Chapter 33
Chapter 33
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 033
Chapter Title: Precarious Companionship (3)
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Reggin gulped down his beer, lost in thought.
'The rumors about the Lycanthrope are already spreading.'
It had to be the effect of his fame stat. It was the same in the game. Whenever you accomplished feats and your fame rose, word spread like wildfire.
It was only natural, really.
Explorers staked their lives climbing the Tower, sharing how far they'd gone and what monsters they'd slain, always competing.
When someone pulled off something extraordinary, everyone had no choice but to perk up and listen.
'But I haven't spread any rumors myself. And from their reactions, it doesn't seem like Klina or anyone from the Association did either.'
If it had come from the Association, mentioning Reggin's name wouldn't have been odd.
At the very least, they would've called him the newbie from the Spellcrafters' Association.
'And Voland doesn't seem to suspect it's about me either.'
Which led Reggin to conclude that this rumor hadn't come from him or Klina—it had spread from some external source.
Not knowing how it would play out or who was behind it for what reason sharpened his gaze.
"It's not an impossible tale."
That was one thing; he still needed to answer the question.
In most cases, fame didn't harm players.
Just like Korean celebrities earned more as they got famous, explorers gained value the more recognition they received.
So Reggin tabled that thought for later and looked at Voland.
"By the way, I can sense mana coming from your body. Did you use a scroll?"
"Indeed. I used my go-to strength enhancement scroll. You must've spotted the mana aura."
"Yes."
"Hmm. It definitely works."
Voland grinned, baring his teeth, and placed a scroll on the table.
"The output's higher than before, it seems. Even a mage shouldn't make the mana visible to the naked eye like that. This one's freshly made."
"You made this one recently?"
"It's the same one I used against those thugs earlier. I boosted the output a bit, which let me amp my strength even more."
At the start of the game, you could buy strength enhancement scrolls from Voland.
Of course, not if your affinity was low... but even when you could, hardly anyone bought them.
'As far as I remember, it boosted strength by 1.5 times. I'm not doing melee anyway, and it's an awkward amount to hand out to party members.'
Plus, it didn't see combat use, and with limited bag space, there was no room for them.
Yet Voland claimed his scrolls had improved significantly.
Curiosity piqued, Reggin asked how much the output had increased, and Voland replied.
"1.8 times. I might even craft one that doubles strength soon."
"...1.8 times? Isn't that enough to tempt even gladiators?"
It could turn a monster you barely missed into an easy kill.
Reggin's surprise prompted a nod from Voland.
"Quite so. But I'm not selling to outsiders yet. Need to refine it more first."
"Hmm. Even this seems plenty valuable."
"If you think so, I'm grateful. Ah, this one's a gift for you. Truth is, I finished it this morning after getting inspired by seeing your scrolls in person."
"......!!"
Voland handed the scroll from the table to Reggin.
"Think of it as a gift. You've helped me out too, Reggin."
Truthfully, making the special bomb scrolls had been mostly to boost his own sales chances.
He'd hoped it might catch the Nemede school's eye, but that was secondary.
At his current low level, surviving the Tower meant using any means necessary.
'I didn't make them expecting a reward, but no reason to turn it down.'
Reggin pocketed the scroll.
It might prove useful for his own research too.
This wasn't the game... Here, he could study scrolls firsthand and craft his own.
"I stopped by to give you this, but sorry for interrupting your drinks."
Voland chuckled and stood.
"If you have more questions, come to the training grounds behind the Association tomorrow. I'll be testing this scroll's power."
After Voland left, Reggin finished the remaining beer with Klina.
'Training grounds...'
Wouldn't a spellcrafter usually say "come to my lab"?
* * *
The next afternoon.
Reggin woke in his lodging and scanned his surroundings.
'Definitely better than sleeping tense in the Tower.'
Until he reached the 5th-floor camp, he'd had to sleep in shifts with night watch.
Monsters could pop out anywhere, anytime.
Even at camp, he hadn't fully relaxed.
You couldn't trust people blindly.
'Even if Chimihi guards it, variables can happen.'
The Tower had relatively safe spots, but nowhere you could let your guard down completely.
Having rarely slept properly amid constant tension, Reggin finally got a good night's rest.
'Nice sunny weather.'
He hadn't expected to miss this view.
It had only been a few days since he'd entered this body, all spent at this lodging.
But compared to the Tower's dense mana and murderous monsters... it was plenty comfortable.
Gulp—
Reggin downed a detox juice from his bag.
Klina had given it to him as last night's drinking session wrapped up. Locals seemed to bring these to parties.
'Something about easy-to-grow fruit with decent detox effects.'
Not enough for Tower poisons, but good for hangovers.
After showering, Reggin headed to Middle Street.
The lodging sat at the street's far end—the original owner's spot for years.
A bit out of the way, so it was a hike to downtown, but quiet.
"Get your papers here! All the continent's news in one!"
Entering the plaza brought familiar sights, including the newsboy from his first day.
"Hello! No paper today?"
"You remember my face?"
"Yes. Boss says remembering customers' faces is Sales 101."
"You're learning well."
He'd bought on day one, and a few times after.
Even so, three weeks away on Tower runs—yet the boy recognized him. Impressive.
"Honestly... I remembered your bracelet. I'm still too short to see faces well."
"I see."
"Yeah. From my height, I spot legs and hands better. Yours stood out."
"No markings, and it stood out?"
"Most mage bracelets have engravings."
"So the lack of any made it unique."
"Yes."
Reggin chuckled, eyeing the boy.
Sharp enough for more than sales. Scout material.
"One paper, please."
"Thank you!"
Papers were worth buying daily.
'Game news was sparse, like headlines only. This has tons more.'
More info than expected.
Mostly kingdom-censored, of course.
Local stuff: record crop yields, house marriages.
"Today's issue—no regrets."
"Yeah?"
"Marquis Billiard offered big rewards for climbing the West's First Tower."
"...Marquis Billiard?"
"I don't know much, but boss got the delivery and yelled, 'Jackpot! That's news!'"
Occasional scoops like that.
'Marquis Billiard dangling rewards to push 15th-floor clears. Probably calming unrest after the portal corpses.'
Reggin nodded and read on-site.
The boy was sharp but young—missed the real hook.
'Boss didn't grin over the reward news.'
Sliding his eyes beside Billiard's article explained the boss's excitement.
Might not seem big to the boy.
But to seasoned explorers like Reggin? Huge.
[Western Border Raided. Count Phillimure's Three-Day Reign. Marquis Billiard Stands Strong.]
Billiard, the reward-offering noble, had won a border clash.
Seemed like he still gripped the West.
'But Phillimure and others threw down challenges.'
Resistance emerging was key.
Power shifting in the West.
'Time to pick sides—which house to back. Heads spinning.'
Especially for explorers.
Some must be agonizing now.
...Most climbed with noble backing.
'Like sponsorships. Celebs do ads for pay; explorers sign contracts for gear, owe favors.'
Deep game lore.
Early: fund gear.
Late: dodge politics.
Balancing nobles was crucial.
'Billiard, huh...'
Reggin smirked, folding the paper.
'Rich fall, but three generations linger.'
That's what he'd tell explorers asking Billiard's fate.
'Without mentioning he's the third generation now.'
No need for unprinted details.
Reggin envisioned the West's future.
Billiard's sun setting. A new one rising. He wouldn't forget.
* * *
Whoosh—!!
After lunch, at the training grounds.
Voland was pummeling a straw dummy inside.
"Were you holding back yesterday?"
"You're early."
The shredded dummy drew a hollow laugh.
Full power then? Gladiators would've been mush.
"Not intentional. I'm still adjusting to this new scroll. Today, I went all-out to test limits."
Wiping sweat, Voland eyed Reggin.
"How's the one I gave you?"
"Need more study. Seems tightly crafted, that's all for now."
"Haha! Bound to be—poured my soul into it. Hope it teaches you something."
"I'll dig in hard."
"Tell me if you learn anything. Much appreciated."
Reggin nodded.
Spellcrafter charm.
Here, collaboration trumped lone mages.
'Like developers. Solo bug-hunting hits walls.'
Members knew even "perfect" scrolls had optimization room.
Research aimed for better efficiency.
'Why spellcrafting felt endlessly promising.'
Mid-thought—
"Reggin. I called you here because... this grounds suits you too."
"Pardon?"
"Others test monsters in basements. But you and I? Different."
"......"
"I need space for physical limits. You..."
Voland glanced at Reggin's bag.
"Seemed keen to upgrade that bomb. Can't blow it up downstairs."
"...No plans to tweak the bomb scroll. This firepower's ideal."
"Hm. Is it?"
Voland tilted his head.
"Even if you could boost it more?"
"Yes?"
Boost it further here?
Might be overkill. Plenty strong for low floors.
High floors favored other spells anyway.
Unless double the power...
"But you could at least double it with that scroll, right?"
Reggin's eyes lit up.
If true...
He hadn't hit the bomb scroll's peak yet.
"Please, elaborate."
Plenty worth researching.