Chapter 25
Chapter 25
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 25
Chapter Title: Go, Stop (3)
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"So, you're saying just I should go in?"
"Yeah."
"...Not even for a little while together?"
"You think it makes sense to tell a scroll maker to fight without scrolls?"
"We can make them here too. You said we can buy basic materials here."
That might be true for basic scrolls.
But Regin hadn't studied this spellcrafter just to make ordinary scrolls.
When he refused firmly, Manannan looked at him.
"Regin."
"Yeah?"
"...I've learned a lot from this expedition too. I won't just be baggage."
"What are you talking about?"
His expression was a bit serious.
Regin wondered what he was thinking, then the guy continued cautiously.
"Be honest. Is it because you don't trust me that you're not going in together?"
"What?"
"...We almost died because of me. It was dangerous when we met those pendant guys too. And with the lycanthrope, I tripped and put us in danger."
"...."
"If it's because of me. If you're worried I'll be baggage again."
Manannan said it like he was confessing.
"If that's the case, I should sit it out. Even from their perspective, you'd be a bigger asset than me."
"You dense...."
Regin let out a sigh without realizing it.
This dense guy thought he was avoiding partying because of him.
"Manannan. I'm a spellcrafter."
"Huh?"
"It's not about forming a party and learning teamwork there... There's something more important."
Something more important to Regin.
That was making better scrolls.
Hunting in a party and syncing with other classes...
That was something to consider later.
"You and I both want to get stronger and climb higher in the Tower. But our ways are inevitably different."
"...."
"For me, making good scrolls is the shortcut to getting stronger. But for you?"
"...I'd have to join a party and gain experience."
"Right. That's why I'm recommending Bern's party. No other reason."
Manannan pondered for a moment, clenching and unclenching his fist repeatedly.
"Whew."
He looked deep in thought.
Manannan was feeling guilty for being a burden during the lycanthrope incident.
To avoid repeating that, the only way was to get stronger.
He seemed to be sorting out his own thoughts.
'It's a time for a lot of agonizing.'
And regardless of Manannan's inner feelings, they were fated to act separately anyway.
It was the set order.
Regin was a solo player in DAT most of the time.
It was rare for him to travel with NPCs.
Of course, he didn't plan to stay solo until the endgame.
'At least until I form a clan, it's easier alone.'
For floors that one person can't clear...
When challenging ones needing ten or more members, he'd make a clan.
'By then, I might team up with Manannan again.'
For now, Manannan joining Bern's party was good for both him and Regin.
"Anyway, it's a great opportunity for you, so make the most of it. Let's both do our best in our own places. You your way, me mine. And when we meet again, seeing how much we've grown—won't that be great?"
"Tch. Our grown-up selves... Yeah, sure."
"So work hard. I'll be cheering for you."
"...You rascal."
Manannan agonized, then spat it out.
"Fine. I'll keep climbing my way without giving up."
Thud.
Regin lightly bumped his fist against Manannan's offered one.
He seemed resolved.
"So you keep your word too. If I hear you gave up and came down midway, I'll chase after you."
"Man. Don't worry, I'll head up as soon as I'm ready."
'How old was Manannan again?'
He was set to have just turned twenty.
But his eyes had a spark that was too good to dismiss as youthful bravado.
Regin had no intention of ignoring it.
'I was the same.'
Regin, who had turned others' mockery of his "scroll-only" bravado into reality by reaching DAT's peak.
He didn't brush off Manannan's words.
This world didn't flow exactly like the game.
If there was potential, he believed it could be realized.
That was Regin.
'If he grows more, that's good for me too.'
He could collect more on the life debt from the lycanthrope incident.
* * *
Dawn broke.
Regin would head to the village, Manannan would go with Bern's party—it was decided.
Bern's party took Manannan early in the morning to hunt monsters at a nearby hunting ground.
Probably to test their teamwork.
'Their skill threshold was the bare minimum anyway.'
Left alone at the camp, Regin wandered the 5th Floor camp looking for something to do.
'Oh, right, there was that scarecrow training spot.'
Suddenly, he remembered the practice scarecrow.
In the game, it was for checking DPS—damage per second.
'Shall I check it out?'
He was a bit curious.
How was the scarecrow implemented in this world, now that he was actually here?
Would damage numbers pop up visibly like in the game?
With that curiosity, he reached the clearing: a sand-covered ground with one scarecrow standing.
'Weapons are laid out beside it too. Same so far.'
Near the scarecrow were beginner weapons on display.
Sword, spear, bow, staff, etc.
As a mage, he'd use the staff, fire a few Mana Bolts, and gauge his current level.
Clunk.
Regin picked up the staff.
Made of wood, it was light.
'I can only use Mana Bolt anyway.'
Without scrolls, his spells were extremely limited.
But that made it ideal for pure stat checking.
Since damage was directly proportional to magic power, it was easy to calculate.
As he prepared to cast Mana Bolt,
"Young man's companion went off without you?"
"Captain Chimihi?"
Someone approached. A familiar middle-aged man's voice.
Turning, there stood swordsman Chimihi Hoffman.
He didn't seem to have stumbled upon Regin by chance.
'His eyes are still full of interest.'
The lycanthrope story must have hooked him plenty.
"We got party invites today. My companion went for the test."
"Hm? You weren't invited?"
"The offer came to both of us. But I'm leaving the Tower. Need time to regroup."
"Back to the kingdom?"
"Yes."
"...Not climbing higher? Doesn't it feel like a waste to stop here and go down?"
Regin shook his head lightly.
"Captain Chimihi."
"Yeah?"
"I'm not an expert on the Tower, but I know there are various choices."
"...."
"Stepping back briefly doesn't mean quitting. Rushing up now doesn't guarantee reaching the top."
Up or down.
Those weren't the only options.
"I'm just taking a break to prepare for farther climbs. You know that's not stopping, Captain."
"...Haha!! True. Quite right."
"And Captain Chimihi."
"Yeah?"
He agreed but looked somewhat regretful. After a moment's thought, Regin tossed out a question.
"Was it you who recommended Bern's party to us, by any chance?"
"What?"
Chimihi looked flustered, but his face was still brimming with curiosity.
"Why do you think that?"
"Only Ernia, you, and the guards know about yesterday. Sure, another guard might've spread rumors...."
"And?"
"But Bern's party didn't seem like the type to recruit blindly."
"Hm... Is that so?"
"Yes. Checking party status before tackling is basic, but I've heard many parties skip basics."
Especially ones only three months old.
Up to the 10th Floor, people often climbed casually. Low-floor NPCs often seemed arrogant partly because of that.
They usually reflected on basics only after wiping on the 10th Floor and beyond.
'The post-10th Floor NPCs always had a more serious image for that reason.'
While getting Manannan into Bern's party, Regin had talked more with their leader.
He learned how thorough the man was.
It seemed impulsive yesterday,
But his plans were systematic, and he knew exactly how to use Manannan.
"Someone like that wouldn't add us just on guards' word. I figured a figure like you might've dropped a hint."
"...Haha! Fun guess, but why would I do that? Sounds plausible, but misses the core. No motive or reason."
"Well...."
Regin pondered briefly, then smiled lightly.
"I'm not sure myself. I was surprised a party like Bern's approached noobs like us. So I guessed if you'd heard my story."
"Hmm."
Honestly, he was certain.
That Chimihi had spread the word to Bern's group.
'My status window's fame rose right then too.'
Regin could check his status window.
Seeing game system or alerts would be better, but even just stats was cheat-level.
Knowing certain info alone gave huge hints.
"Fine. Fun guess deserves an answer. No, I'll tell you something even more interesting."
"Yes?"
"On this 5th Floor, there's someone who desperately wants to climb higher but is holding back for various reasons."
"....Yes?"
That was him, right?
'A swordsman stuck on the 5th Floor due to kingdom duties.'
That was Chimihi.
Pure skill-wise, he could clear the kingdom's current 15th Floor front, but as Ernia said yesterday, politics kept him here.
He must find it frustrating, but kingdom orders came first.
Anyway, the one Chimihi meant was likely himself.
As Regin stared in disbelief, he burst laughing and continued.
"Yes. That's me."
"...Haha."
"So watching explorers makes me itch. I want to grab my sword and climb right now."
"...."
"But I can't defy the kingdom, so I hold the post. Thus, I soothe regrets watching junior explorers."
Chimihi's voice grew a bit flushed as he continued.
"How far will they go? What will they obtain? Hearing returning explorers' tales lifts my spirits."
"Why?"
"Why? They become my eyes and ears, bringing experiences. Hard not to get hooked."
Vicarious satisfaction that way?
It made sense. Where else to vent that exploration itch?
Satisfying it through juniors.
"Call it meddling, I don't mind. But curiosity's hard to contain. You asked if I recommended you to Bern's party?"
"Yes."
"Right. I did. I tipped Bern about you."
Chimihi now admitted openly.
Grinning amusedly, he went on.
"Truth is, Bern's quite the interesting explorer too. The far end of the 6th Floor. Know what's there? Heard Bern's party is heading for a rare item there."
6th Floor, rare item...
'Ah, so that's it.'
Hearing Chimihi, Regin recalled the 6th Floor hidden pieces.
As he said, the far end had something extremely rare.
'The Saint's Sword.'
They were after that.
Regin quickly sorted his thoughts.
DAT's famed hidden item, needing luck and skill.
If obtained... It drastically lowered 15th Floor clear difficulty.
"I don't know much. Don't even know the 6th Floor monsters yet. What's this rare item?"
Of course, he couldn't tell Chimihi. Time to deflect.
"Hmm. The sword of the chosen... Only one blessed by the goddess can claim it: the Saint's Sword."
"That's the rare item's name?"
Chimihi nodded.
"A true legendary sword."
"Naturally. It proves the gods' existence and the Tower's unique history—a precious artifact."
"...."
"Few have ever obtained it. But get it... And wealth and fame are yours."
Not quite that big a deal, though. Why hype it knowing that?
"By the way, the last one to wield it... was me."
"...!"
The Saint's Sword was DAT's unique sword.
It returned to origin only if the user died or relinquished binding.
"I'm looking for the next after me."
Regin let out a hollow laugh.
What a peculiar hobby.
'He's seeking someone with talent like or better than his.'
The guy who knew acquisition difficulty best was hyping it to newbies.
Regin recognized that look.
'...A professor scouting grad students.'
In short, eyes seeking someone to walk his path.