -]
[Rank: Unique]
[Description]
An honorable badge given only to Spirit Sword owners.
All who see this badge will show you due respect.
-Tongues (Active): Owning this badge generates a "Leadership" stat between Potential B~S once.
-Spirit Sword Owner (Passive): You have proven to the guild that you are a Spirit Sword owner.
-Adventuring Party (Passive): You can form an independent adventuring party not affiliated with the guild.
-Respect (Passive): Showing this badge will earn you courteous treatment from guilds, nobles, kingdoms, and more.
-Reverence (Passive): No one who recognizes this badge will disregard you.
-Honorable Badge (Passive): Owning this badge increases "Charisma" and "Leadership" stats by 5 each.
──────────────────────
[Honorable One]
You have proven your Spirit Sword ownership to the guild and obtained a Platinum Badge.
-Request rewards increased by 200%
-Request fees reduced by 80%
-Wherever you go, if there's an adventurers' branch, you'll receive treatment befitting nobility or higher.
-Gain affinity bonuses from those who value honor.
──────────────────────
「Status Window」
[Name: Judah Arche]
[Titles: Honorable One (5)]
[Level: 57]
[Job: Black Claw _ Shadow Magic Swordsman (Hidden A)]
[Revives: 25]
[Strength: 71 (B) / Potential A]
[Vitality: 57 (C) / Potential S]
[Agility: 81 (A) / Potential SS]
[Mana: 51 (C) / Potential B]
[Magic Resistance: 71 (B) / Potential S]
[Charisma: 36 (D) / Potential A]
[Leadership: 20 (D) / Potential S]
[Knowledge: 28 (D) / Potential B] ◀ Special
[Luck: 89 (A) / Potential S] ◀ Special
[Remaining Points: 0]
[Achievement Points: 1]
──────────────────────
The moment he received the Platinum Badge engraved with "Judah Arche," a new title and stat appeared alongside it.
<Leadership>
A stat that grants percentage bonuses to stats, attack speed, and reaction speed when leading groups like adventuring parties or mercenaries, or using summons. It was surprising that its randomly set potential was S, but it wasn't desperate enough to spend points raising it. After receiving the badge, he bid farewell to the branch master and left the guild.
The next day, they boarded the reserved carriage and departed the imperial capital of Lavega.
+ + +
The Iron Labyrinth.
It was the name of the labyrinth sealing Asmodeus, a subordinate of Artemisia, the seventh lord among the Seven Deadly Sins. Hidden in the borderlands between the Byron Empire and Ahman Kingdom, flames erupted from the ground year-round, turning the surrounding land into a black ashen wasteland uninhabitable by life and blocking access.
No one in their right mind would venture into land where flames sporadically burst like hot springs. Even without knowing if treasures or relics lay within, with lives being singular and the barren expanse showing nothing from afar, it couldn't even stir an adventurer's exploratory urge.
Not to mention no one knew a labyrinth was there.
They couldn't even imagine it had sealed Asmodeus with the twenty-first fragment, <Rudmillan>.
Clunk!
After an exhausting carriage ride, they finally arrived near their destination, the border city of Torus. The coachman said he was heading to a nearby village, so they had to get off here. Stretching his back upon dismounting, the surroundings came into view. Vast plains stretched out, with a sturdy-looking castle atop a small hill. The area was filled with farmlands, and more people than expected were working the fields.
"We're going into that castle?"
Arhil asked. Her voice betrayed concern over the unexpectedly distant castle.
"No, don't worry. I plan to head straight to the labyrinth without stopping there."
"Really?"
Arhil sounded incredulous. She'd apparently assumed they'd enter the castle, book an inn, and rest a day. Pouting, she used holy magic to loosen her stiffened body from the long immobility.
"I want to wash up..."
"I have a magic scroll for that. Want to try it?"
"No thanks."
No matter how useful magic scrolls were, they couldn't compare to washing with warm water.
Comforting herself with the bath from a few days ago in a small village, Arhil stood beside Judah.
"But is it okay not to go through the castle?"
"No issue. Food, sleeping bags, clothes, medicine... everything's prepared, right?"
"...True enough."
Lime nodded, recalling the heaps they'd bought in the capital. They were fully equipped to enter the labyrinth immediately.
"But can we conquer it with just this group?"
"Hmm. It might be a stretch, sure."
Judah knew what worried Lime. Normally, tackling a labyrinth with only four people was sheer madness. The internal mazes twisted chaotically; one wrong turn meant high odds of never escaping. With no sunlight, darkness settled in, instilling primal fear the moment one entered.
Monsters lunged from the shadows at any hour, making even small noises heighten sensitivity. The longer one stayed, the more likely even strong minds would fray into neurosis.
But Judah wasn't worried at all.
Food was abundant beyond necessity, spare clothes and magic items stuffed his <Bag>. And though only four, they weren't ordinary.
Top-tier saintess among priests, two Spirit Sword owners with fragments, and a high mage. Plus, Judah knew the Iron Labyrinth's攻略 route.
"No problem, though. If things go south, we just head back out."
Lime asked no more at his confident reply. Judah glanced at distant Torus Castle, activated his , and took the lead.
"Let's go. You'll find the labyrinth worse than you expect."
========== Author's Note ==========
1) First, thanks to everyone who sent manuscript coupons and support coupons. Thanks to you readers, I might get to see Arhil as an image. I agonized over whether to commission it, but I went for it.
P.S.1) I like it enough to commission, but I'm worried if you all will.
P.S.2) Secret: You'll get to see two versions.
2) Want to see (Zen)Tia too? Our smoking-loving Tia. I was going to tell the first commissioner that I'd already given it to someone else since they contacted late... but seeing sneaky requests for Tia, I'm considering one more.
Unexpected expenses are draining this month, but with your coupons and recommendations, maybe commission Tia too...?
If enough want it, I'll check comments after school tomorrow and decide.
3) Rereading from the start for Grossin's ebook release.
Mountains upon mountains! 山山山山!
Remember this? lol... My own writing, but first full reread from beginning—dying of embarrassment. Feels like earning money through shame. Fixing typos, polishing sentences, tweaking settings; taking longer than expected.
Bit of a long note today. All around.
Truly grateful to you all.
Without you, I couldn't write this leisurely now.
Thank you. Really!