Chapter 40
Chapter 40
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 40
Chapter Title: Even in Korea, I've Never Been Cast
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After the regeneration scroll was completed, Regin habitually reviewed the tasks he needed to handle.
‘There are roughly three major things I need to focus on.’
It was one of the habits he’d picked up from playing DAT.
Assessing his progress in the game and deciding what to prioritize next.
It was a game where you could easily lose your way if you didn’t break it down systematically.
‘And there’s a damn ton of work to do.’
Finishing one task just led to more piling up.
Spellcrafting was especially one of those professions that multiplied your workload.
Completing one scroll meant climbing the Tower again to gather materials for the upgraded version.
And after crafting the upgrade...
You’d either need to gear up or hunt for complementary items.
‘The basic weapon I use is a scroll, and I have to source the materials myself, so my to-do list is double everyone else’s.’
That was probably why spellcrafters got nicknamed ‘Silent Grinders.’
Of course, it was a nickname Regin had coined himself.
They were diligent and hardworking, but without whining like the Element Whiners.
The appeal of this class was in quietly powering through the grind.
“...Even so, this is too much.”
Thud.
Regin, who had come to the royal library, closed the book and let out a sigh.
Even I, famous for my stoicism, can’t endure this.
‘To keep growing the Rafflesia... I have to climb to the 8th Floor?’
Regin fiddled with his bracelet. The Rafflesia, the main material he’d used for the scroll this time.
The plant was actually stored inside his inventory right now.
The moment he pulled out a portion to use, his instincts kicked in.
...It would rot if he left it in there indefinitely.
‘It’s not a space where time stops, after all. Even if it were, I needed to figure out how to cultivate Rafflesia.’
That’s why he’d checked every related book in the library.
It was an experiment he hadn’t tried in the game, so he needed fresh info.
Working from what he knew from DAT, he eventually pieced together a plausible hypothesis.
The problem was that it required climbing to the 8th Floor.
‘For this expedition, my minimum goal is the 8th Floor.’
His head throbbed, but there was no choice. He couldn’t just toss out the Rafflesia he’d painstakingly acquired whole.
Fine. The silent grinder in me will endure.
“Goodbye.”
“Yes.”
The librarian he’d been seeing a lot lately and gotten friendly with bid him farewell.
Regin stretched as he stepped outside, continuing his train of thought.
‘The silver lining is I can knock out my second goal on the way there.’
Another item in his bracelet crossed his mind.
The Plexys egg he’d gotten from the black market.
― Have you already hatched the Plexys egg?
― No. I heard a rumor about this egg.
― You already knew?
He recalled Bowman asking in surprise.
Honestly, Regin had been a bit shocked himself back then.
― There’s a story that what’s inside the egg changes depending on the Tower floor. It’s never been proven, but it’s a superstition not worth dismissing.
...He hadn’t expected those words to hold true in this world too.
‘I thought it was just game mechanics, but apparently not.’
Truth be told, there’d been some debate in the community about Plexys eggs.
Some insisted the contents were random.
Others claimed they were influenced by the Tower floor.
‘Depending on which floor you hatch the egg, you get different items. And the item is fixed for that floor.’
Of course, only a tiny minority pushed the latter theory.
Regin had been one of them.
‘...What can you do when the actual probabilities bore it out?’
It was a rare, tough item to test, so he couldn’t prove it definitively.
But hearing Bowman’s words left no room for hesitation.
If he was going to hatch it, doing so on the 6th Floor was best for him.
‘So I definitely need to hit the 6th and 8th Floors this expedition.’
He wanted to boost the scroll’s completion too, but he’d put that on hold for now.
It wasn’t something he could do right away anyway.
Unless luck was on his side.
Grrrrumble—
‘Maybe grab some bread.’
He’d forgotten to eat. As he looked for a nearby restaurant to fill his stomach—
“Regin Petrichio. Right?”
A woman suddenly blocked his path.
“What’s with you, not answering? You’re Regin Petrichio, aren’t you?”
...What’s with this archetypal spoiled noble lady character?
* * *
Bright yellow hair braided back. A light-colored dress on top.
Skin tone between pure white and pale, and hands smooth as if they’d never known labor.
‘A noble.’
He knew it at a glance.
Someone raised in luxury.
In a way, she reminded him of the typical chaebol heiresses he’d seen back in Korea.
“I am Regin, yes. What’s this about?”
The woman spoke with a relaxed expression.
“Spare a moment. Don’t say no.”
“...?”
“Straight to the point. I’ll be your sponsor.”
“Sponsor?”
“Yeah. You’re a mage, right? Short on research funds? I can provide money anytime.”
“...”
Regin held back a hollow laugh as he asked—
“Do I know you well enough to accept your sponsorship?”
“Oh, I’m Peresian Meriang. Of the Peresian family.”
“...”
“I’ll sponsor you in my family’s name.”
This was... even celebrities wouldn’t get cast like this.
‘I’ve never been cast in Korea, but it sure as hell wouldn’t feel like this.’
He got it now.
Nobles sponsoring explorers was common enough.
It let them control Tower loot more easily and boost their prestige.
Explorers got financial backing, so win-win.
“I heard you encountered a Lycanthrope and came back unscathed?”
‘Why are people’s mouths so loose?’
More like, he had no idea where the leak came from.
Regin couldn’t suppress his hollow laugh anymore.
‘Shouldn’t the Fame system get a tweak?’
He’d felt it in the game too—these people were obsessed with explorers.
Fame rose faster than expected.
Experiencing it firsthand, it was wild how rumors spread without SNS.
‘Of course, maintaining Fame is harder than gaining it... and that’s the key point.’
When portals opened and explorers brought back new tales, attention shifted.
To keep Fame up, you needed consistent feats at the same level.
Later on, it could really give you headaches.
‘So you have to seize opportunities when they come.’
Regin replied coolly.
“I’ll pass.”
“...What? Why?!”
Why? Because it’s a family I’ve never heard of.
He’d never encountered them playing DAT. If he had, he’d remember.
Maybe they changed names later or grew for some reason...
But a family with real potential or scale wouldn’t fixate on something this minor.
‘I didn’t even kill the Lycanthrope—just survived. No rookie explorer gets mobbed for that.’
At most, they’d quietly investigate. Or subtly undermine.
‘Above all, I sense no aura from this woman.’
Promising nobles got rigorous heir training.
She looked early twenties. At that age, any class... she should be at least Rank 2.
No one would leave her that weak.
“Hey, this isn’t the time for that. Think nobles are like commoners?”
“Pardon?”
“There are cartloads of people ready to crush any sprout of talent. Almost every family.”
“...”
“You’ll regret turning me down.”
His conviction grew.
Not an established house, then.
Seeing her grow flustered, Regin thought—
‘High chance she’s new money nobility. Shaky foundations, so they lean on explorers.’
No point talking more, he decided—
“Excuse me.”
“Wait. Who are you?”
Just then, another carriage pulled up right behind hers.
The coachman calmed the horses, and someone stepped out.
A tall, charismatic man.
His uniform screamed noble to anyone.
White long hair flowing, he stepped in front of Regin.
“Hello. I’m Preton. You’re Regin, correct?”
“Yes. That’s me.”
Preton glanced at the woman in front of Regin before continuing.
“If it’s not urgent business, could you spare some time?”
“...What?”
“Hm. I promise it’ll be more meaningful than whatever you’d discuss with this lady.”
Her face twisted in rage. It was a bit satisfying.
He liked this one.
“Very well. But on one condition.”
Regin nodded and added—
“I’m starving. Let’s talk over a meal.”
Why did people always pick mealtime to make a fuss?
* * *
His ears rang the whole way to the restaurant.
‘...What a personality.’
As he moved to go with Preton, the woman had screeched.
Demanding why he’d choose someone else when she arrived first.
From Regin’s view, it was obvious.
‘When you don’t know who to follow, go with the name brand.’
This side’s family was renowned.
He’d heard of them plenty in DAT, and actually crossed paths often.
‘Preton Mark Delbach. Eldest son of the Delbach family, right?’
He’d met this guy quite a bit in particular.
“You live up to the rumors. Not one to cower before nobles.”
“Pardon?”
“I heard plenty from Lord Nuada.”
“You know my master?”
“Yes. He helped me a great deal.”
Preton did have ties to Nuada.
‘Not deeply involved, though.’
Preton ordered a few dishes briskly and eyed Regin.
“You can ignore that young lady. Her family bought their title a few years back. Shaky on support and everything.”
“...”
“Honestly, I rushed over thinking she might be threatening you from afar...”
Preton chuckled.
“Turned out she was the one getting played. Amusing.”
“She made an offer, so I refused.”
“An offer... sponsorship?”
“Yes. But I don’t need that yet.”
“Hm, that hits close to home for me too.”
Preton took a sip of water and continued.
“I came to make a similar proposal.”
“You’re offering sponsorship?”
Regin asked coldly.
If it was just leaning on his master Nuada, it wasn’t that appealing.
In this world, gains from someone’s halo didn’t last long.
“Lord Nuada’s influence plays a part. But not just that.”
“...”
Rustle—
Preton pulled an envelope from his breast pocket and handed it to Regin.
“I have a favor. Deliver this letter to Lady Chimihi. In exchange, I’ll sponsor you.”
“...Lady Chimihi?”
“To be frank, our family has influence but little glory.”
“...”
“I plan to build that glory step by step.”
“You’re counting on a letter to convince Lady Chimihi?”
“Yes. I have too much to do here to enter the Tower myself.”
More reasonable than expected.
If he’d brought up the Lycanthrope and some ‘future value’ nonsense, Regin would’ve dismissed it.
Too many explorers had done more than just escape alive.
‘He wants to use me as a Tower courier.’
Things could change later, but that was the current read.
“I hear you’re crafting unusual scrolls. If the letter gets through properly...”
Preton gazed at Regin and spoke slowly.
“I’ll help gather any materials you need for scrollcrafting. Even if it means going to the 10th Floor.”