Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: Quest-Spamming NPC (2)
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"Come in."
Stepping through the tent flap revealed Chimihi.
It was only the second time seeing him, but Regin still couldn't quite get used to it.
The unique pressure he exuded still bore down on the entire space.
"Welcome, Regin. It's been a while."
"It's been a while since I've come to see you, Sir Chimihi."
The familiar layout of the tent's interior.
Just like before, he sat at the table in the center.
"Haha, no need to be so formal. Make yourself at home."
"Treating you with respect puts me at ease too, Sir Chimihi."
"What? Puhaha! You're bold. True, telling you to act casual while pinning the commander title on you was contradictory."
Chimihi nodded with a hearty laugh.
His sharp gaze continued to scrutinize Regin, though.
"Your right arm looks intact this time."
"......Lady Ernia said the same thing."
"The first expedition was so noisy, after all. How could anyone forget it easily?"
"Haha......"
"Even here, word about you has spread like wildfire. The one who survived an encounter with a lycanthrope."
Regin smirked.
"One more thing to add to that."
"Hm?"
"The details will spread through the expedition leader."
"......Kukuk. Wait for the rumors if you're curious? Did you pull off something that impressive again?"
"Well, you'll find out when you hear."
It wasn't the right time to discuss Skelji directly.
Why the kingdom had been trying to capture Skelji.
And how many people knew about him—Regin didn't know that either.
'Alice gave me a hint, too.'
Best to stay quiet until the official announcement.
Chimihi was a knight of the kingdom anyway, so he'd hear the details soon enough.
Then he'd judge for himself.
Just how great an achievement capturing Skelji was.
"I'm already looking forward to it. You're never ordinary, that's for sure. Oh, no major buzz outside?"
"Pardon?"
"Surviving a lycanthrope should've drawn interest everywhere. Explorers, obviously... and plenty of nobles showing curiosity too, I'd bet?"
Regin pondered for a moment before nodding.
"You're right. A noble actually came to see me in person."
"Of course. Nobles won't leave the star of the rumors alone. It might feel tiring, but... some could prove helpful to you."
"I'll have to see about that."
Rustle—
He pulled a letter from his bag.
It was the one from Preton, the noble he'd met in the kingdom, who had asked Regin to deliver it.
"Sir Preton of the Delbach family asked me to pass this to you."
"......Sir Preton?"
"Yes. He said to deliver this letter to you, Sir Chimihi."
"......"
Chimihi accepted the letter with a blank expression.
It was clear he was trying not to betray any emotion.
Calmly, Chimihi tore open the sealed letter.
"......"
His face showed no change as he read the contents.
Regin knew exactly what that meant.
Back when he'd been working in Korea.
Department heads always looked like that before major meetings.
'He can't afford to show any reaction.'
For someone of Chimihi's stature—a man who lived by his moods—to be this cautious meant the contents were serious.
"......Regin Petricio."
"Yes."
Chimihi set the letter down and looked at Regin.
"Did Preton tell you anything else?"
"No. He just asked me to deliver the letter."
"So... you have no idea what it says?"
"No."
He nodded and continued.
"Good. If anyone asks about this letter, say exactly that."
"Pardon?"
"It's for your sake."
Chimihi tucked the letter under his desk.
"You're just the messenger who knows nothing. Say you haven't heard a word of the contents."
Regin's guess had been spot on.
'Preton of a family with influence but no glory... and Chimihi, with skill but no political standing.'
If those two had secrets to share—whether with the kingdom or other nobles—
It meant neither side should know.
* * *
"You're going up to the 10th floor?"
"Yes. That's the goal for this expedition."
Putting the letter aside, Regin chatted with Chimihi about this and that.
'It's been a while, so some catch-up talk is in order.'
It was one of the easiest ways to maintain affinity with NPCs, too.
They sipped their tea and kept the conversation going.
"Not challenging for the Saint's Sword?"
"Who knows. If the chance comes, I'll take it, but I'm not sure yet."
"Huh, sounds like you could snag it if the stars align."
Chimihi smirked at Regin.
It wasn't mockery. More like surprise at Regin's consistent composure.
"You've never been past the 6th floor, right?"
"True, but I've studied plenty. That's why I'm confident."
"Nuada's disciple, eh?"
"That's right."
"......Hmm. Fair enough. If you've been in and out of his library, you'd be well-prepared."
"There's someone else coming along too. Someone who's reached the 11th floor, so reliable enough."
"11th floor?"
"Do you know an explorer named Greg Havien?"
"Havien? Oh, that dwarf? Kukuk. He's a quirky one!"
Chimihi managed the 5th floor.
He probably knew most explorers passing through—and sure enough, he knew Greg.
"Of course I do. The tale of him fighting an orc lord on the 11th floor for two days with just an axe is famous."
"......He's that renowned?"
"Other explorers might not know. It's less 'impressive' and more 'eccentric behavior' that sticks out."
"Ah."
That made sense why Chimihi remembered him.
The remarkable or the unusual.
He took interest in explorers who stood out.
"Greg Havien, huh......"
Chimihi chuckled amusedly and nodded.
"An odd pairing. Might work well, though... and with him, reaching the 10th floor should be smoother. Safe travels again."
"Thank you."
He finished his tea with a nod.
10th floor or whatever—the real key was this.
'Coming back alive.'
Regin never forgot that you had to survive for there to be a next time.
"Regin."
Chimihi pulled something from his pocket.
'......A coin?'
It differed slightly from the common gold currency.
Seemed like a coin with special meaning.
He handed the golden coin to Regin and continued.
"If you meet Preton, give him this. Tell him 'heads.' And as for this... you know nothing more."
He gripped it firmly once. Regin smirked and replied.
"I'll deliver it perfectly. And keep your last words in mind."
Regin knew Chimihi wasn't being dramatic for show.
He understood this world's politics as well as Chimihi did.
"And this......"
Chimihi, as if to say he trusted him, pulled something else from his pocket.
"A gift for you."
* * *
Regin headed to Greg's tent, where he was resting.
"How'd it go with Sir Chimihi?"
"Ah, good."
Greg eyed Regin curiously.
"Ahem... mind sharing what you talked about?"
Greg asked cautiously.
He looked like the rough-and-tumble type, but had these subtle delicate sides.
'His looks are practically bandit-level.'
Visually, he gave off an impression that rivaled Chimihi's.
Seeing him ask so carefully nearly made Regin laugh.
"Well, I mentioned we're climbing together."
"You told him we're teaming up? Ahem. He probably doesn't think that highly of me."
"Why wouldn't he?"
"I told you about it once before. He called me a blockhead."
Greg said it like a bad memory.
Only Regin, knowing the truth, smiled faintly.
'High praise.'
Chimihi liked slightly reckless types.
He'd lived that way himself.
"Not sure if he thinks highly, but he seemed supportive at least."
"Really? Kukuk. Well, he wouldn't curse out an explorer heading up the tower."
Regin nodded and sat on the bed.
A wooden bed provided in each tent—solid and hard.
Usually, they laid out their own sleeping bags on it.
No plans for that yet.
"More importantly, Greg."
"Yeah?"
"You're planning to go to the 10th floor."
"Right. You said the same, didn't you?"
Regin's mind flashed back to his talk with Chimihi.
What Chimihi had given him at the end wasn't just the coin.
"Sir Chimihi said......"
"Yeah?"
"The Saint's Sword. It's time for it to find a new master."
"The Saint's Sword...? You mean that legendary holy sword?"
"Yes. He said the one he once owned is ready for a new owner now."
One reason to maintain affinity with NPCs.
They unlocked events you never saw coming.
"This'll make it easier to find, he said."
Regin pulled out what he'd received from his pocket.
"A gem shard......?"
"No idea what it is exactly, but he said it points toward the Saint's Sword."
A red, glinting fragment.
It looked like a ruby at a glance, but it was familiar to Regin.
'The massive mana gem encasing the Saint's Sword... a shard of the Heart Diamond.'
With this, finding the Saint's Sword got a bit easier.
Not a huge difference.
Just enough not to miss it when it's right there.
'Depends on how you use it.'
Last time, he'd probably given the shard to that swordsman.
Bern, who'd partied with Manannan.
That's how Regin knew he couldn't take the lead. He'd passed on the chance.
'But if I hold it myself, it's different.'
No need to return to the kingdom this time. And now he had the shard.
Regin could say with confidence.
I can use this better than anyone.
"Did Sir Chimihi give you that?"
"He got curious when I said you and I are going together, so he handed it over."
"......Huh."
Greg swallowed hard, staring at Regin.
"Planning to hunt the Saint's Sword?"
"Didn't think much of it at first. But with this, I'm reconsidering. And since you're along for the ride, hard to decide solo."
Regin's eyes sparkled as he spoke.
"If you're okay with it, Greg, I think going for it wouldn't hurt."
The Saint's Sword.
You could get it without Chimihi, but accepting his offer changed things.
Not for nothing he'd mentioned maintaining NPC interest.
Events and quests made a big difference.
'Chimihi's quest chain... actually starts after the sword's fate is sealed.'
This was like a prologue.
'The Saint's Sword serves one master at a time... tough to claim without this route, so most skip it.'
The follow-up quests after success were tempting.
And he'd luckily scored this Heart Diamond shard.
"But...... if we're going for it, we need to hurry."
Just one catch.
"Other competitors are probably already on it."
People like Bern, and others in Chimihi's good graces, hunting the Saint's Sword.
"Since we're doing it, I don't want them snatching it first."
Timelines from past playthroughs flashed in Regin's mind.
When and who got the Saint's Sword.
Recalling every detail, Regin concluded.
Not as much time as he'd thought.
"Let's challenge the 6th floor starting today."
But opportunity remained—for now.